Hey guys, sorry it's been a while. I got caught up in one of my new stories "Unrequited Hate". Feel free to check it out when you have the chance. Please enjoy this new chapter of Tattooed hearts.!

Oh and to reviewer glassfox222 yes I will be keeping it shippuden after Gaara has the one tail removed. As for your second question, you'll just have to keep reading to find out.! ^_^ (Responding here because I was unable to pm you)


Once again Gaara found himself outside of Hinata's door.

"Knock"! yelled Temari from behind a potted plant.

Gaara groaned and knocked on the door.

Hinata opened the door and smiled at Gaara.

"Are you busy later?" Gaara asked.

"Not really, why?" Hinata questioned.

"I will come get you at 7 then." Gaara said and quickly walked away.

If that wasn't direct enough, he didn't know what was.


Hinata stood there confused as Gaara made his hasty exit.

What was that all about she wondered? She decided to not read into it too much. This was Gaara after all.

Temari took this opportunity to come from her hiding place.

"Temari-chan what were you doing there?" Hinata asked.

"That's not important. You have a big date tonight we need to focus on that!" Temari yelled pushing Hinata into the room shutting the door behind them.

"How do you know its a date?" Hinata said, finding herself twiddling with her fingers and she used to whenever she was nervous.

"Who do you think encouraged him? You're welcome!" Temari exclaimed.

"Wait does Gaara-san l-like me?" Hinata asked, a blush now rising on her features.

"Duh!" Temari said as if it was obvious.

"Since when?" asked Hinata.

"Doesn't matter! Let's get you prim and proper!

Hinata gulped.


Several hours later, Temari put the finishing touches on Hinata's makeup. Then she stepped back to admire her work.

"If Gaara thought you were beautiful before wait till he gets a load of you! Or better yet lets hope he doesn't fill you with his load." Temari joked nudging Hinata and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

Hinata went red.

"T-Temari-chan don't say such things!" Hinata stammered, embarrassed.

Temari laughed.

As soon as the clock struck 7, there was a soft knock on the door.

Temari squealed and opened the door.

"Gaara you look soooo cute!" Temari exclaimed.

Gaara rolled his eyes. He wore a simple white Yukata with a red obi.

Temari stepped aside to reveal Hinata who also wore a Yukate but it was navy blue with a white obi. The Yukata was ankle long but sported a long split on one side courtesy of Temari. It was also form fitting and the neckline was cut a little lower, also courtesy of Temari's alterations.

Gaara stared at Hinata. He then caught a glint of silver. She was wearing the necklace. He suppressed a smirk. Maybe this would be good.

Hinata's face reddened as Gaara's staring intensified. She noticed his sand slowly wisping around him. It wasn't heavy but it was noticeable.

Hinata was about to ask but Temari cut in.

"Alright that's enough oogling, time to get moving!" She exclaimed, pushing Hinata out the door and slamming it shut.

Hinata nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Gaara held out his hand.

"Are you ready?" Gaara asked.

"Hai." Said Hinata.

The two left the tower and entered an awaiting carriage. The carriage ride was silent. But the two stole glances at each other occasionally.

They finally arrived at a quaint little restaurant and they were ushered inside and and seated at a private little booth.

They ordered their food and ate in a comfortable silence .

Finally Hinata spoke up.

"So why did... you want to take me out?" She asked slowly.

Gaara looked at Hinata apprehensively before responding.

"I don't know" Gaara answered honestly.

There was a beat of silence before Gaara opened his mouth again.

"I feel weird around you. Every time you laughed I felt like it some sort of magic. My sister said it means I have...feelings." Gaara said trailing off, pink dusting his cheeks.

He wasn't sure how to express how he felt. This was all new territory to him. Kill 50 men with a single hand sign no problem. Talk about feelings? He sooner go back to war then deal with such things. He couldn't remember the last time he felt something such as this. All notions of love was ridiculous to him, despite the fact ironically he tattooed it on his own forehead.

Hinata looked at the man in front of her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Temari was right, Gaara did actually like her. But he didn't seem to understand how to express it. Which was understandable given his past.

Hinata giggled.

Gaara frowned.

"What's so funny, I didn't make a joke." Gaara said flatly.

This made Hinata giggle even more.

" Nothing, it's just kind of... adorable." Hinata answered.

Adorable? Was she out of her mind? At one time Gaara was a cold blooded murderer and somehow he's been reduced to adorable? Granted He wasn't proud of his killer past but still, he had a reputation.

Gaara shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Hinata noticed this and took his hand in hers.

He immediately pulled back his hand.

"Gaara-kun it's ok." Hinata said reaching for his hand again.

Gaara hesitated but allowed her to hold it this time.

"It's ok to have feelings. I know this must be...confusing for you but don't run away from it. You never know what might happen." Hinata said, a blush rising to her cheeks at her own insinuation.

Gaara stared at her in shock. His sand began to float around him again, but he quickly suppressed that.

They finished their dinner in a more content silence and after went for a walk around the village.

"When did you realize you liked me?" Hinata asked.

"The day you arrived in Suna." Gaara answered honestly.

Hinata stopped.

"W-what?" She stammered.

She didn't think its been this long! Hinata felt her stomach drop at the redhead's confession. For all this time Gaara had feelings for her and she didn't know. Oh the Irony.

Then again Gaara wasn't one to be emotional.

"Hai. The first time who came I had a flashback of us playing as kids. It threw me off that's why I was so rude to you that day." Gaara explained.

"Ah, ok." Hinata said nodding her head in understanding.

"I found the necklace but every time I wanted to ask you I retreated. But after seeing you wearing the necklace it only confirm my feelings for you." Gaara stated.

Hinata blinked back tears. He really liked her. This made Hinata feel happy.

"Gaara-san, I'm not completely sure about my feelings yet. But I am willing to try. If you'd let me." Hinata said, suddenly finding great interest in her shoes.

Gaara looked at her wide eyed. He felt a weird constricting feeling in his chest. He didn't know why but he assumed it came with the "feelings".

"I-I am not sure if I am ready for a full relationship yet to be honest. But I would like to try as well. But we could start with you not calling me Gaara-san. I am not an old man." Gaara answered.

Hinata giggled and Gaara felt the corners of his lips tug upward slightly.

"Sure Gaara-kun." Hinata said.

Gaara-kun.

The two continued to walk together. Gaara tried his best not to, but he couldn't help but admire how beautiful Hinata was. After all he was a man too. The Yutaka she wore hugged her curves so amazingly. Gaara felt himself getting excited and his sand began to float again. Hinata stopped walking as she noticed the sand.

"Is everything ok? Your sand has been...active all night." Hinata asked.

That and Gaara's imagination.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. It's just sometimes, my sand reacts to my emotions." Gaara explained.

"That's ok, and what are you feeling right now?" Hinata questioned.

Gaara chose not to answer. Instead this time, less nervously he took Hinata's hand in his and they made their way back to their awaiting carriage that was to take them back home.

Hinata raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

But Gaara couldn't hide the small smile that grew on his face and he thought about his soon to be relationship with Hinata.