It was getting darker as Hinata strode down the path, trying to pin point the place where she heard the yells. The cheap lights of the streets soon gave way and she found herself enveloped in the foreboding grasp of the pitch black night. She began to panic, her fear slowly getting the better of her. She stood at the same spot where the lights went out, motionless, afraid to even breathe. Then, she saw an image of her father and Neji looking at her disapprovingly, and with that she tried to regain the best of her courage. Soon after that moment she activated her Byakugen and she let out a sigh, finally being able to see through the night's covers. As she looked around she could see a strong source of chakra not too far from her. Slowly she began heading in the direction of this mysterious nin.
After a while she saw a boy in red robes sitting all alone on a bench, the moon shining slightly on him. She could not see his features and the only thing that stood out to her was a rather large yet familiar looking gourd leaning on the side of the bench. Not seeing anyone else, especially at this hour, she knew that this must've the person who cried down the street earlier. After deactivating her byakugen she nervously approached the lone figure, not letting her gaze escape him.
Gaara sat there, motionless, letting the moon shine on his ever darkening soul. Just a few moments ago he was staggering around the streets, yelling to the sky to silence the voices that mocked him. It seemed like an eternity as the voices filled him until finally falling onto the ground in front of this little bench. The way the moon's light blanketed the spot made it seemed so inviting, so peaceful that it managed to help Gaara be rid of the infernal voices. He stood up and decided to sit here for the time being, hoping to clear his thoughts. Gaara had set his gourd down at the side while he sat there, breaking his hold with reality as he set his down to look at the pavement. He was in quiet meditation, clearing his head of any emotions when all off a sudden he heard faint footsteps. He quickly raised his head, making sure whoever dared approach him wasn't an assailant of sorts. However, instead of seeing kunai flying towards him, he saw a girl in her teens.
Her skin was extremely fair and she had long black hair that flowed down her head. Her eyes were a pearl white and when he looked at her she jumped back, like a deer would after being glared by a wolf. She let out a quiet squeak and her faced became rather flushed as Gaara looked upon her. He then took this time to observe her fully. She seemed like some lost girl until he saw the ninja band around her neck and chuckled silently, thinking this meek little thing was a nin. He quickly remembered however that this young girl was the heiress to the Hyuga clan, memories from the chunin exams flooding into his head. Even so, he couldn't recall her name.
Hinata jumped back when the boy looked up at her, surprised too see it was the Kazekage of Suna, Gaara. She remembered him from the chunin exams, they way he was so willing to kill Lee in their fight. He was insane, a murderer, or so he was at first. Then, two years after the chunin exams, she and Team 8 were sent along with many other teams to find and rescue Gaara. Even then she still had her doubts about him, especially after what he did to Naruto and the others before. However, all she saw now was a lonely boy, most probably lost in a place that must feel so alien to him. At first, she just wanted to turn around and run as fast as she could, but his eyes, his jade eyes hypnotized her and because of it she couldn't allow herself to run.
The silence was beginning to infuriate Gaara, testing his nerves slightly. He did not like to be in the presence of another unless they were intending to kill him and fail, or if they had something to say. He could tell that if this girl tried to do the former, she'd be dead within seconds so the latter was the most probable, except the fact that she was just holding her hands to her mouth like a child. Finally, Gaara gave in and decided that if this girl wouldn't speak he will.
"What do you want?" he asked, not letting a hint of emotion slip off his tongue. Hinata was taken aback as she was lost for what to say. To her, this was like being stuck facing a venomous snake and she was like the little mouse, too afraid to move. Gaara was soon annoyed again with this girl's incompetence and decided to ignore her. Unfortunately though, she seemed to radiate an aura that made her all too noticeable to the annoyed young kage. Finally, Gaara stood up and approached the girl slowly, keeping eye contact all along the way. He was then directly in front of her and noticed that this girl had beautiful features. From her supple lips to her wonderful eyes right down to the way her cheeks flushed, this girl emanated a beauty to divine to grace this earth, and this effect was only increased by the light off the moon touching her face. Gaara quickly dispersed these thoughts though, they were not meant for a being such as him.
She was confused as she saw Gaara in front of her. He stood up a few moments ago and started walking towards her slowly like a hunter stalking its prey. And now he was right in front of her, face to face and what she saw didn't disappoint. The maniacal face that was embedded into her head didn't exist on him. He had matured well over the years and had a face that was calm yet dark and mysterious nonetheless. He seemed to exert an air of deep thought and serenity, yet she could see some level of hurt in his eyes. The boy murderer had grown into a striking you man, or so she felt at least.
After taking her entire body into mind, Gaara broke the silence that crept over them a second time. "Why are you here?" he asked, adding a slightly menacing tone to his voice. Hinata, finally mustering all reserves of courage she had left, answered him. "I-I thought I heard someone sc-scream so I followed the yell till I f-found you…," she answered hiding her face from Gaara's soul piercing gaze. Gaara cursed himself under his breath for letting his cries been so loud. As he looked back up, he saw the girl, looking at him like a child would at an injured animal. It was then Gaara realized that she could help him after all. "Do you know the way to the Hokage's residence?" Gaara asked blatantly. Hinata soon realized why he must've been here and she knew Tsunade would be losing herself right now. "Uhh….y-yes I know where it is…" she answered. There was a silence as they both stood there and Gaara was just about to have the last straw with this girl. "Will…you please take me there…" Gaara said, trying to suppress the anger he was having towards this infuriating girl. She nodded quickly and soon they were both walking towards the Hokage's residence.
The walk there was quite long and Hinata couldn't stand the silence, especially since it was Desert Demon she was with so quietly, she asked him about what happened. "Wh-why were you yelling just now?" she asked quietly as they turned a corner. Gaara was hoping that she would stray away from the subject and was refusing to answer her when strangely he found that he couldn't. So he lied. "I…fell," he said without making eye contact. "Oh…m-must've been really painful to make you yell that loud," she said while looking at him. This girl, she irked him so with those eyes of hers. So innocent, so pure, never seeing the harsh world that they lived in. Gaara was then surprised when he found himself trying to make conversation with this inquisitive girl.
"So…I take it you're a chunin now?" Gaara said, hiding his inquisitive side. Surprised at his sudden openness, Hinata smiled slightly and answered. "Yeah, I passed the exams after I failed my first one…" she said, trying not to remember the events of two years ago. "Ah…" was all that was Gaara's reply. She was quiet again and Gaara didn't want her to be quiet. Though this girl was incompetent at times, infuriating and quite annoying, he rather enjoyed her company. Unfortunately though, they rounded near a corner and hew saw the Hokage's building right ahead of him. Thinking quickly of something to say, he had only one.
"What is your name?" he asked without showing any emotions on his face. She was quite surprised when he asked her this and it took her some time to respond. They were already at the doorway into the Hokage's building when she answered. "Hinata…Hinata Hyuga," she said while gracing him one last smile. She then turned away and began walking off into the night as Gaara stared at her disappearing figure. "Hinata…" he said silently as he entered the building. When he did enter, he wasn't surprised to find ANBU running around everywhere while Kankuro tried to calm Tsunade down. "I am SOOOO sorry Hokage-sama but my brother has the tendency to-. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET HIM WANDER OFF LIKE THAT!! YOU ARE THE WORST EXCUSE OF AN ELDER BRO…Gaara…," Tsunade said with a sigh of relief. It was then Gaara knew he was in for it deep this time.
Elsewhere, Hinata had finally reached home to find her father waiting by the front doorway, questioning her as usual. She answered everything as usual and finally entered her home where her little sister was waiting to question her even further. "Sister, why were you so late? Father was about to send Neji out looking for you…" Hanabi stated with a pout on her lips. Hinata giggled at the sight of her sister and answered her just to amuse her. "I had to help someone, that's why," Hinata answered while walking towards her room. "OOO...who?" her little sister asked. Hinata didn't answer as she entered her room. After changing herself into her night kimono she settled herself onto bed. As she did, her thought drifted to a certain someone she met today. "Gaara…" was all she whispered before sleep overtook her.