It was cloudy, Hanabi was miserable, Kiba and Neji barely spoke to her, and her father didn't bother to come to see her off.
Neji struggled through a hug and let Hanabi's fingers cling to his sleeve while they said their final goodbyes. Kiba's hug was too tight, but it was warm and was accompanied by a comfortable hand from Shino. Akamaru covered her legs, and she received a warm smile from her teacher.
Sakura and Ino handed her an 'engagement' gift she didn't want to open for fear of what was inside. Tenten gave a short goodbye before going to be amused by Neji's stiff behavior.
Naruto spent most of his time speaking to Gaara loudly, and when it came time for him to say goodbye to her, his mood was a very abrupt change. Naruto seemed nervous. Hinata wondered if she shouldn't have told him, but it forced her to move on, which she needed. She hoped it didn't cause him too much discomfort. She reached forward first to hug him. He engulfed her and picked her up off her toes. When had he gotten that tall? Had she stopped paying attention?
Naruto released her, turning her swiftly enough to make her dizzy and giving her a gentle push directly into Gaara. Hinata stumbled back in embarrassment.
They all waved her off as she departed for her new life.
Suna was hot. Hot and dry. Too hot and dry for his fiancée. They made it to the gates when Kankuro asked her if she was alright, just before her eye fluttered shut, and she fainted.
Gaara was now angry with himself for not thinking about climate change having more of an effect on her. Temari made her change before they got into the desert. However, she still was not used to the dry air and heat.
Kankuro picked her up and went ahead to get her inside to cool down.
"She'll get sunburned easily, too, with her complexion," Temari commented as they were bombarded with information about what happened while they were gone.
"I did not account for that." Gaara agreed.
"You didn't account for much when you decided this." Temari mused.
Hinata was fine. She wasn't even dehydrated, just light-headed from the heat. She explained that she suffered from fainting in the past, so she wasn't surprised.
Gaara couldn't calm down until he was able to check on her health himself. Hinata was embarrassed about the issue, so he didn't ask more. A room was prepared for her, made an appointment with his council that was demanding answers.
Now back in his office, glaring at the paperwork that piled up, it felt surreal and annoying to be back at his desk and have to speak to politicians. Working through the day was something Gaara was accustomed to, and he fell right back into the stressful routine of his day until late in the evening when he got an unusually light knock on his door.
"Enter," Gaara growled.
Hinata's worried eyes and sunburned cheeks peeked from behind the door. "I'm sorry to bother you, but you haven't been to any meals." She slid in, closing the door behind her, leaning on it. An escape route? Did she fear him now that she was in his home and not hers?
Gaara sighed at the clock. He skipped all his meals, taking snacks his brother brought in with him. He was so quickly engulfed in his work he nearly forgot she was here.
"Is this normal?" Hinata twirled her ring behind her back.
"Generally," Gaara answered honestly.
Hinata chewed on her lip and nodded. What was that? Disappointment? Had she wanted to have meals with him? Had he offended her? "I'll leave you to your work then, but please eat." Hinata retreated out the door.
Gaara stared so long at the door for so long by the time he realized there was another knock, and a member of the kitchen brought him a plate. Gaara ate what was brought to him. It was certainly different for someone to be looking after his health again. His siblings gave up long ago, and most of the staff were too frightened of him or respected him too much scold him for his unhealthy habits.
Hinata would give up as they did.
Gaara was a man of habit and a workaholic. He slept, ate, and spent little time away from his office. He would be glad to spend the time he did have to himself with her. However, his work and village needed his attention first.
Hinata was up before most of the house and down to the kitchen before people even thought about breakfast. If Temari was right, Gaara would be in his office in less than an hour, and that's how much time she had.
Hinata was determined to be a good wife and friend to her fiancé. Everyone else might let him ignore his health, but she certainly would not. The Hyuga could be classified as many distasteful things. Unhealthy was not one of them. She was taught to have a full, healthy diet from a young age and would not let herself ignore him.
Hinata cooked, then cleaned up her mess just as staff came in for the morning. One even offered to take the tray for her, but this was her mission. She would like to do it on her own. She came to his office, balanced the tray on her hip, and knocked on the door.
Hinata heard a tap of a pencil being placed down a little harder than it needed to be before he called her in. Gaara's irritation melted into one of complete confusion as she stepped in.
"I brought you breakfast." Hinata crossed the room, setting the tray down on his desk.
"It's very early." Gaara was still processing her, looking down at the breakfast for two she made. He spoke more of the foods he didn't like rather than the ones he did, so she hoped what she made was acceptable.
"I wanted to make sure I came before any appointments." Hinata didn't want to interrupt. She was being forward and disruptive enough.
"The staff doesn't come in until," Gaara looked up at the clock. "Now."
"I know. I made it." Maybe he thought it wouldn't be good enough? Most were surprised that she liked to cook, being an heiress. Hanabi was terrible at it, more appropriate than her as always.
Gaara considered it for a moment more before speaking. "Thank you."
Hinata could keep herself from smiling, so she looked at her feet to hide her blush. The painful sunburn helped.
"You will stay?" Gaara asked. Hinata hoped it wasn't the first moment he noticed two of everything. Hinata brought the chair across from him closer to the desk as he set his papers aside. She put the plates on the tray for them before sitting. "I'm not familiar with this," Gaara picked up his utensils.
"It's a breakfast tart." Hinata realized that he likely wasn't used to pastries in the desert. Maybe she should have gone with a simple rice omelet.
Gaara looked at it like it was a live duck. He took his first bite, looking relieved.
"It's a jam, not bean paste." Hinata covered her mouth to hide her smile. Would he have forced down and eaten the whole thing if it was?
Gaara kept his eyes down. Was he embarrassed? It was certainly cute for the usually stern-looking man to be looking at his plate like a child who just objected to his new dinner that he liked. "It's good."
Hinata dug into hers as well. The tea that the kitchen staff gave her was odd. She wasn't sure if she liked it, so she sipped at it sparingly. Hinata thought it was sweet that Gaara asked them to start making and keeping foods he saw her eat.
They ate in comfortable silence. Hinata was exhausted. She didn't expect the night to be so cold and had trouble sleeping in the new environment.
The morning was still cold as the sun came up to assault the landscape yet. Hinata could find a use for her jacket then.
"You're shivering." Gaara pointed out.
"Sorry, I'm not used to the climate yet," Hinata took her cup in both hands to warm them.
"Have Temari take you to get new clothes before we meet with the council today." It didn't sound like an order. Gaara was unusually soft with her. It made her feel special, though she didn't think it was deliberate.
"Sure, if you'll let me back in for lunch." Hinata almost laughed at another gaze of confusion.
Hinata was very odd, Gaara concluded.
Suna's clothing suited her, though. Long pale-colored fabric flowed to her ankles and wrists. Usually, they would stand out against the tan skin of the native Suna villager and blend with their hair. However, with her dark hair pulled up, there was a stark difference. Her pale skin blended smoothly with the fabric. At night, she might be mistaken for a lucky spirit.
Gaara was growing concerned about the meeting they were having with the council. His council could be vicious. They were old and liked traditions, but only as long as they benefited them. He wasn't sure what they would do to his quiet, easily upset fiancé.
Gaara was once again surprised as she stood with him outside the council room. Her head was high, posture perfect, with her hands firmly grasped to keep her usual fidgeting away. He forgot she was an heiress.
The door opened for them to enter, and she stepped forward with him without even looking up at him.