Hinata stared blankly at him, she couldn't have heard that right. She couldn't look down at what he had set on the table in front of her. She felt her cheeks become redder and redder darkening every second, she was going to faint. No! She couldn't she wouldn't let herself. She blinked harshly clearing herself of the dizziness before she opened her mouth.

"Wh-What?" She squeaked.

"Will you marry me?" He asked again he looked confused. How had he expected her to react to a question like that? She looked down to what he had set in front of her, and odd looking ring sitting between their empty plates and cups of tea. An engagement ring? She brought a trembling hand up from her lap to pick it up and she realized it looked odd because it was made of sand. "I did not have time with you to know what 'personalized' ring you would like, I can get another." He explained. She hadn't thought he was listening to her when she spoke about personalized engagement rings.

She felt tears sting her eyes as she looked at the ring. He was asking her? He wasn't just making a deal with her father, he decided to ask her? She got an engagement ring? A real engagement ring?

The ring wasn't coarse like it looked it was soft and glittered when she shifted it. She slid it on her finger and squeaked when it moved to fit her finger. It was made of the sand he carried. The tears started overflowing down her face and she covered her mouth with her free and to attempt to keep from letting out a sob. This was probably the most personalized ring she could ever get, made directly from something he carried everywhere and had his chakra. He probably had no idea how sweet it was.

"I've upset you." He broke her thoughts.

"Y-Yes. U-Uhm no, not that, I'm not upset, but yes." She stumbled over her words as she wiped her eyes. She had no idea how she could express how special this moment was to her or how she could ever thank him for it. She hadn't known him long, but he was being so sweet. She wasn't sure it was his idea, he didn't seem to know what he was doing, however, there was forethought. He had likely asked someone how engagement worked and they had left out the kneeling, for that she was grateful she probably would have fainted.

He had presented her with a precious moment she never thought she would have.

"You're not upset but you will marry me?" He asked to be sure.

"Y-Yes." She hiccupped.

"Then why are you crying?" He asked, she looked u to his confusion and smiled.

"I-I'm happy. I really love the ring, can I just keep this one?" He looked surprised, but he nodded. "Th-thank you so much."


Gaara felt an odd wave of relief. She wasn't upset, however, she was still crying. He didn't understand why she liked the ring so much.

Hinata smiled brightly at him with tears running down her face, he had never seen someone cry when they were happy. It was interesting. What did they do next? Tell her father likely.

"Wh-what made you decide to do this?" She asked playing with the sand ring.

That was a good question, he had decided over the course of one day that he would marry her, he hadn't even properly address and consult his council on the matter just his sister, not that would have asked them. She was a friend of Naruto's, but he wouldn't have done it if it was just that. She wasn't scared of him and she had forgiven him so easily despite his rude insult. She was willing to spend time with him. Was that a good reason? There was a pile of small things that had lead up to this. He found her interesting and attractive, he could spend long periods of time with her without getting annoyed by her presence, she was quiet and calm, didn't treat him any differently than someone else because of Shakaku. What a good way to say all that? She glanced up at him as he still searched for his answer. "I don't mind having you around."

Her cheeks that had started to return to their original pale color suddenly flared red again. "Th-thank you."


She had never seen her father speechless, in fact, this was the first she had ever seen his mouth even slightly open with nothing coming out of it or going in.

She fidgeted with her new favorite owned item resting on her finger.

Her father finally found what it was he wanted to say "Kazekage-sama it is very irregular for an engagement to happen without first addressing the council for permission." He looked past the very stiff Kage to give her a stern look. She hadn't even done anything. She hid more behind her new fiance.

"I thought since you made a point to tell me of her availability it would not be necessary." His voice came out just as stern, challenging him to tell him he was wrong.

Her father stayed silent choosing his words carefully. "I did, you are correct. I will ask however ,you are present when the council is addressed they will likely want a word with you" He received barely a nod. "Hinata."

"Y-yes?" She asked straightening under her father's gaze.

"Make sure Hanabi is ready for departure." It finally hit her that she would be going with him, she would be leaving. She would going to Suna and not coming back. She would be leaving her sister, her friends, her home. How had she not thought about it?

"Hinata." Her father repeated sternly waiting for his confirmation.

"Y-Yes father..."


"WHAT!" Hanabi shouted in her face snatching Hinata's left hand. "I didn't even think he was considering the idea but he purposed? Like property?" She turned her hand and scrunched her face. "Is this made of sand?"

"K-Kinda, and yes it's his sand it's very sweet, b-but Hanabi-nee-chan that not the point." She tugged her hand gently away from her sister's grasp. "H-He's the Kazekage so I will be leaving with him to Suna."

"Oh." The excitement fell from Hanabi as she plopped down on her bed.

"F-Father wants to make sure you're ready to become the sole heiress, a-are you?" She thought Hanabi was ready, she had picked up so much so quickly she was proud of her.

"Well, I guess, but I don't want you to leave." She mumbled flopping back onto her bed.

"I-I don't want to leave you either, but I expected to live with my husband." She came over sitting beside her sister brushing her hair back. "I-If the Hyuuga will let me I will write to you regularly."

"How am I going to this alone Onee-chan…." Watching her sister slowly spiral down into depression was painful to watch.

"Y-You won't be alone, Neji-nii-san and father will be here and I promise to write when I can." She leaned down to kiss her little sister's forehead. "Y-You won't be alone."

"But, I want you." Hanabi curled around her burying her face into Hinata's stomach as she hid the tears riding her eyes. Hinata petted her head as her own started to wet the younger girl's hair.

Gaara was informed rather pointedly by his elder kage that he should spend more of his spare time with his future wife, so here he stood outside the Hyuuga compound hoping to collect her. His meeting with her father had brought even more questions up, not about her father but about her. She hid behind him for safety, has anyone used him for safety before, even by accident? She hid from her father close to him, and he felt the need to protect this cowering woman. Her fear and discomfort was something he could feel coming off her. She was so expressive he could even feel her emotions.

Her counsel was not unlike his, old opinionated men always looking to trade up. They wanted to know what right he had to claim their heir before their clan head had a chance to tell them she was offered to him. He took the chance to make them shrivel back, his past was useful when he could use that fear to protect. He could protect her.

"Welcome back to the Hyuuga compound Kazekage-sama, would you like announced?" One of the Hyuuga asked bowing politely.

"No, I have only come to ask my fiancee to accompany me." He chose his words of claim on her to keep the chances of refusal low. He would refrain from using that wording with her, from his understanding women did not like to be owned.

"Yes, of course, I will fetcher her." The Hyuuga scuttled inside and he was soon presented with the woman in question looking confused in much more casual clothing than he had ever seen her in. Long loose shirt and skirt pale colors, very suiting for her. She would fit in with Suna housewives well.

"K-Kazekage-sama, was there something you needed?" She asked fiddling with her ring. He could tell when she was moving it, she touched it a lot, it was an odd feeling have someone so gingerly touch his sand, no one touched it unless he was attacking them with it.

"You may call me Gaara now there is no longer need for the formalities,now." He didn't like the formality anyway. "Will you accompany me to meet with the Hokage and my sister?" He asked, giving her the decisions like he had been advised.

"O-Of course G-Gaara-sama, just allow me to change." She mumbled before trying to retreat back inside. She still used a formality, though she seemed to do so with her friends as well, a possible norm he would have to get used to as a husband.

"What's wrong with what you are wearing?" She looked fine. Her features were much softer without the makeup, she looked a lot more comfortable in what she was wearing. He was sure she still had blisters from the shoes she wore they day meet that cause her to step carefully.

"U-Uh, I-I guess I don't have to." She reached up and pulled a piece of cloth she was wearing over her hair and handed it to the Hyuuga that fetched her, slipped shoes on as she brushed her long skirt off. She followed him down the street toward where he assumed his sister to be. "I-Is there something your Temari-sama would like to talk to me about?"

"It has come to my attention that I did not inform my council of or joining, it was more a rash decision then I realized at the time." She nodded.

"R-Rash for both of us." She agreed.

"Do you regret this?" If she did he could break the engagement. He didn't particularly want to, he enjoyed her company. She was calming to have around.

"I-It's not like that it's just that, I-I hadn't thought about me moving to Suna, my sister is not happy with the arrangement and I-I know others who won't be either." She stared at her feet as they walked. She had relaxed around him greatly since the first day. He wondered how she trusted him so quickly to be so friendly, from what he understood that was just what she did, but wasn't he different?

"I will not keep you from them." He assured, his family was becoming more important to him, he would understand her attachment. "Though I will not always be able to accompany you if you come to visit them in Konoha." He was the Kage, after all, trips this long to other villages were rare and this trip was about to come to an end. Was she coming with him when he left, or would he wait for her?

"Th-Thank you, I don't expect you to come with me." Her entire body seemed to gain joy, she still walked with her head down like she had before but now it was more comfortable and was hiding a smile. Was it cute? He was going with cute.

***TheUnstableLiz***

**This would have been up a couple days ago, but I hated the ending and was much to tired to come up with something better, now I am well rested and ready to come up with my next chapter. However, I might not be until after Monday that I get a new one up because I will have no power until then starting today. I have to work with my school work around this already so I'm not sure if I will be able to upload as well. I will continue writing however I won't be able to upload.

This story is secondary on my to do list. This will only be updated after my other story Lavender Clouds has.

I appreciate CONSTRUCTIVE comments and reviews.

I can not answer questions of guests. I don't want this section a mile long and bloating the word count too much.

If you have a question please log in and PM me. I will answer any and all questions!

I will also point out that anyone who is out of character by a lot is the fault of me not knowing the character well enough and I apologize for that.

I apologize for spelling and grammar, I am a computer scientist, not a writer.