Monster

Chapter 51

~Part 3: Rock Lee VS Gaara~

Gaara POV:

"Now die!" I barked as the sand roared through jaws of rabid fang seeking to claim its victory in blood before a flash of pink stood with her arms spread wide and tears in her eyes. But when I first looked at her...it wasn't her that I saw.

"NO GAARA STOP!"

It was the face of one who had broken the unsuspecting heart of a young child.

"It's okay Gaara. It's okay. It was the demon...not you. You're not a monster."

You were right Yashamaru. I whispered into the depths of my darkened mind, fighting back the pain it brought forth and withholding the tears that so desperately wished to shed. I really am a monster.

But, there was another voice casting light into the shadows and chasing away the darkness. So soft and angelic, calming to the raging storm swirling inside me.

"You're wrong. You're only a monster if you chose to be."

Sakura-chan…

Though her words were silent, I could still hear them as clear as the sun. And when her lips upturned into the most loving smile and her eyes closed, letting the tears fall I knew she had fully accepted me. She may have been terrified, but underneath all that fear...I could see something else. I could almost even feel it. It was so warm.

The same warmth I had felt when we touched hands and watched the sun rise in the distance over a sea of green. Its light bringing about the dawn of a new day. So hopeful and tranquil. It was the first time, I really felt at peace, even if it was just for a moment.

That's all it was, but to me, it was everything I ever wanted and more.

I cried out in silent horror as my demonic shell cracked and I tried to dissipate the sand before it struck the pink-haired girl. If I had been just a moment later...If I had waited just a second more...I would have been too late, and I would have lost the girl from my deepest heart's desire...forever.

Not to mention the horde of jounin that suddenly surrounded me along with a fist full of lightning that had come within just inches of my body. I was terrified, but it was not death that I feared. No...it was for her and what could have actually happened.

Kakashi POV:

Even if Naruto had never fully given up on him...I had. I was fully prepared to kill the demon that laid before me for the sake of my little girl and what that demon did to Naruto. It wasn't until I saw the look of absolute horror on his face did my lightning blade falter and my murderous intentions subside.

For what I saw what not the face of a bloodthirsty monster, but the face of a scared little boy when he watched the girl he had somewhat grown to know, sacrificially throw herself into the belly of the beast. It was in that moment, that I truly saw a pained child. He was about to lose the only person who may have possibly ever showed any affection for him. The only person whom had ever possibly even loved him.

He may have been unstable, but in many ways...he really was just like Naruto.

Gaara POV:

After my horror had subsided I arose from the sand. Grains of grated beige poured from my flesh, releasing me from the demon's hold and returning my body to what it once was. It was finally over and all I could feel...was shame...so I quit and walked away.

I didn't even deserve to look her in the eye when I walked past her. The only thing I could manage to do was quietly beg her for forgiveness. "I'm sorry." I whispered softly, barely even making eye contact as her emerald gaze followed me. Glazed over with what appeared to be both sorrow and confusion.

She deserves better. How can I claim to be that one when I nearly killed her? Even if she has accepted me for the monster that I am, I can't just sit here and watch her throw her life on the line for my sake. I still need her...but not if it costs her life.

Arigatou Sakura-chan…

Sakura POV:

It was only a fleeting moment, but in that moment, I could see it all. The tears that he kept locked away, the pain that he always tried to mask, and the fear of letting me go. That was all I needed in order for me to reach out and chase after the boy I wished to know.

Because deep down...I needed him too.

Gaara POV:

I nearly gasped as I felt the warm embrace of a weeping cherry blossom wrap her arms around me from behind. Her hands were firm as she gripped the front of my shirt tightly and pressed her full body into the crevasses of my back, while her head rested upon my shoulder. It was like nothing I had ever imagined. To be truly held by someone who actually cares for you.

It made my stomach flutter and my breath hitch as my body melted into her touch. A moment later she spoke, where her words buried themselves deep into my aching heart. But it was not pain that I felt in this ache. No...this was something else entirely. I feeling I longed to explore even more.

"Please…" She softly wept. Her tears dampening the fabric of my shirt as she continued to cry and her voice barely above a whisper. "Please don't go. Don't leave me alone."

It was those words.

"Please...please don't leave. I don't want to be alone anymore."

Words that I understood all too well. I guess I never thought to consider that maybe deep down...she was lonely too and that's what made us so drawn to each other. I let myself fall victim to her embrace even more as she squeezed tighter, her hands seeming to tremble as she did. And my ears rang with angelic bells as she whispered my name, enchanting me with her soothing words and casting her final spell.

A spell that I dared not shatter. So, with all my heart I simply said, "Okay."

xXxXx

Sasuke POV:

That battle may have been over for them, but for me...it never ended.

"Naruto…" I whispered gently to the fallen blonde as I rested my forehead against his. "Please wake up. I still need you too."

My hand slowly guided its way to the boy's freshly wiped face and caressed the side of his whiskered cheek and then through his strands of golden hair. I felt like such a fool. This whole time I thought I could protect him and keep him safe, when in reality...I was still too weak.

Moments later, the faintest of groans could be heard from the battered blonde cradled in my arms beneath me. I slowly raised my head to gaze upon the waking fox. His eyes fluttering open to reveal sparkling sapphires once again. He studied me for a minute before the glisten in his eyes flickered in sorrow and started to weigh.

"Sasuke...why are you crying?" He asked softly.

Crying?

Before I could even answer I felt the warmth of his hand gently press against my cheek. His thumb slowly wiping away the tear that had seemed to fall in his wake. I guess I didn't even realize it.

"Because I'm just not strong enough." I quietly admitted, leaning into his hand and shamefully casting my teary-eyed gaze away from the concerned and confused boy. "I couldn't protect you. I couldn't do anything. All I could do...was watch as that demon tore you apart from the inside. I've never felt so useless." With each and every word, I sighed with a heavy heart as another tear fell from grace.

"Sasuke, look at me." The blonde fox said sternly as he sat up in my arms. His hand deepening into strands of stygian silk until it reached the back of my head. When my saddened gaze finally collided with love-stricken azure I became instantly brought back out to sea. And when he rested his forehead to mine, I could truly feel it.

"When I was in that dark place…" He started slowly. "It was your voice that brought me back. Your voice was the light I needed to find my way home again. Sasuke...you're the one that saved me. It's always you." As he continued to speak his smile only increased and his words continued to mend by shattered heart.

"Sometimes you save me just by doing the littlest things." He went on, pulling his head back slightly to gaze into my eyes. "Like when you smile, or when you laugh…" He paused for a minute to study me and then lightly tugged on my ear. "Or when your ears turn red when you blush. Kinda like how your nose used to bleed whenever you got embarrassed."

That last one may have caused my face to slightly flush a rosy shade of pink and a subtle noise to escape my throat. This only causing the fox to smile even more and softly giggle. A sound I never thought I'd miss so much in only the short time it was gone. "I love you, Sasuke." He finally finished with a mild chuckle as he relaxed his hand from its grasp, tickling my cheek before he let it fall.

Those words always brought a smile to my face, because more than anything...I loved him too.

I sighed in defeat and slightly leaned in to softly smack him upside the head. "Ow." He giggled. "What was that for?"

"Next time, just break the connection before it gets that bad." I simply stated. He smiled and nodded in agreement, but I wasn't done so I smacked him again. "Okay, now what was that one for?" He softly demanded.

"For making me want to kiss you in front of all these people." I answered quietly, smiling at the apparent blush that now coated his foxlike face.

"Oh ya." The blonde playfully snickered as he slowly attempted to close the gap between us.

"Ya." I smirked and waited until he was only a few inches away to playfully shove him back. His face still retained that not so innocent devilish smile as his gaze followed me as I rose up and slightly turned my back to him. Being sure to smirk at him one last time before I made my way to the rail, where he was soon joined by my side.

Several minutes later we reunited with our sensei and sacrificial cherry blossom.

Idiot! But I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing.

"Oh good, everyone's okay." The masked man noted as he approached. His face may have been covered, but I could still see the sigh of relief as he stood before us, whilst Sakura had joined me on my other side. For someone who could have been killed she sure did look pretty damn happy.

Oh whatever, it's not like a care if she wants to be with that lunatic. As long as she's happy...I guess it's okay. Still think she's crazy though, but...I wouldn't have her any other way.

Gaara POV:

My gaze stayed with her even as she joined the Uchiha and the Nine-tails, as well as her sensei. Everything seemed to be back in order. I was glad to see that Naruto was okay and that the three of them were smiling again.

When I summoned my sand to appear before my own I was greeted immediately by my brother and sister. I may never say it...or at least not just yet...but I was glad to see them as well. They may not know it, but it was their cries that at one point, stayed the darkness hand.

It was the first time, that deep down, I truly believed they really did love me. And that maybe...just maybe…

I cast my gaze back over to the smiling cherry blossom.

She did too.

"You worthless little brat." Sneered a familiar voice in the background. Without even turning my body to face the half-faced jounin I cast my hardened gaze.

"You would let the actions of some disgusting demon loving whore deter you from completing your miss-"

Before he could even finish, wisps of sand leaked from my gourd and tightening around his filthy neck, choking him.

"I think I've had enough of your foul mouth for the day, Baki." I threatened coldly. "One more word...and I'll kill you."

Sakura POV:

Everything was finally over. It was nice to just relax and talk amongst ourselves, but we knew we weren't finished...not entirely. We still had one more test. The finals would be harder than anything we had ever done. Only the strongest survived the preliminaries. That would mean the finals would be all the more difficult.

Our only hope was to get stronger and train harder than ever before. It wouldn't be easy, but together...I believed we could do anything. Nothing would-

Kakashi POV:

"You guys know, there's still one more match, right?" I deadpanned, fully aware I was shattering their carefree demeanor. They had clearly moved on, seeing as how all three of them had made it to the finals and Sakura's rather unstable love interest had finished running amuck.

Still, I couldn't help but smile at the three of their reactions.

"UGGHHH!"

"Come on."

"Seriously?"

"Who even cares? Just get it over with already!"

"I'm so over this!"

Yup, everything's back to normal.

To be continued…

Okay, so I had a lot of back and forth with how I thought this chapter should go. I literally had about seven different alternate endings that I wrote. I wanted to shoot myself. How should Sakura show her acceptance of Gaara was really the big question. I know me and aiderenxd talked about this for a little but trying to figure out what the best action would be. Thank you so much for your help! This is what I finally came up with. I stopped trying so hard and just started typing, hoping it would all work itself out and I feel like it did. Except for that ending, gosh that took me forever and this chapter got really fucking long. Had to spit it.

Anyway, ya that's it for the Preliminaries, as much fun as I had writing all these fights. I'll be glad to take a break and just write some relaxing fluff pieces with Naruto and Sasuke….maybe a few other characters but I won't say whom lol. (Hint Hint Wink Wink lol) I hope you guys enjoyed and please as always feel free to review/leave a comment. Always love hearing your feedback and see you next chapter!