Monster:

Summary: The secret side of me, hid under lock and key, won't someone save me from this monster I've become? Don't look at me, the beast is ugly, the nightmare has just begun…

A/N: - This has been plaguing me for literal months, so now I'm going to write it. I've written so many versions its crazy, but I think this one is the best so…enjoy!

- I'm dropping Shift, it's just not working, as well as Taking over Fear, it's seems to be at a road block. I'm sorry to the fans of those particular stories; I'll probably edit them and post them later in the future. Three is on Hiatus, and Trippin' Over You isn't going quite as planned, expect it later this year.

~xxx~ Prologue: Naïve Thoughts ~xxx~

He was an animal, which had wreaked havoc over the village in which he was sworn to protect. Konoha had lain in ruins at his feet, his heart stained with the guilt of destroying his home and the home of so many others.

He was a raged beast, crushing, killing, and destroying everything that crossed his warpath. The blood of those who had crossed him had stained his clothing, his skin, and the silver locks of his unruly hair.

He was a mad genius, with enough cunning and skill to be the person that got closest to killing his marked target. The Kyuubi Holder had lain in the hospital, breathing and eating through tubes entering and exiting his mangled body.

Kakashi Hatake was a monster.

Sakura Haruno had always learned that you never caged a wild animal, in fear of it retaliating. She'd also learned that if you couldn't break its spirit, you killed it. IF you set it free, it would only return to its rabid state and terrorize people than it had to begin with. So now she sat in fear of what Kakashi's animal would do. Would it retaliate, or break? Would he have to be killed? Would they set it free on the slight chance that he might turn himself around?

It made her sick to her stomach thinking that he could be killed. He'd promised to protect Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke with his life, and he'd never gone back on that promise, he'd saved their hides more than once.

She remembered the land of waves, and their very first B-ranked mission together, stupid Tazuna had been too cheap to actually mark it as such, but Sakura remembered how noble Kakashi had seemed when he'd found out. He persisted on taking them back to the village, to keep them safe she knew; it hadn't been because he'd doubted them, like Naruto and Sasuke had thought. She remembered when Zabuza attacked them; that's when Kakashi had sworn to protect them at all costs.

So she felt useless in the fact that she couldn't save him.

For the most part, many people assumed he was dead, killed by ANBU in their confrontation on top of the Hokage Monument. She knew it wasn't the case, only for the fact that the Hokage was her best friend, and long time teammate. Many people considered him a traitor to the village, and were happy for his demise. She didn't understand exactly why they thought that. He'd fought, tooth and nail for the village; his blood had been shed on so many fields of battle that he seemed more earth that human. Or more animal, as people said.

Sakura didn't quite understand why so many people hated him. So he snapped? Every one had a breaking point. Sure, he'd destroyed half the city and killed people, but considering his situation, he'd earned it. Naruto held no hard feelings, though the elders, including Tsunade thought it better that they cage Kakashi.

"He's safer to himself and the people of this village if he's isolated," The former Hokage had said. "It's a precaution."

She glanced down at the small silver spoon in her hands and dropped it in the bowl of miso soup staring up at her. She couldn't eat. Even the smells of the small buffet made her feel nauseous.

She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on the cool, polished wood of the table and sighed. Her life was falling to pieces.

What with Kakashi locked up in a triple-max prison, and Naruto rolling around in a wheel chair still, she seemed to be the only one that nothing ever happened to. It was like she was meant to sit around and watch as the people she loved and cared for perished and struggled.

She looked out into the street next to the small shop she was in and watched as a little boy tied his dog to a bike rack outside a game store. Poor thing, it shouldn't be left outside on a cold day like this, Sakura thought. She blinked as an idea hit her.

If the dog didn't deserve to be tied up, why should Kakashi? She could bust him out. She was smart enough, and she was a good enough liar to slip past the sentries and even some of the ANBU.

Sakura stood up and pulled a few dollars out of her pocket before tossing them on the table and leaving to ready her plan. She could do this. She could do something dangerous with out any one else's help, she would free Kakashi.

She hurried down the street, trying to not seem near as happy as she was in the twenty degree weather. All she needed was attention drawn to her to blow everything she'd just worked up in her head. She was going to free him. She was going to free the monster that everyone feared so much, the monster that she knew at heart, was nothing more than the sweet man he tried not to be.

Sakura nodded to the doorman, Makoto, at her apartment when he waved his happy greeting and scurried up the stairs knowing he wouldn't ask questions as to why she was so damned cheery.

She needed to write everything down before it left her. When she came to her door, she fished around in her pocket for the key, pulled it out and jammed it into the lock with a quick turn, and the door was opened and shut.

She ran into her kitchen and pulled one of the notebooks she kept in the storage cupboard down and opened it. She leaned over to her table, snatched a pen and began scribbling on the first blank page her idea's for Kakashi's break out.

"Shit," she muttered to herself.

She'd have to find a way to let Kakashi in on the situation. Her first problem was getting in to see him, the rest would be easy.

He'd taught them complex signals and signs when they were his genin in case they couldn't speak with one and other. Only Team Seven knew those codes, he'd assured them, and if that were true, then they had their means of communication. Now she just had to remember what exactly those signals were…

She took her notebook and pen into the livingroom, and started writing out the signs she did remember.

She knew what her left hand grabbing her right wrist meant, he'd taught them that early on as it meant I'm in trouble. "Come on, Sakura, you have to remember this stuff! You were the star student…" She told herself, trying to coax her brain into remembering.

She looked down at the words on the paper. She grabbed her right wrist and shook her head. She didn't remember anything but that.

She tossed the notebook and pen onto her coffee table and got up to get herself something to drink. Perhaps some warm tea might jog her memory? It was worth a try.

She sauntered into her kitchen, frustrated that she couldn't remember. She pulled one of her coffee mugs down from one of the cabinets, and a packet of peach tea. She set them on the granite counter top and went to fill her tea kettle.

She set the kettle on the stove and bent over to count the number of clicks before the gas stove lit. She put the small peach-tea packet in the cup and left the kitchen to find her sweater. Her heating was on the fritz, making it even colder than usual in her small apartment.

She found it laying on her dresser and pulled it on ignoring the fact it was a size to big for her. She liked baggy sweaters; they were more comfortable, and easier to maneuver in should the reason arrive.

Sakura jumped when the kettle whistled and went into the kitchen to shut off the stove. She turned the knob to 'off' and made sure the flames had gone out before taking the kettle off of the range. She watched as the steaming water was poured into her mug, and she watched as the tea leaves colored the water with a billowing warm orange color.

She inhaled the sweet scent, and sighed as it relaxed her. She watched her hand as she bounced the bag in and out of the water; trying to get all of the flavoring she could out of the little bag.

Sakura smiled as she walked back into the livingroom to sit down. She sat back in her easy chair and sipped at her tea, thinking through her devious rescue mission.

"Yes!" she remembered what the sign for rescue was as she scratched the back of her head. Kakashi had always seemed to do that in awkward situations, and she remembered the day he had told her it was a rescue technique of his. "Kakashi, you sly bastard."

She started laughing to herself. She might be able to save him after all.

~xxx~

This is just to give you a bit of background, and tell you where the story is heading. I hope you liked it, or at least the idea and that you stick around to see what happens.

I am also looking for a beta for this one, as I could really use the help of someone that I can bounce ideas off of and someone that would be willing to help edit.

~ Regas