AN: I am still so nervous about breaking into the Naruto world. Thank you all for your amazing support! I really hope that the story satisfies. Gaara's tricky to strike the right balance between shy kid and fierce demon, lol. Your reviews really help me stay on track and encourage me to keep going, even when I get stuck. (Like with Kagome and Thranduil. Major writer's block there. Stupid Elves.)


Kagome knelt before the Clan Elders, the genin from Suna at her back.

"You did well, granddaughter," Aito praised. "Lord Gaara, Lord Shukaku, are you prepared?"

Gaara settled beside her, his actions speaking for him. Kagome turned and bowed before holding up her hands.

"I must have contact with you," she half-apologized, hesitantly meeting his otherworldly eyes.

Tipping his head to the side, he narrowed his eyes. She didn't back down and he eventually nodded. Raising her fingers, she placed them on his temple, drawing in a sharp breath at the power sparking between them. His chakra fairly latched onto hers and before she knew it, she was in his mind, facing both him and Shukaku.

The tanuki sighed mournfully, his ears back as she brightened.

"Lord Shukaku!" she exclaimed, bowing deeply and barely containing her excitement at seeing him again.

He chuckled as his ears swiveled towards her. "Little Kagome. Still trying so hard to save your people and protect me at the same time. Why do you continue to struggle?"

Brows together, she touched her heart. "Because I love my family more than I do myself. I love you, Lord Shukaku. I even care about Lord Gaara."

Gaara's face registered surprise. "I caused you the most pain possible without killing you or damaging you irreparably," he protested.

Kagome didn't falter, even as she internally flinched at such a blatant confession. "You tested me. If I, a Higurashi nin, could not stand before you and be found worthy of your strength, you would have left us to fend for ourselves. I knew this before the fight and I knew that your regard was worth breaking myself open to secure for my clan. As we would demand much from you, it is only right that you demand much from me." She smiled. "And my clan was worth dying for if you had decided to kill me. You didn't and proved that you are an honorable warrior. Besides, anyone who is so compatible with Lord Shukaku must be special. As I call him friend, I hope to also call you, Lord Gaara."

Shukaku grinned nastily while Gaara gaped.

"If you merge us, know that it will cause far-reaching ripples you cannot escape from, girl. The boy shall have my instincts and I shall have his form."

Kagome looked at Gaara, who was watching them with something like confusion. It was the most human expression she'd yet seen on his face.

"Will you protect my clan?"

He nodded slowly.

"Then we will protect you, Lord Gaara of the Sand."

Offering her hand, she waited until the boy took it and then placed her other hand in Shukaku's paw. Centering herself, Kagome called up her spiritual powers and began the long process of combining the two broken souls.

She didn't expect to catch flashes of their lives as she did so. Not everything, but enough to know that both were terribly hurt. Their emotional scars were such that Kagome couldn't hold back her need to help them. She opened her memories, flooding them with as much love and affection as she could. Gaara shook violently at the onslaught as he and Shukaku gradually became one. Their separate bodies blurred until finally, only a singular entity was holding her hands, her affection cycling through him in a never-ending circle.

"What is this?" he rasped.

"This is love. This is me," she smiled, her mental form flickering as she finished the merger.

With a jolt, Kagome came back to herself and fell forward due to her chakra being almost totally drained. She felt corded arms come around her, supporting her as she was barely able to keep her eyes open.

Rolling her head back, she found Gaara staring at her with an inscrutable look. His ears were now those of Shukaku-red triangles on top of his head-and his features had become ethereal. One of the Elders must have stepped closer because Gaara snarled-flashing deadly fangs-and his chakra exploded from him. Cradling her against his chest, he rolled to his feet and stared around the room.

"I uphold the pact between the former One-Tail and the Higurashi Clan; resealed on the sacrifice of your granddaughter," he declared.

Temari felt fear freeze her insides at the sight of her now fully demonic brother. The only thing that kept her in place was the small nin resting trustingly in his arms. When the girl turned her face into Gaara's chest, she wondered what the hell this meant for Suna and the rest of the world.

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Gaara's explosion of power, accepted by Kagome, had bound the clan to him just as they'd been when Shukaku still roamed free. The Elders convened again later to determine the best way to assist him in his new form.

"You will need to train, Lord Gaara, to harness your restored and expanded power," Kaede, the healer who had tended him after the fight, stated.

Temari shifted beside him. She didn't utter a sound, but he could easily guess where her and Kankurō's thoughts lay.

"We are in the middle of a mission, on our way to the chūnin exams," Gaara informed the Elders.

Aito hummed thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "There is a technique our clan can use to aid you. It is a time bubble with a conjured trainer customized to a person's power level. All our nin must overcome its challenge. While within, you will have as much time as you require, however mere hours will pass outside."

Kankurō sat forward at that. "I've never heard of such. That would be highly beneficial to Suna."

The Elders frowned at him. "This is a clan technique that takes the majority of the clan to perform. Only our own or Lord Gaara may use it."

Intrigued, Gaara inclined his head. "That is acceptable."

His siblings were displeased, but there was little they could do save leave him or let him have his way. Gaara wasn't overly concerned, though the memory of Kagome's words about family flashed in his mind. She'd been willing to die for hers, making him wonder if perhaps her unyielding strength was bolstered by that bond. When she'd opened herself to him, she'd shown him how powerful her feelings were-how warm her life was because she loved others more than herself.

"Would you allow my siblings to enter as well?" he asked before he could second guess himself.

Temari glanced to him in pleased surprise as Aito's eyes narrowed. The Elders murmured amongst themselves. Gaara waited patiently until they reached a decision.

"We will allow this only in deference to you, Lord Gaara," Aito relented. "If you'll come to the arena in an hour, we should have preparations finished by then."

Bowing, the siblings left the room. Temari grinned at Gaara when they were outside and away from the clan.

"Thanks, Gaara," she said, for the first time addressing him without reservation.

It made Gaara's chest hurt in a good way, confusing him. Opting to think on it later, he shrugged uncomfortably. Kankurō's brows lifted curiously at his brother's unusual reaction. Though he was as feral as ever since the merging, he also seemed more connected to what was happening around him.

"Lord Gaara!" an excited voice called.

The three turned and found Kagome hurrying to catch up with them. Her eyes brightened when they met Gaara's as she came to a stop near him.

"I just heard you're to face the Bubble," she said in a rush. "That's fantastic! I ranked Inuyasha as a teacher, but I bet you'll get Sesshōmaru."

Temari was taken aback by the girl's happiness at speaking to Gaara. She was treating him like a normal person. When he returned the conversation, his sister nearly fell over.

"Sesshōmaru?"

Kagome nodded. "Gramps told you about the teachers matching the student's strength, right? The hardest two are Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha with Sesshōmaru at the top. Sesshōmaru is a dog demon and Inuyasha is a half demon. No one's ranked Sesshōmaru in…well, I actually don't know if anyone's been strong enough to face him." She shrugged. "Inuyasha beat the hell out of me, but he was a good teacher once he got over having to train a 'weak little girl.' "

She said the last in a sarcastic, deep voice that was obviously an imitation of her teacher.

Gaara was highly interested in the thought of pitting himself against another demon. Kagome tucked her hair and gave a deep bow, cutting off anything he would have said.

"I would be honored if you allowed me to be your anchor," she said.

"What anchor?" Kankurō asked.

"Every person in the Bubble must have an anchor outside of it as a safety precaution. If something should go wrong, the anchor can pull the person inside out."

Gaara crossed his arms. "How?"

Still bowed, she replied, "A temporary connection is formed."

Understanding the ramifications of that, Gaara nearly balked. He didn't want to be tied to another person like that after just being freed of a tie he'd born the entirety of his life. Still, training was a necessity to control his powers now and there wasn't any other way to achieve it that wouldn't sacrifice his mission in Konoha. Deliberating, he realized that if he did this, the priestess was the only one he could possibly allow to anchor him. He'd seen enough of her to know that she wouldn't abuse the connection and would sever it as soon as it was no longer needed.

"Very well," he agreed, watching her straighten and beam at him. Her smile made his chest hurt, just like Temari's gratitude had.

"Thank you!"

She clasped her hands and danced back and forth on her feet, as if restraining herself. Finally, she broke and declared, "I can't take it!"

Then, she launched herself at him and latched onto his ears, petting them gently.

Kankurō gaped as Gaara's sand didn't react, allowing Kagome to cuddle his brother and stroke the furry ears he'd just gotten. Gaara tensed at the assault, but merely clasped Kagome's waist and pulled her off him. She grinned bashfully as he held her away from him, her feet barely touching the ground.

"What are you doing?" he growled, shocking his siblings when they noticed a tiny bit of red on his nose.

Kagome pointed to his ears. "They are too cute, Lord Gaara. I had to do it." She flexed her fingers and sighed. "Please?"

Temari covered her mouth to hide a grin at the unusual sight, exchanging a look with Kankurō, who was equally astonished. Gaara stared at Kagome in absolute disbelief.

"You want to pet my ears?" he asked, bewildered.

"Please?" she asked, widening her eyes and blinking up at him pleadingly.

"No," he grumbled, releasing her.

Disappointed, she pouted, but accepted it. "Fine, then, be like that. Do you guys want some food before you go in? Trust me, you'll need it."

Agreeing, they went with her, wondering at her running chatter about the village and how Shukaku had been so important to them. There were carvings of the tanuki all over the village, some depicting him rampaging and fighting. Some of them, however, showed Shukaku surrounded by villagers, obviously a part of them.

Kagome led them to one of the larger houses, entering without knocking. A kindly older woman greeted them as she placed food on a table.

"Kagome, there you are."

"Mom, I brought guests."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled and bobbed her head to them. "Hello, dears. It's been a long time since we've had visitors. I hope this is acceptable."

They murmured their agreements as they knelt at the table. Kankurō looked at the woman as a young boy skidded into the room, quickly kneeling beside Kagome.

"Thank you, Mrs. Higurashi. I am Kankurō. This is my sister Temari and my brother, Gaara."

Kagome blushed at realizing she hadn't introduced them, but her mother took it in stride.

"It's nice to meet you. I am Aoi and that is my son, Sōta."

With a bow, she served Gaara first, making him blink at the deference. He shouldn't have been surprised; the village had practically fallen all over themselves for him from the beginning. They truly revered Shukaku.

"What will we face in the Bubble?" Temari asked after the rest of them had been served.

Aoi shook her head. "I cannot say. Kagome is the only one to have faced the Bubble this generation and it varies from person to person depending on need."

All eyes swung to Kagome as she bit into a dumpling. Flushing, she hurriedly chewed and swallowed.

"You'll be trained by whatever teacher you rank first."

"And then?"

Her blue eyes darkened and for a moment, they were looking at the dangerous ninja that had stood up to Gaara. It was so at odds with her normally happy-go-lucky personality that her next words were given a weight they wouldn't have otherwise.

"Then, you'll face the worst part of yourself," she stated, gaze meeting Gaara's intently. "You'll face a Hell of your own making. That's the last challenge and if you don't succeed, you'll be trapped there."

"Unless our anchor pulls us out," he commented.

Kagome blinked and grinned, her cheer returning as if it'd never left. "Of course!" she chirped. "Just remember that your trainer won't send you to that until you're absolutely ready for it."

Kankurō sipped his tea and studied the young girl. "What did you see?"

"None of your business," she said without pausing in eating. "What I faced won't matter to any of you."

Gaara smirked at his brother's put-out expression, though he was curious about Kagome's challenge as well.

Sōta wrinkled his nose and drew the demon's attention. "Has Kagome got her hands on your ears yet?"

Red faced, Kagome elbowed her brother. "Shut up, Sōta! He said I couldn't mess with them!"

"After pulling you off them," Temari pointed out evilly.

Mrs. Higurashi sighed deeply and turned an admonishing glare on her daughter. "Kagome, you didn't."

Slumping, the girl poked at her rice. "I couldn't help it, Mama! So cute," she mumbled.

Temari watched as Gaara shifted uncomfortably, the topic of conversation twitching with his thoughts. He almost looked embarrassed, which she'd never seen until Kagome.

Mrs. Higurashi gave a strained smile to Gaara. "Lord Gaara, I apologize for Kagome."

His sand fluttered around the girl, apparently without his conscious thought as his attention was focused on her mother.

"Kagome is my friend," he slowly stated, as if puzzling out some great mystery.

Kankurō arched a brow even as Kagome beamed. He wondered if the girl had done more than just merge the two souls together while she was in his mind. Somehow, the lock on Gaara's humanity had released when he'd become a demon. The irony wasn't lost on him.

His words made Aoi relax, her previous formality draining away to something motherly and warm. In a very short amount of time, she was treating all of them as though they were her children. For the three siblings, whose mother had been dead for over a decade, it was a soothing balm to an ache that would never truly go away.


Next Chapter: The Time Bubble!