Another Chance
Sequel to "Alone With You",
GaaHina Pairing.

"Heal the wounds of his heart and he will heal yours."

Over that earth of olive and russet, what is there to look at? Such tedium is at hand and zilch. I see scarlet, yet it isn't something you usually see in a forest. Is it fire? If it is, it's such a steady fire dancing in with the wind.

Gaara stands stiffly in the middle of nothingness, his eyes shut tight and his arms hanging down as if broken. The wind whistles softly and touches his face, it pulled softly his red strands of hair and slowly it lets go… His deep eyes slowly open and his green eyes glitters as if it was damped by tears, his lips parted and moved. He whispers, allowing only the winds to hear. He seemed so lonely, so sad… So hurt.

His head moves down and his hands welcomed his face, the back of his hands carefully ran athwart his closed eyes. It made the impression… that he has been crying. Perhaps his absolute defense of sand wasn't that hard at all. As she silently and slowly approaches, she hears his soft sobs. He has been crying for a long time now, she reaches out her hand but something stopped her. It was a thought.

With his ears, he can swear he heard something. He slowly turned as the winds blew once again, breeze raised up thick hair of darkness. It was familiar, for him, it's so very familiar. "Hinata?" He irrevocably turned, it was too late to go back; Hinata threw herself to his arms. His eyes widened, his crystal tears flew away as he lost balance and was about to fall down. The sands moved as he wished it to and caught him before his back hit the floor. Gaara's green eyes locks down to the dark haired woman over him, she caught him off-guard. He was surprised; the Kazekage didn't felt the lurking presence. He was out of time to think of any words to say, his lips stayed sealed.

"G-gaara-kun…" she lifted her head up and revealed her blushing face, "I… I missed you." She said, smiling sweetly at him.

"Hn." he made a small sound, Hinata laughed softly then crawled back. She sat over her folded legs and watched him sit up, he looked at her emptily but still she smiled sweetly. "Hinata…" he said as his eyes awkwardly softened. The revulsion fades as he says: "I'm sorry." It wasn't cold as he asked for her forgiveness, it was his voice… His soft voice.

Hinata froze, he sounded different… So much different but as his voice went to her ears, she felt so good. She then smiles, "I-it's alright."

The Konoha chuunin moves closer to the kazekage and touches softly his cheek, her thumb ran beside the corner of his eyes. "You missed a spot." She said and smiles at him again, "Secrets are always bound to be revealed. Y-you don't have to act so tough… when I'm h-here."

A period of silence rose up. On her heart, somehow she felt anxious…

"You're the reason why I'm strong." He said, Hinata wondered if it's true. He had always been strong, how can she be the reason why? They have only met—maybe just three months ago? It might even be just one and half… "You haven't noticed?"

"N-notice what?"

Gaara moved his face, looking far away. "Never mind." He has been watching her; he always had every single time that he could. Starting from when they entered the Chuunin Exams, everything was so weird. He was always curious what it's like to be her, he's always wondering what she's thinking… He always wanted to know her. Maybe there's truth in the saying: Opposites attract. Maybe it's just because we are never contented for who we have become, that we always wish we are someone else.

He always wished that he can depend on someone else; he always wanted to feel what it is like to ease up. He wants to feel what it's like to put your guard down, to feel comfortable in closing your eyes…To know that no matter what happens, someone will always come and rescue you. He wanted that, Gaara envied her from the very first time he saw this girl… He'll give up everything for that.

On the contrary, Hinata wants to be strong… to be someone who will never need help from someone else. She wants to be someone who doesn't need to be rescued, someone who people can count on, and someone who can live with others' expectations—someone parallel to him.

Neither side knows the pain of being who they wish to be, no one can tell until you're finally in their shoes and then you wish to be another someone. When will people learn about it? When will they learn to accept and be happy for whom they have become…?

He sighed, and then looked at the dark-haired shinobi.

"W-what?" she blushed.

He tilted his head to the side, "Nothing". Hinata lifted a finger up to her mouth and bit it; she felt his eyes heavy on her. She looked away and started playing with her hair. His face, it was nice to look at… especially now that he's smiling. But she just couldn't stand it, she feels like she'll melt if she look back at him. It was strange, yet so nice.

It's such a small smile, but it seemed like it meant everything. His eyes turned soft and warm, his sharp eyes no longer scared her… it caressed her. She's finally sure that with him alone, she is safe. "By the w-way…" Hinata put her hands on her lap, "T-thank you for e-everything."

"Hn."

"WHAT THE HELL?!! IS THAT IT?!! YOU CREAPIN' SHRIMP! KISS HER ALREADY!!!" Kankuro stood out of the bushes and yelled as loud as he could, Gaara looked back with a blank face and stared at his brother. Hinata covered her lips and imagined what if he really kissed her, she blushed. Smoke might even go out of her ears, she was really steaming… She was feeling nervous and awkwardly excited or scared or something…

"KANKURO!!! SHUT UP!!!" A throaty but female voice followed which most probably came from Temari.

"Uh… D-don't mind us…" Naruto appeared too and pulled Kankuro down to the bushes, "…Dattebayo…"

"Cupids are still here." Gaara sighed as he looked back his shoulders.

"C-cupids?"

"Long story…" he lifted a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, "but you'd rather not hear about it." He hunkered down then straightens his legs; he looked down at her with those empty eyes once more. He extended his hand and asked for hers, she willingly accepts it yet something started to bother her: "How can that be?"

"Hm?"

Hinata shook her head and smiled; the kazekage spaced out of a moment then turned his back. He no longer asked why, he acted… like he always did, quiet and cold. Much like the atmosphere of being alone. Behind his back, the Hyuuga ponders what was still missing. Has she done anything wrong? She couldn't understand: why wouldn't it completely go away?

She closed her eyes as her arms softly crawled around her, embracing herself. "Gaara-kun?" The winds blew hard; her hair flew up and played with the leaves flying in the air. Gaara slowly looks back upon hearing his name.

There should be something…

OWARI.
Chapter Eight: Last Chapter.

A/N: Hai, hai, haiii!!! That's the end of it, alright? I know someone might kill me for this. It's a short chapter and it freaking took me four weeks to update. Well, really… I've been busy with school work and I'm having one tough writer's block.

And what the heck, is that a cliff hanger? No, it's not… Fortunately, or unfortunately… or whatever you want. No more sequel because the story after this is a slightly AU fic and it's on my DA. They're still on Konohagakure/Sunagakure but the events are totally different or new. There will be a war and someone will die and someone will have children with no moms… Or something.

So, as of now, all of my fics are finished. Of course, I'm PLANNING on making another one but I'm not sure what it's about. Will it be GaaHina? Or a Neji-centric for a change? Uh, I don't know. I still haven't blown this tough block up.