Note: Hm….where has all my readers gone? L Oh well, at least I still have some still reading this wonderful story and reviewing them! Thank you to those who did! Anyway, we are almost at the very end of this story…From the last chapter, Gaara faces off with Ryoki or…Matsumoto and start to change. Neji and Hinata escape, but where will this take Gaara and Hinata? Find out on this chapter!
Chapter 11 – Destiny
He was thrown fifty feet into the air, landing roughly back on the hard ground below. He hissed, grabbing at his arm that he landed on and backed off. This was going to be tough and as he glanced up at the monster Gaara had become, it was going to be more than he could handle.
The left side of Gaara's face looked like it was melting almost showing his skull and his mouth was left open for saliva to come dangling at the side. His eyes were the eyes of Shukaku himself, showing the hunger for blood. His right hand, which had turned into a claw, was stretched out, touching the ground without having to bend down, his blue veins showing.
He was no longer human…
"You seem to be in quite a mess…" a voice suddenly said.
Ryoki quickly glanced up over his shoulder. Just crouching down below on the branch of a tree behind him, was Satoshi, KazeKage-sama's young assassin. Like usual, Satoshi's face was covered behind a black mask. "Urusai…" Ryoki mumbled. "I can handle him."
Gaara charged without thinking, stretching out his long hands and began clawing away, scratching at Ryoki. The older man struggled to get away, but one of his attacks managed to scratch Ryoki a little bit on the chest, leaving a small deep gash in the center.
Ryoki retaliated by using his kaiten to drive Gaara away and it worked. Gaara was pushed a distance away from the older man, giving him time to recover.
"Indeed…" Satoshi commented, jumping down from the tree. He approached the older man slowly, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Ribu-sama has asked me to take over from here. He knew you were far too weak to handle something like Gaara. You and him still have that deal to finish and your job is to handle Hinata. Leave and I will destroy Gaara."
Ryoki smirked. "I see…Well I EXPECT you to finish him off because he is getting on my nerves." He turns and jumps on a branch and runs off towards the direction where Neji and Hinata had disappeared.
Neji ran as fast as he could. He had a feeling that they weren't out of danger yet. He ran through the thick bushes, pushing them out of his way and began to trek down a narrow path.
"Neji-niisan?" Hinata's voice was soft, but Neji could hear her loud and clear as she squirmed in his arms. With a sigh of relief, the dark haired young man gently put her back down on the ground so she could walk on her own.
"Daijoubu Hinata-sama?" he asked, keeping her steady for she was about to stumble. Neji took a quick glance behind them, making sure that no one was following closely.
Hinata nodded. "I think so…"
"Hinata-chan!" Both Hyuga siblings looked up and noticed TenTen running down a steep hill towards them. Worriedly, the dark haired girl ran to the younger girl first and gave her a hug. "Yokata! Hinata-chan I was so worried about you! I-!" TenTen looked up to see who was standing beside her friend when she noticed Neji standing there. "Neji!"
Neji blinked. "TenTen…what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for Hinata-chan. I mean, I should be since I was knocked unconscious by some weirdo when we came inside the house to see you and then Hinata-chan just disappeared, I was so worried!"
Hinata noticed the way TenTen tensed when she saw Neji and with a smile, she said, "TenTen-chan, I'm fine and I'm glad you were worried about me…"
Suddenly, they heard an explosion in the distance. Startled by the blast, all three looked to where the sound came from and to Hinata's horror, she knew it came from where they had left Gaara.
"What was that!?" TenTen exclaimed, startled by the blast.
Neji glanced at Hinata, who was looking intensely and horrifyingly towards the sound. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring look. "Daijoubu, Hinata-sama…You and I know Gaara is much stronger than that and he can never be easily beaten with a blast."
"Are you sure about that, Neji-sama?"
"!" Neji jerked his head around and noticed a shadowed figure coming towards them in a slow pace. "Ryoki-san!" What was he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be fighting Gaara? Wasn't Gaara supposed to keep him occupied?
"You seem surprised to see me." Ryoki glanced over towards Hinata, then back at Neji again. "Neji-sama, if you only give up Hinata-sama now, this will all be over quickly."
"What's going on, Neji?" TenTen asked, quite confused.
The dark haired youth frowned and stepped a little in front of Hinata to block her from view. "Like I said before Ryoki-san, it's my duty to protect her at any costs." He glanced sideways at TenTen. "He's the guy who knocked you unconscious and took Hinata-sama away." He began backing away, forcing Hinata and TenTen to back up a couple of steps. Neji clenched his fists at his sides and summoned the byakugan. "TenTen…I want you to do me a favor."
TenTen looked up, watching Neji's back.
"Take Hinata-sama away from here…I'll take care of things."
"Demo…Neji-niisan," Hinata spoke softly,hesitating a little.
TenTen noticed the way Neji was trying to resist the temptation to give into Hinata's pleas. She grabbed the younger girl's hand. "I promise, Neji." She didn't know what was going on, but if the favor came from the taller youth, she would gladly take it. "But after this, when you manage to survive, the favor I want to ask from you…" She didn't know WHY she said it, but part of her told her that if Neji managed to survive this little duel between this stranger hidden behind a dark mask, she would get her wish. The other part of her also told her to ask such a favor because it may be the last time she'll ever see him. "Is that if you manage to survive this battle, then you will go on a date with me."
Neji was silent at first, surprised by TenTen's boldness. Without looking at the shorter girl, he said, "That's a favor?" He managed to turn his head to look at her. TenTen was serious…he could see it in her face. "All right, if that's what you want."
Hinata was shocked.
"Good and that's a promise." TenTen gently tightened her grip around the younger girl's hand and pulled her along as they ran along towards the narrow path of the woods.
"How very cute…Shall we MAKE that girl's wish come true?" As soon as Hinata and TenTen left, Ryoki stood in the shadows and allowed himself to take a step forward and reveal himself underneath the moonlight that peeked through the trees.
Neji lifted up his right palm and faces it towards Ryoki, while his other hand turned into a tight fist, ready for a fight.
They ran as fast as they could, TenTen dragging along a tired looking Hinata. Part of her wanted to go back, wanted to watch Neji battle it out with a familiar stranger, but she knew she was only going to be a distraction. They were BOTH a distraction.
"TenTen-chan?" Hinata's voice was as usual, soft, but she knew from the looks of it, TenTen had heard her. "TenTen-chan…Please let go…" She felt TenTen's hand wince at the sound of that request, but Hinata decided to repeat what it was she was trying to say, that what she wanted to say was merely a command, not a soft request. "Please let go, TenTen-chan…" This time, her voice seemed to have penetrated through TenTen-it was more clearer, more subtle and more vocal than the usual softness in Hinata's voice. This told the older girl that the younger one was even more desperate than before.
Startled by this, TenTen stopped running and quickly let go, turning around to face her. She watched curiously as Hinata suddenly had her eyes cast down on the ground, as if ashamed of what she had just said. "Gomenne, but you wouldn't listen. I….I want to go back. I don't want to run away anymore. I don't want anymore people to put their lives in danger for me…even you TenTen-chan. First, it was Gaara and then Neji-niisan and now you. I don't want that."
"What are you going to do?" TenTen didn't need to ask why, because she knew the answer to that already, but she wanted to know from Hinata's own lips. She was staring into Hinata's broken eyes. She looked terrible but her eyes were holding that determined glow.
Hinata didn't really know what to do, but she knew her heart too much to ignore such a feeling. She clenched her fists at her sides. "I….I'm going to follow my heart," was all Hinata could say.
TenTen stared at her for a moment. "Follow you heart?"
The younger girl looked up to stare back at her. "Yes. You should do the same, TenTen-chan." She turned to face the direction they had left.
The dark haired girl just stared at her back, but did not stop her as Hinata ran back to where they had come from.
He dodged the claws that were coming his way. The monster's arms stretched all the way as soon as Satoshi decided to back up a couple more steps. Gaara's mutated arms swiveled to the left, while Satoshi dodged to the right, jumping over his opponent's head to get to the other side. Satoshi quickly turned to face him, placed his hands together to form a seal and closing his eyes, he summoned one of his jitsus.
Gaara charged, but the ground below him began to shake. It didn't stop Gaara, however from moving forward. Swiftly, he dodged the attacks as the ground, shaped into knives began popping out from below. 'Too much noise! Someone please stop it!' he thought painfully in his head.
That's right…continue to give in to the power, Gaara! I KNEW you needed me! You can NEVER live without me! YOU ARE MINE!
'NO! I don't need this!' He extracted his claws once more, attacking with both his hands towards Satoshi. 'I don't WANT this! I didn't ASK for this!'
That's right…you didn't. THIS is how you were born! This is your destiny, Gaara! You cannot change your destiny! You have no choice!
Satoshi disappeared…
Gaara blinked and looked around. He looked up and noticed Satoshi coming towards him from the top.
KILL HIM! HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU! DON'T BE STUBBORN!!!!!
He stretched his arms upwards, his claws catching Satoshi by the shoulders in surprise. Like fangs, it penetrated through Satoshi's skin. The young Ninja screamed in pain as he was dangled high up from the ground by Gaara's claws cutting deep into both Satoshi's shoulders.
However, Satoshi wasn't giving up. He quickly grabbed something from the inside his pocket, despite the pain in his shoulders and took out a large looking knife. With his arms now bleeding, he stabbed Gaara in both arms, forcing the Sand Chuunin to release him immediately. Satoshi landed on the ground with a loud 'thud.' The large dagger cut deep into Gaara's arms, almost cutting them instantly, but it didn't pain Gaara at all. Satoshi wasn't surprised with that, since he knew a simple dagger wouldn't kill such a monster. He knew EXACTLY how to kill the Sand Chuunin, because Ribu-sama knew.
Gaara backed up a couple of steps, startled by the attack and gave himself time to recover for a few seconds before charging mindlessly again. He ripped off the dagger that had gotten itself stuck on his right arm and swiped at his enemy. Satoshi jumped away and disappeared, only to appear seconds later behind Gaara, holding that same dagger in his hands.
She could hear the sound of a small battle occurring just ahead of her. Hinata stopped and followed the noise. There were two pairs of footsteps, one as light as a feather as the person moved while the other, was as heavy as a metal. She pushed her way through the bushes and almost cut herself from the thorns that have grown in the forest. She was only able to take five more steps before coming face to face with an open field and two figures fighting in the distance. One had a large looking dagger held firmly close to what seemed like a monster's throat. Hinata moved closer and her eyes grew wide the moment she recognized the way the monster looked familiar to her.
"Masaka…" She saw him now.
Gaara….he looked different. He was monstrous…mutated. She could no longer tell whether he was human or not. Her feet would not move forward when she noticed that the person he was fighting was the same one who gave him that poison in the first place. He had that large dagger held close to Gaara's throat, while Gaara stood there, his mouth wide open…foaming-hunger for blood. What was she doing here?
"You are nothing but a monster now," she could hear the man saying. "You don't have the ability to think, to speak. You have allowed that demon to take over you, like you can't find your own destiny."
Gaara seemed to have felt her presence because he turned his head to her direction, staring back at her with his solemn eyes-not like the look he just had on.
"I don't understand how ANYONE could love you right now. What if she saw you right now? What would she think of you? Yes…she'll be scared of coming near you. She can never look at you the way you want her to, because you have turned into a monster…THAT has always BEEN your destiny!"
Then…
He stabbed Gaara in the stomach.
Hinata watched in horror as he fell forward on the ground, blood spilling everywhere. "Iiee…."
Gaara's opponent stood over him now, ready to finish him off with the same dagger. He lifted his weapon high above his head and got ready for the kill. Gaara's head was turned towards Hinata, his eyes asking for help.
A tear fell from Hinata's eyes. "Iiee…" She shook her head. He was begging her with those eyes. Has she failed? Was it too late? Then Hinata found herself standing up and then she was running forward. Had he given in to the darkness? NO! She can't have that!
"IIEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He was thrown aback by a large force that came from behind him. Satoshi hit the tree hard, but he managed to muster up some strength to get up and see who had startled him.
And there she was…
With her byakugan on, an ability in which only the member of the Hyuuga family can have, she stood, ready for a fight. A frown slowly formed on Satoshi's face. There were tears falling from the girl's eyes and Satoshi took this time to examine Gaara on the ground, still breathing.
"Now I know why you've gotten yourself to seeking the demon, Gaara," Satoshi said. "Instead of fighting with your own strength, you summoned the demon himself, but even then, you don't have enough power to defeat me." He stared back at Hinata. "And if he can't, Ojouchan….how can you be any different than him? Why are you defending a demon like him?"
"Don't listen to him, Gaara!" Hinata hissed, glaring back at Satoshi. "You have no RIGHT to calling him a monster when he hasn't done anything wrong! YOU should be the one who should be called a monster!"
Satoshi smirked. "I see…so it is love after all."
"Nani?"
"Love has blinded you to see the real truth about Gaara! Why don't you take a time to look at Gaara right now and tell me you don't feel repulsed by the way he looks?"
"I don't care! I don't care WHAT he looks like! He needs me and that's all that matters!"
"He doesn't need anyone…he has always been alone and you think you can change the way he was destined to be?"
"YES!"
Satoshi blinked. He was surprised by her answer. The way she said it, proved how loyal she was to this bond she formed with Gaara. This…love. She was determined to save him, something that no one has done before for the boy who was born to kill.
Gaara laid on the ground, trying to fight for his life. Are you actually going to let the girl win against Satoshi!? Give up your life to me and I will finish him off! Where is your sense of pride, Gaara!?
'I have none…' he thought.
NANI!?
"You might think he has no way of living without the demon in his soul and the only way for him to survive is for it to continue to live in him, but NO ONE should be able to have that kind of future! I believe in Gaara and I believe he can find his way into the light!" Hinata took a deep breath and pulled out the pearl necklace her mother gave her. "My mother told me that destinies don't have to be already given to you, she told me that we CAN change our destinies as long as you have the willingness to change it."
"Doushite….?" Gaara whispered from where he was lying down. He was losing a lot more blood now, but her voice had brought him back. However, he didn't know how long he had. This was his ending….he was to die and that was HIS destiny. "Why are you going all this way just to save me?"
"ENOUGH TALK!" Satoshi charged, pulling his dagger once again. Hinata's eyebrows furrowed, a serious look on her face now as she faced her palm forward towards Satoshi. She was ready to defend herself, willing to finish him off, but she was interrupted when a figure comes jumping in front of her, startling even Satoshi.
"!" Satoshi was stopped immediately and he stood, dropping his hand that was gripped around the dagger. He looked down and noticed that something had stabbed him straight in the stomach, blood spurting all around him. "How-?"
Hinata gasped.
Gaara death glare was staring back at him. His claw-like arm went straight through his stomach, but it wasn't the only weapon that went straight through the stomach. Satoshi's dagger went straight through Gaara's stomach for the second time. They stood, facing each other and together they fell on the ground.
"GAARA!!!!"
"Ribu-sama…" He turned, quite irritated at the moment, but as soon as he did, he noticed a shadow standing by his window. This shadowy figure had an arm around his torso, blood raining down on the floor. Ribu immediately ran to the figure and caught him before he fell on the ground. "Ribu-sama…I have accomplished the mission. Gaara is dead."
The dark haired man carried him over to his bed, all bloody now, his white cloak soaked with Satoshi's blood. The younger man had fallen unconscious, but Ribu knew he was just resting at the moment. In moment's time, Satoshi's body will heal on its own, just like 'her' and he will wake up, ready to tell him what had happened.
But….
Ribu glanced down at Satoshi's torn up torso. It looked terrible. The skin had been practically ripped off, like almost half of his body had been mauled by some kind of animal. Ribu knew this animal had been Gaara. He figured that something like this would happen, seeing how Gaara fights.
"Ribu-sama," Satoshi spoke again, opening his eyes as slowly as possible.
The older man looked down and shook his head. "You need to rest, Satoshi. You did well in your mission. We will discuss more about it as soon as you have given yourself time to heal." He placed a hand over Satoshi's eyes and immediately, the young man's eyes closed into a deep sleep. The only thing Satoshi needs is to sleep to heal himself…the only way to rejuvenate his body into its original state. The only thing Ribu can do now is wait and make sure Gaara stays dead.
"Gaara! Gaara please wake up!" Hinata shook him in her arms, but he would not stir from his unconsciousness. He had changed back into his human form and was now laying in her arms half naked with his shirt ripped apart from when he changed into a demon. There was blood at the side of his mouth and more blood coming out of his stomach where the dagger was still wedged in. She slapped his face, hoping…wishing…praying that he would at least show some kind of sign that he was still alive.
Yet…
Still nothing.
Was this the end of his life? Was this how she was supposed to see him die?
"No…." She lifted him up gently and embraced him tightly close to her. She buried her face in his chest, not really caring about the blood that was soaking her face and wept. "Gomenne, Gaara….I'm sorry I couldn't save you…Gomen nasai…."
"Hinata-sama!!!!" Hinata jerked her head around and noticed Neji walking alongside TenTen, while she was keeping him standing with an arm around his waist. From she could see, Neji must have broken his right arm because he was cradling it carefully close to him.
"I….I couldn't save him Neji-niisan. I…I couldn't and…" She couldn't finish her sentence because more tears had fallen from her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore. Many people have injured themselves and now…even died just to keep her safe. Why!? "It's all my fault!"
Neji removed his arm from TenTen's shoulders and limped towards Hinata, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's not your fault, Hinata-sama." He kneeled down and felt for Gaara's pulse. "He's still alive…we can still take him to Hokage-sama and get him healed!"
"It's too late…"
"It's never too late, Hinata-chan." This time, TenTen had spoken. She was standing on Gaara's other side and was already helping Neji lift up the possible deceased Gaara from the ground. "I'm sure Gaara would never leave you alone like this…"
Neji smiled at Hinata reassuringly. "She's right, Hinata-sama. Even though you can barely see him breathing, I'm sure that if we take him to Hokage-sama we can heal him."
"Demo…" Hinata looked up from the ground. "Hokage-sama isn't back yet."
Neji and TenTen glanced at each other, just realizing that thought.
"I'll be the judge of that," came another voice from somewhere.
All three looked up. Tsunade was coming down from the dark pathway, just ahead of a silver haired Jounin known as Hatake Kakashi. "I KNEW I couldn't leave you three alone so I quickly grabbed what I needed and came back right away. I had a bad feeling something was going to happen and my hunch was right."
Kakashi walked over to Neji and switched spots with him. "You're injured. Have Hokage-sama take a look at your broken arm."
Neji nodded and moved aside to allow Kakashi and TenTen room to carry Gaara. Hinata watched, her eyes still quite misty from all the crying and stood up slowly.
"Hinata-chan…" Tsunade walked over to her and stood there, as if waiting for her to come to her. And just as she suspected, as soon as Hinata walked over, she collapsed in the Hokage-sama's arms and wept. "Sssshhhh, daijoubu Hinata-chan…daijoubu. Gaara is still breathing and healing him would be easy. Besides…" She looked down at the girl. "I'm not called Hokage-sama for nothing. I'm more worried about you." Tsunade wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked closely with the others as they started back to the village.
Night time seemed like it came by so quickly that he had no idea how long he's been trapped in that battle with Ryoki. It would take a lot of time to explain to his Uncle that the only person who was named as his guardian had suddenly disappeared. No one could've known that Ryoki was up to no good except for those involved in his little plans.
Neji looked down at his broken arm and sighed. In comparison with his fight against Naruto's, his fight against Ryoki was the toughest he has ever faced. Of course, he has faced many other battles, but not as challenging as this one. It was byakugan and kaiten against byakugan and kaiten. If this was some kind of contest, they would've tied in first place. He can still remember the smell of his Uncle's breath as he was pinned against a tree, while being punched and kicked a lot of times in the gut. He managed to get himself out of that dilemma by kicking him in return where it really hurts. Neji escaped, but quite bruised, putting his arm over his gut and quickly getting away from Ryoki. At least he THOUGHT he had gotten away. Ryoki appeared seconds later right in front of him and punched him in the stomach again, quite annoyed with the fact that his 'family jewels' had been damaged. Neji only had a matter of seconds to defend himself so he kept his right arm over his stomach and Ryoki's ultimate punch broke Neji's arm from there.
It was the scariest experience of his life…
The dark haired youth closed his eyes and replayed the fight over and over again in his head. He was thrown back, cradling his now broken right arm and was once again pinned against the same tree he was pinned against earlier. Ryoki reached inside his pocket and took out his kunai. He placed it against Neji's throat and said his 'goodbyes' before making his move.
Neji prepared for his death as he closed his eyes…
But it never came.
"Neji?"
Startled by the voice, Neji looked up and noticed TenTen standing there, looking worried. "TenTen…"
That's right, if it hadn't been for TenTen, he wouldn't be sitting here with just a broken arm and some broken ribs in the infirmary. He watched as she walked over to him and pulled a chair up to his bed and sat down. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
Neji nodded and glanced down at his broken arm once again. "Alive." He looked up at her. "Thanks to you."
TenTen blushed and looked away. "It was nothing. I just…I just thought you needed help and…and when I saw you pinned against the tree, I knew it was the teammate in me kicking in."
Of course…they were teammates after all. Neji had no right to think otherwise.
"So I guess after I get out of here, we can make that date happen."
TenTen looked back at him, then shook her head. "I was just…I didn't know what I was saying...I mean you don't have to if you don't want to."
"Who said I didn't want to?" Neji stared at her. "I owe it to you for saving my life."
"Oh…okay…" So it's JUST a favor after all. Okay, don't panic TenTen. Besides, she knew he wouldn't feel the same way anyway. At least she'll be on a date with Neji Hyuuga…something she has been dying to have for so long.
"Okay, so it's a date then," Neji said.
"Yes…a date…"
For the first time in four years, they smiled at each other.
His destiny…
But he didn't want this destiny.
Darkness…
So much darkness surrounding him…
He felt so vulnerable. He used to be so strong in the darkness and now…he didn't know what to do. There was so much uncertainty in his future.
"NO ONE should be able to have that kind of future!"
That was Hinata's voice.
Future…
Would he be able to get the future he wanted?
"I believe in Gaara and I believe he will find his way back into the light!"
There was a light just ahead of him. It was small, yet for some reason, he couldn't stop himself from going towards it. How can this small light attract him so? It didn't brighten up the darkness around him…it wasn't strong enough.
"My mother told me that destinies don't have to be already given to you, she told me that we CAN change our destinies as long as you have the willingness to change it."
We can change our destinies?
How?
"Gaara? Are you awake?"
Someone was calling him.
Yes it was her…
"Hinata," he whispered. "Hinata." A small, gentle hand reached down from the light and offers itself for him to reach. Without a second thought, Gaara lifted up a hand and took hold of that soft, gentle hand.
Slowly, he was lifted from the darkness…
"Gaara?"
The Sand Chuunin opened his eyes.
To her relief, he was sitting up and was groggily looking around. There was a thick white band-aid around his torso, therefore he couldn't twist or turn that much to scan the room he was in. "Where am I?"
Hinata smiled and placed a hand on top of his cold ones.
Gaara glanced down at their hands touching. Compared to his, Hinata's soft hand was warm and comforting. He was even more startled when he didn't remove his hand from under hers, instead he flipped it and gently curled his fingers around hers.
"I was so scared…" She seemed to have been startled by his action that she too was almost speechless. "I saw you fall and I…I didn't know what to do. I felt like a part of me died too."
Gaara frowned and slowly removed his hand from hers. "I don't want you to feel sorry for me." He removed his blanket from around him and put his feet on top of the slippers resting beside the bed.
"Why would I feel sorry for you?" She was hurt by that comment, but then again she couldn't expect Gaara of all people to open up to her. Hinata watched as Gaara, with only his pants on, started walking out of the room and into the hallway. "Gaara! What are you doing? You're not completely healed yet. You should go back to your room!" She walked fast so she could block his path in front of him.
Gaara glared at her. "You are in no position to tell me what to do."
His words hit the nerve. Hinata stood there, frozen in her spot as he walked passed her. She looked down, her face shadowed by her bangs and clenched her fists at her sides. "How could you say such a thing!?" She jerked around, tears falling from her eyes. "You DIED Gaara! Don't you care about the fact that I cried for you!? I was so scared that I was actually thinking of joining you to where you had gone while you died! Hokage-sama saved you today and you don't even have the decency to thank her for giving you another chance!"
In mere seconds, Gaara was facing her, his hands gripped tightly around her tiny arms. "I didn't ASK to be saved! You did THAT on your own! So if you ever decide to WANT to save me, let me know because I would have rather died right there instead of watching you suffer again!"
With misty eyes, Hinata stared at him. "You…you think you're the reason I'm suffering?"
Gaara gently let go her arms and turned around. "………"
"What are you going to do? Where are you going?"
"I am not entitled to answer those questions…" The sand Chuunin paused and looked over his shoulder at her. "Don't follow me."
Hinata frowned. "You're going back aren't you?"
Gaara stopped. "I'm going back for reasons only you won't understand." He continued on his way, but he was startled when he heard someone running up to him and was even more startled when a hand went around his chest, hugging him from behind. "!" He looked down at the same, soft hands that reached down to help him out of the darkness. "What are you doing?"
"I want to help you, so wherever you go, I want to be where you are." Gaara could tell she was softly crying again, as she buried her face against his back. He was surprised how persistent she was. "Being alone is a sad thing…I want to show you how good it is to have someone at your side. Being with someone is EVERYONE'S destiny!"
"You're so pathetic…" But deep down inside, Gaara was smiling.
GoodGurl: SO! It's been confirmed their love for each other! Everyone say, "YEAY!" ahem so anyways, it seems Gaara has agreed to take Hinata with him back in Sand Village! So what's going to happen there? And OH! What did Ribu mean, 'just like her?' Hm………. More secrets revealed! Also....there is...well depending on the situation, at least two-three chapters left! Stay tuned!