It was cloudy, Hanabi was miserable, Kiba and Neji barely spoke to her, and her father didn't bother to come to see her off.
Neji struggled through a hug and let Hanabi's fingers cling to his sleeve while they said their final goodbyes. Kiba's hug had been a little too tight, but it was warm and was accompanied by a comfortable hand on her shoulder from Shino. Her legs were covered by Akamaru, and she received a warm smile from her teacher.
Sakura and Ino handed her a "wedding" gift she didn't want to open in fear of what was inside. Tenten gave a short goodbye before going to be amused by Neji's stiff behavior.
Naruto had spent most of his time speaking to Gaara loudly, and when it came time for him to say goodbye to her, his mood was a very abrupt change. He seemed nervous. She wondered if she shouldn't have told him, but it forced her to move on, which she needed. She hoped it didn't cause him too much discomfort. She reached forward first to hug him. He quickly engulfed her and picked her up off her toes. When had he gotten that tall? Had she stopped paying attention?
He released her, turning her swiftly enough to make her dizzy and giving her a gentle push, directly into Gaara. She stumbled back in embarrassment.
They all waved her off as she departed for her new life.
Suna was hot. Hot and dry. Too hot and dry for his fiancee. They had just made it in the gates when Kankuro had asked her if she was alright just before she fainted.
He was now angry with himself for not thinking about climate change having more of an effect on her. Temari had had her change before they had got into the desert. However, she still was not used to the dry air and heat.
Kankuro picked her up and went ahead to get her inside to cool down.
"She'll get sunburnt easily too with her complexion," Temari commented as they were bombarded with information of what had happened while they were gone.
"I did not account for that." He agreed.
"You didn't account for much when you decided this." His sister mused.
She was fine, wasn't even dehydrated, just light-headed from the heat. She explained the fainting was something she had suffered from in the past.
Gaara hadn't felt calm until he was able to check on her health himself. She seemed embarrassed about the issue, so he didn't ask more.
He had a room prepared for her, made an appointment with his council that was demanding answers, and had a very awkward conversation with the kitchen staff's head.
He was now back in his office, glaring at the paperwork that had piled up. It felt surreal to be back in his office. Annoying to be back at his desk and having to speak to the politicians.
Working through the day was something he was used to, and he fell right back into the stressful routine of his day until late in the evening. Then he got an unusually light knock on his door.
"Enter." He growled, looking up to worried eyes and sunburnt cheeks peeked from behind the door.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but you haven't been to any meals." Hinata slid in, closing the door behind her, standing so close to it she was almost leaning on it. An escape root? Did she fear him now that she was in his home and not hers?
Gaara sighed, looking at the time. She was right. He had skipped all his meals taking only small snacks from his brother. He had got so quickly engulfed in his work he nearly forgot she was here.
"Is this normal?" She asked, twirling her ring behind her back.
"Generally." He answered, honestly.
She looked at her feet and chewed on her lip, and nodded, not looking back up to him. What was that? Disappointment? Had she wanted to have meals with him? Had he offended her?
"I'll leave you to your work then, but please eat." She mumbled. She retreated out the door, leaving him to stare in confusion at where she had been standing.
He stared so long, by the time he realized, there was another knock, and a member of the kitchen brought him a plate. The man looked as though he had been scolded before entering. He sighed and ate what had been brought to him. It was certainly different for someone to be looking after his health. His siblings had long since given up on it, and most of the staff were too frightened of him or had too much respect to scold him for his unhealthy habits.
She would give up as they did.
He was a man of habit and a workaholic. He was aware of and would not be embarrassed by either. He slept little, ate little, and spent little time away from his office. He would be glad to spend the time he did have to himself with her. However, his work and village needed his attention first.
Hinata was up before most of the house and down to the kitchen before people even thought about breakfast. If Temari was right, Gaara would be in his office in less than an hour, and that's how much time she had. She tried not to giggle at the memory of the head of staff's shocked face when she asked if she could use the kitchen. Almost as shocked as the man she had sent with a plate upstairs last night.
She was determined to be a good wife and friend to her fiance. Everyone else might let him ignore his health, but she certainly would not. The Hyuga could be classified as many distasteful things. Unhealthy was not one of them. She had been taught to have a full, healthy diet from a young age and would not let herself ignore his.
Hinnat cooked, then cleaned up her mess just as confused staff came in for the morning. One even offered to take the tray for her, but this was her little mission. She would like to do it on her own. She came to his office, balanced the tray on her hip, and knocked on the door.
She heard a tap of a pencil being placed down a little harder than it needed to be before he called her in. His look of irritation melted into one of complete confusion as she stepped in.
"I brought you breakfast." He continued to stare as if she hadn't said anything. She took a deep breath and crossed the room setting the tray down on his desk.
"It's very early." He mumbled. He was still processing her, looking down at the breakfast for two she made. He spoke more of the foods he didn't like rather than the ones he did, so she hoped what she made was acceptable.
"I wanted to make sure I came before any appointments." She didn't want to interrupt. She was being forward and disruptive enough.
"The staff doesn't come in until," He looked up at the clock. "Now."
"I know I made it." She mumbled, fidgeting. Maybe he thought it wouldn't be good enough? Most were surprised that she liked to cook being an heiress. Hanabi was terrible at it, more appropriate than her as always.
He considered it for a moment more before speaking. "Thank you."
She could keep herself from smiling, so she looked at her feet to hide her blush. The painful sunburn helped.
"You will stay?" He asked. She hoped it wasn't the first moment he had noticed two of everything. She nodded and brought the chair across from him closer to the desk as he set his papers aside. She put the plates on the tray for them before sitting.
"I'm not familiar with this." He commented as he picked up his utensils.
"It's a breakfast tart." She realized that he likely wasn't used to pastries in the desert. Maybe she should have gone with a simple rice omelet.
He nodded, looking at it like it was a live duck. She tried not to giggle as he took his first bite. He looked relieved.
"It's a jam, not bean paste." She covered her mouth to hide her smile. Would he have still forced down and eaten the whole thing if it had been? She was surprised he didn't ask since he had expressed his distaste for it to her already.
He nodded, keeping his eyes down. Was he embarrassed? It was certainly cute for the usually stern-looking man to be looking at his plate like a child who just objected to his new dinner, he liked.
"It's good." He mumbled as he continued to eat.
She dug into hers as well. The tea that the kitchen staff had given her last night was odd. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not, so she sipped at it sparingly. She thought it was sweet that Gaara had asked them to start making and keeping foods he had seen her eat. She was surprised when they pointed out the small can of tea they currently had to her specifically.
They ate in comfortable silence. Hinata was exhausted. She had not expected the night to be so cold and had trouble sleeping in the new environment.
The morning was still cold as the sun had not assaulted the landscape yet. She could always find a use for her jacket then.
"You're shivering." He pointed out.
"Sorry, I'm not used to the climate yet." She answered, embarrassed, taking her cup in both hands to warm them.
"Have Temari take you to get new clothes before we meet with the council today?" It didn't sound like an order. He was unusually soft with her. It made her feel special though she didn't think it was deliberate.
"Sure, if you'll let me back in for lunch." She almost laughed at another gaze of confusion.
She was very odd, he concluded.
Suna clothing suited her, though. Long pale-colored fabric flowed to her ankles and wrists. Usually, they would stand out against the tan skin of the native Suna villager and blend with their hair. However, with her dark hair that had been pulled up, there was a stark difference. Her pale skin blended smoothly with the fabric. At night she might be mistaken for a lucky spirit.
He was having growing concerns with the meeting they were having with the council. His council could be vicious. They were old and like traditions, but only as long as it benefited them. He wasn't sure what they would do to his quiet, easily upset fiance.
He was once again surprised as she stood with him outside the council room. Her head high, perfect posture with her hands firmly grasped to keep her usual fidgeting away. He had forgotten she was an heiress.
The door opened for them to enter, and she stepped forward with him without even looking up to him.