Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Warnings: Gaara/Hinata
No Laws To Love: Part VI: Coordinated As A Rock
Pulling back a stray strand of hair, she rested her chin on her other palm, sighing as she gazed out the window at the gray overcast.
It's going to rain again…
"…To your right and get started," a brown haired man pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. The class was going to get noisy soon, and he could feel a migraine already.
"Eh?" Hinata blinked. She had zoned out again. The cloudy day was just asking for her to drop down and sleep again.
"Feeling okay, Hina-chan?" Tenten pulled her chair over and seated herself across the blue haired girl.
Giving her a smile, Hinata turned back at the paper handed to her, "Yeah, I'm fine."
As she tried to, she could not shake off the feeling that something wrong was going to happen.
Giggling slightly, the brown haired girl leaned forward, motioning Hinata to follow suit.
"Not many people know this, but Uchiha Sasuke is transferring here," She squeaked out in a whisper.
"Uchiha Sasuke?"
The image of a pale, blue haired, ebony eyed; scowling boy appeared in her head.
Oh no, not him!
Seeing Hinata's shocked face, Tenten took that as a sign of impending happiness.
"He's the perfect candidate for you," She giggled, "I mean, it can't get better than two perfect people together! Though I think he's transferring next term."
Forcing a smile, she reached for her pencil, "So in Shakespeare's Hamlet, he conveys…"
However, the mention of the "perfect" candidate for her, Hinata's thoughts flew over to the image of a bright haired, scowling boy.
Her lips twitching upwards, she smiled, genuinely this time.
Though to our poor Hinata, Tenten had taken that as, 'Hey, what the heck, she seems interested'.
Blank
Nothing
Still Blank…
Some people can make a masterpiece whenever they feel like it; others have simple epiphanies every now and then. For our beloved red head, however, it just so seems painting was just not his thing.
Gaara glared at the empty canvas.
That had been empty since last week.
Landscape…?
No, it was too dull.
Still life…?
He hated fruits.
People…?
That could be something, but then, he hated people with a passion too. Everyone in the room was so unbelievable unattractive, it'll be wrong. Or as so he thought.
Maybe he could do something abstract, and then just argue that it is what he named it as.
Picking up a paintbrush, he gazed at the set of colors given. Shall he use red? He liked red.
From his left, another paintbrush came, sailing and connected to his smock, splattering yellow paint on it.
Peeling the paintbrush off his smock, he gave his patented glare in the direction it flew from.
"What?"
A wide grin was his answer as Naruto scratched his head, "Oops, I missed. It wasn't supposed to hit you."
Gaara could only shake his head in shame at his teammate, "Naruto, come here."
The naïve boy followed the command and proceeded over to Gaara.
Once within reach, the taller boy poured orange paint over the other and shoved his face at the canvas.
"W-Wha-WHAT," Naruto sputtered as paint from his face dripped onto the floor and everything else as he thrashed about, "was THAT FOR?!?"
Gaara gazed at his not-so-empty-anymore canvas calmly, "Thanks for helping me."
An orange smudge, in the outline faintly of a person's profile was placed a bit off to the right, mouth clearly wide open from the acknowledgment of the blank space. Gaara shrugged, art doesn't really have to be centered, it's the meaning it brings.
Now, what should he name it?
"Hinata-chan!" A happy voice burst through the crowded corridor as a brown haired girl shoved through.
"Huh? Hina-chan…?" Tenten tapped her schoolbag on her leg as she scanned the area, "Where did Hina-chan go so fast after school?"
Panting slightly, the blue haired girl stopped in front of a gray building, bending forward, her hands on her knees as she gathered in the chilly air. Glancing at her watch, she sighed.
Well, at least I'm only five minutes late this time.
The school was still crowded even then, with various club members heading off on their own. And with her thoughts confirmed: Yes, this was an all-boys school.
As she entered the gate, towards the main building, she sensed many pairs of eyes watching her movements. She felt the blood rush up to her cheeks, tinting it slightly as she heard some whispers.
"Who's the chick? She's kinda cute," One boy turned to his friend.
"I dunno. Only female I know here is that hag Tsunade who teaches physiology," His friend mused.
She quickened her pace towards the room.
What room was it again? B-1? Or was it D-1?
Glancing around nervously, she spotted a familiar red head beside the lockers. Immediately, she felt her stomach flutter and her hands twitching slightly from the anxiousness. Slowly the figure turned around, his eyes falling on her.
He nodded at her, "Hyuuga-san."
"A-Ah," Stuttering as she bowed, cheeks red, "H-Hajimemashite, Sabaku-san."
Gaara turned around, his hands in his pockets as he slung a black duffel bag over his shoulder. Hinata followed, stepping slightly behind him, musing to herself.
Wow, Sabaku-san is almost a whole head taller than I am. I think he's taller than the other guys are too.
That was when he stopped and she almost ran first face into his bag.
Darn…
She mentally yelled at herself for being so clumsy in front of him. This was the second time she almost ran into him. Well, actually, she did run into him the first time.
"Uhm," He reached into his bag and pulled out a small object, and handed it to her.
"Huh?" She took the object, her fingers grazing against his palm slightly and she could feel the color rush up again.
"M-My phone!" She held it in her hands as she bowed again, "Doomo arigatoo."
His only reply was a short, "Aa," as he started walking again.
"E-Eh," She had to jog slightly to catch up with his quick strides.
Guys stopped to stare as she strode past them, following Gaara.
"Whoa, how'd Sabaku get a chick like her?"
To get away from it, she quickened her steps, eventually stepping slightly on Gaara's ankle.
"G-Gomen nasai!"
He continued his paced, but turned his head around slightly, addressing her, "You're very clumsy."
"A-Ah…"
Oh no, now he thinks I'm irresponsible and uncoordinated! I don't want him to think that! Really, Sabaku-san, I'm very much responsible and I'm not as uncoordinated as you think. I just don't act well—
"We're here," He slid open the door and stepped inside, she followed suit.
"Ah! It's Hinata-hime!" A tall figure sauntered over to them, trying to shoo away Gaara, who stood in front of her. Or more like she hid behind him as the figure approached.
"Now, now Gaara, you must share her with everyone too!" A lazy drawn out voice came from the person staring down, with a hint of teasing.
All Gaara did was stare back, unfazed, as his mouth opened slowly, accentuating each word, "Kakashi-sensei, you're a pervert."
The silver haired man sighed and shrugged, "Kids these days don't enjoy themselves enough," strolling back to his seat on the other side of the room.
Usually teacher's desks were centered in front of the room, however Kakashi-sensei had his slanted at the far corner, leaving the whole front empty.
She felt his presence leave, moving towards the other guys who sat at the spot they were last time. Naruto and Kiba waved at her and she returned a weak hello in their direction. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the center.
Here we go again…
"Renshuu?" She blinked and looked at the five boys with their bags on the floor. She took a glance around the spacious gym.
"Soo desu," Shino replied as he folded his jacket neatly, contrasting Naruto and Kiba who frantically shoved their jackets in, or Shikamaru, who just left his lying on the floor lazily.
She blushed when she realized and turned around, facing the window instead.
They're changing!
Being a little interested though, she sneaked a glance at Gaara, who stood there unmoved, hands in his pockets.
He's not changing…?
"Ano, Hina-chan, how are you getting home?" Naruto perked up as he took his shoes off.
"A-Ah," Neji-niisan wasn't home today, "I'm walking, I think."
"Eh?! But it's freezing out there!" Kiba pointed at the slowly darkening sky.
"I-It can't be that bad…" She mused as she watched the setting sun. It was darkening, even though today's session was shorter than last time.
"Let's go before it gets too dark," Gaara stood at the door, his gym bag, now on the floor.
"H-Huh?" Hinata stared, unsure of what he meant.
Gaara sighed. Why the heck was he putting up with this? This girl was slower than a rock. And as uncoordinated. From what he could tell.
"I'll walk you home."
"E-Eh," She blinked, "Really?"
He rolled his eyes, "No, I'm gonna let you walk home in the dark by yourself."
This girl…
He shook his head slightly. She definitely had the cute thing down unknowingly. He didn't like her that way though. Well…more or less, he couldn't admit he was attracted to the insecure, clumsy girl before him. No, Sabaku Gaara would not let such a thing drive him.
Well, then, a little voice poked, Why are you offering to walk her home?
Because…
You're missing part of practice for this half-wit, aren't you?
He knew he really didn't need practice that much. Then again, she stated earlier that she really had nothing to do. Why not let her stay a bit and walk her back later?
But he wanted her gone before the rest of the club gets here. She'll be a distraction for them.
No, she'll be a distraction for youuuu! The annoying little voice laughed.
No wait, it added, with slight sadistic humor, you're scared the other guys might take her! You're JEALOUS that she converses more with—
it added, with slight sadistic humor,Shut up
The door opened as six more members came in, a blond boy patting Gaara on the back, greeting him at the same time snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Hey, our teams back on track!"
Gaara brushed him off, nodding, "You guys get started and warm up, maybe spar a bit. I'll be back in about an hour."
He started out the door, Hinata following.
"Eh? Why?" That was when the blond guy spotted Hinata, a wide grin spreading on his face, "Buchou has a girlf—"
Before he could finish, however, a shoe came flying, smacking the poor boy in the head.
"OOPS," Naruto giggled, trying to distract Takeshi from saying something that would end with Gaara pummeling him into the earth, "So much for your reaction time."
"Hey! Your aim isn't any better either!"
Stepping outside quietly, Gaara ignored the earlier comment. Hinata tottered behind, shuffling her feet, her head hanging.
"A-Ano, S-Sabaku-san," She started meekly, "You don't have to walk me home. You'll miss your practice."
Gaara could feel his left eye twitch.
Why is she being so difficult?
He hated to argue. That's probably why he'd always avoided any girls that came too close. Though, Hinata, seemed a bit different to him at first. Probably because she had a brain to begin with, but she just need to use it in certain situations.
She makes it way too easy for someone to take advantage of her. Though of course, Gaara would never do such a thing.
"I said I was going to walk you home," He answered monotonously, "Or is it you want to walk back by yourself?"
"A-Ah…" She was quiet for a moment, "Gomen nasai."
His eye twitched again.
Does she say sorry to everything?
"For what?"
She looked up, "Eh?" Her eyes looked around nervously, "Uhm…For…Annoying you."
"You are annoying me," Gaara glanced back at her.
His words struck her, and she flinched momentarily, "Gomen nasai," she whispered.
She was irritating with her apologies. He was right when he said women were nothing but trouble. But then again, the only women he interacted with were his sadistic oneesan, Shikamaru's loud girlfriend, and his freakishly strong physiology teacher, Tsunade.
And they were not the types to be so easily verbally abused.
I don't think Ino every said 'sorry' to me anytime before…
And he had known Ino since ages.
"That's what I meant. You saying 'sorry' to everything. That's annoying."
"I'm s—" She cut herself off when his words finally registered, "Eh?"
He sighed, "Don't you ever talk back to someone? And its not 'I'm sorry'?"
She kept her eyes on the road, contemplating his words, "No."
That's…kind of sad. Well, someone should count this as community service
He turned slightly to face her with the side of his face, the corners of his mouth lifting up slowly.
"Quit apologizing then. Half the time it's not even your fault."
Turning around, he started walking again.
She made me talk too much…dammit
He actually had a conversation going.
Hinata looked up at the retreating boy, a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks.
So…he's not angry with me?
Jogging a bit to catch up with him, she tapped his shoulder lightly. He didn't react, but she started to talk anyway.
"Do you…" she hesitated, but continued, "Want to stop by somewhere for coffee or anything? My treat."
He shrugged, kicking at the patches of snow.
"Whatever."
She faltered at his reaction, "Aa, I know…this one really nice tea shop."
His pace slowed down until he was side by side with her. Gaara glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She kept her face down, staring at the ground as they moved, him walking at her speed.
"Well?"
"Huh?" She looked over at him, lavender eyes blinking quizzically.
Sighing deeply he shook his head, "Are you going to lead or what?"
"A-Aa, hai," She smiled, embarrassed by her slow reaction. Gaara scowled, looking away from her, but in her own little world, she was happy. Really happy, for the first time in her life.
He's not bad as he makes out to see…
Unbeknownst to the two: Gaara shuffling behind, Hinata skipping slightly ahead of him, they had some unwelcome eavesdroppers.
A dark blue haired boy leaned against the stone wall, his arms crossed as his black haired companion smiled serenely.
The shorter black haired boy spoke in a soft feminine voice, "So…that's Sabaku Gaara, Furyuu's captain."
"Hn," The other boy stood up straight, heading for the opposite direction, "Pushovers."
End Part VI: Coordinated As A Rock
Hehe, well here's my super delayed chapter I made it a bit longer than usual though. Finals are done with (at least mines are). Thank everyone for sticking with me…haha, I've had the biggest writers block ever. Either that or too preoccupied with trying to figure out author's tone and significance crap for English.
Hajimemashite: Nice to meet you/see you
Renshuu: Practice
Soo desu: That's right
I don't like making up too many original characters, so lest, it took me awhile to figure out which those last two people are. Wanna guess?? XD
Read and Review please! I like feedback constructive criticisms work too!
Ame no Megami