So I couldn't figure out where to divide this into two different chapters, because there are so many parts that connect, so this is a little longer than my usual. You could say it's to make up for the long time it's been since I last updated... So enjoy!
Warning: Hinata and Gaara are growing up so they start using harsher words more often than previously. So brace yourself.
"What did they do to you? Why are you letting them do this to you?" No reply again. "Hinata please, just talk to me. Tell me why they are doing this and I'll beat the crap out of them."
"Matsuri, watch your language." Those were the only four words the pearly-eyed girl lightly said to her adopted sister. She wore a slightly bigger, thin, red dress for comfort, and loose for room for the injuries to get a good amount of air without getting infected by any sand that could easily wipe through the room. Matsuri waited for more responses but did not receive any.
"So I watch my words while you don't watch out for yourself? Come on Hinata, why do they keep doing this to you? Why won't you stand up for yourself?" She looked across at her sister who was staring at the ground from her upright position on the old and faded, flowered sofa. She herself in a grey armchair inspected her elder sister's form with pitied eyes. She did not know what to make of the scene in front of her. "You were strong even when I turned my back on you, why have you changed? What happened? If I really hurt you that much please, I've begged forgiveness and you granted it previously, but mean it with your full heart."
"I did forgive you with my full heart because you are forever in it. But what happens within my team stats within my team."
"Hinata, I will follow you if you don't tell me. I've learned to be stealthy and you know I can be, so I'll find out no matter what. Just tell me now to make it easier for the both of us."
However, she continued to stay unmoving, her pale hands didn't even shake or fidget with the other on her lap. Then all of a sudden, she fell forward onto her knees and fell prostrate, forehead on the ground and everything, and Matsuri, slowly kneeling down, heard water against the floor.
'She's crying. But why?'
"Matsuri... I-I... I was j-just..." it was hard for Matsuri to understand her in between the chokes and sobs. It was heart-wrenching to see her sister in such a miserable state. She never even knew this was possible for her sister.
"I was t-trying to help ev-veryone e-else... Th-there was t-taunting a-and jee-eering and m-m-mocking... It was s-starting to dr-drive me mad but... for y-your benefit I-I kept silent and appeared s-strong... Sadness just... consumes the hearts... of those who can't confirm... how th-they should live... even when e-every word... h-h-hurts..."
'Those boys are in for it' Matsuri immediately concluded after understanding what her sister said. She stood up abruptly and addressed to her sister, "I'm going out for a bit. I gotta get a few more medical supplies."
As she was leaving, something caught her ankle and she recognized the now weak grasp of her sister. "D-don't e-even try. I-I have to face this b-by myself. P-p-promise me you w-won't do anything... please." Her speaking was a little clearer now, making slightly more cohesive sentences, but the improvement did not improve her mood in the least.
"No Hinata! I'm not going to stand for this! Those boys are making your life hell and I'm not going to let that happen! This is exactly how I felt when mom and dad died: like nothing around me would or could ever comfort me. Yet I got out of that. You might be older than me, but you can't control my will and actions. I am going to march right up to them and give them a piece of my mind..."
"So you're going to give them a piece of your fist?" Hinata interrupted. It was concrete, clear; she knew what Matsuri would do, there was no need for further words on Matsuri's behalf, but Hinata had to say something. "Matsuri, you might have great intentions with incredible actions, but some things need to be done more subtly. Yes, you are a very talented ninja in training, but I still have more experience than you and have acquired a bit more wisdom from other chunin and jonin. I-I know how I can approach them to make them a little uneasy and off-guard so I can take them. Plus, I don't want you getting hurt. I already hurt you before."
With that said, she got up, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and went to get her normal attire to meet with Riko-sensei and the rest of the team for their next assignment, hoping she might be able to confront Kega and Itami. As she changed, she thought of the different ways she could bring up the situation confidently and in her favor. A thousand different options ran through her head, but she threw them all a way, seeing a flaw in every single one of them. Finally, she gave up on thinking and just went to do it.
"Gaara, come on, we gotta give the report to the Kazekage quickly. You know his strict rules about turning reports in as soon as we return from a mission."
"Yes, yes, I'm coming Kankuro," he replied dully, not in as much of a mood to speak due to his tiredness. "Hey Temari, er, would you like me to fill it out this time?"
Every cell of her brain was confounded, trying to register what she just heard. 'Did my youngest brother, Gaara, the secluded demon-boy, just offer to do a favor?' She finally put it together from what she hardly registered on the way back from their mission. 'I'm sorry.' 'Yes, his sweet side is showing again!' She excitedly screamed in her mind. "No, that's fine Gaara, but you can take the next one if you still want."
"Yes, that'd be good. Then I'll be able to mentally prepare myself for longer like you normally do." Temari giggled at this. It was true that she did think ahead of time what details she was going to write, but there was something else. He also added a weird tone, an unserious tone! 'Hm, I wonder where this is gonna go. Oh, just don't be as big as a 'jokester' as Kankuro. His get annoying.'
They walked through the city a little longer until they were right outside. At that moment, Gaara froze as he saw someone coming. After recognizing who it was, he respectfully requested that he not go in so he could talk. They gladly allowed him with smiles and entered the sand compound.
Playfully hiding behind a mound of sand, he waited for his chance to jump out as a surprise, just like the old days. As the person approached, he recognized something was off. Hinata, with her head down, was walking in front of two other guys who then started to walk on both sides of her. Although unable to make out what they specifically said, they began talking to her, then laughing, and finally very forcefully ran sideways into her. The larger boy on her right side completely pushed her to the ground and held his foot on her back. Gaara grew furious and was about to reveal his presence, but he saw her struggling, and beginning to fight back. He could not find his motivation, but he wanted to see his best friend beat them up, just like she did at the practices in school.
She grabbed the big guy's foot and pulled it off her back and held it to the ground as she pulled her feet underneath her to stand. When she was upright on her knees, the other guy pushed her shoulders so that she was on the floor yet again. Gaara was now so furious, he wanted to use his sand coffin. He then heard one of the boys shouting at her, "Why'd you even come back? You know you're useless! Even Riko was disappointed when you came back. Why aren't you dead, you know everything would be better that way."
"Why, what did I ever do to you Kega? You know I've done my best and have certainly helped in succeeding our missions. Why?"
Kega bent down to her level, eye-level with his prey. "Because, Hinata, you ruined my life at school by upstaging me in wits and jutsu. However, I have now been able to better learn my clan's jutsu and my father has helped me to surpass you. You see, he also believes that people are born into their statuses. My family has always been involved in government, so we always have a large influence on the final decision. However, he knows that you're not from here and therefore, you do not belong here." He paused, a new, intense glare stared at Hinata; so full of loathing and hatred, attacking and distance. "You should leave, and never return because there's nothing for you here. Got that?"
She saw his eyes squint a little before she felt herself knocked against the ground again. Kega's hand had pulled across her cheek, now pinning it to the ground. He now shouted at her, and Gaara could hear: "You filth, you're just a worm in the sand." His heel landed in her lower back, and she was in shock. She was now completely on her stomach as the two boys began beating her nearly senseless. Itami pulled out a shiny object, from what Gaara could see, and saw him bring it down above her head.
Gaara had had far too much and finally stood up. Without one word, he lifted his palm up and the sand followed. Then, he flicked his hand so that his palm aimed the sand toward Kega and Itami.
Fortunately for them, Kega had just barely heard the swirl of sand right before it darted toward he and his teammate. He pushed Itami backward before using his feet to push him in the opposite direction. He quickly sat up after his back hit the ground. Standing, he pulled Itami off his wide backside and they ran for their lives.
Gaara quickly stopped his sand from following them past the turn they had taken, but also he knew they were under the impression that it was going to follow them for a long time. Gaara then went, no, he ran over to Hinata. He pulled her up, sitting upright against his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, her hair was unevenly cut, and she now had multiple bruises all over her, but when she flickered her eyes open, he saw they were still perfect orbs.
Foreshadowing! So I just want to make a comment that I think is interesting (you might think otherwise): Part of Hinata's words actually comes from a poem, very modified, but the order and idea is similar to it. Yeah, that's it. Hope you all enjoyed it! Literary criticism is always welcomed (preferably by PM) in a kind manner.