This fanart was drawn by Aszel96 on deviantART. Thank you, friend. 

We were six years old when we moved out of the orphanage and into our own apartment. Grandfather Hokage, or Grandfather for short, had given us the very same apartment from the manga. The only difference being that he had a door installed in between two of the apartment rooms and gave us each a separate one. He then told us to write down everything we needed and wanted for furnishings, where he would then give the list to one of his shinobi, and they would furnish our apartment.

Naruto and I were close as any twins were at that age. He was my rock and my sunshine and I adored him endlessly.

He loved me, so very dearly, and I loved him. We were virtually inseparable. He seemed to retain the same personality I had always imagined him having, and my personality then developed to contradict his—to complete him almost.

Where he was loud, I was quiet. Where he was rebellious, I was docile. Where he was mischievous, I was unfailingly polite.

We decided to just share a bed, and use the money limit Grandfather had given us to buy something else: a garden.

We would use one apartment room for eating, sleeping and all other necessities, but the other we would use for miscellaneous purposes. The room had a skylight and with some of the money, we eventually made a sort of indoor garden.

Our treatment from the village wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. Yes, there were glares. Yes, there were muttered curses. Yes, we were kicked out of quite a few shops, but no one raised a hand against us. Or well, no one actually landed a hit on us. It could have been so much worse.

And after we moved into our new apartment, we would begin our time at the academy.

Something Naruto and I were both anxious for.

"Whadd'ya think it'll be like?" Naruto asked in our newly furnished apartment, a cup of steaming instant ramen in his hands.

"I dunno," I answered. "Jiji said he picked out our teacher 'specially for us. I hope they're good."

"They will be, considering Jiji," Naruto said happily. "I bet they'll be super smart and super strong too."

"Maybe," I allowed. "Demo, Nii-chan, are you still going to prank?"

"'Course," Naruto declared, slurping up his noodles.

I smiled. At first, I thought perhaps I should discourage Naruto's prankster ways—as it wouldn't help him gain anyone's respect or love—but the thought was quickly dismissed for multiple reasons.

Naruto loved his pranks. He loved being a rascal; it always cheered him up and made him happy. I couldn't frown upon something harmless that made him happy. Not to mention, it was a surprisingly good training method.

When I explained this to Naruto, it probably redoubled his efforts in pranks. If he could continue to come up with ingenious pranks and mischievous ploys, targeting only shinobi and able toescape the shinobi—he'd become a master at escape. Not to mention it would seriously improve his stealth if he was able to stay unseen by shinobi while wearing such a bright color like orange.

And it allowed his more imaginative and creative spirit to run amuck, something all shinobi would need in the heat of battle. I didn't doubt that his genius ingenuity to come up with brilliant plans in the midst of battle was because of his pranking past.

(It also helped that I loved seeing what new fun ways he would come up with to torment our own tormentors).

"I guess I shouldn't really be surprised," I giggled, smiling adoringly at my brother. "Ne, ne, think Jiji will train us, too? When we start the academy, I mean?"

Naruto's eyes lit up. "I hope so! Demo, he's always so busy. I don't think he'll have time, Imouto."

I nodded my head, frowning slightly. "Have you thought about what area you want to specialize in?"

Naruto tilted his head, his wide blue eyes staring at me curiously. "Huh?"

I blushed in embarrassment. "I mean... well, Jiji said there are lots and lots of different types of shinobi right? Tracker, frontal assault, defenders, strategists... that type of stuff. Have you thought about what kind you want to specialize in?"

"Mmm," Naruto hummed. "Na-uh. Have you?"

I nodded my head, smiling brightly. "Tracker! I want to work with ninken."

"Doggies?"

"Doggies," I confirmed. "I-I don't think I'd be a very good frontal attacker. I think you would be though, Nii-chan."

"Hmmm... I dunno. What are Hokages?"

"I think they're frontal attackers in general, but the Yondaime Hokage was also a great support, too. I don't think it really matters," I answered, my brow furrowed as I considered his question.

Naruto nodded his head thoughtfully. "Well, I'll figure it out eventually! Let's get some sleep—tomorrow we start the academy!"

My eyes lit up and I felt a flutter of butterflies in my stomach. That was true. Tomorrow we would start our very first academy class—Jiji was even going to walk us there himself.

I was... ecstatic. Beyond stoked. Not only for us being able to live away from that awful orphanage, but for us being able to train together.

All my past life I was in that stupid hospital room, unable to do a thing for myself. This time it was different, though. I had control of my life. I could do something with it. While I was in the orphanage I had to tone it down—mimic what my brother did, so I couldn't be seen as a prodigy and then whisked away to ROOT or God knows what else. Now away from prying eyes, I could express myself freely and pursue my dream.

My dream being to experience life to the fullest.

And what better way to do that then become a kunoichi along my dearest brother in my favorite manga? It was... amazing! I was stoked beyond belief.

As Naruto put the dishes away and I went off to water our small garden, I couldn't help but giggle in excitement. I knew the dangers of being a kunoichi. That I could die. But really... really... dying just didn't seem like such a concern for me. I had accepted my fate a long, long time ago. I knew that everyone died one day and I was prepared to do so again. Because for the moment... as long as I still living and breathing... I wanted to really live.

After I finished watering and we were both dressed for bed, we tucked ourselves in and soon afterwards, we both fell asleep.

('･ω･')

Grandfather's hand was warm and big around my own. It was rough and soft and comforting. Grandfather was a kind man who openly adored Naruto and me. Naruto and I loved him very much, as we considered him our family apart from ourselves. Naruto walked on Grandfather's left side and me on his right. The academy was in sight and already I could see such a large group of people, parents and children alike.

I sniffed the air, my nose crinkling at the scent. I wasn't sure if it was just a 'me' thing or a 'jinchūriki of Kurama' thing, but my sense of smell and hearing was magnified like no tomorrow. I think Naruto's was, too, but we never really talked about it. I sniffed again, taking in all the strange new scents.

"Is something wrong, Miwako-chan?" Grandfather inquired politely.

I gave him a bright smiled. "I'm just smelling the new scents, Jiji. It's so strange."

Naruto laughed. "I know, right? I think I smell lots of dogs—is there a pound nearby, Jiji?"

Grandfather laughed quietly. It was a nice laugh, a heartwarming laugh. "No, but I think you two might be smelling the Inuzaka Clan. The Clan Head's son will be starting the academy today as well."

"Really?" Naruto asked, his eyes wide and innocent.

"Inuzaka... aren't they the ninken family?" I asked excitedly. "That's so cool! I always wanted my own ninken."

Grandfather smiled, nodding slightly. "Well now, it looks like we're here."

And we were. As soon as Grandfather appeared on the scene, heads bowed low and respectfully. A handful of shinobi even bowed outright. I could see the children our age stare up at him with wide, amazed eyes. Not that I could blame them. Grandfather, being the Hokage, commanded a powerful presence. A warm and comforting presence, but a powerful one nonetheless.

Eyes landed on Naruto and I and I felt a blush rising to my cheeks. My eyes drifted down and I shyly looked away. Grandfather squeezed my hand reassuringly and I brought my gaze back up, smiling in what I hoped was a friendly way.

"Hokage-sama," a man—Iruka, I recognized—stepped forward. "I take it this is Naruto-kun and Miwako-chan?"

"Indeed, Iruka-san," Grandfather replied. "Naruto-kun, Miwako-chan, I'm going to have to leave for now. Behave yourselves."

"Hai," Naruto and I chorused.

As Grandfather left, Iruka gave us a tentative smile. "Ohaiyho. I'm Iruka, I'll be your sensei."

And as Iruka spoke, I could feel the eyes of the others drift away from us and I felt myself relaxing. Shyly, I took Naruto's hand as he grinned and exclaimed, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto and this is my little sister, Uzumaki Miwako! I'm going to be the next Hokage, dattebayo!"

Iruka gave an amused—skeptical—smile in return. "I see. Well then you two, won't don't you follow me to the class?"

('･ω･')

Class itself was... amazing.

Then again, I was probably biased.

I had never been to school myself, too sick to go with a weak immune system (eventually shot immune system from the radiation treatment). My sister had always spoken about it in a nonchalant way, dismissing it, but I was so envious of her. I wanted to go so badly. I wanted to learn for myself along with other students my age. I wanted that nearly more than anything.

I was, I admit, a little disappointed by how uneventful it was, but it was still amazing. The environment, the atmosphere, the students... just like I had always pictured it. No, it was better. It wasreal.

The first part of class was just an introduction to everyone in the class and what we would be doing over the year. When lunch broke out, the class scattered over the playground, leaving Naruto and I alone. I took my brother's hand, feeling shy and unsure. I hadn't had anyone my age to play with before. I didn't know what to do.

Naruto squeezed my hand tightly as he looked around, eyes scanning the playground. His eyes settled on a small group of children teaming up together to start a game of ninja. Naruto gave me a bright grin before tugging me along after them.

I wasn't so sure, though.

I knew how most of the villagers felt about us. I wasn't blind or ignorant—definitely not ignorant— about the civilians, especially. And the children Naruto was leading us towards were most certainly civilian students. I had a bad feeling about this.

"Ne, ne." Naruto's voice drew their attention towards us. Instinctively, I shied away, hiding behind Naruto almost. "Mind if we play?"

An ordinary boy with shaggy brown hair stepped up, peering at us. "Aren't you those kids that nobody likes?"

Naruto stiffened ever slightly and I resisted flinching.

"I think they are. Hey, go away. No one wants you here," called another child. Naruto's grip around my hand tightened to the point where it hurt. I didn't voice that to him. I knew he was angry and hurt and wanted to take it out on them, but we promised Grandfather we would behave today.

We didn't want to disappoint Grandfather.

I tugged Naruto away. "Nii-chan... let's go... come on, Nii-chan..."

Naruto swung his gaze back towards me, his posture stiff. He gave a small nod and the two of us walked away from the group.

I spotted Shikamaru and Chōji and considered going to them, but immediately rejected the idea.

Just because they didn't come from civilian back grounds and turned out wonderfully, didn't mean they would still interact with us. Especially considering I didn't know how their families or really, their parents, would react about us.

That was the reasoning I told myself as I steered Naruto towards a secluded area where we could eat the lunch Grandfather had made sure for us to bring.

The truth was, though; I couldn't stand the idea of one of the Rookie Nine rejecting either of us. I just didn't want to run that risk.

('･ω･')

Gym, as I dubbed it, was an hour after lunch. For the first two months of the academy, Iruka told us, we would be running laps, doing pushups and other various exercises. After that, we would practice our taijutsu stances for a month. Then on the fourth month into the academy, we would hold taijutsu spars and henceforth after Gym.

This part of the class was already a favorite of mine. After being cooped up for so long, it was exhilarating being free on such a level—to move and jump and soar and push my body to the limit without the threat of death hanging constantly over my shoulder. My muscles burned from the work, but at the same time it felt good.

After gym, Iruka lectured us some more and class was over.

Our first day was done.

('･ω･')

Over the course of two months, Naruto and I fell into a sort of pattern. When it became obvious that the civilian children wouldn't associate with us and even some of the clan children, we stuck close. Naruto was still persistent in trying to make new friends, but they never turned out well and I had just given up entirely, focusing myself to studies instead.

I needed things to distract me from the wriggling sense of loneliness creeping up on my brother and I. Naruto used his time to pull elaborate pranks and skip class when there was a class being taught by a particularly nasty teacher.

I used my time to study. I didn't study because I particularly liked it. I didn't, surprisingly, study to prepare myself for the Akatsuki or Invasion. And though I liked having knowledge because knowledge was power and I wanted desperately to excel at the academy...

I studied because it was the only thing that could take up my full undivided attention and work my brain to a dull numb, so I couldn't really feel anything else.

I felt so silly about it, too. Just a little over a month ago I was so hyped up for this new life, for the freedom it promised me. I had forgotten just how awful the background was for us.

I knew Naruto had a hard childhood. I knew that. I just didn't imagine it could feel so... horrible. The stares I could ignore. The glares I could ignore. The whispers were harder, but I could still endure it through... but the constant undermining from some of our own teachers at the academy, the sneers from my fellow students when I messed even the slightest thing up, the exasperated look someone would give if I asked a question.

All of that was just... awful. I never experienced that sort of thing in my previous life.

I understood why Naruto became such a loudmouth. It was his own mask. A mask he built himself to fool even himself. After all, being angry was so much better than being upset or sad. Getting excited and pumped and hyped up was so much better than being depressed and sullen. If he could continue to attract attention to himself, all the while putting up a façade that said nothing was wrong... if he did it long enough, it would fool even him.

I couldn't do that. I couldn't bring myself to do that, and yet, at the same time I couldn't bring myself to tell Naruto to stop. Because that was how he coped. Without that mask, I was afraid my brother would break and I wasn't strong enough to support both of us, even though I desperately wanted to be.

So I created my own coping way. I studied all sorts of things; some pointless, others practical. Anything that would cause my brain to work itself into a frenzy so it would just go blissfully numb afterwards. I worked my body in a similar fashion. Whenever the library was closed or when the mood just hit me, I would work myself to exhaustion, running. Sometimes I even worked myself hard enough I couldn't move for the rest of the night and part of the next morning.

My academic grades were average. Some part of me knew that they would have been higher, had I been graded fairly; but at the same time I didn't want to draw too much attention to myself. Especially considering who I was.

Too smart? Must be the Kyūbi in disguise.

Too strong? Oh, definitely the Kyūbi.

Too good? Better than the Clans' children? Oh shit, the Kyūbi's taken over the brat, better kill it.

No, no. I was better off as average.

('･ω･')

Eventually two months faded into four months, four months faded into six, and soon enough we began chakra training.

This... was something both of us had been anxious about.

In the past six months I had been not only studying the academy material, but my own subjects as well. Mainly chakra nature, basic genjutsu and ninjutsu, along with amateur medical ninjutsu and fūinjutsu. Actually, just really anything that required thinking.

Hell, I even studied the history of the other villages - something I wouldn't ever need as the academy didn't even test us on it. I didn't plan on becoming a medical kunoichi, but I definitely wanted to know the basics. You never know when you'd need it. I had already started my own chakra control exercises, finding it not only exceedingly difficult due to my massive reserves, but just down right discouraging.

But I wasn't able to ask for help because I didn't want anyone to know I was training in chakra so soon. Now, though, that we were learning this in the academy—I could ask Iruka for help without it seeming to be odd.

The leaf that I held in my hands was smooth and a bright green. Our goal for class was to get it to stick to our fingers. So far only Sakura, Ino and a couple of other students were close. Naruto and I seemed the furthest behind.

At my raised hand, Iruka came over.

"Yes, Miwako-chan?" Iruka asked patiently, smiling openly.

"I think there's something wrong with my chakra," I told him.

Iruka's smile slipped momentarily. "What do you mean?"

"I think I have too much of it," I said.

Iruka frowned thoughtfully, eyeing me carefully. "Why do you think that?"

I shifted slightly. "I um... I um... I read about it in a scroll."

"Well I doubt you have too much chakra, Miwako-chan," Iruka said patiently with a smile. It almost seemed strained, though. As if he wanted nothing more than to not smile at me. "You're still just an academy student. Besides, we just started this lesson. Keep trying."

Just an academy student my ass. I was a jinchūriki—or at least I assumed so, from what I could tell by how much chakra I had. It was a common fact that jinchūriki had beyond the normal chakra capacity of his or her age group. Iruka had to have known that or else Grandfather wouldn't have allowed someone so ignorant to teach us.

Even still...

As Iruka walked away I felt the sting of hurt, stunning me in disbelief. I had thought Iruka was the good guy. I thought, because he and Naruto developed such a special bond later on, that he would be safe now. I knew in the beginning they didn't have such a bond. That to Naruto, Iruka was just another teacher. I didn't quite realize until now that it was because Iruka wasn't ready to form that bond. That he didn't like us, just like everyone else.

I was wrong. And it hurt. It hurt much more than I expected it to.

I clenched my hands into fists, a sort of cold fury washing over me.

Fine. I would take a horrible grade at chakra control.

But I was not fucking backing down.

('･ω･')

I had nearly endless energy because of the Kyūbi. I knew I could essentially get by with only an hour of sleep every night. I didn't want to do that because I knew the psychological drawbacks it would have on my mind, but I could do it.

I wanted to include Naruto in on my plan, but the risks were too great. I knew Naruto could keep a secret, sometimes, but I also knew that if he ever got too worked up. his mouth would run off at anything to prove his point. An example scenario being if he became too frustrated with the leaf exercises at the academy, he could just shout out that he didn't need them because he could walk on water or climb trees anyway.

I couldn't risk that. I couldn't risk drawing attention to either of us so soon. Especially considering who we were. It was too dangerous, far too dangerous. Who knew what they would do to him, do to us? So after Naruto had gone to sleep, I carefully left our apartment and went down to a secluded training area, eventually finding a tree.

I recognized the training area. This was where Team 7 had originally been given the bell test.

I stared at the stone.

Feeling oddly nostalgic I brushed my hand across it. I felt compelled to fulfill this ironic sort of compulsion. I wanted to train here. Exclusively here. How ironic would that be? No one was around—no would be around this late anyway. I doubt even Kakashi stayed out all night staring at that stone.

Besides, there was a pond so I could start the next step of training right away.

With a determined resolve, I stared at the tree before beginning.

('･ω･')

More time passed. And with it, was my utter disdain and growing hatred.

I hated Konoha.

No, really. I hated Konoha. I wanted nothing more than burn it to the ground and see everyone inside of it dead. Aside from my brother and Grandfather of course. Screw the Rookie Nine and Gai and Kakashi and... everyone else.

I hated Konoha.

I hated the stares. The glares. The mutterings. The sneers. The teachers who couldn't bother to remain professional, the students who did nothing to help. I was even growing to resent the Rookie Nine. Shikamaru was alright. Chōji was alright. Ino was alright. Hinata was alright. All the others? Rot in hell, you son of a bitches.

Bullying was preached to us—oh God the irony—that when you saw it, you should report it immediately or take care of it yourself. Stop the bullying, said the teachers—the irony. Oh God... the irony.

Hinata was too hesitant to do anything about it directly, but she was still alright in the sense that she left behind little gifts for us (she would give us part of her lunch if we 'forgot' ours). Though, she never confronted us directly and she actually ran away when we turned to her. I eventually just gave up pursuing a friendship with her for the moment.

Kiba just didn't care. Shino didn't want to draw attention to himself. Sasuke was an arrogant little prick. Sakura was too shy and hell she even bullied Naruto every once in a while if he was being a bit too clingy for her taste. Shikamaru drawled out to stop it, but wouldn't physically do anything. Chōji followed Shikamaru and Ino wouldn't put up with it (bless her).

They weren't our friends. They didn't try and after too many attempts gone bad, I stopped trying as well.

I disliked Iruka because even though he smiled at us. and tried to tell us he was there to help, he was anything but helpful. The rest of the teachers were either the same or openly despised us.

I was starting to secretly hate Jiraiya for not taking responsibility and kidnapping us out of this hellhole.

I really, really hated Konoha.

I didn't tell anyone this. Didn't let my disdain show because Naruto loved Konoha for whatever reason (I was beginning to wonder if my brother was a masochist)and desperately wanted to be the Hokage. I couldn't stomp on that dream of his. Not me. He loved me too much and needed me too desperately for me to do something as horrible as that.

So I grinned and bared it. I had to.

He was my rock. I needed him just as much as he needed me. I wasn't strong like he was. Without him, I would have broken under all that pressure. I would have shattered.

Some vicious part of me couldn't wait for Pein to destroy that place and I secretly hoped he would leave everyone dead. It was horrible of me. And I was ashamed of that part of me.

"Miwako-chan, would you like anymore tea?"

I smiled shyly at Grandfather as he gave me a bemused chuckle when Naruto's nose crinkled at the thought of more tea. Naruto and I were in Grandfather's office for our weekly visit and report. We were actually in the middle of a discussion on what we wanted to be after we graduated from the academy.

Naruto, of course, wanted to become Hokage, but when it came to me, I was a bit shy in saying what I wanted, and so had fallen into silence, Grandfather's question just now pulling me out of that silence.

"Miwa-chan wants to work with ninken."

I glanced sharply at Naruto who gave me an encouraging smile. After more tea poured into my cup, I elaborated.

"I heard you could summon them too," I murmured, still feeling a bit shy in confessing my - when compared to Naruto's - lesser dream. "I... I was hoping I'd be able to find the summoning scroll and um..."

Grandfather chuckled. "The summoning scroll is actually in use as of now."

I knew that... I still kind of wanted to steal it from Kakashi... somehow...

I ducked my head, wiggling in my chair from embarrassment. "Sorry..."

"No need to apologize, Miwako-chan. As it happens, I am actually a good friend of his. And I bet I could talk him into give you a few tracking lessons. Whether he'll sign you with the dogs, however, will be up to him."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

I would get to learn tracking from the Kakashi?

"But I think, perhaps, if you expressed interest in it, he'll sign you on," Grandfather said, amused by my reaction. I could almost hear his afterthought when he said this: After all, you are his beloved sensei's daughter.

I smiled. "Do you really think so?"

"I do," Grandfather assured me.

"That's great, Imouto!" Naruto cheered, beaming happily at me. "I'm so happy for you, Miwa-chan!"

"So how is the academy treating you?" Grandfather inquired. Naruto groaned as he began to quickly spin a tale about the wonders and horrors of the academy. We didn't want to disappoint Grandfather with the truth.

I stayed quiet.

Naruto was a better liar than me.

('･ω･')

To help practice my chakra control, a scroll I found said to try meditation. It said after some yoga stretches, when the body was relaxing, it was easier to slip off into a deeper meditative state and 'find your chakra'.

So I tried it myself.

Only to find far more interesting results.

Because I soon found myself standing in front of a painfully familiar cage, staring at an even more familiar pair of red, red eyes.

Kurama.

I blinked, shock momentarily leaving me speechless.

"What do we have here? One of my prison guards finally deigns to show themselves before me," Kurama said dryly, his eyes narrowing.

"Hi," I greeted, unsure of how else to respond. "I'm Uzumaki Miwako."

Kurama chuckled, and it wasn't a nice one. It was almost a patronizing chuckle. I didn't like being patronized. "And you humans call me the Kyūbi."

"That's not a name," I pointed out.

"It is what you call me though," Kurama replied.

"I won't call you that. That's just like you calling me human, or girl. It's just generalizing a whole species. My name is Miwako and I won't respond to anything else. Just like you have a name and you shouldn't respond to anything else," I said, a little defiant at the patronizing tone Kurama had taken. Doctors used that tone a lot around me. My parents did as well.

It irritated me.

"I have no intentions of telling you my name," Kurama snapped.

"Then I'll just give you a name," I retorted. "Kurama. There. That's your name."

Kurama blinked at this. "... What?"

"Kurama," I repeated. "It fits you, ya'know? Therefore your name is Kurama as far as I'm concerned."

Kurama stared at me.

"So... where am I exactly?" I asked. Was I inside the seal or was I inside my mind? In the manga, it didn't specify, but most of the readers concluded it was the mind. If that was the case then shouldn't I be able to influence the environment?

"Your mind," Kurama answered blandly.

"Then shouldn't I be able to change the setting?" I guessed.

"I don't know. Try it and find out," Kurama sneered.

"Okay," I said, closing my eyes and picturing a bright green meadow.

I opened my eyes and... nothing. My brow furrowed. "If I'm inside my mind, I should have control over it."

"Perhaps you just lack the discipline, like the rest of your kind," Kurama suggested.

"That's just prejudice," I dismissed absently. "Are you sure we're inside my mind? If we're inside my mind then why are you here?"

"Perhaps we're inside the seal on your stomach," Kurama amended.

"Seal? So does that really make me a jinchūriki?'

"That is usually what you refer to yourselves as," Kurama said dryly.

Ah. Always nice to have confirmation.

"And Nii-chan?"

"Yes."

"Ah. So we're not really inside my mind; we're in the seal. Therefore I don't have a say in the environment."

"No, we're definitely inside your mind," Kurama said.

"But you just said—"

"I lied to humor you," Kurama confessed.

"You say that like it's something to be proud of."

"Maybe it is."

"... Huh. Okay. So you really are the Kyūbi, and I really am a jinchūriki... O-Okay. I think I need time to... study this. What exactly can I do?"

"Look it up," Kurama sneered.

"You're a bit bitter aren't you?" I tilted my head.

"Don't be absurd," Kurama dismissed.

"I suppose it's understandable," I allowed. "I wouldn't want to be trapped inside a body either. I'm sorry you are. I don't really know how to help you. I'd have to study fūinjutsu."

Kurama snorted.

I cocked my head back, peering up at one of my most admired characters—people, person? What would Kurama fall under now?—from the manga. "I really do want to help. I don't know how. But I promise you, Kurama that I will."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" Kurama asked dryly.

"I just said I didn't know how," I retorted. "But... baby steps. If we really are in my mind then I should have control over it... but the seal might be affecting that control. I'll try to make this more comfortable for you, for starters. Then... I don't know. Baby steps. I'll come back tomorrow, okay? And we can talk then. We can talk as much as you want, in fact."

"And what if I don't want to talk to you at all?" Kurama asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Then I'll just meditate for my chakra control." I shrugged. "If we're going to be... living together... might as well get comfortable with one another."

Kurama just stared at me another moment before he snorted softly, turning away.

"See you later, Kurama," I murmured quietly before breaking my connection.

I really did want to help him, but not for the reasons he would assume.

I just... didn't want anyone to experience that caged feeling I had felt. No one deserved that. No one deserved to be trapped in a body slowly decaying away, helpless to everything. To see and hear and practically taste freedom constantly, but never able to reach it. No one deserved that kind of taunting hell.

No one.

('･ω･')  

Answer:I'm proud of one of my friends who started off in a bad situation, wormed his way into a worse one, but stopped and pulled himself out of that situation, got his GED, graduated college, and is now living a healthy life. I'm really proud of him, actually.

Question: Who do you fanboy / fangirl over? Or