So damn Devastating

GaaraxOC Fanfic


Chapter six: Gaara's POV

I stood beside Aria as she shook tiny hands of children, just outside the castle gates. It was a beautiful sight, the look of pure happiness on her face as she received kisses on her cheek and hugs that were far too tight. Her dress was nearly stained from her kneeling, but it didn't seem to bother her in the least. Her smile split her face and never faltered as the hours ticked by. Person after person, their small voices, how much they missed her, how much they were sorry she didn't know about them, how much they loved her. How beautiful she was.

What really struck home, was a man came up and put his hand out to me as his wife shook hands with Aria.

"You are a good man, Lord Gaara, and an even better soldier." It was the knight from the scouting party. His eyes were soft as he stepped up closer and embraced me. Unfortunately, it felt like I was a stone statue being hugged by an octopus. He held me close to his chest, his hands patting my back. Not only did I feel naked without my gourd upon my spine, but with him so close, I didn't know how to hug him back properly. The only person I embraced was Aria, and her hugs were more like attacks by a very loving bear, than actual… embraces…

"Thank you." I stated kindly, patting his back as he let me go.

"You brought our queen back. The kingdom will rejoice to have their queen, their real queen. With you as King, I don't see how we will ever fall into darkness again." He spoke with such an endearing face. Unfortunately, I flinched at the words. King? I could never bat an eyelash at the idea. I was a ninja, a weapon, no king. Nor was Aria a queen. She was a free spirit, interested in her art and books more than laying down laws. I had half a mind to tell the man that they didn't want a queen who believed if she covered her eyes that you couldn't see her, or a queen who was more interest in standing in the sun, then telling someone how to live their life.

"What… what did you mean by fall into darkness again?" I asked. My eyes turned to Aria who was holding a child closely, her eyes watering up as they ran their hands through her hair. Obviously jealous of her unique mint green hair, the Child pretended to wear her hair on her own head and giggle. Aria was all too happy to oblige.

"When the siege happened, many of the people believed that was darkness… but one had not seen darkness till you have seen lady Lillith on the throne." The man spoke softly into my ear as he pulled back. Turning, he opened his arms to the child, who squealed and ran up to embrace him.

"Are you saying… Lillith is illfit to be queen?" I stated under my breath, so the knight could hear. But not Aria… She could not know. She would never leave if she knew that Lillith was not fit to be queen. Aria would try to be queen, and end up killing herself in the process. I couldn't let her dwell here, where most of the pain was delivered to her.

"Ill-fit?" The man snorted. "She's a serial killer on the throne. She has sent more people to their deaths in that ocean than I can count, for the most idiotic things. I understand murder for murder, but she sent a 7 year old boy to his death for stepping on her dress in public. His parents are still traumatized." The child scrambled to be from his arms.

My eyes instantly shot to Aria as she looked up to me. Her smile lit up the room as she looked to me. So warm, so alive, so not sick. This was the Aria I felt for. This was the woman that made my heart flutter. I could deal with the bad habits, the childish nature, I could deal with the nightmares… all to see that smile.

"With Aria back… we've sent knights to her room." I whipped to the man.

"You would not, not while Aria could hear about it!" I snarled.

"It's already done…" The man spoke softly.

"I am not one to mind death. I am a ninja, I am a weapon of destruction, but murdering her… she was related to Aria." I found my voice harsher than I intended. He look as if he had been struck.

"Oh no! We have not killed her! No… she is down in the dungeons, locked up in the darkest cage we could find. She won't die, she is still royalty. That is, until the queen decides what to do with her." He stated, nodding towards Aria.

"No! Aria can not know." I snapped. He looked slapped again and I had to rethink myself. I was about to confess more to this man than he could ever truly know. So I need a lie, and a good one.

"My wife is a gentle soul, her heart would shatter into a million pieces if she knew her kingdom had been left in the hands of a horrible relative. Besides, she had just begun to adjust to having Lillith back. If she were to know that this woman she had trust to keep her kingdom safe, was actually a tyrant, she would never sleep again and would never stop crying over the lost lives. No… she must never know." I stated. The man seemed to have a epiphany as she nodded, his heart on his sleeve.

"Of course, I didn't think. But it's obvious by today that she is a loving, soft soul… I promise, she will not know. Then My king… how would you want her dealt with?" The man whispered. I stepped towards Aria, turning to look at him with a soft look that said we would talk later. He nodded and turned, waving for his knights as well to leave the spot from where we stood.

Slowly, I pulled up next to Aria and wrapped an arm around her waist. A woman bowed and left her sight as I pressed my lips to her temple, leaning into her warmth. The sound of people gawking was ignored as she smiled and turned to me.

"They love me so…" She whimpered, as if her heart were ready to burst. "But with Lillith on the throne, I will just be happy with knowing them for these fleeting moments." She added, that smile back on her face.

I tried to ignore the harsh truth in the back of my mind.

But I couldn't put the needs of a whole nation in front of the mission.

Aria was more important to me than any of them. They had buried the witch, when Aria and I disappeared, they would just put someone else on the throne. Someone made for the job.

"I'm glad you're happy." I whispered softly. "We should start our search at sundown, the Shukaku has a few ideas for us." I added to her ear as I let her go. It was time to wrap up this meet and greet. The more she loved them, the harder it would be for her to let them go.