Echoes in the Rain

TSOH: They did.

Mirabelle456: Did not.

TSOH: Did too.

Mirabelle456: Did not.

KatDemonLizzy: Can you guys stop arguing? You've been doing it forever!

LightBender: ((appears)) What are they arguing about?

TSOH, Mirabelle456, and KatDemonLizzy: You're FINALLY updating!

LightBender: Sorry. Portfolio, science test, homework. Why are you arguing?

TSOH: Didn't Gaara and Hinata kiss last chapter?

Mirabelle456: They didn't!

KatDemonLizzy: Stop fighting.

LightBender: Sorry, they didn't kiss. They'll kiss within the next few chapters however.

TSOH: ((laughs manically))

Mirabelle456: ((pouts))

LightBender: ((shrugs)) Anyways, thanks for the chapter ideas. They were awesome. I especially liked BlackKanji's idea. I was tempted, but resisted. I got writer's block, first time for this story (gasp), but went to my dear editor who gave me this random idea. The Shikamaru/Temari stuff is all my idea however.

KatDemonLizzy: LightBender owns nothing. R&R!!!!

After a few minutes, Kankuro, Hinata, and Gaara saw Naruto run through the kitchen followed by Temari. Naruto shouted over his shoulder, "Can't talk! Running away from Sasuke-teme!!! AAAHHHH!!!!!"

"Come back here, dobe!!" Sasuke yelled as he ran through the kitchen, knocking Temari over. Naruto screamed like a little girl and ran through the back door. Sasuke followed. Kankuro, Hinata, and Gaara followed, mildly interested.

Naruto screamed when Sasuke exited and jumped. He landed about thirty feet down in a huge puddle that hadn't been cleared up yet. Sasuke stood at the edge of the balcony and said, "That's what you get for pushing me into the water. And distracting me. And wasting my time. And for being a dobe."

Naruto protested, but nobody listened to him. Sasuke turned around and said, "Sorry for disturbing you."

"No problem," Kankuro said, smiling.

"Hn." Sasuke jumped off of the balcony, but didn't land in the water. He walked on top of it and left. Naruto cursed him as he tried to stand up.

"Lovely morning, isn't it?" Kankuro asked cheerily as he lead them back into the apartment. "Where's Temari gotten off to—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!"

They had walked in on Temari and Shikamaru essentially making out in the kitchen. Kankuro looked livid. Hinata blinked and rubbed her eyes. No, she hadn't imagined it.

"What on earth…" Hinata wondered as Temari, still hugging Shikamaru argued with Kankuro.

"Oh, you're not used to this," Gaara said matter-of-factly. "They do this all the time."

"They do?"

"Yeah. I don't get why Kankuro doesn't like Shikamaru," Gaara shrugged.

"Boy, this is troublesome," Shikamaru grumbled. "I never thought that you'd be this troublesome, troublesome woman."

Temari smiled flirtatiously and said, "You have an I.Q. of over 200, use it occasionally."

Shikamaru cocked an eyebrow. Kankuro said, "Please get a room."

"We would," Temari said, giving Kankuro a disdainful look, "but, you'd have a heart attack."

"Break it up already," Gaara commanded. "Kankuro, stop being so overprotective. Temari, stop baiting him."

"Yes, Gaara," his siblings said in unison.

"Oh, Gaara-sama, this is troublesome, but I have a letter for you from Tsunade-sama," Shikamaru said, pulling one out of his pocket and handing it over.

Gaara took the scroll, opened it, and read over it. Looking up, he said, "It says here that to celebrate the peace between Suna and Konoha, there's going to be a ball tomorrow night."

There was silence, then Temari cheered while Kankuro groaned. Hinata tried not to laugh at their childish behavior.

"Oh, don't bother calling anyone else," Shikamaru said. "The girls will be here in 5…4…3…2…"

There was a knocking at the door and three kuniochis entered the kitchen.

"Hi everyone!" Sakura, Tenten, and Ino said cheerfully.

"How do girls have energy in the morning?" Kankuro mumbled to himself. "I want to go back to sleep."

"Poor puppet boy," Tenten said, ruffling his hair and smiling dangerously. Kankuro looked frightened.

"You've heard the news, right?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah," answered Temari. "Shika-kun here just gave Gaara the invitation."

"Invitation?" Gaara asked. "It's more of an order." Everyone laughed. "No, really, it is."

Hinata took the proffered scroll and read it aloud. "'Gaara—Tomorrow night, there will be a ball to celebrate the peace between Suna and Konoha. You MUST be there. Or you'll face the consequences. –Tsunade'."

"That's what I had to deal with when I became her apprentice," Sakura said, rolling her eyes.

"She's super dramatic," Ino added. "She must have had some sake before or during writing that letter; it makes her even more dramatic."

"Like you'd know," Tenten shot at Ino. There was venom in that comment.

"You know, it's not my fault—" Ino began.

"It is your fault!!" Tenten shouted.

"Whoa, what's going?" Temari asked.

"Ino told Neji that—" Tenten began, but Ino cut in with, "I was just joking!"

Temari shook her head. "I'll figure this mess out later. Hinata, ready to go? We should probably leave the boys in peace, or at least what's left of it."

Hinata nodded and followed Temari, who lead all of the kuniochis out of the house. Kankuro sighed as Shikamaru stretched. Gaara was, as usual, impassive.

"It sure is a lot emptier without them here, isn't it?" Kankuro asked.

"It's troublesome whether they're here or not."

"Hn," Gaara said.

"This is so troublesome and all, but can I have a word, Kankuro?" Shikamaru asked.

"What's it about?" Kankuro asked suspiciously.

"Out here." Shikamaru motioned Kankuro out into the hall, out of earshot of Gaara.

Gaara heard a indistinguishable yell followed by some angry words. Shikamaru replied and Kankuro said something that sounded like an 'all right'. They reentered the kitchen, Kankuro looking defeated and Shikamaru looking faintly happy. Neither of them said a word to Gaara, making him feel very much ignored. He missed Hinata and her quiet ways. Her dark hair and childish actions. The strange, elusive emotion.

0o0oo0ooo0oo0o0

The girls split up to go to their respective homes later that evening. Hinata walked into the Hyuga manor, where she was met by Neji. They traded greetings and went their separate ways. Hinata knew that he wanted more details about what had gone on during the night, but she didn't feel like talking.

Glancing out the window in her room, she saw it was only lightly raining. A walk would be nice she thought, remembering how loud all the other girls had been. A nice quiet walk would be quite welcomed. Grabbing a light jacket, she went out.

Her feet took her to the playground near the Academy. There was a set of swings, a slide, and a see-saw. Nothing fancy, just a simple, classic playground. She expected it to be empty. She was wrong.

A red-haired boy sat on one of the swings, idle. A familiar red-head. Gaara. Unconsciously, her feet carried her to the vacant swing next to him.

"Hello, Gaara-sama," Hinata said.

"You don't have to call me that," Gaara replied, not looking at her. "'Gaara' is fine."

"All right," Hinata said meekly, blushing. "Gaara-kun."

Gaara let it slide. He would save that argument for later. He was shaken from his thoughts as she asked, "What are you doing out here?"

"Thinking. And you?"

She blushed and looked away again. "I was taking a walk and, um, saw you here."

"Did you come over here for conversation?"

"No."

"Then, why?"

"I don't know. I guess, I…um…missed you," Hinata said as her face turned bright red and she looked to the ground.

Gaara looked at her. Seeing her and her childish ways, made him smile. "You're such a child."

"I am?" She sounded put out.

"Yes, but it's cute."

There was silence. Both of them were trying to figure out why he said that. Hinata had her suspicions, but would never voice it aloud. Gaara was completely lost. After several minutes, Hinata got up and said, "I guess I had better be going."

"'Bye," Gaara said, meeting her eyes.

"See you tomorrow," Hinata echoed as she walked through the lightly falling rain. Her words seemed to echo through the misty and wet landscape. A promise, for tomorrow.