Author's note! So sorry it's late! I just finished my last week of school so it was pretty intense and I didn't have much time to get this posted. :c

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

-thoughts-

Chapter Twenty One: Unknown Arrangements.

HINATA POV

Two months. It had now been precisely two months since me and Gaara had started sneaking around Temari and she was still completely oblivious. Kankuro and Hanabi had kept quiet, thankfully… I don't know what I'd do if Neji had found out.

I still hadn't completely wrapped my head around Hanabi's mentioning of Sasori… I had completely forgotten about him when I met Gaara… Was that enough proof that I don't like Gaara for his similarities? I figured so. I was grateful that the name 'Sasori' hadn't been mentioned since.

"Hinata, where's Temari?" Shikamaru asked as he swung open my door, giving me a heart attack.

I looked at the dark haired male as he leaned against my door, when did he even get in? "Sh-Shikamaru… I… I uh, don't know." I mumbled, twiddling my fingers as he stared at me lazily.

There was a long restless sigh as he shook his head, "How troublesome, she was supposed to meet me an hour ago."

I frowned; blowing off Shikamaru didn't seem like something that Temari would do, "I'm sorry; I really don't know where she is." I mumbled, reaching over my bed to grab my phone off the side table.

"She didn't answer my calls, so good luck." Shikamaru mumbled.

I picked up my phone and dialled her number, listening to the ring.

"What's up?" A sad tone came from Temari.

I bit my lip hard, "Where are you?"

There was a chuckle, "Oh sorry, you must have Shikamaru with you. Look, I just found out I had to head home for a few days, and my phone's been out of service for ages now since I'm on the train; you can tell Shikamaru I'm sorry, but I really have to go… My stops coming up."

Home? Why was Temari on a train home? "B-But why?"

"Uh, I'll tell you later." Temari said as she hung up.

I looked at Shikamaru, "T-Temari left on a train, she's headed h-home for a few days so I'm guessing something ur-urgent has came up, she said her phone keeps going out of service so she hasn't been able to let you k-know." I mumbled.

Shikamaru let out another sigh, "Oh. Well thanks anyway." He said as he left the room.

If Temari's away for a few days, maybe I can tell Neji… that way he can go a little crazy without her knowing just yet. I really want to tell her, but I'm worried it'll ruin our friendship.

I got up and headed for the door, before I was on my way to Neji's dorm room, hoping that he'd be there but I stopped when a voice shouted from behind me, "Hinata!"

I turned around to see Tenten waving frantically with a large grin on her face, Neji walking besides her.

Smiling, I turned and made my way over, "I was just on my way to see you." I said without one stutter.

Tenten laughed, but Neji's facial expression didn't change, "What is it that you wanted?" He asked.

I swallowed hard and looked at the floor before back at him, "I just wanted to let you know that Gaara and me we are… um… we're…"

"I know." Neji interrupted.

My eyes widened, "Y-You what?" I asked, completely in a state of shock that he already knew and he wasn't even angry about it… I was used to Neji going ballistic at any man that dared to get too close to me.

He shook his head, "You don't think I'm that stupid do you? I've seen the two of you sneaking around, and stealing glances and kisses every once in a while."

Tenten laughed again, resting a hand on her hip, "Yeah, I think everybody knows… well, not everybody." She smiled.

I was still completely speechless when Neji spoke again, "Uncle knows as well, he's had someone here keep an eye on Hanabi, but that eye was more drawn to your sneaking around. He was quite disappointed until he found out that Gaara is the son of a very feared and powerful leader."

"He… what? Gaara's the son of who?" I asked, never had I heard of this!

Neji raised an eyebrow, "You mean you don't know? The leader of Suna is Gaara's father."

I blinked, "The Kazekage is Gaara's father?" Oh no, I bet father has had a field day with this information.

Neji and Tenten both nodded, "Apparently, Gaara is next in line… Kankuro didn't want it. Uncle accepts your relationship but he did warn me to keep a close eye on the both of you, he doesn't want anything degrading to happen to our families name, he's been trying to make a deal with Suna for a very long time."

My heart thumped in my chest hard, was Sasori someone he had tried to make a deal with? I shook my head, No, father wouldn't be selling me off to men… would he? Did Gaara know anything about this? Or would he find out and think that I was using him? So many thoughts intruded my mind at once, and I was having trouble trying to shake them off, "No…" I mumbled, "Why would father think me and Gaara will be forever?" I thought aloud, I knew that most relationships didn't last forever… and we were only 16!

Neji was quiet, and then it dawned on me, Father does plan to sell me off… "He can't do that!" I shouted.

"But you like Gaara, don't you?" Neji said. He was clueless, I was young, and just finally experimenting with boys, and just because I liked Gaara didn't mean that I wanted to marry him!

"Neji!" Tenten gasped, "You should have told me this! You can't have your cousin marry someone if you don't know if she wants to, that's wrong!"

Neji looked at Tenten, "I don't see what's so wrong about it, it happens in our family quite often and I don't see why you're upset Hinata if you're dating Gaara."

"Because now I look like I'm a user! How coincidental that I come to this school, get roomed with Temari and start dating one of her brothers, and then comes the 'oh hey, let's throw an arranged marriage in there so we can have a stupid connection to Suna, Hinata won't mind at all!' It doesn't look good!" I shouted, anger and confusion boiling up in me. "I feel like someone's tied string around me and used me as a puppet in some sick little game." I frowned.

Tenten nodded understandingly, "Yeah, it doesn't look good from either side really, I mean as soon as Hinata came here Gaara dumped Matsuri in like a day and then was all over Hinata, who's to say that both sides weren't involved?" She shook her head.

My heart sunk at her words, she had a point… Gaara was quite heavy when he met me, I didn't even have room to breathe as his charm over took me.

I promise the next chapter will be uploaded next week!