Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Special Thanks: goes out to QueenP19, ssspooky, rao hyuga 18, Melodi Moon, Nyoon, Eleoopy for all your wonderful, encouraging reviews! I look forward to hearing your thoughts every time I post a chapter and enjoy reading every one of them. Also thanks to those who have read, favorited, and alerted this story, you all are amazing, too!

Author's Note: I'm not sure why, but this is one of my favorite chapters so far. A new character is introduced, and some new situations arise for our intrepid heroes. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, and thank you!

*~Chapter VI~*

~Encounters~

"We're set to leave tomorrow right after breakfast." Ino's sky-blue eyes darted up to Hinata's face anxiously, clearly projecting her discomfort with the notion. "I'm so sorry, milady."

Hinata clenched her hands around fistfuls of her robe, feeling rather like her chair had been yanked out from beneath her. So soon? She'd expected Neji, Tenten, Ino, and Shikamaru to stay at least a week after the wedding. But here they were, already preparing to leave, and it had only been four days... "I understand," she said weakly. She didn't, not really, but it was something else she was going to have to live - and deal - with. Her comfortable, familiar life in Konoha was over.

Ino stood slowly from where she'd been kneeling in front of her mistress. She cleared her throat once, then grimaced and shot a glare at the door. "On that note, milady, I'm afraid there's someone you're going to have to meet."

Even though Hinata was pretty sure she already knew who it was, and had been expecting this for a while, she nodded once. "All right."

Seeming surprised at Hinata's easy acceptance, Ino went and opened the door. "This is Matsuri, my replacement, milady." Her expression and tone were sour and unwelcoming to the extreme.

Shifting her gaze from her old lady's maid to her new one, Hinata sized up Matsuri, who appeared to be around her own age. Short in stature - even smaller than Hinata - Matsuri stood with her head bowed and her hands clasped in front of her. Shoulder-length medium brown hair swept over her shoulders, half-veiling her face. Her tan skin almost blended in with her light brown clothing, giving her a nearly overwhelming abundance of the color. Hinata was beginning to find she hated the color brown, at least since arriving in Suna.

"It's a p-pleasure to meet you, Matsuri," Hinata said gently. She hoped to set the girl at ease, since she looked stiff and halfway to terrified out of her mind.

Matsuri's eyes - also brown - darted up quickly to glance at her mistress before she went back to studying her feet. "It will be my pleasure to serve you, milady." She curtsied quickly.

The difference between Ino and Matsuri was astounding. Ino was outspoken and energetic, quick to speak her mind and take control of situations in which her mistress didn't necessarily feel comfortable. Matsuri, on the other hand, was as mousy as Hinata and looked like she couldn't take control of anything, even if her life depended on it. Hinata certainly hoped the other girl would warm and open up to her over time.

"Matsuri served as Lady Temari's lady's maid for two years," Ino said. She looked utterly unimpressed by the other maid's credentials, standing with her arms crossed and her blue eyes narrow.

"If I may," Matsuri ventured, her whisper so quiet Hinata barely heard her. At her mistress's nod of assent, she continued, "I-I actually served her up until her marriage to Master Itachi. Then I was dismissed and became a housemaid. Upon your arrival, milady, I was called back into service since your own has to return to Konoha. Milady." She curtsied again.

Hinata bit back a sigh. She'd always appreciated Ino's straightforward personality, which caused her to leave off the constant curtsying and tiptoeing approximately five minutes after their initial meeting. If Matsuri continued to act this way in the future, Hinata wasn't sure if she could take it. There was only room for one terminally shy woman in Suna.

"We'll help you prepare for breakfast together," Ino stated. "Pay attention, Matsuri. Lady Hinata is not a person who is inclined to be fussy about her appearance - no offense, milady - but I'm sure Konoha styles in hair, makeup, and clothing are different than how you're used to doing things for Lady Temari."

"I'm sure I'll learn quickly," Matsuri replied agreeably. She stood at a distance and watched intently as Ino went about dressing Hinata's hair, then helped the blonde choose a dress for breakfast with the family. "If I may suggest, milady, wear light clothing if you are going to stay indoors. But if you plan to go out today, a heavier robe and headpiece will suit you more for our rather harsh climate."

It didn't take much effort at all to summon a smile for Matsuri, which seemed to put her at ease. "Thank you, Matsuri," Hinata said. "I'll k-keep that in mind. Unless G-Gaara has something planned, I will remain indoors today."

Less than ten minutes later, Hinata left the two maids together in her room to discuss "the particulars," as Ino had put it. The skirt of her knee-length lavender summer dress swished around her legs as she made her way from her room to the dining hall. If nothing else, her time in Suna had helped her learn the path between the two rooms so she was reasonably sure she could get there with no mishaps. She'd also learned her way to the library and Gaara's office, the latter of which she'd only visited once. There were few other places within her new home she wished to visit, at least for now.

Everyone else - save Kankuro, who had left the night before on some village business - appeared to be waiting when Hinata finally reached the dining hall. Feeling her cheeks beginning to burn, Hinata ducked her head and quickly moved toward her own seat. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered in the sudden silence. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she paused behind her chair, positioned across from Tenten's and between Gaara's and Temari's. "Ino was introducing me to my n-new lady's maid."

No one bothered to pick up the conversation until everyone was seated and the food was being served. As everyone started eating, a few murmurs began to pick up again, and finally Hinata allowed herself to relax.

Temari picked up her teacup, took a cautious sip, then finally ventured conversation with her sister-in-law. "Matsuri was once my lady's maid," she mentioned. "I hope you will find her service as satisfactory as I did."

Hinata picked up her chopsticks, but didn't take a bite until after she'd replied. "She and Ino worked together to help me choose what I'm wearing for b-breakfast."

"Purple your favorite color?" Temari popped a strawberry into her mouth, brows lifted expectantly.

Swallowing quickly, Hinata hastily dabbed at her lips with her napkin as she nodded. "Yes. It was also my mother's favorite c-color, and wearing it makes me feel c-closer to her."

For the second time during their short acquaintance, Hinata witnessed Temari's features soften slightly. "I can understand," she said. "Purple was my mother's favorite color, too. But I don't wear it nearly as much as I used to." She plucked at the sleeve of her tan robe as if in illustration.

"A sad fact," Itachi suddenly remarked from Temari's other side. "Purple suits you very well. As do turquoise, teal, and gold." His dark head tilted slightly, and a trace of a smile briefly played at the corners of his usually unexpressive lips. "Come to think of it, you look good in any color you wear."

The tips of Temari's ears turned pink as she stared down at her rice bowl and muttered something Hinata didn't catch. If she hadn't been reasonably sure she knew both Temari and Itachi better, Hinata might have thought she heard the blonde mutter, "overly sentimental romantic fool" at the end of her otherwise incomprehensible sentence, though.

Gaara abruptly spoke up from his formerly silent place at the head of the table. "We have planned a feast tonight, in honor of our new friends from Konoha." He nodded in Neji and Tenten's direction, as if further clarification of his point were needed.

Hinata wondered whom, exactly, the we covered. She hadn't been consulted, but perhaps Gaara included her in the Konoha group? It was difficult to say if he thought of her as the outsider she felt.

"Thank you," Tenten said. "We appreciate the gesture, Lord Gaara." She glanced at Neji, who nodded dutifully. He, unlike his wife, did not smile.

Looking back down at her breakfast, Hinata once again puzzled over the enmity she sensed between her cousin and her husband. She knew Neji's thoughts about Suna in general, Gaara and Itachi in particular, but she'd never seen him this way before, and she didn't like it. Unlike Neji's blatant dislike, however, Gaara's was far more subtle, more of a vibe than physical glare or expression. She wished she could understand their animosity towards each other so she could find a way to dissolve it.

When the meal finally ended, Hinata was relieved to see her new relatives disperse to go about their various pieces of business. She quickly slid her arm through Tenten's, smiling apologetically at Neji, who arched his eyebrows questioningly. "Sorry, Neji, b-but I need to b-borrow Tenten for a while."

"All right," her cousin replied, raising his hands. "I get when I'm not wanted." His smile softened his words as he ruffled Hinata's hair before kissing Tenten's temple. "Come find me when you're finished."

Hinata was reasonably certain the library wouldn't be in use so early in the morning, and she found out she was right upon her and Tenten's arrival. After closing the heavy wooden doors behind them, the two women settled onto cushions in the middle of the room. All around them, floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books and scrolls stood in silent witness to what Hinata wanted to discuss. Unlike her new maid, who would undoubtedly still be in conference with Ino in Hinata's rooms, she knew the books would not be able to carry the conversation to the ears of others, even accidentally.

"It's b-been four days since the wedding," Hinata began. "And while I'm grateful for the time I've b-being given to - adjust, I'm starting to feel..." She trailed off, brow wrinkling at her inability to find the right word to describe her own feelings.

"Frustrated?" Tenten supplied.

It was as good a word as any, Hinata supposed. Nodding in agreement, she allowed her fingers to wind and unwind together in her lap. "After that first night, G-Gaara hasn't c-come to me. I c-can't b-be sure if he's offended, or just trying to g-give me space, and I d-don't know how to approach the subject with him."

Tenten tilted her head, expression thoughtful. "It's entirely possible he's just as nervous and embarrassed as you are," she offered. "After all, he's probably just as new to all this as you. As far as I know, he's never been married before, either. He might be shy."

Shy wasn't exactly the first word Hinata would use to describe Sabaku Gaara, but she admitted there was quite a bit of sense to be found in Tenten's points. "B-But I'm his wife. I have c-certain duties to perform, and I d-don't want him to think I'm neglecting him, or them." Once again, she found herself infinitely thankful for the close, almost sisterly, relationship she shared with Tenten. She certainly wouldn't want to have this conversation with Temari, and she was too embarrassed to have it with Ino.

"I'm sure he doesn't think that at all," Tenten replied soothingly. "In fact, it seems to me you're both just waiting for the right time."

"When's that?" Hinata asked hopelessly.

A small, perceptive smile curled up the corners of Tenten's mouth. "Oh, trust me, Hinata, you'll know."

Hinata frowned at her friend, dissatisfied with her answer. "Thank you, Tenten. That was v-very helpful advice." She very rarely employed sarcasm, but she found it useful in this case.

Wiping away her smile, Tenten leaned forward slightly. "I can't explain it better than that, Hinata. I'm sorry. But it's not necessarily a word, or a gesture, or anything similar which gives you the clue you need. You just know deep inside here-" she tapped her chest "-when the time is right. You and Gaara are both smart, perceptive people. You'll know."

"I suppose it would help if I'd at least had some sort of meaningful c-conversation with him." Hinata hesitated, thinking of those brief moments at the festival when she'd gotten a glimpse into Gaara's past. "Well, an extended meaningful c-conversation, anyway."

"Any length of a meaningful conversation's a good start." Tenten brightened. "Why don't you just start small? Not about the weather or anything mundane - I doubt it'd do any good anyway, since the only changes in weather around here is when a sandstorm blows through. Not helpful. But maybe try discussing your likes and dislikes. It might help you find common ground and get started on the path toward a more meaningful conversation."

"I don't mean to pry," Hinata started, feeling shy. "And if you don't want to answer, please don't feel obligated. B-But what was the first meaningful c-conversation you had with my c-cousin?"

Tenten's eyes misted slightly as she traveled back through her memories. "Let's see..." She tapped her forefinger against her lips slightly as she hummed thoughtfully. "Our first meaningful conversation? I don't think it was so much a conversation as a debate, really. Our different upbringings gave us very different views on the subject of families. I was an orphan, and obviously Neji came from a big family. Ironically enough, he was arguing against big families, and I was arguing for. Even though we'd only known each other for a few weeks, that particular debate helped guide us into a conversation about children." Tenten's eyes cleared as a smile transformed her face. "I think it was about halfway through our conversation when I realized for sure I couldn't even think of marrying any man but Neji."

Even though Neji and Tenten had obviously possessed quite different viewpoints on the subject, Hinata found it comforting the two had managed to find common ground. After all, she couldn't picture Neji with anyone but Tenten, and vice versa. Perhaps she could apply the same logic to herself and Gaara. Even though, her traitorous mind whispered, there is someone else you can imagine yourself with: Naruto. She cut the thought off right there, knowing it was wrong of her to be thinking of him when she was married to Gaara. She might not be happy in her marriage - at least not yet - but she refused to be disloyal.

"I really d-don't think I c-could start a debate with G-Gaara, even if I wanted to," Hinata admitted sheepishly. At Tenten's questioning look, she sighed and continued, "I think it would b-be far safer if I just stuck to safe topics, at least for n-now."

"Hopefully you'll be able to find something you have in common," Tenten said. "With a big library like this-" she gestured at the towering bookshelves surroundings them "-there's bound to be at least one thing the two of you have read that you both like. Maybe start there." She hesitated, then added, "Good luck."

"I think I'll n-need it." Hinata sighed. Despite still thinking this whole situation was impossible, at least she felt a little better now since she'd discussed things with Tenten. At least she had some idea where to start, anyway. That was certainly something.

The two women parted ways only a few minutes later, leaving Hinata plenty of time to think things through on her own. Perhaps she would try to come up with some interesting topics of conversation with which she could approach Gaara later. It certainly couldn't hurt to try, anyway.

Right?

Hinata was startled out of her half-doze when she heard Gaara's bedroom door slam shut, even through the thick walls separating their rooms. Sitting straight up in bed, she tilted her head, trying to discern any further sounds from him.

At the feast earlier in the evening, Gaara had seemed bothered by something, though he'd made an obviously concentrated effort to be a good host. He'd actually conversed with Tenten and Neji, though only for a few minutes, before turning his attention to Hinata. She hadn't dared try any deep subjects with him at the table, but they'd managed about a quarter hour's worth of conversation. It was certainly longer than any other conversation they'd had to date.

Biting her lower lip, Hinata picked at her blanket as she debated whether or not to go see what was wrong with Gaara. She didn't know if he'd want to be disturbed, and she definitely didn't want to bother him if he didn't. However, she was his wife now, and she wanted to prove to him she would support him and would be there for him in difficult times.

Sliding out of bed, she pulled her robe on over her sensible pair of lavender pajamas before creeping over to the door separating her room from his. She rested her hand against the wood, listening intently for any further sounds. For a moment, only silence registered, but then she heard a soft thud and a muffled curse. He didn't sound angry, per se, more frustrated.

Once again, Hinata hesitated and debated. Ultimately deciding she was being a coward, she rested her hand on the doorknob and turned. Though she'd left her side of the door unlocked ever since her disastrous wedding night, she had no idea if Gaara's remained locked or not. This was the first time she'd worked up enough courage to find out.

To her surprise, the door opened with no sound or resistance. Swallowing hard, Hinata ventured a shuffling step into the doorway, peering around the frame to try to get a glimpse of Gaara.

He stood with his back to her, his shoulders rigid beneath his dark red tunic as he glared into a small mirror hanging on the wall. It was the first time she'd seen Gaara's room, and she was unsurprised to find the color scheme comprised of deep reds and stark blacks. Predictable, yet somehow still uniquely Gaara.

When he didn't turn away from the mirror or otherwise acknowledge her presence, Hinata took another hesitant step forward and cleared her throat. "G-Gaara?"

His tense body snapped around like the tail of a whip at the sound of her voice. Hinata jumped but did not retreat, standing rigidly in place as she met his surprised gaze.

"Hinata. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in." Running one long, pale hand through his already tousled red hair, Gaara's green gaze anxiously skipped about the room before settling on a chair in the corner. "Please, come in. Have a seat." He flicked the same hand toward the chair invitingly.

Keeping one arm braced across her middle, Hinata clutched the front of her robe closed with the other as she sidled past him and perched on the edge of the proffered chair. She wished she'd thought to put on some slippers as she curled her bare toes into the thick, lush fabric of the rug underfoot. A dragon the color of Gaara's hair sprawled against the black backdrop of the floor piece, bright reds and yellows forming the flames pouring out of its wide-open, sharp-tooth lined mouth. It was definitely masculine and decidedly creepy. How could Gaara sleep at night with those malicious yellow eyes glaring up at him?

Gaara caught her staring at the rug. "It was my father's." If Hinata wasn't mistaken, she heard distaste dripping from his tone, and saw an accompanying flare of the same emotion in his eyes. Before she could address it, he spun away from her, effectively hiding his face from her view. Heading across to the table in the corner on silent, bare feet, he picked up the carafe sitting there and poured a glass of water. "Was there something you needed?" he asked, offering her the glass as he approached her again.

Glad to have something to do to occupy her nervous hands, Hinata accepted the glass with a murmured "thank you." She took a sip before gathering up enough courage to reply. "I heard your door c-close. I wanted to c-come check and make sure you were all right. You seemed - distracted at dinner."

"Hn." Gaara's lips twitched slightly downwards, his darkly-rimmed eyes narrowing slightly. "I was hoping no one would notice." The least of all you was merely implied, but Hinata still heard it quite clearly.

"I don't think anyone else n-noticed," Hinata offered. She wasn't sure if her words helped or not, but at least he didn't look quite as forbidding as he had a moment ago.

He nodded once, distractedly. Returning to the table, he poured himself a glass of water and drank half of it before pausing for breath. "As to your earlier point, I'm fine. I apologize if I woke you."

Hinata lifted her hand self-consciously to her hair. Even though she'd only been in bed around a half-hour before she heard Gaara's door close (rather, slam), she had a feeling it was a mess. "I wasn't really deeply asleep," she reassured. "I just keep thinking about N-Neji and Tenten leaving in the morning." She looked away, blushing. "I'm g-going to miss them."

When she finally dared peek at Gaara from beneath her lashes, she found him staring down into his glass, which he was busy turning around and around and around in his hand. "They are welcome to come back again to visit," he said at last. "And hopefully sometime in the future I can take you back to Konoha for the same."

Even though she'd been hoping, so deeply inside her it had barely been able to grow, Hinata had not truly believed she'd be able to return to Konoha. Granted, she'd not be going back to stay, but even a visit would be wonderful. To revisit the familiar streets, her family's beautiful gardens, her friends, her sister... "I-I would like that," she finally managed to force out.

Gaara's lips twitched briefly before returning to their former flat, thin line. Sighing loudly, he set down his glass and moved over to the bed, where he took a seat while absently rubbing his forehead.

Something inside Hinata's mind clicked, helping her make sense of his behavior throughout the evening. "Do you have a headache?"

Immediately, Gaara's hand dropped, and the trace of pain around his tight lips and narrowed eyes vanished behind a carefully blank mask. "No." He hesitated, looking surprised at the I-know-you're-lying-mister look she courageously gave him, then sighed. "Yes. The council has been pushing me to make a certain decision, and I need some more time to think on the matter. Snap decisions is what got Father-" He suddenly went silent, seeming at the same time sheepish and wary as he stared at her from across the room.

Setting aside her own glass, Hinata got to her feet and slowly approached Gaara. He watched her come, posture tense, eyes wary, but he made no move to stop her. "When I was a little g-girl, my mother always d-did something special to help my headaches g-go away." She stopped in front of him, close enough to touch but not invading his personal space, her fingers anxiously twisting together in front of her. "M-May I try to see if it helps you?"

For a moment Hinata was sure Gaara was going to decline forcefully and send her away. But to her surprise, he finally looked away and nodded once, very gingerly.

Some of Hinata's tension flew out her mouth on a long, relieved sigh. Reaching out, she clicked on the bedside lamp before padding across the room to flick the switch by the door which turned off the overhead lights. Taking away the harsh glare of the overheads and replacing it with the softer, gold glow of the lamp was sure to help. Returning to the bed, she nervously wiped her hands against the soft fabric over her thighs as she said, "You'll n-need to lie d-down."

Gaara's hairless brows twitched slightly - in confusion or amusement, she wasn't sure - before he carefully slid backwards across his mattress and reclined against the pillows.

Hinata gulped before she crawled up after him, settling down in a comfortable position by his head. She studied their positions for a minute, then bit her lower lip and said, "It will b-be easier if you-" her heart rate picked up as a furious blush rushed into her cheeks "-rest your head in m-my lap." Part of her hoped he wouldn't do it. Another, surprisingly strong, part of her hoped he would.

For a long moment Gaara hesitated as he stared at her. Then, seeming to realize she was serious, he shifted around until his head rested in her lap. His left hand, silver wedding band glinting in the soft golden glow of the bedside lamp, draped over his chest. His right came up to lie limply next to her leg.

Leaning back against the nest of pillows she'd quickly arranged against the headboard, Hinata drew in a deep, calming breath as she lifted her hands from where she'd been white-knuckling the blankets. "Ready?" she whispered.

"Hmm." Gaara's eyes didn't close, but their dark lids did lower slightly. Behind them, his green irises shimmered bewitchingly in the soft light, and Hinata had to force herself to look away so she could concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing.

She started cautiously at first, very gently running her fingers through his red hair. It was softer than she'd expected, lightly tickling her skin as she stroked. When Gaara didn't flinch or otherwise indicate pain, Hinata delved a little deeper, tenderly massaging his scalp as she instinctively searched for the spot which caused him the most discomfort.

A quick, sharp inhale when Hinata got closer to Gaara's forehead helped her indentify where she needed to concentrate most of her attention. Gentling her strokes, she slid her fingertips over his head from forehead to crown, then back around in smooth, even motions. She watched his face, wanting to see subtle shifts in his expression which would help her further determine whether she was helping or further hurting him.

After a few minutes, Gaara's eyes finally slid completely shut. He let out a long sigh, one which seemed full of all the stress she'd sensed in him since their first meeting. The tension in his long, lean body eased, giving him the stillness of repose rather than the watchfulness she was used to seeing. He shifted ever so slightly, burrowing his head a little deeper into her lap, looking for all the world like he was about to fall asleep. Was he really that comfortable?

Hinata began to relax the longer she worked. As the tension in Gaara's body eased, so did that in her own. She got so caught up in the rhythm of her strokes, of being able to do something to help her husband at long last, she began to forget her own worries. When Gaara's stressed expression finally eased away and his eyes slipped closed, Hinata found herself studying him in a way she'd not had a chance to before.

Though the familiar things about him were all the same - tousled red hair, pale skin, darkly-ringed eyes, fine cheekbones and perfectly proportioned nose and lips - she noticed how much younger he looked when he relaxed. Though he was only eighteen, a year older than she, his duties and, she suspected, his personal history made him seem far more advanced in age. But in repose, his face was boyishly handsome, young and innocent and-

His eyes snapped open, and Hinata realized she'd been so caught up in studying him she'd stopped stroking his hair. To cover her mistake, she smiled shyly and asked, "D-Does that feel b-better?"

Lifting his left hand, Gaara brushed his own fingertips across his forehead. He froze when his hand bumped hers, then shifted to entangle their fingers before she could snatch her hand away. Staring up at her from his once again half-lidded eyes, he said, "Considerably. Thank you, Hinata." His voice was lower, huskier, than usual, and she once again felt her pulse accelerate as warmth seeped through her veins before pooling deep in her belly. She had a feeling it had nothing at all to do with the fact the top of Gaara's head was resting against her stomach, and everything to do with the way he was so heatedly gazing at her.

Was this the moment she'd been looking for, the one she and Tenten had discussed earlier? Was this her opportunity to right her wrong, to offer Gaara what he wanted and expected?

Swallowing hard, she leaned down, feeling some sort of magnetic pull from his eyes. He watched her come, his facial expression neutral though his eyes held a kind of yearning which found a ready, agreeable echo inside her chest.

At the last moment, she hesitated. Gaara did not. He tilted his chin up the last, infinitesimal degree needed for their lips to meet for the first time.

An electric shock streaked through her body from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, making every part of her quite suddenly hyper-sensitive to Gaara's touch. Her breath stuck in her chest, her head reeled, and suddenly the only thing anchoring her to the earth was her husband's mouth against hers. She felt alive in a way she never had before, as if the last seventeen years of her life had been a weak, colorless prelude to the bright sparks exploding behind her eyes, promising a very strong, very colorful future.

All because of this man. This infuriating, frightening, mysterious, intoxicating man.

Gaara's hands shot to her shoulders, and at first Hinata thought he was going to pull her closer. She trembled with equal parts yearning and fear at the thought, both certain and uncertain she was ready for this moment, this man. Gaara...

While the kiss had started slowly, it ended very abruptly. A half-moan, half-growl rumbled deep in Gaara's chest, and he gently but firmly shoved her away, their lips separating with a loud pop! which she barely heard over the roaring of her own pulse in her ears. Gaara let go of her as he smoothly rolled up and away, ending perched in a half-crouch on the end of the bed instead of lying with his head in her lap. He looked startled, disconcerted, as if his world had been rocked as radically as hers.

"I think-" He exhaled, the sound choppy and out-of-control. "I think you should go now." His gaze riveted on the open door between their rooms, quite obviously avoiding her confused, pleading one.

Hinata felt the fragile connection she'd managed to build with him shatter into thousands of sharp, jagged pieces around her feet. "G-Gaara, d-did I d-do something-?"

His hands curled into white-knuckled fists around the blankets. "Please," he whispered brokenly. "Before I do something I will very much regret later."

The words were a knife to her now-unprotected heart. Even though they hurt so deeply, they were also ones she did not dare disobey. Pushing off the bed, she walked across the room since she did not trust her shaky legs to carry her any faster. Pausing in the doorway, she turned back to see him still in the exact same position, only this time his gaze was focused on the floor. "G-Good n-night."

Gaara finally moved, lifting his head just enough for her to see the torture in his eyes as he replied. "Good night, Hinata."

She closed the door behind herself, but did not lock it. Turning, she braced her back against the door and slowly slid down it, closing her eyes as a shaky breath escaped her lips.

Drawing her knees up to her chest, Hinata buried her face in her robe as she fought back her tears. Just when I thought things were getting better, I find a way to make them even worse. Her hands lifted to her head, fingers tangling into her hair as she pulled until it was painful. But even then, she couldn't shut off the little voice whispering maliciously in her mind. He doesn't want you. Perhaps he did at first, but after you rejected him, he's realized what you're really like. You're a mousy, cowardly little undesirable girl, and that's what you'll always be.

Rolling to the side and propping herself on one hand, Hinata let her head hang in shame as she reached up and locked the door.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: Gosh, I know you all are salivating to kill me now, and I am so sorry! I'm an evil person, I know it. But I promise I have a good reason for writing everything I am. There's another Gaara POV in the next chapter, if that can help you forgive me, at least a little...? In the meanwhile, thank you so much for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed, and I hope to see you next week!