Chapter 40

Hinata reaches the sand

When she reached the sand village, Hinata headed straight for the Kazekage's office so she could deliver the scroll from Kakashi. He had a guard similar to the Ombu unit in the leaf, but it was probably called something else, she thought. She announced herself to the guards and then waited for Gaara to receive her.

After a few minutes they sent her in to see him, she felt as if she were going to visit an old friend.

"Hi Hinata," he greeted her while walking over to her. He squeezed her shoulder. "It's good to see you, you have good news I hope," he asked.

She handed him the scroll. "Things are going fine in the leaf village," she replied with a smile. "I have a request of you, in the scroll," she pushed because he hadn't opened it.

"This is from your Hokage?" He asked, "I did hear about Kakashi filling the role for your village, a wise choice." He paused as he read the scroll. "I understand that you would like to leave the leaf village for an extended period, and would like to stay in our village for the time being." He repeated back to her what was written on the scroll.

"Yes, if at all possible," she replied.

"Hmm," he considered while he looked down, thinking. Hinata thought he might not agree after all, which was a shame because she felt comfortable around Gaara.

"I'm sorry to burden you Kazekage, I understand if this has been too much to ask," she smiled lightly at Gaara.

"Yes, you can stay, sorry for not saying that sooner. You have but to ask Hinata, you know that. I am thinking about lodging, which is difficult, how would you feel about staying in Temari's room at my own house?" he asked.

"She's back though too, isn't she?" Hinata asked "Doesn't she need her room?"

"She can use Kankuro's room," he smiled, "really, it will be fine, at least until we have something more permanent figured out for you." He added.

She was greatful but this also made her heart sink a little bit. The word permanent made her realize the gravity of her choice and made her wonder if she had been prepared to make a long term stay.

"Thank you Gaara," she said in a soft voice. "I also want to help your village while I am here, is there any way that I can help out?" she asked.

"We have some duties at the hospital that need to be completed, I can have someone take you down tomorrow to introduce you, you probably need to rest after your journey. I will take you to the house so you can get settled." He moved towards the door and opened it, whispered something to his guard and led the way.

When they got to the house Gaara asked her to have some tea while he went to speak with Temari. Temari came down to see her and had some tea as well.

"How are you Hinata," she asked

"I'm alright," she added

"If you were alright you wouldn't be here," Temari pushed.

Gaara was sitting down listening to both of them go back and forth, Hinata was a little embarrassed that he would hear his sister testing her patience.

Hinata smiled at her and sipped her tea.

Gaara picked up the hint and smiled "I better get back to work," he announced.

Hinata was afraid of how much Temari would push her once Gaara decided to leave. "You don't have to go yet, do you?" she asked.

"…I suppose not, if you'd like to visit…" he responded, he wasn't used to someone pleading for his attention. He sat back down.

A look of relief washed over Hinata's features.

"What brings you to our village," Temari asked

"Temari, why are you pushing her?" Gaara asked

"I'm not pushing," Temari made an innocent look at the both of them, neither of them fell for it.

"Anyways," Gaara began "I am sure Hinata will share her reason for visiting when she is ready" he smiled at her.

"Thanks Gaara," Hinata said appreciatively while she finished her tea. "Would you mind showing me the hospital today," she asked him "I'd like to get a sense of what I will be doing so I can be helpful tomorrow."

"You're going to help at the hospital? That's great," Temari said encouragingly.

"Yes, Gaara agreed to let me help out while I stay," Hinata smiled.

Gaara stood up and Hinata followed "We will be back after a bit Temari." He announced as he headed out the door. They had light conversation on the way to the hospital, he didn't want to push Hinata away or make her uncomfortable. He could tell something about her had changed, she wasn't the same as before. Maybe in time, he thought, she will feel comfortable talking about it.

He stopped at a tall building, about 6 stories high, and opened the door. "This is the Sand village hospital, we have many specialists for different medical ninjuitsu arts." He knew that she didn't know the medical arts but there were other ways she could help. "I will take you around to the different departments until you find a task that you might like, does that sound okay."

"That's great Gaara, thanks for taking your time to do this for me." She added as he showed her around and introduced her. When they were done Gaara wanted to speak plainly to her.

"You know Hinata, if you need to talk I will gladly listen," she turned her head away and he put his hand on her arm "Hey, I'll help you any way I can, okay?"

She wasn't sure if he was trying to be friendly or romantic but she felt that now she needed to tell him, just so that he didn't get the wrong idea about her reasons for coming to the village.

"Gaara, maybe we could find a quiet place to talk," Hinata hinted.

"Sure, there's a room over here," he led the way into a small waiting room and sat down in a comfy chair. Hinata took a seat and tried to prepare herself to tell her story.

"I'm not sure where to start…" she began, Gaara just sat and listened as promised, "I've had feelings for Naruto for a very long time. Even when I was young something drew me to him. I've done everything I can to show him that I love him" she stopped for a minute at this part as the painful words hung in the air. "But no matter what I do or say, he considers us only friends and doesn't love me back. It's too painful to live my life in the leaf knowing we can never truly be together, and so that's why I needed to leave. I need a life where I'm not reminded of what I can't have on a daily basis…"

He waited to make sure she had finished.

She paused for a second and continued "Lately I had been helping him out and I thought he had feelings for me…," she paused "Afterwards he would only talk about us being 'friends'. The worst part is I thought we might be something more, and I believed we were until I heard him say different. That's when I realized it wasn't going to happen and I could never only want to be his friend. Then I saw the choices I could make, stay and be miserable, or leave and try to start fresh with no reminders of him, so here I am…" she finished.

He nodded and took a few seconds to think of a reply. "I see," he said in a grave tone. "Did you want my opinion?" he asked.

She looked at him and nodded, "Please."

"I can see from your perspective and how you feel about the situation and that it's been very painful. But do you wonder why Naruto had told you that he considered you just a friend? What his perspective may be? You seem convinced that he doesn't feel the same as you do, but I have a hard time reconciling your account with what I've actually seen from him in the past. During the war you two were nearly inseparable," he added.

She stood up and walked around the room, "I don't know what would stop him, I've left it up to him and given him chances to tell me how he feels. If I have to pull it out of him, then the feelings just aren't there Gaara, It's not an issue I want to push with him and that's why I haven't."

He stood up too, their conversation had reached the end, "only time will reveal these things Hinata, but I will hope for a positive solution for each of you," he replied.

Hinata smiled at him, he was so encouraging, he reminded her of him in a way.

"I think I will get some rest now," she walked over to the door with him as they got ready to go, "it felt good to get that out, thanks Gaara."

"Any time Hinata," he added

When they got to his house he left her at the door before heading back to his office. "If you go in quickly Temari won't have a chance to ambush you," he smiled before walking away.