In that moment, Naruto's face turned about as red as a tomato. "N-no problem, 'tebayo." He said. After a few moments of silence, he cleared his throat. "So...should we leave now?"

Gemini shrugged. "I'm curious. I've only ever known the forest, so this is all new for me. Um..." She wasn't sure how to put what she was going to say next. Taking a breath, she decided to just ask. "What can I expect...from the villagers? I won't hide my ears or tail, so...how will people react to that? Unless...if it causes trouble for you, then I'll hide them."

Yugito thought about it for a few seconds before nodding. She knew how much it had hurt when she had to transform into a neko, and was glad that he wanted his help with his own transformation. Though a thought did occur to her...what would happen if he tried to use that prank jutsu of his as a light blush came to her face at it.

"I don't think villagers will react badly to it, especially if I'm with you since all they remember me as is the 'Blood thirsty monster'. You may get glares at for being associated with me, but that's about it," he replied with a light chuckle. If they saw that she was able to keep Gaara calm and 'in control' then perhaps they wouldn't bother her at all.

(*snickers* What should we do about Gaara's fangirl, Matsuri? At least I believe that is her name.)

((Ah, that's true. Well, technically, she's his student and there was never any relationship established beyond that. She doesn't show up until the very last episode of the first series before the shippuden...still, we could have some fun with her. Test their relationship and all.))

Naruto tilted his head. "Hey, Kitty-chan, why are you blushing? Are you feeling okay?" He asked, naive as always. The blonde just couldn't think of any reason for Yugito to be blushing, even though it was just the kind of thought that he would have any other time. Impatient, he stood up, ready to go.

Gemini's expression clouded over, but cleared in a moment to be replaced by one of determination. "Well, if they want to be that way, then let them. I'm used to ignoring stupid people. But if they say anything about you where I can hear them, I'm not responsible for the ass-whooping that follows."

(That's what I was thinking. A lot of people like to pair her up with Gaara because of that, but I figure why not use it to test Gemini)

"I'm fine, it's nothing," Yugito responded, ignoring the laughter coming from the queen of hellcats as she also sat up. She knew that he was impatient and probably wanted to do this as soon as possible, not that she blamed him.

Gaara chuckled lightly at that. "Better the 'ass-whupping' from you that the gruesome death from me," he replied with a smirk on his face.

((Yeah. Wolfie doesn't like that pairing- probably because she's such a fangirl [sweat] But it's a good way to test her, and to test Gaara if you think about it.))

Scratching the back of his head, Naruto shrugged and started towards the door. "Okay, if you say so." He said. Mentally, he was wondering why all girls were so weird.

Gemini crossed her arms. "Some things are worse than death. Spending the rest of your life in constant pain, for instance." She said darkly. Sure, she wasn't into killing like he was, but she was still half demon.

(I love it when two great minds think the same thing...)

Yugito let out a small sigh of relief, glad that he bought that. Still though, it would be something to look into later she thought to herself. What? She was a neko now, and curiosity came with the territory.

"I'll give you that. Now then...what would you like to eat? I'm not the best chef but I like to think I'm decent in here," Gaara said.

((*evil chuckle* Wolfie does, too.))

Naruto locked up his apartment before leaving, since he didn't know how long he would be gone. "We'll have to go pretty far into the forest so that no one will sense anything." He said.

Trying to hide the growling in her stomach, Gemini looked around. "Well, I'm not used to anything fancy, anyway. I'd be fine with a sandwich or a bowl of cereal." She said, shrugging.

"I'm confused...mine only lasted for a couple hours. Why are you unsure of the time?" she asked curiously.

"I can make some scrambled eggs, if you want," Gaara replied. "Though I'm sure there are materials for a sandwich in there.

"Well, yours was natural. It was going to happen anyway. But mine is being forced. It's something that wouldn't have happened otherwise, so my body is probably going to try and reject it at first." Naruto answered, showing a rare bit of foresight.

Gemini's ears perked up. Her eyes shone and she clasped her hands over her heart. "Oh, could you? I haven't had scrambled eggs since I was little!" She said happily.

[COLOR="Gold"]Yugito nodded in understanding, especially since it was going to be forced upon him. "Once it starts...I'm not leaving your side, I'll promise you that" she said with a convinced look on her face. He was doing this for her. For her. It was the least that she could do to repay that type of kindness and commitment./COLOR]

"Well that won't do. Give me a few seconds and I'll have some scrambled eggs right up. Do you remember adding anything to them?" he asked as he mentally chuckled once seeing the look that she had. "Also...your tail is wagging."

Naruto smiled at her. "Thanks, Kitty-chan. I appreciate it." He said. He just hoped the whole thing wouldn't be too difficult for her.

Gemini blushed as red as her hair, and instantly stopped her tail from wagging. "Hehehe....that never happened." She said, clearing her throat. "I used to add a bit of salt and pepper. And I would eat them with ketchup." She answered.

"It's the least I can do," she responded with a light grin as she wrapped her tail around Naruto's waist. If he found it uncomfortable, then she'd remove it.

Gaara chuckled lightly. "Better than nee-chan. She puts all type of things when she's cooking scrambled eggs,"he replied.

Naruto tilted his head, then smiled. "Hey, soon, I'll be able to do that, too." He said, gently stroking her tail.

Gemini made a face. "Well, sometimes less is more. Temari-san isn't the best cook, is she?" She asked, looking around to make sure the wind mistress wasn't around to hear her.

Yugito started to involuntarily purr as Naruto rubbed her tail, her cheeks inflamed with the action. However, she was glad to see that he wasn't annoyed by the action. Though he was right...soon he could be doing this himself...if he wanted to that is.

"Not really. We usually don't let her experiment, but she can follow recipes," Gaara replied as he got the eggs.

Naruto chuckled when he heard Yugito purring. "It's cute when you purr, 'tebayo." He said. Just then, they entered the forest, and Naruto had to walk in front of her because the path was so narrow.

Gemini nodded. That was reasonable enough. "Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. If I'm going to be here, I'm going to contribute, and cooking is something I'm good at. So I'll cook for everyone."

Yugito's blush deepened at that. "T-thanks," she replied before they headed into the forest. Yugito moved to the rear since the path became narrow. She also had her tail wrapped back around herself while they walked through the forest.

"If you're sure that's what you want to do, then I won't stop you. But, you won't be cooking all the time. I'm not that much of a monster," Gaara replied as he thought about the word he used before chuckling lightly. Shaking his head, he moved towards the oven and started working on the food. He had to admit that these devices that came from Snow Country were very impressive.

After quite a long time of walking, Naruto paused and closed his eyes. "I think we've gone far enough. There's a cave just over this way, so we'll have shelter at least." He said, leading her to the right where a large rock formation loomed.

Gemini raised an eyebrow at his choice of words, but decided not to say anything about it. "I want to contribute in any way that I can. I refuse to be a burden to anyone." She said, obviously determined to pull her own weight.

Yugito nodded as she followed him into the cave. If this wasn't far enough, then she didn't know what was.

Gaara nodded in understanding, knowing that she didn't want to seem like a freeloader.

Inside the cave, Naruto did a quick check to make sure no animals lived there, and then flopped down onto the ground. "Okay. We're here. Let's get this over with." He said with a grin.

Looking around again, Gemini couldn't help but feel like the luckiest girl on the planet. "Gaara-san...thank you. For...everything." She said quietly.

"well then...let's begin," the Kyuubi said as he started pushing his energy into Naruto's.

"You're one of the few people who didn't hold what happened to me at my birth against me, it was nothing," Gaara replied.

Naruto instantly flinched, pain flooding his system like liquid fire. "Damn! That hurts, 'tebayo." He said, trying to look strong but failing.

"I still don't understand how it could possibly be your fault when you were just born. You did nothing at all.It was your father who committed the most terrible sin. He was the monster. I fail to see why everyone blames you instead of him." Gemini replied, shaking her head with disgust.

Yugito sat down next to him, grabbing his hand within her's and squeezing it lightly to show that she was still there for him and wouldn't leave until this was all over. If he hurt her due to the transformation, then that was a small price that she would gladly pay.

Gaara chuckled lightly before he took the finished eggs out of the pan. "True, but they didn't see it that way. They only saw me as Shukaku. As such, I gave them a reason to believe it was true...and then my uncle tried killing me and I became the mask I was wearing," Gaara admitted.

The pain intensified, and Naruto soon lost track of time. He collapsed against Yugito, shaking and twitching. Red chakra- the Kyuubi's youkai- bubbled up around him, seeming to burn at his skin. It looked something like the transformation that took place when he used too much of the Kyuubi's chakra, except clearly more painful.

"Temari-san told me once that before that incident...as a child, you were sweet and kind to everyone. She said you were so innocent, and sensitive. I couldn't help but imagine you at that age. I bet you were cute." She said with a tiny smile. "From her description, I have a hard time believing that anyone could make the mistake of thinking you and the demon were one in the same."

Yugito surrounded herself in Matatabi's youki as she kept her hand within Naruto's, knowing what type of pain he was going through. She winced lightly as his grip tightened but didn't let go, especially since he was doing this because of her. She vowed to stay with him until the end, and that wasn't going to change.

Gaara blushed lightly at that. "I was like that once long ago, but I had to put on a mask to protect myself. Before my uncle tried killing me, my mask wasn't all that bad. But after that...well, you know it by now, I'm sure," he said. "Anyways, breakfast is ready."

Minutes lapsed into hours as the blonde suffered, his nails turning to claws and back again, his canines lengthening to the point of slicing open his bottom lip, then receding. All the while, the chakra around the top of his head and the base of his spine solidified and formed. It was nearly midnight when suddenly, Naruto's and Kyuubi's chakra seemed to explode, merging together and lighting up the cave. Naruto screamed, a terrible, bestial cry filled with pure suffering. This continued for several minutes, Naruto gripping Yugito's hand tightly all the while, until finally, mercifully, the light died down, leaving the boy curled up on the ground, unconscious. His skin was literally steaming, and his hand still gripped hers, but more gently now. Atop his head were two bright orange fox ears, and curled behind him was a matching fox tail, fluffy and white tipped.

Gemini came over to get the breakfast he offered. "What I know is that the boy I see is not the one everyone else sees. I know that underneath your mask, you are still that sweet, kind, sensitive boy. And I know that I love you." She said. Sure, she had said it before, in the forest, but it was a bit different now that they were both fully aware and standing face to face. She just hoped that, now that he could fully process what she was saying, he wouldn't react too badly.