Remembered Light (Naruto FanFic)

Gaara

I didn't bother to turn when I heard his feet shuffle across the rooftop, instead remaining standing, wings half extended in order to feel the breeze brush through my feathers.

"I'm here," Gaara finally said after a long moment. His voice sounded raspier than usual, almost.. choked. "What do you want?"

I hummed, tilting my head back to watch the stars. "There's going to be a war," I murmured.

"I'm aware." And now his voice was raspy with exhaustion, with strain, with worry. "Why did you want to see me?"

Finally I turned, eyes drawn to his. Even though I was barely shorter than him, he suddenly seemed so small, so tired, under the pressure of all the nations' shinobi. "People die in war."

He seemed to understand where I was going, but didn't encourage me. "People die in life."

I nodded. "But I just want... look, can I sing you a song?"

He hesitated, looking as though he wanted to run away, but eventually nodded. I quirked my mouth into something that resembled a smile before beginning.

"Missing"

I threw your picture in the fire
I watched you melt away
You turned to smoke, you burned my eyes
But I couldn't escape
My love for you remains
So why was I afraid?

When you were next to me,
Why didn't I tell you?
You were so good to me
Why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
And take back everything I put you through?
Why didn't I tell you?

They said we never would survive
And I believed the lies
And then their words were verified
When I replaced my heart for your demise
But you were always on the side

When you were next to me,
Why didn't I tell you?
You were so good to me
Why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
And take back everything I put you through?
Why didn't I tell you?

I love the way you understand,
The way you love,
The way you were when no one was looking
That you were beautiful and you were worth it all
You were everything I need
You captured my attention,
Did I mention I think you're beautiful, darling?
If I could tell you now,
I'd tell you how the world is dark now that you're missing
Now that you're missing

When you were next to me,
Why didn't I tell you?
You were so good to me
And why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
And take back everything I put you through?
Why didn't I tell you?

I love the way you understand,
The way you love,
The way you were
Why didn't I tell you?
That you were beautiful
And you were worth it all
So why didn't I tell you?
You captured my attention, did I mention?
So why didn't I tell you?
That you were beautiful
That you were worth it all
So why didn't I tell you?

If I could tell you now
I'd say I love you

Gaara was silent for a long moment after the song was over. I watched him closely before opening my mouth to speak. "I understand why you did it," I finally told him. "I do. You were only trying to do what was best for me."

Gaara blinked, and a single tear slipped down his cheek. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "I am, too. We both messed up. We're just a couple of kids trying to figure this out. We're bound to make mistakes. And I want..." I clenched my song book tightly before holding it out towards him. "Just in case. If anything happens. Just in case."

He reached out, taking the book from my hands, cool fingers brushing mine. We were close, now, close enough that I could reach out and touch his face. He took a half step forward, and before he could close the distance any further I was pulling him in for a crushing hug. "God, I love you, Gaara."

"I love you too, Keira," he murmured, the words coming out sounding almost like a sob.

I pulled away suddenly. "But don't you ever decide that you know what's better for me than I do!" Gaara smiled softly, completely disregarding my harsh tone. 

"Never," he promised.

And when he kissed me, I almost believed that everything was going to be okay.