A/N: Happy thanksgiving!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 21
If you were a bystander and happened to glance into the young Hyuuga's room you would think that she was peacefully sleeping, unaware that there was a storm brewing on the inside.
Hinata felt as if she was in a dark void. No light, her eyes were unable to adjust so she sat in the pitch-blackness. To her it felt as she was sitting in a chair her feet dangling below. Her heart felt as if it was made of led and the only thought surfacing in her mind was that of death.
"But I didn't even get to say goodbye," she said to herself in the absolute silence.
Goodbye to her family? Goodbye to Temari? Goodbye to Naruto? Goodbye to Gaara? She wasn't sure. A piercing roar almost deafened her. Her mind became clear and her eyes soon found that this wasn't just a dark void but actually what seemed to be a moon less night. She sighed in relief at first before realizing that she was on top of a cliff, and at the very EDGE! Hinata jumped up and backpedaled before turning and looking around to make sure she didn't fall off anything.
A cool breeze blew by and made Hinata shiver but also brought a warm feeling. She wasn't dead. At least not yet. Slowly her legs moved faster, and faster until she was running in the blackness.
Suddenly the ground beneath Hinata's feet began to shake and she stopped. Getting onto her knees and pressed her ear against the ground to hear for tracks, a thing all basic ninja knew. Strangely she didn't hear anymore of the loud thuds. Slowly she sat up and leaned back on her legs before looking up. Ferocious blood shot green eyes glared at her, and the smell of death filled Hinata's nose. She then felt something acidic drip onto her jacket and burned a hole in her sleeve. She then did the only thing she could think of. She ran. And just as she hoped it wouldn't give chase she felt it's heavy lumbering steps behind her, gaining momentum. Tears pricked at her eyes as she realized the beast was only playing with her it could catch up any time it wanted. She closed her eyes and prayed she could wake from this nightmare when her stomach dropped, and she realized with a numb feeling that this was the edge, the end of the line, and that she Hinata Hyuuga a female who had danced around death to many times to count had finally met her end.
Chiyo had been a village elder for many many years; she had also witnessed many different things. Kazekage's breaking down, murder, and even the destruction of her grandson, but never had she ever felt such compassion for one person. She stood outside of Hinata Hyuuga's hospital room and watched as the young girl's heart monitor rose and fell. Just at that moment the present Kazekage walked toward the hospital room, bowed to Chiyo and entered, soon pulling up a chair and just sitting there staring at the pale frail girl. Yes Chiyo felt very bad for the young woman, for the demon of the sand had fallen in love with her and now that he had her would surely never let her go.
Tsunade and her team traveled at break neck speeds only stopping every once in a while to pop in a soldier pill and then continue. And unlike every other time no one complained, or even said a word. As dawn was breaking they crossed the border, and traveled a few more miles in, Suna in view, before Tsunade stopped them.
"Alright tome to reveal your mission," Tsunade said. "Sakura, Neji and Kakashi you three will scout the perimeter and look for any anbu of our village."
"You mean this has nothing to do with Hinata-sama?" Neji interjected.
"Actually no," Tsunade said, ignoring all the glares she got. "I got a letter from Suna telling me that all of our anbu have been murdered, if that's the case then Hinata is already gone.
"Why bring six of us then?" Shino asked, an icy tone lacing his words.
"So we could take shifts." Tsunade said simply.
"You bitch!" Neji snapped suddenly, making all the protests die on the protesters tongues. "You tricked me and the main family!"
"NEJI HYUUGA YOU WILL NEVER SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Tsunade shouted.
"LIKE HELL!" Neji screamed back. "I am here for Hinata-sama and Hinata-sama only, if you would like to search for your precious anbu you can do so yourself."
And with that Neji Hyuuga began to walk towards Suna preparing himself to kill the Kazekage then the Akatsuki. Kurenai who had stayed quietly suddenly looked up and fixed her eyes on the retreating boys back.
"Wait Neji!" Kurenai cried.
"Glad someone hasn't shirked her responsibilities," Tsunade muttered.
"I'm coming to!" Kurenai called disproving the Hokage.
"Hai me to sensei," Shino said quietly, but his voice echoed with such malice towards the Hokage said woman flinched.
Kakashi and Sakura watched in stunned silence as the other three members of their team high tailed it to Suna. Tsunade was fuming in a corner. How dare they disobey her, she was the Hokage! Sakura saw her sensei's anger and immediately tried to calm her down.
"It's all right Tsunade-sama, they'll come to their senses and come back soon," Sakura said. "Besides it's just like having Naruto here." She added as a side note.
Tsunade smiled to herself and nodded, hearing her student's last comment.
Gaara enjoyed his alone time with Hinata. No one ever bothered him and it was a way to see her instead of just thinking about her. He gently grasped her hand trying to force his own demonic strength into her. Sometimes, when no one was around, he talked to her. And even one time, a night when he was feeling very VERY lonely he sang to her. Today he was in the mood for talking.
"Hyuuga-san, it's lovely day outside," Gaara began. "Not to much wind and the sun is behind a few clouds, I think that it would help you avoid being…what was it again? Oh yes sunburned."
And the Kazekage continued to talk to his friend even in her unconscious state. Little did the young man know but two people were watching him. When Kankurou had glanced up to Temari he had seen that she had almost looked about ready to cry.
"What do we do about Gaara's suspension?" Kankurou asked.
"I don't know," Temari said, her eyes turning steely at the mention of their brothers probation.
Flashback
"YOU CAN'T UNMAKE HIM KAZEKAGE!" Temari shouted as the elders threatened her.
"Well what can we do? He's being reckless! He ran off without permission and endangered the whole village!" one elder spoke up earning a threatening glare from Kankurou.
"I agree!" another elder piped in.
"Demo, Konoha is our strongest ally, if we lost the heir to their strongest clan I don't think that treaty would stand very long." Another pointed out.
"Yes but the Akatsuki are dangerous! What if he led them back here?"
And the debate continued, loud and long. After another fifteen minutes of the same argument over and over Temari was about to interject when someone else did for her.
"That's enough!" Chiyo shouted. "Gaara will not be demoted."
There was a bitter silence in the room, the only two not down trodden being Temari and Kankurou.
"However we can't let his misdeed go unpunished at this Temari's heart sank. "Instead he will be put on probation and unable to leave the tower for a month."
There were murmurs around the room as the punishment was decided. Temari stood and followed Kankurou out the door. Both siblings went to Gaara's office and knocked on the door.
"Enter," the Kazekage boomed.
"Gaara?" Temari asked unsure of what type of reaction they would get.
"Yes Temari?" He asked boredly returning to his paperwork.
"We just came back from the elders meeting," she mentioned still cautious.
"I see and what did they have to say?" Gaara asked sternly.
"You're on probation," Kankurou blurted, catching Gaara's attention immediately.
"Demo only for a month!" Temari quickly added.
"What does this mean?" Gaara asked quietly.
"Basically it means you get a vacation," Kankurou said, trying to sound positive. "No paperwork no meetings, nothing. The only problem is you can't leave the tower."
"Is the medical ward part of the tower?" Gaara asked.
"I'm sure," Temari, replied thoughtful
"I think I will enjoy this 'probation'," Gaara said before standing and leaving his office, his siblings staring after him.
End Flashback
"Gaara seems to be enjoying himself though,' Temari whispered to her brother.
"We should go before he sees us," Kankurou added.
"Yeah," Temari agreed and they backed out of the room.
"Temari has cried herself to sleep every night since you came back," Gaara continued. "Don't tell her I told you, even Kankurou has been losing sleep and he's less perverted then usual."
He was about to continue when the door banged open. Gaara released Hinata's hand and stood.
"What is it?" he asked the rude Jounin.
"People from Konoha have arrived to search for the anbu, should we inform them of the Hyuuga?" the Jounin asked glancing towards Hinata.
Gaara also turned and looked at her. A brief second later he turned back to his Jounin.
"No, do not." Gaara said.
The Jounin nodded and disappeared. As soon as he was gone Gaara sat back down.
"You're probably wondering why I don't want them to know," Gaara said, looking at the girl's troubled face once more. "I know that when they do find you here they're going to take you back, I just want to say goodbye."
Neji followed the Jounin as he led him near an inn were he could book rooms for the time being. Even without his Byakugan he could tell that there was something bothering him. The way he walked, the way he talked, all of it screamed secret.
'Is it something about Hinata-sama?' Neji asked himself, as he continued to follow.
He didn't know yet but his other two companions also noticed. Kurenai because she was a Jounin herself and Shino from his many years of studying body language. When they reached the inn all three ninjas agreed on one thing, they would find out the secret.
"Would you mind helping me with my stuff?" Kurenai asked seductively.
The Jounin gulped and nodded. Shino smirked and Neji scoffed, what a newbie! They walked silently upstairs and finally reached their rooms. Kurenai pulled open the door to her room and shoved the young man roughly inside before slamming the door, not noticing Shino and Neji slipping in before the door closed. The young Jounin coward before the woman as she began the hand signs for a Genjutsu, said female Jounin not noticing the other two.
"What so you know?" Neji asked, when he realized the jutsu was done.
Kurenai jumped and bumped into her pupil who gave her a soft push. The Jounin remained silent, as he seemed to debate with himself.
"TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW SCUM BAG!" Neji screamed, his Byakugan activating, but the Jounin smirked.
"You think I'm afraid of a little yelling?" he asked, laughing.
Neji was about to strike the man when Shino held him back and approached the man.
"You will tell us all you know or else," Shino said menacingly.
"Or else what?" the Jounin challenged.
"I am Shino Aburame," Shino began, noticing the mans eyes widen a fraction. "I have cannibalistic bugs living inside me that do what ever I want. The swarm I have inside me right now is enough to pick your bones clean in a very slow and painful way, need I say more?"
The Jounin shook his head as his body trembled on the bed. Neji glanced over and smirked at the young Aburame, he needed to be sure to make Hinata closer to him.
"I will not ask again," Shino said, sending one of his more harmless bugs out to hover over the mans face.
"I-I-I'll do what ever you say just get that away from me!" The man choked out.
"What are you hiding?" Kurenai probed.
"We have the other Hyuuga, she's in the hospital and she's alive!" he squeaked as Shino's bug flew only a breath away from his eye.
"WHERES THE DAMN HOSPITAL!" Neji cried growing impatient.
"Kazekage tower!" the Jounin gasped.
Neji flew out the door, Kurenai hot on his tail while Shino released the man from the Genjutsu.
"Thank you for your cooperation," he said, nodding.
The bug then landed on the mans face and he passed out from fear. Shino chuckled a bit before calling his bug back and sprinting towards the tower.
After a few minutes of falling Hinata felt the sudden reality of the situation, there was no bottom. No bottom for her to hit, she had already hit rock bottom. Unfortunately she was wrong, because she found the bottom with the sickening sound of her rib cracking as she landed on her side. When she opened her eyes again she realized she was in a dimly lit passage. Not knowing what else to do she climbed painfully to her feet and began to walk. It felt as if she had been walking for hours when she finally passed a door. Slowly she pushed it open and gasped at what she saw inside.
A baby animal seemed to be lying bloodied on the floor. Hinata's compassionate nature kicked in and she ran into the room. Using what little medical jutsu she knew she began to heal the animal. The type of animal and its wounds were unknown to Hinata in yet she kept healing even though it could already be dead. She didn't know when the tears started or when the animal began to move but she wouldn't let up on the healing until it turned and faced her. It's sharp blue blood shot eyes shocked Hinata into standing up, and slowly it grew.
Finally when it was done growing it was a huge wolf like creature. Hinata was only able to squeak in surprise, as it seemed to appraise her. It stepped forward and she stepped back. Pushing it's nose out it tried to sniff her, Hinata tripped over her own feet and landed had onto the cold stone floor.
"Were you the one to heal me child?" it purred.
Hinata would have passed out if she weren't afraid of being eaten. Instead she just nodded. The wolf seemed to contemplate on this for a moment before fixing it's eyes on her again.
"Alright, what do you desire child?" it asked in it's smooth voice.
Hinata remained silent, just noticing the cat like grace it held, with wolf pride. The creature stomped it's foot impatiently.
"What do you wish for child!?" it hissed.
"I-I-I want to g-go home," she stuttered out fearfully.
"Is that all?" the creature asked disbelievingly. "Humph I thought you would make it interesting, oh well."
"G-Gomen if I displeased you," Hinata whispered not remembering the huge ears atop its head.
"I don't care what you wish for!" the creature chuckled. "If you want to go home fine, all you have to do is wake up."
"Wake up?" Hinata asked.
"Seems I'll have to help with that to, humans are so useless!" and with that flames engulfed Hinata and started to burn her skin.
Gaara was about to leave and go speak with the Konoha representative when Hinata's heart monitor began to quicken. He turned and was about to hit the call button when it regulated again. For a moment he stood confused, before the heart monitor went haywire again. Hitting the emergency button he made his way back over to Hinata's side. The door suddenly burst open, but instead of nurses in came three Konoha ninja's. One Hinata's cousin, another her teammate, and the last he believed was her sensei.
They stared at each other for a few moments before a loud beep filled the room. All eyes were suddenly drawn to the monitor. A long flat line filled the screen.
"Hinata," Shino said even more quietly.
Kurenai fell to her knees and cried while Neji clenched his fists, Gaara was the only one who hadn't given up hope. He leaned forward and began to whisper something in her ear. All was silent, the beep not even reaching their ears. Suddenly there was a change, a hitch in the constant monotone. Immediately Neji looked up and the heart monitor was regulated, he was ready to cry with joy when he noticed something else. Hinata sat up in the bed, Gaara helping her with some pillows. She glanced over in his direction and smiled, her warm and long lost smile.
"It's good to see you Neji-ni-san," she said softly.
"Hinata-sama," was his choked reply as a single tear fell down his pale face.
A/N: YAY REUNION! Okay well anyway Happy thanksgiving to everyone! And I would be very THANKFUL for some reviews!