Eito and Yashamaru's plan went very smoothly. The Kazekage had sat in during the first 10 minutes of the first music lesson. The music lesson went well, and Yashamaru made a distraction so the guard and Kazekage would be distracted. Yashamaru slipped back into the room. Eito was gently explaining the plan to the kids.
"We get to see it?" Kankurō asked he was both skeptical, scared, and excited. Eito had to fight to not laugh. The boy's mind was easy for Eito to read, and not just because the demons made sensing emotions possible. Seeing a demon would be like encountering a wild, dangerous animal. Although dangerous and scary and eliminate of cool that could not be denied. He knew Kankurō was not jealous of Gaara, but a brief look at a demon could not be passed on.
"It won't hurt will it?" Temari asked.
"Ha! Scadry cat!" Kankurō mocked.
Temari clubbed him on his head "I meant Gaara! I don't want to hurt him!"
"I suspect, it will be mentally/emotionally draining, perhaps even upsetting. Not too late to back out yet" Eito answered.
"I not scared!" Kankurō declared.
"Me either!" Temari challenged.
Gaara was touched by Temari outburst of not wanting to hurt him, but unable to think of anything he silently moved closer to her and by proxy Kankurō.
"We must hurry," said Yashamaru.
Eito knelt down to be at eye level with the children "This is the last chance. You don't need to push you're these are demons. You're not a coward."
The children did not speak but they looked all the more determined.
"Okay, grab hold of Gaara, very gently so the sand doesn't raise up" Eito instructed.
Gaara unused to touch except hugs from Yashamaru, became uneasy but kept silent.
"You're alright Gaara" Yashamaru said gently he the faced Eito "Please hurry"
"Done," Eito said "No going back now".
With that said everyone in the group froze as mentally/spirits tapped into a different part of reality normally unreachable. It was nearly too dark to see, yet the location felt enormous. Some part of their souls senses not just the vastness of this space but the things living in it.
"Remember everything I told you," Eito said sternly. He walked and despite the great darkness he seemed to know where he was going.
Eito had instructed them with the utmost sincerity and firmness:
He and Yashamaru would lead.
Stay close and stay behind.
Don't panic.
Don't talk to the demons.
Eito came to a stop, in front of nothing. All eyes were on him, but none dared ask questions. After a long moment in the dark, he sighed "He's late. Should have known" he shrugged "Can't be helped" he answered himself.
Yashamaru was struck by how odd and out of place, his companion was saying. Dreed was forming in his heart he had to lead them astray in the mind of a madman. He stood back, closer to the children.
"Sorry to scare you, Yashamaru," Eito said as he crouched down to face the children. He could sense everyone's emotions so strongly it was almost mistakable for his own. He had to turn things around emotionally for the group or he might go mad. "There's a boy your age who also has a demon" In truth, he suspected Gaara was a year or so older. "His name is Naruto and he's on good terms, not really friends with his demon. It gives me hope, you might someday have the same with yours. "
Gaara's eyes widen and shined with hope and desperation. A bond with the demon? Another boy like him? He pitied this Narytuo already knowing he had not had an easy life.
"Don't you control your demons?" Kankurō challenged.
"I do, that's why they're not here. I've banished them so they can't harm anyone. I control them as best I can. Like a wild animal. They don't like or respect me. But Naruto gives me hope that I and Gaara can be friends or at least a partnership" Eito began to walk, now picking a different direction. "Ah, here he comes, with his demon. Brace yourselves"
A small white light began to form. It grew larger and brighter. Suddenly the white light vanished but was replaced by the rusty glow from the mountain-sized nine-tail fox. In the shadow of the great beast stood a boy of - he wore a white shirt with a red spiral and orange shorts with red trim. "Eito!" Naruto cried and lept into his open arms.
...
The door banged open the Kazekage and several Anbu rushed in.
"Yashamaru, what is the meaning of this?!" Rasa demanded of his brother-in-law.
"Oh, that was a distract" Eito answered cheerfully.
In ran the eldest two of the Kazekage counsel.
"This is perfect!" Eito cheered. He without warning took himself, Gaara, his father, the council members, and Anub to the realm he kept his personal demons. This too felt impossibly big but it was not so dark. The chakra glow of the three beasts provided plenty of illumination. A sickly blue/gray light emanated from them. The breathtakingly large monsters paced behind bars, behind a wall. The second the humans entered the same space they charged at bars. They attached, thrashed, and resited in silence.
"I have my demons under control. But Gaara is not so lucky."
Gaara went to his knees and began to scream. It pained Eito to do so, but it was the only way. The raccoon dog demon appeared in roaring furry. He like the others thrashed and attacked his cell. His terrible voice was not just in the room they all occupied but it seemed to be in their minds. Mostly it was the roars of a large, wounded animal, but the occasional vicious word could be understood.
Eito scooped up Gaara who was now in tears, still screaming. He whispered things until the boy was soothed enough to no longer scream. Gaara wept quietly into's Eito chest as he was still being healed.
"I can help your son; but he should have never been in this predicament, to begin with" Eito spoke to Rasa loud and clear. The man had no title or political power at that moment in that place. To Gaara, he said "We can shut that demon up. Be brave and with all your heart tell a wall to form around him. A room like I have mine," he pointed out the goose, goat, and moose still attacking the cages that held them.
"Just like that Gaara, I'll help the whole time. You're not alone anymore,"
In awe, the adults sans Eito marveled as walls formed around the cage that seemed to barely hold Shukaku. The demon's fury was quieted but not silenced. Eito had his hands on Gaara's shoulders and in a crocheted kept whispering encouragement and directions. The cage improved in thickness as did the wall. The roars were barely audible, the demon had faded almost completely from sight. With a carefree wave, Eito banished his own demons. Shukaku grew even dimmer and closed his eyes, collapsing face first.
"Really excellent Gaara. Be so very proud of yourself" Eito said before he released them all.
...
To Yashamaru, Temari, and Kankurō both not much time and too much time passed before life seemed to come back to the bodies. Yasharmu had even checked vitals to assure all three of them they were alive.
Eito as he did in the other world, picked up a crying Gaara and soothed him. he carried him to a chair, rocking him and talking in a soothing voice say hope proud he is, how strong Gaara is.
On shaking legs, Rasa approached, and silently, with pleading eyes he held his arms open.
Eito put Gaara on his feet to face his father and allow him to make the decision. For just a second Gaara hesitated but ran into his father's arms.
Father and son wept together as they had never done before. Holding on for dear life. Eventually, Rasa rose, cradling his son. "Thank you," he said to Eito who merely nodded. He was not completely forgiving but it did his heart well to see a family on the mend. The older kids rushed to their father as well. Even Yashamaru gave the lord of the land a quick hug, not ready to forgive completely either.
Lady Chiyo approached "I'm afraid 'sorry' isn't good enough, but it's all I have. Please, forgive me Gaara, as it was I had done this to you"
"Under my orders from being swayed by the council," Rasa said adding his own guilt and role.
"Why me?" Gaara asked his father for the first time.
"If the demon was compatible with Temari or Kankurō it would have been them or the next baby had your mother not died. That too is my fault. It seemed the only way but now I see just how wrong, how stupid-I" Rasa was moved to tears again. Say it out loud, allowing himself to feel for once in many years he was helpless but to cry. His children surrounded him and cried as well.
...
Rasa vowed to be the father he never was: involved, loving, and patient. He had a very long talk with Eito and Yashamaru. Afterward, he wrote and sent off with his faster messenger hawk a letter to the 3rd Hokage.
...
AN: Well, short but more is coming.