RIN'S P.O.V

"God, training was brutal!"

I groaned as I sank beneath the hot water in my tub. The water was already working out the kinks in my muscles.

'How do you think those poor ANBU feel? You practically killed them.'

Kitsana said and I pouted.

'No I didn't. I just had to work of the food I ate and that was the best way I could think of.'

I said and she laughed.

'Attacking them all with your sai and forcing them to defend themselves, then chasing them around in your fox form and scaring them half to death was the best way you could think of to burn off your excess energy?'

Kitsana asked skeptically and I blushed.

'Okay, so maybe I was trying to keep my mind off some things, but it was still good training for them.'

I said in my defense and Kitsana shook her head at me. I blushed even more before washing the dirt and dried blood from my body and hair. I got out, dried off and dressed for bed. When I was sitting on the bed I remembered something when I was asleep.

'Hey Kitsana, who were you talking to while I was asleep. I heard voices, but I couldn't tell who they belonged to.'

I said and saw her tail twitch nervously.

'Kitsana.'

'Umm, you remember how when you were fighting Shukaku when he'd taken over you latched onto his shoulder and we accidentally swallowed some of his blood?'

She asked and I nodded.

'Well, it made it so I was able to talk to them like we're talking to one another now.'

My eyes widened and I almost fell off my bed in surprise.

"What! Does that mean they can hear what we're talking about? What we talkedabout!"

I asked surprised and a little scared. I didn't fully know what my feelings for Gaara were, I didn't want him to know until I was absolutely sure.

'Calm down little one, they can't hear what we're talking about. I'm not even sure if I can even still talk to them like before.'

She said and I calmed down, then an idea came to me that made me smile and made my heart speed up.

'Could you try? To talk to them I mean? It'd be kinda cool.'

I said and she smiled at me before nodding her head.

'I will try little one.'

She said and I waited.

KITSANA'S P.O.V

I tried to focus in on Shukaku and Gaara's auras and was surprised to find them so close to us. They were in the room directly across the street from us. I reached out and found that they were both still awake. I smiled before trying to talk to them.

'How come you two haven't gone to bed yet?'

I asked and waited with a rushed heartbeat just like Rin for any kind of response.

'I take it the connection between us hasn't disappeared then?'

Came Shukaku's reply and I found myself smiling. I waited for Rin to say something, but it seemed like she hadn't heard him.

'Little one? Did you not hear him?'

I asked and her excited expression changed to one of confusion.

'No, can you talk to him?'

She asked and I tried to reach out to Gaara, but got no response.

'It would seem like I can only talk to Shukaku.'

I said and heard her sigh in disappointment.

'I'm sorry little one, but maybe it's for the best. That way you can talk to him in person.'

I said and she nodded before laying down and closing her eyes. I jumped out of my cage and took my smaller form so I wouldn't be in Rin's mind while she slept. I walked to the end of her bed and curled up in a ball.

'You still there little fox?'

Shukaku asked and I sat up quickly, but immediately turned to look at Rin only to find she still had her eyes closed and her breathing had started to even out.

'I am here. My little one has fallen asleep, what of your host raccoon?'

I asked and heard him laugh in my mind.

'My host refuses to sleep. He is afraid I will take over and he is right to be. I want freedom, but he continuously keeps me locked away in my cage.'

He said and I sighed.

'Have you ever thought of trying to live in harmony with your host instead of battling for dominance?'

I asked and was met with silence.

'I take that as a no then raccoon?'

I said and heard him laugh.

'Call me Shukaku little fox.'

He said and I smiled.

'Only if you call me Kitsana.'

I said and saw him nod through our link. Silence followed and I had almost closed my eyes when I heard Shukaku speak again.

'I wonder why it is that you can speak with me still.'

He said and I smiled.

'I believe it has something to do with the amount of your blood we ingested during our fight.'

I said and heard him scoff but could feel he agreed with me.

'Then how come I cannot talk to your host?'

He asked and I sighed.

'That I do not know. Maybe it is because she is my host just like Gaara is yours.'

I said and he nodded.

'Where are you Kitsana? I can feel that you are close, but I cannot find you.'

Shukaku said and I rolled my eyes at him.

'Now why would I tell you that?'

I asked and suddenly flashes of both of us in full control of our hosts flashed through my mind and I couldn't help but be a little turned on by them. I quickly shook my head to clear it of such thoughts.

'That will be quite enough of that you perverted raccoon.'

I said and heard him laugh though I could feel his aura had a small hint of disappointment in it and for some reason I didn't like it.

'I'd much rather prefer if we used our own bodies if we were to do such things.'

I said and his aura instantly perked up and I found myself smiling.

'Of course you'd have to learn to control yourself first.'

I said and heard him groan. I laughed before closing my eyes again.

'Goodnight Shukaku.'

I said and heard him laugh before I cut off our connection.