Here it is. The last chapter. I'm kinda sad. I'll miss this story and Aya. Oh well, all good things must end eventually.
The final Disclaimer: Oh, come on. It's bad enough that I have to say good-bye to this story now you want me to put in a disclaimer! *band of lawyers nod without sympathy* Fine. I don't own Naruto. Happy now. *Lawyers nod again with smiles* At least someone is.
Ch. 20: The End
They were back. Both the Konoha shinobi and the sand shinobi had come back to Suna. Aya rushed to greet them and reassure herself that everyone was alright. She spotted her father first. Both she and her mother hugged him tightly. Aya could here her mother thanking the gods that he'd returned safely. The two stepped back and smiled at him. He winced a little and shifted.
"Kaito, you're hurt," her mother said as concern filled her eyes. "What happened to your leg?"
"A lucky shot by the enemy." Kaito smiled. "Don't worry, Ruka. I'm fine. In a few days, it'll be like I was never injured."
"Aya."
She turned and saw Kankuro, Temari, and Sasori. Aya smiled and waved at them. They were okay. Then she noticed that someone was missing. Fear dug its sharp claws into her heart. She gripped Kankuro's shirt in her fists. "Where is he, Kankuro? What happened to Gaara?"
"Aya, cool down." Kankuro held up his hands as if that would hold her off. He wouldn't meet her eyes.
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down," she shouted as she shook him. Tears fell from her eyes. "Tell me where Gaara is."
She noticed a brunch of people laying on the ground towards the back of the crowd. Aya ran towards the dead. Her eyes scanning the faces among the injured and dead. Then she saw a head of red hair. Her heart stopped. Gaara. Aya ran over and fell to her knees next to him. Don't be dead, she begged silently. She was afraid to touch him. Afraid to find he wasn't breathing. Afraid to find his heart wasn't beating. Slowly she reached out and placed her hand over his heart. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh as she felt a reassuring thump against her palm. More tears fell as relief filled her system.
"He's lucky to be alive. Lucky Shukaku saved him and Naruto," Sasori said. He'd walked over with Temari and Kankuro.
Temari told Aya about the battle with Madara. As a last resort, Madara had used some kind of jutsu that caused an explosion that engulfed Naruto and Gaara. Luckily, Gaara's sand shield came up in time to shield them from the worst of the explosion. Both of them were tapped out of chakra and had fallen to the ground. Neither had woken up since.
Aya looked around and saw Rookie 9 gathered around someone. She knew that would be Naruto. "Will they be alright?"
"Lady Tsunade and Sakura said they would be given time. As long as they wake up," Temari replied. "That's the only thing that worries everyone. Will they wake up?"
"Did we win?"
Temari nodded. "No one in the Akatsuki survived. Every village lost many shinobi in the process but we won."
Aya touched Gaara's forhead. The symbol for love tattooed in blood was still a bright red. She knew that spot of his skin was more sensitive to touch than any other spot on his body. She traced it now. Someone cried out in happiness. Aya looked over to see Naruto had sat up and Hinata had thrown her arms around him. There was relief on all the faces of Konoha. She was happy for them. She really was. It was just that...
Something grabbed the hand tracing Gaara's symbol. Aya squeaked and nearly jumped out of her skin. Her eyes jerked down and tears flooded again. Sea foam eyes were open and looked up at her. Aya began to shake. Gaara forced himself to sit up and touch her face. He wiped away a tear.
"Stop," he ordered in a croak. Gaara frowned. His throat was soar. Just how long had he been out?
Aya threw her arms around him and just cried. She couldn't stop as much as she would love to obey him. Gaara winced at the pain as she bumped some bruises, but like Naruto when Hinata hugged him, said nothing about the pain. She pulled away and wiped the tears from her face.
"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered. "I was so scared when I saw you just lying here."
Gaara rested his forehead against hers and just rested there for a moment. He saw a hand holding a glass of water come into his field of vision. The Kazekage looked up to see Sassori offering him the glass. Gaara took it and drained the glass without taking a breath. He was so thirsty. Aya stood and pulled him to his feet. Gaara nearly fell back down. Then Kankuro was there. He supported Gaara and helped him over to Naruto. The two Jinchuriki looked at each other for a moment. Naruto gave Gaara his goofy grin and held out a hand.
"We showed them."
Gaara grinned and took the hand. "We did."
Sasuke tapped Naruto's shoulder. "I want you to see this."
Naruto turned as Sasuke gave Sakura his attention. After hesitating for barely a second, Sasuke said, "Sakura, I had two goals in life. One was to avenge my clan. The other was to revive it. I've accomplished on goal. That leaves one more." Sasuke hesitated again. This wasn't easy for him. He was about to make a public confession but Sakura deserved it after all he'd put her through. He just hoped she accepted it. "I'll need help reviving my clan and I...Hell. I want you to marry me."
Sakura's eyes widened in shock. She could only stare at him. This had to be a dream. It had to be. Sasuke would never ask her to marry him. Yet, everyone else was grinning and Sasuke was watching her with expectant eyes. Finally, she took a step forward and placed a hand on his cheek. "This is real."
He nodded.
She smiled brilliantly at him and threw herself into his arm as she shouted, "Yes."
Sasuke let out a relieved breath. "Good. That's good." He looked at Naruto. "I expect my best friend to be my best man."
Naruto gave that goofy grin. "As long as you return the favor for my wedding."
"Naturally," Sasuke agreed.
Kakashi smiled. He'd never been prouder of his team. He looked to see Gaara whispering something to Aya. The civilian who'd tamed Sabaku no Gaara looked shocked then ecstatic. She threw her arms around Gaara again, nearly knocking the Kazekage over. Looks like they were having yet another wedding in the immediate future. Kakashi scanned the area around him and saw many people grouping together. Nothing like a major battle to bring people out of denial. Finally, everything was as it should be.
-Ten years later-
"Momma, can we go play at Uncle Sasori's?" Kai asked his mother. He had his father's sea foam eyes and his mother's dark hair. Like his father, he was controlled and reserved. His closest friend was his cousin, Haruto. Which was why he was trying to convince his mother to let him go over to Sasori's and Temari's.
"Arlight. Just be back in time for dinner," Aya ordered him with an indulgent smile.
"I will." He raced off.
"Mom, we're out of red." This came from Aya's youngest, Ryu. He was her spitting image and had her talent for art. He also had a tendency to get lost. Unlike her, he was trained in the shinobi arts. Not as skilled as his older brothers, Kai and Akira, but still the best in his class.
"No we're not. There's more in my room," she told him as she added some spicing to the soup. "Go ahead and get it."
"Okay." Ryu rushed upstairs to do just that.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. Aya smiled and turned to greet her husband. "I thought you'd be in Konoha another day."
"The hokage let me leave early. You are close to giving birth again." Gaara grinned. Only at home was he this open. Their middle son, Akira, was jut like him right down to the looks and attitude. "Naruto said to thank you for the painting."
Aya had painted Naruto's family, including Team 7, for a congratulations gift. He'd just been made Hokage of his village. It had just seemed right to give him a painting for the event. "He earned it." She stepped back and placed a hand over her belly. "As for the kid, I just hope it's a girl this time. I'm out numbered here."
"You love us though."
She sighed. "I suppose. Where's Akira?"
"He went to visit your father."
Akira was training to be a medical nin with her father's help.
Aya smiled. "Ryu's working on a new painting."
"Really. What's this one?"
"He calls it Happy At Last. He's put our entire family in it, even the honorary family. Rookie 9, Team Guy, my clan, your siblings and their families, us, everyone." She wrapped sat in a chair. "He says the name is cause we all found our happy ever after."
"You've been reading him fairy tales again," Gaara accused, though he was still smiling.
"No. I merely told him our story. He wanted to hear it." Aya smiled. "All three boys did."
Gaara took her hand in his. She was right. Their story did seem like a fairy tale to him. Maybe because the Monster of Suna found a happy ending when even he didn't think he could. Now the next generation was growing in a time of peace among all the nations. It may not last. Peace never did. But still, for now, they could enjoy their happy endings.
I know, it was short, but there wasn't much else to write. The story was pretty much over. Anyways. Ending is sappy but I happen to like being sappy occasionally. Hope you enjoyed Painted Dreams. Tomorrow I'll begin my next fanfic. Whichever one that may be. Speaking of which. This would be the time to take a look at my profile to see which story you might want to read next. They'll be in the maybe stories section. If you have no preference, that's okay. I'll just pick one.
I might actually have an idea for another Gaara fic. Maybe. I'm not sure. Here's a rough summary. I'll call it Lost Memories. Gaara finds a girl who has no memory of who she is or where she's come from. For some reason (haven't worked that reason out yet or if he even know it himself) he takes her in... That's all I've got for it so far. Like I said, it's still a little rough around the edges. I'll post the summary on my profile and any updates to it when I've worked out the kinks. I hope it works out cause I happen to love writing Gaara fics. I was going to be sad if I didn't come up with another one.
