Authors note again. Sorry that i'm posting this sorry up rather slow, i just got stuff to handle. Still, enjoy the next 2 chapters. RATE AND REVIEW PLEASE! p.s. with honest course
Gaara was at a lost. This girl had been following him for a while and he was slightly frustrated. It wasn't because he hated her presence, no, he enjoyed her company. Instead it was the incomprehensible silence she seemed to insist upon every time they met. Gaara knew he had to be the one to start the conversation yet again, though he hoped it would be more vocal then last night. "What were you doing?" he asked her blatantly. Hinata looked at him and decided they should at least talk if they were together. "Umm….w-well there was a cat stuck in a tree and I…well…saved it…FOR THE CHILDREN!" she suddenly yelled, trying to make the situation she was in sound not so ridiculous. Gaara was amused at her attempts to cover up the situation but merely showed it as a small smirk. Hinata, embarrassed at how she suddenly screamed at him tried to change the subject. She then quickly remembered why she followed him around in the first place. "T-thank you, Kazekage-sama…for saving me from harm," she said, blushing slightly as she spoke.
Gaara looked at her and could not help but realize how captivating she looked. He was hypnotized with that heavenly face of hers, her humbleness, and her gentle demeanor. Gaara quickly dismissed such thoughts as alien to him and just looked in front of them again. "Hn…" was his answer to her, not giving her a hint of why he helped her. Hinata, taken aback by the answer, blushed even more and just looked downwards, hiding her shame. Then Gaara felt another emotion overtaking him. Guilt.
Hinata felt so embarrassed, trying to hide herself after Gaara answered her so rudely. She had hoped that he would at least say your welcome but it seemed that the Kazekage was utterly devoid of human kindness. To think that he, of all people, would've saved her and doesn't even have the decency to accept her sincere gratitude. She felt like screaming at him but was too afraid of what he could do. As an entire array of feelings coursed through her, the same boy who saved at her was just about to say something. "I…am glad you did not come to any harm…," he said quietly, almost a whisper. Hinata looked at him and saw Gaara looking right back at her, and she felt as hypnotized as she met him last night. "T-thank you again….Gaara," she said, a smile slowly crossing over her face. As Gaara looked upon her childish smile, he himself could not but help let off a tiny smirk on the edge of his lips.
Gaara felt strangely joyful at the time, but he did not know why. This girl, so silent and quaint, had made some kind of effect of him that felt so strange. He couldn't understand the things she made him feel and it made him quite afraid. "So…have you…eaten yet?" she asked. It was at that moment Gaara realized he had not eaten and his stomach had answered Hinata with a loud animal like growl. "Oh…I suppose that answers my question," she said, letting out a small laugh. Gaara didn't show it, but he was starving and needed food fast, especially since he didn't have any dinner yesterday or breakfast for the matter. "Don't worry, I know a place for you to get something to eat. Just follow me," she said, giving him the smile that gave him the same feelings as before. Brushing off those strange emotions, he followed Hinata to any place he could get a meal.
She felt glad. Hinata didn't know why, but she felt rather happy. It might've been because she managed to get the feared Gaara to follow her. At first, she thought he'd just walk away, ignoring her like the person she thought he was. Instead, she had the so called Demon of the Sand walking right behind her, looking to her to help him find some food like a stray puppy would. She finally turned the corner to the stall she left Kiba and Shino and saw the two still bickering for some apparent reason. "YOU SENT THOSE FLEAS ON AKAMARU, I JUST KNOW IT!" Kiba yelled at Shino, accusing him for Akamaru's current situation. "My fault! Just because I can control bugs doesn't mean I'd do anything like that to Akamaru. Besides, I bet it's because you never bathed him in days," Shino retaliated, trying not to get too annoyed with his big headed friend. "HEY, I BATHE AKAMARU EVERY TWO MONTHS!" Kiba yelled, trying to defend himself. "Wow Kiba, that makes you an excellent owner," Shino said, letting each word be drip with sarcasm. Right before Kiba lunged at Shino like a wolf towards a deer; Hinata stepped in to make sure neither of her friends got hurt.
"Guys, calm down…I brought someone along with me and I would like it if you guys didn't fight in front of him," Hinata pleaded, standing between both boys, pushing them apart with her hands. The two ignored her however and kept on yelling and cursing each other while Akamaru continued scratching himself. Gaara looked at the spectacle in front of him; two ninja fighting for whatever stupid reason the duo concocted and Hinata trying to push them apart to no avail. He did not like seeing her like that and decided to help. Using some sand, it slowly crawled across the pavement to the two bickering buffoons ahead of him and, with one quick thought; his sand pulled them both away with great force. The two were dumbfounded at what just happened, but Hinata saw the sand crawl back to Gaara and she mouthed to him a thank you. Gaara merely nodded to her, signifying he was welcomed. The other soon caught on and looked at Gaara with a glint of fear, shock and awe in their eyes.
"HOLY CRAP, IT'S GAARA!" Kiba yelled, pointing madly at Gaara like he was a ghost. Shino didn't say anything but drops of sweat were forming around his head. Akamaru, not being able to show or voice his displeasure of seeing one of the most feared nin in front of them, just growled to show his anger. Realizing this, Hinata ran up to Gaara and stood in front of him, hoping she could change her friend's thoughts of her. "Kiba, Shino, Akamaru…this is the someone I brought along with me! Now I s-suggest you treat him nicely…I mean he saved me just now," she exclaimed, hoping her friend's distaste of him would disappear. At first, their muscles tensed even more but Hinata felt them slowly toning down, easing themselves towards Gaara. Finally, the two sat back down and relaxed, trying to understand that their friend, Hinata, was defending Gaara, the psychotic ninja with a tendency to kill. "Hinata…why the heck did you bring him?" Kiba asked, acting as if Gaara couldn't hear him. "Because he saved me, kept me company when you two were busy fighting again and he's starving and hasn't eaten anything yet, that's why!" she exclaimed, giving every ounce confidence she had into those words. Kiba was shocked at how her friend defended Gaara and bowed his head in defeat. Shino didn't say anything but Hinata knew he'd agree as well. Akamaru just whined and hid his face with his paws, looking silly in his immense size now ever since he grew up.
Gaara was surprised when she came to his defense, not that he needed it. He was used to people saying things about him even in his presence, he never cared, but when Hinata suddenly stood up for him, even though her own friends clearly hated him, he knew she was different. As he sat down next to them, he looked at Kiba and Shino, those being their names. Neither of them were pleased he was here but Hinata had managed to convince them. Then, Gaara heard his gut rumble again and so he turned towards the store owner, ordering something light to settle his hunger. He ate in silence, listening to Hinata and her companions chat on about things that barely concerned him. "I wonder how Kurenai is doing…especially with the baby on the way and all..." Hinata said, worried about her sensei. "Agh…I'm sure she's fine, I mean…she taught us right," Kiba said, trying to sound optimistic. "Still…ever since Asuma's death…we haven't seen her much…and I kinda' miss her," Hinata said, memories of her sensei filling her head.
She recalled when she was in the academy, she barely was able to voice herself, her confidence being shattered by her fathers sharp tongue many times. Hinata found it hard to get any friends, and even Kiba and Shino were not too fond of her at first. The only person she could ever confide in was Kurenai who was like a mother to her ever since her own passed away. Whenever she cried her heart out, whenever she had felt as if she lost hope in the world, Kurenai always reminded her of the bright side of things. Hinata loved Kurenai for that and never thought she could wind up in the current situation she is in. Pregnant, depressed and hospitalized. It made Hinata feel heavy inside, seeing the woman she looked up to had fallen so far. She felt saddened, thinking about Kurenai lying in that bed all alone in that hospital, waiting until the day her child is born. "I just….wish we could do something for her…," Hinata said, trying not to let he friends see how depressed she felt at the time. "HEY YEAH! We don't have any missions, I guess we can head off to see Kurenai!" Kiba exclaimed gleefully, he also missing their teacher. Shino merely nodded, but Hinata could see the little smile behind his covered face. Gaara however was just looking at the three strangely, not fully grasping how they felt.
Hinata looked at Gaara who looked right back at her, his face resembling a curious little boy. It was so cute she thought. Hinata was shocked at what she had allowed to cross her mind and closed her eyes, wondering on what she just thought of Gaara. Gaara stopped looking at her after a while and Hinata resumed speaking with her friends. After a few minutes, she and her friends decided to pay Kurenai a little visit as they had nothing better to do at the time. "Well, it's settled, we might as well see her," Shino said, trying to hide the excitement of seeing his sensei after so long. "Yeah, and I guess we'll be leaving you here," Kiba said to Gaara, relieved that he was out of their hair for the day. "I'm sorry Kiba buts that's not an option," said a voice out of nowhere. Turning their heads around, they all saw Shizune, giving them a wide grin. "You all do have a mission, and luckily for you your objective is right here," she said, pointing towards Gaara. They group were shocked, not realizing what was going on, and soon, Kiba began to protest, angered that he could not see Kurenai just because he had to baby sit Gaara.
"WE JUST MADE PLANS ALREADY! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BRING THIS DOWN ON US NOW?!" Kiba yelled in anger, Akamaru growling along with him. "Sorry Kiba, but Tsunade's orders. You're the only team that available at the time," Shizune said, her voice still calm and soothing. "B-but Shizune…we were going to see Kurenai…its been so long…," Hinata said, not trying to sound upset. "Sorry Hinata, but for the rest of the Kazekage's stay here, you're going to have to look after him," Shizune said. Soon, everyone, even Shino, began to exclaim how much they disapproved of this. Shizune, knowing she was under a lot of pressure, decided to pull out a trump card on all of them. "What would Kurenai do if she found out you all declined on doing a mission just for her?" Shizune asked, her voice accusing all of them. They were taken aback by the question and all of them hung their heads low, knowing Shizune was right. "Kurenai…would be very displeased with us," Shino said for the whole team. Smiling, Shizune nodded and look at the three. "She would've wanted you to do the mission instead," Shizune said and with that, walked off down the street she came through.
The three of them then looked at Gaara who had been observing the entire situation before him in silence. He examined the way each of them looked at him, all with a different look on their face. Kiba looked like he just wanted to lunge at Gaara and tear him to pieces with his teeth, and his pet seemed to desire the same wish as his master. Shino just stared at Gaara through his sunglasses, giving him an icy glare. Neither of them bothered Gaara, but Hinata was just looking away from Gaara, upset about something. It was then he realized that he was the cause for crushing what she hoped to do for the day, seeing the sensei she had been talking about just now. Usually, Gaara wouldn't really care about what others wished unless it was anything to do with his family or his village. Other then those things, Gaara never truly bothered about most people, just getting in touch with the emotions he had suppressed as a child. That was until he met Hinata. And now, her face showing clear signs of sadness and regret of taking on the mission she was given, Gaara looked at her and knew that there was something he could do for this girl.
"I…need to go to the hospital because the elders of my village asked me to inspect any of the medical nin here that can help my village recuperate from the Akatsuki attack. We had many injured that day and our own medics are already overworked," Gaara said, looking at Shizune with his emotionless stare. "Hmm…alright then, Team 8, you heard the Kazekage and it's your duty to follow him wherever he goes," Shizune, smiling at them. And it was with she disappeared off in a cloud of smoke, leaving a bewildered Hinata, Kiba and Shino. It took a while till the team realized Gaara was walking off. "HEY, WAIT UP! I'm not guarding this psycho…I don't care what Tsunade says, I'm gonna' go see Kurenai and you can't do nothing about it," Kiba huffed, his finger pointing violently close at Gaara's face. "Kiba…calm down…," said Shino quietly, though he was glaring at Gaara. "Where is the hospital…I intend to go there to inspect the medical nin of your village," Gaara said, his voice calm while the two fools in front of him continued giving him threatening glares.
Unlike her two dimwitted friends, Hinata was enthralled when Gaara said he wished to go to the hospital. Even though she would be on a mission, she'd still be able to see Kurenai for a while. She had a lot of things she wished to let her sensei know. Hinata, so filled with gleeful thoughts, did not notice Gaara walking in the wrong direction. Kiba and Shino didn't even bother to stop him from wandering off. Hinata, quickly realizing Gaara's absence, looked around madly till she saw him. It was then she dashed off, trying to stop him from suddenly getting lots like the day before.
Soon, Hinata was close to Gaara and kept trying to call him out but he didn't hear her, his mind most probably drifting away like him. Hinata then quickly thrust her and forward and grabbed Gaara's own and it was then, an awkward silence befell them just like the night before, except the cover of darkness did not hide Hinata's glowing face this time around. She stood there, looking at Gaara's back while her hand held his and for some strange reason, she couldn't release her hold. Even though she wished it, trying to get the impulses of her brain down to her muscles, they refused to let go. This was unlike when he had helped her up earlier before, no something was different. And to make matter worse, he slowly began to turn around and eventually, the young Hyuga was facing the Kazekage, their eyes locked in each others gaze.
Gaara was confused, annoyed and another feeling he could not describe properly as he held the Hyuga's hand with his own. No one has ever held him in his life, the exception being his family and when he had to be civil with other high status citizens. But for anyone else, they'd rather be faced with a hundred Jonin ranked ninja's then ever touch Gaara. Although he never cared, Gaara did have a cringe when someone touched him at any part of his body. However, the girl in front of him held his hand without hesitation. He felt something overtaking his body, like a poison, but he could not tell what it was. All he felt right now was to hold her hand and to never release it from his grasp and Gaara found this all too strange for him. An uncountable amount of thoughts surged through his mind and yet he was to mystified by this girls tiny action to pay them any heed. He felt her hand slowly escaping his and, without thought, his own gently squeezed her hands. He could see Hinata's face turn redder by this action and he had a gut feeling she felt the same as him. Their moment was crushed however by the loud barks of a dog and the even louder yells of its owner.
"HINATA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Kiba yelled, attracting the attention of some passerby's. Hinata quickly snatched her hand away from Gaara, this action displeasing the kage quite greatly. Kiba and Akamaru were both in a state of shock and fear while Shino merely tried to hold back a laugh. "Y-YOU WERE HOLDING HIS HAND….HIS! Oh my god…I knew I said you should forget about Naruto but I didn't mean HIM" Kiba yelled, his face in a sign of distress. Akamaru merely barked, agreeing with his master. Hinata, slowly trying to regain the pieces of her shattered ego, quickly formed an answer for her all too loud mouthed friend. "I…held the Kazekage's hand to make sure he doesn't wander off. I mean, he wasn't heaving heading in the right direction…the hospital's that way!" she pointed out, hoping this would change the topic. Kiba and Shino looked in the direction she pointed and both agreed. "Well, lets go then," Kiba said. Hinata was relieved, her wild friend was quite slow on the intake. She then saw Gaara walk of in the direction she pointed and soon, the team followed in suit. It was then Kiba said something. "Hey, maybe we can see Kurenai when we're there," Kiba said. Hinata couldn't help but giggle at how slow he was.