A/N: I'm sorry y'all, I didn't expect it to take me this long to update. At first I was reading a lot of other people fics(I've been into NejiHina and GaaHina fics lately, sadly there isn't many for either pairing) and I kept on changing the plot to this chapter, but i hope y'all like it. Much thanks to all the reviews I got last chapter, they were much appreciated. I please review at the end. Enjoy!

The Price of Honor

Chap. 6: In Need of Protection

"I don't get it, I really don't fucking get it."

"Please calm down master. We can't afford to-"

"Shut up! I tell you what we can and cannot afford. And if I want to scream to the heavens about that treacherous son of a bitch, I will. It's been nearly an entire year and still he sits on the throne that is entitled to me, the throne that was promised to my father. He should have contacted me months ago, but I had a feeling he wouldn't.

But master, maybe he doesn't know about the promise that was made between your father and the-"

"He knows about the promise. Why do you think he conquered Konohagakure in the first place? He did it just to through that shit in my face."

"So what will you do now?"

"What I should have done years ago. I'm tired of ruling this sorry excuse for a kingdom, it's nothing but an oversized nomads land. It's about time that I take over Konohagakure. And I already have my first pawn in play."

.

.

The sun's rays hitting Gaara's closed eyelids were his wake-up call. He never stayed in bed this late in the morning, at least late for him. The beast inside him has begun to stir. No longer exhausted by war, the beast had begun to bother him again. Gaara hated the curse, seers had foretold of him before he was even born, before his parents were even born. The curse gave him instincts and abilities that were matched only by the other nine beasts that existed somewhere in the world. And the tattoo on his back was the image of the beast that lurked inside of him.

Gaara looked over and saw Hinata sleeping peacefully next to him. With her body facing him, he could see her slightly open mouth as she breathed slowly with her loose fists securely protecting her chest. She truly was a beautiful sight to wake up to. Gaara got up and made his way to the bathroom.

Hinata was awoken by a loud grunt followed by the sound of things falling. She turned her attention towards the bathroom door. Using her powers to look through the door, Hinata saw Gaara on the bathroom floor with a few items scattered around him. Hinata was at his side in seconds, he was slouched against the wall while holding his head. Hinata reached out her hand with the intention of helping him sit up, until his sharp words made her stop.

"Don't touch me," Gaara hissed. He had a horrible migraine and the muscles in his back were tense.

"What's wrong," Hinata asked. He looked like he was in so much pain. His eyes were now shut tight and the way he held his head…

"Just…" he paused for a moment to breathe, "Just give me a minute."

Hinata didn't move, she didn't say a word, and she didn't try to touch him again. Hinata just sat by Gaara's side as he waited for his headache to subside.

It felt like it took hours for his pain to diminish. Gaara got up on his own strength and rested against the bathroom sink. The muscles in his back visibly throbbed as they began to relax. Because of his beast Gaara would sometimes have powerful headache, they were random and thankfully rare.

"A-are you all right Gaara?" Hinata asked stuttering a bit. Not sure if Gaara would snap at her for speaking this time. "I have some ointment that I can make as an m-muscle relaxer."

"That will not be necessary Hinata, I am fine." Gaara said. He's been dealing with the effects of his cures for his whole twenty-one years of life, he didn't need her help.

Hinata silently decided to ignore his last statement as she began to pick up the items from the bathroom floor. "I can have it done by tonight," Hinata said. "Breakfast should be almost done by now, I'll bring some food up for you and you should…um…" Hinata didn't want to seem bossy or cross an invisible line, but her worry for Gaara's health kept her going. "Y-you should stay in bed and rest," she said with a tiny blush across her face.

Before Gaara could respond, Hinata was out the door. He would have stopped her, but he was just getting over a massive headache and his muscles hurt as if he'd just finish running for miles. Gaara took a deep breath and made his way to the dresser. He had an important meeting with the council today, so he couldn't stay in bed and rest like Hinata had suggested. By the time Gaara was fully dressed the bedroom door flew open only to reveal Hinata with a tray of food in hand.

Hinata was a little surprised to see Gaara wasn't in bed. She put the tray of food on the dresser in front of Gaara. "What are you doing? You should be resting." Hinata said.

"I'm on my way to the tower and I don't need rest," Garra said flatly and made his way to the door.

"B-but I…shouldn't you at least eat breakfast first," Hinata insistent.

Gaara stopped at the door and turned towards Hinata. "I have an important meeting with the council today. I woke up late today so there's no time for me to eat," Gaara explained. "Are you attending the meeting as well?" It was more of a rhetorical question considering Hinata has been to every meeting or gathering with him.

"Yes, but I must change clothes first," Hinata responded as she looked down at herself, still in her night clothes.

Gaara nodded, "I'll see you in the council room then." He was about to leave until Hinata stopped him.

"Wait," Hinata said before grabbing a croissant off the tray of food she brought in. She wanted him to eat something, especially after he's collapsed like he did this morning. "You can eat this on your way." Gaara grunted in response as he took the piece of bread and made his way towards the tower.

. . .

"The council will be disbanded in two months, after Hinata and I leave for Sunagakure." Gaara announced to the councilors and Hinata.

"When you say 'disbanded' do you mean we'll all be-" Gaara quickly cut the councilman off.

"What I mean is that none of your services are required. One king, one council. I already have a council in Sunagakure, so there'll be no need for you all." Gaara said flatly.

"So why can't we just join with you council," asked Councilman Danzo Shimura.

"Like this council, Sunagakure's council is made up of six members. If I were to do what you suggested Danzo, there'd be too many councilors to actually make effective decisions." Gaara countered.

"But is it really necessary for all of us to be dismissed from council?" This time Shikamaru asked the question.

"I agree, can't some of the councilors join with yours, maybe two or three?" Hinata decided to speak up this time. She had no idea that the meeting would be about this. "There might actually be some Sunagakure's councilors that were planning on retiring soon."

"I believe I speak for all of us when I say 'we don't plan on retiring anytime soon.'" Danzo said, completely disregarding the queen's suggestion. "And since we are still an official council, if we all vote against you, you would have to accept it my king."

Gaara chuckled at Danzo statement. "Do I look like a man that would accept any form of defiance?" Gaara asked. He was furious that this council would even think of trying to countermand he decision. Just thinking about it made his temper rose and the sand in his gourd responded to his emotions. "Do you honestly think I got my reputation by playing politics?"

For a long while, only the sound of Gaara's sand hitting the floor was heard. No one dared to speak. The king did not have a reputation of being merciful or even just.

"Councilman Danzo does not speak for all of us," Homura Mitokado said quickly. He was one of the oldest councilors, and he for one didn't want to die for another man's foolish words.

"Councilmen Homura speaks the truth. In fact I was planning on retiring, but I believed it was best not to considering…" Koharu Utatane said, letting her sentence trail off. She was also one of the oldest councilors and the only woman councilor. It was not the time for any councilor to retire considering they'd just come out of war. So she couldn't say that she was displeased with the king's decision to disband them.

"None of that matters. Just know that the council will be disbanded after my departure to Sunagakure." Gaara said as he stood up. "That is all I wish to speak of today, you are dismissed." One by one the councilors left the room, leaving only the king and queen to occupy the council's room.

"Was there something that you wanted to say to me," Gaara asked. He knew that his decision would not go well with anyone, but his decision was final.

"I…I can understand your reasoning, but must you dismiss the whole council? Can you not afford to add two of Konohagakure's council members to yours?" Hinata asked. She was more worried about how the people would take the news of the council's disbandment. Council members were chosen by the citizens and the king was usually chosen by the council, at least that how it worked in Konohagakure.

"Sunagakure's council will do just fine," Gaara said plainly.

"Why are you so final about this decision? You once told me the reason of our marriage was to lessen the possibility of Konohagakure revolting against you. But I'm telling you that the most common cause of a rebellion is the lack of equality. It's the main reason my own clan went into a civil war. If Konohagakure feels that their needs are no longer voiced in the council, they may begin to retaliate." Hinata said in a low voice.

"They will learn to deal with it," Gaara nearly shouted. He really didn't have the patience to discuss anything, his curse made sure of that.

Seeing that he wasn't in the best of moods, Hinata decided to call it a day. Silently she rose from the table, "W-well I'm off, I sh-should have the ointment I promised you done b-by the end of the day."

Gaara said nothing as she left the room. Over time he'd found out that Hinata only stuttered when she was startled or extremely nervous. He felt a little bad for raising his voice to her the way he did just moments ago. And he knew for sure that he'd startled her when she excused herself for the day. Hinata usually stayed with him for most of the day, only leaving when she had her own personal errands to run. He just needed time to get reacquaint with the activity of the beast inside him, and then he'd be back to normal.

He sighed to himself, sadly he was getting used to her presence and he would surely notice her absence for the duration of the day.

.

.

When Hinata arrived home she ate herself a full breakfast. Hinata couldn't understand why Gaara was so hell-bent on disbanding the whole council. In the end, it was for the best to allow at least two council members to go to Sunagakure with them. Hinata sighed to herself, Gaara seemed to be acting strange in general. He's been more stubborn then usual and less will to take advice. She wondered if this how Gaara usually acted and he's just been playing nice the whole time. Hinata shook her head to rid herself of the thought.

When Hinata was finish eating she'd decided to go to the market place and get the herbs she needed to make the muscle relaxer for Gaara. When she was almost out the door, Tomoko stopped her.

"Hinata, what you're doing home so early?" Tomoko asked.

"I'm on my way to the market," Hinata said. There was a long pause between them and Hinata decided to ask, "You want to come with me?"

"Yes I would," Tomoko said. It has been a long time since her and Hinata has had some time alone. And she missed her friend dearly.

As they made their way to the market place they chatted up a storm, giggling and laughing about different things. When they arrived to the market place, Hinata decided to change the topic into something more personal.

"I see you and Lee have been spending a lot of time together," Hinata said. Tomoko blushed slightly and averted her face so Hinata could not see.

"We have not," Tomoko denied. "Did you even know that he is Lord Gaara's personal servant? It's kinda hard not to be around someone you live with." Tomoko tried to defend her action. She did spend a lot of time with Lee, but that was only because they lived together. And the fact that he was handsome, muscular, and had a voice that'd make a girl's toes curl didn't hurt.

"Uh-huh," was Hinata's only response when she saw Tomoko blush.

"What does 'uh-huh' suppose to mean?" Tomoko asked.

"Nothing," Hinata said as she paid the shopkeeper for the items she collected while talking to Tomoko. Hinata glanced at Tomoko and saw her friend glaring at her. Hinata sighed, "I meant nothing by it Tomoko, you analyzing my words too closely."

"I could say the same too you," Tomoko countered. Then she realized the direction they were walking. "Isn't home in the other way?"

"Yes, but I need one more ingredient for the ointment that can only be found in the forest." Hinata said as they made their way outside the walls of the city. As they passed the guards at the gate, Hinata nodded to them in acknowledgment and they bowed respectfully to her.

"Do you believe it's safe to leave the city walls without an escort?" Tomoko asked out of concern and slight fear.

"I know exactly where the plants are at and its close enough were the guards would hear us if we screamed." Hinata smiled at her friend and tried to reassure her, "You just worry too much."

Tomoko looked to the sky and saw the sun was setting. 'It's you who doesn't worry enough, my friend.'

. . .

By the time Gaara arrived home the sun was completely out of sight, leave only an orange glow in the sky that would soon disappear as well. He didn't say anything to the servant he passed on the way to his room. All Gaara wanted was a good night's rest. Gaara wasn't surprised to see Hinata wasn't in their room, she was most likely eating dinner, so he removed his gourd then the rest of his clothes to take a quick shower. It was dark outside by the time Gaara was ready for bed. This time he was surprised that Hinata wasn't in bed.

'Where the hell is she?' Gaara wondered. He walked to the bedroom door and called for the first servant he saw. "Hey, you've seen Hinata?"

"I'd seen Lady Hinata around mid-day with Tomoko, but they had departed shortly after. I assumed they had returned by now, my lord." The servant said as she looked towards the floor. Gaara resisted the urge to curse, that was not the answer he wanted.

"Go and see if she's down stairs with the cook." The servant ran to do as she was told. Gaara on the other hand walked down the hall to Lee's room. He pounded on the door a few times then opened without permission and shout, "Lee."

Lee shot straight up in bed, "Wha- huh…what happen?"

"Did you see Hinata today?"

'You woke me up out of my damn sleep to ask me if I've seen your wife today.' Lee thought. Before he could actually respond a servant girl ran up to Gaara. Lee did hear what she said, but whatever it was made Gaara's face darken. Gaara gave her an acute nod and the servant walked away.

"Get ready, we have to go find Hinata." Was all Gaara said before walking to his own room. He heard an uncharacteristic curse erupt from Lee's room. Gaara didn't know where to look for Hinata, but he didn't have time to organize a huge search. It would be best if he looked himself first just in case something bad happened to her. Gaara went to his room to put on his gourd then made his way to the front door.

Lee was all ready at the house front door waiting for Gaara. "You ready?"

Gaara gave a short nod and they made their way outside. They didn't have to look at all, as soon as they stepped outside they saw a small group of guards walking towards them with the queen. Lee saw that one of the guards was carrying Tomoko and he ran to her side.

"What happened," the question came from both Lee and Gaara.

"Tomoko tripped and hit her head on a rock," Hinata said. There was a cloth covering the small gash near Tomoko's temple. "I've already tended to her wound, but she can't to go to sleep tonight."

Lee took Tomoko from the arms of the guard. He was a little surprised, Tomoko didn't seem like the clumsy type. "How did you trip Tomoko?"

"It wasn't entirely my fault. I tried to tell Hinata we shouldn't have gone outside the city's walls." Tomoko tried to defend herself. It wasn't her fault that she got scared and tripped while trying to run.

"You went outside the walls. Why?" Gaara asked, but he didn't really feel like hearing the reason why. He just wanted to get some rest. "Never mind, at least you didn't go without guards." He said, not know that the guards weren't with them the whole time. Gaara dismissed the guards with a small nod and they went back to their original post.

Tomoko made a little clicking sound with her mouth while still in Lee's arms. "The guards weren't always with us. They only came after they hear me scream," she said as they made their way back into the home.

"You went outside the gate without escorts?" Hinata could tell Gaara was piss by the sound of his voice.

"We didn't go too far from the gate. The guards were even able to hear Tomoko scream when she got scared because the bushes started to rattled. I made sure no one was even in the area before we left the city's walls. It was only a rabbit that scared her," Hinata said. She was born a Hyuuga after all. But that wasn't good enough for Gaara. He couldn't wait to return to his desert land, and when they did, a few things were going to change.

"I'll make sure to assign you a personal guard when we live in Sunagakure, for now Lee will stay with you when ever you leave this house." Gaara said, and then walked away to go to their bedroom.

Hinata didn't want a personal guard. She hadn't had one since she left her Hyuuga home, and she loved it. Neji used to be her personal guard and he kind of left her with a complex. There was a time when he hated her, so the whole protecting thing didn't really work for him at the time. She didn't want another person feeling like they was born only to die for her. And she could take care of herself.

Hinata trailed behind Gaara until they were in their bedroom. "I don't need a babysitter. I can take care of myself." Hinata said sternly.

"A guard is not a babysitter. And have you even killed anyone before?"

"N-no, but I do have a-"

"So how do you expect me to believe that you can defend yourself? I bet you never even been in an actual fight. You always had someone there to protect you or to defend your honor." Gaara said with much argue. "Your clan has the power to see through shit, that's it. Not to through fire or to even transport yourself way from the danger."

Hinata was insulted on the behalf of her clan. They could do a lot more than just see through stuff with the right training. She might have never killed before, but she felt she could hold her own against someone. "I don't want a personal guard."

"In this matter, what you want is irrelevant. You'll have a guard with you always, and that's the end of it." Gaara said rather coldly. He didn't want to talk no more about it. He couldn't afford for her to be kidnapped or anything else. Gaara made his way to their bed and laid down.

Hinata still stood at the door with a hurt look on her face. She couldn't understand why Gaara has been in such a bad mood lately. And for some reason, that alone upset her.

Gaara notice that Hinata wasn't saying anything or moving. So he turned around to look at her. He felt guilty after he saw her face, but before he could even say anything, Hinata turned around a left the room. When Hinata didn't come back immediately, Gaara just laid in bed glaring at the door until his eyes fell close from sleep.

.

.

Hours later Lee was trying his best to keep Tomoko and himself awake. Hinata had said that she'd tend to Tomoko head as best she could with the items she bought from earlier today, but she feared that Tomoko might have a concussion because of the head wound. She'd also said that Tomoko need to stay awake until they could visit a doctor tomorrow and know for sure.

"Come on Tomoko, you got to stay up." Lee said in a pleading voice. Tomoko rested her head on the dining room table, only seconds away from being in dream land.

"Please let me sleep!"

"Let's go for a walk, I'm sure that'll get your youthfulness going." Lee said as a yawn escaped his own mouth.

"I don't care if I slip into a coma. At least I'll be well rested then." Tomoko said, far from joking.

Lee sighed to himself, "What would get you to wake up?"

That made a mischievous smile spread across Tomoko's face. She got up until she was standing in front of Lee. "There is one thing that could get me fully awake," she said as she wrapped her arms around Lee neck and stared at his lips. She was tired of wait for Lee to make the first move. She lifted herself off the floor and stood on her tiptoes.

Lee didn't move back when he saw Tomoko coming closer to him with her eyes closed. He'd wanted to kiss her for a while now, but something always stopped him, something always made him think twice about it. But not this time, Lee closed his eyes and draws himself into Tomoko.

"Ahhhh!" a high pitch scream halted their action.

The scream came from upstairs. Lee looked at Tomoko and said, "Go find some guards and tell them the king is in danger." He grabbed a knife from out of his boots and handed it to her. "And stay safe." After that Lee ran to were the scream came from, and Tomoko did as he said.

. . . .

Minutes earlier with Hinata:

Hinata had lain in bed awake throughout the night. She never returned to hers and Gaara's bedroom. She wanted time to herself and to be away from Gaara, so she stayed in the room across from his. He has been so stubborn lately, listening to no one's advice and he was so absolute about is decisions. He has been so hell-bent on even the most trivial of things, and that displeased her greatly, but it was not her intention to loss much needed sleep over it.

Hinata sat up and rested her back against the bed's headboard. She lifted her left leg to her chest and pulled up the pants leg. There was a belt around her calf that held a dagger. Hinata smiled to herself when she pulled the weapon out of its sheath. Tenten had given it to her on her eighteenth birthday. Tenten had even taught her how to use it, and she had advised Hinata to always keep it on her. Hinata always thought the weapon was beautifully crafted with a golden hilt.

Hinata sighed to herself. She obviously wasn't getting any sleep tonight. 'Maybe I should just go downstairs and help Lee keep Tomoko awake,' Hinata thought. She flung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

But before Hinata could even move on step, she felt an unfamiliar presence nearby. Hinata activated her powers and her eyes began to glow in the dark. She saw a strangely cloth man in her and Gaara's bedroom, holding a sword as he moved towards a sleeping Gaara.

'No, Gaara!'

. . . .

Gaara was sleeping peacefully until he was woken by a cooling sensation pressed against his neck. His eyes snapped open and he saw a masked man pressing a sword to his throat. Gaara tried to sit up until he felt the assassin press the weapon harder into him, Gaara slowly laid his head back onto his pillow.

Then Gaara realized where he was and his head twisted to the side, 'Hinata.'

But she wasn't there. He quickly turned his attention back to the assassin. Gaara knew he wasn't short on enemies, but he didn't know who this man was or who sent him. An assassin shouldn't even be able to get this close to him, not unless he had inside help. Gaara's mind started to race with possibilities. The council had a motive to get rid of him now, after he told them of their disbandment. But Hinata wasn't here beside him where she should be. Maybe she was the one who hired this assassin or she could very while be in on it with the council. She truly didn't seem like the type, Hinata seemed to be a genuinely kind person, but Gaara knew all too well about fake kindness.

"Who sent you," Gaara asked the assassin as he tried to summon his sand, but to no avail. He had left his gourd downstairs after he returned to the house with Hinata, so he was too far from his sand to actually use before the assassin heard it.

"Silence! You are not in the position to be asking me question," said the assassin roughly. "My master demands that you give what is due."

"And what exactly do I owe your master-"

"You are not to ask any questions, my master said so." Spat the assassin.

"Then your master is stupid. How the hell am I going to give you what your master wants if I don't know what is." Gaara countered. This man gave Gaara the impression that he was mentally unstable. A far cry from a real assassin, but you didn't have to be a professional killer to kill someone.

"Shut up, you're the stupid one. What my master wants cannot be carried away, but only walked upon. I should just kill you now for your stupidity, master would be so proud of me," the assassin started laughing after that statement.

The weight of his situation bearded down on him even more now. Gaara had no weapons near him and his sand wasn't even on the same floor level as him. He looked up at the ceiling; he was going to be murdered by this laughing crazed assassin. When the laughing cease abruptly Gaara turned his head back in the direction of the assassin.

Gaara eyes grow a tenth its normal size when he saw Hinata had a dagger at the assassin throat.

"D-drop your sword, s-slowly." Her voice wasn't very intimidating, but she pressed her dagger harder into his neck for good measure. The would-be assassin dropped his weapon quickly and it hit the floor with a loud clinking sound. Even thought the assassin didn't do precisely as Hinata said, he still relinquished his weapon without hurting Gaara and that was her main goal.

Gaara quickly stood and picked up the assassin's abandon weapon. He felt bad for doubting Hinata's trust but now was not the time. He needed to get Hinata way from being so close to the man. Gaara lifted the sword and held it at the assassin's chest.

"Hinata, come over here." Gaara said to Hinata. "Don't. You. Move." Unlike Hinata, Gaara's voice promised death if he was disobeyed by the assassin.

Hinata walked slowly to the assassin's side with her dagger still at his neck, and then she scurried to Gaara's side. When she looked up, Hinata was met with a small smile from Gaara. It might have gone unnoticed by most people, but after living with him for months Hinata could definitely tell it was a smile.

"Well," Gaara started, "Since I am now in the position to be asking questions: who sent you?"

"My master told me to tell you that she wants what is owed to her."

"Again, who is your master and what exactly do I 'owe' her?"

"I know her as no other. Her name is master and she is my master. Master said you would know what she wanted, and she is tired of waiting for it." The assassin said. He was not suppose to say anything, he know his master would be very angry with him. He needed to leave.

"Maybe you just need a little pain to jog your memory," Gaara said as he was about to step closer until Hinata stop him.

"Be careful, his ability is to turn invisible." Hinata whispered.

'How the hell do you know that,' Gaara thought as he looked into his wife glowing eyes. A sniveling sound made Gaara turn his attention back to the assassin.

"I will not betray my master," the assassin said with tears in his eyes. He pulled out a knife in his back pocket and thrust it into his chest with a roaring scream, "Ahhhh!"

'Gods damnit!' Gaara cursed to himself.

Lee came rushing into their bedroom and saw the dead body on the floor. "Good job Gaara, but are you both all right?"

"That crazy son of a bitch killed himself. But I'm alright," Gaara looked at Hinata. "Are you alright Hinata," he asked as his hand land on the small of her back.

"Yeah," Hinata said as she stared at the assassin lifeless body. She blinked a few times as if breaking out of a trance, "Yeah I'm fine. Do you think he will be the last assassin?"

"If this woman he was talking about actually have control over more clandred, I'm certain there will be more assassins." Gaara declared as he heard people running up the stairs. Moments later Tomoko along with some guards were standing outside his bedroom door. "Hinata, how can you even tell what kind of powers someone has?"

"A Hyuuga c-can do a lot more than s-see through walls," Hinata said referring to their conversation from earlier that night. Gaara smirked down at her then looked at the dead assassin once more.

"Well one thing's for sure, there'll be no more walking around unprotected."

.

.

A/N: Woo! Finally done. I feel like I've just swallowed a big pill. Lol. I hoped you guys out there liked it. I have changed this chapter so many times it's not even funny. But how did y'all like it? Do you know where I'm going with the plot (probably not, because I don't know too much myself)? What do you think I should do next? Please review and tell me your thoughts. And if you have any criticism for me, I only ask that you be gentle.

PLEASE REVIEW!