"Then he jammed the gears!" Snapped Kankuro, taking an angry sip of tea. He had whipped away his kabuki makeup, and removed his hat to reveal his brown locks. He, Gaara, and Temari were sitting at a teashop, discussing training and other matters of importance.

"Gaara, you've been quiet," Temari commented, completely ignoring Kankuro's complaining, "Are you ok?"

"Hm…." He replied, staring of into space. In his mind, Gaara knew the orders he had been given were for the best of the leaf village and the sand village, but in his heart, well…his heart was singing a different tune. Not that this was unnatural, no. Gaara had constant wars between his mind and his heart, but the mind usually won, and sometimes the results weren't that good.

Hiashi paced back and fourth, his fists clenched at his sides. Neji sat not to far away, watching his uncle with a slight look of concern in his eyes. The jounin glanced away from him and sighed, "Lord Hiashi, you should calm yourself." He said flatly.

The man just shook his head and muttered under his breath, "It's for the better of the village…" He looked up suddenly as the door was slid open slowly.

Hinata stepped into the main hall of the Hyugga clan home, surprised to see her father and cousin sitting there, waiting for her. Hinata felt blush run over her skin, surprised at why Neji was here as well. Had she done something wrong?

"Finally, you came," Said Hiashi, "Sit down, Hinata."

She obeyed, and sat down beside Neji, who didn't look at her. He kept his eyes down, a serious frown spreading across his lips.

Hiashi sat down on the oak wood floor, and faced the two ninja. He took a breath and begun his explanation, "Hinata, you are now eighteen years of age, meaning you are a full grown woman. Usually around this age, it is proper for a woman, to get married." He frowned at her look of shock.

"M-Married?" Gasped Hinata, her silver eyes wide. Maybe she would luck out; maybe her father would tell her that it was Naruto-kun she was going to merry! He was becoming a very strong ninja after all, and he was the son of the fourth Hokage, according to what Tsunada-sama had told them. She still remembered the look of honor and joy that had befallen Naruto's face.

"Yes…" Hiashi looked away from her, "The elders of the village disagreed with my choice, and chose someone else…" Hinata blinked, "They figure that since you are a member of the Hyugga clan, you should be married to only the best to pass on the traits of the Byakugan. The man you are to be wed to is very powerful…"

"Who?" Hinata asked, sitting up a bit.

"Uh," Hiashi shook his head slowly, "You will see in a couple of days, when he comes to the village. I'm sorry to say that it is an arranged marriage and…"

"When he comes?" Said Hinata loudly, "Y-you mean it's not anyone in the village?" He shook his head. Hinata stared at her father in shock, and then looked around at her cousin.

Neji didn't meet her eyes.

"Father, I-!"

"Hinata!" Snapped Hiashi, standing, "This marriage will help to benefit the entire village. It is for the best. You are from the noble Hyugga clan, and therefore…I cannot just merry you of to any old shinobi. My marriage with your mother was arranged, I didn't even know who she was till I was your age. It is something that happens normally."

Hinata felt fresh tears swell up in her eyes, but she nodded. "Yes…" She whispered, bowing. She stood, and turned toward the door of the building, the tars falling down her cheeks. She opened the door to see Kiba and Shino waiting for her. Both looked at her expectantly.

"How'd it go Hinata? What's up?" Asked Kiba, smiling at her.

Hinata stared at him for a moment. She simply shook her head and brushed past her teammates, head down. She would never be with Naruto-kun; instead she had to get married to some stranger. She walked, jogged, and then finally broke into a run as she traveled through the village. Tears leaked from her eyes, flying behind her and mixing with her long ribbon of violet hair. Her heat beat quickened in her chest as she ran. Was it from running, or from the pain she was feeling, at being told she was going to get married? Her lips tightened, to keep her self from crying out in agony. She couldn't…but she wanted to more then anything else. She wanted to scream, and run away from the village. She wanted her feelings about Naruto to be known, but her father most likely wouldn't listen to a word she had to say on this matter.

She finally came to a small stream in the woods, the sun sparkling of it. She stood over the glistening water, her tears causing small ripples as they fell and mingled with the water from some far of lake. Water lilies drifted by gently, their blossoms open, reaching for the sun that they would never reach. Hinata was reaching for Naruto, who she would never reach. Her heart was torn in two, and it was painful. Her feelings for Naruto, the feelings she had had ever since she was a young girl in the academy, and her loyalty to the hidden leaf village. Which was of more importance, love or loyalty?

Hinata dropped to her knees beside the stream, and clapped her hands to her eyes. She sobbed into her hands, her shoulders shaking furiously. Why did this always happen to her? Sure it was a ninja law never to show your tears, so why was she the only one who cried? Sakura cried sometimes, but not as much since she grew older, but Hinata, Hinata still cried, everyday almost. She couldn't talk to anyone, not even her teammates, and now this.

"W-why do I have to be the o-one to…to…feel this broken?" Hinata whispered to herself.

Gaara secured the strap that was tied to his gourd, and yanked it over his shoulder. He snapped the buckles on so the straps would hold. He did one last check to make sure it wouldn't slip of. Ok, he was all ready. He was wearing a long red overcoat, zipped to his middle waist, where it opened up to drape around his legs. His long baggy pants were tied with bands at thigh and knee, to keep them secure. His red hair was still a messy red mop, since he had refused to brush it like Temari wanted him to.

He grabbed the water can and tied it safely to his belt next to his kunai knife pack. Gaara let out a weary sigh, not sure if he still wanted to go through with this. "Oh well…" he muttered to himself, giving a casual shrug. He turned, and left his office quickly, the door clicking shut behind him. Temari and Kankuro were waiting for the young Kazekage at the gate to the village, both looking a little worried as their younger brother approached.

"Stop looking all freaked out," Gaara muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. He stared at the two of them, his eyes blank and his face giving away no emotions, "Let's go already."

Kankuro gave a small gesture between a nod and a shrug. He smiled sheepishly at Gaara, and looked at Temari expectantly.

The Kunoichi rolled her eyes, "if we keep our speed at top rift, we might be able to make it to the leaf village in two days instead of three. That would benefit to us, since I can feel a sandstorm coming."

"Then we need to go as soon as possible," growled Gaara, a tint of annoyance in his deep voice, "C'mon." He walked around the two older ninja, and stepped into the desert without hesitation. As soon as he took step into the wild sand, it flared up. It whirled around his excitedly, like a loyal dog returning to its master. Gaara gave a small movement of his hand, and the sand's whirr slowed to a gentle flow around his feet.

Temari pulled the strap on her fan to make sure it was tight enough, before following Gaara into the desert. A slight gust of wind howled at her as she entered. Being a master of the wind, this was expected. "The wind is my companion," She said shrugging, smiling at her brothers.

Kankuro chuckled and put his puppet scrolls into the tie around his back. He stepped out next to Gaara, and the sand rushed around him in a friendly motion. He was its master's brother after all.

"To the leaf village then," Said Gaara is a slightly bored voice, turning his head towards the edge of the forest, which sat at the very end of the desert.

Hinata stared blankly at the stream, which flew past her, a silver blue snake in the emerald green grass. She had sat in this one spot by the water for three whole hours, saying nothing, and no longer crying. Her cheeks were pink, and she felt as if her whole world had collapsed.

"Hinata?" She glanced over her shoulder to see Neji standing behind her.

"What?"

He walked over and sat down quietly beside her. His brown hair fell elegantly into his face as he turned his head to look straight at her, "Are you all right?" he asked, a small trace of concern in his voice.

This surprised Hinata slightly. Sure she and Neji had become closer since when they had been younger, but he never asked her personal things like this. It normally wasn't in his nature. Despite her surprise, Hinata gave a small nod.

"Don't lie to me," Neji said in a stern voice, "I can tell you've been crying a lot the past few hours."

Hinata sniffed and brushed her hair out of her eyes, "Y-yeah…" She muttered. She drew her legs to her chest and hugged them, burying her chin in her knees. She glanced at Neji, who was watching her every move.

"Is this about what Lord Hiashi told you?" he asked quietly.

She gave a stiff nod.

"Well…it's-," he began, but Hinata interrupted him.

"To benefit the village," She whispered, "I know."

He glanced at her, and Hinata flinched. There wasn't any anger behind her cousin's eyes, but she still knew she shouldn't have said something disrespectful like that to him of all people.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," He said in an undertone.

"I said something disrespectful…" She said, lifting her head slowly to look at him, "I-I shouldn't of…"

Neji raised a hand to silence her. He turned his body so that he was facing her completely. A look of seriousness had crossed his features, "Hinata, I want to tell you something very important, so you have to listen to me carefully. Got it?"

This confused her, but she nodded anyway.

Neji leaned in closer, motioning for her to do the same, "Arranged marriages can sometimes go well, but they almost never are for the best," He whispered to her, "I want you to promise me Hinata, that you will listen to your heart and not what Lord Hiashi or the village elders tell you to do. Believe in what you want to believe." He stared at her intently. He raised his hand a bit hesitantly, and brushed her hair from her face, "You're a splendid shinobi, Hinata. Remember that."

Hinata stared at him, shocked by his kindness, "Neji…"

"I have to go," He said suddenly, standing up. He turned his back on her, and then paused. He glanced over his shoulder, "Please remember what I have told you, Hinata-sama." He turned again, and walked of through the forest, back towards the village.

"I will…" Hinata whispered, smiling slightly, "Thank you Neji."

Gawd, I just loved making Neji be nice to Hinata. Yay for family moments! -claps- anyway, I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I bet no one can guess who Hinata's fiance is! -sarcasim- And you know, I suppot GaaSaku! HUH! Guess I just wanted a taste of something knew. Anywho...chapter three will be up soon enough, and thankies for your support!