Gaara's Lullaby (Akira Ishida- Gaara's Seiyū): .com/watch?v=rgC5KQv45CE
Midnight. Sunagakure.
A red-haired figure was sat on a balcony, facing the vast expanse of desert in front of him. Gazing out into the horizon, a sigh escaped his lips.
As if being Kazekage wasn't tiring enough, ever since Matsuri had given birth last year, he had fatherhood to contend with. At least his insomnia had meant that he wasn't woken in the middle of the night and Matsuri could get a good night's sleep.
So every night Gaara sat out on the balcony: his favourite place to relax. It was so calming sitting alone in the crisp night air with nothing to bother him.
However, the peace and quiet was short-lived. He heard the sliding door open slowly.
"Daddy…I can't sleep" came a small voice from the doorway. Gaara turned around to see his daughter, Keikō, looking sleepy-eyed with untidy hair. She tightly clutched her teddy 'Kuma' in one hand and sucked the other thumb furiously- both tiny fists clenched tightly.
"I had bad dream" she said shortly.
Gaara patted his knee, indicating for her to sit down. She raced over, ripping her drool-covered thumb out of her mouth. With a leap, she jumped onto her father's knee. Gaara was inwardly relieved that he wasn't wearing his Kazekage robes. Wrinkled and saliva marked robes weren't going to be appreciated at the next meeting.
He placed his arms lovingly around his daughter. He had finally found love in the cut-throat shinobi world- he wasn't going to let it go that easily.
"Daddy?" said Keikō.
"Yes, Kei-chan?" replied Gaara.
"Lullaby!" demanded Keikō.
Gaara squeezed his daughter with a smile and agreed.
He sang the first few notes of a slow, calming lullaby very softly. He continued, rocking his little Kei-chan back and forth until her eyes began to droop as he reached the chorus.
As soon as she was fast asleep, Gaara ceased singing and gently carried Keikō to her bed. He put her down carefully and placed Kuma snugly in her tiny arms.
Gaara gazed at her for a while, noticing how her soft, brown hair fanned out on the snow-white pillow, making her look angelic. He watched her sleep, listening to her deep breaths.
A little while later, he closed the door and returned to the balcony. The absence of Shukaku had changed a lot in him. No one feared him anymore and had found acceptance among the villagers.
He had gained a wife and child who meant more to him than the world. He wasn't the cold blooded murderer he once was; he had found love at last…
That night, he slept peacefully for the first time in his life.