Epilogue

One week later…

"The treaty's all signed now Kazekage-sama!" The story of what happened at the encampment had gotten out, and the battle there had made people realize that this was a pointless war. A delegate from the opposing sides met up and wrotea treatyto be beneficial to each side. The Kazekage from Suna and the Sorakage from Hikari signed it and peace was declared between the two villages.

Masao smiled at Gaara as she placed the framed treaty on the wall. Those from the Village hidden in the Sand needed to embark and she was going to walk him out to say farewell to him and his siblings. As he left her office she followed, noting uncertainly the cold vibe he was emitting. "You'll come visit won't you?"

He paused. "No." That one word struck an awful blow to her heart.

She laughed nervously. "True. You'll probably be so busy with your job and such. But you'll write me, right?"

"No." Another stab at her heart. Why was he doing this? He sped up but she matched his pace easily, even with her healing leg. What's wrong with him?

"Call?"

"No."

"Why not Gaara? Why won't you keep in contact at all?" Her voice was so angry and so hurt, but he couldn't face her or she'd see the pain in his eyes. Masao continued to follow the silent redhead, every step making her feel smaller and smaller. The pain pressing in on her heart was more excruciating than anything his sand had ever done.

They reached the outskirts of the Village Hidden in the Light where he was to rendezvous with Temari and Kankurou, and there they stood, waiting. "Do you love me?" Finally, he turned to face her, all emotion negated from his face.

"…No." His heartstrained with that one syllable, two letter word. The stricken look on her face was dampening his decision and he could barely stand to see her so wounded. But this was for the best, right? He turned back around.

She cried, tears filling her silvery eyes, "I still love you!"

He rounded on her and told her, "Masao, what you love is nothing more than a shell of sand encasing the darker reality within. I'm a monster, and a monster cannot love. Go home!" She took a step forward, reaching a hand out in confusion. "Go home!"

She stared at him, tears running down her cheeks, a hand to her mouth. Temari gave Gaara an astonished look as he strode by her. "What just happened? Gaara?" He made no reply. Kankurou and Temari glanced at each other than back at the Kazekage.

Love is pointless and stupid. All it does is hold you back when you need to be at your maximum. It gets in your way at the most dire moment. It clouds your judgment. Masao's judgment had been clouded when she fell in love with me. But I've set that straight and she can continue on with her own life. I don't need her, and she doesn't need me. After all, we are both monsters in some way, and monsters cannot love.

That's what he thought. That's what he desperately wanted to believe. But when he left her weeping in the village, part of him had been left behind with her. The hole in his heart was back and larger than ever before. But he was still too blind to see it. Gaara of the Sand became a demon once again, burying his emotions in the depths of his soul. He didn't need them anymore, because he was done with that kunoichi, the Sorakage, from the Village Hidden in the Light, Hikarigakure.

Yashamaru had told him, "Love is the only medicine for a wound of the heart Gaara…" He had been right. He had been right all along. But there was one thing he never taught little Gaara. Love could heal the heart, but it could break it too.

And when Gaara of the Sand, the Kazekage, had reentered Sunagakure, his heart was broken.

Finis