Hinata's Journey

Hinata woke up slowly to the sound of Temari grumbling about finishing a bedtime story and Kankuro quietly scolding Temari. Gaara was nudging her awake. The arguing siblings noticed Hinata’s awakened state and stopped arguing.


“Well did the girl win the fight?” Temari demanded harshly teal eyes narrowing.


“What do you think?” Hinata replied yawning. She was pulled off the bed into a strong embrace before a pillow could land on her head.


“I don’t know that is why I am asking you.” Temari responded crossly. Glaring at her.


“That story is for bed.” Hinata responded sweetly as she blinked into a pair of black rimmed blue- green eyes. “You can put me down now.”


Gaara shook his head at her before gently placing her on her feet. Hinata stumbled briefly before regaining her balance. “Recover more and I will tell you.” Hinata continued.


“You and Temari will be removed to the Kazekage mansion for the rest of your recovery.” Kankuro told her as he picked up a bag. “These are some clothes for you to wear and more will be provided for you later on.”


“What about me?” Temari demanded irritably.


“I will be transporting you.” Gaara said simply walking to his sister; he picked her up in his arms. The two disappeared in a swirl of sand.


“Well that was fast.” Hinata commented.


“Get dressed and I will walk you over.” Kankuro chuckled as she examined her clothes. There was a pair of flats, a head wrap, a blue hobo bag and a white eyelet dress that went to her knees. The sleeves were long and flowing; the dress would have been see-through if not for the lining. Hinata sighed and realized it was going to hug her curves rather nicely. Glancing at Kankuro with a raised eyebrow, she waited for an explanation.


“Well while you are here you might as well keep Gaara entertained.” Kankuro explained and burst out laughing when Hinata hit him with a pillow. Gathering the dress and the undergarments, she marched into the bathroom, scrubbed and changed. Coming out Kankuro whistled at her before placing a sunburn proof jutsu on her and giving her a headwrap to keep her head cooler. Together they left the hospital and Kankuro gave her a brief tour.


When they reached the Kazekage mansion and the Kazekage tower, Hinata gasped. The building was the tallest structure in Suna. It stood sand colored with the symbol of Suna on the side. Unlike the other buildings in Suna that were one or two stories, this one was four. The building was imposing and regal, seeming to invite someone to try to knock it down and fail.


“The top floor is for the Kazekage’s personal use. The third floor is for meetings and where Gaara’s office is while the bottom two floors serve as general business areas.” Kankuro explained as they walked around the tower to the two-storied structure just behind it. “This is where you will be staying. This is where we all live even though Gaara has his rooms on the fourth floor.”


Hinata blinked slowly as they entered the building and removed their shoes. The kitchen was the first room she saw on her right. It was large and open. A table was in the center and a breakfast bar separated it from the living room. The two rooms both had the same sand colored wall coloring but the kitchen had red and white tiling while the living room had a burgundy sectional sofa and several different triangular print pillows. Bookshelves lined two of the walls and a large cabinet occupied the other one.


Kankuro neatly turned to the right and walked down the hallway. “Your room is in Temari’s wing. He pointed down the hallway at the door at the very end. “That is her room and this will be yours.” He opened the door on the right and Hinata tried to hold in a gasp failing.


The room was done in blues, white and chocolate browns. The bedding was blue with a chocolate comforter. The furniture consisted of a bed, a dresser that had shelves on the side for books and a vanity. A blue armchair stood in the corner with a brown pillow in it. At the foot of the canopy bed was a chest, used for both storage and sitting.


“Get some sleep.” Kankuro told her pushing her into the room and shutting the door. Hinata walked into the room and noticed a door to her left. Walking towards it she opened it to find a bathroom, with a toilet, sink and shower. On the other side, she saw another door. Going to it, she opened it and felt Temari’s chakra signature. Hinata quietly closed it behind her and went back into her room.


Hinata found the bed to be ridiculously comfortable as she sat on the comforter and removed the book from her bag. She allowed herself to become immersed in the book to the extent that she didn’t hear the knock on her door. When the door was opened she didn’t even notice the presence standing there studying her with a quirked hairless eyebrow.


Hinata had just licked her finger to turn another page when the book was removed from her grasp. Hinata jumped and lunged for the book. In the process of grabbing for the book, she started to fall off the bed. Once again, she felt herself in a pair of strong arms and blushed as she found herself blinking into turquoise eyes. “You know this is becoming a habit.” Hinata stuttered trying to will her blush away as the Kazekage placed her back on the bed.


“Sleep.” Gaara commanded.

“You aren’t my Kage.” Hinata complained in jest. A hairless eyebrow rose in response and Hinata blushed again as Gaara got nose to nose with her before he spoke.


“Really? How does one become your Kage?” Gaara whispered. Hinata lost all sense of bravado as she gulped and fainted dead away. Gaara chuckled and placed the book on the bedside table. Turning he noticed Temari leaning against the bathroom doorframe.


“Don’t pick on innocents.” Temari whispered. “Just because you are slightly debauched now doesn’t mean everyone is.” Temari paled suddenly and Gaara caught her as she swayed. Temari’s shoulders shook as she started to cry. Gaara mentally panicked and Kankuro who had just came in simply walked over, roused Hinata and pointed.


Hinata stood and ran to Temari holding the taller girl as she helped her back to her room and into bed. Once again, Hinata climbed into bed with her and began to tell her a story and soothe her. Temari gradually quieted down again and went to sleep. Hinata removed herself from Temari’s sleeping form and stood. Gaara was sitting in her armchair when she reentered the room.


“It would appear that more happened.” Gaara said calmly his ankle resting on his thigh. He was wearing his red coat that went to mid thigh and black pants. One hand rested on his raised knee while the other was fisted with his chin resting on it.


“I don’t think it is my place to talk about such things.” Hinata confessed thoughtfully. She sat on the bed and glanced over at Kankuro who was leaning against the door jab.


“I have never seen her shed a tear and I have known her my entire life.” Kankuro told her his eyes narrowing. “Whatever happened obviously was sexual in nature.”


“Well if you can conclude that much then why don’t you just leave well enough alone until she is ready to talk if ever.” Hinata tried to seem complacent when she in fact wanted to strangle the puppeteer with his bandages. Taking a deep breath Hinata turned to find Gaara studying her intently his brows creased.


“Hyuuga please indulge us.” Gaara told her pointedly, his tone broaching no arguments.


Hinata took a calming breath. Looking down at her hands she studied them wondering if she was stronger if she could have saved Temari from some of her pain. Shrugging off those thoughts she began to tell them all she thought had happened and what she knew for sure occurred. At points, Hinata felt the sand around her pulsing but other than that no sound was heard. When Hinata finished she looked at Kankuro who turned and walked down the hallway. In the distance she could hear a door slam.


Gaara remained contemplatively silent in his chair. Hinata lay down on the bed suddenly unbearably weary. She had a lot to think about and not a lot of time to think. She once again found herself so deep in thought that she flinched when Gaara stood from the chair.


“How did you become a shinobi if you flinch at everything?” Gaara demanded.


“I am so sensitive that I pick up on things before others do.” Hinata answered simply not in the least bit offended by Gaara’s questioning of her abilities. “It is virtually impossible for someone to sneak up on me even when I am sleeping.”


“I managed to.” Gaara said pointedly.


“It is because I let you.” Hinata responded smiling. “It seemed rude not to let you think you had scared me so I pretended.” Hinata shrugged at the last bit rolling over on her side, her back to Gaara.


Gaara blinked slowly as he stared at Hinata. Since she had arrived she had been an enigma to him. Woman came and went in his life; none really seemed to stick in his head more than when he was with them. Sometimes he did not even think about them when he was with them. The women were either superior jounins with the physiques to match or bored heiresses looking to snare the attention of the allusive Kazekage.


The Kazekage had not minded their attentions. He had turned fifteen and was just beginning to be welcomed back after Akasuki had extracted his demon. His people wanted to show that they loved him so he let them. He was careful never to let emotions get involved. From the beginning, he told the woman he could never loved them. The only love he had was on his forehead displayed to the world. Eventually they would move on. He would gain some pleasant memories and experience and they would gain people’s admiration for being able to snare the attention of the Kazekage. The system was strange but he dealt with it by ignoring the covetous glances he would sometimes receive.


Hinata was an heir but she was a chuunin. She was weak physically but by all intents and purposes, she was not without her resources. She was quick in mind where she lacked in body, strong at heart where she lacked elsewhere. Gaara felt connected in some way because while family had surrounded her she had been truly alone just how he had been. The difference between them was fear. They feared him while they did not fear her. Naruto and he had an interesting conversation about Hinata.


“Gaara she is one of those rare people who see into your soul to the heart of who you are and cares regardless of who you are. I think if Itachi came to kill her he would be hard pressed to do it. I love her Gaara but I cannot be with her because I would destroy her and myself. You on the other hand would do well to have someone like her around.” Naruto had told him wisely his eyes holding something in them that Gaara had never seen before. Gaara had changed the subject but later that night he thought about her and what he knew of her.


Gaara shook his head as the past went through his minds eye. He watched Hinata frown in her sleep and fought the urge to kiss the frown away. Mentally smacking himself at the thought, he turned and left her to her slumber.


Hinata opened an eye and watched Gaara leave her room looking confused beneath his normal facade of indifference. Hinata smiled into the pillow as she snuggled down and went to sleep.