Author's Note:
"The devil may smile with an angel's face, A cat may be stolen of its grace, They say it's just a matter or time and place" Sorry Go 'Round by Poets of the Fall
I'm sorry it took me so long to write this chapter. Inspiration sort of left me to hang. Feeling a little bit now, well enough that I've started updating again.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters or anything about it.
Close Quarters Ch. 14
The heat was blistering hot; the sun beating down viciously and beaming brightly so much so that it stung the eyes. The air was full of strange and exotic smells, some that were recognizable herbs and fruits and some not so recognizable. Also in the air, sounds hummed; from merchants yelling out their wares, to customers bartering, to old friends having friendly debates, to acquaintances calling out to each other.
To Hinata, it was a familiar atmosphere. The hustling market back in Konoha was almost identical to the one is Suna in amiable quality, with the usual sense of business. The only thing that was really different was that the fruits for sale were different than the Konoha variety (they seemed to be a lot spinier).
Always looking for an excuse to escape the cloistered air of the Hyuuga compounds, Hinata had relished any chance to go out to the Konoha market for an quick escape back home. Eating a meal that she had laboured over, from searching for the proper ingredients to the experimentations of cooking, was always so much better than the catered meals that had been served to her by servants. It was a luxury that had been afforded to her as she grew slowly out of her protected little shell in the Hyuuga compounds, and cooking was slowly becoming a skill she enjoyed immensely.
Of course, she figured as soon as she moved to Suna it would be back to catered meal served by stony faced servants too polite to stir up a conversation aside from the expected and polite responses. Not so. As it turned out, Gaara had dispensed of all servants when he became Kazekage and master of the house; which meant no catered meals, a thought that overjoyed Hinata. She could go back to her culinary investigations with vigor, and, from the little information she had managed to glean from Gaara's responses, any form of home cooking would be well appreciated (as everyone had quickly gotten sick of eating take-out months ago).
It almost made her want to squeal with delighted excitement. But she suppressed the emotion, as she had been taught by her father. It would do little good for her to be behaving like a hysterical child that was half-crazy with sugar, especially since she now also upheld the pride and honour of the Kazekage as he wife-to-be. Besides, enough people thought Gaara was half crazy, no need to make people think his fiancée was as well.
Not that too many people seemed aware of the engagement, if the puzzled and suspicious glares she received once her leaf hitai-ate was noted, though the glares were hidden away as soon as Gaara was noticed. Apparently there were some in Suna that still held bitterness towards the Land of Fire. She found it a little unsettling, but doubted there was any justification to the uneasy, paranoid queasiness in her stomach; it was unlikely anyone would be to be stupid to make any attempt to harm her, a Hyuuga and a representation of the alliance between Konoha and Suna.
Still, she was glad for Gaara's company, despite the lack of conversation, or any warmth in the conversation. The young Hyuuga was starting to dread the likely long and uncomfortable silences that were going to become very popular in her near future. Oh well, an unchatty escort was better than none. Besides, she liked doing her shopping to the sound of the hustling and bustling of the crowd, but then still ...
"Hinata?"
At the mention of her name, despite the quiet way it was said, Hinata quickly turned her attention to Gaara, who was giving a careful observation to some hairy, brown fruit in a wheeled cart. The little oval shaped fruit (at least, she thought it was fruit, but one could never be too sure), with the coarse hair covering it, did not look the least bit edible.
Edging a little closer, giving the strange fruit a glance from the corner of her eye, Hinata responded, leaning in close so she wouldn't have to raise her voice to be heard. "Yes, Gaara?" Oh wait, wasn't she supposed to refer him as Lord Kazekage in public!? Shoot!
"Kankuro likes these, and they're in season," Gaara pointed the hairy-brown hen egg sized ovals, "He'd be upset if we didn't get him any."
Ah, so they were edible! But she had no idea how she was meant to prepare it, and, turning a little pink from embarrassment, admitted quietly to Gaara about it.
He just blinked slowly, as if he was thinking. "You mean, you've never had a kiwi before?"
Hinata shook her head no. As if guided by her response Gaara, purchased one kiwifruit from the vendor, despite her quiet, half-hearted and embarrassed attempt to tell him wasn't necessary to go the trouble. Regardless of her efforts, she found herself with hairy kiwifruit in hand, wondering on earth she was supposed to eat it.
"You're supposed to eat like an apple," Gaara hinted, seeming to find a little amusement in the curious expression that was across Hinata's face, which just seemed to get more bewildered when he made his suggestion.
Patience not really being his forté, Gaara quickly decided to lead by example; he promptly removed the fruit from Hinata's little hand and took a very large bite out it before replacing it back in her hand.
"See? Just like an apple. Now you try."
Hinata was completely and utterly horrified. It was not only the fact that Gaara had eaten the strange fruit, but had eaten the skin! The hairy skin that was even now scratchy at the skin on her palm! To make matters worse there was a small trickle of green juice curving down his jawline. All with such a serious expression! The whole child-like audacity of if caught her off-guard, and it must have lead to a mental breakdown because she started laughing.
It was just a little giggle and snort at first, but it quickly grew into laughter kept at an almost painful polite level (her ribs were starting to hurt from holding the laughter in). Gaara's confused expression did not help matters.
She managed to gain enough control of herself to get out an explanation. "You have a little ... ah," Hinata made a motion with her finger to imitate the trickle.
Gaara didn't seem to get it.
Sighing a little, but quietly giggling more, Hinata took out a kerchief hidden somewhere in the pockets of her jacket and quickly dabbed at the little sticky trail. Hinata blamed muscle memory, goodness knows how many times she had cleaned up after Kiba like a mother (he was always leaving a terrible mess on his face, usually his dinner). That, however, did not stop the blush creeping up her neck as soon as she realized what she had done, to Gaara no less.
Gaara caught her wrist as she tried to pull away, making her gasp in surprise. She almost expected a harsh word or a reprimand, something she was always used to hear from her father ( "stand straight," "correct your stance," "you're not trying hard enough"). But he didn't say anything, he just looked at her as if he was examining something strange.
She squeaked a small sorry and tried to tug her her wrist away, but to no avail: Gaara held her wrist with an iron grip, but in such a away that even a bird wouldn't feel crushed (not even a little rumpled).
Gaara squinted, as if he was trying to see through her, before he spoke, "You're always saying sorry ... why?"
Out of reflex she might have answered, "habit" and end it simply like that, but she got the feeling such a single-dimensioned answer would not suit the situation, and that Gaara would probably see the answer for what it really was – evasive action. But what could she really say? That she was used to asking forgiveness from an over expectant father (who was never happy with her progress, no matter how hard she worked), that she hated being a burden, that she hated confrontation, that she hated the idea of not being liked. Seemed a little too much to drop on him all at once though, not that she really wanted to mention such deep, personal conflict – it was her nature to avoid such things when she could help it.
But he was still standing there, waiting for an answer, and the Hyuuga got the impression that the Kazekage would keep her where she was until she had made some attempt at an answer.
And she did try her hardest to say something coherent, and despite her mumbling she might have actually succeeded if she hadn't been rudely interrupted.
"Lord Kazekage!" The voice was high and feminine, and Hinata instantly didn't like it.
Within seconds a girl a few years older than Hinata appeared by Gaara's elbow, and Hinata's dislike increased exponentially. For starters, the girl was too darn pretty for her own good, with nice chocolate brown eyes, and brown-black coloured hair that shined with health in the intense sun. There was no muscle mass on her entire body; a thin waist, voluptuous chest and hips (which she wasn't the least bit ashamed to be flaunting), and just the right amount of plumpness to indicate she had never gone a night without a rich dinner. Dressed in nice clothes and smelling expensive, the ninja in Hinata knew for a fact that the girl was not a kunoichi of any sort, and was in all likelihood some rich Lord's spoiled daughter. It explained why she was so comfortable with "Lord Kazekage" and practically was hanging over his arm very possessively, jabbering on about how she had missed him, and, oh, why hadn't he gotten in contact with her. Then there was the dismissal looks the girl was giving her, looks that were probably meant to send Hinata scattering. Nope, the Hyuuga heiress did not like this girl, not even a little. And Hinata was not one to readily take dislike to a person.
The looks the young woman was giving the Hyuuga were nasty and dark, but Hinata just stood by (feeling incredibly awkward and having half the mind to walk off in embarrassment); the young beauty seemed to get angrier by that silent refusal. " Oh, Lord Kazekage, is this a new servant?"
Hinata knew that she should respond to this, it was clearly an insult, but her response died in her throat, and the Hyuuga cursed her shyness as she looked down at her feet, hoping the answer lay there. Ino would have flung back a witty and catty remark that would have stung. Sakura would have just gone straight to the point and (probably) slapped the girl silly. Heck, even Tenten would have done something to make the Lord's daughter a little wary. Hinata, however, felt struck dumb, terrified of stuttering out a poor answer. She had to wonder what was worse, being quiet and letting the remark slide or trying to do a pathetic attempt to defend herself verbally; she couldn't really decide.
"This," a voice said on her left that she recognized as Gaara's, "would be my fiancée, Hinata of the Hyuuga Clan, from the Village Hidden in the Leaf. Hinata, this is Shinju. Her father is one of the Baron's who controls some of the oases that water our village."
Hinata could feel Gaara's fingers lightly touch the back of her neck and bring her head up to meet Shinju's gaze, which before had only held dislike and gloating but now held dark and dangerous jealousy. It was only there for a flash before being replaced an innocent enough smile, but the intensity of the previous glare lingered and seeped into her bones, making her want to shiver despite the heat.
Forcing a smile on her face, Hinata made her best effort to be polite, "H-hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Shinju. You'll h-have to excuse my rudeness, I'm not well."
The Hyuuga felt her neck prickle, as if she was being watched closely. There seemed to be far more intensity than there should be, even if Shinju had taken a sudden dislike to her; there was something she wasn't getting.
"Oh, that's ... nice. I'm sorry, but I was under the impression that my father discussed a marriage proposal between us, Lord Kazekage." Shinju's voice was completely polite, but there was cold steel veiled underneath.
"We did," Gaara responded simply. The intensity in the air seemed to crackle a little.
"Oh, really? Then ... you're not marrying this ... this ... Hyuuga?" Shinju placed her hands on her hips, tapping her foot while she gave a cold glare that would have unnerved most people. Gaara looked complacent, as if he was having a polite conversation with an annoying neighbour about the weather.
"No, I intend to marry Hinata."
Hinata couldn't help but feel a little sense of pride at this that made her cheeks flush a little. Shinju started to flush for a different reason.
"But my father ..." Shinju started, her voice breaking with anger.
"I denied his proposal," Gaara cut in, "and please excuse us. We have places to be."
Hinata felt Gaara guide her away lightly with his hand on the small of her back, leaving a sputtering Shinju in the market dust. Only until they were out of earshot did Hinata muster up her courage to ask a question.
"Umm, Gaara? W-who was that?"
Her answer was typically short and void of detail. "Lord Azuma's daughter; she's his only heir."
Feeling her courage not failing, Hinata continued with her questions. "O-oh. Um, we are we going? If you d-don't mind my asking."
The Hyuuga could feel a pause, but Gaara never slowed and his hand never left the small of her back. There was only the sounds of the marketplace before Gaara replied.
"I don't know."
Author's Note:
I should be shot and buried for leaving you guys hanging for so long on my unofficial hiatus, but if that happened the story would never get finished lol Yes, very sorry about the whole no update thing. Crap happened, but I shouldn't make excuses. Hopefully my updates will be a little bit more regular now. Especially since I despised this chapter I slaved through it with intense dislike. And I should also quit introducing new characters but I can't help it. And I hate Shinju, yet love her at the same time. She's such a brat. Love her or hate her, feel free to tell me in your reviews!
Oh, and YES you can eat Kiwis with their skin on, I've seen it done, not quite how Gaara does but still, skin of Kiwi was eaten!