Kankuro stretched on his bed as he woke up, free of face paint or his usual cat like outfit; he laid there practically in the buff save for his black, purple and white boxers. He picked up a magazine off his night stand and began to thumb through it looking at the scandalously dressed women with pouty lips and huge breasts all staring at him, nay, beckoning him to jump into those pages and claim them. Suddenly he heard a cry from outside, the cry of one striking something and with each thrust a noise that was that cry came out of their mouths. It was repetitive and tough yet had softness to it with all the sparkling, dense taste of determination. He knew what the sound was but still he looked outside, out of his own curiosity, and found what he had expected it to be. There was Hinata in the courtyard with Gaara and they were training.

Once, in that soft, shell of a porcelain doll there was a spineless, weak, trembling, stuttering, shy yet adorable excuse for a Hyuga and now there stood a budding young woman with all the courage and confidence of those that came before her, not to mention she was more determined than ever. She wasn't all the way there for she still stuttered, have plenty of weak moments and was could be very shy but she was getting over it and soon there would only be a fragment of that old Hinata in her and it would be for the better.

'It seems every day you get tougher, stronger, braver, and more undeterred by what people say. As somebody I view as a little sister…no I view he more than that…don't I? There is a maternal side to it…she has become my friend, kin, sister, and even my daughter all in one. Hinata…stay here and never know the truth behind what really keeps you here. Stay and get stronger and become a part of our team. You will be feared, revered, loved, and adored by all in this village and this home. Nobody will cast a stone at you and in the near future I see you becoming Gaara's wife…my sister-in-law. Stay here…forever. They will never find you… if Gaara, for whatever reason, can't kill them…then Temari and I will….'

Outside Hinata charged at Gaara with her Byakugan activated but he dodged it nimbly but just barely.

"You're doing well, you almost got me that time. Try again."

Hinata nodded and went after him again then as he dodged, she whirled around and used her chakra and gentle fist to palm him hard and fast in the very center of his back. He lurched forward with the power of the chakra infused strike to his un-expectant form after which he fell to his hands and knees and a little bit of blood escaped his lips. The sand had no time to comprehend and Hinata's attack was too fast for the sand to protect Gaara in time just like with Rock Lee. Realizing she wounded Gaara more than she intended, Hinata inactivated her Byakugan and rushed to his aid.

"Oh Kami, I'm sorry Gaara-san! I didn't mean to…"

"Save your sorries Hinata, I'm fine."

"But…I hit you so hard…"

"You forget I have the sand to protect me and a demon inside me. It's a trivial wound that's not worth worrying about. I'll survive so stop apologizing…every time I believe you're strong you go around and display weakness. Don't apologize for wounding your opponent Hinata. Remember my lessons."

"Hai…you're right. How could I be so foolish? None the less I still worry and care about you very much."

'She…she cares and worries? Perhaps maybe then she…loves me as well? Or perhaps this is wishful thinking.'

"Hinata…are you crying?"

Hinata wiped her tears in frustration and looked at him with a slight blush.

"N-no….I'm stronger than t-that."

"You most certainly are. Look at you now. You will grow up into a fine ninja, Hinata-seme. The beautiful ninja of the sand village, it has a nice ring to it. You will become famous even legendary."

"You think s-so?"

"I know it. I've trained you hard and you haven't forgotten my lessons but I haven't forgotten yours. Each day you get stronger physically and mentally I get stronger. This heart I thought was just an empty black hole is now warm, red, beating and full of love that I thought I could never feel."

"Love?"

"Hai. It seems fitting to have the word carved onto my head…"

"W-who is it you l-love so much? Whoever she is she is very lucky."

'What's this? My whole body is burning and my heart is aching. I taste the bile, sharp taste of jealousy. Am I jealous of the woman Gaara-senpai loves? Why? Do I truly love him already? Looking at him right now….the way he is standing, that look in his eyes and that smile. He's handsome enough and he's become very kind. Yes…I'm afraid it's true. My inner self was right…I fell for Gaara…but for how long have I been under the spell of those black-rimmed, deep sea eyes? Do I love him merely because he called me beautiful or is it deeper? When I was little I would look at that plastic ring I still wear today and think of my little red-haired friend and think that one day I'd truly marry the boy in the future but as I grew up all those silly notions were tossed out the window, especially when Naruto came into the picture. At first Gaara was violent and evil but after a short time I saw through to that and he's getting better. When I held him when he was half demon and half Gaara I felt…pity, remorse, despair and longed to bring him and I out of these feelings and then in a flash the blonde haired turned to red and the electric blue to a glowing aqua, a hysterical, whiny voice that cracks to a deep, smooth, calm voice that never wavers. All too sudden I fell in love with him.'

"Hinata…"

"Hn?"

"You were staring off into space for some time now and I was calling your name but you were lost to me."

"F-forgive me I w-was….thinking."

"Hinata it's you."

"Huh?"

"You asked me who I loved and I tell you it's you. I confess it here and now and will deny it no longer. My demon in me has seemed to subside and my head hurts less with you around. Everything is clear and peaceful and I am at ease. I think I loved you from the start but didn't know it. Hinata…I know I've done you wrong but bear me no ill will…please accept me as yours…forever."

"G-Gaara…I…"

"You are appalled by the proposition of being my soul-mate? I knew it…forgive me for even believing I had a chance….fool that I am…perhaps Shukaku was right then….I'm not for you and you're not for me…it's not meant to be. Demons can't mingle with angels."

"Gaara l-listen to me…I…I l-love you t-too…"

Gaara's eyes widened considerably as he turned and faced Hinata head on. Had he heard right? Had she truly admitted to loving him?

"How can you…after all I've done to you? You'd be better off without me."

"That's a lie! I mean uh…l-look at where I am…certainly not getting thrown around and called weak and being depressed. I'm happy! Happy with…you."

"With me…the demon…are you so sure you love me?"

"H-hai!"

Gaara grabbed Hinata and embraced her tightly with trembling arms.

"Hinata…how can you love me? How? Because of you I can love you. Because of your nature. Because of all you've taught me. But how can you love a blood thirsty demon?"

"It is not the demon…it's you. Gaara not the demon. Gaara the boy. Gaara…I-I will b-be yours…f-forever."

"Hinata…hold me and don't let go."

Hinata grasped him back as if her life depended on it. He was very warm and comfortable like a thick blanket on a cold night after drinking a lot of delicious cocoa. She felt like this is where she belonged, not only in the sand village but in his arms with him and his siblings forever. Gaara tilted her head up and looked at her in her eyes.

"Such soul piercing eyes you have. Lilac lilies within those eyes of yours."

"Yours remind me of the deep sea."

"I've never really been to an ocean…or a sea for that matter, seeing as I live in the desert but you are my personal oasis."

"G-Gaara…"

He leaned in and kissed her lips, which he was used to doing, but this time it was different, it was special. A warm, tingling fire raged from Hinata's head to her toes and she, moreover, was blushing bright red. Gaara had stole her first kiss from her and she had been distempered and also depressed yet as he kissed her now a new feeling washed over her while tiny butterflies that were on fire danced in her tummy and chest. She found, though, that she could not kiss him back properly for even though she knew how, she simply couldn't do it. Ever still Gaara was glued to those lips until Hinata surrender and puckered her own against his. So warm were his lips but it was to be expected, yet Hinata didn't see it coming. Her lips were soft, plump, lightly wet and a little cold but they were lovely just like the rest of her and he enjoyed the kiss as Hinata closed her eyes and was engulfed in happiness. Kankuro was watching them the whole time with a smile across his face, that legendary smirk of his that was so like his father's, yes indeed they were practically clones.

'Gaara…you've learned love and have found someone to love you back. You have found what will fill the void in your heart and you will fill the void in hers but it goes deeper….you two are soul mates and your fates were sealed the moment your eyes met that very first time on the Spring festival. You've become less violent with the kindness that lay dormant inside of you for so long and because of Hinata it's now resurfaced. We have all prayed for you to become a better person and now you can. I can feel mother's smile in my heart as she looks down in front of the scene in front of me. Two lovers that are so different in every way yet somehow they found love in each other's differences and reveled in their similarities. From what I understand and overheard, Hinata's mom is deceased too and her father seems to care not for her life. The strongest child has to become stronger and that's all that matters to him…pitiable. While our father is no better for he despises Gaara for the opposite reason, he is too strong and powerful but also killed our mother in childbirth thus our father holds a huge grudge against him…and us.'

Kankuro stretched then put on his outfit after which he donned the hood that came with it. He looked up in the mirror and saw his father reflected in the smooth glass. Kankuro dipped his fingers in the purple paint then glided his fingers across his face in the style he usually did.

"I am Kankuro and Kankuro alone. I am the master of the puppets and middle sibling to Temari and Gaara. I am the son of the fourth Kazekage and his late wife but I am not him. I am Kankuro and Kankuro alone and I won't become like you…no matter how much I bare your disgraceful likeness."

Outside Gaara finally unlatched himself from Hinata's lips and smiled at her blushing face.

"You're so red, like a trembling rose in full bloom or perhaps not so much red but pink like my favorite flower, the desert rose. Yes I never cared much for flowers but they are one of the few that grow here but with you here I have been appreciating them more as of late. Hinata the lover of the demon, Hinata the ninja of the sand, Hinata the flower. What is your favorite flower?"

Hinata trembled slightly and when she opened her mouth, she almost couldn't speak but she regained herself and spoke.

"Lilies…lavender or lilac ones"

"Hmm…just like you…like your eyes. You are the lily itself and I your desert rose with too many thorns. We are so different…you come from a place of rain and deep, lush forest with cool breezes while I reside in this hot, dusty, barren wasteland. They say you can tell when a girl comes from the sand village and when one comes from the leaf. Leaf village girls have a cooler appearance and a friendly demeanor while the girls here are hot and wicked and I mean this in the way that leaf girls have darker hair and lighter skin while our girls have heat-colored hair like browns, reds, and yellow as well as their tan or sandy skin. Like I said before, you are my oasis, my cool drinking water I need to survive. I feed off of that cool, calm, sweet nature that makes you, you. I love you…that's all I know. Hinata you are my reason for existence, the reason I live and thrive, you are that thing which I protect and hold dear that nobody will touch or sully."

"Your r-reason…hm. Gaara I've been thinking. You get better every day and I know that…that you're alone…you want love."

"I have it, from you, and this is all I need."

"Love and acceptance but not just from me. What about the villagers?"

"The villagers?"

"Hai! Surely you must want to wrong the rights of the past and help these villagers as their leader."

"You mean to say that I should become the Kazekage like my father before me?"

"Hai! Precisely!"

"It's not a bad idea…perhaps I will do such a thing in the near future but for now my only concern is you. I need you, want you, love you, and desire you. Does this appeal to you?"

"H-Hai…it d-does. It is g-good to b-be needed and such."

"You will stay here forever then?"

"Nothing lays for me b-back there…no friends, no family, no life. Here I have all of that and more!"

"Indeed so. Now, Hina-chan, I want to do something to you."

"W-what is it?"

"We need to be alone for this…let's go to my bedroom."

A red color spread on Hinata's face as Gaara led her back to the tower.

'What does he mean? I'm scared! He can't be...you know.'

'I think he is, if you ask me. I mean think about it, privacy, talk of desire and need not to mention wanting to do this thing in the bedroom.'

'Kayah! I'm not ready! I'm still a virgin! We just got together and I'm still getting the swing of kissing another breathing person so how can I do this!? I'm frightened!'

'Suck it up Hinata. The boy loves you like no other and wants to seal his fate with you with the sacred act of love making. You two will become one. Isn't that beautiful? Yes it is. Now deal with it!'

'But I was hoping to wait until I was older!'

'No better time like the present.'

'But it will hurt.'

'Everything hurts but we must be strong. Besides that pain will dull into pleasure and Gaara will be yours and you will be his forever after he claims what is rightfully his.'

'I don't even know where to start! I'm nervous, shy, and scared beyond comprehension.'

'Come on Hinata call forth the ninja inside! Be brave! No more weakness.'

'You're right…I can't be weak, not in front of him. I will be brave and do this even though it is rather early but we will become one and he will…claim me, thus marking me as his.'

'That a girl! Now go in there and try your best to please him! Be seductive, playful yet innocent.'

'Got it…just don't know how.'

'It will come to you.'

They had arrived to his room. Gaara turned and closed the door then looked at Hinata with a smile.

"Hinata I need you to undress."

'Gah! So it is true…okay you can do this Hinata just take a deep breath and remember; seductive, playful yet innocent.'

Hinata nodded and disrobed in front of Gaara which brought lust-filled hunger in his eyes and moisture upon his lips. She still had her undergarments when he told her to stop.

"That's enough just stay like that."

'Such beautiful skin and so much has been exposed to me…I can't resist. Why do I feel this way?'

'Stupid boy. Just claim the girl and get it over with.'

'You have no power over me. Be gone.'

Shukaku quieted himself but watched to see what his vessel would do now with such unholy temptation in his grasp.

"Now where to put it…hmm turn around."

Hinata did as she was told and exposed her petite bottom to him in her pearly pink underwear. Gaara's hand caressed her skin with a sigh.

'So soft…I want to taste, I want to bite…I want to…I don't know but I want her.'

"This is the perfect spot to put it. Not many will see it but I will know it's there."

"W-w-hat are you t-talking about?"

"I am going to mark you as mine that is all. It's going to hurt but will dull away soon enough."

"But I-I'm not completely u-undressed."

"Why does that matter? Do you need to be?"

"Y-yes…right? Y-y-you were going to c-c-c-c-claim me."

"Claim you? What does that mean? I grow tired of hearing it and not knowing what it means."

"If y-you d-don't know then w-what are w-w-e doing?"

"I am going to give you a kanji just like mine right here on your upper back. Now stay still."

Hinata trembled slightly after that she swallowed hard and started to sweat. He wasn't going to mark her sexually but literally! Could she let him mar her skin with a mark? Yes of course, for she loved him like no other as well.

"Alright I'm ready."

"What a brave girl, not a single stutter and you've stopped trembling, well done."

Hinata was truly proud of herself. She had come so far from where she once was but still, it was hard not to be nervous when you are exposed to your newfound boyfriend in your under garments! She heard a pop that was the cork of Gaara's gourd; she heard the rush of the sand coming out, heard the sand whip in the wind and felt the grains pushing against her back. The pain was excruciating as the grains of sand carved into her soft flesh trying to draw the lines that made up the familiar kanji mark of love. It burned as the grains found their way into the little cut they created to deepen it and lengthen it, it felt like a knife was carving into her back infused with those rough little grains that burned her very soul. Hinata cried out in pain, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Shh, shh now. You can endure it a little longer it's almost done. Stop writhing, stay still."

Hinata couldn't stop convulsing with pain as the sand carved into her flesh but after the second mark the pain starting dulling and become less like a sharpened dagger and more like a needle afterward it progressed into more of a person with sharp nails clawing her back like a very rough back scratching. When the pain eased so did the thrashing. Her shoulders relaxed while she concentrated not on the pain but on a small butterfly by the window. Finally it was done and all that was left was a burning, red scar that was the very same kanji as the one on Gaara's forehead. Gaara stepped back and looked at his handiwork while rubbing around the sensitive area.

"Beautiful, that red color on your porcelain skin."

'What did I tell you, boy? Imagine her whole body covered in red, red blood.'

Gaara didn't speak mentally this time he simply blocked it out. As he stroked her skin he felt at peace touching her silky flesh that was hot and a little bloody from the scar.

'Blood…her blood…I want to…taste.'

He gave into his desires and licked the wound he had created. Hinata arched her back and inhaled sharply from the feel of the bloody scar that was ablaze on her back being licked by the salty, wide tongue of Gaara. The saliva both cooled her and scorched the area. Ignoring Hinata's discomfort and pain, he kept licking the bloody, crimson scar and he let that precious, delicious blood hit his tongue which sent shocks through his entire mouth and core.

"Hmm…Hinata-kun, you taste so good."

Hinata squeaked in embarrassment when he said that. The licking soon became very healing, also relaxing for the coolness of his saliva and tongue calmed the heat emanating from the kanji. Suddenly that pain was now something close to pleasure and Hinata's hissing and crying transformed into soft sighs and little moans. These moans were arousing and exciting Gaara to no end plus there was the taste of her unusually decadent blood on his pallid, so of course he continued.

"G-gaara…"

"What is it?"

"C-c-could you s-stop?"

"Hmmm I could."

He licked her a few more times then let his tongue retreat into its home yet he wanted more and so did Hinata, surprisingly. He kissed the scar with as much passion as he could then worked his way up to her neck where he kissed and nibbled.

"Such a lovely neck. I could just sink my teeth into it."

He raked his teeth across her flesh, his hot breath on her, causing the girl to get goosebumps. A chuckle escaped past his lips before he plunged his sharp teeth into her. Blood slid down her porcelain colored skin as he noisily sucked on her neck where the holes from his bite were.

"Aaah! G-gaara!"

Gaara started growling like some feral animal. His prey was in his teeth and he would not let go. After Hinata screamed in severe pain he realized he went too far and let her go. Hinata held her hand up to her bleeding neck and hummed happily.

"It's f-funny but I k-kinda like w-when you b-bite me."

"Is that so? You sounded hurt."

"It h-hurts but only for a l-little."

"Hmm. I will get some bandages so we can wrap up that wound, alright?"

"Hai."

Gaara went to go get the bandages. While he was gone Hinata redressed her bottom half and was about to dress the upper half but not before checking out the scar for herself. She gasped, it truly was beautiful! Gaara had done his work well in reconstructing the kanji. Hinata smiled as she saw the almost glowing red mark on her back and thought it was like a piece of Gaara was on her forever.

"Hmm…oh I see that you're looking at it now, it's lovely right?"

"Hai Gaara-kun! Thank you very much."

"No need to thank me I just thought it necessary to mark what is mine. Your neck okay?"

"Hai! It kind of feels…good."

"Good to hear. Let's bandage you up."

Gaara sat on the bed with Hinata in-between his legs with her back facing him. He sat there wrapping the bandages around the area but it was awkward for them seeing as she had to take off her bra to let him wrap the bandages, so the poor girl had to cover her chest with a shirt but still it didn't help matters at all and that intriguing problem Gaara had rose up again so he tried to wrap her up fast.

"There all finished. Say Hinata, do you really think I should become Kazekage?"

"Hai! I truly believe you can."

"Your encouragement keeps me going. You never give up or give in and I love that about you."

They kissed one more time but this time Hinata was trying harder to mold her lips with his like she saw many other couples do but Gaara surprised her with a little bit of tongue that was curiously licking the inside of her mouth. More surprise was to follow when he gently nibbled her lips, his eyes still had unwavering lust.

"Hinata the sweet, the delicious, the tempting, the desired, Hinata my little dew-covered lily, Hinata mine."

"G-gaara I…I love you."

"Hmm my heart feels happy when you say that. Say it again, please?"

"II l-love you…very much. Don't leave me!"

"Don't leave you? Don't leave ME. I can't live without my reason, you know that."

He grabbed her and locked her into a passionate embrace. She snuggled into his chest and smiled a warm smile. She was protected, loved, desired, wanted, needed and that's all she ever wanted in life but still every so often she would feel a growing presence that was familiar to her closing in and she wouldn't help but wonder if maybe somebody was out there looking for her but did it matter now? No, she had Gaara-kun now and she didn't need any of those two-faced bastards anyways but still she wanted say goodbye to them for she knew she'd probably never see them again, yet she was happy about this.

Indeed a familiar presence was closing in, none other than her teammates, Naruto, and even her own cousin; who by now was far ahead of Kiba's search party. They were all resting now save for Kiba who found he simply couldn't rest. No, not tonight and not any night until Hinata was safe and Gaara was slain. He loved Hinata, this much was understood in his heart and this love was strong, pure, and absolute. Neji loved Hinata as well, in his own way. He kept going far ahead of the group and by tomorrow he would be there if not sooner than that. Both boys loved Hinata like mad, both had a deep longing for her that was suppressed in the deepest part of their hearts so they would kill themselves if it meant Hinata would be safe. Neji was closing in and Kiba wasn't too far behind but their love for Hinata would prove their undoing and their hatred of each other would blossom. War, blood, death, all would be what was waiting for them not to mention a changed Hinata whose change was, on her part, for the better, but would it mean the certain demise of those she once cared so deeply for?