I am sorry for the long wait. I really hate making you readers wait, so thank you so much for understanding. And thank you to my beta errihu who took the time from her writing to proof mine.
Chapter 25
The morning was unusually quiet, Gaara sat back in his desk pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. He was going to belosing money on the pottery business if he didn't get it up and running in the next month. He just didn't have time to go over and set it up. He had been gone for almost two weeks from Sunagakure and the paper work that was staked up on his desk wasn't even half way done with.
He could tell Matsuri was getting frustrated with the holdup on projects and missions. However, he had spent two days working all evening and he was doing the best he could. He even had Hinata helping. He dictated letters, and she wrote them up; she proofed his documents for grammar and spelling mistakes. She ran mission statements to Baki to process and she even did one day of border patrol with Kankuro and Anubis. But Gaara decided he didn't want her doing that, it made him nervous having her out there front line without him there with her.
Since her team had passed Gaara had sent them out on one mission outside the village. It was a one-day assignment, nothing terribly dangerous. He didn't send Hinata with them and he could tell it bothered her as he signed off on their assignment and put them with another Jonin other than herself. He wondered if he was going to have to refresh her memory regarding that the duties of the Kazekage's wife did not include going on missions.
The door to the Kazekage's office swung open and Kankuro swaggered in, tossing an apple Gaara's way. It was more like a throw as if to hit his little brother in the head but the Kazekage easily snatched the apple out of the air. Kankuro gave a crooked grin as he slumped into the chair across from the desk.
"So tell me Gaara when is our sister coming home?" Kankuro asked as he began fishing through his pockets for something.
Gaara stared at the apple in his hand for a moment. "Should be home end of this week."
"I can't believe you let her stay behind, and without a chaperone. How scandalous, Gaara." Kankuro muttered out as he pulled out a velvet covered pouch, and began to untie the strings.
Gaara stared at the apple, and then at his older brother, wondering if he could get away with hitting him with the apple. Kankuro was after all besmirching their sister's name.
"I mean I understand our behavior reflects on you, that's why I try to maintain a clean untarnished reputation." Kankuro commented with a smirk as he stuck his fingers into the pouch.
"Hn." Gaara muttered out in disbelief. "I wouldn't worry about Temari I'd worry about you. Don't even think about chewing in my office."
Kankuro's smile widened as his fingers pulled out a simple gold ring, the light in the office made the gold shimmer.
"I am going to ask Matsuri to marry me." Kankuro announced with a snicker. "Shocker right? Didn't think your philandering older brother would find the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with did you?"
Gaara wasn't too surprised. Over the last two years, his former student and older brother had been thrown together on numerous occasions. It was bound to happen; they would either grow attached to each other or kill each other.
"When's the big occasion." Gaara asked as he finally bit into the apple and chewed thoughtfully.
"I haven't asked her yet." Kankuro replied placing the ring back into the pouch and tucked it into his shirt. "Waiting for the right moment, you know fireworks, music in the air, stars in the sky that kind of romantic crap women fall for."
"You have my blessing." Gaara replied with a nod of his head.
Kankuro snickered as he sat back against the chair. "Funny how I have to get the blessing of my little brother." Kankuro leaned forward and snatched one of Gaara's picture frames off his desk the one of Hinata and her students shortly after they were announced Chunin. "By the way how is your woman?"
"Fine." Gaara replied a little testily at Kankuro's lackadaisical speech regarding Hinata.
"You know Gaara I heard something the other day." Kankuro began as he stared down at the picture pausing in thought.
"I don't want to hear it." Gaara growled out in warning knowing perfectly well what Kankuro wasgoing to say.
Kankuro looked up in surprise at the Kazekage's change in voice. Gaara watched his older brother stand up and replace the picture frame on the desk.
"I don't care what you want to hear or not. She is your wife and I am going to tell you the rumor that I was just made aware of." Kankuro replied firmly.
"I am aware of the dirty rumor that Hinata and the Inuzuka man are lovers." Gaara grounded out in anger, his green eyes sparking at his older brother.
"Oh so you did hear it." Kankuro replied folding his arms over his chest. "So are you going to divorce her, annul the marriage?"
Gaara looked at his brother in disgust. "Unlike you Kankuro I don't throw women away."
Kankuro narrowed his eyes at his little brother. "I do not throw women away."
"If you speak of Matsuri, well she is the first woman that you haven't grown bored with." Gaara deadpanned than cocking his head to the side he continued. "I wonder how long that will last?"
Kankuro stiffened at the insult. "You may be the Kazekage, Gaara but I can still kick your ass."
"That is debatable." Gaara quipped back.
"I can take you on anytime anywhere." Kankuro challenged.
Gaara regarded him for a moment; he needed something to take his anger and frustration out on. What better than to beat his older brother to a pulp? That would make him feel much better.
"You're on." Gaara replied, a menacing gleam in his eyes.
…
Hinata frowned over the policy she was reading through.
"Matsuri?"
"Hmm." The brown haired Kuniochi replied as she continued to place papers in alphabetic order in Hinata's new filing cabinet.
"What is this sales tax for?" Hinata asked in confusion.
"It's a tax levied by the Kazekage on the retail price of an item."
"Matsuri I know the definition a sales tax I want to know why the Kazekage put one in place."
"For economic growth of course." Matsuri replied looking over her shoulder. "The Kazekage doesn't put anything into place without doing his research and he found that a sales tax is one of the least harmful taxes for growth. Things like food are not taxed but things like alcohol and tobacco are."
"Oh." Hinata replied.
A sharp knock came from the door and Sari came through with a slight frown on her face.
"Lady Hinata there is a council meeting in fifteen minutes and the Kazekage and his older Brother just checked themselves into the infirmary."
"What!" Hinata asked in shock the papers fell from her numb fingers. "Is he…"
"No, they will be fine, however, I don't think the Kazekage will make it to the meeting and when he can't make it to the council of elders Temari usually fills in, but since she isn't back yet that leaves you."
"Oh no." Hinata whispered through numb lips. "I can't… I mean I haven't even read the agenda for today's meeting."
"Let's not panic." Matsuri replied quickly as she closed the file drawer and picked up the agenda. "Some of these topics you can touch on briefly and move on."
Sari walked in and peeked over Matsuri's shoulder.
"You can update them on the Chunin exams." Sari pointed out.
Hinata nodded in agreement she could do that, her brow furrowed above her eyes as she skimmed the agenda, she could touch base on the pottery business, even discuss the trade agreement that was being drawn up between the Kazekage and Tsuchikage.
"I can do this." Hinata replied with firmness in her voice.
"Of course you can, you're the wife of the Kazekage." Sari replied with a smile.
"What exactly happened to the Kazekage?" Hinata asked as she began tugging on her whiteand lavender robe, and turned around to allow Matsuri to tie the ribbon in the back.
"Temari calls it male bonding but I call it a knock out fight. Judging from the time line it was only a matter of time before they had another it's been awhile… what would you say Matsuri? Almost a full year."
"I think your right it's been awhile; Kankuro has trouble keeping his snide comments to himself and the Kazekage will only stand it for so long before a fight breaks out." Matsuri replied with a nod of her head as she surveyed her handy work.
Hinata smiled she could just imagine the fight her husband must have had with his older sibling.
"Alright I think I'm ready." Hinata replied as she followed Sari out of the office and to the meeting room.
The council of elders looked a little surprised to see the Kazekage's wife and not their leader. Hinata knew from the few times that she had come to the council meetings with the Kazekage that women were not part of the meeting. She was sure they only put up with her because she was the wife of their leader.
Sajo was the first to speak. "Good Afternoon Lady Hinata, I assume the Kazekage will be here shortly?"
Hinata sat down next to the empty chair of the Kazekage and gave a pleasant smile to the elder. "No, I am afraid the Kazekage is indisposed at the moment."
"Not fatal I hope?" Joseki asked with fake concern.
Hinata kept her face blank, she knew perfectly well that Joseki did not like the Kazekage. It irritated her that he showed his obvious dislike so public.
"The Kazekage is in excellent health and will no doubt lead this village for many years to come." Hinata replied sweetly.
Joseki frowned at her comment.
"Lets begin then." Sajo commented drawing attention back to the agenda. "How did the Chunin exams go?"
Hinata smiled her thanks to Sajo for changing the subject. "I am pleased to announce that Shawna, Kano, and Shima are now Chunin."
There were a few words of praise and pleasure in hearing that the village now had three new Chunin level ninja. It was excellent progress indeed.
"How about Miyo, is she through with her training with the medical-ninsin Konohagakure?" Baki asked.
"Miyo was granted another week of training and will return with Temari." Hinata replied.
"Excellent." Sajo replied. "I believe our next step is to place Shawna and Miyo into our medical program under Sekka. No doubt with the extra training from Konohagakure she will be a wonderful addition to our medical staff."
"May I point out to the council that it was decided that Miyo would only be there a month and return after that time. Her Mother will not be pleased." Baki commented.
"Greta is some refugee that you found on the border, Baki. She is a civilian and has no say in the matter concerning her daughter's education as a medical-nin." Joseki snapped back.
"Her mother is a citizen of Sunagakure and any concerns she has for her daughter are understandable. The life of a shinobi is a dangerous profession." Hinata pointed out. "It is only right that a parent, family member, and teammate be concerned for one another."
Joseki glared at Hinata before his face smoothed in a sickly smile. "Ah and no doubt you understand that bond between teammates?"
Hinata blinked in surprise at the sudden question, a cold shiver ran down her spine at the way he was leering at her.
"Would you care to explain the bond you shared with your own teammates?" Joseki asked as he leaned forward waiting for her answer.
Hinata suddenly knew exactly what he was referring to. In the past she might have cowered away form the intense, questioning gaze of the elders. However, all she felt was anger raging within her for besmirching the innocent bond she had with her old teammates. How dare they how dare they listen to false rumors discrediting her?
"Joseki I never pegged you for a fool." Hinata whispered out softly her smile still in place. "To listen to a dirty rumor that's sole purpose was to make the Kazekage look bad. I would have thought you would put a stop to it when you heard it."
"Have you Joseki?" Sajo asked intently a deep frown increased the wrinkles around his eyes. "Our leader has enough on his mind than to have the council keep such rumors alive."
Joseki fell back against his chair and crossed his arms. His disappointment on not riling the Kazekage's wife was evident on his face. The wife of their great leader wasn't a pushover as he had previously thought, she had not succumbed to tears, stutters or the usual whining that other woman might have fell into.
"Of course I did, I just thought the council should be aware of it." Joseki snapped out in irritation.
"The personal life of the Kazekage is not our concern. Taking care of this village is." Baki snapped out.
Hinata kept her smile in place as the meeting continued. The discussion went to the opening of the pottery business. Hinata mentioned the fact that it would be best run by a competent Jonin with a team that could make deliveries fast and efficient. This would be needed for the first year in order to keep the business going. Hinata even offered to help the first couple of months taking care of the financial side, hiring workers and even taking orders from the neighboring villages and possible countries.
The rest of the meeting went smoothly and Hinata left feeling confident in herself and ability to handle the council of elders. Evening was setting as she finally made it to the living quarters. Opening the door she came face to face with Gaara. Gasping in surprise she took in his appearance noting how dirty he was.
"I thought you were in the infirmary?" Hinata questioned.
"Hn." Gaara grunted out as he turned away and walked into their bedroom.
Hinata followed feeling a little uneasy with his rough looking appearance and how he wasn't talking to her. Gaara made a move to lie down on the bed but Hianta stopped him quickly grabbing him around the waist, and shaking her head.
"You are filthy Gaara. There is no way I am letting you go to bed dirty."
"Hinata." Gaara warned out his voice was cold.
She shrugged his behavior aside and led him to the bathroom instead. She managed to sit him down on the tile floor as she got the bath water ready. With efficient movements she had him undressed and in the water.
Hinata shook her head as she began scrubbing him down, she wiped the dirt off Gaara's face none to gently either. She didn't have brothers so she didn't quite understand what the argument had been about or why a fight had even broken out between the two brothers. Gaara let out a low growl of irritation as she scrubbed extra hard at his red hair with her fingertips.
"Don't growl at me like a dog." Hinata retorted as she began rinsing his red hair.
Gaara startled as suds got into his eyes. "You got soap in my eyes." He snarled as his hand fisted around her wrist to stop the water flow pouring down on his head.
"Gaara!" Hinata cried as the water sloshed over the side of the tub soaking the front of her shirt. "Now look what you did."
Gaara stopped his struggling a leering smirk twisted his lips up the remaining soap suds slid down the side of his face. "I am looking."
Hinata's face began to flush with embarrassment at the look on his face. He was the most irritating man she knew and she was married to him. She hadn't planned on spending the evening giving him a bath because he was to stubborn to admit that he was dirty.
"You're just like Kankuro." Hinata snapped impatiently as she began pouring water over his head again.
Gaara sputtered the water out of his mouth and wiped the burning soap suds from his eyes. "I am nothing like my brother." His voice was a growl of anger.
"Nothing wrong with being like your brother." Hinata replied as she took the bar of soap and began scrubbing his back. She smiled as a low moan fell from his lips as she scrubbed. "What was the fight about anyways?"
She felt Gaara swallow beneath her fingertips, watched as his body stiffened.
"Gaara?" Hinata asked as she stopped scrubbing and placed a hand beneath his chin and turned his face to hers.
His green eyes were downcast; his red hair was sticking to the sides of his face and along his neck. His lips were a thin line of irritation. Hinata felt a sick feeling inside the fight had been about her she knew it. Her hand dropped from his face and she sat back on her heels her wet hands landed on her lap soaking through the material of her shorts.
Out of the corner of her eyes she watched Gaara's hand grip the edge of the tub. She raised her eyes to meet his and offered a sad smile. What could she say the entire village probably had heard the rumor also? Gaara had his past and she had one of her own, but an innocent one, a past that people misinterpreted. Trying to besmirch her name just because she had a close friendship with an old teammate.
"I went to the council meeting in your place." Hinata began as she rubbed her bare arm.
Gaara didn't say a word.
"They heard it too. In fact Joseki was the one who brought it up." Hinata continued.
"He's a creep." Gaara muttered.
"W-w-when will life be normal for us?" Hinata asked softly a faint stutter in her words.
Gaara was silent as he considered how to answer that question. "This is normal."
Hinata felt the urge to laugh, a bubbly high pitched laugh. It wasn't a normal laugh, maybe verging on the edge of insane, tears fell from her eyes and her lips trembled as she finally got control of herself.
"It's not amusing." Gaara snapped as he leaned back in the water.
"It is Gaara, because if this is normal I would hate to see what wouldn't be normal." Hinata replied as she leaned her back against the side of the tub and brought her knees up under her chin. "Does your brother hate me?"
"Hn, what a question." Gaara retorted. "If he hated you, you'd be dead."
Hinata frowned down at her knees; she felt Gaara's wet hand land on the top of her head. Beads of water ran down her bangs and dripped onto the tiled floor beneath her feet. She felt his fingers absently massage the top of her head.
"If it makes you feel better, I don't hate you." Gaara whispered out with a sigh.
"You don't?" Hinata asked her voice wavered slightly.
"I just said I didn't." Gaara snapped out impatiently.
His fingers tightened in her hair for a moment before relaxing and continuing their gentle caress. Hinata watched the water drops fall from her bangs; the gentle pitter-patter was the only sound in the bathroom. It finally hit her that Gaara had just defended her name against Kankuro. A soft smile pulled her lips up as she realized that her stone cold husband had some feelings after all.
…..
The next day found Hinata in a deep discussion with Greta.
"Gaara didn't make the decision to spite you." Hinata explained softly.
"Really!" Greta asked in frustration. "He promised Miyo would only be there a month, no longer."
Hinata tried to remain professional about the situation and to understand Greta's fear. The tall blond refused to sit down as she paced Hinata's office, her long blond hair was held back with a purple ribbon. Greta's face was exceedingly pale and the lack of color to her face really brought out the two scars on her face. Hinata watched uneasily as Greta stared out the window.
"Greta I understand you're upset."
Greta turned around suddenly her dark brown eyes cold and angry as she stared at Hinata.
"Tell me Lady Hinata, do you have any children of your own?" Greta asked her voice cold.
Hinata blushed at the statement. Everyone knew she didn't have children and that she wasn't even pregnant. The statement was uncalled for and Hinata didn't appreciate another woman pointing out her lack of fertility. Hinata began to count the days of her last period, than sighed heavily nope she was definitely not pregnant and it wasn't for lack of trying either. Her blush deepened as she thought about yesterday, and the day before.
"I didn't think so." Greta replied pulling Hinata out of her daydream. "So therefore you don't know the love a Mother has for her child. The fear one goes through when that child is not with her. I have lost a lot in my lifetime, more than you can ever imagine. I refuse to lose my child also."
"Miyo is safe Greta, truly she is. Your daughter is training under some of the best in Konohagakure. And you speak without thinking, although I do not have children I do have a younger sibling who I am just as protective over."
Greta blinked in shock. "If you speak of your younger sister Hanabi Hyuuga, she is hardly a child any more."
Hinata looked at Greta in confusion and was about to ask how she knew that Hinata's sibling was a sister, let alone her name. Hinata had never recalled speaking of her sister, of course that didn't mean Gaara hadn't said something. Than of course the Hyuuga clan was well known through out the lands.
"Who is Miyo training under?" Greta asked.
"Kakashi Hatake." Hinata replied with notable pride to her voice.
Whatever little blood Greta had in her face was gone, her lips went white and her gaze turned fearful. "Kakashi Hatake?" She said the name with a distinct note of fear and horror.
"Why yes, do you know him?" Hinata asked a little confused with Greta's reaction.
"Of course I don't know him." Greta replied a little too quickly and a little too harshly. "His name is well known throughout the world one can not help but hear of him."
"I suppose your right so than you would know that he has a sharingan also and can effectively train your daughter."
"An implanted sharingan in his left eye, he can never shut it off." Greta was looking off in the distance like she wasn't ever seeing Hinata. "Given to him by his best friend." Greta's face crumbled slightly as she continued in a sad voice. "What a burden he has carried for years."
"I didn't know the particulars of how he got the sharingan." Hinata mussed in thought. "How did you know?"
Greta snapped back to attention. "Through the grapevine of course."
"Really?" Hinata asked her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at Greta. "Because not many people know that."
Greta's mouth thinned and her dark eyes became hardened once more. Hinata took another good look at this woman, striking blond hair much like the color of Ino's yet Ino had blue eyes and Greta's were a dark brown. It just didn't add up, and what tattoos had once colored Greta's beautiful face only to be erased leaving a permanent scar. Why was this woman who professed so earnestly not to be a medical ninja have such a well varied medicinal garden and a daughter who was well versed in the ways of a medical nin?
"I am sure Miyo is doing just fine and that she will return unhurt by the end of the week."
"I pray you are right Lady Hinata." Greta replied softly as she gave a nod of her head. "I should be going I promised Sekka I would drop off this bundle of herbs for him."
Hinata smiled as she watched Greta leave. Slowly she took a sip of her tea before setting it down. She walked to the window, opened it wide, and then stepped aside.
"You can come in now she left." Hinata replied.
Gaara suddenly appeared on the window ledge casually leaning against the glass window. His red hair was wild from the wind his eyes bright as he looked down at his wife who stood there with a smile on her lips. She reached out a hand and caressed his ankle with long fingers.
"I'm not scared of her." Gaara said softly.
"Oh really, why did you jump out the window when you heard her coming." Hinata replied with a grin.
Gaara gave her an irritated look and a sigh that blew his red bangs up and to the side. "As Kazekage I shouldn't have to put up with irate civilians."
"You do fear her." Hinata replied teasingly as her fingers moving up his leg to caress his firm calf.
"Don't make such irrational statements." Gaara retorted as his gaze fixed on her wandering hand.
"I don't trust her" Hinata commented her hand stilling under his serious gaze.
"I have a suspicion that Greta is a medical ninja. That she is hiding something."
Gaara jumped off the windowsill to stand next to Hinata. She reached out, latched the window shut, and turned around to find herself in Gaara's warm embrace.
"What do you mean?" Gaara asked softly.
Hinata tried to focus on his question when her gaze was focused on his lips instead, those firm sculpted lips that were dangerously close to hers.
"Greta knows my sister's name is Hanabi." Hinata replied.
"So do I, Kankuro, Temari, and Baki." Gaara replied his lips touched the corner of her mouth.
"That's true." Hinata replied her breath hitched as she turned her head a fraction to meet his lips.
"You over think everything." Gaara muttered against her cheek, his lips caressing her skin.
Hinata smiled in Gaara's embrace as he ran his hands down the back of her legs lifting her into his arms, she crossed her ankles around his waist. Gaara's mouth was hot against her neck as he place an open mouthed kiss there, losing their balance slightly Hinata felt her back slammed up against one of the walls of her office, the breath knocked out of her she slapped her arm against the wall inadvertently making the picture frame swing down. She couldn't think as Gaara began sucking the delicate skin of her neck, it was a weird feeling; he'd never done that before. She didn't know if she liked it or wanted to push his face away from her neck.
"Gaara…" Hinata gasped out than giggled as he nipped her skin.
"What." Gaara asked from the crook of her neck his tongue ran across the heated spot that he had just finished lavishing with his lips.
"Uncomfortable." Hinata moaned out, her back was hurting from being slammed against the wall.
"Oh." Gaara replied suddenly as he lifted his weight off her.
"The desk…" Hinata replied suddenly waving a hand to the top of her desk.
With wonderful skill and precision Gaara had Hinata sprawled across the top of her desk. She swung her arm out again and knocked over the pencil case. Gaara gave a low chuckle as he kissed her ear his teeth gently nibbled along the shell. Hinata reached for the hem of his shirt and slid her hands under to touch his bare skin. Gaara hissed at her touch, his hand landed with a loud slam on the desk, knocking off a stack of documents.
"We should r-r-really be working." Hinata giggled.
"I am working." Gaara contradicted, as he slid a hand beneath her head fisting his fingers in her long black hair and bringing her up for a long passionate kiss.
Gaara's warm body pressed against her chest his lips twitched as he bent his head to press his lips against the column of her throat. Hinata giggled as his breath tickled her skin, she felt Gaara's lips curve up against her skin. She knew he was hiding his smile from her, and she was about to call him on it when there was a loud knock at her door. She sat up so fast she knocked Gaara in the nose.
"Oh I'm sorry." Hinata squeaked as she heard the groan of pain come from Gaara who was clutching his nose.
"Gaara are you in there?" Kankuro's annoying voice rang from the other side of the door. "Damn you Gaara for leaving me alone to deal with that hysterical woman on my own. If you're hiding in Hinata's office you are going to pay."
Hurt nose forgotten; Gaara pressed a quick kiss against Hinata's startled lips and again jumped out the window. Coming out of her shock Hinata raced to shut the window just as Kankuro came barging through the door. Hinata did her best impression of disapproving Lady as she narrowed her lavender eyes and fixed her brother-in-law with a severely disapproving look. She raised one black eyebrow just for good measure and she was pleased with the effect it had on Kankuro.
He looked quite ashamed of himself as he shuffled his feet in embarrassment. His face turned a slight shade of pink as he met Hinata's disapproving look. He ran a hand through his brown hair much like the way Gaara did when he was upset.
"Sorry about the door Hinata." Kankuro apologized. "You wouldn't have happened to have seen Gaara?"
Hinata gave an indignant sniff and sat down behind her desk. "I haven't seen him for awhile."
"Oh." Kankuro replied as his eyes scanned the knocked over pencil case, the documents that were scattered on the floor and Gaara's white scarf that happened to be caught in the window.
Hinata kept her face blank as she regarded Kankuro. "You might want to wait next time until you are given permission to come in before barging in like a madman."
Kankuro gave his sister-in-law a smirk as he crossed his arms. "And you might want to get rid of the evidence of you and Gaara's little make out session on top of your desk before you try to cover up for him next time."
Hinata stared at Kankuro speechless as he swaggered out of her office. Then she colored as she stared at the mess on her desk and hurried to clean it up before someone else came in.
…
Gaara gave an irritated sigh. Kankuro had found him and was presently giving him a lecture of a lifetime. First it started out with playing hooky when he knew perfectly well that he had been gone for two long weeks and the paperwork was sky high. Then, how dare Gaara sneak away with his wife for an entire day, they couldn't find him anywhere what if they needed him? Gaara tried to suppress a smirk. If they had looked in the bedroom they would have found him, and his wife.
Then it was what was the meaning of allowing Miyo to spend another week at Konohagakure? That was uncalled for and now a mother she bear was roaming the complex demanding the Kazekage's head.
"Kankuro I do believe you are taking this too serious." Gaara mussed staring out the window.
"I have a feeling our roles have switched." Kankuro snapped back. "I am being the responsible one and you are being the wild one."
Gaara didn't flinch, didn't even move a muscle.
"Oh, lord, I am becoming a bore, how could I have let this happen, I used to have so much fun." Kankuro bemoaned in agony he was now on his knees hands before him in horror. "Gaara I beg of you please take your responsibilities back I don't want to be the acting Kazekage any more."
Gaara rolled his eyes at the dramatics of his older brother.
"I want to be the one playing hooky, I want to be the one running around with a beautiful woman, and damn it I deserve to have a hot make out session in an office." Kankuro ranted.
That caught Gaara's attention and he narrowed his eyes at his older brother.
"What did you say?"
Kankuro got to his feet folded his arms over his chest and sneered down at his little brother.
"Didn't think you would get caught did you?" Kankuro glanced at his brother in pure malicious delight as he continued. "I am an expert when it comes to these things. First of all you have a bloody nose so Hinata either decked you one, which I highly doubt your wife would ever raise a hand to you or I interrupted you in a moment of passion. Plus Hinata's desk was a horrible mess which again is highly unlike her as the neat freak she is. Thus I came to the conclusion…"
"Enough." Gaara snapped coldly.
"Hey nothing wrong with loving your wife." Kankuro replied with raised hands. "I am a strong supporter of love, and all that good stuff. However, there are things that need to be taken care of and Greta is one of them. She has a strong fear that something bad is going to happen to her daughter in Konohagakure, now where would she get that idea?"
"What do you suggest, Kankuro?" Gaara asked.
"If you refuse to sit that woman down and ask her flat out where her previous allegiance was then I think we should go through that list of missing and rogue ninja list Naruto sent us."
Gaara was about to tell Kankuro that was foolish when his door swung open and Hinata came in waving his white scarf.
"You need to be careful next time you fly out the …" She trailed off as she met Kankuro's gaze.
"You two are utterly hopeless you know that." Kankuro commented with a smirk. "First rule, Gaara, never leave an article of clothing behind as evidence."
Gaara suddenly turned in his chair and placed a hand on the desk and gave his brother his famous 'you're in for it now' look. He casually flipped open one of the binders took out a pen and scratched a name down on the registry and then slammed it shut.
"Have it your way Kankuro, your duties as acting Kazekage have been revoked. Starting tomorrow you will begin front entrance duty." Gaara replied in his monotone voice.
Kankuro blanched visibly. "What the hell Gaara I have been sitting behind a desk for an entire two weeks and your going to…"
"The answer's yes I am, I suggest you enjoy the day because for the next week that's your assignment." Gaara replied with cold humor.
Kankuro gave an annoying snort and stomped out of the office. Gaara smiled smugly at his retreating brothers back, no one lectured the Kazekage. Not even the Kazekage's brother.
"Your brother is so…so." Hinata was at a loss for words.
"Obnoxious, nosey, insane, a nuisance, fat." Gaara offered each word with bland amusement. "I can keep going."
"I was going to say 'uncivilized'" Hinata offered with a smile. "But those words describe him just as well."
"Funny some would call me that." Gaara replied as he pulled out the list of missing and rogue ninja that Naruto had sent.
Hinata placed his folded white scarf on the top desk.
"Do you want me to heal that nose?" Hinata asked sheepishly.
Gaara gingerly touched his sore nose and slightly wiggled it. He grimaced at the pain and decided it was best not to touch it.
"I think I will live." Gaara mussed.
Hinata glanced at the papers on his desk and spotted the missing ninja report on top, placing a fingertip on the list she scanned the thirty-two names on the list.
"Is this the list Naruto sent you?" Hinata asked as she pulled a chair next to Gaara and began reading the names again.
"Yes." Gaara replied blandly. "Do you recognize any of the names?"
"Well Kagura was a ninja that desperately wanted Tsunade as a teacher." Hinata commented tapping her finger on the name. "Oh Yoroi Akado was finished off by Shino I think he's dead."
"You think or you know." Gaara commented.
"What is the difference?" Hinata asked with a frown.
"There is a difference. The act of knowing as in was the body retrieved; did you see it dragged out of the water?"
"No it was not." Hinata replied than shuddered. "I assume he drowned."
"Until a body is found he will likely remain on the list." Gaara explained.
"Hmm." Hinata mussed softly as her finger stopped on the name Rin.
"What." Gaara asked with slight interest in his voice.
"Rin was a former teammate of Kakashi Hatake; she went missing well over 12 years ago I am surprised to see her still on this list." Hinata commented.
They continued down the list and at the end, Gaara came to the conclusion that his village wasn't harboring any missing ninjas. He glanced as Hinata and secretly smiled at how seriously she was taking this a small frown pulled her lips down and her eyebrows lowered slightly over her startling lavender eyes.
"Why such a perplexed look?" Gaara breathed out.
"I don't know I just feel like…Greta is from Konohagakure."
"I don't have time to dwell on this preconceived notion of yours."
Hinata glared at Gaara. "What if I'm right?"
"Would be the first time." Gaara deadpanned.
Hinata pinched Gaara's arm.
"What is with you and your abusive hands?" Gaara snapped rubbing his arm.
"I don't like your tone. I want to look into this further." Hinata pestered.
"Fine, but I'm not helping you." Gaara replied his voice final.
"And if I'm right you have to give me anything I want." Hinata continued with a sweet smile.
"Within reason." Gaara replied with narrowed eyes.
Before Hinata could elaborate on what she wanted the sound of Anubis's howling shook the door of the office. The dog was spoiled; knowing that around this time Gaara would take Anubis out for a brisk walk, followed by a hard game of fetch, and thenending the day beside Gaara in his office getting tidbits of his favorite biscuit.
"What is he carrying on about?" Hinata wondered as she turned her innocent gaze on Gaara and noticed that he quickly busied himself with rearranging documents. "You've spoiled him haven't you?"
Gaara stopped in mid shuffle and turned a blank gaze on his wife. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yes you do." Hinata teased with a smile. "You've been taking Anubis for walks."
Another ear-piercing howl ripped through the air and Hinata covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. Gaara's eyes narrowed at the mirth that spread across his wife's face. There was no way out of it if he didn't go out and take the beast for a walk it would start clawing through the door or worse break the door down with the hulk of its body weight. If the infernal beast did break his door down he was so going to send the bill to the Inuzuka clan. Gaara finally stood up placed his hands on top of the desk, keeping a serious look on his face regardless of the commotion going on outside his door.
"I am going to take the beast for a walk." Gaara announced
Hinata let a giggle slip out than bit the inside of her cheek to keep her mirth in check.
"I am not doing this for the fun of it." Gaara continued with a glare. "It's more like a duty."
"What…e-e-ever you s-s-say." Hinata managed to choke out.
Gaara's eye narrowed at his wife not liking the way she was laughing at him, it was a duty to take that filthy beast for a walk, or else it would terrorize the entire village with its antics.
"Enjoy your walk." Hinata called after him as he left the office with an irritated huff.