A/N

Hope you guys like this chapter!

Thanks for all the votes, comments, and reads! Every time I see one of you read this story and liked it, it makes me so happy.

Bye for now! :) - bluelion2

After my little rant in the bookstore, I went around town looking for trouble.

I found it at one of the many shops here.

There was three werid people trying to get a place to stay, it seemed, at this inn. But whoever owned it wouldn't let them in and it looked like a fight was about to break out.

I nudged my way past the crowd until I could see exactly what was going on.

The three people looked around my age, there was a blonde girl, a red head, and a dude who had face paint all over him.

"I won't let you stay here! " the owner of the inn I'm guessing, said.

"This is enough. Let's go somewhere else. " the red head said.

"But, Gaara -" the blonde said.

"We are obviously not welcomed here. Let's find someone else. " he said.

Well, that's not right.

Why can't they stay?

I mean the one the girl called gaara does look like he hasn't seen the crack of dawn in hundred years and borrowed a fair share of his mother's eyeliner and the one with the facepaint looks like a mutated cat and the blonde girl is looking pretty crazy herself with that hair...but it's still not right.

"Hey! " I shouted over the murmurs of the crowd.

All eyes turned to me.

I gulped.

Way to put the spotlight on yourself, Ketei...

I shook off the neverous feeling in my stomach and stepped towards the three weirdos and the owner of the inn.

"Why can't they stay? " I asked.

The innkeeper gave me an are you serious look.

"You don't know who they are? " he said.

I looked over at them.

"Nope. But the question I asked is why can't they stay." I said.

The man pointed towards the red head.

"He's a murderer! " the man shouted.

I was suddenly hit with a small memory.

---

"A murderer!"

"She's evil! "

"A monster! "

---

When I came back to reality, I realised those were the exact same words the crowd behind me was shouting at the boy named Gaara.

I clenched my fists.

"Would you harm this man! " I said to Gaara.

With a face completely devoid of emotion he said, "Maybe. "

The crowd gasped.

"That proves it right there! "

"A true monster. "

"I'd do the same thing if I was in innkeepers shoes. "

I walked up to the red head and the eyes of the boy and girl beside him widened.

"No, don't! " the blonde shouted.

Sorry, too busy not giving a fuck...

I slapped the red head as hard as I could.

The sound of it echoed throughout the marketplace, instantly shushing the crowd.

"Don't be what people think you are. " I said.

The boy just looked at me with stunned eyes.

"How... " he said.

I grabbed his hand.

"My name is Ketei. You haven't killed me yet. Now, would you do the same with that man over there? " I said.

"I can kill you right here. " he said darkly.

"Then go ahead. Nothing is stopping you. " I said.

"You must have a death wish. " the boy behind gaara said.

I looked gaara in the eyes.

"You're no monster. Monsters don't hesitate. " I said.

He pulled his hand away from mine.

I looked back at the innkeeper.

"I promise he won't harm anyone here. " I said proudly.

"How can you be so sure? " the man said.

"I'm not. " I said quietly.

"But, you should give someone a chance or you'll never know what could happen. " I said.

Then the man stepped to the side and opened the door.

"They can stay. " he said, giving up the fight.

I grinned.

Soon, the crowd had all gone away probably because there wasn't any drama going on anymore.

I looked at the three people I had fought for.

"Thank you. " the blonde girl said.

"No problemo. Bye. " I said and began to walk away.

"Stop. " I heard a cold voice say.

I turned around.

"Whatdaya want? I don't have time for a meet and greet so spit it out. " I said.

Gaara walked over to me slowly and I saw sand begin to gather around him.

"I want to fight you one day. " he said.

I coughed.

"Umm, wait a second. Fight? " I said.

"Yes. Fight. " the boy said.

"Hate to break it to you kid but I'm nothing special. I can't do special ninja magic or even fight that well. " I said.

"You bypassed my sand. How? " he said.

Huh?

What in the hell is the kid talking about?

"I don't know what you're talking about. " I said.

"No one can get past my sand. I've never been hit before. The sand stops anyone before they can. Except you. " he said.

"Well, I really don't know so... sorry?" I said.

His eyes glared at me.

I just stared at him.

I need to make up a theme song for this.

I shall name it Epic Staring Battle!

Saskue can sing lead.

I almost burst out laughing at that thought.

"Is it even possible to have dark circles that bad? " I thought aloud, noticing Gaara's black rimmed eyes.

"Yes. " he said, all emotionless like a zombie... oh yeah, me.

"Do you get any sleep? " I said.

"I don't sleep." he said.

Well, this is just getting awkward so...

"Hasta la vista, pimps! " I said quickly and raced out of there as fast as I could.

That was some intense staring back there.

He was all like "I'm going to stare into your soul! " and stuff.

Though I feel kinda sorry for him.

That memory I had...

The pain of being called a monster...

It hurts like a bitch.

I looked up to see the sun starting to set and ran towards naruto's place.

Why did I step up back there?

Attention? Probably.

Trouble? Most likely.

Self obligation? Ding ding. We have our winner!

I've noticed something.

The more I see of my past, the more I feel.

Feel sadness. Feel pain. Feel happiness.

More than I felt than before.

Maybe I'm just learning how to live again.