Harau, Hitomi, Gaara, Shukaku

Recap

"Yeah. Let's do this." He stood up and we headed to a training ground.

Maybe I had been wrong to block people out of my life. I even pushed away Sasuke, but maybe, just maybe I can finally open up completely.

Thank you, Gaara.

End of Recap

We both laid down on the ground completely exhausted. The had barely made its way through the sky, and I could tell the meeting Sensei called was approaching.

"I have a meeting in 15 minutes, so how about we continue this training later."

"Okay, I suppose we have been out here for a while. I will find you after your meeting." Garra turned and left, leaving me to teleport home. I changed my bandages, throw on a replica of yesterday's outfit. After finding something to eat, I teleported to the bridge Kakashi had asked us to meet at.

It had been a couple of hours since the scheduled meeting time. Sakura sighed for about the hundredth time since we all got here.

"Hey!! Hey!! Hey!! How can this be allowed? Why does that person ask us to meet and then make us wait?!!"

"Yeah!!! Yeah!!! Sakura-chan is right!!!" Naruto agreed enthusiastically.

I could feel Harau, My inner demon, waking up.

'Can I kill them? Please, I would be doing all of us a favor.'

"You would, but we would both regret it later."

'Fine, but make them shut up.'

"What about the feelings of a young girl who overslept and didn't have time to blow dry her hair!!!" Sakura continued, working off the energy Naruto was giving.

"Yeah, yeah!!! I overslept too!!! So I didn't wash my face and brush my teeth!!!" Naruto exclaimed once again.

'Gross,' Harau said.

"Oh, Harau. It's Naruto, what did you expect?"

'Even so, he didn't have to announce it.'

"I definitely agree."

"Why does everything have to be so intense with them..." Sasuke sounded nearly ready to strangle them.

"That's... Nasty..."

"Hehe." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed

"Morning people!! Today, I got lost on the road of life.

"Yeah, right!!! Liar!!! Apologize," Sakura and Naruto yelled, causing my pounding head to hurt even more.

"Here are your applications for the chunin exams." Kakashi Sensei said, handing us our papers.

"Kakashi sensei!! I love you!!" Naruto exclaimed, giving Kakashi Sensei a hug.

"Hey, stop, let go with me... This is just a nomination. Whether to take the exam is up to each of you. Those who wish to take it should sign those papers and turn them in at room 301 by 4 p.m. tomorrow. That is all." Then Kakashi Sensei disappeared in a puff of smoke. Out of nowhere, Naruto started giggling like an idiot. Next to me, Sasuke got a scary look on his face and started to shake. That's when I noticed Sakura lagging behind. When I turned around to look for her, she was standing there staring at the ground. She looked sad. I turned around and walked toward her.

"Hey Sakura," I said, standing in front of her. She jumped startled.

"Yes, Hitomi Chan?" she questioned, looking at me.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just that I'm the weakest one on the team. I can't even beat Naruto. Much less you or Sasuke. I stand no chance of participating in the chunin exams. I could cause the team to lose or I will be the only genin on the team."

"Sakura, we all struggle at times. Some people are better at other things than everyone else. Sasuke is so strong because he wants revenge, that is his only motive. Without it, who knows where he would be. Even though Naruto is strong, he doesn't know it. He doubts himself, and that holds him back. You just need to find your calling. You are amazing at Chakra control. You would make an amazing medical ninja. You just don't have the training the boys push themselves to complete, and that's okay. Don't doubt yourself because you compare yourself to what you see other people doing because those people could be looking up to you. As Kakashi Sensei said, it's optional. If you don't think you are ready, then don't sign up, but don't keep yourself from participating because you believe you are weak. Without you, they wouldn't have been able to complete most of the missions. Don't doubt yourself because you are amazing." After I finished my spill, she looked up at me. She seemed much more confident.

"You really think so?"

"I do," I assured her. As if in slow motion, I saw a smile spread and her face light up.

"Your right Hitomi. Who knows, maybe they won't be able to pass without me." She ran off.

"Maybe..." I said, standing there all by myself.

"She definitely has a lot of energy. How can you handle that?" A voice sounded from behind me. Acting on instinct, I readied a kunai in my hand. Pivoting, I held my kunai to the person's neck only to be met with teal eyes. It was Gaara. Calm as always, he took the kunai out of my hand, sticking it back in my belt. "You should really be careful with those. You could seriously injure someone."

"That's kind of the point. And you should know better than to startle me like that."

"Yeah yeah, You ready? We were supposed to meet hours ago."

"Yeah, let's go." Garra and I headed to the training ground. On our way there, I noticed the slightest changes in his arua. The bloodlust was not as noticeable. Even the dark circles around his eyes were lighter. He even smiled more. Although these changes are small, they are huge steps into his recovery. I feared that if he had to battle Sasuke, all of our progress would be lost. I can't let that happen. I-

'You know, Shukaku really isn't that bad.'

"I'm sure he- wait a second, how would you know?"

'I'm a demon. I can talk to other mystical beings, whether or not they are inside a human vessel.'

"You know I hate it when you refer to people like me as vessels."

'Yeah yeah. Get ready, Garra is coming up behind you.'

Heeding her warning, I quickly pivoted out of the way. Gaara had sent a sand kunai towards me.

"Hey! What was that for? We aren't training, we are meditating."

"You weren't listening... I have been talking to you for the last 15 minutes."

"So you shot a kunai at me? What if I hadn't dodged that?"

"But you did." I giggled, knowing I was gaining nothing out of the conversation, I sat on the floor preparing to meditate. Even with my eyes closed, I knew Gaara was sitting in front of me.

"Okay, now. With your eyes closed, Breathe slowly and deeply. Concentrate on the Shukaku. When you see him, pull yourself out of this world and into your sub-conscience." I instructed him. I grabbed his hands to allow myself into his mind. He squeezed my hands, a signal he was nervous for what was to come. I squeezed back to comfort him, silently telling him I will be there for every step of the way. Then I heard his breathing shallow, and I was pulled from my body.

At first, it was dark. Then, as if a play was starting, Lights blinked on pointing to a cage in front of us. Gaara, who was standing next to me, grabbed my hand. He was terrified. I was about to open my mouth and say some type of comforting words, but a blood-curdling laugh sounded around us.

'So, you finally came. I guess you're not as much of a coward as I thought you were.'

"Oh, Shukaku, You got it all wrong. Gaara is not the coward. You are."

'Ahh, Hitomi. You have been the number one topic on Gaara's mind here lately.'

"As cute as that is, that is not what we came here to discuss."

'I know, I know.'

I looked over at Gaara, who hadn't said a word since we have gotten here. He was staring wide-eyed. His grip on my hand getting tighter as the seconds passed. He turned to look at me, and I nodded my head, giving him the go-ahead on what he needed to do.

"Shukaku, Why can't I sleep? Why must you fill me with this blood lust I struggle to control? Why do I have to be so evil?"

'Look, kid, I got stuck in here unwillingly, as most of us do. All I want is to be free. The best way to do that is to make you do my bidding. If I have to suffer, so do you.'

"I am suffering. Everyday, Everynight. I have no freedom either. I haven't slept in years. My own siblings fear me."

'Ah, but you enjoy the power, the strength I give you. If I wasn't here, you would be weak.'

"I would be strong but not by killing people. By training the way everyone else does."

'Have you talked to the girl you admire so much. She may be strong, and she may train. But it is only because her demon gives her strength. That is the only reason she survived that massacre. And the only reason she is so powerful.'

I froze. I was utterly taken aback by what Shukaku had said. Of course, she gives me power, but that doesn't mean that without her, I would have died. The more I thought about what the Shukaku said, the angrier I got. He knew nothing. I know he has been communicating with Harau, but that doesn't mean he knows everything. I used to be just like this, but I changed it around, and now Harau and I are free.

"That may be the case, or it may not. But Hitomi and her demon cooperate and get along. They are both free to do as they please. So why can't you cooperate with me?"

'Cooperate? I had never considered it. Why should I? What proof can you give me that it works?'

"I am the proof. You communicate with Harau, so you know. Harau and I are one and the same; we talk and communicate and cooperate with one another. We are free to do as we please because of it. Just think about it. It could be potentially beneficial. Aren't you tired of being fought down all the time? That could change." I wanted to say more, but I kept hearing a voice in my head, and it wasn't Harau.

Hitomi

Hitomi

The voice kept repeating my name over and over again. Then it was black. The sound was increasingly louder like it was right next to me. I could tell I wasn't in Gaara's mind anymore. Then I opened my eyes. I saw Gaara in front of me. But there was nothing around us; it was dark . Then it hit me. We were in Gaara's sand ball. He must have subconsciously created one around while talking to the Shukaku. But the voice. I looked around and saw nothing. Then Gaara's hands started to squeeze mine, hard. His face was contorted in pain. The shukaku agreed. As much as it hurts to see him going through more pain, I knew it was necessary to break down the cage. I had to go through it myself when I broke down Harau's cage.

Then the pressure on my hands was released. I looked at Gaara, then his eyes darted open. They were filled with relief. Then out of nowhere, he lunged forward. Hugging me tightly, almost like if he let go, I would disappear. I let out a sigh of relief. He was okay.

"Harau, never leave me, please." He sounded so scared. I wonder what he saw there. When a cage is broken down, you are shown multiple possible futures based on that choice. I wonder how many he saw with me leaving him.

"I would never." I paused. I had to know what he saw, but I want him to tell me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to ask. Without even thinking about it, the question left my mouth. "What did you see?"

"My life without you. It was dark and cold and horrible. Every single vision I saw, you walked away, and I fell back into old patterns. I killed for sport. I was miserable. I don't want to go back to that. Please don't leave me." He spoke into my shoulder, never lifting his head. His voice was so broken. I hugged him as hard as I possibly could, knowing the pain he was feeling. We stayed in each other's embrace for so long I lost count of time. Gaara had begun to feel better and pulled away. That's when I remembered the giant sand ball we were in.

"Uh, Gaara? Wanna let us out? I don't know what time it is." I spoke.

"Oh, I hadn't even realized we were in one." He blushed, embarrassed. As he began to release the sand ball, I realized we were in mid-air. Gaara had to, but it was too late; we had already hit the ground.

"Oof." We both hit the ground so hard it knocked the wind out of us. We both looked at each other and started laughing. We were just lying on the ground laughing at the other and our situation. Until someone cleared their throat. Both of us, shocked, stopped laughing immediately and looked up. It was both our teams. They all looked perplexed and worried. That's when I realized how late it was. The sun wasn't even out anymore.

"Hey, guys, What's going on?" I asked them. It was Sakura that spoke up.

"Um, we were all supposed to meet for dinner. You never showed, and while we were looking for you, we ran into Temari and Kankuro. They were looking for Gaara. We all figured you guys were somewhere together, so we started looking together."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about dinner. I was helping Gaara train."

"Train? You guys were in a sand ball and then rolling on the ground laughing at god knows what." Sasuke spoke up.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, why don't we all get dinner together since we are all here."

"Yeah, let's do that." Gaara agreed with me. Everyone else reluctantly agreed and followed Gaara and me to the Barbeque place. When we got there we got a table, we talked and enjoyed Barbeque together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Midnight. It was Midnight, and I had yet to close my eyes to sleep. I was tired, but I couldn't find it in myself to close my eyes. Ever since I had that horrendous nightmare a few nights ago, all I see when I close my eyes are those gut-wrenching red eyes of my clan's murderer. Just thinking about how close I got to finding out who he was upset me. I was so close, but I failed. There were bits and pieces I put together, and it all made sense, but they soon got scattered. I-

"What are you thinking about?" Gaara asked, appearing next to me and breaking my train of thought.

"Nothing just how close I came to finding my clans murderer. I just can't seem to remember what I had to begin with."

"You almost figured it out?"

"Yeah, I did. But something happened. I know what happened. There is just no reversing it."

"What happened?"

"Well, to understand what I'm about to tell you, you are going to need a little bit of background information." I paused, considering just how far I should go back. "It was about 3 years ago. I was tracking the scent of that vile murderer. I had actually caught him. I had found his campsite, but he was gone. I guess he was collecting firewood? I don't really know. While I waited for him to return, I hid in a tree far enough to where he couldn't sense my chakra but high enough that I could see his campsite. So I waited for hours. Then days. The entire time I was waiting, I had a lot of time to think. I thought about his words to me and his eyes. I knew they were somehow connected. When it hit me. This is when things start to get a little fuzzy. I figured out how those things were connected, and I got so restless. I knew who he was... He was... ugh," My head began pounding. I saw glimpses of that day. Then I saw him. His face was a blur, but it was one I recognized. The red Sharingan eye and a scar crossing straight through it. It was Kakashi sensei. But what was he doing there? The murderer had two red eyes, not one so Kakashi couldn't have possibly been the killer. Was he in league with the killer? Helping him out? Why don't I remember seeing him that day? "He wiped my memory."

"What?" Gaara questioned me.

"I saw Kakashi. He was at the camp the murderer had set up, and he wiped my memory. When I woke, it was weeks later, and I found myself in Sunagakure. I was in the hospital with cuts all over. The nurse told me I had scared the guards because I appeared in a puff of smoke. All alone." I looked over at Garra upon hearing his gasp. "I know, How did I teleport if I was unconscious? That's the thing, though. I remember what happened. Kakashi had wiped what I knew about the killer. Nothing else. After he wiped my memory, I was asleep for quite some time. Call it mental training. With Harau. Anyway, when I woke up, Kakashi- Sensei was at the hospital. He saved me but also set me back. But I hadn't known about that yet, so I was calm. We traveled together for a while until I was kidnapped. It was Sasori of the red sand. I knew he was a criminal, but he had found me after I completed my training with the demons."

"You trained with demons?" Gaara asked, his invisible eyebrows raising.

"Yes, but the thing about demons is that when they find you if you have the potential to become something great, they will train you. That is until you surpass them. Then it's a fight to the death. That was their final test, and I passed. I was alone again. Until Sasori find me. He took me under his wing, taught me the art of puppetry. I didn't want to at first, but Harau told me I could master my Kekkei Genkai faster and better if I learned puppetry. I mean it makes sense, I'm controlling the blood of my opponents. We became close, he was my big brother in a way. A weird, kinda twisted way. But we relied on each other. We stuck together for years until one day, I didn't wake up. I was trapped in my mind, and I couldn't escape; I was stuck there for weeks. Sasori tried to help me, but he got caught by the Akatsuki. They forced him to return back to base. They separated us. I was stuck, unconscious, in a cave. All alone. When I was finally free from my mind, I woke up and followed the familiar scent of the killer. Then everything with Kakashi happened. So Sasori found me again, and after Kakashi sensei went to sleep, we battled it out to see if I was ready. I won. When I returned to the camp that night, there was no one there. Then I was knocked unconscious, and when I woke, I found myself here in front of the Kohana gates." When I finished, I looked over at Garra. He was silent for a while before finally speaking up.

"So if it was a simple mind jutsu, you should be able to get passed it, right?"

"Normally, yes. But whoever found me at the camp after my battle with Sasori, permanently removed those memories from my mind when they knocked me unconscious. Brain Damage."