So here's chapter 4. so yay. Read and Review

Disclaimer: I don't own no Naruto

Chapter 4

Hinata ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her. It was hard to sneak out of the Hyuuga house due to the fact that everyone had such keen eyesight. She had to stop by Tsunade's office to ask her for permission to accompany Gaara to his village. At first Tsunade was reluctant but then she realized that he might need more than the antidote what she had given him, she decided to let her go. She panted as she ran down the empty roads towards the edge of the village.

"Have… to… hurry," she muttered to herself. The crystal which now hung around her neck flung wildly hitting her chest as she ran but she used her right hand to grasp it firmly as she kept running. Corner after corner she raced down, out of breath, hoping from rooftop to rooftop. She came around the corner to see a familiar silhouette walking out the village. Good he hasn't left.

"Stop!" she screamed running after him. Gaara turned around shocked to see her.

Hinata stopped a feet away from him. She panted, tired from racing through the village. Gaara still had that dumbstruck expression on his face.

"What?" was the only thing he managed to say. Hinata took in a deep breath.

"I'm coming with you," she realized just what she had done and began to blush. Why was she doing this? She wasn't this kind of person…

"Why?"

"I… I have permission!" she said quickly unrolling the scroll she had in her pocket.

"That wasn't my question," he said, rather coldly.

"Sumimasen," Hinata said bowing slightly. "Please! Just take me with you!" she pleaded, holding her hands together praying that he would say yes.

"No," he said sharply. "You'll just end up slowing me down. Then I'll have to rescue you again," he argued. Hinata shook her head.

"I swear I won't be in the way!" she said desperately. Gaara scoffed.

"Why do you want to go anyway?" he muttered angrily. "Go home!" Hinata felt the tears weld in her eyes as they slowly began to slip down her porcelain cheeks. Gaara stared at her wide eyed, taken aback by the tears.

"S-stop it!" Gaara stammered, seeing tears slowly drip from her chin darkening the ground. Hinata wiped her tears with her sleeve, sniffling.

"I won't go home," she said quietly. "I want to go with you!" she said firmly.

"I told you, you can't!" he snapped.

"I-I…" the tears started to leak again. Why couldn't he try to understand what she was doing? She thought he would but right now he's pushing her away. She probably would be a burden but she didn't care right now. She didn't care about anything else except to protect Gaara on his journey. He was the one who understood her and who understood him. There was nothing left back in the village.

Memories of her teammates, friends and family popped into her head. They would miss her… wouldn't they? But they don't need her. She shook her head, why was she acting like she would leave forever?

"Stop it!" he yelled, louder now.

"I-I can't," she said sobbing now. She covered her eyes, crying.

"You!" Gaara said angrily, she thought he was almost at the point where he was going to hit her. Instead of being hit, a pair of arms slowly wrapped around her fragile body. Hinata's body shook as she cried on his shoulder. "I-if you stop crying, y-you can come," Gaara said quietly. Hinata smiled blushing. He was… holding her. Instinct told her to snuggle but she had to blow her nose.

"D-deal," she said taking out a handkerchief. He backed away as she blew her noise and wiped her eyes.

"You're really stubborn," he said looking at her with a fearful expression.

"Is… something wrong?" she asked. Why did he look like he was just in pain all of a sudden?

"No, let's go," he said. He turned and began to walk away from Konoha. Hinata walked after him. She hadn't packed anything to eat, any sleeping equipment whatsoever. He didn't look like he was carrying a few days worth of camping supplies either.

Gaara glanced back at the struggling girl walking a few feet behind him. She could tell she was tired, they had been walking for two hours now and she probably didn't get any sleep today. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for him he didn't sleep. At night all he did to pass his time was probably stare at the moon, train, have a few cold showers to keep him awake and eat. Even though he had better control of Shukaku now it was still dangerous to sleep, especially for more than a few hours.

"I know you're tired," Gaara said stopping suddenly. She plopped onto the ground, yawning.

"No, we c-can keep going, I just need a few…" she said rubbing her eyes to keep them open.

"You're sleepy, come on," he said. He didn't expect her to come along, let one allow her to come along and be friendly towards her. This certainly wasn't going according to his plan. He didn't pack any supplies meant for sleeping, she would probably end up freezing to death. There also wasn't enough food to support the both of them if they made a straight journey back to the sand village.

He watched as Hinata slowly fell over onto the ground, fast asleep. The only thing he could do now was either wait or carry her to the next town. The first choice would be a set back and he had to get to the village quickly, the second choice seemed tiring and he didn't want to use too much energy but since he had no choice he slowly picked the girl up into his arms… once again and began to set off through the woods.

At least now he got to go at his own pace, Gaara thought as he flew through the trees, hopping from limb to limb. He sighed. This girl will be the death of him. He couldn't believe he actually took her along! When the tears started to fall he had no idea what to do… He had never experienced a crying girl before, he had seen people cry because they were afraid of him, or it was because they were pleading for life. He should just dump her in the woods and go without her, this was ridiculous. Why did he have to embrace her? He wanted to strangle himself for doing such a stupid and weak thing, but there was something he couldn't put his finger on. That sudden rush of warmth he never felt before. The feeling that made his cheeks warm and stomach drop.

Gaara looked down on the sleeping girl. She had an angelic yet eerie glow in the moonlight. Her dark locks shimmered under the moon. She was really pretty he had to admit, and somewhat… vulnerable, but the thoughts were immediately interrupted with more thoughts of mentally strangling himself.

Hinata awoke to the sound of birds chirping in the morning. Sunlight filled her eyes as she blinked a few times trying to get accustomed to the brightness. What happened? She fell asleep?

SHE FELL ASLEEP! Hinata sat up quickly, where was Gaara? There were sheets hugging her, she was on a bed? She looked around, it looked like an inn. She stood up and walked out the door and downstairs, looking for that sand-nin.

"Excuse me, did you see a red haired man?" she asked. The woman at the desk nodded.

"Oh he left a moment ago," she said smiling at her. Hinata's heart sank. He left? Did he leave her here and went out on his own?

"Did he say where he was going?" she asked, panicking.

"Uh… sorry no," she replied.

"When did he leave?" she shouted.

"U-um, not too long ago…"

Hinata ran for the door of the inn and outside. There were venders everywhere selling their own junk. Her eyes darted here and there frantically searching for a familiar face. She ran off in one direction… where was he? After thirty minutes of running around town she sighed, frustrated tears swelling in her eyes. She walked back into the inn and accidentally ran into someone on her way in.

"Sumimasen," she said backing up, to see Gaara standing there, looking at her quizzically. She also noticed that she knocked a popsicle out of his hand. It laid on the dirty ground, melting. She smiled in relief. "I-I thought you left," she said shyly. "W-where were you?"

"Well…" he said looking down at the red popsicle dying on the ground. He blinked several times staring it. "I was getting a popsicle and some food…" Hinata flushed with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry Gaara-san!" she said bowing. "I'll buy you another one!" she promised.

"Don't bother, I bought it for you," he said shrugging. She went pink.

"W-well… Arigatou," she said, embarrassed.

"If you're awake we should get back on the road," he suggested in that bored tone of his.

"Hai," she nodded. Gaara threw a pack of rice balls at her.

"Breakfast," he said pointing at it.

"What about you?"

"Already ate," he replied. Hinata smiled, even though he was a bit cold hearted at times he was thoughtful enough to get her some food. She took out a rice ball and began to munch on it happily.

Meanwhile….

Neji activated his Byakugan running through the village in search for Hinata like a madman.

WHERE THE HELL DID SHE GO?

"Neji-kun!" Tenten said waving from the ground. He stopped and jumped down to his teammate.

"I don't have time to train today," he told her. She shook her head.

"It's not that, you're looking for Hinata-chan right?" she asked. Surprising her, Neji grabbed her arms.

"Did you see her? Where is she?" he asked. Tenten backed away nervously.

"Uh calm down Neji, I heard from Sakura-chan that she left last night," she said.

"What? Why?" he asked. "Why did she leave?" Neji said shaking her. A bunch of explanations flowed through his mind but the one that pissed him off the most was Gaara.

"Calm down!" Tenten snapped. Neji released her. No Hinata couldn't, she would never do something like that.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"That's okay, I'm not exactly sure though. You'll have to ask her," she said.

"Okay, well thanks for your help," he said already running off to the hospital.

Neji found Sakura walking away from the hospital with Naruto. Neji jumped in front of them, surprising them a bit.

"Where's Hinata?" he shot at Sakura immediately.

"Hinata-chan? Well Tsunade-sama said that she left last night on a new mission…" Sakura said.

"Geez, no wonder she left, so she won't have her cousin suffocating her 24/7!" Naruto joked. Neji glared daggers at him.

"Shut up dobe!" Neji snapped and ran off.

Neji approached the Hokage in her office. She was stamping some documents with a bored look on her face.

"Can I help you?" she asked lazily.

"Can you tell me what mission Hinata-sama is on? Why wasn't I informed?" he asked. Tsunade looked up at the young boy. He was pretty well built, his dark, thick and silky hair draped down his hard back; his skin still pure and pale even after spending endless hours training in the sun.

"Hm, well last night she requested to accompany the Kazekage back to his village, since I was too tired and she was about to cry I allowed it," she said, yawning, stamping more papers.

"WHAT?" Neji shouted. Tsunade had to cover her ears so she didn't have her eardrums blasted out.

"What's wrong?" she asked slyly knowing exactly what's wrong.

"Well first of all she took off without a word, and second it's with Gaara of the Desert!"

"Well she did request it, it's not like he kidnapped her or anything. Besides she trusts him, you should do the same." Neji glared at the Hokage.

"I want to bring her back!" he demanded.

"Why are you so worried anyway?" the Hokage asked with a smirk. Neji took a step back seeing her reaction.

"I don't trust him," he told her.

"Not reason enough," she grinned. She rather enjoyed teasing the young Hyuuga boy.

"What would be a good reason?" Neji demanded.

"Well… you'll just have to find one yourself."

Neji glared at her but left without another word. How could he possibly convince Tsunade to bring Hinata back? There wasn't any, it wasn't like anyone close to her was dying or hurt. He was fuming, why did she go with Gaara? Neji clenched his fists, he needed to punch something, anything and hard. His knuckles began to hurt but he didn't care, the only thing he could focus on was the sheer jealousy that was building inside of him. What did Gaara have that he didn't? Maybe Hinata was just into those weird demon guys, like Naruto. That was right, she didn't know about Shukaku did she?

"Neji-san!" he could hear Lee's voice calling him. He turned around and glared at him. Rock Lee looked at him a little surprised. "Something wrong Neji-san?" he asked.

"Nothing is wrong," he snapped.

"Well, I heard Hinata-chan left last night. I know how you're completely in love with her so-" Lee didn't have time to finish his words because he noticed that a rock flew into his mouth and Neji had disappeared.

Hinata leapt after Gaara, they had been like this for the whole day since breakfast. They hadn't spoken a word except for the occasional warning when they felt anything dangerous around. Hinata didn't mind though, the situation didn't call for talking anyway.

"We're near," he informed her. She just nodded. They were getting closer to the boarder. They kept going for fifteen minutes until they were greeted by the familiar faces of Gaara's siblings. The older one was a woman, they were both slightly older than the two of them. The woman had a proud stance as she had one hand on her fan and the other one was a man with strange face paint wearing all black, carrying his puppet on his back. Hinata remembered when Kiba told her the story of the time when Kankurou saved him from one of Orochimaru's subordinates.

"Gaara," Temari said in acknowledgment.

"Who's that?" Kankurou asked distastefully, pointing at Hinata who trailed behind Gaara of the Desert. The two jumped and landed on the ground near them.

"Hyuuga, Hinata," was all he said before he ushered everyone to take off. Temari and Kankurou stared at her suspiciously. They probably didn't remember her from the Chuunin exam.

"So…" Kankurou said clearing his throat. "Why is she with you?"

"Seriously Gaara, I thought you were going to bring back an antidote, not a girl," Temari said.

"Shut up," Gaara told the both of them and they kept their mouth shut. It seemed as if Gaara still had authority over them but this time it wasn't fear more than it was respect.

"A-ano, I'm just here to help," Hinata squeaked. She didn't want those two assuming strange things about her.

"I don't mean to sound mean but we don't need help," Temari told her. Hinata felt the tension thicken between herself and Gaara's older siblings.

"Shut up Temari." Gaara shot her a sharp look. Temari stared at Gaara with a thoughtful look.

"So… she's coming back to the sand village?" Kankurou asked.

"Of course she's coming back, what a stupid question," Gaara snapped harshly at him.

"Just making sure," Kankurou mumbled.

Hinata wished Gaara would stop snapping at the two, it was creating more tension than she needed after such a long trip with not breaks. Every second that passes by she realizes how human Gaara is. She hated to admit it but she knew she was falling in love with him.

A/N: I know that was kind of short but the next chapter will be longer and completely GaaHina.