The sound of boiling water, cooking ham, and the sweet smell of some sort of pastry rose in the air like a wave and crashed over Hinata. She was already awake and looking at herself in the mirror and assessing what she called "her plainness" or "unbeauty". Her pasty, glue colored skin, her round light bulb like eyes that were tinged with a mix of purple and white that made a dull color and her very, very short dark hair. In every way she hated her appearance and not just because she thought she was ugly but because she thought she looked too much like every Hyuga she knew and every Hyuga before her. She noticed, though, that without her father's almost daily trimming and less beatings by Gaara that her skin became more soft and glowing and her hair was getting longer and before long she would have shoulder length hair like Sakura!

'Hmm…Sakura…You've gained Naruto's affections…something I cannot do. I have to bind my chest so it's flat like a board sometimes because these…bags…are a disgrace to my family and they get in the way. They say I don't need them but every boy talks about them and gazes at them and what do they see when they look at me? A plain, pasty girl with no chest to speak of, however untrue that is…Naruto...is that why you chose Sakura? Because of her chest? But she's flat too! Her brains then….and beauty…and strength and courage and ability to speak up while I'm a quiet mouse.'

'Forget about him…Like I said you don't need a man who doesn't need you. For once, Hinata-sama, GIVE UP!'

'I've never given up on anything! I will be strong…for Neji-nii-san, for father…for...for…'

'For everyone who doesn't care? They left you here all by yourself without a single search party. Go ahead and show them you're strong…if they even come for you or if you even dare go back but don't fool yourself into thinking that Naruto will ever like you…he has Sakura. And your family? They've probably replaced you with your sister, you're probably not even the heiress anymore…they probably think or hope you're dead. You're a girl of the Sunagakure and you better get used to that! You've got a good thing here…people who care about you and love you and respect you and pay attention to you not to mention Gaara-senpai.'

'Gaara?'

'Yeah, he seems to like you…in his own way. He got you that nice bunny and he let you go outside and shop with Temari! He carried your bags yesterday and well, all in all he seems to be getter calmer and better, don't you think? Besides that he's going to be training you too! And you have to admit he is cute! Cute, strong, loyal and protective! Maybe he's not Naruto but so what? Naruto is an airheaded boy with big dreams of becoming Hokage and his ambitions and dreams are pure and wholesome and inspiring but he's far too dense for you…he doesn't notice you. GIVE UP! Maybe you should open your eyes and see the big red-headed sign in front of you blinking "TAKE ME! CHOOSE ME! LOVE ME!" Besides…you have no choice…no other man seems to even have an ounce of respect or love for you…just give it time and you'll come around and see Gaara is the one. We'll see who ends up right…but I'd choose Gaara over Naruto any day!'

Hinata looked back at Gaara who was leaning in the dark shadows of the all, reading a book. His beautiful, piercing aqua eyes looked up and made contact with hers. Hinata gripped the brush in her hand harder and found herself becoming nervous as the book lowered a bit to reveal his mouth and out of that sensual line that was his mouth came an even more sensual, chilling, haunting, and very deep voice that said;

"What are you gawking at me for?"

Hinata merely blinked, finding herself unable to speak or even breathe but she blushed a light crimson. Gaara's steely eyes focused on her and only her and a flash of agitation crossed them, like lighting.

"What is it?!"

She could breathe now but she still couldn't move as he slammed the book close with one hand and swiftly placed it on the shelf then advanced towards her. She trembled slightly but that's all she found she could do.

"Why do you stare at me so? It's beginning to bother me…it's my face, right? You find me unattractive…monstrous….horrid?"

A little squeak came out of Hinata's mouth when he grabbed the sides of her face and barred his teeth in anger.

"ANSWER ME!"

Suddenly his anger calmed like a bad storm blowing over as he looked deep into her eyes.

"Your eyes….can you see into me…?"

The Hyuga eyes could very well see into him and see his chakra flow and his heart but not into his soul although it is said they can and maybe some can but it's not likely…however, Hinata was very, very special and could very much tell a person by their eyes and it was almost like seeing into the soul…eyes are the window into the soul.

"Hinata…when you look at me so it disturbs me to think you look at me because I am ugly…I know very well how I must look to you…I know very well what I am and how I act but today you give me no such look. You look curious…are you wondering if I will kill you? I will not…though I do have fear Shukaku will if I don't learn to control him…Heh…fear…it's not something I've known for a while…until you came along. I fear losing you…I want to protect you…I feel devoted to you…It's strange and horrible yet so familiar and beautiful…Hinata why won't you speak? And why did you look in the mirror so? You seemed…revolted and thus led me to believe it was me you were revolted by. Were you?"

"N-n-no. It was me."

"The stuttering isn't so bad…but your voice is so tiny…you're tiny…so small…Did you say it was you? I don't understand…"

"I'm u-ugly."

Gaara, without reason it seemed, slapped Hinata across the face.

"YOU'RE SO STUPID!"

Hinata reeled to the floor sending the brush to the wall the commotion was heard by Temari in the kitchen who was shaking with the spatula in her hand.

"Now Temari…calm down."

"I'm fine, Kankuro…I'm fine."

"That's good…now serve me breakfast, slave."

"Just for that I'm throwing yours away."

"WAIT NO I WAS KIDING!"

Temari looked to Gaara's room and frowned.

'Gaara don't be so rough with her…I know you love her…so why do you treat her like crap? Gaara don't hurt her…If I could…I would hurt you back…but I love you both so dearly…so who do I protect; my brother whom I've always protected and served like a guard dog or Hinata who has wiggled into my heart and whom I call sister?'

Gaara looked at Hinata holding her cheek on the floor and crying.

"What makes you say such idiotic things?! You really think you're ugly!? You truly are an idiot if you think you are…I'm no judger of great beauty or one who has any beauty myself but I've seen many females in my life and not one has turned my head in any sort of fashion not one has been even okay or suited a fancy worthy of a demons' favoring but…if I were to judge and say one was beautiful even though I have no concept of true beauty then I'd have to say you hold the truest beauty…Hinata the angel, Hinata the doll, Hinata the princess, Hinata the Heiress, Hinata the goddess...these are my thoughts…this is how I feel when I see you. At first you were merely something like a doe when somebody flashes light at it but then that doe-like innocent prettiness was formed into you…my eyes can finally see…but you go ahead and be a dumb ass and think you're ugly…you don't only look blind you are blind. To hell with you Hinata…and to hell with my feelings because now that I can speak them and free them nobody seems to give a shit!"

Gaara left the room, slammed the door violently, made the whole house shake and stomped outside with his fists jammed in his pockets.

"Don't follow me…don't bother me….don't look for me…don't speak to me…just let me be or else I'll slice your stomach and rip out your intestines and engorge myself on a meal of that and your blood."

Gaara slammed the front door and walked or more so, trudged, outside. Temari looked at him then ran to Hinata's side along with Kankuro.

"Hey Kiddo, you alright?"

"H-hai Kankuro."

"What happened in here? What did he do to you? Your left cheek is red! He slapped you? Bastard…"

"Ahh the love of a sister…"

"Shut up Kankuro, I know you feel the same way. Things are going too far…maybe we shouldn't be hiding Hinata…"

"H-hiding me? W-w-hat do you mean?"

"Kuso…Um never mind…Just thinking out loud…don't mind me I'm an idiot."

"Finally you admit it."

"I'll deal with you later. You okay imouto?"

"H-hai…don't hurt Gaara…or be m-mad at h-him…It's m-my fault."

"Don't blame yourself or Gaara…we all know there's a demon inside him…but are you sure you're okay?"

"H-hai…nobody b-back home r-really cared about m-me like this…thank you Kankuro…and Temari."

"Tch…don't mention it Kiddo."

Hinata got up and looked at herself in the mirror and saw something different and not the red mark on her cheek. Gaara said she was beautiful which is more than anyone had ever said to her and it took a good slap for her to come to her senses.

'Naruto never saw me he saw through me…I was just a friend not even a pretty friend either like Sakura…Naruto will never think I'm beautiful or care about me or protect me…'

'GIVE UP HINATA! Just say it and give up...'

Hinata rubbed her cheek and looked at herself. There stood a girl with more beauty than words can tell. Supple, porcelain skin, lavender eyes that bewitched the soul, a smile that was charming, and lovely indigo hair that would soon grow long and luxurious like her mothers. She was a girl worthwhile…a girl worth the world…a girl who was worth it all.

'Naruto never saw that….never…but Gaara does…'

'Naruto is a fool who chooses a pink haired whore who doesn't even like him but loves some guy who is never going to like her back. She needs to wake up and so do you.'

'I have woken up…'

'Then say it…let me hear you say it.'

'I don't need him.'

'Need who?'

'Naruto….'

'All together now!'

'I don't need Naruto.'

'Louder!'

'I don't need Naruto!'

'Even louder!'

'I DON'T NEED NARUTO!'

'Louder than that!'

In a fit of hype and excitement that came with her epiphany she yelled it out loud.

"I DON'T NEED NARUTOOOO!"

She blushed realizing she said it out loud and that Temari and Kankuro were staring in confusion.

"Who's Naruto again?"

"Uh…um…Well thanks for checking up on me gotta go bye!"

Hinata put on her shoes and ran out the door.

"Wait! Hinata wait where are you going?"

"I'm going to catch up with Gaara-san-shii…bye Temari bye Kankuro."

"Please be careful."

"Aww big sister cares for once."

"Shut up baka before I shove a puppet down your throat and my fan up your ass."

Kankuro zipped his lips and waved at Hinata who disappeared into the clouds of hot, whirling smoke. Kankuro closed his eyes and said a prayer for their little Hinata that she would find Gaara and be safe and that he wouldn't hurt her and that she would never be found by those people who were searching for her. Temari prayed the same thing almost as Hinata became just a dot in the distance. Hinata ran and ran not knowing where she was going but trying to find the gourd on the back of the red-haired Gaara and finally she saw him and it was like a lighthouse that drew the boats closer to shore…he was her beacon. Closer and closer but he became farther and farther.

"Gaara…Gaara…Gaara!"

Gaara turned around to see Hinata struggling to get to him. His eyes narrowed and he kept walking.

"Gaara please! I can't keep up!"

Suddenly after all that walking in the heat Hinata fainted. Gaara looked back but didn't see her and he assumed he lost her…he then realized this was a bad thing. Any number of murders, thieves, rapist could find her and not to mention how hot it was…HINATA COULD DIE!

"She will not die…my reason for existence will not die…"

'Don't be so sure of yourself boy…her death is closer than you may think.'

But of course, Gaara didn't hear this even though Shukaku spoke loud and clear but Gaara was tuning him out because all he could think about was Hinata. He ran in that direction she was in and found her sprawled on the hot floor with sand on her and her skin was getting light pink from exposure. He removed his gourd and his shirt and wrapped her in his shirt then put his gourd back on and carried her home. He busted open the door with his foot and ran to the bathroom.

"TEMARI RUN A COLD BATH QUICKLY!"

Temari came in the bathroom and saw Hinata's very pink flesh and without a question knew it was sunburn. She ran the cold bath as cold as she could but then when trying to pry Hinata away from Gaara she found she couldn't.

"You have to go now."

"I won't! I can't leave her…my reason for existence…"

"Gaara…"

Gaara's eyes softened as he put his hand on Hinata and reared his hand back in shock.

"It will be all on me if something happens and I can't leave her side…"

Temari sighed as she undressed Hinata and put her in the tub. Regardless of the current state of Hinata and the danger in the air Gaara couldn't stop his nether region from reacting to the sight of Hinata's naked, exposed body. His eyes wondered it, filled with lust and desire that he never had before and he found himself salivating and licking his lips. Temari splashed cold water on Hinata which finally awoke her.

"What? I'm in a tub? Temari? Where's Ga-"

She turned to one side and saw a shirtless Gaara staring at her like a hungry wolf stares at a young, innocent, tender, helpless lamb. Hinata screamed and turned bloody red then passed out but Temari caught her before she could sink.

"Gaara you best get out if you want her to recover…it's…improper for a man who isn't a girl's lover to see her naked like this…"

"Improper? What would you know? Why is it wrong?"

"It just is! It's naughty and perverted!"

"Perverted?"

"Ugh I don't have time for this! Get out you can't see her naked."

"But I already have…"

"NO MORE! OUT!"

"You can't make me…besides…I like it…"

"You horny pervert! Get out…go talk to Kankuro about naked women!"

Gaara shrugged then left after collecting his shirt.

'Guess I should talk to my idiot brother for more advice on these matters…I know not of what is going on…'

'Such a fool you are, boy. You want to claim her that is all. Indeed you should, she is rightfully ours.'

'I didn't ask for your opinion, Shukaku. You've been no help to me thus far so just shut up, will you?'

'You're on very thin ice boy…don't let your guard down so easily…things aren't always what they appear and when you least expect it I will devour you and her…or maybe I will be right and you will be backstabbed by her…she is only mortal, after all and they are fickle creatures these mortal woman…but you will see….I haven't helped you, you say? Tch…I'm giving you a warning right now boy, behave or be beheaded.'

'You can't do anything without me…so just shut up. I am your vessel and without me you'd cease to exist. She would never backstab me…she ran after me today and she's had ample time to run away if she so desires.'

'But you made her believe she couldn't, lad, and that if she did she'd have nothing to run back to. You lied to her and once she finds out you did she will leave you for sure.'

'She will never find out…Smart as she may be she will never catch on…she's too naïve.'

'You keep thinking that, dear boy and you will see you are the naïve one. I do need a vessel to survive but the vessel also needs me…If I die you die but if you die I simply find another vessel quickly. Choose your words wisely my boy for soon you shall be eating them as I eat you…or better yet devour your discourse like a ravenous wolf once you see how petty and fickle a woman can be…and how cruel.'

'She's not like them…she's different.'

'What happens when her little friends find her?'

'They won't…I saw to that.'

'But you can't deny your nose, lad, you can smell their leader coming closer and what happens then when they find her? She will learn that you lied and she will go with them…maybe to that boy in the orange jumpsuit she seemed so fond about…Naruto, was it?'

'You hush your mouth…Hinata will stay with me! I just know it…now go away…'

'Suit yourself, but I won't be shut up for long and if I am…it merely means I planning my plan.'

'That plan again. I order you to tell me, NOW!'

'You'll never know boy and the harder you try to use this so called love you think you two have the easier it gets for me to make my plans come true.'

"Gaara! She's all better now!"

"Hmm…I'll be there."

'We aren't through…you've ruined my life in more ways than I care to remember…if your plan involves hurting my reason for existence then I will see to it that it won't happen. You got that?'

But Shukaku remained silent and Gaara wondered about this plan as he poked his head into the bathroom to see Hinata, still somewhat pink but from obvious blushing, all dressed with Temari towel drying her hair.

"You have lovely hair, Hinata! I've got plain old blonde hair."

"But it's pretty!"

"It's ordinary…your hair is indigo!"

"All Hyuga's have it…well most."

"See Gaara? She's all better."

Hinata looked up and turned red then looked away and tried to cover herself like he had x-ray vision. He wished he did for he'd die to see Hinata's lovely frame again. She looked up at him then looked away quickly. Temari pretended like she had something else to do and left.

"Hinata…do I make you nervous?"

She looked up and found something rare. Gaara….was smiling! A genuine smile! A big one at that! Not toothy but just a smile that was too many things to name, seducing, happy, eerie, creepy, mischievous and much more. The smile went down to Hinata's core and made her feel cold and hot at the same time…she was scared more than anything especially when he started getting closer.

"My…you're trembling…so it's true? I make your nervous? That's not right...you should feel comfortable around me…however something about the way you tremble right now and the look in your eyes…enthralling…perchance you could look at me again?"

Hinata closed he eyes tight as if he was going to strike her when he raised his hand but he didn't he stroked her cheek.

"As your friend I'm glad you're alright…huh…glad…happiness…another new feeling…thank you…well hello I just said thank you! Look at me, the demon of the sand saying thank you to you! You've taught me well, senpai…I feel…at ease. My face hurts…why is that?"

"Y-you're s-smiling."

"Am I? I've never smiled like this before…Hinata-seme…"

Hinata blushed as her caressed her again then his smile faded.

"I thought I lost you today…I was scared…I fear now as I've never feared before…I care now…I feel…I'm happy…and it feels tingly and funny but hell do I love it. This is what I thought I never had but I think I do…again I thank you but don't go scaring me, okay? I might have to kill you."

Hinata squeaked and flinched but he merely licked her ear.

"Just playing with you…huh…playing…has been a while since I played…has been a while…since anything good…ever since…mother…"

"D-don't be sad…My mom died too…"

"She did?"

"Hai…they say I look a lot like her and act like her. They say she was a great beauty and so kind and devoted to helping others!"

"Look at that…not a single stutter. I'm proud….pride…perhaps that's not so new but this kind of pride is different. I believe, in time you will surpass your mother…in every way."

"Y-you're a good guy Gaara…"

"HAHAHAH! Oh I laugh too? What's next? I suppose I will start skipping with flowers in my hair and giving out free puppies to orphans and money to homeless people?"

Both Hinata and Gaara laughed together and for once all was good and the home Gaara lived in was filled with joy again and all thanks to little Hinata who thought she couldn't measure up to anything or do anything but she, yes she, single handedly controlled a demon inside a boy she used to know and was close to and brought out his inner child that he was so long ago. She brought together a broken family and in her own way, in her mind, became stronger than she needed ever to be especially by letting go of Naruto. Sadly, this is not the end of the tale for you know and I know there is more to write and more to read. Kiba has not found Hinata nor has Neji and what of Shukaku's plans? What will happen when Hinata learns Gaara, Temari and Kankuro's secret? What will happen when Hinata finds out how Kiba and Neji feel? How will they feel? Will there be more bloodshed than needed? Will everyone die? Who will be the cause of the death? Shukaku, Gaara, Kiba, Neji, or even…Hinata? Will everything be a small flame that can be put out quickly or will everything catch fire and burn to cinders?