A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
. : . : Chapter 2 : . : .
With a contented smile on her face, Hinata stretched her arms up high and breathed in a lungful of fresh air.
It was so good to be outside again, to feel the sun kissing her skin. She had been confined to the hospital for about 5 days so as to allow the medic-nins to monitor her condition, and it was only this morning when they had deemed it safe for her to go outside.
Gaara walked by her side silently, acting unaffected by Hinata's good mood. He did feel comfortable seeing her in such high spirits. Though he would never admit that.
He was labeled a monster, remember?
Brushing off the irritating thoughts, (seriously, he thinks way too much for his own good) he led Hinata to a garden near the hospital.
The flowers were in full bloom, the leaves in the dense trees were doing waltzes with the breeze, and children; with gleeful smiles, darted around the shrub mazes.
The two found a bench at a corner of the garden and sat down a it. Enjoying the soothing atmosphere that the garden provided, they sunk into their own thoughts and moments of comfortable silence ensued.
The minutes slipped by, and eventually, Gaara turned his attention to the girl beside him, and observed her.
She was looking at a group of children playing hide-and-seek, with their parents smiling at how much fun they had while reminding them not to hurt themselves. Although it was small, Gaara could see a tinge of sadness in Hinata's eyes.
"Hinata, are you thirsty, I can get you a drink."
Gaara thought of something to say to break Hinata's thoughts.
Hinata shook her lightly and smiled at Gaara, maintaining an eye contact with him.
"Thank you, Gaara-san, but you don't have to go. I am not thirsty."
Her eyes narrowed as she thought of something, and asked,
"Neji-niisan says he will be coming to visit me today. I hope that he would not be worried if he cannot find me..."
A slight pout was added to her face as she thought of her over-protective cousin. But it soon melted away into a smile, happy that Neji cared for her.
"Are you afraid that Neji would inform the Leaf authorities when he can't find you?"
Since Hinata had told her that Neji and her had made up, Gaara had thought if Neji was protective towards Hinata. Hearing her remark about Neji, Gaara thought that there was a high possibility for Neji to do what Gaara had just said.
Hinata laughed at this, covering her dainty palm over her mouth.
Seeing Hinata smile again, Gaara relaxed and leaned back onto the bench. After a while, he asked,
"Do you remember the first time i saved... some... thing?" Gaara turned his head to face Hinata.
That was one of many of his precious memories with Hinata. She would never suspect what great an impact she had in his life.
Hinata looked confused for a while, but her eyes lit up when she remembered that particular incident.
She giggled and replied,
"The correct term should be a 'bird', Gaara-san."
Flashback
It was a sunny and bright morning. Birds were singing and chirping in melody in their nests. Parenting birds flew to and fro from their nests to feed their babies. Hinata, being a nature-lover, loved this scenery.
There were a lot of hatchings that year, and so there were small birds having their first flight. Some tried to fly but failed and after several tries, they took off high into the skies, spreading their wings wide and savoring their flight.
Hinata and Gaara were outside the Hyuuga compound having a conversation when a hatching fell onto the ground with a soft 'thud'.
"Ahh!"
Hinata exclaimed, breaking off her speech when she saw that the bird's right leg was twisted at an odd angle. She took out her first-aid kit and crouched down onto a soft patch of grass.
Gaara saw Hinata's actions and frowned. He squatted down beside her and said in an empty voice,
"Why save it. It is better to kill it. This way it's suffering will end and wouldn't it be better for it to go to heaven?"
The dark red, viscous liquid tainted the grass and it was awakening the demon inside Gaara.
"You know what? I'll do a favour and end its misery in a second."
His pulse raced and his breathing hitched in his throat. Sand rose from the ground and formed the shape of a giant claw and eased towards the small, almost lifeless form.
"No!"
Hinata picked up the bird, cradled it in her arms, and ran a few metres away. She was horrified by the unsettling gaze in Gaara's eyes.
"Hinata..." Gaara growled, his voice deep and dark and menacing.
"No, you are not killing it!"
Tears leaked out of her eyes. She did not know why Gaara was acting this way. Didn't he know that life is precious? She did not like the unusual gleam in his eyes.
"If you want to kill the bird, you will have to get through me first."
She said this softly as droplets of tears fell, and she huddled the bird closer to her body.
If one's heartbeat is still beating, one is alive...
If ones' heartbeat is not beating, then one has died...
If ones' heartbeat is beating weakly, one must overcome it and one will live...
If not it will die...
The tiny body was warm. She could feel it. Feel it struggling; fighting with death. It was still holding on. Hinata approached Gaara slowly.
Gaara head began to throb. Memories came back, and the pain and loneliness he had felt washed over him like a giant wave.
Why was she protecting it? Why was she trying so hard?
He dug his hands into his hair and tried to hold on to his sanity. That was when he felt a warm palm close over his. He looked up and saw Hinata's comforting smile.
"Help me save its life, Gaara-san?"
(End of Flashback)
A life. He had saved a life. He had always killed until then, never realising the importance of a life.
He still remembered feeling the faint heartbeat in his palms; the slight trembles. He remembered how he had retrieved water from a nearby river and washed its wound.
He could still see Hinata's smile now, as she applied some ointment onto the wound and bandaged its leg.
He remembered, days later, seeing the bird lift its wings, and soaring off into the air.
He could remember his heart swelling, filling up. It wasn't empty.
And he remembered that the corners of his mouth had twitched ever so slightly.
. : . : End of Chapter 2 : . : .
A/N: Annizmon: Finished with the second chapter... Yeah...
mI.ShOE: hehe. I love the drama. :) More flashbacks to come!
Until then, review!
