Hinata stared at her empty list, disheartened.

Kankuro rubbed the back of his head, defeated. "You could ignore this tradition."

"I like this tradition," Hinata slumped in her chair. "It's just hard to participate in."

"You didn't do anything craft-wise your entire life?" Kankuro didn't understand her lack of crafting skills.

"It's not something the Hyuga value. I was taught politics, etiquette, and physical training. I would have never been allowed to have a time-consuming hobby." Hinata explained. "And damaging our hands is unexpectable."

"Oh, well, that explains why this isn't a trend in Konoha then," Kankuro concluded. "You cook. That's odd for an heiress, any other odd skills?"

"I spent time in the herb garden." Hinata offered.

Kankuro bolted upright. "Perfect!"

"What?" Hinata asked him, bewildered.

"Gaara likes keeping cactuses," Kankuro explained.

"But I don't know anything about cactuses," Hinata frowned.

"I'm sure plants will be fine. It's at least a common interest."

"How do I make that a wedding gift?" Hinata wondered.

"I've got an idea. We will have some trouble keeping it a surprise, though." Kankuro grabbed her paper.

Gaara knew something was off. Hinata and Kankuro's reports were stilted. Gaara may not have noticed if it was only his brother being secretive, but Hinata fidgeted when Kankuro spoke, especially when he stepped around what they did.

Gaara didn't mind secrets that didn't concern him, but he didn't like a secret that made her uncomfortable. He pushed his irritation aside, assuming they had some reason for keeping it until Baki raised the question. "Have you noticed Kankuro and your fiancée are acting secretive? Not well, mind you." Baki held out the paperwork they gave him earlier as he made his point. "I think they're not reporting all that is being sent from Konoha."

"Yes," Gaara confirmed, but nothing more.

"Does it not raise concern?" Baki asked skeptically.

"Yes, it does." Gaara confirmed again.

"Gaara-sama." Baki scolded. "I know you are growing attached to your new friend. But, it's beginning to worry me that you let her keep things from you, especially with your brother."

Gaara's face twitched in confusion. "Why is my brother's involvement a factor?"

Baki's eyes narrowed. "You don't find it odd that all she is hiding from you is her time with your brother?"

"No," Gaara was getting frustrated. "Baki, if you are trying to tell me something, I would much rather you just say it."

"Hinata is being secretive about her time with the only other male she has contact with," Baki said directly. "Most engaged men would find this concerning, especially if that male is your promiscuous brother."

Was Baki implying Hinata was hiding a relationship with his brother? "I do not believe that is what they are hiding." Gaara was trying not to be offended by the notion, but he was.

"Why not?" Baki asked.

"Several reasons. The most obvious one would be: Hinata is not nearly nervous enough for that to be the case." Hinata was a skittish woman who enjoyed her personal space. Hinata was growing more comfortable with his sister's lack of personal space and took it upon herself to be more affectionate to him, but Gaara doubted she was having inappropriate relations before meetings and not shaking like a leaf.

"You think you know her that well, then what do you think she is hiding?" Baki asked.

"I assume it is something with her clan secrets I shouldn't know or some part of the wedding I don't need to know," Gaara explained.

"You know, if it were just Kankuro being secretive, you would have confronted him already." True. "You trust her." Also true. Baki's face softened. "I've never seen you trust someone so completely so quickly. Who is she that you have let her in so quickly?"

"She isn't afraid."

"Of Shukaku?" Baki wondered.

"Or me," Gaara added. "Every time I think she is afraid of me, she is just afraid of what I think of her or that she might discomfort me. She never saw what I was, but she grew up with Naruto, so she knows monsters. She wants to care for them. I don't understand her at all."

"So you trust her because she trusts you?" Baki confirmed.

That was a good summary of how he felt. "Hinata worries about my comfort, even before her own, when she does not need to. It is unusual."

Baki was amused. "Yes, I heard you have been having meals with her. Does she make you breakfast herself?"

Why was Baki suddenly so happy? "Yes."

"She can cook?" Baki pressed.

"Yes."

"Well?"

Gaara was losing his patience. "Yes."

Baki stopped pestering with a simple smile. "Any other surprises from the little heiress?"

Hinata added reading, on Gaara's office couch, as part of her schedule. She wrote and read her letters there until she was ready to go to bed. Sometimes they spoke, but most nights, they just enjoyed the company.

Hinata knew he was suspicious about what she and Kankuro were hiding. Neither of them were good liars, so they decided completely avoiding the subject was best. Kankuro was committing minor treason by keeping getting her materials and signing paperwork that should be given to Gaara, going the extra mile to help her with her wedding gift.

Hinata had a hard time stomaching lying to him, so she spoke to Kankuro about giving Gaara something to hang on to. It was better than waiting until he demanded an explanation. So, tonight instead of coming in and curling up on the couch, she stepped in front of his desk, holding hands behind her back, and waited for him to acknowledge her. He did once he realized she wasn't going to set something down.

"I know you've noticed the gaps in what Kankuro-san and I have told you, and I wanted to explain our behavior." Gaara gave her his attention but said nothing. "Kankuro-san has been helping me prepare a wedding gift because I have no skills for making things of use, so I required assistance. I know it's supposed to be kept unknown from the other party, so we've been trying to hide our work."

"Then why are you telling me now?" Relief washed over Gaara in the sudden softness of his face. What had he thought they were doing all this time?

"I knew you noticed," Hinata explained. "Please let us continue in secret. I don't want you to worry that I am purposely hiding things from you. I won't unless it's something like this." Hinata bowed deeply to him, closing her eyes tightly. "Please forgive me." The secret, though harmless, was eating at her since they started.

"Don't." Gaara scolded.

Hinata flinched in her low bow. He was angry with her.

"Stop." Gaara scolded again. Hinata slowly rose and shrank into herself.

"Don't bow." Gaara finished. "You don't need to bow to me."

"I'm sorry." Hinata apologized, confused.

"Don't be. I trusted that you were hiding nothing important. That is why I didn't ask. I won't now, but thank you." Gaara wasn't angry. Hinata let relief take over. "Speaking of which. You may have Kankuro, but I am unsure who I would confide in for a wedding gift in return. Is there anything you would want?"

"You don't need to give me one. You already have." Hinata brought her hands forward. "From what I know of the custom, it needs to be handmade, artwork, meaningful, or useful in the home." Hinata twisted the ring on her finger. "I think my engagement ring fits under meaningful artwork, and I don't take it off, so I guess that makes it well-used. It is my custom to have a ring, and it is your custom to give a handmade gift, so a handmade ring seems fitting."

"Very well." Gaara had already given her so much. It wasn't fair to accept or ask for more.

And she did love her ring.