Blood in Suna Chapter 11: Sand Castles, a naruto fanfic

Author's Mindless Ramblings: after the countless revisions I thought I would just have to settle with this. The original 11th chapter was suppose to be longer …it included HinaGaa interaction in his bedroom but being the biyatch that I am(please check username) I decided to put that on the next chappie…you'll see more and more of the sand siblings here…I just hope I got them right though…

I would also like to thank a few friends for giving me ideas of how to continue with this Fic…cookies and milk for all of ya…

I hope you enjoy reading!

Dis: kulit ha...Dont own Naruto...

Blood In Suna

Chapter 11: Sand Castles

"When I get my hands on that runt…" Kankuro grunted as he hauled the two suitcases down the hall. "I'm gonna wring him dry!"

Hinata's suitcases weren't heavy at all…but that was beside the point. "Of all people…why me?" He made a right turn.

"Where the hell's Baki? Why do I have to…Oi! Oi!" he called out to his blond sister who just stepped out of her room.

"Nanda?" Temari, obviously annoyed for being called so brusquely, turned to face her brother.

"Take this to Hinata's room." He shoved one suitcase to her.

The kunoichi just stared at it for a moment before raising a brow. "What, you're too wimpy, you can't carry two ordinary suitcases?" She folded her arms across her chest.

"Hey, that's not the deal here. Why do I have to act like some hotel concierge, while you prance around with…?" Kankuro's face paled. "Good God! What the hell?"

Temari watched him step away from her. "Holy shit! Is that a dress?"

"Oh this? Yeah…isn't it nice? I heard it's the latest in fashion…" she ran a delicate hand over the silky, spaghetti strapped dress she was wearing, while her brother eyed the blazing hot pink outfit with disgust.

"It looks hideous! What the heck are you wearin' a freakin' dress fo-"

PACK! BLAG! BOOM! A fist met his cheek followed by a kick.

Kankuro found himself sprawled on the floor and stars began to twinkle, even though it was still three in the afternoon, never mind the fact that they were indoors as well.

"That's none of your damn business!" She pressed her foot hard against his face.

"Ouch! Watch the paint!" He quickly righted himself and dusted his pants. "Oh...I see…it's a date…hehehe…who's the poor gu-" He didn't even dare finish his sentence and just dashed off heaving his luggage when he saw Temari took her fan out. He had to get far far away from there before she started using it against him.

Heh! I'd prefer to sleep tonight with all my bones intact, thank you very much!

- o O o –

"Open up!"

Gaara slid the shogi door open to let Kankuro in.

"Your personal slave is here." The older man announced as he entered the room and dropped the suitcases on the floor.

"Don't flatter yourself." Gaara smirked at him.

"Oh yeah? Well, why don't I feel so pleased with myself?" He asked sarcastically.

Gaara didn't reply and just gave him a what the hell are you doing here? Her room's on the other side! glare.

"I know she's on the other side, okay!" He answered his impending question while he pulled a cushion and settled in Gaara's living room. Kankuro envied his brother when it came to his living quarters. He always wanted a room like this. Spacious, and fully furnished, with all the luxury Suna could offer. Nothing less than the best for their one and only Kazekage-sama… the lucky brat!

It was owned by their father while he was still alive. Gaara moved in here after he was appointed as Kazekage.

"Then what are you doing here?" He was no fool. He knew this wasn't brotherly bonding time or anything as sordid (at least in Gaara's opinion) as that.

"Gaara…" Kakuro's expression changed. "One shinobi got heavily injured last night." The younger man recognized the seriousness of his voice. "I'm not so sure if we could keep this under wraps any longer." He knew what he was talking about.

"I know. But we can't let this leak now. I haven't received word from the Hokage yet. It would be too complicated to tell my advisers about it. It'll only make things harder."

"Are you sure about this?" he asked him that same question for the umpteenth time since they got back from that last skirmish. Kankuro needed to be certain that this was what his brother wanted. "We're putting the village in great danger." He stared at him, looking for some sort of reaction in his face, but found none.

"I can't just hand him over to them." Gaara replied calmly. "We just need…a little more time." He closed his eyes and hoped everything would go according to the plan.

-o O o –

Hinata ran her fingers over the silky smooth mattress. Her bed was big. More like twice the size of her bed back home. There were drapes hanging from the bedpost. The room itself was beautiful. The rice paper walls had elaborate designs in them, making the whole place look soft and feminine.

There was a small balcony outside her room, a living area, where she could receive her guests, a small kitchenette and an incredibly huge bathroom. The former occupant here knew how to live big, she thought. Seeing the whole apartment, Hinata felt so small and…alone. Was she supposed to live here all by herself? She wondered if the sand siblings' mother felt this way too when she lived here.

It had been three days since she moved in there, but she haven't seen nor heard Gaara entered his room. Once or twice she thought she felt his presence, but it was so vague that she just told herself that boredom must be getting into her already. It wasn't like she was doing anything that would be considered interesting. Maybe it was just her mind imagining him standing out on her balcony last night.

She ran a gentle hand over the wall that separated hers and Gaara's room. These walls are just made of paper…but why do they keep us apart like were miles away.

- o O o –

Hiashi looked over the Hyuuga's training field. His nephew, drenched in his own sweat, was still out practicing.

The old Hyuuga's brows creased. He noticed that Neji was staying up later than usual these past few days.

"Neji." He called out softly.

"Good evening, Hiashi-sama. " He bowed and greeted his uncle.

"It's late." He neatly folded his arms and tucked his hands under the sleeves of his yukata. "You work your self too hard."

"I need to train harder. ANBU's been quite busy recently, I can't slack off now." He raised his head to meet his gaze. Although Neji knew he was lying to his uncle through gritted teeth no one couldn't really accuse him of doing so, for part of it was true. His team had received a lot of missions the past week and they just kept on coming like there was no end. Maybe it was for the best, at least he didn't have think of her…even just for a while.

"Hmm…" Hiashi studied the other man for a moment. "Carry on then." He said as he walked back inside the house, his steps barely making a sound on the wooden floors. He took one last glance at Neji before finally closing the shogi door.

Of course he knew why he was staying up late, beating himself so sleep could come, even if it was unwelcomed, why he went out on missions more often than before, why there was no spark in his eyes like it used to. He knew, but he couldn't do anything about it.

There were countless things in life Hyuuga Hiashi, head of the Hyuuga clan, regretted. One of which was letting his brother have his way. Though he knew it was what he wanted, still in the back of his mind, he wished it was him who died and not his twin. It was he whom they wanted, and yet it was Hizashi who made the ultimate sacrifice. Maybe it was to save him, the clan, or just to have the freedom to decide for himself, it didn't matter. How could he tell that logic to his heart when all it knew was the pain of loss? His twin brother died, and no amount of reason could make that right.

And now another was added to that dreadful list. Sending Hinata away was the last thing on his mind, but what was he to do? This was not for him alone to decide. It was for the clan… Always for the clan…

He sighed and closed his eyes.

Hizashi, what would you have done if you were me? He had a feeling he already knew the answer to that. He'd let Hinata marry whomever she chose, he'd give her freedom to love and be loved. The things his sibling wanted were always costly; always against what everyone believed. But still, he did what was expected from him. He was good that way, making things work the way it should. Hizashi didn't want to do it…but he did…because it needed to be done. Just like his son. Neji reminded him of Hizashi so much that sometimes it was painful to look at the boy.

They were never really fair to you, were they? The clan made Hizashi suffer before and now…they were tormenting his son as well. I suppose they never will be…

He opened his eyes. White orbs met white, eyes with the same shade as his, as pale and as blank, yet not as empty.

"Chichue…"

- o O o –

Hinata slipped her jacket on and headed out of her room. She was on her way towards the village hospital. It had been a week since she first visited the hospital, and she had been in Sunakagure a total of two weeks. Her wedding was fast approaching, but she didn't want to think about it, so she spent her time helping out the nurses in the hospital. It was a good distraction since they were quite busy there. Not always with patients though, sometimes just with their co-workers. They chatted, laughed and joked around. Hinata liked the casualness. It was what she needed in this land where nobody knew her, no family, and no real friends…just mere acquaintances. But she was starting to have close friends now... a few nurses, and even a few patients who were still in sickbed due to their injuries. Though they were very little, at least she was starting to have a life here…

"Alright, one, two, three!" a little girl was holding a bucket full of sand while her younger brother trotted behind her.

They were making sand castles.

She passed by the park, since it was the only way she knew, towards the hospital everyday.

"Onee-chan…the sand won't stick!" The cute little boy whined and pouted his lips.

A smiled played on Hinata's lips as she leaped up to a boulder and sat on top of it. She stopped for a while to watch the two children from a far. She didn't want to disturb them, so it was better for her not to be seen. She actually found it funny that the small boy, who was probably around four years old, reminded her so much of Naruto, and his older sister, most likely six, reminded her of Ino. Both kids had blond hair and blue eyes.

"Well…let's see…" The girl tapped her cheek to contemplate what to do with the sand.

"Ahh! Niisan!" Hinata almost fell from the boulder when she saw who the little boy was waving his arms enthusiastically to.

"Gaara-niisan!" The girl called out too.

The young Kazekage slowly walked over to the two kids.

"Gaara-niisan, we have a very very BIG problem! We need HELP!" the boy tugged on Gaara's sleeve.

"Doushita?" He crouched down so he could see what they were doing.

Hinata quietly watched from where she was as the girl explained their dilemma to Gaara. And for the very first time, she saw him smile. Not a smile laced with hate or contempt, but a real smile, a genuine smile of someone happy or pleased. It felt like she was seeing a different side of him, a side that she didn't know existed since he didn't really show it often. And as weird as it may sound, it made her happy.

"Oh…Hora...hora…" Gaara's voice was even different. It was still deep but some what…gentler.

"Ahhh…sogoi na…"

"Soogiiie no Gaara-niisan! Neh, neh… can you make them bigger, niisan?" The boy's eyes sparkled as he watched him form their sand castles, complete with small moving ninjas roving around it.

Hinata, as silently as she could, moved away from the park and continued her way towards the hospital…but with a renewed spirit, knowing her soon to be husband was a man…with a warm heart after all.

- o O o –

The flame of the burning wood in the center of the chamber danced lively. A pair of dark beady eyes stared at it without blinking, the man's robe pooled beneath him as he sat silently near the fire. Behind him, within the shadows a much smaller form emerged.

"The boy's hiding something…" Daisuke's hoarse voice echoed.

"Aa." Minako slowly approached him.

"Did he really think he could keep it from us?" A small sly grin made its way on his lips. "Find out what it is… I want to know what's keeping our Kazekage on his toes." His hand reached and took one ember out of the fire. He toyed with it for a while without the slightest fear of burning.

Minako nodded and disappeared again from the shadows, leaving as silently as she had entered.

Daisuke tossed the ember back and looked at his hand. Not a single scratch. This kind of flame could not hurt him. It seemed like their Kazekage was playing with fire as well…he would like to see if he got burnt with it. If Gaara thought he could outsmart him, he was certainly mistaken.

Foolish youngsters… He would soon learn the error of his ways.

- o O o –

Neji sat on the porch of the main house. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago when he and Hinata stood here? He had arrived from Suna almost two weeks ago. Everything went back to normal for everyone else in the Hyuuga house… except for him. He wasn't the same…He'd never be the same again. Neji slowly rose and walked over the cage where those two birds so merrily twittered.

"Do you miss her?" A small voice boldly asked.

He didn't want to answer that question so he just looked up from the cage and turned to where the voice was coming from.

"I miss her…I wish she was still here…" Hanabi slowly approached him. "I want her to come back…"

He still didn't say anything and just stared at her, trying to understand if there was something she wanted him to comprehend.

"You want her back too…don't you?"

"Where are you going with this, Hanabi-sama?" He asked warily.

"You have a good heart, a strong will and a spirit willing to endure…" she stared back at him with that same stoic expression that reflected his. "But is your love so weak, niisan?"

Neji was rendered speechless for a moment. He looked away from her and just stared at the birds.

Is your love so weak, niisan? He took a glance at his younger cousin but she was no longer there.

In all the years, he had never been more confused than he was at that moment.

My love isn't weak…he answered her question in his mind; however another voice that sounded like Hanabi asked again… Then is it strong enough?

- o O o –

"Take care, kids! Don't over do it, kay!" A drunken Kankuro raised his cup towards the direction where Mai and Gaara went.

They started drinking around five in the afternoon and now it was well past three am. The man turned to his other drinking buddy.

"Oi! Don't teeelll me, you're dru-(hik) drunk already? Hahahaha!" He haphazardly leaned with his elbow and almost fell sidewards when it didn't reach the table.

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" He announced as if anyone cared.

"Ooii, teeme! (hik) Let's go home…ithinkimdrunk." Kira, a young jounin, had been Kankuro's drinking buddy ever since he could remember.

"No, no, no…" He said shaking his finger in front Kira's face. "Gaara don't (hik) drink often…and …and… raarrely gets drunk…dis ish s'thing we sho- should cel-brate! Let's toast!" he trusted his cup upward, spilling some sake on his arm.

"Toast!" The other drunkard raised his cup as well.

"A boast- eh…toast, I mean…for…for…" he stopped, looking confused. "What are we talking about again?"

"What?" an equally puzzled expression on Kira's face.

"(hik) Whatever…(hik)" finally gave up the thought. "for… The 'ost good look'in KICK AASS 'nobis of Suna… A toast… for us!"

"And beautiful women!" Kira added.

"Here! (hik) Here!"

"And mo- sake!"

They stumbled their way towards his room. Mai had Gaara's arm slung around her neck as she assisted him.

"My God! When was the last time you got drunk?" The girl complained as he leaned against the wall.

"Two…Three…" He swayed towards her direction.

"Months?" she guessed.

"Years."

Mai laughed at that. "Years? And here I thought you were some sort of a bad boy."

He reached for the door and shoved it open causing a loud smack that echoed through the hallway.

They trudged their way towards his room across the living area. Mai, somewhat familiar with the place, (she had been there a couple of times) didn't even hesitated to walk inside with Gaara.

The man slumped and fell face down on his bed without shedding a single piece of clothing. Even his dirty boots were still on.

His head was throbbing. He flipped over. Good God, the ceiling had colored dots in it. When did he order them to paint his room with this hideous design? He was gonna kill himself a Kankuro tomorrow. For he was more than certain it was his stupid idea to put those purple dots on the wall.

Mai slowly approached his bed, teasingly stripping her coat off for Gaara to see.

"God Dammit! Stop moving around! You're making my head hurt!" he snapped at her.

Mai blinked twice before frowning. That just seemed to take out all the sexiness of the scenario. But no matter, she was a woman of great skills, especially when it came to men. She'd make him want her in just a few minutes.

She gently touched his arm as she tried to get in bed with him. "Would you like me to give you a back rub?" she asked sweetly. "It'll help yo- ".

"Get out."

"What?" She snapped at him. Hey, she was no saint, you know, she had her limits, and her patience wasn't really that great to begin with.

"I said beat it." His eyes were closed as he breathed heavily.

The girl just stared at him with awed expression.

He opened his eyes and propped himself up with one elbow. "Get the fuck out before I maim you!" He managed to growl before his vision started to spin again.

The girl quickly got up from the bed and ran towards the door. What the hell's up in his ass! hmp! She slid the door open, spitting curses under her breath.

Just when she got out of the door, she was greeted by the paled faced Hyuuga girl, standing outside her door, looking at her.

A plan was formed on her pretty head. What would happen if she sent her inside? Maybe if she was lucky, she'd lose an arm or something. Wouldn't that be nice…

"Is something wrong? I heard-"

"Oh thank goodness… Hyuuga-san…I need your help. Kazekage-sama's not feeling well…I heard you're a medic-nin, would you kindly take a look at him…?"

"Anou…"Hinata looked a little worried.

"Don'tcha worry I'm sure its nothing serious… but can you look after him while I find help. I'll go get Temari-san…" She said shoving the other female inside the room and quickly made an exit.

She tried to look for the girl but she was no longer there.

Hinata stood in the middle of Gaara's living area immobile. She couldn't believe she was inside his quarters. What the hell was she doing here? She shouldn't be in here…what would other people say? What would…?

AAAHHHHhhhh…kushou! There was a long agonized groan coming from the room ahead.

Whoa…He must be in real pain, she thought. "Gaara-sama?" She whispered.

No answer.

Breathing in deep, Hinata took a step forward and slowly made her way towards his room.

thanks so much to all of my reviewers...all reviews are placed in an altar near my computer while flames are used to cook my mom's BIKO and PALITAW...hmmm yum...hihihi

and to those who reviewed Let's talk...thank you very much as well...