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Airo's funeral lasted until well after ten at night, due to all the partying. But since the Hokage Monument had turned into a goddamn confessional, it was about midnight. However, they decided just to relax on top the Monument before going to see Tsunade, Ayami was still positioned comfortably in Naruto's lap, his hands were wrapped around her waist and were resting in her lap. They observed the Leaf from their point on the stone dais.

Everything Ayami had said to him had affected him. It reminded them how alike they were, and how cruelly demon hosts were treated for something they had no control over. It wasn't his, Ayami's, or Gaara's fault that they were hosts, it was chosen before they could even say 'mommy'.

She fights for her existence to be made known . . . Naruto thought, resting his chin on Ayami's head. And so do I . . . are we really that different? Do I love her for that?

Ayami was thinking a lot about what had happened. She told him her deepest and innermost secret, and he didn't run, he still liked her for who she is. Even though she had told him she had a demon, he held her close and told her it was alright.

Ayami had never felt a true hug. Airo had hugged her when she was upset, but they were siblings. Something told her though . . . she had felt this kind of hug before. It was like a ghost of a memory, or a ghost of a fragment of a memory. When I was crying . . . was that what it was like to have a real mother?

All her life, it was always me, myself, and I. She had no one to share with, or cry with, or play with. When she was upset, she would curl up into a tiny little ball and often cry herself to sleep. What else could you do if you were a young five year old with attempts on your life trying to go to the bathroom.

But when he was holding her there, she truly realized that he was there for her. That filled a hole in her heart. She never knew it was there, but had always felt it. She had someone who loved her for who she really was, not what was inside her . . . or did she have someone to love?

"Aya . . ." Naruto said.

"Yeah?"

"How many people know about the Eight-Tails?" Naruto was curious. He knew that the adults knew, but what of there generation?

"No one, except for Kakashi-sensei, the Pervy Sage, Granny Rin, and my father. No one our age knows, you're the first I've ever told." She paused. "Except for Sakura and Airo . . ." her voice trailed off.

Ayami looked out to the Leaf, toward the graveyard. There was a patch of newly-dug earth, which reminded her of something.

"How was the funeral?"

"Everyone was there . . . but we were worried about you though."

"I . . . I didn't deserve to be there." Ayami sighed.

Naruto let out a sigh of his own. "Aya . . . no one blames you at all for what happened to Airo. You had helped him see the light. Everyone's really worried about you . . . "

"W-why are they worried?" Ayami asked.

"Well . . . they didn't know how you would take it . . ." Naruto paused. "Aya . . . what would've happened if I wasn't here?"

" . . . I would've jumped . . ."

Naruto held her tighter. He was glad that she was there for him . . . and she was glad he was there for her.

"Well Naruto," Ayami said with a sad grin on her face. "Let's go see the Old Lady!" She didn't know if they could do anything to help her. If it all came down to her dieing to protect her village . . . so be it."

A/N; Konichiwa! I really wanted to include the talk with Tsunade in the chapter, but I got caught up in the fluffiness, sue me! Ja-ne!!!

Next Chapter: Decisions