Hinata stared blankly at him. She couldn't have heard that right. She couldn't look down at what he had set on the table in front of her. She felt her cheeks become redder and redder, darkening every second. she was going to faint. No! She couldn't. She wouldn't let herself. She blinked harshly, clearing herself of the dizziness before she opened her mouth.
"What?" She squeaked.
"Will you marry me?" He asked again, and he looked confused. How had he expected her to react to a question like that?
She looked down at what he had set in front of her. An odd-looking ring sat between their empty plates and cups of tea. An engagement ring? She brought a trembling hand up from her lap to pick it up, and she realized it looked odd because it was made of sand. "I did not have enough time with you to know what 'personalized' ring you would like. I can get another." He explained. She hadn't thought he was listening to her when she spoke about engagement rings.
She felt tears sting her eyes as she looked at the ring. He was asking her? He wasn't just making a deal with her father. He decided to ask her? She got an engagement ring? A real engagement ring?
The ring wasn't coarse like it looked; it was soft and glittered when she shifted it. She slid it on her finger and squeaked when it moved to fit her finger. It was made of the sand he carried. The tears started overflowing down her face. She covered her mouth with her free hand to attempt to restrain a sob. This was probably the most personalized ring she could ever get. Crafted by him, made directly from something he carried everywhere and had his chakra. He probably had no idea how sweet it was.
"I've upset you." He broke her thoughts.
"Yes. Uhm, no, not that, I'm not upset, but yes." She stumbled over her words as she wiped her eyes. She had no idea how she could express how special this moment was to her or how she could ever thank him for it. She hadn't known him long, but he was being so sweet. She wasn't sure it was his idea. He didn't seem to understand what he was doing. However, there was forethought. He had likely asked someone how engagement worked. They had left out the kneeling, for that she was grateful, she would have fainted.
He had presented her with a precious moment she never thought she would have.
"You're not upset, but you will marry me?" He asked to be sure.
"Yes." She hiccupped.
"Then, why are you crying?" He asked. She looked up to his confusion and smiled.
"I'm happy. I love the ring. Can I just keep this one?" He looked surprised, but he nodded. "Thank you so much."
Gaara felt an odd wave of relief. She wasn't upset. However, she was still crying. He didn't understand why she liked the ring so much.
Hinata smiled brightly at him with tears running down her face. He had never seen someone cry when they were happy. It was interesting. What did they do next? Tell her father, likely.
"What made you decide to do this?" She asked, playing with the sand ring, twisting it on her finger and brushing over it lightly.
That was a good question. Gaara had decided over one day that he would marry her. He hadn't even properly addressed and consulted his council on the matter, just his sister. Not that he would have asked them. She was a friend of Naruto's, but he wouldn't have done it if it was just that. She wasn't scared of him, and she had forgiven him so easily despite his rude insult. She was willing to spend time with him. Was that a good reason? There was a pile of small things that had led up to this. He found her interesting and attractive. He could spend long periods with her without getting annoyed by her presence. She was quiet and calm and didn't treat him any differently than someone else because of Shukaku. What a good way to say all that? She glanced up at him as he still searched for his answer. "I don't mind having you around."
Her cheeks that had started to return to their original pale color, suddenly flared red again. "Thank you."
Good answer, he decided.
She had never seen her father, speechless. This was the first she had ever seen his mouth even slightly open with nothing coming out of it or going in.
She fidgeted with her new favorite owned item resting on her finger.
Her father finally found what it was he wanted to say. "Kazekage-sama, it is not usually custom for an engagement to happen without first addressing the council for permission." He looked past the stiff Kage to give her a stern look. She hadn't even done anything. She hid more behind her new fiance.
"I thought since you made a point to tell me of her availability, it would not be necessary." His voice came out just as stern, challenging him to tell him he was wrong.
Her father stayed silent, choosing his words. "I did. You are correct. I will ask, however, that you are present when the council is addressed. They will likely want a word with you" He received a nod." Hinata."
"Yes?" She asked, straightening under her father's gaze.
"Make sure Hanabi is ready for departure." It finally hit her that she would be going with him. She would be leaving. She would be going to Suna and not coming back. She would be leaving her sister, her friends, her home. How had she not thought about it?
"Hinata." Her father repeated sternly, waiting for his confirmation.
"Yes, father..."
"WHAT!?" Hanabi shouted in her face, snatching Hinata's left hand. "I didn't even think he was considering the idea, but he proposed? Like properly?" She turned her hand and scrunched her face. "Is this made of sand?"
"Kinda, and yes, it's his sand. It's very sweet, but Hanabi-chan, that is not the point." She tugged her hand away from her sister's grasp. "He's the Kazekage, so I will be leaving with him to Suna."
"Oh." The excitement fell from Hanabi as she plopped down on her bed.
"Father wants to make sure you're ready to become the sole heiress, are you?" She thought Hanabi was ready. She had picked up so much so quickly she was proud of her.
"Well, I guess, but I don't want you to leave." She mumbled, flopping back onto her bed.
"I don't want to leave you either, but I expected to live with my husband." She came over, sitting beside her sister, brushing her hair back. "If the Hyuga will let me, I will write to you."
"How am I going to do this alone…" Watching her sister spiral down into depression was painful to watch.
"You won't be alone, nii-san and father will be here, and I promise to write when I can." She leaned down to kiss her little sister's forehead. "You won't be alone."
"But, I want you." Hanabi curled around her, burying her face into Hinata's stomach as she hid the tears rimming her eyes. Hinata petted her head as her own started to wet the younger girl's hair.
Gaara was informed pointedly by his elder Kage that he should spend more time with his future wife. So here he stood outside the Hyuga compound, hoping to collect her. His meeting with her father had brought even more questions up, not about her father but her. She hid behind him for safety. Had anyone used him for protection before, even by accident? She hid from her father, close to him, and he felt the need to protect this cowering woman. Her fear and discomfort was something he could feel coming off her. She was so expressive he could even feel her emotions.
Her counsel was not unlike his, old opinionated men always looking to trade up. They wanted to know what' right' he had to claim their heir before their clan head had a chance to tell them she was offered to him. He took the opportunity to make them shrivel back. His past was useful when he could use that fear to protect. He could protect her.
"Welcome back to the Hyuga compound Kazekage-sama. Would you like to be announced?" One of the Hyuga asked, bowing politely.
"No, I have only come to ask my fiance to accompany me." He chose his words of claim on her to keep the chances of refusal low. He would refrain from using that wording with her. From his understanding, women did not like to be owned.
"Yes, of course, I will fetch her." The Hyuga scuttled back inside. He was soon presented with the woman in question, looking confused. She was in much more casual clothing than he had ever seen her in. Long loose shirt and skirt, pale colors suited her. She would fit in with Suna housewives well.
"Kazekage-sama, was there something you needed?" She asked, fiddling with her ring. He could tell when she was moving it. She touched it a lot. It was an odd feeling to have someone so gingerly touch his sand. No one touched it unless he was attacking them with it.
"You may call me Gaara now. There is no longer a need for the formalities now." He didn't like the formality anyway. "Will you accompany me to meet with the Hokage and my sister?" He asked, giving her the decisions like he had been advised.
"Of course, Gaara-sama, just allow me to change." She mumbled before trying to retreat inside. She still used a formality. Though she seemed to do so with her friends as well. Possibly a norm he would have to get used to as a husband.
"What's wrong with what you are wearing?" Her features were much softer without the makeup. She looked a lot more comfortable with what she was wearing. He was sure she still had blisters from the shoes she wore the day they met, which caused her to step carefully.
"Uh, I guess I don't have to." She reached up and pulled a piece of cloth she was wearing over her hair off. She handed it to the Hyuga that fetched her, then slipped shoes on as she brushed her long skirt off. She followed him down the street toward where he assumed his sister to be. "Is there something Temari-sama would like to talk to me about?"
"It has come to my attention that I did not inform my council of our joining either. It was more a rash decision than I realized at the time." She nodded.
"Rash for both of us." She agreed.
"Do you regret this?" If she did, he could break the engagement. He didn't want to. He enjoyed her company.
"It's not like that. It's just that... I hadn't thought about me moving to Suna. My sister is not happy with the arrangement, and I know others who won't be either." She stared at her feet as they walked. She had relaxed around him since the first day. He wondered how she trusted him so quickly. From what he understood, that was what she did, but wasn't he different?
"I will not keep you from them." He assured her. His family was becoming more important to him. He would understand her attachment. "Though I will not always be able to accompany you if you come to visit them in Konoha." He was the Kage. After all, trips this long to other villages were rare, and his trip was about to end. Was she coming with him when he left, or would he wait for her?
"Thank you. I don't expect you to come with me." Her entire body seemed to gain joy. She still walked with her head down as she had before, but now it was more comfortable and was hiding a smile. Was it cute? He was going with cute.