Finally! I'm sorry, I know it's been awhile, but at last, here we go. (No own no sue)

Nutcracker

Hinata's eyes opened lazily. Was she really where she thought she was? Were the events of last night more than a figment of her imagination? As she gazed upon her surroundings, her eyes widened. The answer was no.

She was back in her room, right where she started. Except… her doll was missing. The handsome little nutcracker doll was gone! Hinata moaned in frustration.

"God, no!" she cried, falling back onto her uncles guest bed. "Where could he have gone…" she exclaimed miserably.

"Who? Is Hina-chan talking to herself again? I always knew you were weird like me…"

Although she couldn't see his smile, she knew that it was there: right on her uncle's face.

"Oyaho…" She smiled sadly at him, tears still running down her pale cheeks.

"Ne, what's the matter, Hina? It isn't like you to be gloomy on the day before Christmas morning… c'mon, you tellin' me that for once, my happiness isn't infecting you?"

He made a wiggly motion with his hands as he emphasized the word 'infecting'; Hinata laughed.

"Oh, its just that… the doll you gave me yesterday is gone. And I really, really liked it, too. It was my favorite gift…"she looked down in shame.

"Do you mean Clara? That little princess doll I gave you? You really liked it last night, you were ecstatic-"

"Clara? No, it was a little soldier doll,"-here she made a gesture to represent his height- "about yea high, red hair, green eyes, and a tiny little sword?"

Hizashi shook his head.

"Not ringing any bells… you sure you didn't dream it? Cause' I gave you this-"

He picked up a minute pink dolly from her nightstand. It resembled a medieval Barbie. Hinata's innards writhed in disgust at the sheer amount of lace and preppy pink.

"O-oh. Uh, never mind, that's it." She smiled sheepishly and gingerly accepted the dolly. "Arigatou, again."

Her uncle smiled and left the room, stating the time at which breakfast was to be served.

Hinata began to glare slightly into the dolly's hand-painted baby blue eyes. She would've simply tossed the dolly aside, but she didn't have the heart to release a gift from her uncle that disrespectfully. Her gaze reached the calendar as she set the dolly down. Hinata's eyes narrowed in confusion. Wasn't today supposed to be Christmas morning? The last red X on the calendar was right on Christmas Eve, and the only red circle was on the very next numbered square. Hadn't she acquired the nutcracker on this day… yesterday?

"Uuuuh, my head hurts… OK, I got Gaara on Christmas Eve right after dinner. But today is Christmas Eve and it's only morning. Yikes, what's happening?"

She crawled out of bed, not noticing the tiny wind up mouse peeking out from under her bed.

"Uncle! I'm here for breakfast!"

"Yay! Mina-chan's m'yah!" Hizashi called out in a muffled voice.

"Dearest Brother, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't teach my children such bad manners by talking with your mouth full."

Hinata chuckled. Hizashi's inner child was displaying itself shamelessly again. She gathered a plate and began eating.

0oOo0

That night, after dinner, she eagerly awaited the gift of Gaara. Hizashi only winked at her, a reminder of her early gift: the preppy Barbie thing… Her heart seemed to flatten. She went to bed early.

0oOo0

"Hinata! Hinata! Hello?"

She snapped back to… reality? Where was she? Last Hinata had checked, she had gone to bed early out of depression. The scene that awaited her was simply breathtaking. Glorious mountain ranges curved through the land, and a field of strange beautiful flowers spread out before her. It reminded her of her favorite movie, Sound Of Music. Hizashi had shown it to her when she was little. The whole scene just made her want to sing and spin like the girl in the movie. She restrained herself, though, and settled for embracing Gaara in joy. She laughed and wrapped her arms around him.

"Oh, Gaara, it's beautiful! I love it here!"

"Wh-well that's great, but would you mind unhanding me?"

Hinata blushed deeply and stepped back.

"One thing though, before we go on."

Her gaze snapped back up to him.

"Hai?"

His face turned very serious.

"If you eat or drink anything, then that food or drink will not be able to leave this land. Therefore, if it is in you, you will not be able to leave. Do you understand?"

"Oh, I never want to leave!"

He smiled slightly.

"Then, when we get to my land, I have a favor to ask of you."

She nodded happily.

'That moment.. when she spaced out... she might have too many attachments to stay here after all... This must be the land's effect on an unfamiliar body...'

He stepped before her and offered his hand. As soon as her skin made contact, he leapt into the air, Hinata in tow.

"You can fly?!"

"No, I can merely jump a great distance. You'll find soon enough that you possess the same ability." Upon speaking these words, his hand left hers. She cried out as the feeling of weightlessness gripped her.

"Now, jump!"

His distant words caused her courage to flow, and she pushed off as soon as her feet touched the ground. She began an unsteady but quick pace beside him.

"Why did you let me go?"

"Because you needed to learn on your own. Some things must be learned like this."

She didn't question him further. After some time, she reached out and grasped his hand quickly. His questioning look caused her cheeks to burn.

"You don't need my help anymore, so-"

"I-I know. I just… want to."

He looked straight ahead of them, sinking into the awkward silence.

"My home is near." He said, mostly to break the tension.

0oOo0

Kyaaaaaa! So cute!