Author's Notes: Hey, readers! Thank you for all of the reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter! I am soo sorry for the long update for this story, since I had a lot going on. Please forgive me!

Chapter 6:

"Okay, guys!" exclaimed Ino," It's road trip!" She smiled as as she held a backpack over her shoulders and a sleeping bag and all those camping stuff. She wore a pink shirt with a thick white jacket and jeans and white shoes. Her hair was down.

"Geez, will you be quiet?" said Kiba, yawning a bit," Why did we have to wake up so early in the morning anyway? It's 7:00 a.m.!" He had a cap over his spiky brown hair, a blue jacket, and jeans with black shoes. "Dang, is it me or is the fall weather getting colder?"

Ino smacked him on the head," You little! First we have to take the bus, and being in Tokyo, it will be a while before we will be able to see a forest! It's going to take a while, but we will have to be prepared for anything that happens."

"We understand," said Kankurou, dressed in a green jacket

and jeans with brown shoes," Can we all just stop yelling? We haven't been on a trip in a long time." Shino stood aside sitting on top of his things, looking at his groupie.

"I second that motion," said Chouji, carrying a bag of five bags of potato chips," I brought some snacks for the trip." He wore a black jacket with jeans and black shoes.

"Look, how about we just all meet at the camping grounds and then build a campfire, set up the tents and all that stuff, okay?" suggested Shikamaru. Temari was next to him and they were carrying a load of stuff also. "There's too many of us, so why not just meet up later?" Shikamaru wore a gray jacket with white pants and Temari wore a pink jacket with jeans and her hair was in pig tails.

"But I wanted us all to travel together?" said Ino frowning. She slumped her shoulders. "But if you think that will be better, then I guess so…"

"Sure," said Gaara, suddenly arriving. He wore a red jacket and black pants with black shoes. He carried stuff with him also.

"Hey," said Shikamaru, shaking hands with Gaara," Finally you made it. Hey, Hinata."

"Oh, hello," said Hinata, walking behind Gaara. She was wearing a red sweater and her hair was tied up in a ponytail. She wore jeans and shoes that would be comfortable for the trip. She bowed to Shikamaru and the rest of the groupie.

"Now we just got to wait for Naruto and Sasuke," said Chouji, already snacking on a bag of potato chips.

"I know that Naruto will be usually late, but Sasuke also?" said Kiba, scratching the back of his brown hair. "Now that is just plain weird."

"Hey, guys!" shouted Naruto as he arrived at the bus station. He smiled and waved at the groupie and shook hands with everyone," Is everyone here? I'm ready to go!"

"Sasuke isn't here yet," said Gaara and he turned to check on Hinata.

Hinata was making sure that she had all the things needed for the camping trip.

"Okay, so we got blankets, water canteens, tent," said Hinata as she looked at a small notepad and a black pen, checking all of the things.

"Aaa…" said Kiba," The future Mrs. Sabaku is actually checking she has everything done. What a wife you will have, Gaara!"

Gaara gave an icy glare at Kiba and Kiba moved back a little.

"Sor-ry," said Kiba," Too bad Akamaru had to stay."

"Why?" asked Chouji," That dog follows you around everywhere." He finished his bag of potato chips and put the rest in his backpack on his back.

Hinata blushed as she heard Kiba talk to Chouji more about the dog. She turned around and felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Calm down, Hinata, he was just joking. Stop blushing so much. You are being so childish!

"Hey, forget what he said," said Gaara, talking to her ear," If he says anymore, I'll sock him."

Hinata blush, she could feel him close up to her and he was whispering to her ear! Hinata could feel her stomach twist around, but she shook her head slowly. "No, it's fine. Kiba was just joking around."

Gaara looked as she started to shakily take out her notepad and start checking the stuff again. Gaara frowned a bit at her sudden nervousness, but continued to stay near her. He felt happy.

"Hey, Temari," whispered Kankurou to Temari," Don't you think that Gaara is getting too close with Hinata?" The two siblings were next to each other by themselves.

"Gaara knows what he must do," said Temari in a calm voice," He knows that father wants him to marry Hanabi instead of Hinata. There's not doubt about it, but I heard from father that he has declined that offer. That's why he was visiting father a few days ago."

"But Gaara can't be with Hinata then!" whispered Kankurou," Why is he still dating her?" He watched as Gaara talked again in Hinata's ear as the girl only blushed more but continued to talk to him.

"Yes," said Temari, looking at Hinata and Gaara," It's interesting why he should choose to still stay with her. Our little brother has always secluded himself from others. Why her, I don't know." She watched as Gaara spoke with the expressionless gaze. But being his sister, she knew him more than others. His eyes were giving off a different vibe. It was tender and loving.

His feelings for the Hyuuga girl were growing and she knew that it was never going to stop.

She had to stop it.

"Sasuke's here!" shouted Ino happily. She smiled as she ran to Sasuke. The eighteen year old boy was walking slowly and he was wearing a white sweater with black pants and black shoes. He carried his camping stuff with him and he watched his groupie coldly.

Ino grabbed his arm and again, it was moved away by Sasuke.

"Don't touch me," said Sasuke coldly. He watched as his friends welcomed him and he answered in short reply.

His gaze then turned to Gaara who was standing next to Hinata closely. Somehow, he felt a pint of unknown dislike to that closeness. But he still kept his cool. "Hey."

"Hey," said Gaara.

Sasuke then looked at Hinata.

"Hey."

"Hello," said Hinata and bowed. Sasuke smirked at her politeness. He turned around and stopped. He hadn't noticed that his cheeks were now burning. But it was interrupted as Ino spoke.

"Okay! Do you guys think that we should split up or go all together?" asked Ino, smiling and looking around," Well?"

"I don't know," said Kiba," What do you think, Sasuke?"

"What are you guys talking about?" asked Sasuke.

"Some people think it is a better idea that we all meet together at the camping grounds so that we don't get all crowded," said Ino.

"You know," said Temari," I think that splitting up would be a better idea. We have so many things to carry that our cars are better suited for this stuff than the bus. Don't you think so, honey?" She looked at Shikamaru.

"You have a point there, sweetie," said Shikamaru.

Kiba suddenly started to laugh," Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Sweetie, Shikamaru?" Everyone giggled as Shikamaru blushed and Temari only leaned in closer to her hubby.

"Let's do that then," said Naruto," Let's see… there are eleven of us, so how about we all go by two's. Five is too many to fit in one car and one group will have to have three."

Everyone nodded. Kiba got with Chouji. Temari with Shikamaru. Kankurou and Shino. Gaara and Hinata. Sasuke, Ino, and Naruto.

Ino smiled happily," Okay. I like this idea! Let's go! I'm sure that all of you know the way." Suddenly delighted at the idea of traveling with Sasuke.

Everyone nodded," Yeah, you sent us the map." Ino smiled.

"Do we carry this back to the car again?" asked Hinata.

"Yeah," said Gaara, helping her with the things," Let's go." Hinata followed.

"Hey, Hinata!" cried Ino.

Hinata stopped and so did Gaara. Ino ran up to her. Everyone else was leaving to their own cars.

"Do you think that this is my chance to get together with Sasuke?" she asked hopefully.

"Huh?" said Hinata.

"Ino could you leave Hinata alone with you pestering," said Gaara, grabbing Hinata's arm," We're going."

"Fine!" snapped Ino and turned around and walked off.

Hinata went up to Gaara, and he was still holding her arm. "Gaara. You shouldn't say that to Ino. I think that she really wanted me to answer her."

"Look, Hinata," said Gaara, putting the stuff in the car," I don't want you to get involved with other people's business. It's none of yours or my own business with Ino. So just leave her alone, got it?"

Hinata nodded," Yes." But I can't hold back the feeling that somehow you want to let someone know how you feel, Gaara. Is it wrong to just want to help you? Hinata looked as his expression never changed from time to time. It was always expressionless. No hate or love. You're lonely, I can tell. Thought Hinata. Because I sometimes feel that too.

She got into the car and it drove off.

That's why I want to get to know you better, thought Hinata, glancing at Gaara a bit.

"Hey," said Gaara, looking at the road.

"Yes?" said Hinata, waiting for what Gaara had to say, she looked up at him.

"I want to get to know you better," said Gaara," On the this trip because I don't want you to be scared of me." At that instant Gaara suddenly turned on the radio and kept driving. No looking at Hinata.

Hinata watched surprisingly as his cheeks turned a bit pink. She smiled, I will try. She had to admit that she was afraid of him sometimes, but she didn't want also to be scared of him. I want to be there for you, thought Hinata, looking outside.

X:X:X

"Hey, Sasuke," said Naruto, in the black convertible. "Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" said Sasuke, driving on the road. Ino was asleep at the back of the car and she leaned on the side. The top was on so that they wouldn't get too cold.

"Tell me the truth," said Naruto seriously, looking out the window," Did you ever love Sakura?"

Sasuke, unsurprised by the question answered," Yes I did. She was like a sister to me."

Naruto smirked," That's what I thought you would say. But she said she loved you, too, huh Sasuke?"

Sasuke was quiet, but answered," I know that you cared a lot for Sakura, Naruto."

"You bet I did," said Naruto," But the thing was she cared about you more."

"That's not true," said Sasuke, he kept eye contact on the road," She loved us both."

"Yeah, right," said Naruto, looking at Sasuke," You don't know how much I wanted to see her after talking to Kakashi-sensei."

The ride was silent.

"Can I ask you another question?" asked Naruto. Sasuke was silent. "Do you like Hinata?"

"I thought I told you, I don't like anyone," said Sasuke.

"Yeah, but we all saw you dancing together at the party. You've never dance with a girl before, right?" asked Naruto.

"So," said Sasuke. He didn't want to tell his dobe friend that he couldn't dance," She asked me."

"Yeah, but you know a lot of other girls ask you also, Sasuke," said Naruto.

Sasuke shrugged.

"Well," said Naruto, gritting his teeth a bit," You should know that Gaara will kill you if you do anything with Hinata."

"I understand that," said Sasuke," I don't feel anything for Hinata. There is no one out there for me." Sasuke was fully aware how attached Gaara was to Hinata and he didn't want to get into his friend's business. But he couldn't help feel drawn to that girl also. She was different.

Naruto noticed how quiet Sasuke had gotten and decided to end the conversation. He was angry, but Sakura was gone. She never loved him in the way he loved her. She loved Sasuke as more than a friend and differently from a brother. He knew that.

"Hey, Sakura, I came to visit you!" said Naruto happily, walking into the hospital room. "Sakura?" He had a backpack over his arm.

Sakura sat up in her bed and just looked out the window. She closed her eyes as a breeze blew to her face and she smiled.

"Naruto?" asked Sakura, opening her eyes," Is Sasuke going to come? He hasn't come in days yet."

"Him?" said Naruto, smiling and sitting next to her," He hasn't been able to come yet. But don't worry, I'm here for you." Naruto noticed a frown appear but she only smiled after it.

"That's fine, Naruto," said Sakura and she brought her knees close to her and leaned her head on it. "I'm really tired. You must be tired of coming here. You visit me everyday, Naruto!" Sakura smiled and lay back to her pillow and yawned.

Naruto smiled as she tucked herself into bed.

"Wake me up when Sasuke comes okay?" asked Sakura, closing her eyes. "I want to see him."

Naruto smiled," Sure." He loved her so much.

Later Sasuke came by.

"Hey, is she awake?" asked Sasuke stepping into the room. He was in his school uniform.

Naruto shook his head," No, but I'll wake her." He shook Sakura a bit.

"Huh?" said Sakura and opened her eyes," Sasuke!" She blushed pink," You're here."

Sasuke shrugged," Yeah."

Sakura smiled as she covered her mouth and tears were rolling down. She slowly got up and hugged Sasuke.

"I missed you," said Sakura.

"Yeah, me too," said Sasuke, patting her back.

"Really?" said Sakura and she looked up at him. Sasuke nodded.

"C'mon, you got to get into bed," said Sasuke, tucking her in," You always give me hugs when I visit you. You should rest more."

"But you always visit me every three days," said Sakura leaning on him, closing her eyes.

Naruto tightened his hand into a fist. I was jealous, Sasuke. That she had wanted to see you more than me. When you came, she gave you hugs. She wanted to speak to you. Most of the time I was there, she would sleep. She was never that enthusiastic when talking to me. I hated it when she died and I wasn't there. Why did she have to die in front of you only? What about me? Wasn't she thinking about me also?

Naruto closed his eyes to keep the tears from coming. He hated Sasuke. Now, he was not his close friend anymore. He took Sakura away from him and he hated Sasuke for it.

You never loved Sakura as much as I did, thought Naruto, I wanted to die with her. I wanted to marry her. I wanted to live with her. You never loved her that much. Naruto could feel his anger rise, but he didn't want to do it in front of Ino.

He would wait.

X:X:X

"Hey, we're finally here," exclaimed Ino, hopping out of the car. "We're the first one here, actually."

"Hey, I see Kiba," smiled Naruto and waved at the blue car. "Hey, over here!"

Kiba and Chouji hopped out.

"Yo," said Chouji and they parked next to Sasuke's car.

"Let's see who's next," said Kiba," hey there's Kankurou and Shino. I see Gaara and Hinata behind them."

Shino came out with a cap on as the gust of wind blew harder a bit.

"They parked next to Kiba's car. Gaara parked next to Shino's car, and Temari and Shikamaru arrived.

"Okay," said Ino," Let's find a place to camp out, then!" She then walked to Hinata and grabbed her hand and then Temari, and grabbed her hand," C'mon. We girls will choose the perfect spot!" She hurried them ahead and Ino started looking around.

"Hey," shouted Kiba," How about you guys help us carry the stuff also!"

"Uh, Ino, Kiba-san is right," said Hinata, she looked back," I think that we should help them. There are a lot of things to carry." She saw that Kiba nearly fell trying to carry one of Ino's bag.

Ino shook her head," Nah! Kiba's a sore loser and horrible at being a gentleman. He should let the girls do the easy work. Forget what he said!" She then turned back to Kiba and shouted," STOP WHINING AND CARRY IT YOURSELF!"

"Why you-" snarled Kiba, following the girls," I am going to make sure that I get my payback." He then turned back," Hey, hurry up! Or Ino's gonna ditch us!"

"Hey, Don't you guys ever think that Kiba likes Ino?" asked Chouji, walking with Shikamaru, talking to the guys.

"Seems like it," said Shino.

"Remember they used to fight a lot in high school," said Kankurou," Heh. It was funny."

"It was annoying," said Sasuke.

"More than that," said Gaara," It was so bad that one time they had detention for the whole school in freshman year just because they couldn't stop yelling at each other."

"Maybe Ino should date Kiba instead of just going after Sasuke," said Naruto, laughing.

The guys nodded.

"HEY, I HEARD THAT!" shouted Kiba and he threw a water bottle at Naruto's head.

"Ow!" shouted Naruto, rubbing his head. He suddenly started running after Kiba," You idiot!"

The guys started to laugh.

"This is so like high school," said Shikamaru, chuckling. He ran after them," Hey, ha ha wait up!"

"How about us!" shouted Chouji, Kankurou, and Shino and hurried after.

Sasuke and Gaara just walked.

"So," said Gaara," have you visited your brother, Itachi?"

Sasuke stopped.

"Why do ask?" said Sasuke, his eyes suddenly turning cold.

Gaara's eyes turned cold also. "I was just wondering."

X:X:X

"Wow, this place looks perfect!" exclaimed Ino, looking around. "There's space, not too far from the stream, and trees and wood to make fire."

"Yes," said Hinata, smiling, she then looked around and noticed that her vision began to get blurry. What?

She noticed that she was feeling a bit warm. She tried to go to Ino, but Ino was already telling the guys that had arrived.

"Hinata?" said Temari, walking up to Hinata," Are you okay?"

Hinata smiled," Yes. I'm fine." She felt for something to lean on.

Temari gave a worried look," You don't look good." She touched her arms to help her stand.

Hinata shook her head," No. I'm…fine…" She then collapsed on the ground.

"Hinata!" shouted Temari and she bent down to feel her head. Her eyes grew big. It's burning.

Author's Notes: hey, hoped you likey! Please review because I will be very thankful if you do. I want to know what you think of it, so please, I will be much obliged and happy. :)

Special Thanks to all reviewers: (if there is a spelling error, i'm am so sorry!)

Angle Yuriko

1-x3-shikamaru

kenshinlover2002

Vegeta-is-Forgotten

khmer shinobi

Audriel

Forgottendream

wRiTeRs-PeT

RemyLuver

Hokai Amplifier

Tonacole

Uchiha Kaede

ROLAMdimensi

Lun

Yum Yum-Chan

wolf-enzeru

Fractured wings 01

Anime/Manga lubber

ShikaruTo

Lems

animeperfect

XoniNewcomer

Opal Soul

chinadoll27

hatami

mUcHaChAnGiStAriRaY

hopeless-flame