At the End of the World

"Somnam Jutsu!"

The world went silent.

The harsh sun faded to the familiar darkness; warm, comforting, hidden from the garish light that assaulted their senses.

If there was one thing they shared, when all was stripped away, it was this darkness. They were both creatures of night and the light didn't become them.

Rin pulled her way through the consciousness that was as well known to her as her own. This was the mind that welcomed her, that felt her touch when the world was intent on driving them apart.

There was one other mind that opened to her so easily, but she wouldn't think about him now. Now, she was focused on the man standing in the empty space she remembered, but no one, beast or child, surrounded him this time.

He was completely alone.

Her steps echoed in the empty room. "Gaara?"

His Kazekage regalia was cast aside, leaving him in the familiar red coat she came to know well, even trying it on once, much to his delight when it hugged her curves in ways he never expected.

Gaara stood with his hands covering his face, the anguish he felt coming off him in dark waves.

It tasted like poison.

She came to stand beside him, ignoring the sour flavor of anxiety and anger. "Gaara."

He flinched at her voice but didn't remove his hands.

Rin reached up to touch him and her hand was stopped by the mental barrier he threw up.

She could hear his thoughts echoing around them like ghostly whispers. "I did this to her. I'm the cause of her suffering. I saw her face. I saw her face. I saw her face. She's hurting because of me. I'm a monster. Monster. Monster. Monster. Mon…"

"Shhh."

His thoughts stammered as a presence he knew entered his space. "Rin?"

"Gaara. I'm here."

He was blind. He knew she was there, but he couldn't lower his hands to see her. The shame was too much.

How could he face her again, after having her entire past thrown out into the open like that? They called her "whore," his most precious treasure in this world. How could he forgive them? How could she forgive him?

His stomach twisted in fresh knots.

Rin pressed her hands against the barrier he unknowingly threw up and rested her head against it, so close and yet so far from her beloved.

"Gaara, don't block me out like this. Let me in."

"No"

"Please."

"Rin."

"Look at me."

"I can't."

She sighed, nuzzling herself against the barrier that separated them. "You can't stay like this, Gaara. Everyone is waiting."

He was silent.

Rin took a breath and ignored the faces that must have been staring at them from the outside.

Right here, right now, it was just the two of them and that's all that mattered.

She slid down the space and sat with her back to him. "You know, the desert isn't as bad as I once thought."

He said nothing, but she could tell he was listening; the walls around them fluctuated whenever she spoke.

"Remember when I first showed up here? I was a mess," she laughed, "I'd never even been outside the Sound before and I was supposed to cross the desert by myself? It seemed impossible."

He didn't reply, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw him slide down so that his back was to her as well, the invisible barrier cold between them.

Rin held up her hands to inspect them. "I was so scared, I actually turned back at least four times."

The walls fluctuated again, darkening.

She smiled softly. "Yep. I was scared, but not for the reason you're thinking. I was afraid of failure, not of you."

The walls lightened again.

"Remember how disheveled I looked? I thought the council was going to throw me out right then and there."

He stiffened behind her.

Rin nodded. "Yeah, they weren't a fan of me then either, why should they be now? I remember them accusing me of being an assassin or some nonsense. As if I would ever stand a chance against you. What ridiculous thinking, am I right?"

Gaara didn't reply.

Rin recalled her aggravated stance, how she turned on her heel. "That was the last straw for me. I was going to turn around and leave, forget the Sand as nothing more than a bad memory."

She tilted her head towards him. "But then I saw you."

Gaara held his breath, her sweet voice tearing away at the barriers he'd thrown up around himself.

Rin closed her eyes, summoning up his image that first day. "You were so tired. I'd never seen eyes so worn in my life and, considering what I grew up with, that's saying something. You looked at me and I knew I couldn't go anywhere. I wouldn't leave you like that."

Gaara remembered.

How could he forget the first time he saw his desert rose?

In her mind she was a disheveled mess, in his, she was a comet that came into his life with all the iridescent radiance of the stars on a summer night.

She shined so much brighter than anything he'd ever known or would ever know again and now he was addicted to that light.

Rin smiled. "How could I have known that you would take me on the journey of a lifetime or that you would mean more to me than anything in the world? How could I have known I would ever be lucky enough to call you mine?"

Finally, his voice joined hers. "I've ruined your life."

"What?"

Gaara gave a shuttering sigh. "You trusted me with the secret of your past."

"You kept it."

"I need you to know, I never authorized any investigation. I would never…"

She turned around and faced him, pressing her hand against the thin barrier separating them. "I never even considered it."

"You didn't?"

Rin's hand pulled away and gently smacked the barrier by his head. "Dummy."

His green eyes searched her face. "How?"

"Hm?"

"How can you trust me so easily? How could you not suspect me of this terrible thing?"

Rin shook her head, her smile patient and warm. "Because I know you, my heart. You would never do something like that. You would never shame me that way. You would never expose me as a whore of the Sound."

The walls around them darkened as he looked down. "No words can express my regret. I… I'm…"

"As wonderful to me as you've ever been."

His voice was pained. "Rin…"

"They were going to find out eventually. I knew that. Secrets never stay secret when you live in the light. You should know that better than anyone."

"Yes, but…"

"Shh. It's all right."

"It's not. How can it be?"

"Kiss me and find out."

Gaara looked up and sighed, allowing the barrier to drop between them.

The familiar cool of his skin felt heavenly against her hands, as she gently caressed his face. "Silly man."

He closed his eyes at her warmth. "Rin. I can't."

"Kiss me."

It didn't feel like he should. He didn't deserve the happiness she brought.

The kindness in her embrace hurt him in ways he didn't know but craved every second she was away from him.

They found each other in his darkness, warm honey filling his veins as he inhaled her scent.

Even on the mental plane, he knew every angle, every small breath, the brush of her cheek or the spark of her laughter. She was known to him and he was known to her.

Rin. His Rin. The light of his life.

The deep kiss gave way to several little pecks, as she trailed up his cheek, his closed eyes, resting her forehead against his and interlocking their hands. "We need to leave this place."

"Hm?" His voice was groggy, dizzy from the love she gave him.

"Everyone is worried. You've fought too long and too hard to earn the trust of your people. I'm not going to let it be ruined on my behalf."

His eyes opened, clarity filling him. "Oh… oh god. I've shown them such an ugly side of me."

"They've seen worse."

"I've shamed myself."

"You did it for me. But, as always, you've faced your own darkness and you will defeat it again."

He stood up, pulling her with him and lifted her hand to his lips. "We will face it together."

Rin's smile was bright. "Ready?"

"Let's go."

The world came shooting back with dizzying clarity; the heat of the mid-day sun, the scent of dust and hot winds, the sting of the sand's fury across her face.

Rin slid her hand down from Gaara's forehead and rested it on his face, watching him as he became aware of his surroundings.

The devastation his anger brought down was everywhere.

It could be seen in the stones surrounding them, worn smooth from the storm that came out of nowhere. It could be seen in the darkened sky that was now clearing back to its blinding azure, as the sand settled back to its home.

And it could be seen in the fear of his people, who cowered behind their hiding places.

Gaara swallowed, the shame a boulder in his throat. "Oh no."

Rin's hands came to his, her thumb stroking the line of his index finger. "Deep breaths, my love."

He nodded, opening his mouth to speak, but finding his voice lodged in his throat.

Rin tugged on his hand. "Can you release me first?"

Gaara's eyes turned to her legs and saw, with horror, that the sand had completely engulfed her from the waist down. "I'm so sorry!"

It fell away in a cascade and she moved freely again. "That's much better."

His people peeked out from behind the large stones, unsure of what they would find, their fear pervading the air.

Gaara winced. "What do I even say?"

"Speak from the heart and they will feel it."

He looked to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close to him. "Yes."

Rin rested her head on his shoulder, willing him whatever strength she had.

The Kazekage swallowed and spoke so all could hear. "People of the Sand. My people…. my family…"

There was a collective breath as he continued. "I apologize for my anger."

They listened, albeit hesitantly.

Gaara's hand shook around Rin's waist. "You should never see that side of me. We all know it's there, though we pretend it isn't. It's the face our enemies see. The face that protects this village, but should never be used against it. I was wrong to show you that face and I'm deeply sorry."

The noble families came out from behind the rocks, like children called back to the arms of their father after a fierce scolding.

Gaara gave a deep bow. "Please, forgive me for frightening you and disrupting this ceremony."

They came closer, their steps unsure, but still driving them forward.

This was the effect the Kazekage had on his village.

Rin studied the faces of her competitors and was surprised at the expressions she found.

Kumi was as spunky as ever, though her face had paled. It had been years since the might of her leader was displayed in this manner and while it was frightening, the Houki valued strength over anything else.

This was a stark reminder of why they were feared in the world.

Mai, did not share this sentiment.

Her kohl-lined eyes were smudged, the tears she'd shed evident in the two twin trails down her face.

Whether those tears were from fear or something else, Rin wasn't sure.

Gaara squeezed her waist tighter. "However, I will not apologize for the outrage I expressed on behalf of Ms. Ito. That insult still stands."

Rin turned her face towards the man she loved. "Gaara. It's fine."

"It isn't. It will never be acceptable to speak to you like that. Not while you are in our village and certainly not when you are at my side."

His voice raised again so the village could hear him. "The Cleansing is over. This farce will no longer continue. I played along to satisfy the will of the council and of the noble families, but no more. If Ms. Ito will not be respected, I will not respect the outcome of this ceremony. That is my decision as Kazekage and it will be honored."

"Lord Kazekage."

All eyes turned to the eldest member of the council.

Rin's breath caught, as she watched Kaba approach, her stance regal despite the assault that just took place.

She stopped in the middle of the stone face, staring the couple down, her eyes clear, her mouth a set line.

Gaara regarded her. "Councilwoman."

Kaba's hands came to her sides, standing as still as a statue and Rin could see the pride in her stance that came from birth and from title. "This council has something to say to Ms. Ito."

His hand was strong as he placed himself in front of her, ready to intervene as if anything else could be brought against the love of his life. "Proceed. Carefully."

She nodded. "Ms. Ito. It's no secret how you've been received by this council."

Rin offered nothing, though a stream of sarcastic comments begged to escape her.

Kaba watched her reactions with a level head. "You were seen first as a threat, then as a distraction and, finally, as unacceptable of our standards. The Cleansing was an opportunity for you to prove yourself, if such a thing were even possible."

Her eyes came to the councilman who instigated the upset, who was currently still hiding behind a large boulder. "And it has done just that."

There was a collective gasp, Rin included.

Kaba studied the pair, clinging to each other as if they were the only lifelines left in this world.

She was held that way once.

Kafu's face came to her mind and she bit back the unauthorized tears that threatened to make themselves known.

"Ms. Ito, please approach this council."