This is chapter 12 so…-counts of fingers- I have no idea how many chapters this thing is going to have….-growls- oh well, I'm's havin lotso fun with this one!!!
Gaara: Will this never end?
NEVA!

Gaara scooped up the water in his hands and splashed the cold liquid against his face. He picked up a towel and rubbed his red hair dry, before looking around. They were in the deep forest of the fire country, and had stopped for a rest. He sighed, and placed the towel back in his bag. This mission seemed completely pointless in his eyes. Even if there were no gennin available, chunnin still could have been sent, but sending a successful jounin and the Kazekage? That was just plain stupid. What the hell could Tsunada be thinking?

Just think of it as a pree-honeymoon!

"Tch," He ran a hand through his hair, to the back of his neck. "Ridiculous…" He muttered, standing up. He turned back to the trees, "Hinata, are you ready to move on again?"

"Uh…y-yeah!" She said, pushing her way out of the brambles. Her long hair was tied up in a ponytail to keep it out of her face, and she had taken the time to wash her own face as well.

"Then let's go," Said Gaara, securing the bag over his shoulder.

"Right."

They walked along in silence, neither catching the other's eye. The only sound was of their feet moving across the crisp forest trail scattered with leaves, dirt, and twigs. The birds twittered gleefully in the afternoon spring air, flying around, dancing with the leaves that squirrels knocked from the many tall standing trees.

I wonder how much longer till we get to this place? Thought Gaara, sighing in boredom. His feet actually hurt for once. He wasn't use to walking these rocky paths. He much preferred the gentle shifting sand, or soft grass in the leaf village. He could use his sand…but no…then he'd leave behind Hinata, and Temari would kill him.

This is unending! Why did I ever accept to do this mission? He shook his head, frowning.

Hinata glanced up at the sky. The sun would be setting soon, and this was unfamiliar territory to both of them. She had never been to this part of the land of fire, and Gaara was from the land of wind after all.

She felt the urge to tell him that they needed to stop for the night, and that they could get to the mission station tomorrow morning, but…but would he scorn her efforts? Or would he actually agree with her? Either way, she felt scared to just come out openly and ask him.

Gaara stopped suddenly, and Hinata, who was of in her own world thinking, bumped right into him. He turned and looked at her.

"Oh my!" She gasped, backing away, "I-I'm sorry!"

"Hn…" he looked back around.

"What is it? D-do you sense something?"

"No," he glanced at her, "it's getting late. We should stop for the night, and then resume traveling in the morning."

It's like he read my mind! "Uh, yeah! G-good plan…" said Hinata, nodding in agreement. At least now she didn't have to say anything about it to him.

Gaara turned to face her, "You can use your Byakugan to find a good campsite," He ordered, more then suggested.

"Uh, yeah." Hinata turned. She placed her hands together in a seal, and closed her eyes, "Byakugan!" She said, her eyes flashing open. The veins around her eyes, pulsed, and the three hundred and sixty vision scanned the forest around them. "Uh, there's a nice little clearing right ahead," She told Gaara, scanning the area with her eyes.

"Alright," he replied, as if he had nothing better to do. He followed Hinata to the appointed clearing, and looked around. "It'll suffice for the night," he said simply, setting down his bag.

Hinata nodded, deactivating her Byakugan.

After a moment of rustling through his bag, Gaara looked up at Hinata, "Those eyes of yours are impressive," he said.

Hinata blinked, and looked at him, "M-my…"

"Your Byakugan."

"O-oh…right," She said, smiling.

"The last time I encountered eyes as sharp as that was when…" He looked up, as if being pulled into the past. His eyes became foggy for a moment, and a look of displeasure crossed over his face. As soon as it had appeared, it was gone, "Since I fought Uchiha Sasuke," he said quickly, his blank expression back, "With that Sharingan of his…"

"Ah," said Hinata, nodding. That was the first time any of them had met Gaara, in the chunnin exams all those years ago. He hadn't been the most pleasant person to be around back then.

"But…that was a long time ago," He muttered, pulling his sleeping bag out of his pack. He spread it out under one of the trees, still muttering under his breath. Memories of his battle with Uchiha were always fresh in his mind, and how many lives had been lost in that raid. Thank god that the sand village had surrendered, and they were now allies.

He looked up at the sky, "The sun should set within the hour," he observed, "We'll sleep till dawn breaks, then move on our way."

"Okay."

Gaara moved his hand up to whip the sweat from his forehead, but stopped as his hand grazed what remained of the bruise on his cheek. The one Naruto had given him personally. He touched it gently, eyes narrowed.

"I-is something wrong?" Asked Hinata, looking at him with concern. The bruise was healed up pretty well, but you could still see the outline a little bit.

"No," He said bluntly, removing his hand. He had forgotten why he had even lifted his hand in the first place.

Two silent figures moved through the trees, keeping a steady pace with each other. They kept a fare enough space between them, Gaara, and Hinata. They didn't want to be found out, not yet. Well, it was their orders not to be found out, according to what Kakashi told them.

"Do you really think Gaara-kun would loose control?" Whispered the taller figure, looking over at his partner.

The second yawned, "I dunno, but this is so boring…"

"Don't take such a negative approach my friend!" Said the first, grinning brightly.

"Tch, you optimist…"

"B-but Shikamaru-kun!" Cried the first figure, "You never take enjoyment to any mission, that's why it took you so long to become a jounin, like Temari-chan said!"

"Oh shut up Lee…" Muttered Shikamaru, rubbing the back of his head, "I couldn't care less what that troublesome woman thinks of me."

"I thought you would, considering you're dating her?"

"That's different," he muttered, blushing slightly, "Temari's like a different girl when we're on a date."

Lee chuckled.

Shikamaru glared at him. "There's nothing to laugh about, now shut up. I'm sure Gaara could recognize your troublesome voice from a mile away, you always spend so much time pestering him."

"But-!"

"SH!" Hissed Shikamaru, clapping his hand over Lee's mouth, "Kakashi said we weren't supposed to let Gaara or Hinata know that we're tailing them! Hinata would feel embarrassed, and Gaara would kill us on the spot! You should know that by now!"

Lee nodded solemnly.

"So, are you going to be quiet?" Asked Shikamaru, raising his eyebrows.

Lee grinned under Shikamaru's hand and nodded fiercely.

"Good…" He said, removing his hand slowly.

"But I'm so excited we were trusted with an important mission!" Screamed Lee, thrusting his fists in the air.

"Damn you Lee!!!!!!"

Birds flew up from the trees at the large racket, making Gaara look up curiously. "Did you hear shouting?" he asked Hinata, looking across the fire at her, his eyes narrowed.

"Uh, shouting?" Hinata shook her head, "n-no…"

"Hmmm…." Gaara looked into fire they had made, frowning. He could of sworn he had just herd the familiar voice of Rock Lee screaming something about a mission. Must just be his imagination.

He closed his eyes, and placed his hands calmly in his lap, meditating. He enjoyed meditating out in the wilderness when it was dark. It was so calm and quiet…no one to bother you or tackle you when you're not looking.Kankuro.

"Uh…" He opened one eye to see Hinata looking at him curiously. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Mediating," He answered simply.

"O-oh yes! Neji does that sometimes to! I…I never understood why…" She frowned.

Gaara looked at her, one eyes open. After a moment, he sighed, "Meditation is a way to calm the mind and spirit when one is stressed; it's a nice way to focus your chi and chakra all at one time, and to make peace within your own mind." He explained.

"Oh…" Hinata looked at the ground for a moment, before looking back up at him, "M-mind if I meditate with you?"

He opened both eyes and stared at her, "Seriously?"

Hinata nodded.

Gaara frowned, looking at his lap with slight confusion. After a moment, he gave a small movement somewhere between and nod and s shrug, "If you want to."

"Thanks!" She crossed her legs like he did, and placed her hands in her lap. She closed her eyes, "Ok…now what?

Gaara closed his eyes as well, "Focus all of your chi and chakra into the center of your body, and then just relax." He did so, and his stiff shoulders loosened.

Her herd Hinata and sigh with pleasure.

He opened one eye, to see that she had a calm look on her face, a gentle smile playing across her rosy lips.

The corners of his mouth twitched.

Hinata opened and eye and looked at him, "What? A-am I doing something wrong?" She asked worriedly.

Gaara blinked, "No…no…you're doing it just fine."

She smiled, and closed her eyes again, breathing in and out at a steady pace.

Gaara watched her for a moment, his bright green eyes scanning her gentle face. He closed his eyes, wondering how a single person, a shy girl like Hinata, could look so cool and calm while in the same area as him, in the dead of the night…

He liked it…

Lee rubbed the side of his face, frowning, "That really hurt, Shikamaru-kun…" He whined referring to the punch Shikamaru had given him.

"You deserved it," He growled, cracking his knuckles.

"You've been hanging out with Temari-chan TO much…"

They sat in a tree above Gaara and Hinata's camp, and watched as the two settled down to sleep. They slept in their own sleeping bags, keeping a well distance away from each other, for comfort reasons. Gaara muttered a few words, and Hinata nodded, before both lied down and fell asleep.

"If Gaara had herd you earlier, well, let's just say it would be troublesome," Muttered Shikamaru, scratching the back of his head wearily. "Man I wish I could take a nap."

"Go ahead Shikamaru-kun!" Said Lee, turning to face him, "I'll keep watch!"

"Ha! Nice try Lee! I don't trust to leave you awake when we're right above Gaara's camp," Shikamaru grumbled, glaring at the jounin.

Lee blushed.

"Tsunada-sama is counting on us to make sure this mission goes as planned," Said Shikamaru warningly, "Gaara and Hinata are set to get married in one week, six days from today to be exact. They plan on being out here for three, meaning we have three days to make them fall in love, then get them back to the village and ready for the wedding. If we don't the relationship between Suna and Konoha could turn to dust."

Lee nodded.

"But I don't see why Tsunada-sama would send you Lee, no offence,"

"None taken."

"Especially when you're close friends with Gaara, and even know want to leap down there and say hello to him!" The shirker finished of with an angry flick of his hand.

"I'm sorry," Said Lee, frowning, "But I haven't seen Gaara-kun in SO long!"

Shikamaru sighed and patted his friend on the head, "I know yah mean well Lee."

Lee smiled at him, his bright teeth glimmering in the moonlight.

Shikamaru winced, but smirked all the same.

Neji looked up in surprise as a knock came at his bedroom door. He stood, pulling on a night robe as he did so. He opened the door, and was shocked to find Naruto's bright blue eyes staring at him.

"N-Naruto?" He said, blinking to make sure he wasn't dreaming, "What are you doing over here this late at night?"

"He wanted to talk to you!" said Tenten, her head popping up over Naruto's shoulder, "So I led him here!"

Neji rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Fine, but make it quick." He moved aside to let Naruto in, then turned to shut the door. A hand slammed on the door in front of his face.

"Ahem?" Coughed Tenten, putting her free hand on her hips.

Neji glared at her, but moved aside to let her in.

She smiled sweetly at him, and walked in. She sat down on Neji's bed beside Naruto, her brown eyes wide with interest.

"Okay Naruto," Said Neji, pulling out a chair and sitting on it, "What's up?"

Naruto took a deep breath, and began, "You know that big old bruise that Gaara had on his face before he left for that mission?" Neji and Tenten nodded. Naruto looked away, frowning, "I did that. I punched him really hard…and…and tried to use Rasengan on him." He closed his eyes.

"S-say what!?" Gasped Tenten, staring at him with disbelief.

"You didn't!" said Neji, his eyes wide.

"I did…"

"N-Naruto, that's…that's just…" Neji shook his head, completely shocked, "That's my cousin's fiancé Naruto!"

"You think I don't know that?" Snapped Naruto, "he said himself he didn't even care about her! Hinata deserves someone who loves her!"

"He said that?" Asked Tenten.

Naruto nodded.

Neji rubbed his head, eyes narrowed. Gaara didn't even care about Hinata? But they were always hanging out, and at the dinner Gaara was supposedly nice to her…why would he not care about her at all?

"We have to stop this wedding when they get back," Said Naruto, looking at Neji and Tenten, "Gaara doesn't love Hinata, so if she marries him, her entire life will be miserable! She'll be forced to have kids with him, for the sake of the village!"

Tenten's face went red, and Neji's eyes hardened.

"Neji," said Naruto, "I know you don't want Hinata's life to be miserable, so that's why you need to help me stop this wedding! It's obvious that Gaara's only marrying her because he was told to!"

Neji frowned, staring at his feet. I'm usually not that dense to believe something that Naruto says, but...There is logic to his words...

"So?" Said Naruto, looking at them, "Are you guys going to help me?"

Tenten looked around, "Neji?"

Neji closed his eyes, and after what felt like an eternity, opened them and looked up at Naruto and Tenten. "I'll help you stop the wedding, Naruto."

Bumbumbuuuuuum! BAKA NEJI!!! –Throws flowerpot at Neji-

Neji: ooooow!

So, you found out who the ninja trailing Gaara and Hinata were, and bad Naruto! He's making people think that Gaara no love Hinata! BAD! –Sigh- what now?