Well, I made this longer! I think it was Princess P who asked for me to, and by the request of Venusgirl I've put in a portion from Gaara's view! This was going to solely be from Hinata's, but I'm happy to comply! And another reviewer, I think Princess P still, said Hinata should come out of her funk? Well Akira was the catalyst to your comment! :) Thank you for all the reviews and favs! They really push me forward to write more! Review as much as you like!

Slow-footed

Chapter Four

The Talks

"I don't see why they're making you do this." Kiba gritted out, his canines hanging over his lower lip in irritation. Like stalactites, she had always thought. Shino only watched her behind dark glass, quietly offering his support.

"I-I guess G-G-Ga-... Kazekage-sama wants someone who is good with children. From what I u-understand, he is no-not very good w-with them h-h-himself." she stuttered, blushing from the lack of control she had over her body. It had been a while since she had stuttered in normal conversation. Not that this was anything normal, but she reprimanded herself anyway. This was not good, she needed to show strength for her friends, and draw upon it so that she may hold her own when faced with Sabaku no Gaara. Not that he would hurt her, she reminded herself, but she would still be extremely nervous when she saw him.

Gossip of her newly arranged marriage had spread like wild-fire. And if she thought the whispers of her "obsession" with the demon carrying Naruto were bad, it paled considerably when juxtaposed with her marrying of the Kazekage and demon carrier. Neji had stayed a while when he found her in her home, but eventually had to leave, allowing her time to mope around her apartment for a bit. Mostly gathering courage to face what would happen outside, and drawing on the encouragement and support her friends gave her. It was all she could ask for. Thank goodness it had been Friday when Naruto informed her, so she had time to collect herself. But all the energy she'd garnered was dust in the wind when she had been faced with the children at the care facility.

Grinding her heels into the dirt, and looking them all in the eyes, she forced out all her words, articulating and punctuating them with formality. It reminded her of when she went to hear Naruto in his office, she was putting up a mask right now just as she had then, but those tiny, chubby faces were incapable of doing the same. Masking her emotions did no good and as soon as she finished with the words,

"I will be leaving in a weeks time." the children burst into tears, all of them running towards her. She complied readily, bending onto one knee, and opening her arms wide, ready to scoop them all up and endure all their tears and snot. She knew they would endure hers. Dust kicked up just from all the running and jumping and movement, until it felt as though they were in their own dome of dust caught by light. It looked almost angelic. There was a long time of sniffling and crying and hiccuping, and at some point Akira came out, and wrapped her massive and strong arms around Hinata and the children, comforting them all.

Hinata thought Akira had never looked so beautiful and strong that day, knowingly smiling through the pain of losing a friend, and seeing the children so hurt by it. Respect swelled in her chest for the great woman, and she knew the children would be safe with her. Too soon, though, the children were called inside for lunch, and Hinata was allowed to sit with Akira, outside the complex and soaking in a mild sun. Or mild, she thought, compared to what the heat of Suna would be like, they were still lightly sweating, she could feel it soak under her arms, at the small of her back, and dampening her hair a bit. But she knew she'd miss just lightly sweating, from what she understood, Suna was a land of extreme heat, she could barely remember what it was like.

Thoughts were still zipping around her mind, even in the peaceful moments with friends to support her. Suna would be completely different in all aspects, it wouldn't be surprising if she experienced culture shock, even. It was all so far from the life she had fought for, blood sweat and tears had gone into the life she made. Pride had been a great thing, pride in her work, her life, her teaching, her ability. It was all down the drain. Just a housewife. That's what she'd become.

Akira could only look at her sadly, which Hinata felt she had been getting more and more of as the days went by. She swirled her fingers in the dirt, watching as each time she moved them, little grains caught up into her nails and browned them. How she longed for a child to run, bringing her a bundle of flowers to create little daisy chains out of. How she longed for that to continue for her entire life. If there was no break in that system, Hinata would be perfectly ready and willing for that.

"Hey, don't dwell on it. Buck up, Hinata. You've taken on far worse, and look, he has to have a love for his future children if he picks a wife almost solely based on a desire for his children to be cared for." Akira started in, giving her a smile that soured more into a grimace.

"I know Akira, h-he must be g-good to w-want that. I'm sure G-G-Gaa..G-"

"Gaara-sama" Akira finished.

"Y-Yes... he must want what's best for hi-his children... but he has always b-been so f-frightening. Y-y-you should have seen him w-when we were young. H- he was so s-scary. Th-that demon... that demon i-in him is s-so powerful it see-"

"Hinata, people change. I've heard the stories, but you have to have faith. I can tell you're worried. Let me take a stab at it. I can see it in your head now. You're worried that you won't live up to his expectations, you fear him, and you fear Shukaku, but don't. He has control. And if you have children, I know that he will have even more control to never hurt them. Ever. Look at Naruto, he has all the control in the world, he carries a demon inside of him too, Hinata, you know that. So don't doubt Gaara-sama so quickly." she said, staring with conviction into Hinata's eyes. The firm tone Akira emanated, it made everything she worried for feel silly. She had that effect on people.

Still, her fingers grappled with the hem of her shirt, brow furrowed and staring at it as if it may give her an answer. Maybe it would, if she just tugged hard enough along the seems maybe...

"Hinata. Stop." Akira commanded, her large and meaty hands grabbed hold of Hinata's, dwarfing them in size. With a heavy step, and a small grunt, Akira stood, and Hinata felt wind rush by her ears as she was suddenly drawn up onto her feet and given a good shake before being planted, solid, on the ground. Akira's face was level with hers, a determined look in her face.

"You are not going to let this take over you and who you are. I know you. You know you. Now get a hold of yourself. Think, sooner or later, you may be holding your own precious bundle in your arms. Now go home, visit a few friends, and start packing your things. You're going on a mission, and you will still come back and visit me, the others, and the children." she said, her tone still firm, sounding almost like a mother, with concern being the driving force behind her words.

They stood for a few minutes, tears bubbling up from Hinata, and a single tear sliding down Akira's face. In a quick and fluid moment, she was wrapped up in the arms of a woman who felt more like a mother bear. And gratefully so, it was exactly what Hinata needed. Tears washed over her face, a cleansing bath she was relieved to take. The wind swept up her hair, twisting it about, and she heard Akira's braid slap against the side of the complex even, more like a tail than anything. It made her smile, knowing this would be a moment of nostalgia for days to come. Thick hands clamped down on her shoulders, forcing her back abruptly and stopping her quick so she didn't even sway back or forth.

"You will be fine. You will do great. I will miss you more than I could express, these years working with the children have been the best for me, seeing as where I came from. Thank you, Hinata." Akira said, smiling, her eyes red with suppressed tears. She was released, and given a quick turn and light shove, Hinata was on her way. Back to her home, and back to where she would again meet up with her team mates.

"It still makes no sense." Kiba half barked, growling a little until his quiet friend placed a hand on his shoulder for a moment.

"No sense in being hostile about it." Shino quietly intoned. "Hinata is strong."

"Like I don't know that! She's the best! Definitely deserves better than sand scum!" he growled, notes of jealousy twinging his voice. The quality had Hinata waving her hands in front of her face, quickly, causing them to blur a bit with her efforts of calming her teammate.

"I-I'm sure Kazekage-sama w-will be go-good to me." she said, trying to not only convince Kiba, but also herself. Constant reassurances were muttered to herself on walks, in the mirror, while cooking dinner, all the time to convince herself that this would all be fine. She had yet to face the council and tell them the same thing.

It had been 4 days since she had informed the children, and each time she saw them, it gave her so many reasons why things would not be ok when she left. She would not be ok- but she would- she had to keep telling herself.

A deep growl rumbled up from Kiba's chest even so, his jaw jutting upwards with pursed lips as he became suddenly mindful of the roof to his left. Shino, of course, continued to stare unflinchingly at Hinata, soaking in his scarce moments with her in his own way. They'd been standing around for a good hour, most of it with Kiba griping and growling, they had done this several times now over the past few days. But the sky was now darkening, and after a few efforts to get her to go out to dinner with them, and maybe grab a few drinks, Hinata retired to her home, and the boys... or men returned off the way they'd come.

When she had shut the door, and made sure no one was near, Hinata broke down once again in tears, but these were not as panicked and rushed and disoriented as they had been before. These were silent, melancholy, and slipped down her face a few at a time.

It was good, at least, to be cared for, and it was good that they still acted like themselves. Others had almost taken on whole new personalities at her announcement. She would be the wife of a Kazekage.

He would be the husband to the ex-heiress, Hyuuga, Hinata. It was a strange thought but one that hardly bothered him, he had chosen it after all. Thoughts mingled in with his duties, he was now and again setting down the pen with a gentle clack, and staring out the window pensively, a little off kilter with his normal routine but only in the slightest way. Strange indeed, but he knew it was for the best. It worried him slightly, having children, but he knew it was called upon him to do so. Many villagers still whispered their fears or held their oppositions, saying that no matter what, his demon could be the death of them. The vast majority opposed this belief after he had saved the village and proven to be a great leader, but he did not want the voice of a few to change the minds of many. Children, would also carry his blood, and he would teach them the ways to help others and to be strong. They would be great assets in the fight against those that threatened the village or their allies. Which Konoha would be strengthened in, as well as the Hyuuga family, a hard family to impress and gain a partnership with, it was a good political move in almost every aspect.

There was a great amount of care for his villagers, and for his friends and siblings, but there was barely a semblance of care for his future wife. There was no way he could comprehend what she could be going through, and he expected her to be just a regular woman, almost like Matsuri in a way. She would be obedient, dutiful, and help with the children in a way he could not. This was all logic for him, and he barely cast a thought to the wind when it came to her. He was aware they would have to undergo very personal circumstances to create these children, but other than that she would have to just create a new life here. Sleeping in the same bed, even, was of no interest to him, no woman had ever adorned his sheets or lips and he liked it that way despite Kankuro's jeering.

A knock sounded at the door, one he immediately knew and called her in formally. This happened the same way almost every night, around midnight, Matsuri would enter and inform him of her retirement to bed.

"Gaara-sama," she started, "It's midnight, and I think I may head to my room for the night." she said, and slight lilt at the end, as always, as though she was asking a question. He inclined his head, picking up his pen again and beginning to write the rest of his letter. It was his simple way of allowing her to go on her way, but this time she stood fast at the door, her body barely in the door as it was only slide open a crack.

"Gaara-sama..." she tentatively started.

"Yes?"

"Well... I..." Matsuri took it upon herself to slide the door open a bit more, until her body squeezed by, and shut it behind her, allowing her back to press against the frame of the door, hands swept behind her back and a strained look on her face. "Are you feeling sure about all this? The Hyuuga girl and a marriage? It seems so unlike you..." she awkwardly began, but never continued, casting her eyes downward to stare at the intricacies of the tatami mat.

He was aware of her slight romantic interest in him, and it was obvious in the way she fidgeted now, but he'd never felt compelled to feel the same way. He didn't feel it towards Hyuuga-san either, but Matsuri wouldn't be as good a care taker and wouldn't get him political allies.

"It is unlike me. I was receiving pressure from the council, and it was a good political move. Hyuuga-san is also very well known to be good with children. This is a strictly professional marriage." he stated. Eyes unflinching and mouth unchanging, but Matsuri let out a small giggle which she quickly stifled, a hand raising over her mouth to stop herself. A professional marriage, it wasn't a joke. From what she understood, Gaara-sama couldn't even remember who Hyuuga, Hinata was, only had an idea from Naruto and others who spoke of her work with children. It was as though she mended the minds of children scarred by abuse or terror, something about her was soothing, apparently and he was interested in using that ability for his own.

But this better understanding of how Gaara felt mended Matsuri's mind. Maybe there was a chance it would be just a political marriage, and after a few children he'd take on a mistress. It was a thought she barely entertained, but did so none the less. With a quick bow, she dipped out of the room, sliding the door behind her shut with a light click, and Gaara went back to leaning over his work and working through the night as usual, Shukaku almost slumbering in his chest, but really just lying dormant.