AHHHH I'm so sorry with how long this took for such a short chapter! Uni has been hectic and I haven't been doing very well with balancing all of my work. Thankyou to Rosalie and LyssaHajime for the reviews, it kept me on track and hopefully it won't take as long for the next one!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. If I did I would definitely not have taken Neji and then he and Ten Ten could live happily.

He couldn't breathe. He tried so hard to suck in air but he couldn't breathe. He wished he'd never met Hinata, then he wouldn't feel like this. He had worked so hard, so hard not to feel that bloodlust again. But when Temari had relayed Hinata's story to him, all Gaara wanted to do was strangle the man who had hurt her while he watched the life leave his body and kill all the Hyuuga. She was so young and they tried to sell her like livestock, not even caring that her "Betrothed" had practically raped her, willing to sell her to the same monster again. Gaara knew he was a monster, but suddenly he felt pale in comparison to this man.
He was seeing red again, breathe in, breathe out, and think of why you are here. He couldn't afford to lose his position now that he had decided to change things, the villagers need him so they wouldn't be under the mercy of the councilmembers. But just imagining Hinata, being touched by another man, being forced, the way her family treated her just made him want to scream. He clutched his head, he wished he could kill everyone who hurt her.
He could see Temari watching him, eyes scanning the room for possible exits if he started going on a rampage. He breathed again, he didn't want to scare her, he hadn't come this far just to lose what he had built.
Swallowing through his dry throat he looked at Temari, "I won't hurt you, don't worry." He rasped. He didn't want to hurt Temari, or anyone else in the tower, or anyone else in the village, so he had to calm down. He'd wait to deal with the Hyuuga, perhaps he could send a message to the Hokage… No, she would probably tell the Hyuuga that Hinata was alive. He didn't know what to do but he knew he had to calm down. He breathed in again, closing his eyes.
Temari looked worried, he hated that he caused that fear in her eyes. "You may leave if you wish. I will not hurt you." He said again, hoping that she would truly understand.
He put his head down on his desk, feeling the cool wood against his forehead, hoping to cool down the fire in his heart. He stayed there for a few minutes until he heard a rustling, and then a hesitant hand come onto his shoulder. He willed himself not to move quickly, lest he scare her. The warmth coming through her hand calmed him, he slowly looked up into the blue eyes of his sister. She looked unsure, but he relished in the comfort she brought.
"Thankyou, Temari. I feel calmer now." Gaara said, and lifted his body more so he sat straighter.
Temari's face turned into one of sorely hidden amazement as she looked at her hand on his shoulder, and then his face. "You really have changed, haven't you, Gaara?"
Gaara looked at both of his hands, turning them as if to look for something. "I hope so."

At that moment, another knock sounded on the door, Kankoro walks in straight afterwards not even bothering to wait for someone to open it. Witnessing the scene in front of him, a huge grin came on his face and he quickly went over to both Gaara and Temari and gathered them in a tight, asphyxiating hug. Temari was complaining, talking about something to do with Kankoro's paint on her clothes, but Gaara wasn't really listening. He felt the warm surround him, felt the soft, comforting feeling of another human being. This is what it feels to be human. In his mind he could see another piece of his sand armour falling away as he tentatively held Temari and Kankoro. Kankoro drew back and he felt a sense of loss, the warmth slowly fading. He could feel the cooling air hit his face and was shocked to feel water dripping onto his cheeks. Kankoro smiled at him and Temari just looked amazed. Kankoro was the first to speak, "It's good to be home, little bro, it is good to be home." Temari echoed his statements, knowing that she was going to speak to Kankoro as soon as they left Gaara's office.

Not once during this time did they notice the blue haired girl standing shyly in the doorway, not wanting to intrude on a family moment.

~~~
Hinata had to leave. They knew and she would have to leave. She was going to carry her secrets to the grave but in the face of Temari's determination she faltered. Truth was, she wanted to tell someone, wanted to get it out of her head and cry about the unfairness of it all, but she hadn't wanted to tell anyone like this. She didn't know what they would do, she could only hope that they would be fair, but she wasn't planning on sticking around when they got back. She had to get to somewhere safe, somewhere they wouldn't think to look for her and there was only one place she could go.

She snuck out of the window in the bedroom, feeling a warm gust of air and hoped that no one had heard her quietly open the glass. The Kazekage had been good to her, but she couldn't risk him picking the safety of the village over her, and she couldn't ask him to. Moving through the village without being seen was difficult, there were villagers bustling everywhere she turned, but she knew she could do it. This was nothing compared to sneaking out of the compound from the prying eyes of the Hyuuga and their visual prowess. She made it to the very edge of the village when a guard accosted her, he had brown spikey hair and face paint just underneath his eyes. "Why are you in such a hurry?" He asked gruffly, eyeing her as she kept her face low.
Hinata expected the Kazekage to notice her absence but she prayed it wasn't so, otherwise the guards would be searching directly for her. She started quietly explaining, "i-I n-need to g-go –" She never got to finish her stumbling sentence as the guard sighed and put his hand up. "I know you, you're the blind girl," she looked at his face then and saw his leer, "you can go, don't get lost out there." He didn't sound like he would care much if she indeed never came back, which was a good sign. Perhaps being hated by the villagers was a good thing, if she could easily slip past the guard. She nodded her head slightly and started slowly walking towards the gates, hoping to catch no more suspicious watchers. When she couldn't feel anyone's presence, she broke out into a run. She wouldn't be caught out in the desert, not when the sand nins could be looking for her right now. She finally made it to the clearing, and quickly went inside the small house, locking the door behind her. She called out to Sabaku, but he didn't seem to be here. Sinking down with the door at her back, she sighed. What was she going to do now? She couldn't stay, but she had been safest in Suna, she had made friends, people who didn't care about her stutter or where she came from. She wouldn't be able to look after the Kazekage like Naruto and Matsuri had asked. She would never be able to speak to Sabaku again… She felt the tears on her hand before she felt them on her face. This was not how it was supposed to go. Why couldn't she just have a life? Why couldn't she be a normal girl with a normal job and friends? Part of her wished that she'd died at the compound. Her mother would still be safe, she wouldn't be on the run and she would have never been able to experience the happiness that friends and normal responsibilities brought. What did she have to look forward to now, and could she really survive in another land without her mother?

Temari and Kankoro couldn't stop their mouths from gaping. Gaara thought it amusing but didn't let it show on his stoic face, lest they think he was joking about what he had said.
"Gaara," Started Temari, "You're not serious, you can't be." Kankoro started nodding his head in agreeance and added, "There's no way you could even consider that, what do you think this would solve?"
Gaara steepled his hands and leaned his elbows on his desk. "It will keep Hinata safe, ensure our treaty with Konoha is stable and perhaps even help the villagers become used to me." The thought had only just entered his head, but he thought that it was definitely the best option.
Temari shook her head slowly, "OR it could break the treaty and put Hinata in danger, what if the Hyuuga don't agree?" Gaara had to mull this over in his mind for a few seconds, "What if we didn't tell the Hyuuga? They think she's dead anyway."
Temari and Kankoro both sat there staring at Gaara, wondering how their brother could be so stupid. "Gaara, you're a Kazekage, if you do this not only will it be public to the villagers of Suna, but also Konoha as they are our allies."
He had to admit he hadn't thought of that, he had been hiding from everyone for so long he wasn't even used to seeing the public, let alone putting on a display for them.
Kankoro spoke then, surprising him. "Perhaps it's a risk we have to take." After he saw Temari's doubtful face he held up a hand, "Please, let me speak. We're at risk already of harbouring a fugitive, Hinata and her Mother have been here for too long to say we didn't know about them, regardless of if we did or not. That alone could break the treaty. Now this way, Gaara would be seen in a positive light if all goes well, finally go into the position of Kazekage publicly. Not to mention, this girl doesn't seem to be scared of Gaara at all – No offense Gaara – Which means that she's already a prime candidate, not to mention she is, or was, part of the main Hyuuga family. Making her worthy of a Kazekage."
Temari was quiet but she did still nod her head. It was logical, and they were probably already at risk of Konoha finding out Hinata was here.
But Gaara needed another opinion, one of a friend, a comrade. He needed to talk to Naruto.

Temari went to go see Hinata, to tell her that she had to stay within the tower until they had made their decision, but she was gone. Temari started freaking out but Gaara calmed her with the knowledge that he knew where she was. He didn't tell her where, wanting to keep that spot for himself, but at least she could be content knowing she hadn't left the village.

Gaara went by himself to see the Hyuuga, but he didn't let his presence be known as he watched her at the front door, hugging her knees and crying. He wished he could comfort her, but he wouldn't do anything until Naruto arrived, and so even though it physically hurt him to leave her like this, he left. Taking solace in the fact that she had brought some spare clothes, knowing that she would stay at the little house and he'd be able to find her when he needed to.

~~~
Sabaku hadn't come. It had been three days and Sabaku hadn't come. Hinata was starving and needed a friend but she also wondered if she told Sabaku whether he'd report her. He didn't seem that kind of person but she really didn't know him that well at all. He just made her feel relaxed. These past couple of days had been filled with anxiety, she constantly looked through the windows and she even activated her Byakugan a couple of times in case there were sand nins out looking for her. She thought it was strange how so far none of them had come into the desert, but she was glad. She didn't know what they would do if they found her. They probably would send her back to the compound… Hinata couldn't let that happen. No matter what, Hinata wanted to survive. Her mother had saved her and brought her here, risking her own life, throwing away her family, her youngest daughter, her husband, for Hinata. Hinata wouldn't disregard that by getting caught, she couldn't. Her mother had died because she protected Hinata, she would have been safe in the compound if Hinata hadn't angered the Head Family. She wished she could take it back, the man who hurt her had been a monster, but she would have lived with that if she knew her mother would stay safe. Hinata hadn't cried since the first day she ran from the tower, but thinking about what could have been started the tears all over again.

Gaara could see that Naruto was thoroughly shocked. His mouth gaped open for a couple of minutes, his mind trying to work through all that Gaara had just told him. The moment he worked it out, however, was quite clear. He bared his teeth and his eyes went a dark red, there was fire in his eyes, contempt.
"I'm going to kill them!" He growled, getting up from his seat and preparing to leave again, probably to hunt the Hyuuga's. Gaara stopped him with a show of his hand, "Calm down, Naruto. I've already considered that possibility and none of the outcomes end well."
Naruto looked defeated as he glanced down at his fisted hands, "I can't believe they would do such a horrible thing to their own family, their own flesh and blood! She's so young, nobody deserves that, especially not her. I know I don't know her very well, Gaara, but she's sweet and pure. To have to go through not only the assault but her family… You can't possibly think to give her back to them. You can't do it."
Gaara nodded his head slightly, looking Naruto in the eyes. He took a deep breath and started, "That's why I'm not going to give her back, I have an alternative solution but I need your thoughts on it." Naruto looked confused but he just leaned forward, eyes focused on Gaara.
"To keep the peace treaty between Suna and Konoha sound, without giving her back to her…. Clan. I'm going to marry her."
There was a deafening silence. Naruto became still. He didn't move a muscle, or even twitch an eyelid. Gaara was expecting this type of reaction – exactly like how Temari and Kankoro had reacted – and just waited for Naruto to work it through again.
"What… Do you mean? Actual marriage? Like, husband and wife marriage?" Naruto sputtered out.
He nodded his head, "If it goes to plan, Hinata will be safe, I will be becoming more public as the Kazekage of Suna, it all seems to go together."
Naruto ran his hands through his hair, fluffing it more, "But what if Konoha doesn't let you? I know her clan disowned her, but Konoha thinks she's dead. If they find out she's alive again it's sure that they would leave the decision up to the Hyuuga and what then?"

Gaara had been thinking about this non-stop. Trying to work out different options in his head to help the Hyuuga female but none had come to mind. If it worked, this way she would be free to live without fear, as the Kazekage's wife. She would be married to a monster, but she wouldn't have to see him very often. They didn't have to produce an heir, she didn't have to sleep in the same room or even live in the same wing. She would be married, but she would be free.
"Gaara… What if it does go well, and you guys are married… What if she finds someone else, what if she falls in love? I know you're thinking of what's best for her safety, but you're really just forcing her to marry, just like her family-"
"I am NOTHING like her family!" Gaara yelled, "I am trying to PROTECT her, keep her alive! Who cares if she loves someone else, she can have them, the only thing she can't do is marry them, what is the problem with that?!" He sat back down and breathed outwards, realizing his outburst and trying not to focus on the churning in his gut when he thought about Hinata with someone else. He muttered a small apology to his only friend.
Naruto leaned back, not that affected from his outburst. "Just… Think about it for a couple of days. I can't influence your decision, it has to be you. Frankly, I'm surprised you even considered marriage in the first place."
Gaara steepled his hands and leaned his elbows on his desk. "She makes me feel… comfortable. She's not scared of me. She talks freely and doesn't judge. She sees me as an equal… a human. She's the first female to do this and what if… what if I can't find anyone else who can look me in the eye like she does? What if everyone will fear me to the point where I will never have a person who wants to be next to me?" When Naruto tried to protest, Gaara held up his hand. "I've only just discovered this feeling, Naruto. I don't want to lose it. What if she's the only one who will ever make me feel less like a monster? I'm not like you, Naruto, my background is the Red Demon. You didn't let your monster rule you, I did. I can't expect anyone else to treat me unlike the monster I know myself to be."
There was another silence throughout the room. "I don't get it… You sound like you've really talked to her. What's been going on since I left?" Naruto asked, "Have you and her been getting close?"

Gaara wasn't planning on telling anyone of his relationship with Hinata, he wanted that little piece of her to himself. He knew, however, that to make Naruto understand completely he would have to divulge his secret. So he told him, he told him about when she first came into his home, what they talked about and even how he felt about it. "I still don't know how she does it, but she makes me feel human and I wanted to keep that feeling."
Naruto was once again silent, a change from his usual vibrant self. "... So what you're saying, is that she doesn't even know that it's you, but you guys have become friends?" It sounded strange like that, Gaara didn't even know if he could call it friendship. It was easy with Naruto, he always made sure to call Gaara a friend, but he really didn't understand what friendship was. He nodded anyway, watching Naruto's face turn from shock to thoughtfulness.
"I don't know what to say," He started, "But I feel like you should talk to her first, let her know that you're the one who has been talking with her at your house." When Gaara started protesting Naruto spoke over him. "It's not right, Gaara, to not tell her. You have to tell her eventually otherwise it's just more secrets between you. If you like her, and I think you do, you'll tell her the truth."

Gaara didn't want to listen, but advice from his friend was something to think over. He nodded to Naruto and Naruto left shortly afterwards, knowing Gaara needed to think. Gaara thanked his friend in his head for his thoughtfulness.
He knew that it was the right thing to tell Hinata, but he had wanted to keep what they had. When they married he would keep his distance when she found out that he was a monster, but he would see her as Sabaku, the man, her friend.
He had to see her again.

Hinata stared at the ceiling, rubbing her stomach to ease the hunger. She had ventured outside and found some berries and plants that she could eat, but not enough to sustain her. She could eat the rest of what she had foraged but she didn't know how long she would be staying and she didn't want to run out of the little food she had found. She wished she knew what to do. She couldn't return to the village, but she couldn't stay here forever. She supposed she could go to another village, but then she'd have to start a new life, a new identity. There was also a chance someone would find her there as well, and be less patient than the kazekage.
She wondered what he thought about it. Had he completely forgotten she was there and left it to the councilmembers to deal with her? Or was he actively looking for her as well?
As she pondered, she heard a creaking sound come from the library and quickly sat up, "Sabaku, is that you?" She almost considered using her byakugan, but if it was Sabaku she didn't really want to explain that part of her just yet, when he didn't even know the rest of it, he might not understand.
She stood up and tentatively looked around the door to the library and listened for any response. It took a couple of second but then she heard a faint sigh, followed by the creaking of a chair, "It's me, Hinata." She heard him say quietly.
"I t-thought you would have been back days ago... I didn't realize you wouldn't be here." A small sob accompanied her words as she held back her tears in front of the man she had been waiting for. Just hearing his voice calmed her and made her feel like she could let go of her fears.
"I… Apologize. I had business to attend to."
Hinata nodded, swiping at her face. She couldn't expect him to always be there, he must have a life of his own, maybe other friends, family, and perhaps he had someone to love. Hinata didn't know why but that thought tore at her heart. She wasn't in love with him, she barely even knew him, but the thought of this faceless man with someone else sent sadness through her. Hinata wished more than ever she could see his face. She had never felt so blind before, especially not with her visual prowess, not even when she couldn't see. Back then, she hadn't wanted to see, she didn't even want to be alive. Now all she wanted was the see the face of the man who made an empty house feel like home.
"You have been waiting long?" He asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"No—Only a couple of days. I couldn't go back to my house." She answered truthfully, feeling like she could trust him.
"Why is that?" He asked softly, his deep voice causing more tears to enter her eyes. She felt calmer now that he was here, like she was safe. She knew the Kazekage could be out looking for her right this moment but right now she felt like nothing could get her.

So she started telling Sabaku her reason for being here. Starting at the part where the Kazekage's sister found her out, even delving into her dark past. She felt right telling him, more right than telling Temari, she felt freer now that it was all in the open.

"I don't know what to do.. I know I shouldn't have come here, but I had nowhere else to go. I can't go back to my house, I don't know if I can leave. I shouldn't have brought this here, if anyone finds me here they'll blame you.." She had had this thought for the past couple of days but now it truly hit her. She was putting one of her only friends into direct fire, making him harbour a fugitive. She was truly heartless. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." Repeating the sentiment over and over and over she sat back on the floor and hugged her knees.

Sabaku was quiet. She shouldn't have told him, shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have put him in this position.

It was another couple of minutes before her sobs started subsiding, turning into sniffing and wiping her face. When she finally calmed and stared at the floor, not willing herself to look towards where he could be, he spoke.
"I wish I could kill them," He started quietly, anger seething through his words, "I wish I could tear them limb from limb for what they did to you. All of it."
Hinata raised her tear stained face towards the bookcase, knowing he was looking at her. "I wish I could take away all of your pain and free you. But I can't. What they did to you was wrong, and I'm sure-" He paused. "- That the Kazekage recognises that too. Why don't you let him help you?" He sounded almost pleading, which she thought was strange.
"I-I can't put him in that position.." Hinata answered quietly, hugging her knees tighter.
"What position?"
Breathing out and straightening her back, her voice sounded stronger, more convinced. "I know that if he helps me he'd be threatening the alliance between Suna and Konoha. If he did try and hide me, if they found out it might start another war. If he doesn't want to help me, and gives me back to the Hyuuga, it might hurt him to know that he caused my death."
A small, sharp intake of breath could be heard in the still room, causing an eerie silence yet again.

"What makes you think… That it would hurt him?"
Hinata didn't really know how to explain without sounding important. She knew that it wasn't her personally that would affect the Kazekage, she wasn't that special. Even if they had had a few moments together.
"The way he looks sometimes… he seems haunted. I don't know why, I don't know anything about him, but I don't want to add to that. He is new to being Kazekage, but already he has made a significant change to the village. People have food and clothes on their back, and even my friend, Matsuri, knows how much he has done for the village, even if the villagers don't see it. If he was to make that choice, the villagers may see him in a worse light, and I really don't want that. I can see he's trying his hardest." She finished the last part quietly, if not reluctantly. She didn't want anyone to notice how much attention she paid to the Kazekage. That was her own little secret.

"So you wouldn't even be willing to try to let him help you?" His voice sounded muffled.

Hinata looked at the bookcase again, wishing she could see his face to know how he was feeling after hearing all of this. It was hard to detect differences in his voice.
"I… I ran before we could speak. Now I'm a fugitive, he probably wouldn't even think of helping me."

~~~
Gaara had his head in his hands. He didn't want to see the haunted look in Hinata's eyes and he needed to work things out in his mind. She didn't want to hurt him? She didn't want to try to be saved because it might hurt Suna? She sounded so genuine.
She also saw what he had done in the village and she hasn't even been here that long. He didn't know how to feel.
He was still angry at the Hyuuga for how they had treated Hinata. He was telling the truth when he said he wanted to kill them. Especially now that she had told him directly, he could see the anguish on her face when she was talking about it.
But now he was also feeling that sensation in his stomach again, he felt the stirring of his heart, saw another piece of his sand armour fall.
"Please… Give him a chance to help you."
He didn't look up when her soft voice floated over to him. "I don't know if I can…"
He'd made up his mind now. He wasn't going to tell Hinata who he was, but he was going to help her, whether she wanted it or not. He couldn't let her leave him, not now. He needed her with an ache he didn't quite understand. "At least stay here a bit longer, don't leave yet." He pleaded and looked up, being rewarded with a small smile from Hinata.

"Okay, just a little bit longer."

Gaara waited until Hinata had fallen asleep – which was not long at all – to leave the little house. He returned shortly after, carrying food for Hinata. He had forgotten the fact that she had no food, it wasn't until her stomach rumbled and her face turned beet red that he realized she had no access to any sustenance. After returning to the cottage and watching Hinata sleep, cementing his decision in his mind, he went to the tower to talk to Temari and Kankoro and write up some paperwork. Hinata is going to be his, he'd ask her tomorrow and then she'll always be near him.

Hinata opened her eyes. Something wasn't right. She called out, "Sabaku, is that you?" but no response. She silently came from underneath the covers and looked around. She walked over to the window and pushed open the curtain, preparing to jump out of the window if she needed. She saw the moonlight flooding through, couldn't see anyone outside of the window. What she didn't see, however, was the three pairs of glowing white eyes that belonged to the last clan she would ever want to see again, the Hyuuga.