So this is it...the real final chapter...

Chapter 21

The five of them stood before the large fire that burned Toshiro, Sakura and Naruto's bodies. The flames danced as the tore away the flesh, making into an ash that floated away in what the three would hope to be a heaven. Akina's eyes glazed in the fire as she went over everything that had just happened.

Gaara's death, Baal's defeat, Gaara's resurrection, Toshiro's death, Sakura's death, Mirai's sacrifice, her and Wakana's battle, Madara's death, the end of the Juubi, Naruto's sacrifice, rescuing Gaara's siblings…a lot had happened in a couple of days…maybe it was a few hours. She really didn't know. All she knew was that she had Gaara and Wakana again. She smiled, closing her eyes from the fire as her hand intertwined with his. For so long she had wanted to do that and now she finally had the chance.

But the Raikage…he would be a problem. She didn't know what to do about that…it was a binding contract…

She couldn't escape.

If she left she would most likely break his heart.

If she stayed a war would break out.

What would Naruto do, she though over and over again. But she wasn't Naruto and she never could be.

Wakana saw the expression on her face later that night as Akina walked off to the nearby lake to bathe. Gaara remained behind, cooking the fish they caught earlier. Deciding now would be the best time, Wakana followed her. Gaara watched the two girls leave, briefly suspecting something was up. He pushed the thought aside and looked back to the fish, while his siblings slept under a tree.

Akina sat at the edge of the water, looking into the deep blue of it. It made her want to just jump in and never come back up till the damn Raikage was dead. Sighing, she tossed a rock into the water, watching the ripple's continuous flow until it changed the form of her reflection. She looked almost like her mother, from what she could tell in the picture she kept in the box in her apartment back in Suna. She chuckled softly, briefly wondering what her mom was like…she never really remembered her too much. They died when she was only two.

"You know…it's really not all that bad…" Wakana chimed from behind her, as if reading her mind. Akina did not jolt from the unexpected intrusion, she already had a feeling that Wakana would find her.

"Things are going to be different…" Akina said quietly. "I wish I was a bird…just be able to fly up into the blue, blue sky and never come back down…" She murmured, looking up at the sky.

"Yeah…"

There was a silence between them, a long silence too. Neither of them knew where to start, Wakana didn't want to approach what was on her mind right away but she had a feeling she had to. Akina was the type where if you don't ask right off the bat you won't get a straight answer.

"That girl…Mirai…and her friend Toshiro were from the Cloud village…" She said as more of a statement of fact to herself.

Akina stopped flinging rocks into the lake, her back staying turned away from Wakana. Akina prayed that she didn't know…or ask about it so much.

"What did you do to get their help?" Of course. Of. Freaking. Course.

"I…went to the village and requested aide from Raikage…"

"Keep going…" Wakana said sitting on the rock. "Wait let me guess…you were so unsure of whether you could handle this that you made a deal with him didn't you?"

Akina stiffened. Was she that easy to read? Wakana grunted seeing she hit the mark.

"What the hell kind of deal did you make that's got you in such a fidgety state?" She whispered harshly, stepping in front of her to meet her gaze.

"…I…" Akina trailed off…not really wanting to tell her. She turned her gaze away, turning around and walking towards a tree, grabbing it's sides. "I…." She struggled to tell her, afraid of what will happen.

"Speak child...I got the you part…..now the rest would be helpful! Or do you want me to go get Gaara and-"

"I signed a contract saying that after I bring Gaara back that I'm to become a Kumo ninja okay? Happy?" Akina yelled storming off in the other direction. Wakana stood speechless. Akina made her way off towards the deeper part of the woods where she began tearing apart the trees and brush there. She angrily ripped it apart, she had told Wakana…not knowing that Gaara had heard the whole thing, behind a tree. Wakana stood on the lakes edge, staring off into it. Gaara made his way out of the forest, not saying a word.

"Gaara...what are you going to do?"

The Kazekage looked out onto the water, watching a hawk fly down and catch its prey.

"I…don't know…" He murmured.

"Well here's a start…go talk to her…" She commented as she walked back to camp. "You're the only one she wants right now…"

Gaara looked back onto the water's edge…wondering what the hell he was going to do now…he had just almost lost her again, and he wasn't sure if he could go through that again.

For him it's hard to believe he had lived his whole life without figuring out that she meant so much to him. Now he can't imagine living a life without her. And that was scary to him.

He loved her…with all his heart.

Thunder crackled loudly overhead and soon the rain followed with it. Gaara walked back to the area to help set up a shelter of some sort, hoping that she would be okay. He worked with his siblings as he made a make shift shelter built form branches, sand and a few of Kankuro's puppets.

The rain continued to pour, not letting up. Akina still did not come back. Wakana gave Gaara a look, and he nodded, going out to find her while his still tired siblings slept.

Gaara made his way into the forest yelling her name. It was dark out and the thunder cracked loudly. He continued to call her name, it was many minutes before he found her passed out by a lot of broken trees.

"Akina!" He yelled and ran over to her side, looking her over. She groaned softly and opened her eyes to meet the worried gaze he held. His stoic expression no longer there. She smiled slightly before passing out as he carried her back to the camp site.

The thunder stopped.

Akina knew, even in her sleep, that he was coming to get her.

It was a few hours before Akina woke up, her arms were sore form the beating she gave the forest as she let out her rage. She expected to find herself cold, but instead she found herself oddly warm. Sitting up she found that Gaara was asleep now, hugging her by the waist. She turned fully around so she was facing him, moving a hair that had fallen in his face.

This might be the last night she had to see him again.

The thought brought tears to her eyes.

She loved him so much…but she knew she couldn't stay. She had to go.

"I understand if you have to go…" She heard someone whisper behind her. She looked back to Wakana. "Sure I'll be lonely in Suna since I'm going to be living there from now on but hey I'll manage…so will everyone else…"

"But Gaara's…different…he's not everyone else and you know that." Akina whispered back.

"But he loves you…knowing him just thinking of you will make him happy." She said again before turning over and going back to sleep. "Akina…make the decision with your heart…not your head." She whispered as she went into a light sleep. Akina turned her attention back to Gaara, thinking of what Wakana had just said.

Think with her heart.

That was the problem though…could she really make that decision?

Akina silently moved out of Gaara's grasp and walked out into the night, heading down towards the lake. She sat at the edge, watching the fog roll in mystically. The ground was still wet and she shivered slightly from the coldness of the night.

A warm feeling engulfed her suddenly. She looked up to find Gaara had wrapped a cloak around her.

"Why are you up?"

"Because I felt cold suddenly…" He sated matter of factly.

"Akina…I…"

"Gaara…I…"

The both started at the same time. Gaara sighed and moved closer to her on the rock, hugging her tightly. Her body stiffened as he brought her closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her head. She closed her eyes at the hesitant touch of his lips on hers. Something deep in her started, warming her, spreading through her body. The more her lips moved with his the more the heat increased. Her hands made their way into his hair, gripping it as she deepened it, they fell onto the ground soon as the got caught in the moment. The kiss being broken, Gaara took the chance to speak.

"I know you have to leave. I know what deal you made with that bastard of a Kage and…I…" Akina looked at him speechless, her heart racing at what he was going to say. "I don't know what to say really…I want to be furious with you but I can't…not after everything that's happened. It's all my fault that you have to go away and-"

Akina pulled his head down for another harsh kiss, silencing him. When she broke apart she took the moment to speak.

"I wasn't thinking things through when I did that Gaara! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!" She cried, burying her head in his shirt. "I thought if I saved you then everything would be okay! Bu it won't be! I have to go or else there will be a war-"

"I love you." He said bluntly. Akina stopped, bringing her teary face up to meet his. "It took me forever to realize it but I love you so much."

"Gaara…" She whispered, sitting up. He sat up with her.

"I can survive…with just thoughts of you I can survive…"

It was that night she made her decision. Those words made her whole world spin. She knew it too. They would both survive and one day they would be together.

The next day her fears had come true, her team accompanied by the Anbu of the cloud came to get her. In front of everyone she withdrew her allegiance with the sand, handing back her head band. Gaara hesitantly nodded, and put it inside his pouch.

Kankuro and Temari were in fits of rage as she did this, not understanding. Akina knew Wakana would explain. Before everyone that day as well Wakana swore her allegiance to the sand, Gaara accepting almost instantly.

It was the beginning of new futures for everyone.

As Akina gathered her things she hugged everyone goodbye. Standing before Wakana and Gaara lastly.

"Never give up…" Wakana said first.

"Never give in…" Akina finished, pulling her into a tight hug. "I will see you again one day one-san."

"I know…be careful…shrimp…I'm proud of you…" Akina bit back a sob as she hear the words she was waiting for the longest time form her best friend. She pulled away and turned to Gaara, who had a placid expression on his face.

"Gaa…I mean Kazekage-sama…" She corrected herself. Gaara shook his head.

"Akina you can always call me Gaara…" He said softly. Akina smiled, nodding her head as she pulled him in for a tight hug. Gaara hugged her around the waist.

"Good-bye Gaara…"

"No…see you later…Akina…" He murmured, kissing her softly before she pulled away. "I'll repay that…" He whispered so only she could hear. "I'll repay that ten times over…"

Akina nodded and turned her back, walking away with the Kumo ninja. She did not look back, knowing if she did she could not go.

Today…was the start of a new adventure.

And so that is the end of the Ruranain Chronicles: The Sage and The Juubi.

OR SO YOU THINK!

What happens when loved ones are stolen, a new evil comes about and bonds are tested? Will the will of fire prevail?

Coming SOON!

The Ruranain Chronicles: The Gods of War and The Will fo Fire!