Until We All Fall Down Chapter 14: Epilogue, Reflections, a naruto fanfic

Until We All Fall Down

XxMookinexX

I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, I only wish I did. Any and all unrecognisable characters and situations belong solely to me and are not to be touched without permission. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the soul purpose to entertain.

This story takes place when our characters are 18/19 and takes account of everything up to chapter 337 of the manga. Written in Ino's POV.

Special thanks to tomboy-girl21, my only reviewer for last chapter. Here is an entire bag of Millies Cookies for you – you're a star!

This is it guys… the end!

– Epilogue –

Reflections

We cling together in darkness when it's just the two of us. We share something so deep I can't put it into words. When he leaves me in the mornings my heart physically aches and I'm overjoyed whenever I can see him again. I love the way he catches my eye halfway through a really boring report – it makes me want to laugh since I know he's very irritable about having his time wasted.

Of course, I don't. That would be inappropriate given my position. Though I'm sure he can see the laughter in my eyes since he grins at me the next time we're alone together with that knowing glint in his eyes…

It makes me feel like I could fly – this feeling of pure elation that keeps bubbling in my chest. More than ever I want to spend all my time with him. I love the feel of him, his hands on my skin with soft and gentle caresses, his lips on mine, melting me completely.

It's like I feel like he could do anything he wanted with me. I'd let him do anything he wanted with me and everything's that little bit more meaningful since I know he would never take advantage of that. He knows this. I know he does. And I feel like he would let me do the same. It's in the way he looks at me.

I've worked out that it isn't conceited to know that someone treasures you. One of the things that makes us so intimate is that on a level which is purely non-physical we both know our limits and we trust one another not to break them. Gaara's trust means more to me than I had ever imagined possible.

More than ever I am made certain that we belong together. I don't think anyone could love Gaara as much as me. I love him so much it terrifies me. I stepped over the line along time ago and it sometimes feels like the entire world just revolves around him. He distorts reality around him. He's my focal point. My everything.

When the baby is born I imagine I will feel the same way about him or her – we're still not sure of the sex yet. I don't think either of us wants to know. I feel I'd be happy either way and my intuition hasn't kicked in yet to tell me which of either a girl or a boy we'll be blessed with. Temari, on the other hand, is almost certain that she's having a girl. I love that. Shika's going to have a lovely baby girl and she'll be the most beautiful thing in the world, save only for my child who will obviously be a thousand million times better. How could he or she not be with Gaara for a father… and me for a mother but I'm mainly thinking about how absolutely flipping gorgeous Gaara is.

I took me a while to adjust to the fact that I'm going to be a mother. It used to shock me beyond belief sometimes because occasionally I would completely forget about it in the morning and wake up feeling ill and worry that there was something wrong with me.

Of course, there isn't. There never has been. I've made sure of that. Gaara's going to have the healthiest, loveliest child in the world. Another to love him as he so richly deserves.

I'm sure he feels spoilt. Getting a niece and a son or daughter within the same month of one another.

I got a letter from Konohagakure the other day. From Sakura. She sends her love. She also says that she and Sasuke are fine… but I know from Shika that isn't true. He says they're having the most humungous rows at the moment. Terrible arguments that he says could wake the dead.

Of course, it isn't like Shika to simply point this out to me like that… but he's quite… ranty at the moment. Becoming a father seems to have affected his mind. Still, it's not like I can blame him when he has to share a bed with Temari every night. She is almost nine months pregnant after all. It gives me a new respect for Gaara since he puts up with my complaining without a word.

But that's not the point. The point is that he keeps complaining about Temari complaining at him when their (Sasuke and Sakura's) arguments wake her up at night. He says it makes her grouchy when her sleep's disturbed which makes her more likely than ever to blow up at him since she's in her 'emotional stage' right now. (Though I imagine I'm not much better considering how sometimes I find myself tearing up for no apparent reason.)

Oh, and it's not good for the baby. That made me laugh – the way he added his concerns for the baby as an after thought. I'm sure that he was simply trying to cheer me up though. I get the feeling that although he's a little stressed out he's the happiest he's ever been. I mean really, when has Shika ever held the capacity to tell jokes? He's growing up so responsible… I'm very… proud of him.

In other news, Shika tells me Chouji's been frequenting Ichiraku's with more regularity than usual. I mean, usually he prefers the steak-house. Ramen is right down Naruto's street – Chouji prefers more sustenance than that, though he does like ramen too. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Chouji loves all food equally and so can't devote all his attentions to ramen alone with the same adore that Naruto possesses. You'd think – and I realise I'm digressing to Naruto again – that having grown up eating nothing but the stuff he'd have grown tired of it by now, but apparently not.

Anyway, Shika, on Temari's constant badgering, decided to investigate just why Chouji's interest has been peaked… or perhaps a more appropriate turn of phrase would be by whom. That's right. Ayame-san, Ichiraku's daughter has been receiving quite a lot of attention from him during his visits and from all accounts she seems quite flattered by everything. It's nice. Beyond nice – it's great. Fantastic. I admit I have been worrying about him a little lately. I mean, it must feel quite stressful, having both your best friends up and disappear on you since they're having children.

Still, I think Chouji's going to be the most amazing Uncle I've ever seen. He's the sort of person little children just love. I really can't wait for him to meet my baby. I just think… of all the people in all the world he's the one I most want to be one of the first to greet him or her into the world. (Other than me and Gaara, but that's obvious). I know that's a little unfair of me, since Shika probably wants the same, but Temari is due for a week or two before me. Still… It will just be a magical moment, you know? I personally think it's only fair that Chouji be here when Kankurou is going to be there for Temari. It's like at least both of us will have one of our brothers and our husbands with us.

It's a little silly really – how similar our lives have become. But that's just life I guess.

I also want, no, need Sakura to be here. Actually… in truth, I'd rather like her to deliver my baby to me. I haven't asked her yet, but I really hope that she'll say yes. I'm sure she will. We're still best friends, after all. No amount of distance will ever change that. Besides, it might do her good to take a break from all the drama that's going on back in Konohagakure right now.

Perhaps I should be more specific. Sakura mentioned in her letter that Hinata finally built up the courage to tell Naruto how she felt. That gave me an unexpected jolt of surprise, but it was a pleasant one. Apparently, although he didn't immediately jump to ask her out – who could blame him since he's been so oblivious to her all this time. I think he might have needed to sort out his head a little before he spoke to her again – but he didn't reject her either. The latest news is that there have been rumours of them spending a suspiciously greater time with one another. Of course, no-one's said anything since some are of the firm opinion that it's about time, whilst other's think it would be inappropriate to question the Hokage about such things.

I'm not sure how Kiba feels about this. I haven't had many reports on the couple status of my old friends for a while now. The last I heard Neji had finally gotten around to asking Ten-Ten out, having secured the blessings of both his uncle, the head of the main house, and Ten-Ten's parents. I guess I always knew he was a gentleman. He likes to do things properly, that boy.

Lee is having a ridiculous competition with Gai-sensei on who can run around the entire border of the Wind Country faster. They're going opposite directions under Sakura's strict instructions – I think she worries that if they were running next to one another they'd spur one another on and do themselves an injury. At least this way they'll rest a little bit somewhere along the path of their current crazy scheme.

Many of our old teachers are becoming steadily more perverted, according to Sakura. She says that putting Naruto in charge of the village has been disastrous. She says that now almost all of the important or powerful people in the village are perverts. I think that's her way of telling me he's doing such a good job she can't find anything more substantial to criticise about him. She never has liked openly admitting her feelings on this.

Sasuke, by all accounts, is doing well – and his relationship with Sakura can't be all that bad since when Chouji writ me (to explain how much he was looking forward to meeting his little niece or nephew) he happened to mention seeing him asking Sakura to move in with him and he'd noted how they'd been holding hands a lot more recently. I think Shika's been over exaggerating it, myself, and I think Sakura's more than capable of sorting out any problems she has by herself without me intervening.

It doesn't stop me worrying vaguely about her, but I trust her to look after herself. I think she's just adjusting to the new level of relationship they've obviously developed to. And maybe she's becoming a little more open with him about what she thinks… since I've often thought she keeps most of her more 'extreme' comments and ideals to herself. Perhaps she was worried what he might think? Still, it's a good thing she's showing her true self now. It's just another thing they're going to have to work though, and they might as well lay everything down on the table at once. Honesty is important in these relationships. I'm sure they can get through this. It's what they were destined to be after all.

What else can I mention?

Sadly there's no further news on Shizune's condition. Sakura says she's stable, but I have a feeling she's not going to wake up for a long time. When she does, I'll ask Gaara if he'll let me try to help her. Let me explain that – I think she'll probably need a lot of help. It's the sort of help that will take a long time. That's why I need to ask him. But… it's something I'll have to think carefully about nearer the time. After all, I'll have a child I want to look after. A family of my own to love and cherish.

I'll admit it's not been the same without mum and dad. I miss them like I've missed all my friends from time to time as well, but mostly I've missed them. Since I know for sure that Konoha isn't 'home' anymore. Home is where the heart is. It's right here, by Gaara's side and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I wanted to go visit everyone – I should have gone sooner, but at just under nine months pregnant myself, travelling is the last thing that should be on my mind. It won't be good for the baby.

The baby is everything.

Besides, it's not like I'm never going to see them again. I can visit them later, and I write to them all the time.

I'm content. Gaara's happy too. That's all that matters to me really. That and the sunrise – since that's usually the last moment I have with Gaara before he has to don his Kazekage robes again.

Matsuri and the others are gradually opening up to me. I'm glad, since I really didn't want Gaara to worry if they didn't trust me. Not that they necessarily do – not yet – that'll take a long, long time I suppose, but they're more at ease with me which is more than I ever hoped for really. Some of the Council even tried to convince Gaara to let me come into the sessions. I waved it off since I've never been much good at politics and certainly have enough distractions coming up as it is. Well, I say distractions – they're very good distractions.

I'm looking forward to it. Really I am. Not the actual giving birth bit – I've seen a few births in my time and they were all rather messy affairs – quite unpleasant for all parties involved… but it's the bit that comes next.

Life.

I don't think there's ever been anything sweeter.

I mean, I know it's not going to be perfect. I'm probably going to have terrifying screaming matches with my child (if it's a girl – and I'm sure one of them will be since I plan on giving Gaara as many children as he could possibly want… well, three – I don't think I could manage more than that. To be honest I don't think he could either. He may still suffer insomnia occasionally but that doesn't mean he could possibly go through me being pregnant and raising children four separate times) that raise the roof – blood curdling in their intensity. Even so, that's part of the fun of it really. Seeing things how they were from my mum's point of view.

I think the whole of life might be a learning experience. Really, perception is a wonderful thing. I'm positive one day I'll find companionship with my mother in simply complaining about all the stupid life-threatening stunts my son will have (well, one of the three has to be a son…) – and maybe the other girl if she's a tom-boy… I'd quite like that. Yes… I think this might be that intuition thing Temari was going on about. I don't mind what order they come in. But I want that family. I want this experience so much…

I guess… in the end we're going to keep struggling aren't we? Just to catch a dream or save a life or be ourselves… We'll survive for the simple pleasure of making something out of nothing. We'll exist for laughter or for tears of sadness and of joy. We'll continue just to live – to love and learn – to hope and aspire to the highest inclination… and to be acknowledged until the end of time.

We will dream and pursue those dreams, and we will persevere (and with any luck succeed) until we all fall down. We'll keep going until we're gone from this place, dead and buried, and all that once made us real has long since faded from this world.

We'll stick together – since we're stronger that way and because that's the way memories are made.

Life – it's such a wonderful thing. So we'll keep living until the end.

Whenever or whatever that end may be.

For the forgotten dreams and the lost souls…

For those that got left behind…

Thank you.

It seems a little sad now… but I can't believe this is over. It all went by so fast! Keep it real, folks. I'm sure you'll hear from me again. I'm not sure what I'm going to write next… I may be indulging in some Harry Potter… we'll see. I guess what I really want to say is thanks. This is the first long story I've ever completed – the first story I've ever stuck through with to the end. It's probably also the fastest story I will ever write. With the exception of one week half way though my exams I managed to update weekly. I never knew I was even capable of that until I set myself the challenge. It means a lot that you've read and commented on every chapter. Seriously, you guys are great. You probably already know this, in fact, I'm sure you do, but every single word you've said has meant so much to me – has motivated me so much. Thanks guys! PEACE OUT!

I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Review and tell me how you feel!

Luv ya

XxMookinexX