Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Author's note: Hey, I made some minor changes to the last Chapter. It's just some words, lines, and another author's note. Oh and before I forget again, thank you for bringing Gaara's age more clearly to my attention, shikome kido me. Anyway, thanks for the reviews everyone. Just to let you know, they have their own special folder on my computer.

Tracking a Fox: Chapter 2

All three had traveled continuously across the hilly dunes of sand, resting in quick intervals on occasion. Gaara was not one for mercy even if they were apart of his 'family'. Both of his teammates understood this concept and endured under their scarlet hair brother who, if given the chance, would kill them.

As the sand under their feet gave away to more solid attributes, Gaara couldn't help but feel his body shiver. With each step he was coming closer to the village. Each rock, tree, animal, that flew past symbolized his path. Sand changed to dirt, dirt to grass, and grass to tall pines with green foliage. Everything up to this point had occurred to give birth to these moments and those that were forth coming.

His team stumbled behind him, before each collapsed onto the ground. Gaara stopped and sent a cold look over his shoulder.

"Get up."

He watched them exchange looks before rising unsteadily to their feet. Temari was leaning over heavily, fan resting closed on her back, fists clenched on her knees. Kankurou had an elbow propped up on the side of a tree, one eye closed in a mocking wink.

They were pathetic. He hadn't even broken a sweat and here they were panting like animals.

"The next village we come to, we'll stop for the night. We can't have the Leaf shinobi thinking we're weak."

Both glanced up at him with mixed expression of surprise and relief. Strength seemed to flood back into their limbs as they stood up steadily once more. Temari was self conscious for a moment, soothing her dress and wiping dirt off her cheeks. Once more, Gaara turned and took to the rigorous pace he had set up.

No, it certainly wouldn't do to arrive at the Leaf Village in the state they were in. Their journey had been longer than any distance they had traveled before and with the rate he was pushing his siblings, they were bound to break down soon. As much as he hated to follow protocol, they were going to represent the Sand Village. Entering with a ragged and tired team would only allow others to see them as weak.

Besides, they only had a couple more hours until they reached their destination. If wouldn't hurt if they delayed for a day. Somewhere among the village his demon resided. To be seen with such pathetic company, what would that say about him? When he entered the village, he wanted to be seen as an equal. He would be seen as a worthy adversary from another village, someone that held power and respect. To let his siblings go uncared for as they were would only serve to confuse the 'other'. Yes, certainly, this was the best path. To keep going would cause detrimental damage to everything he'd been working for.

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All three children came to a halt on the outskirts of the promised town, staring at the buildings and fencing that was in slight disarray. A sign over the entrance was propped up by two poles and rusted over from long usage. Inside it was worse, the dingy and shoddy construction of buildings ready to fall on them at any moment. Wires twisted from building to building, jumping everyway that they could before disappearing into the framework. Crumpled paper, bottles and assortments of trash were scattered through the streets.

They picked their way through the area carefully, Gaara leading them once more while they flanked his sides. There was absolutely no one on the streets and would have made the task of finding shelter easier had they been available. He was almost disappointed that there was no one to challenge him, to look at him the wrong way. It would have been easy to kill them and rid himself of the annoying urgency he felt.

Walking through the front door of a cheap inn, he and his teammates scanned the area. It was surprising how empty it was. Other than the inn keeper at the counter, there was no one. Afternoon light filtered in through the window and cast a shadow on the sleeping figure in front of them. All three quickly made their way across the room and waited as he noticed them and stretched.

"What can I do for you kids?" He muttered halfheartedly, scratching the side of an unshaved cheek.

"What else would we would we be here for? We need rooms you bastard!"

The man switched his focus on Kankurou for a moment and let out a yawn. Not at all fazed by the younger man's glare, he turned and retrieved their desired keys before setting them on the table. Temari pulled out their funds and paid the man, who nodded and didn't even bother to look at the amount she offered. Stuffing it in his ratty robe, he nodded towards the stairs at his left before returning to his former position.

Gaara looked to his two siblings before turning away from them. He had no desire rest, and it wasn't plausible to think that he could sleep, not if he wanted to live. Returning the entrance he stopped and turned back to his siblings. If he wanted to live...

"We leave at sunrise so be prepared."

Exiting the room he made his way through the crowded town, racing across rooftops and over the fences. If he wanted to live, he had to have a reason. That was something he had decided long ago, during the time that Yashamaru had...

The pain burst into his head, making him close his eyes briefly. Several shadows were following him now, trying to keep up.

If hunting was a personal passion, then tracking the demon was a goal. He wanted to meet them, to understand whether he was truly alone. How had they handled the unbearable pain of solitude? How had they survived against the hate of their village? When compared to one another, who would be stronger?

A shiver ran through him as he jumped to the ground. Yes...who would be stronger? Between demons, who would turn up more dominate? They had reached the outskirts of the village, where a vacant clearing was chosen to serve as their makeshift battle ground.

The shinobi who raced in after him were all from the Rock. They blathered at him with mocking voices, stating their vendetta with him as revenge for the villages he had slaughtered. Growing bored, he crushed one while watching as the others scrambled away. They didn't get too far before he trailed after them, picking them off one at a time. As he rounded up the last of the group, he found there were two left. Together, both of them were backed against the fencing of the town. One had a fracture in their leg and the other with a broken arm. In a desperate last chance, they raced forward at him with surprising speed and agility. He hadn't had time to react before they were dead. Staring at the fresh corpses in front him, Gaara looked up at the roof of a nearby building.

The attackers were there, staring down at him with slightly fearful yet relieved expressions. Behind them the last of the sun faded leaving only darkness in its wake. The one closest jumped down quickly, snapping her fan shut in the process. A second later, the other followed leaping on a fence to the ground with Karasu hanging off his body.

"Temari. Kankurou."

He stared at them coldly, annoyed that they had chosen to interfere in his battle. They both flinched visibly but held their gazes steady.

"Boss...Gaara..." Kankurou started.

"Shut up. Don't interfere in my business; those were my kills."

"Gaara..." Temari spoke up, her face twisted in concern. Her hand was waist level and stretched towards him, as though trying to grab him. It curled back unconsciously when he leveled his glare on her.

"We...we were worried for you. There were others after us too." She stammered.

Anger thrummed through him and his eyes narrowed even further. They had to no right to take his kill. And what she said...lies. They'd never cared before. Swirling up ominously, the sand took a defense posture around him ready to strike. He wanted to...he wanted to kill them so badly. Under his skin, mother screamed at him. Not yet...no, the Chuunin exam.

"Go back to the inn and sleep. I'll let it go today but..."

Enraged, his sand reached out like hands and strained to grab at the two. The wisps of it retracting back to his body and embracing him.

"...Do not disobey my orders!"

His arm snapped out, the sand immediately reaching out towards his elder brother. He watched with glee as Kankurou's eyes widened at the sight of his sand. Crashing forward in a giant wave, it headed straight towards the puppet master before pausing a slight moment. Almost reluctantly it passed by him before eliciting the shrill screech of an animal and the crack of wood.

In turn, the blast of sand propelled the young man forward and allowed to him to land exactly where he would never want to be. Right at the feet of his red-headed sibling. Looking up, he stared up at Gaara with shocked eyes until he scrambled backwards towards Temari. Switching gazes between the bloody pile of wood and the youngest of the Kazekage at equal intervals, the boy watched in mute disbelief as his brother turned from them and headed back into the woods.

Neither of his teammates moved as he left, just staring after him in fright and horror.

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What was his reason for living? Long ago he had asked that question, not understanding the circumstances surrounding his life. His people hated him, yet revered him. Used him, but would cast him away with no more than a glance.

He had tried to be liked...to be lov...but it hadn't worked. He had followed his father, doing as he required. Killing, training, anything to be looked at the way other families that looked at their children. Anything to be treated the way Temari and Kankurou were. But he wasn't. He was a demon and a child. Innocent but defiled. Something cast together and mixed until there was one entity inhabiting a small body.

Not knowing who, what, and why, they came and tried to kill him. They never succeeded; of course, the sand always stopped them just in time. But it still scared him. He had wandered through the days, lost, hopeless, not understanding. Questions continuously haunting and tormenting him. 'Why am I such a monster?' 'What...exactly am I?'

...At least they had until that incident. It was then that his purpose was revealed, being stated in the words of mother by the one closest to both him and her.

"Your mother gave you your name. 'This child's name is 'Gaara', a demon that only loves himself. 'Love only yourself and fight only for your sake...' She wanted prayed and hoped that your existence would continue on into eternity..."

And he finally understood what he was. He was Gaara, meant always to be alone, and meant only to love himself. Something that was selfish, someone who would only satisfy their own desires.

He accepted that fact...yet still... He wanted to be around others, he didn't want to be alone. That night when he overheard his father talking, that night had brought about the final and monumental change.

When he had heard that there was someone just like him, he knew that the precious grip that had held him to the village had failed. He had fallen into a black abyss and there was no way to go back. Not that it really mattered anymore. There was a safety net waiting for him, the thought of another demon allowing him to stop his plummet.

Death had changed to life inside him. The fear he held would be used to crush every human. He would embrace the thing that he himself hated; the demon inside him. All that would remain once he had fulfilled his purpose would be two people. Himself and the 'other'. The precious 'other' that was like him, that would understand.

Rising over the forest, the first waves of light hit against the bark in the color of blood. Gaara opened his eyes, leaning against the bark of a tree trunk. Turning towards the East, he watched as the colors of the sunrise slide across the sky.

It was almost time.

Wisps of sand floated away from his gourd and chose to settle around him. Arms crossed, one leg dangling off the side of the tree limb, he watched and waited and dreamed.