Dark Light
Sometimes he would let his mind wander through the fog between consciousness and unconsciousness. Those times, his heart would constrict and he'll feel a trickle of dread. Because all he can see through the fog is a pair of blazing red eyes that glowed with unnatural fierceness, and he can't help but think, I should be afraid.
On the off chance that he would want to start a conversation with his tenant, they are always somewhat one sided. Somehow, he thinks people would really start to fear him now if they ever find out that he initiates conversations with a fifty foot tall demon, much less one that was bent on the destruction of their beloved village and nearly succeeded.
In his defense, it was oddly assuring, of his existence that is, that he could talk to said bijuu albeit one sided, without his head being bitten off by said bijuu. Not that his tenant never tried. That's how it would go. He'd talk and his tenant would try to bite his head off. The key word was try. The bijuu was both powerful and vengeful, but even he could not cross the barrier that was devised by a shinigami, no matter what he tried.
Most times, they'd find themselves in a lull; the bijuu and the jinchuuriki staring at each other, the first with bloodlust and the last with jadedness, never saying anything at all. The jadedness would momentarily haunt the bijuu's mind. There was something unnatural about a little child having such jaded eyes; and make no mistake, to the bijuu, the jinchuuriki was but a mere child in comparison no matter what the circumstances were. It would fade away just as quick as the thought came and bloodlust would reign again, and the jinchuuriki would never be aware of his tenant's thoughts.
Fear would overwhelm him as the bijuu's bloodlust would finally register in his mind. But he'd stamp it down just the same. It's not easy, but he does it anyway. He's not stupid as to think he can control the demon. But he can control himself enough not to show the demon his fear. He doesn't think he can take the smug look from a bijuu anymore than he has to especially when he gets that look from the villagers enough as it is.
He'd break the eye contact soon enough and sits down on the floor. It's not a comfortable position since the water comes to his waist while sitting down. For a moment, he closes his eyes and basks in the feeling of the cold water. It's not as slimy as he would think being in a sewer and all. He'd open them and stare at the demon again. The bijuu only looks at him with bloodlust.
They stay that way for a long time before he finally pulls away and leaves.
He thinks that people would think him crazy to instigate contact with the bijuu. But, just as Gaara's existence was paved with a path of blood, his existence was paved with the bijuu's slight acknowledgments. Knowing that the bijuu stares down at him and not bypass him was enough to prove that he existed. It was somewhat pathetic that it was enough to satisfy him. But years of being ignored had given him little hope and even a glimmer of recognition proved to be fulfilling to him.
Naruto knows he shares this thought with Gaara. Gaara's bijuu urged him to kill and Gaara conceded. Shukaku's acceptance of the blood that Gaara spilled was enough for both. Kyuubi was similar and different at the same time. The Kyuubi shared Shukaku's bloodlust but never deigned to communicate with the jinchuuriki other than when it became a necessity. The bijuu was aloof and above all, thought of itself as superior to a human. Naruto was a human despite what the villagers say. So, to be recognized by a bijuu? Yes, it was enough.