Author's Notes: hey readers! Hehe. Summer is out now and I updated! - hope u guys all enjoy it and please review. I want to thank u guys for all waiting patiently. Sorry for the long update and I'm hoping to update more during summer vacation. Love u guys!
Chapter 9:
It was a bright crisp morning and everyone was wide awake. Yesterday, they all took a nap, ate dinner, chatted and then went to sleep in their tents again.
"Okay!" exclaimed Ino, smiling as she was now dressed in a white turtle neck shirt with jeans. Her hair was tied up in a high pony tail. She stood in the middle of everyone as they circled around her. "It's time to do some hiking!"
Kiba smiled," Yeah! Let's try to get on top of a mountain and see the awesome view!" He wore a blue vest with a gray shirt and black slacks.
"Is your leg feeling better?" asked Shino. He had on cap over his head and he wore a yellow jacket with white slacks. His sunglasses were over his eyes and he looked at her.
Ino nodded," I don't have to limp as much and the pain is nearly gone!" She smiled at Hinata," Thanks for patching it up."
Hinata smiled," No problem!" She and Ino began to giggle. Hinata wore a black sweater with jeans and her hair was tied up again. They were hiking after all.
"You're bringing it with you?" asked Sasuke, standing next to her. He wore a plain gray jacket and jeans.
Hinata nodded," Yes. I have some homemade medicinal cream with me and bandages in here." She pointed to the backpack she had over her shoulders and blushed a bit.
Sasuke was impressed. He didn't know a lot of girls that made their own medicinal cream and stuff.
"Can we go now?" asked Shikamaru, linking arms with Temari," I want to just find a good spot to look out at the view."
Temari leaned on her husband's shoulder," I'll be by your side."
"Okay, then!" exclaimed Naruto smiling and walking ahead of everyone," Let's go!" He started marching off.
"Hey, Sasuke?" asked Ino, walking alongside Sasuke. She carried a backpack behind her and so did everyone else that was hiking.
"Yeah?" asked Sasuke, looking ahead.
"I just-"
Hinata started to laugh. Sasuke and Ino looked back.
Hinata and Gaara were the last people walking and it seemed that Hinata was laughing. Gaara was standing next to her, blushing like crazy and scratching the back of his head.
"Hey, that wasn't funny," said Gaara, embarrassed.
Hinata stopped laughing and gave a cough," Yes, I'm sorry." She then felt hands on her cheeks and Gaara looked at her.
Hinata looked back at him and couldn't hide it anymore. She started to giggle and said," I'm sorry!" she then covered her mouth and Gaara only smiled and he let go.
"Hey, what's so funny?" asked Ino, stopping, a bit curious.
"Nothing," said Gaara and walked off.
Ino then started talking with Hinata. Sasuke stopped also looking at Hinata. She was smiling and he just turned away. He closed his eyes a bit as if not caring and opened them and walked off.
"So what happened?" asked Ino, with a sly look.
"Oh," said Hinata, giggling a little now," Gaara just told me a funny joke that's all."
Ino's face just went confused," That's it! I thought it would be more-"
"More what?" asked Hinata innocently," What more could it be?" She looked at Ino, wondering what she was going to say.
Ino was opening her mouth and about to say something, but she smiled and shook her head," It's nothing. C'mon, let's catch up with the others." She and Hinata than ran after the groupie.
X:X:X
"Wow," said Kankurou, looking around with a camera," What an amazing place this is!"
Chouji nodded and smiled," It certainly is!"
The friends nodded as they looked out on a cliff to see the trees below them. It was just magnificent. It was an hour or two that they had been walking and this view was just perfect.
"Hey, how about we eat lunch here?" asked Temari, looking around," I think eating and enjoying the view is perfect."
"Wait, how about we take pictures?" asked Kankurou," Then we can eat!"
"Sure!" exclaimed Ino, then grabbed Sasuke's arm," Me and Sasuke together!"
Sasuke then took her arm away from his and walked off. Ino frowned a bit and looked away. Almost everyone else was talking and taking pictures.
Hinata noticed how cold Sasuke moved Ino's arm away. She frowned. Poor Ino, thought Hinata. The amazing thing was that Ino just sighed and smiled and ran over to the guys. Hinata smiled, Even though she is upset, she is still able to cheer herself up for everyone. Hinata then checked her backpack and took out a water bottle. She was sitting by herself on a rock.
She had to admit, she was still a bit sick, but not as much as yesterday. Hinata then took out some pills and placed it in her mouth and drank some more water.
"Hey, let's take some pictures," said Gaara, walking over to her.
Hinata placed her bottle away and nodded," Okay." She walked with Gaara to where Kankurou was taking a picture of Shino standing on the cliff with the beautiful scenery behind them.
"C'mon Shino, smile!" exclaimed Kiba, shouting to Shino. He stood behind Kankurou.
Shino only gave a smirk and Kankurou took the shot.
"Hey," said Kankurou, turning to Kiba," At least it's the closest to a smile we can have from him when we take pictures."
Kiba nodded," You're right. Now me next!"
"Wait," said Kankurou," How about we have two people take a picture at a time."
"So who goes first?" asked Ino.
"Well, I think that everyone should take a picture with everyone here, so how about we let the girls take a picture with who they want first," said Kankurou, getting his digital camera ready.
"Me first!" said Temari and grabbed Shikamaru's arm, walking to the spot Shino once stood," Smile honey!"
The couple gave their widest and happiest smile and leaned their heads on one another.
"How sweet," said Hinata and she smiled. Sasuke stood next to her and smirked.
"Why don't you say it aloud like Ino and Temari," Sasuke said. He looked at her with those intense onyx orbs.
Hinata smiled," I would like too, but I'm sure that everyone won't care. They look happy enough already." She didn't look at him, though and Sasuke only felt that by saying that she meant that everyone knew it was sweet. Why should she say aloud that when everyone already knew it was?
He looked at her, amazed for some reason.
"Okay, I go!" said Ino and she looked at Sasuke," I choose you, Sasuke!" She then started to smile with a blush on her cheeks.
Sasuke shrugged and walked over to her.
"Oh man," said Kiba," Miss Talkative chooses Mr. Expressionless for her first pick again." He then gave an annoyed look.
Naruto hit Kiba's shoulder," Hey, c'mon, what's that supposed to mean?"
Chouji shrugged," I mean Kiba is right. Ino always chooses Sasuke as her first person to take a picture with, right?"
Naruto nodded and looked at Kiba with interest," You jealous?"
Kiba blushed," Why would I be? Give me a break!" He looked the other way and Naruto and Chouji laughed their heads off.
"What's so funny?" asked Ino, looking at those three.
They shook their heads as if nothing, but Kiba just looked the other way, a bit ticked off. Ino just shook it out of her mind and she then stood next to Sasuke. Their hands were so close together, but still, no contact. Ino just smiled and Sasuke just looked at the camera.
"Okay, got it," said Kankurou," Hinata? Your turn."
Hinata then nodded and then she went to Gaara, who was standing next to Shino," Gaara, do you want to take a picture?"
Gaara then looked at her," Okay." They both walked to where Ino and Sasuke was.
Hinata stood there with her arms straight and so did Gaara.
"Wait," said Gaara, stopping Kankurou from touching the camera button. He then grabbed Hinata's hand and led her between his arms. His arms were now around her, but he wasn't leaning in on her, but was just only standing tall, with her in his arms.
Hinata blushed, but went with it. They were a couple after all, she had to admit. She then placed an arm touching one of his arms and she looked in the camera, giving a smile.
Everyone had stopped to look at them take the picture and Kankurou was a bit surprised along with them.
"Gaara," said Kankurou softly. He hasn't seen him hold someone like that since…since…a very long time. His expression was still cold. Kankurou turned a bit to look at Temari and saw her amazed expression also.
"Hurry up," said Gaara, coldly.
Kankurou then nodded and snapped the picture. Gaara then let go of Hinata and walked with her away from the spot to stand next behind the other friends.
"Okay," said Kiba, a bit surprised," I have never seen Gaara hold a girl like that."
Naruto nodded," Yes." He then looked at Sasuke. Sasuke was just staring at nothing as if nothing mattered to him. Naruto was pretty amazed that he didn't reacht and his eyebrows went up in surprise.
Sasuke, you aren't even the least bit jealous? Thought Naruto. His theory that Sasuke liked Hinata was beginning to loosen. It didn't seem like it at all. Naruto just shrugged his shoulder and turned to laugh with Kiba and Chouji.
Shino though, looked at Sasuke.
The next one was Kiba and Ino. Then Naruto and Sasuke. Chouji and Ino. Shikamaru and Shino. Gaara and Kankurou.
"Hey, Hinata, could you take the picture?" asked Kankurou politely.
Hinata smiled," Certainly, Kankurou-san." She took the camera.
"Hey, no need to call us with formalities," said Shikamaru, smiling," Just call us by our names only and we will be happy."
"Yeah, we like you," said Naruto and he went up to her and placed an arm on her shoulder," Can I call you Hinata-chan?"
Hinata blushed," No one has ever called me that." She then looked at Naruto and saw his smiling face. Hinata couldn't help his boyish look and she nodded and smiled back at him," Sure, why not?"
Naruto smiled, his eyes pleased," Good." He then walked away from her and stood next to Sasuke," Sasuke, don't you want to call her Hinata-chan also?" he knew he was going overboard, but he was being his usual self. And he felt like playing around.
Sasuke only looked away from where Naruto was staring at him," Hinata is just fine."
Hinata frowned a bit. Not because of her name, but because he seemed uncomfortable. She didn't want anyone to feel like that.
"Um," said Hinata, smiling uneasily as she walked up to Naruto," I really appreciate that you would call me that with so much happiness." She smiled at Naruto," But Hinata is just fine also. I'm glad to know friends that'll call me by my name also. Everyone usually calls me Hinata-san."
Naruto stared at Hinata, a bit shocked.
Friends?
Naruto only shrugged and smiled at Hinata, pinching her cheek," Do you know that you are very beautiful, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata blushed," Um…" She was having trouble either slapping him or not. She was turning red all over.
Naruto then looked up a little bit and saw the disapproved look in Gaara. He only grinned.
"Please," said Hinata, a bit uneasy," Don't say that. You're just flattering me." She looked away, too shameful to even look Naruto in the face.
Sasuke watched her look away and he felt sorry for her. He then looked at Naruto.
Naruto, what are you doing? Thought Sasuke.
Naruto noticed Hinata looking a bit upset and he let her go. Naruto than walked off and sat on a nearby rock.
"I'm tired of pictures now, so go ahead and take them," he said tiredly and he yawned and bent his head down.
Everyone, shocked by Naruto's action turned toward Hinata.
"Hey, are you alright?" asked Ino, walking up to Hinata shaking her shoulders softly.
"What was up with Naruto, man?" said Kiba, scratching his head," He seemed-"
"Angry," said Shino calmly, but his eyebrows were down with worry.
"I don't get it," said Chouji," why would Naruto say that? To Sasuke and Hinata?"
"I'm fine really," said Hinata, she looked up at the guys and smiled," Please, don't get too worried about it. Let's just take some pictures."
"Could it be that Naruto likes Hinata?" asked Kiba out of the blue.
THOINK!
"You idiot, the only person he likes is," said Ino.
"No one," butted Sasuke. He was standing on his own, staring at Hinata.
Hinata looked at him. She saw that he was trying to tell her something. He then looked away.
Sasuke? Thought Hinata worriedly. What were you…
X:X:X
"Wow, now that was a lot of hiking that we did," said Kiba, stretching out his arms and yawning. It was evening time and everyone had just started their trip back to their campsite.
"I gotta say, it was very tiring," said Chouji, drinking some water.
Shino nodded," We spent the whole day just walking around." He walked alongside Chouji and Kiba as they talked more.
"Oh! That's right," said Hinata suddenly, with Ino, Naruto, and Gaara around her. "I forgot my medicine I left at where we rested before we went to walk some more." She started heading up again.
"Wait!" cried Ino, she then looked at Hinata," We made dozens of stops, how can you be sure where your medicine is?"
Hinata shook her head," I think that the last stop we made I left it there. Don't worry, just go on ahead."
Gaara looked at her," Are you sure?" His hands were in his pockets.
Hinata nodded," Yes. Just go on ahead." She then walked on up fast. She passed Sasuke, who was walking by himself, drinking some water.
Hinata began to sweat as she walked some more before turning right to the spot where the groupie had stayed.
"Now where could it be?" said Hinata and she looked around where she sat. She finally saw it. It was near the rock she sat on and she moved away the leaves that were over it. She placed it in her backpack and crossed her arms. It was getting darker and windier. She tried to walk her way back as fast as she could, afraid to stay any longer in the dark forest by herself.
Don't be scared, thought Hinata nervously as she looked around. It wasn't sunny anymore, but a little cooler and the clouds were starting to go away.
She looked around, trying to find her way back, without tripping on something. She walked over huge rocks and held onto branches for support.
"Aaah!" yelped Hinata and she tripped over a log and she fell over, rolling away from where she came from, but down a slope. She could feel the branches poking at her and leaves in her face and the sharpness of the rocks. She rolled and rolled.
"Hinata!"
"Help!" cried Hinata as she heard some shuffling above her and the crackle of leaves. She then felt herself stop and she lied on the ground, bruised up. She opened her eyes a little to see a figure approach her. The person was still going down the slope where she fell but was holding onto branches to aid them.
She then closed her eyes unconscious.
X:X:X
"Where are they?" asked Ino worriedly, as she looked out.
The groupie had reached the campsite, but not everyone was there.
"Gaara, what are you doing?" said Shikamaru, walking after Gaara.
"I'm going to find her," said Gaara, he then sighed," Why didn't I go with her?" He was carrying a flashlight and water as he was ready to set out.
"No, Gaara," said Shino, grabbing his arm," You know how dangerous it is for you to travel by yourself."
"Yeah," said Chouji," Shino and I will go with you."
"Wait, me too," said Shikamaru and turned to Temari," You be careful okay?"
Temari nodded," I think I should say that to you." Shikamaru smirked and kissed her before leaving.
"Me, too," said Kankurou.
"Wait, brother," said Temari, grabbing his arm," You need to stay here with Ino, Naruto, and I. We have to make sure that nothing happens here also."
"Okay," said Kankurou and he stayed as he saw the rest of the guys leave.
"Naruto, are you okay?" asked Ino, sitting by the fire next to Naruto.
Naruto nodded," Yeah."
Ino only shook her head," You don't seem like it." She looked at him and saw that his cerulean eyes were sad and tired.
"It's nothing," said Naruto and started walking to his tent," 'Night Ino."
"Good night, Naruto," said Ino and then looked out in worry," I wonder if Sasuke is with Hinata?"
Naruto stopped and turned around, interest in his eyes.
"What did you say?" asked Naruto, looking at Ino stare up.
"I wonder if Sasuke is with Hinata," said Ino," I mean, he never came back. I swore that he was right behind us at the end." She then shrugged," But I hope he is. I mean, it's better if they were together or else we would be in more trouble." She then looked back at the fire.
That's true, thought Naruto and he turned around. He saw that Temari and Kankurou were talking he then shouted to them," 'Night you two!" He then went inside his tent.
"Good night, Naruto!" said the two sibling simultaneously. They then looked at the direction that Gaara and the others took.
"So what do you have planned to separate those two?" asked Kankurou," Today was quite a surprise."
Temari nodded," Indeed. I didn't anticipate Gaara to go that far with a girl. We may need to think of something fast."
Kankurou nodded," But what for sure?" He tried thinking of something.
"What ever it is," said Temari," We have to make sure that they don't see more of each other. At the most, Hinata cannot fall in love with Gaara."
"Well, that is going to be hard," said Kankurou," We already know how much Gaara loves Hinata, it will be so easy for her to fall in love with him. I mean, he practically can't stop being near her."
Temari nodded but waved a finger to her brother's face," Brother, you still have no clue. I can tell that Hinata is still unsure about her feelings. But that doesn't mean that she can fall easily in love with him."
To fall in love, means even giving up all means for the sake of that person to be happy. That the person you deeply care about is the only one for you.
Author Notes: Thank u for reading. Hehe. PLEASE REVIEW and tell me what u guys thought! JA! -
