My eyelashes fluttered open when the light shined on them. I furrowed my eyebrows softly in annoyance before rolling to my other side and stretching. Looking around, my eyes exhibited disinterest. I knew where I was.

I'm at that sock-bastard's place.

I closed my eyes and listened. I could hear a woman's steps in the kitchen and I could hear the voice of the annoying brat, don't really remember his name. Whooshing of the wind and the leaves filled my head until my ears zeroed in on a particular sound. Running footsteps, wheezing and the cutting of tree bark.

Kakashi's teaching them to climb trees with their chakra.

I sighed and put my palm over my eyes, blocking out the annoying light that shone even through my eyelids. I was feeling more or less... grateful? Not sure if that's right, but I'm glad they didn't wake me up. I needed to laze away while others work. It's so satisfying.

....but.

My cushion.

Is there.

My eyes instantly flew open as I realized that my sleep won't achieve the top-notch quality I was accustomed to, without my cushion. Unacceptable. They actually expect the, the Juubi to have low-quality sleep? Na ah, sweetie, na ah.

Having made up my mind, I rose from my futon and combed my fingers through my hair. My hair was always soft and smooth, no knots in sight. A spectacular perk of being a monster. Your hair is monstrously amazing too.

After confirming that there was no one around I flicked my finger and my mist rose from the floor, the shadows dancing over me. When they moved away, I had a black, short dress on. It was classy, and went well with the black heels. I need to feel cute once in a while, you know? I mean, I look hot in my ninja-wear, but a girl needs to feel cute every now and then!

I ran my fingers through my hair and let some mist seep out, and before long my hair had been curled and pulled back in a half up, half down hairstyle with a black ribbon. I knew I looked out of this world, but I was feeling all kinds of annoyed because they didn't even have a mirror.

That sock-bastard needs to get his priorities straight! Damn.

Huffing slightly my temper calmed. I didn't really have that much against them not having a mirror... they need the food more...

Plus, I don't need such a thing to prove to me how gorgeous I am! I'm not that insecure! Pffftt, no!

I sighed before getting up and walking out the door, slipping past the woman and the brat, before walking out into the forest and heading towards the sounds of my teammates. Which wasn't hard at all. Even without my enhanced hearing, I'd hear them from miles away. Those people sure are loud...

Or, well, Naruto is.

When I neared their location, I slowly started slowing down. I ended up stopping behind a tree a good few paces away from them. They hadn't noticed me yet, and I let the shadows of the trees to wrap around me. Sinking into the shadows, I watched them.

Kakashi was hanging down from a branch, casually standing on it upside down. He was commenting and shouting instructions at Sasuke and Naruto who were desperately running at the trees time and time again, slashing the bark with a kunai to mark their progress each time. Shifting my gaze slightly up, I saw Sakura sitting on a branch, looking very smug with herself, even teasing the boys from time to time. Sizzling glares were sent between Naruto and Sasuke from time to time. As I watched, a slight smile started spreading on my lips before receding, replaced by an expression of coldness.

This is how it was supposed to be.

I knew it. And no matter what I say, the fact actually stung. The knowledge that I didn't belong. That I wasn't even supposed to be here.

Casting a cold glance at my teammates, I disintegrated completely, turning to shadows before rushing through the forest.

I stopped when I found them. Haku and Zabuza. The shadows that were me converged together, forming into the shape of a large, but not supernaturally big, bird. A smaller form of my true form, you could say. I couldn't stay in the form of shapeless shadows for too long; that would be way too op. Even for me.

My wings fluttered soundlessly as they took to the air. Silently gliding through the air towards them, I fixed a branch with my eyes. I glided towards it and perched up on it. Furrowing my feathers I gazed at the pair.

The "dead" Zabuza who had been laying on the ground with Haku sitting beside him suddenly sat up. His torso just shot up, and his eyes were wide open and bloodshot.

Creepy, I thought as I watched him with indifferent eyes. I even snorted at him in my mind.

Zabuza then grabbed the senbon needles still sticking through his neck and carelessly ripped them out. I quitely scolded him.

What would your mother say if she knew how badly you were caring for yourself?

"Damn it, you're brutal!"

My head perked up when I heard Zabuza speak. I shifted slightly of my branch.

"You're the one who's brutal, Zabuza. If you pull them out like that, you really will be finished..."

THAT'S WHAT I SAID (almost).

I nodded my feathered head in a smug fashion. Haku really is smart. Great minds think alike...

Zabuza though didn't seem to appreciate Haku's intelligence ad glared at him before speaking with a derisive tone.

"How long do you plan on wearing that phony mask? Take it off!"

Haku hesitated for a second before lifting his hand up to his mask.

"...but I have really good memories of this mask. Plus, it really helped fool those leaf ninja earlier..."

Haku slowly lowered the mask, revealing a gentle and feminine face. I just continued watching with blank eyes. Really, it's a surreal sensation. Feeling as if nothing in the world can affect you and therefore doesn't matter. I feel as if while I'm sitting here, perched on my branch, I'm looking down at the world. I am well aware of the power I possess, but it has never felt so imminent. So limitless. At that moment I felt like nothing in the world could even hold a candle to me. The world was bleak, and only I was in color. But even I was black... yeah, everything is bleak. No color anywhere.

My dead eyes kept staring into the distance before I felt small fluctuations in the air and turned my head to the side. Tens of senbon needles were flying at me at a speed indistinguishable to the human eye. But, again, I'm no human. I huffed, and the airwave from that alone swept the needles away. I didn't even need to move my wings. Just a breath was enough, even in this mini-form. I lowered my eyes to look at the bug that felt like offending me would be a good idea.

Haku was standing in a attacking position, senbon needles between each of his fingers as he stared at me. Zabuza stood beside him, body tense but still looking at me curiously. I tilted my head to the side and let out a small cry, questioning.

Haku prepared to throw another round of needles at me but Zabuza grabbed his arm, stopping him. He then gazed at me with intense eyes before opening his mouth.

"What are you?"

The amazing being that handed you your ass just hours ago dummy.

I tilted my head again, and let my tail feathers fan out around me. Ten, gorgeous black feathers. But I'm not afraid they'll be suspicious. Because:

1. Nobody knows about the ten tails

2. I'm currently the size of an eagle, so not really anything unnatural

But I myself was curious. What made them act against me at all? I shook my head.

Well, I'm too lazy to find out.

Looking back at him, our eyes met. His were sparking with wariness, but mine were completely sincere. I was here for a reason. And my intentions weren't bad.

When he saw the sincereness in my eyes his tense body soon relaxed, and as if in response, Haku relaxed too but his eyes were casting questioning glances at Zabuza. But Zabuza's eyes never strayed from mine.

"So, what do you want?"

Zabuza's voice didn't even have any threat in it. He was just genuinely curious.

I unfolded my winds slightly, and made one small swipe with them. The small movement set off a series of winds that started blowing the sand on the ground around. Zabuza groaned and covered his face to block the oncoming sand of the miniature sandstorm. When it calmed, he took his hands away and started spewing some really creative curses. He made a motion of rolling up his sleeves while heading towards me, mumbling something about dead chickens. But Haku grabbed him by the cow-patterned arm warmer and stopped him. Zabuza turned to glare at Haku but stopped when Haku pointed down. Zabuza looked where Haku was pointing and froze. There were words on the ground, formed from the lack of sand.

Gato. Danger. No trust. Careful.

Staring at the words, completely frozen, Zabuza slowly lifted his face to me. His shocked eyes gazed right into mine. I gave a slight shriek before unfolding my wings fully and a few powerful strokes later I was sailing high above the treetops.

I probably shouldn't have meddled, but it's a bit too late to worry about that. Plus, Haku's and Zabuza's deaths are so sad... It's one of the few moments in the anime that made you cry. Along with the scene where Naruto's parents speak to him... I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Needing to feel free, I made my wings move faster, practically shooting through the sky. Doing all sorts of vaults and pirouettes in the air, I let out another loud cry.

I don't think I'll ever miss being human.

After all, being a monster is so much more fun.