Chapter 45

Naruto Arrives

Hinata enjoyed her time in the Sand village. Morning and night she helped at the hospital, and even made them a supply of her healing balm that she had given to the hospital in the leaf. She also enjoyed coming back to the house in the evening and talking with Temari and Gaara.

At first Temari had been overbearing, but the more Hinata was around her, the more she got used to her personality. She noticed that Temari only acted that way when she cared about someone and Hinata realized that Temari must have thought of her as a close friend.

Gaara, on the other hand, was very reserved. He was always interested to hear about her day, but never pushed her if she didn't feel like sharing. She could get used to spending more of her days this way and wondered how long they would let her stay with them. If Kankuro came back, then she also knew that Temari would be headed back to the leaf to supervise the Sand construction crew. Surely if Konkuro came home she would have to leave, she couldn't stay in the house with two non relative men, even if one of them was the Kazekage.

"What did you do today?" Gaara asked her, making conversation before Temari had come home for the evening. Hinata was lost in thought and didn't hear Gaara. He leaned forward and tried to make eye contact with her. "Is everything alright Hinata, you seem distracted," he mentioned.

"Oh, sorry," she saw that he was leaning in close to her but it didn't bother her like it had when she first arrived. "I'm just thinking about home, and my village…" she trailed off.

He sat back in his chair "I couldn't say I blame you, the leaf village is a beautiful place." He said in a calm tone. He looked stoic sitting in his chair with a peaceful look on his face while the shadows of the fire crackled in the room and reflected off his stature.

"I have enjoyed my stay and appreciate everything you have done for me," she looked in his eyes, "Your kindness has meant more to me than I can say."

He looked away and forced a smile, she could see it was fake "So you've decided to return," he asked, when she didn't answer he continued "I've really enjoyed your company Hinata." He offered.

"And I yours Gaara," she added with a genuine smile "We both know that I would have to leave anyways when Kankuro returned, Temari already mentioned that she would trade places with him and return to help in the leaf."

"Kankuro sent word a few days ago," He made eye contact with Hinata again "I spoke with Temari and she said she would stay here as long as you decided to stay."

Hinata was surprised and felt guilty, tears started welling up in her eyes as she stood up from her chair. She knew Gaara was already so helpful to her, but she had no idea of the lengths he and his family were going to in helping her out. "I had no idea, I'm sorry that," she was at a loss for what to say.

Gaara stood up too and walked toward Hinata. As he got closer she turned away, embarrassed to have been moved to tears in front of someone she respected.

He stood next to her and grabbed her hand. She wasn't aware that she had any feelings for Gaara, but she couldn't ignore that there was something there; she didn't pull back from his touch. He leaned closer to her and brushed her hair out of her face and behind her ear and then reached his hand back to gently wipe the tears from her face. "It's okay Hinata, please, don't be upset," He said in a soothing tone.

She took a deep breath "I'm not upset, just moved because of all you've done for me," she finished and took another deep breath to stall the next set of tears that were welling up.

"Why wouldn't I do that for you?" He asked, he knew she had feelings for another, but he realized there would never be a better time to tell her how he felt about her. "You're a hero Hinata, do you realize you helped change the tide of war in the last battle? I knew there was something different about you when I saw you battle at the chinin exams. You have a need to prove yourself to others, to show that you are worthy. I have long seen that you are worthy, and that those around you need only be worthy of you."

Hinata had been too surprised by the previous comment to formulate a response, and this new information just added to feeling overwhelmed. She had suspected that Gaara had feelings for her, but never that they would be so deep. She thought about it, when she had been on her mission to get supplies, he had given far more than promised after seeing her, and even offered a work crew with special juitsus to rebuild. When she sought him out for help he had not only accepted to help her but had opened his very own home to her. She wondered why she didn't see any signs sooner.

The tears had stopped and she looked up at Gaara who was still holding her hand. He wanted so badly to comfort her, to kiss her. He moved his other hand to her mid back, touching her lightly as he moved his head forward and leaned in to kiss her. To her, his touch felt sweet and his kiss did too. She felt like moving on might eventually be possible after all.

The front door opened and Gaara and Hinata jumped apart when they heard someone enter. Temari stood frozen in place, Shikamaru and Naruto at her side. She looked from Gaara to Hinata and back again, and then from them to Naruto who was turning red. "I've got some things to do so I will see you guys later," Temari said quickly and turned back out the door she came in from.

Hinata had began blushing, she couldn't believe what a disaster this had become. As soon as she felt like life was possible without Naruto, seeing him brought back her feelings of a broken heart. She knew that what she had with Naruto was complicated, but she also had realized she had feelings for Gaara. She felt confused and guilty, no matter what the result she would either be hurting someone else or being hurt herself.

Gaara began to speak after a long awkward silence, "Naruto, Shikamaru, I hope everything is okay in the village."

Shikamaru looked at Naruto to see if he was going to answer and with the state of things he decided it was best to answer, "Yes, everything is well. We came because we…" Shikamaru hesitated, not sure if Naruto wanted him to say at this point or not.

"We came to see Hinata," Naruto said in a deflated tone, "we wanted to see if she would come home." His voice sounded empty of emotion. Shikamaru could see this wasn't an ideal situation, he knew Naruto needed to adjust his strategy if he wanted her to come home with him.

"Naruto," he whispered "I don't think you should approach her this way if you wanted to talk," Shikamaru mentioned.

"Don't lecture me about girls Shikamaru, the only thing you talked about on our whole trip up here is 'Temari this' and 'Temari that' and 'I wonder if Temari will come back to the leaf with us' and who do we see first thing when we get here, and you couldn't even talk to her at all. I'm not about to take advice from you." He turned towards Hinata and Gaara.

"I'm not angry with you for leaving Hinata," Naruto said in a trying to be calm voice, "I know why you had to do it. It was all my fault Hinata and I'm sorry. He got down on one knee and bowed his head toward her "please forgive me," he uttered.

Hinata had been through a lot of emotions in the last few minutes. An apology from Naruto was the last thing that she was expecting. She walked over to Naruto and put her hand on his shoulder. "I can accept your apology Naruto." He started to notice that pained look in her eyes that Shikamaru had mentioned "but it doesn't change our…situation" she added.

"I came here to tell you…how I feel about you Hinata. I might have already lost you, which I would deserve after everything. I didn't realize how I was making you feel. If you do decide not to return, because of me, I have already decided not to return. I never intended to drive you away from your friends, your family, and your village."

"If you leave, then you will never be hokage, do you think I would let you sacrifice your dreams Naruto?"

There was silence between them and then Gaara spoke. "I think I will leave you two to talk in privacy," he uttered as he began to walk out of the room. Naruto held up his hand to stop him.

"Please Gaara, I can see you have feelings for Hinata, the kiss kind of gave it away." Hinata and Gaara both blushed. "I just want you to know that if Hinata does have feelings for you…"

Gaara now had the pained look in his eyes when he spoke to Naruto "It's always been you that she loves Naruto. I've never been unsure about that." He turned to Hinata "you're welcome to stay if you change your mind. No matter what Hinata, I'll always be your friend, I meant every word I said to you." Gaara finished as he bowed his head at her and then made eye contact with Naruto again. "It was good to see you again my friend, come see me at my office before you leave." Gaara nodded as he headed out the door.

Outside they could hear Gaara say "Temari, are you going to eavesdrop on the entire conversation or just part of it," loud enough for them to hear as he walked away.

Shikamaru's skin looked like it had turned a greenish color and he had a seasick look on his face. Temari rolled around the corner, her back to the wall. She was looking at Shikamaru directly in the eyes "Was that true," she asked him, "What Naruto said?" Her tone was unreadable.

Shikamaru just gulped and stared at the floor.

"Sure it is," Naruto replied "he's just shy about it is all."

"Shut up Naruto," Shikamaru angrily whispered at him.

She moved closer to him, he looked at her and saw the intent look on her face. "Shikamaru, is it?" She asked again.

"I already told you," Naruto began, both Shikamaru and Temari turned towards Naruto and told him to shut up, and then turned back towards each other.

Shikamaru looked at Temari, she had already heard anyways, what would be the harm in saying how he felt. He returned her stare and looked into her eyes as he answered her "Yes," he relented "it is true." He prepared for Temari to reject him.

He was surprised when she pushed past him and into her bedroom, a smile on her face "Come on Hinata, we need to pack for our trip," She ushered to Hinata as she opened her bedroom door. Once they were inside Temari slammed it shut.

"What do you make of that?" Naruto asked Shikamaru.

"It sounded like they're both coming back..." Shikamaru paused "I was angry at you, but, if it helped her come back…"

"Can I ask you something Shikamaru?" Naruto asked him "What's the point of having her come back if you aren't going to talk to her?"

Shikamaru hung his head "I know, but every time I look at her I lose what I'm thinking about."

Naruto and Shikamaru stood there in silence with a lot on their minds, after a few minutes Temari and Hinata came out, ready to go. "Shikamaru, we're going to go talk to my brother while these two have a chance to catch up," she motioned towards Naruto and Hinata.

Shikamaru nodded his head and followed her out the door.