By the time September came around, Hinata needed a change of pace. For herself. She changed her hair, turning her bangs into two long braids and putting her long hair in a high ponytail. She even changed her outfit, getting rid of her vest and shorts and trading them in for a lavender cheongsam with black shorts and a black obi. And once again, she found herself packing for her trip to Suna. Not that anyone else knew that. A knock on her door interrupted her, as she told whoever it was to enter.
"lady Hinata?"
Hinata looked up to see Iroha at her door.
"Iroha! You back from your mission!" she greeted.
"yes, my lady I have returned. Lord hiashi requests your presence in his office."
"I see. I will be right there." Hinata told him.
Ten minutes later Hinata sat before her father, her grandfather, and her aunt. The latter she hadn't seen in a while. Ever since Neji's death, her aunt had taken on many s rank missions and of course, she completed every one of them.
"Hinata." Her father began, She made sure to sit up making sure he saw that she was paying attention.
"a decision has been made."
Hinata felt her heart sink. She knew what this was about.
A few months ago she had a heart-to-heart with her sister and what their futures would look like.
Flashback:
"How is your tea Hanabi?"
"It's good Hinata nee! Did you grow this in your garden? Is that chocolate I taste?" Hanabi smiled at her sister as she licked her lips.
Hinata laughed at the look on her sister's face.
"I did grow it, I added the chocolate once the leaves were dry. Im glad you like it."
The two sisters fell into a short silence before Hinata spoke up.
"Hanabi. I wish to talk to you about something."
"what is it?"
Hinata took a deep breath and looked at the evening sky.
"Do you wish to be clan heir? Is that your desire?"
Hanabi looked at Hinata in shock.
"I mean… I never thought about it. I mean I remember one you were the clan hier and then out of the blue it was stripped from you. From then on father pushed me to be better, and do better, so that I would be a worthy heir. A worthy leader. but to be honest, I always saw your brother Neji becoming hier. It was kind of thrown upon me ."
"but is this the life you want Hanabi? Being the heir to the clan is not something to be taken lightly and there are big changes and sacrifices you have to make. I just to make sure you're going to live a happy life sister. And I don't want my failures to impact you. or to make it where you live a miserable life because I couldn't do what was required of me.
"What! No Hinata! Im not miserable… I mean…I don't want to be heir either. but im not miserable either. I'm happy with my life. I have good friends and im learning a lot. I just… I get scared for you Hinata. Now that Neji's gone, the realities of life hit harder than before. And it seems like im losing you. I mean, we weren't able to be close for years and now it feels like it's happening again."
Hinata shook her head and pulled her sister close.
"oh, Hanabi. No, you won't lose me. we both have just been very busy. I promise you won't lose me and we spend the time we can with each other. But knowing that you are happy makes everything that will happen next easier."
"wait? What are you talking about?" Hanabi asked in confusion.
" Hanabi with you as heir, that leaves me as a liability to the clan. You didn't think they would just let me live my life anyway, did you? I'm down to two options. Either brand me and I live with the branch family. Or they marry me off to someone who can help the clan reach its goals. I am ready for either outcome. All that matters is that you are safe and happy."
End flashback
Hinata squared her shoulders and held her head up high. She didn't know what fate her family would lay upon her but she would accept it. for her sister's sake.
Her father looked at her with an arched eyebrow before his eyes softened. It was as if he knew what she was thinking.
He opened his mouth to speak again when a knock interrupted them.
"enter" her father spoke.
"lord hiashi, there is an anbu waiting on Lady Hinata she has a mission?"
Hinata jumped to her feet blushing scarlet.
" oh! My mission! Lady tsunade going to be furious with me! pardon me Father but I must leave! I should be home within a few days!"
With that said, she was gone.
…
"I like smell of Hyuga" shikaku mentioned to Gaara.
Gaara couldn't help but agree.
I like the way she smells too shikaku. She smells like lavender and roses.
She smiles at us. shikaku pointed out. it is a kind smile. Don't get many of those.
As Gaara thought about it, he realized that he didn't receive many genuine kind smiles. He received nervous smiles, and uncomfortable smiles but never kind smiles. Hinata always smiled at him kindly, the kindness was in her eyes as well.
It was the way she looked at him that made Gaara pause. She didn't look at him with fear or nervousness. She had a genuine curiosity about him and she looked at him as an equal. Even after Gaara had proved himself over and over again, people still looked at him in fear and uncertainty but not Hinata.
She had been on his mind for months and he couldn't stop thinking about her.
He wondered –
"LORD GAARA!"
Gaara blinked and realized where he was. He was still in the council meeting. The twelve elders and his sibling stared him down, with a touch of confusion and concern.
"My apologies continue." He gestured.
"The last thing on our list is the chairman ball. It's being held in the village hidden in the mist this year. Who will be your guard?" Chiyo asked.
" Sasori and Kenji will accompany me this time around. Kankuro will take my spot for the next three days and Temari will be heading to Kohona." Gaara instructed.
"very well. We call this meeting to order!"
As soon as the words left Chiyo's mouth, Gaara was up and out the door, his siblings on her tail.
"gaara? What happened back there? are you ok?" temari asked
"I am fine. I was deep in thought. Now if you excuse me. I have another meeting to attend."
With that said, Gaara disappeared in a puff of smoke.
…
The small shop on the edge of the village was quiet and it was just the way Gaara liked it.
" Emi?" Gaara called as he looked around the shop. Emi had been a close friend of his mothers and often helped him in times of need. she was someone he could trust and confide in about the things he didn't understand.
"ahh! Lord kazekage there you are! It's been a while since we have chatted. Come sit with me in the back."
Gaara walked past the racks of dresses and clothes and followed Emi into her back office.
On her desk was a tea set and a Go board.
"what's on your mind, my lord?" Emi asked.
"Emi. What is love? Have you ever felt it?"
"ahh, young love. Yes, I have I was married to my husband for a wonderful fifty years before he died just a few years ago. I loved him dearly."
"But what is love Emi? How did you not fear a betrayal from him? Had he not ever betrayed your trust? "
"Ohh, I see what you are asking. Love is an intense deep affection for another person. But there are different kinds of love as well. There is a friendship kind of love, a family kind of love and then there is romantic love. I understand with your past it may be hard to even think of the concept of love but it does exist. The love karura had for you was familial love. The love of your siblings is familial, and the love of your friends is more of a caring and friendly sort of love. Love makes sacrifices for one another. Love is patient, and kind, it holds no records of wrongs. Love overcomes a multitude of sins. That my dear is what love is. Now, is there someone you think you might be falling in love with?"
Gaara clutched his chest where his heart was.
"I don't know. This woman had been nothing but kind to me. She was formerly in love with Tailed Beast Host and I don't understand how she could love a person like me. someone who holds a tailed beast and is hated by the world. And yet he rejected her and she still calls him a friend. I don't know how to process these emotions."
"oh, young child. love should be blossomed not forced. You cultivate plants, you know exactly what happens when flowers bloom too quickly. Do not awaken love before it's time. now I must ask do you know what your feelings are toward this young woman?"
"confusion and curiosity," Gaara admitted.
"hmm, I think your best bet is to get to know the woman young kazekage Take her out on a date."
"a date?" Gaara questioned.
" yes, a date, it's where two people go out and get to know each other more. You typically do this in a more social setting. Do you have any events coming up that you might take her to?"
"I have the chairman's ball tomorrow night."
"very well! Take her to that! I think you both will have a good time."
Gaara was quiet as he thought over Emi's advice.
"I will ask her to the ball. And Emi? What kind of gifts do young women like?"
….
Hinata stretched as she entered the kazekage's office. her seal became very warm letting her know he was expecting her presence.
"good evening lord kazekage. How are you this evening?"
To her surprise Gaara stood, walking around his desk to approach her.
"Hinata, I desire for you to be my date at the chairman's ball. Will you accept?"
Hinata resisted the urge to faint and failed.