Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own Naruto yada yada.

Flashback

Dreams

'Thoughts'

Hinata stared at Sasuke, her eyes wide before they started to narrow. Yet before she could speak, Naruto made a snap decision, one that he knew Sasuke wold give him grief for later. With the other's back turned, Naruto raise his claws and slashed at Sasuke's uninjured shoulder, causing said boy to grunt in pain and leap off of him. The sight of her deputy getting hurt and the smell of blood in the air cause Hinata to shake herself awake and bare her fangs at Naruto, snarling.

Sasuke shoved himself off Naruto, gazing at him in bewilderment but catching the apologetic look the other gave him. Understanding now, Sasuke knew he had to play his part and only hope that Hinata would be convinced otherwise.

Hissing loudly, Sasuke took a swipe at Naruto, catching him on the arm and spraying his blood on the nearby trees. The blonde warrior hissed and snarled but started to back away, seeing how he couldn't fight against two enemies and come away without serious injury. When he turned to run, Sasuke chased after him but pulled away after a moment to go back to Hinata, panting softly.

Hinata stared at him, her eyes never leaving his and Sasuke, unable to take it, avoided her gaze. The leader then looked over her shoulder, Gaara was nearby but if she was smart she would stay away. Hinata didn't want her to be attacked as well. Luckily Gaara seemed to sense that something was up and wisely stayed hidden. Good, now Hinata could get Sasuke away.

"Come," she muttered while not waiting to see if he actually followed, she knew he would.

20 minutes later, Hinata and Sasuke were safely out of of Eclipse's territory and Hinata turned to Sasuke, her eyes narrowing at her deputy. Sasuke knew this was coming and shook his head, not looking at Hinata in the eyes. "I...was jumped, he pinned me to the ground." At least that part was true.

"Why did it take you so long to attack him, you had gained the high ground and yet you didn't attack right away. Why?"

Sasuke lowered his head even more and mumbled something, something that Hinata couldn't hear. However, after another moment of waiting, Hinata huffed and shook her head. "Forget it, you drove him off in the long run. That's all that matters. I'm...going back home."

At that, Sasuke picked up his head and went to walk with Hinata, thinking of maybe bringing up that he and the rest were staying at Kakashi's place. But before he could get the words out, Hinata looked him square in the eyes. It took Sasuke a moment to notice that the girl wasn't looking at him really, but his injured shoulder, the one she tore down to his chest. Sasuke caught the look of regret and slight panic in her eyes as she continued to stare but before anything could be truly said, Hinata turned her back and with a somewhat shaky breath, spoke to him.

"I want to be alone for a while. Give me some time to think and recover...I was in a bit a fight myself." Sasuke hummed to that, of course he knew about the absolute brutal beating Anko gave Hinata and only hoped that his leader would recover with no ill effects from said fight.

Hinata narrowed her eyes at that, wondering what Sasuke knew, but if she turned to ask him, she would be face with seeing the wounds she caused on him again. She just couldn't bear seeing that again. But she pushed the thought away with a soft grunt and continued forward. She lead the way to the house, wincing as she saw the cater Anko put her in and smelled Neji's blood that still hasn't soaked completely into the ground yet.

Slumping her shoulders and wavering in her step, Sasuke tried to steady her but the leader just gently pushed him away. "Just...leave me...for a while, please. I don't feel so good."

Sasuke nodded to the gentle order but as Hinata went to her room that she and Tayuya used to share, he felt a certain kind of unease. Looking around, he realized just how quiet the house was and shuddered. It wasn't natural, he had to get everyone else here. But...

"Hinata, I'm going to scouting for a little but I'll be back...okay?"

At first, Hinata didn't want to say anything but she remembered Gaara's words and went to face Sasuke, opening the bedroom door so that she could look him in the eye. When she did so, Sasuke startled but was quick to calm himself.

"That's fine, Sasuke. But please, stay safe and stay away from the Eclipse border. You...you never know what might happen. Be careful."

Sasuke nodded before heading out with the intention of reporting this to Kakashi and the others and thinking out a plan of action. Surely the the older vampires could think of a plan to help them.

Once Sasuke was well and truly gone, it was only maybe a half hour before Gaara showed up at Hinata's window, waiting for her to be let in. The darker haired vampire did so quickly and in a twist that left Gaara somewhat stunned, she hugged the Eclipse leader, burying her head in the other's chest. She could feel Hinata trembling.

"Gaara...I told him to leave again...I can't do this! Seeing him, seeing the wounds I caused...I can't!" the smaller girl sobbed into the redhead's chest, unknowingly tightening her grip on Gaara's shoulders so much that her claws were digging into them but Gaara bore the slight pain with no ill will towards Hinata.

"You can do this, believe me. You have to! Remember what I said, you won't be alone, I'll help you. Whatever Sasuke is doing, we'll have some time before he gets back. I won't leave you. I...I can't. You won't be alone. I'm...I'm here...I'm right her."

With that, Gaara raised Hinata's head and through tear filled eyes, Hinata looked at the taller girl and sighed her body going limp as Gaara at first hugged her then...brought their lips together in a tender kiss.

At first, Hinata was stunned, her whole body going rigid before slowly relaxing and leaning into the kiss with more, happier, tears flowing. It was the first time in a very long time that Hinata had felt such warmth from another.

A/N: Sorry for the shorter chapter but I think that this was a good point to stop. Things are certainly heating up and there will be fallout from it, be it good or bad. Also, a certain figure is set to make their appearance soon.