Gaara's Room, Hospital, Day 2

You seem off. Are you ok?

He placed her hand on her shoulder and threw Kiba a glance.

What's going on?

Ryuke's hand on her shoulder on made her blush even more.

I-i'm fine! R-really!

Gaara had tilted His head then asked Ryuke


What makes You fear taking the mask off?

Ryuke place his other hand on her shoulder.

Losing his place, he turned his head towards Gaara.

ANBU are the elite of the leaf village. We are also its most hated from the outside. Should my identity become common known, i may be in danger. Then again, I don't care much anymore, Im tired of hiding. Never the less it is habit.

Hinata's blush was now covering her entire face and she tried to keep her eyes on Gaara and away from Ryuke.

Gaara had nodded His head, signalling He understood

Ryuke placed the flat of his palm against the side of Hinata's neck, Feeling her pulse.

Your heart is beating fast. Are you certain you are ok?

Tilting his head slightly, he spoke to gaara.

Im glad you understand. Never the less, the Akatsuki are after me, so i doubt it makes a difference, though i prefer not to have my face known.

A shiver runs down her spine when she feels Ryuke's hand on her neck.

Y-yes! Of course...I-i'm fine.

Gaara had slammed His fist against the bed.

Ryuke I have told You never to mention them in my presence

Ino took a deep breathe outside the room where she heard familiar voices.

Just open the damn door Ino!

She thought to herself..She didn't have a clue to why she was nervous, I mean she was only here to bring him flowers.

I hope..he likes them?

Ino awaits on the outside of the door, struggling with herself to just enter the room.
Why am I here? It's not like he'd appreciate anything. That loser..

Ino always felt the need to make herself sound better, but the truth was, it would kill her to know that Gaara would hate the flowers.

She flinches when Gaara slams his fist and she takes this moment to move away from Ryuke. Hinata sits at the foot of Gaara's bed, staying dead silent.

Gaar sighs and slams his head back to the pillow

Hello Hinata

Hinata smiles warmly, her blush now mostly gone. But there was still a hint of pink on her cheeks.

H-hello.

Gaara tilted His head again

Hinata...What makes a person's face go...Pink?

Ryuke run his fingers slowly off Hinata's neck, and removed his hands.

He turned his body slowly towards Gaara. Squinting slightly, he gave Gaara a stern look.

They? I have reasons to call them that. Do not lose your place. Im no child Kazekage, do not speak down to me...

Sighing, he saw a shadow at the door, walking over, he open the door.

Ino looks at the man that just open the door.

Um...

Her cheeks flushed brighter while she tried to hide behind her flower arrangement.

Ino! Look at what you did now!

Here...

She fidgets a bit, her blush growing darker.

.....W-well....when...o-one is embarrassed...I-i...guess...

Ryuke smiled slightly at the girl.

Come in. Im sure the kazekage would like see you.

Turning to Gaara, his gaze halted at Hinata for a second, before returning to the girl at the door.

Gaara looks over at Hinata as Her blush deepens

So i see

Gaara notices as Ryuke opens the door stood a very skinny girl and He asked

Who may You be?

Hinata stops fidgeting and looks over at Ino.

Y-you're Ino Yamanaka, r-right?

Yes..I'm Ino Yamanaka..my family owns a flower shop..

Be prepared for the worse..

She pauses, scared of the hospitalized man's reaction.

And I made a flower arrangement for...you...Gaara.

Gaara examines the flowers slowly then he says

Thank you, Ino

Not sure of what to say, again, she goes silent. Her eyes travel between Gaara and Ino, for she refuses to look at Ryuke with his mask off.

The skinny blonde stares at the man in red, Gaara. He was so different than before. His eyes were much softer now than during the exam.

He's so innocent..

Ino blushes and bows to Gaara.

You're welcome

Ryuke had grown bored. Moving to the back of the room he sat down.

Shifting his fingers, he formed ice in his palm. Turning it into a statue of a small man, it turned to a tree, and then a lion. Shifting it again, it became a butterfly. Flying off his palm, it flew over to his over hand. Turning into a ball, it slid down his back onto his shoulder and turning into a hawk, its eyes shifting around the room.

He did not need to concentrate on it, and he kept his eyes on the company, but for the most part on Hinata.