Chapter 6

After two days under Gaara's study, Devon was already beginning to show an aptitude for sand manipulation. "Today, we will test your limits Devon." Gaara and Devon went to an isolated area of the Sand village. "Take off your shoes and we will begin." Devon followed instructions and stepped into the field of sand. "So what will we be doing today Lord Kazekage? More sand manipulation techniques?"

"Something like that. Sand Coffin!" Devon's eyes grew wide as he was instantaneously encased in a tomb of sand. He could barely breathe as he watched Gaara lift him into the air with a calm demeanor! "Wh…What…are…you…" Devon struggled to say before Gaara's raspy voice cut him off. "For three days now, we've been working on sand techniques. I've allowed you and your demon to absorb enough of my knowledge to actually break this technique. But now is the time for your most important lesson." Devon was gasping for air as Gaara created a column of sand that raised him to Devon's level. Gaara got in Devon's face and stared him down. "You are going to have to learn this if you ever hope to control your demon. You are not a meaningless shell for your demon. Your demon is a prisoner. He is a slave to you, not the other way around. Whenever generals go into battle, do you think they charge in head first? No. The foot soldiers, the infantry, those are the ones in the front line. Sometimes, you must make your demon realize that. I don't want you to break this. I want you to make him do it for you."

Devon was shocked and frightened by Gaara's demand! Control Kaikaron?! Make him do something for Devon?! He knew that was utterly impossible. Devon tried to manipulate the sand so it would loosen, but it got tighter and tighter. He could feel his ribs getting to their breaking point. Gaara knew he wasn't getting the message. "Why do you think that I've been teaching you how to block him out? I wanted you to be able to lock him out of your mind until the point you need him. That point is now. Because the harder you try, the harder I will push this. I will kill you if I have to get the message across. Now, make him break this before I break you!"

Devon was barely conscious. He was fading fast. He tried to loosen it again. He felt and heard a sickening crunch as two of his ribs snapped. The pain was too much to bear, and he lost consciousness. He felt himself sinking inside of his own body. He opened his eyes and saw Kaikaron looking at him. "What the hell are you doing here?! Get back out there and crush this *******! Don't make me kill you boy!" Devon instantly realized what Gaara meant. He knew exactly what to do. He sat down in a meditation position. Kaikaron was loosing his mind! "What are you doing?! I said get up there and take care of this before I hurt you!" Devon began to smile. "All my life, you've done what you wanted. You've taken control of me when you felt like it. Now, I'm taking control. You are going to stop him, not me. You can hurt me all you want. But if you don't take care of this, we'll both cease to exist. Remember, if I die you don't return to hell. You go to nothingness. And you'll be alone for the rest of your existence. So get to work!"

Kaikaron couldn't believe how arrogant he was acting! Kaikaron grabbed Devon by his shirt. He raised his fist to strike him. But he hesitated. He looked into Devon's eyes and saw Gaara staring at him. His fist was shaking as he saw a conceited smile creep across Devon's lips. He realized that Devon was right! He decided to play along, for now. Kaikaron started concentrating on Devon's chakra source. "Mukei Shihai!"

Gaara began to watch as Devon's eyes became a pitch black void. Kaikaron had taken over, like he planned. "You wanted me. Now I'll show you how stupid you were to try to control me!" Devon closed his eyes and began to channel his chakra. He began to glow red as Kaikaron's energy flowed through him as well. Slowly, the sand began to loosen its grip on him. He began to growl as he felt the pain from his broken ribs enter his mind. Gaara lowered himself back to the ground as he saw the coffin begin to dissipate. Gaara smiled as Devon busted out of the sand that encased him. Devon began to fall towards Gaara, aiming a kick toward his head. Gaara's sand shield instantly went up to defend him. When Devon's kick hit the shield, he began to smile. Gaara immediately realized why. He felt his own sand wrapping around his legs! His eyes widened because Kaikaron was enraged enough to actually control Gaara's sand! Perhaps Gaara had let his own demon drift too far from his mind! Devon smiled as he raised his fist to strike the Kazekage. He threw the punch directly at Gaara's left eye. But to his surprise, his punch stopped just short of Gaara's pupil! He couldn't move! He looked and saw his body being restrained by sand! Gaara's sand! Gaara smiled. "You didn't honestly think that you could control Shukaku, did you?"

Devon growled and tried to struggle as he felt himself lose consciousness. He began to slip out of reality. Kaikaron felt himself lose control of Devon's body. Kaikaron was dazed as he saw Devon float past him, still meditating. "You think that's it?! You think you can control me now?! You will never be in control of me! I will control you!" Devon smiled as Kaikaron's voice faded into his subconscious. Devon opened his eyes to see Gaara standing in front of him with a proud smile. Devon started to smile. Then the pain of his broken ribs buckled him over. Between the pain and exhaustion, Devon passed out. "You're almost ready Devon." Gaara made a stretcher out of sand and began to take him back to the medical ninjas. He stopped for a moment and stared into a tree behind him. He felt someone there. He dismissed it and kept going. The man in the tree stared at Devon. His red and black eyes almost burned a hole through Devon's body. "Devon Misata…he's the one."