Here is another chapter of Bad boy, sorry for the wait, please do enjoy!
Hinata swallowed dryly as she took a deep breath; she glanced towards Gaara briefly, who sat uncomfortably beside her as she answered the call.
"It's… It's m-my father." She whispered. She shook her head lightly as she braced herself for the call. I can do this, I can this. "H-Hello… F-Father." She finally answered.
There was a brief pause, "You took your time answering?" His deep and business tone of voice answered.
"Y-Yes, Father. I-I was u-using the r-restroom." Hinata cringed at the lie she told her father; surely he could hear through her lies? "I-I am s-sorry." She added.
"Hm." He responded, she heard a brief shift of papers and a light tapping of a keyboard. After another long pause, which both Gaara and Hinata were beginning to be unsure of, "I have received a call from Hansuke that you have not yet returned home? He must be working. Where are you to be out so late?"
"I-I am w-with f-friends, f-father." Another lie, "I-I h-have lost t-track o-of t-time." She bowed in shame, "I-I am s-sorry father, I-I shall r-return home at o-once."
"See to that, that you do." Without a proper course of goodbye or a loving word of worry, he ended the call faster than he replied.
Hinata put her phone away and stared intensely at the old, rugged mattress that lay hard on the floor, Hansuke was worried for her, for sure, and Hanabi would be too. However, her father only called for the duty of her blood to ensure she was safe and well because he would not need to fetch her himself.
She looked out towards the large window; she could see the little town and the pretty lights and bright shining stars that littered the sky.
Indeed it was rather late.
"You need to go home?" Gaara finally answered after the long silence. It was instead a statement, however, then a question.
Hinata jumped slightly, "Y-yes…." She responded absently.
Gaara frowned deeply; the young woman before him was nothing compared to the woman in front of him not even 5 minutes ago. Sure she was-is- timid and shy, but now she was absent and cowering in his mattress as if she could hide from him and the world. She looked so… sad.
The call between her and her father left her quite distorted and strange.
Humming slightly, he got up from the mattress and offered his hand to hers.
"Let's go."
She looked up at the redhead. Shaking herself silly, she gave him a bright and meaningful smile and took his hand. His hand was warm and big; she didn't want to leave him or the tiny apartment.
"Thank y-you." She smiled but turned her head away, then, very quickly, she reached on her tippy toes to give him a soft peck on the cheek.
Gaara leaned back in surprise but quickly composed himself and grunted a soft "hm."
Still.
There was sadness behind her eyes; she was still conflicted from the exchange between her father and herself. He mustn't be a kind or compassionate man.
Much like his own father.
"I apologize for my behaviour earlier." He coughed quickly, "But this is a way of business... Something you'll get used to… soon." He said coolly.
"O-Of course," Hinata said quickly; she had almost forgotten why she was here today or even why she was in his apartment.
"I will send word for you for our… next training," Gaara said uncertainly; he was unsure how to place his words correctly, a completely different exchange to one he would have with his blonde friend.
"Will…" Hinata began; she licked her chapped lips, "Will t-there be m-more gun training?" Hinata shivered when she thought of all that happened today, between Gaara's different personality and the red woman with a gun. It made her feel sick to her stomach.
He gave a slight nod, "Unfortunately." He sighed," I don't know what Sasuke has in store for you yet. Instead, prepare you for the best I can. And I promise," He grimaced, "I won't let Rasa out, or at least I can try."
Hinata thought for a moment and smiled again, "I understand." Hinata thought a moment more before she glanced down, and her cheeks heated up again, "But…." She trailed off.
"Hm?" Gaara mused for her to continue.
"Will…W-Will we still g-go on d-dates… T-Together?" She quickly glanced up to see his reaction but quickly adverted her eyes down to stop from her bright red face giving in to her desire again.
"Oh." Gaara stumbled back, but he quickly composed himself, "Of course, I would still… Like to go on dates… with you, and I should like to…." He shifted uncomfortably on the spot while looking outside the dark, black sky "to continue certain actions of intimacy that we have shared… as of recently." He coughed lightly.
"Oh." Hinata smiled brightly and sincerely, "I would like t-to as w-well."
Gaara nodded and then took her hand in his, "We must be leaving." He said curtly, nudging his head towards the dark sky that loomed outside.
Hinata agreed and followed him out the door.
Gaara had dropped Hinata off at home; of course, he stopped quite a few houses down from hers due to not wanting to cause a scene or a fuss if she was escorted home by a male companion rather than a female one, which she was supposed to be with friends, girlfriends. He waited patiently by the curb and watched her small figure disappear down the street and into her rather large, expensive house-mansion- with two figures hovering in the doorway.
The little devil, Hanabi, of course, is one of them. The other was a male, whom he believed Gaara knew was not too fond of him, Hansuke. They pulled her into a tight embrace and quickly stepped away in the doorway, shutting the door soundly.
Gaara reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. He hadn't had one in a while, not since his first kiss with Hinata, she wasn't particularly fond of either the smell or the taste, and thus he held off for a while. However, tonight was the night he desperately needed one.
The first puff brought a rush of relief as he inhaled the toxins, slowly releasing them. With his eyes close and cigarette in his mouth, he turned away from Hinata's house and walked home.
She stuttered a lot more when she spoke to her father. She was much more terrified and obedient, terribly obedient. She started to stutter once more in front of him, even after telling her not to, and her-of course- agreeing to. He gave an angry grunt when he thought about her being so terrified and dutiful to her father, whom he suspected of even being physically abusive.
Just like his father.
He clenched his fist in irritation once his father crossed his mind. There was nothing but ill will and displeasure in thinking about his father. The father beat and belittled him, always starving and hurting him every chance he got. Making him turn all matters of the family away from him, making them think he was a monster.
His father made damn well sure he made a monster out of him, creating a spitting image of himself into Gaara. Like father likes son.
Blamed him for his own mother's death. Something he clearly had no control over, or at least that is what Yashamaru told him.
Gaara stopped briefly; he couldn't think of Yashamaru, not now, not where his head was leading. These thought patterns always lead him to the wrong kind of mind frame, which leads to old and broken love.
Hinata is way too good to be true.
The cigarette that was still hanging from his lips began to burn to his lips and fill with ash. He quickly took out the used cigarette and flicked it onto the broken pavement. The ground was still wet and crammed with puddles. He could almost fill the cold, chilly air that would surely come from them later on. The breeze was slowly creeping into his bones, and he was already planning on fighting it.
His apartment building became more visible as he neared the dark alleyway into his building; Shukaku waited patiently-obediently- by the door, protecting all and nothing that he owned in his apartment.
"Good boy." Gaara patted the dog behind the ears and walked through the crooked door.
He walked right over to the unkempt bed and toppled over it. His bed still smelt like her, like lilac. Such a sweet-smelling, and innocent, fragrance, it was a certain comfort. His mind began to wonder about their time on this bed; however short it was, it was certainly one to remember.
Her sweet, moist lips tasted like blueberries and mint. So lovely and refreshing, her body melted into his like she was made for it, his brute and calloused hands fit so snuggly on her hips and chest.
Gaara shook his head at those intimate thoughts; he couldn't have those thoughts right now, not with so much going through his mind.
He fell asleep with Hinata still on his mind.
As soon as Hinata was welcomed in the door, she was bombarded with a million questions and a million words of worries. Hanabi was the worse with trepidation; she was nearly brought to tears when she didn't receive mention of where she was or if she was even okay. Hansuke, a typical male, was highly possessive of her safety and was extremely worried about her carelessness in not informing anyone of her absence.
"I-I'm e-extremely s-sorry." Hinata bowed, "I-I t-truly a-am." Hinata was moved with tears at her own words, it had been an exhausting and emotional roller coaster day, and she didn't quite understand it.
"Hinata!" Both Hanabi and Hansuke exclaimed.
Hanabi's hands snaked around her waist and brought her closer to her tiny body, giving her back a light pat, "I believe Hinata should head up to bed." Hanabi cut Hansuke off before he could say anything more distressing.
"Ah!" Hansuke stuttered before waving a hand in defeat, "Yes, yes, of course. Hinata seems to have a distressing day; best to get her to bed then. I will bring up some calming tea and chamomile if you'd like?" Hansuke looked at the tired-eyed blue-haired beauty.
Hinata nodded in agreement, sniffling a little as she wrapped her arms around her body to fight the sudden chill that went through her.
"Come, Hinata." Hanabi coached as she wrapped her arms around Hinata's and gently pressed her to walk up the staircase to her room.
"T-Thank y-you, H-Hanabi." Hinata wiped away the tears with the back of her sleeve, "I-I'll b-be f-fine n-now." She smiled lightly at her little sister.
Hanabi shook her head, "I know you're not." She crossed her arms and stared hard, "Gaara didn't hurt you, did he?"
Hinata shook her head, soft tresses falling on her shoulder, "N-No, o-of c-course n-not." Hinata answered truthfully, the only truth she could tell that night.
Both Hinata and Hanabi sat on the end of Hinata's bed, a light blue coverlet folded neatly on end. Hanabi stared harder, "Then what is wrong? I'm worried about you, Hinata."
Hinata grabbed the coverlet and wrapped it around her thin shoulders, a chill still seeping through her sore and tired body.
"I…I'm in love…." Hinata whispered, without a stutter, and with certainty.
Hanabi arched a brow and shivered lightly; Hanabi didn't understand much about love and why or even how a woman could have easily swooned over men, especially this red-haired man. She was only still a child, but even still, she wasn't impressed by the opposite gender, not that she had a taste for her own gender, but the fact that her older sister was in love and crying was not registering in her child's brain.
How can you be in love and be so unhappy?
Not to mention that Hinata's friend, Sakura, was used and abused- whatever that implied- by said male's own friend would have to be something that you would cry about; surely that couldn't be love. But Hinata has had more than the one date Sakura had, so Hinata being in love is more plausible, but still, it didn't make sense for Hinata to be so unhappy unless he hurt her.
"Did he…?" Hanabi thought carefully as she tried to think of her words; she gestured to Hinata's tiny body, "Try anything you didn't like?"
Hinata's cheek flared up in a bright red colour, "N-No… N-Not really…" Hinata looked away from her little sister, "I-I-I haven't d-done anything. N-Not like t-that…" she quickly said.
"I don't understand, Hinata?" Hanabi crunched her little nose, "Then why are you upset and crying?"
Hinata smiled lightly, "I guess… W-When you're i-In love, it m-makes you d-do unusual t-things."
"Then… You've done something with him…?" Hanabi probed.
Once more, Hinata's cheeks turned bright red, "You're t-too y-young f-for such c-conversation." She held tighter the blue coverlet as she wiped away the last remaining tears that had stained her face.
She wasn't entirely unhappy, not really. She was just somewhat confused about what had happened these last couple of weeks, with Sasuke and his missions, Gaara and his training with guns and material arts, as well as Gaara and his multiple personalities- the most prominent being Rasa. Then there was, of course, the fact Gaara had murdered someone, murdered someone in front of her.
Of course, she was emotionally drained and confused about how to feel or understand what was happening.
"Well, I still don't understand." Hanabi wrinkled her nose again.
"N-No, ha-ha. I d-don't suppose y-you would." Hinata giggled slightly.
A knock was heard on Hinata's door. A slight maid came in with a brewing pot of tea and a cup of sweet sugar on the side.
"Hansuke said to bring this tea, miss." The maid walked over to Hinata's bedside table and gently placed it down, saying, "It is better to drink it hot, miss." The maid bowed and swiftly walked out without hers or any of the girls' thanks.
"Maids." Hanabi shook her head and got up from the warm comfort of Hinata's bed, "I think you should drink the tea, though. I'm sure you'll feel better with a nice cup of tea and some rest."
Hinata nodded; sometimes, she wasn't sure which of the two was supposed to be older and which one was supposed to offer comfort. She gave her little sister another sweet smile, "Thank y-you, Hanabi. I-I'll be r-right."
Hanabi nodded and bent over to kiss Hinata on the cheek and give a warm, comforting hug. "Goodnight, Hinata, sleep tight."
"G-Goodnight, Hanabi." She watched as Hanabi walked out the door and softly closed it, leaving Hinata alone.
Sighing, Hinata reached over to the side table, holding the tea and poured herself a cup. She sprinkled a little sugar on the side and drank the sweet-smelling tea. It was a calming relief, that was for sure. Her body was already beginning to warm and soothe from the tea; she could almost forget the past with how calm she was.
Placing the cup gently on the tray, she shrugged off her jacket and shirt and walked over to her closet to get into her pyjamas; she quickly dove under the covers of her bed and embraced the warm, welcoming darkness of sleep.
Gaara awake at his usual time, rubbing the sleep from his tired eyes as he looked out the window to the lights outside; a million thoughts ran through his head, but only one thing-or, rather than one person, was on his mind.
Reaching the floor beside himself, he sent a quick message to the one person he couldn't get his mind off.
Hinata was awake to the light buzzing noise; she rubbed the sleep from her tired eyes and glanced at her alarm clock beside her; it read 6:45AM. Looking for the source of the vibration that had awoken her, she found it came from her jacket pocket, her phone.
Grabbing the phone from her pocket, she looked to see she had received a message, a message from a certain someone.
A message from Gaara.
Downtown café, my treat? A bold and short message the red-haired man had sent.
Hinata smiled with joy at the prospect; she was thrilled that, at least this time, they would be going on a date rather than the training he was offering her for the god- knows- what -mission Sasuke was going to ask her to be on.
Quickly answering her reply, she raced around her room to find clothes that would be appropriate for the day; looking outside, it appeared to be a chilling one, and then once she chose her outfit, she quickly brushed the tangles out of her hair.
She wore a bright red scarf and an all-purple outfit with a matching beanie; her jacket was thick but comfortable to fight off the morning's chilly air.
She quietly walked down the deserted hall and into the kitchens to write a short note about where she was and how she might be out a bit later than usual but that she would be safe.
Happy with her note, she was out the door as quickly as she entered it.
Gaara waited patiently outside the doors of the café. He woke up feeling a great need to see Hinata and be in her presence again. He couldn't shake off his angry feeling towards himself for acting as he had in front of the timid girl yesterday, scaring her and making her cry.
He was still trying his best to figure out his feelings towards Hinata and not let the past get the better of him. But try as he might, it was hard to fight over his desire and urge. But he was determined to make today a better day for them both.
Rasa was bloodthirsty and just as angry and mean.
Hinata managed to pull out emotions he thought he had left behind with another. Things he wished he could forget and undo. He didn't regret Hinata; she made him more confused each time they met and talked.
She left some fire in his soul he couldn't quite put out, not that he wanted to. She was every thought that consumed him; she meant something to him.
He scoffed at his feelings and hugged his light jacket towards himself as he fought off the cold. He should invest in getting new clothes and, more importantly, warmer clothes. Shoes were a must, as well, seeing as he always came home with wet and soaked socks.
He then saw the timid woman slowly walk down the pavement and towards him.
"G-Gaara…" She smiled brightly as she walked towards him.
"Hinata…" Gaara nodded and glanced towards the warm and inviting café beside them, "Care to go in?"
"O-Of course." She lends towards him as they both enter the door; he lets her pass through first.
"Please… Don't stutter…." He gave her a small but evident look of worry.
She smiled embarrassedly, "I… I'm sorry." She squeaked.
He smiled reassuringly and nudged her towards the sweets, "My treat." He nodded before she could inject her refusal.
They both picked their sweets, ordered a hot cup of hot chocolate each, and sat down at the table nearest to the heater, for Gaara's sake.
The silence between them was awkward this time; both were unsure what to say or how to bring up any conversation.
"You're… Cold?" Hinata asked, digging into her blueberry muffin.
"Hm." He nodded, "I don't like the cold very much." He started to hack at his double chocolate brownie.
"Don't… You have… anything warmer?" She queried.
He shook his head, a mouth packed with brownies.
"We… We could get… you something warmer… if you'd like?" Hinata offered, taking a light sip of her hot chocolate.
Gaara shrugged as if it wasn't as big of a deal as it was; he didn't have all sorts of money to throw around.
Hinata thought for a moment and then gave Gaara another one of her sweet smiles, "Here." She said, taking off her bright red scarf from around her shoulders, "Please… take this…." She offered.
Gaara unintentionally grasped the scarf from her soft hands and held it to his face. It was relatively warm, no doubt, and the best thing was that it smelt just like her.
"Thank… You." He said, a bit taken back. He wrapped the scarf around his cold neck and looked at the beauty in front of him. "Hinata…" He started, sighing to think of the words to say. "I want to talk about… About yesterday. In a little more detail."
"Oh?" She looked taken back, "Of course." She looked down at the table.
"I want you to know the real me."
I hope you liked this chapter, please R/R I do enjoy the feedback, good or bad.