Hey everybody!
Got a new chapter ready to go.
I'm sorry you had to wait a while, but I promise this story will not be abandoned!
I have a few rough ideas in my mind as too where I want to take this, I've been thinking about the plot a bit and I feel as though I need more stuff. If you lovely readers have any suggestions I am always open to positive advice.
Now onwards my dears!
Kankuro had never felt so happy to see his little brother when he finally did return.
Nearly half the country was in an uproar. Citizens could be seen protesting the streets and there had been a few violent outbursts lately. These new changes were having drastic effects on the Land of Wind and Kankuro was at the end of his rope. Nothing he did was able to stop the crisis from resolving and Temari had done all she could also. Both older siblings hated to leave the problem in Gaara's hands but for the most part he was the only person they knew of who could stop it.
"Kazekage-sama we have a serious problem!"
"Lord Gaara please do something!"
"Sunakagure is a disaster!"
"Gaara-sama you must put a stop to this!"
The requests had no end to them, and the red head found himself overwhelmed a bit. So much that at one point had to lock himself in his office just to take a moment to breath. Yes, this was a problem that could have easily been avoided but there was nothing that he could do to go back and stop it. Gaara clenched his fists in anger, he had a pretty good hunch on who was the brains behind it. These people would've been around when his father the Fourth Kazekage was still present, not only would they have influenced him they also would've been involved in planning his assassination. The irony of the situation left a bad feeling inside of him. But he didn't have time to dilly dally with his frustrations. The first thing that needed to be done was to regain control of the village.
Thankfully Baki had his back and was there to help him calm things down a little. Sunakagure's citizens were pleased when their Kazekage returned, with his guidance hopefully the unfair treatment that had been given would disappear.
"Lord Kazekage are you sure you want to handle this alone".
Gaara could only stare at his former mentor with grave eyes. He had felt rather bad that Baki had been handling this nuisance for too long and he deserved a break.
"I will not repeat myself, I will take care of this on my own".
"Yes but-"
"Baki don't argue with me, my answer is final".
The slight glare in his eyes told everything. Baki knew that it was pointless to argue with him. Once Gaara set his mind to something he always stuck with it. Still, that wouldn't stop Baki from worrying for the red head. Even after all these years Baki still felt like it was his duty to watch over his former student. He would keep an eye on Gaara from the sidelines should he need help.
"As Kazekage I must to what is right for my people, and I will put a stop to this. Please do not interfere".
"As you wish".
When Gaara was once again left alone at least a million thoughts ran through his head. He knew that he really should be focusing on the crisis but for whatever reason he was thinking about his family. Hanabi had been acting strangely in his book ever since they left Kumogakure. He wasn't really one to judge as he didn't know her as well as his wife did. But that didn't stop Gaara from worrying over Hanabi. There was a soft knock on his door and his thought process was currently put on halt.
"You may come in".
Strangely enough the very person that had crossed his mind was standing outside his door. Hanabi had a blank look on her face as she quietly walked up to him.
What could she want?
"Hanabi?"
She looked up at him "Gaara-sama forgive my intrusion but I felt as though I needed to tell you something". The red head raised an invisible eyebrow. "Tell me something?" Hanabi nodded "It is concerning someone from your past". Now she had his full attention "What do you mean by that?" Hanabi thought carefully not quite knowing how to say what she wanted. "Are you familiar with a woman by the name of Matsuri?"
Gaara's body immediately stiffened hearing that revolting name. It really made him want to gag. "Yes what about her?" His voice sounded rough; Hanabi knew that Gaara's growing anger was not directed towards her but still she would have to be careful she was hitting a sore spot after all. "When I was hiding in the desert I came across her she was delusional and she kept staring at me as though I were the devil".
Pearl orbs didn't miss anything as they caught the fire that burned in those teal eyes.
"I didn't know what to make of her, so I did the only thing I thought worthy I struck her down". Hanabi waited a beat to see Gaara's reaction; she was a little surprised when his facial features remind the same. "I let the desert finish her off there's no way she'd be able to survive my aim. I made sure to strike every chakra point in her body". Hanabi pushed some of her hair back "It be a damn miracle if she ever saw the light of day again". Gaara wasn't exactly sure what to make of Hanabi's confession. It didn't really make sense to him why as of now she decided to come clean about this. Sure, her timing may have been bad but for the most part it did somewhat ease his nerves about the little bitch for now.
"Alright then Hanabi, thank you for telling me".
She nodded at him before taking her leave; Gaara watched her go before he ran a hand through his hair. "Kami help us all".
That was all he could say at the moment. He didn't have time to ponder about the past. He still needed to fix the issue at hand. An urgent meeting had been scheduled to discuss a resolution for the matter. Gaara was sure that he could handle those old hags on his own. But there was one problem; his wife would have to attend this meeting also. It was Hinata's first real experience when it came to political matters. She was expected to accompany her husband for these kinds of things occasionally and Gaara wasn't sure what to do. He had tried talking her out of it. But Hinata wouldn't hear it. She wasn't educated enough to understand Suna's political affairs but she had promised Gaara that she'd help in any way she could.
There was another knock on his door, his head snapped up and he resisted the urge to sigh.
"Come in".
Hinata walked into his office with Hena in her arms. Gaara could only stare at her; she knew that he was tired and that it was hard for him. She too was battling her own issues.
"Hinata you know what might happen should you accompany me".
The bluenette shook her head slightly as she passed their daughter into his arms. She didn't want to have this discussion again, it was growing tiresome. "Gaara-dana I already told you I'm going". The red head gave a small groan as he offered his finger to Hena who promptly began to gnaw on it.
"These people are harsh. They'll find any excuse to insult you. You'll be humiliated and they'll feed off that to make their point". Gaara wasn't kidding; more than once he had been ridiculed in front of them and at first it made him feel like his pride had been dented but from experience he had learned over the years to simply ignore it. Hinata however was different; she was more sensitive to direct insults then he was and although his wife was strong, he wondered how much embarrassment she could take before she finally cracked. Gaara really didn't want to put Hinata through that kind of humiliation. But his wife could be surprisingly stubborn and she was refusing to reconsider his words of encouragement. He tried once again to talk her out of it, but Hinata wouldn't budge. Eventually he had no choice but to give up; there was no way his wife would listen to him. Even so he would have to make sure that she could handle the elders. Should they say even the tiniest insult about her Gaara wouldn't hesitate to lash out.
"I will be fine, don't worry so much".
"You know that I can't help it".
"Gaara-dana I came from a family that watched my every move, nothing I did seemed good enough in their eyes. I've been criticized for my every action for as long as I can remember I think I can handle whatever these people have in store for me".
He could've said something but what was the point.
Much sooner then she expected she was sitting alongside her husband in a large room with several other people. The council was present as well as the village elders. Baki had also attended despite Gaara's insistence not too. The tension in the room was so thick you could hack at with a butter knife. Hinata had to remind herself to breath when she felt all eyes on her. This meeting would be a test to demonstrate her knowledge on politics. While she had Gaara's support she knew that this was something that she would mostly have to due on her own. She swallowed hard trying not to let her fear show, a reassuring squeeze on her hand from Gaara put her nerves slightly to rest. She met his eyes quickly and he nodded at her a silent promise to keep watch over her. She squeezed his hand back in thanks and that's when it began.
It would be a few hours later when Hinata started to regret not backing out when she had the chance. Her husband had been right when he said that these people were brutal.
Hinata hadn't expected the situation to go out of control so quickly. Almost immediately the elders had targeted Gaara claiming that it was his fault that things ended up as they did. Baki of course was quick to respond with a few nasty words of his own. Hinata was actually sort of glad that Baki was sticking his neck out for Gaara; it made it a little easier for her knowing that at least one person was on their side. Then the silent battle of insults grew when Gaara was accused of false actions. Hinata did not want to listen to her husband be belittled so badly in front of her. Yet despite all the threats Gaara managed to keep his cool but she could tell from the look in his eyes that he was enraged. The fire in his eyes was enough to make a person want to drop dead.
"Are you quite done, I do believe we have other more important things to discuss".
That had been Gaara's way of saying 'I don't give a shit' and he meant every word of it. Hinata placed a hand over her mouth as a quiet giggle left her. Despite how rude that was she couldn't help herself. The elders however didn't find it funny at all. So they were all back to square one, arguing with one another about anything and everything.
This meeting would last another few more hours until Gaara had finally had enough and decide to put his foot down on the matter once and for all.
"I could honestly care less about what any of you have to say. As Kazekage I decide what is best for my village and I've made up my mind on how to handle this. So good day to all of you". Without another word Gaara took his wife's hand and promptly walked out the room leaving everyone stunned.
Once a good distance away Gaara pulled Hinata close to him and let out a loud sigh of frustration. He knew that he had pissed every single one of them and that he'd be in for it later but at the moment he didn't care about anything. "I'm sorry you had to see that". Hinata raised an eyebrow "Pardon?" "I didn't want you to see any of that, it was my own fault for letting you in on what they had to say". He gave a nervous chuckle "They'll be on my back for weeks and there's nothing I can do about it".
"I know that you can get through it".
Gaara rested his head on his wife shoulder; he was tired of everything. "I want to move on". Hinata nodded "So do I". Though her response was quiet she had a slightly different opinion behind her answer. Running a comforting hand through his red locks Hinata secretly wished that things would go back to normal soon.
"We will make it through this. It will take time but we'll do it together".
Gaara could only hum in response wishing that his wife's words were true.
I'm sorry this chapter is a little short, but I really didn't know how to make it longer.
It's not exactly my best work, but please bear with me. I am going to make this story better but it's going to take some time.
Reviews are as usual always welcomed.
No flames please!
Until next time.
