A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back from the dead! It's been years since I posted a story here but believe me, I still write when a story comes to mind. Problem is finishing them and posting here. Please bear with me and my errors, no betareader :| And please Read and Review. Positive and negative criticisms are welcome, but please for the negative one, kindly state them in a nice way. Thank you very much :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and it's characters. I own only the idea.

Silent Voices

by pentuppassion

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Chapter 1

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The soft silken sheets caress my skin as I rolled in bed. I relished in the moment...the feel of the cold early morning air and the warm comfort of the faint sunlight seeping through the glass windows. I'm not really sure what time it was; I just know that last night had been close to perfect. Blindly, my hand searched the bed for the object of my deepest affections.

"Hmm..." I heard her mumble as she accepted my embrace. She really did fit snuggly against me..and I love it. I traced circles on her outer thigh, not really thinking about what I'm doing. She probably liked it since she leaned into my touch. This girl, or should I say, this woman ignites every passion in me. I could only dream of being the same inspiration to her.

My wandering thoughts halted when I felt her take my hand. I didn't know what she was doing at first but realization set in when I felt her flat stomach under my palms. I love this part of her, the part that needs to be held, to be protected. She is a strong woman and that is one of the things that drew me in. But these moments when I held her close - and she let me melt her into my arms - I truly treasured these for they were rare and far between.

I shifted my hold of her and accidentally brushed my thumb on the underside of her breast. A soft appreciative moan escaped her lips and her back arched to the touch. Such responsive body. Silently, I nuzzled her nape with my nose and breathed in her scent. I reached up to her chin and turned her face towards mine. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, our lips met. It was just a simple kiss at first, but she then adjusted her position so she could fully face me. Turning her body towards mine, she accidentally opened her mouth as we kissed and I took that chance to slip my tongue in. I couldn't help but moan in pleasure as she met it with her own. Her hand went up to caress my face, moving to the back of my head only to brush my short red hair. I think she's a little fond of my hair. She would always ruffle and brush it in the most random times.

"Don't you have practice today?" I tried to say between kisses. It was a difficult feat, mind you.

She put her hand on my chest and pushed lightly so she could look at me. "Then why are we still talking?" She said with a mischievous smile. Have I mentioned she was crazy?

I wasted no time after hearing that reply. I moved on top of her and showered her body with hot, wet kisses. I massaged her left breast with my left hand as my lips moved lower and lower towards her flat stomach. As I got closer to my destination, I felt her light tugging on my hair. I looked up and knew that that moment will be etched in my memory forever.

Her half - lidded eyes, slightly open mouth, dark hair sprawled on my sheets. I can hear her panting and her soft whispering of my name. A blush crept up to her cheeks when she realized I was watching her. She pulled my face to level with hers and kissed me. It's the kind of kiss that melts you to the core and you end up weak in the knees. I stopped before I could melt any further. I buried my face on the crook of her neck, trying to catch my breath. She held me close and brushed my hair softly as if I was a little boy who needed comforting. Suddenly I heard a sniffle. I looked at her with a start.

I watched a single tear roll down her flushed cheek before she could wipe it away and hide from me. I looked at her with worried eyes and she offered me a small smile.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

At the sound of my voice, she wiped another tear that escaped. She smiled still and cupped my face with both her hands.

Sigh. "I love you, okay, Gaara?" She closed her eyes for a moment to shed the tears she tried to hold back then looked at me straight in the eyes. "Please always remember that."

I wiped her tears away, still watching her beautiful face and a myriad of emotions passed through her eyes. I couldn't read all of them but I know in my heart her words were true.

"I know, love." I whispered softly, trying to soothe her. "You'd do well not to forget that I love you, too."

And we sealed this promise with a kiss that translated all that we felt into action.

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"Hinata! There you are!" I heard Sakura exclaim as I walked in the studio. "I thought you'd never show up!"

She's always exaggerating so I laughed it off. "You know I don't like missing practice, dear manager." I teased. She didn't like being called that even if it's true. She says it makes her feel old.

"Well, better late than never, I guess." Naruto suddenly joined the conversation. He's our crazy ass drummer. Really overly energetic if you asked me. We've been friends longer than I have known anyone else in the room. Except from my cousin Neji who plays lead guitar. The other member of the group was our bassist, Sasuke. He's a friend of Neji from his other job. And the vocalist, yours truly, Hinata Hyuuga.

Well not exactly. Sasuke sang too. We kind of switch roles when the songs required it. Yes, I can also play the bass. But if you must know, my first love is the violin. In our family, we had to learn how to play the piano, the violin or the flute. That's what happens when you come from a family in the upper class...certain norms are to be maintained whether you like it or not.

In case you're wondering, Neji plays the piano like a pro. When we were in high school, even a few times during elementary, we performed in music festivals either individually or as a duet. We got really close because of this. Neji seldom spoke with people so when he opened up to me, I did my best not make him regret trusting me.

"Yo!" The sound of a guitar riff vibrated through me, effectively taking me away from my thoughts. "What are you spacing out for?"

I realized now that Neji had been announcing our next practice schedule and they're setting up already to begin practice. I held on to the microphone in front of me.

"Test one, two." Okay, we're good. I let the music take me away.

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Hours passed as we practice our set for the next gig. We got a spot at The Sound Village three nights from today. We usually play downtown but not like this. The Sound Village is a very popular bar and grill where scouts visit. It's the first time we're playing there and we were a bit nervous to be honest. Or at least I was.

We were allowed five songs in total. Two songs will be sung by Sasuke, and the other three songs, by myself. Sasuke himself wrote two among the five. I helped arrange the music while Neji, Naruto and Sakura made suggestions as we went along. It was easy to work with them actually. It was as if we're only having fun.

We got together during high school...that's roughly two years ago. Naruto knew that I loved singing and my voice isn't half bad. We hung out with Neji one time and got to talk about forming a band. My cousin thought it was a good idea and we jammed later that night. We had a great time playing we didn't even notice how late it got. Months after, Neji introduced us to Sasuke and though he was very quiet, his skills were splendid. And we lacked a bassist. Before he came, I had to play the bass while singing and we figured it might pose a problem in the future.

Sakura came into the picture a little after Sasuke did. She was my classmate then, she sat beside me on most classes and after a while we got close. I told her about the band sometime after Sasuke joined us. We didn't know it at the time but apparently she already heard us play at the studio since she had to pass by it when heading home after school. Then during the school festival, after we played our set, she offered to be our band manager.

Feels like such a long time ago now.

"Okay...that's a wrap guys! Great job today!" Sakura pulled me out of my reminiscing with her words. "C'mon...we can all go out to dinner."

"RAMEN!" And we all know just whose voice that was. It was followed by a resounding smack delivered by Sasuke on the upside of the blonde's head.

Pushing the door open, we went out to feel the cold summer night's air.

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"And that is the last one." Whew. The last crate had been hoisted out of the truck and onto the cart. I need to get this to the basement and finish counting the boxes of wine and booze stocked downstairs.

Uncle said I needed to learn all about the shipment details before I could take over the bar. He talks like he was gonna die in a month or two. Uncle Baki's old…but not that old. He owns the place and I, his adopted son, bartends at night. During daytime, I also help maintain and clean up the place. Sometimes Kankuro and Temari would drop by and help.

Those two were like siblings to me. We grew up in the orphanage together. I got bullied a lot since I was thin and lanky back then. I remember Temari used to talk those bullies down while brandishing her fan in front of their faces. Never really asked where that fan came from but she never did part with it. Kankuro on the other hand took things differently. He watched on the sidelines while Temari drove the other kids away to save me. He watched intently, memorizing their faces. The next day, those bullies got what they deserved: a long string of misfortune following them all over the orphanage. Those puppets does the trick…I wonder why they never confiscated those. Those puppets spelled trouble.

Speak of the devil. Kankuro, the rude boy that he was, suddenly burst into the bar, never mind the 'closed' sign at the door. Of course Temari followed him in. Quite a pair these two make.

They never got out of the orphanage, unlike me. Uncle took me in when I was about 12. These two were older than me...about two years or so, we're not really sure. We act as if we're all the same age anyway. Uncle let them work here too when they don't have work at the orphanage. Temari would either help me bartend or be the waitress for the night. Kankuro manage the rowdy ones and took them outside. Uncle did only managerial work since we got off high school...says we're old enough to be left upstairs on our own.

"Hey Kankuro, why don't you grab those chairs and help me set up the place?"

He sent me a goofy smile and went onto help. "You too, Temari!" He added for me. The girl just sat on the barstool watching us work.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be behind the bar getting the bottles ready for later." The blonde pushed herself off the chair to start working. She took the apron on the rack and began scouting the drinks.

Music started blasting off the speakers when I turned it on. That's just what we needed to get pumped up with energy. Temari even danced a little to the beat.

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The sun had almost set when we finished cleaning and setting up. Now we had just enough time to eat dinner and get ready for the real job.

"Hey you two...let's grab some dinner before we head home to wash up." I wanted to walk around for a bit too. I needed to talk to them anyway.

Temari was first to respond. "Sure no problem Gaara."

"Let's go then! Fixing up the bar got me hungry!" Kankuro and food: perfect match.

The three of us walked silently to the famous ramen house to get some dinner. It was a comfortable silence we shared. But I had to break it.

"Hey I need to ask you both a favor." I said in a low voice. I didn't want to burden them with it but I had to ask. Both of them motioned for me to continue. "There's something I gotta do this Friday night and I won't be able to come work. Can you guys cover for me? Just that one night."

They didn't even think for a second before replying. "Of course you dummy. As long as Uncle allows it..."

"Oh I already asked so don't worry. He trusts you guys as much as he does me." I assured them.

"Wait." The girl walking beside me suddenly spoke. "What you're doing on that night that's so important anyway?"

"Well..." I trailed off. Even though they knew her personally I'm still shy about it.

Kankuro jumped in front of me. "It has something to do with Hinata right?"

"I knew it!"

Yeah they're like children when it comes to teasing me. Hinata was the only girl I ever liked that way. It's just different with her. Her personality challenges me and excites me like no other person ever did.

Finally I saw the faint light coming from the ramen house a few meters ahead. "Here we are! I'm starving!"

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Sakura sat beside me during dinner. We're all done eating except for Naruto who's on his fourth helping of ramen. I don't know where he stores all that food. Everyone knew about his six-pack abs under that shirt. He used to be really chubby as a kid and everyone teased him about it. I think he got a little insecure so he worked out a lot during high school then voila! College was easy as pie after that.

The pink haired girl turned to talk to me. "Hey isn't that Gaara?"

Before she even finished that sentence I saw him already. His red hair stood out from everybody in the small restaurant. He didn't see me yet so I took this chance to watch him and his 'siblings', Kankuro and Temari. The blonde young woman ordered for the three of them. She really was like the eldest of the three siblings. Kankuro and Gaara were talking about something while they waited.

Seemed the black haired boy caught a glimpse of me watching them. He smiled, waved then motioned to Gaara that I was here.

I stood up and excused myself from our table as Gaara walked towards us. "Hey stranger." I greeted him with a simle. He planted a kiss on my cheek as a response. "You know my band mates." I said motioning to the table.

"Hey everyone." Gaara said with a nod. He turned to look at his companions when they called him. "I've got to go. We only ordered take out since we still have to go back to the bar."

"Sure no problem." I gave him a little kiss on the lips to bid him goodbye. "I'll see you later, okay?"

And off he went. I sat back down beside Sakura and absentmindedly watched Naruto wolf down his food. Sasuke and Neji were still talking about their job at the office.

"Hey Hina..." Sakura began. "Have you told him yet?"

"Huh?" I really didn't get what she was talking about.

"You know...that thing." She was being cryptic. And by the look on my face, she knew she had to tell me explicitly. Sigh. "You've been putting off telling him for weeks. Did you change your mind about it?"

Oh that. "No I haven't..." I trailed off. I really don't know how to tell him.

"Well you should." My friend reminded me. "He needs to know."

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