Here we go guys, the last ever chapter of A Demon's Heart.

Blimey, this has been a long run. It has taken me about a year to write this whole thing due to me being prone to writer's block and getting AS Levels and GCSEs out of the way. My friend actually told me that it is quite ironic since there are 12 months in a year, and there are 12 chapters to this story XD

I just really want to say thank you so much for sticking around with this story to the end. It means a hell of a lot to me that you took the time to read this, especially when there were long periods of inactivity on my part. Every time someone followed this story, favourited it or even took the time to write out a review no matter how long or short it was, a huge smile would always adorn my face because I couldn't believe that people actually liked my writing! It was you guys entirely that gave me the motivation and strength I needed to finish this bad boy, so I thank you immensely for that!

Right, let's get on with it before I start crying! XD

Ladies, gents and everyone inbetween, I give you, the last chapter and the epilogue of A Demon's Heart.

Enjoy xx

"This has certainly been a memorable mission." Kaz commented as she folded up her last top. "I just can't believe that we have to go back home now."

"I don't know about you, but I'm planning to come back as soon as I can." I replied, grinning as I sat down on my bed. "There's no way they're keeping me from coming back."

"Oh, I doubt they would." Kaz laughed, tying her bag shut. "I think if you didn't come back within a few weeks or a month, Gaara and your father would probably write a very angry letter to Aritimo-sama."

We both giggled at the idea of that.

"Wow, my father. I still can't get over the thought of that." I sighed, swinging my legs back and forth.

"It was only a few hours ago that you found out, so I'm not surprised." Kaz said.

"Has it seriously only been that long?"

"Weird, huh?"

"Very."

I knock on the door stopped our conversation as Temari stuck her head into our room.

"You guys all packed up yet?"

"Just finished as you came in." I replied standing up.

Temari smiled sadly. "Kami, it's going to be strange not having you lot around."

"You won't be able to miss us for long, we'll be back as soon as we can." Kaz said.

"I hope so. Anyway, since you're finished my brothers and I have invited you and the rest of your team to dinner at a restaurant nearby. Kankuro's gone to pick Teiji and Ichiro up. You ready to come now?"

"I am." Kaz stated, dropping her fit-to-burst bag on the ground. "I suppose Noemi will want to dress up a bit nicer for a certain someone."

"Oh, shut up you." I scowled. "I'm fine as I am. Let's go!"

"Oh, Ichiro-sensei do we have to go?" Teiji moaned, rubbing his protruding stomach. "Can we at least stay another week or so?"

"You'll eat this restaurant out within that time, so no." Ichiro-sensei laughed, taking a sip of his drink.

"But it tastes so good!"

We all laughed at Teiji, our voices filling up the nearly empty restaurant. We'd finished our food a while ago, but since there was hardly anyone else here we thought it couldn't hurt to stay a while longer. We chatted until the sun began to set and then Ichiro-sensei said we needed to get a good night's sleep before we travelled back tomorrow, so we packed up and left whilst leaving the waiter a hefty tip. The temperature had dropped alarmingly when we stepped outside, so we walked briskly back to try and keep ourselves warm. Gaara and I walked ahead of the others who were struggling to walk with the amount of food they ate.

"I'm sorry that you couldn't see your father tonight." Gaara said. "Prisoner's aren't allowed to have any visitors after a certain time."

I shrugged, wrapping my arms around myself. "It's okay, Baki said I could say goodbye to him briefly tomorrow before I left."

Gaara smiled. "That's good."

We soon parted ways and I watched the three siblings as they trudged away into the darkness. Kaz came and stood by my side.

"I'm surprised he didn't say anything." She sighed in annoyance.

"Who?" I asked.

She nudged me in the side. "Gaara of course! I suppose that there still is tomorrow morning before we leave, but I seriously thought that he would have said something or done something!"

"You need to stop reading all those cliché romance books." I chuckled.

"But didn't you want him to say something? Anything?"

I turned back to see the siblings, but they had disappeared from sight.

"...Maybe."

I shivered once more and pulled my duvet closer to myself, trying to conserve my body heat. I had no idea it would be this cold during the night in Suna when I packed for this mission, so I had chucked in my favourite pyjamas: a over-sized grey t-shirt and a pair of stripy shorts. I groaned and rolled over to face my window, peering out of my duvet cocoon. I suddenly remembered I'd packed a pair of extra fluffy socks for comfort and jumped out of my bed, instantaneously regretting it.

"Fuck, it's freezing!"

Cursing, I rushed over to my bag and fished out my socks before yanking them onto my numbingly cold feet. I turned around to head back to my cosy bed when I saw a silhouette standing in front of the window. Squealing, I fell back onto my butt.

"Gaara?" I hissed as the intruder stepped forward. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't you sleep?" He asked, completely ignoring my question. I rolled my eyes and stood up, tugging at my top. Thank God I was still wearing my bra.

"No." I sighed, rubbing my arms to try and warm them up. I glanced over to where Kaz was sleeping in case she'd woken up, but she was still oblivious to the world. Gaara and I stood awkwardly for a moment before he gestured to the window.

"I want to show you something." Gaara stated. "It's something you can only see at night."

Nerves erupted in my stomach and I swallowed. "What is it?"

He suddenly smiled. "It's a surprise."

I instantly melted at the sight of his smile and found myself nodding before slowly walking towards him. He hesitantly wrapped an arm around my waist before holding his free hand in a jutsu hand seal, and I felt the ground leave our feet for a minute before we were lost in a whirl of sand.

"This is beautiful." I breathed, staring up above me. Gaara had taken me to the roof of the Kazekage building and we were currently star-gazing. "I've never seen so many stars in my life."

"I come here often when Shukaku bothers me." Gaara said, crossing his legs. "It calms me."

"I can see why." I replied, laying down next to him with my arms behind my head. Stars shone like little jewels in the blackness, each one twinkling with such intensity. Being raised in the mountains meant I hardly ever got to see the night sky, with all the clouds surrounding the peaks but every once in a while, my adoptive father would sneak me out and we would sit on the highest peak, counting stars together. Thinking of that memory brought a dull ache to my chest and I sighed. Gaara looked over at me.

"Are you alright?" He asked. I shrugged and sat up, wrapping my arms around my knees.

"Doing this brings back memories of him from when I was younger." I admitted. "It's one of the few things I have left of him." Even though I had found my biological father, I still missed my adoptive father.

"Oh, I see."

I looked out over the village and smiled slightly. "No offence, but I used to hate this place."

Gaara stared at me in shock. "Why?"

"My adoptive father was killed by Suna shinnobi, so for many years I held a grudge against this village. But, I've come to realised that this village isn't so bad after all, even if I haven't been here that long."

"What made you change your mind?"

I rested my chin on my knees. "You."

I think Gaara almost fell over backwards with shock. I giggled and turned to look at his baffled face.

"You care so much for your village, and all of the villagers respect and love you for that. Just knowing that you're here makes them feel safe and happy in Suna." I explained, remembering my conversation with Matsuri and Sari. "I used to think that all Suna shinobi were, well, bastards but seeing you how you've changed into who you are today made me realise that anyone can change." I suddenly laughed and hid my face in my knees, embarrassed. "Oh God, I sound like a right idiot now."

I felt a pair of hands cup my cheeks and gently push my head up to see Gaara sitting directly opposite me and staring intently at me.

"You're not idiotic at all." He declared, tucking a strand of loose hair behind my ear. "You sound like an incredibly strong person, who has the willingness to forgive those who hurt them. You don't find many people like yourself around these days, which makes you unbelievably special and that's what I love most about you."

My throat constricted at those last few words. "W-what..."

"Temari made me realise something the other day." He continued, moving his hands down so they rested on mine. "Whenever I see you, my heart starts aching and I realised that what I was feeling was a different kind of love. I love my siblings and my friends because I want to protect them, but with you, it's something more. It's like I want to be with you, to hold your hand when you're hurting, to smile with you when you're happy and most importantly, to have you in my life."

Tears rolled down my cheeks and my heart was fit to burst with happiness. Gaara frowned at my tears and clutched my hands in concern.

"Did I say something wrong?"

I laughed and shook my head. "No, you did completely the opposite. That was the most beautiful and heart-warming thing anyone has ever said to me before." I looked at his tattoo on his head, and I carefully traced the lines with my index finger. Moving my line of sight down to meet his gaze, I crossed my legs in front of me and leaned forward, softly capturing his lips with mine.

Once Gaara had loved no one but himself, but with the help of this friends and family, he was free of his cage and had learned to love again.

And I vowed to be there every step of the way.

I can't believe I'm crying right now.

Love you guys 3