Copyright notice: I do not own Naruto or its characters.
The Recovery
Three days later…
Black lashes fluttered, the long tips brushing along the rosy cheeks that were once deathly pale. Midnight hair framed the girl's oval face, the long locks purposely combed down past her shoulders and ending on top of the lush cream coverlet. Her black eyebrows scrunched together before her pink lips dropped open to take a soft breath. Pearly, white eyes opened drowsily as the girl instinctively began to raise a thin hand to her temple.
"Lady Hinata, I have prepared some relaxing herbal tea and fruits fresh from the garden. They should restore your health, my lady."
Hinata let her weak eyes survey her surroundings. The walls were soft colors of lavender, creamy whites, and etched with delicate hand painted swirls of flowers. Against the wall lay a handcrafted shamisen her mother once owned in its golden stand and near it her low table where she pressed flowers and carefully tried her hand at calligraphy. The ink stains still lingered on the sides. High above her most precious belongings in the room were the orange lanterns and fans she had painted herself for festivals. This was her room, her refuge when she could not be in her garden.
Hinata lifted her body up slowly, nodding and softly smiling at the old Hyuga woman. The woman shuffled forward, placing the wooden tray holding the delicate ivory tea set on a low stand by her. The woman bowed deeply, shuffling backward and exiting through Hinata's sliding door.
Hinata steadily lifted her body, feeling more drained by the second and ready to give up. A rough, warm hand grasped her own and helped pull her up. Her curious eyes met the concerned ones of her father.
"Father, l-let me pour y-you some t-tea."
Hiashi shook his head and held Hinata's hand firmly. "There is no need for that, Hinata. You aren't in the condition for serving me tea. You were brave for your contributions to the mission."
"Yes…I wanted t-to complete it."
"Hinata, you have made me proud but you also concern me. Your cousin has reported to me your disinclination towards your health."
Hinata wanted to duck her head at her Father's frown but bit her lip and kept her head up.
"Father, I h-had to help our allies."
Hiashi frowned deeply, rubbing his thumb over Hinata's hand before answering sternly. "This is true. Your answer is logical and important, even your selfless determination to assist your teammates is noted deeply. But, as my heir to the Hyuga main branch, you will not lightly disregard your health."
Hinata dipped her head further into her chest before Hiashi took his hand to cup her chin and lift her head up. His older and wiser eyes looked deeply into her younger ones. He blinked once before patting her hand lightly and lifting his body off her bed.
"Ko-san, you may enter. Keep watch over Lady Hinata-sama and assist her with anything she wishes."
Hinata's eyes followed her father as his tall form left her room to be replaced by Ko's lithe form that bowed to her father quickly before sitting next to her tray.
"Lady Hinata, please do not be so careless. Neji-san and I would deeply regret failing your father and losing you,"Ko spoke in his low baritone, his tan hands nearly shaking as he poured her tea and handed a small cup to her.
"Yes, Ko-san. I understand. I would never hurt my precious friends,"Hinata answered gently. Her hand patted his arm, her pale kimono sleeve nearly falling into her fruit plate. Ko lifted the sleeve and lifted the tray back to its rightful place, a frown on his golden skin.
"Neji-san is right about you. Your compassion worries me, Lady Hinata."
"Ko-san, have y-you been l-laying out i-in the sun?"Hinata asked before sipping her tea.
"Ah, you wish to joke. I'll play. I've been training and the arriving summer has been…unkind."
Hinata barely suppressed a giggle, surprising herself and Ko before a thought came to her.
Gaara.
I remember you now…
Gaara…so much fear and pain.
Hinata let her smile fall and her eyes briefly water before taking a last sip of tea and handing her empty cup to Ko. She made sure to give a soft smile to Ko so as to make sure he did not see her growing anxiety. I hate to lie and hide…but then I hid my misery for years didn't I?
"Ko-san, d-do y-you h-h-have news of Suna's shinobi?"Hinata asked timidly.
Ko's lips thinned before he answered. " Sabaku no Gaara is recovering in the hospital under Lady Tsunade's care and also under her apprentice. The other Sand Siblings are roaming the village or waiting in the hospital. The student that was kidnapped was recently discharged from the hospital."
Hinata lifted an eyebrow. "Y-you know s-so much."
"As your guardian and chunin of Konoha, I make it my business to know information about…visitors, Lady Hinata."
Hinata touched Ko's hand and squeezed it. "Ko-san, t-they are our allies now. Trust them."
Silence filled the room before Hinata let her thoughts roam about what little she remembered about the mission, her cup lifting to her lips occasionally. Her lips barely touched the painted rim before she froze. Gaara's student, the one who was kidnapped by the Celestials. Hinata remembered her now clearly.
Brown eyes, riddled with fear and sorrow. How scared she must have felt watching her sensei in pain, fighting back Shukaku and battling those men. She must be terrified.
I wonder how she is…the poor young girl. She must be a few years younger than me.
Hinata put her cup down and faced Ko with determination.
"Ko-san, Iet's go w-walk. I w-want to visit the f-flowers."
Ko paused, nodded then left the room for Hinata to change into her light spring kimono. Hinata slowly pushed the coverlet away and walked to her carved dresser. She opened it and found the hanging kimono. The bright oranges, yellows, and gold sparkled from the sunlight and warmed Hinata's heart. Yes, this would do.
As she wrapped the kimono around, slid into her sandals, grabbed her painted parasol, she looked in the mirror. She looked better than what Neji-nii-san had told her she had looked during a feverish haze yesterday. She had some color and her eyes looked less tired. She grabbed the pins atop her vanity and placed her hair in a loose half updo. Everything was reflex, all ingrained by the old traditional Hyuga women who tormented her after training.
Hinata soon joined Ko outside the Hyuga compound and placed a hand on his arm, popping open her small parasol. It was best to wear the kimono right now, or bruises would show on her skin. She nodded at Ko and they started slowly walking downtown. She didn't know how or why, but somehow deep down she knew where the student would be.
Maybe because that's where I would be if I was sad and lonely…
XXXXXX
Matsuri sat with her legs drawn up in the grass, her bloodshot eyes gazing absently at the waterfalls in front of her. She couldn't remember a time she had cried so much after her parents died. She knew she had done Gaara proud when she used the johyo to try and protect her sensei. Temari had said so, in her own blunt way. So why didn't she feel it deep down.
"This sucks…I am such a loser."
Matsuri looked at the grass and the lone flowers around her. She had come here after being discharged from the hospital. She had wandered through the village until finding this place. It looked…comforting and almost like someone had come here often. Maybe they were miserable like her too.
I just can't be around Temari and Kankuro…not right now.
"H-hello, may I-I join you?"
Matsuri wiped her nose and swiftly turned her head to the soft voice near her. Her mouth opened a little then snapped shut. The girl before her was dressed in a bright and colorful kimono, the sleeves nearly touching the grass before her. A painted parasol was above her head, a mass of black tendrils pulled behind her and framing her pale face. White eyes, she had white eyes…
Wait, I know her. She's that girl from the fight. The one with eyes like that other boy. She talked to my sensei…
She is so pretty. Never would guess she was a kunoichi.
"Uh, sure."
The girl shyly nodded at a man in a flak jacket and uniform with the same white eyes before moving to sit close to Matsuri. She placed her parasol on the grass before running her hands through the flowers and gently smiling.
" Um, what's your name?"
Matsuri lifted her hair out of her eyes to briefly meet white eyes. The girl's cheeks turned a pink tint before she plucked a flower and held it to her chest.
"Matsuri. I am Gaara's student."
"My n-name is Hinata H-Hyuga. It is n-nice to meet you."
Silence reigned over them for a few minutes before Hinata spoke up and met eyes with Matsuri.
"Y-you are brave. A t-teammate told me y-you d-d-defended your sensei."
Matsuri wiped her nose again. "Not that brave. I tried. I don't like weapons. I…just…why am I telling you this?"
"A weapon is n-not always u-used for k-killing. It c-can be for protecting t-t-t-hose precious to you, Matsuri."
Matsuri's eyes widened as she turned her head to focus on Hinata, who dipped her head until her black bangs hung over her eyes.
It's her…the one my sensei talked about.
"When I w-want to be alone, I always c-come here. The flowers a-are so beautiful and calming. Don't you think?"
Matsuri looked over the flowers in Hinata's hands then into Hinata's eyes. Matsuri noticed Hinata's eyes weren't completely white, but tinted with lavender.
"W-would you like to pick f-flowers for your sensei? I-it might relax you and it w-would be a nice gift f-for him."
Matsuri wiggled before looking at the flowers, reaching a hand to them then looking into Hinata's eyes. "You think so?"
Hinata smiled. "Y-yes. I w-will help you. I k-know a f-friend w-who helps run a f-flower shop. S-she can help us."
Matsuri let a small twitch of a grin cross her face before nodding, the brown uneven hair falling across her face.
"Yes, then. Anything to help sensei feel better sounds good."
XXXXXX
Hinata felt her kimono swoosh past her legs as she walked slowly down the hallway and after a rejuvenated Matsuri. Ino had proved to be great help in assisting Matsuri with arranging a nice bouquet to give her sensei that would give luck and good health. Ino's energy and Hinata's own small help had awakened a very chatty Matsuri. Hinata had noticed that Matsuri kept giving her long, odd looks every now and then in the flower shop as well as out in the field. Hinata had simply let it rest in the back of her head. She had a frustrated Ko to talk to later, who now stood outside the hospital and waited for Hinata.
Matsuri turned back toward her, a smile on her face, and grabbed one of Hinata's hands to pull her further down the hallway. Hinata smiled warmly, making sure Matsuri did not grab her roughly. It was good to see her happier. Hinata never enjoyed seeing sadness of any kind, especially after feeling unhappiness for so long. Hinata brushed one hand over her heart and smiled. Making others happy had always made her feel most…well, happy.
"Hinata, we're here!"
Hinata took a breath at the doorway, pausing briefly, but it wouldn't have mattered. No amount of time would have prepared her for what she would see and feel once inside the room.
XXXXXX
Where am I?
So dark…so quiet.
Wait…I hear voices. One I know well.
The smell…lavender….or lilac?
I want to move…
Gaara felt his bandaged body twitch then relax again back into the deep rest he was in. Before, falling back, he felt small grains of sand release and the brief touch of something soft…like skin.
XXXXXX
Hinata stood at the end of Gaara's bed, not paying attention to Matsuri's hushed chattering and movements to place the bouquet by Gaara's bed table. Her eyes watered, the tears brimming and almost spilling over her face as she felt herself move to the open seat near his bed. Temari had been here recently, the smell of spices in the air and some sort of deep perfume. She must be so worried…Hinata could tell she had been sitting there a long time and Kankuro must have been standing at the end where she had been.
Gaara lay still, the dark black under his eyes and on his lids even darker. His face was ashen and one cheek lightly bruised, almost as if he had received a punch. One shoulder and arm was bandaged while the rest of his black tunic covered his body. His chest was exposed though, bandages covering across his ribs. She hadn't seen him as such before, even during the Chunin Exams. He was so strong then…only taking a hit once from Lee. Now he looked weak and bruised. He took all this to save his student.
Would he ever do so for me?
Hinata brushed the random thought from her head, her body sliding into the seat beside him. She swept back her long sleeves and looked for an open place to set her own flower, something Matusuri had worked with her on and something else she had made in secret.
Hinata leaned forward, her hair falling across Gaara's arm and placed the flower onto the table near him. She slowly pulled back, her face close to his own and looked down at her small hand. Her hand hovered a few inches above his hand. She had always been small with petite hands. She knew he was a bit small, but even he was bigger than her. She studied his hand. Pearly nails, barely sun kissed skin, tapered fingers like an artist. She had looked at his hands before, but now in a new light. A different light she didn't understand.
After looking from his face to his hand, she moved to place the object near his hand…
"Hinata!"
Hinata flinched, her hand barely kissing the top of his as she stood up and collected herself to look at Matsuri.
Matsuri looked at her intently. "You're her, aren't you? The one he talked about when he trained me about weapons?"
Hinata flushed and grabbed her sleeves. She pushed herself out of the chair and smiled at Matsuri shyly.
"Y-your sensei will like y-your gift v-very much, Matsuri. Goodbye."
Hinata made her way outside of the room, not before bumping into a startled Kankuro. She opened her mouth and eyes in surprise. Her hands touched her chest as he stilled her from falling. His expression went from shock to an unnerving calm…and thankfulness.
"Thanks, Hinata. Temari and I…just thanks. Good to see you well,"Kankuro rumbled out quickly before patting her on the back and walking to Gaara's room.
Hinata blushed furiously and ran as fast as she could in her kimono until she made it to the foyer. After fixing her hair and breathing deeply, Hinata walked outside to meet Ko. She smiled lightly and took the parasol from him. But not before feeling sand whirl past her shoulder and out into the streets.
"Strange. Lets return to the compound. You must rest, Lady Hinata."Ko simply replied and led Hinata away from the hospital.
XXXXXX
Lavender…lilac…I smell it.
Flowers…
Warmth…skin…
Gaara opened heavy lids to look at the ceiling before quickly raising his body off the bed and rubbing his chest. A startled noise came from beside him. Matsuri. His student was beside him. He turned his torso towards her before eyeing the small bouquet beside him on the small table.
"Flowers?"
Matsuri stood silently before grinning and nodding. "Um, yes sensei. Lady Hinata thought it would be a good gift and good luck."
Gaara froze then knitted his eyebrows. "Hinata?"
Matsuri twirled her fingers and bit her lip before whispering almost to herself. "She is the one you spoke of huh?"
Gaara lifted his head, taking in the scent of lavender and catching the glance of another smaller bundle of flowers. Lilacs.
"I am proud of you, Matsuri. You are a fine student. I appreciate your gift. Lady Hinata was correct."
"Gaara, you're awake huh? You missed Hinata Hyuga. She always looks like a terrified rabbit when I see her. So nervous and shy,"Kankuro spoke wryly as he entered and leaned against the wall.
Gaara kept silent, looking at his brother before he felt it and then remembered. His eyes dropped slowly to his still hand next to the table holding Hinata's modest bundle of lilacs. He eyed his palm almost nervously as if it might catch on fire and turned it over. He opened it slowly and felt his heart catch in his throat.
It wasn't a dream or a drug induced hallucination.
A pressed flower, an intricate weaving of two lilies, had been placed inside his palm. Then he remembered something more important…something that made him feel different. Something Naruto had talked about and Yashamaru had talked about once.
But most importantly he remembered this: the briefest second her hand touched his…
A second he would not forget…and the gift he would not forget.
Author Note: Please enjoy while you read and review. Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate them and I am very happy you like my story! Lets keep going!
Author Note