Lurking Within
(Part 1 of the trilogy)

Chapter 08: The Lurking Animal

This was what he lived for. His senses came alive with the metallic smell, the sound of the life dripping onto the grass, the taste of copper, and the look of pure fear in his victim. Crackling, the Itzal possessed Sakura added another deep gash in the tiger demon's stomach. It was done to ensure maximum pain but not enough damage that the demon will bleed out. He was no rookie in this field; his victims must all last until his bloodlust was satisfied. Unfortunately, for Adonis, this may take longer than usual.

"Have you finally succumb to the mere animal inside you?"

Even without turning around, Itzal knew who the intruder was. He felt his mistress stir from her light slumber and he groaned. "Must you interrupt constantly?" Itzal growled as his conscience slipped away and his mistress's conscience woke up. Sakura yawned and stretched her limbs, knowing her lack of interest in Gaara was ticking him off. "What do we have here? A rouge demon? I can't say I've seen your kind before Itzal showed up." Crouching down, Sakura gave some nudges into the demon's side. Adonis mewed in pain and tried to plead for mercy, but it fell on deaf ears. "Rest up, Itzal has plans for you." She gave a sadistic smile before turning to the fuming redhead. "Gaara! What a pleasant surprise. Can't say the same for Itzal though. It would seem that you have interrupted his get-together." Pausing, Sakura's grin widen. "Unless Shukaku wanted to join in? Itzal would gladly show you a much deserved welcome."

-Let me out! I will gladly return the favor.-

Composing himself, Gaara glared in return. "Look at yourself. You give into the bloodlust so easily. Have you no self-restraint?" Gaara growled. He crossed his arms and said in a haughty tone, "Perhaps you are just a mere animal." Emerald eyes snapped up and if looks could kill, Gaara would be feeling the flames from the fiery pits of hell right now. "A mere animal?" Sakura threw her head back in laughter, "Do not lecture me on your definition of what it means to be an animal. The way I see it," Sakura growled with a glint in her eyes, "you've always been an animal."

With an animalistic snarl, Gaara slammed Sakura into one of the nearby tree, the bark digging into her skin. "I will show you an animal." Sand began to gather and Sakura stiffened a little. "Itzal?" Without another word, the etchings of a portal began to appear on the grounds. "Calling your pet, are we?" Gaara smirked, "Shukaku told me an interesting tidbit. You see, every demon has its own weakness that they keep a secret from one another. However, Shukaku has found your demon's greatest strength is his weakness." Sakura gave a confused glance in Itzal's direction. The wolf demon had paused and looked as if he was debating whether Gaara was telling the truth or not.

"I call your buff." Sakura glared.

Gaara snarled and closed his hand around her pale neck, tightening as she struggled against him. Beside them, Itzal leapt into action, only to be faced with total darkness. The sand that had once been quivering around them had assembled itself into a sand dome, blocking all source of light. "Your animal cannot access his power in total darkness. Shadows do not exist in darkness. Therefore, Itzal cease to exist in this environment." The red head gave another squeeze and basked in the grunt of pain Sakura gave.

"Itzal?" Sakura groaned out, her eyes trying to adjust to the dark.

"I can't do anything, mistress. The darkness is binding and without any hint of light, I cannot access my powers from my realm." Itzal apologized.

"Where is your knight in shining armor now, Haruno?" Gaara gave a sinister smile and in his mind, Shukaku was positively basking in the moment. -This is what life should be- Shukaku crackled.

Closing her eyes in understanding, Sakura reopened them to reveal emerald eyes glowing with determination. "I don't need any help to hurt you, Gaara." Lifting her hand, Sakura's palm met Gaara's face with a sound slap. The sound reverberated around the dome and Sakura felt Gaara's hold loosen. Gaara was still trying to grasp what had transpired between the two. The stinging pain on his cheek told him that it was not his imagination that the girl had slapped him; however, the sudden spark from the contact between his face and her palm, and his hands and her neck, was telling him that this was not normal.

Releasing his hold on her, as if he was burned from the touch of her skin, Gaara leapt back just in time. Itzal the Shadow Wolf was not amused by the stunt Gaara and Shukaku had just pulled, and revenge was strong on his mind. "Are you okay, Mistress?" Itzal asked, concern laced heavily in his tone. While his mind was focused on his mistress's well-being, his eyes remained trained on the red head from Suna. "I am fine, Itzal." She rest her hand on his tail and gave a firm, but reassuring, squeeze. "It will bruise but nothing I cannot handle." Her hands went up to her throat and gave a soft caress.

A staring match began for the two demon wielders and while their demons wanted to hash this out through body mutilation and bloody wounds, the two humans held fast. "You will do well to not cross me again, Haruno." Gaara finally broke the silence and disappeared in a whirl of sand.

"That coward!" Itzal snarled, his paws digging into the spot where Gaara had left with Shukaku in him. "I will rip his internal organs out from his living, breathing, body!" Alternating between digging and pounding the ground, Itzal unleashed his fury and his thoughts of revenge. A soft scratching noise from behind the two occupants drew their attention from Itzal's childish outburst to an eavesdropper. Itzal's hazel eyes widen and narrowed at having a living punching bag.

Adonis was trying his hardest to run away. At first, he was in too much pain and fear to even contemplate on moving but it would seem as if the wolf and the demon child were well distracted enough for him to make his move. He could feel the life leaking out from all the wounds scattered all over his body, but Adonis did not want to die. He was in his prime and hadn't even gotten about to mating yet; he can not die here. His eyes spotted some dense bushes not to far from where he laid, and so, putting all his strength into his upper arms, Adonis proceeded to drag his body into the foliage in hopes of hiding. His mind concentrated on pulling and digging his claws into the soft earth. However, with his concentration focused on his escape, he failed to notice that his distraction was no longer there. If he had turned around, he would've seen the golden eyes of his predator stalking his every move.

"Now, now, where do you think you're going my little kitten?"

Adonis froze in mid-pull and refused to turn around. It was all a nightmare, Adonis repeated to himself, it was all a nightmare and he was going to wake up in his den. But the heavy breathing behind his ear told him a different story.

"I commend you for trying to escape, even with the pain you must be feeling." Itzal smirked. "However, your failure to escape me will be your punishment. This will teach you to lesson on how to escape better, if you survive."

This was no dream, Adonis realized, it was a living nightmare.

High above Konoha, on the mountain carved with the faces of past Hokages, sat a very confused redhead. Jade eyes rimmed with insomnia were locked in a fierce battle with his hands. He had felt a spark, no doubt about it. And while he gave up a long time ago on deciding if he was insane or not, this instance made him ponder the question a bit. Maybe Shukaku was playing with his mind when he had made contact with the girl. -Surely you jest. I have better things to do than to play tricks with you.- The raccoon demon in his head proceeded to sketch out detail plans on how to filet a certain wolf demon in his head, ignoring the internal turmoil his human container was having. Shaking his head, Gaara gave himself a brief tap on the head. He must have imagined it then. There was no way, he would feel anything besides pain; especially not from that girl.

Reaching an agreeable decision and explanation, Gaara leaned back and gazed at the glow of Konoha. If he wasn't a demon holder, a child of such an abused past, then perhaps he could have even thought of Konoha as beautiful; but you can not change the past and Gaara was never one to think of anything as beautiful. But even so, he couldn't get the colors of bubble gum pink and emerald green out of his head.

It is an okay image, Gaara shrugged.

Author's Note: Okay! I know! VERY long hiatus BUT so many obstacles have blocked me from writing this one chapter. First, I've finally graduated from college and job hunting is proving to be difficult. Second, my external hard drive of 7 years has crashed on me; I am unable to retrieve any of my drafts, outlines, and quick story ideas I've written. Yeah, that got me into a bawling mess. However, I tried to man up and has written a new plot. It is definitely different from what I had planned but hopefully this would be better. Leave tons of reviews and as always, enjoy!