A/N: Okay there is very little fighting in this chapter but there is some fighting none the less. A lot of people are going to hate me for this chapter, because unfortunately the end result will follow the story line of Shippuden for now. So warning an um…big spoiler? Oh well if you don't want anything to get spoiled for you I'll write where the spoiler is.
Disclaimer: TT
Chapter: 48
"Gaara-kun." Hinata whispered, caressing his pale face with her shaky hands.
His chest rose and fell slowly so Hinata knew he was still alive. She pressed her cool hands to his unusually warm forehead trying to get him to open his eyes.
'Something's wrong here.' The demon in her head said softly.
"Like what?" Hinata asked her voice quiet but her eyes still on the unconscious Kazekage.
'Turn on your Byakugan and take a look.' The demon said simply.
Hinata did as she was told and gasped at the unusual sight before her. Strange chakra symbols surrounded them, and long thin streams of chakra came from the end of two large symbols and ended in Gaara's abdomen. There more lines of chakra were appearing and going straight to the ceiling feeding a large red symbol. Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"What is that?" Hinata asked quietly.
'It's a sealing symbol.' The demon hissed in anger.
"What are they sealing?" she asked quietly.
'Look out!' the demon warned.
Hinata looked down and saw more of the blue chakra streams making their way towards her. She let out a small scream before jumping out of the circle of symbols. Her gaze flickered over to Gaara whose head had hit the ground hard after she jumped away.
"Gomen Gaara-kun!" she cried as she ran foreword and kneeled next to him. "He's not waking up, what's wrong with him?" she said her voice depressed.
'I'm guessing the reason why he isn't waking up is because of those chakra strings.' The demon put in helpfully.
Hinata nodded before getting to her feet and lifting Gaara before jumping out of the circle and laying him back on the ground. She unzipped her scorched jacket and put it under his head while she kneeled by him and grasped his hand.
"Gaara-kun wake up." She said her Byakugan searching for any damage done to him. "Onegai, wake up."
Gaara remained motionless and his eyes stayed closed, Hinata remembered reading an old story when she was younger. The book was called Sleeping Beauty. At first she wondered why she remembered such an old story, but couldn't help her face from flushing as soon as she remembered the part of the book where the princess was asleep and would not awaken until given true loves kiss.
"Gomen Gaara-kun." She squeaked out as she leaned closer to his face. "Demo, it was in the story and I don't know what to do."
'But wasn't it TRUE LOVE's kiss?' the demon teased, making her flush even more.
"H-hai," Hinata admitted, before leaning closer.
Their mouths were only a few centimeters from each other, her white eyes focused solely on his pale lips. Preparing to take the plunge Hinata almost screamed as she saw his mouth open and a single word was uttered.
"Hinata?"
She looked up and gasped as a smile twisted its way across her face. However her eyes narrowed in worry as she glanced into his eyes. They were dull and lifeless, a mere echo of what they once were. However she couldn't stay upset as she saw a weak smile on Gaara's face as he laid his eyes on her.
"You came." He said weakly.
"Of course I came silly." Hinata said, sniffling as tears of joy gathered in her eyes. "I…I…I care about you."
"I didn't want you to come." He said turning his head away from her.
"Why?" Hinata asked astonished. "The world couldn't stop me."
"You…you got hurt." His voice held a pang of sadness as he gently touched the two small cuts on the edge of her mouth with the pads of his fingertips.
"Stop," she said gently taking his hand. "That's not important, what's important is that you're okay."
"And that you're okay." Gaara said.
"And that we're together." She said bashfully.
"That's most important." He piped in squeezing her hand.
Hinata blushed but her face contorted in worry again as Gaara groaned and writhed in pain. She leaned over him watching his insides carefully. One of his lungs was punctured and his heart shuddered, she gasped before beginning a healing jutsu.
"Stop Hinata!" he croaked. "It hurts."
"Gomen Gaara-kun demo it will be better soon!" Hinata said softly as she continued to heal him.
Just like he said the wounds became worse and Hinata couldn't help letting a tear slide down her cheek.
"Why?" Hinata said as another tear fell. "Why isn't it working!?"
"Poor poor Hinata-chan." A deep voiced echoed from the shadows.
The Hyuuga turned and glared into the darkness.
"Doesn't know what to do." The voice mocked, now coming from behind her.
She whipped around and there was still nothing there. Then she saw the figure standing behind her thanks to her Byakugan. The leader stood behind her, he raised his hand and brushed the back of her neck making her shudder stand and whip around.
"She doesn't know who to turn to." He continued as if she wasn't there. "But I know how to help her."
"You know how to heal Gaara?" Hinata asked skeptically.
"Hai, I do." He answered simply. "Without my help...he'll die."
Hinata gasped and was about to accept his help when Gaara spoke up, and caught her attention.
"NO!" he shouted, his chest rumbling as blood began to gather there. "It's a trap Hinata! Don't do it!"
"Demo Gaara-kun you'll die!" Hinata whimpered helplessly.
"He can't save me Hinata!" Gaara said. "Don't let him trick you."
"Poor poor Hinata-chan." The leader said again, his voice wistful. "About to loose everything."
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.
"You have no family." He said gauging her reactions. "Your friends are too busy for you and have gone off to do their own thing. Your father has a brain tumor and will leave the Hyuuga clan virtually heirless."
"What!?" Hinata cried. "You're lying!"
"I wish I was." He said before holding out a paper butterfly. "Konan-san has been observing your village for a long time."
Hinata fell to her knees utterly defeated. Her white eyes looked into his mysterious ones as he continued on.
"And now the love of your life is dying." He said softly.
Hinata glanced behind her at Gaara to see him breathing hard a few specks of blood staining his lips. However before she turned back around to look at the leader he had embraced her.
"W-what are you doing?" she asked astounded while struggling against his grip.
She looked up into his face; her fear grew as she saw the multiple piercings shining in the dim light his dark red hair brushed her forehead making her lean as far back as the position on her knees would allow.
"I'm giving you a chance Hinata-chan." He said. "I'm offering you a family. I'm giving you a future with the man you love."
Hinata looked at him hopefully as he stood and pulled out her headband. She gasped and grabbed at her neck realizing that he had taken it from her when he had touched her earlier. Then he grabbed a kunai having the tip hover close to the metal part.
"All you have to do." The leader began. "Is cut your ties to Konoha and all that I have promised will come to pass."
"Please Hinata don't…" Gaara said weakly.
The Hyuuga shook her head to clear it before she lunged at the older man catching him off guard. She ripped the headband from his hands and backed up towards Gaara. The leader smirked but Hinata slipped into a defensive stance.
"I won't stop you from leaving." He said. "I will see you soon Hinata-san," he bowed before turning away from her.
"Not as soon as you think!" Hinata bit back.
"Hai, demo, sooner then you think." He grinned before disappearing into the dark, his deep laugh echoing around the chamber.
She examined the kunai carefully, it seemed normal except for the grip, it was covered in sutras. Slowly she brought the blade to her palm and attempted to cut her skin. However nothing happened as she dragged it across her flesh. Confused she poked the fleshy part of her palm and a long red line appeared on her skin. Poking it once more the line split open, earning a pained gasp from her and blood oozed out, before slowly making it's way down her arm. Patiently she waited for the demon to heal her. But her skin began to burn and the cut only worsened.
"What…? Why?" she winced.
'The sutra's.' her demon hissed.
Hinata lifted the kunai again but her demon yelled at her making her drop the knife in surprise.
'Don't! I won't be able to heal those wounds fool!' it cried.
Hinata spared a glance at Gaara's unconscious body and wept some more. Slowly the tears stopped and she was able to regain her composure. He wasn't dead yet. There was still hope. She ripped the bottom hem of her black training shirt and attempted to bandage her bleeding hand.
"What are you doing un?" a curious voice asked.
Hinata didn't look up but she also didn't hesitate to answer the blond young man.
"I'm wrapping my wound so I can take him back to Konoha." She said her voice venomous.
"Why not just take him back now un?" Deidara asked, approaching her.
"My unworthy hands will have to carry him back, but I refuse to stain him with my unworthy blood." Hinata said, her voice breaking off at the end.
"Demo, he's dead un." Deidara said, kneeling next to her. "I don't see the point un." He said nervously.
"Don't say that! He's not dead!" Hinata cried, glaring at him.
"Not yet at least un." Deidara input sarcastically.
Without hesitation Hinata punched Deidara as hard as she could in the face. The blonde looked back at her, the only reason why she was able to land a hit on him was because he wasn't expecting it. He touched the area underneath his nose and found blood, gently he poked the tip of it and winced, it was definitely broken.
"Something you learned from Sasu-chan huh un?" Deidara asked, trying to distract the girl from her current task.
Hinata didn't answer him and instead made sure the cloth was wrapped tightly around her hand and began to hoist Gaara up. Deidara saw her struggling and reached to help her, but she backed away from him.
"Don't touch him!" she cried, more tears making their way down her cheeks.
"Demo, Hina-hime, I'll help you burry him un." Deidara said.
"He's not going to be buried!" she screamed. "He's coming back to Konoha with me!"
"I'm sorry un," Deidara said, forming a small bird. "Neither of you will leave here."
The bird finally reached a decent size and he threw it at her before uttering the detonation word. However a blue sphere that revolved around the two ninja blew the explosion back.
"What the heck was that un?" Deidara asked puzzled as it dissipated to show Hinata standing there winded.
She ignored him and tried to lift Gaara again but Deidara was determined to blast them both into oblivion. He sent another bird this one bigger then the last, but Hinata still deflected it. The bombs continued to come at them and every time Hinata deflected the blast and was able to protect Gaara at least. Deidara stopped for a few moments to gather more clay while Hinata sat on the ground, her chest heaving and her breath coming in gasps.
'I'll never get us out of here.' She thought desperately as hopeless tears continued to fill her eyes.
She felt a strong surge in her chakra and she remembered the demon that lived inside her.
'Demon? Are you there?' Hinata asked in her mind.
'I am here Hinata.' It answered lazily.
'I need your help.' She admitted.
'Really?' it asked and Hinata could practically hear the malice in the demons booming voice. 'Why should I help you?'
'Because I need it…' Hinata tried, but when the demon didn't answer her she tried a different approach. 'And if I die then you die to.'
'Hm,' the demon thought. 'Then we shall save ourselves.'
'NO!' Hinata screamed in her mind. 'What about Gaara?'
'If I help you, you will owe me a favor.' The demon said.
'That's dirty!' Hinata said angry.
' Then I guess you don't need my help.' The demon said.
'No wait.' Hinata thought for a moment. 'I'll do it.' She thought desperately as Deidara began forming another bomb.
'You'll do anything I ask?' the demon prompted.
Hinata was silent for a moment as she watched in horror as Deidara's bomb began to grow.
'Hinata…time is running out.' The demon taunted.
'Alright!' Hinata cried mentally.
'Anything?' the demon tested.
'ANYTHING! ONEGAI! LEND ME YOUR POWER!' Hinata cried.
Deidara could have sworn that this last bomb would finish her. However she was able to perform the Kaiten, but this time, instead of the chakra being blue it was a deep red. The explosives expert looked on in awe as the explosion was not only deflected but blown back at him. He blocked it and waited for the dust to clear. Hinata stood glaring at him, Gaara was draped over her back his head fell forward onto her shoulder both of her arms tucked securely under his legs.
"What a surprise un." Deidara said shrugging, before throwing a medium sized bird at them again.
Her Byakugan activated and Hinata found a single spot on the bird. If she used her gentle fist on it all of Deidara's chakra would disappear from the bird, which would make it explode. However her demon who had more insight about explosions then her made one point on the bird stand out more then the others. The beak, trusting her demons instincts she used a gentle fist strike on the bird's beak and watched as all Deidara's chakra disappear from the bird and replaced with her chakra. Grabbing it she hurled it back at Deidara.
"Katsu." She tested the jutsu and sure enough the bird exploded.
Hinata used the upraised earth and dirt for cover as she leapt towards the ceiling, focusing chakra to her feet she began running across the ceiling, hands alternating, one always grasping onto Gaara while the other stuck paper bombs all around. When the dust cleared she had no choice but to go back to the ground, so Deidara didn't figure out her plan. She got close enough for her gentle fist to do some damage to him. Landing no more then three hits Hinata was knocked back and once again threatened with more bomb birds and she repeated the process over again. After about five times of the same process she backed into the wall.
"No where to run now, un." Deidara said as he created an overly large bird.
He hurled it at her and she simply ducked underneath it as he exploded the clay, using the Kaiten to shield Gaara and herself. The wall behind her blew open to reveal the devastating sunlight of midday, blinding both Hinata and Deidara. The Hyuuga recovered first and backed up towards the ledge, looking over her shoulder to see a river rushing below them. She turned and faced the hole before backing up a few paces.
"Like I'll let you go un!" Deidara said making another bird.
Hinata glanced over her shoulder and gave him an icy glare as her white eyes flicked red for a moment.
"You have no say in that decision." She said as she ran and jumped out of the hole.
Deidara was about to send his bird after her when he heard a sizzling noise, he hadn't noticed before due to the loud bombs from their fight. He looked up and saw the hundreds of paper bombs covering the ceiling then looked down noticing five were attached to his cloak where the Hyuuga had assaulted him with her gentle fist.
"Ahh shi…" and an explosion caved in the room, silencing the explosive Akatsuki member.
--Page Break--
Hinata had began to fall towards the water feet first but the explosion knocked her off course and she fell head first into the water with Gaara. The rapids were a lot rougher then she expected and she was pulled under within moments. Using her remaining strength she reconnected with Gaara. She was able to reach land in what felt like hours, dragging Gaara onto the shore with her. After lifting him back onto her back she began to limp into the woods surrounding the river. The Kazekage stirred and he lifted his head and recognized a pattern on the ground that they were heading towards.
"Hinata…it's…a trap." He ground out, but it was to late.
As soon as she stepped within the white circle a strange glow covered the ground and large thick spikes shot up through her shoe and into the sole of her foot. She cried out in pain and landed on the ground, dropping Gaara in the process. The spikes slowly began to drain her chakra and her vision began to swim. She lay back on the ground and grabbed Gaara's hand, clasping onto it weakly. He squeezed it gently and Hinata opened her mouth to speak, but Gaara beat her to it.
"Hinata. Watashi ai otaku." He said.
A smile formed on her face and she began to cry again as Gaara's eyes fluttered closed and
(A/N: SPOILER!)
His heart stopped beating in his chest.
(A/N: END OF SPOILER)
"Watashi ai otaku, Gaara-kun." She said before her own eyes fell shut.
Translations:
Onegai: please
Demo: But
Watashi Ai Otaku: I love you
A/N: Okay well that's the end of this chapter, the next chapter will be really long and will probably be out by Friday. This story is almost over, I would say about three more chapters. I know you all hate me, because Gaara and Hinata haven't kissed. But they will, so be patient! In the last chapter I will probably ask if you would want a sequel so it will be up to you. Also I will put everyone's ages in the next chapter to clear up any confusion.