Author's Notes: Hey, readers! I am just happy to say that I have really appreciated all that had reviewed so far in this story. Your reviews have all given me support in an urge to keep on writing. I don't care if the reviews are good or bad, but either way, they have given me more determination and happiness. Your reviews will be cherished. I know that this sounds corny, but I just want to let all the reviewers know that I love you guys so much! Anywayz, I am so sorry for not updating. Just to warn you guys, this chapter is really really really long. Maybe you might think it boring, but I just wrote a lot. I am trying to make it like a regular life for these characters. Nothing is rushed too quickly about love and so if you fall asleep while reading this, I am so sorry. I guess I'm expecting you guys to say: How boring! But I hope it isn't! ;; And stuff but please read it as best as you can. It is long.
Chapter 7:
"Good afternoon, Hanabi," said Yuna as she took Hanabi's coat and hanged it on the coat rack near the door.
Hanabi was dressed in her school uniform and she entered the huge mansion. "Hello." She then headed toward the kitchen. "Is Hinata home?"
Yuna went to the kitchen to finish her dishes and she shook her head," Oh no. Gaara-san came while you were in school and took Hinata to a camping trip with his friends."
Hanabi poured herself a glass of milk and cookies," I was craving for sweets all day." She than took a bite. She sat by the breakfast table.
Yuna sighed dreamily," That Gaara-san certainly is affectionate toward Hinata. It's amazing when you think about it. I mean their relationship only began about a month ago and he is so much in love with her! They will certainly make a wonderful pair when they marry!" Yuna chuckled to herself," Talk about love."
Hanabi frowned. Why? Ever since a month ago, Hanabi could not control her feelings for Gaara. It was hard for her. She felt somewhat drawn to him in a weird way even though she didn't know him at all. She saw how much he loved Hinata, but knowing her sister, Hanabi knew that Hinata was not feeling love yet. Maybe affection, but not anything stronger. Her elder sister was as dense as a rock.
Hanabi frowned though, at how close Gaara was getting to his sister.
"Hinata!" shouted Temari, bending down on her knees. She started to panic as she only felt the burning on her forehead and cheek. Sweat started to roll down her face.
"What's going on?" said Ino, suddenly running," Why did you shout?" She suddenly stopped as next to Temari, was a collapsed Hinata. "Oh my gosh, Hinata! Are you okay?" She bent down and felt her forehead.
Hinata breathed hard as she lied on the ground. Her hand was over her stomach and her eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed red.
"What happened to Hinata?" said Kiba running up to the two girls," Oh, man! Does she have a fever?"
"I think so," said Shikamaru, bending down as he also ran over. "Oh man, this is really bad."
"Where's Gaara?" said Ino, looking back to see if they were there," We have to tell him." They saw after Chouji and Shino, and Kankurou had run over, Gaara and Sasuke were quietly walking at the end, not talking at all.
"Gaara!" shouted Kankurou as he saw Hinata," Something's wrong with Hinata!" He placed his hands over his mouth and started shouting," She has a fever!"
"What the-" said Gaara, suddenly his attention toward the crowd of people around Hinata. "Hinata!"
Sasuke looked up also and hurried.
Gaara moved Shikamaru and Shino aside and bent down and felt Hinata's forehead.
"Hinata, are you okay?" asked Gaara in his cold monotonous tone as he felt her forehead. He quickly moved it away at how hot it was.
"Hm?" said Hinata, opening her eyes a little," Gaara." A sweat rolled down her face and she tried to smile," It's okay. It's just a slight fever."
Yeah right, thought Sasuke, looking at Hinata. That was no slight fever. He noticed that she was breathing really hard.
Gaara suddenly picked her up in his arms and Hinata blushed. Not that anyone noticed because her whole face was flushed red, but she was too tired to stop Gaara and she leaned on his chest, closing her eyes.
"We're going home," said Gaara, walking back," There's no way that Hinata can stay out in the woods with this fever."
Hinata shook her head slowly as she opened her eyes," No. It's okay. I don't want to ruin this for all of you guys. I have some medicine in my bag." She pointed to the back that Gaara was carrying. "I was a bit sick this morning so for the trip I brought some medicine."
Gaara stared as Hinata try to cheer him up and he felt even worse for it. Why didn't she tell him this earlier?
"Are you sure that you won't get too sick after today?" asked Sasuke, staring at Hinata," Because it's best that you go home."
Hinata shook her head at Sasuke," It's okay. I think because I was hanging out in the rain too much yesterday." Today was just a wonderful crisp morning and the rain made it so beautiful that Hinata felt she just couldn't ruin it all for everyone.
"Oh, Hinata," said Ino, walking up to Hinata and feeling her forehead," You always try to cheer people up don't you."
Kiba nodded. "You should be more careful. Hey, how about we just do all of the setting up and Hinata can just sit down and relax?"
Everyone nodded and started moving around.
Ino and Temari gathered the wood for making fires. The guys got the tents started.
"Hey, Gaara," said Hinata feeling a bit embarrassed," You can let me down now." She blushed," I feel like sitting. Besides, I have to take some medicine."
"Oh," said Gaara. He then let Hinata slowly down and Hinata held onto his shoulder as she took off the bag from him. She placed it over her shoulder and slowly sat down. "I'm going to help them, okay."
Hinata nodded," Go ahead. I'll be fine."
She took out medicine to relieve her fever and she took the pills. There was a bottle of water in her bag and she drank some of it. She placed it all in her bag and rested for thirty minutes.
She closed her eyes and opened them, feeling better after the thirty minutes. She could feel the herself getting better little by little. She placed the bag over her shoulders and started walking to Chouji.
"Chouji-san, can I help?" asked Hinata, smiling.
Chouji, who was getting lunch ready, was flabbergasted," Hinata! You shouldn't be standing, you should rest." He had a white apron over him and he was taking out the food from the ice chest.
Hinata shook her head," I'm fine. I took some medicine, but I would really help you than rest."
Chouji stared at her as if examining her to make sure she could help," Okay," he said slowly.
Hinata smiled and blushed," Um…is there an apron that I can use, Chouji-san?"
Chouji, noticing that she was still shy around him, which only made him smile," Hey. Don't call me Chouji-san. Just call me Chouji. And here," he took out a yellow apron," Here." He smiled and gave it to her.
Hinata took it," Arigato, Chouji." She then washed her hands with water and soap and then asked," So, what do you need help with?" She placed the apron over herself.
"Help me take out these food," said Chouji, taking out veggies from a box and then raw meat from a cooler. "We're going to make some beef soup, so can you cut these for me?"
Hinata nodded," Certainly." She grabbed a knife from the small table that they had brought along and got a cutting board and started chopping.
"Hey," shouted Chouji, to the guys," Can someone go catch some fish? I was thinking that Hinata and I could fry some fish along with the beef stew we are going to make."
Shikamaru looked up," Yeah. We sent Shino, Kankurou, and Sasuke to fish already."
"Okay, thanks!" shouted Chouji and went back to chopping some veggies for the soup. "Now we just have to wait for Ino and Temari to bring some wood." He then checked on Hinata," Hey. You really know how to cook huh?" He watched as Hinata chopped the meat to bite-sized pieces for the soup and she had no trouble working the knife.
"Oh," said Hinata smiling," I don't cook often, but the cook at our mansion always teaches me when I have a free time, which is always every Friday." She smiled," My mom loved to cook."
"Wow," said Chouji," That's great. My mom also! My dad loves her cooking. Hey, we have something in common."
Hinata smiled," Yes." The two friends smiled at each other.
X:X:X
"Hey, Ino, do you have enough wood, yet?" asked Temari, carrying an armload of wood in her arms. They had ventured around the place, but not too far from where they were staying, to gather woods.
She then heard a yelp.
"Ino?" said Temari and walked to the yelp and saw that Ino had tripped and had dropped all of the wood she was carrying. Temari smiled," I see that you tripped."
Ino gave a hurtful whine and got up," Ugh! I can't believe that I tripped over a stupid rock!" She picked up a rock from the ground that was the size of her fist and she threw it as far as she could. "I hate it!"
"Hey, you scratched your knee," said Temari, staring at the bloodied left knee. "I think you should get that treated." Ino's jeans had ripped and now it was red.
"Oh, no," said Ino, looking at her knee, touching it," Ow. It stings." She sighed," Oh, great and I like these jeans also." She then ripped the lower part of her jeans since it was ruined anyway and wrapped it around her knee tightly.
"Hopefully that will hold it together until we get back," said Temari, she then extended an arm to Ino to help her walk," Just walk and I'll carry the wood."
"I'm sorry," said Ino, trying to walk as fast," Jeez, I can hardly walk. This knee is so slowing me down."
"Don't worry," said Temari, helping her walk," Just slow and steady."
Ino smiled," Thanks Temari. You're such a good friend." She placed an arm over her shoulder and hopped a little.
Temari smiled," Just doing my job." She then noticed that Ino was quiet.
"Hey," said Ino, quietly, looking at the ground to make sure of her step," Do you think that Hinata really likes your brother?" She noticed the sudden quietness from Temari.
"Wait! I didn't mean to offend you, Temari, please forgive me?" exclaimed Ino, closing her eyes, waiting to hear some insult. She noticed how quiet Temari was and didn't want her to say anything that she didn't want to.
"I hope not."
Ino's eyes suddenly opened in surprise," What?" She turned to Temari," But your brother really likes her. Everyone can tell."
Temari sighed and nodded," Yeah. I know THAT very well. But Gaara should know better."
"What do you mean?" asked Ino, confused and curious. She looked at Temari's sad expression and wanted to know. "Tell me, Temari."
"It's just that," said Temari, only sadder," I know that my little brother likes her, but my father will not let him marry her. No matter how much Hinata means to Gaara, my father wants him to marry Hanabi."
"Wait, isn't Hinata the oldest though?" said Ino, wincing at a pain she felt. She had to slow down her walking even slower," Can we slow down? I don't think I can walk too fast."
Temari nodded," Certainly. Well…it's true that Hinata is the oldest, but Hanabi will be the one to take over the Hyuuga corp. when she is older since she is more capable than Hinata. It's true. Everyone of the business leader of Japan, has acknowledged Hanabi's role in the corporation more than they acknowledge Hinata. Hanabi is more smarter and more leader-like. She would make an excellent leader. Unlike Hinata who is average and a follower."
Ino was shocked," But it'll hurt Gaara so much."
Temari nodded," Yes. More than we may know. That's why I hope that Hinata will not fall for Gaara. It'll hurt them badly."
Ino nodded, but she couldn't help feeling a bit jealous about it for some unknown reason. "Right now, it seems that Hinata likes Gaara, but hasn't fallen in love him as much as he loves her."
"It is possible," said Temari," But we don't know for sure. There's no other man in Hinata's life that I could think of that would take Hinata away from Gaara. No one."
Ino, frowed at that statement," I guess." But she couldn't help feeling that there was a certain spiky black-haired guy who could be.
X:X:X
"Hey, I caught a fish!" said Kankurou, sitting on large rock by the stream with a fishing rod in his hand. He placed it in a bucket that they had brought along. "How about you guys?" On the far side of his left was Sasuke, who was stepping out in the lake. Not too far in, but he was reeling in a fish.
He only lifted his own bucket with three fishes in it.
Kankurou turned to his right and saw that Shino had lifted up four fishes.
"Wow!" said Kankurou," I only caught two."
"We just need two more fishes to catch," said Shino and he already had one he was reeling in.
Sasuke had walked over," I just caught four. You?"
Shino nodded," I just caught one, so adding it to my pile is five."
"Five, four, and two makes eleven, so we have enough for all of us," replied Kankurou," Hey, let's give this to Chouji and he can cook it."
Sasuke nodded," He doesn't cook so bad for a guy."
Shino nodded," I have to admit, his love of food, has got him thinking of becoming a chef."
Kankurou nodded," C'mon, let's get going."
The friends nodded and walked off.
X:X:X
"Naruto! Will you stop eating the food! We have to use it for the soup and fish!" shouted Chouji, a bit angry.
Naruto smiled," Hey, I just ate some carrots." He smiled and ran off towards Gaara and Shikamaru.
"Hey, get your butt over here fast, Naruto," shouted Shikamaru, setting the last of the tents. He fumbled back as the sticks for holding the tent flung at him and it hit his head.
Shikamaru layed on the ground and sighed," Again for the fifth time it has happened! Why couldn't I fish instead of doing this tedious work. Fishing is much more relaxing."
"Here, let me help," said Naruto, helping Shikamaru up. "Let's get this baby done."
Hinata watched Naruto and Shikamaru as they helped put the tent up. She giggled when Naruto fell back getting hit by the stick.
"Yep. Naruto is the funny one among us," said Chouji, choppin up some celery," Next is the rude and annoying Kiba." He smiled as he chuckled to himself. "What a group of friends we have. So far, you probably think that we are weird huh?"
Hinata shook her head," No, not at all. Actually I envy your friendship you share with your friends. I sense warm and happiness around you all. You all have a connected invisible thread that sews you all together. It's wonderful and amazing." Hinata blushed as she said this but it was true. No matter their differences in personality as she watched Gaara alone put up the tent perfectly, she couldn't help wonder how alone it must be after seeing these people be so close, it must be for a person who has no one.
Chouji stared at Hinata as he saw her thinking about things.
I can't help but wonder how Gaara met Hinata, thought Chouji, amazed at her choice of words to describe his friends. It was so true the words that she spoke. How did he meet such a kind pure girl?
He watched as Hinata only sighed in happiness and then went back to chopping the potatoes. She was so hard-working even when cutting a potato.
"Hey, Hinata," said Chouji.
"Yes?" said Hinata and looked up.
"I hope that we can be good friends also," he said to her. His round cheeks blushed a bit.
Hinata blushed also, but she nodded.
"I would love that, Chouji."
"We're back!" shouted Ino, hopping on one foot as Temari also helped her.
"What happened to you," said Kiba, looking at Ino's knee. "Did you get attacked by a giant rat or what?" He noticed that the blood had seeped to the wrapped, ripped jean around Ino's knee.
"You idiot," said Ino, flushed at Kiba's comment," I tripped on a rock as I was carrying some wood."
"Hey, are you alright?" asked Shikamaru to Temari, as he walked up to her. He helped take the wood from her arms as Temari helped Ino.
"Thanks. And I am fine," said Temari, smiling at her husband. Shikamaru sighed in relief and kissed her wife in the cheek and looked at Ino.
"You okay, buddy," said Shikamaru.
Ino only rolled her eyes," Like I look okay?" She then glared at Kiba as Kiba started to laugh uncontrollably.
"Aha ha ha ha ha! Ho! Ha ha ha!" laughed Kiba," A rock!" He then fell to the ground and clutching his stomach. "I can't believe it!"
Ino, flushing in anger, turned towards Shikamaru," May I borrow a piece of wood?" She then took the biggest one with one hand and she then wacked Kiba on the head with it as hard as she could," OH MY! WHAT HAPPENED? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I HAD HIT YOUR HEAD, DOG BREATH!" She huffed and puffed and hopped away from him as Temari was dragged along, trying to help Ino keep her balance.
"Ow! That-!" cried Kiba, rubbing his head, he then turned around to Ino's back," Her! I will get my payba-"
Bump!
Kiba
stared openly and then turned to Shikamaru," What the heck was that
for?"
"That was for making fun of Ino," said
Shikamaru, staring seriously at him," What do you think you are
doing laughing at a girl like that? You know, you will never get a
girlfriend with that attitude." He walked away.
Kiba angrily, mumbled some curses under his breath," Whatever."
X:X:X
"Ino!" cried Hinata, as she finished chopping all of the veggies that Chouji had advised her. She was wiping her hands on a towel and she ran to Ino. Chouji, finished also, ran after her.
"What happened?" asked Hinata, and bent down to inspect the injury," This looks bad."
"We heard you were fighting with Kiba," said Chouji," But don't tell me that he laughed-" Ino nodded big time. "Oh," said Chouji," Not again. Why is that he always laughs at every flaw you do."
Ino sighed, and she looked at the ground, and spoke softly," I don't know what is up with that Kiba. He always made fun of me out all of us groupie. He gets on my nerves and he never stops laughing at me." She closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
"Just let me get my hands on him-" said Chouji, then Ino spoke.
She smiled at Chouji," No. It's okay, Chouji. Kiba's my friend and he always does that." She gave him an assuring look," We know that Kiba's not all like that."
Like what? Thought Hinata, wondering.
Chouji nodded," Okay. But how are you going to treat that wound?"
"I can treat it," said Hinata. Her voice was not expected.
"You know how to treat injuries?" asked Temari.
Hinata nodded," When I was young, my mother and grandmother would always teach me. Of course, my grandmother taught me the most about herbs and medicinal things. I would always tend to my cousin, Neiji's wound when he practiced."
"Wow," said Ino," I'm surprised. I never knew that. So can you treat my wound, Hinata?" She looked at her hopefully.
"I think so," said Hinata, she then took from out of her bag, some bandage wrapping and a small container. "Can I look at it?"
Ino nodded and the four friends walked to somewhere with more space and Hinata began to slowly unwrap the ripped jean.
"I got to say, you did do pretty well, from stopping more blood to come out," said Hinata, inspecting the wound. She had on gloves and she saw the gash on her knee. "Okay, now. I'm just going to clean it, but it might sting." She took some rubbing alcohol, a cotton and rubbed it on Ino's knee.
"It hurts!" whined Ino as Temari and Chouji held each of her shoulders as she sat on the ground.
"I have to fully make sure that there are no infections," said Hinata and she finished and place the cotton in a small bag for trash and for the ripped jean cloth.
She then got open the small container that contained a white cream.
"What's that?" asked Ino.
"It's my own medicinal cream," said Hinata, rubbing it on Ino's knee," It's supposed to help your knee heal really fast. I think that tomorrow it shall be much better." She then got the bandage wrap and wrapped it around Ino's knee. "There."
Ino then smiled and she hugged Hinata. "You are the best, Hinata!"
Hinata smiled and hugged back," I suggest that you shouldn't walk too much for today." Ino nodded and the friends helped her sit by where Shikamaru was setting up the fire. He was trying to light it.
Ino sat on a fold back chair that Temari brought and Ino thanked her.
"Hey! Sasuke, Shino, and Kankurou are back!" exclaimed Naruto.
Author's Notes: Hey, guys! Thanks for reading this chappie, I really appreciate it! Arigato for reviewing! Whew! Was it really long? To me it seemed long. Thirteen pages(with size font 14) and eight pages (with size font 10) on my computer but anyway I hope you guys like it. For some reasons, this story seems to have really long chapters. Please review because I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK OF THIS CHAPPIE!
