Chapter 2: A wolf's tale: The lonely girl hidden in the clouds

Yukiko's past was unpleasantly similar to both Gaara's and Naruto's, and as she broke into tears, her painful past decided to play in her head.

"I was born and raised," She told herself. "In the village of Kumogakure, but I was different from the rest of the villagers…"

In the village of Kumogakure, roughly sixteen years ago, it had been attacked by a powerful demon: a two-tailed wolf demon known as Ryuken…

"Hold it off until Raikage-sama comes," yelled a kumo-nin.

All the powerful shinobi were gathered, attempting to hold off Ryuken until the Raikage came. Many were injured and deceased. The demon spat and growled, her tails thrashing at ninjas, her fangs snatching and chewing on shinobi.

Ryuken was a female demon, and she was destroying everything in her path.

The Raikage appeared and sealed off the demon to a baby, and died doing so…

"And that baby was me…" Yukiko thought, still trapped in her nightmare.

Five years later, a young girl ran down the street to the playground: that same baby from those five years ago. She laughed carelessly as she dashed down the road: her raven colored hair flapping behind her head and her dark violet eyes shinning.

She came to a halt and walked over to the swings. Two children crept up to her as she started to pump.

"Hey it's the monster girl," said one of them, the other one stopped the swing.

The new Raikage had not banned any talk about poor Yukiko's condition; so she went through the same thing every day.

"I'm not a monster," she said calmly to the two boys who held her swing still, "can you please let go? I want to swing."

"I don't think so," said the fat boy, "I don't think monsters are allowed to use the swings."

"But I'm not a monster, I told you that," she stated and frowned.

"Oh yes you are," said the skinny one, "You're a demon who killed our villagers. You destroyed our village, and Raikage Sandaime, and you better get off the swings, demon."

"I'm not a demon!" she protested. Both boys pushed her off the swings and beat her. Once finished, they left her there bloody and crying.

"We didn't feel like swinging anyways, I don't want to touch that filthy thing anyways… cause I might turn into a monster too."

Yukiko walked back to her house crying, and before she even set foot on the lawn, her older sister ran out to help her.

"Onee-san," she sobbed.

"Let's get you inside," she said and grabbed Yukiko by the hand…

Fully bandaged, Yukiko wiped her tear-stained face.

"It's all my fault, Yuki-chan… If I had went with you, this wouldn't have happened," said the young woman, hugging her sister.

"Is not," said the child, "Its not: those boys would have beaten me up any day, anyway. So its not your fault." Yukiko hugged her only friend, the only person who loved her, and didn't think she was a monster.

"You poor child," whispered her sister, still hugging her, "I love you so much."

A few days later, Yukiko and her sister were booted out from the village because Yukiko "attacked" the two boys that hurt her. Shortly after, they were transferred to Kohona and Yukiko enrolled in the Ninja academy…

"Yuki-chan, are you alright?" Sakura asked for the twelfth time, waving her hand in front of her friends face. Yukiko snapped out of her trance of painful memories, and looked up at the pink haired youth.

"Nani? Oh, hai… I'm fine," Yukiko told her.

Ino glared at Yukiko, "Don't give us that shit. You've been starring for fifteen minutes, and you were almost killed by Gaara. What the hell is going on?"

Yukiko shook her head briskly, "What are you talking about? I'm fine… I was just having some thoughts…"

Both girls eyed her up like she was lying: and she was.

"You know, about that Gaara of the sand," she explained.

Sakura piped up this time, "That guy almost killed you! He almost-"

"-But he didn't," she interrupted, "He almost, but he didn't. I think… I think he might have listened to what I said… I don't like to see people who feel that every thing in the world hates them," she said.

"Just like I felt when sister died… I didn't have any friends, and for a while I loved nothing but myself. But sensei proved me wrong…" she thought to herself.

"He sure did child," said a deep, feminine voice.

"Hello Ryuken, it's nice to talk again. We haven't spoken for a while," she said to the demon. Ryuken wasn't a bad demon, and she and Yukiko both agreed with one another. In fact, the wolf demon had sort of grown fond of the girl over the past few years.

"Shukaku is a horrid demon. I pity that human boy," stated the wolf.

"So do I. Even Kyuubi doesn't have that kind of effect on Naruto-kun. Do you think there's anything I can do?" asked Yukiko.

"'I', child? I think you mean 'we'. If you can bring back that kit's sanity, which won't be easy mind you, I think I can reason with Shukaku," Ryuken stated firmly.

"I really appreciate this you know," Yukiko told the demon.

"I'm so soft it sickens me…" said the wolf and Yuki laughed mentally.

"But Yukinon, everyone does hate Gaara," Sakura blurted out, breaking up the inner conversation between Yukiko.

Yukiko stood up, touching the hem of her short, black dress where Gaara's blood was now dry.

"Not everyone…" she told Sakura, walking towards Shikamaru and Naruto, "Not everyone hates him."

"But, I don't know of anyone that doesn't hate or fear Gaara. At least, anyone who knows him."

She stopped walking, and looked down, her short black hair fell past her forehead protector on top of her head. "I do," she informed them, "I don't hate Gaara, and I'm not afraid of him. I want…" she paused as she remembered hugging him to stop his bleeding back, "I want to show him… to show him that he doesn't need to hate everything, and that," She looked into Sakura's eyes, she was going to tell Naruto and Sakura her secret, and she was ready, "that not everything hates him. Can you and Ino come with me back to my house? I need help washing this outfit and putting my kit back together."

Sakura looked at her raven-haired friend, and believed every sorrowful word that came out of her mouth. She often noticed that Yuki's smile was happy, but heartbreaking at the same time.

"Yes, we'll come. Shikamaru-kun, we'll catch up later, ne?" Sakura stated as she walked towards Ino and Sakura.

"Whatever… this has been too troublesome," said Shikamaru, and readied himself to leave.

"We'll meet later at Ichiraku," said Ino, nodding. Then Shika disappeared in a poof of smoke.

"Let's go to my apartment," Yukiko said breaking the silence. Sakura and Ino nodded, and within moments, they had packed up and reappeared in front of Yukiko's apartment.

Once inside, Yukiko motioned them for them to sit down. She told them to stay put and she'd be out once she got changed.

Yukiko padded into her room, and shut the door. She peeled off her bloodstained dress and threw it onto the floor, then unwrapped her now scarlet bandages revealing the hidden scars that she received from when she was beaten back at Kumogakure. She changed fast, still slightly nervous about telling her friends that she was the container for the two-tailed wolf youkai. If Naruto were here, he would have understand, but she was a little hesitant about Sakura and Ino. And if she told them, what would they do?

As she went to soak her previous worn cloths in a tub full of cold water, she looked at the dress once more.

The blood was dry and brown on her dress. She hugged to her chest, and promised herself.

"I will help Gaara… even if I die trying," she swore, and dropped the clothes into the tub. Yukiko sauntered out of her room, and sat down with her friends.

"There has been something," she began, avoiding eye contact with her friends, "that I have been meaning to tell you."

Both looked at her, and nodded to continue.

"Sixteen years ago, the village of Kumogakure was attacked by a demon. Ryuken, was a two-tailed wolf demon that killed many shinobi and it destroyed the village. Raikage Sandaime defeated the monster, and sealed her into a newborn baby."

She paused, and swallowed hard. Sakura and Ino still studied her, eyes never leaving her.

"That baby…was me," she confessed, "And when I was five… the ninjas of the village thought I had attacked two boys that were picking on me, so my sister and I were kicked out of the village. We fled to Kohona, but they found us and," she stopped and started to cry, "t-they killed my sister, a-and I got so mad I-I killed them using the p-power of Ryuken. From then on I loved myself and hated everything that came in contact with me.

I didn't know anything about ninjustu back then, but I also didn't know that when I killed… I used my mind to put dreadful images in their head, so horrible that they went insane and killed themselves. I was alone, and all I ever thought about was killing… until sensei came along.

"I remember sensei being the first person who I ever could trust again, but it took him a long time to gain my trust. He taught me how to fight shinobi style, and I learned many jutsus from him. He smiled and praised me, and treated me like I was his own. I had never felt so happy in my life. But soon after, the lightning-nin found me again. Sensei died protecting me… a-and he told me to go to his hometown of Kohona. So I ran away and fled to Kohona… the Hokage took me in, and I was enrolled in the ninja academy.

"That's why…" she said, wiping her face dry, "that's why I want to help Gaara-san, more than anything. I've felt pain before, and I don't want him to be lonely."

Sakura walked over to Yukiko and pulled her into a hug, "I'm so sorry. I didn't even know… that's why you didn't say he was a monster. I-I can't believe I said that, I didn't know, I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Yukiko said hugging her, "It isn't. You don't have to be sorry for anything."

Ino looked at Yukiko, "I didn't even know. I couldn't tell… you're always so happy, and you hid it. You hid the pain just like-"

"there was nothing to hide at all? I'm sorry to shock you like this, but I couldn't keep it hidden much longer," she fessed, and stood up, "but we still gotta get to Ichiraku, ne? I mean, we did promise Shikamaru-kun."

"Right," said Sakura, and she smiled at her friend, "I'll meet you guys there, I have to go change. Ja ne."

As Sakura shut the door, Yukiko turned to Ino, "You should tell him."

Ino frowned and looked puzzled at Yukiko's suggestion, "Tell him what?"

Yukiko stood up and walked slowly back to her room, deciding to finish cleaning her clothes that were soaking in the tub. She turned to Ino as she cracked the door open, "That you care about him," she stated.

"But how did-"

"I know?" she finished for him, looking him in the eye, "You're just like Sakura-chan. Constantly covering up your feelings with a fake love for Sasuke. But now he's gone. Its only been two months since Naruto left with Jiraya-sama, and she's been pining for him ever since. Tell Shikamaru you're true feelings."

"How did you you ever come up with something like that? I don't like Shikamaru! Not like that!" Ino got up, and left Yukiko's apartment, muttering something about meddling friends.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The night sky was filled with the light from the full moon. The trail of moonfire flowers that Gaara had left unfolded and bloomed: soaking in every bit of the moonlight. Gaara no longer limped as he continued walking through the forest. Moments later, he became aware of the area he was drawing in on.

"Kohona village," he stated, drawing closer to the walls that surrounded it. Walls were no issue for Gaara, but why was he so suddenly obsessed just to see that girl again? Gaara scaled the wall with little effort, and hid from the guard shinobi. As he hopped from roof to roof, he spotted something.

It was her.

Gaara stopped on the roof he was on, and peered at the girl, studying her face. Her expression seemed saddened slightly, but she kept smiling. He could not but help himself to take interest in the girl. She had bandaged his wounds even though she knew she could die – a sign of courage, compassion. Still, he pondered whether to reveal himself or not.

"G-gaara-san?"

Too late.

Woosh. Not even seconds and she was up on the roof beaming at him. She fiddled with her hands, and looked down nervously, blushing.

"Hello Gaara-san," she said smiling, reaching out to shake hands – he didn't. She let her hand drop to her side and let her fingers fiddle – somewhat like when Hinata was nervous.

This was pointless, even if the girl was intriguing; he had better things to do. He turned around and started to walk away.

"W-wait!" she stammered, calling out to him. He continued to walk, hopping to the next room casually. She ran after him, and grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Please wait," she mumbled.

Gaara turned around and stared at her. Her eyes were a bold violet color, though why he noticed it was a complete mystery to him.

Still holding his hand, she spoke up: "Um. I was on my way to Ichiraku, it's a ramen place, and a few of my friends and I are going to eat there. Do you want to eat with us? I'm treating."

"No," he said instantly and turned to leave but she held onto his hand. Her hands were firm, and unusually warm. Why did he do that? He needn't bother with petty answers; he shouldn't have even come here in the first place.

"Please?" she asked, flushing slightly, looking into his eyes desperately. "Please Gaara-san, this is the only way. I want to know the real you."

Gaara felt her hands pressed against his, he felt sick again. Ripping his hand free from her grasp, he stalked off faster. A few roofs later, he heard her footsteps padding across the shingles.

"Please Gaara-san!"

"No."

"Why not?" she called to him, he still scaled further. This was going to delay her from Ichiraku for a while, no matter.

"Because I said no." Stupid argument, pointless, why was he bothering? She continued following him to the outskirts of Konoha, and then into the forest.

"Gaara-san, please! Just one bowl? You don't even need to talk! In fact, I'll get you a bowl and you can eat privately. Please?"

Gaara was now officially pissed; he proceeded to turn around, "For the last time, I said-"

"Omph."

Being the klutz that she was, Yukiko knocked into Gaara, and knocked him flat on his back. Not only that, she went down right with him. Sprawled out on the ground was Gaara, and Yukiko was right on top of him. Her heartbeat tripled in speed, partly from fear that she'll be dead in less than five seconds, and partly from the fact that his chest was so soft and warm. She could smell the earth; it was wonderful. Gaara even had a few leaves stuck in his mahogany hair. She would have giggled, but it probably would have pissed him off even further, then she would have had to have a painful AND slow death.

"Please." Ok, now she was dead, "I'm not getting off of you until you say "yes"." Now she was beyond dead, she was dead with slow pain, dead on dead, dead in the worst way possible, ever in the history of deaths by Gaara.

Gaara turned his head away glaring: "Fine." He said bitterly.

Yukiko gasped, restraining herself from hugging him, and pissing him off even further. She hopped off him and offered him a hand; he passed it and just stood up. Yukiko jumped up and down madly and Gaara turned back to the village, sighing.

Gaara mentally cursed himself for agreeing to go to the ramen bar with the girl. Then again, what did he really have to do? Nothing better. But he didn't bother with pointless wenches like this. Still, it was a free meal, and even this wench…

Gaara paused in his step, and Yukiko bumped into him again.

"What a clumsy girl." His monotone thoughts told him.

The girl reappeared in front of him beaming: "Is something wrong Gaara-san?"

He walked past her casually. "Watch where you're walking girl"

"Um… I'm Yukiko, Gaara-san," she stated. He turned back to her.

"Crap! I shouldn't have done that!" she snapped mentally.

"Tch. Yukiko, watch where you walk. You're going to end up walking into a tree," he stated, and then continued walking.

Yukiko paused. "Did he actually… was Gaara actually trying to be-"

"Are you coming?" He said, glancing back at her.

"nice?" "Hai." She called back at him and walked behind him as they walked to the Ichiraku.

Fin. Ok. Me like reviews. Thankies. Much luv.

- Saikyou