Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.
Special Thanks: goes out to QueenP19, rao hyuga 18, McKazekage, sailorangelmoon1, ssspooky, Renata Z, AnnaUmulie97, lidianm, Loved-chan, xanimejunkie, xforeverherex, and cerberus angel for all your encouraging reviews! You all blow me away with your positive and encouraging feedback, and I love going back and rereading all your kind words. Thank you so much! Also thanks to those of you who keep adding this story to your favorites and follows lists, you all play a huge role in keeping me motivated and encouraged, as well!
Author's Note: This is something of a turning point in the story. Things are going to start moving much more quickly now, and I can promise you're all finally going to be getting answers to the really big questions. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
*~Chapter XXIII~*
~Fireworks~
The roof of the round tower housing Gaara's office came in handy once again on the final evening of the Founders' Festival. After full darkness blanketed the village, Hinata, Gaara, Itachi, Temari, Kankuro, Hanabi, Neji, Tenten, Naruto, and Sakura went up to sit on cushions and wait for the fireworks to start.
Some of the others had gone down to visit the street vendors again, but Hinata had been content to remain indoors. Earlier in the day, she, Neji, Tenten, and Hanabi had gathered in the library and had a long overdue talk.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Hanabi clammed up. It was obvious she didn't want to talk, but at least she didn't violently fly off the handle like she had at the wake. She still didn't tell them who had told her about the letters, but her lack of screaming gave Hinata hope. Perhaps, given a little more time, she would be more forthcoming.
Now, sitting on the roof waiting for the fireworks to start, Hinata drifted into her own thoughts as everyone else talked among themselves. Was Hanabi protecting the person who told her because she had romantic feelings toward him? Granted, the girl was almost fourteen, but Hinata couldn't remember her ever showing particular feelings for anyone on (or off, for that matter) the Hyuuga estate.
In fact, until her remark about Gaara last night, Hinata thought romance was still several years away from her sister's thoughts. But now...
Another possible explanation for Hanabi's silence occurred to Hinata. Hanabi had always been an inquisitive child, and she knew for sure the last place she'd seen her sister before the wake was at the funeral. She'd left with the first group of people headed for Tsunade's home, but that didn't necessarily mean she'd gone straight there. Perhaps she'd gone into her older sister's room looking for something - it wasn't unusual for Hanabi to borrow her older sister's jewelry or one or two fans from her extensive collection - and found the letter, and she'd merely held in her anger until Hinata appeared at the wake.
She slid a glance in her cousin's direction. Neji and Tenten had done extensive investigating into the matter, but she didn't know if they'd confirmed Hanabi's presence at the wake from the very beginning. Everyone was so focused on the suspicion someone had told Hanabi about the letters, though supposedly only Neji, Tenten, Hinata, and Gaara knew about them, it was possible the idea of Hanabi's discovering them by herself hadn't even occurred to them, either.
Hinata made a mental note to ask Neji about it later. It was close to time for the fireworks show to begin, and she didn't want to draw attention by mentioning the subject around the group.
The gong which had rung the night of the race suddenly sounded, and the noise of the crowds thronging the street faded into silence. Hinata sensed Gaara tense next to her, and she immediately turned her gaze upwards, dimly noting at the bottom of her vision how the lights around the city began to dim.
A loud pop sounded somewhere near the very edge of the village, and a bright white trail of light spiraled upwards into the dark sky. The first firework exploded, washing the village in cold white light as the bass boom! echoed off the walls only a moment later.
As if the first had served as some sort of signal, other fireworks followed, blazing to life in a beautiful array of colors and shapes. The thunder of their explosions rumbled through the village, creating music of its own which nearly drowned out the musicians adding accompaniment to the show.
With only the littlest sliver of moon in the sky and a smattering of clouds dimming the stars, the fireworks looked all the brighter. Everyone clapped a little louder for their favorites as the show continued; Hinata favored the small blue ones which made a whizzing sound as they spun upwards, then crackled and popped as they exploded. They were whimsical and fun, and she wished more of them appeared in the show.
Gaara's arm brushed against hers as he applauded for one of the bigger ones, silent on its ascent until it exploded with a thunderous crash at its apex. Hinata felt herself sit a little straighter, suddenly hyper-aware of his presence at her side. The fine hairs along her arm tingled and rose in response to his touch, and she shivered when he leaned over to whisper into her ear. She missed his exact words because her pulse suddenly sounded very loud, racing so fast it nearly drowned out even the sound of the fireworks.
It was almost a relief when the show ended and the lights around the village flickered back to life. As the darkness fled, Hinata was able to relax as her super sensitivity eased back to normal levels. Kankuro, after wolf-whistling his approval of the show, turned to Naruto, Sakura, and Hanabi and explained to them how this year's fireworks differed from the last.
"That was amazing," Tenten said. She sat snuggled into her husband's side, his arm joining the blanket around her shoulders for warmth since the evening was even cooler than usual. The pregnant woman grinned, her soft, dusk-colored eyes aglow with excitement as she glanced back up towards the sky. "I have to admit, you really know how to put on a good show here in Suna. I've not seen a fireworks display so lavish in quite a while."
"We like doing things in a big way here in the desert," Temari remarked. She, too, looked up at the sky, where the last of the smoke from the fireworks lazily drifted off over the desert on the other side of the village's rock walls. "That one was bigger than usual, though, even I have to admit."
Itachi, still reclining with his head in his wife's lap, eyes closed, added, "This is the first year we've had music during it, too." He cracked open one eye and rolled it in Hinata's direction as he offered her one of his rare smiles. "We've done a lot of new things this year in honor of Gaara's finally settling down."
"We thought it'd never happen," Kankuro said, interrupting his own conversation with Naruto and Sakura.
"That means you're the only one left, little brother," Temari said. The grin she leveled on Kankuro was positively wicked.
The puppeteer's eyes widened in obvious panic. For a moment he sat frozen, his mouth hanging open. But then he quickly recovered and turned back to his former conversation as if he'd never interrupted himself.
Hinata felt slightly ashamed upon realizing she hadn't even thought about Kankuro's being alone. He was always so busy doing missions as a ninja or working with his puppets, she'd never stopped to think about his not having a significant other like Gaara and Temari. Was he lonely, and just didn't want to admit it? The thought made her sad.
Hanabi abruptly stood, pulling the blanket around her own shoulders a little tighter as she faced the group. "I'm going to bed," she said, then bowed. "Good night."
The girl made her escape before Hinata could stop her. She bit her lower lip, wishing Hanabi hadn't reverted back to a cool, impersonal demeanor since their talk earlier in the day. Granted, this was much better than her going berserk again, but still! Hinata wasn't used to this strange girl standing in place of her bubbly, curious, carefree sister.
As if sensing her mood, Gaara reached across the slight distance between them and squeezed her hand. "She'll come around," he said reassuringly. "I know you're frustrated and worried, but Hanabi loves you. She just needs some time."
Biting her lip against the urge to point out Hanabi had already had plenty of time - over two weeks worth, in point of fact - to "come around," Hinata mustered up a smile and a nod. "You're right," she agreed. "I was just hoping to g-get this resolved b-before everyone has to leave for K-Konoha. Who knows when we'll b-be able to spend time together again."
This time it was Gaara's turn to smile. "I'm sure we'll be able to work something out," he said.
It was reassuring for Hinata, knowing Gaara spoke seriously when he said those words. She'd learned Gaara wasn't going to say things just to placate her, or just because it was expected of him. He was honest, and she appreciated that about him. "Thank you, Gaara."
Not long after Hanabi's departure, the rest of the group went their separate ways, too. Neji and Tenten retired to their suite, and Naruto, Sakura, Kankuro, Itachi, and Temari headed down to spend a little more time shopping before the festival officially ended at sunrise, now only a handful of hours away.
Gaara held Hinata's hand all the way to their suites, and didn't let go even as he opened the door to his, instead of hers as she'd expected. She willingly followed him in, rolling her lips against the giddy smile trying to form on her lips.
Servants had been there before them, because a tray with a tea pot and two cups sat on the low table at the center of Gaara's sitting room. Hinata wondered if her husband had prearranged things, or if the servants just knew their master that well. Regardless, the two sat down to share the wonderful, soothing blend in companionable silence.
Hinata had nearly finished her first cupful when Gaara finally spoke. "Are you happy here, Hinata?"
Surprised, she looked up from the last dregs of her tea to blink at her husband in surprise. What kind of question is that? Swallowing back her knee-jerk response, she tilted her head to stare at him with obvious puzzlement. "Of c-course I am. What made you ask that, Gaara?"
Pushing aside his cup, Gaara nervously rubbed his hands on his pants and shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "But earlier you were talking about missing your family in Konoha, since they're headed back soon, so..." He tossed one hand up briefly in a helpless gesture. "I just wanted to make sure you're happy here. I didn't want to keep you here if you're unhappy." He frowned, suddenly and severely. "I never want to do anything to make you unhappy."
Setting her own cup aside, Hinata leaned forward and secured Gaara's hand. Tugging until he looked up at her, she smiled. "Yes, I d-do miss Hanabi, and Neji, and Tenten when we're apart. B-But Suna has become my home as well, and Temari, Itachi, and K-Kankuro are also my family." Tilting her head to the side, she regarded him solemnly, not allowing him to look away from her gaze. "And d-do you honestly think I'd b-be happy living away from you, especially now?" She allowed emphasis to fall on the last word, knowing he would understand her meaning.
Gaara's relief was palpable. "I think I knew that," he admitted. "But hearing you say it out loud is definitely reassuring." The way his fingers linked with hers and squeezed then made it clear he understood her unspoken words perfectly.
After finishing the tea, the two naturally migrated to the bedroom. Hinata instinctively reached for the knob of the door leading between their rooms, but Gaara caught her opposite arm and pulled her in for a kiss, making her completely forget what she'd originally intended to do.
It had only been a couple of days since they'd dropped the last barrier between them, and Hinata was still marveling at how easy it was to lose herself in Gaara's embrace. His arms fit around her so perfectly, and his lips melded to hers so naturally, it felt almost as if they'd been made for each other. It had been a surprisingly short but very rough road getting here, but she could say without a single doubt every single hurdle they'd cleared had been well worth it.
They were almost to the bed when a hard, businesslike knock on the door to the outer hall invaded their private little bubble of happiness. Hinata jerked slightly in surprise and instinctively started to pull away, but Gaara drew her back to himself and buried his face in her neck. "Just ignore it," he murmured against her skin. "They'll go away."
Instead of going away, however, the person at the door knocked again, even louder.
Gaara let out a low growl from deep in his chest, and this time he was the one to pull away. Hinata had been expecting it and let go of him, albeit reluctantly. As her husband yanked open the bedroom door and stalked across the sitting room, Hinata pulled what part of her disheveled clothing she still wore halfway to rights and inched out of sight of the main door. When she heard Gaara greeting the intruder into their happiness (his voice a low, menacing growl), she realized with a start he'd quite forgotten to put on his shirt again.
Hinata sat down on the end of the bed and nervously swung her feet a couple of times as she waited. Undoubtedly the mood was ruined now, but hopefully they'd be able to get it back...
An insistent prickling at the back of her neck gave her the creepy feeling she was being watched. Wrinkling her brow in confusion, Hinata turned slowly and peered over the edge of the bed, somehow unsurprised to come face-to-face with the snarling teeth and malicious yellow eyes of the bright red dragon on Gaara's rug.
Creepy thing. Shuddering delicately, Hinata turned her back on it, determined to ignore its inanimate but persistent presence. Its mere presence in the room suggested Gaara didn't have a problem with it, so if she was going to spend any significant amount of time in his room (which she hoped to), she would have to learn to ignore it, too.
The door to the sitting room closed, drawing Hinata's attention back in that direction. Sitting up a little straighter, she faced the open bedroom door, an expectant smile on her face as Gaara came back in.
Instead of coming to her, however, he bent at the waist to pick up the discarded articles of his clothing and pull them on again. His earlier scowl had been replaced with a concerned frown, and Hinata felt something in her stomach twist.
"Gaara?" she asked uncertainly.
His green eyes flashed up briefly in her direction as he buttoned up his tunic. "Someone's been in the tower," he said grimly. "Right under our noses, someone sneaked into my office and went through my papers."
Hinata felt the blood drain out of her face, leaving her feeling lightheaded. "How?" she whispered.
Shaking his head, Gaara ran his hand through his tousled hair and came over to kiss her temple. "I don't know," he said. "But the guards are extra alert now. One of them noticed my office door ajar on his rounds, and that's why he came to get me. I need to go through things and make sure nothing's missing." He gave her a quick smile and brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. "I've sent for Matsuri. She'll stay with you in your room until-"
A soft knock on the door between their rooms interrupted him. He nodded once, decisively, and turned away. "You and Matsuri just stay here. I'll be back soon."
After the door closed behind her husband, Hinata quickly put her own clothes to rights and then went to join Matsuri.
"Milady," the maid said with a quick curtsy. "Has Lord Gaara told you about the situation?"
Hinata nodded. "Someone sneaked into the tower, b-broke into Gaara's office, and went through his p-papers."
Matsuri nodded, looking relieved her mistress was already up-to-date on what was going on. "I very seriously doubt whoever did it is still in the building," she said, following Hinata into the latter's sitting room.
"Whoever it was must have b-been using the excitement and d-distraction of the festival to sneak in," Hinata mused aloud. Her mind immediately went to Sasori, and she shivered. Perhaps she was being overly suspicious, but some instinct was whispering in no uncertain terms the redhead was involved. Gaara had mentioned at the meeting right after the subtle attack on Kaen Sasori was being followed, but that didn't necessarily mean the man couldn't have sneaked away from those watching him. If he'd lost himself in the crowd, then headed straight to the tower...
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Matsuri immediately tensed, holding one finger against her lips as she pulled a kunai out of the pouch at her waist with her other hand. She quietly advanced across the room, then pressed her back against the wall next to the door, leaned her face in close, and called, "Who is it?"
"Neji and Tenten," a muffled male voice on the other side replied. "Lord Gaara sent us."
Even though she didn't relax her guard, Matsuri unlocked and opened the door. When she had confirmed the identities of the people on the other side, she swiftly put away her kunai and stepped back. "Milord. Milady." She bowed. "Please, come in."
Hinata felt a knot in her chest ease at the sight of her cousin and his wife. She accepted their hugs before motioning for them to sit down with her on the cushions placed comfortably in the corner of the room. Matsuri lowered herself into an alert position beside the door.
"What happened?" Tenten asked around a yawn. "Lord Gaara woke us and said we needed to come to your room, but he was obviously in a hurry and didn't bother to explain why." Her sharp eyes quickly scanned over Hinata from head to toe, and the subtle tenseness in her shoulders relaxed. "You look all right."
"I am," Hinata reassured them. "B-But Gaara just g-got news his office was b-broken into this evening, p-probably d-during the fireworks d-display. He's g-gone to make sure nothing was stolen."
Neji frowned, his icy eyes hardening as his jaw clenched. "An enemy was that close and the guards didn't notice?" he ground out. His hands curled into fists on his legs.
"If whoever it was had intended to hurt us, we would b-be in the hospital," Hinata replied reasonably. "B-Besides, there were more g-guards toward the top of the tower, where we were. No, I think they had a d-different g-goal in mind." She only hoped it had not been accomplished, whatever it had been.
A kunai suddenly appeared in Tenten's hand, without her having visibly moved to pull it out of its hiding place. Spinning the wickedly sharp weapon around her finger, the weapons expert grinned crookedly. "If he's still somewhere in the tower - which I doubt - he'll be caught." Her eyes gleamed as brightly as the blade as she added, "And, if he's stupid enough to come back, he'll soon regret it."
Hinata saw her cousin quickly smother a proud smile. Her own lips twitched in response, and she was relieved the only thing she felt at the sight was happiness for Neji and Tenten. Before Gaara, she'd felt pangs of jealousy when she saw her cousin and his wife sharing such subtle but no less intimate moments. She knew it was wrong to feel so jealous of her cousin's much-deserved happiness, but part of her wanted such a relationship for herself. Now she had Gaara, and at last she was able to lay her jealousy to rest for good.
Silence settled over the trio as they waited. As time continued to flow on, marked by each tick of the clock on the table in the opposite corner, Hinata felt her eyelids grow heavy. It had not been a particularly long day, but it had been somewhat trying.
After almost an hour, Tenten visibly began to droop. Without a word, Neji gently urged his wife to lie down on the cushions, using his leg as a pillow. She didn't argue, stretching out on her back and resting one hand on her still-flat stomach. In only moments, she was asleep.
"Has the trip b-been hard on her?" Hinata asked Neji, making sure to keep her voice soft so she didn't wake Tenten.
Her cousin looked up from where he'd been staring at his wife's face as he idly stroked her hair. "Not really," he replied. "She wanted to come, and Lady Tsunade said it would be fine if she did, though she did suggest we bring Sakura along, just in case something happened on the way here or back home." He paused briefly when Tenten let out a long sigh in her sleep, then continued when she didn't show any further signs of waking. "I admit I've been a little overprotective since we left, but she's been getting tired more easily, and I don't want her to wear herself out." The corner of his mouth kicked up in a rarely seen half-smile. "She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and I know it. But still - I can't help wanting to protect her."
"I'm sure she appreciates it," Hinata said honestly. On one of the many occasions the two women had had tea together, Tenten had admitted as much. She had been quick to add she found her husband's urge to protect her sweet and endearing, and she appreciated his caring about her so much. He still trusted in her ability to protect herself, but Tenten said she certainly didn't mind his obvious willingness to "watch her back."
Hinata recognized the look on her cousin's face and leaned forward a little until he looked up at her. "You're g-going to b-be a g-great father," she reassured him.
Neji's tense expression eased softly. "You're the fourth person who's told me that," he said, chuckling softly. "You'd think I'd believe it by now." His expression suddenly turned meloncholy, and he sighed. "I don't remember my father well," he admitted. "No offense to you, and not to speak ill of the dead, but Uncle Hiashi didn't exactly do a great job stepping in to fill the role."
"I would b-be one of the first to admit my father was not the b-best in the world," Hinata replied softly. "I am not offended."
"Good." Neji paused his stroking long enough to brush a stray lock of hair off Tenten's face before resuming his former soothing motion. "Even though Tenten and I want this baby so badly, and I know logically it couldn't have come at a better time, I'm still - concerned. The Elders are so against my being appointed the new head of the Hyuuga clan, and what if the stress causes Tenten to have complications in her pregnancy?" He closed his eyes, suddenly looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Hinata could almost believe he did. "Sometimes I wonder myself if I should be head of the clan. You were Uncle Hiashi's eldest child, so technically the leadership position should have gone to you."
"I d-don't want it," Hinata said firmly. At Neji's look of surprise at her vehemence, she hurried to explain. "I am happy here in Suna, overall more so than I was in Konoha. While some of my fondest memories are d-during my time g-growing up on the Hyuuga estate with you, and later Hanabi, there was still something missing in all that. Now I have Gaara, and I know what was missing at the time. I will always be a daughter of Konoha, b-but my p-place is here, as a wife in Suna." Never had she been more certain of that fact until just now.
Once again, a reluctant smile curled the corners of Neji's lips. "You know I've not been the biggest supporter of your marriage to Gaara," he said. "But I have to say, little sister, I've not seen you look so happy in a long time. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe this was the right thing for you."
"You c-can lay all your d-doubts to rest, b-big b-brother. I c-can assure you this is the right thing for me." She smiled back at him, enjoying this momentary return to the easy camaraderie they'd shared their entire life, even if she didn't necessarily like the circumstances which brought it around. "And I c-can also reassure you b-being head of the Hyuuga c-clan is the right thing for you. No matter what those old men on the C-Council say."
"I'm glad to know you feel that way. I have to admit a part of me's been wondering if I somehow stole leadership of the clan from you, despite Uncle's wishes." He nodded, seeming confident rather than tired. "Now I can go back and face them with the assurance I'm where I'm supposed to be. Thank you, Hinata."
"Thank you," Hinata replied. She opened her mouth to say more, but another knock on the door interrupted her.
Matsuri instantly got to her feet. At the same moment, Tenten awoke, snapping upright so quickly she nearly banged foreheads with her husband. A second kunai appeared in her other hand, and she shifted into a crouch, instantly alert and ready to attack if necessary. Neji moved so he stood alongside her, also looking tense as a coiled spring.
After repeating her earlier question of "Who's there?" and receiving the muffled response of, "Soichiro," Matsuri opened the door and relaxed her stance.
"Do you bring word from Lord Gaara?" the maid demanded.
The stocky, sandy-haired man in the doorway - whom Hinata vaguely recognized as one of the many servants she'd passed in the halls during her time in Suna - shook his head. "No," he replied. Lifting his right hand from his side, he held out a red scroll and bowed at the waist. "An urgent message from Konoha for Lord Hyuuga," he said to the floor.
Neji shared a quick, unreadable look with his wife before stepping forward and accepting the scroll. "Thank you," he said, already breaking the seal and unrolling the missive.
Soichiro deepened his bow, then straightened and silently left. Matsuri closed the door behind him, locked it firmly, then settled once more into her guard position next to it.
Hinata felt a stirring of unease in her stomach. The last urgent scroll to arrive from Konoha had carried news of her father's death. Even though the closest members of her family were all in Suna with her, she still feared the news this scroll brought. Had someone else close to her - perhaps one of her friends - died?
Logic immediately prevailed. If that were true, surely the message would have been sent to her, instead of Neji. Undoubtedly this was some sort of Hyuuga clan business, and probably not really urgent at all. It was likely one of the Council members wanting Neji's approval for some sort of outrageous-
Before her very eyes, Neji's already pale features went sheet white. His mouth opened soundlessly, and his knees buckled. He fell gracelessly onto the cushion behind him, white eyes wide with obvious shock.
"Neji?" Tenten moved to his side instantly, eyes intent on his face. "What's wrong? What's happened?" Her right hand, now empty of weapons, went to her stomach as if instinctively to protect her and Neji's unborn child.
He looked up at his wife, but his eyes were glazed, it was obvious he didn't really see her. Neji slowly turned his head to look at Hinata, gaze abruptly focusing as his expression shifted into one filled with a sick kind of horror. "Do you remember Hanzou?" he asked. His voice seemed oddly strangled.
It took a moment, but Hinata finally recalled to mind the image of a man in his mid- to late-thirties, with the distinctive long dark hair and white eyes of a Hyuuga. He was one of her many cousins, a member of a distant branch of the clan, and he had served Hiashi for almost fifteen years as his closest advisor. "Yes," she replied slowly. He had been one of the four men who had lowered Hiashi's coffin into its grave, she remembered. Though she had not taken particular note of him, specifically, at the time, her memory now recalled him as a serious, somber man who had looked even more grief-stricken than Hinata herself. "I remember him."
Neji's eyes drifted back to the scroll he now held loosely in his lap. "Hanzou committed hara-kiri two days ago," he whispered.
Hinata's breath stuck in her chest. What?
Reaching out as if to seek his wife's support, Neji looked up at Hinata, his face now a sickly shade of green. "That's not the worst of it," he reported grimly. "If the note he left is correct, Uncle Hiashi was not actually murdered."
The edges of Hinata's vision turned grey and fuzzy, and a strange ringing sound invaded her ears, nearly drowning out Neji's next words.
"According to Hanzou, Uncle Hiashi also committed hara-kiri - and Hanzou helped him do it."
*~To Be Continued~*
Author's Ending Notes: There's not really much I can say about this chapter, for anything I do would probably be a major spoiler - and it's been hard enough keeping my mouth shut thus far, I'm so excited! Thank you all once again for your support of me and this story, and I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. Hope to see you all again for the next update!