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Fate

Running into the tower, alongside Lena, as the sand defence melted away, Suigetsu stopped abruptly at the shocking scene before him. The Kazekage and Ai were clutching onto one another in embrace, forced up against a wall. They were pinned, immobilised by Sasuke's katana that he rested on Ai's shoulder, it's sharp point scraping hungrily against Gaara's neck. The blade had pierced through the porcelain layer of sand that protected the Kazekage's skin. How had they managed to get through the Kazekage's ultimate defence? Perhaps Ai's sealing tag had meddled with its properties? Taking a protective step in front of Lena, Suigetsu put a slender arm up to grasp a hold of his weapon. The steel of his Kubikiribōchō shimmering in the candlelight as the sun dipped below the ocean. The Kazekage recovered first from the surprising encounter.

"Lower your weapon." He growled, but Sasuke was not one to give in first.

"Lower your hands." The Uchiha commanded. Suigetsu's eyes darted between the two men, unsure of what move he should make. After a few moments of begrudged silence, the Hidden Mist ninja heard Ai sigh in exasperation.

"Both of you," the woman ordered, "get away from me." With one last look of loathing at each other, Sasuke lifted up his katana as Gaara removed his hands from Ai's hips. Ai and Gaara looked at one another, she could see so much of him that she had forgotten; how lost he was, how alone and, with a sympathetic look she reached up and ran a finger along the small stream of blood that had seeped from the scratch on his neck where the katana had rested. The girl could feel him shudder under her touch, his eyes were fixed on his face, he barely noticed her reach into the caramel coloured chiffon of her dress to retrieve a scroll. With lighting speed she wiped Gaara's blood across his forehead and place the unravelled scroll on his chest.

With a puff of smoke, the onlookers watched as Gaara was forced onto one knee as Ai's spell took hold. "Ah!" He gasped in surprise, completely unaware and unguarded to anything she might be capable of. Sasuke looked down at him disdainfully, placing his katana back into its sheath beneath his dark cloak.

"What did you do?" Sasuke asked.

"Put a seal on his abilities, it will prevent him from vanishing," Ai replied, watching as Gaara stood on shaking legs. "It also prevents him from leaving the tower." This strange new, or old version of Gaara winced, clenching his fists at the thought that he was so easily overpowered by her. "You're a suna bunshin? (A/N: sand clone)." So the dancing girl had figured it out.

"Yes."

"So let's destroy him!" Suigetsu shouted from behind them.

"No," Sasuke put his hands on his hips, looking lost in deep thought, "Ai was correct to use the seal; if he vanishes all of his memories, all of his knowledge will transfer to the real Gaara. It would give away our position. We have to keep him alive." Ai turned to Sasuke and they exchanged a look; was this a trap? How could they have overpowered the Kazekage so easily?

"That's the Kazekage?" Lena's soft voice interrupted the silence as she watched Gaara, taking in his dark rimmed opal eyes and mess of crimson hair flowing in the sea breeze as he stood to his full height. He had an innocent, almost naive look to him, like a bird too easily trapped. "He's beautiful." She whispered.

"You should see him now." Everyone in the room turned to Suigetsu as he smiled bashfully at his inability to keep his thoughts to himself.

"What do you mean?" Lena asked innocently. "He's a clone, don't they look the same?"

"No," Ai walked away from Gaara and Sasuke, wondering what step to take next. She looked at the shadow of her first love. "You are younger. Clones do not age, they are a copy of you at the moment of creation and remain that way. When were you created?" She could see the conflict in Gaara's face as he debated how much information to give away. Having completely underestimated her, having been completely unprepared for their meeting, he was now robbed of movement or ability, he had no choice but to comply.

"Two years ago," he said through gritted teeth, clearly annoyed by his predicament. But Ai nodded as though this explained everything.

"The Kazekage can sustain a clone for more than two years?" Lena asked out loud with an impressed whistle, it alerted Sasuke to how dangerous this man might be.

"Ai, this could be a trap."

"I disagree," Love stated firmly. "It's not unusual for a kage to keep multiple clones in isolated places." Lena, still new to the world of shinobi stirred behind Ai.

"Why?" Her question earned a small frown from Ai.

"This must be a strategic outpost?" She questioned the clone. "This Tower is located between the coast and Sunagakure; making it an ideal spot for monitoring the area and gathering intelligence. Most likely, Gaara created the clone to serve as a long-term sentry, keeping watch over the region and reporting back to the real Gaara." Ai paused in thought, thinking about what she knew of the kazekage's motivations. "Most likely Gaara did this to maintain a clone for an extended period in a controlled environment. He must be working on increasing the technique's durability, range, or intelligence-gathering capabilities." Hearing Ai speak logically, rationalising the Kazekage's actions, was enough to convince Suiegtsu and Lena, Sasuke, however, was still unsure.

"But why here?" The Uchiha asked slowly. Ai knew the answer, she tried to avoid Gaara's gaze as she spoke;

"Sentimental reasons," she said softly, "he placed you here to safeguard a place of personal significance." Finally, Ai looked at Gaara's clone, her eyes softening slightly. "The Kazekage put you here, only days after our first kiss, to maintain a connection to that moment, even if only through a fragment of himself." Her blue eyes trailed to the floor as she saw Gaara's fists clench in frustration as she figured him out so easily, a stony, stoic look on his face. Yes, Ai knew the answer but she did not want to face it. Could it be that the clone's presence was a manifestation of Gaara's lingering attachment or a way for him to process his feelings about their past? More likely, Gaara, with his controlling, determined ways, put the clone here to protect this place; a deterrent to potential intruders. She cold not face the idea that it was a means of preserving the memories associated with the location.

The gold band in her hair was shimmering in the candlelight, in fact all her jewellery was glittering around her, as though she were constantly followed by fireflies. Everyone was waiting for the goddess to speak, to instruct, to guide, but she was far too arrogant, too vain to let go how this clone had underestimated her.

"You were created two years ago? So you barely know me," Love stated, a sting of scorn in her voice. The clone nodded, his crimson hair falling into his eyes.

"The last time this version of Gaara ever saw you was on this beach," he nodded towards the window, indicating the beach outside.

"Did Gaara never speak to you?" Ai asked.

"The Kazekage and I have corresponded regularly over the last two years." His comment earned a cold laugh from Ai.

"So you are aware of the state of the world? Of what transpired between Gaara and myself?" Her questions were met with silent nods. "You are aware that I am Renai's incarnate, that I hold the power of Gods?" Her arrogance shone through her questions and laughter as Gaara nodded again. "And yet you underestimated me?" Her eyes narrowed on him, "you barely thought I posed a threat, it was so easy to disarm you!" The arrogance of this boy!

"I suppose it was hard for me to truly believe what has happened, what you have become, Ai." There was a familiar sense of distrust, indignation and annoyance around Gaara and Ai which felt all too painful for the girl to remember. It was so like the Gaara she had first met, to assume so little of her, to not even attempt to defend himself. Had he always seen her as so passive? Like an annoying firefly you could just bat away?

"And now your prejudice has imprisoned you." She scorned him, her blue eyes flashing with vanity.

"It was not prejudice that let my guard down," Gaara replied softly, causing Ai to glance over to him. No, it was not that he had underestimated her at all. It was that all he remembered of her was their kiss, witnessed only by a full moon above an ocean, before he was created and tethered to the tower. He had thought about her for two years, only hearing of her through the Kazekage's letters. This Gaara was suspended in time at nineteen years old, still stuck with the demon Shukaku fuelling his thoughts of Ai. How many nights had he spent here, wondering where that dancing girl had vanished to?

"Ai, it is not safe to keep him here." Sasuke's soft voice emanated slowly through the room, cooling the tension between Ai and Gaara, making them break eye contact. Ai nodded.

"Confine him to a room with no windows. Place the seals in that box," Ai pointed to a small wooden box beside Suigestu, "on the walls and doors." A small smile, unnoticed by all except Gaara, placed on Love's face as she said something he had once said to her: "you are my prisoner." Ai did not watch as Sasuke and Suigestu escorted her first love to his prison.

The air was still, yet heavy with unspoken words that hung between Ai and Sasuke like stars suspended in the night sky. Ai's blue eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were clouded with apprehension as she considered the events that were to unfold tomorrow. She stood on the balcony of the Tower, her chiffon dress fluttering in the warm breeze, her raven hair a river of darkness against the starlit sky.

Ai was to enter the battlefield and meet Gaara and his army on the beach. In truth, she was nervous, she knew nothing of war and her experience of death was merely its…impermanence. She walked through the gates between life and death with the ease of walking into another room; she had never caused death. She had never been the reason for ending someone's life. Why had things played out this way? Itachi, Sensō, loved Renai, why would he so willingly push her incarnate into war? So many questions clouded her mind as she watched the ocean tumble within itself, moonlight churning between the waves, being lost in the movement of something bigger than itself.

Gaara's clone was a few floors below her but she could still hear Shukaku calling out her name in the nighttime. It agonised her, the thought of Gaara being tortured by the demon. Her relationship with the Kazekage had changed so much, her thoughts about him as the enemy had taken over. But the younger, troubled Gaara, was not her enemy. He was far more vulnerable than she remembered and being shut up here for two years…she shuddered to think what the man had had to endure.

Gaara, what have we done to each other?

The door to her room opened and she felt the cool, calm air of Sasuke's chakra enter, he emerged from the shadows and she turned to see him standing in the moonlight. He was still wrapped up in his dark cloak, still as terrified of her as the moment they were first alone together. His handsome face was serene, not giving away what was clearly bubbling under the surface.

"I cannot stay," he said calmly, his voice a low murmur in the stillness of the night. "I have told Suigetsu to guard you tomorrow with his life. You will be safe."

Ai nodded and turned back to the ocean, trying not to drown in the memories of the first time she had set foot here. Her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, where the fires of battle burned like fallen stars. She could sense the tension in Sasuke's body, the unspoken words that hung between them like a veil of smoke. The Uchiha joined her on the balcony.

"When the last battle is fought," Sasuke began, his hand reaching out to touch her arm, his fingers a brand against her skin, "when the world is reborn from the ashes of war, you will take your place, by my side."

Ai turned to face him, her eyes a tempest of emotions, her lips parted in question. "Why do you ask this of me, as though I do not have a choice?"

Sasuke's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing in the moonlight. "You are in love with me," he reminded her, as if that was enough reason to tie herself to him forever. She almost laughed as she realised he had never admitted any kind of affection for her. She tilted her head at him, smiling at his naïveté.

"And you?" She questioned. "Do you love me?" Sasuke turned to view the world outside, his unnerving silence infuriating Ai as she waited for the answer.

"For so long, I wasn't sure. I kept insisting I could stay away from you, I could be apart from you," he reached out to hold her hand, "but even I realise now that there was no fooling myself. It is done, I am in love with you." Ai shook her head, her hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of ink. "Don't do that, Love," Sasuke whispered, "don't shake your head at me like you don't feel this too." A wave crashed on rocks in the distance. "You will come with me-"

"Sasuke!" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the night like a blade. She withdrew her hand from his. "You cannot force me into loving you the only way you want to be loved!"

Sasuke's brow furrowed, his lips twisting into a frown. "What does that mean?"

Ai sighed and turned away. "You have to ask me, not tell me."

"Why?" Sasuke's eyes became redder as the girl threw her head back and laughed.

"Because I deserve the right to choose!"

Sasuke's eyes flashed with something dark and desperate, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Is it him?" he asked, his tone raw and vulnerable, "are you still in love with him?"

Ai closed her eyes, her face tilted towards the sky, as if seeking solace in the endless expanse of stars. "It's not that simple," she explained, her voice soft and heavy with sorrow, "Gaara is a part of me, a piece of my past that you cannot ask me to simply cast aside." His love turned to him, a sweet look of understanding in her eye. "But it's more than that, Sasuke. There are forces at work here, greater than you or I. I have a duty, a destiny that I am only beginning to understand."

Sasuke stepped closer, his breath ghosting across her cheek, his Sharingan spinning in the darkness. "But imagine, together, what we could build, what your destiny could be. Let me help you, let me fight beside you for as long as I can."

Ai smiled sadly, her hand reaching up to cup his face, her thumb tracing the curve of his cheekbone. "You have your own path to walk, your own demons to conquer. I cannot ask you to set aside your own destiny for the sake of mine."

"You are my destiny," Sasuke declared fiercely, his forehead pressing against hers.

"I cannot answer you, not yet. Not until the final battle is won, and the will of the gods is made clear."

Sasuke pulled back, his expression a mask of confusion and frustration. "What does the will of the gods have to do with us? You have defied Renai in every step, the gods have no power to come between us."Ai's heart seized up for a moment; Sasuke did not know. The role his brother played in their lives, the greater forces at play here. Could she tell him? What tempest would she unleash if she did so. Her fingers trembling, she reached for his hand, her touch a lifeline in the storm of their emotions. "There is a reason you and I met," she spoke softly as though not to scare Sasuke away. "A greater plan put into place by someone else." His brow furrowed in incomprehension.

"Who?"

Ai took a breath, "It was Itachi," she revealed, her voice barely a whisper, "your brother, who wove the threads of our fate, who guided us to each other's arms."

Sasuke froze, his face a mask of disbelief and dawning horror. "What do you mean?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous, like the rumble of distant thunder. "Itachi is dead, his machinations buried with him."

"Our destinies were spun into existence before the creation of the Earth," Ai pressed on, her fingers tightening around his, her eyes pleading for him to understand. "Your brother is, was, born as Sensō's incarnate."

"The god of war?" Sasuke whispered, his eyes darting around Ai's face, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"It was he who orchestrated our meeting, who saw in us the echoes of the legend of Blood-Love. But his true motives remain hidden, even from me, the incarnate of his lover, Renai." Sasuke's eyes widened, the tomoe of his Sharingan spinning faster, his chakra a maelstrom of rage and confusion. What did this mean?

"Why?" he choked out, his grip on her wrist tightening, his hands shaking with barely contained emotion. "Why would he meddle in our lives?"

Ai's expression softened, her free hand reaching up to brush a lock of hair from his face, her touch a soothing balm against the storm of his thoughts. "The gods have been playing human lives since the dawn of time. They have their own selfish motivations. But with you," she soothed him, "with us? I think, perhaps, it was love," she mused. "A twisted, desperate attempt to give you a chance at happiness- to destroy your family, your home, to leave you devoid of love. Because, as we know, love goes where there is none"

Sasuke pulled away, his head bowed, his shoulders hunched as if under the weight of unseen burdens. "No," he whispered harshly, his voice a ragged edge of pain and denial, "I cannot accept it. My feelings, my choices, they must be my own."

Ai stepped forward, her arms wrapping around him, her cheek pressed against his back, her warmth seeping into his battle-weary bones. "And they are," she assured him,"let Itachi's actions be a catalyst, not a cage. We are still the masters of our own souls," the goddess incarnate smiled as her lover turned to her. "But now you understand," she asked, "why you must let me be free to choose?" He leant down to kiss her and she felt him pour his soul into her, this new found unconditional love he had discovered in himself washed over her.

"I understand.I will wait for you, at the end of the war." They stood together on the balcony as the night wind swirled around them, carrying the whispers of the gods, the whimpers of Shukaku and the echoes of battles yet to come. Tomorrow, they would face the crucible of war, bringing them a step closer to the final reckoning of their fates.

Ooooh, who should Ai choose? Will Gaara still even be a possibility? Who would you choose?

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Let's get this story done in the next few months!