Wow, so, about 6 months into my Naval career. Finally decided to return to this. We'll see how far I get this time. :P Probably going to be slow on this no matter what. Like if I go on deployment or something, which are bout 6 months. Thanks so much for reading! Please remember to review- that's for sure what keeps me going ahahaha. Sorry if the writing isn't as good as earlier chapters, I'm running on steam usually here. Thanks again!

The Leaving

It was windy, the trees around her forming wind tunnels, compressing the air tighter and giving it a whip like quality as it whirled around- nearly knocking the breath from Hinata's lungs. It was time to go, several men from Suna had shown up earlier that hour- and now all there was was a bothered silence as she stared at her friends. The goodbyes had been long and grievous but the time had finally come.

She dug her feet as much as she could into the dirt, desperate to leave an impression into the soft earth, desperate to leave a piece of herself there even as she traveled the long distances to her new home. It made her shudder, that uncomfortable rock in her stomach seeming to get heavier. The wind pushed her closer to the men of Suna, and she hated it for that. But it was her place, it was what she was called to do and she would do it if that was needed. She had to think of the positives. A better alliance, better conversation between the two villages. A blissfully happy face would be painted across her features to appease those around her, but she knew there was no way she'd ever be able to feel love for the one who stole her away from her home. It was nothing but that which bothered her. The demon meant nothing, the place meant nothing, the heat of the scorching sun would mean nothing on her delicate skin. It was the lose of her friends, her family, and her calling. That was everything to her.

"You're doing a great service to your village. We will come visit, and you will come here- there will not be any lose." Naruto stated, and there was a shifting in the small group at the ridiculousness of his words, and a small growl from Kiba as well. But everyone knew he was doing his best to be an Hokage, and not her friend, he was trying to make this a clean break- this was no time for jokes and jaunts.

"Th-thank you, Hokage... Naruto..." Hinata said, barely audible and with words full of unshed tears. "I love all of you so much." she rushed out, not even a stutter there to sway the amount of passion she put into those words. A quiet woman with a passionate heart about her village and the people in it. There was a chorus of agreement and a few shouts of love back, but many she held dearly close said nothing through mouths, but everything through eyes and expression.

It was time.

"We must go now, Hyuuga-sama." one of the men said, all limbs and a head that seemed to big for his body. "We will take good care of her. Thank you." he said, his deep voice being carried away with the wind and away from the group's ears. It would have fallen on them deafly anyway.

With that, Hinata turned around, clenching her fists so tight the knuckles went paler than even she. A foot step forward, and she felt the tension rise behind her and ebb away as she got farther away and farther into her journey. It would take them a week, a week of careful planning and maneuvering about to be safe. Hyuuga-sama was precious cargo that needed to be brought and secured safely.

"H-How often wi-will a-I be able to v-v-visit?" Hinata inquired after several hours of journeying and pushing through the flora and fauna of her home. The sand-nin were obviously bothered by it, absolutely unused to it.

"As often as the Kazekage will permit." the large headed man, Nee, answered, brushing past the foliage with a bat of his hand. The other two ninja glanced over at her for a moment as they traveled, for the most part not saying a word. All three knew Hinata to be lovely and, for them, exotic looking with her ivory skin with small blue veins scattered through her flesh like minute solar systems. The other two beside Nee did not trust themselves to speak much to her. It was essentially the Kazekage's wife after all. And everyone had a small fear dwelling in the very bottom of their stomach for Kazekage-sama. Nee, however, felt no fear of having any attraction to Hinata as his interests were for another kind of person anyway.

The trees in the part of the forest they were in were thick and rough- wizened with bark that could barely be pulled away by all four of them for a small fire any time they stopped for a bit. They creaked their age, like old bones- but tough and used to being subjected to brutality. They were nothing like how Hinata felt as she listened to Nee. But no argument passed her chilled lips. Chilled not from the cold but from the cool fear that she knew would flare up once she saw her... fiance...

The week passed slowly, creeping with them on all four, dragging its belly across the ground. Time for her was sore and painful- growing more and more with every step she took away from home. The terrain had merged and manifested itself into a much more intense climate, the sun had turned against her and was now beating down so hard she actually had to clothe herself a little more to keep its rays from shredding her skin. She could see the large walls guarding Suna. It reminded her of a termite mound, put together with everything she thought to be dirty. Her own home becoming much more deeply missed now when faced with her new... housing. And that chilled fear had slowly flared to a hot fright that made her palms sweat, constantly wiping them against the sheer, white cotton fabric that was now draped around her. She was surely prejudiced to this new surrounding, but not much in her really cared about that as much as she might have if it were under different circumstances.

"I know it looks intimidating, but you'll grow to love it, Hyuuga-sama." Nee commented upon seeing her subtle expression. The other two looked too grateful to be back to really pay attention to anything else. It had been a good trip, meeting with very little trouble on their way to Sunagakure. Crossing paths briefly with just raiders, but they were immobilized and the nin alerted the nearest village, a very small one, of their, the bandits, whereabouts when the came upon one. It would be a good impression left on the little village of the kindness Suna presented now under the new Kage. They knew it'd please him, as he was always striving to appear as a kinder man than what his demon had represented him to be.

Hinata only nodded, as they became ever closer to her new future. Feeling every nerve, tendon, particle- all of her crying to go back to her home, children, friend, family. It felt like a death sentence at that moment.

Gaara stood by the window, from beyond the walls of his village, he could see the little figures approaching, and knew it was his soon to be wife simply by instinct. It roused the demon in him, and knew when she came to him, he would need to be extra careful. Shukaku was obviously interested in this new addition to his life. Gaara had smothered out his voice for the most part, but was always wary. Matsuri sat at a desk nearby, getting papers in order for his wedding coming up in the next week. A small scowl graced her features. She adored him, and wasn't happy that soon his attention would be even more diverted from her. As it already was.

His unwavering expression was set dead on the approaching sand nin and stranger. Even through all his emotional blockades, he was still a little wary of what it would be like, the smallest of all nervous feelings tickling him very gently. Venturing into absolutely unknown territory that even Shukaku could not help him with. Unsuredness... it wasn't a feeling he was enjoying at all. But he would get over it. There was reason behind this at least. Marriage, children, and a better establishment of his attempt to keep peace with his citizens. At that point, he did not mind what Hinata did, but until children were born, he needed her by his side as much as possible, and needed to get her to be comfortable enough with him that they could perform their duties. He would refuse to force her into anything, despite anything the council may say. This would be hard on her and he knew that. There wasn't a black hole instead of a heart. He cared at least a bit.

Turning away, he sat at his desk, trying to focus on his paperwork. But his mind was wandering about, to her, to the future, to the possibility of children. Several years ago, he would never have imagined that his goal would be to have a tiny squirming little baby- maybe to murder one, or so Shukaku would want, but never to help bring one into the world.