Chapter 35

"Hinata!" Gaara yelled and ran forward, ignoring Sasuke's calls. Before he knew it, something hit him on the side of his head and he flung to the other side of the building. He barely acknowledged the blood running down his face.

A cloaked, masked man entered his vision and he glared.

Madara Uchiha, otherwise known as Tobi, gave him a sadistic grin before bending down and grabbing a fistful of Gaara's hair and slamming his head down to the floor. He bent down and Gaara could feel his breath on his face. "Gaara…" he muttered and slammed him down again, earning a groan from the red-head, "It's so nice for you to drop by."

Gaara saw from the corner of his eye that Sasuke and Naruto were also kept busy by others. Madara laughed.

"Let her go you bastard…" he told him, blood dripping down his chin.

"What? And let her miss the show?" Madara asked. He stood up and kicked Gaara hard on the gut.

He walked over to Hinata and pulled her head back by the hair. He leaned forward and whispered harshly in her ear. "Wake up princess. Your prince charming is here to save you." Hinata didn't stir, but her face was scrunched up in pain. Gaara growled and stood up.

"Let. Her. Go." He repeated. Madara just smirked at him.

Gaara let out a guttural yell and rushed towards Madara and tackled him to the ground. He forcibly removed the mask from Madara's face only to be met by a smirking face, his eyes glinting confidence. Gaara hit him again and again but Madara just took it, that sadistic smile still in place.

As soon as the dark-haired man felt that Gaara's hits had slowed down even for a fraction of a second, he grabbed unto Gaara's wrist and twisted his arm. Gaara screamed and Madara took that opportunity to turn them over. Gaara's head hit the cold hard floor and his vision blurred.

"Gaara!"

Gaara struggled from Madara's hold to see that Hinata had woken up and was struggling against the ropes that tied her to the chair.

"HInata…" he whispered, paying no mind to the taste of iron in his mouth. He watched as tears rolled down her face and he unconsciously promised himself that he would never make her cry. Not a second later, he was pulled back by the hair and his face was smashed into the floor. He heard her cry out again and felt Madara get off of him. He was then lifted off the ground by the collar. He barely registered the fact that they headed towards Hinata as his feet was dragged.

Madara grabbed him by the hair and made him face Hinata, their faces mere inches away.

Gaara stared at her, transfixed at the color of her eyes. Hinata continued to cry. Gaara smiled at her and mouthed her the words, Don't cry… I'll never let anything happen to you.

Madara dropped Gaara to the ground and kicked him. Gaara moaned in pain and Hinata struggled. It pained her that she couldn't do anything for him.

Screams echoed throughout the warehouse and Hinata looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw Naruto and Sasuke on the floor, unconscious. Madara chuckled, "So… Hinata, or is it Hiro-chan?" Madara gave her a smirk before continuing, "Do you like the show?"

Hinata struggled against the binds, "Let me go!" she yelled, "Let me go! Gaara! Gaara!" Madara grabbed her by the jaw and made her face him, "It's no use you know…" he says. Hinata struggled from his grip.

"Get your filthy hands off of her..!" Madara turned around only to be met with a fist. He fell to the ground with a thud. Madara wiped the blood off his nose and looked up. Gaara was desperately trying to get the ropes off of Hinata.

"Get out of here as soon as you can…" he says while fumbling with the knots. Hinata cried, "No!" she exclaims, "I'm not leaving you here!" He was about to say something in return when he was grabbed form behind and was flung across the room. "Gaara!" Hinata yells.

Madara walks over to Gaara and glared at him, "Well, that wasn't very nice. I was talking to your little sweetheart over there and you rudely interrupted."

He was continuously kicked and punched and Gaara could do nothing else but lie there. Hinata sobbed, "Gaara!" she yelled, her eyes filled with tears.

Madara then grabbed Gaara and dragged towards her. He let go off him as soon as he reached them and Hinata's eyes widened as she saw Madara grab a metal chair. "No!" she cried, struggling even harder. Madara ignored her.

"You will pay for what you did Gaara. You have no idea what it's like crossing Uchiha Madara…"

He raised the chair above him and he brought it down forcefully. A cry echoed throughout the warehouse.

Gaara's eyes were wide open as he struggled to sit up, "Hinata!" he yelled, as Hinata's body leaned on him. Her eyes were starting to close. She coughed up some blood but smiled at him nonetheless, "You're okay… Gaara…" she whispered, "Hinata!" Gaara yelled as he cradled her tenderly.

Madara snorted at the sight, "How sweet." He then raised the bloody chair again, intending to finish the red-head in one blow when the doors were slammed open.

"Gaara! Hinata!" Shikamaru yelled. Madara narrowed his eyes at them and cursed when he heard the sound of sirens. He glared at Gaara who did not pay him any mind as he tried to bring Hinata back to consciousness.

"Until next time." Madara says before running off, quickly being followed by his lackeys.

Gaara didn't really pay any attention to what was happening around him. All he could think about was Hinata. He didn't feel the pain he had felt earlier as he struggled against the medics. All four of them; him, Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto, they were all steered to ambulances and to be taken to the hospital.

It took some time before they managed to calm him down.

Gaara sat on the bed, his head still slightly throbbing as he looked out the window. Images of Hinata appeared on his mind and he scowled.

He heard the door open and Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Kiba walked in. He greeted them with a small hey as they al sat down on available chairs. Sasuke handed him a cup of coffee.

"How are you feeling?" Shikamaru asked, his chin resting on his intertwined finger. Gaara looked down on the floor, "I'm fine." He raised his head and looked at Sasuke, "You?" Sasuke gave him a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes, "Naruto and I are both fine."

Silence lingered around them before Kiba spoke, "We went to see Hir, I mean Hinata…" he said in a soft voice that seemed unusual for the brunette, "She was asking for you." Gaara flinched. Shikamaru noticed this, "What's wrong?" he asks. Gaara shakes his head.

"I can't do this to her." He finally says, "Because of me, she got hurt." The other three knew exactly where he was headed. "Gaara…" Sasuke finally says, "You can't just leave her, after all you've been through…"

"What else can I do!" he exclaims, "She'd get killed if she was around me! Madara isn't the only one who wants me dead!"

Silence envelopes them and Shikamaru sighs. He stood up and headed for the door, the other two followed him.

"It's your choice." He finally says as he stood with his back towards Gaara, one hand resting on the door frame. "Do whatever it is you think is best." They all left then, leaving Gaara to his own thoughts.

He closed his eyes as a single tear slid down his cheek.

I'm sorry Hinata…

End Chapter

Okay, so here's chapter 35. Latest and 2nd or 3rd to the last chapter in this awfully darn long story. Hope you all liked it! I kind of rushed the fight and everything but, oh well.

Please review! And thanks for all who continues to support Crossdressing!