Chapter 7: The sadness in his eyes

Again this chapter isn't a lemon chapter lol or a gory one either. It's cute . Later the chapters will get a lot more intense and when Sasuke said that this wasn't the last she'll see of him he was right ;) but I'm not going to give too much away. Enjoy the chapter!

(Start chapter)

"I think we it's about time we make camp," Gaara said looking around calmly at the new surroundings. I was huffing loudly when we all stopped panting for air so it was strange that Gaara did not even break a sweat.

"You're right about that," Kiba said his hands on his knees sucking in as much air as possible. "That was a tough run thanks to captain Hyuuga over there."

Neji just smirked also panting lightly but not much and a few beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. "Maybe you should train harder instead of losing all your energy in the beginning."

"He's not the only one that's tired," Ino said leaning on Shikamaru who was also slouched over in a lazy position. "That was a very tough run."

"I-I tr-tried t-to keep u-up," I said lightly breathing in heavily. My mind was racing and my heart was pounding out of control. The run was the hardest thing I had done in a long time and my body didn't want to take it. "I-I th-think I mi-might ta-take a little n-nap." And finally my mind shut down and I fell to the ground.

"Hinata?" Gaara said worriedly running to my side. "Hinata are you alright? Hinata…"

I lost consciousness.

(Break)

"What happened?" I said sitting up quickly. I was lying in the grass with a blanket over top of me, Gaara sitting by my side.

"You're body was under to much physical pressure and you fainted." Gaara said. "It is a natural thing when you haven't trained in a long time."

"Oh, ok," I said nodding my head. "My body hurts really badly though." I put my hand on my stomach and felt the tense muscles.

"Here," Gaara said passing me what looked to be nutrition bar. "You haven't eaten all day and you need as much energy as you can get. It isn't that bad actually."

I opened the nutrition bar and took a bite, chewed and swallowed. It had a very herbal taste that I liked for it made it taste more natural then anything. I took another bite and chewed.

"Hinata-hime!" Tenten said jumping out of the tree that was overtop of me. She landed in front of me with a smile. "I'm so glad you're awake. You scared me half to death when you fainted again! I don't want you running tomorrow!"

"And what do you suppose I do then?" I asked rolling my eyes even though you never really could tell I was. She shrugged lightly in response.

"I'll carry you," Gaara said nonchalantly. "That run was nothing for me so I could use the training anyways."

I looked at him not really surprised for he seemed to be getting me out of all kinds of situations lately. He really was a reliable friend to have around.

"That's perfect!" Tenten said jumping up. "Now at least you won't die!"

"I was never going to die," I said with a chuckle. "I just keep forgetting my limits."

"She has all the right to say that Hinata," Neji said walking over. "I distinctly remember when I was training you that even though you had no chakra left you still tried fighting me and ended up hurting yourself more. Someday I think that persistency of yours will be the death of you."

"Has anyone ever told you that you take things to seriously?" I asked Neji. "I just wanted to prove to you that I wasn't weak but in the end I just showed you how truly weak I really was."

"To fight even when things seem hopeless may seem stupid and idiotic," Gaara said to Neji seriously. "But it can be the most courageous act of all. What would have happened to both of us those many years back if that old woman didn't help us? She went out on a limb and saved our lives while ultimately sacrificing her own even when it seemed hopeless."

"But there was a chance Gaara," Neji said. "If there is absolutely no chance of winning then what's the point? You're just sacrificing yourself when it isn't necessary…"

"There's always a chance Neji," Gaara said closing his eyes. "You will be very powerful and wise one day as soon as you realise that."

"I'm going to go set up my tent," Neji said opening the top part of his backpack.

"Shoot," I said frustrated. "I forgot my tent!"

"We were supposed to bring tents?" Tenten said shocked.

"It really had been way to long since you two went on missions," Neji said with a chuckle. "Tenten you can share my tent if you want. We were on the same team after all and had to share tents many times before this."

Tenten nodded thankfully then looked back at me. "Ino can probably spare some room for you."

"Cant," Ino said walking over. "I'm sharing with Shikamaru. We discussed this before we left so that one of us would have more room in our packs."

"Guess you're stuck with me then," Kiba said with a wink.

"You can share my tent," Gaara said bowing his head lightly.

Everyone looked at this surprised. Gaara was the one that they were supposed to be hired for so he deserved his own tent but he was openly sharing it with a medical chunin. Tenten wasn't too surprised though.

"I couldn't possibly," I said embarrassed.

"Oh she will," Ino said eyeing Kiba. "I won't let her share a tent with that mangy mutt."

"Hey that hurts," Kiba said. "But I'll get over it. Looks like it's just me and you Akamaru." Akamaru gave a little bark in return.

Neji looked at Gaara with a tinge of anger.

"I guess it's settled," Tenten said with a smile.

(Break)

"Its bout time we all get to bed," Neji said yawning zipping open his tent. "I want to get to Suna by nightfall tomorrow so you need all the rest you can get."

"Drill sergeant," Ino said rolling her eyes and getting into her own tent beside Shikamaru. Kiba was already sleeping in his own tent.

I looked up at the stars one more time enjoying the feeling of the one thing permanent in my life. I then stepped in the tent as Gaara turned on the electric lantern and began pulling blankets out of his bag.

"Here," He said handing me one of the blankets which I accepted thankfully and spread it on the floor of the tent then plopped down on it. I could feel Gaara stand up.

"I think I'm going to go to sleep…WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Gaara's jacket and vest had fallen to the floor and he was pulling off his black shirt.

"Changing," Gaara said casually.

"You could have warned me," I said feeling my cheeks go abnormally red.

"We're both Shinobi," Gaara said. "It shouldn't be that big of a deal…Hinata are you ok?"

I was burying my red face in the blanket trying to cover up my embarrassment when I felt his hand touch my forehead lightly and I gave a little squeak.

"I think you're running a fever," Gaara said worriedly and I turned over and gave an even louder squeak for he was sitting on his knees hunched over, the muscles in his torso tensed lightly, so he could put his hand on my forehead. His face was scrunched in a worried expression with his eyes alight and his blood red hair was wisped over to one side. He was just so god damn sexy! I felt my heart pound loudly in my chest and my hands twitch to pull him down to me but I restrained with all my might. "Hinata do you need me to get Ino?"

My mind couldn't bear the stress any longer and clouded over letting consciousness slip away.

(Break)

I blinked my eyes open lightly feeling soothing warmth around me when I noticed an arm around my waist. I blushed bright pink at this and looked around. Gaara had fallen asleep behind me with his nose still scrunched in a worried expression. He must have changed into a black T-shirt last night before he went to sleep. I looked at his calm face with a smile. His dark rimmed eyelids seemed less dark then usual which surprised me a bit. I looked at the love symbol on his forehead studying it's ever curve. I had such an urge to kiss it gently but I didn't. I felt my cheeks go even brighter when his eyes blinked open lightly and I looked away hoping that he didn't notice I was staring at his face while he was sleeping.

"I fell asleep?" he asked confused. "I don't fall asleep…" That's when he noticed the awkward position we were in. We were lying really close to each other, his arm around me and his hand lightly skimming my lower back. My own hands were pressed against his chest and my cheeks were bright red. "This is well a little um…awkward."

"What exactly happened last night?" I asked lightly not really moving away. He seemed to notice this and his cheeks went lightly pink.

"Well you fainted and then your temperature went back to normal for a while," Gaara said. "But then you started shivering so I gave you my blanket but you were still shivering so I shared some of my body heat with you and you stopped shivering but I guess I must have fallen asleep…"

"You seem confused about falling asleep," I said. "It isn't an uncommon thing to do."

"But I don't fall asleep," Gaara said. "The most I do is shut my eyes and stay between unconsciousness and reality. Never in my entire life have I fallen into total sleep."

"That's strange," I said.

"Hinata? Gaara? We're packing up now because we have to leave pronto…" Tenten said opening the tent door.

"It's not what it looks like," I said to Tenten feeling my cheeks go bright red.

"Sure," Tenten said with a wink. "I'll go stall a bit for you two."

"Tenten!" I said as she zipped up the door of the tent. "Now she going to think I'm in love with you for sure…" I couldn't believe what I just said to him. I felt my cheeks go bright red and I stood up quickly. "Wow, um…look at the time! We must get going!"

"I understand Hinata," Gaara said standing up and grabbing his pack off the floor. "Sometimes people do not know where the line between friendship and love is. I saw how she winks at you every time I say hi."

I felt my cheeks go bright red again.

"Thank you," I said with a smile. "But she's going to use this against me from now on. I'm so sick of arguing with her…"

"Then don't," Gaara said. "All we need to know is that we are friends. Let her keep believing what she wants to. Anyways, she shouldn't think so lightly about love. It is such a fickle thing."

I looked at Gaara surprised as his sadness shone through once again. Something must have happened to him a long time ago to make him this depressed towards love…

"You look sad," I said lightly. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Gaara said. "What's wrong is how people can love other people but as soon as they find one flaw in them they lose total interest and leave forever. What's wrong is that the one person who was left broken will always be left broken no matter what. What's wrong is that God would create such a despicable thing like me that could never be loved ever…"

I looked at him surprised feeling my heart thump loudly within my chest. I felt his anger and rage in his aura all around me and was being consumed by it.

"I don't see any monster in front of me," I said breaking the silence. He turned around surprised at this. "I don't know what happened to make you so bitter towards true love but you are surrounded with love Gaara. People who care about you. People who want to see you happy. How can you be so cynical? You are the one who has the word etched across your forehead and has possessed greater love then many I know."

"But no one loves me back," he said. "And that's what makes me so bitter Hinata. There is no one in the world out there for me. I thought I had found it once but when she found out what I was she despised me…I know many things Hinata and one thing I am sure of is that the love I show will never return back to me by another. That is why I keep my friends so dear to me because they're people who at least care enough about me and treat me like I'm a real person."

"But what if someone did love you back," I said putting my hand against my thumping chest. "What if someone right now was so totally in love with you and not just apart of you but the whole you but she was to afraid to say anything. She was too afraid that her heart would be broken like so many other countless times. Her love for you burns brightly but still you do not see it or at least try not to…"

"Hinata?" Gaara asked worriedly as a tear dripped down my cheek.

"She's confused Gaara," I said. "So confused because every time she sees you walk by her cheeks burn red and every time you smirk or look intensely at her, her heart starts racing. She didn't know what these feelings meant but the only conclusion is that she is so in love with you. Gaara-kun you are loved more then you will ever know."

I felt even more tears fall down my cheeks when he didn't say anything back.

"I didn't want to love her," Gaara said lightly walking towards me. "I didn't want my heart to break anymore but I keep finding myself thinking about her, worrying when she is sick, smiling when she is happy, fighting back when she needs protection. I didn't want to love her but it was inevitable for she means everything to me."

I felt his fingertips under my chin pushing my head up lightly so I could see into his eyes.

"I keep searching her eyes for answers but have never found any till now," he said grabbing my hand and placing it against his chest. I felt his heart racing almost as fast as my own. He then leaned in and kissed my lips gently. I felt butterflies in my stomach and a happiness in my core that I had never felt before. He was about to pull away gently but I put my arms around his neck and pulled him in again in a passionate kiss that made every inch of me tingle lightly. His hands rested on my waist lightly as I pushed him closer deepening the kiss as much as possible. Finally I pulled away gently feeling even more tears fall down my cheeks as I panted lightly. My arms were still around his neck and his hands were still one my waist lightly.

"Does this make me meaningless?" I asked with a light smile.

"No you are the most meaningful person in my entire life," Gaara said his eyes so intense that I couldn't look away. "I love you Hinata."

"I love you too," I said pressing my lips against his again. After another passionate kiss I pulled away and let my arms fall to my sides. "We better get going or they're going to wonder what's up."

Gaara nodded pulling out fresh clothing for the day but it was different then his normal clothing. It was the official Kazekage clothing. He began pulling off his black shirt to put on the deep crème coloured undershirt.

I grabbed my own pack and pulled out a lavender tank-top and a pair of tan trunks a lot like Neji's. I pulled my own shirt off without thinking and started pulling down my shorts.

"Um Hinata…you're kind of…well um…" Gaara said his cheeks lightly pink.

"Oh," I said going crimson red as I pulled on the lavender shirt and trunks as quickly as possible. "I kind of forgot. You know I'm just kind of used to taking off my clothing in front of people so I didn't think much of it."

Gaara just turned back around and put the crème coloured robe around his shoulders and the matching crème coloured scarf around his neck. The robe a blue rimming to signifying that he was the Kazekage of Suna.

"Where's the hat?" I asked with a chuckle.

"In my bag, why?" Gaara asked.

"Never mind," I said giggling even more.

"Oh so you think it's funny," He said.

"Maybe a little bit," I said covering my mouth with my hand.

"Let's go," Gaara said packing all the blankets and dirty clothing into his pack. "I hope your friend stalled long enough or they might start thinking things."

"I thought you said that they could think what they wanted to," I said with a chuckle. "And anyways, why do we have to keep this a secret?"

"Cause your cousin will kill me," Gaara said running his fingers though his scruffy red hair. "I may be Kazekage but that boy has skills and I don't want to be the one in his path even if I can beat him."

I just smiled at this and unzipped the door of the tent and walked out. When I looked around everyone was trying to avoid eye contact except Neji who was fuming and Tenten who had a smile across her face.

"You," Neji said walking over pointing a finger at Gaara's chest. "I thought you said that you were just fri…"

"Neji, calm down," Tenten said putting her hand on his shoulder. He let his hand fall to his side but I could swear he was cursing under his breath.

"You eavesdropped on us?" I asked surprised feeling my cheeks burn bright red.

"Well I wouldn't call it eavesdropping," Ino said looking down at her feet with her hands clasped behind her back. "Just kind of overheard from a distance."

"Can I wring his neck now?" Neji said cracking his knuckles.

"No you may not," Tenten said calmly.

"Well isn't this an awkward way for you to find out," I said connecting my two index fingers together.

"And how long exactly has this been going on?" Neji said angrily mostly towards Gaara.

"Didn't you here a thing they said?" Shikamaru said rolling his eyes.

"It was more the silent parts that had me worried," Neji said crossing his arms across his chest.

"We discussed this earlier Neji," Tenten said lightly. "Remember, Gaara or Kiba…"

"You were talking about Gaara-kun and I before this?" I asked astounded. "And what about this 'either Gaara or Kiba' thing? I would like some answers now please."

"And we would to," Neji said his eyes so fierce that he had accidentally activated his byakugan. This made me chuckle lightly but I tried to cover it up.

"Neji," I said as calmly and seriously as I could. "I'm not a child anymore and I don't need a father to tell me who I can spend the rest of my life with. If you're wondering it is true that I have fallen in love with Gaara but I am not ashamed and I cannot change my heart now."

"I love her," Gaara stated plainly but when I looked at him his eyes were so intense that anyone who looked at it would believe him right when they saw it. I intertwined my fingers with his lightly.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Tenten said with a chuckle. "I knew it all along. I was right! Why didn't you just tell me the truth in the beginning anyways?"

"Because I hardly understood the emotion myself," I said lightly. "I was to afraid that if I told you how I truly felt then you would act differently around me and I don't know I just didn't."

"You can tell me anything," Tenten said reassuringly. "I am your best friend after all."

"So does this mean my chances are lost?" Kiba said.

"You never had any chances," Ino laughed. "Now let's get these tents put away and get to Sunagakure before I run out of clean clothing alright?"

I turned to Gaara. "I want to run this Gaara." I said confidently.

"But you've been having random fainting lately," Tenten said worriedly. "Not to mention the rest of the trip to Suna is like three times harder then this for there is more miles to cover and not to mention the temperature change. You're going to run yourself dry Hinata!"

"Fine," Gaara said nodding his head. Everyone looked over surprised.

"Thank you," I said with a smile and I then began stretching my leg muscles as Gaara started putting the tent away. Everyone watched blankly at what had just happened.

"If you were so tired that you nearly fainted then there is no chance that you'll make it to Suna without fainting," Neji said trying to convince me to change my mind. "You're just going to get yourself more hurt…"

"She's taking a risk Neji," Gaara said intervening in the conversation. "Life is not tried it is merely survived when you don't try. Life isn't something that you should wave as it passes by you because you're always going to be looking for the greatest moment in your life just to find out that it has already happened. Don't stand around the fire watching it, tight-rope walk overtop of it even if you may get burned but at least you get the thrill of trying when if you're just standing around it then there is nothing meaningful or purposeful about it (Yah I used every cliché line to describe a risk that I know of in one paragraph XP). Let her take this risk Neji. Let her try."

"Fine," Neji said staring at Gaara angrily. "But what happens if she falls then?"

"Then I will be there to pick her up when she falls," Gaara retorted. Everyone went silent at this comment even Neji. Something about Gaara's intensity made it hard to disagree with him for he always seemed so right about things. Gaara then turned back to folding the deep green material of the tent.

"We should sing a song to pass the time," Ino said yawning loudly as everyone finished packing their own tents. We all stood up with our backpacks filled to the brim and our minds set on the journey a heard of us. "At least then this trip won't be so unbearable after all."

"And what song would you like us to sing?" Kiba asked sarcastically which earned him a punch in the shoulder.

"I don't know," Ino said. "Something. Maybe we could do like a karaoke. You know take turns singing a song."

"No," Neji said crossing his arms. "I definitely refuse."

"Oh, but I heard the Hyuuga's have such lovely singing voices," Kiba mocked with a chuckle.

"Don't make me hurt you," Neji said cracking his knuckles. "I'm already in a bad mood."

"Fine then," Ino said pouting lightly. "Instead why don't we play truth?"

"Ah but the best question has already been solved," Tenten said pointing at Gaara and I. "What else is there to ask about?"

"There's lots," Ino said with a smirk. "We'll start as soon as we get running."

I stretched out my arm muscles once more then walked over beside Neji who had already sent energy through his veins and to his eyes activating the Byakugan. I did the same adjusting to the new 360 degree vision.

"We then began running forward. I started out roughly trying to catch my breath as I chased after Neji but soon I found the perfect speed where I was running with the wind almost pushing my feet forward so I wasn't losing much energy anymore. If only I had worked harder in the beginning yesterday then I would have been ok but I didn't. I matched Neji step for step keeping as close to him as possible.

"Since I came up with the idea I'll go first," Ino said running beside Shikamaru. "Neji, do you like Tenten?"

This made Neji slow down but then he regained his speed almost instantly. Everyone seemed to notice this and chuckled. "As a friend and a team partner yes I do," He said smoothly for this was a good answer to an awkward question.

"I mean more then just friends and team-mates," Ino said. I looked back and noticed that Tenten had gone bright pink and she was running beside Gaara. Gaara had a smirk on his face as he looked forwards straight at Neji and then his eyes met mine. I felt my own cheeks burn brightly and I smiled then faced forward.

"I don't have to play this game," Neji said confidently. "It is just an immature childish game."

"Then why did you answer the first question?" Ino asked giggling louder. Everyone knew that something was definitely going on if Neji wasn't going to be straight off blunt about it.

"Fine the answer to your question is that I never like people more then friends for I believe that destiny will bring the person who I am to love to me. I will wait but I will not look for the eye is fickle while destiny is real."

"Smart answer," Gaara said running up beside Neji. "But how is destiny going to show you to the one that you should love when you keep ignoring its call? How will you ever know what love is unless you go out on a limb for another? So what if you break? You just have to get back up on your feet again and try. I've already learned that lesson."

"You are full of strange insight," Neji said looking at Gaara curiously. "Deeper then any I know. You have the basis of a higher branch Hyuuga."

"I do not possess any insight that others can't find for themselves," Gaara said back. "I just decided long ago that I would see through eyes unclouded by hate and fear for then I would know what true peace really was. It's attainable Neji."

"You surprise me Gaara," Neji said. "And you keep surprising me. You have hope that I haven't seen in any other and I am now reassured about Hinata's decision although if you ever hurt her I regret that I will have to track you down and wring your neck."

"Understood," Gaara said nodding his head. "You're doing much better then yesterday." Gaara said running over towards me.

"I think I found my zone," I said with a smile. "Thanks to you." I could tell everyone was looking away embarrassed. I just smiled more and grabbing his hand intertwining my fingers with his. "I'm so happy."

"And a good thing too," Tenten said sighing loudly to signify relief. "You seemed like depression was you're best friend lately and I was wondering when you would get out of it."

"Tenten," Ino said turning to her with a grin. "You're turn. So do you like Neji?"

This time Tenten went even redder then I've ever seen her go before.

"Do we really have to play this game?" Tenten squeaked.

"Just leave her be," I said with a chuckle. "I think we already have our answer."

"But I want to hear her say it," Ino said with a smirk. "Come on, spill."

"This is so immature," Neji said butting in. "I would rather run without talking as a distraction. We do want to make it to Suna…"

"By nightfall, we get it," Ino said rolling her eyes. "Drill sergeant," She said under her breath but I could tell Neji had heard this for he had smirked lightly then turned back towards the road ahead.

I looked forward, wind under my heels, enjoying every moment of feeling so free and happy. Happy was a word I had come accustomed to in the last week and a half. Never had I felt so strong when I held his hand in mine. A strength not that can be wielded for force but an inner strength called love.

(Break)

"Finally," Kiba said as we looked forward at the tall gate before us. I felt the sweat dripping down my forehead not from the run but from the intense heat all around me. I never knew it could get so hott and was glad that I wore baggy trunks and a tank-top. I looked at Gaara expecting him to be drenched in sweat but only a few beads of sweat were visible on his brow. I stood surprised.

"To cold in Konoha for you wasn't it Gaara?" Neji said stopping beside Gaara panting lightly while wiping the beads of sweat of his own forehead. "You're in your own turf now. Not even I would face you will this much sand around."

"Without the Shukaku my control over the sand is very limited," Gaara said. "I can't do those major attacks anymore and gave up using my basin while equipping these." He pushed his robe aside lightly to reveal 5 little tubes attached to his belt. "There not much but they hold enough sand for me to do some damage."

"Hey even without the Shukaku I wouldn't come near you in a battle," Kiba said stepping back while waving his hands. "I saw what you did to those Shinobi in the chunin exams. It wasn't pretty."

"Well I did tell them the truth," Gaara said nodding his head.

"That you'd make the sky rain their blood…" Kiba said remembering it with a disgusted expression. "I'm so glad that you're on my side."

"Well looks like I'm home," Gaara said tilting his hat over his eyes so that you couldn't see his expression. I was a little surprised for I wanted to see the look in his eyes. I walked over to him and pushed his hat up with the tips of y fingers to see his eyes full of sadness. "Sorry," he said looking away.

"Are you ok?" I asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Gaara said but I could tell his voice sounded stressed. I walked over to face him again and tilted his hat up again.

"Is there any room under that hat for me Gaara-kun?" I asked with a smile as I pressed my lips lightly against his. I could tell that everyone was looking away embarrassed again but I didn't care as long as I could make Gaara feel better. When I pulled away his eyes were brighter then before.

"We better go," Gaara said lightly. I nodded and turned back towards the group. Neji had a glint of anger in his eyes but I could tell he was restraining from punching Gaara out.

I looked at the gate before me one more time and we walked forward straight to our destinies.

(End Chapter)

Hahahaha I lied to you all. This chapter was definitely intense wasn't it? Well with the title of the chapter it just had to be intense lol. I knew I should have held back a kiss a few chapters ago because that was definitely mind-blowing (At least to me lol). Finally together , although I would have loved to be in Hinata's place underneath Gaara-kun's hat XD. If you stick to reading stories of mine even after this story is finished then you'll notice I rite the romance early so that it can be a romance turned tragic… shoot I shouldn't have given that much away. Disregard everything I just said lol. Hope you enjoyed it and please review!