A/N: Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: Don't I wish
Chapter 24
The bell tinkled above the door as Hinata and Temari burst into the shop giggling.
"So what do you have left to buy?" Temari asked, inspecting a magazine on a rack near the door.
"Just one gift," Hinata said sorting through a bunch of jackets.
"Gaara?" Temari asked knowingly.
"Y-yeah," Hinata stuttered, blushing a bit.
"Here I'll help," Temari said walking over to the younger girl. "A jacket? Are you kidding? Gaara could have one hand made, he doesn't need another."
"I know," Hinata gushed. "I want to get him something special, I just don't know what."
"Hmm, maybe a locket?" Temari teased as they moved over to the jewelry. "Or an engagement ring."
Hinata gave her an exasperated look as she continued to search the store. Temari followed her rolling her eyes at certain gifts and laughing at others. After the first store they continued to search the shops along the street, and still nothing seemed to be good enough for the Kazekage. Finally they stopped outside a jewelry store and Hinata gasped.
"Hinata when I mentioned jewelry I was kidding, Gaara would never wear it." Temari said trying to convince her friend to stay out of the shop.
But the Hyuuga ignored her and dashed into the shop, giving Temari no choice but to follow her. The shop seemed to be classy, diamonds and other precious stones shone in the dim lights of the store. A young man sat behind the counter, but as the two girls entered his back straightened and a charming smile found a way onto his face.
"Why hello! How may I help you two lovely ladies?" He said in a pushy salesman voice.
Hinata ignored him and ran over to one of the display cases, gently outlining the item inside with her fingertips. Temari glanced at the boy, shrugged and followed Hinata, to look at the item.
"No don't look!" Hinata said spreading her arms to hide the display case. "I want it to be a surprise, for all of you!"
"Oh Hinata!" Temari said exasperated.
"Just go on ahead of me, I'll catch up." Hinata said, not budging.
"What ever," Temari scoffed, turning and leaving the shop.
Gaara dragged his feet through the snow, as he searched for the one thing that would supply the gift he needed. He sneezed and his head pounded viciously.
'This weather isn't good for us,' Shukaku's voice echoed in his head, as if he wasn't all there.
"Shut up," Gaara said, sniffing and shoving his gloved hands in his warm wool pockets.
The girls along the street giggled and pointed as he passed by, but he took no notice. Instead he felt hopeful as his destination was finally in sight. Without even realizing it, he began to run, attracting even more stares, the bell of the shop door rang loudly in his hypersensitive ears as he slammed the door open.
"Hello, may I help you?" the old woman behind the desk asked.
"Kittens…where?" Gaara asked, stifling another sneeze.
"Back corner…are you all right sir?" she proceeded to ask.
Gaara shook his head and headed to the back corner where the kittens were located. However as he neared the small pen all the kittens made a mad rush to the other end of the box, cowering away from Gaara. He knew it would happen, but he stuck his hand in the box and held it palm up, waiting for one to approach him. It took a long while but finally two small felines wondered out of the corners. One a sandy blonde that treated Gaara like an intruder, hissing and spitting, the other a small white cat that walked out hesitantly. It watched his hand, and Gaara wiggled his fingers to watch her reaction, and the cat jumped. He smirked, and held his hand still again. The old woman came from behind the counter and stood next to Gaara as the white kitten rubbed against his hand. Gently he lifted the cat out of the pen and held it up for inspection.
He turned it this way and that, checking it's paws and tail. It snuggled against his hand a let out a soft purr. Gaara dropped it back in the pen shocked. The cat landed with a small meow of pain, and it backed away again.
"Aww, she was just purring." The old woman said.
He slowly put his hand back in the box and waited, hoping for another cat to approach. To his shock the white cat came back touching his hand experimentally before climbing in it again.
"It seems that she still trusts you," the woman said.
Gaara's eyes darted back and forth between the hyper active sandy cat and the small white cat curled in his hand. Immediately knew which he would choose.
Hinata examined the two intertwined silver bracelets, as she walked through the pilling snow, she took her finger filled it with Chakra and touched one of the bracelets gently. It seemed to spring to life and twist protectively around her hand while it's twin grew warm to touch. She tested it with the other bracelet and it to reacted the same. It was perfect for Gaara and she placed it neatly back in the box where it belonged, before pressing it close to her and jogging through the streets. She saw someone coming and tried to avoid them but it was to late and she crashed into them sending both herself and said person to the ground.
"I am so sorry!" Hinata said trying to get up off the man she landed on.
"It's okay, not everyday I get knocked over by a girl as pretty as you." He commented sitting up. "Whoops you dropped this." He continued picking up the jewelry box from the snow.
"Thanks," she said, her hand shaking with numbness, as she grasped the box.
"It seems that your hand is numb," the boy said, Hinata now noticing his grass headband. "Let me warm it for you."
"Oh no, that's okay." Hinata stammered, getting to her feet.
"Really I insist, I am a medical ninja." And with that he grabbed her hand and sent warmth from his hands to hers and soon she could feel them again.
"Hey Hina!" Temari called running towards her, but stopping as she saw the boy. "Who's this?"
"I'm a medic ninja from grass my name is…" the boy began but was cut off as Temari pulled Hinata away from the boy.
"Sorry but we have to go, see ya!" Temari said, dragging a stunned Hinata away.
"No worries!" He called after them. "I'm staying just around the corner!" and with that the two girls were gone.
"Seiji that was retarded." One of his teammates said.
"Yeah I know," he replied, before turning to face his friends. "I just couldn't help it."
The Kazekage walked through the streets focused on a single destination, the small white cat purring curled in his arms. In fact he was so determined to get to his destination in one piece he almost stepped on the small creature buried in the snow. His feet only stopped moving when he felt vomit well in his throat and he stood waiting for it to pass with one hand pressed to his mouth the other holding the kitten tightly to his chest. Aquamarine eyes swirled in their sockets, before resting on the shivering lump in the snow. His brow furrowed and he bent down before digging through the snow with his gloved hand, there he found another cat this one a light orange. It stared at him with hazy blue eyes and it's mouth opened in a silent plea for help. Gaara looked at the white kitten then looked at the other and sighed as he picked up both and continued back to the inn. When he got there he opened the door and was met with Hinata and his siblings passing around presents.
"Welcome back Gaara-sama," Hinata said, stacking her presents neatly.
"We decided to open presents early so we could just hang out tomorrow and leave on Hinata's birthday. " Temari said, slowly opening one of her presents.
Kankurou tore into his presents completely ignoring his younger brother. Hinata shook her head and slowly opened her presents being sure to thank them, Temari for her new jacket and pants, and Kankurou for a pair of fuzzy handcuffs that had a small note attached.
"Lets play cops and robbers? Kankurou that's disgusting!" Temari cried throwing them at her brother's head, while he just chuckled, perversely.
Hinata stood from her spot on the couch and approached Gaara slowly, hiding the small box behind her back. When she stopped in front of the Kazekage she held out the gift.
"Merry Christmas Gaara-sama!" she said, holding it out for him to receive.
But the redhead just stood there, eyes glazed over. Hinata's head fell, upset that maybe her present wasn't worthwhile.
"I'm sorry, Gaara-sama," Hinata said taking back her present, tears stinging her eyes.
However she saw the Youngman's knees buckle and he began to fall his unconscious body fell onto Hinata who caught him.
"Gaara-sama!" Hinata cried as Temari and Kankurou came to assist Hinata, none of them noticing the two kittens that circled their feet. "Gaara-sama!'
But he didn't answer; they brought him to his bedroom for closer inspection. Hinata laid her hand on his forehead before quickly removing it like it was scorched against his fevered head.
"Gaara-sama is sick!" Hinata stated. "He needs a doctor!"
"Maybe you're right," Temari said worriedly but didn't get to say anything else before Hinata disappeared out the door.
She dashed through the snowy streets as the words of the Medic ninja from earlier raced through her head. As she made it back to the place where they met she glanced around and found the closest inn and ran.
'Gaara-sama's sick and it's all my fault!' Hinata screamed at herself climbing up to the room the innkeeper had told her about.
She pounded on the door over and over not even caring if she was disturbing anyone. The door opened and a different boy stood in front of her, a glare permanent on his face.
"What do you want?" he snapped.
"I'm sorry but is there a medical ninja that resides here?" Hinata asked frantic.
"Yeah? What business is it of yours?" The boy asked.
"Hey who is that, Rio?" another male voice asked from the inside.
"No one, mind your own business!" Rio said from the door.
But the other boy didn't listen and came to the door to pry it open. He looked shocked to see her before grinning.
"Hey, Tachibana! Your ploy worked!" the new boy called into the back.
"What are you two…hi," the medic ninja said, showing up at the door and seeing Hinata.
Without another thought she reached out and grabbed the boys hand before pulling him out the door and down the stairs. He kept with her pace but continued to let her lead even though his mind was brimming with questions that his lips couldn't move quick enough to ask them all.
"I need your help!" Hinata said, continuing to drag the boy behind her. "One of my friends is terribly ill. Please help me!"
"Why didn't you say so!" he cried as they sped up.
When they reached their rooms at the inn Hinata showed him to Gaara. He seemed surprised for a minute before setting to work. Hinata paced with Temari and Kankurou while they waited for the verdict. About an hour after he came the medic ninja left the room and came to talk with them.
"He has ammonia. It's extremely bad but it seems it has already begun to fade so that's good. And his little friend should be okay to." He said with a warm smile. "If you ever need me feel free to ask."
"Oh thank you! Thank you so much!" Hinata cried hugging him. "How can I ever repay you?"
"That's not necessary," he assured. "By the way my name is Tachibana."
"Well thank you, Tachibana-san." Hinata said bowing.
"No problem, um?" Tachibana waited.
"Hinata, Hinata Hyuuga," Hinata said.
"It was great meeting you Hyuuga-sama," Tachibana replied, bowing and using all his manners ever learned.
"You to, good bye" and with that the boy disappeared out the door.
"Can I go in and see Gaara?" Hinata asked, receiving a nod from both siblings.
She quietly opened the door and leaned in, looking around before going all the way in.
"Gaara?" she said timidly. "Gaara?" She asked again kneeling next to the bed.
"Hin…ata," he mumbled out turning his head to see her.
"I'm so sorry," she began a tear sliding down her cheek. "This is all my fault…"
"Shhh," Gaara interjected. "Merry Christmas. Thank you." He said, giving her his only words of gratitude.
"Why? Do you like my dumb present?" Hinata asked, her voice still shaky.
Gaara nodded slowly making Hinata laugh. A small Meow reached her ears and everything was silenced.
"What was that?" Hinata asked.
"Kitten," Gaara breathed.
"A kitten? Why?" Hinata asked curios.
"Merry Christmas." Gaara said, just as the white kitten appeared climbing on top of Gaara's Chest.
"It's so cute!" Hinata gasped. "What's its name?"
Gaara shrugged and watched amused as the kitten slid down his side while searching for a safe passage to Hinata.
"Well then I'm gonna name her Yuki, is that okay?" Hinata asked, and Gaara nodded in response.
She began to play with Yuki when she saw the sick ginger cat lying next to Gaara and her expression became worried.
"Aww, who is this?" she asked stroking the orange cat lightly.
"Stray, you name it, Happy Birthday." Gaara said weakly.
"All right then," Hinata said, looking hard at the sickly kitten. "You will be Kazuma."
The kitten seemed to rub against Hinata's fingers at the mention of the name. She gently played with them here and there, until she finally looked up at Gaara.
"Thank you, Gaara-kun," Hinata said, letting herself slip this once in front of the Kazekage.
"Merry Christmas, Hinata-chan," Gaara said, returning the favor as he recovered from his sickness.
A/N: Another end to another crappy chapter, but still please review. I get so many hits in yet so little reviews, but I thank everyone who has even bothered to read this story and again HAPPY NEW YEAR!