It's gonna be in Nuji's POV for this chapter because I wrote most of the chapter before realizing the mistake.

A letter was sent to the Hidden Pass Village and we awaited a message back. We waited and waited and I was given a room in a hotel while under guard 24/7. The estimated time for a letter to take to my village is about two days at worst. I waited a week for a letter to return.

While waiting, I stayed in the hotel the entire time, only leaving twice to go to the springs and because a vendor on the street was selling BBQ and it smelled really good. The Anbu left food outside my door every morning, which were my three meals for the day. Sometimes I would leave a note on the door, asking for new reading material, then I would sit on the ceiling and read.

Because, I mean, why not?

One night, I got sick of the small room, and sent out a clone to jump out the window and walk around the streets. I was excited when it actually worked and I felt the presence of one of the Anbu leave.

Another stayed rooted though, so I created another clone and gave it half my chakra. I ran out the door this time, leaving my clone to laugh at in the living room. The Anbu guy didn't follow me, so I just continued walking and running until I was at a park. I knew my clone had long since disappeared, so I just sat on the swings, playing and waiting for the Ambu to come frantically looking for me.

I mean, it's not like they could punish me, they had no right.

I was swinging for hours, then playing on the slide, then making a fort out of sticks...then setting it on fire. Then I went back on the slide and fell asleep at the bottom of it, staring up at the sky. I woke up when somebody poked my cheek. I stared up at a masked man.

"Anbu Black Opps? Wow, you guys took forever to find me." I grinned up at him a little. He didn't react except to take my arm and pull me up.

"Are you injured?"

"I...I don't understand. I thought you'd be angry. Weren't you supposed to guard me? To make sure I didn't try to leave the village?"

"You misunderstand, we were told to ensure you were safe and well-guarded because you are a target." He began pulling me along by my hand.

"Why would somebody target a slave? If they wanted me they could just talk to my owner. If they wanted me dead, then they'd kill me. If they wanted me alive they honestly just have to ask and I'll most likely say yes."

He stopped and turned to me. He didn't seem like Anbu, he was talking to much. "Is that right?"

"Well, yeah," I said. We began walking again, except his grip was looser and it was more like he was holding my hand than he was pulling me along. I wonder...is that what it's like for a father and a daughter?

As we walked back to the inn, we rounded a corner, coming face to face with the sand village ninja. I looked up from the ground at them and smiled.

Have you forgotten what they did already? My demon whispered to me from the back of my mind.

"It's a beautiful day, is it not?" I smiled at them. The Anbu guy just stood there, not saying a word as he held my hand.

"I-it is." Kankuro stared at me, then my hand, then to his sister.

"I'm surprised you're still here, Nuji. I was sure they'd ship you off as soon as they could." Tamari's face was blank, but not as blank as Gaara's, who seemed uninterested. His mind said otherwise though.

"I suppose they tried. They sent a couple letters to my village, telling them what I'd done, but we've gotten no response. I suspect they are either so embarrassed they are hoping the leaf will get annoyed and just kill me, or they've been destroyed."

"Why would they want you dead?" Gaara and his weird voice. It's as if he's saying "why the hell would they want you dead" while also saying "this matter doesn't concern me, hurry so I can leave". I love his voice.

"They've gotten tired of having a monster in their village, but they can't sell me because it's technically illegal in most places."

"You're a-a slave!?" Kankuro looked both surprised and disgusted. Disgusted, I hope, from the thought of somebody owning another person and not because I just told him I'm a monster.

"Um...yeah. Why? I thought it was a little obvious with the chains and the fact that I practically told you guys that my sensei beat me and broke my wrist."

"We didn't really...think about it."

I did. Gaara's thoughts were controlled, but I could hear in the back of his mind where nobody else except one tails and he could go. But why...she's just a child. She's even younger than me, yet she's smiling. I killed her brother and sister, why does she make talk with us?

I don't understand.

I gave Gaara a small smile, then said goodbye. Me and the Anbu guy continued on, walking to the inn through the streets that were just beginning to hold people. I smiled at my Anbu guy and stepped into my room, heading to my small stack of books and sitting on the ceiling with a pen and a piece of paper.

Dear Gaara of the Sand,

I know I must confuse you, but it will not last long. I loved my brother and sister, and if I could go back I would've done anything to stop you. But life does not last forever, and someday I will see them again to give them a hug, cry in their shoulders, and apologize for being too weak to save them. I hope they'll forgive me, but it's truly unlikely. Why would they? I'm a freak and a monster, but they cared for me when nobody else would.

This letter may seem useless, you may have thrown it away already even, but I hope you've continued reading. You see, Gaara, you are not a monster. I don't want you to think you are, because you never will be. You can change, even if you don't believe it...even if others don't believe it. I believe in you.

Sincerely, Nuji Exomun.