-Kankuro-

I looked up when I heard my brother call out Fayre's name, only to see him disappear into the mountain. I looked around me to see the others taking care of Itachi and Deydara.

"Temari, Naruto!"

I yelled and they both looked at me. I only pointed towards the mountain and they both nodded before following after me. The others could handle it outside, but we couldn't let Gaara deal with Pein by himself, or let him face whatever condition Fayre might be in by himself. It was like a maze inside the mountain, but Naruto said he could feel Gaara's chakra from deeper within the mountain and led the way. Temari and I ran after him as he ran left and right and led us deeper into the mountain. We finally stopped at a cavern and I couldn't believe what I saw. Gaara was fighting against Pein who was laughing and Fayre lay on the ground, with several black pillars run through her body.

"Oh my God."

Temari gasped and I walked towards Fayre, not really being able to believe it.

'No, she's can't be dead.'

I thought as I walked closer. She coughed and I sighed in relief that she was alive.

"Fayre."

I said as I reached her. She opened her eyes and looked up at me.

"K-Kankuro?"

She asked and I smiled at her.

"Hey."

I said as I brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"Where's Gaara?"

She asked and I frowned.

"He's fighting Pein. Hold on, we'll get you out."

I said as I moved to pull one of the pillars out, but stopped when Fayre screamed.

"Ah! Don't touch them! They're charged with Pein's chakra!"

She yelled and I instantly backed away from them.

"Don't worry. Gaara will kill Pein and then we'll figure something out."

I said, but when she didn't say anything I looked over to see Pein pinning Gaara down with a kunai to his throat.

"Temari, Naruto! Help him!"

I yelled and they both raced to help. Naruto managed to get Pein off him and Temari helped Gaara to his feet.

"Kankuro….what's going on?"

Fayre asked and I looked back at her.

"Nothing. We've got everything under control."

I said, but knew differently. Temari and Naruto were trying to hold Pein down while Gaara attacked him, but he was too strong. But I couldn't tell Fayre that.

"Kankuro! We need your help!"

Temari yelled and I flinched. I looked back at Fayre and frowned when I realized her eyes were slowly dimming as the life slowly drained out of her.

"Kankuro!"

Temari yelled again and I gave Fayre one last look before running over to them and charging at Pein. I stabbed him with a kunai only to find out it was a substitution.

We heard laughter and we all looked around. I looked behind us back at Fayre to find Pein standing by her. He signed something and a pillar materialized in the air above her. He smirked at us before sending the pillar straight for Fayre.

"No!"

I screamed, but it was too late. I watched, frozen in place, as the pillar fell through the air and drove itself into Fayre's chest. She screamed and for a time that was the only thing any of us could hear, then it died only to be replaced by Gaara's scream of anger as he charged at Pein who laughed and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Gaara started to run out of the cave after him, but I stopped him.

"Gaara!"

I yelled and he froze and looked back at me. Temari, Naruto and I walked over towards Fayre who's breathing was labored and blood pooled around her.

"Fayre!"

Gaara yelled as he ran to her side. He fell to his knees and looked her over. I could see the pain in my brother's eyes as he looked at the woman he loved pinned to the ground and he was unable to help her.

"It's okay Fayre, I'm here."

He said as he brushed her hair out of her face. I heard her cough and saw blood pool up around her mouth and felt tears stinging my eyes as I watched the woman I'd come to think of as my sister slowly die infront of me. I watched as Gaara reached for one of the pillars pinning her hands down and tried to pull it out, but stopped when Fayre screamed.

"I know it hurts, but it has to come out."

He said in a whisper and once Fayre nodded he pulled out the first pillar pinning her down. Her scream echoed throughout the cavern, but it was far from over.

I watched as Gaara started to pull the pillar out of her other hand, but stopped when Fayre's hand grabbed his own.

"No. I can't…..leave it."

She said and Gaara nodded to her.

-Gaara-

I stared down at Fayre with an empty feeling in my chest. I'd only pulled out one of the pillars holding her down, but she said she couldn't handle having the others pulled out. She was covered in wounds. She had a nasty gash on her side, opposite to the side where Kiyomi's gash had been. Her hands I could tell had already been stabbed. She had cuts along her arms and face, as well as her legs. Her clothes were torn and I could tell she'd been tortured before she fought against Pein.

"Gaara."

Fayre said and I looked her in the eyes.

"We'll get you out, don't worry."

I said and felt my blood run cold when she shook her head.

"There's nothing you can do."

She said and I shook my head at her.

"No. Don't give up! We can get Sakura in here to heal you as we take out the pillars."

I said, but she simply shook her head.

"She wouldn't be able to help. I've lost…too much blood and his last pillar barely missed…..my heart."

She said in between coughs.

"No Fayre, you can't give up. You can't leave me."

I said and she smiled up at me sadly.

"You've got to be strong for them Gaara."

She said and I saw tears in her eyes. She was giving up.

"No."

I said, but she continued anyways.

"You've got to be strong for your siblings and your village."

She said and I felt tears stinging my eyes.

"Fayre no."

I said, but she just smiled up at me and raised her only free hand to my face.

"Do me one last thing Gaara."

She said and I closed my eyes as I realized I was about to lose her. She was only hanging on by a thread. I wrapped my hand around hers and held it close to me as I opened my eyes and stared into her dimming turquoise ones.

"Anything."

I said, just barely above a whisper.

"Kiss me."

She said closing her eyes. I tightened my hold on her hand before I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers. Her lips held little warmth and as I pulled back to stare at her I realized she was already gone.

I felt my tears spill over and run down my face.

"Gaara?"

Temari asked, breaking the silence that fell around us. When I didn't say anything I heard her gasp.

"No."

She said and I could hear her crying. I stood up and turned to look at them. Kankuro was holding Temari to him as she cried with tears streaming down his own face. Naruto was staring blankly at Fayre's still form. I couldn't stand to be in the cavern anymore. My body felt numb and I didn't really have any control over my body. I was vaguely aware that I'd found my way out of the mountain and back to where Neji and the others were fighting Itachi and Deydara. I noticed the Akatsuki members were all gone and as I appeared Neji and them all ran to me. Some were severely wounded, but they could all still stand. I barely heard Hinata ask about Fayre and the pain in my chest increased. Out of everything, the numbness allowed me to feel the pain of my heart breaking.

"She…."

I started, but found I had trouble saying it. But there was no denying it. I'd watched her as the life slowly drained out of her, I could tell she was barely hanging on and that she'd already given up. Pein had tortured her and attacked her and when we got there it was too late.

"She what? Where's Fayre?"

Hinata asked and I took a shaky breath as I readied myself to tell them what had happened to her.

"She's…..dead."