TEMARI'S P.O.V

I'm not sure what Gaara's up to, but then again I'm not too sure I want to know. As soon as Gaara left the copy ninja tried to leave too, but Sarutobi wouldn't let him. I smiled as I saw the look of worry in his one uncovered eye.

"So, who's going to give me the full details of your mission?"

Sarutobi asked and I sighed.

"I guess I will."

I said and he nodded before I started to tell him everything.

GAARA'S P.O.V

'This should be easy for you, you already analyzed all her moves. Just kill her.'

Shukaku said, but I shook my head.

'No, I don't want to kill her.'

I said, and surprisingly I found I was telling the truth.

'Well that's a first.'

Shukaku said as I dodged one of her attacks and threw blasts of my sand at her, knocking her back.

'Why don't you want to kill her?'

Shukaku asked and that made me freeze. Why don't I want to kill her? I've killed thousands before without even thinking about it, but when it comes to her I just don't want her to die.

'I don't know. She is the first person to be able to fight with me on equal grounds.'

I thought and heard Shukaku laugh.

'What's so funny?'

I asked confused as I dodged another of her attacks. She disappeared and I listened for her while crouching on a tree branch.

'That you think she's gone all out with you. She is holding back.'

'As am I.'

I said and Shukaku shook his head.

'You do it out of fear of what might happen, she does it because she knows.'

I thought about what he said for a minute and realized he was right. She did seem to know something, but that doesn't mean she should be taking it easy on me.

I sensed her and jumped from my place amongst the trees. I used my sand and made her trip up, but she jumped out of the way before she could hit the ground. I wrapped my sand around her wrist and pulled her towards me. She dangled in front of me a smile on her face.

"You shouldn't hold back on me."

I said and her smile widened.

'So you were right.'

I said and my eyes narrowed and tightened my sand around her wrist.

"I don't want your pity girl."

I said and tightened my sand even more until I heard her whimper then I instantly loosened it. She looked me straight in the eyes and I was shocked to see she had the same look in her forest green eyes that I had in mine. Fear, pain, loneliness. But nowhere in her eyes did she hold pity, not for herself, and not for me.

"Believe me kid, I don't pity you."

She said before kicking off from my sand and hurdling herself towards the ground. I watched as she flipped in the air before landing in a crouch. She turned to face me and the smile was back on her face, then she was gone.

'Seems like this one likes the chase.'

Shukaku said and I couldn't help but smirk as I took off after her. I jumped from tree to tree following her chakra before it vanished and I stopped. I listened to the trees around me and everything was silent except for the soft thud of feet coming right behind me.

I turned around in time to have a foot collide with my face and knock me towards the ground. I opened my eyes to see her coming after me through the air. Her fist collided with my face and I brought my own up and hit her in the stomach. She smiled before pulling her katana forward and pressing it to my neck. I brought my hand up and wrapped it around her wrist before letting my sand travel from her hand to her blade and snapping it in half. Her eyes widened and she jumped away from me just before we hit the ground.

My sand softened the ground as I landed and I looked up to see she crouched in a tree looking at her broken katana.

"You asshole, that was a gift!"

She snapped and I couldn't help but smile up at her. I saw her eyes widen and I quickly hid my emotions again.

'Hmm.'

Shukaku said as I blocked an attack from her and her kunai.

'What?'

I asked, but got no answer. She swept her foot out and I lost my footing and once again she wound up onto of me with her kunai pressed to my throat.

"I wi-"

My sand wrapped around her waist and flung her back into the trees. I stood up in time to see her kick off from a tree and land in another one a few feet away. She threw her kunai at me and my sand flew up and encased it. When it fell away nothing was left of her dagger.

"Look you asshole, quit breaking all my stuff. Those were gifts from my friends!"

She snapped at me and I just smirked at her. I saw her eyes narrow before she disappeared. She appeared right in front of me and I had to take a step back to avoid having her fist collide with my face.

"If they were so important to you then maybe you shouldn't have brought them into a fight."

I said and heard her growl before she swept out with her leg. I saw her footing was off and used my sand to wrap around her ankle. She fell on her backside and I pinned her down with my sand.

"They gave them to me to use in fights you dumbass!"

She snapped and I growled as I tightened my sand's grip around her.

"Quit calling me such degrading names!"

I snapped and she smiled. I let my sand crush her only to find out it was a substitute.

I heard he laughter and looked up to see her standing a few feet away from me.

"Were you really going to kill me just now kid?"

She asked and I growled at her.

"Okay, okay. I can take a hint. Come on, you've broken all my weapons, what's say we have some real fun now?"

She asked and I felt her chakra flare out before wrapping around her.

'What is she-'

'She's going to transform.'

Shukaku said and my eyes widened as I watched the girl in front of me change. Her waist length black and red streaked hair lengthened and wrapped around her to form fur. Her nails and teeth lengthened to form claws and fangs. I heard the small popping as her bones broke and snapped out of place to readjust and form in their right places. She went down on all fours and I watched as her fur covered her hands and feet, then formed a red tipped tail. The girl-no, the fox before me looked at me and I saw the same forest green eyes speckled with bits of scarlet looking back at me. Her tail was swaying back and forth as if she were a playful pup.

'She-She transformed with such ease and it didn't even seem to faze her.'

I thought in shock and heard Shukaku laugh inside my head.

'What's so funny?'

I asked and saw Shukaku smile in my head.

'She is indeed a one of a kind creature, but she is not fully transformed.'

'What do you mean? Did you not just see what I saw?'

'I did, but you seem to have forgotten that red and black fox from earlier, the one she called Kitsana.'

'So what?'

I asked confused.

'Think child, what does Kitsana mean?'

Shukaku asked and I thought about it and my eyes widened as I realized what he was talking about.

'Two tailed fox.'

'Exactly. Now, how many tails does the fox in front of us have?'

Shukaku asked and I looked over the girl again and noticed she only had one.

'So it cuts her power in half when she is separated from that other fox?'

'Something like that.'

Shukaku said and I couldn't help but smile. I went to take a step towards her, but Shukaku stopped me.

'What?'

I growled at him and he smiled.

'She said she wants to have some fun, so transform a little.'

He said and I froze.

'No.'

'She transformed for you. You don't have to transform completely, just a little bit.'

He said and I looked back over to the fox still sitting beneath the tree before sighing.

'Fine, but I stay in control.'

I said and Shukaku only smiled at me before I felt his power wrap around me. I couldn't help the scream that escaped my lips as pain wracked my body.

My sand wrapped around me and I felt myself transform.

RIN'S P.O.V

I watched as Gaara stood there for a while after I had transformed before I felt a different aura wrap around him. Then his sand blocked my view of him. I heard him cry out and that confused me.

'Kitsana, why does he cry out when he transforms?'

I asked her through our link and saw her shoulders sag.

'There are some hosts little one that does not live in harmony with their beasts. Some, like the young Kazekage, refuse to allow their beast freedom and so when they do transform it causes them pain.'

Kitsana said and I instantly felt bad.

"Fuck. If I had known that I wouldn't have asked him to do that.'

I said and saw Kitsana shake her head.

'It is okay little one. If he hadn't wanted to then he wouldn't have transformed.'

She said and I nodded before turning my attention back to Gaara. He wasn't fully transformed, but I could still tell what his beast's form was.

'So Shukaku is a sand raccoon.'

I thought with a smile as I looked at Gaara. His arms hand grown to the size of oak trees, and he had a tail behind him.

'So he's a single tailed demon. This ought to be good.'

I thought before charging forward. I hadn't even gotten two feet before Gaara disappeared and his claws raked across my side. I saw him land across from me and laugh. I felt my blood run down my side and I looked at Gaara confused. That's when I saw that his teal colored eyes had a sharper, more deadly look to them.
I jumped back just as he attacked me again.

"Shukaku! Give him control!"

I yelled and heard him laugh.

"You are indeed a smart little fox."

Shukaku said through Gaara's body and I cursed.

"Give him back control!"

"I think not little one, he never lets me out. He even sacrifices sleep to make sure I don't get out. You helped him relax and now that I'm out I'm not going to go back till I've had some fun."

Shukaku said and I growled at him.

"What's wrong little one? Didn't you say yourself that you wanted to have some fun?"

Shukaku said and I growled at him again before attacking. He swatted me away like it was nothing.

'Damn it! I can't do this with only half my power.'

'Then let us become one again little one.'

I heard Kitsana say as I saw her running towards us.

'Fine, but keep that barrier up. If it falls the entire village will be able to sense us.'

I said and she nodded before appearing before me.

'Let's do this.'

I said and she nodded before charging at me and I felt like I was submerged in cool spring water as she disappeared within me.

I felt my power increase and let Kitsana's aura wrap around me and felt myself grow. My teeth lengthened as did my fur. I crouched down low, glaring at Shukaku, both my tails raised in the air like always when I was serious.

SHUKAKU'S P.O.V

'This child is definitely a beauty to behold. I can see now why you didn't want to kill her.'

'Don't hurt her Shukaku! Give me back control!'

Gaara screamed from within the cage Id put him in. The same cage I'd been locked in for so long.

'I think not child, I'm going to have some fun.'

I said with a smirk before pushing him farther back and wrapping my chakra around the rest of my body and it was instantly covered in sand. I growled as I fully transformed and smiled as I turned to face the two tailed fox before me.

'Now, let's have some real fun.'

I said before disappearing from her view. I landed in a tree and saw her looking around for me before she stopped and closed her eyes. She was still for a moment before she disappeared. I sensed for her chakra, but it was gone. I tried listening for her but she made no sound. Suddenly I was knocked out of the tree and being forced towards the ground. I laughed as I turned around and raked my claws against the child's side again. I heard her whimper but that only made me smile. I dug my claws into her side, wanting to hear her whimper again, but when she didn't I growled and dug them in deeper. She growled at me and spun around, making my claws tear at her skin. Her twin tails stabbed me repeatedly before she jumped away and I hit the ground.

'Well that was unexpected.'

I thought as I sat up. I looked around, but she was again nowhere in sight.

RIN'S P.O.V

'Kitsana, can you heal this?'

I asked as I hid among the trees keeping an eye on Shukaku.

'Not while I have the barrier up, I can drop it for a few-'

'Never mind. I'll fight with it.'

'I strongly suggest otherwise little one. You're losing a lot of blood.'

'It's fine. I'm going to get Gaara back to normal if it fucking kills me.'

I said and only heard Kitsana sigh within my head.

"Come out and play little one, or I'll start tormenting my host."

Shukaku said and I suppressed a growl as I skunk towards him.

'You will have to end this quickly. Do anything you have to to stop that raccoon.'

Kitsana said and I nodded, then an idea came to me.

'Stay in control of your thirst Kitsana, please.'

I said before charging at Shukaku.

'What do you mean little one?'

Kitsana asked confused, but I kept my plan from her. Shukaku still hadn't seen me. I ran up behind him and jumped up on his shoulder and bit down, hard. I heard Shukaku scream out in pain, and it made my ears ring.

"You little bitch! Let go of me!"

Shukaku screamed but I only tightened my grip on his shoulder. As his blood flowed into my mouth I felt Kitsana's aura flare up.

'Stay in control of your thirst! I need to be in control for this and I can't have you losing it on me!'

I snapped at her and saw her shrink back at the sharp tone in my voice.

'I will try little one, but don't take too long.'

She said and I growled.

'I'm not sure how long this will take.'

I said truthfully and she nodded.

"Get off!"

Shukaku yelled before I felt his claws dig into my uninjured side. I wanted to scream, but I only dig my fangs deeper into his shoulder.

"Let me go!"

Shukaku yelled as he stumbled. He took a step back to stabilize himself.

'Give him back control!'

I felt the shock in Shukaku's aura when I spoke to him in his mind.

'Why do you care so much? It's the same either way, it doesn't matter which one of us is in control, we're both killers.'

Shukaku said and I growled.

'Look, he finally trusted someone enough to let you out a little and you go nuts. I wouldn't blame him if he never let you out again.'

'You don't know the things we've done little one.'

He said and I tightened my hold on him making him cry out.

'First, stop calling me that! And second, I don't give a damn! You think you're the only one who's killed the ones you love because you couldn't control the beast within you? You think you're the only one who felt unwanted, hated, alone, and unloved! I've felt that way for a good ten years of my life, then it got better.'

'Yes, but ours never got better. No one cared for us-'

'My entire village wanted me dead! They were even going to kill me and they would have if it hadn't been for Sesshomaru. He saved me and took me in. He raised me as his own and just because I got a taste of his half-brother's blood I lost control. I killed everyone. I killed the man who had become like a father to me. The woman he loved and all my friends. I killed them all and didn't even think twice about it. I woke up, covered I their blood just because I couldn't control my beast. So don't try telling me you're the only one who's had it rough!' I snapped at him and felt Shukaku's aura fade a little.

'That still doesn't answer my earlier question child. Why do you care so much for my host?'

Shukaku asked and I froze. I didn't know how to answer. I felt different when I was around Gaara, like I could be myself and not worry about being criticized or feared. I heard Shukaku laugh within my mind and growled.

'I have my answer.'

He said and I glared at him though I couldn't actually see him.

'I only have one request child.'

He said and I waited.

'Don't let him be alone.'

Shukaku said and I growled in response. He laughed again before I felt his aura leave and Gaara's took its place. He transformed back to normal, but I still didn't let go. Gaara stumbled back and fell against a tree.
"God, can you let go off me already!"

He snapped at me and I flinched at the harsh tone in his voice.

"S-sorry. I didn't mean to-"

He said but stopped as I started to transform back into my human self. My fur changed back into hair, and my nails went back to normal, but my teeth wouldn't change back.

'Kitsana.'

I said and saw her hid her face from me.

'I'm sorry little one, but I can't pull myself away from his blood. You will have to do it.'

She said and I sighed inwardly. I slowly released my hold on Gaara's shoulder. I heard his breath hitch as my teeth left the wound. I saw it and frowned. It was going to be a bitch to heal.

Before I could stop myself I swept my tongue over the bite mark and pulled away to be met with the shocked and confused look on Gaara's face. I couldn't help but smile up at him.

"It'll make healing easier."

I said and he just continued to look at me in shock. I sighed before trying to move, but the pain in my sides made me stop.

"Hey, don't try to move."

He said, but I didn't listen to him and tried to stand up, only to wind up having my knees buckle. I felt strong arms wrap around me and pull me towards something solid. I looked up to see Gaara looking down at me with what looked like concern in his teal colored eyes.

"Learn to listen you idiot! I said not to move."

He snapped and I smiled at him as I snuggled into his chest. It was warm and I was tired.

"My name's not idiot Gaara, its Rin."

I said before closing my eyes and falling asleep.