Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto *such a pity*, but Kaiah is my own creation.

Chapter 8

It had been a few days since the attempted kidnapping and Naruto's brush with death, and in the mean time Naruto had been healing at an exceptionally fast rate. Sakura was there every day after school and Kaiah would drift in and out of the house after school. Sakura and Kaiah had spread the rumor that Naruto had been stabbed by a robber in his attempt to protect Sakura. Most had accepted that rumor, but the few that had been close to him at one time had their suspicions.

"It looks much better now." Sakura told Naruto as she wrapped a new bandage around him as he sat on his bed with his back to her.

"It feels a lot better. I'm just glad I don't have to take those drugs anymore, they made me feel worse." Naruto stated.

"Well, at this rate you'll be ready to go back to class next week." Sakura told Naruto. "Exams will start in a couple weeks so you need to keep on top of the assignments."

"Yeah, but you and Kaiah are good study partners so I think I'll manage to pass." Naruto looked at Sakura over his shoulder as she finished tying up his bandage. "By the way, where is Kaiah?"

"I don't know. She's here one minute and then gone the next." Sakura said as she bit her thumb nail. "I'm a little worried about her, to tell you the truth."

"Yeah. Me too." Naruto admitted.

Over by the lake where she had seen Gara sitting on that faithful day, Kaiah was walking down the sidewalk trying to clear her head. When Naruto had finally opened up and explained everything, all at once everything in Kaiah's brain clicked and things were beginning to make sense, but it was giving her horrible headaches. She was feeling more anxious day by day and feeling her anxiety build she decided that everyone would be safer if she just kept her distance from them. She wasn't sleeping well and she felt like there was a black cloud looming in the distance, promising a hard and bloody battle ahead. Nothing she did made a difference, nothing relaxed her, which had her on edge because normally a good walk and some music or some target practice would unwind her, but none of it had been working. She felt like a bomb about to explode.

"In Matthew 11:28 he says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.""

Kaiah turned to find out where those English words and voices of "Amen" were coming from.

Kaiah rounded the corner, and to her amazement she saw what looked like a little white church, similar to the one she and her mother went to when she was a child. Its door was wide open and all the windows were thrown up and the sweet melody of a piano could be heard clearly.

She could hear more talking, and more choruses of "Amen", and she felt as if something was pulling her towards the little building.

Kaiah walked through the doors and took a seat on the back pew, giving her full attention to the medium sized man dressed in jeans and a white button down shirt, with a graying buzz cut who was currently speaking. She sat there for 30 minutes taking in everything he said, hearing about how God's prophets endured all the hardships that came upon them and how the Lord provided their every need and about how God loved everyone so much that he sent his son to this earth to die for all sins.

Kaiah began to feel all her anxiety flow out of her as she sat there and listened with her whole heart. As she listened she began to remember her mother sitting by her bed side at night, reading to her from her Bible and then singing her to sleep; she began to recall some of the stories that her mother had shared with her. All the memories and the preacher man's words began to work at her heart, and before Kaiah knew it she had silent tears running down her face.

Oh! How could she forget such sweet memories of her mother?

'Have I truly become such a monster?' Kaiah thought.

"As I conclude this evening service, feel free to come to the altar and talk with God and to share with him the concerns of your heart." The preacher man said.

What looked like to be about 20 people in the congregation, some who looked like they were from America and others who looked like they may have been Japanese, all began to exit their pews and make their way to the altar.

Kaiah could feel herself walk to the front as well, she felt like she was in a daze. As she knelt in front of the altar, she gripped her hands together and began to pour out her heart to God in a way that she hadn't since she was a little girl.

Finally she pleaded with God 'Dear Lord, please, I'm begging you, please please place your protection around Naruto! Dear God please don't let any harm come to him! If you'll just keep him safe, I promise this will be the last time! I don't want to do it anymore, I'll be happy to settle down here and help people instead! Please just keep him, and Sakura and Gara safe!'

As Kaiah cried out in her heart, she didn't notice all the other people in the congregation begin to leave and as they passed by, place a hand on her and say a brief prayer for her.

After spilling her guts, she slowly opened her eyes and looked up, only to find the preacher knelt beside her with his hand on her shoulder. He too then opened his green eyes to look at her and with a small smile he said "Just leave those worries here."

As Kaiah wiped her eyes, she too smiled "Thank you."

Kaiah was fascinated to see that the preacher was American as well. "What brought you all the way over here from America?"

"Well, when I was a Lieutenant in the Air Force, I was stationed here for 4 years, and I fell in love with the place." He replied.

"Really, a Lieutenant in the Air Force? Did you retire and decide to move here?"

"As a matter of fact, I met my wife in this little village. I'm retired from active duty, but I decided to come back and work as the dentist for the base here and I preach here on the side." He told her.

"Sounds really nice. I think I've decided to stay here too." She told him with a smile. "I feel so at home here."

"It's really a great place to live. The doors here are always open, so feel free to drop by anytime." He said.

"I appreciate that. I've been dealing with a lot at the moment and I don't know how things are going to work out." Kaiah said.

"Here." The preacher said as he reached in his pocket and fished out a gold chain that held a simple gold cross and placed it in Kaiah's hand. "I've been holding this for awhile, saving it for the right person. I've prayed that whoever should wear it would have protection and guidance."

Kaiah was speechless for a moment, then "Why me?"

"Because I see that same look in your eyes that I use to see in mine. I just pray that you find what you're looking for. I look forward to seeing you again." And with that he smiled and turned to walk out the door.

After staring at the necklace for a few minutes she placed it in the pocket of her black capri's, sent up another quick prayer and headed for home.

That simple trip had been what Kaiah needed. She felt like a burden had been lifted off of her shoulders, and this time she was able to walk into her temporary home that night without fear of exploding and hurting anyone.

"Kaiah!" Sakura shouted, and marched right up to her. Kaiah was a little taken back by the growl in her voice.

"Where on earth have you been taking off to?! Everyone's been worried sick!" she continued to shout, but this time it was accompanied with a punch in the shoulder.

"Sorry." Kaiah muttered. "I've just needed some time to myself to sort things out in my head. I didn't mean to worry you."

Sakura then looked at her with more worry. "Okay, what on earth has happened? Normally you would have punched me back while issuing threats."

Kaiah just smiled and said "I guess I've just seen the light."

'…'

Kaiah began laughing at her friend's confused face, while wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"It's gonna be okay." Kaiah said. "Right now, Naruto needs me to be strong and mentally stable, and I just had too many thoughts plaguing my mind, I was becoming a danger to everyone. I just had to be alone for a while to sort things out."

Sakura understood, everyone had their own way of dealing with the situation, and Kaiah just needed space.

"It's okay." She said. "However, you better go check up with Naruto, he's been really worried about you."

"Okay." Kaiah said, then ascended the stairs to Naruto's room, where she found him at his desk, chin resting in his hand as he twirled a pencil with his other hand, staring into space.

'Looks like the attempt to do homework was a failure.' Kaiah thought with a smirk.

Silently she walked up to him and put her arms around him in a hug.

"Kaiah!" he excitedly whispered when he discovered who was hugging him from behind.

Kaiah could see the relief wash across his face when he saw her.

Smiling, she let go of Naruto only to take his hand and pull him from his chair to the door.

"Let's go look at the stars." She said, making their way to 'their' spot.

Both smiling, no words needing to be exchanged but both understanding each other none the less, an understanding that could only be shared through a deep bond, they just sat and enjoyed the stars; Both knowing in their hearts, that a battle was looming over the horizon.

*OMG ya'll! I am so sorry for leaving this story hanging in the wind! I didn't realize how long it's been since I did anything with this story! Life's been pretty hectic for me though, full time job, going back to school part time, and hitting a writer's block. I've not been doing much in my spare time, but I did get caught up in Bleach during that spare time. I must say, awesome anime! Anyways, thank you to all that have been keeping up with my story, and all the new favs. I don't know when I'll be able to update again, a lot going on right now, but hopefully it won't be another two years *gulps and looks around nervously*. Again, thank you to all you faithful readers!