A/N: Hey, readers! Welcome back! Sorry for the late update. Better late than never, though, right? Here's the next chapter for you!

Hidden Away

Chapter Five

Gaara jumped from tree to tree with the Hyuga Princess in his arms, a set destination in mind. He had been given orders to take her there, but was that truly the best decision? For one, Gaara did not like taking orders. He was used to being in control and preferred it to stay that way. Two, for some reason, the well-being of this girl mattered to him, as much as Gaara hated to admit it. She touched his heart, something he didn't realize even realize was there, let alone work and love. He wasn't sure if he could bare harm coming to her. When Hinata mumbled something, Gaara paused to listen. Was she waking up?

"Hmm," she sighed in her sleep. That's all it was, Gaara realized. A content sigh. While sighing, Hinata rested her head on Gaara's chest. One hand also rested on his chest, while the other delicately held on to his arm. Seeing her so innocent, it was hard to believe anyone could ever wish harm on her. He had a strong desire to protect her. But then why was he taking her there? Even he didn't know.

Finally, the destination was evident on the horizon—the mini-village (which needed a real name, but that was beside the point). The mini-village contained about twenty common

houses, an academy, a healing center, a building belonging to the leader, a community center/meeting place, a couple businesses, and a few buildings Gaara couldn't identify. He could see the entire village from the entrance, which Gaara paused at. Should he enter?

He had to make a decision one way or another fast because the dark-haired girl could awaken any moment. Since he had already come this far, Gaara made the decision to proceed. He sprinted to the leader building.

Once again, he hesitated in front of the door, pondering whether to knock, walk right in, or walk away. While the latter wasn't really an option, it was nice to pretend. But he could walk away, Gaara realized. He didn't have to take her to the leader. He could take her to a comrade instead. Somebody who could house them for the time being while Gaara made up his mind. Deciding upon that decision, Gaara began to turn around. That is, before the door in front of him suddenly opened.

"Ah, Gaara! Welcome back! I assume your mission was successful? Of course it was, look at her!" Gaara looked down at the sleeping female, then back up at the former-Anbu before him. He had sky blue hair that was short but shaggy with a few wisps falling across his forehead. His ocean-blue eyes shone like gems and his height was average. As far as weight went he was very skinny, but Gaara learned not to underestimate him because of that.

"Hello, Akira," Gaara said formally.

"Don't just stand there!" exclaimed Akira. "Come in! Hurry!"

With a nod of acknowledgment, Gaara followed the blue-haired man into the small building. "What are you doing here, Akira? Why aren't you on your mission?"

Akira stopped in his tracks. "You haven't heard? Our previous leader, Mamoru, died the night before the last. Don't worry, it was natural causes. No danger. Anyway, I was appointed as the new leader! Isn't that great?" Akira smiled from ear to ear. "Anyway, let's go into Mamor—I mean my office and talk. I have a question for you. Standard protocol. And of course you must be relinquished of the girl."

Gaara nodded again. Of course he couldn't keep Hinata with him. That would be too easy. He didn't think they would hurt her yet. So, he handed Hinata over to a healer who took her away for the time being. He then proceeded to sit in a chair across from Akira's desk. Akira looked at him and raised his eyebrows. "Report?"

"Everything went well," Gaara told him. "I got in, got the girl, and got out. It was easy. I never even had to enter the village."

Akira's eyebrows shot up even higher at that comment. "How?" he asked.

"She was on a mission along with two comrades. I assume you know of the group that went to obtain a scroll from the Leaf?"

Akira nodded.

"When I had left, that group was in the midst of fighting with the girl and her comrades. In the commotion, I grabbed the girl and left. It was two against nine. I assumed our nin could easily overcome them. Besides, I had my own mission to follow through."

Akira nodded again. "I understand. You did well not to jeopardize the mission. It's mute point, anyway, because the team came back, except for a couple casualties. That was to be expected, though. Overall, both missions were a huge success!" Akira exclaimed with a thumbs-up. "You are dismissed."

Gaara rose from his seat and left with out a parting word. He followed the short path to his house. It wasn't just his house, though. He shared it with two other people—one from the Leaf village and one from the Sound. It's humorous how so many different people have come to this village. All either rogues or power-hungry. People not content with their former homes.

Nobody greeted Gaara as he walked. Some people stared. Some people adverted their eyes. Yet, nobody attacked him. Everybody tolerated him. That was more than he had before at Suna, which Gaara was grateful for. While not all looks were kind, none were hateful.

He could see his housing now: a small brown place with two stories. The top floor was used for sleeping and hygiene. The bottom floor had a kitchen and common area for the three boys.

Gaara was within spitting distance of his door. He wondered if his teammates would be there.

When Gaara came face to face with the door, He opened it slowly, cautiously, without really knowing why. He only went on a mission. Nothing was different.

He entered into the house and saw a figure. Not just any figure, the figure.

"Hello, Hyuga," Gaara greeted.

"Welcome back, Gaara."

OoOoOoOo

When Hinata woke up, her first thought was that she needed to stop awaking in unfamiliar places.

She was confused. Where was she? She knew one thing, it was cold. Heart wrenchingly cold. She sat up to assess her surroundings.

Wherever she was, it was pitch black. The air was damp and musky, not to mention humid. The floor felt like stone. Everything about this place seemed eerie.

Hinata stood up to walk around, but wobbled. She was very weak. How long had it been since she had eaten? Not since the night before the mission. Kiba urged her not to eat that morning so that she wouldn't puke. A lot of good that did her, now she was starving.

Deciding it wasn't worth wasting her energy, Hinata sat back down and leaned against a cold, concrete wall. What had happened?

She remembered talking with Gaara. She shivered. He was . . . intense, to say the least. Freaky. He asked her to run away, for both of their safety. She didn't answer him. After that, when he left, she slept. Then she woke up here.

Not much to go off of. The only for-sure conclusion Hinata could come to was that she was not home, nor was she with friends.

She was so weak . . . and so hungry. Hinata clutched her stomach in hunger pangs. Not to mention water, which she needed severely. How long could a person go without water? A few days? It had at least been two.

Hinata told herself to stay calm. She may be in the hands of enemy ninja. If so, showing her fear would only work against her, but she was still afraid!

The dark-haired girl closed her eyes. Maybe, after a nap, she would think clearer. Maybe, after a nap, she would be stronger. Maybe, after a nap, she would find out that this was all just a bad dream . . . .

Luck was not in her favor. After an hour or so, a tall figure walked into the room Hinata resided in. The creaking open of the door startled her awake, and she emitted a small yelp. A little light peaked through as the figure, a blue-haired male, entered the room, but quickly vanished as he slammed the door shut. Loudly.

He said not a word. Neither did Hinata. The silence was deafening. After a few minutes of silence, Hinata whispered, "W-who are you?"

In a voice as cold as the room, the figure spoke. "That is irrelevant."

Hinata gulped. "W-where am I?"

"I apologize. I can't tell you that, either." He didn't sound sorry.

Hinata was very nervous. "W-what can I k-know?

"What we decide to tell you," said the man. "Now get up."

"I c-can't," she told him.

The man's voice became meaner. "You will obey us, or make this harder on yourself. Your choice."

"N-no," she explained. "I really c-can't."

"Why not?" he screamed.

"I-I'm w-weak," she stuttered, looking down, ashamed.

The man was quiet for a moment. "Stay here," he commanded. As if she had a choice.

When he returned, the door remained open behind him, letting a large amount of light in. Hinata had to advert her gaze down because of the brightness. She had become accustomed to the dark, and now the light was a shock.

As her eyes adjusted, she looked back at the man to get a closer look. He didn't look very strong, he was very skinny in fact. And his eyes . . . they were beautiful. How could something so beautiful have such a meanness in them? This man's eyes portrayed anger.

As he walked towards her, Hinata shrunk away from him. "N-no," she protested. "S-stay away!"

The man chuckled. "So you choose the hard way? You won't just come with me willingly?" he asked, grabbing her by the arm. In response, she slapped his arm away. It wasn't strong to any degree, but sent the message anyway. He dropped his hand. "Tsk tsk. You have brought this on yourself." He turned around. "Come on in, boys. Help me out."

"W-what?" she asked as two boys no older than fifteen walked through the door. They held rope. "N-no!"

Hinata protested as they proceeded to bond her arms and legs together. "Don't try to fight," the blue-haired man warned as he tied a cloth over her eyes. "And don't yell. We won't hesitate to hurt you."

Hinata realized that the ropes were infused with chakra. Even if she wanted to escape, she couldn't. Her chakra was depleted too much to break them. She stopped moving and stopped talking. As Akira picked her up, she became limp in his arms.

"Hm," he said. "She must have fainted. Peculiar."

A/N: That's the end! This chapter was really hard to write, but I'm not sure why. Sorry I haven't updated sooner, but I have had horrible writer's block. Not to mention my busy schedule lately. I had four essays due last Friday, and two more due tomorrow! Anyway, please review and tell me what you thought. (: