A/N: I'm so sorry! I know I haven't posted in days...got a bit tied up with important stuff. :D Really sorry to keep you guys waiting!

Disclaimer: Naruto and all characters are created by Masashi Kishimoto.


Seven

She had never ruined anyone's career before, much less a rugby player whom the critics adored (most of the time) and the people loved.

Technically, it wasn't her fault. Gaara had instinctively done what was right in that freak accident. She hadn't shouted 'Help!', she hadn't pushed him onto the road, and she wasn't to be blamed for his state...right?

Hinata couldn't brush away the nagging feeling that she was partly responsible for Gaara's injuries: if she hadn't been there, he wouldn't have landed in this state. If she hadn't tripped (stupid, clumsy her) and had at least backed away gracefully, the only person hurt would be that moronic pillon rider.

Temari hadn't flown back to Konoha...yet - apparently, Gaara had made his injuries sound minor - they weren't severe nor minor, just somewhere in between, but she knew that he couldn't play in the up-coming match due to the nature of the injuries. He'd suffered a thumb fracture dislocation, a back sprain and an ankle sprain, and the last she heard, he needed at least two months to fully recover from his injuries. It sounded like a long time to her since he was a pro sports player and most likely needed to train and attend practices. The fact that she was the cause (partly) of his injuries heaped guilt onto her tired mind and body.

After the accident, Neji and Tenten had rushed down to receive both aunt and nephew. Neji, being the protective cousin, had demanded her to tell him - in detail - what had happened. During a body check-up to ensure she was fine, one of the nurses told her the pillon rider was apparently drunk. He'd failed a breathlayser test, and wasn't doing too well, physically. He also had a hefty fine sent after him for drink driving, which he deserved.

Tenten urged them in a firm and motherly way, to head home that evening after seeing Hinata's weary face and Hiroki's sleepy eyes. The little boy had stopped wailing after being treated by ambulance staff, and had taken a curiosity towards Gaara, much to the redhead's discomfort. And it seemed that her crush on him had intensified...

What, the whole hero thing? HAHA! What a joke you are!

Hinata shook her head and tried to clear her mind from thoughts about Gaara, but it was pretty difficult, considering the fact that she was working on the cover page of Scorchin' Heat, and Gaara was pretty much giving her an intense stare, as well as a sharp salute.

This is absolutely crazy.

The entire background was a beautiful white, and the magazine's title was a blazing red, right at the top of the cover. Deidara was still harping over how the caption 'AYE, AYE CAPTAIN' was interfering with Gaara's head and the shade of black the other blurbs and captions should carry. The photos Sasori had taken were professionally shot (as usual) and Kurenai had given a rather interesting article on him. Hinata had yet to read it yet, but she knew she would soon. Kurenai had touched on several sensitive topics with Gaara, such as the reports of him getting in a brawl with a man in Suna, his childhood, his long captaincy with the Sand Hawks and the relationship between fellow players and their coach.

He did mention retirement, but had commented that it wouldn't be soon...but now that he was in this state, would he still be able to play after recovering? She knew rugby players suffered injuries on field most of the time - pain, broken noses, sprained ankles and fractures were a common companion to them. Would it affect his career badly though?

The freak accident had been reported on the evening news. Someone had filmed the entire commotion with his/her handphone and it was being played repeatedly on all major news network for the past few days. Hinata knew that it was already up on Youtube as well. The video was close to a minute, shaky and incredibly blurred, but one had to be blind not to recognise Gaara. There was no mention of her name, thank god. She had seen it. It was no wonder the public were in awe of one redhead...

Hiashi, however, wasn't too happy about the accident and how the press was making such a big deal out of it. The fact that she, as well as Hiroki, were on video, was the one thing that did not sit too well with Hiashi. His curt and tense talk with her did not help - she was reminded of all the things she had done in the past that did not please him or earn his favour. She felt insecure, uncertain, intimidated and lost. Once again the teen who was afraid of doing something wrong and screwing up so badly.

Hinata desperately wanted to please him (it was sort of an obligation, really), but she also knew that she needed satisfaction in her own life - she wanted to find joy in what she was doing. For so many years, she had tried to have the best of both worlds, but it was impossible. She couldn't please two people at one time: it was either her father or herself. Whenever she found reason to put herself first, she would realise she was being selfish. There was always an internal war raging within her.

Hiashi didn't like the fact that she wasn't the high powered businesswoman working in the family's company. Instead, she was just an assistant to a crazy Art Director at a publishing firm, with an average sum of salary that compelled her to scrimp and save, and a legal guardian to Hiroki.

Hinata could never do anything right, in his eyes. She hated that feeling. It made her feel inferior, and self conscious.

"Right, hm?" Deidara asked.

Hinata stared up at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. What did you say?"

The blond scratched his ear with a pencil. "I said that the blurbs would look good in black."

"I think so." Hinata made a few adjustments on the flat screen computer. "I'll draw them up in other shades of black for you. How is the main spread going?"

"Great." Deidara said mildly as he backed away and made his way to a desk overflowing with cutouts, pictures, words and whatnot. "Are you alright, Hinata hm?"

"Oh I am." Hinata answered without missing a beat. She discovered her talent for hiding her negative feelings exceptionally well when she was a teen. The more upset she was, the more convincing she would be. It was some sort of perverse fuel for masking herself up.

"I'm not traumatised, post-accident, Deidara."

"Haha." The blonde rolled his eyes and flicked his long hair out of his face. "I just want to know if you're really alright. That accident was so darn freaky. Do you know how many people are talking about it? It was a good thing you got away with scratches."

Hinata glanced back at him and smiled.

She owed Gaara one. A big one. But what help could she give?


Gaara held his phone away from his left ear and winced as dull pain shot through his back.

"YOU SAID IT WASN'T SERIOUS! BUT I SEE YOU ON THE NEWS, WITH A BLOODY MOTORBIKE COMING AT YOU AND HINATA, HEAD ON! WHAT WAS THAT, HUH? YOU THINK YOU'RE A HOTSHOT RUGBY PLAYER WHO CAN TACKLE ANYTH-"

"Temari, go sit down there, right now. Please. Hello, Gaara?" Shikamaru's voice floated out in a teeny static tone.

"Finally. Someone who doesn't scream in my goddamn ear." He said dryly.

"Sorry about that." Shikamaru said sheepishly. "She threw a fit when we were having dinner at a cafe in Suna."

"Don't be sorry." Gaara answered, holding the cell phone awkwardly with his left hand. "I have a feeling your honeymoon has been disrupted by me."

"That's alright." Shikamaru said lazily. "We're only left with two days. We've had enough fun already. Temari says she going to book two tickets back to Konoha right now."

"I forbid her to do that." Gaara snapped.

"Its no use, Gaara." The Nara laughed. "You should know better. Temari's as stubborn as a mule. When she sets her mind on something, that's it. Besides, Suna's weather is killing m-"

"I'm not finished talking to you yet!" Temari said indignantly, over at the other end. "Did you break any bones? Your nose? Your feet? You hands? Where?"

"You're finally cooling down." Gaara said idly. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the pillow carefully. His back hurt like a bitch, and the pain in his thumb was no better. His hand had swelled considerably at the thumb and wrist. Gaara's right hand looked red and slightly puffy.

"You're gonna regret the fact that you never answered my question, little brother."

"I fractured my thumb, sprained my back and ankle. That's all, ok?"

"Riiight." Temari said sarcastically.

"Its the truth," Gaara said flatly. "Take it or leave it."

"How long will you take to recover?" Concern edged into her voice slowly.

"If you're talking about a full recovery, its minimum three months. But I'll be up and about in two."

She made a sound that sounded like 'Yeah right'. "What about rugby?"

"That has to wait. Its not like I haven't been injured before. I'll rest, recover, and get back on field."

"I know..." Temari sighed. "Its just that...I mean, what if you get injured again?"

"I get sports injury most of the time. What do you mean? Just spit it out, Temari."

"Have you ever thought of a partner?"

"As in bed partner?" He scoffed. "We had this talk the last time, and you know my view on getting married and having kids."

"Look. You won't turn out the way our family did-"

"I don't want to go there. Not now."

Temari sighed. "Okay. I'll leave you alone for now. I'll be back. Soon."

"Take your time." He drawled. "You've seen me in a worser state."

"I did. And I do NOT want to see that again."

Gaara snorted.

"How is Hinata?"

"She's fine. She got away with scratches."

"What about Hiroki?"

"Who- Oh. He's unhurt."

"That's great. And its because of you that they're unhurt, right?"

The redhead grunted. He wasn't a bloody hero. That was the last thing he wanted to be. And besides, he wasn't one.

"Someone's embarrassed..." Temari snickered. "Ok, anyway, have a good rest. Don't fret about anything at all."

"Hm. Bye."

"Bye, lil' bro."

There was a beep and the conversation ended. Gaara dropped his phone onto his legs and kneaded his forehead with his left hand. He had suffered a Bennett's thumb fracture. It was ironic, considering the fact that most of the time, one got a Bennett's fracture from playing rugby. The doc had said that he must have hit the driver's helmet a little too hard somewhere during the accident, which resulted in the fracture. He couldn't move his thumb without experiencing pain, and his thumb felt weak. Gripping an object was bound to be a challenge. And the fall had resulted in a back sprain, which probably needed 6-8 weeks to heal.

Damn it. He was going to miss out on plenty of training camps. Yoshihiro Daiki was not going to be pleased about his current predicament and his absence in the upcoming match. Heck, if he needed to go head against head the team owner, he would. There was also a high probability that he would consider trading Gaara or end his contract with him.

Speak of the devil, he thought warily as Daiki entered his private ward with a swagger.

"Ah! Gaara, you're up," The man clad in an expensive suit rubbed his hands together and smiled, but his smile didn't reach his black eyes.

"Daiki." He nodded tightly. The man was alone. It was a little odd for him to be alone: the occasional scantily-dressed blond/brunette/redhead could always be seen hanging on his arm.

Just like you. A voice snickered. Gaara ignored it.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Gaara couldn't cross his arms - too painful - so he settled for resting his elbow on his knee, and eyed Daiki passively. "I talked to the doctor, and he says that for a full recovery, we have to let you rest for four months. He told me you pressed for three."

"Hm."

"Do you think you're still in a good shape... to continue on with the Sand Hawks?"

Frankly speaking, Gaara wasn't too happy with the current state his body was in. The accident placed him at a great advantage - he couldn't use his hand, all because of his fractured thumb. Then there was the old hamstring strain that could make a comeback and haunt him again. Things didn't look good.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I'm still fit to continue playing for the Hawks." He clenched his left fist.

"Indeed." Daiki said, shoving his hands into his pockets and shrugging. "Afterall, you are turning thirty-one this month, aren't you?"

"If I'm still fit enough to play for the Hawks till my contract ends, I will, after I recover."

"I understand." Daiki said smoothly. "You are aware that your contract ends four years later?"

"Yes."

"Well judging from your state, it is almost impossible for you to participate in any of this year's major competitions and leagues."

His jaw tightened. He knew that all along. But it wasn't easy to digest it when Daiki said it so blatantly. Then again, he appreciated Daiki's bluntness grudgingly. He didn't like sugarcoating his words when talking to people, and vice versa.

"That leaves us with three years of rugby. By the next year, when you will be able to play, you would be thirty-two."

"I know what you're driving at. You want space for new blood."

Daiki smirked and inclined his head. "I don't mean quite that - kick you out of the Hawks or trade you - for the time being. Why don't we talk this over again, when you are better? Now is not the best time to discuss the details, after all the drama. I believe you need time for, uh, yourself."

Gaara nodded.

Daiki excused himself then, and left.

Running a hand through his thick hair, Gaara let out a dark curse. He felt angry - at himself, at the pillon rider, at Hyuuga Hinata. He knew it was completely unreasonable of him to direct his anger at her. She had nothing to do with it. He was the one to take the initiative to help her, to go at the Ducati rider. Yet, some stupid part of him still wished to believe that she was the reason for his state.

He didn't need to apologise to her it was the apology thing that had gotten him-

Stop right there. He thought forcefully. Nobody is to be blamed. You know that better than yourself.

"Hey," The door swung open again. Kankurou grinned at him from behind two steaming styrofoam cups. "I saw Yoshihiro. What did he want?"

"He's thinking of new blood." Gaara simply said.

His older brother had flown back from Suna on his own after he got wind of the freak accident. Kankurou was calmer than Temari, but still concerned nevertheless. The dark haired man frowned thoughtfully.

"It is true you aren't that young, for someone in the sporting world...but man, I thought he would still wanna keep you. What do you plan to do if you can't play anymore?"

"Coach." Gaara said absentmindedly. "I'm not sure, yet."

They talked for awhile and Kankurou promised to help him make plans to find an apartment after his discharge. He would have to recover in Konoha because his physical condition barred him from boarding a plane.

After Kankurou left, the silence of the ward sank down on him heavily, but his siblings' questions still echoed in his mind.

Have you ever thought of a partner? What do you plan to do if you can't play anymore?

He didn't want a family. Heck, he didn't even know if he could be a good husband/father...he was a swinging bachelor cum jock for Kami's sake. Sure, he had a jaw dropping salary which would keep him afloat for years and years down the road, but it was bound to lure gold diggers too. That was the problem. It was in excess. He had to end his career one day, he knew that. And he didn't like what came after that.

Gaara couldn't see him settling down with a wife and kids...yet some part - a tiny, minuscule part - of him still believed that perhaps he could...

He closed his eyes. This was giving him a major headache.

The accident had brought a whole wave of important life questions he had thought of but never seriously pondered over before, and he felt as though he was drowning in them right now.