Hi everyone.
Sorry for the bit of the wait but I'm ready to move on.
Still don't know if I should change the rating, should I?
Anyways please, please review! I like positive feedback.
Now onwards my dears!
(I apologize for any spelling mistakes!)
"I want to talk to Lord Fifth".
Temari raised an eyebrow "And what if I say no?" Matsuri scowled "Just let me do this! I'm already a prisoner for God's sake!". The blonde laughed "Yeah right, I know too well what you'd do you'll try to hurt my brother all over again. I know your plan bitch! Ain't no way in hell I'm letting that happen".
Matsuri gritted her teeth in anger, she really had liked Temari. Once she even thought they could be considered sisters but boy, was she ever wrong. At the moment the wind mistress was really pushing her to her limits.
It was an unexpected surprise that Temari had showed up to Matsuri's cell. She had merely came to gloat and no more. Humorous to say the least, from Temari's perspective of course.
"If you're so damn smart, then tell me what does Gaara-sama see in that little girl instead of me?!"
The blonde laughed again "Well, where shall I start. For starters Hinata-chan is not an idiot with a mental issue!". Temari had long since considered Matsuri crazy, but now her theory had been proven. The tests she had seen ahead of time showed that over the months of being locked in solitary confinement Matsuri really had lost her mind. With her condition there was no way she could be stable around anyone especially Gaara.
"I was always there beside him, why can't he see me that way!". Matsuri's dark eyes darted back and forth "He never loved me, but I loved him. Oh how I imagined the things he could to me. We'd be able to do anything together. My sweet, sweet Gaara how I miss you so". She smiled to herself completely forgetting that Temari was still there.
"So soft, your hands are so soft". She stroked her own cheek with her hand. "I love how smooth it is, did you use lotion or is it natural?"
Temari watched in total disgust. Matsuri truly had gone insane. Her younger brother had been right to keep her in solitary confinement; the woman was a freak!
"Gaara-kun we can still be together".
Matsuri laughed to herself as she started to rock back and forth "We can be so happy. All I have to do is kill that little wrench and we'll live happily ever after. Wouldn't that be nice? You and me alone, with no one around to disturb us. I'd like that very much".
The blonde kunochi was a bit taken back when Matsuri started talking about killing Hinata and that was something her brother needed to be informed of right away. But not without putting a stop to the girl's creepy babbling. She promptly walked over and smacked her hard across the face. The impact brought Matsuri back to reality and she clutched her sore cheek with anger brimming in her eyes.
"Damn you!"
Temari simply smiled "The feeling mutual bitch!".
"Neji your aim is off".
The branch Hyuga looked to his bun-headed girlfriend. "Hmm?" Tenten huffed "I said your aim is off!" "Oh...sorry". It had been a month and no progress had been made. Hiashi was still as cruel as ever, Neji knew that time was ticking and the last thing he wanted was for Hanabi to attempt to kill the clan leader. The results wouldn't be pretty. But he had tried everything, Hiashi was simply too stubborn of a man to listen to him.
Hanabi was still being beaten and he had almost given up in trying to help her.
What else was there that he could do? Hanabi's sanity as well as his own were at stake.
"Neji?!" He was pulled out of his thoughts by Tenten. Three years of dating, and he still occasionally got so preoccupied that he almost forgot she was there.
"What's the matter with you? This isn't like you at all".
"I'm sorry but I think we'll stop for today". This caused her to give him a strange look, Neji was never one to stop right in the middle of training.
"I'm going home now". "But what about our date?"
He sighed "Look Tenten, things are a lot more complicated than they should be at the moment and right now I have other important matters to deal with. I promise to make it up to you later just not right now". He left without saying another word, leaving her shocked Neji didn't like doing this to her but it was best that Tenten not know about the situation he was in.
Normally he wouldn't keep secrets from her, but this was strictly Hyuga business. And besides she wouldn't be able to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
Upon entering the Hyuga compound he found Hanabi at the gates. She looked miserable "Hanabi I-" "Don't say anything Neji-niisan I wanted to talk". He tried very hard not to stare at the bandages around her head. "I know you're looking at them, go ahead I don't care". Her voice sounded a tad bitter.
"I'm...I'm sorry".
Her white eyes looked into his "What for? You've done nothing wrong". "No but..." He didn't exactly know what he wanted to say. "I'll help you change the bandages". Hanabi merely nodded "Fine". He followed her to her bedroom, she sat down in the center of her bed while her cousin pulled out fresh bandages from her desk.
"Um...this will only take a moment". She shrugged "Whatever".
This was not the first time Neji had dealt with his younger cousin's injuries. It had become a regular thing now. He'd patch her up and for the most part Hanabi would stay quiet and allow him to do what he needed to do. As he unwrapped the bandages around her head his face remained calm but on the inside he was screaming with fury at the large deep gash marks that littered the side of her head, shoulders and neck. What had she done to deserve this?!
"He used a kunai". She replied softly flinching at the memory that had happened yesterday. "He waited for you to step out before he drugged me and then he began the torture I screamed but he didn't seem to hear me. I waited for him to stop but then he poured lemon juice on the wounds and I cried".
That tyrant! Abusing his own daughter like this. "I'm so sorry Hanabi had I been there-" "Don't worry about me Niisan I have other more necessary things to worry about". He knew that she was talking about the downfall of Hiashi and he didn't say anything.
"How does that feel?"
"Alright I guess, it still doesn't help with the pain. It's already been done Niisan and nothing can change that".
"I could get Sakura to-" "Absolutely not!"
Neji was surprised when Hanabi gave him the death glare "Don't you dare get that pink-haired woman near me! I won't allow it".
He glared right back at her "Hanabi you need medical attention your luckily to still be alive! How do you think I feel watching you tormented this way?! I'm trying my best to help you but you refuse in any way. What do you want from me?!"
She sighed "Forgive me Neji. But I can't allow myself to become weak".
He raised an eyebrow "What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
Hanabi kept her voice calm as she spoke "I want that bastard to be deceived, when I kill him I want to show him how strong I am. It would do me no good to be taken away and miss my chance for revenge. If I continue to seem weak he'll think that I'm not capable of handling the clan. But sooner or later he'll let his guard down and that's when I strike. Even Hiashi Hyuga can't be invincible".
Neji stared in great confusion so Hanabi continued "That's why I've been secretly training to perfect my skills. When I kill him I've got to give everything I've got, should I fail it's all over. I'm not strong enough right now, but I'm improving Neji my techniques are becoming better I know that in a little while I'll be ready".
On a somewhat strange scale Hanabi did make sense. But still, it was nearly impossible. There had to be a way to stop this mess before it got worse.
Neji finished changing Hanabi's bandages before letting out a shaky breath.
"You know it's not too late to reconsider". Not yet at least, there was still time to solve this complicated situation. Hanabi frowned a little "No, I told you before I've made up my mind". She stood up and walked to the door.
"It's been a month Neji-niisan you have two more left and remember if you don't take action then I will".
"Gaara I think we need to talk".
The red-head looked up from his work "About what?" "It's concerning you and Hinata, the old bags want you to bang her up". Gaara gazed at his brother for a moment, while he was used to his older brother's foul language that particular sentence sounded very wrong to him.
"I am not going to bang her up as you so elegantly put it. I will do the task needed when the time is right".
Kankuro gave an irritated huff "Look man, it's been nearly seven months you've gotta have at least one brat you know the rules. Kids have got to come sooner or later".
"I would prefer you not call my future children brats or any other demeanor names". He easily dodged the pen that was thrown at his head.
"Gaara..." he warned, and the red-head locked gazed with his older brother. "I am very much aware of the intimacy of the situation that I'm in, I do want Hinata. But I had promised her that we'd wait, I am not going to force myself upon her. We will have children Kankuro but I do not wish to pressure her into anything that she's not ready for yet".
The puppet master shook his head "Gaara your the Kazekage you've got responsibilities to look after. And this whole baby business may be a pain in the ass but it's still important for your future. The damn rules clearly state that the present ruler of the village is required to have at least one child to pass down the bloodline and title to ensure, a healthy and prosperous future for the greater good of the village and people".
Gaara didn't reply he just gave his usual stoic glare. "I know that you love Hinata and she loves you. Believe me I'm happy for you two but you still gotta have a kid".
Gaara's gaze didn't leave Kankuro's as he crossed his arms "Are you afraid of something?" The red-head shrugged "Perhaps". "Then what is it?" "I don't know". "Come on you can tell me".
"I suppose I could". Kankuro moved a little closer to his younger brother "Gaara your going to be a great dad, if that's what your nervous about".
Gaara's gaze widened by only a fraction, but it was enough for Kankuro to notice. "Hey bro, our old man wasn't exactly the best father type but that doesn't mean your kids have to experience the same pain as you did".
He placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder "Temari and I really do want you to be happy, and just look how far you've gotten. You beat all the odds even though they were stacked against you". Gaara kept his stoic face, but his eyes told that he was amazed with his brother's words.
"When you and Hinata finally do decided to have kids, I want you to know that everything will be alright. Tem and I are always there for you. And you'll be a good dad your kids are gonna be fine".
Gaara gave his brother a small smile of appreciation.
"Thank you Kankuro".
His older brother merely grinned "Aw don't mention it, what are big brothers for after all".
The moment was short lived when their older sister walked through the door with a grim expression on her face.
"Temari is something the matter?"
She stood there for a moment looking at her brothers, before letting out a deep sigh "Gaara, Kankuro we all need to talk". "About what?" "It's Matsuri". Gaara suddenly tensed hearing the name of his former apprentice, he couldn't help but feel a surge of hate every time Matsuri was mentioned. He still had not gotten over those two incidents that left him shattered.
"What has happened?" He asked coolly, though his face remained somewhat the same.
Temari thought for a moment leaving Gaara rather irritated. How could he know what was going on if she didn't tell him.
"She's planning to kill Hinata".
We'll stop here for now.
I plan to have the next chapter up a little sooner.
I tried to make this chapter a bit longer, so I hope it looks good.
Until next time!
Don't forget to review!
