So yay chapter 13! I was lolling so hard when I saw how pissed people were with Neji and Naruto.
Neji: we're not the bad guys here!
Naruto: yeah!
Gaara: tch, yeah right…
Neji and Naruto: WHAT WAS THAT!?!?!
"I'm sorry Naruto, but I can't help you," Growled Sakura, turning her back on him.
"But Sakura-chan!" Said Naruto, "Hinata can't marry Gaara, and you'd have a big say in it being Granny's student and-,"
"Don't use me as your trump card!" Sakura snapped, whacking him upside the head with a stack of papers, "I'm not going to help you and Neji ruin this wedding!" She huffed and passed some papers to a surprised looking Sai.
Naruto slumped down in the hospital chair he was sitting in and moaned, "But Sakura-chan…"
"Give it up Naruto," Said Sai, helping Sakura file through some papers at the hospital's main desk, "She's not going with it."
"How about you then, Sai?"
"Ah…" Sai glanced at the angry Sakura, and shook his head.
"I thought you guys were my friends," Grumbled Naruto, slumping down even further, until his knees were level with his chin. He glared up at his two teammates, blue eyes narrowed.
Sakura sighed, setting down a filing folder, "Naruto, Sai and I ARE your friends, but we're Gaara-kun's friends as well. This is for the well being of the village, and-,"
"Who care about the well being of the village!?" Snapped Naruto, standing angrily.
"You of all people should!" said Sakura, staring at him, "You're the one who wants more then anything else to become the greatest Hokage in history! What good Hokage doesn't care about his village?"
He growled, "But still, who cares if we're allies with the sand or not?" he shrugged.
Sakura dropped the books she had picked up, and Sai looked at Naruto in shock.
"How can you say that Naruto?" Asked Sakura, her green eyes wide, "You of all people, when Gaara-kun has been your friend since you were twelve! Also might I add, the sand is a very powerful village! Hell, they might even be more powerful then the leaf! We do NOT want to make enemies with them!"
"Bullshit!" Snapped Naruto. He turned and walked angrily toward the door. He pulled it open, only to see Temari's enraged face. He scowled at her for a moment, before walking around her.
"Temari-san…" Said Sakura, looking at the eldest sand sibling.
"What the hell is his deal?" Whispered the kunoichi, her green eyes narrowed. She knew he was angry about this, hell, he had punched Gaara over it, but…but not wanting to be allies with them anymore? And note caring about the village? Just what was happening around here? She shook her head, and looked up at Naruto's two closest companions. Both had a look of concern on their faces, for their closest friend. Temari frowned, looking over her shoulder as she herd Naruto slam the front door of the hospital shut.
"Is that it?" Asked Hinata, speeding up, and then breaking into a run to get to the top of the hill. She gasped aloud at the sight that welcomed her at the top.
Rolling green hills could be seen for miles and miles. Waterfalls danced along the mountains, falling into fresh spring lakes. The rushing water glittered like an amazing diamond in the reflected sun. A two story cabin sat on a nearby hill, surrounded by beautiful plants and a small coy pond. It was a truly beautiful sight.
"It's amazing…" breathed Hinata, staring at the landscape before her, with wide eyes.
Gaara finally reached the top of the hill, grimacing at how many times he had slipped. How embarrassing…He looked around, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Well, we better get situated in the house huh?" Suggested Hinata, securing her bag over her shoulders. She glanced at him, noticing the look on his pale features, "I-is something wrong?"
He paused, then turned his back on her in a flash, and threw a kunai into the trees.
Hinata yelped and dropped her bag. She reached into her own kunai holster, preparing for a battle. Her eyes flicked from Gaara to the tree, waiting…and watching…
Gaara waited, until a bird flew up from the tree screeching its head of. It landed in another tree and squawked defiantly at Gaara.
"Just a bird?" he muttered, eyes narrowed.
"Gaara!" Gasped Hinata, putting her hand on her chest, "Don't scare me like that, please!" she frowned, "C-can we just get in the cabin?"
Gaara sighed and looked around at her, and nodded. He picked up his bag and began to follow her towards the house. He took one more look over his shoulder, before finally telling himself that it was just a bird.
Shikamaru slowly removed his hand from Lee's mouth, his heart pounding in his ears. Lee had sneezed, and Gaara had almost caught them! Thank god that bird got spooked by Gaara's kunai and took the cover for them, other wise they'd be dead.
"I'm so sorry Shikamaru-kun!" Whispered Lee, his black eyes huge with fright, "The tree branch tickled my nose!"
Shikamaru nodded, but motioned for Lee to shut up. He didn't want to take any chances of Gaara figuring them out. He watched at the two entered the house, and let out a breath of relief. "That was to close…" He muttered, frowning.
Lee sighed and sat down on the tree branch, his eyes closed. "To close…" he grumbled.
"Wow!" said Hinata, walking in a little circle, examining the whole bottom floor of the house. Her silver eyes ran up the stairs, through other doors, across the photos on the walls, and even the carpets.
Gaara watched her, his arms crossed across his chest. Ok, he had to admit. There wasn't anything very suspicious about this house. It was clean well organized…nothing out of the ordinary.
Hinata was already half way up the staircase to investigate the upper level of the house. Gaara sighed, muttered a few things under his breath, and followed her.
Hinata looked around curiously. Three bedrooms…they would only be needing two. Two bathrooms, good. At the end of the hall, was a balcony that stood over the rolling hills. She opened the door and walked out onto it, her hair billowing in the soft breeze.
"This place is nice…" She said quietly, as Gaara leaned on the door, arms crossed, "I envy the people who live here."
"……."
Hinata looked around at Gaara, "I-is something wrong?" She asked, her bangs blowing across her eyes.
Gaara stared at her, his eyes blank. He blinked, "Huh?"
"You spaced out," She told him, smiling a little.
"Oh…" He closed his eyes and shrugged, "no, nothing's wrong." He looked up at the blue sky, his green eyes half closed.
"Oh, t-that's good," Said Hinata quietly, pushing her bangs behind her ears so they would keep out her eyes. "This should be a…a nice mission, s-so you shouldn't be feeling worried or anything."
"I'm not."
"Oh well…that's good also."
He moved over beside her, and leaned on the railing that surrounded the balcony. His eyes stared of into the distance, as if lost in thought. The highlight of the bruise he had had was still barely visible. "I just have to wonder…" He muttered, "Why we specifically were chosen for his mission. Why not Naruto or someone?"
"W-well…Naruto-kun's been upset about something lately," said Hinata shrugging.
Tch, you're telling me...He nodded.
"I just wish I knew why…" She added in a whisper frowning, "he-he's my friend after all…"
Gaara glanced at her. I wish I could tell you…
Hinata sighed, and closed her eyes, "he means so much to me…" She whispered, and all at once, Gaara could tell that she had not intended this for his ears.
"Maybe you should talk to Tsunada, and find a way to marry him then," he muttered.
Hinata whipped around to face him, her eyes wide, "N-no Gaara, I didn't mean-!"
"Whatever, I'm tired…" He turned and began to walk towards the first bedroom.
"Gaara…Gaara wait!"
The Kazekage stopped in his tracks and looked around. Hinata had grabbed his arm, and was staring up at him pleadingly. There were tears in the corners of her eyes, and she seemed to be biting her lip to keep herself from crying.
"I…I didn't mean it like that!" She whispered, trying to keep herself from crying. She didn't even mean to say that out loud, not to Gaara…he was the last person in the world she wanted to hurt.
Gaara stared at her, his eyes blank. He began to look away from her.
"Please…" said Hinata, "I really didn't mean it, I'm sorry!"
Gaara tugged his arm out of her grasp and walked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Hinata stood there for a moment, then long held back tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She turned and walked slowly into the other bedroom. She sat down on the bed, and began to cry into her hands.
"N-Neji…" She whispered, "I…I wish y-you w-were here to h-help me! Y-you're good at t-talking to Gaara!"
Gaara leaned against the door, his eyes hut tight. He slid down the door until he was in a sitting position on the floor, back still against the door. He lifted his hand and touched his arm, where Hinata had grabbed him just seconds before.
He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a sigh. He should go apologize to Hinata…but…
"Think about ways you're going to make out with Hinata…" Naruto stated under his breath. Gaara's fierce gaze snapped onto him.
"Wha…what did you say!?" He asked, fists clenched.
"You herd me!" Growled Naruto, "Need I repeat myself?"
"Yes…" Said Gaara in a menacing voice, "Go ahead and repeat yourself."
"I said, you're thinking of ways to make out with Hinata!"
Gaara's eyes narrowed, "What's your problem? That's not what I was thinking about!" He was furious that Naruto would make such a crude accusation, toward him!
"Hinata's my friend Gaara! My friend damn it!" Naruto practically screamed, "She's my friend, and you're marrying her! That's just plain sick!"
"You never even noticed that Hinata loved you," Said Gaara coldly, "So why should you care if I marry her or not?"
Gaara closed his eyes, clutching his head. "Damn…" he growled through gritted teeth, "damn…damn…damn!" He drew his legs up to his chest, resting his hands in his lap. He rested his head on his knees, trying to shut out the memories. "Naruto…" he whispered.
"WACHOO!" Naruto rubbed his nose, eyes narrowed.
Neji barely spared him a glance, and looked through the many papers the blonde had supplied him with.
Tenten sat in a chair not to far away, a troubled frown spreading across her lips. Her brown eyes flicked from Naruto to Neji worriedly. She bit her bottom lip. "Neji…Naruto…maybe this isn't such a good idea."
"Now that I've herd Naruto's side of the story, I can't let Hinata go through with this," Muttered Neji, looking up at his teammate.
"But, maybe Hinata wants this!" said Tenten.
"I know she doesn't," said Neji quietly, "Otherwise she wouldn't of been so upset when I first told her."
Tenten narrowed her eyes and clicked her boots together angrily, "People's feelings can change Neji. Look at you and your feelings toward Hinata, you used to hate her!"
He ignored her.
Tenten sighed. She stood up, knocking the chair over as she did so. Neji and Naruto both looked up at her.
"I can't help you guys with this," She muttered, turning to door, "This is going to far." She opened the door, and looked over her shoulder at them, "I won't tell Tsunada-sama about this because you guys are my friends but…but I don't approve." She walked out of Neji's room, shutting the door behind her gently.
"Let her go," Said Neji, as Naruto began to go after her, "Tenten was never the type of girl to defy Tsunada-sama, or Gaara for that matter. You know how she swoons over the tough guys."
Naruto nodded, and sat back down beside Neji, looking through the papers as well.
Tenten had stood outside the door for a moment, and had herd Neji's hurtful words. She closed her eyes as tears swelled up inside of them. Bastards! She thought, running away from the Hyugga home.
She couldn't believe that Neji would say something about her like that! She was his teammate, his friend!
Damn, Neji is hurting so many people isn't he? And damn Gaara's many mood swings! I'm going with Kasumi-san's idea! Go get 'em Choji-kun!
Choji: Baikuna no jutsu!!!
Neji: GAAAAAAH!
Heehe:p