Chapter Six
Pain
Gaara saw this girl screaming and yelling 'mother' as she lay sprawled on the floor. He had no idea what to do, the only thing that came to mind for him was to try and release her from whatever she was experiencing. What greeted him when she came to was a pair of puffy, tear stained eyes. She looked at him with anger in those pearl white eyes of hers, a fire burning because of something Gaara wasn't too sure whether he caused it or not. Then, without warning, Hinata suddenly slapped him across his face, no reason or rhyme behind her sudden outburst. Gaara was stunned, no one would ever dare touch him, let alone hit him in such away. He placed his hand on the red cheek, feeling the heat radiate of the mark. He looked at the girl in front of him, a part of him furious she dared strike to his face, and yet, slightly amused at how much he underestimated her when they first met. She on the other hand, didn't seem to have the same regard for him.
"HOW DARE YOU?! H-HOW DARE YOU ASK ABOUT ME?! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME AND YOU COULD HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK THAT?!" she screamed, the pain from her memories fueling her anger. Gaara just gave her a glare, the ones he always gave when people accused him for doing wrong. "You are being too foolish, girl," he said, his voice as cold as ice. He looked at with glaring eyes as she backed away slowly, most likely furious at his heatless remark. At first Gaara just stared at her, slightly amused at how she moved away from him like a mouse from a cat. It was all rather exhilarating for him, bringing out the animal that he had locked away for so long ago. The beast inside wanted to mock her, make her cry and weep like a new born child. However, that all quickly disappeared when Hinata seemed to be stepping closer to the edge. Gaara's demeanor quickly into the caring person he was underneath his hardened persona, and urged Hinata to grab his hand.
"Take my hand, now," he said rather forcefully. Hinata shook her head briskly as she took a few more steps back. "Stay away from me you monster…," she said to him with venom. Gaara was hurt by those words, surprised as he never really cared if people called him a monster. But she had that hold over him. Unfortunately though, now was not the time for him to ponder about this. She was just a few steps away from plummeting to her untimely doom. "Please…just, take my hand, you're being irrational," he said to her, trying to tone his voice down a bit to calm her. "Irrational, IRRATIONAL! You have n-no right to s-say that, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME NEAR ME! I don't even know why I stuck up for y-you earlier…you're just a m-monster pretending to be a man. Heh, I think you don't e-even know w-what a mother is!" Hinata yelled at him, stuttering quite a bit. Gaara was hurt greatly by her remark, but he had no time to delve into how he felt. He had to stop her from doing something stupid. Gaara edged closer to her, his hands outstretched to grab her before she fell. He jumped for her, hoping to reach her before she took the last step. Unfortunately though, she slipped right before he could grasp her hand. The only things that came out of her mouth were screams as she fell of the top of the hospital, the wind gushing past her.
Gaara stared in horror as she descended, knowing this was far worse then what happened before. The tree was not as tall, and he was not as far. He would not let harm befall her he said to himself, a part felt that he would never forgive her if she did. He knew however his sand was not quick enough to reach her, but he had an idea on how to get to her faster. He jumped off the roof; racing towards her has fast as he could, mentally forcing the sand out of his gourd to increase his speed. In seconds he was just some feet away from her, and Gaara had to act fast to save both of their lives. He used his sand to pull her close to him and soon, Gaara had her held tightly close to him. She still screamed though, and it made it hard for Gaara to focus. Nevertheless, he made his gourd dissolve back into sand and turned it into a huge bed of sand. Although this would cushion the fall, Gaara knew that at the speed he was going hitting the ground would prove lethal. He turned himself in mid air, so that way he would be the only one to receive the impact of the fall. Gaara hoped that it would be enough for an apology for Hinata. He could hear the wind whisper past his ear faster, and he knew what would happen next.
The bed of sand managed to slightly cushion his fall, but even so, Gaara was injured greatly. As Hinata opened her eyes, she saw the kage underneath her, dark red blood spilling out from his side, his body clearly in desperate need for medical attention. Luckily, a team of medic nin were having a break outside and reacted swiftly, carrying Gaara into the medical wards. Hinata followed them slightly, mostly out of guilt, and a bit of something else that she wasn't sure off. As she did, she saw Kiba and Shino along the way. "OH MY GOD, HINATA WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!?" Kiba yelled loudly as he and Akamaru ran along next to her. Hinata panted as she tried to summarize what had occurred for them. "Gaara…saved…me," she exclaimed, still trying keep up with the nin who carried him. "Oh shit…Tsunade's going to have our asses for this…," Kiba said. "Kiba…now's not the time for vulgarity," Shino said as relaxed as always, even at the pace they were running. Soon the two began arguing again, but Hinata paid them no heed. She merely focused on Gaara, and the amount of blood he lost. A pair of the medics carried him while one kept performing healings seals all over him. Soon, they arrived at the emergency ward, and the doctors told the three to stand outside and let the team inside do their jobs.
Time seemed to pass by quickly, as it was already very late into the night. Kiba and Shino were restless, eager to go home after finding out that the kage was alright. "Man, I hope they tell us whether he's dead or not soon, I'm getting tired," Kiba yawned, sleepy after such a long day. "Shut up Kiba…if he's dead we're going to have hell on our hands. Tsunade is going to pin it on us, since we WE'RE supposed to guard him," Shino said as he fiddled around with a cricket in his hands. "Well it ain't our fault that's for sure…I mean I didn't ask him to jump off a building and -. Kiba was interrupted when Shino tossed another orange at him. He was about to yell at him for what he did but Shino motioned Kiba to look at Hinata. When he looked, he saw his dear friend standing by the screen, looking on as the doctors try and do something about the boy who had just saved her. Kiba instantly understood what his silent friend meant, and the both of them approached her, intent on finding out if she was ok.
"Hinata, ya' ok?" Kiba asked, worried. Hinata merely shook her head slowly, not wishing to answer him. "C'mon, lets go get something to eat, I'm sure ya' hungry right?" Kiba asked, hoping she'd come to. Hinata didn't answer him again, merely staring through the glass at the group of doctors who were busy tending to Gaara. Kiba was about to say something again when Shino held him back, hoping his rather dim friend would get the message. Kiba understood, and just slumped back on the couch, deciding that he'd count how long it took him to possibly die of boredom. There was merely silence, until a doctor finally came out of the emergency room. The three quickly went to her; they're eyes anxious for an answer. The doctor looked at them with a rather straight face, no signs of emotions anywhere. It was then she broke into a smile and told them the news. "The Kazekage's condition is not in any condition that I would say is excellent, but he'll live to see another day. Right now he's unconscious from the fall, but I'd say he's fine. Now I'm going to file the report to Tsunade and your sensei, so if you please," she said, walking off towards the reception to get some paper work, leaving a very relieved group of chunin ninjas.
"Well, now that we know the prick's all right, I guess we might as well just head home and call it a night. HEY, we even might be able to take a break from "guarding" the twat tomorrow!" Kiba exclaimed, enthusiastic about having to not look after Gaara for now. Even Shino couldn't help but feel a burden was lifted, having not to attend to the young Kazekage for how long it may be. Everyone but Hinata was overjoyed with the current situation, and she only showed her depression with the look guilt that was plastered on her face. Her two friends quickly came to notice this, and at first Kiba wanted to tell Hinata it wasn't her fault, but Shino held him by the shoulder, signaling to his friend that the only help they could provide for Hinata was to leave her be. "Hinata, me and Kiba are going back to out homes…do you want us to take you back to the Hyuga residence," Shino asked, hoping she would say something.
Unfortunately for him, all he received was silence, the young woman not uttering a sound. Shino took this as an answer, and signaled to Kiba that they should just let her stay alone for the night. As they walked out, Kiba couldn't help but voice something that was swimming in the back of his thoughts to Shino. "You know, even though that Gaara guy is a complete psychopath, in my opinion at least, he still…saved Hinata's life, and I guess he's cool in my books," Kiba said as he stared up into the sky. "And that Kiba, has got to be the most sensible thing you've ever thought to say in your entire flea ridden life," Shino answered, mocking his friend. The two soon began to bicker yet again as they walked themselves home.
The ward was quiet, the only sound that could be heard were the crickets outside, playing their sweet lullaby. Hinata decided not to go back, instead choosing to spend her entire night with the unconscious boy that lay in front of him. Gaara was stiff; his body covered in numerous stitches and bandages, clearly the fall had taken a toll on him. Hinata felt sorrow slowly overtake her, the guilt drowning her slowly, inch by inch, consuming her mind. The words she said to him echoed around her, repeating itself over and over like a broken record. She had called him a monster, something which she had never called anyone in her life, and now was next to the supposed "monster". But now, all she could see now was Gaara, a person, who had willingly jumped off a building to save her, was now cold and still like a corpse. He was alive, and she knew that, but nonetheless, he had chosen to give up his life just for her own, the same person who had despised him not too long ago just because he asked her a question. She knew it hurt her, and was angry at him for asking such a thing, but now, seeing him sprawled over the hospital's beds, she realized he asked that question for a reason, but didn't know why.
Hinata wanted him to wake up, so she could understand why he would ask such a thing to her. She wanted him to open his eyes, look at her, and speak to her. Hinata desperately wanted to hear his voice, the way it sounded like the calm of the ocean to her, so still and yet threatening at the same time. But now, all she could hear was his slow breathing, and the gentle rise and fall of his chest. She looked at him and saw how much of a man the murderous boy she once saw had grown into. Hinata knew he had catching features, the night they met at that bench coming into mind, but now, with his shirt removed, she could take in the true shape of his body. Every inch of his chest was well built, yet not overly toned, sitting neatly on the fence. His arms seemed frail underneath his big shirt, but now Hinata saw how truly masculine they really were. She felt a strange warmth now taking over, the guilt that had bothered her before dispersed, a new sensation sweeping over her. Hinata wished to feel him, to touch his body, his arms holding her.
She then quickly snapped out of it, realizing what kind of thoughts began to play within her head. Hinata shook her head and looked at Gaara again, and knew how much pain his body must be in. The scars, the blood, and the agonizing pain that he had to be experiencing were all her fault, and there was no way she could make amends for it. Hinata knelt beside the hospital bed and stared at his face, how serene he looked. She saw a hint of blood red on his forehead, and she swept aside his fiery hair to see a tattoo instead of a bruise. The words imprinted upon his flesh said love. Hinata found it weird, such a tattoo on such an emotionless person, but quickly she scolded herself, remembering Gaara was unconscious because of her. Fatigue was taking its toll on her, and Hinata soon felt her eye lids become lazy, and slowly she drifted of into a dreamless sleep.
The light of dawn managed to crawl through the windows, and it awakened a certain Kazekage. Gaara let his eye lids slowly open, and scanned his surroundings. Bleach white walls, musty air, and the scent of death greeted him, and instantly Gaara knew he was in a hospital. He slowly tried to recall the events of yesterday that led him to this, and tried to sit up only to feel a surge of pain flow through him. Wincing back down, Gaara looked to his body to see bandages and stitches covering most of his form. It was only then Gaara's mind flashed with the rush of wind beating against his face and hard dirt greeting his body. He could then feel something underneath his left arm, and he swiftly glanced to his side. What he saw gave him quite a shock as he looked right at the face of the girl who caused him all the pain. Hinata slept soundly, not noticing Gaara's arm wrapped around her back and sleeping in a rather uncomfortable position. Gaara could not help but chortle quietly, this girl could sleep in such unappealing ways. However, he quickly felt guilty, for Gaara realized that she must have been watching him the whole night, most likely because she was the cause of his misfortune. Even so, Gaara was not mad towards her, and wished to show his gratitude, even though she was too busy in her dreams to notice.
Gaara slowly lifted his arm off her and began forcing himself up, using quite a bit of fortitude to ignore the utter disagreement his body felt towards his actions. Eventually, he was in a sitting position, and with that got off the bed, almost crumbling down as he did. His legs were still in dire pain, and he knew he shouldn't have done that, but Gaara wasn't going to let that stop him. Gaara looked at Hinata and the way she slept, and couldn't help but frown. The position she was in isn't a good way to rest and a ninja needed to be well rested. But in truth, Gaara just felt awful that she lay asleep like that while watching him, and slowly he carried Hinata, hoping not to awaken her. He could feel his entire body cry out in pain, clearly giving him signs that he couldn't continue doing this. Gaara didn't listen though, and with his last ounce of strength, and some tender hands, he gently set her down on his bed, Hinata eyes still closed.
Gaara finally felt the pain he withstood finally kicking in, and quickly he sat on a nearby chair, letting his legs stretch to ease himself in. After making himself more comfortable, he looked back at his bed and saw Hinata sleeping soundly, her face looking at him. Gaara looked up and sighed, trying to get back the memories he seemed to have lost yesterday. He recalled that he asked her something, and that it hurt her greatly. Then he recalled how she suddenly warped out of reality, her conscience drifting in some imaginary place. Then he remembered when she had yelled at him and said something that made Gaara feel a gash in his heart, yet he didn't know what it was. Slowly, pieces of what occurred the day before reformed itself like a puzzle, the words she said to him coming back into place. The more this happened, the more it hurt Gaara, and soon, the things she had accused him off replayed itself in his ears.
"You don't even know what a mother is." Gaara felt his chest go numb as he remembered those words, and felt the same dark, savage fury that fueled him all those years ago. The same feeling when Yashamaru had broken his hope for having someone who cared for him, the same when he saw the sight of his foes blood, when he let the Shukaku poison his head with honeyed lies and insidious whispers. He looked at Hinata and felt like killing her, to see her breathe out the last bits of her life, to see her blood flow like a river. Gaara stood up and slowly walked towards her, ignoring yet again the pain, it being numbed by his unbridled anger. He looked at her, how she slept so soundly when not knowing the doom she had unleashed upon herself. He scanned the room with his blazing eyes, and spotted his trusty gourd in one corner, the sand inside it ready for any order he was about to give and Gaara had a one.
Slowly, the sand rose out of the gourd, and coiled towards Gaara, like a snake would to its charmer, and rose off the floor, reaching in height of Gaara. He was about to give his final orders, wishing to end her life right then and there for the things she had said to him. But then, she suddenly awoke and looked at Gaara, and those same accursed eyes froze him in place, his mind unable to complete the command. Even though he wanted to kill her, end her life to quell his anger, Gaara knew that something within him wouldn't allow it. Then, with a confused and rather frightened face, she spoke to him. "G-Gaara, what is it?" she uttered, her voice trembling slightly. It was with at that moment that Gaara's anger was replaced with something else. Pain.
"You…insolent wench, you dared speak such things to me?" he remarked, not being able to control his emotions, his eyes looking upon her with a seething anger. "What are you talking about?" Hinata asked, afraid of his voice sounded. He answered her by pushing down on the bed, his right hand on crushing her neck slowly so he could savor the life escape from her eyes. Gaara pressed down on her neck, the pressure he applied getting stronger by the seconds. Hinata tried in vain to push him off her, Gaara's strength far outclassing her own. However, she managed, with the last ounce of air in her lungs, speak to him. "W…why?" she wheezed, barely being able to say the word. It was with that one word that suddenly Gaara realized what he had allowed to transpire. The monster within him managed to escape because of his laxity, his loss of self control almost causing him to take another life. He quickly released her and fell back towards the wall, the burden of knowing what could have happened too much for him to bear. Gaara felt himself slip slowly towards the floor, hands covering his face hoping to hide the shame. Gaara finally rested upon the cold bleach white floors of the hospital, his head in his knees, not daring to look at her.
Hinata was in a state of confusion and fear as she looked at Gaara. He was going to kill her at one moment, seemingly enjoying the fact he was going to claim her life, and the next he was in a fetal position, his hair and knees blocking his face from her eyes. At first Hinata just wanted to dash out of the room and get as far away from this madman as possible, but now, looking at him sit in such a vulnerable way made her heart sank. Hesitantly, she got up from the bed and went towards Gaara, hoping she wouldn't aggravate him further. When she was just mere inches away from him, he slowly looked up at her, giving Hinata a shiver down her spine. But he didn't try to lunge at her again; instead he just stared at her with deeply sorrowful eyes, his lids heavy from some mysterious force and face that showed a feeling of fatigue, regret and depression all in one. "You're right," was all he said before he let his face scrunch up against his knees a second time.