See I told you. I never break a promise. Here is my second update of the day, sorry if it's a lot later then the other one, but my computers been acting all moody. I was lucky to even get this up. So truly enjoy. Yeah, before I forget, Kiba and Shino get a bigger part in this one. You can cheer now.
Disclaimer: Check out the other chapters, they say it all.
Hinata gazed over the village, as she sat under the willow tree that had unknowingly been her and Gaara's first meeting place. She let out a long sigh. Tomorrow would be her wedding day, and her groom would be her cousin, Neji. She had hoped against hope that Gaara would have come for her by now, but she knew that no matter how she felt about her family, she would do anything to protect Gaara.
'I wonder where he is now. Oh, please be safe.'
She closed her eyes and let Gaara's face invade her mind. She missing the momentary puff of smoke that rose from somewhere deep within the heart of the village.
Gaara was forced out of his thoughts of how he had failed Hinata, by a huge explosion not too far from his cell. The entire dungeon rocked with the force of the boom. It wasn't enough to shock him. It only made him stir a bit. He allowed his mind to recede back in on itself. He heard the doors of his cell open, but didn't bother to look up. If Neji wanted to play with him, he sure as hell wasn't going to make it easy. Fortunately it wasn't Neji.
"Come on you stupid sand baka. We have to go now."
Kiba and Shino stood outside the open cell doors. They had come to save Gaara after Akamaru had run to Kiba and told him Neji and Hiashi's entire plan. Gaara stood ready to attack them. He didn't care why they had come, or who had sent them. This was his way to her, and he wasn't going to let these two stand in his way. Kiba rolled his eyes.
"We don't have time for this. We're not here to take you back to Suna, we're here because of Hinata."
Gaara relaxed his stance. He still wasn't strong enough to use any jutsu but he could still put up a fight if it came to it, and he wasn't going to stand around and wait for her to be married or worse to that cocky S.O.B Neji. A bug landed on Shino's shoulder and after a moment he spoke up.
"We should go. There's someone coming this way."
Footsteps rang down the corridor as guards ran towards them. Kiba whistled for Akamaru. The blinding red, ball of fur and Kiba themselves at the wall. Another loud boom echoed through the town. They took off at high speed, heading towards the training grounds. They didn't speak until they had made it to the far end of town. Amazingly, it was Gaara who broke the silence. With his trademark stoic appearance he asked the question that now plagued him.
"Why did you safe me."
Kiba sneered at him and shook his head. He turned and started on his way towards the secret camp grounds he and Shino had set up the pervious day.
"I'm not saving you! I'm saving her. Even before we were put in this squad together I was in love with her. She should have been mine. That apparently wasn't meant to be. She's in love with you. Why, I'll never know, but if she wants to be with you then I'll make that possible. Besides, there was no way me and Shino could take on the entire Hyuuga clan tomorrow. At least this way we have fear on our side."
The next day Hinata waited for her cue to entire the great hall. Even in the summer heat, with the white kimono on she shivered. All of her family and friends were assembled, exempting her teammates. There was no backing out now, and she hadn't seen Gaara in days. When the music started to play, she took a deep breath and called on all of her courage to move her feet. As she walked down the aisle she looked at her groom. All of the girls in the village had shown up just to see Neji in his tux. She would have gladly given him to anyone of them, just to see Gaara for a moment. Three steps from the alter a thought crossed her mind. She didn't have to go through with this. She could run away, find Gaara and they could be together forever. No, she couldn't do that to him. They would be chased for the rest of their lives, never having a real live, a real existence. She wouldn't do that to him.
'Don't think like that! You have to be brave for Gaara. You have to keep him safe, even if it kills you.'
She stood beside Neji and took his offered hand. She would do this, for Gaara.
Gaara, Kiba, and Shino ran through the woods. They didn't stop for anything. The wedding had already started and if they didn't hurry it would be too late to do anything. Gaara berated himself already thinking of the worst that could happen.
'We have to go faster. I won't be too late, I can't be too late! Hinata, please hold on.'
They went quickly, the priest had already recited the vows, Neji without a single any hesitation had said I do, but Hinata couldn't speak. Neji had laughed it off and had made a joke to the crowd about wedding jitters, but as seconds turned to minutes and still Hinata didn't say anything Neji became more and more annoyed. He hissed under his breath so that only she could hear.
"Speak now, or I swear that you will never see that pathetic insect of the sand again."
Hinata broke at that comment she closed her eyes and let a single tear roll down her cheek.
'I'm sorry Gaara, I truly do love you.'
She opened her eyes and with a new determination looked straight at Neji. A fire burned inside of her that made him feel uneasy, as if maybe she was the true demon. She inhaled then as loud as she could and with enough authority to make everyone in attendance look at her she began.
"I, Hyuuga Hinata, of the main branch of the Hyuuga family, and future heir, do not take my cousin, Hyuuga Neji as my husband."
Everyone in the audience stood speechless. Even Hiashi couldn't make an audible sound. Neji's anger bubbled to the surface, His handsome face twisting itself into a grim snarl.
"How dare you! You overly pampered whore! If anyone should be declining this marriage it should be me! Oh, I see, if I were your precious sand demon you'd give me anything I asked!"
Neji grabbed Hinata by her hair. She didn't cry out in pain, and refused to break eye contact with him. She would take anything that he would send her way, without fear and without backing down. Neji moved his lips to her ear, only a breath's length away.
"Tell me something lady Hinata where is you're beloved now. Why hasn't he come for you? Maybe he finally figured out that you aren't worth the trouble. Maybe he finally realized that you will always be nothing more then a pretty failure."
Neji pulled back the hand not holding Hinata up and prepared to strike her, but just as Hinata prepared herself for the strike a familiar wind swept by her face. Neji went flying through the alter. Gaara stood beside Hinata his eyes brimming with hate. Kiba and Shino arrived seconds later right behind them. Gaara didn't take his eyes off Neji as he bared his teeth.
"You will die!"
My longest chapter yet, it took a lot out of me, but I'm really proud of it. I really hope you like it. Let me take a moment to say that these have been some of the coolest reviews that I've ever read and it would be awesome if you'd keep 'em coming. I've only got a few more chapters to go, but there bound to be good. Review, NOW! Please.
