Beams of light streamed down through the blinds and roused Kasumi. Her eyes fluttered open to see the dull white of a hospital ceiling. She grunted as sharp pains echoed through her body as she attempted to sit up. A gentle hand supported her back, shifting her and finally placing her upright against a pillow. With heavily lidded eyes she scanned the figure beside her for any clue as to who it was. Her hand lifted limply and gently caressed the dark circles that lined his teal eyes. Her bandaged fingers became damp as she felt hot salty tears stream from his relieved eyes. His pale hand grasped hers as he leaned into her touch as if he were taking in it all. A small smile graced her lips as she felt his hot breath through the bandages. Then she felt herself slipping into sleep once again.

"Don't… don't leave me…" She breathed before slumping back into her dreamless state.

"Cub… cub…" Kasumi slowly sat up finding she was once again in her mindscape. Ayame was sat besides her emitting a feeling of warmth and comfort that she found only with two people.

"You did very well Cub. The danger from my vision has been averted and you yourself are safe." Ayame stood and towered over Kasumi.

"You've gotten bigger." Kasumi stated flatly.

"Yes cub, that is because I shall be leaving you." Kasumi stood immediately and stood before Ayame.

"What do you mean? Your undoing the seal? That will kill me!"

"Hush now Cub, I created this seal that means that I know how to undo it with out harming you. Although that won't make you safe, you still have the chakra and gate within you but I believe that you will be fine without my guidance."

"Please don't leave me… I don't want to be alone." Kasumi pleaded with dulled eyes. The she wolf approached her and lowered her head into Kasumi's arms.

"Cub," She said with a hint of laughter "You are not alone, you have your friends and a certain man who has not left your side since you asked him not to leave." Kasumi's eyes widened at her words.

"Wh-what?"

"I can feel his presence now, every so often he will touch your hand, when you move he holds his breath hoping that you wake up."

"Gaara" Kasumi breathed with a smile.

A small smile formed on her sleeping face as she breathed out his name as a whisper but he heard it and a pink tint formed on his pale cheeks. He had been sat watching her for the past three days since they returned her to Konoha and were currently monitoring her in the hospital. Every so often she would mumble a few incoherent words or try to shift in her sleep. Sometimes he would gingerly touch her hand to comfort her in hopes that the contact would wake her again.

Naruto and Sakura had dropped by a few times to cheek on her progress but were met with the same sleeping figure. Others involved in the rescue also ghosted through but did not stay for very long. Even Sasuke appeared once for a few minute but left swiftly.

Gaara, even though the demon was removed, did not sleep very much and was permitted to stay with her for a few days before he had to return to Suna. He prayed that she would wake before he left, he did not want her to wake up alone and he did not want her to wake up to any other either.

Suddenly she began to convulse throwing the covers to the floor and Gaara off of his chair. He quickly stood reaching out to her in hopes of pinning her down until the convulsions stopped. She thrashed violently until a faint glow from her under shirt could be seen, as she jerked her top moved up to reveal her curse seal glowing brightly but soon it began to fade while a slim pillar of light pierced the ceiling disappearing into nothing along with the seal. Then she was still, a light sheen of cold sweat blanket her as her breathing slowed noticeably. Her lips trembled as if trying to form words but silence ensued until-

"Goodbye…" her words were but a whisper however to Gaara she may as well have screamed in his ear. Was she going to leave him? This woman who he had only just met but felt closer to than any he knew. His eyes softened with sadness as he gently clutched her hand.

She was alone now. Ayame had left her and it was painful, it was like a part of her was gone and had left a void in its place. She was out of danger but she didn't fell like it. She felt more vulnerable than ever before. Would she ever see Ayame again? She didn't know and that uncertainty consumed her. Kasumi didn't know if she even wanted to wake knowing that. She had been in the 'real' world for most of her life and all the trauma from that she could deal with, losing her father and then her hair. But being in the narutoverse had made everything seem like it had meaning, real meaning. Here she had been needed. Here she had been born and only just started to live. After being here for only a few months she had saved the world and what was she left with?

That feeling! It was there again, warmth that shot through her with vigour. It was as if she was being held gently by the hand, calming her and reassuring her restless mind. Maybe she could survive. Her dulled eyes surveyed her surroundings. There was nothing but eternal white. Even her shadow had abandoned her. Raising her hand she inspected it. There was no hand to hold just a warm tingling sensation. A flash of a hand appeared but quickly vanished. What had that been? Then again it appeared but this time an arm and slowly a figure stood beside her. Her eyes were still too fixated on the hand to see the face. Then another hand gently caressed her jaw and brought her gaze to his teal eyes. A smile so small it may not have even been there graced his lips as he looked at her. He leaned in and placed a soft lingering kiss on her lips. Her eyes then snapped open.

He had to leave now, Suna needed their Kazekage and he had been gone for too long. Kasumi was still in a comatose state and the nurses had said that she may never wake. They were going to take her off life support and let her go. He couldn't be there when they did it so he decided to leave that night. His things were packed and he had returned to the hospital one last time. Nothing had changed since he had left her but an hour before. She was still and taking in slow shallow breaths. He took his seat once again; he had an hour before he was due to leave. Gently he placed his hand in hers and felt a chilling cool. Were the doctors right? Was she a lost cause? He didn't like to think so but reality was slowly dawning on him. Maybe her injuries were worst than they had thought. Had that light been Ayame leaving her? Did she know Kasumi's fate? Slowly he stood releasing her hand turning towards the door. Then he span around took her hand again and leaned down placing a tender kiss on her chapped lips. To his surprise he felt arms wrap around his neck and holding the kiss in place. He softly pulled away and stared into the sparkling eyes that he had been waiting so long to see again.

"Morning." The word sounded awkward and raspy but they had come from her.

"Good evening." He responded glancing out the window revealing a midnight blue sky and scattered stars. Her shoulders shrugged as she sat up slowly.

"Geez, how long was I out?" she asked after noticing her wounds had healed and her joints were stiff from lack of use.

"A while." He smirked leaning down to hug her delicately. Her eyes flickered to his packed belongings by his chair.

"Sorry about that, were you going to go back soon?" He nodded once in response. He was about to speak again when they were interrupted by a nurse.

"Kazekage-sama your escort has arrived is there-" She stopped mid sentence when Kasumi was noticed.

"'Sup, can I get something to eat? I'm starving!" Kasumi wondered why she looked so stunned but ignored it after her stomach decided to let its neglect known. The nurse seemed flustered before she gathered herself, nodded and left in search of some food.

"Kasumi?" Gaara asked rather uncertainly.

"That's me. What's up?" She smiled brightly as he seemed to become reluctant to speak.

"While you were in the coma… I have never felt so… I don't know how to describe it but all I know is that I don't like the feeling." She nodded encouraging him to continue. "well, I decided that if, no, when you awoke I would never leave you again. I want you to return to Suna with me. I want you to return to Suna with me and be mine." Kasumi didn't know how to respond. Not trusting her own words she simply nodded and kissed him intensely. When they stopped for air Gaara smirked. "I'll take that as a yes then."