Resolution

"18, something you'd like to say?"

Her face turned so that she was looking into his eyes, the deep well of her gaze holding him. "Why are you doing this?"

The question was so small and innocent, it caught him off-guard. "It's not your place to question why I do things."

Rin's face was sad as she spoke. "You're getting your way, aren't you? Wasn't it the original plan for me to be exactly where I am? Gaara trusts me. A member of the Sound is at his side. So... why are you pushing against this? Why do you want to take me home?"

He didn't know how to answer her.

Gaara's fury hadn't stilled, the sand circulating around him like a hive of angry bees. "Take your hands off her."

Rin raised her hand, holding him there, her eyes still fixing Orochimaru in their wake.

She wasn't more powerful than him.

Though a master of her craft, he held strength she couldn't hope to match, but there was something in him that stayed where he was, listening to her lulling words.

A small chink in his armor.

"Rin."

He released her from his hold and she turned to face him, her voice soft and pleading. "What's the real reason, my Lord, that you don't want to let me go?"

His mouth opened to say something, but closed, amber eyes tracing her expression.

Rin took his hand in hers, her thumb stroking it. "It's all right. You can tell me."

Orochimaru lost himself in the room, a surprising feat, considering the present company. "I don't want to lose. I've already lost enough. The Leaf, the Uchiha line, my standing in the Sannin. I don't want to lose to the Sand too."

Gaara stayed where he was, once again helpless in the danger she took on. He wondered if there would come a time when Rin would actually need him and not take on her fears by herself?

While such a thought wasn't helpful now, it filled him, as he watched the pair, confused at the relationship between them.

Rin squeezed his hand. "You aren't losing anything. This isn't about your strength or your claim."

Orochimaru tried to look away from her eyes, a small part of him knowing she was using her abilities on him, but the rest couldn't be accredited to her.

He was held there by nothing besides himself, his voice uncommonly soft. "I knew he'd fall in love with you. I counted on that. I didn't expect you to fall with him."

There it was, laid plain for both of them to see.

Rin released one of his hands, so that she could gently take hold of a strand of his long hair, twisting it around her fingers. "I have though. I love him."

Gaara's jaw dropped.

He wanted so badly to hear those words out loud, even if it were said in this awful context.

Orochimaru's expression shifted to several different emotions, as if he wasn't sure which one to land on.

Rin fought hard not to lose him.

In a final act of desperation, she lowered him into the waiting chair and herself onto her knees.

Her hands came to his arm, so that she was beneath him, her voice pleading. "Please, my Lord, let me have something in this life. The only thing I've ever truly wanted. Have I not lived to serve you?"

"You won't be serving me anymore. You were made for me."

Rin's fingers came to hold his hand. "The Sound has grown from the lab you made me in. We're a legitimate village now. Under your leadership, we're thriving. You haven't lost anything; you've evolved and isn't that what you value so much? Evolving into something better?"

His lips parted slightly, the idea fascinating to him.

She brought his hand to her cheek. "Please, let me have this. Set your Sparrow free. If not, there's nothing you'll be able to do to get me to sing for you again. I won't be able to live, now that I've known my own kind of love. Show the world how far you've come and set me free."

The silence was thick and heavy, the evidence of his conflicting thoughts crashing on his face.

His eyes turned to Gaara, who was still standing at the ready, sand circulating around his body in a dark cloud.

"Will he make you happy?"

"He already has."

Then, surprising them both, Orochimaru stood, pulling her up with him.

He walked her over to where Gaara was waiting, sizing the Kazekage up in his snake-like eyes. "It appears my Sparrow has found a new perch."

His cold hands squeezed Rin's and handed her over to Gaara. "Take her."

Rin looked from Gaara's stunned face, to her creator. "My Lord...really?"

The expression he made dropped her stomach; he looked defeated, like he'd lost his favorite toy.

In some ways, he had.

"Yes. I'll see myself back to the Sound tonight. I don't anticipate much rest in my future."

His steps led him away from them, but not before Rin broke free from Gaara.

She ran in front of Orochimaru and wrapped her arms around his frigid body, her face in his chest. "Thank you."

He didn't hold her back.

Instead, his took himself out of her grasp and gently turned her back to Gaara. "Your new master is waiting. Goodbye... Rin."

And just like that, he was gone, without a word.

The room felt empty and yet, roaring at the same time.

Rin turned to look at Gaara, uncertain of what she should say or how to react. Her knees gave out from under her.

"Rin!"

Gaara rushed over and held her to himself. "Are you alright?"

She clutched onto his overcoat, fingers shaking. "Yes. I think I am."

His chin rested on the top of her head, as his arms encircled her. "I'm so glad."

"Me too."

Her eyes turned towards the door, confused at the sadness she felt for her abuser's departure and wondering if this really were the last, they'd hear from him?

Gaara's hands came to her face, holding it and kissing the top of her head. "You were a sight to behold."

Rin gave a breathy laugh. "I didn't know what I was doing. I just knew I didn't want a war over me."

The Kazekage stood, offering her a hand up. "I didn't want one either, but if that's what it took to save you, I was prepared. You, once again, proved you don't need anyone to fight for you."

She rested her head against his chest, her arms coming around him. "No, I don't need you to fight for me, Gaara."

Her lips came to his with one soft kiss. "But, I love the idea of you fighting with me. Together."

He smiled, brushing her newly released hair behind her shoulders. "I can do that."

His fingers wrapped around the light curls and a sudden impulse rushed through him. "Now, I believe you mentioned hot springs before?"

"I did."

Gaara's voice lowered into a sexy chuckle. "This has been a very stressful day. I think we both need a bath."