Dance with the Demon CH 10

- I do not own any of the characters in this story. All belong to Kisihmoto-san -

Wow! I'm already on chapter ten, having started this project a little over two weeks ago.

I'm so glad I gained the courage to start this story and also to see how many people enjoy it as well :3

Also, I apologize if I make Gaara too out of character, but I see him as an in between stage of his 12 year old bloodthirsty self and that calm and smiling kazekage he becomes. And besides, I'm having way too much fun with the character he has in the story! It's no fun if he has absolutely NO feelings, right? And he is human with… needs *wiggles eyebrows*.

Without further ado

oOo

Her shoulders lay on my right thigh, her back arching slightly down for the remainder of her body to rest against the bed.

Her head was on my left thigh, chin tilted up and lips parted slightly as her gentle breaths fluttered against my cheeks.

I hunched my shoulders, bending forward with my face hovering over hers as I studied her soft features. No, it was not the first time I had laid eyes on this woman, but it was the first time I had taken the chance to closely examine her. Yes, I probably should have taken her to the infirmary when she suddenly collapsed, but after catching her in my arms, I couldn't resist the sudden urge to study the unconscious creature.

I've never been this close to someone without ripping off body parts before I'd met her and I had to know why she was so special.

Sure the first time I had been close to her I was threatening her, but something about her drew me closer in a way I had never felt before. Why does she make me feel like this? What feeling even is this?

Fascination?

My eyes trailed over the gentle curves of her cheeks, the outcropping of her nose, the slight bulge of her eyelids with thick eyelashes that sprouted out, the smooth unworried skin of her forehead covered by soft black bangs, the pointed corners of light pink lips that were full and formed a small 'o' with her breathing.

She was so different than me. Her features were gentle and soft and her emotions shone easily through her expressive face.

My heart jumped a little when her lips began forming silent words.

I cocked my head to the side and watched intently, trying to make out what they said.

"Give… I want….."

My brow arched in question.

"Please…."

I swallowed a lump I hadn't noticed formed in my throat.

"Gaara…"

I suppressed a hungering growl at seeing my name on her lips. 'I should wake her. It's obvious what she wants', my groin told me eagerly.

My eyes widened when her pink tongue slid out to lick her parted lips before they moved again.

" Teriyaki."

I blinked twice, unsure if my lip reading skills were as sharp as I thought. Furrowing my brows, I squinted at her lips to catch the next movements with absolute concentration.

"C.H.I.C.K.E.N. T.E.R.I.Y.A.K.I."

I shut my eyes tightly, clenching my fists so hard that my short nails dug into my palms.

I was an idiot.

"Hinata."

My voice came out less composed than I had planned, but It worked in stirring the girl.

Her eyes slid open slowly, blinking and shifting all directions until settling mine.

I straightened my posture, pulling my face away from hers and stared at the wall as I felt her breathing speed up.

I silently wondered if she would scream, whimper, or just blush like mad at the current situation, but when the silence continued and she had yet to move, my eyes slid down to look at her.

The expression I was met with was nothing I had seen before. I tiled my chin down to catch it fully, my eyes widening slightly.

It was not embarrassment, shock, horror, or anger as normally anticipated, but a soft smile that resonated from her lips to her eyes.

She was smiling. At me.

I couldn't help the way my heart lurched in my chest painfully. No one had smiled at me like that since before the kindergarten incident. Even then, I doubt theirs had held the warmth that embodied the expression that I was now witnessing.

Why?

She suddenly moved, her arm reaching out to me and I watched as her palm turned to imitate the shape of my jaw.

My breath caught in my throat. Before it connected, I quickly snatched her wrist in my hand and squeezed against it, my body becoming rigid.

I was suddenly overcome with anxiousness and irritation. No one except Temari ever initiated physical contact with me, and even then it had taken nearly eighteen years and lots of patients. It was one thing if I did the touching, it was completely different if someone else did. I have been through enough to know not to let someone else take control.

"Don't. Touch."

Her expression turned pained so I let her wrist drop from my grasp and back to her side.

I slid from under her body and stood facing away from her, very uncomfortable with being near her. I was still unsure why she had tried to touch me and the thought of her trying again really made my skin crawl.

But I had to handle the situation I put her in.

I heard shuffling behind me and I assumed she was now sitting up.

"Do you need medical attention?" I asked, my voice feigning concern.

Well, I did care a little, but her sudden stunt definitely brought me back to my normal attitude. Detached and Uninterested.

"No…. I'm fine. I used to faint all the time when I was little…"

Her voice came small and timid and she seemed like she wanted to say more but stopped herself.

"Hm. Well then let's go."

I turned to face her and waited for her to stand before encasing us both in my chakra infused sand.

oOo

The tension in the air made it thick and was almost as strong as the smell of beef and rice.

He held the door for me and I bowed slightly as I shuffled in and stopped to see a smiling man at a podium. Even if he was upset, he was still a gentleman.

Gaara strode to my side and I couldn't help but cast a sideways glance at his face.

I sighed inwardly.

It was obvious he was upset at me, but I couldn't quite figure out why. He is clearly angry that I tried to touch him, but again, why? We have been in much more intimate situations in the past few days and I just couldn't grasp what had made him react so negatively. Plus when I became conscious, his face was inches from mine.

The hard edge in his eyes had completely disappeared in that moment. The look was so soft that it just filled me with happiness to see it. That's when I wanted to touch him. I'd wanted to reach out and smooth the worry from his face and unclench his tight jaw.

But here we are now.

He kept a distance from me and hadn't looked directly at me since then.

The man behind the podium led us to a booth and gently placed menus down as I climbed in on one side and Gaara gracefully slid into the opposite.

"Now, would you like to order one of our esteemed three course meals from the menu, or prefer our tantalizing arrangement from the classic buffet?"

Before answering, I quickly scanned the menu only to find very odd looking titles that I'd never seen in Konoha or the Hyuga complex. I shifted a nervous glance to Gaara but his concentration was buried in the menu before him so I settled on the safer choice.

"Buffet."

"Menu."

I turned my glance and our eyes locked for a moment before both turned back to the waiter who seemed to be ready to break out into sweats under both sets of glares.

"I see…. I'll be right back while you decide-"

"The number six on the menu with a water." Gaara's voice was just above a growl as it left his throat.

The waiter gulped audibly then plastered a smile back on his lips.
"Ah, then I will be right back with your order sir….. Miss, please help yourself to the buffet. My name is koske, feel free to call me if needed."

He all but ran from the table after his shaky hands took the menus.

I resisted another glance at my temperamental companion before slowly standing and walking carefully to the buffet table. I could feel his stare against my back and I tried very hard not to look like fleeing prey as I trained my steps to be confident.

At least I wasn't stuck at the table in an awkward silence.

oOo

I couldn't tear my eyes from her silhouette.

I watched every delicate move she made, from her careful steps to the movements of her hands as she set items on the plate. Grumbling to myself, I propped my elbow on the table with my chin in my palm. Why did I pick that dress for her…

I shook my head. This was counterproductive. I should be focusing on something else. Anything else.

I glanced around the finely decorated room at the sleek pattern and booths then turned to eye the other guests. Several pairs of men and women scattered around the room engaged in chit-chat and laughing.

The women were all beautiful, but my attention was surely drawn back to the one in dark blue with long raven hair. She was now headed for the booth and I averted my gaze to the buffet behind her.

She sat without a word across from me and I shifted uncomfortably. Several minutes passed and the silence began to irritate me worse than an overly chatty Temari. I should say something. Maybe I should forgive her for what she tried to do. Besides, this feeling it was giving me was slowly spoiling my appetite..

I cleared my throat to speak.

"Hin-"

"Here you are sir."

The waiter appeared almost out of nowhere with a silver bowl-covered tray, silencing any attempt I had just made at fixing the situation.

I pulled my arms into my lap and sat straight as he placed the tray in front of me then slid the lid away.

My appetite instantly returned to full glory.

He bowed and left me with my meal steaming in front of my chest. My eyes slid up to Hinata before before clutching my utensils, stabbing a piece, and bringing it to my lips. Her face pulled into a grimace as I took a small bite and rolled it over my tongue.

"What… is that?"

I chewed slowly before swallowing, my eyes holding hers as they squinted on my empty fork.

"Salted beef tongue." I said with a slight smirk. It was obvious that she was not a fan of my favorite dish.

I decided to use this as my new opportunity to break the ice.

"They don't have this in your village? Have you not tried it?"

Her face became a slight green and her pale eyes shifted away to the side.

"Anno… No… I didn't even know it was was served until now."

I felt my lips tug up at the corners. It was amusing to see this new emotion across her face

-disgust.

She sat her fork down gently and began to rise.

"I'm going to use the restroom…"

I scoffed and stifled an eye roll. She'd never even tried it, now she's just being over drammatic.

I nodded and she paced towards the long hallway at the far end of the room.

My eyes hungrily gazed after her retreating form.

I had to admit, I do love to watch her leave.

oOo

I could feel eyes on my back again, but this time, I could tell they weren't Gaara's.

I stopped mid stride through the hall and turned to face the direction I had just came but I saw no one. Turning back, I took a step but found myself halted by a strong chest.

I looked up to a tan-skinned face with dark brown eyes and gashes along the corners of upturned lips.

Before I could step back, a strong hand grabbed my wrist and I let out a gasp as I was harshly thrown against the wall. His palms squeezed my arm painfully and I pulled against him with a whine.

"W-what are you doing? Let g-go!"

I glared desperately to the smirking man whose eyes were now looking me up and down, tugging at my arm and pressing myself further into the wall in attempt to break free. A chuckle let his lips and he leaned in uncomfortably close as he sniffed at the hair draping over my shoulder.

"My, aren't you pretty. Why don't you come with me so we can have some fun, hmm?"

My shock turned to horror when I felt his free hand snake down my side and grab my hip harshly before turning and cupping my bottom with his large palm.

I quickly shut my eyes, concentrating on building chakra as I let myself gather strength. I am a shinobi. I can handle this. I let out a breath and tensed my body.

'Byakugan!'

My eyes burst open with veins straining around them and an invisible surge of pressure emanated. The blue rivers were now clearly visible as they ran through his body and I focused on the points connecting them, preparing to stride with my free hand.

My head snapped to the side when my vision caught bright red chakra swirling through the hallway towards us.

My mouth drew open in awe.

I'd never seen anything like this. It whipped through the air angrily and my body was trembling at the enormity of it as it spilled forward and filled the narrow space.

No. My body was trembling at how it felt. The feeling of hatred and despair that hit my senses and drowned my ability to think clearly.

I let my byakugan fade, unable to bear how intensely it forced me to concentrate on the nightmarish ckakra.

The form that stood at the end of the hall shocked me, even though I know it shouldn't have.

Gaara.

oOo

I saw the way his eyes followed her.

Almost as hungrily as my own had. But she was mine. My stomach churned and lurched inside and a bit my lip to quell the urge to cross the floor and assert my claim. That's it. I'm not letting her leave my room in anything like that dress again.

I closed my eyes, very aware of how irrational I was being. I shouldn't want to hide her away just because of some man appreciating how beautiful she is. I should feel good that my woman attracts attention. I folded my arms over my chest.

So then why do I feel bad?

…

I stared at the clock, wondering how long it normally takes women to use the restroom. Probably around the same amount of time for a man. Maybe a little more. What if she's having trouble with the dress? She's probably just 'freshening up' as Temari always says.

My eyes rolled back down to the entrance of the hallway and a small sigh left my lips. I looked down at my plate, my food now cooling as it lay untouched.

Maybe I'll just go see if I need to use the restroom too….

I stood and began walking when a rush of feelings shot into me with a gust of air.

Lust, anger, excitement.

Shock, desperation, fear.

I lept for the hallway with long chakra amplified strides and turned the corner to the scene mid way through the elongated space.

My eyes narrowed and my lips pulled back into a feral display of teeth.

That man. Is touching my woman.

Something in me snapped and I felt the demon chakra pouring out of my body and my vision began to haze over in red hues.

I barely even registered the shock on her face before lunging forward with full intentions of killing the man before me.

My hand shot out and ripped his from her bottom before wrenching it up forcibly and a loud snap echoed in my ears. He squealed in pain and his other arm came around to attack when I let a piece of my sand armor melt and used it to wrap around his arm and encased it tightly. My sand yanked him back and I stepped forward to follow as it slammed him back into the opposite wall.

He howled in anger and pain before kicking a leg out to strike me. I hissed and let more armor melt to pin it back to the wall as well as his other leg and arm.

"You little brat! What are you, a demon?!" He screamed into my face and spat.

My sand blocked the spit and my hands shot up to his thick neck, wrapping tightly before pressing against his jugular and a choking sound was heard.

I growled and pressed harder, pushing my body into it as he gurgled and his eyes started to bulge out and turn red.

"Gaara!"

A woman's voice echoed foggily into my head but all I saw was red and all I felt was the hunger to rip the life from this disgusting vermin. I didn't how this happened, just that I wanted to see blood and watch the life drain from his ugly contorted face.

The voice called again but that's not what ripped me from my haze.

It was the feeling of small arms wrapping around my chest that began to clear my mind.

oOo

Hehe…. don't be too mad at me! I couldn't resist.

Violence! Yes!

Can't have a good story without violence. And Gaara happens to be a very violent creature.

Stay tuned for the next adventure of shy girl and demon boy!

-CH 10 Fin-