When I came to, I didn't recognize where I was. I sat up and looked around. The entire room seemed to be made of sand.

"Gaara? Are you there?" I called out.

"Thank you," was the only response I got.

"What happened?"

"You passed out. A few hours later, three Konoha ninjas attacked us. I ran with you to protect you. Temari and Kankuro are holding them off."

"Where are we?"

"Safe," Gaara materialized in front of me.

He crouched down. My ears perked up. I morphed and jumped up into his knee. For half a second, Gaara smiled. He sat all the way down cross legged. I morphed back.

Gaara blushed as he realized what was going on. I giggled before I could stop myself. I wrapped my tail around his arm. Gaara refused to meet my eyes. I pouted.

"Gaara... Sakura called you a freak... Why would she do that? I know about Shukaku, but does she?"

"It isn't just Shukaku doing this. Killing people, it helps." Gaara confessed.

I shook my head, "Gaara, have you ever had to lie?"

"Of course."

"Have you ever had to lie so much it became a truth to you?"

Gaara looked away again and I knew I had my answer, "I know you aren't a monster or a freak. If you were, why would anyone still be alive? You are in control of Shukaku!"

Gaara started shaking. He knocked me away and stood up, screaming none sense. Shukaku was trying to gain control.

I pressed my back to the sand wall. I applied pressure to one spot with both hands. The sand started to weaken until my hand slipped through. I felt a cool breeze just before the whole structure collapsed around us.

We were still in the desert, but it was night now. The moon was perched on the tip of the mountain tops. Countless stars dotted the sky.

"Gaara," I whispered, "Look up. Focus on the stars."

"You can't tell him what to do!" Shukaku's voice resonated with Gaara's.

I braced myself and walked over to them. I took Gaara's face in my hands and forced him to look at me. His eyes were wild, constantly changing from innocent blue to blood red.

"Don't you see what he's doing to you?" I asked.

"I have done nothing wrong!" Shukaku spit in my face.

I wiped it away with one hand. My tail snaked around Gaara's arm. I stroked his red hair and started humming. It was a tuneless song, but I hummed it confidentially. I held Gaara close to my body.

Together, we sank to the ground. Gaara was crying. I watched the stars. Suddenly, a song came to my head. I was humming it at first, but soon I heard myself singing.

I sang for what felt like hours. The moon slowly crawled higher into the night sky. As I thought; about Gaara and the Konoha ninjas. I hoped Temari and Kankuro were OK.

What could have happened to Gaara that made him like this?

"You have... A beautiful voice..." Came Gaara's exhausted voice.

I jumped at the sudden noise. Our eyes met and I could feel a smile light up my face.

"Hurts..." Gaara groaned.

"What hurts?" I inspected his body for injuries.

"Inside..."

"Inside?" I was confused.

Gaara's hand moved to his chest, "Right here. Inside."

My hand covered his. His heart was beating at an odd pace. Gaara turned his hand over and curled his fingers around mine.

"How can it hurt if I can't see it?"

I lowered my head and spoke into Gaara's hair, "You're heartbroken. People have hurt you before, but not in the physical sense. Everyone calling you a monster, I know you would never admit it, but it got to you."

Gaara looked up at me. The moonlight reflected off the tears in his eyes. I brushed his hair to the side and traced the kanji on his forehead.

"So I'm broken, worthless?" Gaara caught my hand so he was holding both of them.

I smiled and shook my head, "No, Gaara. Everyone gets hurt, it doesn't mean everyone is broken or worthless."

Gaara nodded to himself. A thin smile split his face. I rested my cheek back on Gaara's head and closed my eyes.

"What is sleep like?" Gaara suddenly asked.

"Hm..?" I thought for a second, "Uh.. Like floating I guess. Floating in clouds of darkness."

"That sounds scary..."

"Not at all. It's so peaceful, you don't think about the day. Sometimes you dream. Dreams are usually nice."

"I've never slept, and if I ever have, I don't remember it."

My hands curled into fists in Gaara's hands, "That's Shukaku's fault."

Shukaku growled through Gaara. I hugged Gaara tightly until Shukaku left us alone. He slumped into my chest.

"What do you think of the stars?"

"The stars? I love the stars, their so pretty and there are countless!"

"Do you have a favorite?"

I pointed at Orion's belt, "That one."

I traced the entire constellation, "I like to think of him as my knight in shining armor. Whenever I'm scared or in trouble, he's there."

Gaara traced the constellation. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself and said something else.

"You should show me more constellations."

"Alright," I pointed out several more, including both the dippers.

I could feel Shukaku retreating into Gaara's subconscious. Gaara was gaining control.

"What happened today in your house? I couldn't get a good look."

One of my hands dropped to the sand. I traced Orion amongst the grains. I took a deep breath.

"Sakura, the pink haired girl, noticed sand holding Yurei's leg together. She flipped out on us and called for her team mates. They showed up and we started fighting. I beat Sakura down but Sasuke sneak attacked me. Yurei tried to warn me, your sand flew up in response. The kunai bounced off and..."

Gaara realized what I was trying to say, "I did this..."

"No! Gaara, you didn't! It was Sasuke's fault!"

"I'm still sorry."

"I appreciate it, but you saved my life."

Gaara sighed.

"Gaara, I'm tired. I know you don't understand it, but can I sleep?"

"Sure," Now it was Gaara's turn to hold me.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

My lips grazed his cheeks as I laid down in his lap.