Chapter…uh…..right, chapter 26!

Gaara: -sighs- bored…

Hehe….well, it snowed here today!!!! So me happy!!!

The sun shown down brightly on the hidden village of Suna. It was midday and very hot. Birds circled the desert, looking for pray but knowing when to land at an oasis if it got to hot. The streets of Suna were busy as people went about their evening activities. The village would be full of life until midnight, when people went to bed. They'd get up at five or six and work until eleven, then rest out of the sun and heat until mid-afternoon. Suna had its own rhythm. Unless you were a Shinobi of Suna, in which case you had the rhythm you were told to have. Two figures sat in the shade of the canyon, out of site of the village, talking to each other quietly.

"So, you think we should send a message to Tsunada-sama?" Asked Hinata, who was lying on the sandy earth, her head resting on Gaara's lap.

"It might be best," he replied, leaning his head against the canyon wall, "I mean, if you don't make contact with them soon, they'll think we've killed you. Or something." He frowned slightly.

Hinata closed her eyes. For a short while after their little um…office talk, Gaara had acted silent and withdrawn with Hinata, only answering questions. Hinata had been startled and a bit worried. It was Temari who'd dropped her a hint about Gaara's state of mind. Apparently Gaara had reacted the same way with his siblings after his fight with Naruto, when he'd realized that the three of them were, in fact, family, and that this should mean something. He just didn't know what that 'something' was, and that made him cautious, as if reaching for something that could break if he touched it the wrong way.

Temari's hints - followed by various threats about what she'd do to her if she screwed up and hurt Gaara's feelings – (even though it had been Gaara who had hurt Hinata in the first place)-had finally enlightened Hinata about what had happened exactly in the office. It also made her cautious, seeing how drastically Gaara had reacted to the simple notions of being friends or lovers for that matter. This situation might require delicate handling, or at least something a bit more delicate than a bracing Lee-type speech on the beauty of manly friendship. Since the point was, Hinata was not a man, but a girl. Unsure of herself, Hinata continued to treat Gaara normally while she tried to figure out how to address the problem. Which pretty much went away on its own as a result. Once Gaara realized that Hinata was used to him the way he was - abrupt, brutally honest, and prone to long periods of silence - he went back to normal, to Hinata's relief. In the past few days, things had settled down and they had even started hanging out more and more. In fact, Gaara barely left Hinata's side for a second.

Hinata opened her eyes and looked up at the redhead, who didn't seem to notice. He was staring up at the sky absently, his face blank of any emotions. If Hinata knew him well enough, which she did, she knew this meant that he was deep in thought, or something was bothering him.

"Gaara?"

He looked down and blinked in surprise, as if just now realizing that Hinata was resting her head on his lap. He glanced away quickly, "What?" he muttered in a quiet monotone.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, "You're being oddly quiet, even for your standards."

She noticed his eyes twitch.

"Something is wrong…" She said quietly.

There was an annoyed sigh from Gaara, and he looked back down at her, frowning. "I'm just wondering about Neji and Naruto's reactions," he said quietly, his eyes narrowed.

She sighed, "I'm pretty sure they won't react to strongly…I mean, Naruto wanted to apologize to you before you left, and it was Neji who encouraged me to go after you."

He didn't reply.

"Well then," She said suddenly, making him look down at her, "We might as well just head back to the leaf village, and tell everyone our selves. It'd be quicker and easier that way."

"Who would watch the village?"

"Who watches it when you usually come?"

"Kankuro."

She raised her eyebrows.

"He's good with the villagers," he said shrugging.

"Ah."

She sat up and looked at him, "So, ready to go?" She smiled.

He blinked, "What…now?"

"Better now then never."

She sat up and leaned on his shoulder. He instinctively turned his head toward her and they kissed. Neither noticed the oncoming footsteps. They broke apart and looked up to see Baki, his arms crossed, a slightly amused look on his face as he looked at the two of them.

Both leapt to their feet, frowning equally. Hinata's whole face was as red as Gaara's hair, and a slight color of pink had crossed the Kazekage's face.

"Baki…" he muttered, "What is it?"

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?" The jounin asked, smirking.

A look of annoyance crossed over Gaara's face. He sighed and rubbed his head, "Just…what is it?"

"I happened to catch your conversation," Baki began to explain, "And I agree with Hinata. It would be best for you to go to Konoha yourselves, and then tell Hokage-sama and the others."

Gaara made a small tsk, but nodded, "Fine…" he muttered. He glared at Hinata when she smirked triumphantly.

Temari looked up as she herd the door open. She was sitting at the kitchen table of her house, drinking a cup of tea. Kankuro was out flirting, she suspected. There was a mutter, footsteps, and a door being closed. She smiled as Hinata walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. "Where's Gaara?" She asked.

"He said that he had a headache and was going to take a nap," said Hinata. "Once he wakes up, we're going to the leaf village to tell Tsunada-sama about…um…" She blushed.

Temari giggled as she poured Hinata a cup of tea. "It'll be fun to see how everyone reacts. To bad I can't go."

"How come?" She asked, gratefully accepting the cup of tea.

"I've got a mission to go on in about an hour," Temari explained, "We're not on perfect terms with the cloud village right now, and I'm supposed to go as an ambassador."

"That sounds dangerous," said Hinata, her eyes wide.

Temari sniffed, "it won't be that hard. Those cloud idiots have their heads in the clouds," she chuckled at her own joke, "And if they try to attack me, they'll be the ones in trouble, considering that I am coming on peaceful terms." She smirked, "Plus, I'm not that much of a pushover."

Hinata chuckled.

"So…" Said Temari. She smirked, "Have you and Gaara eh…done anything besides kiss yet?"

Hinata's face turned deep scarlet, "Temari-san!" She shrieked, almost falling backwards out of her chair.

Temari was laughing like crazy, tears forming the corners of her eyes. "I-I'm sorry H-Hinata!" She choked, "I…I juts h-had to!" her laughter died down into giggled to make sure she didn't wake up Gaara.

Hinata growled and looked away, her face still tinged with red. How ridiculous! Did Temari actually think they would…? It wasn't in Gaara's personality. Not that she didn't want to…gak! What was she thinking!? That's disgusting…She sighed.

"You thinking dirty thoughts?" Purred Temari, quirking her eyebrows playfully.

"Temari-san!" Squeaked Hinata, her face as red as a tomato.

Temari giggled, "Sorry, sorry! I'll stop!"

Hinata moaned and rested her head on the cold table. Thoughts of a few days ago, in Gaara's office, the silent desert breeze drifting in though the window, and…Gaara's face…She closed her eyes. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. Even when she was with him she was thinking about him. It was official. She was head over heals for the Kazekage. She was totally in love.

She let out a small squeak of surprise as the door opened again, and Kankuro walked in. He had a palm shaped bruise on his left cheek.

"Get rejected again?" Temari asked him dully, not looking up from the examination of her finger nails.

Kankuro growled in response and walked over to the refrigerator, pulling himself out a bottle of sake.

"Do you get rejected often?" Hinata asked, looking up.

"Who said I was rejected!?"

Both female ninja stared pointedly at the bruise on his face.

Kankuro grumbled under his breath and sat down at the table with him, "Why are the girls in our village so feisty?" He whispered.

Temari whacked him upside the head angrily.

Hinata sighed and stood, "I'm going to see if Gaara's awake yet," She said quietly, exiting the kitchen.

Kankuro and Temari looked at each other, and smirked.

Gaara's eyes snapped open, and he sat up in his bed wearily. His senses sharpened as he felt an intruder. The intruder hadn't radiated killing intent or been anywhere near the bed, or Gaara would have been on his feet and fighting immediately, but somebody had invaded his space. His instincts quivered; footsteps were even now silently approaching the door. Whoever had been here was coming back, and now was the time to act like a Shinobi, not a love-struck idiot.

Gaara's hand was already on his kunai holster- had in fact been there since he'd started awake, and while his brain was still playing catch-up. He'd fallen right asleep when he entered his bedroom. He hadn't undressed or anything, just removed his sand gourd and his weapons.

He quickly palmed a kunai and closed his eyes, relaxing his body once more. It might be nothing- it was probably nothing, but anybody who might conceivably come to Gaara's room would knock, not jimmy the lock. Gaara wasn't taking any chances.

The door swung open with a murmur, which was a good sign; an enemy would have been more discreet. Gaara cracked open an eyelid, and started so badly he cut himself with the blade between his fingers. He hoisted himself up onto his elbows, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Sorry…did I startle you?" Asked Hinata, blushing. She looked quite embarrassed and a bit uneasy.

Gaara shook his head and set the kunai aside, "I just woke up," he muttered, "Everyone's jumpy when they first wake up."

"True…I guess."

He moved over and gestured absently for her to sit on the bed beside him. Hinata gave a tiny movement, as if a nod and shrug combined, then obliged to his offer. She sat down beside him, sighing.

"So, you're ready to go?" Gaara asked quietly, noticing that all of her weapons were secured in the holster around her leg.

Hinata gave a tiny nod, smiling slightly. She looked at him, to see that behind his green eyes was a mask of worry about heading back to the leaf village. She put an arm around Gaara's shoulder and leaned into him.

"No one's going to be holding anything against you," she told him quietly.

Gaara made no sign he'd herd her.

Hinata wrapped her arm further around Gaara. Then she tugged gently and lay down, pulling Gaara with her and enfolding him into a loose hug.

She leaned her head down, resting her face in his shoulder. "I promise," She said quietly, "No one will even notice, now that…" She felt him shift a bit, and lift his arm up, wrapping it around her waist. She smiled slightly as she felt his lips brush her own.

"I believe you," She herd him whisper. "I just wish that things like this could happen more often," he murmured, caressing the side of her face gently with his thumb.

"Oh…I'm sure they will," She replied, closing her eyes.

They lay on the bead together for a few minutes, both with their eyes closed. Gaara had one arm wrapped around Hinata's waist and the other was brushing hair out of her face. Hinata still had both of her arms wrapped around Gaara's shoulders.

Hinata had rested her head on his shoulder, and felt his warm breath in her ear. She wished they could just stay like this awhile longer, but they had to get to the leaf village as soon as possible. She opened her eyes to see that Gaara's cold green eyes were already open, and staring at her.

"We should probably go now," She said quietly. He nodded slowly, his eyes softening.

GAW! It's an all fluff chapter! Well, mostly! Kukuku. Anyway, more fluff in the next chapter, some fighting, drama, angst, blah blah. Yah know, the normal stuff you see in my writing. LOL.

Anyway, tests are coming up and if I get any Fs, it's no puter for a month. Any Ds, no puter for a week. –Dies- so the updates might take a little longer. But they'll still get on here, so until chapter 27 my pretties!!!