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

Additional Disclaimer: No ninja were harmed in the writing of this chapter, I promise.

Special Thanks: goes out to rao hyuga 18, xanimejunkie, McKazekage, ImCutePoison, Jigokun, YumeFiction, AnnaUmulie97, McEvil, xforeverherex, QueenP19, sailorangelmoon1, Asumi The Demon Kitty, and shyprincess82 for all your wonderful reviews! You all encourage me so much, and I appreciate every single one of you. I wish I could give you all hugs! Also thanks to everyone who's added this story to their favorites and follows, you all are incredible as well!

Author's Note: I am so excited about this chapter - so much so, in fact, that I couldn't wait until Monday to post it. The last part of the second scene is also one of the first ideas to come to me when this story popped into my head, so I've been looking forward to sharing it with you all for a long time now. From here on out things in the story are really going to start picking up, and I'd say there are around ten chapters left, give or take. Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

*~Chapter XXII~*

~Dancing with Death~

Gaara opened his eyes to sunlight spilling through the high, narrow windows across the room. He blinked, shocked to see how late in the morning it was. Granted, people wouldn't think anything of it, since the festival lasted far into the night and only really wound down around sunrise. But he had a thousand things to do before night fell so he could enjoy the martial arts demonstration. He wouldn't really be participating this year, just a bit at the very beginning for tradition's sake, but he didn't want a pile of paperwork sitting in his office weighing on his mind when he was trying to enjoy things.

"Hmm." The soft moan was quickly joined by the feel of the warm, soft body tucked up against his stirring. "What time is it?"

Shifting his arm draped over Hinata's waist, Gaara brushed it over his wife's tangled dark hair as he focused on the clock perched on the dresser across the room. "Midmorning. Far past breakfast time." But undoubtedly there would still be food waiting for them, even if everyone else had already risen, eaten, and started on their usual daily routines.

Hinata's pale eyes lazily drifted open, remaining at half-mast as she stared at him sleepily. "Time to g-get up?" she asked reluctantly.

The responsible side of Gaara was trying to prompt him to say yes. The other, less responsible but admittedly larger, side of him logically pointed out staying in bed all day was a far more enjoyable alternative to sitting in his office trying (and probably failing) to concentrate on mission reports and the Council's newest "suggestions" on how things should be run.

While he hesitated, torn between duty and desire, Hinata fully opened her eyes and finally lifted her head from his chest. She looked a little more alert than she had a few moments before. "We'll b-be expected at b-breakfast?" She sounded uncertain.

If Temari had stuck to her promise, she would have made it clear Gaara and Hinata would probably be absent at breakfast. At the same time, their late appearance would already be making tongues wag, and coming in even later would just make it worse. While it wouldn't bother him - he didn't really care what people thought about him - he knew Hinata would be embarrassed, and he didn't want that to happen.

"Everyone's probably already eaten and gone," Gaara finally said. He would leave the final decision up to her, though if she happened to ask his opinion on the matter...

"Hmm." Hinata rolled slightly so she could see the windows, her beautiful face thoughtful. Her gentle fingers idly stroked the back of his hand as she considered the options. When she reached his wedding band, she paused, a slow smile lifting the corners of her lips. "I think I'd rather stay here. Just for a little while longer."

Pleased by her decision, Gaara leaned forward and rolled so he could bury his face in her neck. "An excellent choice," he whispered against her soft, fragrant skin. His lips grazed the scar on her shoulder, and he paused a moment, remembering the first time he'd seen it and learned of its cause. He still hadn't seen her climb a tree, come to think of it...

Hinata's hand trailed up his arm, across his shoulder, and then cupped the back of his neck as she hummed deep in her throat. The small sound of satisfaction made him smile, and he shifted to capture her mouth. She responded shyly at first, but with increasing enthusiasm when he gently encouraged her.

It was amazing. Last night had been far beyond anything he could ever have hoped or dreamed for, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to repeating the experience over and over again in the years to come. He and Hinata fit together so perfectly, like they really were two halves of a whole, meant to be together. The first time he'd seen her when they were children, he'd instinctively known she was special. When he'd seen her again as an adult, he knew she was even more special than he'd realized before. But last night, he realized just how perfect she was for him in every way imaginable.

"Gaara..."

He reveled in the sound of his name upon her perfect lips, thrilled she no longer stuttered over it as she had before. Her trust in him was absolute, and as he slid his arm around her waist to pull her even closer to him he vowed silently he would never do anything - not even unintentionally - to betray that hard-earned, and perhaps not entirely deserved, trust.

Shifting his attention to the pale column of her throat, Gaara murmured things meant for Hinata's ears only as he began the process of rememorizing her. It had taken quite a bit of time and experience to get to this point, and now they finally belonged only to each other, he wasn't going to waste a single moment or opportunity he had to let her know just how much he really loved her.

"Milady, I'm so sorry I overslept. I hope I didn't - oh!"

Reacting instinctively, Gaara threw himself over Hinata's body and pushed her behind him, his hand reaching for a weapon between the mattress and bed frame which wasn't there. As Hinata pressed her warm face against the hollow between his shoulderblades, shivering in embarrassment, Gaara made a mental note to hide some weapons in her room as he shot a dark glare at the figure standing frozen in the doorway.

Matsuri's face blushed bright red; even as he watched, the color drained out of her cheeks until she was left looking ghost-pale. "M-Milord, Milady, I-I am so very s-s-sorry," she whispered, the last word ending on an odd squeak. "I-I d-didn't..." Quickly bobbing a bow, she spun away and slammed the door behind herself, the loud thump thump thump of her footsteps evidence of her rapid retreat.

Letting out a long, shaky breath - and, with it, trying to release his frustration - Gaara allowed himself to flop back against the pillow beneath him. Hinata clung to him from behind, every inch of her perfect form pressed up against him. Not helping!

"Apparently," Gaara breathed between his teeth, "Temari forgot to tell one rather important person to leave us alone this morning."

A small, nervous giggle sounded from behind him. "I think we've just scarred my p-poor maid for life," she whispered. "She'll never b-be able to look us in the eye again."

"I could have sworn I locked that door last night," Gaara mused. He glared at the infuriating contraption and most particularly its obviously unengaged lock.

"P-Perhaps you meant to, b-but one thing led to another, and, well..." Hinata trailed off, sounding vaguely dreamy.

The last of his anger dissolved at the sound. Rolling slightly in his wife's arms, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his side, closing his eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder. Lifting his free hand, he idly played with the locks of her midnight hair splayed across her back, teasing her skin with his fingertips every now and then when he found a space between locks. "I love you." The words seemed so simple - not nearly enough to describe the feeling spreading through him - but he knew by the way Hinata's body relaxed against his they were enough for her.

"I love you, too." Hinata tilted her head up so she could smile at him, her bright eyes glowing with the same depth of emotion he contained within himself. She moved her hand until her fingers brushed his palm, then paused and looked surprised. Grasping his hand, she pulled his away from her head so she could get a good look at it. "You're still wearing the ribbon?" she asked. "I d-didn't notice last night..."

"You were otherwise occupied." Gaara joined her in staring at the faded, purple ribbon tied around his wrist. "I started to take it off the other night, but..." He trailed off and shook his head. He couldn't explain it, but having it there, with the knot pressed snugly against his pulse point, reassured him in a way he didn't quite understand. It was like having Hinata with him all the time, even when they weren't together.

He felt like as long as he kept the ribbon close and protected it, he was simultaneously protecting Hinata, too. With that in mind, he just hadn't been able to undo the knot she'd tied and take the ribbon off.

Hinata smoothed the pad of her index finger across the ribbon, pausing when she reached the knot. "I wish I c-could remember when I g-gave this to you," she said wistfully. "I wish I c-could remember every moment of the time we spent together as children."

I'm just as glad you don't. While Gaara did wish Hinata remembered certain parts of it, he was relieved she didn't remember seeing him at his worst when he'd killed his uncle in front of her. Though he was a much different person than he'd been then, it didn't change what he'd done. Even now, a part of him was afraid Hinata would remember that night and run from him in fear.

Had it happened before, he would have been heartbroken. But now - he wasn't sure he'd be able to live without her by his side. "Even if you don't remember," he said, gently extracting his hand so he could wrap both arms around her, "that's all right. We can work on making new memories together." Placing his lips close to her ear, he breathed huskily, "Ones I guarantee you won't forget."

Hinata's hand slid behind his head to entangle her fingers in his hair so she could pull his lips to hers so they could do just that.

Hinata spent most of the day (which, after she and Gaara finally got out of bed, was not really that long) wandering her suite in a daze. Temari made good on her promise, since neither she nor anyone else came to the room to talk to her.

Over and over, she kept replaying the events of the night in her mind. Only recently had she begun to imagine what it might be like when she and Gaara finally consummated their marriage, but her imagination had not conjured anything which came close to matching the real thing.

The tutor who had taught her the basics about what her duties as a married woman of high rank would eventually entail had never mentioned anything about that. It was just as well, Hinata supposed, because nothing Kurenai-sensei could have said would have prepared her for the wonders she'd discovered last night.

She must have replayed her memories a hundred times before Matsuri's timid knock finally sounded on the door. Hinata quickly let her in, and the two women awkwardly went about readying the former for Saturday night's featured event for the festival.

As Matsuri twisted Hinata's hair into a beautifully intricate braided knot at the back of her head, she whispered, "I am so sorry, milady. If I had had any idea..."

Hinata saw her maid's cheeks once more flush bright red in the reflection of her dressing table's mirror. "It's all right, Matsuri," she said softly. "Neither Gaara nor I am angry about it. It was an accident." Though she had to admit Gaara had looked rather angry right after the incident, but she was fairly sure it was forgotten by now.

Securing Hinata's hair with one last pin, Matsuri stepped back and lowered her eyes. "If you don't mind, milady, from now on I believe I'll wait for you to send for me before I assist you with - with anything."

Feeling warmth creep into her own cheeks, Hinata nodded once and avoided looking at the equally (or, perhaps, even more so) embarrassed Matsuri. "I think that would b-be for the b-best, yes," she agreed. Even as the words passed her lips, a little wiggle of excitement stirred in her stomach. There will be more nights like last night, she thought. We really are husband and wife now. She grasped the edge of her elegant stool to keep herself from giving a very unladylike bounce at the thought.

How different she was from the woman who had come to Suna, terrified of the things her future held. She and Gaara had changed each other, but as she met her own gaze in the mirror, she thought the changes they'd made were definitely for the better.

After Hinata dismissed Matsuri, the maid slipped off to join the other servants. Hinata found Gaara waiting for her in the hall, and the two went downstairs to meet up with the others.

Neji, Tenten, and Hanabi were already in the entryway, and Kankuro entered just after Gaara and Hinata. After greetings were exchanged, Hinata looked around and asked in surprise, "Itachi and Temari aren't here?"

"No," Kankuro replied. "I would imagine they're getting ready for their part of the demonstration." He grinned. "You're gonna love this, Hinata. Trust me."

Naruto and Sakura joined them as the group left the house, returning to the arena at which the puppet show had been held the night before. However, the stage had been taken down, leaving the arena empty save for the sand padding its floor.

Once again, Hinata took her seat in the box reserved for Suna's leading family. As she settled in, she noticed the stands were already mostly full, and people were beginning to gather along the outer walls at the very top in the standing-room-only areas.

Gaara noticed her looking around and leaned over before he spoke so she could hear him over the excited buzz of the crowd. "Besides the race, the martial arts demonstration is the most popular event at the festival," he said.

Remembering Suna's bloody beginnings, Hinata thought she could understand why. "I admit I'm very c-curious. K-Konoha has a martial arts d-demonstration at its Founder's Festival as well, b-but I d-doubt it's anything like Suna's." For Hinata, the highlight of Konoha's martial arts demonstration was always watching Tenten display her amazing skill with weaponry. Her cousin-in-law's demonstration grew even more spectacular every year, and deep inside herself she doubted anything Suna had to offer could possibly measure up to Tenten's annual display of such prowess and natural talent.

Seeming to heed some unseen signal, Gaara suddenly stood. "I've got to be down there at the beginning," he said in response to her questioning look. "But I'll come back as soon as my part's done."

Hinata nodded to indicate her understanding, though she felt disappointment grip her as she watched him slip off. She'd been looking forward to watching the entire demonstration at his side, listening to his explanations and embellishments as she had the night before.

Only tonight was different. Tonight, they were different.

Firmly scolding her mind for wanting to wander (for the thousandth time) to the details of her birthday night, Hinata focused on the sandy floor of the arena just on the other side of the railing from where she sat. It was smooth, untouched, at the moment, but soon...

Music started from a hidden alcove to Hinata's left, softly at first, but rapidly gaining volume and intensity as doors on opposite ends of the arena slid open. A great number of men and women on horseback trotted into the arena, most of them with weapons prominently on display either worn in variously-styled scabbards on their own bodies or on their saddles. Those not carrying weapons held flags, flapping vigorously with the gait of the horses. Hinata felt a surpringly strong rush of pride at the sight of the Sabaku clan crest on one, and Suna's symbol on yet another.

This was her home. These were her people. It had never felt so right to her before until this very moment, watching those flags ripple past her.

As abruptly as it had started, the music stopped. At the same moment, everyone in the arena reined in their horses, forming two parallel lines along the longest sides of the oval arena. On the opposite end from Hinata, Gaara and Kaen stood absolutely still, like two living statues, as if waiting for some sort of cue.

The music started again, the backbeat heavily underlined with rapid drumbeats. Gaara burst into movement, lightly urging Kaen into a gallop after taking a broadsword from a man who hurried up to hand it to him with a swift bow. Acting as if the heavy blade weighed no more than a flower, he held Kaen's reins with his left hand while easily swinging the sword with his right. The few bloodred rays from the sinking sun which found their way into the arena flashed off the blade, dazzling Hinata's eyes as she watched, breathless.

Kaen slid to a precise halt just below where Hinata sat, and Gaara offered Hinata a crooked grin and a salute with his sword before reining the red stallion around and galloping back down the path between the two rows of performers. Pivoting Kaen at the opposite end, he saluted first the performers, then the crowd, and shouted, "Let the jousting begin!"

Once again, the music halted, and everyone filed out of the arena through the still-open doors. Hinata leaned back in her seat, still awed by the display she'd just witnessed.

"Hey, Hinata," Hanabi whispered, leaning close to her older sister's right ear. "I have to admit, I didn't think so before, but after that, I must say your husband's really impressive to watch."

Had her little sister been just a few years older, Hinata might have been worried. But Hanabi was only thirteen (okay, almost fourteen), and besides, Hinata felt too excited about the performances to come to feel particularly worried about much of anything.

Gaara slipped back into his seat, and Hinata turned to smile brightly at him. "That was amazing!" she whispered.

"It's tradition," Gaara replied, the tips of his ears turning red. "As Suna's leader, I have to do something at the beginning of the Saturday night festivities every year, even if I don't do anything else."

"And have you, in years p-past?" Hinata already knew he didn't plan to take part in any other demonstration, but she had to wonder - if he had in years past, was it her presence this year keeping him from doing so?

"Once or twice. I devote most of my time training for conditioning for the race, though. I prefer to sit back and enjoy watching the others instead of taking part in the demonstration myself."

Letting out a soft, relieved breath, Hinata nodded. Though she couldn't imagine herself taking part in any of the events opening each night of Suna's Founders' Festival, she had always preferred sitting out those in Konoha which had interested her, as well. As Gaara said, she enjoyed sitting back to admire and enjoy the performances put on by some of Konoha's (and now Suna's) best.

In their hidden alcove, the musicians continued their performances, providing the perfect backdrop for what was going on in the arena. As darkness fell and the lights around the arena's walls were turned on, Suna's most skilled performers - at least some, if not most, of them ninja, Hinata was sure - came out to show off their skills. Several people fought from their saddles, swords flashing and lances clacking as the riders perfectly balanced their attention between guiding their horses and their weapons through each movement. Interspersed among the matches between riders were those who fought on foot, in carefully choreographed matches which sometimes pitted one person against as many as half a dozen. Some used a variety of weapons, but others used nothing more than their hands and feet to ward off their attackers. It was breathtaking to watch.

"How long d-does it take to choreograph and p-practice for something like this?" Hinata asked softly.

Gaara tore his attention away from the action long enough to offer her a quick glance. "Most people practice all year long," he told her. "In fact, some of the people you've seen performing tonight will go straight from here to a quiet place so they can start planning for next year's demonstration."

It never ceased to surprise her how seriously Suna's inhabitants took martial arts and weaponry. Hinata had come to the demonstration feeling somewhat nervous, wondering if the demonstration would come across as too violent, even though she knew everything was choreographed. While the performers were skilled enough to make everything seem completely real - at least to her own untrained eyes - they were careful enough to make it clear everything was rehearsed. No one was struck too hard, or actually cut by flying shuriken or slashing kunai.

Hinata was surprised when the final demonstration of the evening was announced. She leaned forward in her seat, not even having to ask Gaara to know the last two performers to take the sandy stage would be Temari and Itachi.

She also knew without a doubt their performance would be the most amazing of the night.

A dozen men dressed in black ran into the arena, katana strapped to their backs and holsters strapped to their waists and legs holding a number of kunai. The men silently took up positions around the arena, some drawing their swords while others produced knives.

Her own breath caught in her throat as an expectant hush fell over the crowd around her. Each black-clad warrior below stood still and silent, only their eyes moving as they waited for the performance to begin. Hinata felt her own anticipation grow as she, too, waited, her own eyes flashing eagerly from the men, to the door across the arena, to the crowd.

And then it began.

The sudden drumbeat after the long moments of silent anticipation made her jump. Her head instinctively swiveled in that direction, but just as quickly snapped back to the action in the arena. The group of men quickly closed ranks into a tight circle, facing outwards, and from opposite sides of the arena, the gates opened for the innumerable time that evening.

Straight across from Hinata, Itachi charged in on Mayonaka, twin blades of his dao sword held aloft. From the gate below the royal box, Temari appeared, barefoot, crouching on Sanraizu's back. The couple reached opposite sides of the circle at the same moment, and Itachi threw one leg over Mayonaka's bare back and slid off effortlessly. At the exact same time, Temari sommersaulted off Sanraizu, her hands going to her waist to extract her bladed fans while she was still in midair.

Hinata gasped, shocked and awed by the display - and it had only just started!

As soon as their feet hit the sand, Itachi and Temari were in motion as their horses continued on through the opposite gates from which they'd entered. Their riders leaped into action, two whirlwinds dressed in black winding through the group waiting for them. Steel flashed in impossibly quick, precise movements, and Hinata felt dizzy as she tried to follow them. The couple moved in exact synchronization, staying back to back in the center of the circle of men as they fended off their opponents. One by one the "enemy" fell beneath Itachi and Temari's expertly wielded weapons, while the couple themselves remained virtually untouched.

When a katana blade came too close to Temari and she leaned back to avoid it, Itachi bowed at the waist at the exact same moment, his double swords crossing to scissor at his own charging opponent's legs. Placing her full weight on her husband's supporting back, Temari lashed out with her right leg and kicked her last enemy's weapon right out of his hand. As the black-clad man fell back, his left hand instinctively moving to cradle his right, Temari kept her momentum going and smoothly landed on her feet in front of Itachi, who instantly spun to take out the opponent his wife had just disarmed.

By the time Temari's feet landed on the sand, her fans were back in their custom holsters. In their place she withdrew two kunai, and even before she'd fully settled into her stance she'd already thrown them. The blades found their targets in Itachi's two remaining opponents' obviously padded chests, and the two men fell instantly, their weapons dropping out of their hands.

As soon as the last of their enemy was dispatched, Itachi and Temari whirled on each other. Hinata's breath caught in her throat as she watched the two of them spin around each other, feet and hands flying in a deadly dance she found incredibly dangerous yet enthralling and beautiful all the same.

Temari drew her fans again, their wickedly sharp tips fending off the slashes from her husband's swords. She twisted and ducked and danced across the arena - from which the "dead" enemies had somehow slipped away without notice, taking their discarded weapons with them - avoiding every attack thrown at her as she cleverly wove in carefully timed ones of her own.

Itachi was the perfect dance partner, complementing his wife's every movement with a matched one of his own. Every slash with his sword, every swiftly thrown kick, every graceful dodge of his own looked smooth and flawless. Whereas the earlier demonstrations had held just the barest hint of looking staged, Itachi's and Temari's deadly dance seemed somehow real, as if the two were genuinely having a fight to the death in front of their family, friends, and fellow villagers.

If she'd had to guess, Hinata would have said Itachi's swords were the more effective weapon. But Temari's flawless use of her bladed fans was the perfect compliment to her husband's blades, and she easily switched from defense to offense when the situation called for it. The couple was perfectly matched in their breathtaking display of skill, and occasionally when one or the other turned just right, Hinata caught a grin on their faces. They were enjoying their dance!

Gaara leaned over without looking away from his sister and brother-in-law, speaking quietly so as not to distract his wife from the demonstration too much. "The level of trust required to execute this dance is remarkable," he whispered. "Very few people can do it, and even the majority of those are married. But I have never seen anyone perform with this level of skill and showmanship, until I watched Temari and Itachi the first time. Their trust in each other - it is beyond words." He shook his head, obviously as impressed as Hinata.

Itachi dove just then, crossing his swords in an attempt to scissor them against his wife's legs. Temari let out a soft laugh, throwing her fans in the air as she sommersaulted over her husband's head. She planted her hands on Itachi's shoulders, using him to keep her momentum going as she shot into the air, catching her fans neatly right before she landed on the sand behind him. She whirled to once again go on the offensive, fans lashing out towards where her opponent had been just a moment before.

Using his own momentum to his advantage, Itachi rolled and then sprang back to his feet, spinning to block Temari's responding attack. For a moment the two paused, caught in a deadlock, swords and fans teetering in a delicate balance which left their wielders suspended in a moment of complete harmony and equality.

Hinata forgot to breathe. She dimly realized she had twisted her hands into fists around the fabric of her kimono, but she couldn't get her fingers to release. Leaning forward, she scooted to the edge of her seat, absolutely lost in the display of barely-restrained power and complete control before her.

The moment passed. As the music once again picked up from the gentler notes it had taken on during the deadlock, Temari broke free from the momentary stalemate. She heaved against her husband's heavier form, knocking him off balance. At the same time, she snapped her fans closed, capturing the blades of Itachi's swords between the two outside edges of each. With deft twists of her wrists, she tore the weapons from her husband's hands and sent them flying. Another quick flick of her wrists and her fans opened again, razor-sharp tips flashing in the glare of the lights placed around the arena. She let out a triumphant shout and pounced, knocking Itachi to the ground, perched on his waist, knees on either side of his hips.

Distantly, Hinata realized she was clenching her hands together so tightly they'd gone numb. But she didn't care, her entire focus on what was happening only a few feet away.

Itachi reacted instantly. His hands shot up to capture his wife's wrists, and he held her fans at bay as he twisted his hips and rolled, unseating Temari and giving him the advantage. This time he was atop her, both her wrists now held in one hand. With the other, he swiftly reached into the pouch at his waist and pulled out a kunai-

Yanking her captured hands hard to the right, Temari knocked Itachi off-balance before he could fully settle into place atop her. Now freed, she lashed out with her fans, forcing Itachi to roll off her to keep from getting cut. The kunai went flying in the confusion, landing well out of either person's reach. Jumping to her feet, Temari followed Itachi as he dove for his swords, only managing to secure one before his wife descended upon him with a fresh attack.

Still on his knees and off-balance, Itachi managed to block Temari's first blow, but her follow-up once again knocked the sword out of his hand, leaving him momentarily defenseless - and Temari with her opportunity.

Snapping her fans closed once again, Temari drove them downwards, pausing less than a finger's width away from her husband's unprotected neck. This time it was Itachi caught in the V of his wife's weapons, and unlike Temari just a few moments ago, he was weaponless and at a distinct disadvantage.

Closing his eyes, Itachi reached out and quickly thumped his fist twice into the sand as the music faded into silence. I surrender.

Hinata's breath whooshed out of her chest in a shocked exhale. For a moment the crowd around her sat in utter silence, still focused on the two figures frozen in place below.

The spell broke, and Hinata leaped to her feet at the same moment as everyone else, cheering loudly as Temari and Itachi stood, grasped hands, and then bowed to the four sides of the crowd surrounding them. They were both covered in sand, their hair hanging loose and tangled around their faces, their clothes wrinkled and even torn in a couple of places, but they were grinning as widely as if they'd won a dance competition.

And, Hinata mused quietly to herself, in a way she supposed they had.

Leaning over, she spoke directly into Gaara's ear so he would hear her over the almost defeaning applause and cheering going on around them. "D-Did they p-practice that?" she asked, even though she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.

Gaara said something she couldn't hear, then leaned down and repeated it when she shook her head uncomprehendingly. "Yes and no. They practiced to condition themselves, and they rehearsed many times with the group playing the enemy." He motioned to the dozen men who had been felled at the beginning of the demonstration, all of whom had now returned to the arena and were taking their own bows. "But the fight between Itachi and Temari was completely unchoreographed. I have seen many martial arts demonstrations in my years, but my sister and brother-in-law are the only ones who come up with their next moves on the spot with no prior planning or practicing to assist them."

Hinata allowed her gaze to stray back to Itachi and Temari, who were walking hand-in-hand toward the gate opposite the arena from where she and Gaara stood. They looked utterly relaxed and unconcerned, as if they had just been waltzing around a ballroom instead of fighting with real - and very dangerous - weapons.

As they vanished into the dark area beneath the bleachers, Hinata shifted her gaze to Gaara's face. She knew no matter how much she practiced, she would never be as good with weapons as Temari, or Itachi, or Tenten. But right then and there, she decided she was going to do everything in her power to build a relationship every bit as intimate and unquestioningly trusting as her brother- and sister-in-law's.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: ...And the second scene in this chapter ties into events which happened back in chapter 9. Itachi and Temari were practicing with their weapons while Gaara did his work on the ropes to keep his upper body conditioned to wield the broadsword (and just because he likes to stay fit, too, of course). It took a while for it to come back around, but I have been so excited to finally share this scene with you all! So much so, in fact, that I couldn't wait until Monday to post it, so you got another early update. (I know, I have no patience...) Thank you so much for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope to see you next update!