Copyright notice: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Sleeping Beauty
Won't you come out
I've been waiting for you
Holding my breath
Til my body turned blue
We've got everything to lose
Yeah I'm waiting on you
Sun's come up
And there's no one else around
Meet me in the shadows
Won't you tell me what you found
You've got everything to lose
Yeah I'm waiting on you
Where The Lonely Ones Roam by Digital Daggers
XXXXXX
Candles were set about in different corners of the room, casting shadows on the still form of the woman lying in the lush bed in the middle of the dark room. Her face was pale, lips a faint pink, and the color under her eyes a near blue. Her black hair was spread along the pillow and touching the bruised column of her neck. Her hands were crossed, the fingers a pale blue along with the color of her closed eye lids.
A figure sat off to the side, leaning back with hands crossed behind his head. The purple paint gleamed from the light but the light did not touch his eyes. Kankuro was a mess, trying to keep watch over the weak body of Hinata. The guilt was crushing him and this was a guy that was a being of constant mirth and laughter.
He leaned forward, scrunching his nose at the scent of earth and a woodsy scent. He did not have to look to know that his brother had entered the room from the balcony in a whir of sand. He remained quiet and simply watched his brother stand in a fit of tension. His dark shirt was rolled up at the sleeves, the collar cut low to reveal mesh lining and a tribal necklace made of some sort of rope or another.
Kankuro watched Gaara walk quietly next to Hinata's bed and squat next to her pillow. His face was troubled, the burning gaze locking onto Hinata's sleeping one. His sea foam eyes drifted along her form before glancing down at the necklace he wore. He lifted the necklace from under his shirt and rubbed on the object.
Was that a pressed flower placed inside wood?
"Gaara?"
Gaara was lost in thought, rubbing along the wooden pendant before running his hands through his hair. His bloodshot eyes connected with Kankuro's.
"Yes?"
Kankuro's lips formed a line before answering.
"We've been keeping watch over her, a sort of vigil. Ko and a medic ninja we dragged in here have agreed she is improving. Well, the ninja you threatened to come in here."
At this Kankuro smirked but it left as Gaara looked away.
"She looks so innocent. Her light is dim."
Kankuro snorted. "Ko applied the ointment. He told us it works quickly but that senbon wound was a nasty one. She should be fine within a day or so."
Gaara nodded then raised his head.
"Konoha can't know about this."
Kankuro nodded. "We know. Temari made that clear. She is speaking to the council now. You're missing your approval as Kage."
Silence.
"They want to get the festivities and ceremony going tonight. The people need some happiness and reassurance. The treaty Tem wrangled out of the new daimyo was perfect."
"I won't leave her…alone. No one should bear such pain."
Kankuro stood and rushed by Gaara's side.
"The council needs you there. You are Kage. You know, Hinata wouldn't want this."
Gaara surged up from the floor and snarled, nose to nose with his brother. His fists were balled and white.
"And how would you know? She was expendable to you both!"
Now Kankuro was mad. "Liar! She was a friend and ally to all of us; you know that more than anyone. The council needs you there."
Gaara wrinkled his nose, before taking a deep breath and taking one last glance at Hinata.
"Watch her."
Kankuro crossed his arms.
"You know we will. Ko is gathering more herbs and grabbing the remainder of the Hyuga ointment."
Gaara's face remained torn; his body still and caught between leaving and staying. He then nodded and left out the window as quietly as he had entered.
Ko soon entered the room not long after, bringing ointments and bandages for Hinata. His face was drawn, the white eyes full of regret and even anger.
"I appreciate your care. I have more ointment for the wounds. Lets get to it."
Kankuro stood aside while Ko knelt by Hinata and started moving her sheet, removing the bandages. He soon paused and let a breath out.
"I understand the ceremony and festival is tonight. I hope her wounds were worth it, I hope her life was worth it."
For once, Kankuro had nothing to say. He looked outside the window, watching the people string up lights and lanterns.
Nothing was worth this.
XXXXXX
Dusk was close to settling on the village of Sunagakure. The council was sitting quietly, brows furrowed and hands steepled after listening to the in-depth accounts from the travel to the former daimyo's palace and the results of the coup. The council had mostly remained quiet, nodding absently at the seriousness of the matter and sighing at the success of the treaty that Temari had wrangled from the new daimyo.
"It seems your coup was a great success. We will be able to build a new economy, have new funds, and now a new Kage to run this village," a council member finally spoke out.
"Yes, quite. Where is our new Kage? We will need to start the ceremony and the festivities."
"We never doubted the success, at least not all of us."
"Where is our new Kage, I wonder?"
A familiar smooth voice wondered out loud. The council members moved their heads to look at the distinct outline of jet black mussed hair and piercing eyes.
Temari and Baki had stood off to the side long enough, quiet and reflective after their reports. They had heard the council bicker, sigh, and then begin to celebrate long enough. Temari stepped forward and tapped her fan gently.
Before she could speak, the buzzing of sand particles signaled the entrance of said Kage. Gaara stood near the window and glanced the council, his head cocked.
"I understand you wish to start the ceremony and this festival, which is traditional. I want you to understand this; this occasion came at the cost of the near loss of an ally and close…friend of us. Remember that."
The council sat in shock and remorse, faces tight and drawn before slow nods shifted around the room. Not long after, Gaara drifted from the room without another word and the council was called for preparations to begin the ceremony and festival.
Baki shared uncomfortable eye contact with Temari before she spun on her heels to leave without any word. The Sand Siblings had been rather quiet, aside from reports but Baki noticed the sharp looks from Temari like daggers at Jai and Jai's own bizarre facial expressions when Hinata was mentioned. This was a puzzle Baki was intent on figuring out once he could corner his friend…if he could consider him one.
XXXXX
The festival's lights poured into every open window and balcony like beams of hope shining onto the revived village. Lanterns were strung along lines all over the village, flowers thrown about by young girls with bright smiles and held in bundles by young women. Laughter was heard along with chatter over the beauty of a quickly put together ceremony in honor of the new Kage. It was meant for display, that a more formal bestowing of the title would be meant for the council and Kage only but this was for the people.
For once the people of Sunagakure felt light, free, and hopeful. Fears of the new Kage were dissipating…ever so slowly after the rumors erupted throughout the village of the overthrown daimyo and new treaty. Maybe this Sabaku no Gaara wasn't such a monster…maybe he cared and maybe they could feel protected. Something seemed different, but this was yet to be proven. For now, they could rest peacefully knowing their village could thrive.
XXXXXX
"Oh, Hinata. I wish you could see this. The lanterns, the fan dances, the little booths, and the flowers…its magical for something put together so fast. The people are finally happy and you had so much help to do with this."
Temari sat by Hinata, her dress folded by her. She was dressed formally, her black satin gown almost fitting her curves despite the elaborate red obi. The ornaments in her hair were minimal, aside from wooden combs shaped like fans and the pink flowers pinned near her buns. Black mesh covered her hands and along one leg where a slit rose up in the middle. She had kept her makeup smoky, not finding herself up to spirits about getting too overly done.
Temari snapped her fan, looking at Hinata one last time before moving to rub her face. She stood slowly and looked out the balcony one last time, listening to the gentle plucking of the shamisen and the sound of the drums. Soon her brother would be called to the podium and declared as Kage. She couldn't miss that, but it felt wrong without Hinata.
She sighed to herself, before patting her chest. She hadn't expected her sigh to be so loud and nasty. Great, now she would be sick.
Suddenly, a loud gasp rang throughout the room and the shifting of sheets.
Temari threw her back against the wall and placed her hand on her chest. Hinata was still as always, her chest rising lightly.
"Well, I am going to be late. Hinata, please get better. I wish you would wake up. We all do. I know he wouldn't want you to miss this more than anything. He will be so alone out there…"
Temari left quietly, giving one last glance before sliding the door aside and leaving.
XXXXX
White lilies covered the lush grass. The warm breath lingered on her ear and neck. She couldn't make out the words before…but now the words and voice felt familiar, as did the strong touch on her back.
"Don't let my humanity leave with you…"
Her vision became blurry then…everything becoming dark.
Hinata's eyes flew open and a loud gasp left her, her back drawing up as she fought to breathe deep. She sat up shakily, her hand on her chest. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before squinting at the bright light coming in from the balcony.
Lanterns…