Echoes in the Rain
KatDemonLizzy,Mirabelle456, TSOH, Gaara, and Naruto: LIGHTBENDER!!!!
LightBender: Hi! I've returned!
Gaara: Why didn't you update yesterday?
LightBender: In case you didn't notice, I didn't return until Saturday. We stayed an extra day.
Naruto: Believe it!
LightBender: ((glares)) Why is my least favorite character here?
Naruto: You don't like me?
LightBender: Who does? You're annoying and stupid.
KatDemonLizzy: She does have a point.
Mirabelle456: Naruto is annoying and quite stupid.
TSOH: Sasuke's much better than stupid Naruto.
LightBender: I'm with you on that, TSOH. Anyways, Naruto, how do you expect to become Hokage when you can't do a real jutsu? The Shadow clone one is so lame. Even I know the hand sign to do it.
KatDemonLizzy, Mirabelle456, and TSOH: Cool. Teach us!
LightBender: ((teaching hand sign and talking)) Hinata is so much cooler than you. She can do that Eight Trigrams Sixty-four Palms. Even Sakura is cooler with her healing. Orochimaru is cooler than you!
Naruto: Hey! That's mean! Gaara, going to defend me?
Gaara: No. LightBender owns nothing. Can we get the story started?
LightBender: ((sighs)) Fine Gaara. I'll debate with Naruto later. Enjoy!
After a few seconds, Temari gathered her bearings and said cheerfully, "Hey Hinata. What brings you here?"
"I've got your clothes."
"Thanks. Would you like to stay for a bit? The rain's getting heavier."
"Yes, please."
"Come on," Temari said leading Hinata to her room.
Gaara and Kankuro were left staring at one another in the kitchen. Kankuro had at last stopped blushing, but wasn't meeting Gaara's gaze. Finally, Kankuro said, "Gaara, here's a little piece of advice: don't try to keep dating a girl quiet. Temari will find out and you'll find out a little how hell feels."
"Hell?" Gaara had never heard that word used before.
"It's not such a great word. It's a place where the devil and his demons-" Kankuro broke off.
"Where the devil and his demons what?" Gaara could be insistent sometimes.
"Live."
"So, that's where I'm from," Gaara said more to himself than to Kankuro.
Kankuro looked up, shocked, and said, "Technically. But, to be a demon, you have to be heartless. I think you have a heart. So, you're not really a demon."
Gaara was going to argue, but stopped himself. His brother was just trying to be nice. They stood staring at each other for a few more seconds, before Kankuro broke it again.
"I need to get some supplies in town. I'll go tell Temari."
Just as Kankuro was leaving the kitchen, he heard Gaara ask quietly, "Can I come?"
"S-Sure Gaara," Kankuro said shakily. He never knew what to expect from his younger brother.
0o0oo0ooo0oo0o0
Temari and Hinata came out of Temari's room. Kankuro and Gaara had been gone for an hour. It wasn't like Kankuro to waste time.
"So, Hinata, who's the mystery guy?" Temari asked, sitting on the couch.
"You'll laugh," Hinata said smiling.
"That's it! You've stopped stuttering!" Temari said, acting as if she had found a great discovery. "I kept noticing something, but I couldn't tell what. When did you stop stuttering?"
"The day Gaara-sama walked me home. He helped me."
She heard a choking noise and looked at Temari in concern. Temari finally asked, "Gaara? My brother Gaara?"
"Yes. Are you all ri—"
"I'm fine," Temari said waving her hand. "Gaara helped you stop stuttering?"
"Yes."
"He's changing. Growing up. I never thought I hear of Gaara being nice," Temari said laughing slightly. "Next thing you know, he'll probably have a girlfriend."
"He doesn't have one?" Hinata hid her interest very well.
"No. He's been so busy. He hasn't even kissed a girl. It's actually kind of funny. He has tons of fan girls lining up outside his windows and doors and he doesn't even notice that they exist."
Just then, the door opened. Temari and Hinata turned to see a soaked Kankuro and Gaara holding some bags. Gaara was smirking slightly and Kankuro was smiling.
Temari walked over, saying, "You guys are wet."
"Thanks for noticing," Kankuro retorted, placing the bags on the ground and taking his hood off. His face paint was running down his face. He proceeded to shake out his hair, dog-like, and got Temari wet.
"Aah! Don't do that here, Kankuro!" Temari ordered. "How did you get so wet?"
"It's raining heavily and doesn't look like it's going to stop. Plus, there's a flood. A dam broke and is letting in all of this water. Tsunade-sama was staring at the water and threw up her hands. She's advising everyone to remain indoors. She's going to put the ANBU on clean-up duty, I think," Kankuro said, as he picked up the bags.
"Hinata, looks like you're stuck with us for a while. Do you want to call to let your cousin or sister or father know?" Temari asked.
"Yes please."
"Gaara, show her where the phone is. I've got to help puppet-boy here."
Gaara placed the bags on the ground and lead Hinata to the phone in the kitchen. Hinata took it off of its cradle and dialed. Holding it to her ear, she turned her back to Gaara.
"Hello?" Neji's voice came over the line.
"Hello nii-san."
"Hinata-sama! Where are you?"
"I'm at Temari-chan's. Didn't you see my note?"
"Yes. But, I was asking because I heard that Tsunade-sama is commanding us to remain where we are currently for the rest of the day and probably for the night if the rain doesn't let up."
"Temari-chan said that it looks like I'm stuck with them. I assume that means that I am welcome to stay. It's not like I have much choice."
"Hn."
"Is Father or Hanabi home?"
"No. Is Gaara-sama there?"
"Yes. Why?" Hinata was slightly suspicious because of what she had seen earlier. Even though he had explained which jutsu he was going to use, she knew that the two didn't like each other.
"Could you please put him on?"
"Gaara-sama? Nii-san wants to talk to you," Hinata said, holding out the phone. Gaara took the phone.
"Hello?" Gaara asked coolly.
"Gaara-sama, I have a warning for you."
"What is it?" Gaara asked.
"If you lay a hand on my cousin or harm her in anyway, you will be a dead man. I don't care if you are the Kazekage. Others will join this cause if you hurt Hinata."
"Fine. I have some advice for you."
"Hn?"
"Stop being so protective. You can't control everything."
"Hn."
"Good day," Gaara said and handed the phone to Hinata.
"What was that about, nii-san?" Hinata asked suspiciously.
"Nothing."
Hinata sighed, but said, "Keep your secrets. Good bye."
"Good bye."
Hinata hung up the phone and turned to look at Gaara. He was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, his crystal celadon eyes fixed on her. She had finally gotten somewhat used to his gaze. She noticed that he never gave it to anyone except her. What did that mean?
Gaara walked over her and place his arms on either side of her on the wall. She was caged in. She could fight her way out, but she decided to see what he wanted.
He brought his face a few inches from her and fixed her pearly eyes with his gaze. It was like he paralyzed her. Her brain screamed out for her to get away, but her body didn't respond. She was trapped.
"What do you want?" Hinata asked, her voice level and cool.
"Just to warn you," Gaara said, his face emotionless and blank.
"Of what?"
"Me. I'm a demon from hell," Gaara said, smirking as he brought his face ever closer to hers. She managed to turn her face away and she closed her eyes.
She heard laughter and opened her eyes. Gaara was laughing at her! She turned her face back around to face him. She was determined not to back down this time. The determination was visible in her eyes.
Gaara took one hand off of the wall and stroked her cheek. Almost lovingly. His smirk wasn't as cruel as it could have been. His eyes seemed almost kind.
"You made the wrong choice, my Hinata," Gaara said, still stroking her cheek. She felt her whole body quivering from his touch. "You play with fire, you're bound to get burnt."
"I can protect myself," Hinata said staring at him.
"You can. Just not against a demon," Gaara said as he placed his hand against her neck, causing her to shiver. "Angels can't fight demons."
"I will."
"I doubt that, my little Hinata," Gaara said, shaking his head but still smirking as he placing his other hand behind her head. "You don't have a choice."
LightBender: Nice long chapter for you, my loyal reviewers! And a cliffy! I probably won't be able to update until next weekend, because school starts tomorrow. Better find my homework.
Gaara: You mean the stuff I threw into the recycling bin?
LightBender: ((screams and runs off))
Gaara: I was just kidding. No one can get a joke here.
Hinata: Why were you doing that stuff to me?
Gaara: Wait until next chapter, my little Hinata.
Hinata: ((pouts)) Review please.