Monster
Chapter 37
Kankuro POV:
That was some fight. I can see why Gaara would be interested in him, but...
When I turned my painted gaze to the boy next to me I could see his body shaking. He had a crazed look in his eyes and he was clenching his folded arms against his chest.
That battle must have awoken his inner demon. This could get ugly.
I pondered on him a little while longer just to make sure he was okay before his shivering slowly started to die down and his arms relaxed. He may be a demon...but he's still my little brother. Even if he doesn't see it that way, I still care about him. If I could go back to that day...and change everything I would.
If I had just been a better brother that day...maybe he wouldn't have grown to resent us so much.
xXxXx
A few minutes just before they called the second match I accidently caught the side gaze of the red-headed boy. Even though I wanted to look away to avoid any altercations with him I just couldn't bring myself to let it go. All I wanted was to just be able to reach out and touch him. To tell him that I was sorry and that if he'd let me...I'd try and be a better brother to him.
I flashbacked to the other morning when he had come back. The way his eyes kept flickering as he tried to speak and the way he softy stumbled over his words. For the first time in a long time...Gaara was trying to reach out to us. It was like that at dinner too. When his hand shyly came within inches of my shirt. I could see the struggle in his eyes, fighting so hard to find the courage to say something.
"Kankuro."
My mind raced back to the present at the sound of the boy's cold menacing voice saying my name. "Why do you stare at me so? Are you trying to die?" He calmly asked.
Though his words frightened me and caused me to inner retreat I still wanted to try. I conjured up a weary smile and began to speak. "I was just thinking about the other morning." I softy answered. The boy's body slightly turned towards me and his stygian rimmed gaze hardened. "You seemed like you were really trying to say something. I just-"
"It was nothing." He quickly said, interrupting me. His voice was faint, but it still held power. "You shouldn't waste your time thinking of such things before a fight." He finished.
"Ya, but Gaara..." I softly cried.
"Just let it go before I get angry." He said as he turned back towards the railing, relinquishing his pale gaze from mine. You really were trying to tell us something, weren't you...
xXxXx
A few minutes later.
KANKURO VS. MISUMI TSURUGI
SAND VS. LEAF
Guess that's me.
Gaara POV:
Maybe if we had been alone I could have had the courage to finally say it. What it was I was really trying to tell you.
xXxXx
During the match the man known as Misumi had snaked his limbs around Kankuro's body and broke his neck. Even though I knew he could not be defeated so easily there was still a small jab to my heart when I watched his head fall and his body stop resisting. For some reason...the idea of his death...hurt me.
It was brief and only for a moment but for the first time since that day I had felt some type of pain. A pain that was once described to me as a wound of the heart. It was a different wound than the one the pink haired girl gave me. Because with her it was healed instantly by her acceptance and warm smile. This one lingered. It was clinging to my heart causing me to tighten the grip on my arms and my body to tremble.
Only when he emerged from the puppet did that pain subside and he was victorious.
Once he returned he was congratulated by his sister and praised by his sensei. Something that I wished I had the courage to do.
xXxXx
Naruto POV:
That guy with the puppets came from the same team as that Gaara. He may be strangely beautiful, but I can still sense his blood lust from here, though it appears to have calmed down. Watching these matches must be what's setting it off. It's causing his blood to stir.
"Whacha thinking about?"
I turned my gaze to a rather curious cherry blossom. "That other demon." I answered quietly. "It's like...I can feel him."
Kakashi POV:
Other demon? What is he talking about?
"What do you mean Naruto?" I asked the blonde boy. He slowly turned to face me and for a moment I could have sworn his eyes flickered. "It's his demon." He started.
"Whose demon?" I asked.
"He's talking about Gaara-kun." The girl chimed in, her eyes slightly glazed but held a serious tint.
That name sounds familiar. I believe his team was the first one to arrive. They completed the second test in record time. And he didn't have a scratch on him.
"It reeks of bloodlust." The fox continued, his eyes flickering crimson red once again.
I see. So, his inner fox spirit is reacting defensively towards the other demon. It senses its hostility and views it as a threat. But still...
"Naruto, why...didn't you tell me about this other demon? Especially if it's affecting you like this." I softly asked the child. The boy's eyes slowly drifted down as he realized it actually somewhat hurt me that he didn't feel comfortable enough to tell me such a thing. "I'm sorry Sensei." He apologized softly. "I had never met...someone else like me. I just wanted to know more about him before..." He quietly trailed off.
Even if this demon is everything opposite of the boy and is potentially dangerous he still felt the need to protect him and keep him hidden. How could I blame him?
Sigh.
"It's alright Naruto." I said. "Just...be sure to tell me these things okay. Especially if it could hurt you."
The boy gently lifted his azure eyes to meet mine and nodded his head before his eyes fell back to the floor. "I'm sorry." He quietly whispered.
"What are you still sorry for?" I gently asked.
"Sensei is always looking out for me and showing me kindness. All you've ever done is try to take care of me and do what's best for me. I don't know why I just-"
I interrupted him the teary-eyed boy by gently placing my hand on top on his head, causing his gaze to look up at me. All I could do...was smile at him. If it had been just the two of us I might have actually embraced him. He nodded and returned my smile in understanding.
Sasuke POV:
So that's why he didn't want to say anything about what he saw in the forest with Sensei. He felt a connection with this other demon. Even though it terrified him he still wanted to get to know him.
My gaze soon drifted to the scarlet on the other side of the room. He made me wonder what type of life he was living in comparison to Naruto's. But unlike Naruto, this one seemed unstable. I wonder how this is going to play out.
Sakura POV:
Aww, poor Naruto-kun. I was wondering why he hadn't said anything to Kaka-sensei about what he saw in the forest. And when I told them I had met him he only seemed more intrigued by him. I told them that he just seemed lonely and misunderstood. Naruto must feel like he really hurt Kaka-sensei by not telling him.
"Uh, Sakura."
Huh?
I looked up to see Sensei pointing at something behind me. When I turned to look I about fell over.
SAKURA HARUNO VS. INO YAMANAKA
LEAF VS. LEAF
Of all people...why did it have to be her?
"Now that's a fight I can't wait to see." The raven smirked.
"Sasuke show a little compassion would ya." The fox bantered. "They used to be friends."
Friends...that's right. We were friends. Best friends even. That's what makes this match so beautifully wrong and so painfully right in so many different ways. She'll be my final test. Only one can come out on top of this and that person...is going to be me. I won't lose to her.
Kakashi POV:
Now that's an interesting pairing. I wonder how she'll fair in this match.
"Kaka-sensei."
Huh?
I looked to see Sakura standing before me with her hands behind her back and her weight resting on one side in a cutesy manor, smiling.
"Yes?" I asked.
"If I win, will you pat me on the head and tell me you're proud of me too, like you always do to Naruto and Sasuke-kun?" She sweetly asked, slightly titling her head.
I had to admit I was a little taken back but after a minute I smiled at the girl and nodded. With that, the other's wished her luck and she headed downstairs. I watched carefully as she made her way to the main floor and stood face to face with her friend and rival.
"She won't lose you know." The raven noted, drawing my attention back to the boys. "Oh, you're that confident in her." I coaxed, curiously.
"Sakura-chan isn't the same as what she used to be." He said.
"Is that so..." I inquired.
"You'll see...just how much of a savage she's really become."
To be continued...
Sorry this took so long. Next chapter is gonna be pretty intense. A lot goes on lol Probably won't get that one tonight. Let me know if you guys like the new POVs I'm throwing in there. There are a few more POVs from people we haven't heard from I'm gonna be adding in here soon. I know for sure Ino will have one next chapter. And I promise there will be some more fluff with Naruto x Sasuke I just have to get through a few rounds. Like I said I'm not going into detail will everyone. Alright well that about sums it up. Feel free to review. How are you guy's liking the preliminaries so far? I love hearing your feedback. See you next chapter!