Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Pairings: Gaara/Hinata, onesided Sasuke/Hinata
No Laws to Love: Part XII: Ignorance is Bliss
The two girls sat still, staring at their best friend—who to say was currently slamming her head against the cool marble counter—torn between concern and amusement.
Before them, the usually quiet and calm blue-haired girl was in the process—or what she had called it—ridding herself of stupidity.
"Ohmygosh, I-I…believe…what?! I'm so s-stu…"
Her jumbled thoughts came out just as muddled in words.
Tenten reached out and placed a hand on her best friend's shoulder, "Ne, Hinata-chan…isn't this a little too rough?"
The pink haired girl beside her smiled tentatively, "Besides, okay, so you slipped up on answering—but Uchiha Sasuke ask you out!"
Both girls had missed out on the point of Hinata's self punishment.
She resumed to slamming her head even harder.
"H-Hinata-chan!"
Reaching out at the same time, they were able to pull the petite girl into a straight sitting position.
"I-I…I c-can't…noo…w-what am I-I s-sup…n-no…" She paused slightly, glancing at the worried expressions on her friends' faces.
"I-I'm feeling a-a little t-tired," Hinata managed to sniff.
Tenten shot Sakura a look as Hinata slid herself off the stool and proceeded towards the couch to rest, still muttering incoherent words to herself.
The younger girl smiled, obviously missing the wrecked girl's situation.
"Well, I probably would've been sent into a stage of shock too if he asked me!" Sakura declared.
From down the hall Hinata could've slapped herself for her friends' ignorance.
All he did was shove his hands deeper into the jacket's pockets, trying miserably to hide behind the high collar of the black blazer.
He didn't understand why he had to come in the first place of the loud blonde could've done this by herself. Yet, she was insistent on the fact that he show face. At the mall. In a boutique.
The red head glared at the nearest group of girls giggling in the corner. Many more followed his moments out of the corner of their eyes as he maneuvered carefully through the rounders and tables filled with…stuff.
God, they were obvious.
Snapping his attention at the scene ahead of him as soon as he heard a loud, and high pitched, "Awww", Gaara's defensive senses kicked in.
His eyes narrowed at the blonde standing near the counter chatting incessantly with the salesperson—a brunette around their age.
Ino made a few more gestures at him as the brunette glanced over a few times before blurting again, in a sugary girly voice.
"That is, like, so cute."
He glared at Ino.
The girl had the nerve to wave back and grin at him.
Before he could say anything, the salesgirl had sauntered up to him and offered a hand.
"So, I heard you're looking for something for your girlfriend!"
She couldn't be more loud or blunt.
Ino and this girl deserved each other.
His inner companion sniggered.
A series of more 'Awws' and 'That's so adorable!' echoed throughout the store.
"Well, Gaara-san, can you describe the type of person you're buying stuff for? It would really help in the search."
Ah. That annoyingly coy smile again.
Describe Hinata? How was he supposed to do that?
Porcelain skin white as snow, hair like the midnight sky, and a beautiful smile that could turn me—
…Uh…
For once he had no comment back at the voice.
And besides the fact, that had sounded very, very…unmanly.
"She's…a girl…" He managed to growl.
The whole store went quite, Ino choked on her strawberry smoothie, the salesgirl gave him a dumbfounded look, and…
Are you KIDDING me?!
I'm not writing a poem here
Well…It sputtered, Duh, she's a girl?! How…How…Hinata's a man?! I…Oh my god, I would slap you now if I could
First you give me philosophical help, then you write me a poem, then you're going to 'slap' me. You are a disgrace to manhood
I am sensitive. Not girly. Sensitive. It stressed.
Whatever. That meant the exact same thing to Gaara anyway.
The girl before him regained composure as she blinked, her mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"Uhm…okay!" She perked, "We'll just go around until you find something you like!"
What else was he supposed to say?! People—and voices—should give him a break. Gaara grudgingly followed the brunette as Ino tailed happily behind him.
"We have a new line of perfume and l'eau de toilette for this season," Her bubbliness had no end as she flipped her hair over to one side and picked up a pink bottle.
L'essence de La Femme
His inner voice quoted the bottle and snickered.
"Would you like to smell it?"
His eyes widened and before he could say no—she had sprayed a small whiff on his sleeve, just enough so the strong smell had wafted up his nostrils and stung his nerve receptors.
Ah, Gaara, you are now officially a woman.
…
The Essence of The Woman…whom, you are now.
He did not appreciate smelling like baby powder and old women at the same time.
Even Ino behind him wrinkled up her nose.
"Too strong," She commented.
The girl took that as a cue to pick up another bottle, a yellow one this time, shaped like a heart. He didn't even want to read the title.
Hell, he didn't want anything to do with it.
Gaara shook his head furiously, but both girls ignored the frantic gesture and used his other sleeve as a test.
Mmm…that's little fruity now, huh?
It stinks
Kinda like lemons? I like…
Well, I don't
Ah, quit being such a man for once. Try the blue one!
…No…
Unfortunately, that one was the next on Ino's and the salegirl's list.
After a life threatening amount of time exposed to smelly chemicals—or what Gaara deemed as smelly—and leaving the redhead smelling…
Like you've just skipped through a field of flowers and other goodly stuff…
It snickered on everyone else's behalf—that happened to be in the store at the same time.
Just…
He couldn't believe what abominations he was undergoing all for…for…
That's right. It was all for Hinata. He exhaled deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Is there…is there anything else…?" Gaara asked the salesgirl weakly.
"Oh! Yes, yes," She bounced over to a large colorful rack, "We have silk scarves, cotton scarves, cashmere…"
Glancing at it, he decided that it was safer than perfume.
"Why didn't you say this before…" He growled under his breath.
He poked and prodded at the scarves before he spotted in the corner—a dark shade of Prussian blue. Picking it up, he felt the soft light material. It was simple. Beautiful, yet simple just like her. Not overly gaudy and eccentric like the others.
"I want this one," He stated as he held it out to the salesgirl.
"That is so pretty!" She squeaked as she headed towards the cashiers.
Gaara couldn't be more grateful he was finally done.
She had not answered him. And the festival was tomorrow night.
Yet, she felt no obligation to. She had told him even before that already that she was going with someone else, hadn't she?
Hinata sighed and sat back up.
No matter…
She had already decided…right?
No matter what…
Gaara was the one she wanted to go with. Even if he rejected her—spending the time alone would be better than launching herself at someone else.
Feeling a little restless, Hinata decided to rummage through her closet.
Might as well pick out something to wear.
She pulled out her favorite white and lavender jacket.
"That's so…all the time," A voice commented, miffed at her choice in style, "Not something for a date."
She whirled around, "H-Hanabi!"
Her younger sister posed with her hands on her hips, "Really, 'Neesan, it's so obvious with that redhead Neji's always complaining about."
"N-Neji-niisan?!" The entrance had surprised her. Her sister's knowledge had surprised her. And now she was left exclaiming one worded sentences.
Hanabi strode over to her sister's closet, "Where's the sweater 'Kaasan bought you?"
"I-It's up on that shelf over there—still in the box," She added, embarrassed that she had not even hung it up yet.
The taller and the younger of the two stood on her toes and reached for the box in the back of the top shelf.
Dropping it on the floor, dust flew up in a cloud as both sisters coughed.
"Damn 'Neesan," She looked at the dust covered blue box, "It's heavy."
Hinata peered over at it, "T-That's not it…"
"Oh?" Hanabi grabbed the ends and started to pull off the top, "You've got more clothes you don't wear?!"
"I d-don't remember ever having that box…"
Both peered into it to see a bunch of pictures, and miscellaneous items.
Hanabi picked one up. And stared.
"Awww!" She squealed, "Look! It's Neji-niisan…in DIAPERS!"
Hinata reached for it and upon glance, she couldn't help but giggle at his adorableness either.
"Let's look for more!" Hanabi dumped the whole box's content onto the bedroom floor as Hinata sat down, placing Neji's picture delicately beside her.
They would have to show him this in the morning.
And somewhere out there, Neji turned in his sleep and shivered.
Hanabi was a monster with the pictures, flipping through them at twice the speed Hinata was.
The older girl picked up a picture and giggled. It was Neji's graduation from elementary and beside him, clung Hinata and Hanabi on each side as the boy grinned from ear to ear.
Sensing her sister's quietness, Hinata gave her a questioning look before Hanabi slowly handed Hinata the small photo.
Taking the picture, Hinata looked down at the two small children, smiles all around. The little girl—she had identified as herself, dressed in a blue sundress was getting a piggyback ride from a little boy with dark blue hair…
U-Uchiha-san?!
"'Neesan…" Hanabi poked her shocked sister carefully, "Is that…?"
Hinata nodded weakly.
So she had known Sasuke even before this? Was this why he was always acting like that?
"H-Hanabi…is there any more…?"
Rummaging through the pile, Hanabi was able to pull out a few more shots. Both containing the two children, laughing hand-in-hand.
But it couldn't be!
There's no way…this smiling boy…is really…
A picture of the frowning Uchiha flashed through her mind.
"That is so weird," The younger Hyuuga mused, "So like, we've basically known them all our lives…or at least you did."
She picked up the picture, "Well, he does look a lot cuter smiling…"
Hinata managed a weak smile at her sister. This wasn't a time for a stroll down memory lane. Something had been bothering her, and now she was able to place it together. But that still didn't help the knot in her stomach from the anxiousness of seeing Gaara the next day—and perhaps running into Sasuke at the same time too.
They were both great guys, she'll admit. Different, but still notable in their own ways.
"Ne, Hanabi…I think I'm going to s-sleep now," She started to collect the pictures back up.
Forgetting immediately, Hanabi grinned, "Fine, but I'm gonna pick that outfit out for you tomorrow."
She nodded in response as stood up and smoothed out her nightgown.
"Oyasumi, Hanabi."
"'Night," Her sister giggled something about redheads and bounced out of the room.
Hinata tucked the box back into its place and sighed.
So there's a history…huh
Standing in front of the closet a little longer, she noticed something else.
Gaara's jacket that he had let her borrow. A smile tugged on the corner of her lips. She still hadn't returned it—and he still hadn't asked for it back yet. So, until then, Hinata would indulge herself into holding onto the little treasure she had stumbled upon.
Pulling that out of the depths, Hinata pulled it on and zipped it, hugging it closer to her body.
"I like Gaara-kun."
She spoke out loud, reassuring herself.
Sasuke meant nothing to her.
But what nagged in the back of her mind was…
What did she mean to him?
The little voice in the back of her head shoved the thought out of her head.
You're always thinking of other people, Hinata
She mused on that topic.
For once, pick something that you want. Not what others judge and choose for you.
She crawled into bed and pulled the collars of the jacket around her face, taking a deep breath of Gaara's faint cologne.
Hinata liked this smell. It calmed her nerves slightly. He calmed her.
And she asked for nothing else. Maybe, maybe she'll be a little greedy this time.
He twirled the creased photo around his fingers.
Goddamn, why did he even care this much? He'd only talk to her a few times—mostly just watching her from afar during school. Or when her pink haired friend would ask him insistently on going out for lunch or dinner, he'd only watch her for her expressions. And most of the time, it was unrequited attention. She wanted nothing from him. That's what bothered him.
The one girl he had mild attraction to, didn't want anything to do with him. Instead, he frowned, ironically, she likes the guy who's older sister had a history with his older brother.
His hands clenched reflexively and the picture—crushed in together. For the third time already, he smoothed it back out and stared at it.
Wide innocent pearly eyes stared back at him, a smile gracing on her pink lips. Beside her was a miniature him. She held onto his hand to steady him as he stood proudly on the fence.
The picture blurred together and now, an image of her and a redhead standing beside her, his hand on her shoulder glaring down at him.
A low growl erupted from his throat as he started to crumble the photo again—until a hand came out and snatched it away.
Itachi tsked the boy.
"She's cute," He mused out loud.
Then he turned to the sulking boy on the bed, "Too bad she already has someone."
Sasuke glared at him, "Does it look like I care?"
The older Uchiha did nothing but smile that eerie smile of his.
"If you like her, if you care for her," He paused, "Then you wouldn't hurt her."
With that, he left the room, leaving Sasuke in shock.
"What the hell was that about?!"
Quite taken back by his brother's random words of wisdom, Sasuke decided to just call it a night.
Things would take care of themselves, right?
He didn't even know what he felt for the girl. He just wanted her. As a trophy? If it was to be like that, he wouldn't be agonizing over it like he was now.
Being the Uchiha, he'd never felt jealousy.
But if this tingly anger bubbling up from his stomach and wrenching his heart from its place every time he saw the girl and Sabaku together could be defined…he'd define it as jealousy. Which, in revelation of the truth, he couldn't sleep anymore.
Uchiha Sasuke was jealous.
"Fucking shit," He muttered and climbed out of bed.
The blonde tsked and walked around the living room table a few times as her brothers stared at her, confused and irritated.
"Really you two, this place is so drabby," She emphasized, waving her hand at the lack of décor or anything along the lines of contemporary interior design.
Both boys raised an eyebrow.
"Uh…Temari…" The older of the two spoke up hesitantly, "You haven't lived here in five years."
The redhead next to him scoffed, "And you say this every time you come back to visit."
She flashed them a smile, "Well, I'm back here for keeps now, right?" With that said, she dumped a stack of books on interior design on the wooden table.
Before she could explain her further plan, the phone rang.
"I'll get it," Temari sang as she sauntered over to the phone.
Kankurou sent Gaara a look, "What's she so perky about?" The boy next to him simply shrugged. And thus, they quieted and tried to listen in.
"Hello. Sabaku household, Temari speaking," Her tone laced in a business-like fashion.
"Ah…Mari-chan," The voice on the other end greeted happily.
That was when her professional stature broke, "What do you want. And how did you get this number."
"…Wild guess?" It paused for a bit, "Well, your number hasn't changed in five years…and uhm…well…Is Gaara there?"
"Why'd you want to know?" She snapped, obviously irritated as the two boys on the couch watched her with amusement.
"There's someone here who wants to talk to him."
"Oh?"
"Hello?" The voice changed, the tone was a tad higher—but held a more serious aspect.
"Yeah, hold on," She cupped the phone with one hand, "Gaara! Someone wants to talk to you."
Gaara folded his arms over his chest, sending her a glare. Who the hell called at this time of night.
"Who is it?"
Exasperated, Temari snapped. The conversation earlier didn't help her mood.
"I don't know! It's for you. So come get the damned phone!"
Pulling himself away from the comfy couch, the stalked over to the phone.
"What?" He snapped back at the phone.
"Sabaku Gaara?" A familiar voice on the other end but he couldn't place his finger on it.
"Yeah? Who's this?"
"…Uchiha Sasuke…"
End: Part XII: Ignorance is Bliss
Wow…this is what, two weeks::claps in glee:: Also my longest chapter too, I think. Does anyone have a problem with uploading their story? I don't know if it's just my laptop but like, whenever I go Document Upload, it only uploads part of my story and I end up having to do it over and over at least 10 times before the whole story gets on here.
Haha, writing the scene with Gaara at the store reminded me of my summer working at a girl's boutique/clothing store. I get random guys coming in (by themselves) looking really confusing. And I'd still have to greet them,
"Hi, can I help you find something?"
::guy keeps looking over my shoulder::
"Excuse me?"
"Uh…yeah, I'm looking for my girlfriend…"
XD I had to try to not laugh. But some guys had the stupidity to start describing their girlfriend. I help you find clothes. Not a person. Boo. Or when the guy wants to buy something for a girl, but doesn't know what. And…he gives me an answer like what Gaara gave the salesgirl. Men are idiots.
ARCHE-CHAN: Well, here's my update. Now, where's yours? XD
DARK HOPE ASSASSIN: Yeah, reading your comment made me realize I would leave this kinda…eh. Thanks for slapping me about that. Haha.
BLONDES-4-NARUTO: Aw, that makes me feel so special. Thanks for reading it!
STARLIGHTDEMONFIRESONG: Haha, 'Keep Me Strong'? Who's it by? I'll like to check that song out.
THANKYOU ALSO (bolding means nothing it only helped me tell the names from each other):
KICHOU,ELSIE-NEECHAN,MOON TWILIGHT,DANI'S RANDOM FOX,NANAMIYATSUMAKI,PUPPET-STRINGS-DEE,BLUE-SHINE ANGEL,LADYPNAI,IF-THIS-DISTURBS-YOU-THEN-WALK-AWAY,YA1YA,SHESE1,AUNTRITAPRINCESS,LUCIFERIUS,CENSES,REDBRICK, REDHEADED PSYCHOPATHS WANTED,FIREXDEMON,REIKO,GREOWL,EXTREME67, NIXXI,CHINADOLL27,SIRI,THEODDONE, FLAWED IMAGINATION,PRINCESS FLUFFY3,APPLE-ELIXIR,JULIAN SNAPE,KERII-CHAN,PRETTY SHIMMIE,HIEI'S SHADOW TENSHI,SABINA,OPEN WINDOW,JULIA BURN,YOURICHI-YOSHI12,BLEACHYUM,KURO666,DIGICHAR,CATC10,PANDACHANISLOVE,MEKHI,PSYCO FANGIRL YAOI,LYN,ANONYMOUS,NEKO KAGE, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO REVIEWED IN THE OTHER CHAPTERS.
Well, thanks for reading! I love reviews. Yes, I do.
Ame no Megami