Skyla Tribal's

-WHISPER-

Ch. Sum: When Gaara and Hinata first meet face-to-face, things don't go so well...

PROLOGUE

First Impressions

As a child, Hyuuga Hinata was often looked down upon by her clan for her mediocre skills and less than demanding personality. An heiress of the Hyuuga clan was meant to be a symbol of honor and power, and yet the only honor she harnessed was the honor of being the clan's first dud in centuries in a line of first-borns. She could see it in her father's eyes, that was, the few seconds of attention he offered before he could no longer bare to look at her. She was used to being looked down upon by those who were supposed to love her, and protected by those who were supposed to fight beside her. It was as far from honor and power as one could get.

The only thing she had going for her was that she never seemed to give up on her quest to change herself. The only part of her that felt changed was the stability of her internal organs, or lack thereof. When she was released from the hospital prior to the third and final division of the Chuunin exams, she had been confined to her room. She thought she'd find disappointment in her father's eyes, and though there may very well have been, the ounce of concern she detected in his eerie white gaze caught her attention the most. The only concern he had ever shown for her was the concern in her lack of, well, anything that made a ninja of the Hyuuga clan what it was. She didn't dare feel loved, maybe relieved that he didn't toss this one failure in her face.

One night, though, her room had become much too dull and stuffy to bear. The moon outside was half-full, strewn with a sea of stars, with a promise of clouds in the distance to milk the dark sky over. There was going to be at least a few days worth of rain following that night's oncoming overcast. She thought it couldn't hurt to sneak out and enjoy the fresh air and stars for a few. Sure, her doctor had advised her to stay in bed and not participate in any strenuous activities, but what could possibly be strenuous about star gazing? If anything, the monotony of her residence was going to kill her before a little fresh air and exercise.

So she sneaked out of the house, and eventually through the gates that divided her clan from the rest of the village. She didn't go out at night all that often, but some of the blocks were bustling with activity (maybe a party of some sort?) where most were anywhere from dimly lit to pitch black. The clouds were starting to roll in, and a cool breeze pushed through her hair. Good thing she remembered to bring her jacket, though it seemed odd for it to be as chilly out as it was.

In any case, Hinata just kind of strolled through the village, not minding anyone who happened to pass her by, they not minding her in return. It was like walking through a frozen period in time, where the entire world was her own endless space of comfort. She sometimes walked into this world to purge herself of the days failures and disappointments. This really did her no good, because hiding from her faults didn't make them go away. There was nothing strolling along the empty streets was doing for her rather than giving her an excuse to walk away. Away from those who shunned her, away from those who hurt her. But what use was there in walking away when she eventually had to go back?

Hinata looked up, disappointed in having the murky clouds cover her beautiful night away. That was her cue to turn around and go back before she was found missing. Before she decided to turn, she proceeded forward with her glance pasted so intently on the overcast above that she wasn't aware of what was right in front of her. Before she could find out she had already bumped into it, knocking her back into reality. She apologized on impulse, but before she could say anything else, she was struck with the most fervid horror her heart ever had the misfortune of feeling.

Anyone else could have turned around to face her in her carelessness. Anyone. Her father, Neji, even... even Naruto! She may have died of shame, or embarrassment on the spot, but that was nothing compared to the fear that now boiled inside of her. None other than Sabaku no Gaara stood at eye-level with her, looking as cheerful as tonight's overcast, and twice as haunting. Goodness, she'd never forget the forest, and he'd killed all of those people without even a thought of mercy. To put it nicely, the boy was a monster. A predator, even.

"Watch where you're going, idiot," he said, and the more she stood there and stared, the angrier he got. Oh, why didn't she just high-tail it and run for her life? This kid could kill her in cold blood. He just had such a cruel, uneasy feeling about him. But Hinata was positively petrified, and like a predator Gaara could practically smell the fear radiating from her. His breathing gradually melted into labored pants, not knowing quite how he remembered this girl, but had a hunch that she would scream and bleed sooo good.

"P-please... I'll leave... just... please," said Hinata, desperate for words. Her words did nothing to mask her fear, but then again neither did standing there petrified with fear on the spot. Gaara seemed to know what she was asking, and unlike the men in the forest he appeared to be giving her request some thought. Frankly she found that surprising, although it could have been a misinterpretation. He could just be considering ways to kill her. That seemed more up his alley. She swallowed real tight and hoped for the best.

"You're assuming I'm going to kill you," he said, taking a step toward her. This finally got her moving. Every step he took toward her, she took one back. Their eyes never ceased to break contact. "You're giving me that look that they all give me. You must see Him. You must think I am Him. What do you know? How can you see?" She picked up her pace for each cryptic question he asked, until eventually she lost her footing. The sand from his gourd poured and puddled at his feet, crawling ahead of him like a dog. She had never been so scared in her whole life. She'd rather face ten Nejis at once than Sabaku no Gaara. The grin on his face shot ice through her bloodstream. He was positively menacing.

She thought she may pass out, or regurgitate from fear. However, what happened was worse, much worse, in more ways than she can even imagine. Watching your life flash before your eyes must be considered strenuous, because her insides began to constrict in anguished pain, and she started to cough.

Very, very bloody coughs.

"Oh yes," said Gaara, chuckling in a most bizarre and manic way. Hinata's vision was beginning to blur behind her tears, grief, and fatigue. Why did she have to leave her room? How could she, knowing that this vicious beast roamed the streets of Konoha while the Chuunin exams were going on. If this was how careless she chose to be, how weak her body was going to be, then perhaps she deserved to die. It was a death befitting of the Hyuuga dud.

Before her fate was wrapped and sealed in a grave of sand, though, she heard the yip of a puppy in the distance, and while on the verge of blacking out knew that she no longer held her own fate in her hands.

"Gatsuuga!"

Above her, Kiba blocked the onslaught of sand with his spinning attack, very nearly grazing Gaara himself in all his fury. Part of Hinata was happy that he'd came to save her, and another part wanted him to run for his life. He didn't stand a chance against Gaara, and Hinata really didn't want her teammate and friend killed on her behalf.

"Come on, we've got to get the hell out of here," said Kiba, scooping Hinata into his arms and gripping her to his chest as he and Akamaru ran for dear life. They narrowly escaped the monster. It was a stupid move, doomed to at least a hundred different possible scenarios of fail. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to escape from that fiend Gaara, especially after what had happened in the forest. He had tempted the very wrong kind of fate, and not a moment too soon. Hinata was in trouble, and the one thing a real, loyal guy had to do for a friend in trouble is to help them out at all costs. Facing that freak, if even for a second, was one of the craziest damned things he had ever done in his life, but in the end it was worth it. He and Hinata were still in one piece.

Well, at least he was. Hinata had streams of blood dripping down her lips, tears flowing from her eyes, and wasn't at all in any good condition. He didn't know what to do, whether to take her back to the Hyuuga compound, or directly to the hospital. He went with the hospital, deciding it would be less of a hazard to both of them, her especially.

Aside from some internal bleeding and the scare of her life, she was decidedly all right according to the medic-nin. They were going to keep her over night just in case, having recent records of hers on file and knowing of her bad condition. Kiba chose to stay there for the night, despite the fact that they wouldn't allow Akamaru into the intensive care room. They just hung out in the waiting room for a few hours until they dozed off.

When morning broke, she was moved into a resting room where Akamaru was allowed to go. Speaking of which, a few licks and yips woke Kiba from the nap he swore he didn't need. Kurenai-sensei had just come in to check on Hinata, followed by Hyuuga Hiashi and Hyuuga Hanabi.

While Hinata's father was in to see her, Kurenai sat beside Kiba wondering what he knew. He told her what he knew, having found her in that condition just as Gaara was about to attack her.

"I guess it was a good thing she coughed up all that blood, or else Akamaru and I wouldn't have been so alarmed," said Kiba, giving his puppy a well-deserved pat on the head. He didn't even want to think about what could have happened to Hinata if he hadn't gotten her out of there. The important thing was that she was all right. Hospitalized, but that was a step above dead, wasn't it? It sure felt good to hear that he (and Akamaru) were heroes from his sensei.

And if you thought that was something, he was pretty embarrassed when the head of the Hyuuga clan bowed before him in gratitude. He assumed Hinata was awake enough to relay the story to her father. The little sister Hanabi even gave him a hug, and by then he insisted that Akamaru was the real hero... somehow, unable to take much more of this.

Without further ado, though, he and Kurenai-sensei ventured into Hinata's room. She was sitting up in bed, looking more forlorn and distant than usual. Sometimes Kiba had to wonder about her, but nevertheless she was like a little sister to him. He couldn't help but feel fiercely protective of her, though anybody would have done what he had. Well, maybe not anyone. Not in the face of Gaara, at least. Kiba owed himself some credit. He'd stuck his neck out and risked his life to protect someone important to him. What wasn't cool about that?

Still, with a look that sad on her face it felt almost as though he'd done nothing. He pulled a stool from beside her bedside table toward her bed and sat, while Kurenai took a seat on the side of the bed and glanced down at her pained student. It was way too quiet, and Kiba made an effort to break that silence by clearing his voice, only to find that there were no words to say. The only thing he could do was adorn the same dejected face everyone else here wore. Heck, even Shino was louder than this.

Speaking of which, Kiba offered to go fetch their wayward teammate, leaving Hinata alone with her teacher. Frankly, she was glad that Kiba had gone. Not that she wasn't grateful for how he'd saved her and looked after her, but it was only a reminder of her own weakness. Why did he have to risk his hide to cart her off? She had legs of her own. Why didn't she run away? Why was she so powerless against Gaara? Sure, he was a homicidal freak of nature, but... Kiba stood about as much a chance against him as she did, so why was she the powerless one in the end? Why did she always wind up coming short in the end?

"You must be disappointed in my carelessness, sensei," said Hinata, unable to stand the silent scrutiny any longer. Though if anyone was disappointed in Hinata, it was Hinata herself. Not even her father Hiashi would spare her a look of shame anymore, just pity. Hanabi was always on tow to emulate his expressions, like a shadow of what Hinata was supposed to be. She wished, dearly wished... no. Not this again...

"I'm glad that you're alive and safe," said Kurenai. She chose her words carefully and smiled. "Part of being a strong ninja is having a strong bond with your team. You're alive today because of Kiba."

"Yes... but... "

"And maybe someday he'll be alive because of you."

Hinata's gaze snapped from her pale sheets for the first time that morning, somehow feeling enlightened. It was the kind of philosophy Naruto would have had, no doubt. What's more, he would do anything to protect those he cared for, and worked very hard to get where he was today. Though her progress was much slower, Hinata wouldn't give up. She would have to build strength from her failures, rather than let those failures stunt her growth.

First things first. She would concentrate on getting better, and never ever wander out after dark unattended.

to be continued...

Disclaimer: If Naruto were mine, Gaara would be in every episode. In fact, I'd just change the manga's name to GAARA. ;)

A/N: Some GaaHina! Nah, it'll become GaaHina in later chapters, but it won't come easy. Talk about first impressions, yikes! If anyone is reading my NaruSaku fic, I will update it soon. I just had a plot attack with this fic, so I wanted to write it.