Yachiru-san: Just continuing my editing…:) 7/13/08
First of all...I'm so glad everyone likes my fanfic!! I went to check it right before I took this huge exam and talk about a confidence booster! So thanks, you guys! I'm so happy everyone loves this! )
Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto, but Kishimoto-sensei is so cool! Randomness...
He even watches the anime and he likes it! (Must be weird...whatever --'
Another one of my hobbies is...annoying Gaara to no endP
A funny anecdote...
(Sorry, this chapter is sort of lame, but the next is really good! Ch. 4 is cool also, but my favorite is probably either 10 or 11...so yeah...)
Me sitting in AP Chemistry:
Y: I'm so dead, by the end of this class I'm dead. gloomy
G: training with sand
Y: Hey! Oi!
G:...not listening
Y: yells in ear Oi!
G: pulls back WHAT?!
Y: Gomen-nasai...Gomen! begs forgiveness
G: sweatdrop What?
Y: I wonder...I've always wondered why my two favorite characters Sasuke-san and Gaa-chan do not get along...hmm..taps finger on chin
G: twitches at mention "Gaa-chan"
Y: points finger at him Aha! Maybe it's because you guys have such big egos!
G: Begins ignoring Yachiru-san
Later...
Y: P.S. What does this mean?
points at chem. notebook
It's all in Chinese!
pulls hair out
G: You don't even know Chinese...
I hope you guys don't think I'm weird --'
One of my friends has called my obsession with Gaara, "a special-level only fangirls can reach that is beyond human understanding."
sniff...I guess R.-chan was right...
Song: Ima ga Daisuki
Artist: Youhna
Chapter 2
Hinata woke up the next morning and splashed cold water on her face. Looking at herself in the mirror, she tried to organize her thoughts. Just thinking about last night made her blush. Today they were supposed to meet with the elders and advisors of Sunagakure to discuss security. Both villages were worried in case the treaty backfired and both countries went under attack. The Kazekage would send out extra Shinobi to patrol the borders and keep an eye out for anything that might seem suspicious. Hinata sighed. That meant taking even more notes. Tsunade still hadn't told her what the 'special mission' was yet. Hinata put on a different kimono this time it was light blue with a white flower pattern. The young kunoichi ate a small breakfast and decided to go for a walk.
She passed the greenhouse which Sakura had told her about. It housed many types of unique medicinal plants only found in the desert. Hinata traveled past the apartment complexes. She ventured into the village marketplace and smiled at an old woman selling umeboshi. Hinata bought a sour plum umeboshi and ate it as she watched the village marketplace bustle with business. Two men were having an arm wrestling match, a young girl was serving ramen and a group of little kids played tag, while their mothers shopped for vegetables. The village was so much like Konohagakure, although the mentality was more aloof and quiet compared to the openly-friendly Village Hidden in Leaf.
Hinata walked back to the Kazekage mansion in time for the second meeting. She was expecting Gaara to be there, which he apparently wasn't. She took notes for Tsunade-sama's final report and filed mission. Suddenly, there was a rustle of chairs. People stood up, bowed, and greeted the new arrival. Hinata smiled as the Kazekage addressed the issue at hand and provided many good observations about their political standings.
Boy, Gaara-sama sure was good at this. Hinata thought.
After many long discussions the meeting finally ended. Tsunade thanked Gaara and followed suit.
"Come, Hinata." Tsunade said.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama" replied Hinata as she gathered her papers and tried to push her way through the crowd.
Suddenly, she felt herself falling. She tripped over a stuck out chair. She held her papers tightly against her chest, so she wouldn't drop them. The Hyuuga felt an arm grab her. Hinata looked up and blushed.
"Are you okay?" Gaara asked her.
"Umm... I...I'm okay...arrigatou, Gaara-sama." Stuttered Hinata. She couldn't help the blush creeping over her whole face.
"Be careful Hinata-san or I might have to assign you guards so that you don't fall and hurt yourself." Gaara remarked almost jokingly before letting go of her arm.
"I...I'll b-be more careful Gaara-sama." She thought she saw him smile at her again. His blue eyes seemed to tease her.
"I hope you're having a nice stay here in Suna." He said changing the subject.
"A-arrigatou, Kazekage-sama. I am enjoying my stay." Hinata replied shyly tucking a strand of her indigo hair behind her ear. "In fact...I went out today and visited the village...I took a walk through the marketplace...I...I'm beginning to understand why you like it here so much."
She understands. He thought.
Gaara looked at her questioningly, he was about to ask her something when: "Hinata!" called Tsunade.
"Go-gomen, I have to go." Stammered Hinata. She disappeared before Gaara could say another word. For the remainder of the day and the ones to follow, he couldn't seem to get that image of her out of his head. The soft-colored blue fabric of her kimono against her pale skin, her long black silky hair and those bright lavender eyes…that always looked so confused and surprised whenever he saw them.
Wait. What am I even thinking? There it was – that weird feeling again.
Gaara had to get back to work anyway – just because she was here did not mean he could allow himself to be distracted from his work.
"So, Hinata what were you doing over there?" Tsunade asked a startled Hinata.
"Umm...I...I was just trying to get through." Hinata said.
"Is that why I saw you talking to the Kazekage? Hmm...?" Tsunade prodded.
Hinata fought to keep the blush from creeping up her cheeks again. "I ...he just asked me how I was doing...that's all." Said Hinata trying to cover it up.
"Of course." Said Tsunade with a slight smile.
--
The next day went the same. Tsunade went to another meeting – this time without Hinata and things were pretty quiet in Sunagakure. Hinata did not see Gaara the whole day. She wouldn't help the feeling that something inside of her was missing. She tried to push away those thoughts. The young kunoichi was not prepared for what was about to happen next.
Tsunade and her were due to leave tomorrow. Hinata had her bags packed. The young kunoichi decided to visit the greenhouse one last time and pick up some medicinal herbs. She tried to remember which ones Tsunade's supply was low on, as she gently cut the leaves and placed them in her salves jar. The young Hyuuga then placed the jar inside a messenger bag, which was slung over her chest.
It was twelve o'clock at night and Gaara was still having trouble getting to sleep. He couldn't possibly forget the fact that Hinata was leaving tomorrow.
Why does it matter to me so much? He questioned himself, but he couldn't find an answer.
He decided to clear his thoughts by going outside for a walk. Some fresh air would do him good. He pulled on his clothes, and then put on his Kage robes and his ninja sandals. The midnight breeze ruffled through his red hair. He sighed and ran a hand over his face. As he was walking through the Kazekage complex he passed the greenhouse. Gaara noticed a figure in there. He slowly approached.
Who could be in there this late at night?
When he recognized who it was he took a step back.
I don't want her to think I'm spying on her. He thought backing away.
Even though Sunagakure was peaceful and quiet, Gaara couldn't help shake the feeling of unease. He stayed by the greenhouse. As Kazekage he felt he had a duty to protect her – and maybe it was a little more than that.
Did he love her? No, because he wasn't really sure what 'love' was, but he continued to stand there.
Hinata finished collecting the plants, so she stood up ready to return to her room. Since it was night she had opted for safety and worn her ninja clothes instead of her usual kimono. As she stood up, her heart skipped a beat. She noticed someone standing there?
Could it be?
She recognized the familiar red hair.
What is he doing here? Maybe...he couldn't sleep either?
Hinata left the greenhouse and closed the door. She had an internal debate whether to go up to him or not. She chose to go up to him. After all, this was her last night staying here.
"Umm…hi, Gaara-sama." She said looking in his direction.
"Hinata-san?" he asked clearly startled. "What are you doing here?"
"I...I was j-just collecting some medicinal herbs for Tsunade-sama. We're leaving tomorrow, remember?"
"Oh, that's right." He felt a brief sharp pain in his chest.
"W-why are y-you out here?" Hinata stuttered again, she could feel her cheeks heat up.
"I couldn't sleep."
"Oh," Hinata said. "Me neither."
They stood there quietly for a few moments.
"Do you ever feel lonely?" Gaara asked her all of a sudden.
His question startled her. "Umm...yes, sometimes." Hinata responded. She couldn't hide it. She thought back to how last year she had brought Naruto a birthday present. He hadn't even noticed it. And...whenever she spoke to him his mind seemed to wander somewhere else. It was almost like he didn't care about her feelings at all.
Why is he asking me this, anyways? Hinata tried to figure him out. If she found it hard to understand Naruto, well...it was even harder to understand Gaara. Suddenly, she began to empathize for him. She knew his story, practically his whole life he had been lonely. He didn't have many friends, and these days...he spent all his time working to protect this village...which was so important to him.
"Umm...Remember the first day that I spent here?...I remember you t-told me how y-you live to protect all the people in this village as the Kazekage...umm...I...I..." Hinata said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and blushing. "Since you care so much about the people in th-this village...I...I'm sure that Sunagakure is p-proud to have such a g-great K-Kazekage...like you." Hinata said quietly. Her face was completely red now. Why did she have to say something like that to him? She mentally scolded herself. Why did she have to make herself look like a fool all the time?
What? He thought. She thinks that...about me?
"You really think that, Hinata-san?" asked a startled Gaara.
"Hai." Hinata replied quietly, for once not stuttering. Now, her face was even redder than before.
Gaara felt a million different emotions swirling around inside of him. He didn't know how to act or what to do. His body reacted before his brain could do anything about it.
Gaara took a step closer to Hinata; she felt her whole body tense up. Before he even realized what he was doing, he pushed her bangs out of her face and gently kissed her forehead. His fingers still pulling her bangs away from her forehead; the young Kazekage looked at the blushing girl.
What was that?! His conscious screamed.
He didn't know what that feeling was, but he liked it. He pulled away from her. The pain in his chest was now gone.
"Uh...I..." he said suddenly looking away, aware of what he had just done.
"I-i-it's o-okay." Hinata stuttered, while her face flushed many shades of red.
Does Gaara-sama like me? Thought Hinata as she looked down and blushed harder.
No, I mean...well...I guess not. He's just being nice. She felt a million butterflies in her stomach. She was suddenly very conscience that she was standing next to him.
What did I do that for? Because...I like her...No, I don't...I'm just...
Gaara kept silent. He was glad it was dark – he blushed and no one could see.
They stood there together for a few more minutes. Both of them couldn't help noticing the new felt feelings for one another and it made them feel embarrassed and uncomfortable - but happy at the same time.
They weren't quite prepared for what happened next.
