The support I get is fantastic, and it encourages me to write as much as I can. That's why I dish out at least 1 chapter every 2 days whenever I can. :)

This chapter will be Part II of the Gaara & Shukaku arc.

Pyr00tje: Not yet :P

The True Not Important: Nice to see that I came up with something you didn't think of! :P

Charrmed: And here it is!

Swordianspeed: It's brilliant to know you recommend this to your friends. Thank you so much :)

Thanks to Aurora-chan, Pyr00tje, imsabbel, Ivyfeather319, The True Not Important, Charrmed and Swordianspeed for the reviews!

There was a knock on the door, and Gaara jumped off his bed in excitement. He ran towards the door and opened it quickly. In stepped Yugito, who smiled down at him.

"Yugito-neechan!"

Yugito raised an eyebrow. "Neechan?" She laughed.

Gaara's eyes twinkled. "Yeah!"

Grinning, the blonde Jinchuriki knelt down to face Gaara.

"Not asleep yet, Gaara-chan?"

"Uh... about that," Gaara laughed nervously. "Moth- Shukaku, Shukaku, Shukaku," he reminded himself slowly. Then he continued. "Shukaku always comes out when I'm asleep. It's like when I'm angry. If I lose consciousness or something like that, Shukaku will come out. So I can't sleep."

Yugito gasped. That was horrible. "How long have you been like this?"

"Umm... I can't remember."

The Kumo kunoichi recalled her own experience with the monster cat within her. Matatabi was a nice Tailed Beast, and she didn't have much problems taming the Two-Tailed monster. The only real problems she faced was training to be one with Matatabi.

Matatabi seemed to have picked up on her thoughts, as the blue creature soon spoke.

"Yugito-chan, Shukaku isn't like me, or any of the Tailed Beasts for that matter. He's what humans would call a madman. Shukaku lusts for blood, and to kill. This Gaara kid got the worst of the lot."

Yugito nodded, understanding. She patted Gaara's head.

"Gaara-chan," she spoke.

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to know how to... sleep, again?"

"C-Can you help me do that?" Gaara asked excitedly.

"Yes," Yugito smiled. She got into a meditating position, and Gaara did the same. "If you want to forcefully contact the Tailed Beast within you, meditation is the easiest way to do so."

"What is this meditation you speak of?" Gaara asked curiously.

"This." Yugito closed her eyes. "Get in this position, close your eyes, and focus."

Gaara shook his head uncomfortably. "I might fall asleep."

"I'll be here," Yugito assured. Gaara seemed to be convinced, and he was soon doing his own meditating.

"W-What happens when I meet Shukaku, Yugito-neechan?"

"Reason with him. Ask him to stop influencing you and using you as a machine to kill," Yugito suggested, before recalling Matatabi's words to her about Shukaku's bloodlust. "Maybe you can make him a deal."

"A deal?"

"Since Shukaku likes killing so much, you can promise him, like, one person to kill per week," she suggested. "Suna has it's prisoners right? The ones who commit the most terrible of offences can be handed to Shukaku."

"That's a funny idea, but I'll try," Gaara nodded.

"What business do you have here, brat?"

The booming voice caused Gaara's eyes to fly open on instinct. He looked around, to see that the surroundings of Yugito and his room, were now replaced by a harsh desert.

His gaze shifted to a gigantic sand monster in front of him. Gaara felt fear rising from his stomach. He knew who this was.

"Shukaku," he spoke for confirmation.

"You dare to speak my name, brat?" Shukaku growled.

Gaara backed away in fear, but steadied himself. He reminded himself why he was here, and his head snapped up to look at the One-Tailed beast.

"Shukaku-san, please stop trying to influence me and using me as a machine to kill!" Gaara pleaded, repeating Yugito's words from earlier.

"Shukaku-san? Shukaku-san? Hahahaha!" The monster threw it's head back in mad laughter. "I could get used to that!"

"L-Look, S-Shukaku-san," Gaara heard himself stuttering in fear at the giant creature's laughter. "If you do as I ask... I'll let you kill one Suna prisoner per week."

Shukaku growled. "You dare to negotiate with me?"

"Uh... y-yes?"

Shukaku roared at him.

"S-Sorry!"

The Ichibi snorted. Then it spoke again.

"Seven prisoners per week."

"That's everyday! No way! The prison will run out of prisoners!"

"Allow me to remind you that you are seeking the permission of the great Shukaku here, boy!" Shukaku wagged one of it's fingers at it's container. "Only seven will be enough to appease me!"

"Three per week," Gaara continued on boldly.

Shukaku snorted again.

"Six."

"Four."

"Deal."

Gaara grinned broadly. "This was easier than I thought! I should have done this earlier! You are the best monster ever! Thank you, Shu-chan!"

"Shu-chan?" Shukaku roared threateningly. "And let me remind you that if you don't hold up on your end of the deal, I won't hold up on mine! Got it, you little brat?"

"Yes, Shu-chan!"

"Good. Now get out of here and let me enjoy my desert."

"How?"

Shukaku roared again, this time with frustration. "You get in here, but you don't know how to get out?!"

Gaara rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"You just think about getting out of here, and you focus," Shukaku sighed.

"Okay, see you later, Shu-chan."

"Shu-chan?! Let me lay the law for you - call me the 'Great Shukaku'! Not something stupid like-"

Gaara was already gone, and Shukaku cursed.

Gaara's eyes opened slowly, and he saw Yugito again in front of him.

"Gaara-chan! How did it go?"

"Great," Gaara smiled weakly.

"Great?" Yugito said warily. "I didn't expect you to succeed on the first try. That was easy."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too!" Gaara grinned. "But Shu-chan said he wanted four prisoners per week instead of one."

"Shu-chan?" Yugito chuckled.

"That Shukaku is still as crazy for blood as ever," Matatabi sighed.

"Okay, since it's all settled, I think I'll be going to bed now. You should sleep too. A six-year-old must have his sleep if he wants to grow strong!" She laughed, and gave Gaara a fist bump.

"Yugito-neechan, can you tuck me in?"

Yugito blinked, but nodded. She grabbed the redhead and carried him to his bed. Carefully, the blonde set her friend down and pulled the covers over his body. Gaara's head stuck out, and he smiled at Yugito.

"Thank you, Yugito-neechan. That's the first time anyone has ever tucked me in like that."

Smiling, Yugito kissed his forehead.

"Good night, Gaara-chan."

The Kazekage absentmindedly flipped through his documents, yawning as he did so. He had an important meeting with the council later on and he had to get his notes prepared for it.

Gaara burst into his office.

"Gaara, you have to knock before you enter," the Yondaime said sternly.

"Father, where is Yugito-neechan?" Gaara asked in panic.

"She left early in the morning with her companion," said the Kazekage, signing some papers at the same time. "I've heard about how she helped you with Shukaku, and I've agreed to let four prisoners to you every week."

"B-But how can she leave without saying goodbye?" Gaara said tearfully. He was on the verge of crying - making his first friend, and then practically losing her after a day.

Seeing his crying son, the Kazekage sighed.

"She left a message for you." He held up a piece of paper. Gaara walked forward and snatched it out of his father's hands.

Dear Gaara,

If you are reading this, then I have left Suna and returned to Kumo. I am sorry for not being able to say goodbye before leaving, so I'll say it on this note. Gaara-chan, you are going to be a great shinobi when you grow up. I can't wait to see you as a Genin. You'll be the best of them all, I'm sure. Don't be afraid anymore because I'm certain with training, you can control yourself and Shukaku. Below, I have drawn a training regime for you to follow until you are confident that you and Shukaku can fully work as a team. I'll be visiting again soon. Goodbye and see you again!

Yugito

Gaara smiled.

Thank you for everything, Yugito-neechan.

That wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but this is over and we can now move on to Naruto and Gaara's fight, for real this time, in the next chapter. Naruto and Gaara - the Kyuubi and the Ichibi - Kurama and Shukaku - the fox and the tanuki. Who will prevail? Until next time!