My Little Piece of Heaven

I'll continue to add chapters if people seem to like it.

Chapter 1 - In The Begining

Kaji

Fear, agony, pain, hate, loneliness, resent, these are some of the things that could describe the four worst years of my life. I was five when my happy perfect life crumbled around me, and when my love for my family turned into resentment.

The day started out normal. I woke up, got dressed, cleaned up and headed out for breakfast. I ate the usual homemade pancakes that my mom would make especially for me, every morning. I would thank her then head out to the training grounds to have my daily lesson with my dad. As the step-brother of the Kazekage my father believed that his family should be strong, and therefor allowed no laziness and especially no horsing around. I wasn't aloud to have friends, and every time I went out to the town to pick up the groceries I would be stared at like I wasn't human. I didn't mind though. I didn't need friends, or fun... all there was in my life was my family and my goal of becoming an ANBU. Training went by as usual, but ended early because the Kazekage had come to discuss an important matter with my father. That day's normality ended the moment they walked into my father's office. As he enters my Uncle looks down at me. His eyes are cold and unfeeling as he says.

"Leave now and entertain my son."

Knowing better than to argue I leave with a nod and close the door behind me. That's when I meet my third and youngest cousin. He was sitting in the middle of the yard playing in the sand with his head hung low, in the distance I could see my other two cousins Temari and Kankuro. They were fighting over what seemed to be a ball. I head over to the little boy and crouch down beside him.

"You must be the Kazekage's son. Right?"

My sudden words surprise him and he looks up at me with worried, wide eyes. I look back at him calmly and the continue with an introduction

"I'm Kaji Hametsu. Your cousin. What's your name?"

I tilt my head quizzically in a cat-like fashion, which apparently was funny, because the little red-head giggled slightly, then said.

"I'm Sabaku no Gaara... "

Gaara hesitates for a second

"Your not afraid of me?"

His question is tinged with past sadness' and I can feel the strings of sympathy in my heart pull tight at each word. I don't show it though, and keep my perfect neutral mask. I then ask

"why would I be? You haven't done anything to scare me."

Suddenly his face lights up and he quickly says

"Never-mind, it doesn't matter. You wanna make a sand castle with me?"

I nod and for the rest of the day we make sand castles and have fun destroying them, pretending they were under attack. Finally the day was over. Gaara had left, but only after getting a promise out of me that I would go visit him. Well I thought my day was over, but it had only half ended. I headed back to my room to go to bed, but as I was about to enter my room I was savagely ripped out of it and dragged down the hall by the neck. My father's grip was tight and it was getting hard to breath. At about the front door I finally pass out from the lack of oxygen.

When I finally come to, I'm in a dark stone room. People are surrounding me. I try to move but realize I'm strapped down to a metal bed with inch thick steel straps. I struggle harder as I see what the people are holding. Needles, mini saws, and other things used for major surgery are all apparent and even some tools I had never seen before. Then almost in sink with each other they descend on me with their tools. I'm not even sure of these people's genders, because they were all wearing full body suits that looked like they were meant for testing explosions, but I was starting to think that they were doctors of some sort. The first to get to me rips off my cloths and throws them away. I'm starting to get scared. The next one shaves short crimson hair off and incinerates that. The smell of burnt hair sears at my throat, I really am scared now. The next one sticks a thick IV into my arm. Now I'm terrified and for the first time since I could walk I screamed. I continue to scream as the next one starts to pump a purple liquid into me through the IV. They all stop for a second and so does my screaming as I look at them in horror. After that second they come back at me with their operating tools, and for the next seven hours I endure the worst torture you could do to a five year old... Open surgery with not anesthetics and while their still awake. I screamed with all my strength, hopping beyond hope that some one who cared would here and come and save me. no one ever did, and for the next four years I endured that pain everyday.

On top of test after test. My second day was the only day that seemed to have the least pain. That was the day I was branded as "Cat" I later found out that the reason for that was because there were other kids going through the same thing as me. I was called Cat because they were attempting to cross me with a cat. Over the years only one thing changed though. Me. Physically and Mentally. I became heartless, blood thirsty, short tempered and I started to consider myself a monster. Physically I changed in the way any kid does as they grow up, but along with height and other natural things came something that no human was supposed to develop. First to happen was my ears migrated closer to the top of my head, later they became larger and more cat ear shaped, black fur even grew on them. Next was my spine extended into a long tail that also covered in a layer of black fur.

After the five years were up and the doctors had finally realized what a big mistake they had made, I was dumped along with the rest of the experiment children in the middle of the dessert to die. Some died instantly, others died slowly. The unlucky ones lasted years, tortured by the pain left over and the lack of a mind of their own. Only I survived out of all fifty children. I wandered the dessert for six years killing whatever crossed my path. From dung-beetles to whole caravans of people I killed them all.

By the end of my sixth year I was covered from head to toe in a thick layer of old, dry blood and my blood lust was calmed down enough that I didn't kill everything I saw. Which was a good thing for the people of Suna, because that was also the time I stumbled into the town and up to the front door of the Kazekage's office. After an argument, that was heated not only by our words but by the fire - a talent that had developed over the experiment years- I threw at him. By the end of it we were both battered but we had come to an agreement, I would be taught in the ways of an ANBU and in exchange I would serve him as a puppet. A couple of years later he mysteriously dies, and a new Kazekage is brought to power.

At the age of seventeen I am now waiting in the dessert. Waiting for the council to make my presence know to the new Kazekage and for him to find out just how good a weapon I can be.

Yay! I love it!
Kaji is awsomeful and Gaara is my fave character! XD

Yata! Arigatou Gozaimasu Mina-chan!

Doatademashita.
(I think I spelled that right lol)

Chapter 2 - Reapearance

(3rd person's view)

" Why didn't you tell me of her earlier?"

The new Kazekage asked the council, reminding himself all the while the he wanted to be needed not feared.

" Well she was never needed... Not that she's needed now... but at the rate things were going we decided that it was better to tell you now rather than when she got bored and decided to come meet you herself"

The eldest member of the council stated nervously. Gaara had been the Kazekage for quite a while now, but the fear -even if it was very slight now- was hard to forget.

Gaara sighs as he says

"fine but next time something like this comes up tell me as soon as you find out. Now were is she so I can get this over with?"

He stands up to leave but is stopped but a sudden feeling of unease. The feeling seems to be coming from outside the door and he looks over just in time to see a figure walk into the room cloaked in a cloak as dark as a moonless night. Sand is clinging to the stranger's boots and with every light foot fall the person takes toward the Kazekage bits fall to the ground.

Once the stranger is in front of Gaara it bows low and surprisingly a cold but feminine voice says from the depths of the hood

"Kazekage-sama I presume?"

Gaara nods not sure what to make of this person. It was clear that it was a girl... or a largely feminine boy, but the energy around it was rough and emotionless. It almost seemed to chaff at the very soul. From that it was clear what ever it was was defiantly not human. Not anymore at least. Suddenly sensing the Kazekage's mild concern the person removes it's heavy hood. From under the hood a young woman's face is revealed. She couldn't be any were over 17 but her golden eyes reflect experiences and pain beyond her age. Her crimson hair matches his in color but is longer by several inches yet still too short to be considered medium length. She stands about one inch above him but her cloak can't hide that she's defiantly skinnier than him. She looks completely human or would... if it weren't for a pair of pitch black cat-ears poking through her hair. Through all of that though Gaara couldn't help but feel a pang of recognition.

The girl sneers at the starring Kazekage and says in a cold emotionless voice that sends chills up Gaara's spine

"what? Don't you recognize your own cousin?"

Gaara's eyes suddenly widen as he instantly remembers were he remembers her from. His cousin... Kaji Hametsu... one of many children who had disappeared from the village so many years ago. He had thought she had just run away from him... not wanting to have to face him because he was a monster. No not a monster. A Demon. Now it isn't him who is the demon, but her. Oddly he instantly looses all grudges he had towards her and manages to breath out

"Kaji?"

Her sneer changes to a murderous grin. It wasn't that she was going to kill him... she just didn't know how to smile any other way... or rather it hurt to smile any other way.

"So you remember me eh?"

The icy voice cuts through him again. What had happened to her to make her this way? At the moment he'd rather not know

"Good. About time a relative recognized me. Father and Mother didn't... and never will again. Seeing as they are not of this world anymore."

That was right. The Hametsu family had recently been cut short... or so he had thought... with the death of his step uncle and aunt. They had been brutally murdered. Their corpses torn to shreds like a wild cat had gotten hold of them, then hung from the highest point in Suna for all to see with a message written in their blood beneath them. It had read 'Hametsu is no more'. Later that day their youngest a new genin and the son they had had after they had supposedly lost hope of finding Kaji, was found gutted and torn apart in his room still clinging to the Kunai he had likely tried to protect himself with.

" You killed them didn't you?"

she nods with hate burning in her eyes. Gaara shudders then asks

" I can understand killing you parents but why their son? He did nothing to you."

Her murderous grin disappears suddenly and her eyes go once again emotionless. Then the cold voice pierced the air. The council members were frozen with fear by now. They had stopped talking as soon as her presence had hit the room but now with her in the room and showing her colors, they were petrified and could only listen in horror as to what she was saying and stare in awe as their Kazekage stood up to her without even a hint of fear in his voice or face.

"He existed"

The cold is tinged with malice

"They replaced me. Even though I was still alive and kicking... even though they knew perfectly well were I was. I wasn't good enough for them. They put me in that hell hole expecting me to either become their weapon or die. I didn't die, but I refused to be their weapon. So they dumped us all in the dessert to die. I survived that too and still they didn't care. They never cared. And for that I took what they cared for the most right in front of their eyes. Then I took the only thing they had left... Their lives... I do not regret what I did but I won't do anything like that again unless ordered to. And with that said I really have talked too much. If your in need of a weapon I'll be in the dessert. Find me if you have the guts to."

The malice had left her voice and left the icy emotionlessness behind to torment their nerves. She stands there for a second longer. Her golden eyes starring into his sea-foam green ones. Then suddenly she's engulfed in flames that quickly disappear leaving only tiny droplets of glass were she had been standing.

Kaji

I reappear in my dessert home with the usual burst of flame producing a platform of glass at my feet. That always happened when I used the Inferno step around sand. The heat from my flames was so intense any sand would instantly turn to glass. But this was no time to think over things that happened daily. I had to find my team members and tell them that we were back in business. It shouldn't be too hard to find Niwa the only male and human (or at least fully) on the team, because he was chronically lazy when it came to anything that wasn't a mission and was likely at his home lazying about in the hot sun. Deamona would be a bit harder to find. She didn't like to stay still, therefore she moved constantly and being a full fledged demon she never needed to sleep and avoided it like the plague. Thankfully she wasn't able to control her chakra aura and it was always as big as it could get, so it wouldn't be as hard to find her. I grab my bag and walk back out of my house into the bright sun of Suna's dessert. It beets down on me and I'm instantly on the verge of over heating. Luckily I can control my body temperature or I'd have died of sun stroke long ago. I cool myself off then burst into flames and disappear.

When I reappear I'm outside of Niwa's house. It's a lot like mine on the out side and has the appearance of a regular sand dune. Most houses (though there is few) in the dessert are built this way, not only for protection but also for temperature control. In the day it stays cool and refreshing were as at night the heat stays in. I walk up to the door which is practically invisible unless you know were it is and open the door. I was wrong about him lazing in the sun but was dead on about him being lazy. At least I wouldn't have to look for Deamona. Niwa was sprawled on his couch likely asleep, while Deamona was rushing around cleaning things up and being oddly house wife-ish. These two would make an excellent couple one day. That is if they ever admitted that they liked each other. Even if they are complete opposites. As I walk in the door Niwa sits up. As usual his neon blue hair is a mess and his crimson eye is half closed and lightly glazed over while the other is covered by a black eye patch. Niwa has hardly any color sense... it's not that he's color blind... just more of that he has no idea how to coordinate colors. Their always mismatching and half the time there a bright color. Oddly enough he's also the best at hiding out of our team. At almost the same time Niwa sits up Deamona freezes, and after a second looks over at me she has her medium length black hair pulled into a tight pony tail at the back of her head and her sharp, bright, purple eyes show no emotion as she silently looks over at me. She must be in an unusual mood today cause her usually extremely revealing, skin tight clothing is loose and is actually covering everything. Both of them knew instantly when I walked in the door why I was there. I didn't come here often and lately would only come when my shower broke down or something else like that. Deciding to make it absolutely clear though I say

" we're back in business... and the new Kazekage is my cousin... oh! and can I use you're shower again Niwa? Mine broke again..."

My emotionless mask breaks as I give a weary smile, scratch the back of my head and laugh nervously. These two were the only ones I could afford to make the painful expressions in front of. There was no use trying to hide my emotions... no matter how diminutive they were compared to other people's emotions... they would always see through my mask. Niwa sweat drops at the last thing I say, then sighs.

"Again?" He sounds annoyed but I can hear the amusement hidden deep inside. "Fine." He then waves me off the the back of the house. I try a painful smile and head towards the bathroom. At the last second it cracks and I grimace as my checks feel like their about to fall off. I had smiled too much today and was paying for it.

oops accidentally posted Chapter 2 twice... Hope you all like it so far!

Yay!
Happy reunion! XD

... I only see the chapter once.

yah I edited and replaced it with the 'oops accidentally...'

I love this so far! Very good work, can't wait to hear more.

Thanks ^_^ Once I get home (eiter tuesday or wednesday) I'll put up another chapter

Yay! XD

Chapter 3 - A New Mission

Kaji

That day when by quickly, and before I knew it the sun had set and my world was once again engulfed in darkness. I had left Niwa and Deamona hours ago, clean in body but not in mind. No matter how hard I scrubbed, my mind would always be stained with the blood of my victims. I had decided to walk home. The dessert sands was still warm as I walked and for a moment I let myself relax. No one would attack me... there was no one to attack me... not since long ago. I continue to walk, for once completely loose as I thought of those years... the years that only I survived. They had been bloody... no. Not just bloody they were freaking chaotic. And I missed them with all my heart. The heat of the battle. The feel of a weapon in your hand. The feel of taking down an armed enemy with your bare hands. The feel of their blood splashed every were while your heart pumped adrenaline into yours. Those were the days were I felt alive. Life was boring and seemingly pointless now without the constant chaos. I was born into a world were you couldn't let your guard down ever, lest someone take advantage of it. then was suddenly thrown into a world of daily pain, and when that world was just starting to get comfortable they go and throw me out of it and into a world of kill or be killed. Instant adaption was necessary and failure to adapt was deadly.

I remember one of the kids I killed. He had refused to adapt to the dessert's harsh settings and had been spending his waking hours wandering, hoping beyond hope to find Suna, his only form of protection was a sharpened stick and the spikes that had formed from random spots on his body. The people who had made me 'Cat' by crossing my DNA with cat DNA had tried to do the same to him with a porcupine. Needless to say he was a failed attempt and it had left him horribly disfigured and mildly insane. That day he was talking to himself as he shuffled through the sand. I had followed him for days now, mostly because I had nothing better to do. The number of people attacking had dwindled to nearly nothing and I had become bored beyond belief. For the whole time I had followed him he hadn't even noticed I was there and he remained oblivious till I made the mistake of stepping to far over the edge of a sand dune. Down the side I tumbled, till I reached the bottom. He looked shocked as I rose from the sand and brushed the sand from my torn clothing. I was already covered by the blood of many victims and looked like a cat that had been half drowned in blood then tossed in a sand box. As I straightened up his frightened eyes met my cold, emotionless, voids. He screams and I just stand there. He looks confused. I continue to stand there. He walks up to me and I see a malicious glint appear in is eyes. Likely thinking I would continue to stay still and seeing the sack tied to my side full of water and food, he begins to raise his stick above his head. I smirk and disappear without a trace, reappearing a millisecond later behind him, his arms immobilized and my mouth close to his ear.

"so that's how you wanna do things eh?"

I whisper into his ear, pure malice dripping from every word with undertones of blood lust. He shudders. The blood lust rises with every beat of his heart. Every life giving beat of his heart. I dig my finger nails into his flesh. Blood pools from the wounds and runs down his sand and sweat encrusted arms. He freezes and I release his arm. Reappearing in front of him I lick the blood from my hand slowly, savoring every metallic drop of it. His eyes are wide, but he does not move. He can't, fear grips him too deeply. This wouldn't be very fun. He wasn't going to fight for his life. Oh well It would be better than nothing. Giving no warning I appear inches from him. I grin evilly and plunge my arms into his flesh up to my elbows. He screams and I shudder with pleasure. At least he made a noise. Continuing my work I pull my arms back out of him and grab his throat with a blood covered hand. The blood makes my grip slippery but it doesn't matter, It just keeps me from crushing his throat instantly. My pleasure would last. As one hand chokes him, nails digging in, the other sets to work tearing the wound my arms had made wide. His bloody guts fall from his chest to the ground and the sand around us turns crimson with blood. He's gasping for air and out of pain now. My skin is further splashed with blood as I now start to tear his flesh from his bones piece by piece. Adrenaline pumps savagely through my vanes and I continue my work until his bones are picked clean. I then sit down in the spreading pool of blood and stare into space. After a few moments I fall backwards my head hitting the ground with a sickening squish. I look to either side. To the left is his broken open skull, the bloody brain hanging half out, shinning in the afternoon sun. To the right is his intestines and heart still beating futilely, blood trickling out a torn valve. After o couple of hours I finally move on. I would continue my search there was only twenty left to kill after all... and I had all the time in the world.

I snap suddenly from my daze as a hear an unusual shifting of sand. It almost sounded like it was flying through the air. I look to the sky and wouldn't you know it, it actually was flying. In the distance was a medium cloud of sand. Strange the sand seems to be infused with chakra. Wonder how that happened. I get my answer as soon as it gets a bit closer. On top of the sand is Sabaku no Gaara the Kazekage. Seems he has a job for me. I stop walking and wait for Gaara to notice me. Once he does he directs the sand toward me and lands lightly in front of me. We stare at each other for a moment as he finds the words he is going to say.

Finally his mouth opens and he says.

" I have a mission for you Kaji. This is for only you though, I don't want your team involved."

I nod in acknowledgment so he continues

" As you likely now the latest Chunin exams will be held soon at Konoha and i've been invited by the Hokage to watch. I unfortunately need a body guard to go. So your mission is to escort me to and from Konoha."

This mildly interested me. I had never been to Konoha before and had heard many good things about it. As a child I had waited excitedly, till I was old enough to go with my father when he went on his yearly visit. Unfortunately the year I was finally old enough he sent me off the the 'hell hole'. Refraining from showing emotion and making my cheeks hurt any more than they already did I do a simple low bow and let out a simple

"Hai"

in acknowledgment of my mission.

He nods his head at me then says

" ok. we going to leave as soon as possible so go home and pack. Have a good night sleep and meet me at the village gates once you wake up"

He then goes to leave, but stops and turns around as I make a small grunt and say

" That won't be necessary. I don't sleep often and I keep everything I need for a long journey on me"

I pat the bag at my side. It was small and held hardly anything. The usual things were in it: water, a few scraps of bread and dried meat, a change of clothing, and my small throwing weapons. Beside my bag was my ever present Katana, Ketsuki Ha, the only thing I took from my old home after I slaughtered my brother and parents with it.

Gaara looks at me, sighs then mumbles under his breath

"It's almost as if Insomnia runs in the family..."

he then speaks louder thinking I didn't hear and says

" Ok I just need to grab my stuff and inform the council that I will be absent for a couple of weeks... or maybe a month... I need a break..."

I nod once again. Wanting to get out of here soon I grab Gaara in a hug like motion, though it lacked emotion, and use the Inferno Step. Instantly we burst into flames and disappear leaving only the tell tale glass disk behind.

well since I said I'd put another chapter up yesterday and it's now... well today so! Just for you guys I shal put up 3! Chapters... including the one I already put up... yah...

.:Edit:. ok changed my mind I actually put up 4.

Chapter 4 - On My Way

Kaji

A hour after leaving Suna and what's left of my family, Gaara and I are crossing the dessert. Gaara had thought it would be better to walk, so as to give us longer away. No one had talked since we hit the dessert sands. I remained quiet because I had reverted to my silent mood that was a usual thing since a week after being put into the hell hole. I had no idea why Gaara was silent. He likely had a lot of questions, but then why wasn't he asking them? Probably thinks I won't answer. Then again why wouldn't I? He was my best friend before I was taken away... no... he wasn't just my best friend... he was my only friend. I guess I should trust him enough to show what little emotion I had left. I turn my head to face Gaara who is walking beside me and open my mouth to say something. He is looking at the ground and has a look of concentration set upon his face. Not the best time to disturb him. I turn to face ahead once again and space out letting my senses drift. The smell of sand, the heat of the sun on my head and shoulders, the sound of Gaara's steps beside me and the mild smell of him just starting to sweat. All these came into sudden focus as my senses drifted, I could almost feel his thoughts as they circle around his mind in a muddle of curiosity and uncertainty. Something else suddenly enters my senses. It's a strange smell and I don't recognize it at first but then it hits me like a cinder block. The smell is of moisture and vegetation in other words...

" A forest. Seems we crossed the dessert faster than I thought we would"

Gaara's voice pierces into my senses as well and my eyes are torn from the forest and directed to him. His voice had almost seemed to be sorrowful like he was disappointed that we were finally getting some new scenery. I want to ask why he seems sad but something new comes into the picture. My head jerks around so I'm facing the forest once again and my ears perk up, alert to every sound. I sniff the air. Moisture and vegetation... but then a hint of flesh... human flesh... and then the sent of blood... lots of blood. The sent is so strong that if it wasn't for growing up around it, it would have bothered me. Gaara tenses at my side. He is staring at me. Even if I'm wearing baggy clothing it's easy to tell that under my long black turtle neck shirt the muscles in my arms were pulled tight and ready. My legs tense as well under my baggy, black, cargo pants as I move them into a fighting stance. There is defiantly something not human in that forest. The smell of human flesh and blood had been that of it's victim and I only now could smell the monster's rotting flesh. This was no place for the kazekage to be. I look back at him and signal for him to fall back a ways, back into the dessert. He may have the ultimate defense and be the kazekage, but as his body guard this was my battle and not really worth his time or effort. Gaara seems to have understood because he starts backing away back towards a high sand dune. He would watch from there in case I needed help. He looks at me one last time, his eyes concerned. I nod to him then motion for him to move faster before I turn back towards the forest. I run my hand lightly over the Suna head band on my side reminding myself what my mission in life is now... and what i am protecting, then regain my fighting stance. I bring up my gloved hands in front and slightly to each side of my face to keep my vision clear but still having a defense. My hands are slightly open and each finger ending in a strong sharp nail is tense and ready to rend flesh from bone. I sharpen my eye sight and look thru the thick brush scanning the forest for it. Luckily it hadn't noticed me yet, mostly because I was keeping my chakra aura to a minimum. As my eyes finally land on the dark, slimy, rotten flesh of it's back I smirk and make my aura blaze to fifty percent of my full power. Instantly the creature whips around facing the dessert. It's blood red, glowing eyes are on me and waves of malice come wafting towards me. This was going to be more of a battle of our auras then a physical fight. I could tell because when threatened by a blast of aura an enemy only returns a blow of aura if it intends to battle with it. My smirk widens into a full out sadistically, murderous grin and it comes out of the forest and sends another wave at me. I let it hit me. The waves flow over me and I shiver as I think of the blood spills to come. Just as the last of it's waves passes over me harmlessly I send one of my own at it. Just one... One full of hate, malice, anger and blood lust. Unlike the deformed creature's aura waves, my wave clings to me for seconds, lighting up my body and causing an updraft around me. My clothing moves lightly in the draft and my hair does the same. I plant my feet, shoulder width apart and stand at my full hight. My grin widens and so do my eyes with murderous intent so strong that my pupils are only dark slits against their bright background. Suddenly I let go of the aura and it blasts towards the creature pulling clothing, hair and limbs forward slightly with it. As soon as it leaves my body I disappear and speed after it reappearing again behind the creature right before the wave hits it. The creature lets out a high pitched scream as I pass, it's arm disappears. It the goes silent as the wave passes over it. For what seems like hours (but in truth is only seconds) everything but the steady drip of blood coming from the severed arm in my hand, freezes. Then just as suddenly as my attack had been made the creature makes one last sound, a shallow gurgle, then bursts into tinny pieces of dark rotten flesh. It's blood, pulled back from the force of the wave splashes against my back and on the ground around me. I sigh as I drop the creature's arm. It hadn't lasted long enough, but I guess that's what I get for using that much of my chakra... even if it was only a small amount... With one last sigh I inferno step back to Gaara, mildly surprising him for a moment. I look at him with a bored expression and motion that we can continue on our way. Gaara starts walking with me as I head back toward the forest.

"Didn't last long enough? or just not strong enough to get a thrill?"

Gaara asks from my side. Judging from his voice he seemed to understand how I was feeling at the moment. I simply nod. It seems that my silent mood had turned into being a mute. For the rest of the time that it took us to get to Konoha it didn't matter what he'd ask or even how complex the answer to his question was, I would always answer with gestures. I was almost wondering if I even had a voice anymore. Gaara didn't seem to mind though. I guess he was just happy with getting any reaction at all out of me.

At one point the question of how many people I had killed came up. He had seemed more interested in this question that any other he had asked because even though I took quite a while to answer he continued to stare intently at me. I had had to think about it, at the times of killing I hadn't been counting but now I could seem to remember every murder... every bloody slash... and every pain filled scream. I had started counting out on my fingers and Gaara's eyes widened as I started counting into the eighties, then nineties. I realized then that if I included the creature from a couple of days back I had killed almost a hundred people/things, at least half of which had been fellow experiments. About forty percent of the other killings were the attendants that had watched me in the hell hole. The rest had been innocent people who had happened to get in my way in the middle of a blood lust period. I told him the exact number by using my fingers, then looked at him expectantly. I wanted to know how much of a monster I was. I wanted to know how bad I was compared to the supposed 'monster' Sabaku no Gaara. Gaara lets out a light chuckle as he looks to the ground.

" I haven't killed nearly as much as you, but that doesn't make you a monster Kaji. No matter what you can't think of yourself as a monster... far too many people have called me that to even tolerate the word."

His voice held regret but I could tell the only ones he really regretted killing were the ones that didn't deserve it... and our uncle... but that couldn't have been helped. Deciding that this wasn't a good topic to stay on I pull at his sleeve and get a competitive look in my eyes. I wanted to race. Even if I knew Gaara was slow when it came to running, he wouldn't be so slow if he used his sand. I grin at Gaara as he looks up from the ground and gesture towards his gourd then make a running motion. He seemed to get it because Sand started to flow out of it and under his feet. I get into a ready position as he finishes then count down on my fingers from 3. at go we both take off towards Konoha. I held back a lot so Gaara was soon in the lead. He turns around and yells back to me

" I thought you were fast? where'd the cat speed go?"

I smirk wider. He wanted speed? I'll show him speed. I disappear as he finishes his sentence and his eyes widen. When I finally stop I'm at Konoha's front gates.

(3rd person view)

Minutes later Gaara comes floating up to the gates. He puts his sand away and looks down at the ground. What he sees, is a seemingly sleeping Kaji sprawled on the ground. She looked peaceful or did until she twitched and opened her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping at all... She gives a smirk of victory and jumps up from the ground, landing gracefully on her feet. She continues to smirk as she motions to the gate and starts to head in.

Chapter 5 - Konoha and the Drunkard

Kaji

Inside the gates was a large town about the same size as Suna, but one thing is different... well besides the buildings... every thing's alive! There's grass on the ground, gardens in yards, flowers in vases. It is so beautiful, well was until a man wobbles up to me and Gaara. He gets really close and shoves his face close to mine. His breath smells of old alcohol and rotten teeth and it takes all my will not to make a face. He's obviously drunk, but that isn't what changed my view on things. The crowds around us suddenly stops and stares at the spectacle as if this was a show to them. Like a battle of wills. I stare emotionlessly into his drunken half closed ones and for a moment that's all that happens. Then suddenly from out of no were the ass goes and grabs my chest and clumsily slurs out

"So ye rrr a girrrly. Couldn tell from the distan cas of ur baggy clothins..."

By now I'm peeved not only has this man grabbed my chest, but he dares accuse me of being a guy. But of course he's not finished yet

"Kiinda small rnt ye? hick ye shr ye not jst a prtty boy? Why dun we check ke?"

He then goes to move his hand towards my pants, likely to undo them but when his hand gets to were they were it hits air. The man then realizes his other hand is also griping air.

"eh? wer'd ye go?"

I tap him on the shoulder from my new position. He spins around clumsily to face me and is surprised to come face to face with a VERY pissed looking me. My eyes are wide and glowing angrily. While a homicidal grin slowly creeps across my face my body tenses and my aura starts to grow, making my clothing and hair float lightly upwards. Just as the aura is about to be released though a heavy blanket of sand hits me hard and I skid backwards. Already pissed I savagely jerk my head around to face the one who had hit me. Standing there is a VERY pissed Gaara. He's holding the man in his sand but is staring at me with angry eyes. Confusion breaks out and shows on my face as I stare back at him. What happened next actually startled me.

"KAJI! YOU DON'T JUST GO TO A TOWN AND KILL SOMEONE! ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE INVITED!"

His yelling cuts at my mind. He had never yelled at me before and as far as I know he had never yelled at someone before. Gaara calms himself down enough to stop yelling then says

" I can understand why you'd want to kill him but you can't do that. I'll turn him in to the Hokage but as long as your here no killing. That is unless the person is threatening my life but that is the ONLY excepti..."

Gaara was suddenly cut off by a semi-high pitched scream of joy then a

"PANDA-CHAN!"

Out of no were Gaara is tackled to the ground. Shocked pretty much out of my mind I just stand there starring for a second. On top of Gaara is a girl about an inch shorter than Gaara. She has longish orange hair pulled back into a low pony tail and has a blood-red kimono top over long black shorts. Her top is tied closed with a black obi, it's has a strangely familiar cloud pattern all over it (like the Akatsuki cloaks, except the clouds are blue). On her arm is a head band bearing the symbol of Konoha. It seems that she knows him so I snap out of the shock and look around. Around us is a large circle of people starring at the scene... and the Hokage. I'm not very good with being the center of attention unless it's because I'm killing the thing focused on me, so I instantly freeze and my eyes widen.

Gaara noticing how uncomfortable I was says

"Uh Saiyo I think it would be better if this was continued in a more private place"

He gets up off the ground and takes the girl up with him. He then turns to the Hokage and asks

"Hokage-sama would you care to join us?"

She nods and follows him as he grabs me by the arm and pulls me along. Once out of the sight of the circle of people I start to calm down and walk by myself. Everything goes silent for a while and I let my senses wander, taking in my surroundings as we walk. I had finally calmed down but noticing the man who started this all in front of the group, some of the anger comes back. The man looks back at me and I give him an icy glare. His eyes widen, shivers in fright, then looks away. I concentrate on the man for a while imaging what I would do to him if I could get my hands on him.

I continue to do so until my thoughts are interrupted suddenly by the girl who if I remember correctly is called Saiyo. Out of no were she pops up beside me and looks up. Earlier I had only seen her back because she was kinda tackling Gaara but now that I could see her face I noticed that she is of fair skin and dark eyes, a dark teal to be exact. She looked innocent... too innocent...but I'm likely just over reacting... I look down at her suspiciously and raise one eyebrow in question. She smiles brightly and says happily

"Hi! you must Kaji-chan! I'm Saiyo! Gaara told me lots about you! but he seemed to forget to mention that you are a kitty..."

Gaara seemed to have over heard his name because he suddenly comes into the conversation

"I didn't mention that because at the time, my memory of her was of a human girl"

Saiyo looks slightly shocked than asks

"Oh? What made you into a cat?"

Once again Gaara buts in before I could gesture my answer and say

"She's not really talking right now and I doubt you'll be able to figure out what she means with her gestures... gives me a hard enough time... and I don't know either"

Curiosity crosses her face as she thinks for a moment.

"oh... well it was nice meeting you Kaji. I hope you start talking again soon so our conversations aren't all one-sided"

She then smiles sweetly and leaves me to my thoughts again, dragging Gaara with her. The Hokage seemed to have other things to do because I see her out of the corner of my eye making a quick excuse then heading off down another road.

Sai

Ah another normal... boring day, and another, possibly boring mission. The Hokage had asked to see me this afternoon to talk about something mission related. When I finally arrive at her office and get in she starts explaining right away

"Hello Sai. Your new mission is acting as a body guard. With all the strange occurrences lately we've made it a rule that each Kage that attends the Chunin exams needs at the least two ANBU as body guards. Everyone seemed to be able to get the required two except Suna's Kazekage. He said that he only really trusted one of his ANBU with his life. I don't doubt the ANBU's ability to protect him, a while ago a crowd that I was in almost got a demonstration of her power when a drunkard tried sexually harassing her. I left the guy with Gaara to take care of the punishment but man if it wasn't for him interrupting her she probably would have torn up the guy and a couple of blocks with one move... just thinking of the malice in her aura sends shivers up my spine."

She shivers

" But on to your mission. As you've likely guessed your mission is to help protect the Kazekage. His ANBU and your temporary team mate is Kaji Hametsu or Cat, you'll see soon enough why they call her that. A little bit about her, thanks to Jiraiya, that you should know before hand is that... well lets see here..."

Tsunade rifles through some papers, then picks up one that looks like it's been torn from a note book.

"Ah here it is. Oh Gawd Jiraiya you even got her measurements?... wonder how he got those... anyways from what it says here she's 17, about 5 foot 5 inches... hm... ANBU level already now that... Doesn't show emotion and doesn't seem to be able to actually smile... sounds like someone I know..."

she looks up at me meaningfully then continues to look for relevant information on the paper

"hm... when in battle becomes extremely blood thirsty... tends to kill for no reason... hope that's kept in check while she's here... hm... there seems to be a sketch of her here... wait no that's just Jiraiya... ok that seems to be all I can get out of this, that's important unless your interested in the fact she's a virgin... but I'm not getting into that..."

She looks up from the paper at me her expression a little disturbed... likely from Jiraiya's notes. She then sighs and hands me a piece of paper

"that's were you'll be staying. I got them a three bedroom suit so there'll be space for you there too. Now, any questions? and before you ask no you may not have the paper. If you want to know you'll have to ask her. It seems he just walked up to her and asked her a bunch of questions cause the note keeps saying 'she said'. Though you'll have your work cut out for you getting anything out of her cause last time I saw her she seemed to be under a vow of silence."

I openly sigh. She got me. Damn now I'd have to ask... eh. She looks at me expectantly. I just shake my head telling I had no questions then walk out the door. Outside the building I look at the piece of paper and head off to the location.