AH! Finally chapter Eight is here! I am so so so sorry that it has taken me so long to get this chapter done. I had a family member go into hospital for major surgery and then I hit a MASSIVE writer's block that I literally had to force my way past. But I finally got it done. So rest assure I haven't abandoned the story and fair warning that I am not sure how long it will take me to get chapter nine done, what I can say that it won't be as long as a wait. Thanks for reading and enjoy ^.^

Chapter Eight

Kuro made a beeline straight for Gaaras' house hoping to catch either Gaara or Kankuro. He felt kind of bad for abandoning Kohana to the tender mercies of their teacher but at the same time he was heartily glad to get a day off from the fighting. Arriving at the house he gave a knock on the door. A few moments later Kankuro opened it. He blinked a few times.

"Morning." He said.

"Good morning!" Kuro said cheerily, "I was wondering if I could hide out here for a few hours?"

Kankuro scratched the back of his head, "Why on earth do you want to hide here?"

"Because I have the day off and the last thing I want is to be chased down and challenged all day." Kuro replied with a moan.

Kankuro gave a laugh, "Oh yeah, I've been hearing about that. Must've been fun."

Kuro pulled a face of disgust, "Not in the least."

"Come on in then. I have the day off as well so you're welcome to share it with me."

"Thanks!"

As Kankuro stepped away from the door Kuro walked in and went to the lounge room where he flopped onto the couch and spread out along its length. Kankuro emerged a few minutes later, bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other. He sat down in the armchair and started to eat.

"I do have few errands to run today so you can either come with me or just stay here." Kankuro said between mouthfuls of cereal.

"I'll follow you, if that's alright?"

Kankuro nodded and continued to eat.

Later as Kankuro meandered his way around Suna Kuro followed on his heels and savoured the open skies. How long had it been since he did some flying? A forlorn look came over his face; he had been in human form for over a week straight.

"What's wrong with you?"

Kuro drew his gaze from the wide blue expanse of the sky and focused on Kankuro.

"Nothing really, I just missing flying. This is the longest I have ever been in human form."

"Really?"

Kuro smiled, "You're surprised?"

"Well, yeah, a little." Kankuro replied with a shrug, "I thought this was how you usually spent your time."

Kuro laughed, "No. Back home I actually spend most of my time in my lesser crow form. I change to my greater form when I have the room or if I'm bored and want to go flying aimlessly around."

"Wow, that must be kinda of cool. How big are you?"

"Big enough to carry Kohana."

Kankuro gave an impressed nod, "That's big."

Kuro grinned, "Just a bit. Actually I've got an idea, where's the highest point in this town?"

"Hmmm," Kankuro thought for a moment before grinning, "I know a good spot!"

Ten minutes later they were perched atop the roof of the Kazekage's tower. Up this high they were exposed to the hot desert winds that blew in off the sands. Kuro closed his eye and spread his arms, a smile on his face as he let the breeze blow over him, plucking at his clothes and ruffling his hair. Kankuro just let his gaze roam over his home village.

"So." Kankuro said after a few moments, "What did Kohana do to Gaara the other night to make him blush that much?"

Kuro laughed loudly, "She kissed him."

Kankuro's eyebrows shot up.

"Then she offered him sex."

Kankuro gave a choking snort before bursting into a fit of laughter. Clutching his sides he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes as he struggled to get himself under control.

"No...*gasp*... no wonder he looked like that."

Kuro sat down on the roof chuckling quietly, "You should have seen his face when he told her. I'm not sure what she said to him but he bolted out of the dining room like his feet were on fire."

"Oh this is priceless." Kankuro shook his head, "Wonder what's going to happen now?"

A strange look came over Kuros face as he stared off into the distance.

"She wants to kiss him again."

Kankuro took a long hard look at Kuro.

"You love her, don't you?" he asked the crow suddenly.

Kuro turned to face him, a sad smile on his face.

"Yes I do."

"Then why are you letting her do it?"

Kuro leaned backed so that he was lying on his back and looking up at the blue sky.

"Because in the end I will be the only one left. I'll have her then; I just have to be patient."

Kankuro stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked down at him, "What do you mean?"

"Hmmm, let me put it this way. Sensei will be turning 724 this year."

Kankuro frowned, slightly confused for a moment, before it all clicked together. His eyes widened.

"How long is she going to live for?" he asked quietly.

Kuro closed his eyes, "Assuming she doesn't do anything stupid to get herself killed, about 15 to 16 centuries."

Kankuro forgot to breathe for a moment.

"As I said, I will get her in the end, because I will be the only one left."

"Does... does Kohana know that she will live that long?"

"Of course she does, but I don't think she fully understands the full implication of that long life span." Kuro opened his eyes again, "It's both a blessing and a curse. She gets a long and healthy life but she will outlive all the people that she knows and holds dear."

Silence fell as Kankuro was rendered speechless, what could he say? What could anybody say to something like this?

"What about Gaara?" Kankuros' voice was quiet, "I think he loves her."

Kuro sighed, one full of regret, "And I think she loves him but it won't work. Even if she could find a way to live with him, each year he will grow older and she will stay young. It will break his heart to see her forever young and it will break her heart to watch him die."

"There's got to be something that we can do."

Kuro sat up and fixed his dark-eyed gaze on Kankuro, "Even if I was allowed to, Kohana wouldn't listen. She wouldn't understand."

"Well I have to tell Gaara." Kankuro's voice held a tone of challenge.

"Please do." Kankuro was taken aback with surprise at the crows' reply, "Gaara is probably the only one who can make her see at this point."

Kankuro sat down heavily on the roof and rubbed his face, "This is going to suck. Gaara has been hurt so much in his life already, the last thing I want to do is add to it."

Kuro gave a shrug, "Can't be helped, he is going to be hurt either way." He drew up his knees and folded his arms over the top of them before resting his chin on his arms.

Kankuro just stared out over the village, unseeing, his attention focused inwards, "I will tell him tonight." he murmured sadly.

***

Kohana flopped down on the bed with a grunt and just laid there staring blankly at the wall. Today she had been assigned to paediatrics.

It was a nightmare.

Kids just couldn't sit still. During an examination they would wiggle and squirm making a fairly simple and straightforward procedure into a mission. The children that were receiving inoculations would, upon spotting the needle, kick, punch, cry and scream at the top of their lungs. The worst kids were the ones doing ninja training, because they knew where to aim their kicks and punches. By the end of the day Kohana had become fairly adept at dodging blows, she had also found the best way to pin a kid down in one spot. It still didn't change the fact that she would probably have a bruise or two from some fairly well placed blows.

The door opened to admit Kuro. He took one look at her before a smug grin spread itself over his face. She just continued to stare blankly straight ahead.

"Rough day?" he asked settling on the bed next to her.

"I hate children." she mumbled out, "They are the spawn of evil."

Kuro patted her back trying not to laugh.

"That's not true, you like your nieces and nephews."

Kohana just muttered something incomprehensible a dark look crossing her face.

"Well if it will make you feel better, Sensei has given us both tomorrow off."

Kohana perked up a bit at that bit of news, "Good. I can go visit Gaara."

Kuro gave a sigh as he face fell, "We are getting the day off so that we can pack. We're going home the day after tomorrow."

Kohana sat up with a jerk, "What!"

He gave her an even look, "Well we couldn't stay here forever, and we do have responsibilities at home."

"I know, I know," Kohana said rubbing her eyes, "It's just..."

"I know." Kuro gave a wry smile, "But it's been almost a month, most of that time spent here in Suna."

"I know." Kohana moaned, "But... I... I don't want to go home yet."

"Ah sweetie," Kuro wrapped his arms around her in a hug, "it's because of Gaara isn't it?'

Mutely, she nodded. She rested her forehead on her partners shoulder.

"I think this is the first time in my life that I wished I didn't become a Healer" she whispered.

Kuro stroked some loose strands of hair back, "But if you hadn't become a Healer you never would have met Gaara and would be sitting at home desperately wishing you were."

She gave a small bitter laugh, "Ah, irony. I like it about as much as I like being teased." she pulled a face as Kuro laughed.

Kohana pulled out of his arms. "I suppose I could always just do regular visits."

"And I suppose we could talk about this later," Kuro said rubbing his stomach, "I'm hungry."

Kohana rolled her eyes, "Come along then," she said grabbing his wrist and dragging him out, "Let's get you fed. Can't have you perishing of hunger."

He laughed again and allowed himself to be led.

***

As the rays of dawn crept in through the windows Gaara stood up and stretched out his arms. He had been unable to sleep last night so he had instead come to his office to work. He walked over to the window to watch as the village started to stir to life. He had intended to work until he was too tired to think but it would appear that he had worked right through the night.

Sitting back down in his chair he gave a slight frown as the thoughts that he had been working to keep at bay started to intrude upon him again. Resting his elbows on the desk he placed his forehead into his palms and closed his eyes. He had talked with Kankuro last night and he had been given a shock to his system, an epiphany of epic proportions.

Only to have it crushed.

Abruptly Gaara stood up and stalked out of his office and quickly made his way back home. Quietly he eased himself inside had headed to his bedroom where he closed the door behind himself. Shedding his shoes he fell onto the bed and closed his eyes again in an effort to banish reality. It didn't work, instead his mind insisted on replaying the conversation that he had with his brother.

"Gaara I have to ask you something." Kankuro was lounging on the couch in the lounge room, book in hand, as Gaara arrived home from work. Stopping, Gaara turned and walked back to the entrance to the lounge room and folded his arms, a questioning look on his face. Kankuro sat up, resting the book on the coffee table. He looked straight at his brother.

"Do you love Kohana?"

A look of shock and surprise came over Gaara's face as he gaped at Kankuro speechless. Surely this must be some kind of a joke?! Gaara looked at his older brother and knew that he was not joking or teasing. He was asking seriously. Gaara sputtered out a few sounds, still in a state of semi-shock. Kankuro suppressed a grin and got up to guide his brother to the couch where he sat Gaara down on the couch and sat next to him.

"Ok you can stop the fish impersonation." Kankuro said as he leaned back.

Gaara shut his mouth with a snap and frowned at Kankuro. Kankuro tilted his head to the side as he studied Gaara.

"Ah, thought so." he said with a sigh, "You do love her."

More garbled sounds came from Gaara but he was cut off from a wave of his brothers' hand.

"You worry about her and whatever stupid thing she might decide to do. She confuses you and sometimes infuriates you with her stubbornness. It hurt when she didn't talk to you, and when she did it felt like the whole world was set right again. You smile whenever you think about her. You can sit there for hours on end and listen to her talk just for the sake of hearing her voice."

Gaara just gave Kankuro a strange look. How did he do that!? How could he know? It suddenly hit him light a bolt of lighting, squeezing his heart and leaving him breathless.

He did love her.

"Gaara." Gaara suddenly realised that his brother was saying his name. He looked up at him, a look of semi-shock still on his face.

"Gaara, you can't have her."

A frown crossed Gaara's face as he slowly shook his head in denial. Kankuro grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Look, I know you love her but you two can never be together. And it's not just because the responsibilities that you both have. Tell me, do you know of the effects of the bonding that Kuro and Kohana share?"

"Yes." Gaara managed to get out, "Kohana told me that she gets a larger chakra reserve, better health and a long life."

Kankuro let his hands drop, "Do you know how long she is going to live?"

Slowly, Gaara shook his head.

"She is going to live for centuries. You know her Sensei? Well she is over seven hundred years old, and yet she looks about mid-twenties at most. If you two try to have a relationship it..." he waved his hands trying to find the right way to describe it, "It just wouldn't work. You will get older with each year, but she will stay young and fresh."

The words hit Gaara almost like a physical blow as he fully comprehended the knowledge, and the consequences, those words bought him. Without a word he suddenly stood up and walked out of the house.

That was when he had gone to the office and worked and worked. But when the dawn came and he ran out of work to do his mind had been forced back.

He squeezed his eyes tight trying to banish his thoughts.

***

A knock on the door jerked Gaara from the light doze he had managed to slip into. He sat up and rubbed his eyes as Kankuro opened the door and poked his head in.

"Kohana is here." He said simply before walking off leaving the door open. Gaara froze, he wasn't ready for this! Not yet! He was still frozen with panic and indecision when the door was pushed all the way open and Kohana walked in.

Kohana stood in the door way for a moment, gathering up her trembling courage. When she had woken up she had resolved that she would simply do it. She would kiss him straight away and deal with the consequences afterwards. She had left the inn full of steady determination, but as she had gotten closer to the house her resolve started to waver and she almost turned back several times. Now here she was, in the doorway to his bedroom, her heart was pounding, her palms were sweating and her resolve was nothing more than a puddle on the floor. Looking at Gaara she saw that he was just sitting on his bed, looking back at her a little wide eyed. Well, she thought, it was now or never. She stepped in.

Gaara's heart started to pound wildly as Kohana walked in and settled herself on the bed next to him. He forced himself to take deep even breaths. Looking at the profile of her face as she stared down at her hands resting in her lap, he thought it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen, this was going to be one of the hardest things he would ever have to do. He opened his mouth...

"Oh, bugger it." Kohana suddenly said out loud.

She turned and before Gaara could react she had closed the distance between them and planted her lips on his. Gaara was surprised and responded without really thinking, his eyes slid shut and one hand reached up to cup her cheek.

Kohana's heart thudded out of control sending the blood rushing past her ears so loudly that she was deaf to any other noises. What made it even better was that she would actually remember this one. Her hands reached up to wind around his neck and hold him closer. However Kohana was a little surprised when he instead detangled her arms and pulled away.

"Wait..." he murmured, "we can't."

She looked at him, confused, to see his face full of pain, regret and hurt.

As her arms had twined around him Gaara was bought sharply back to the reality of their situation. Reluctantly he pulled away. It hurt him to see the confusion in Kohana's eyes. His gaze dropped to his hands as they rested in his lap, not looking at her might make it easier, but that wouldn't be the case. She cupped his cheek and bought his face back up.

"What do you mean?" she asked gently.

Gaara swallowed down the knot that had formed in his throat.

"We won't work. Our lives are too different." he said quietly.

"What? The distance thing? It's ok I can visit regularly. Surely you're allowed to leave this village sometimes, which means that you could also come and visit me. I could send Jet up to get you and..." her nervous flow of words was stopped by Gaara resting his finger on her lips.

"It's not that." he let his hand drop, "you will live for centuries and centuries. I will be lucky to make it to six decades. Our lives won't run parallel; we won't be able to share all the simple pleasures in life. I will be long dead and dust in the ground and you will still look just like this." he cupped her cheek and ran the ball of his thumb over smooth skin, "so beautiful."

She grasped his hand, "It's ok, we can make it work." she said, her voice cracking from the tears and pain she was suppressing.

"Can you really? What are you going to do when I am a doddering old man and you are still full of vitality? That's even if I reach such an age, being a shinobi every new day I wake up is lucky. The last thing I want is for you to go through either of that."

Kohana squeezed her eyes shut and grasped is hand tightly to the side of her face as tears escaped the confines of her lids. He was right, she knew that, but it didn't make the hurt any less painful. Finally she managed to choke out some words.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow."

"I know."

Leaning forward she kissed him. So much pain and regret for the life that could never be lived was behind the kiss. She pulled away resting her forehead against his, her eyes still closed.

"I love you." she whispered.

"I love you too." Gaara replied, knowing that it was true.

Lifting her head Kohana opened her eyes, brushing her fingers over the symbol on his forehead.

"I know."

With that she stood up and all but ran out the door. When she left Gaara laid down on his bed and curled himself into a ball.

***

Kohana ran into the inn and made a beeline straight for her room, passing Azami on the stairwell. Reaching her room she threw herself on the bed and curled around the pillow. A few moments later a soft knock was heard on the door and her Sensei's voice was heard.

"Kohana?"

The doorknob turned and the door opened as Azami let herself into the room. Closing the door behind her she walked over and sat on the side of the bed.

"Kohana, what's wrong?" she asked resting her hand on her students shoulder.

Kohana sat up and looked over at her Sensei, hot tears running down her cheeks, her face twisted with hurt.

"What will he become?" she asked.

With a sad and empathetic look Azami rested her hand on her students cheek as she realised what she was talking about, "A fond memory." she whispered.

Shudders racked Kohana's body as she cried her heart out. Azami just wrapped her arms around her student and held her as she cried.