"We'd like two orders of ramen, please."

You and Gaara had just sat down at a ramen stand. You didn't care that it was cheap, or that it was the first food stand you'd seen in the marketplace - you were starving! When the first steaming bowl was placed in front of you, you could feel the saliva dripping down your chin as you inhaled the savory scent of the broth. By the time Gaara had finished his, you'd downed six bowls of ramen! He stared in awe as you ordered a seventh and several glasses of water. You stopped eating for a moment, embarrassed.

"I'm really sorry, Gaara! I'll pay for it myself!"

Gaara shook his head in disagreement.

"I have money, it's okay. I'm more worried about you! You're acting like you haven't eaten in days!"

You smiled slightly at the irony. Gaara's eyes widened.

"It's true, isn't it? Eat all you want, please, or you'll never get better!"

"Thank you so much!"

You finished your eighth bowl of hot ramen and tenth glass of water. Finally sated, you stood and walked behind Gaara. He paid the owner and you walked off. You stuck money into his pocket when he wasn't looking. He showed you all the little desert shops and dusty stalls, most of which were built into the massive stone walls themselves, played Tag in the alleys, and even led you to the Kazekage's mansion!

"Wow, my village didn't have a Kage. This is so cool!" you exclaimed, peering through the mansion gates. Gaara turned and asked, his brows furrowed, "Where did you say you were from again?"

"Yamigakure, The Village Hidden in the Dark."

He looked deep in though for a moment, possibly trying to remember if he'd heard that name before. Once his facial features relaxed, he sighed and said, "...I'm sorry, but I've never heard of it."

You peered up at the sky. Sunset was an hour away.

"That's okay. It doesn't exist anymore, anyways," you choked, holding back tears.

i'Shinobi do not cry! I can't let Gaara see me like this!'/i

Turning your back on his jade eyes, you bit your lip and tried your best not to cry. Suddenly, he snatched your hand and pulled you back towards the market.

"Hey, I saw something in one of the shops we passed! I think you'd really like it! Come on, let's go get it!"

"Huh? Wha...?" you asked, staring blankly at him. He chuckled and urged, "Let's go, let's go!"

Racing back through the old, eroded market, you let your mind wander.

i'Wow, were all those people staring at us before? I know they can't see my ears, but they're frowning for some reason. Are they angry? We must look bad, running through the streets like this. Why is he...? Oh!'/i

You gasped quietly, a light bulb clicking on in your head.

i'He must be trying to cheer me up!'/i

"Ai, we're here!"

Gaara slid open a screen door and led you inside a small general store. It contained a few nick-knacks, candies, accessories, and other miscellaneous items.

"When I saw this, it reminded me of you! See?"

The boy wandered over to a shelf, took something, and revealed it to you. It was a sort of plush backpack, shaped like a giant cat's head. It was black, with white on it's nose and ears. It had a turquoise bow on each ear, and big, yellow eyes. The pink nose and blushing cheeks really stood out.

"Wow...matching ears, matching eyes...even the ribbons are the same color as my hair! And look how cute it is!" you exclaimed, petting it cheerfully.

"That does it! I'm buying it!" he exclaimed. Before you could utter a word of protest, he was already at the counter.

"Excuse me, sir, but I'd like to buy this, please!"

You walked up beside him, looking up at the irritated shopkeeper with curiosity.

"Get out, now!" he barked.

i'What's his problem?'/i you wondered.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I really would like to buy this."

"I don't sell to little monsters, now leave!"

"I'll pay you 10,000 Ryo for it."

A gasp escaped your lips before you cried, "Gaara, that's a lot more than its normal price!"

He held up his hand to quiet you.

"No deal. Go shop somewhere else, demon."

"Here's 20,000 Ryo!"

Gaara set the pile of money on the counter.

"Gaara..." you whimpered, tugging on his sleeve. The man finally caved in.

"Fine. I'll take it. It's not like I could sell the damn thing after your cursed hands touched it. Now go, and don't let me catch you in this shop ever again, y'hear?" he grumbled as he counted the money. Gaara nodded.

"Thank you, sir. Let's go, Ai."

He turned and walked quickly out of the shop. Following, you looked back at the shopkeeper for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just transpired. Nearby strangers confronted you.

"Get away from our shops, monster, or you'll curse us all!"

"Scram! Shoo!"

You thought they must have seen your ears. You checked your hat, but it was fine.

i'Maybe the man in the shop knew...?'/i

You couldn't understand how everyone had figured you out.

i'Was it my hair? Did my eyes give me away? Do all the villages hate us Uedas that much? Oh no! Are they going to finish me off, too? Crap! I have to save Gaara!'/i

When you turned to warn him, a mother caught your eye. Shielding her child, she whispered, "It's okay, Mommy won't let him hurt you."

"Him?" you murmured as you looked at your new friend. He was clutching the gift he'd bought you tightly, seemingly on the verge of tears. Your blood boiled like never before. You shielded Gaara from the adults, extending your claws.

"SHUT UP!" you roared.

A few people backed up. Power flooded through your veins like never before. Before you realized what was happening, your body was moving on it's own. You watched from within your mind, darkness heavily bordering your eyesight, like looking in the wrong end of a telescope. Your beautiful Neko Toboe hacked down several people around you, including the ill-tempered shopkeeper who tried to refuse Gaara's money. A strong, male voice bellowed, "Now you DIE!"

Ecstatically, you giggled.

i'Next I'll kill all those bad ninja who destroyed my home!'/i you thought gleefully. You'd gotten your first taste of revenge - and it was sweet.

"What have you done to Ai? Who are you?"

It was like watching a movie - the camera turned towards the voice's source, yet you couldn't feel your body move at all.

"Ha! I'll kill you, too." growled the feral man. Gaara's bright green eyes snapped you out of your blind rage. The anger and fear on his face made your heart ache. Then you realized, i'That man's voice is coming from me!'/i The camera stalked towards Gaara, claws raised - "YAMI! STOP!"

You were yourself again. The strange blackness that had bordered your vision was gone. You retracted your claws and turned around. Eight bodies lay massacred, painting the empty streets red. You turned back towards Gaara, and jumped back a foot - he'd walked right up to you! He was looking deeply into your eyes.

"They're gone..." he murmured, his gaze shifting back and forth between each one. You tried to ask what, but you were frozen, tingly, and numb.

"You didn't have cat eyes before...or those claws...and that man's voice...I swear it came from you..."

He paused to wipe tears off your face.

i'That was the voice I'd heard earlier, back in the estate! It'd told me to run, so i did! It was Yami! I couldn't stop him...he killed innocent village folk...what should I do...?'/i

"Ai! Come on, move!" the boy commanded suddenly. You dropped to the ground.

"I'm a killer! I'm a monster!"

Gaara pulled you up and dragged you into another nearby store. It was full of supplies.

"Ai! Snap out of it! We're going to die if we don't leave!"

You looked at Gaara, dazed.

"You didn't run away, like everyone else?"

He ran around the shop, packing foodstuffs and medicines into your plush backpack.

"We don't have time for this! I bet a team of Jonin are on their way here now!"

He pulled the pack on your shoulders, then dragged you back into the street. He pointed toward the distant village gates.

"Wait for me there. And please, PLEASE hide! We're going to the Land of Waves, where we'll be isolated from the mainland. I have something to take care of first. If I'm not there by the time the moon reaches the middle of the sky, you must leave without me. Got it?"

You nodded numbly.

"Good. I should be back soon. Whatever you do - DON'T - GET – CAUGHT!"

He gave you a fleeting smile, then turned and disappeared into the night.