Chapter 8: A Hug for a Thousand Reasons
It took Hinata three more days to leave the hospital. Gaara didn't visit—not that she would expect him to. Naruto visited her though. Only once, but she was so happy. He gave her words of encouragement, which made her stronger. It only made her want to love Naruto more, but, in a way, it made her want to love Gaara.
Shameful. Twisted. Cruel. She knew.
Hinata didn't want to leave the house today. She couldn't find a reason to leave the house—a reason good enough. Apparently, she was still too ill to leave the house. There was a knock on her bedroom door.
"Come in."
Neji entered the room. Hinata knew, she didn't have to look. That pair of hating eyes piercing into her was enough of proof. She could feel the intense feelings of sadness, pain, and hatred in those eyes.
"Lady, does this have to do with Naruto?"
"Does what have to do with Naruto?" Hinata asked, turning to her cousin. A small smile erupted. About Naruto? No, not this time, this time it was all about Gaara.
"You have been acting… lovesick, lately," Neji replied. Hinata wondered how he would know what it was like to feel lovesick. But Neji continued, "All day, you've been wanting to leave the house. You look like a lovesick puppy, looking out that window."
Hinata blushed slightly at Neji's careful observation. She shook her head. "I'm p-perfectly find, Neji! Honest!"
A slight worry crossed his face, but he turned away. "As you say, Hinata."
Then he left the room. Hinata was still blushing. What was there to like about Gaara anyway? Other than his pain, she probably thought of it as adopting an abandoned puppy. If she wanted to change herself, she could help change another—right? Hinata sighed and plopped her head into her pillow. What a lie she was telling herself. There were a lot of things to like about Gaara.
His determination.
His strength.
His sureness.
Everything.
"He doesn't need my love… I need his love," Hinata mumbled. She turned her head to find him stand there. Gaara stood tall as he looked down at her.
"Is that it now?"
"Yeah, I guess it is," Hinata replied, blinking back the frustrated tears. "I'm a pathetic being. I need people who don't need me."
Gaara's eyes told her what she didn't need to know. Hinata glanced away for a moment, but Gaara forced her face back at him. "Please, let me pity myself. Even if I can't pass anyone, let me pass my expectations…"
A look of disgust passed Gaara's face and he shoved her face away. Hinata rubbed the sore spot on her cheek where his nails had dug into her face. Gaara's eyes were telling her to stop drowning in self-pity, but Hinata couldn't.
"I need to borrow you," Gaara stated. He pulled her up on her feet and pulled her into a rough embrace. Hinata noted that his face, though it looked smooth, was actually very gritty. It was probably from all that sand. The two stood there for a moment, then Gaara shoved himself away. "I have to go."
The redheaded boy looked back and the two held each other's gaze. He then turned away and left out the window. Hinata started to cry.
"I can't stop loving Naruto, Gaara. I can't."
End of Chapter 8: A Hug for A Thousand Reasons
Author's Notes: Eck, I don't know who will be reading this, but... I finally got to uploading it. I finished the story a LONG time ago, I just never got around to uploading it. Luckily for me, however, I finished my flash video for class and recieved a 'That was the most pimpin' movie ever!' from one of my classmates. Soooo... yeah.
Long Time No See,
Sammy
