Disclaimer: Nope…still don't own Naruto…*shakes piggy bank* I'm totally broke…
Destinies Changed, Hearts Changed: Part VIII
"H-Hanabi?"
She frowned and stood up, covering the stuffed animal and the forehead protector behind her.
"What are you doing here?"
Hinata didn't care anymore. It doesn't matter whether Hanabi was stronger and more skilled. It didn't give her the right to step into her room like that and spy on her. Hinata wasn't jealous of the special treatment Hanabi got—she was just angry that Hanabi held herself higher than everyone else. Currently to add to Hinata's short fuse, she was also extremely tired, and it was really late at the same time.
"What was he doing here?"
So much for her explanation.
"Who are you talking about?"
"You know who!"
Hanabi raised her voice from the strained whisper the two had started with. She pointed an accusing finger at Hinata.
"You're conspiring with them, aren't you?"
Hinata resisted the urge to slap her rude sister. She had always held in her disdain for her family, but this was getting too much.
//Egotistic brat//
She'd never liked calling people names but Hanabi had it coming.
"Who are you talking about? And why are you in my room?"
"The Sand shinobi!"
Hinata held her expression.
//Gaara//
It had definitely been him.
"I saw him come in here and leave that! You can't just leave for four months and come back without having done something! What was he doing here? How do you know him?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you."
"Then you'll explain it to Father when he finds out!"
"It's none of your business! Or anyone's for that matter!"
Hinata took a step at her sister and swatted Hanabi's arm away from her direction. She'd had enough of being shoved around. She knew it wasn't all Hanabi's fault that she was treated badly, but the younger girl had always harbored a killing hatred for her.
Mainly, though, they were going to kill her off so Hanabi could take her place. Hinata's voice raised a pitch higher, almost to a shriek.
"Like anyone would care! I don't have to explain myself to you or anyone else for that matter!"
Hinata retreated back and panted slightly. She'd never yelled at anyone before. Hanabi's eyes were wide. Her older sister had just scolded her. Her voice lowered to a raspy whisper as she made her way out of the room.
"Father is going to know."
The door was left wide open after her sister left.
Hinata grabbed the bunny and left the room, following her sister's steps.
//Let him know…//
~~~
Gaara jumped through the trees and contemplated whether he should stay in Konoha or leave. His only reason to stay was to see Hinata and return her forehead protector. He had already did, even if he had not met her. Maybe if he went back, he might run into her.
Someone was watching…
He frowned, whoever it was didn't react when he had dropped in to leave the stuff. Maybe he should go back just to check on her.
He looked to his right where there was a lake. The moonlight danced on the surface of the water and glimmered at the ripples.
Across the lake on the other side, he spotted a lone figure sitting at the edge.
//Hinata//
Swiftly and quietly, he made his way over and landed next to the girl.
She sat with her knees pulled up at her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. Her chin rested on top of the head of the bunny.
Hinata jerked her head up at the sound and blinked.
"Gaara." She stated, shocked, before she turned her attention back to the water. It was really him.
He took a seat beside her.
"It's really pretty tonight, ne?"
The moon was bare in the sky. It reflected a silvery, bright light that covered up many of the stars near it. She touched the surface of the water with her fingertips, which made patterns.
"Thanks for the stuffed animal." She turned and smiled at him.
The pale blue kimono she wore emitted a glow similar to the moon and her quiet laughter rung in the silence. She looked like a water sprite…an apparition, like she wasn't there anymore. She stood up and stuck one foot tentatively into the water, and then both. Now she was standing on water.
Hinata looked up at the sky with a sad smile, still clutching the little bunny to her chest. She had to tell him now…before she lost him again somehow.
"Sometimes…I just want to be myself…not care what others think…I want to show my true feelings out."
He gave her a questioning look.
"Then why don't you."
"Because…" She looked down at the water beneath her feet, "I'm scared…still scared…"
"Of what."
"Of…losing them…him…" Hinata made her way back to land and sat down next to him.
"…Who…"
She didn't answer but merely leaned over to him and rested her head on his shoulder, she yawned slightly and closed her eyes.
Gaara understood now. He shifted a bit to encircle his arms around her and moved her slightly so she rested on his chest instead of his bandaged shoulder.
It was nice with her in his arms again. He liked her smell—it was light and soft. Before he knew it, she was asleep in his arms.
"Hinata."
Gaara turned around to the voice.
It was another boy. He had the same eyes as Hinata did. She stirred a bit, but only to curl up in his arms even more.
He glared at the intruder.
"She's sleeping."
The other boy nodded, "I'll take her from here."
"No."
Neji frowned, this wasn't going to be easy. He was shocked minimally too, to find Hinata asleep in the arms of a boy in the first place. Sabaku no Gaara, no less either. He thought she had a crush on Naruto, but maybe that was just a fluke.
"The whole Hyuuga house is out looking for her."
The other boy glared at him, "So."
There was really no way for him to get past this without a fight breaking out. The other boy was defensive of his cousin. Neji lowered his voice.
"She can't just stay out here, someone else is going to find her sooner or later."
Gaara didn't budge. He wasn't handing her over to some guy who almost killed her once, he had remembered Neji from the preliminaries.
"I don't want to fight, but another Hyuuga would…and then you would be defenseless."
So the boy had noticed his gourd was gone. Gaara shifted a bit. The only thing he had left was Shukaku right then, but he refused to let the demon out again. Hinata shifted uneasily and opened her eyes, blinking.
"It'll be safer for both you and her."
He frowned but pulled away from her carefully as she gave him a bewildered look.
"Gaara? What's…?"
"Go with him."
Neji stepped up to explain, "The whole house is looking for you. Your father wants to talk to you."
Her mouth opened to protest, "But—"
"I'll follow."
Gaara watched as Neji helped her up and they started off with Hinata glancing behind every now and then to check if he was with them. He trailed behind the two, just to see what they were going to do with her. Hinata was out in the middle of the night for a reason, not that she just felt like it.
…To protect a precious person
Live to protect a precious person
That was how he was going to live. To protect her.
~End Part VIII~
Oooh…it's to the conclusion now…or is it??
…Actually…
I really have no idea myself either. ^_^; But it's looking as a possibility…
Update-I thought so…
Chaotic Bystander-Yea, reviews do make me all warm and fuzzy ^^ …now I'm kinda sleepy. -_-
Sumi-I just love odd pairings like Gaara/Hinata, Shikamaru/Temari, Sasuke/Hinata, and that kinda stuff. There just wasn't enough around so decided to write one of my own ^^…I got a Gaara/Hinata one and a Sasuke/Hinata one…hmm…maybe I'll do a Shikamaru/Temari ^^
Black Lace Ice Princess-Hey, no problem about that ^^ I usually get kicked out of the house and sit on the front lawn until I've 'thought' it over…HAHA! Yea right.
Nebula-You really want Gaara to kick Hanabi's a**? [I don't believe in saying bad words *snorts* just kidding!]
Eowyn-sama-The first thing I thought of when I saw Haku's Usako was…I WANT ONE TOO!
Jounin-Your guess was the closest ^^ but not quite…
Hiddensoul-Hm…I totally busy during the weekdays with school and orchestra rehearsals…so I ususally update every Friday…unless I'm really busy that week.
Lin/Akiko-Details? You kidding? I just breeze by it detailed is what you would call my English essay…my teacher yelled at me because it was too long…ugh…gotta learn BREVITY…haha.
SilverKnight7-BOO! GUESS WHO! Haha…
Wormkaizer-Naruto with a bunny, that reminds me of a picture of Naruto hugging the bunny [Haku's Usako] when Naruto had almost hit it with a kunai…that was so ADORABLE!
Rune-Rune-An OC would be soo hard for me to do, somehow. I have no imagination whatsoever. I can only use what's there already for me ^^
Thanks for all the reviews! I got a lot for chapter VII…19 reviews…wow…
Ame
