Epilogue:

Darkness… that is all I see… now

Who am I…? Or who was I…?

Has the world changed in my absence?

I feel nothing…

No emotions and no being anymore.

I wonder where they went…

Nothing…

That is all I am now…

Dawn approaches, the outstretch of sky is tainted a rose pink. No clouds roamed as the sun began to rise to the world. As the sun rises forth, even the flowers blossomed forth to meet it including a blossom tree that stood behind a gruesome looking grave. Despite the negative energy of the dead, the blossom still stood tall and grew into the most beautiful tree in this forest. One of its baby pink flowers though did something the tree had never let; it withered and fell to the ground as a light breeze came forth.

As soon as the blossom met the wet grass, a figure emerged with the wind. It wasn't human and his steady white paws padded slowly as his snake-like body following behind. He lifted his long head and as the morning breeze passed his snow white fur almost glowed when it danced in the wind, his emerald green eyes glistening as his eyes met the sun.

A smile came to the creature's jaws and a few sharpened teeth shown. His smile disappeared as he lowered his head and saw a tombstone in front of a beautiful blossom tree. He padded slowly and he leaned forward to read what writing the tomb had on it, "Here lies Rani Lee Kizu, a demon of the shadows, an angel of a rose. May the weights holding down her wings be lifted off so she can fly to a much greater world. I love you Rani…

~~Sabaku no Gaara" the creature whispered as he red the tomb. He sighed sadly and a tear fell from his eye, not a normal tear as this one was tainted a brilliant golden colour. As it fell to the grass it slowly sank into the soil and a golden aura appeared on that spot and soon a small sapling sprouted forth from the same spot.

"No one deserves death, Ryuu you fool you should have know much better then to kill her… your eyes may have held a curse but her's were pure, the eyes of a holy dragon are enough to break the darkness and their tears can bring about life to this world" he sighed and rested his head on the tombstone, a second tear falling from his emerald eye.

"Rani… forgive me that I wasn't there to save you… I love you…" he whispered and lifted his head from the tombstone and hung his head as the tears continued to fall onto the grave. Yet his final tear was different, it held much more magic in it then any other elixir or medicine and it shone as brightly as a midnight star. It landed onto the grave and unlike the other tears; it sank slowly into the soil just infront of the stone.

"Goodbye my dear…" he whispered giving a sad expression as if he didn't want to leave but as he gazed heavenward another gust of wind blew. And he vanished into thin air.

"Lord Kazekage, the meeting will begin shortly"

A tall man stood silently on a lone building's roof, a tall building so he could watch over his home village. The desert wind brushed past his pale skin, his messy garnet hair danced with the wind as it whistled through his village. He closed his dark-rimmed eyes and only a few words escaped his lips, "Very well"

The accompanying ninja nodded in respect before disappearing and leaving the young leader alone. He sighed sadly and opened his rimmed eyes to show glistening light green eyes. He lifted his head only a little to gaze upon the sun rising in the far horizon, he looked away from the horizon as if afraid of it.

"Only a day away now… and then it'll be six years since… then…" he sighed again and images of a beautiful young girl flashed through his mind. Her smile, her laugh… but only for a moment before he turned around and walked down the staircase leading back into the building but a few paces before he reached it he turned around and looked at the horizon, "Rani…" he whispered quietly and looked down at his hands before going down the stairs without uttering a single word.

Nothing… that is what I am now

But if I am nothing now… what did I use to be?

When I wasn't a nothing… did I have emotions?

To have emotions is to be human so does that mean… I was human?

How did I come to lose it I wonder?

I have this feeling… a needing…

I want to be whole again…

The day passed slowly for the young man. He didn't dare speak a single word during his village's meeting; a blank stare was always in his eyes. Never a smile nor a frown came upon his lips. He felt like he was missing something…

The boy was now standing on the roof of his building just like at dawn, he didn't move an inch and never took his eyes off the now setting sun. He didn't utter a word but although his words were few his mind was plentiful of them.

Your time is near

W-who are you?

You needn't know that Rani…

Rani? Is that my name…?

From midnight it shall be

Midnight? What is that…?

When the great sun has said goodbye to the world and rests while the luminous crescent moon stays up in the sky to keep the people and monsters alike the company they deserve.

Midnight… I think that sounds familiar… but what will happen to me then? And why?

In due time Rani… In due time your eyes shall be open. Don't take those around you for granted and love with every ounce of your heart you've got.

Love…? What's that?

…

Rani… so that's who I am…

Huh? What's that light…?

It was late at night and in the cool night desert, everyone was asleep in their beds. All the animals were fast asleep and others roamed the street. The cricket's songs became audible and almost like music to the Kazekage as he was still standing from sunset. Never taking his eyes off the horizon. There was always a cool breeze that carried several grains of sand in the village. The boy's green eyes were fixed on the moon and as soon as it was dead exact in the middle of the sky, he took his eyes off its crescent shape and sighed sadly once again.

"Six years now… it's strange how it feels like yesterday she was in my arms and I felt her lips brush against mine…" he murmured to himself and he felt a lump in his throat as he remembered his dearly departed. A tear fell from his eye and their green barrier was only protecting now the need to fall to his knees and cry pathetically. He held it back desperately but the small tears fell from his eyes only to meet the ground like sweet drops of rain. The soil was still as cruel as ever; it still would reject any tear to fall from a demon. The Kazekage of the sand wasn't an exception…

He covered his eyes with his face hand and sobbed quietly, "Why did you leave… I thought I'd be okay but…" he whispered and took his hand off and gazed back at the ever so brilliant moon, "But I now realise I cannot go on much longer like this!' he cried out and it echoed through the village. These days it was lucky to even get a whisper from the quiet Kazekage let a lone a cry for help. He sighed and wiped away his tears before sitting down quietly and watching the moon in its glow.

"I wish… I wish I could go to where you are…" he whispered and sighed once more before closing his eyes and listening to the songs of the crickets until the moon went down.

I must apologise for the long wait! But have fun reading the sequel to black rose of the sand!