Chapter 9
"It's good to be back." The man removed his suit jacket and looked at the Uchiha manor.
The gates slowly opened, giving him permission to enter.
"Welcome." The maids all lined up, greeted as the man entered.
"Mr. Uchiha will be with you in a minute." The acting-head maid bowed.
The man then slip out his cigar and lit it up.
"Don't smoke inside the manor."
The man blew out a puff of smoke before grinning.
"It's been a while Sasuke."
"Hn."
"No smoking inside the manor please." Hinata swiftly took the cigarette from the man's fingers as she turned it off.
"Hinata? You're up, are you okay?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes, I was awoken by the smoke."
"Apologies. This is Sabaku no Gaara, a friend of mine." Sasuke introduced.
"You can just call me Gaara." Gaara bowed.
"I'm a self proclaimed business man." He added.
"Drug dealer." Sasuke interrupted. Gaara ingored him.
"I have a lot of businesses around the world." Gaara spoke as he smiled.
"Human trafficking." Sasuke cut in.
"I have ties with the officers of law enforcement."
"Bribery." Sasuke yet again cut in, making Gaara lower his head.
"You called me here and treat me so indifferently." Gaara mumbled.
"You're a Mafia Boss, how can telling someone your real identity be indifferent?"
"Well, Miss Hinata, What do you think?" the maid beside her asked.
"I think you really are Sasuke's friend." Hinata giggled.
"You're smiling." Sasuke uttered.
"Eh?"
"Nothing, I'm glad you're feeling fine."
"So, she's the damsel in distress." Gaara crossed his arms.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"I'm sorry. I have to go to the company." Sasuke spoke as he looked at his phone.
"I have to leave. Gaara, dare mess with her and I'll crush you with my bare hands." Sasuke didn't fail to threaten before he kissed Hinata's forehead and took his leave.
"Wow, he has it hard for you, doesn't he?" Gaara commented as he looked at Hinata.
Hinata just clasped her hands.
"Would you like something to eat?" She asked. She didn't wait for his response as she headed to the kitchen.
Gaara silently followed and watched her as she prepared breakfast.
"Hinata? You're making breakfast? Didn't Sasuke already take his leave?" Tsurumi asked not noticing the man who sat behind the counter.
"Oh Mamma Mia!" Tsurumi almost dropped the utensils as she saw Gaara's frame.
"I'm sorry." Tsurumi bowed repeatedly.
"Is he your friend Hinata?"
"He's Sasuke's so I guess so."
"Oh I see, well I just came to get some fruits so I'll be leaving then."
After Tsurumi left the kitchen, Gaara set his eyes back at Hinata.
"H-How did you became friends with Sasuke?" Hinata asked.
"Hmm, taking quite the interest, huh? Well, it started during our first year in college, when we were dormed, I was with Sasuke, at first I really thought of him as a prick since he barely spoke enough words even when he found out I was in a mafia. Then, on our second year, I dropped out of college, I really thought that was the last time I was going to see him but every time I was being chased by hooligans I ended up coming back at our dorm. I endlessly bothered him his whole college life, damn, I actually thought he hated me."
"What happened next?" Hinata asked.
"Huh?"
"You stopped, did something happen?"
"Yeah, during his graduation, I promised to go see him walk up on stage but I got caught up with some trouble. I was outnumbered, and when I was losing consciousness, I apologized, I apologized to Sasuke that I didn't get to keep our promise but before I could close my eyes, I saw him panting hard." Gaara paused as he locked eyes with Hinata.
"He saved my life that day, he got to blame me for missing his graduation but he saved my life."
FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUU!
Their daze was quickly broken by the whistling of the kettle.
Hinata prepared his meal and poured him cup of tea.
"Help yourself." Hinata smiled brightly.
And, for the first time in a long time, the kitchen was filled with laughter as two strangers turned friends had their conversation.
Sasuke felt very tired as he entered the manor.
"Here, drink it, it's good for weariness." Hinata smiled as he handed him a cup of green tea.
"Being greeted by your smile is enough for me." Sasuke smiled as he pulled Hinata for a kiss.
"So, what have you been up to during my absence?" Sasuke asked after breaking the kiss.
"Your friend's really crazy. Gaara bought a huge trampoline earlier and we were jumping on it for more than an hour, it was really fun."
"I'm glad you had fun." Sasuke's eyes flattered close, his head dropping on Hinata's shoulders.
Hinata smiled and kissed Sasuke's forehead.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Do you need some help?"
Hinata turned to the person standing across them.
"Sure, thank you."
Hinata slowed moved out of Sasuke's lap as Itachi carried Sasuke to his bed.
"I see you're doing well." Itachi spoke.
"Yes, I'm really sorry for ignoring you the other day—"
"It's okay, you don't have to apologize. You're it a tight position at the moment, I understand."
"Well, I see Tsurumi smiling more everyday."
"I really do hope I'm the reason behind it."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, you should go to bed too. Good night Hinata." Itachi ruffled her hair and smiled before he spun and headed to sleep.
Hinata took a last glance at Sasuke's sleeping frame before she closed the door and headed to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. It would help her before heading to sleep.
As she returned the jar of water in the refrigerator, she heard something getting broken outside. She went out to the patio to find a broken pot. She sighed and went back inside to get a broom and a dustpan. She cleaned the mess indeed but something else was outside with her and she could tell, she could feel that someone was watching her. There was no brushing the feeling now, someone was definitely watching her as she heard footsteps.
She quickly looked around before entering the house and locking the door. She slowly backed away from the door and almost screamed after she bumped into someone. Her mouth was instantly covered by a hand as Gaara held her tight and gestured her to be quiet.
"Someone's outside." Hinata whispered after Gaara uncovered her mouth.
"It's okay, calm down Hinata." Gaara embraced her as she started trembling.
"Why don't you sleep in my room for the moment, I'll have my men round the area if someone really is out there then your room won't be safe."
Hinata nodded her head.
After Hinata was settled on the bed, Gaara motioned to leave.
"Please don't leave." Hinata mumbled as she caught hold of his arm.
"I won't, I'll be staying at the couch, I'll be here."
Hinata hesitated before she ungrasp her hold.
Gaara was too troubled that he had two Smith & Wesson .500 Magnum fully loaded in front of him. He glanced back at Hinata, she was silently sleeping. His fists' clenched as he thought back on what Hinata told her.
Flashback
"So, what's the trouble? It must be something big if not why would Sasuke bother calling me here?" Gaara asked as Hinata and he were both seated on the trampoline he bought.
"I-it's…" Hinata was struggling to speak. She cleared her throat and clenched her pants.
"It's my father." It took her all the courage to say it.
Gaara's eyes went wide.
"He's vengeance on having him locked up for twelve years is haunting me."
"Did he touch you?" Gaara's voice was dark.
Hinata twitched, she knew what Gaara meant.
"Please don't tell this to Sasuke."
End of Flashback
Hinata's response was too vague, it wasn't clear if he did or didn't but what Gaara does know is that he won't ever let Hinata's father touch even a single hair on her body.
~Boss?~
~What is it? Did you find anything?~ Gaara answered the radio.
~Someone broke into a room inside the manor, Boss. We've done a sweep but no one seems to be inside the room nor did anyone enter the rest of the manor.~
~Check anything that's out of place maybe something was left inside the room.~
~Roger.~
Gaara sighed as he turned the radio off. This was too much for him, he's losing his serenity and for some old stalker. He chuckled as he brushed his hair.
"I've faced events far more serious than this so why am I so uncomposed? Hell, I even faced death itself so tell me why do I feel scared of seeing you getting hurt?" He asked to Hinata's sleeping frame.
After staring at Hinata, Gaara chuckled.
"So, that's what this is, huh?" He mumbled before his eyes closed and sent himself to sleep.
"Gaara."
Gaara woke up from the gentle shaking.
"How long did I sleep? What time is it?" Gaara asked as he sat up from the couch.
"It's already pass 10 am, I brought you breakfast." Hinata smiled as she presented the tray of gourmet.
"How 'bout Sasuke?"
"He already left for a three day business tour."
"That short?"
"He promised returning as soon as possible."
"Well, since we have that much of time how 'bout we go to my hunting ground?"
"Would it be okay?"
"Of course, besides I'll be teaching you how to shoot." Gaara smiled.
Getting to learn how to handle a gun sure motivated Hinata as she shook her head in response.
"Boss, the targets are already in place." A man reported as Hinata and Gaara reached the hunting ground which Gaara mentioned. Turns out it literally is a hunting ground as they were in the mountains.
"Here a Smith & Wesson's M&P, it's a nice gun for beginners." Gaara handed Hinata the handgun.
"We'll be taking a hike to reach the shooting range, is that okay?"
Hinata nodded her head.
"Be on gear first before I show you the basics." Gaara spoke in a subtle way which surprised Hinata and also made her obey.
Hinata felt nervous as she stood at the firing range.
"Let me show you first." Gaara kept a stern emotion as he spoke.
"Stay behind me, at least 1-2 yards. Always remember to keep distance from a shooter." Gaara instructed.
He shot the targets with finesse that it seemed so easy to do.
"There are 4 rules in gun safety. First, treat every firearm as if it were loaded." Gaara took another shot with a single hand.
"Second, never point your gun at anything you're not willing to destroy."
Bang! Another shot.
"Third, Keep your finger of the trigger until you're ready to fire." Gaara demonstrated it before he took down another bottle(target).
"Lastly, be sure of your target and what's behind it."
Gaara then left the firing range as he gestured Hinata to try.
'Hoow am I even going to do this? The target is too far but somehow Gaara can easily shot them.' Hinata thought as she raised her gun and aimed at one of the targets before firing. The force from the shot made her step back a little.
"You missed." Gaara stated.
Gaara's stern voice is scary and it's hugely affecting Hinata's focus.
"Here, let your arms be parallel with your shoulders. Extend your arms and have your feet also be parallel with your arms. Make sure that the gun is aligned to the middle of your chest. Then, lean forward a little and bend your knees. The grip is also important. Now, try shooting."
Hinata exhaled as she focused herself at the target.
Bang!
"I did it!" Hinata exclaimed as she jumped happily.
"Drop your gun first, don't do that."
"Sorry."
"Hit all the targets first before I prepare the next target."
That became Hinata and Gaara's routine for three consecutive days as Gaara thought Hinata to fire different firearms and at various distances too.
