Chapter 15

Sunagakure - Kage Mansion

Gaara paused, staring at Hinata who he found to be in the third floor of the Kage mansion. She was standing near some large windows staring out at the endless desert and the now rising sun. She was dressed in a white lace dress looking like an angel with her hair down and face luminous. She looked lighter than he had seen her in a long time.

The last few days had been grueling, he knew.

He'd brought Hinata back from Konohagakure even as his insides were twisting up on themselves at how badly he'd fucked up. First when it came to his intuition about Matsuri but also when it came to how he handled everything to do with Hinata.

The trial had happened without much involvement from him and that was exactly how he had wanted it to proceed. During the few days the trial was ongoing Gaara had been busy replacing his Chief of Staff with some of the other up and coming talent within his leadership. All was well… at least when it came to the operations of Suna. But the unpleasantness with Matsuri and what she had done was still rippling across Sunagakure.

Kankuro had asked him yesterday what his plan was. But … Gaara didn't know himself. Ideally he wanted to keep Hinata here for as long as it took for them to work this out.

Realistically he felt that he was too toxic for her…. He had subjected her to only pain since she'd regained her memory and he was deeply ashamed of that. There were no excuses. Dating Matsuri in hindsight felt so so stupid.

Maybe it had made sense back then when he'd regarded her as his only true friend in Sunagakure. The one person who'd always had his back… the one person who he owed loyalty and happiness to… but look at how that had turned out.

"Hinata…" Gaara called out, stifling his useless ruminations back into himself.


"Yes" Hinata blinked a bit disoriented upon hearing her name called out.

She was on the third floor of the kage mansion because Gaara had insisted she be accommodated on this floor for this visit. She still had a guest room, but it seemed like she had elevated her status to be allowed on the Kage family suites.

She wasn't sure what to make of this change in dynamic to their relationship yet again. But she knew that she was tired and so was he. Tired from all the misunderstandings and from being tossed around and manipulated at the whims of other people.

What Hinata craved the most now was peace.

"I…" Gaara's voice trailed off in an uncharacteristic display of insecurity.

"What is it?" she furrowed her brows.

"Here…" he extended to her a document without explanation.

She took the piece of paper wordlessly and read it. It was a visa reinstatement backdated to the day she had been banned from Sunagakure. She flinched even as she realized he was just trying to make amends and to nullify the ban from her records.

Gaara put his head down as she flinched. "I failed you on so many levels."

Hinata took the piece of paper and folded it…tucking it into her pocket.

"Hinata I…." she looked up at Gaara as he stumbled for words in a very uncharacteristic display of his discomfort. He looked tireder than usual with his bruises around the eyes deepened in color. But he still looked beautiful… it must be the contrast with his aquamarine eyes and his bone structure. It was unfair.

"I'm sorry I didn't pick up on all the ways Matsuri was mistreating you all these years. And I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you tried to tell me what you remembered about her… I don't blame you if you never forgave me… If I hadn't been so stupid things would be different… a lot different" he ran his hand through his hair.

"Gaara" she interrupted him, cutting off his depressing monologue. "Let's not belabor the point about what has happened in the past shall we? What do you want now?" she asked rather directly.

Gaara's eyes widened and it was clear he hadn't been expecting that question. He looked at her steadily for what felt like a minute before answering. "I don't have a right to ask anything from you."

"Why not?" she frowned.

"Aren't you mad about Matsuri and the way I treated you the last few months?" he asked, a bit confused.

"I am…" she nodded, "but now knowing how I feel about you, you are throwing away my feelings and any chance of a future together."

"I-I" Gaara stuttered. "I'm too ashamed to ask anything of you."

Hinata sighed, closing her eyes. "Gaara…" She said patiently, "I love you and I am also sick of wasting time. I think if anything this has shown me that life and time is fleeting. Happiness is fleeting. If we don't take the chance to be happy when we have it then we are idiots. Life, love, passion… these are not things we should take for granted."

Gaara swallowed. Was she actually agreeing to forgive him?

"Come with me" she grabbed his hand and within five minutes or so they were in the greenhouse Gaara maintained for her.

She walked inside and felt her anger melt.

Everytime she was in here she remembered that he had taken care of this space for her all these years. And that action spoke volumes even as he'd been pushing her away. She understood why he had been loyal to Matsuri… truly… it was a waste of her time to be angry at him and let Matsuri continue to ruin her relationship with Gaara.

If anything the person Matsuri and Hinata had both hurt the most was Gaara.

She sighed and took him by hand to show him a new variety of a plant that she was growing.

"What is it?" he frowned, bending down. It was two small plants in tiny pots so far and one was a blue variety and the other was pink.

"I'm planning to grow a whole section of these flowers and fill the vases of the Kage mansion every time these bloom throughout the year."

Gaara's mouth quirked at her unexpected whimsy and authority. "What do you mean?"

"These are called forget me nots. They… represent many things. But to me this represents a promise that we will make today…" her eyes clouded with tears. "Gaara…" she looked at the red head, her composure cracking for the first time that day, "if I forget you again…"

"I won't let you forget me." he finished the sentence for her. "If you forget me again I will stay by your side no matter what. Whether it's as a partner, friend or stranger… I will never let you go."

She nodded a tear running down her face. "And if you forget me…. I will also do the same. This is a promise I make to you,"

"And a promise I make to you," Gaara voiced solemnly.

She took out a ring from her pocket. "I had wondered why I had a ring." she turned over the plane gold band in her hand contemplatively.

Gaara smiled at her, suddenly the trajectory of where they were heading lightening his mood.

Without any words he took his wallet out and took the ring he kept with him at all times out. Hinata without any surprise took the gold band from him and evaluted the rings together. They matched. She handed the smaller one to him and kept the larger one herself as she extended her left hand to him with an arched eyebrow.

Gaara's eyes crinkled as he took her hand in his and slid the ring on her finger and she solemnly took his left hand and did the same. No words were spoken. After the rings were in place it wasn't clear to him who moved first but within seconds they were kissing each other.

Hinata gasped as he swept his tongue into her mouth and their bodies twisted into each other in desperation both afraid of losing this moment. The moment they'd each never thought they would get to again.

"Gaara" she gasped as they tore their lips apart and Gaara was already well on his way to assessing how he could get her outfit off of her and move this action on to the couch that was nearby.

"Stop it" she laughed accurately reading the look in his eyes but he was too far gone. What they started in Kakashi's office a few months back reignited sooner than he could say boom.

"A quick one," he promised, nibbling her neck and ear before returning to her mouth, capturing her in a deep kiss bending to gather the long skirt of her dress and bunch it up so he could get to her thighs.

"No" she laughed pushing him away, "I still need to punish you…" she pouted and he drew back surprised.

"Punish me?"

"Did you think you were going to get away with all this so easily?" she blinked adorably at him patting his face consolingly.

He looked down a bit regretfully at her dress where there was a small string securing the front of her bodice hiding her breasts from him. He fingered the string thoughtfully…

"But didn't we agree not to take life for granted?" he spoke in a reasonable voice trying not to let desperation leak into his voice.

She blinked up at him with almond eyes before leaning in to kiss his neck thoroughly distracting him… "Oh… you are right… I did say that" she teased rubbing her hand over the bulge in his pants effectively weakening his knees.

He knew this sudden change of heart was probably too good to be true but he was in a happy place indeed as she lowered the zipper of his pants taking him out of his boxers rubbing even more insistently up and down the length of his cock.

He wasn't proud of the chocked noise that escaped his lips as heat spiked up his back.

Gaara was afraid to say anything and ruin this but It had been so long since his last sexual encounter that he was sure with the softness of her hands he was about to embarrass himself in front of her from the quickest hand job in history.

Within seconds when he was bucking into her hands with gasps Hinata suddenly jumped away from his arms sticking her tongue out at him making him groan in disappointment.

Gaara blinked, swallowing in disbelief aroused to a painful degree.

"You are going to have to beg me for a few days at least" she opened the door to the green house and breezed out leaving him with his pants around his ankles.

"That sadistic…" he muttered, "heartless… tease" he whispered running a hand over his face but even as he was saying it a huge smile splayed across his face that he would get to beg her for a few days. He would beg her for even a lifetime if needed.

Gaara couldn't follow her out. He had to spend a few minutes in the greenhouse of course because his erection wouldn't subside and he had forgotten his Kage robes. He wasn't about to grace the anbu with the show of a lifetime leaving the greenhouse with a raging hardon… he had a reputation to uphold after all…

But he was going to find her sooner or later and he would convince her to have pity on him.

.


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Sunagakure - Kage Mansion

Hinata hadn't thought out her strategy super well. She sulked walking up the grand entrance to the house. She'd left Gaara hanging… but she'd also left herself hanging she frowned tightening her thighs feeling the sensitivity between them. Oh well… all in good time Hinata reminded herself looking around the house with fresh eyes.

She had meant it when she told Gaara she wanted to move forward and leave all the pain of the past behind them. They had lost too much time.

She climbed the ornate staircase intending to explore the house heading straight to the third floor.

The kage residence had marble floors, she sank her toes in satisfaction into its cool texture. She avoided the master suite as she hadn't asked Gaara if it was okay to go into his room yet, but she explored the adjacent rooms that were open.

One of the rooms very close to the Kage suite was a nursery… That room radiated a youthful charm and was painted in a trendy pastel olive green and white color with playful decorative touches. There was a comfortable cot, small study desk, and shelves filled with small toys and books.

Next to the nursery was a welcoming family lounge with soft, plush sofas and armchairs upholstered in rich fabrics, providing plenty of seating for the Kazekage and their loved ones to gather and unwind. There was even a fireplace, framed by an intricately carved mantelpiece and bookshelves lined the rest of the room, filled with large tomes. Gaara had a lot of books… he had them in his office, his downstairs study and now here as well.

"Hinata"

She gasped, but was happy to see that it was Kankuro standing behind her grinning.

"I heard you left my brother in a bit of an awkward situation in the greenhouse…" he chortled.

Hinata felt herself blush to a deep red. How had that gotten out already?

"He had no idea he had a hickey on his neck until Nobu nearly had to burst a vein from the embarrassment of pointing it out to him…" Kankuro was wiping away tears. "I'm just glad I was there to witness that…. and support him of course."

Hinata grimaced.

"Hey" Kankuro stopped laughing looking at her, "Don't worry about it… Gaara needs a bit of lightness to keep him grounded, you know. He's too high and mighty otherwise…"

Hinata nodded, still embarrassed.

"So you guys are good I take it?" Kankuro slumped into an armchair.

"Yes" Hinata smiled. They were good.

"And you are touring the house?"

"Yes… A-ano… the nursery… did that used to be your nursery?" Hinata asked a bit confused. She had no memories of the Kage mansion for some reason. Just flashes of Gaara's room but not much of the rest of the floor.

"Uh… no" Kankuro said uncharacteristically solemn. "Temari and I… we… well back in the day we didn't use to live in the Kage compound actually… our father lived here" he looked around.

"Temari and I lived with our grandmother, and Gaara… well he was kept in another facility…" The older man exhales sharply at the unpleasant memories. "I'm sure the nursery was here… but you decorated it yourself if you are talking about the way it looks right now."

"I thought Gaara got rid of the changes I made?" she said, a bit confused.

"Mainly on the main floor…. but he didn't spend much time on this floor after you were gone, plus… he kept your greenhouse…so who knows how that man thinks. Maybe there is a reason he remodeled the kitchen though," Kankuro looked thoughtful.

"Oh…" she turned around hiding her blush from Kankuro's perspective gaze. "I-is it o-okay if I continue to explore?"

Kankuro stood up with a laugh, "Of course… you are the only one who cared to make this house… homey. Anyway I have to go to a meeting, I just came to get a change of clothes. I have a date tonight by the way. Do you need anything?"

"A-ano no" she waved him off and Kankuro yelled over his shoulder reminding her to call the housekeeper if she needed anything.

Hinata smiled as a feeling of nostalgia and well being returned.

.


.

Later that day 9 PM

Hinata was just finishing cooking dinner when Gaara walked in. He'd left a pile of work on his desk, only getting to the absolutely urgent matters after his last meeting of the day had wrapped up at 7 PM.

"Oh…." Hinata startled. "I wasn't expecting you back for hours…" she looked at the clock.

"Yeah…my day ended up wrapping up a bit earlier" Gaara looked nonchalantly over her shoulder at the pasta she was making.

And when he turned to look back at Hinata she was smiling up at him teasingly. He nervously adjusted the collar of his shirt.

"Are you settling in okay?" he asked distracting her, noticing that she had changed out of her white dress into sweats and a tank top for the evening paired with a large sweater.

"Mhm" she smiled, pouring out some orange juice for him. "Kankuro said he has a date tonight."

"Ah…." Gaara nodded and she could easily see the wheels turning in his head.

"Should we go upstairs?" He asked looking at the staircase longingly.

"Why?" she blinked in mock confusion. "Here let me get some pasta for you."

With that the two settled in for dinner. Hinata turned off the lights and lit some of the tall candles she had found in the cabinets. And to deliver on the torture she promised she took off her sweater and put up her hair in a bun for good measure.

She was satisfied when Gaara sat there looking like he'd been poleaxed as she happily nibbled away at her salad.

An hour or so later after a few glasses of wine and dessert, they made their way upstairs.

"Do you want to move your stuff into the master bedroom?" he asked, looking at her room down the hall from his.

"Oh not yet" she smiled as she went onto her tippy toes to kiss his cheek goodnight.

.


.

Gaara had taken a shower and had been settled in bed reading when his sudden relaxed state for the first time in years lulled him into a natural sleep.

So imagine his surprise when he woke up an indeterminate amount of time later to the feeling of someone in the room.

Hinata was smiling down at him dressed in an innocent white baby doll nightgown. It was perfectly respectable except for the neckline that was wide and slightly rounded, resting gracefully across her shoulders exposing a hint of skin. The dress from there draped loosely over her ending in mid thigh and he had to be grateful that this wasn't like some of the lingerie she had chosen to put on in the past.

"Hinata" he smiled and moved to sit up when he realized he was tied up. "What…?" he muttered confused.

"Payback… remember?" she trailed her fingers down his shirtless chest making his muscles jump and arousing him with an embarrassing quickness.

Gaara looked down sadly at his hardon that was already very pronounced.

"You know... THIS is a form of payback I can't really complain about…" he settled in to his pillow deeper with a wide smile.

"Oh we'll see" she said a bit cryptically and his smile faltered. Perhaps he shouldn't have said that….

Without any warning Hinata sat directly on his length her butt nestling his length almost lovingly between her cheeks. Gaara swallowed feeling hot. She started moving then slowly.

She moved her cheeks back and forth on his length driving him quickly into a desperate state as his hips started to twitch off the bed wanting to be buried into her or to be released from him pajamas and to feel the silky skin of her thighs…anything would do.

"Does that feel good?" she asked breathily. And Gaara felt drops of sweat run down his neck as he nodded, taking a deep breath. Perhaps Hinata didn't realize what little it took to get him off these days he thought squeezing his eyes as he felt his balls clenching in warning as she lifted herself off him. He almost swore in frustration and took a few breaths controlling himself.

When he opened his eyes she was laid out on the bed now draped over his legs her face resting on his hip bone as she lovingly drew circles on his stomach that was moving with his harsh breathing. He bit his lips… saying anything wouldn't help.. She clearly had a plan.

After a few minutes had passed and his blood had cooled, Hinata lightly touched him untying his drawstrings as she took his heavy length out into her hands. Again he gulped…

She slowly touched him just with her thumb first following the veins on his member and he felt his thighs clench as she breathed over him lightly making him tremble in an embarrassing way.

Okay maybe this was revenge. Still he kept his mouth shut.

After a few more minutes of lightly stroking his length he did explicitly curse when she finally put the tip of his cock into her mouth lightly sucking on it before popping it out and then returning to it with a renewed urgency slowly bobbing her head up and down with light suction.

Gaara grunted and moved his hips wanting to control the tempo and depth of penetration but he couldn't. So he finally muttered "Please…"

And she made a satisfied sound vibrating around him as she took his length deeper into her mouth making his toes curl.

He felt his balls clutching again in warning that he was about to cum as she popped his length off her mouth sitting up and wiping her chin.

"Ah fuck" he twitched his hip as his length bobbed comically over his stomach swollen and red.

"Payback means making you suffer…." she grazed her fingers down his thighs… "but…"

"Hinata" he cut her off.

"What?" she asked a bit uncertain despite the femme fatal role she'd been playing until now.

"Just because it's payback for me doesn't mean you can't have fun…" she blinked at that.

She had barely gasped before he used his sand to cut through the silk binding she had used and flipped her over to her stomach with her arms pinned overhead.


Authors Note: this story turned out to be more angsty than I even anticipated so even though I had an outline I was still surprised. Which shows how unpredictable writing can be I guess.

Anyway after all the heartache I figured this deserved a few light hearted fluffy and smutty chapters. But the story is almost done :).