In the sand…

Hinata awoke to find the sun shining brightly in her room. She stretched and dressed. When she finished her breakfast she was about to walk to the open to train she stopped Gaara. He was exploring the garden, possibly the most beautiful and lush place in the sand. It was then that Hinata realized that there was a garden. She walked down to greet Gaara but she was hindered when a figure bowed in front of him.

'Kazekage, there is an important meeting to attend to,' a general informed him.

The two flew away to the headquarters. Hinata went to the garden. It was very pretty with the many lavenders and queen of nights. She bent her head to smell it. The scent was wonderful. She wondered around for a while observing herbs and pulling out weeds. But a sinister figured appeared

'It's going great,' can a low and snake-like voice.

Hinata froze. She turned her head around slightly and caught sight of Orochimaru.

'Oro…chi…maru,' Hinata stuttered.

Orochimaru walked over to her and went to check on her seal. He licked his lips and then extended his tongue to touch the seal. Hinata felt and slight burning sensation but then it extended and grew until she felt the seal was on fire. Then she fell to the floor faintly feeling her body hit the ground. She was conscious but only just.

Gaara returned from the meeting and when he had finished his meal he felt that the house was empty.

Usually Hinata was there to greet him and eat with him. But where was she now?

Gaara searched the house and the places he had seen her go to. He checked around the house, the training fields and even the market square where the festival was held. She was no where to be found.

In disappointment he walked back to the house and headed for the verandah. Then he caught sight of Hinata! She was lying down and her eyes were open with a death aura to it.

The first word that hit Gaara was Orochimaru.

He ran over to her and she responded by the quietest whisper of his name. He bought her over to her room and cradled her in his arms. He gave her a glass of water which she gratefully emptied.

Tears were then leaking from her eyes and she whispered 'I was useless, I couldn't even fight back.'

He held her tightly to his chest so he could absorb her tears. She grasped onto the cloth. He realized that the reason she felt useless was because of Orochimaru's strong murderous intention. It had drained all of the will in her to live.

He lightly touched her face and told her 'You can cry as much as you want but remember I need you and nothing can change that fact.'

Her eyes widened in surprised but her heart felt at home.

In Konoha…

Beep…beep…beep…

Temari and Kiba sat together. Temari was impatient for Akamaru to finish his surgery so Kiba could tell Hinata but Kiba was sitting and half praying for Akamaru's safety.

He kept muttering 'Hope your okay Akamaru, hope your okay Akamaru…'

Temari looked over to him and patted him on the shoulder.

'I told you he's going to be fine. He's a great dog and is very strong,' she told Kiba.

Kiba nodded and kept on praying as if she didn't say anything.

'Damn, that kid is so obnoxious can't he realize that it's okay because the medics are highly trained here?' Temari thought while letting out a breath of exasperation.

When the beeping stopped Kiba and Temari both stood up and walked to the door. The surgeon came out with Akamaru on a leash. His eyes were bandaged but he was looking more cheerful and it didn't look like he was in pain.

Akamaru ran over to Kiba barking happily and jumped into Kiba's arms .He started recounting the events. Kiba listened carefully and when Akamaru had finished Kiba's eye's glistened with unshed tears.

The pair walked out of the hospital in a much lighter mood than previously entering it. They took off as soon as they reached the borders of Konoha.

The next night…

Temari and Kiba fixed their sight on the swirly sandstorm. They were very soon in sand. In excitement they rushed forward.

'Ha ha Kiba we're here.' Kiba barked a note of relief.

He disliked being in the jacket for so long.

When they reached the Kazekage's hallway to report their coming Temari noticed an eye behind her but she kept her head forward. It was to show she didn't pay much attention to it.

She went over to Kiba just before they had entered the building and gave Kiba a hug and using his head as a block to the eye she said 'Don't forget.'

Kiba nodded his head ever so slightly.

They both headed inside and the eye remained outside but was still keeping its gaze on Temari.

They were welcomed back but were told that Gaara was in a meeting and was soon to return. They showed they understood and forwarded out. Temari went to the meeting and Kiba looked for Hinata.

He found Hinata in the garden. (He was able to find her easily because of Akamaru's and his good nose.) They found her walking on the water practicing her new jutsu. It was extremely pretty. She abruptly stopped when she noticed Kiba.

'Hello Kiba,' she gave him a casual wave and stepped out of the water.

'There's something I need to tell you Hinata,' he grabbed her arm and told her to listen close.

'Gaara loves you,' he said to her.

'I don't believe that!' she responded, very surprised.

'You know when you defeated the Akatsuki member? He kissed you that night!' Kiba was irritated at her always being the last to know. Hinata's eyes widened

'Is Kiba okay with that?' she asked.

Kiba shrugged his shoulders.

'Yeah, if you love him you should be with him,' he told her in an almost fatherly way.

Hinata's eyes lit up.

When the meeting was over…

Gaara went out and rubbed his head. The day sure was long. He decided to go to the garden as a refresher.

When he reached the garden he noticed a figure. (He couldn't see her as her face was covered in water and it was extremely dark.) There were cascades of water that flowed around like streams. He sat on a rock to watch the beautiful figure.

With each drop of water his breath stopped and he imagined his heart was alive only for her. When he realized it was Hinata, with the lavender hair he was surprised.

When the water stopped flowing and splashing. An exhausted Hinata walked out and her eye caught Gaara.

'I didn't know Gaara was here,' she stuttered.

'Gaara I want to tell you something,' she bent her head forward and blushed.

Gaara already knew what she would say as she always acted like that around Naruto before.

Gaara took her hand and pulled her closer. He wrapped an arm around her neck and drew nearer. At first Hinata was confused at what Gaara was about to do when she realized. She too wrapped an arm around his waist.

Her eyes glistened, 'Gaara does love me too,' she whispered.

She closed her eyes and Gaara bent forward to give her a kiss. Hinata returned it with passion. Both their bodies were pressing close together.

'I never realized that I could have the capacity to love, a heartless demon like me,' Gaara thought.