Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Take my Hand	By : SexyMomma Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1207 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
A/N: ho ho ho! Here we go again! Chapter 5 and going strong! I reall hope you all enjoy this one. This chapter was spurred into writing after reading a fellow fanfic with lots of GaaHina goodness in it. I really do hope you all enjoy this particular chapter because so far it was my favorite one to write. Oh...Be warned: You will need paper towels and or kleenex tissues...

Chapter 5
The next morning, the group had made it to the gates by sun-up and were heading in separate ways. Neji was headed for the Hyuuga compound to fetch Hanabi while Temari sought out Shikamaru. Both Gaara and Hinata went to the Hokage tower first to check in with her as well as give her the news.
Shizune was waiting outside for them with Ton-Ton and smiled when she saw Hinata. � Hinata-sama, Hiashi-sama pulled through last night and will be sent home later this morning. I just thought you may want to know.� Shizune said.
� Thank you, Shizune-san, but Gaara-sama and I must speak with Tsunade-sama. It�s urgent�� Hinata replied.
� She�s already made sure this morning would be clear so that she could talk to you, Kazekage-sama. If you both will please follow me��
Hinata and Gaara both followed in silence behind Shizune, just steadily going up the steps until they reached her office. � Tsunade-sama, both Hyuuga Hinata and the Kazekage are here to see you.�
Tsunade was caught off guard when Shizune announced them both. She had only been expecting Gaara, and had thought Hinata would have been off to see her father. Something important must be happening with the talks if they both are here�She thought. � Please send them in, Shizune��
Hinata walked in behind Gaara and bowed respectfully to the Godaime Hokage. � Hokage-sama��
� Hinata, Gaara. Something important must be going on with the peace talks if both of you are here in my office.� Tsunade said, waving her hand to indicate that they could have a seat.
� Hokage-sama, we already have a rough draft written out and have found a way to solidify the treaty as well�� Hinata said. She looked to Gaara for a moment and then back to the Hokage. � The Kazekage and I have agreed that an arranged marriage will solidify the treaty and bring the two nations closer together.�
� Ah, so Shikamaru and Temari are the ones getting married then?� Tsunade said jovially.
Hinata sighed and went to explain before Gaara beat her to the punch. � No, they aren�t, at least not yet�The elders have been harping on me to take a bride and Hinata-san and I agreed that the best way to solidify the treaty was if her and I were the ones married�� Gaara said, before Hinata could finish. � That way, the villagers won�t feel as if we are taking this treaty lightly. With the progeny of the most established clan in Konohagakure and the Kazekage of Sunagakure wed, both countries will feel that not only have they gained another citizen, but a new kekke genkai as well.�
Tsunade nodded and looked at the two. � So you both came here to tell me that not only have you nearly finished the treaty, but you�ll be announcing your engagement to both countries soon?�
Gaara and Hinata nodded. � Also, I would appreciate it if you were there to help me with my father. With my engagement, I will have to live in Sunagakure, meaning I must denounce my title as the Hyuuga heiress and pass it down to the only other person available to take it.�
Tsunade nodded. � Hanabi?� she asked, only to receive a nod. � Very well, we all will go to the hospital, this way I can check on Hiashi to make sure he is well enough.�
Hiashi was in a foul mood when Neji announced that Sabaku no Gaara and Hinata had gone to speak with the hokage first. Deep down, he had a feeling that either something drastic had happened while she was away or there was a huge breakthrough with the treaty. He heard a soft and tentative knock on his door and sat up. � Come in��

Hinata was the first to enter. She looked haggard from two days of none stop traveling, but she looked healthy none the less. � Hello, otou-san..� she said sweetly, bowing respectfully. � Presenting, the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Sabaku no Gaara and the Godaime Hokage.�
Hiashi hid a smile. Hinata really had grown into herself ever since she had moved away. Even the past week had done her some good it seemed. � Why is it all three of you are here?�
� If I may have a word alone with him, Hinata�Hokage-sama�� Gaara said. � Hiashi-sama. I would like to partake in the Hyuuga orchid ritual with your permission��
Whatever Hiashi had been expecting, it was not that. The Kazekage was asking to partake in his family�s ritual to take Hinata�s hand in marriage, no doubt. Was it part of the peace talks or did the two have an irresistible attraction to the other. He is asking because he cares for Hinata, but it is probably to help solidify the peace treaty as well. Neji must have spoken to him�Hiashi thought. � And why would you wish to partake in such a time honored tradition?�
� Because I intend to take your eldest daughter as my bride. Your nephew told me about your traditions. Part of this is being done because Hinata and I have agreed that the two of us will marry so the peace treaty will be binding, and with me doing this will help strengthen the relations between our two nations. However, at the same time, I care for your daughter. I have been attracted to her for quite some time and she to me and all these talks have done is brought us closer together. Now, I ask you, not as the kazekage, but a young man wishing to take your eldest daughter�s hand in marriage. May I please partake in the orchid ritual?�
� You do realize that taking Hinata for a bride means that she will no longer be the next in line to lead the clan?�
� Hiashi-sama, Hinata has told me that she doesn�t feel she is right to take the job. She has already spread her wings; if you will, and becoming the head of the clan will only cage her again.�
Hiashi smiled. He knew this was bound to happen. � You have my consent then��
Gaara couldn�t help but to smile and bowed respectfully to the man. � When am I to begin?�
Hiashi looked at the clock. � As soon as I can get the head of the Nara clan here.�
Shikamaru couldn�t believe his father was forcing him to stand in for him for a meeting with Hyuuga Hiashi. But yet again, his father was getting ready to leave on an A-ranked mission. � Nah, this is so damn troublesome. I�d rather be spending my time with Temari�� he said to himself. He knocked on Hiashi�s door and slid it open.

� Nara Shikamaru, your father is currently indisposed?� Hiashi said.
� Yes, Hyuuga-sama, he was just leaving for an A-rank mission when you sent the summons. I am here to take his place for whatever you need.� Shikamaru replied.
Hiashi smirked. � The time has come for the wanderer to search for his most sacred treasure.� He said, wondering if the boy�s father had taught him the sayings yet.
Shikamaru�s eyes widened. Someone was asking to take Hinata�s hand in marriage? That was quick. Maybe that was the reason behind her getting called back so quickly. � Then I will tarry not as I lead the wanderer to the place to find his heart.� Shikamaru replied.
� Tarry not and go with light footfall to your fate�� Hiashi finished. Shikamaru turned to see who was waiting to follow him. This part of the journey had to be completed in absolute silence and bit back a shocked remark as Gaara stood to follow.
The two exited quickly and Shikamaru led him to the entrance that was to be used for the Hyuuga ritual. � My apologies Kazekage-sama, but you will need to remove your shirt, your gourd and take only your canteen and a kunai with you. I�m afraid it is all part of this ritual.� Shikamaru said.
Gaara nodded silently and removed everything that he was told to and grasped his canteen and a single kunai.
� May the great spirits guide you on your journey and may you proceed quickly back into the arms of the one you care for�� Shikamaru finished. He stepped aside and allowed Gaara to pass into the forest. He was quickly out of sight and Shikamaru stood sentinel as the tradition called for him to do. Interesting that my father should chose to go over this with me a few days ago. It seems as if all this is just falling together�Shikamaru thought.
Hinata sat at the Hyuuga compound, enjoying tea with her sister. � Hanabi��

� Yes, nee-chan?�
� You�re not mad at me are you?�
Hanabi smiled and moved over to sit beside her sister. Grasping Hinata�s hands in hers, Hanabi looked her sister in the eye. � I could never be mad at you Hinata. You weren�t meant to become the head of the clan, though for the longest time we thought you would. Now look at you, you�re getting married soon. I�m very happy for you. I truly hope that Gaara can find the orchid to bring back as proof that he does love you, even if he doesn�t know it yet��
Hinata smiled and hugged her sister fiercely. � I�ll miss you��
� I�ll miss you too..�
Gaara looked up. It was already nearly dusk and there was still no sign of the mysterious orchid. He stopped and gathered wood, thanking whatever deities were above that he had learned one fire jutsu. Soon he had a fire going and was currently eating some of the fish he had caught along the way earlier. But the one thing he would be glad for was when he found the orchid, Hinata would be it�s recipient and then to make things all the more binding, he would get an engagement ring for her. He was exhausted and sat there resting for a few hours. His best guess when he finally looked up to check the time was that it was close to midnight.

He couldn�t help but to smile about the way he had felt holding her as she slept. She had cuddled up to him like he was a teddy bear and had refused to let him go even for a moment. He had actually fallen asleep peacefully for the first time in many, many years. He was truly happy, and he knew she was as well. � I swear that if I do find that orchid, I will spend the rest of my days ensuring her happiness before mine.� He whispered.
And then it happened. No sooner had the words left his mouth, an orchid had sprung up from the ground in front of his feet. Gaara disbelievingly rubbed his eyes, thinking it was a trick of the light and touched one of it�s pale purple petals. He smiled realizing it was real and carefully cut the stem with his kunai. He then cut a piece of fabric from his pants and doused it with the water in his canteen. He wrapped the damp cloth around the end of the stem and sped toward the entrance of the forest.
Shikamaru was trying to stay awake. It was close to midnight on the first day and he was getting tired. He hadn�t even had a chance to eat yet. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard movement heading toward him. He turned to see what the commotion was and was shocked to see Gaara barreling his way towards the entrance, a pale purple orchid in hand. � I don�t believe it�He got it on the first day..� Shikamaru whispered in shock.
Gaara came to a walking halt when he reached where Shikamaru was. He silently handed him the orchid for inspection and Shikamaru handed it back to him. � Come now weary wanderer, and we will present the key to your desired reward.�
Hinata was woken up when Hanabi came barreling into her room. � What�s going on Hanabi?� she yawned.

� Father�s summoning the main and branch families to announce your engagement�� Hanabi said excitedly.
Hinata was instantly awake. She had heard stories of it taking men up to a month to complete the search. She had never heard of a case where the suitor had only taken a day. She dressed in a formal kimono that she had stashed in her closet and threw her hair up with some chopsticks.
Hiashi was disgruntled at first when Neji had knocked on his door at one in the morning, but was awake when his nephew said that Gaara had returned with Shikamaru and the orchid. That boy, he must have said something from the heart in order to get the flower already�he thought. Hiashi was now standing in the courtyard, which was illuminated by lanterns, and watched as all the Hyuuga family members filed out to take their places. He turned when he heard the door from the main house open and saw Hinata and Hanabi step out. Hinata immediately took her place at Hiashi�s left side and waited patiently.

When everyone had come out to the courtyard, Hiashi spoke. �As most of you know, today a man approached me seeking to take Hinata�s hand in marriage. He requested to be put through the orchid ceremony and as tradition dictates, whenever the suitor has returned from his search is when the engagement will be announced. Neji, send him in so that I may inspect the orchid.�
Hinata was waiting with bated breath as the gate opened. A blush struck her cheeks as she saw him. His tanned skin glowed bronze in the moonlight as sweat glistened on his skin. His bare chest was broad and lean, but conveyed the strength of a man determined. He stood with his head held high and his deep red locks flew wild in the wind. In his hands, as they faced palms up, was the orchid as it lay there as if it were made of glass.
Shikamaru led him in and bowed before Hiashi and Hinata. � Honorable father, the wanderer has completed his journey and in his hands holds the key to his happiness. Please accept him.� He said.
Hiashi motioned for Gaara to step forward and Gaara presented him the delicate flower that lay in his hands. Hiashi only had to look at it once to know it was the real thing. � Step forward, and revel in these happy times. May the great spirits bless you both with happiness in abundance.� Hiashi said softly. He placed the orchid behind Hinata�s left ear and took her hand in his left. He took Gaara�s hand and placed it with Hinata. � I now hand you the second half of your heart. May you guard her and treasure her always.� And with that, Hiashi let their hands go.
Gaara was at a loss for words. He would have never known how touching this ritual was until now. He looked up at his soon to be father in law and then to Hinata. � I shall.� Was all Gaara said.
Hiashi smiled at them both. Despite everything, the orchid showed that even though they didn�t know it yet, Gaara was deeply in love with Hinata and Hinata with him. � I present to you Sabaku no Gaara, Kazekage of Sunagakure and his bride, Hyuuga Hinata. Tradition now dictates that the two shall be wed in three weeks time, before the orchid wilts��
The family cheered. It had been many, many years since they had seen this ritual used. To have such a worthy man take one of the daughters of the main branch as his bride was an honor, especially because he had found the orchid in only a day. They all retired to bed shortly after all was done and left the newly engaged couple alone.
Hinata was content. She hadn�t expected Gaara to return so quickly, but he had and now everything was going according to plan. The Hyuuga family had accepted him as a worthy suitor and they were to be wed within the next three weeks.
She couldn�t stifle the giggle that had left her when she thought back to Kankuro.
� What is so funny?� Gaara said. He had been resting his eyes rather peacefully until she had giggled.
� Kankuro�He�ll be right pissed that you won�t be back for three weeks�� she said. � Do you think he found the scroll?�
Gaara shook his head. � I brought that one with me. Seeing as I will be here for a few weeks, Tsunade and I can finish the negotiations and make any corrections that we need to. I only want you to concentrate on planning the wedding��
Hinata nodded. � It�s a promise�� she whispered. Leaning up a bit, she brushed her lips against his, sealing the promise.

A/N: Ok...This was my favorite chapter to write so far. I can also honestly admit I did get the idea of a flower appearing out of nowhere from another story..I just can't remember the title or the author's name. However, I made up my own flower ritual and I hope you all think it was as beautiful and touching as I hoped it could be. Hope to hear from you soon!
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Take my Hand