This is final chapter in this Series.

"The End of Innocence and The Darkness In One's Heart"

"No!" I yelled in my head. I didn't want anything to happen to Gaara. What was I thinking? Would I actually have gone through with that? Would I betray Gaara's trust in me?

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Kashaku asked.

"Because I just started thinking" I barked back.

I walked into the bathroom to wash my face with water. As I lifted my face, I saw my reflection in the mirror. My blonde hair had grown quite a bit. It was now almost past my shoulders.

'My appearance has changed quite a bit this year.' I told myself.

I then felt guilty for being angry with Gaara. He never really did anything for me to be angry at him…well at least he didn't do anything today. I should be more reasonable with him. This, all this, must have been hard on him. Because of me, he lost everything he knew. His family, his world, his life. I sighed and retreated from the bathroom to Gaara's room. As I walked across the hall in the darkness, I felt afraid and cold and wounded. I felt alone, caught in the grasps of the shadows. A chill swept by and my hairs stood on end. I made my way to his door slowly, I was nervous. I knocked softly and waited for the answer that never came. I turned the knob and peeked through the crack.

"Gaara?" I whispered.

I opened the door a little more and looked closely inside. One foot at a time, I entered the room. I walked over and saw that his eyes were closed. His hair was messier than usual, and his chest rose and fell with each breath he took. I kneeled down beside him. words then flowed out of my mouth.

"Listen Gaara…I'm sorry for what I said. I know I should be more understanding towards you and…"

This was ridiculous. I was speaking with Gaara when he was asleep. How would he hear me? I looked at him and his open eyes stared back at me.

"What are you doing? Why are you in my room?" he asked, suddenly.

"I-I…"

"If you have something to say, say it."

"I just wanted to apologize. You know, for earlier."

"You woke me up to apologize?"

This caught me off guard. I didn't mean to upset him. Well too late, looks like I already did.

"Go away Kusota."

'I told him to call me Hateshi…'

"But Gaara-"

"You're old enough to sleep by yourself."

"Why are you being so cold?"

The crimson haired boy looked up at the ceiling and I knew that look very well. I could see he was trying to suppress some painful memory. The cold hard look of his eyes staring off in the emptiness. I knew that feeling all too well.

"Because that was how I survived my childhood."

"Your…childhood?"

That was the first time he had spoken about something that was painful to him, something that showed he did have a weakness, something that showed he did care for something. Before that simple sentence, I had never thought about his past. I would have never guessed he has a past he would rather forget. I looked at him but he was submerged in his past, drowning himself with his memories. I placed my hand on his arm to bring him back to reality.

"Gaara…"

"Don't say it."

His muscles tensed and he stood up to stare out the window.

"Don't say you pity me. I don't need your fucking sympathy."

I opened my mouth and tried to speak as clearly as I could but my sentence came out in a hushed tone, because he was right.

"Maybe if you talk about it…"

That was when he showed his true colors.

"No! I will not talk about it! Now I know why you're father wanted to kill you, why do you insist on involving yourself in other's lives? Leave now."

'That sounds like something my father would say'

"I just want to help."

"I don't need your help."

"I know I'm the one to blame. I should have taken responsibility but I can't change the past. I can only do what I can now…I'm going to get you back, back home. No matter what it takes, I'll get you back home."

I stared at him and with water at the sides of my eyes and tried to utter those words. My throat was dry and my nerves were killing me.

"Gaara I….I-I…."

Gaara turned and with a menacing look, he commended, "You look like a fool who can't speak properly."

I closed my eyes and drew in air….

"I love you."

Even though I had enough courage to tell him my real feelings, I wasn't brave enough to see or hear his reaction. I ran out the door, before I could be disappointed and broken hearted.

I withdrew myself and headed back to my room. I wasn't angry and I wasn't going to cry. Because of me, we're stuck in this hell of a place. He was right, my father was right. I was useless, I was annoying, and I didn't serve any purpose. I went back to my room and prepared. I pulled my Forbidden's cloak over my clothes, and I took both of my swords. As I walked out my door, I closed it. Not like it would matter anyway. I walked out the house and into the night. I was going to find Hitori and kill her, once and for all.

-Back at Nagori's Home-

'Did she really say that? Did she really mean it? Or did she just say that so I could come running after her?' Gaara was entranced with his thoughts.

Nagori entered the room, he knew Hateshi had gone off looking for Hitori. It was just a matter of time. He turned to Gaara, "She meant what she had said."

Gaara looked at Nagori, "How do you know what she said?"

"I overheard."

Gaara looked from Nagori to the window and back at Nagori.

"…Did she…mean that?"

Nagori nodded his head, "She meant it with her heart and soul. But are you going to go after her?"

Gaara looked at the window, he saw Kusota running in the direction of the Forbidden's mansion.

"She doesn't need me."

-Back To Kusota/Hateshi-

Only the words of loneliness could describe her soul,

She walked on through the darkness despite the lost of control.

The teasing and crying took their toll,

If you'd look at her heart, you'd see a hole.

With no one to turn to, she kept it all inside,

The beast within her gashing and ripping her insides.

But she closed her eyes and turned away when the tears fell.

Will they notice me gone?

Can I escape this hell?

Can they see the pain beneath my eyes?

The pain will never stop until the heart dies.

'I do need him, I'll always need him. I'm doing this for him; I have to remember that. I'm risking myself for him, I'm sacrificing myself for him.'

I walked up to the mansion, the first time I came here now seems so far away. It was about 6 months ago. I wonder how brother and mother are doing. Are Kankuro and Temari okay? I hope Gaara does well in school when he goes back. It's about winter vacation there isn't it? Vacation…. The snow…. I'll miss all that. I should have gone out more during winter. I would like to see the white snow once again.

I sighed, and headed up the porch of the mansion. Once I entered, I went to my room. I saw the plain bed and the plain walls. Did I really live here? I exited the room before any more unwanted memories came. I went to the backyard where I practiced so many times. I looked in a direction and saw a familiar building. It was where Gaara killed Kashaku, why hasn't Kashaku speaking as of late? Maybe he's finally gone.

"Hitori" I called.

I hope she would hear me, I would be wasting my voice if she weren't around. I closed my eyes as a strong; soothing wind began to blow. I felt a presence walking towards me from the back door of the mansion. I opened my eyes and looked up, my back towards the presence.

I smiled, "Hello."

I turned around and faced Hitori. Her eyes were full of avarice and wrath. She looked the same, she had the same short blonde hair and she had the same sad frown. She was a miserable girl, yes she was. But so was I.

"So you finally came. At least I don't have to go looking for you. Were you with that traitor?"

"Yes, Nagori was very kind to me."

Hitori smirked, her smirk was a nasty expression because her mind was filled with hate and death.

"Do you want to start or will I start?"

I shrugged, "Would it really matter? I'm going to kill you anyway."

Hitori reacted immediately, she came racing at me. Her silver Cross Bow sword came slashing at me. I blocked with my normal blue sword that Kashaku had given me. Hitori kept attacking while I was only blocking.

"Why don't you fight back!" She screamed at one point.

Just like when I had returned from this world for the first time, I had lost all sense of emotion. I only looked at her, her anger, her hate was polluting the air. But she was right, to kill her, I had to fight back. I didn't want to call on the darkness, which would make me feel guiltier. I didn't want to kill another person, but I vowed to destroy the Forbidden. So I did what I had to do, I came at her, and attacked her with both swords.

I pulled my hood up and left my swords next to the bleeding Hitori. She wasn't dead, but I don't think she will have enough energy to attack. I was walking away from her, I could hear her yelling and screaming but that was blurred out.

The sound of a gun shot.

I fell to the floor, gasping for air, shaking with pain. I touched the right side of my stomach, I was bleeding. I turned over, making those small little noises that animals make when they are about to die.

Hitori was laughing, a gun was in her hand, "Haha! I got this from your world. I knew it would be useful!"

The last of my energy was bleeding away. I would not die without killing her first. I coughed up blood but I concentrated on my sword. The one that consumed Rosuto. The black mist that I was so afraid of came back. Hitori, preoccupied with her success, didn't notice the darkness engulfing her. When she realized it was too late. She started to scream as her body turned to darkness. Soon, she was gone.

Now I was at peace. I had destroyed the Forbidden. But one question never was answered, who am I? Is Hateshi my name or was Kusota my true identity? Maybe I would never know. Maybe it was an enigma, maybe all of this was. Did I go through life to just die? Did my life amount to anything anymore? I wish I could only say goodbye. Goodbye Gaara, goodbye Mahaku, mom, Kankuro and Temari. Bye Nagori and thank you…

Thank you for everything…everyone.

And then I closed my eyes, ready for the silence.

Flashbacks came to head, I could suddenly remember everything. I saw Gaara in many of them, and Nagori was in a few too.

I felt droplets on my face, I opened my eyes, and stared at the sad sky. Snow would have been better, but this is all right. I now heard their voices. They're calling out to me. The voices are faint and I can't make out the words but it's getting louder now, and louder. Two people run towards me, I could feel their presence. I smiled when I saw Gaara running and Nagori behind him. They were calling out to me. They came, and Gaara bent over and looked at me. What was in his eyes?

"Kusota! What…I-I-I'm sorry…I can't believe…No…please don't…"

Yes, that was guilt in his eyes, with sorrow.

"Please Kusota! Hang on! Please!"

Nagori had come too, He could only stare, I guess he didn't want to believe it.

I coughed up more blood, my insides were burning with pain.

"Gaara…I did it. I killed her. Are you proud?"

He looked at me, "Yeah, I am. But you can't go. Your brother will kill me if…"

"Gaara…"

"Yes?"

"Tell Mahaku, I miss him."

"Don't be stupid, You can tell him yourself!"

I smiled and a tear fell from my eyes, "Did you hear what I said before?"

He nodded.

"It's true. I just wanted you to know that…"

I just wanted to rest now. So I closed my eyes. It hurt…to be here. Maybe if I fall asleep…the pain will go away.

"Kusota! Stop! Open your eyes!"

"I'm…tired…Good night…"

Nagori couldn't believe his eyes. He never thought…

Gaara was yelling at Kusota and shaking her. She had closed her eyes…for good.

Gaara held Kusota, he wasn't crying but he just held her. Like a sad little boy.

"Wait…Get off of her." Nagori said.

Gaara complied without a single remark. He said some complex words and a light started to light up around them…

Darkness. This world is full of it, but within darkness there is sometimes, a light.

A beam of light hit me. Instinctively, I held a hand over my eyes. Slowly, I arose from my slumber. I sat up but pain emerged from my stomach. Where was I? My vision was coming back to me, I looked around and felt the room to be familiar. I turned to my side, and Gaara was there. He was facing the other way, but it was Gaara. This was Gaara's room. I remember now. Why am I here?

Wasn't I…?

Didn't I….?

I poked Gaara on the head.

"What do you want?" He sleepily asked of course with a tone of rudeness.

"Why am I here?"

"…Nagori saved you and brought us back here."

'He saved me? So he truly was my friend.'

"Where is he?"

"…He's here, in this world."

"Where? I want to thank him! I knew he'd help out!"

"Okay we'll go see him. Take a shower in Temari's room, She has extra clothes that will fit you."

An Hour and A half Later

I was dressed in black, as was Gaara. I had on a black long skirt and a nice elegant black top. The wind blew through my hair as I stood next to Gaara and looked at Nagori.

I was looking at a grave.

"But why…?"

Gaara replied, "He sacrificed his life for yours."

The tombstone was carved with his first name and the date in which he died. At he bottom was a quote.

"Can you show her that I loved her?"

Gaara explained that those were Nagori's last words. He loved me, he knew that I was in love with Gaara so he respected that fact. But he showed his love by sacrificing himself for me. I grabbed Gaara's hand and cried. I cried for Nagori, I cried for all that I had been through. I cried for the deaths I witnessed and for the ones I was the cause for. I cried for my father, my mother and for Mahaku.

"Come on Kusota…Let's go see you're brother and your mother."

But most of all, I cried for the end of Innocence, The darkness in one's heart and for Nagori.