A/N : Well, I have been thinking about this for a little while. Just wondered if anyone else would like this idea like I do.

DISCLAIMER:Masashi Kishimoto Is the owner of Naruto, He is a wonderful man. I'm thankful to be able to use his characters!

Te Wo Tsunagou(Let's Hold Hands)

Chapter 1: One Step At A Time

The morning had started as every other before it, with our young heiress waking at the crack of dawn to sneak off of the complex grounds. After tucking short strands of indigo tresses behind round ears, the teen darted through the gates with not so much as a glance backwards to see if she'd been observed. Right now, she craved a bit of alone time to process the earlier information received from her father. Yesterday's events sat so heavily on her soul that she couldn't possibly handle being surrounded by others and cracking that shy smile like always. Life just wasn't going in any direction she would have liked.

Hinata Hyuuga sat quietly listening to the words of her father as she bowed her head quietly,short indigo locks bobbing with her movements before she stood, her pupiless lavender irises focused on the floor which she had held her ground on."I understand father." The words flowing from her lips purely sincere knowing what she had to do, it wasn't as if she had much choice in her life left already being the Heiress of her clan. The 14 year old clumsily shuffled off towards her room, keeping focus on her movements as not to make eye contact with anyone around her. She dove down between the sheets of her futon, pale skin highlighted by the ever running tears. Trembling lips fighting with refusal to release those broken sobs, praying that this was all a simple mistake. The situation had all been decided that she was to wed 'Sabaku No Gaara' for the two warring states to join together as one in treaty.

Yesterday

Today would finally be the day that Hinata had worked so hard for, she was to profess her feelings for Naruto once and for all. "I'm sure he will accept my feelings." She mumbled to herself with the smallest of smiles curved onto her face. The soft scratching noises of whispers caught her attention, re-directing her path until she'd come towards a small clearing. Naruto was in her sights, grinning from ear to ear. Her heartbeat accelerated much too quick for her liking, only to drop into her stomach at the familiar bubblegum hued hair of the girl known as 'Haruno Sakura'. The scene played on right in front of her, keeping her presence masked away as not to interrupt.

"Oh Sakura I've loved you for so long!" The Kyuubi boy exclaimed to his pink-haired teammate as she nodded with a smile, brushing her lips onto his own in a chaste kiss. Hinata's eyes widened at the throbbing ache in her chest, pearl eyes brimming with unshed tears. The two turning to see her, Sakura donning a victorious smirk and Naruto being his usual idiotic self. "Hey Hina-chan! Wait, what's the matter?"He called as the girl only bowed her head, struggling to keep herself from violently trembling with built sobs trapped in her aching throat." N-Nothing Naruto-kun…You and Sakura are very lucky to have one another.I-I will see you l-later." She'd found her words laced with a bitter tone as she turned on her heels, taking off into the pathway of grassy plains beyond. All that she could think of was to run until her feet gave out and her body collapsed in front of the very gates she'd earlier escaped from, grossly sobbing to herself in a crumpled pile. To her surprise, Neji made a calm approach to drape his arms about the broken girl and held her until those heart wrenching cries settled into faint hiccups.

End Flashback

"Hinata-san?" The Hyuuga prodigy murmured from the other side of the shoji paper door as he peered in, seeing his cousin so unbelievably distraught. Suddenly his pupiless eyes narrowing in clear irritation." It was that useless orphan, wasn't it?" He hissed coldly whilst seating himself beside her stiff figure. They hadn't always held such a fond relationship for one another, having not too recently gotten past differences in the aftermath of the Chuunin exams only a year ago. Their bond had grown slightly closer than before and he was happy to be next to her but it deeply pained the male to notice her constant struggles. Especially knowing tonight she was to be leaving so she would be escorted to Sunakagure for the sudden wedding with Sabaku No Gaara."My lady, don't worry about him. You were too good for him anyway, Hinata. I know you will carry on and stay strong as you always have." His hushed words rushed out, lightly bowing his head to signal that his leave was being taken. Her gaze remained straight ahead at the blank color of the walls, feeling despair at the faint noise of his footsteps fading away. All other emotion seemed to evade her, feeling nothing more than a complete and utter numbness. Sakura had finally taken Naruto, as if she knew she could have him any time that she craved. Who was Hinata to stand in the way of happiness, especially when it felt so undeserved on her part?

Arising from her bed, she began undressing from her simply white nightgown to don the wedding kimono laid out for her by the maids. The silk material a beautiful ivory with a golden border that resembled an endless desert, decorated with an enchanting pattern of a marvelous waterfall upon her sleeves. The outlining of each water ripple done in silver along with the pale blue waters rushing down to the solid dull rocks at the bottom. Slipping on the Tabi socks along with her glossy geta sandals, she headed downstairs with her father and cousin whom went to give her towards the carriage. "If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. "Neji whispered offering her a sweet smile then gracefully bowing, only to head back towards the Hyuuga Complex. Her father offered no words of comfort, shooting her a pointed glare before making his own way back to the complex. The ride was simply going to be long and silent from what she could see. No one else would miss her, this didn't feel as if it would be life changing for her by the way that her own father dared to treat her.

'I wonder what Gaara will be like…..' She thought on the male who she had only seen few times during the Chunnin Exams. She couldn't help but think of the way she'd seen him so stoic and blood-thirsty when his team first arrived. Shivers ran down her spine at the thought of him smashing her into nothing more than a mass of bloodied flesh in his sand coffin, pursing her lips together until a deep frown marred her features. Things would surely not be anything like she hoped of it. Her petite hands grasped tightly onto her kimono, shedding more than enough tears to leave salty stains on the beautiful fabric that had once belonged to her mother. All that she could do was to weep silently to herself with no encouraging words to be gained, all alone in the back of a carriage. Only the steady clicking of the horses to quell her jumping nerves. What would her life become once she arrived in Sunakagure? What would she become?

To Be Continued...

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