Author's note: This is the last chapter…cries… I can't believe we're at the end of the story. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, you've inspired me! So…here goes… the final chapter…

The injuries Naoko had sustained from the attack had healed quickly, although she'd had to use crutches to help her walk for a couple of months afterwards, much to her annoyance. There was a scar on her stomach from where Tokugawa's blade had pierced her body. It served as a permanent reminder of her fight for liberation.

It was now six months since the attack, and of course, she had remained in Suna with Gaara. At first, Naoko had struggled to overcome her anxiety. Even though she was now safe, a lifetime of running from danger would be a difficult habit to break. For a while, the engineer had developed a comical habit of obsessively dismantling and reassembling the television set in the Sabaku's living room in order to calm herself. That is, until Gaara hid her toolkit. It took time, but slowly it dawned on Naoko that she was free. She was free to go where she pleased and do as she pleased, she could stay in Suna without having to fear death. It was a freedom she'd never experienced before, and at first she couldn't quite believe it, but now she was able to plan the life that she wanted to live. She was free to choose her own fate.

As for Gaara, for the first time in his life, he was at peace. Of course, life with the endlessly perplexing and animated Naoko was anything but peaceful, but he was happy and content. He had someone who needed him. He'd found someone to love, who loved him. All of the horrors of his life seemed insignificant now, and he could lay the past to rest. He no longer awoke to a cold, indifferent world, stifled by his own empty, lonely existence. Now, he had someone to serve and protect, someone who cared about him, with whom he could share his deepest dreams. Whatever the future would bring, good or bad, he had Naoko by his side. They would face the future together.

Naoko had continued her work as an engineer, and was now the head of a squad of specialist technicians and artisans. Yuki, of course, being Naoko's best friend and work partner, was one of them. The team was based in Suna, but they were often hired by other nations. Due to the extra wealth and trade that the team was bringing, Suna's prosperity was increasing rapidly. In recent weeks, Naoko had been working on a complete Suna database and technology revamp. Suna was now at the forefront of technology and was the envy of other shinobi nations. This, and Gaara's leadership, led the nation into a period of peace and economic stability, and the villagers hailed Gaara as the greatest Kazekage in Suna's history.

…

Naoko was slouched at the kitchen table, absent-mindedly munching on an apple. Her relaxed mind flitted from one thought to another. She pondered her day's work. One of the new mechanisms she had created had somehow short-circuited and partially blown itself up. Naoko and Yuki were baffled by the problem, but there was time to check it out again tomorrow. Next, she thought about her best friend. Yuki had gradually managed to get over her fear of Gaara (lol), and she was eternally grateful to him for protecting Naoko from the Saito clan. Naoko grinned to herself remembering how Yuki used to practically have a seizure when Gaara so much as spoke. Naoko snapped out of her thoughts, hearing a violent slurp from beside her. She turned to see Kankuro, face submerged in a bowl of miso soup.

"Kankuro dear, you're supposed to eat it, not inhale it" she sighed at the hapless Sabaku.

He rose his head from the bowl to reveal a big, silly grin. As if he wasn't dopey enough half of the time, food always made him even more docile. Naoko giggled and ruffled his hair affectionately as he set back to work on the soup. She stood up and set off to find Gaara. He was out on the balcony, which is where he always went to think when there was something on his mind. She strolled to the glass door that led outside before silently halting in the doorway to watch him.

The sun was fluorescent as it set behind the silhouette of the horizon. Beams of hazy, mellow light stretched out across the early evening sky, drenching everything orange-pink. A few small clouds drifted along aimlessly like blithe, opportunistic travelers who didn't mind being lost. With tentative acceleration, the farthest reaches of the western sky began to transform into a perfect cerulean blue, foretelling an imminent, gentle nightfall. Gaara was stood at the wall at the edge of the balcony with his back to her, looking out over the tranquil village below. He was perfectly still and deep in thought. Standing there in the soft glow of the sunset, he looked like he was part of a painting. The whole scene looked like the masterpiece of an artist. Naoko smiled fondly.

"What is it, Naoko?" Gaara said softly.

Naoko jumped at his words. She didn't think he'd noticed her.

"Damn, how do you do that? I didn't make a sound!" she chuckled, taking light, bare-footed steps over to him.

She skipped up beside him and smiled brightly. He responded with a small smile of his own, a little more reserved. He took her hand and gazed deeply into her eyes for a few seconds, before returning his attention to the sunset. He seemed to be contemplating something, and from the conflicted look of uncertainty that Naoko saw in his eyes, he was evidently trying to make a decision of some sort.

"What's on your mind, Tiger?" she asked gently, a little concerned.

He instantly opened his mouth to speak but then stopped, sighing heavily. He made no other attempts to say what was on his mind, so Naoko didn't press him. He'll tell me when he's ready, she decided. They continued to stand together, hand in hand, looking at the view in a comfortable silence.

Gaara fought with himself inwardly. He'd been thinking about this for a while now, but so far, he just hadn't been able to do it. There was something about it that scared him a little: the last thing he wanted was to be rejected. His mind instantly opposed this thought. Don't be stupid, he told himself, Naoko wouldn't reject me, I know she wouldn't. But still, he couldn't help being wary. To be truthful, he was a nervous wreck.

Naoko leaned her head against Gaara's upper arm. She brought her free hand up and fiddled with the sleeve of his t-shirt. The western sky was turning a deeper shade of azure every minute as the twilight set in rapidly. The dusk air was cooling gradually, and it was fresh and brisk against Naoko's skin. Her ebony hair shifted delicately in the soft breeze. In fact, the breeze was so slight, it was hardly a breeze at all; it was more like a gentle movement of air. One small edge of the sun peeped out over the horizon, and its final rays bathed them both in luminous light.

"Marry me"

Naoko nearly choked on her tongue. Either that or her heart had just catapulted itself into her throat, due to sheer shock. His words were unexpected, to say the least…she was completely dumbfounded. She opened her mouth in silent exclamation and looked at him. He stood calmly, still watching the sunset, as if nothing had happened. The only thing that betrayed the nervousness behind the cool attitude was the fact that he was squeezing Naoko's hand ever so slightly tighter than usual.

"Wha…?" was Naoko's eloquent response.

He turned to her, finally fixing his piercing sea-green eyes on her astonished emerald-coloured ones. If it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation, he probably would have laughed at the look of pure, adorable shock on her face. He repeated his words, more confidently this time.

"Marry me" he said firmly, in a smooth voice. He kept his eyes locked on hers intensely, as if trying to stare down his own nerves.

Naoko managed to compose herself quickly, although her heart was still thudding and bouncing around like a deranged kangaroo. She giggled at the fierce look he was giving her, but she could see desperation and determination in his eyes too, as well as fear.

"Was that a question or an order?" she joked.

He frowned cutely. She brought her hands up to rest on his shoulder blades and stared at him intently. Gaara waited for her answer. Her silence only worsened his tension. Finally, she spoke.

"Gaara…Of course I'll marry you…I want nothing more than to be with you for the rest of my life." It came out in a whisper.

Gaara's heart leapt at her words. A small, fleeting smile caressed his lips victoriously. Naoko could feel tears stinging her eyes as she looked at the man she loved. But God above, there was no way she was about to let herself go all soppy and start crying. Gaara pulled her close. His mouth coaxed hers into a slow, heartfelt kiss. Naoko felt herself melting against his soft, warm lips. They held each other tenderly. After a while, Gaara broke the kiss.

"But don't you dare even think about getting drunk at the wedding. I'm not carrying you up 8 flights of stairs again" he said blankly.

Naoko cracked up laughing.

"And what if I do? What are you going to do about it, sonny boy?" she teased.

He arched a brow at the challenge his fiancée had just issued.

"What am I going to do about it?" he smirked.

Naoko felt a familiar feeling. Before she remembered what it was, she was lifted 5 meters into the air. She looked down at the lower half of her body, knowing automatically what she'd see there. Sand.

He looked up at her cockily. A slight grin rested playfully on his lips.

"Oh god, not again" Naoko muttered. She gulped nervously and looked down over the balcony.

"GAARA PUT ME DOWN DAMMIT!!"

The End

Authors note: And that's it folks! I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Please leave a final review!!

By the way, THE SEQUEL IS NOW ONLINE!! It is called 'Shiraha'. If you liked this story, then I can assure you that Shiraha is a hundred times better :D Thanks again everyone.