Boy oh boy there's lotsa talking in this one. Hope ya'll don't mind these guys' ted talk...ENJOY!


"My demon is as real as yours is..." Gaara lowered his head. "...From my birth, my upbringing was not what most people would consider a happy one. To ensure that I became the strongest of shinobi, my father had cast his ninjutsu on me...infusing my unborn self with a sand spirit. I destroyed the life of the woman who gave birth to me...I was born a monster." He looked back up, giving them a dark, cold, emotionless stare.

Both Naruto and Shikamaru's blood ran cold at his words.

Haru looked down to the floor, his heart once again feeling that aching pain...even though Gaara was dangerous and unstable...Haru never truly, truly feared him.

"It's name is Shukaku, and it's the living incarnation of an old monk of the Sand Village who'd been sealed up in a jar of tea." Gaara continued, and Shikamaru swallowed nervously. "Yeah, some kind of demonic jutsu...but to use it on a baby? Before it's even born? Man that's creepy...gee, what a swell guy your dad must've been. He really must've loved you a lot..." Shikamaru continued.

"...You speak of love...? Don't measure me by your standards...love...family...the only emotional ties I have to my family, are the ones I'd like to wrap around their necks. They're only ties of hate." Gaara stared coldly at them, speaking more and more...then he came to a silence...

"...Then what? Are you gonna tell us or not?...So go on! What started, what was it!?" Naruto growled.

...Gaara began to grin insanely.

"In the six years since I became six years old, my father has tried to destroy me more times then I can count!" He growled. The other two gasped in shock, but Haru remained silent, his ears and head lowered. Gaara seemed to have noticed, but didn't pay it much mind...other then being slightly curious inside.

At this point, Haru had noticed that it was starting to effect Naruto...

"...Then in time the answer came to me...to put it simply, my reason for living is in the killing of others. For years I lived in fear of those who were sent to murder me, but now I am at peace...I've killed many wimpy assassins, and it was while I was doing it that the truth was made clear to me...I live solely for myself, I love only myself. As it was the death of my mother that first gave me life, now it is the death of others that sustains me, that makes me almost happy to be alive...and there's no end to it...as long as there are still people to kill in this great, wide, crowded world...I will never disappear."

Shikamaru grunted, trembling slightly.

Naruto was seemed to be completely out of it.

But Haru stood quietly, his eyes closed as he brows furrowed into a glare. You lie so much these days don't you...this isn't peace, Gaara...you know it isn't... He thought. Even as Gaara's sand began to move again to attack them, Haru shut his eyes tight. This isn't you Gaara...please...don't do this! He thought. The shadow possession was still on Gaara...but the sand moved on its own, and Gaara had that old look of insanity and blood lust.

Haru flinched as the sand came close, but suddenly jumped and opened his eyes wide, looking over to the entrance of the room.

"Alright that's enough." Guy came in, and the sand suddenly stopped. Haru stared for a moment in shock, but before he was able to really get in trouble with the Jonin, he swiftly and quickly exited through the window. He let out a long sigh of relief, but as he turned to leave, he bumped into Fuyumaru. "..." ...From the look of his face, he wasn't too happy.

Haru looked down and lowered his ears, avoiding the eyes of the wolf staring down at him. Haru obediently got onto Fuyumaru's back, and the wolf began walking home. "...I know you have deep feelings for Gaara...but I need you to realize and accept that he's dangerous...one wrong step around him could kill you...you must understand me Haru." Fuyumaru looked back at Haru with a concerned gaze. Haru looked over to the side, his ears lowered. He couldn't just give up on Gaara...not now. "...I can't just...leave him..." He spoke in an ever so quiet voice. Fuyumaru sighed in response. "Resorting to speaking will not change my mind Haru...please understand that I'm just trying to protect you for your safety...and his." Fuyumaru said more softly as he neared their apartment, opening the door and going inside with Haru. Haru slowly shut the door before quietly walking to his room. He sat on his bed, staring out the window with a sorrowful expression.

"...I live solely for myself, I love only myself..."

...You made a promise to me Gaara...

...Please, remember me...

...Please...remember...


Remember...REMEMBER WHAT? REMEMBER WHAT? Next up is the long awaited finals. Review and stuff, and stay tuned.