Chapter Two
Hinata had never been so exhausted in her life. At least not that she could remember. The two Jounin that were with her had slowed down even more and she frowned slightly at that. 'Why is it that whenever I show any signs of weakness they are there? I'm nothing special. Am I?' Her thoughts were cut off when strong arms lifted his up bridal style. She smiled back at the smiling face of her brother in law and laughed slightly, "Guess I'm slowing us down more and normal huh?"
"Actually we're almost there Hinata-sama." The other male called, a man named Nejiri. He was in charge of the Academy in the Sand Village and was asked by the Kazekage himself to escort Hinata to her home village for the Godaime's birthday party. Kankuro had insisted that he go as well, Gaara said yes almost immediately. So they had started out four days ago. Hinata had been able to keep up with the two Jounin at first but found it increasingly hard to keep up with the added weight. Kankuro had taken to carrying her every few hours as to not cause any harm to the growing life inside of Hinata.
Hinata was snapped from her thoughts of the life form inside of her when Kankuro had jumped down from the tree to land in front of the giant gate that marked the eastern entrance of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Hinata was about to seep into memories of her childhood when a white and red blur landed in front of her and the two boys. Kankuro quickly set her down and Nejiri and himself situated themselves in front of her like a shield. This as not necessary though, for said blur was in fact the legendary frog hermit Jiraiya.
The older man rubbed the back of his head and laughed softly at the three Nin in front of him. "I didn't mean to scare you three. The Godaime sent me to escort you three to the Tower as soon as you arrived." Hinata blinked slightly before pushing Kankuro and Nejiri out of the way and stepped up to Jiraiya. "My oh my. The young Hinata Hyuuga, all grown up. I hope you plan on stopping into see your father while you are here. I'd mention your sister but currently she is off on a mission with her partner. But I am sure she will be off to see you as soon as she returns to the village." Jiraiya took in Hinata's appearance and smiled to himself. Hinata's long shinning black hair fit her perfectly tanned skin and deep cloudy white eyes. The dress Hinata was currently wearing though Jiraiya thought she could do without, not cause of his pervert mind, but because it made her look, well fat. The older man shook his head and sweep into a bow making Hinata giggle and the two boys roll there eyes, before they all started off to the Tower.
Kankuro moved his puppet slightly on his shoulder and pulled Hinata close to him. He didn't want anyone to be ogling his young sister in law. Not even if they were just starting at his niece or nephew to be. Hinata didn't seem to mind any of the staring, and Kankuro was sure it was because of the past seven years. Spending time with Gaara might seem like a dumb idea to pull a girl out of her shell but in fact, with Hinata, it had done the opposite. Hinata became the true flower of the desert, the apple of ever villager's eye in the Village Hidden in the Sand. Gaara had announced his marriage to the raven-haired beauty in front of a council meeting one night, causing two of the council older members to have heart attacks. Kankuro remembers being shocked not because of the announcement, he had known that Gaara was falling in love with Hinata; it was because his younger brother had actually SMILED! Temeri had had the funniest reaction of anyone though. Kankuro let a wide smile come across his face as he remembered.
The members were stunned to silence as their leader made the announcement. "We're to be married in three months. Arrangements have already been made to have her family arrive the week prior and I expect all of you to treat them as if they were royalty." Silence met Gaara's ears when he finished talking and he frowned, he had at least expected a congratulation of some kind. It just wasn't every day that the Kazekage took a wife, was it? Gaara was about to continue with busy when two of the council members fell backwards in their chairs in a dead faint, clutching their chests. A few other members had started to blink, coming out of their stupors. Kankuro was the first one completely back to normal, which was no surprise to Gaara. His older brother jumped over the table, or tried to, his foot catching in his chair and more so falling over the table, causing Gaara's lips to turn up ward slightly. Kankuro blinked slightly and smiled brightly at Gaara before he was roughly pushed from the tabletop. Gaara found himself standing with a very livid looking Temeri in front of him. His older sister looked truly scary when she glared at him like that, and Kankuro had to admit he knew that Gaara was scared at that moment, even if he never showed it.
Before either brother could blink an eye though Temeri had Gaara up in a big hug the younger boy's face showed how truly shocked he was. While Kankuro's broke out into a huge grin jumping up and joining into the hug.
Finally Temeri and Kankuro let their little brother go and Temeri whacked Gaara go hard on the back of his head he was knocked unconscious.
"That's for not proposing sooner you leach!"
Kankuro could help but sweat drop and slowly back away from his evilly smirking sister.
Kankuro felt Hinata elbow him in the ribs and he looked down at her knowing smile. He then glanced up to see the Godaime standing in front of them and briefly wondered how they had gone up to her office without him knowing. He shook his head and smiled at the Hokage bowing slightly.
"A early happy birthday Godaime-Sama, from the Sand. I regret to inform you that our little lady here will be unable to compete in your birthday celebration. But we brought our Academy teacher to take her place. I do hope this is acceptable." Kankuro looked down to Hinata who was snickering slightly to herself. Tsunade nodded her head and smiled to the three.
"That is perfectly acceptable. I suppose your sister and will be accompanying the Kazekage?" Kankuro nodded to the older woman and Hinata stepped forward Tsunade pulled the younger women into a hug, tears coming up to her eyes.
"Tsunade-Sensei, it's so good to see you again." Tsunade couldn't help the squeak that escaped her. She pulled back and pushed a strand of Hinata's hair behind her ear.
"It's good to hear that little stutter is gone. And you got some real color onto your skin, not just a blush." She glanced to Kankuro and narrowed her eyes, "I do hope these are signs that your brother is treating her well?" Kankuro stuttered under the Godaime's glare before Hinata started to laugh holding her stomach.
"Tsunade-Sensei. Gaara couldn't treat me any better if he tried. I'm as close to a queen as anyone could ever get. Loved by my husband, my brother in law and sister in law, and all of the villagers. And now the buddle of joy that is currently kidding my bladder for all it's worth. I really couldn't be any happier, if I was, I'm sure I'd burst." Tsunade laughed out loud at that and showed Hinata to a chair before kneeling in front of her and letting chakra flow into her hand, glowing a faint green color, she let the hand hover over Hinata's belly and her smile grew wider. Hinata watched with her head tilted and Kankuro walked over to stand by her side.
"Well the little dear seems to be fine. And I think he wants to come out soon, so we best get you situated up at the hospital." Kankuro's eyes widened and Tsunade stood up smiling at the boy. "No need to worry, I'd say a good three days yet, so your brother will be here in plenty of time. As for right now though, it will be your responsibility to watch over her. And if anything happens to her or the baby, I will personally make sure that you will never be able to conceive, and possibly never be able to walk again." Kankuro gulped loudly and Hinata giggled as she stood up patting her brother in law on the shoulder before pushing him towards the door.
"We should be going to our rooms brother dear." Hinata pulled on Kankuro's arm smiling at Nejiri would was covering his mouth trying not to laugh out loud. "I will be sure to go and check into the hospital tomorrow once Gaara arrives." She reached the door and pushed Kankuro out the door laughing softly at the thump he made hitting the floor. "It was good to see you again Tsunade-Sensei." She waved and closed the door behind her, missing the window opening and the black/red and blue/orange blurs coming through the window. Though on her way down the stairs with Nejiri and Kankuro, who had finally snapped out of it and was quietly whimpering and holding his groin, she didn't miss the yell and the crash that came from the Hokage's office.
"BAKA!"
