Title: Opal & Jade
Rating: T
Summary: Hyuuga Hinata's first official mission as a jounin is to... help the Kazekage fall asleep? What the hell? Well... a mission is a mission. Except when it turns into something more.
A/N:
I don't own shit.
In this story, Gaara still has Shukaku inside of him. Please enjoy, rate/review and all that good stuff!
-x-
"Gaara-sama. Here are the mission assignments for this week, and the builders need you to sign off on the expansion of the hospital— oh! And our sandstorm precaution team needs your opinion on these new strategies." Matsuri listed her boss' duties for the afternoon with a sheepish look and a small blush, dropping a fresh pile of papers onto his desk.
"Thank you Matsuri. You may take this stack to distribution." Gaara replies, ever emotionless in his demeanor, except for the tiny furrow of his brow.
Most people wouldn't catch it— but Matsuri did. She knew every single detail about her sensei, turned boss, turned love of her life. He didn't notice her—not yet, maybe he wasn't even capable of romantic love yet. But she knew he was slowly opening up to human emotions and experiences, and when he was ready, she'd be there. He would return her feelings. He had to.
"What's troubling you, Gaara-sama?" She inquired, picking up the stack of papers he slid her way.
"…" Gaara seemed hesitant, but after a second, he replied. "What's sleeping like?" It was something he'd been curious about as of late. He had slept before, as a child, but he was too young to remember anything and he knew that those few times had not gone over well with Shukaku.
"Um… well… it's peaceful. And it's really good for you— I mean, it feels good when you wake up! And you can have nice dreams! I always dream about—" Matsuri caught herself before she could say another word. He wasn't ready to hear about her dreams, her dreams of him, and just thinking of them brought a small blush to her cheeks. "Well anyway, if you are so curious… I'm sure you could try it. You're not like that anymore Gaara-sama. You control him now."
'I wouldn't be so sure about that.' Gaara thought. Truth to be told, he did control Shukaku way better than he had as a child, but even so, it took insane amounts of energy and willpower. "Thank you Matsuri. You're dismissed."
-x-
"Tsunade-sama!" The assistant barged in, panting from walking up the steps of the Hokage tower in such a hurry.
"Not now, Shizune. This is my drinking break." The blonde Hokage dismissed her with a wave of the hand, but Shizune did not budge.
"It's really important this time!" She insisted, holding out a scroll towards her tipsy boss.
"Now what could it possibly—" Tsunade stopped mid sentence as she eyed the scroll. The official seal of Suna, their ally. What could the Kazekage possibly want with her in such peaceful times? She took the scroll from her assistant, opening it.
SPECIAL MISSION REQUEST
I am looking for a Jounin or higher ranked Shinobi with knowledge of chakra points, medic ninjutsu, the ability to immobilize me, and the inner workings of the human brain. Preferably, this will be a trustworthy Shinobi with a calming presence.
Mission details:
Put the Kazekage to sleep.
Signed: Sabaku No Gaara, Godaime Kazekage of Sunagakure
"SLEEP?! He sent me a special mission request, personally… so that he can take a NAP?" Tsunade exploded, not believing that the Kazekage had interrupted her drinking break for something so silly. She brought a hand to her temple, sighing. Where the hell was she even going to find a Shinobi like that? This was an oddly specific list. Well… there was one person.
-x-
"Gaara-sama! Please excuse my intrusion— but a scroll from Konoha has arrived!" Matsuri said as she entered the Kazekage's office, clutching the scroll to her chest. What could Konoha possibly want? Was something the matter with the alliance?
"Ah. I'm a bit busy with this contract, would you read it aloud for me?" Gaara requested from his chair, not looking up. 'Why isn't he more worried about this!' Matsuri thought.
"Well… Let's see… 'Greetings Kazekage-sama. I have received your request. I am sending one of our best Kunoichi to assist you with your needs. Rest assured she is very experienced despite her shy demeanor. Hyuuga Hinata will be arriving in three days' time.'" Matsuri's eyes widened as she read, panic building internally.
A kunoichi? To assist him with his NEEDS? What the hell? 'Don't tell me… he means…' She turned red at the thought, both from anger and embarrassment. If that's what he wanted… why couldn't he just ask her? Who was this Hyuuga Hinata? Was she prettier, is that why? Matsuri was interrupted from her spiral of thoughts by the commanding voice of her boss.
"Ah, so that's all. Thank you Matsuri. Dismissed." He said with a wave of his hand. The assistant quietly exited the room, leaving Gaara to his thoughts. He scrunched his nose ever so slightly as he tried to think of the name. For some reason, Hyuuga Hinata rang a bell… what was it now?
He clutched at his forehead as a sharp ringing suddenly erupted from the depths of his mind. 'Shukaku. Why is he…now…?' His eyes widened in realization as his mind took him to a scene from years ago— the Chuunin exams. Hyuuga Hinata, that was her name. The girl with the most delicious blood he had ever seen. It was too pure, too innocent. Shukaku had never been more excited in his life than at that moment, and it took everything in Gaara to keep him under control for the sake of their plans.
'That weak little girl… with the delicious blood? You expect her to keep me down while you sleep, child? This will be hilarious. I shall feast on her first!' Shukaku announced, rumbling with laughter in the depths of his mind.
-x-
Hinata took a deep breath as she spotted the gates of Suna in the distance. She had just become a Jounin, and this is her first mission? Babysitting a bloodthirsty, murderous Jinchuuriki who also happened to be the leader of an entire village while he slept? Hinata frowned at her own thoughts. She shouldn't think of anybody that way or make such quick assumptions. That's one thing Naruto-kun had showed her. But still— it was hard, when the memory of Sabaku No Gaara killing those genin without an ounce of regret still haunted her nightmares from time to time.
"State your business." One ANBU at the gate addressed her as she arrived.
"Hai. I am Hyuuga Hinata, jounin of the leaf. I am here by the Kazekage's request." She stated, proud of herself for not stuttering in front of such intimidating ninja. She had to be strong— she was here representing her village. She showed the guards her official permit before they stepped aside, letting her in.
She took in the beauty of Suna as she walked in. It was so different from Konoha— everything from the shape of the buildings to the scarce vegetation to the attire worn by the villagers. She noted that the sky seemed brighter somehow. She didn't make it far into the village before a short, brown haired girl came into view.
"Hyuuga Hinata, I presume?" The girl said with a hand on her hip, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes, that's me. Where can I find the Kazekage?" She asked, unsure of the reason for this girl's apparent hostility, but trying her best to ignore it.
"That would be over there." Matsuri muttered while pointing towards a giant building at the center of the village. "Though he might be a bit busy for your…services… at this hour." She added, and Hinata could detect a hint of disgust in her voice. Doing her best to continue to ignore the hostility, the Hyuuga bid her thanks and started walking towards what she presumed must be the Kazekage's tower.
-x-
A soft knock on his door brought his attention away from the papers he was currently analyzing. That knock and presence wasn't familiar to him at all. 'Three days' time... must be the Hyuuga girl.'
"Enter." He stated, voice steady.
The door slowly creaked open to reveal a small kunoichi with pale eyes and long dark hair. The girl's gaze was cast downwards, bangs hiding her expression. Gaara studied her as she fidgeted with the hem of her shorts. 'Afraid, just like everyone else.' He assessed.
"A-Ano... Kazekage-sama." She bowed, then slowly brought her eyes up to his face. "Hyuuga Hinata. I have been sent here by the Hokage in regards to your personal mission request." She finished.
Now getting a good look at her eyes, Gaara could tell that she wasn't afraid of him, necessarily... just nervous. The thought somehow lifted a small weight off his shoulders. How was the girl supposed to complete her mission if she was scared of him, after all? There was also something else stirring inside him... curiosity? Intrigue? He had never seen a girl with features like hers in Suna, he decided as he assessed her more thoroughly. Yes- women in Suna rarely had pale skin such as hers, and those pupilless eyes, unique to one clan only... and her curves, in full display by her revealing mission attire. Romantically inept as he may be, Gaara was still a man, and he was bound to at least acknowledge these things. But no matter, he still had work to do.
"Ah, Hyuuga-san. I've been expecting you. My sister Temari will be here any minute to take you to your quarters. We'll start on your mission tonight, 10pm sharp." Gaara replied. The Kazekage was a man of few words, and he cut straight to the chase. Suddenly Hinata felt more nervous than before... the Hokage had briefed her on the Kazekage's history of forced insomnia, and the reason why, so she had about five hours before she was expected to perform... what exactly? Was she supposed to put him to bed with a teddy bear? Would he allow her to induce sleep by blocking certain chakra points in his brain? And what if he couldn't control his demon, after all? What was she to do? The Kazekage had already turned back to his work, ignoring her presence entirely, and Hinata awkwardly stood there, waiting.
Before her small storm of anxiety could continue to brew, a sharp knock on the door halted her thoughts, and a blonde Kunoichi with pigtails entered the room.
"Hey there, Hyuuga-san. I'm Temari, Gaara's older sister." The girl crossed her arms and flashed her a smile, but Hinata could sense that she was being carefully sized up by the older woman. "Well then, shall we?" Temari said before turning on her heels and motioning for Hinata to follow.
Hinata gave one last look at the Kazekage, still seemingly buried in his mountain of papers, and paying her no mind. Everything about him made her nervous: his aura, stature, his cold eyes and expressionless face, his monotone voice. Yet something about him... she had never seen anyone like him. He sort of reminded her of Naruto, the way his soul seemed to be burdened with a never-ending loneliness, but still, it was different. Despite her innocence, the thought of being alone in a bedroom with the dashingly handsome leader brought a deep blush to her cheeks. She turned and followed after Temari, letting out a breath. 'What are you thinking, Hinata!'