~~ Okay… so after some serious thinking, and after some really encouraging PM's and Reviews, I have decided to continue with this story. I know I am not the best author on this site, and I never claimed to be. This is a passion of mine, and I am going to see it through, regardless of how anyone tries to bring me down. I usually could just overlook the anonymous reviews, but not this time. Thank you to those who contacted me, (You all know who you are) (=^_^=)~~
Naruto and Temari walked through the village of Suna, as he took Temari's hand into his own. This was the foremost time Naruto and Temari were showing unrestricted affection in front of their fellow Suna relations. Naruto held her hand strong, ignoring the clapping and cheering of some of the citizens who had been waiting for this for countless years. Temari blushed nonchalantly, but did not release her hold with Naruto. Naruto smiled widely, brought her to his lips, and shared a passionate kiss with Temari in the middle of the town, to which everyone cheered with delight.
Gaara walked down the stairs of the Kazekage mansion, rubbing his blood shot eyes. He put his hands up, and the cheering fell down to a low lull.
"In honor of the unifying of my beloved sister, Temari to my honorary Brother Naruto, we shall celebrate tonight with a party that will light up the entire desert sky. Everyone rest up, for tonight will be a night that everyone shall remember for their entire lives!" Gaara shouted out to the crowds. Temari blushed as the newly joined female Nins took her to their apartments to get her ready for the party, while Gaara motioned for Naruto to follow him.
Safe within in the walls of the Hokage mansion, Gaara spoke clearly to Naruto.
"I know what you're thinking. Such a celebration will cause some attention to be drawn to us, a place were two Jinchuurikis are residing. I will be putting Majin in command of the ANBU for tonight, and we will be prepared if a sneak attack will happen, due to the sudden increase of Akatsuki activity, and also do the sudden uprising of Konoha. I know however, that in these dark times, sometimes a little light has to be shown. There will be sake, although I do ask that you don't drink more than a glass or two, even if the Kyuubi will diminish the effects rapidly. If something does happen, we will need your help. We will set up as many sound barriers as we can, as well as any other security measures." Gaara sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes again.
"Gaara… where's your engagement ring?" Naruto asked, seeing his hand ringless.
"Matsuri and I broke up last night. She wasn't willing to wait for me to come up with some way not to hurt her while making love. So, she ended up leaving me. I have no idea how to break it to everyone. Suna was expecting to see Matsuri become the Lady over Suna." Gaara sighed deeply.
Naruto was about to bring up some advice, when there was a rap on the entrance.
"Cross the threshold." Gaara spoke, hiding away his reservations.
"Kazekage Sama, you wished to speak with me?" Hinata asked, as she kneeled on one knee before Gaara.
"Yes. You may stand." Gaara spoke as he whipped around his Kazekage cape and sat down behind the desk.
"I need to know who confronted you, and strained the information out of you. This information is essential you see, because we need to know what exactly happened. Naruto and Temari are safe, since they were attacked on a mission. They had to do what would protect themselves. Please, tell me." Gaara asked, his eyes locked on Hinata's.
"I… I honestly do not know who was my attacker. I know it was the leader of the Yamanaka clan, Inoichi who probed my brain for the information, after I was nearly beaten to death. I would have never sold out Naruto. I would have died before I was a traitor like that accursed Uchiha!" Hinata growled, her eyes squinted.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to insinuate that you had simply given up the information. I know your steadfastness. I have seen the empathy you have always had for Naruto, therefore I do trust you." Gaara smiled slightly.
" I am sorry for being so blunt. I'm simply just done talking about that village, and all that reside in it. The way they view the Jinchuurikis makes me sick to my stomach." Hinata said as she heaved a sigh.
"Do you know about me?" Gaara asked, looking her straight in the eye.
"Know what? That you are the Kazekage to Suna? Best friend to Naruto? I don't know much about you Kazekage-Sama." Hinata said as she shook her head slightly.
"When did you find out about Naruto being the host to the Nine tail fox demon?" Gaara asked, clearly intrigued.
"Since the beginning of the academy. My worthless Father tried to keep me away from Naruto, and finally he told me why when I reached the age of academy." Hinata spoke, thinking for a split instant.
"You did not change your feelings for him then, knowing what he was?" Gaara asked, still doling out all the information.
"Of course not. Naruto is a human, just like me. The Kyuubi I feel is simply an asset, like a survival mechanism, much like my Byakugan. It helps me in battle, and is only available when I allow it. I have learned a great deal about Bijuus and how they work. I will never call the host the demon. That's just not right." Hinata said as she locked eyes with Naruto.
"Naruto, please go attend to what we discussed. I need to talk to Hinata." Gaara motioned, and Naruto nodded, and walked out the door.
"What makes you so entirely different from the rest of the Ninja world? Your eyes, they see deep into wisdom that many people do not possess. You truly are unique." Gaara said, as he moved closer, and sat on the edge of the desk.
"I… I was tormented too. Being the Heiress to the Hyuga Clan, I had a lot of pressures to be the best. Unfortunately, I wasn't. My father, if you could call him that changed the moment that my Mother left. He told us she was dead, but I never believed him. Later, when I found out she had left Konoha, granted by the Third, it came to my understanding that he was a very abusive man. He took Hanabi under his wing and left me to fend for myself. I was under the care of my Sensei, Kurenai, but when I reached the age of fifteen, I went under the strict training of Anko. She became a mother to me, as odd as that may sound. I have seen all the good that Naruto has done, I just don't see how he could be considered to be a demon." Hinata finished.
"Listen closely, I am much like Naruto. I am the host to the one tailed Shukuku. I am a Jinchuuriki. I have suffered greatly. For the first time in all my life, things have finally fallen into place, but I am not so sure I can agree that I deserve it. I have killed many people." Gaara sighed, shifting his gaze out the window.
"Did they try and harm you?" Hinata asked, finding her voice.
"Yes." Gaara thought aloud.
"Then it is alright. I firmly believe that in the act of protecting oneself, any measure is acceptable." Hinata urged.
"Do you honestly think that you and the rest of the new Suna Nins can ever possibly over turn decades upon decades of detestation and bigotry?" Gaara asked, his voice full of uncertainty.
"You know, I don't know. What I do know is, I believe in them, and I believe in me, and I believe that we are not meaningless. I know we can come up with a solution." Hinata said firmly, her voice coated with determination.
Gaara sat in silence, unable to find any words that could quaver the resolve that Hinata held deep within her very being.
" I also know that this doubt you feel is what clouds what I perceive as truth. That doubt makes me feel the unnerving sense that there is nothing left, and is really only an illogical view where purpose is gone. Who wills these groundless conceptions? So, I chose to find faith in life, and with that faith I will learn how to defeat sorrow... and how to stand my ground and be strong. I don't know when it will be, but someday... I will conquer it... and beat this war against the wrongs ... and I will do it without the false hope that is forced down our throats by the Traditions of the Ninja world!" Hinata finished, with a jolt of her arms across her chest.
"Those are… some very robust words. You clearly have enough will power to charge your plan." Gaara said with a slight smile.
" I have spent my entire life fighting against my own private injustices. I will continue to fight for other's as well." Hinata replied with a slight smile.
Gaara found his legs moving on their own, as they moved him right before Hinata. Gaara's eyes widened as he heard the Shukuku chuckle lightly in the back of his mind.
"Kazekage-Sama?" Hinata questioned, seeing how close he was to her.
" I am sorry. My body just reacted on its own… and please drop the formalities." Gaara replied.
"You mean to say… the Shukuku moved you here?" Hinata asked directly.
"I…" Gaara stammered, feeling ashamed that he was falling for Hinata so soon after being with Matsuri.
"Please, can I be excused?" Hinata asked lightly.
"….Of course." Gaara stammered after a few moments. He waved her to leave, before turning around. He heard the doors close lightly, and he knocked off the papers that lingered on his desk with an act of frustration.
"Damnit…." Gaara muttered, as he sat on the window's edge, his legs hanging off.
Hinata sat outside the building, feeling her heart race. The way that Gaara smiled, the way he spoke to her, it was unlike anything Kiba had ever done for her. In that very moment, Hinata had almost considered embracing the young Kazekage, but had remained in control over her emotions.
'No…No…. NO! I am so foolish.' Hinata thought as she rubbed her sore temples.
' I think that in so many ways he is like Naruto. Maybe that is why I am falling for him so hard. Naruto and I weren't meant to be together, and that is alright. I have outgrown that childish crush, but what I felt, just now, was too real.'
"Hinata! Wake up sleepyhead! Everyone is getting ready for the party tonight!" Kiba urged, running over, completely oblivious to Hinata's state.
Hinata looked up, and quickly put on a smile as fake as plastic.
"Alright, I'll be right there." She said with a syrupy voice. Kiba smiled, and jogged off, elated to be going to be a party.
Naruto walked by the weapon shop, and opened the flap. He saw the existing owner sitting with Ten Ten, who was going to be working there as well.
"Ah, Naruto! What can we do for you today?" Ten Ten asked, jumping up to the counter.
"Well you see, it's Temari's birthday in about a week, and I was curious if you could make me something for her." Naruto said, as he pulled out a scroll with the plans.
"Let's see what you got." Ten Ten nodded, as Naruto put the scroll down on the counter.
"Wow. This is really complexed. Did you come up with this on your own?" Ten Ten asked, clearly amazed.
"Well, yeah. I took the basic plans for her battle fan and just expanded it. Can you have it ready by the 23 of August?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I think so. I'll start on it right now." Ten Ten smiled, and took the plans.
Naruto smiled, and exited the tent, heading to his house. He opened the door, and saw that Temari was still with the girls getting ready for the party. Naruto chuckled, knowing that Temari was not really into the whole girly girl thing.
Naruto walked up the stairs up into the open room where he slept. He opened the closet, and began to delve through his outfits. Sighing with dissatisfaction, Naruto removed his headband.
"I gotta look amazing tonight!" Naruto said as he pulled off his customary apparel.
Naruto rummaged around some more. He pulled out a pair of black slacks which he put around his waist. Naruto grabbed a black studded belt, and slid it around the pant loops. He then grabbed a sleeveless black high collared shirt, and shrugged it on. Naruto grabbed a burnt orange sash, and tied it around his waist. Naruto smiled at his progress, and continued. He then grabbed a pair of black sandals, and put them on. He then switched the silver hoop he had in his ear, and replaced it with a black stud. Naruto stood in front of the mirror, ruffling his hair up with some gel. The final product made Naruto ready to go.
He looked out the window at the sinking sun, and knew it was going to begin soon. He jumped slightly as he heard the door close to his house, and heard the clack of heels on the wooden floors. Temari knocked on his closed door, and he opened it slowly. Naruto's breath caught in his throat as his eyes locked onto Temari.
She was wearing a black mini skirt with a blood red sash around her waist, with black spiked heels. She also wore a sleeveless red half shirt, that showed off her toned stomach muscles and arms. She wore her hair similar, except she left her two bottom pigtails down and left the other two up. She also wore two black fishnet gloves and diamond hoops in her ears. She kohl lined her deep green eyes, and wore a dark shade of eye shadow. Temari's eyes took in Naruto's changed appearance, and suddenly didn't want to go to the party at all.
With sudden force, Naruto grabbed Temari, and crushed his lips against hers. Temari gasped in surprise, and clutched onto Naruto's strong shoulders. The sudden rush of adrenaline surged through the two star crossed lovers. Naruto held the kiss, his hands eager on Temari's waist, pushing Temari against him. Naruto was aware of his body falling backwards, as he hit his bed, with Temari on top of him, not once breaking the kiss. Naruto rolled, and put Temari beneath him, supporting most of his weight on his forearms. Naruto's lips moved off of Temari's lips, and onto the base of her neck, sucking lightly as not to leave any marks. Temari wiggled underneath his touch, breathing deeply. Naruto slowed down, and hovered his face over Temari's. She opened her eyes, and looked into Naruto's.
"We…we have to go to the party, since it's in our honor." Naruto whispered hoarsely.
"… No… I think we should stay right here." Temari replied back.
"You know…. I can't say that I really want to go either at the moment, but we do have a social obligation to at least show up until everyone get's drunk. Then we can leave." Naruto smiled.
"Fine…" Temari said with a sigh, as she rolled off the bed.
The two straightened their clothes, and walked out into the streets. The party was being held in the middle of the town, where everyone had already started to dance. The music was thunderous, and the beat was speedy. Naruto took Temari's hand, and led her onto the middle of the dance floor. Naruto let the music take over, as he swayed with the beat, as Temari and him danced. Hinata stood on the outskirts of the crowd, watching as Kiba danced with everyone. She just didn't feel like dancing with him. She jumped slightly when the cool hand of Gaara rested on her shoulder.
"Dance with me?"
Hinata smiled, and took his offered hand. Gaara led her onto the floor, and twirled her around in a neat circle. Hinata glued her eyes into Gaara's, who for the first time in a long time felt alive. He smiled and laughed and danced until he could barely breathe from fatigue. Kiba stood watching, sighing as he knew that Hinata and him were not going to last. Kiba walked over as Hinata hobbled over to the refreshment table to drink some cold water, and began to talk.
"Hinata, I know that you want to be free. I am going to grant you this… you can be with Gaara or whoever you would like. I want you to be happy no matter what. We can still be friends, but our relationship never really had a chance, we're just too different." Kiba smiled, and hugged Hinata lightly.
"Thank you." Hinata whispered.
Hinata turned around and walked over to Gaara.
"What was that about?" Gaara asked.
"We just… we just settled up some personal matters." Hinata responded, as she led Gaara out to the dance floor for some more dancing.
Naruto and Temari laughed as they both were having the time of their lives. No matter how old they got, they still were like little children at times. Naruto excused himself, and went to get a drink for Temari and himself. While at the table, Kankuro walked over.
"Hey man! Congrats on being with my sister!" He said as he playfully slapped Naruto's shoulder.
"Thanks!" Naruto smiled back, as he ruffled his hair.
"Hey… I want to tell you something." Kankuro said, his voice becoming a little more serious.
"What is it?" Naruto asked.
"Don't hesitate." Kankuro said, and turned around.
"Wait…what?" Naruto asked, confused.
"The seal you have will protect Temari while you two get at it. Don't hesitate, don't make her wait. You see, when there's a party like this, we consider the couple to be together, not casually together, but unified like a married couple, but much more than that. It's a Suna tradition. It's the night when… if you haven't already… you make love to your partner, sealing that connection." Kankuro explained.
"But…" Naruto said with a frown.
"Look, Gaara is different. His seal is too weak. That's why he couldn't. It's different for you though. The Kyuubi will bond with whoever you choose… making her your soul mate for life. A seal will appear on her, making her connected to you forever. This is no casual party, and Gaara should have told you so beforehand." Kankuro finished.
"I see... Thank you for telling me, I really didn't know." Naruto said, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Just don't break Temari's heart… take care of her. That's all I ask." Kankuro said with a smile as he walked away.
The night was beginning to slow down, and many had already retired to their homes to recover from the sake and exercise. Naruto went looking for Gaara, but couldn't find him anywhere. Sighing he took Temari's hand, and walked back into the apartment.
"Temari…. We need to talk." Naruto said, as he sat down on the couch.
"What is it?" Temari asked as she settled herself down on his lap.
"You knew… what this party meant, didn't you?" Naruto asked.
"…Yes." Temari said with a slight sigh.
"And you also know everything that will happen now, right?" Naruto asked.
"I think." Temari whispered.
"Listen, Kankuro told me some information… you see… apparently, do to the strength of my seal, and the Kyuubi himself, when we… make love… you will be sealed as my soul mate… forever. Nothing will tear us apart… we will be connected forever. I am not sure what all of the entails… whether you might gain some of the Kyuubi's chakra… or not. I need to know if this is really what you want… there is no turning back." Naruto finished.
"I want this more than anything in this world…." Temari said.
"Then I will no longer deny you of me." Naruto said, as he put his lips onto hers.
~~ Okay everyone, here's the chance for some of your input. Your choices: Should Temari gain some of the Kyuubi's chakra by means of the new seal or not? Let me know why or why not in your review. If you have questions about it, PM me, and I'll explain my idea in more depth. R&R~~~
+Awoken Dreamer+