See me as I am

Chapter 18

Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimo

Warning: Yaoi hints and course language

As we leave for Stone country Kakashi has set a brutal pace that Sakura and I are hard put to keep up with. We are pushing ourselves past our normal abilities.

Not once has either of us complained or slowed down . Her and I have to much at stake to do so.

Just knowing that when we get back we can be promoted to jounin rank as well as get positiions in the ANBU; Is encourgement enough to give us the drive to do what we have to in order to keep up.

I have been keeping an eye on Sakura and have seen her sneaking soldier pills when she thinks that no one is looking; Just to make sure that she doesn't fall behind.

If I wasn't so concerned about keeping up I would be asking her for some myself.

After what seems like a month of non stop running Kakashi finally lets us have a small break. I follow Sakuras lead and practically drop where I landed at .

I suddenly feel Sakura take my hand and place something in it. I look into my hand and see almost 10 soldier pills. I look at her and she smirks mouthing 'For just in case'.

I almost choke as I stifle my laughter quickly hiding them in my pocket. I can see Genma and Kakashi looking over at us wondering what I find so funny.

I lean close to Sakura and whisper in her ear 'You read my mind' She blushes slightly and also snickers.

I peek over and see both Genma and Kakashi beginning to glare at her. So just for fun I let Kyuubi have a moments freedom to glare them down.

Alright Kyuu time to have some fun...

Release me and I will have some fun

Soon I promise ..just hang in there

Needless to say they almost piss themselves.

After our break Kakashi sets another brutal pace and now both Sakura and I are popping the pills as we need to. I hate taking pills but I will be damned if I lose this promotion.

I really do not blame Kyuubi nor fault him for wanting revenge. I mean just how damn ironic is it to hear someone claim they love you and then less than 10 hours later they turn right around and stab you in the back.

I have done the only thing I can think of to keep Genma and Kakashi safe... and that is to lock Kyuu up in his cage with chakra enhanced bars. I can NOT let him kill either of them no matter how much they may deserve it .

I know this has to got be worst than the ninth circle of hell for my dearest friend ...trapped in a body constantly seeing, hearing and smelling both Genma and Kakashi for the next six months and knowing that he can NOT leave...no matter what.

No one deserves that kind of torture.

As we stop for the night I chat with Sakura about her new found love ... Rock Lee.

I am shocked I had no idea that she even knew that he existed. Come to find out he approached her last week and told her that he thought that she was an angel and would she please go out with him and she said yes.

I asked her about her undying love for Sasuke and she told me that she had grown tired of being turned down every time she asked him out . She was just tired of constant brooding and hateful ass attitude. She wanted someone to want her as much sh e wanted them.

Made sense to me I am glad that the person she agreed to be with is Lee.. They will make each other very happy.

I tell her good night and walk a short distance away and lay back on my sleeping bag and relax. I can sense Genma slowly walking to me and I hear Hayate telling him to let me rest because I have guard duty in four hours.

I hear Genma curse under his breath as he walks to his sleeping bag and prepares to bed down for the night.

I center myself and go inside the seal and see Kyuubi curled up in a ball inside his cage quietly crying. I slip inside andpull him up in to my arms hold him to me and gently begin kiss his tears away.

"I am so sorry ...Kyuubi ." I whisper as keep giving him small butterfly kisses and stroke his back. Those two are SO going to pay for hurting him like this . Yet, the one that amazed me the most was Kakashi...I am so damn disappointed in him.

"All I want is a mate... someone to love and love me in return...damn him for lying to me. I was nothing more than a convenient piece of ass for him. He told me what I wanted to hear then used and moved on to his next conquest." Kyuubi whimpers.

I will have a chat with Hayate and see what ideas he has as to how we can help cheer Kyuubi up and get some revenge on Genma and Kakashi

Next thing I know Hayate is gently shaking me and whispering that it is my turn for watch duty. I give Kyuubi one last kiss and open my eyes.

I get up and jump up in to the tree that Kakashi is in and whisper to him that it is my turn for guard duty.

I can tell that he wants to say something but he can sense Hayate's presence nearby so he jumps down and walks over to his sleeping bag and lays down.

Leaning back I can feel Hayate sit next to me.

"How is Kyuubi doing ?" he whispers.

"Not good he is so damn depressed and angry..." I shake my head. " And I am at a loss as to what I can do to cheer him up. He wants ...hey" I look at Hayate.

Hayate must have been in the same wave length as me because his eyes grow HUGE.

" Oh no I am not killing them for Kyuubi...and there is no way I will become his uke either..." Hayate hastily answered me.

" You owe me...so I am now asking you to honor your debt. I never said 'Be his mate' Kyuubi needs someone that can give him more than I can give him. Besides wouldn't this also be a great payback for those two? Seeing Kyuubi happy with someone else ? Not only that I trust you to do the right thing." I throw in the puppy eye expression.

"Fine...but all the consoling will have to wait until we get to Stone. Damn extortionist." He mutters the last bit as he mock glares at me and hops down and lays down in his sleeping bag to get some much needed rest.

I don't need a pity fuck I need a mate some that will be willing to spend their lives with me.." Kyuubi yells at me.

And how is it that you know that he isn't the one? If he isn't fine then at least you have a friend that can console you in ways that I can't.

...what ever I am exhausted ... Night Kit.

Night Kyuubi

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The next morning I watch the sunrise and it never fails to amaze me how each sunrise is different. The colors found in nature are always so breathtaking as they contrast in an amazing blend that always compliment each other.

I listen as all of nature and my team begins to stir and awaken ready to start another day.

I catch a glimpse of Kakashi and notice that he is watching me as I watch the sunrise.

I love this time of day ...it is almost magical.

Yeah this time of day is also my favorite .

Kyuubi settles back down and I eat a fast breakfast that Sakura made for me. Then we pack up and move out again.

We reach Stone in less than two week and begin our mission.

A/N Any guesses as to who the mystery man in the last chapter was?

Hint: He is still helping Naruto in this chapter as well