Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
WARNING: This chapter has mild blood and violence. The horror genre really comes out.
Kankuro let out a growl in frustration.
Nothing was going his way. His ideas had failed, it seemed like they would never win.
Geeze Gaara, if you knew how much trouble you're putting us in…and these brotherly instincts don't make it any better!
He closed his eyes.
Okay, think. I am absolutely sure about memories bringing him back; I just need to find something stronger than a piece of paper and a meager sound.
Gaara thought hard.
"It was the Shukaku all along," he said aloud, "he never left. When he tried to take control and to transform me, but my body rejected his dark chakra. But instead of leaving my body, he retreated into my mind. This...is nothing but Shukaku."
That's right.
"So," Gaara said with a smirk, "it was you all along."
Yup, me.
Gaara started squirming again. "So, tell me. What do you plan to accomplish with this chaos?"
The demon chuckled. I'm a demon! What do you think I want? Bloodshed is the only thing I'd ever want!
How predictable.
He felt something pinch the skin on his leg.
What?
A spike broke through, causing him scream in pain.
"Crap!" he yelled, "what did you do to me!"
It's pretty simple; I'm transforming you for good.
"W-what!"
"One hour."
Kankuro looked up at Natsumi.
"You have one hour." She said firmly.
Whats up with her?
He nodded. "I know. One hour."
The woman nodded. "One measly hour before he's lost forever."
Geeze, is she trying to make me feel worse?
A spine-chilling chuckle rose from Natsumi's throat. "O-only one hour! One hour before he takes over!"
Kankuro looked at her with wide eyes.
"W-what are you talking about?" he gasped.
The expression on the scientist's face changed.
Kankuro waved a hand in front of her face.
"Hello," he said in a singsong tone, "earth to Natsumi?"
Without warning, the woman's fist collided with his face.
The blow sent Kankuro flying backwards, crashing through a nearby wall. He grabbed his leg and groaned.
"Natsumi!" he cried, "what was that for?"
Instead of answering, she threw her head back and began laughing.
It was a frightening sound. Like nails scraping the surface of a chalkboard or (1) thumping of invisible monsters.
Kankuro shook the thoughts out of his head and glared at his former alley.
"Where is Gaara!" he yelled after noticing his brothers absence, "I don't see Temari either, what have you done with them!"
Natsumi smiled, murderous intent filled her eyes.
That's when Kankuro knew that he was alone.
Gaara screamed as the pointed claws of his true form pierced through the skin of his fingertips. A thin trail of blood rolled down his said and soaking into the sand.
You see, said Shukaku, when the Akatsuki tried to extract me, they were short one member. The snake sannin, Orochimaru. If they had him, it wouldn't have failed, but since they didn't—it was EPIC fail. But, to be safe I hid in the darkest corner of your mind where my dark chakra would be hidden amunst your own.
"No," growled Gaara, "when I gave up on killing to survive, I was cleansed of darkness!"
Tsk tsk, you are so naïve. Everyone has darkness in their mind, right down to the smallest child. You get rid of it, neither could your friend. Interest replaced the annoyance in his voice. The Kyuubi child recently started training to become a Sage, not just that—but he thinks he can control Kyuu-
"SHUT UP!" shrieked Gaara, "You have absolutely no right to judge Naruto like that!"
Hm, Grumbled Shukaku, you didn't let me finish. The point is that the bond between us is stronger than steel and tighter than an emo kid's pants. I will never leave this body.
Kankuro narrowed his eyes and looked at Natsumi.
"You," he said roughly, "you've been against us that whole time."
Judging by that punch, she's pretty strong. I'm injured in several places, not to mention sore...Sasori has been jacked up…and I'm alone. Crap.
"Well," he said, "are you gunna answer me?"
The Jinchuriki of the one-tailed beast has to face even more obstacles than a normal Jinchuriki. Stated the demon.
"And what do you consider normal?"Growled Gaara.
Hmmmm, no comment. The thing that separates you from the other hosts is that when they change into their true forms, it comes in the form of a clock. But when you change, it breaks out of your skin.
Right on cue, his entire hand was torn into shreds when the monstrous paw of his true form ripped through. The same thing happened to his other hand, then his feet. His teeth elongated into fangs and more spikes broke through.
Within seconds, more than half of his body was transformed and covered in blood.
Natsumi's psychotic laughter rang through the air.
Each break in the chilling sound seemed to get closer and closer together. Then, she stopped.
"Huh?" muttered Kankuro.
The female's bloodthirsty look melted away. She frowned. "I am no longer of use. It's started and not going to stop." As soon as those words left her mouth, she began to dissolve into a pile of sand.
Kankuro Watched in horror as the person died before his very eyes. Though, he wasn't quite sure if she was a real person to begin with.
"Okay, I guess that's something out of the way." He mumbled, not taking his eye off of the pile of sand.
I can only hope that Temari didn't suffer from the same fate.
He slowly got up and brushed himself off. He pulled the remains of his puppet from under the rubble and headed off to end the horror once and for all.
AH! Exclaimed Shukaku, That's the stuff!
Blood poured out of Gaara's wounds.
The sand cocoon had become tighter due to his increased size and the shredded skin filling up the cracks. If it got any tighter, he was sure to suffocate.
Kankuro! Temari! Natsumi! Help!
No voices answered his cries for help, only more pain.
Why…is this….happening?
He felt something push from inside torso. It burst through, tearing his clothes and skin clean off. His arms and legs followed.
N-no…I'm losing it….no! I c-can't let it end like th-this!
Kankuro looked down at the large pile of sand in front of him. Locks of fur were mixed in with the grains, indicating that the pile was once a furry creature.
Perhaps a raccoon.
Perhaps…Gaara.
Kankuro felt his knees give away from beneath him. He fell down next to the pile. Tears poured out of his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.
"Gaara!" he sobbed, "I was too late!"
His face bulged out, the Shukaku-like features replacing his own.
The sands of the cocoon melted away to reveal a mirror.
He looked at his reflection.
Kankuro cried harder and harder.
His brother was dead and his sister had possibly suffered the same death.
The wind blew, spreading sand across the ground.
"Kankuro?"
He whipped around and saw Temari.
The blonde's clothes were stained with blood and dirt, she had lost her sandals and her face was bright red. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
"Kankuro." She said again.
The puppeteer got up and ran over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and began rocking back-and-forth.
"Kankuro!" she sobbed, "Gaara! Where is Gaara!"
Instead of his true form, he saw a child.
That's me.
The child was crying. Each pitiful wail grew louder and each tear got bigger.
That's me…a long time ago.
The child faded, showing his true form.
That's you Gaara, whispered Shukaku, A self loving monster with the desire to kill.
"I thought I told that gave that up a long time ago."
You never listen. I thought I told you that you can never remove the darkness from your mind. It stays. Forever.
Gaara's eyes widened.
So, you've laid down the finale piece to the puzzle. When I said, "There aren't any limits; the thing is you'll stay like this forever if you don't take control", it's already happened. Every time you kill in cold blood, it's me. Every time you wish someone were dead, that's me. Gaara, you lost control a long time ago and it's never coming back.
Kankuro…Temari….even….
He thought of his friends at the Leaf village.
Do you all…..am I……
He closed his eyes.
Am I precious to you?
You were never loved.
Do you…love me?
Never.
Do you even care?
Gaara, you don't listen. I'm letting you go, but you will surrender to me one day. And when that day comes I'll kill everyone, Sand and Leaf. You just wait.
Kankuro felt Temari tug his sleeve.
"Kankuro, look!"
The sand began to knit back together, taking a human shape.
His eyes widened.
The features appeared, giving the being an identity.
"Gaara!"
A/N: Okay...I don't quite know what to say about that. See! This is what kept me from trying to write fanfiction earlier! I'll start a story and it'll turn into something completely different! Sorry, I need to vent. I felt like posting this early due to some negitive feedback (My second bad review T_T) So, person who was a bit...not happy, here you go. Its almost over. I've got nothing left to write but the epolouge and that won't take long. In your next review, tell me what you really think! If you think this story went downhill, say it. If you think I should stick to writing humor, say it. I want to know. Flame me as hard as you want! It'll make me write better!
1. You know, the days when you thought monsters lived under your bed.
Reviews are as loved as life.
TeenageNeko, out.