A/N :
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Title : Uncertainty.
Hinata and Lord Gaara were to be married the next day. In her frank opinion, Hinata found it to be the shortest interlude before her life changed forever. She never felt so conscious of her freedom until later that evening. During their last course of dinner, she began to ponder the idea of marriage and starting a new life with Lord Gaara. The air of the next day, weighed heavy on her heart.
To say she was frightened was the ultimate understatement.
After their hearty meal, most of which she could hardly keep down in her stomach, Hinata stumbled out of her chair and excused herself before rushing upstairs to her bedroom. At that moment she did not worry about getting lost. All she wanted was to get away from these people. She needed some time to herself, if not hours-maybe all of tomorrow. She wished nothing more than to stroll around the patio of the Hyuga estate, to observe the breathtaking view of verdant bushes surrounding it all. And oh, how she wished to walk by their elegant lily garden pond! All the flowers were in full bloom this time of the year. Tadpoles and small frogs would swim in the water and sit upon the lily pads.
How she wished for her life at home, to meet her younger sister! If only Neji changed his mind and decided to take her home!
While musing over these thoughts, Hinata arrived at a bedroom gate that was alien to her own like everything else in the entire village. She did not recognize either black-clad bodyguards standing in front of the door. Her bedroom was always guarded by Matsuri and one man whose name she could not remember. Was it Naoto? Naoko?
The two bodyguards standing before this bedroom were tall, muscular, and…formidable.
"Eto!" she said and cleared her throat, which quickly caught their attention,"I-I'm a little l-lost. Whose b-bedroom is this?"
She sounded pathetic to ask such a question. But to stand in front of the bedroom, be noticed by these two men, and then ignore everything and walk away would probably look suspicious. She did not want to make any negative impressions on her first day. She also did not intend to do what came next.
"This is Lady Temari's bedroom," one of them said with a curt voice, as he narrowed his black button eyes down at her. He was taller, and on his huge face was a frown, as per custom.
"Lady Hinata, your bedroom is on the second floor" Came another was much warmer, she thought. She turned to see the other bodyguard. He seemed younger by a few years. His physique was also stronger than that of the first bodyguard but his face was softer-as if he were sympathetic towards Hinata.
"Two doors down, on your right."
Per custom, Hinata bowed in gratitude. As much as she wanted to embrace the solitude of her bedroom with enough time to her thoughts, she also wanted some company. But she was far too shy and respectful to disturb a person's privacy—even when she heard some faint noises. What came of it, surprised not only herself but also the two bodyguards guarding their mistress's door.
She knocked.
Those faint noises completely ceased now. With that, Hinata felt as though she were most invasive of the older woman's privacy. Hinata whispered an apology to the bodyguards who towered her. Maybe she should leave now…
"Who is it?" A man's voice cleared the air.
Hinata could feel her cheeks heat up now. So this was how much she invaded Temari's privacy! Both bodyguards looked just as uneasy, but with some struggle they remained poised with straight faces. Duty had to come first.
"I'm sorry, milord, but it seems that Lady Hinata wishes to-" the sympathetic bodyguard started, but was quickly interrupted.
After the doorknob twisted, the bedroom door swung open. A flushed Hinata was greeted by the peevish older woman with sandy blonde hair. She was not dressed for such a visit as evidenced by the saving grace of a sash that loosely held her silken robe together.
"And just what do you want?" the older woman asked Hinata, not very nicely.
She did not expect anyone to disturb her that evening. To see this and the two hulks stand against her door, only rose her temper.
"I thought I told you to retire for the night," she said and glowered at both bodyguards who gulped down their fear and with little delay, they bowed to her and pattered off to their servant quarters downstairs.
Hinata witnessed this entire scene, the color never gone from her cheeks. Once she realized Temari was still standing there, waiting for a reply, the flushed woman immediately apologized for her interruption.
"I-I apologize for d-disturbing you, L-Lady Temari, but I just wanted to s-speak with you…" she said in a faint whisper causing Temari to lean in closer to hear, to which Hinata cleared her throat and raised her voice an octave.
"About L-Lord Gaara…" Hinata took a deep breath, expectant that the peevish older woman would shut the door on her face.
She did not.
"Come in," Temari invited with a half smile as if she had half a mind to turn this little girl out of her bedroom.
Hinata could not understand why this blond haired woman, was taciturn. Maybe it ran in the Sabaku bloodline?
Upon entry Hinata was surprised to see a bedroom much like her own, although it was not painted in lavender and other softer hues. Nor was it like Lord Gaara's office to further convey the sand village pride. Instead, it was a shade of magnolia softer than any, known to her. One wall plastered with wallpaper cornered Temari's almost regal canopy bed. It was bigger than Hinata's! The flooring was also different, being laid out in pure marble. A crystal chandelier hung ab-
"Can you hurry?"
Hinata was interrupted by Temari's impatient voice, as pearlescent orbs met with darkened ones.
"G-Gomen, Temari-san..." Temari's gaze darkened further at the honorific "san". This prompted Hinata to resolutely add Lady to the name at all times.
"I was wanting to a-ask about Lord G-Gaara…"
The older woman sighed with a slight nod. And as if on cue, Hinata caught a ponytailed man slowly coming out of a bathroom attached to the bedroom. He had little regard for her presence. Blushing a deep red, she turned her attention to the woman who stood opposite her.
Temari noticed this and half turned to catch Shikamaru's figure appearing beside her. As Hinata stared on, the blondie did something that surprised her further.
She blushed!
Hinata froze in awe at how this man could melt the ice queen of Suna. Nevertheless, Hinata felt happy for her. For them.
A few minutes transpired and Hinata strove to poise herself before she could actually talk.
"W-Why did Lord Gaara agree to m-marry a stranger like m-me?"
Hinata was still nonplussed but eventually felt it was time to make her intrusion worthwhile. After all, this was an arranged marriage! The women of Suna must have fawned for him. He had to have a special woman in his life. It would be astonishing if he turned out to be...single!
"I don't follow," Temari said as one of her high eyebrows rose up. It was hard to understand what Hinata was trying to say, once Shikamaru's arm slowly snaked around the blondie's waist. She was struggling to focus on the younger woman opposite her.
"Why wouldn't he agree to it?" Temari answered with a question as per habit. It annoyed some people but to her it was of no consequence.
With no response from the pale eyed woman, Temari sighed once more. She knew the younger woman spoke little, but she did not think Hinata to be daft. Temari knew from the younger woman's blank face that she knew nothing crucial. Thus it was safer to be vague and not give out a detailed hint. After all, she would not be the one to torment Hinata's mind the day before their marriage.
Such a discussion would be better left for later.
"Well..." Temari dissembled. "The Council wanted him married before he turned twenty-four."
Temari was prone to deceit and like almost everyone in the Suna village, she did it for survival. However, this was not exactly a lie. And because of the current situation, she found this to be an uncomfortable topic to discuss. While it was true that Gaara would be twenty-four years old in January, the Council gave him an ultimatum to remain Kage of Suna : he had to be married. They were foolish clauses, but the redhaired man was forced to agree upon them, given his destiny to become the village leader.
Of course, there was more to the clause. But Temari did not want to think of that, at the moment.
That answer only elicited more questions inside Hinata's mind. Why would she be his bride? How did he even know about her? True as it was that the Hyugas and Uchihas were the most powerful clans of Konohagakure, what did that have to do with Sunagakure? She knew how, after years of battle with the latter, Konohagakure finally came to a truce with Suna. But surely it had nothing to do with her being married to the village leader?
She wanted to delve deeper into the subject but yet again, her thoughts were interrupted.
"I suggest you get some sleep, Hinata," Shikamaru said in a laconic attempt to coax her out.
Unlike the others in this tower, this man was not authoritative and instead seemed redundant, "It's late, and there will be time to discuss this later."
Temari snapped out of her thoughts regarding her little brother, and nodded in agreement with the man beside her. She did not hear much, but she knew that Shikamaru only wanted to help.
"Tomorrow will be a big day," Temari started quietly, despite herself, "You need all the rest you can get."
The older woman with blond hair wanted to help Hinata, but she also wanted this woman, gone—at least until tomorrow. Her questions could be answered once Temari was assured of no impending danger.
Hinata did not expect Temari to answer her doubts, but neither did she expect to be thrown out of the room, so soon. She feared she might have been too bold for her own good. She mentally cursed herself and genuflected with an apology for disturbing both of them.
"G-Goodnight, Lord Temari, and Lord Sh-Shikamaru," she whispered again and wished to be swallowed up by the smooth marble floor.
She had disturbed her future sibling-in-laws, and it had not been worth her intrusion. Not one bit.
Dejected, she left for her bedroom unsatisfied with their answers.
Who could blame her, anyway?
A/N2 : I hope you enjoyed the chapter! It took me like nearly two hours to complete this chapter. I know I'm not a great writer but I'm trying. Appreciate all the reviews (good ones lol) and likes/follows/favorites.