Hinata knocked on Gaara's bedroom door. It opened with a confused look from him. "I thought you would like to sleep well tonight, so I prepared early, so I could come before we left."
"You don't need to. I have gone many nights without your treatments." Gaara countered.
"It will make me more comfortable knowing you slept well at least one night I was gone," Hinata explained.
Gaara let her in. He set aside whatever paperwork he took to bed with him. She chewed her lip at the size of the stack. He was already preparing for sleepless nights.
Gaara laid down, and Hinata slipped off her shoes, climbing on 'her' side of the bed to her usual spot by his head. He closed his eyes as she settled comfortably with her hip on a pillow.
Hinata did this every night now. She slept better, too, whether it was the calming act of running her finger through his hair before she went to bed or the idea that he was sleeping well.
"Shukaku has voiced a distaste for your departure," Gaara stated.
Hinata blinked down at his resting face. "Really?"
"He's possessive and irrational. Though he detests humans, he enjoys you being around enough to contradict himself." Gaara explained. "He did not react as calmly as I did to your news."
"I'm flattered that he thinks I deserve his attention." Hinata hoped he didn't think she was trying to be funny, but she couldn't think of better wording. "Uh, thank you, Shukaku-san." Still worried it was rude to speak in the third person, but also about how Gaara felt, always having to be with him. From what she understood, he couldn't shut him out.
When she glanced back down, Gaara looked almost amused. Hinata felt her face heat. Maybe she shouldn't have.
Hinata started to run her fingers through his hair. "I hope you still try to sleep while I am gone. Temari is going to have lunch and dinner with you in my place. Please have breakfast." Gaara wouldn't revert while she was gone if she had any say in it.
Gaara made a confirming noise as he drifted, welcoming his sleep as she calmed his synapses. His breathing evened, and she removed her hands and leaned down to his forehead. Hoping dearly she was right about his consciousness. "Thank you, Shukaku-san. Please don't be mad at him for letting me leave. I know he will miss me too."
Hinata pierced her lips and carefully crawled out of bed like every night. She decided that she didn't want to fall asleep in his room the first night. It was still his room, and prematurely moving in would be rude. Hinata slipped on her shoes and padded toward the door, closing it with a silent goodbye to his sleeping form.
"Humidity, joy," Kankuro commented as they finally sat down after entering the village. "You know, I'm surprised no one came to meet you."
"No one knew I was coming. It will be a surprise that I am here." Hinata hadn't meant to not tell anyone. She just forgot that people might want to know. Her sister would be ecstatic if she weren't already told by the council.
"I see a lot of squealing in your future," Kankuro made a face. "Hungry, or do you want to unpack and go to bed as I do?"
"I would like to take a shower and sleep in a real bed." Hinata agreed.
"You would think after centuries of being ninjas, humans would evolve to care less about comfort," Kankuro whined. "It would make my life easier."
"Hinata, it's nice to see you again." Tsunade smiled at her. "How are you faring with the new living situation?"
"Well, it was only a shock at first. It's surprisingly bitter cold at night." Hinata explained.
"She fainted the first day," Kankuro added to her embarrassment.
"I'm guessing this explains the change in attire. You fit right in, and you look so grown up." Tsunade commented. "Tying up the end of this treaty should only take a week, but you are welcome to stay a while longer if you need."
"A week is fine. I have things to attend to." Hinata stated.
"You can trust it to Temari. She won't kill them." Hinata didn't want to directly comment on what she thought Temari's skills with plants were, but she didn't like trusting the care of her wedding gift to her.
Kankuro covered his ears comically to protect them from squealing, but Hinata didn't find it funny. He dropped his arm, muttering about her being no fun.
Hinata stepped into the compound past surprised branch members and suddenly felt the creep of years of memories in the uncomfortably stiff air.
"Not very inviting," Kankuro mumbled.
Hinata led him down the hall toward her father's office before she truly felt the creep of childhood fears.
Upon knocking, her father didn't look up at first. Hinata wasn't reverting. She owed it to Gaara and Suna not to bow to the pressure of her old home. She cleared her throat to get his attention.
Hiashi stopped abruptly to glare down his nose at her. "Hinata."
"Father." Hinata addressed back with a soft but firm tone of voice. Kankuro retracted cautiously. "We came to give the council the proposal for review for tomorrow's meeting." Hinata stepped forward, placing the folded on his desk.
"The Kazekage didn't accompany his fiancée?" Hiashi asked pointedly.
"That would be highly impractical. Kankuro-san has been working on the treaty. He handles economics, trade, and business, which makes him more than qualified for these negotiations." Hinata could feel her father's waves of disapproval for speaking to him at the level she was.
"Very well. Come back in the morning." Hiashi ordered.
"The meeting will be after lunch. I assure you we won't be late." Denying him what he was asking for, to try to sink his claws in before the council did. She wasn't letting him control her when she was so close to being free. "I'm going to go greet Hanabi-chan," Hinata headed toward the door. Kankuro followed her heels.
"The hell was that?" Kankuro yell-whispered as the door was closed.
"I think I just snubbed my father." Hinata was never so terrified.