"Where would you like to have lunch then?" Hinata asked, staring at her feet as they walked back into the central portion of the village. He was leading but wasn't she supposed to do that? She was the guide.
When he didn't respond, she looked up to see the confusion on his face.
"There are other places than Naruto's favorite ramen shop." She explained. She could tell by the slight tilt his head made when he turned it forward again that he hadn't even thought of it.
"What is your favorite then." He asked. "We will go there." He slowed to a stop turning to her.
"Well, there is a little cafe that sells nice teas and coffees." She looked down at her hands instead of his eyes.
"Where?" She could hear the impatience, and she turned to lead him to it, feeling her cheeks heat up. They were silent again until they sat down.
She loved the little shop. It was warm and inviting, the staff was friendly, and the food was comforting. He looked at the menu before setting it back down and glancing at what she was looking at. "I am not familiar with these foods." He finally admitted.
"Well is there anything you don't like?" She tried.
"Sweet bean paste." His nose crinkled only a little at even saying the word.
"Okay, none of those then. How about something simple, like a soup and sandwich." She pointed to that part of the menu on hers. Instead of picking up his own and finding the page, he leaned forward to look at her's. She laid it flat for him.
"What are you having." His voice held impatience.
"These are my favorite." She pointed to the soup she liked and the sandwich she would be getting.
"I will have those as well." He decided, crossing his arms, already annoyed. She ordered for them and waited, fidgeting and looking out the window instead of him.
"Naruto thinks highly of you." His deep voice broke the silence. She looked back at him as her face turned red. "He was upset when he found that I upset you." He continued.
It was sweet to know he was thinking of her, but she wished he hadn't made the young Kage do something so uncomfortable. "He thinks highly of you as well." It was a compliment. He certainly trusted Naruto's opinion, so being in his favor seemed like a compliment.
"If you are looking for a husband, why have you not approached him?" That was also a compliment to her. He thought her worthy of asking Naruto of all people to marry her.
"Well, there are a couple of problems there." She started, licking her lips as they become dry. "Despite his acts of heroism and future path, the Hyuga does not approve of him." She gave him a two-second glance that told her he had guessed why. He seemed irritated by the notion. "That aside, he's not interested." Her heart sank, saying it out loud.
"Have you asked? He does speak highly of you." He pressed as their food was set down. She was not sure this was an appropriate conversation to have with a Kage.
Hinata didn't feel hungry anymore, but she would not be any ruder, so she would force it. "You should hear him talk about Sakura-chan." She nibbled on her sandwich to give herself an excuse to not talk anymore.
"The medic." He inquired, she nodded. "He has spoken of her. He uses vastly different descriptions. I do not understand the difference between the complements of 'beautiful' and 'adorable'." She was surprised how open he was, being like Naruto was sitting leading the conversation. He was trying hard to take Naruto's words to heart. It was sweet.
She could tell who was who. She was never really thought of as beautiful. Cute, adorable, pretty were the usual. Kankuro had been the first of all the comments to describe her as beautiful at the meeting. She had gotten beautiful from branch members, but they had a bias. She always would think her sister was beautiful and would tell her every day if she wanted, but she had the same bais.
She couldn't harbor bad feelings for Sakura. She had done nothing wrong. Naruto loved her, Sakura didn't feel the same for Naruto, and that frustrated her. Not because she thought Sakura should. If she didn't, it wasn't her fault, but it did hurt knowing that he gave all his love to someone to not have it returned. She knew how that felt.
"Sakura-chan is beautiful, both in looks and personality. She's known for it." She sipped at her soup, feeling ill, thinking about how superior she was.
"You do not believe you are." She cringed. She had hoped he hadn't picked up on that. He sounded genuinely curious. That was better than mocking.
"We may both be considered pretty. A woman is beautiful when any flaw she has in physical attractiveness is made up for. Attributes such as expertise, confidence, and personality complete the picture." She stopped eating for a minute, so she didn't let the dread of inadequacy show on her face.
"You are still aren't talking about yourself." His voice lowered, signaling his irritation.
"To be honest, I'm none of those things." She noticed he had stopped eating as well, and she felt terrible. "I'm not particularly any type of expert. I'm painfully shy, and I have terrible people skills."
His non-brow furrowed forward. "That is not how Naruto perceives you."
Her heart warmed for a moment. "Naruto-kun sees the best in everyone, even if he has to make something up. It's something I like about him." She picked up her sandwich and finished it so he would continue eating as well.
He still seemed confused, and in thought, he sat in more comfortable silence for the rest of the meal.
Hinata gave a more scenic tour this time. She showed him the village locations that had a history. She took him to beautiful places. Naruto wouldn't find it interesting. Gaara decided to walk beside her or a few steps in front of her rather than following her. He either got sick of walking behind her or realized how uncomfortable it made her.
She was much more comfortable now. Her hands weren't raw, her shoulders weren't killing her from standing too straight. She didn't think the Kage would want to just casually walk around. She thought he would be more of an A to B type of person, but he didn't seem to mind her pace.
He stopped and asked about things she hadn't pointed out. He seemed genuinely interested in the village itself.
"Will you be taking my brother through here?" He asked. Looking over the building they were standing in front of.
"If he is still interested." She nodded.
He was then silent for a minute as he stared at her like he was thinking about something.
"Why is it that your family sees such little worth in you to offer you to me?" It was a blunt and painful question. Double-ended blade, he was insulting himself as well.
It broke her heart that he thought so little of himself for the actions he was now making up for. She wasn't going to argue with his self worth though. "In comparison to my sister, my worth has diminished in the eyes of the Hyuga." She cringed at the bluntness of her own words. Wait, offer? Was he talking about when her father spoke to his older brother? "I'm not sure how you mean, though." She pushed for an answer.
"Your father has offered your hand. I assume he knows who I am. I do not understand why anyone who cared for their child would offer them to me." He seemed confused, if not offended.
She gaped at him. "Kazekage-sama, you might not realize how much your image has changed. Naruto-kun speaks highly of you to everyone, your past, as I understand it, is being looked over." She had heard wonderful things since the day before. Anyone you would ask would give you both sides of the coin. He was ruthless but a strong leader. He was what a Suna leader should be.
Hinata then processed what he said for a full 30 seconds after answering. She dropped her utensils. "Kazekage-sama, my father offered you to marry me?!" Her face became inflamed with embarrassment.
He stared a few moments in what looked like confusion before he answered. "Yes, is that a problem?"
Hinata covered her face to hide the embarrassment. "No! Well, yes. I didn't think he would be so forward about it."
"I did not confirm or deny that I would." She peeked through her finger to see him watching her with his head tilted. He had no idea why this was so embarrassing to her at all.
"Thank you." Hinata wasn't sure what she was thanking him for, but she felt the need.
Gaara didn't reply at first. He seemed to wait for her to go back to normal and begin to pick at and finish her food. She was thankful he didn't continue to prod quickly.
"Did you like it?" She asked, referring to his empty plate, his eyes followed her, and he nodded. "Good. When you visit again, maybe we can come again." She commented as they left.
"Then you do not wish to marry me?" His question tripped her. She stumbled before looking back at him. Her confusion in his on and off opinion toward this was giving her whiplash.
"It's not that." She bit her lip feeling her face redden again. Did he after ask like that, and in public? "It's not that I don't wish to, I don't get much choice in the matter, but it's more about you." Glancing up from her hands only briefly, she knew he didn't understand. "I don't want someone to be forced to marry me, just because I have to marry."
"You are worried that I would not wish to?" He filled in though he looked thoroughly confused. She was starting to worry that his feelings were not considered often enough, just avoiding upsetting him.
Hinata nodded, continuing to walk them further from the crowd to not be overheard by gossipers. "We haven't known each other long. I know I probably won't know my husband well before marriage, but I also know you aren't interested. You didn't ask for the tour of your own will, and you were not looking for a partner."
Gaara's non-eyebrow furrowed. He seemed to understand. He hadn't asked her because he wanted to go. He asked him because Naruto made him apologize for insulting her. Her father was pressing the idea of marriage, which was the only reason he was even considering the idea.
"It would seem your father would rather you were seducing me." She was tripped up by his bluntness yet again. Her face was getting hotter as a vocal squeak of embarrassment escaped her mouth.
"I hope not." She whimpered out.