Hinata looked at the floor before talking, trying to calm her nerves and her emotions lest she makes a fool of herself, "I-I was summoned to a me-meeting by the council," she started, "The-they told me that my mo-," she couldn't finish her sentence. Hinata thought of her mother again, her gentle voice, kind nature. She and Hinata used to be mistaken for sisters, as her mother had her so young, and they had the same bright white eyes, long blue-black hair and creamy pale skin. They had only come to this village four months ago and felt so out of place among the tan people, used to the heat in their long flowing clothes.
"Continue, they told you what?" Said the voice, seemingly running out of the little patience it had shown so far.
Hinata tried again, "They t-told me that my m-mo-mother had been killed." She got out as she sniffed away the oncoming tears.
"Your mother is dead?" The voice came again, no emotion clear in it's voice, it's deep tones again sending shocks down her spine.
"A-And I'll b-be ma-ma—" she started stuttering worse, shuffling her feet against the rug on the floor.
"Stop stuttering." It ordered, annoyance in its voice now, stilling Hinata's words as she tried to get them out.

Hinata tried to speak again but no words would come out, afraid of upsetting the voice.

~~~
Gaara was running out of patience, this little female couldn't speak a single sentence without casting her clear white eyes downwards at the floor and stuttering through nearly every word that came out of her mouth. He could see a flush running through her face and her mouth started but no words came.
"Speak clearly." Gaara ordered, clearly becoming upset now, wanting to hear the rest of this females story so he could finally have some peace.
He saw her take a deep breath, her fingers touching together as she seemed to try to calm herself down. It must have taken another minute before she lifted her head, her cheeks flushed but a sort of determination in her eyes.
"The-They," She tried again, flinching as she heard herself stutter through the first words, "They said I have to m-ma-marry!" She got out, her voice becoming louder and louder as the words came out, but the last one ended on a whisper.
Gaara still heard it however, but he didn't understand.
"What is the problem?" He asked, still not getting the full impact of what she said, 'That's what's wrong?' he thought to himself, 'stupid female'.
He could see her mouth open in a soft 'O' and she flushed again, her cheeks seemingly never going back to their naturally creamy pale colour.
"I-I do-don't love him!" she stuttered out, as it explained everything.
"So? Marriages aren't built on love, but alliance." He replied, as this is the way he had been taught throughout his life. Marriage to him was nothing but a way to expand, to create new allies and build bigger armies. Love didn't exist in Gaara's life, 'no one loves a monster' he thought to himself, as he touched the scar on his forehead.
"A-a marriage wi-without love is just a co-contract," she started again, "I-It's sad."
He watched as her shoulders slumped again, seemingly catching the weight that she was feeling inside.
"So you are upset because you have to marry," Gaara continued, "So, just don't marry him then." 'Simple as that' he thought to himself.

~~~
Hinata snorted, actually snorted through her nose. Never in her 17 years had she ever snorted and yet with the thought of defying the elder council members like it was an everyday occurrence she just couldn't help herself.
"I-I can't defy the council!" She said, her tone rising in panic, "The-they will f-force me to marry. They s-said I-I'm a burden, I-I need to b-be looked after. I have no skills." She said the end part so bitterly that no stutter was even evident in her voice. "I am useless."
Hinata thought of what she could do, make a household, direct people, she could even cook for a king, but none of that was helpful here in the village. All the customs here were so different to her home town. She thought of her mother again, even though no one would buy her wares in this village, she still supported Hinata and made their little home. She would always find a way to provide and had so many hidden talents. Talents that Hinata didn't inherit herself. She willed herself not to cry again until she was alone.
"They would force you? How?" The voice came again, she thought she detected confusion.
"Th-they said they w-would see me s-starve, a-and no one i-is to offer me w-work." She mumbled weakly, thinking back again on the council meeting.
Hinata came to the large sand building after her summon, unsure of why she had been summoned she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach but she still walked through the entrance. When she came to a large table surrounded by the elder council members she felt all of their eyes on her.
"Hyuuga Hinata, Daughter of Kuriko, it has come to our attention that your mother will not be returning from her journey. Two days ago, the travelling unit your mother was with came under attack by rogues, she fought bravely but she could not recover after the injuries she sustained, trying to distract them from the other travellers. Since Kuriko provided for you, we have decided that you will marry so you are provided for without unnecessary strain on the village. You will marry Naruto Uzumaki in one week, please pack and prepare all that is within your home."
"W-Wait! W-what d-do you mean my mother is dead?!" She said with panic, "I-I Don't understand?!"
The council members had just sighed and looked away from the girl beginning to cry. They repeated again in monotone voices that seemed to just blend.

~~~
Gaara looked on as the girl seemed to be lost in thought, he could feel the beginning workings of anger in the pit of his stomach. 'This is not how I expected them to treat my people.' He thought to himself.
Starvation, forced marriage? His council was supposed to make humane choices to keep the villagers healthy and happy. He told himself he wasn't going to be a ruler like his father, he wasn't going to put up with famine, or neglect people in care. He realized now that he had become worse, neglecting all of his villagers, neglecting the councils rule. He didn't want to show his face to the people so they wouldn't be frightened, remembering all the wrong he had done in the past, but he decided something has to change. He looked at the girl again, realizing that she had not spoken or moved while he was thinking.
"Why did you come here, to this place? Surely you have a home." He hoped she did, otherwise things were worse in the village than he had just thought.
She looked up to the bookcase, thinking.
"I-I don't know. I could-couldn't stand the way they were s-staring at me. I j-just wanted to get a-away."
Gaara understood perfectly, this is where he came to get away from the looks, the looks of fear and disgust. Even his siblings, Kankouro and Temari still looked at him with uncertainty, despite how much he has changed. They stood by him through the worst, whether out of loyalty or fear he didn't know, but that would be enough to make even the strongest man have nightmares.
"Will you come back?"
He didn't know why he asked that question, but he felt a desire to at least give this female a place where she can feel comfortable like him. He also hadn't had human interaction like this in so long, it somehow calmed him. He didn't even think about how he would lose his solitude, his foremost thought was how he could help.

~~~
Hinata was shocked, the voice sounded almost pleading when it asked the question. She had to replay it in her mind to make sure she had heard correctly. Was it asking for her to come back, or was it asking to make sure she didn't? She did feel a sort of comfort here, despite all that had happened. It was away from all the pity, the knowing stares. It was away from the reminders of her mother that reside in their little home. It would be nice to have a place to come where she could feel this relief.
"C-Can I?" She asked, her voice soft and unsure.
The voice didn't come for a few moments, and Hinata started to worry, 'What if I thought about it wrong, what if it didn't want me to disturb it's space.'
But then the voice came, surety resounding in the tones, "Of course, I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't going to let you."
Hinata breathed out a sigh, relief clear.
"Th-then I w-would love to. T-thankyou."
"Very well."
After hearing that note, Hinata looked out the window, it was so bright! She hadn't realized how long she had stayed here.
"I-I have to go! Thankyou f-for listening to m-me. I-I'll come back!"
Hinata bowed low and then ran out the door, feeling a little bit of hope in her chest, despite her circumstances.