Before you read this chapter, I'm giving you a bit of a warning that due to the last chapter...this one isn't as...happy?...as other chapters. Aisa is a little...down. But yeah~! Read and...um...Enjoy?

-8-
Lowered Eyes

I opened my amber eyes, and all I could see was white. At first I thought I was blind, but eventually my vision got used to the bright lights and focused. I found that I was seeing all white though, but for a much better reason than suddenly becoming blind. No...everything was just white. White walls. White ceiling. White floor. White blankets. It took a few moments for me to really register where I was. It was a hospital room.

'Damn, and I had been hoping Satan kicked me out of hell.'

My head, which felt unbelievably heavy, lolled to one side as I took in the tubes in my arm, leading to an IV, full of something. I wasn't sure what it was...but I was pretty sure it was the reason why I felt kinda...wonderful. When I ignored the nagging feeling that I was missing something obvious. That was just annoying. Although...I was curious why I was here. I tried to remember what had happened. I'd been looking for Gaara. I'd found Gaara...had a conversation about love with Gaara...nearly got assassinated by Yashamaru with Gaara...and then...? Meh. Probably not important. Maybe Saki 'accidentally' poisoned me...OR Yashamaru was somewhat competent in assassinating five year olds and almost killed me?

My head lolled again as I took in everything else around me. Saki was seated in one chair, to my left, and Taiki was to my right. unlike Saki who slept in the chair leaning back, Taiki was leaning over the bed, practically resting his head on my pillow. That was cute. They cared. I was kinda surprised to see Saki. But, not nearly as surprised as I was to see Takeo dozing on the floor beside her chair, his head resting on her leg. That was just plain unnatural. I wondered how comfy it was. I didn't get to sit on her lap often, let alone sleep there.

I sighed and stretched a little, straightening my arms out in front of me, straightening my back. Whatever they was giving my made me pretty drowsy, but it wasn't strong enough to completely get rid of the throbbing pain in my leg. 'OH! Did he stab me? I bet he did~!...Is there gonna be a scar?'

I reached for the cover, which was firmly tucked into the mattress, like someone didn't want it lifted. I shrugged and began to pull it up when a hand gripped my wrist. I stopped and looked up at my dad, who was still sprawled beside me. He stared at me for a long while. I grew uncomfortable with the way his amber eyes seemed to lack his usual cheerfulness.

"Don't."

"What?"

"Don't lift the blanket."

"But-"

"Do. Not. Move. The. Blanket."

I stared at him for a long moment before I shrugged and nodded. If he was gonna be like that...so NOT Taiki, it was probably best I didn't touch the blanket. He seemed to relax after that.

"So...what happened?" I asked. It was likely I was right and I had only been injured by Yashamaru...but something was...missing. I couldn't remember much after that but...the more I thought about it, the more I could feel my heart pound in that not-scared-but-excited way. i could also remember this...unforgivable pressure that was just filled with so much hate and...something else. I really wanted to know what I had forgotten.

"We'll talk about that later...for now, I think you should go back to sleep. You need to rest."

"But-"

"Aisako. Trust me...you'll need a lot of rest."

Why the hell did he sound so sad, worried...all that crap? Why was he staring at me like that? And why did that sound so damn foreboding?!

Before I even had the chance to sak him, he reached over and and I watched as he pushed a button and more the of the liquid in the IV dripped down. I turned to stare at him. Why was he doing that? That was going to make me sleepy, wasn't it? I didn't want to sleep...I had school today...

I wanted to...

See if Gaara was...

Okay...

The world went black.

I woke up to people talking in hushed voices, "She was awake earlier..." Taiki.

"Did she see?" Saki.

"No, I didn't let her...she was still pretty groggy anyways." Daddy again. I remembered, faintly, him putting me back to sleep. I felt lovely again...all floaty and stuff. I bet that's what being dead felt like. Well...maybe? I could kinda remember being dead. There had been a lot of laughing and it was kinda warm. It felt...nice? Maybe...couldn't remember. It wasn't all that important. It was just...being dead.

"You did the right thing. It wouldn't do for...her...to panic. It might cause the bleeding to start again." That was someone new. Sounded like some bitch...probably a nurse. They didn't like me here at the hospital. A real shame because people kept sending me here.

"Oh and you'd just love that wouldn't you?" Saki snapped and to my amusement, I heard the nurse whimper.

"Saki, calm down. I'm sure Ami-san understands that our daughter is to be treated with the best of care...or else she'll find out just why Suna accepted us instead of trying to kill us for our bounties."

I couldn't believe my ears. Taiki was threatening someone. Shit. He was having an off day, from the looks of things. First he was all serious, now he was taking the role of the villain? Maybe the universe was collapsing?

I let my eyes lift open as I stared at the scene. My dad had the nurse trapped in a corner as he loomed over her, Saki was inspecting her nails as she leaned on the wall by the window. Takeo was gone, from the sky outside, I guessed it was around mid day, so he was probably getting something to eat, or doing something with his life. The other Taiki was reading a book in a seat in the corner opposite the nurse...

And there were not two Taikis. So...why was there more than one? Maybe they were giving me too much morphine...or whatever the hell was in that IV?

Maybe I was being poisoned with some sort of...You know what...I don't care anymore.

The Taiki with the nurse scoffed before he spun on his heel and began to stomp back towards my bed, when he realized I was awake and practically flew to my side.

"Hey, Ai, how're you feeling?"

"Like I'm in the hospital."

I could hear Saki snicker. The second Taiki shut his book with a soft 'Thump'.

"Poor Ai-chan." Dad said, before he started running a hand trough my hair, soothingly, like I was a cat or something. I stared at him, feeling my eyes narrow with distrust, "It'll be okay, I promise."

"Alright. What the fuck is going on?" I asked, pushing Taiki's hand away roughly. Saki sighed loudly as she made her way towards us. The nurse scuttled out of the room. Part of my bet she pissed herself. The other part was just pissed.

The other Taiki made a surprised noise. Yup...definitely not my Taiki. My Taiki knew I swore all the time.

"Alright...Aisako-s-chan. Calm the fuck down, and don't flip your shit or anything, alright?" Saki said, crossing her arms and staring me in the eye. After a moment her gaze flickered away. Then she locked eyes with me again. She was really trying.

"Sure. Just get on with it already. Why the hell am I here? I'm too high on the crap in the IV to even-" Saki wordlessly pointed down. I followed the direction and my voice stopped working.

Taiki started petting my head. Where was-

It hurt when I moved my leg, which was crushed flat under the collapsed dashboard-

I flinched, my entire body jolting as I tried to escape the memory...of a nightmare. But...this was worse that a nightmare wasn't it?! I could wake up from a fucking nightmare...

Where the hell was my leg?!

I grabbed the covers and ripped them off the bed, staring at the bandages wrapped around a short stump where my left leg was supposed to be. The bandages had been hastily thrown on and already they were stained with blood. I hoped they had changed those recently, because maybe my eyes were fooling my, but the edges of the bloodstains had a yellow-orange tint. Pus maybe?

"Leg?" I asked no one in particular. Where did it go?

"Yes. It's gone." Thank you Saki for that wonderful example of a caring mother's dialogue to a child waking up in the hospital missing a limb. Everyone take notes. When you have children, I strongly suggest you follow Saki's example, because she is clearly the model parent.

"My...leg."

"Yes, what about it? I just told you, it's gone."

"Saki, I don't think that's the best way to-" Saki shoved her hand in Taiki's face and forcefully pushed him away from us. She loomed over me, holding herself up on her hands on either side of me. I was so small...Had the hospital beds always been this big? Had everyone always been this big?

"My leg...where'd it go?"

"I dunno. Probably still buried in all the rubble. That demon did a number in that area...somethin' like...19 critically injured, not including you and...fourteen dead?" Saki said, more to herself than me. Still...I didn't...where was it? Why wasn't it attached to me?

I swear I could still feel it. My left leg resting against the right, my toes wiggling from time to time...the rough hospital blankets made it itch slightly. I wanted to scratch it but...

"Leg."

Saki let out an aggravated sigh and pushed away from me. Taiki shot her a disapproving look.

"What happened?" I asked quietly. No one seemed willing to answer me. The three adults just sat there and stared at me. I could feel my anger and confusion flaring. I already knew what happened...kinda, but I needed...I don't know...I needed something. I definitely needed my fucking leg back, but that wasn't going to happen any time soon...

"What happened?" I asked, louder this time, again no one answered. I stared each of them in the eye, even the new guy. he and Saki stared back at me without looking away, although Saki did flinch a little. Taiki looked my in the eye for only a moment before he looked away. Finally, I couldn't keep the anger in anymore. This body was too emotionally weak to handle it.

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY DAMN LEG? ARE ANY OF YOU GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, OR ARE YOU JUST GONNA SIT THERE LIKE A BUNCH OF BRAIN DEAD VEGETABLES?! WHAT THE FUCK HA- ha...happened...to me?" In the end I couldn't stop my eyes from leaking. God this was embarrassing...I was...who am I kidding? I'm just a little girl.

My child's body trembled violently as I began to sob. I pulled my legs up to my chest, only to realize that only one could complete the task. I stared at the single knee in front of me before I wrapped my arms around it and cried harder. Someone wrapped their own arms around me and rocked me back and forth, quietly telling me it would be alright.

Liar.

I wasn't all that sure how long had passed since I stopped crying. The three adults sat awkwardly around me as I stared blankly at the wall in front of me, counting the tiny cracks that webbed out, especially around the door.

Takeo showed up at some point during my fit and he was trying to start a conversation with me but...I just wanted...

I wanted them to go away. I was getting tired of the stifling silence. I was tired of the stares aimed at me from both sides. I was tired of closing my eyes and still being able to feel their chakra. I wasn't a sensor, but I was aware enough of the chakra, and my parents were both strong enough that I could feel the chakra radiating off of them. I could probably only feel it because chakra wasn't something I had been born with the first time around. Most probably wouldn't be able to feel it, and I was only sensitive enough to feel when they were in the room.

Then again, I was with Gaara enough that I hardly registered them.

Eventually, a nurse arrived with a tray of food and kicked my family out. The day had blown by and visiting hours were over. I didn't eat any of the food. Not willingly anyways. After a moment, the nurse had started forcing the food down my throat and I had to eat or choke on pudding. She left not long after I had eaten and she changed the bandages on my stump. Something made her pause during the actions, but she had quickly resumed.

The nurse had flicked out the lights when she left, leaving my only source of light the setting sun. I just sat there until the sky had darkened and the moon had risen. It was only when I saw how much the moon had changed that I snapped out of my empty trance. A quarter of the moon was hidden. I could only stare. How long had...?

I sighed and lied back on the bed, careful not to jostle my l- stump. Eventually, I lost my battle with the IV and felt myself fall back asleep, like I hadn't been out for days.

I woke up screaming. And crying. And one of my hands was grasping desperately for my left leg which it would never find. After crying myself out, I went back to sleep.

Morning came early, as did my family. Saki smuggled in some decent food that I tried to eat, but like the night before, I found my appetite...lacking. Taiki came in with a stack of books so large I knew it was only because he was a ninja that he could actually physically carry. Takeo brought my paper and art supplies. The new guy stood off to the side, watching us with wide, curious amber eyes. I numbly noticed he was a few years older than Taiki, but other than that they could easily pass off as the same person to a civilian. There was another difference. His chakra. There was a lot more than Taiki's. I'd say his reserves were twice as much.

He seemed to feel me staring and looked towards me. A bored look seemed to take over, like he was expecting more. Maybe he had heard the stories in town. I was supposed to be a monster...but how could I be a monster if I was just a little girl in the hospital with only one leg because her only friend had rip- No. The monster inside her only friend had ripped it off.

I was a sad excuse for a monster.

"So, Aisako." Takeo said, drawing my attention back to the people hovering around me like a bunch of starving buzzards, "How are you feeling today?"

I gave him a dead stare, "I'm a cripple."

"It's not that bad...we can work something out-" At that, I felt something in me seem to crack and fragment. Like a weak dam holding back more water than the world could possibly hold, and the numbness vanished, replaced with rage. This wasn't fair.

"How are we going to work this out? I'm missing a limb. I can't become a ninja hopping on one foot. I'll be stuck as a weak ass little civilian! And I won't be a good one either. Who the hell will hire me!? Who would marry me?! I probably wouldn't even live that long anyways. They'll kill me before I'm old enough to get a job-"

"We'd protect you!" Takeo cut me off.

"But you won't always be there. None of you will." I snapped. "Sooner or later they'll realize they can't poison me, and beating me half to death won't make me less of a threat in their eyes...And now, I can't even run away if I wanted to."

Saki scoffed. She muttered something before she left the room. Takeo stared after her before following her out, like the lost little puppy he was. Taiki and the stranger sat in the room for a while longer. My dad tried to cheer me up, and it worked, a little. It might have been hilarious if I was normal.

I still couldn't get my mind off Saki though. Who the hell did she think she was? She still had all her limbs, if I can count right. I had every right to be like this. I was missing a god damn leg!

Do I really? I asked myself as I glared at her.

Do I what?

Have the right to act like a pitiful child?

Of course I do! And I'm not a child!

No, I'm not a child. If I were still in the Test Drive I'd be an adult, so stop acting like one. So, why do I have the right?

Why the fuck do you think?! I'm missing my leg! How am I supposed to get through life as a ninja when-

Get through life? Please. Think about it, me. I've already been through this all. Would it be any fun at all if I just skipped down the same shitty path again?

I shook my head to banish the thoughts. That was too much. I...I wasn't ready for what those thoughts meant.

I stared up at the moon, which had grown even smaller since that night, out the window. A dog barked somewhere down the street, someone moaned a few doors down. The sound of sand and cloth whispered somewhere outside, and I could just imagine him leaning against the wall outside, his sand making him a perfectly safe platform.

Safe for him-

A small face peeked in the window, and despite the poor lighting, I could still see those light mint-green eyes.

My body moved before I even thought about it. It was just instinct by now to go to him. He was Gaara...my only friend in this life. Man I was fucked up...so...messed.

I smiled at him as I slid off the side of the bed and went to walk to the window, but reality caught up, and I dropped like a rock. My body thudded loudly against the floor. I caught myself with my arms and looked back at the window. Gaara was there only for a moment longer. There was a look of guilty horror as those eyes lowered before his head vanished from my view and I was alone on the floor. He couldn't even look at me.

The sand was safe for him- but not for me.

And the morel of today's story? Don't trust anyone.

And then this damn child's body started crying again. God I hated that nightmare.

When morning came, I was already back in my bed and dead to the world, even as a timid nurse came in to wake me up. I certainly didn't help her nerves. It was needless to say I was...not happy? In a bad mood? Sad? Grumpy?

I was...

I was something.

Lost? Empty? Dead inside? Betrayed? Guilty?

Alone.

Everyone was back in the room again. A week had already passed since I first awoke in the hospital. My leg was...still not there, but the stump looked better. No pus and a lot less blood every time they changed the bandages. I was so healthy Saki had gotten into the habit of poisoning my hospital food...not too much since the food was likely a poison in itself, but the intent was there.

It was hard, but I tried my best to act like my 'normal' self. I still wasn't okay, despite how physically healthy I was.

I was insulting Takeo, Taiki was reading, the look-alike, who no one had bothered to introduce to me yet, was staring out the window and Saki was scratching some sort of message into the wall with a senbon, but as the tip connected with the wood, it seemed to hiss and burn the tracks in. From what I could see it said something along the lines of Saki Shimizu has graced this room with her presence. If you value your life, you shall sing her praises to the heavens above where she rules over even your petty gods.

"Takeo, leave me alone. Your face is slowing my recovery."

"My- my- HEY! I had to put up with your ugly mug when I was recovering!"

"Ya, but you invaded my house, freeloader."

"I was invited!"

"Only because Dad felt guilty that even he couldn't train you to be half-competent!" I said back, smirking, "Not that anyone can blame him I mean, holy cow its a wonder you can actually function at the most basic level."

Takeo stared at me looking absolutely flabbergasted, "You know, sometimes I really doubts you're five."

"Don't we all?" Taiki and Saki chimed in in unison. I scoffed and crossed my arms.

The door suddenly swung open, slamming and a tall man with long pale blue hair pulled into a ponytail at the base of his neck and brown eyes walked in. He walked with a prominent limb. Lucky bastard still had his leg. Behind him trailed a tiny little excuse for a teenage girl. She reminded me a bit of Hinata from a quick glance, but her eyes were brown and she had blond hair that was styled the same as the man she followed. Despite the man's limp, it took her three steps to complete one of his, so she was practically running behind him.

"ALRIGHT! EVERYONE WITH BOTH LEGS AND ANYONE LACKING A DOCTOR'S COAT, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS ROOM!" The man shouted forcefully, although he did sound polite as well, which was nice for a change. He was a man of authority. If I remembered right, lot's of ninja were a little iffy about staying in hospitals. It was likely he was there to calm down any ninja who woke up confused. After all, it was crammed into our heads as soon as we entered the academy to 'respect authority' or end up either without a job or dead.

I stared at the man as he herded my parents, Takeo and Taiki #2 out. Saki skipped out grinning tauntingly at the man as she left, Taiki looked reluctant to leave, but trailed after my mother and the new guy cast a bored look at me from over his shoulder. My eyes narrowed. So...he went from being shocked that I swore to being bored with me?

He was trying to fool us, wasn't he?

Takeo pause to pet my head before dashing out after my family. I scowled after him.

A large hand appeared in front of my face, finger's snapping. I shot a glare towards the giant of a man. I was genuinely curious how someone became that tall. He had to be eight feet...well, it didn't help I was a five year old...and a short one for that matter...my perception of height might be a little messed up...but he was still really, really tall. It was more likely he was seven something, but eh...

"So." The man, doctor, said as he plunked down onto a chair by my bed. The tiny teen moved to stand beside him. I could only guess she was an assistant of some kind or another.

I raised a brow and waited for him to continue, "So what?"

"How's your stay at the hospital...and please do not give me a polite answer. I can tell already that you are very much like your mother...or worse from the expression you are wearing."

I paused. What did I think of the hospital? Well...he wanted an opinion, so I'd give him one.

"Fine. Don't blame me. First of all, the cooling system in this hellhole-" His assistant let out a little squeak "-sucks. I mean for the love of whatever-jackass-is-in-the-sky, I know we live in a fucking desert but that doesn't mean everyone appreciates being roasted alive. Another thing is the crap they call food."

To this he nodded.

"I mean, the first couple days I was kinda fucked-" Again, the brunette girl let out a surprised noise, "-up...I mean I woke up missing a leg for crying out loud, so I didn't really notice what I was eating, but now I realize its like shoveling sand down my throat. you'd think everyone got enough of the crap just breathing in. I don't need the hospital forcing anymore in my system...I'm pretty sure the only reason I managed to choke the shit down was because Saki actually managed to make it taste better with poison!"

"U-Um...should a-a little girl l-like you really be-be using th-that kind of language?" The girl asked me.

I blinked and tilted my head in thought before I shrugged, "Not really...buuuut I don't see the point in filtering out what I'm saying."

"Is there anything else?"

"Most of the nurses are fucking children."

"What?!" The girl screeched in shock. The burly man raised an eyebrow. My eyes widened when I realized what it sounded like.

"Ah crap! I mean, they aren't doing that with kids! I mean they react to me just as badly as the kids in the academy when I first joined. They're just pissing themselves in fear. I'm starting to get a little pissed off with them. They don't have any fucking reason to be scared. If they wanted they could easily kill me in my sleep. I mean, it's not like I threatened to eat them or something like that...they're just like every other pansy in this village. In all...I think your nurses really need to grow a pair."

The doctor sighed and muttered, "It is like your mother cloned herself instead of having a child."

"So, who are you anyways? I take it you're a friend of Saki's..."

"Ah...right. My name is Kazuo, and I will be the doctor in charge of your health from now on."

"Kazuo? That's it? No surname? Just Kazuo?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Quite."

"U-um..."

Right. There was someone else in the room. I turned and focused my amber eyes on the timid girl.

"So...you are?"

"A-Ah...I am...I am Kazuko...and I am training under Kazuo-sensei." She flinched as she spoke.

I blinked and refrained from chuckling. Their names were...all...Matchies~! Oh god...so, he was 'Man of Harmony' and she was 'Child of Harmony'. Although, that wasn't that odd to have matching names in this world, if taking a look at the Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi clans was anything to go by. You were kinda stuck being named Deer-Something, Boar-Something or Butterfly-Something...

"You two related?" As I spoke, I looked between the two, trying to find similarities. They had the same hairstyle, but she was blond and he was a...bluenette?...she was short and he was a giant. They both had brown eyes though, so that was something.

"Yes...she is my Aunt." The good doctor said, casting a look down at the girl. Even though he was sitting and she was standing, he still had to look down...it was kinda...comical. And...she was his Aunt. I sort of found it funny...but it did happen. It just meant she was a LOT younger than his parent. I really didn't want to know how early her parents started...or late they ended.

I nodded slowly, and we fell into silence. Finally, Kazuo broke the silence.

"Well, now that introductions are aside...Kazuko, you can go check in with Rina-san."

The girl gave a squeak, as though the sudden sound of her nephew speaking had scared her, before she nodded and darted out of the room. Kazuo shook his head with a small smile.

"She's a jumpy thing." I said as I pushed the blankets away and folded my legs- oops- leg in what would have been crisscross if it weren't for the fact that only one leg was involved. I was no longer in the hospital gown. The nurses decided that as long as they could get to my stump, it didn't matter what I wore, so I found myself in a pair of shorts and a plain orange t-shirt.

I realized not that long ago that I looked good in orange. It matched my eyes...and didn't look terrible with my hair. It's not that I really cared about my appearance, it just felt nice to realize that I looked good wearing something...even if no one else would ever say it to me. Not that anyone else's opinion of me mattered. I was fabulous and that was all that mattered.

"She is indeed."

As my new doctor...Kazuo did fuck all. Really. He basically just sat there and let me rant for a while, occasionally giving me a new topic to go off on. Of course...I think that was his job. While he did check on things physically, I think he was more of a mind doctor than anything. I guess I wasn't nearly as good at hiding my feelings as I though I was. Then again, feelings were this guy's job.

He was good a good guy and fun to talk to, even if all I ever seemed to do was complain like a spoiled child. It was annoying when he tried to fix my grammar and convince me to try and filter things, but if I tuned him out, eventually it was like he never said it at all.

He did check on my leg from time to time though, and at one point he measured my legs once. How wide it was, how long my remaining leg was...all kinds of things. I didn't know what it was for...and a part of me didn't care.

I felt off, a lot of the time. I was lonely, even as my parents kept hovering and smothering and talking and talking...I felt more isolated now than I did when it was always just me and Saki locked up in the house. I guess it was just life without Gaara. I can't say that I liked it all that much. I missed Gaara...I wanted my friend back, even if a small voice in the back of my mind felt the need to remind me that he ripped my leg off. I knew it wasn't him, it had been Shukaku, but the voice was still there, warning me to stay away from him.

There was one highlight though. The second Taiki, the older one who was bored with me, was actually a cousin or something of my Dad's, named Satoru. The name was familiar, and it took me a long time to remember where I had heard it before. Then I remembered the nightmare I had had not all that long ago, and how Saki and Taiki had been talking about something the next morning, where they brought up and bunch of names.

They had been talking about me too. I asked them what it was all about, but all any of them would tell me was that I'd find out once I was out of the hospital. I thought this was a terrible idea, because I had way too much time on my hands, so all I could do was lay there and wonder what the hell was going on and brood over the fact I was missing a limb. I was naturally impatient, but this was ridiculous. At least give me something to distract myself with until I could get out. Of course, I didn't even know why I was still in the hospital either. There wasn't anything else they could do, unless they found some way to regrow limbs and I was nearly positive that only happened when you had a mountain of Zetsu's to play with, so I was kinda fucked in that department.

It was about two weeks after I met Kazuo that I got my first non-family visitor. It really wasn't who I was expecting, or hoping for. When I was told I had a visitor, which was the first hint it wasn't one of my family members since they liked just barging in, I can admit I got really excited. I was still so scared of him, but I was really happy, because I thought my friend was finally coming to visit me, and not just glance through the window like a little creep. He was visiting, and that just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, you know? Happy.

And then a blond ball of hyper activity came rushing into the room and tackled me.

Yeah.

Not Gaara.

I felt cold again. Not as cold as usual,I mean, hey. Someone came to visit...just...not who I really wanted to see most of all.

"Machiko-chan missed Aisako-chan, so Machiko-chan snuck out of park to visit!"

This was...strange. I barely talked to the kid. Sure I had seen her in town from time to time after meeting her in the park, but her parents were there. I recognized them as some of my more avid haters. They liked to throw kitchen knives at me when I walked past her house. It was kinda fun. Still...their kid loved me.

She settled on the bed so she sat crisscross in front of me, like I was trying to do. She looked about the same from all the other times I'd seen her. Big blue eyes, blond pigtails and civilian clothing.

"You know, Machiko-chan, you really shouldn't have come here. If anyone at the hospital knows your Mommy and Daddy, they'll tell on you."

She gave me a look of pure horror. I tried not to laugh. She really didn't think this through. Of course, she was a fucking three year old, and one that didn't have a teenager crammed in their skull either...or...I hoped not at least. Otherwise, the teen in her head had some REALLY good acting skills. or they were insane. Meh.

Then, her face scrunched up and her big blue eyes narrowed and HOLY SHIT SHE LOOKED LIKE A MAIN CHARACTER.

"Machiko doesn't care!" She snapped, folding her arms with a huff.

I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. it looked like she was about to go on a roll. Might as well let her do it.

"Machiko's Mommy and Daddy are big Dumb-dumbs! They don't know anything about Aisako! Aisako not scary...Aisako is nice, and plays with Machiko. Aisako is tough, and brave and smart and- and- Aisako is not a monster! They...they don't know Aisako. It isn't fair. No one talks about why Aisako bad! They just say Aisako is bad and that Machiko should avoid her, but Aisako is Machiko's friend...Machiko doesn't have a lot of friends. Everyone makes fun of Machiko because Machiko calls herself Machiko instead of using me, or I...Why would Machiko-chan call herself and eye? Machiko-chan is not eyeball!"

I snickered at that. Although I had to ask, why the hell did Suna have so many adorable little brats? First Gaara and now this? Even the little pricks that threw rocks at me were adorable. Maybe it was because I was too old mentally to compare myself with them, so what I might have thought looked weird when I was little just translated to adorable now that I was older?

Well, it didn't matter.

"But being an eyeball not important! M-Machiko-chan heard that Aisako-chan got hurt, s-so..." Her big blue eyes were now shimmering with tears and she wouldn't look me in the eye, "So...Machiko has decided to protect Aisako."

I stared at her in shock for a moment, before I began to speak, "WaitwaitwaitwaitWAIT! What? Machiko-chan...you're a civilian though...your family is civilian...you can't just...you- Dam-Darn it! Listen, Machiko-chan...I'm really happy to hear you want to...protect me, but I don't need protecting...besides, you're a little civilian girl...I don't want you getting hurt for trying to protect me. I'll be fine."

"No."

"Um...what?"

"No."

"No, what?"

"No Machiko give up. Machiko protect Aisako!"

I groaned.

"Listen...right now you can't protect me at all."

"Then Machiko will become a kun- kuno...a girl ninja!"

She was set on it, and frankly, I really didn't feel like protesting anymore. If she wanted to damn her social life, and risk her life, just to protect her 'friend', then she could be my guest. But...I'd give her one last way out.

"Fine. Do what you want, kid, but...if you ever decide that having me as a friend is more dangerous than having me as a monster...let me know, and I'll the monster everyone wants you to see me as."

She gave me a confused frown.

Machiko was only the first non-related visitor that I had. It was only a day or so after her visit that I was visited by two more children. I hadn't really met either of them, which was what really amused me. Temari and Kankuro. At this age, although i was sure how old she was, Temari's hair was down, coming to her shoulders, and Kankuro was lacking the kitty-hood and face paint...I only recognized them because Gaara had pointed them out to me the first time I saw them with him around.

So...his siblings would come see me, two kids that didn't know me, but he wouldn't? It was sad...but I was beginning to accept that things weren't going to be the same, ever again.

"Hello." I said, staring down at them from my place on the bed, one lone leg swinging over the edge, "How can I help you?"

The brother and sister in front of me shared a few glances, Kankuro pushing Temari forward, only for her to push him forward...it went on for too long, although it was probably only a few minutes.

"Alright, listen up, I'm not going to eat you or something, so spit it out. What do you want?"

They stared at me with wide, scared eyes, although I had to compliment them for their bravery. A lot of the nurses here couldn't do this much.

Temari was the one to finally speak. Her voice trembled and her eyes were lowered so she stared firmly at the tiled floor.

"W-we need your help with Gaara."

Well. This would be amusing.

And there you have it, chapter eight! What do you all think? I personally found it pretty boring, but it was necessary for the plot, so i had to write it. I know Aisako's reaction to her sudden handicap and her behaviour afterwards were completely unrealistic, but I feel most of the blame falls to Aisako and her...mental instability? I don't even know if she's insane or if she just likes to act like it...but anyways, at least she didn't just jump right back up afterwards spouting a bunch of crap about 'getting stronger and not letting this hold her back', like she was some stereotypical main character. One thing I did like about this chapter though was it showed a different light on some of the other characters in this fic, like the more serious side of Taiki ( actually have to remind myself that he's a ninja and isn't all rainbows, even though i should know it from the Exams), or how Saki did care...in a way (Like Ai, I can't tell if she's insane or just pretends to be for kicks...)...

Another thing I liked was all the little side characters I dragged in. I introduced three new OCs at once too. So, Satoru was expected, if you remember Saki and Taiki talking about him and a few others when they thought Ai was asleep, but Kazuo and Kazuko were kinda just...BAM! New OCs. i do that a lot. They'll be showing up a lot in the story, especially in the next couple chapters...maybe. I really don't plan these things...And then I dragged Machiko back in with her annoying third-person address and confusing loyalty to our crazy little SI/OC. She's important though, believe it or not. I bet a lot of you thought she was just in that one scene and never heard of again~!

Anywho~! i understand that some of you were annoyed with the wait for this chapter to come out, but there are a few reasons for the delay. I'm still in high school, so in June i had to worry about my exams. So in the weeks leading up to them, and the week after, i really wasn't feeling the writing vibe, especially since I had to study before the exam...I also have to gain community service hours as a requirement for graduation (although I still have a couple years before I need to worry about that), and I'm trying to get them over with now before life starts attacking me. This chapter was also really hard, so on top of my computer bugging out and erasing some of my progress, I was also ended up deleting pages at a time when I changed my mind on some things. I also have other fics to worry about, so sometimes I have to stop working on one to get an update on another before too much time passes. I once left a story for a year...be happy its only been two months.

In other news, I've decided that every 10th or 11th chapter will be a special, so I'll be putting up a poll soon on what you guys want the chapter to be about. I might put up a poll every time, but I decided, 'Meh, why not?'. Now, i won't be putting up the poll until i update one of my other fics to announce the results on a poll for that one, but it should be updated in a few days. Then I'll put up this poll on my profile. Until then, please feel free to vote through review or PM.

The options for this poll are:

1. Saki's POV of things - her side of raising Aisako up until chapter nine.

2. Gaara's POV of things - His feelings about the other monster in town trying to befriend him and other things...

3. Temari and/or Kankuro's POV - watching Gaara change one day at a time, only to completely relapse and go even further down.

4. Flashbacks of the Test Drive - Some glances into who Aisako was before she crashed and burned.

5. Poor Carl-Sensei's POV - When one is entrusted with the education of a demon child and an Unnatural Monster, who seems hellbent on making his entire class drop out on him.

6. The Kazekage/other important geezers expressing growing worries about Gaara and Aisako.

A great big thanks goes out to: SortaCore, The Almighty Pyro, greymouser, TheSecretNames, ZZuzana, Meatbun Attack, OnepieceZoroOc, Countenance, iciclefangAJ, Manillalu, llat-2, ewaa, Ruby720, Trisana, Melantha4, Sleepyautumn, xbox432, Meisa-tan, Insanity runs through my veins, Nameless Angel 00, GreenOnBlack, 123miko, KillerCupcakes, the shadow of nature, passenger, Guest, (possibly the same) Guest, Kennacleon, bored411, XxGrimShadowxX, Guest and Hex for reviewing my story! i love hearing from you guys, and it really motivates me to write when I hear from my readers.

And a special thanks goes out to the mysterious Guest who made the 100th review~!

Demon Eyes now has 105 reviews, 395 followers, 258 favorites and is listed in 9 communities! You guys are fabulous!