A/N: HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Sorry I didn't update sooner but I have had finals and now that they are over I'm free! At least for a little while…
Disclaimer: TT
Chapter 23
"GAARA!" Temari yelled as she ran into his office giggling as Hinata skidded behind her also smiling.
"What?" the Kazekage asked his eyes flicking toward them before going back to his paperwork.
"Um I was wondering," Temari began, as Hinata's smile immediately fell from her face.
"Yes?" Gaara asked.
"Can we go on a vacation?" Temari tried.
Hinata looked away and down at the floor while Gaara slowly looked up, giving Temari a quizzical look.
"We just were wondering if we could go on a vacation to snow country," Temari continued.
"Okay," Gaara said, going back to his paper work.
"Really!" Temari cried excitedly, shaking Hinata's shoulder until the Hyuuga was smiling to.
"Yes you and Kankurou go right on ahead." Gaara said absentmindedly.
Hinata's smile faded and she turned away from the two siblings before disappearing down the hall. Temari glanced back behind her before turning back to her younger brother.
"Gaara that's not what I meant," Temari said.
"Then what did you mean?" Gaara asked, not paying actual attention.
"Well I wanted Hinata to come to," Temari continued.
"No," Gaara said automatically.
"Demo…why?" Temari asked a little desperate.
"I can't risk her again, if you were to go on a vacation I wouldn't be able to protect her." Gaara said simply placing his completed paperwork in a pile.
"Me and Kankurou can protect her. She's homesick and at this time of year there is snow in Konoha. It would really mean a lot to her and besides we wanted you to come to!" Temari begged.
"No, I'm sorry Temari my answer is no and there will be no more discussion about it." Gaara said, tuning out the last part if her statement.
Temari glared at her brother before storming out of Gaara's office. She accidentally ran into Kankurou who shivered as she wished a thousand deaths upon him.
"What crawled up you ass and died?" Kankurou asked.
"We can't go to snow country," Temari huffed.
"Why?" Kankurou asked, again.
"Because Gaara's a hard ass," Temari spat.
"We can't go to snow country, so what?" Kankurou said draping his arm across his sister's shoulders and leading her toward the stairs. "We can still get ready for Christmas and Hinata's birthday here."
"I guess your right," Temari grumbled as the two siblings went around shopping.
For the rest of the week tensions ran high, Temari being hostile towards Gaara who was hostile towards Kankurou who was hostile to Hinata who was just plain confused. But the four roamed Suna avoiding and ignoring each other. In the middle of the night on the last day of the week Hinata found that she couldn't sleep, not for lack of trying but because of a loud nuisance now living in her head.
'Hina-chan,' it rumbled.
"What is it, Neko-San?" Hinata mumbled stifling a yawn and rolling over in the bed.
'Are you sleepy?' it teased, its sly voice making Hinata shiver.
"You know that I am and I would be asleep already…if only you would leave me be," Hinata replied a little irritated.
'Come now, you wouldn't be getting testy would you? I only wanted you to keep me company, it gets so lonely at night.' The voice whined, pitifully.
Hinata sighed and sat up. Living with a demon inside of her hadn't really changed anything at all the only different thing was there would be the restless moments like this and the only way to soothe the savage beast was with a nice long walk and the white light of the glowing moon. As quietly as she could Hinata snuck out of her room and was soon standing outside the tower pulling on a heavy coat to keep the chill of the desert away. Her feet moved slowly at first but picked up speed. The sooner the walk was over the sooner she could finally rest her eyes and sleep.
'Do you know my true motives?' the demon questioned.
"No!" Hinata said, her pale arms crossing in front of herself to brace the rest of her body. "I only thought this was a simple walk and that afterward I would be rid of you for the night."
'You will have to go back soon,' it said, taking on a gentler, more sincere tone.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
'Konoha is your home isn't it?' the demon asked. 'If I am not mistaken you will be going back there soon.'
"Yes I suppose so, but I miss Konoha, so there will be no problem," Hinata said firmly, reassuring herself more then the demon.
'But you will also miss this place,' the demon said sagely.
Hinata stopped in her tracks and lifted her head to the sky eyes closed and her arms spread wide like an eagles wings.
"Of course," She whispered her voice catching on a slight breeze that blew by.
'You will miss the Shukaku boy more then anything, yes?' the voice asked, sadly.
"Yes I will miss Gaara- san," Hinata said, beginning to walk again. "But I was only supposed to be here for training and besides me and Gaara aren't that close."
'You lie' the demon chuckled.
"Do not!" Hinata insisted.
'You do and you know as well as I that you will miss the boy.' The voice said irritably.
"I never denied THAT," Hinata said only slightly defensive, her mind on other things.
'He upset you today,' the voice commented. 'Why?'
"Because he didn't want to go on a vacation with us," Hinata sighed, turning back to the tower.
'Why does that bother you so?' the voice asked puzzled.
"Gaara-sama has never seen snow before, and as you know I will be leaving in about another month or so." Hinata said sadly. "I just thought we could share his first experience with snow as a good bye gift."
Loud rumbling laughter soon filled Hinata's head. She tried to ignore it by looking ahead at the tower but soon the sound grew to the point where Hinata couldn't stand it anymore.
"What's so funny?" Hinata finally asked.
'Nothing, nothing.' The demon reassured. 'However I am still not satisfied, sit on the roof of the tower and talk to me about your family and friends back in Konoha.'
"But!" Hinata opened her mouth to complain, only to shut it again knowing she wouldn't win. "Fine but only for a little while, I'm so tired I think I'll pass out."
Gaara sat in his office staring at the picture of him, Matsuri and Hinata in the tree. His mind was almost utterly blank.
'Someone is in our spot.' Shukaku interjected through Gaara's bliss.
"What are you talking about?" Gaara asked standing from his desk and pushing his chair in.
'Someone is in our spot on the roof,' Shukaku repeated.
"Who?" Gaara asked curiously, his eyes drawn to the clock on his wall which red one a.m.
'I don't know,' Shukaku lied.
"You're a bad liar," Gaara murmured, as he exited his office and walked down the deserted hall.
'So are you.' Shukaku countered. 'You have feelings for the Hyuuga.'
"No I do not," Gaara insisted.
'See? Bad liar,' Shukaku teased.
"My feelings for Hinata-san are strictly friendly and professional." Gaara defended.
'Yes chasing her around the country and more is only friendly and professional,' Shukaku said sarcastically. 'I may be old and a demon but I have seen tougher men fall for a pretty face.'
"Oh shut up will you?" Gaara snapped.
'Fine fine, I just think you should check it out.' Shukaku said.
"If it will shut you up." Gaara grumbled making his way to the roof.
When he reached his spot he was surprised to see Hinata sitting there her head propped on her arms, which were crossed over her knees. She still hadn't seen him so he decided to wait and watch.
'So tell me more about your teammates,' a mysterious voice echoed inside his head, surprising Gaara.
"Well, there's Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, Akamaru-kun, and my sensei Kurenai." Hinata said out loud into the frostbitten air.
'Four teammates? The leaf must be in desperate need of Shinobi.' The voice commented.
"Oh no, not at all. I only really have three teammates, but Akamaru-kun is Kiba-kun's partner." Hinata said.
'So this dog has served you well?' the voice asked.
"Quite," Hinata said. "Wait, when did I tell you Akamaru was a dog?"
'Lets just call it a good guess.' The voice answered, amused.
"Um okay." Hinata said. "I am the heiress to the Hyuuga clan."
'Naturally,' the voice answered.
"My mother died when I was five while giving birth to my younger sister Hanabi." Hinata said forlornly.
'Do you hate your younger sister for taking your mother?' the voice asked.
Hinata paused, and the only sound heard was the chirping of bugs in the distance. Gaara's eyes widened, he had never imagined Hinata hating anyone, and if she was able to hate her own sibling who had done nothing to harm her he wondered what she really thought of him.
'Did you think that there are people who do not hate?' Shukaku asked Gaara. 'If so then you are more stupid then I originally thought, there is no such thing as pure love, there is always hate.'
"NO! I don't hate Hanabi!" Hinata cried standing and holding her head. "I have taken care of her like she was my own daughter and I have always loved her. I hate no one, not my father, not my cousin not my sister, no one!"
'Calm down, sit back and take deep breaths.' The other voice interjected and soothed Hinata's foul temper.
"I'm sorry," Hinata apologized sitting back down.
'It's ok now tell mw about this other boy Naruto,' the voice asked, turning Hinata's cheeks a slight pink.
Gaara began to climb back down into the tower; he didn't want to hear about Naruto or how much she loved him. However he was stopped when he heard the other voice begin talking again.
'You know you do not love him.' The voice said.
Slowly and carefully got back into a position where he could here Hinata again. The pale girl was rocking back and forth with a stunned expression on her face.
"T-that's not true," she stuttered out. "I've liked Naruto for as long as I can remember."
'It is apparent that I have much to teach you.' The voice chuckled. 'Male animals, especially foxes like to secure a mate. So they….' But Hinata cut off the voice.
"Okay! Okay! I get it!" Hinata cried her face burning bright red. "What is the point?"
'Well my point is that the nine tailed fox affected you with a hormone so you would be attracted to his vessel. I'm guessing he's targeting you because you have a bloodline trait.' The voice said.
Gaara felt his stomach flip but he decided to ignore it and continue to watch. Hinata stared into the sky before opening her mouth.
"So you mean, this whole time I never really liked Naruto of my own free will?" Hinata asked.
'Well even though the nine tailed fox gives off a massive amount of hormones nothing would be able to make you this infatuated with the boy so you at least had to have admired him before.' The voice helped.
"Oh," Hinata said, staying quiet.
'Your feelings for HIM are all real,' the voice finally said.
Hinata seemed to brighten and she stood. She stretched her arms out and yawned before looking up at the moon.
'Don't worry you may rest now.' The voice said again.
"Well thank you," Hinata said about to walk toward Gaara's hiding place.
'Do you still wish to go on vacation with the Kazekage?' it asked, making her stop in her tracks.
"Of course," Hinata said, her face falling a little bit. "But if he doesn't want to then I won't complain."
As Hinata was distracted Gaara disappeared back into the tower before going to his room to think.
The next morning as the sun barely made it way up over the cliffs surrounding Suna, Temari was awakened by a maid rushing into her room.
"Please wake up Temari-san!" she squeaked pulling open draws and opening doors.
"What's going on?" Temari asked, groggily.
"You need to pack!" the maid continued, ignoring the blonde woman.
"Pack? For what?" Temari asked a little more alert.
"Hurry hurry hurry!" the maid continued shoving clothes and Temari's other possessions in the bags.
Temari rolled her eyes and jumped out of bed, hoping to find someone to explain what was going on. She walked down the halls in her dark purple pajamas until she came upon an equally confused Hinata.
"I don't suppose you know what's going," Temari said, receiving a no in return.
Temari looked at Hinata and found she was more disheveled then herself. Her hair hung in small knots around her pale and tired face. She wore long tan pajamas that went passed both her hands and feet, with the Hyuuga clan symbol sewed onto the hem of the shirt. In her arms she clutched a purple bird with white glassy eyes, and every other minute Hinata would yawn and then rub tears from her eyes. Temari giggled, and caught Hinata's attention.
"What?" Hinata said yawning.
"You just look so funny," Temari said giggling again but she was cut off by a loud shout.
Hinata and Temari looked at each other before both sprinting down the hall toward the cries. When they got there both girls stopped, Hinata's face turned bright cherry red and she covered her eyes. Temari only raised an eyebrow at the sight. There stood Kankurou banging on his door and screaming…in only his boxers.
"Kankurou what are you doing?" Temari asked, ceasing her brother's cries.
"I woke up this morning to a creepy maid staring at me and then she started screaming as if I walked in on her, then she kicked me out without giving me a chance to change." Kankurou said facing Temari. "What's up with Hinata?" He asked noticing the blushing girl covering her eyes and resting her head on the wall.
"Hmm well I don't know, maybe it's because she has fallen madly in love with you," Temari said sarcastically, earning a confused look from Kankurou and a squeak of protest from Hinata. "Or maybe it could be that she doesn't want to see all that." Temari said waving her hand at Kankurou.
He looked down and smiled, before slowly sneaking up to Hinata. Temari watched amused as he began to poke her. Hinata squeaked and tried to get away from Kankurou only succeeding in bumping into walls and boxing herself in. Temari watched for a few more minutes before yelling at Kankurou.
"Enough! We have to find Gaara, come on guys." Temari said leading the way, Kankurou following close behind and Hinata running into walls. "Hinata! Uncover your eyes!"
"No!" Hinata said shakily.
"Come on Hinata, I know I'm sexy but you don't have to be embarrassed. Other girls have looked." Kankurou said.
"I'm not interested in you or your body!" Hinata cried out her hands falling from her face and clenching at her sides.
She realized she was no longer protecting her purity so with a small eep she covered her eyes once again.
"You won't open your eyes?" Temari asked, and Hinata nodded. "You're sure?" Hinata nodded again. "Alright I have an idea, wait here!" and with that Temari was gone.
A few minutes she returned with what Hinata could only assume was clothing and tried to get Kankurou to wear it. He out right refused.
"Just put it on! Temari said.
"No!" Kankurou cried.
"I said put…it…on!" Temari said as she grabbed hold of Kankurou and tried to force him into the clothing.
"No! Hinata save me!" Kankurou whimpered as he dashed behind the blinded Hyuuga.
"Please Kankurou-san, get dressed," Hinata begged.
"But Hinata!" Kankurou whined.
"Um how about I'll give you a kiss if you do?" Hinata offered still hiding behind her hands.
"Deal," Kankurou answered immediately.
"Alright he has it on, Hinata you can open your eyes now." Temari said stifling a giggle.
Slowly Hinata removed her hands and came face to face with Kankurou wearing a large pink fuzzy bathrobe.
"Oh my…where did you get that?" Hinata said, trying to suppress her own giggles.
"Who cares, can we just go?" Temari whined.
"Yeah, lets go." Hinata said following her.
"Hey! What about my kiss Hinata?" Kankurou said, catching up to the Hyuuga.
"Oh right!" Hinata said, before reaching into her pants pocket and pulling out a small chocolate kiss. "My cousin sent me some along with a Christmas and birthday present. You're lucky it's my last one!" She said, dropping it in his hand and skipping ahead to catch up with Temari.
"Of course," Kankurou said, giving the kiss to a maid that was walking by.
When they got outside Hinata began to shiver, the sun hadn't even raised enough to warm the city. They glanced around and only saw a few people milling about going along with their own business and ignoring the three teens. No signs of mass panic or any other reason they would need to pack.
"What is going on?" Temari whispered to herself.
"I don't know but whatever it is, can we find out inside? If the Chicks see me like this I'm ruined!" Kankurou cried trying to conceal himself behind Hinata.
They were about to turn around and go back in the building when a cold voice stopped them.
"Where did you get that atrocious robe Kankurou?" Gaara asked, almost growling at the vibrant pink clothing that covered his brother.
"Oh Gaara! Thank God!" Temari said approaching her younger brother. "You won't believe it! Maids came into our room threw us out and began to pack our belongings in a bag!"
"So?" Gaara asked.
"So! Why are they doing it!?" Temari freaked.
"Well you all need to be packed in an hour so I thought you would need help." Gaara stated.
"Why do we need to pack!?" Temari cried frustrated.
"For our vacation to snow country of course. So hurry." Gaara said turning away.
"Really!" Temari squealed.
"No way!" Kankurou exclaimed.
Hinata watched as the two older sand ninja danced around and Gaara kept his back turned to them. Slowly he turned to look at her with what seemed to be a nervous expression. She smiled warmly before bowing low.
"Arigotou Gaara-sama." She said her voice so small she thought that maybe he didn't hear it.
However when she stood up she saw a small smirk on his face and she knew that he did. Quickly she dragged Temari and Kankurou into the tower and soon they were on their way. It was a long and uneventful trip Snow Country but as they got closer the sand siblings who decided stay in their normal clothes began to change. As they reached the border Hinata looked back at her companions. Kankurou was dressed in a heavy black coat and a long black scarf and his kitty hood. Temari was in a long light purple jacket with a light purple ski hat over two of her four ponytails. Finally she looked at Gaara and had to suppress a laugh. He was in a long light brown coat that reached below his knees with boots that covered the rest of his legs. His hands were shoved in his pockets and another light brown wool scarf was wrapped around his neck and ended beneath his bright red nose. It looked as if he had tried to cover his head but his unruly red hair stuck straight up and made a bright contrast to the snow below their feet. His aquamarine eyes glaring at the snow.
"Oh Gaara-sama, if you dislike this weather we can go back." Hinata said worriedly.
He only shook his head and everything was silent until they reached town.
"It's so…" Hinata began breathless.
"Cold?" Kankurou suggested.
"No, it's so…" Hinata began again.
"White?" Kankurou interjected again and getting smacked by Temari.
"Beautiful." Both girls said in unison.
"I don't see what's so great about frozen water." Kankurou said honestly. "I only came here for the sake of a vacation and babes!"
Hinata was about to open her mouth and contradict Kankurou when a snowball crashed into his head. Her eyes widened and she was also hit with a snowball. They both turned to see Temari laughing and standing next to a confused Gaara.
"Oh yeah?" Kankurou challenged. "Take this Temari!"
Temari yelped and ducked behind Gaara just in time as the snowball Kankurou had thrown smacked Gaara in the face. Everything grew silent until Gaara's eyes narrowed in rage and he slid his hands from his pockets.
"Now Gaara…I didn't mean to hit you! I was aiming for Temari and then she ducked behind you and…" Kankurou spluttered but was cut off by a face full of snow.
"Good one little brother!" Temari laughed before having her own demise with one of Gaara's snowballs.
Hinata looked around and noticed a few people gathering to watch but she didn't care. She just jogged over to Gaara.
"Come on Gaara-sama," Hinata said pulling on his frozen hand with her own gloved ones. "I call you for my team!"
"No fair!" Kankurou cried. "It should be boys vs. Girls!"
"Why?" Temari asked. "Cause you know we'll beat you?"
"No you won't beat us!" and then the argument ensued.
However it didn't last long before both siblings were pelted by another vicious snowball.
"Gaara! Enough already!" Temari said wiping it from her eyes.
"Yeah we were talking strategy!" Kankurou said shaking his face to rid himself of the snow.
"Don't blame me I wasn't the one who threw it." Gaara stated.
"What?" the other two said in unison before both getting pelted again.
"It was me," Hinata said as they began to rub off the snow. "This is a snowball fight, there is no strategy, it's kill or be killed, and we are winning."
Temari and Kankurou looked at each other, then back at the two younger teens.
"Oh…YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" Kankurou cried before scooping up some snow along with Temari.
Hinata giggled, grabbed Gaara's hand and ran as the snowball war began. It ended about an hour after, with Gaara and Hinata the proud victors while both Temari and Kankurou were bushed.
"What the heck guys?" Kankurou panted, as he lay sprawled on the ground.
"I mean I get why Gaara had so much stamina but Hinata, what was that?" Temari asked impressed.
Hinata blushed and giggled before helping both of the older ones up and heading to an inn to check in.
"I already booked a hotel." Gaara said, muffled through his scarf.
"Thanks bro!" Kankurou yelled as he began to run up to the pricey hotel his brother had pointed out to them.
"Yeah thanks Gaara!" Temari cried running to catch up with Kankurou.
"Oh we better hurry to! We're soaked!" Hinata said dragging Gaara behind her as she made a run for the hotel.
They met in the large wreck room in between their rooms and sat with towels draped over their heads.
"That was fun," Hinata commented, rubbing her head vigorously with the towel. "Demo I want to go see some shops, will you come with me Temari-chan?"
"Of course!" Temari said throwing her towel at Kankurou's face.
And without another word both girls were gone and before Gaara could blink Kankurou was pulling on his own snow clothes.
"These aren't quite dry yet, but I'll chance it." Kankurou mumbled to himself.
"Where are you going?" Gaara asked, his tone matching the frigid air outside.
"To pick up some babes," Kankurou said opening the door.
"And what makes you think they'll go anywhere near you?" Gaara asked.
"Because I am a golden Adonis!" Kankurou cried before slamming the door behind him.
Gaara rolled his eyes but remained in his chair for a few more minutes until he was sure no one would be near the hotel. He got to his feet and a wave of nausea hit him, luckily his reaction time was good and he emptied his breakfast into the closest toilet. After he cleaned up he looked at himself in the mirror, he looked normal. But on the inside his sides hurt and his head was pounding, he had no idea what was going on. Without a second thought he pulled on his own wet snow clothes and went out, in search of a present for Hinata.
A/N: Um yeah, this chapter may not be formatted like my others, my dad got a new girlfriend and she decided to give me 'constructive criticism'. Basically she rewrote half the chapter, luckily I was able scavenge some of it while they weren't looking. Sorry if it's stupid! Please Read and Review!