Gaara didn't know what to think at the moment.

It was beyond his childish to mind to understand what was happening to him; him and this other boy, Naruto. He couldn't understand that that single moment of contact would change the course of their lives forever. He didn't know that all demons had a deep, intimate connection with their own species, no matter how the individuals might fear and hate each other.

For demons, touch was a binding, cherished act. It connected souls and minds together. It didn't matter whether the touch was meant to kill or not.

Over the course of the day, Naruto hadn't let go of his hand even once. Gaara didn't mind. He was an anchor for the taller boy.

He paused. It started with presence in his head, one he wasn't used to. Nothing demonic bled into his mind from the spirit. Somehow he knew it was the blond boy in front of him, pulling him along. The boy had stopped too.

Pictures and sounds came slowly in, appearing in his psyche's eye. There came smells and feeling he'd never known before.

Wanting to die, just to stop their hate. Trying again and again to leave…pain.

Gaara once wondered what pain felt like. But Naruto…he knew too much of it.

Wide jade eyes turned to the other boy. Vast cerulean met his own with an un-judging gaze.

Naruto had seen too, Gaara's life.

How he despised his father, no, feared him. How he hated the villagers for looking at him like they did. He was terrified that Mother would eat his mind someday…

Naruto knew about the demon that lived inside of him, yet he was not afraid. Gaara knew that he understood what it felt like, to be a jinchuuriki.

Gaara could feel it, that evil fox that lived inside of the blond.

'Kyuubi…' Shukaku whispered in terror.

Naruto heard, and blue eyes widened in comprehension.

"Kyuubi!" he said aloud.

¤

A/n: Just thought I should give you all something! When checking for the status of my stories, please look at my profile. I always post there to let people know whether I'll be continuing or not.

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