Helloo and yay, thanks to my reviewers, Gaara-Kaibutsu, Ox King, Cheh, Kimahrigirl and Beatrix Kiddo, you are all lovely and shiny! Hope I do not disappoint. Some more new names in this one for the head of Hogo's clan, along with his two sons:
Ryoushin Good Mind
Shiro White
Kouki Noble
Anyways, hope you enjoy :D!
Flashback...
She never knew what he was thinking. She never had a clue under that seemingly unchangeably cool gaze. The best alteration she had ever managed was a look of derision, a look of suspicion, at very best a smirk. And yet for all his cold words and cold glances he never told her to leave. He never told her he didn't want her there. Perhaps he thought it would be more trouble than it was worth. Perhaps he knew she would only leave for a while, a day at most, out of respect, but would return because it was her job.
For all his silence and coldness she seemed to be totally unaffected. She didn't seem deterred or unnerved by it. Idly she would chat to him about whatever was on her mind, the latest technique she had been attempting to learn, the movie she might be going to see, the last mission they had gone on. She would continually jokingly jibe him on missions that he didn't let her do anything, that she was going to become rusty with her techniques. However, they both knew that Gaara was the last person that needed help when it came to a fight and so the joke was only ever an ironic one.
The rain had been pouring down in torrents, the sky howling above them as wind flayed their cheeks with sand. Nearly blinded amidst it, Hogo fought against the storm with her arms over her eyes, mentally cursing as each step became harder.
"We'll have to find somewhere to shelter until the storm stops! We can't get back like this!" She yelled over the screaming winds, only to suddenly note the muting of them. The sand too, though a chilly remnant of it whistled loudly above her head, was no longer battering against her arms and face. Hesitantly, she lowered her arms, looking up to see Gaara standing in front of her, a thick shield of sand going round them both and up above their heads, forming a small cavern, a canopy from the storm. He regarded her obvious embarassment impassively before making a 'hmmph' of dismissal, walking over to the wall of this shield and seating himself against it, clearly prepared to wait it out for the night. Hogo sighed to herself and dumped her pack on the desert floor likewise, crouching to try and prepare them a small fire. But of course the storm wouldn't have bothered Gaara. If she had been a more insecure person, his ridiculous power would have made her feel worthless. Sometimes it still did. It embarassed her, the idea of being a burden to him, someone he had to stop for when he could have continued on. She was accustomed to being the talented, the skilled. But then perhaps that was likewise why she admired him so much. He exceeded every ninja she had ever met in power and in innovation.
Once the fire was lit she prepared what little food she had on her, offering him half, of which he only took a little before continuing to gaze out across the immense expanses of whirling desert. She rolled herself up in her sandcape and prepared to sleep as best as was possible in these conditions, vaguely surprised when a small mound of sand rose up from the floor in an impromptu cushion. She looked to Gaara questioningly. "Get some sleep. The storm should be finished by morning." he said, wind ruffling his wild dark red hair. "Thanks." she said, quietly touched as she settled down against it. "There's enough sand around us for me to do anything. That was as easy as blinking." he replied dryly. She rolled her eyes to herself and yawned. If anyone else had said it, she would have mocked them ruthlessly for arrogance. In Gaara's mind, he was simply stating a fact.
There was an instance or two's silence in which the warm flickering of the flames made the cavern almost pleasant, softening shadows playfully dancing in and out of their vision. The storm continued to rage around them but within the partial sphere that Gaara had created it was only a background thrum that reminded Hogo of just how warm and comfortable she was. Dozens of nights it had been like this, just the night sky and silence, her and Gaara. She knew plenty of people from her village, some even that she would call friends, who thought her a fool not to be terrified of sleeping beside Gaara. Much as she knew she should be, she had never been able to feel this concern. Yawning sleepily again, her eyes drifting, she found herself blearily asking "Gaara?"
He grunted in response, not looking round.
"Would you like me to try and create a genjutsu so you could sleep?". She saw his back stiffen slightly as he paid proper attention, considering this, before her eyelids skipped shut again. She feebly forced them open, wanting to hear his response.
"... Yes. Yes I would like that." he said quietly.
"Good... I'll... start it... soon.." she mumbled, her eyes drifting shut as sleep inevitably won out over her curiousity. Not that she would remember in the morning, but that was the first time Gaara had ever accepted her help with anything resembling good grace.
"Hogo-dono."
Hogo started out of her musings to see Neji walking alongside her, his expression reserved and formal but nonetheless friendly. She smiled slightly to herself. The formalities of clans as old as theirs never failed to amaze and at the same time irritate her. She was willing to bet that Hyuuga Neji didn't know how to have a good time if his life depended on it. Restraint and stand-offishness were all clans like theirs knew.
"There's no need to call me that Neji, we're all friends here." she said, grinning in the hope it might loosen him up. It wasn't like she hadn't been the same herself for as long as she could remember. But a dimension of her had never been able to entirely fulfil the traditional image that was expected of her clan. Much as it angered her father, all that he was proud of in her far outweighed his objections to the fact that she could be reckless and loud-mouthed.
Her father.
She bit back on the concerns that the mere thought of him brought up and focused on Neji's polite smile and incline of the head "Of course. How much further before we reach the Sand Village?"
"Just a few more hours. We've made excellent time."
"Good. If I may ask..."
"Yes"
"Your speciality is genjutsu."
She gave him an appraising smile before nodding her head in concession "Very good. Though I should have expected you to know with those eyes of yours. It might not be the most traditional style my clan uses, but its what I excel at. I can't rely on sheer strength to overcome a physically larger opponent." Neji smiled in understanding
"Yes. That strike you gave Chimitchi earlier was impressively fast, but it didn't hurt him much. I suppose an opponent incapacitated by genjutsu is far more easy to kill." Hogo grinned broadly and slung an amiable arm around Neji's shoulders, ruffling his cool composure "You're assuming that I couldn't have hurt Chimitchi more if I wanted to Neji-san. But you're right, an assassin I remain, if not by the same styles as my clan. I only hope I never have to come across a Hyuuga who wishes me ill - I suspect your eyes are a little too good for my skills."
Neji smiled dryly "It would certainly be interesting to find out some time.". He wasn't entirely sure how to react to Hogo's forwardness but was unable to not be amused by it.
The terrain of desert, so unlike the verdant expanses of forest and mountains that they were used to, fascinated the Konoha ninjas. Akamaru kept scurrying around in all directions, smelling for all he was worth with Kiba racing alongside him. Even Chimitchi seemed happier now that they were back in his country, going ahead as scout for them all, not that they were expecting any unwanted welcoming. "How could anyone sneak up on us anyway Hogo? We can see for MIIIIIIIIILES!" yelled Naruto excitedly out into the desert, his arms flung wide and his scream being caught up by the wind and thrown up thinly into the air all around them. Hogo smiled affectionately at their enthusiasm. "You'd be surprised how much experience Sand-nin have in hiding somewhere as uncompromising as a desert." She replied. The piercing whistle heard ahead of them brought all of their attention to Chimitchi. He waved broadly in their direction, a smile almost threatening to break across his hard face. "Home beckons!" he yelled, pointing into the distance.
"Hogo, Chimitchi, it is good to have you back. I'm glad to see you've brought help." said Shimobe, shaking Chimitchi's hand warmly and nodding to Hogo. She took the snub without comment and instead turned to the Konoha ninjas "Shimobe-dono, this is Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Neji, Hyuuga Hinata, Rock Lee and Uzumaki Naruto. They have been sent from Hokage-sama to help." The Elders looked them over, clearly disappointed in the fresh-faced nature of these individuals but nonetheless welcoming them politely.
"We trust Hogo has briefed you as much as possible about our concerns?" asked Muteki, seating himself in one of the large chairs placed behind the Elders Conference desk. Shikamaru nodded "Yeah. She said Baki is going to stage a coup d'etat..."
"I fear for us if you are the best Hokage-sama intends to send."
They all looked round to see that Temari had entered the room, along with Gaara. Hogo's look of relief upon seeing Gaara was not missed by many. Temari meanwhile continued to smile playfully, the cruel edge to her words not stinging Shikamaru in the slightest. He smirked in response.
"Temari. Good to see you're feeling as amiable as ever." She let out a purring laugh and walked forward, blue eyes mocking "Intending to save all us poor little Sand women from the evil men Shikamaru? I trust you won't object if I try and save myself."
"Not at all, I'm sure you'll do a fine job of it." he responded, his smirk increasing. He hadn't thought how... interesting it would be to see Temari again. As sharp as ever it would seem. At least he wouldn't be bored. She let out a hmmmph at his compliment before purposefully turning to look at the Elders.
"So you're back then. Fast work." drawled Gaara quietly to Hogo. She grinned broadly "Of course, couldn't have you missing me now could I?" He grunted derisively "Don't flatter yourself." he said, his attention already going elsewhere, focusing primarily on Naruto and Rock Lee. "Naruto." he said by way of greeting, nodding his head slightly. Naruto did likewise, unsure if a smile was appropriate for the man who had tried to kill his two best friends and was as like himself as his shadow.
"Gaara. It's good to see you again." said Lee, bowing politely. Naruto blinked and looked at Lee, surprised. He had not seen Gaara's defence of Lee against Kimimaro. A very slight smile came over Gaara's face at this before his gaze flickered up and down Lee "I expect you are fully healed now. Otherwise you'd be of very little use to us."
Naruto growled in irritation "Gaara, you were the one who..."
"It's alright Naruto-kun." Lee interrupted, causing Naruto to gawk in disbelief.
He gave Gaara his 'nice guy pose', exclaiming"You can't keep the Green Beast of Konoha down!".
The ludicrous pose, complete with thumb in Gaara's face, did little to change his expression. "Is that so?" he merely said, more of a statement than anything else, before likewise turning his gaze to the Elders so they might continue. Hogo in the meantime was doing her best not to giggle; already deciding that Lee-kun was just the type of person she needed around if she ever intended to make Gaara smile.
"Over seventy of our own ninjas have disbanded and are unaccounted for. We suspect they are collecting together in the desert for an attack upon the established power of the Sand." "And the established power would be you." said Shikamaru gravely. "Precisely. We may not be a Kazekage for our people, but we can certainly try and do whats best for them until one is decided upon. I fear even if we did find a Kazekage, the damage Baki has done has reached too far. People don't trust our judgement - this is why we felt it was imperative to show that Konoha was a useful aid to have. We must show them we are united. Also... as you can imagine, this rebellion will put families against each other, brothers, fathers, mothers, all may have to kill one another if this stretches too far. I already see it everyday in the streets around me. It's putting an intense strain on all kinds of loves, those who trust us and those who don't."
"Quite." said Hogo coolly, just loud enough that the Elders might hear her. Ruffled by the obvious meaning of this comment, Muteki cleared his throat nervously. "I understand your displeasure Hogo. But you must understand that we cannot afford to take any chances. Your father's disappearance was..."
"Is that right? Well if you can't afford to trust your own people it's no wonder so many of them seem willing to join the missing-nin!" she snapped in response.
"We would like to trust everyone in this village Hogo. But if you recall, Baki was one of our most renowned Jounin, and you will see why we have trouble with this. He was our team leader for several years, I felt I knew him and still he has betrayed us." said Temari, giving Hogo a fierce smile. Hogo deflated slightly, seeing the pointlessness of this argument. Temari sympathised with her predicament, and as a friend trusted her as much as anyone could expect to in this situation. And despite this, she had a point. There was no choice for them but to be suspicious, they had already lost so much.
Kiba put a reassuring arm around her and she suddenly felt absurdly grateful for the Konoha ninja that had come to aid them. An outside force was needed to save them from imploding altogether from this mistrust and bitterness. Despite her best efforts, she found that her brain tuned out from the plans Shikamaru was making to aid the village, disappearing into the paranoia that was beginning to encroach upon her skin.
She trusted her father. She knew he would never betray their village - he loved it as she did. Though they were wanderers by nature, never comfortable with remaining still for long, this was their home. He wouldn't risk it over relations with Konoha. This could become a bloodbath if things got completely out of control. The people of this village had never quite trusted them because of their inclination to disappear whenever they felt like it, to roam the deserts and beyond for months at a time. There was always the concern that they would not come back, that hunter nin would have to be deployed to maintain the safety of the Sand. But they always had returned, until now.
"Come back Father." she mentally prayed vehemently "Come back before you're no longer welcome." Whilst she did not think for a second that her father had joined the rebels, she knew that he would never be trusted again by the villagers if this continued. A thought she didn't even want to have to consider coursed through her - If it came down to it, would she have to choose between her village and her father? It wasn't a choice she thought she was capable of making.
As they exited the hall she dragged herself from her thoughts. "There is plenty of room at my home. You are all welcome to stay there - I'm sure the rest of my family will not object." "Thanks Hogo-san! No hotel rooms for us, YAY! We get to stay in a fancy Clan's house!" exclaimed Naruto excitedly. Hinata giggled at this and Neji rolled his eyes good-humouredly. Looking round, Hogo noticed that Gaara had not joined them, but then she was not surprised. Big groups of people were hardly his thing. Sighing, she decided she would inevitably have to organise getting the Konoha ninjas comfortable before she could assess where he was.
"For someone they don't trust they sure as Hell seem to be giving me a lot of responsibility." she grumbled to herself as she led them all towards the Jiyuujin estate.
Later that evening Hogo had finally managed to get rooms for the entire group, ensuring that Hinata got a room to herself as the only girl. The servants in her household had been slightly perturbed by the excitable blond boy in orange running around their home, but had nonetheless welcomed them all. Although the clan was naturally vast and so she couldn't formally introduce all of them, she made sure that they paid their respects to Ryoushin Jiyuujin, her father's brother, and head of the clan.
"Now PLEASE, I know its difficult for some, namely Naruto, to stay quiet"
"OI"
"... But you must be polite to Ryoushin-sama. You have no idea how much trouble I could get into if he thinks you're being inappropriate."
As she said this the door slid open and Ryoushin entered, followed by his two sons Shiro and Kouki. They seated themselves on the floor across from the visitors before Hogo touched her forehead to the floor in a bow to them. They had the same sharp lupine features as Hogo, but with darker eyes. Kouki, the elder of the two sons, swept a cursory glance across their faces, stopping upon Hinata and smirking.
"Ryoushin-sama, these are our guests." Hogo said, naming them each in turn. Ryoushin looked them over and nodded "Anyone who may be able to help us in our troubles is more than welcome in my home. I don't doubt that Hogo has made you comfortable. I'll see to it that a meal is prepared for you all." His gaze returned to Neji, a smile appearing on his face "A Hyuuga I see. A bloodline limit such as yours will undoubtedly be useful." Neji bowed his head respectfully "I hope so Ryoushin-sama."
"It would appear he's not the only Hyuuga father." Kouki said dryly, his eyes still fixed upon Hinata. She nervously smiled at the attention being brought her way, similarly ducking her head hastily "I hope I too can be of service sir." she mumbled sweetly, praying she was not blushing once again.
"Oh I'm sure you can be." purred Kouki in amusement, chuckling as her blush deepened. Ryoushin doggedly ignored the lecherous quality to his son's tone and continued making civilities before they departed. As he left Kouki shot a wink and a smile in Hinata's direction, and Neji realised he was clenching his hands on his lap so hard the knuckles were bleached white. Slowly, he managed to relax them, tearing his gaze away from the door Kouki had left through. Standing, he went over to Hogo
"Hogo, is Kouki to be... trusted?" he said, hoping his meaning was clear without being overt. He didn't doubt that she had noted his behaviour as well. She scanned his face and put a hand on his shoulder, steering him a little further away from the others so they would not be heard. "If you're concerned for Hinata, her room is right next to mine. I'll keep an eye on her, but you shouldn't worry yourself. Kouki might be a little... forward but he's certainly not dangerous." Neji nodded gratefully, eyes momentarily flashing with viciousness "I don't appreciate the successor of the Hyuuga clan being looked at like a piece of meat. It degrades us all." Her expression said that she would not press him for the underlying reasons behind his action and he was relieved, considering he did not fully know them himself. He was Hinata's protector. It was his duty.
An abrupt mental picture of her, blood around her sweet mouth, eyes hard with determination, rushing towards him, filled his head. Her moves had been sloppy, slow, but it had been a fine fight nonetheless. It was mainly the fault of her being too soft, too unwilling to be ruthless with him. Not long ago TenTen had given him pause for thought when they had been training. Hinata had come in and left them some tea before walking out again without saying a word.
"Y'know Neji, I was wondering about Hinata..."
"What is there to wonder about?" he replied, grunting with exertion as he back-flipped away from a stray kunai TenTen had sent his way.
"Well she's Head Family. So does she know the Seal technique?"
Neji stopped, considering this, whether Hinata was even powerful enough to master the technique.
"I mean she is the successor to the whole clan, it would make sense. Because if she does know it, all she had to do during that match between you two would have been..." TenTen trailed off when she saw the tension in Neji's shoulders, the fixed look on his face. The conversation was over.
Too many small instances, snippets of his existence, had manifested themselves in a way that meant he could not take his eyes off Hinata. He didn't care if she saw him watching at that moment, whether everyone in the room noticed the blatancy of his gaze. He lived in her house, ate the same food as her, trained with her father, was her protector, her cousin, and yet he knew nothing about what was inside of her. He had an urge to grab her and shake her to ensure she was real and almost suspected she would evade his grip like smoke, simply evaporate from beneath his fingertips. So much was left unsaid in a home such as theirs. Big empty rooms with beautiful furnishings and nothing but silence to accompany them. Restraint was encoded into everything he was. What it was he was restraining himself from was agonisingly elusive. Straightening up so abruptly it made the rest of the ninjas start, he headed for the door. "Neji, where you going?" asked Naruto. Neji paused and breathed deeply through his nose. He could feel something seething up inside him that he was not willing to deal with. "I need my sleep." he said quietly before walking out into the night.
It's never simple, finding out you need someone.
He had dismissed her when she had said she intended to go to Konoha with the precise words 'Go. You won't be missed'. Irony certainly appreciated his contribution.
It became a niggling irritation, a discomfort just as much as initially her presence had. To not have her nearby, to not know she was close even if she was saying nothing. He was accustomed to her now. His second shadow had been stitched on, and then meticulously torn out once more. It was like a removal of a layer of his skin.
Beautiful, stupid, idealistic Hogo who talked too much and was never uncomfortable in his presence.
He wondered if she knew the amount of times he had followed her. Once the routine of their roles was established she had not spent every second of her day with him, even going off on her own to train or out at night with other friends. Other friends. He didn't see why he had to share her. It fascinated and disgusted him at the same time seeing how different she was with other people. Chatty, joking, energetic, sociable in a way he would never even attempt to be. What was she, a chameleon that she could exist with people like that one second and the next with someone like him? From night-blackened rooftops he would sit and watch as she laughed and fooled around with her friends.
She was a flirt too. Deliberate and in control, she'd flick that thick dark hair and make those amber eyes flash and the boys around her would be speechless in the face of her confidence. That pretty mouth of hers had only offered up one actual kiss that he had seen, a teasing lingering kiss that had been bestowed upon a boy nearly a foot taller than her. She had gripped his shirtfront, bringing him down to her level with a smile gracing the corners of her lips.
He had wanted to rip tendons and burn buildings as he sat and watched him coil his hands in that thick hair and pull her closer.
He had only ever touched her in violence.
The look of surprise on her face when he challenged her to a fight was not one he would forget, her cheeks flushing slightly, the previous smile fading swiftly. "What?"
"I said Fight me." he drawled, the cork in the gourd already falling to the floor. She leapt back in several skirting motions, nervously keeping an eye on the sand. "Any particular reason we're doing this?" she called out, only to backflip away from a rising wave of sand that formed the shape of a hand. Reasons. How marvellously simplistic she could be, how determined to avoid the cryptic. But it was an obsolete question and she said it with that knowledge. She had never expected him to explain himself. Instead she followed his lead and worked by impulse.
It was a dance more than anything else, one that required far more energy on her part than his as she dodged away, launched forward to attack and flew backwards once more. "Why don't you use one of your precious genjutsu's?" he queried sarcastically as she pirouetted away from the grasp of one of the sand hands. She grinned, breathing fast but evenly, a thin bead of sweat coming down her cheek. "As you wish." The first two did very little, trifling swipe attacks that he saw through immediately - a seeming barrage of weapons of which only one was in fact real, and the familiar image of himself melting.
"I already told you, I won't fall for that twice." he intoned dryly as he gathered up more sand for an attack. The third technique however, proved more than effective. The flames, flames brought on by the burning sun and raining down on him, surrounded him in a ragged circle of scorching heat. It felt so REAL. He screamed savagely as some flames danced out and made contact with his arm, gripping the wound and seeing the flesh was seared a vivid pulpy red. His screams became relentless as the flames closed in, and then he found himself in absolute darkness being shaken.
"Gaara, Gaara please calm down!"
Coming to himself in the pitch black, he felt his head was rested on her lap, his hands desperately clutching at his own head while her hands soothingly stroked his shoulders. The darkness he progressively realised, was a tight shell of sand around them both. He must have automatically created it whilst seeing the flames.
Pitching her backwards, using his entire body weight, he slammed her to the floor, stretched out fully on top of her. "Don't... EVER... do that again! Ever!" he yelled, his fingers digging deeply into her arms as she struggled underneath him. "YOU were the one that wanted to fight!" she screamed back, getting an arm free and backhanding him across the face. He gripped her wrist and pinned her arm back down to the floor, holding her with a bruising tightness until her struggles stopped.
"You said.." she began again breathlessly "Shut up." he snarled, but with no real venom behind it, sinking down into the curves of her, suddenly exhausted. They remained like that for some time, allowing their breathing to slow once more in the pitch black, Gaara's face hovering inches above Hogo's. Gaara felt himself overwhelmed suddenly by the sheer sensation of her chest rising and falling underneath his, her breath on his face. She was so very close, every part of him suddenly agonisingly aware of every inch of her. Her warmth seemed to seep through his clothing and into his skin. He was grateful he could not see her in this dark to see the expression that must have been one of unease or disgust. Giving a grunt of irritation he rolled off her swiftly, the sand shell slowly degenerating around them. Standing, he watched her with feigned disinterest as she stood up, brushing herself off and flicking her hair out of her eyes. Bruises were beginning to blossom on her pale skin like rotting fruit from where he had held her so tightly, and a long cut ran up her thigh, inevitably from one of the sand attacks. She saw his gaze upon these and shrugged "I'll be fine.". He turned and walked away, knowing that she would, as ever, follow. "I didn't ask." he said.
But then he didn't need to when there was a different question inside of him - would he, COULD he, ever do anything other than hurt her?
There you go my loves, please RnR, any questions just let me know:D