Kani raised and eyebrow and looked at him. "What are you talking about?"

"It was my fault.." He looked away. "I got on your bad side.."

Kani was silent for a moment, and then realization hit. "Y-you mean..." She stared at him, her eyes wide with panic. She stummbled backwards and slipped through his desk. "Oh god...oh my god I didn't..."

"Do not panic, Kani." He looked at her again, frowning. "I am the one to blame, for you are the one who is dead."

Kani shook her head. "Oh my god." If she were alive right now, she'd have trouble breathing.

"Calm down." He stared at her. "It is too late now, there is nothing you can do. There is no use in panicing."

Kani looked up at him. "It doesn't matter! How could I!? I don't understand..." her voice trailed off.

"I lead you to do it." He inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled, trying not to bring any more pain upon himself. "So did Shukaku.. but.. he took it further than I did.."

Kani bit her lip and stared at the floor. "It doesn't matter. I still hurt you and I can't forgive myself for that..."

"How do you think I feel.." He glared at the floor, clutching his chest again. "I led our battle on.. I hurt you... but even worse.. I couldn't stop Shukaku from killing you. Do you think I could ever forgive myself for that? It's just another one to add on the list!"

He started coughing again, merely spitting the blood on the floor in front of him.

Kani looked up at him. "W-what?' She was confused, deeply confused. She didn't remember how she died and now... "Shukaku killed me?"

"Yes.." He coughed, wiping the blood from his chin. "Shukaku killed you.. and three villagers on his way back to Suna.. I wasn't strong enough to stop him.. it was almost a day later when I got control back, but too late.. if I had only got control back before he killed you.. then our places would have been switched.. but I don't know if that would have been better for you.."

Kani looked up at him, alarmed. "No!" she screamed. She took a step towards him. "NO! Don't EVER say that! You're not allowed to die! No no no no no!! Never! I'd rather be dead then have you dead. Besides, I don't have any reason to live really. Except-" She shook her head. "No. Never mind." She looked up at Gaara. "You're the Kazekage! You can't die!"

"Kani.. don't be so oblivious.." He smiled, shaking his head slightly. "I'm going to die sooner or later. It would have been better for me to die, for my existence will only bring misfortune the longer I live. If the Akatsuki gets their hands on Shukaku, that is one step further for them. It is a settled fate, it will not be changed."

"It doesn't matter!" she exclaimed. Then she stopped, trying to get her thoughts in order. "The Akatsuki won't get you. We have too many people working against them for them to prevail. You're not going to die Gaara, I promise you that. I know that you will die eventually, but from natural causes. Until then, you can live a long - as happy as you make it- life. You have your people to think about." She stopped, not knowing what else to add. She really should tell him about Raku...but now wasn't the time.