Chapter 21 time. And there was some confusion about the last chapter. Yes Gaara does love Hinata; he just really doesn't want to admit it. I mean come on, it's Gaara people!

Gaara: ghee thanks….-.-

Gaara leaned on the door of the office, his eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. He straightened up and looked out of the window. The sun was already in the sky, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Fukeru had asked him to meet him down at the lake, so that's where he intended to go. He wondered…if it was something that had to do with the wedding, which was today. As he walked through the village, it puzzled him how everyone was acting…normal. No one seemed to be talking about the wedding, or even be concerned about it. He frowned. What exactly was going on here?

Hinata had been released from the hospital this morning, according to Temari. Apparently, Naruto and Neji had woken up and received the worst scolding ever from Tsunada. Kankuro admitted to Gaara that he was terrified to be in the same room with Tsunada anymore. Gaara hadn't spoken to Hinata since the previous night; he just couldn't bring himself to do so. He was feeling all to many things at once. A terrible writhing in his chest when he thought about Hinata. He just didn't know how to put this into words.

"Glad you came Gaara-sama," Said Fukeru, who was standing beside Tsunada in an ally that Gaara past. The redhead stopped and looked around at them, frowning. Fukeru smiled, "We've come to a decision," He said.

"What is it?" Asked Gaara.

Fukeru sighed, "We've decided….to leave the decision to you."

"…M-me?"

"That's right," Said Fukeru nodding, "I've considered all of this with the rest of the nation's leaders, and your sister apparently overheard us, and made quiet an impression on the council."

"Eh…"

"She mentioned herself being in love with that Nara Shikamaru. After a very long discussion, we agreed that if you feel it right, the wedding will be canceled and you and Hyugga Hinata won't have to get married. It's all down to you choosing weather you want the wedding to happen, or not," Fukeru paused, "If you decide to have it canceled, then the council will just keep a close eye on the sand and leaf village."

Tsunada was frowning, staring at Gaara.

"Well," Said Fukeru, "What do you choose?"

Gaara looked at the ground, his eyes narrowed. The odd feeling in his chest, the fluttering of his heart, what did it all mean? If he canceled the wedding, Naruto and Neji would finally stop being so stupid, and Hinata would get to be with Naruto. Then everything would be back to normal, and that's what he wanted. But…but the thought about the accidental kiss, when he saved her from falling, how she almost risked her life to make sure that Naruto's Rasengan didn't hit Gaara. If he didn't cancel the wedding…Naruto and Neji would never forgive him…but what would Hinata do? He closed his eyes.

After a long pause which seemed to last a lifetime, Gaara opened his cold green eyes.

"Did you choose?" Asked Fukeru. Tsunada frowned.

"Yes…" Said Gaara quietly.

"S-say what!?" Gasped Hinata.

"The wedding's been canceled!" Said Sakura, her green eyes wide, "Apparently the head elder left the choice to Gaara, and he canceled the wedding! It means,"

"It means you don't have to marry him anymore," Said Sai, glancing at Sakura. She nodded.

Hinata stared at them, her silver eyes wide with shock. Not marry Gaara, anymore? But…last night…last night she figured out that she did love him! Now, now she wasn't going to marry him? She placed her hands over her mouth, eyes swelling with tears, "B-but…" She whispered.

"If you want to talk to him, I suggest you hurry."

The three looked around to see Neji walking into the Hyugga main hall. He looked as if the battle last night had never taken place. His leg was completely healed, his hair was brushed out neatly, and his skin was clear of blood and rubble. He crossed his arms, "Gaara and his siblings are leaving for the sand village soon," He said quietly.

"Neji…" Hinata looked at him, frowning.

Neji opened his eyes, "You love him, don't you Hinata?"

She nodded.

He sighed, "Then you should go. They should be leaving anytime now."

Hinata nodded. She stood and quickly pulled on her shoes, "Thanks for telling me, Sakura," She added, before rushing out of the Hyugga home as fast as she could. She had to catch Gaara before he left, she just had to!

She raced through the village at top speed, her long violet hair flying behind her. She leapt over a stack of crates, and ran along the roof. Faster…faster…! Her heart was racing inside of her chest, going as fast as her feet. She had to stop them from leaving…and…

She felt tears develop in her eyes. She loved Gaara, and she should of told him sooner! If she had told him, Neji, and Naruto that she loved him earlier, then he wouldn't be leaving, and none of this would of happened. She leapt of the roof, landing along the street, and froze at seeing who she landed in front of.

Naruto stared at Hinata, his blue eyes surprised, "Hinata…"

"I don't have time for you!" She snapped, walking around him.

"Hinata wait," Said Naruto, grabbing her hand. He turned her around to face her, and frowned. "I need to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk to you!"

"But you have to let me tell you something!" He said, gripping her hand tightly, "Hinata…I'm…I'm sorry…"

She blinked, "Naruto-kun…"

"I've been so stupid," He whispered, "Gaara's my friend and I attacked him, twice. I wasn't even thinking about the village. I was only thinking about protecting you. I didn't want you to marry someone you didn't love."

Hinata placed her hand on his face, "Naruto-kun…it was sweet what you tried to do, but…but I do love Gaara." She stared at him.

He smiled slightly, "I know."

"So you understand then?"

"Yeah."

Hinata smiled, and hugged him, "Naruto-kun…thank you!"

Naruto looked at her, "You'd better hurry. I saw Temari and Kankuro heading for the village gate. Gaara wasn't with them, but I'm sure he's close."

Hinata pulled away from him and nodded, "Thank you again, Naruto-kun!" She said. She smiled to herself. So there she had patched things up with Neji and Naruto…now she just needed to find Gaara before he left the village, and tell him her true feelings!

"Hinata?" Said Naruto.

She looked up at him, "yes, Naruto-kun?"

He smiled, "When you finally catch up to Gaara, tell him that I said sorry and…and that I owe him a nice big bowel of ramen!"

Hinata grinned and nodded, "I will!" She turned and leapt of. She ran along the roofs, brimming with a new joy. Soon, everything would be perfect again in her world.

She landed on the roof of the apartment that the sand siblings had been staying at. She jumped to the fourth floor and looked in the window. No one was there. She growled, and ran of in the other direction. She checked the restaurant where they had gone that time Gaara took her out. She looked by the canal where Gaara would occasionally sit and think. Finally, she came to the spot by the lake where they had gone about two weeks ago. There stood the redhead, a bag over his shoulders, staring at the shimmering water.

Hinata breathed a sigh of relief that she had caught up to him. "Gaara!" She called, running down toward the lake.

The Kazekage turned, a look of surprise on his face. He had been deep in thought when Hinata had called out to him.

Hinata stopped short of him, panting, "I-I'm so g-glad I caught you!" She said, placing a hand over her chest. She straightened up and smiled at him.

"You're not really leaving, right?" She asked, "You're just fooling!"

Gaara didn't answer, but turned his back on her. After a moment, he spoke. "Sorry, I have to go. I've spent to long away from the sand village. Also, I don't fool around with people."

Hinata blinked, "But Gaara--,"

"Don't you get it?" He muttered, "I canceled the wedding. It means we don't have to go through with it. It means everything can be back to normal." He looked over his shoulder at her, "you can go ahead and be with Naruto." His voice sounded very distant, as if saying this was causing him no torture or pain at all.

Hinata's heart on the other hand, began to scream out like wild. She clutched her chest, staring at him. "I…"

He stared at her blankly.

Hinata stared at him, her mouth open, "B-but that's…that's…" She blinked as Gaara stepped closer to her. He placed a hand behind her head and brought it forward. Hinata felt his lips touch her forehead lightly.

"You really are an amazing Kunoichie," He whispered, "So I envy whichever man you choose to marry in the future." He moved back away from her, his eyes closed.

"Gaara…" Whispered Hinata. He turned to leave, "Gaara wait!" She cried. He stopped, but didn't look at her.

"Don't leave…" She whispered, "You canceled the wedding because you think I don't love you…well…" She closed her eyes, "Well you're wrong!"

She herd him make a small noise that sounded like a gasp, and he looked around at her, his eyes wide. The sand in his gourd shifted, and began to hiss slightly, almost angrily.

"I do love you…" She whispered, "I love you more then life itself!" Tears spilled down her cheeks, and onto the grass below her feet. "So please…stay here…and tell Fukeru-sama to reorganize the wedding…"

Gaara sighed, "It's already been decided, and all of the lords and Kages know of it. My own village knows that I am returning to the village, so I can't just go back on my word. Besides…"

"But I just told you, I love you!" Shouted Hinata, "Neji and Naruto have come to their senses, everything will be perfect!"

"I'm the Kazekage!" He snapped, whirring around to face her, "I don't have time for petty emotions like love." He frowned, "My father married my mother, and look where she ended up. Dead."

"B-but y-you…"

Gaara turned and began to walk, "Don't follow me," He said quietly, "If you do, I'll only make you return to the village." He shook his head, "I'll have Tsunada put you under ANBU surveillance until I'm home if I have to."

"I'll follow you, I have to--,"

"I said don't!" He growled, his sand flaring angrily, "if you try and follow me, I won't hesitate to ki--," He cut himself of, his eyes widening.

Hinata's eyes widened as she stared at him, tears still spilling from her bright eyes.

Gaara shook his head. He began to walk towards the leaf village gate, his head down. He clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth.

"Gaara…" Whispered Hinata, falling to her knees.

He broke into a run.

"GAARA!" Hinata screamed as loud as she could.

He didn't stop, he didn't look back. He didn't say goodbye.

I'm sorry Hinata...Gaara thought as he ran towards the Village gate. He shut his eyes tight, I'm doing this to protect you. You don't know how dangerous it is to be close to me. If I did marry you, and an enemy found out, that would mean putting you in danger, and I can't do that.

Tsunada stared out of the window sadly, and sighed. "All this is causing one big mess," She muttered.

Jiraya crossed his arms and looked at her, "It's the kid's choice Tsunada, there's nothing you can do about it," He frowned.

"I know…" She whispered, "But I wish I could."

Jiraya mentally sighed, "He's kind of right you know. He is the Kazekage, and Kages don't have a lot of time for things like love. Even if they were to have gotten married, it might just end up like Gaara and Naruto's fathers."

Tsunada thought about the fourth Kazekage, and the fourth Hokage. She nodded slowly, "I guess you're right."

"What do you think Hinata will do?"

She shook her head, "I can only imagine, Jiraya. First, she had her heart broken when she found out that she couldn't be with Naruto. Then she fell in love with Gaara, and her heart was mended again. Now it is once again broken since Gaara left the village."

"True, true…" Said Jiraya nodding, "What do you think Naruto's reaction will be to all of this?"

"You mentored him for three years," She muttered, "You tell me."

Jiraya shrugged, "he'll probably want to kill Gaara for hurting Hinata."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking to…" Tsunada looked up at the setting sun through the window. "Think about it Jiraya…it's been two years since our last encounter with Sasuke. When he said that he was going…and he left for the land of lightning, we thought that everything would be calm, and peaceful again," She sighed, "And now this comes up."

"But this isn't nearly as bad as when Sasuke left," Jiraya argued, "I mean, He and Naruto almost killed each other twice." He held up two fingers dramatically, and frowned.

"You're such a drama queen," Muttered Tsunada, pouring two cups of Sake, "Sure this isn't like the thing with Sasuke, but…" She paused to take sip of sake, "But Hinata has had her heart broken to many time, and I'm worried about what she might do."

"You have a point there," He muttered, accepting the sake cup she handed him, "What do you think Kakashi?"

The jounin entered the room through the window, smirking under his mask, "You always catch me," He said, pulling out his book.

"Like that new addition?" Asked Jiraya, smiling.

"I love it," He whispered dramatically.

Tsunada rolled her eyes and sipped her sake. "So Kakashi, what's your personal opinion about all this?"

Kakashi paused, "Let things fold out as they wish," He said shrugging, "We have no right to interfere. Just let them sort it out on their own."

So that was chapter 21. I hope you don't think this is a cliff hanger, but I do kind of have a thing for cliffies, so, lol.

Gaara: damn…angst….

Lol