Woo! Hey! Finally posted.. Hehe. Anyway, chapter one of my fanfic on Sabaku no Gaara. Hope you enjoy it!

And a bunch of people are posting this, so I will too I suppose...

I Do NOT own Naruto or its characters. Akemi, Daichi, and Yuki, are mine, only.

Special Note: Akemi means 'Beautiful Dawn' while Akuma means 'Evil One'

Chapter One
Memories

The city was lost to darkness, almost everyone within it lost to sleep, as white crystals fluttered outside their homes in a never ending snow fall, the clouds forever hanging above the skies, blocking the moon from its full glow. It was nothing new, in this country. The sunrise always seemed dull here, and the moon never quite as gorgeous as it might have been elsewhere. This country was nothing but a wasteland of never ending snowflakes, nothing more, nothing less. She didn't like it.

The small girl, just barely able to look up over the window seal to the world outside, didn't like the emptiness. The loss of warmth. The village was as cold as the people that lived within it. Though she was simply too young to understand, she knew her distaste, and she knew she disliked it here.

However, with the sound of her room's door sliding open as quietly as possible, she dropped such thoughts. Her head and body turning to look at the opposite side of the room, where an unmistakable figure stood, his white hair bright compared to the darkness of the room, and his pale skin making him stick out just enough for her to recognize him.

"Yuki-san! You came back already?" she questioned in a childish curiosity, her eyes filled with silent happiness. The older man, at least twenty years older then the four year old, smiled warmly at her, nodding.

"Hello, Akemi-chan, I did not expect you up. I was afraid I'd have to wake you," he answered with that same, warm voice he always seemed to possess. The white-haired girl nodded slowly, frowning. "I...Had a nightmare," she murmured softly, casting her garnet gaze downward. "Th-the villagers were calling me 'Akuma' again and... And I didn't understand why. I-I.. I don't think they like me much," she whispered softly, her eyes stinging as tears gathered in their corners.

Yuki's smile dropped, his eyes sofened considerably. "Akemi -"

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Yuki was dumbfounded, staring at her with his eyes wide. He didn't want her to find out like that. He had hoped she wouldn't. "In my dream," she continued, still looking down at the hard floors at her feet. "You stopped when you saw them. And - and I looked at you, and smiled, but you just walked away. You walked far away, until I couldn't watch you anymore, Yuki," her hands had risen by then, balled into loose fists as they brush away the tears that had gathered. "Why are you leaving me, Yuki-san?"

"Akemi, that is why I'm here," he began slowly, moving forward until he stood before the small girl. Bending down to her height, his hands cupped her tiny cheeks, raising her head to look into her blazing eyes. He smiled. "Do you know why I call you Akemi? While everyone else calls you Akuma?" he asked slowly, softly, watching her eyes as they filled with a mixture of forgotten sadness and curiosity. Slowly, her head shook from side to side, her eyes never leaving his. "You remind me of someone, I once knew and loved. A special person. Her name was Akemi, you see, and you... You remind me of her so much, just how you are. You're so kind, Akemi-chan, and these people, they want to change that. They want you to turn into Akuma. That's why, I'm leaving," he paused, watching closely as her tears gathered in her eyes again.

"No, Yuki-san! You can't! I don't want to be Akuma either!" she shouted, the tears spilling down her cheeks as her eyes shut, tight. She shook from his embrace, her small arms throwing themselves around the man's neck and pulling herself close to him. "Please, Yuki-san, take me with you. I-I.. I want to be Akemi, your Akemi, please, don't leave me here. Don't leave me alone!" she sobbed into his shoulder, standing on her toes just to get at the proper height to hug him so tight. "Please, Yuki..." her voice faded, muffled by his shoulder. The man smiled gently, for a moment unmoving as his mind was lost to thought.

Finally, his arms slipped around her fragile form, and he lifted her with him as he stood, nodding his head. "Alright, Akemi, shhh. You can... Be my Akemi."

The forest was silent, that sort of silence that one could never find around many people, the silence of animals, with their occasional footfalls breaking a twig, or every now and again the small sounds they made to communicate with one another. They were lost, lost in their own little world, where humans simply could not reach. The presence of two such humans didn't bother them, they ignored the flare and occasional flicker of light from the fire - the man sitting cross-legged before it was non-existent, and the girl sitting high in the trees, resting upon a thick branch, was simply peaceful. She was unmoving, silent, and calm as her thoughts rolled away to distant memories. Her distant, garnet eyes took no notice to the occasional movement within the shadows, nor the light emitting from the fire below, giving her cold pale skin a sort of natural, healthy glow. In reality, one she didn't possess.

Far below, her companion raised his black gaze, watching her, the way she lounged against the trunk of the tree carelessly, while on leg laid stretched out along the branch, the other arched upward, so that her foot was placed right beside the other leg's knee. She looked, somehow, peaceful in her loneliness. It left him curious, and her mysterious. No matter that, he wanted to know everything. He wanted to know what she was thinking about. What always made her go so cold and distant from the world.

Slowly, his head shook. He'd never dare ask her again.

So, he left her to her thoughts, while she traveled to another time in her mind, leaving him alone to his own.

"What do you think, Akemi? Suitable, for the time being?" Yuki asked softly, turning his head to the side to view his young comrade who sat comfortably on his back, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Glancing around with wide eyes, she nodded, smiling. "Suitable," she agreed. Yuki smiled. "Why don't you go ahead and explore, eh? We should be able to stay here for a few days, at the least. Just don't wander too far, alright?" The young Akemi, now an entire year older, smiled wide, nodding her head. It wasn't often that Yuki allowed her to wander about on her own. As it does with most children, she felt grown up, suddenly, allowed the walk around by herself. Gently, she slid down his back, landing softly as he turned to her.

"Alright then. Don't wander far, and I'll come find you, once I have a place for us to stay. Who knows, maybe you'll find a friend or two here," he added in, almost hopeful. Even if their life was far from great, always on the run, he had hoped the young girl would at least lead a half decent life, with friends, and...Well, family wise, he was all she was ever going to get. He hoped that was enough.

The white-haired girl nodded her head, giggling softly. "Alright, Yuki-san! I won't go far, promise! Come find me soon, okay?" She called, already sprinting off down the streets and calling over her shoulder. By the time she could finish, she was too far away for him to reply. Instead, he merely chuckled, turning and walking off in another direction.

Soon the tiny girl turned onto another street, eyes wide and wandering around the foreign village, watching the many people and children wandering about, some laughing and playing, while others merely talked and gossiped with each other before their homes. In all truth, it was like all of the other villages around. Well, until a bit of screaming caught her attention. Her head turned quickly, only to spot two figures, small, in the near distance. They looked her age, maybe a year or two older. They were distressed, one flowing with fear, the other, sadness. She could feel it pulsing, even from the distance, and curiosity was getting the best of her. She wanted to know what was wrong. Running forward, towards the two, she noticed the one emitting fear was a young girl. She was likely older then Akemi, do to her height, and she was the one screaming- anything from shrieks and curses - while her upper body flailed in the air, her feet seeming unable to move, while the boy before her looked down, as if on the verge of tears. In confused Akemi more, fueling her curiosity as she got closer, and closer. However, as soon as she began to come upon them, the girl seemed mobile again, flailing and tripping to get away, until she finally got balance and darted away from the boy. She paused only to shout 'monster', before sprinting by Akemi. This slowed her steps, her head turning to watch the older girl's shrinking form.

It was only then, that the feeling ingulphed her, the loneliness, the sadness. Such a deep, terrible feeling that made her own heart cringe. It took a moment, for her to confirm that it was indeed coming from him; the maroon-haired boy, glaring down at the ground beneath his feet. "Why am I the one that has to be the monster?" he questioned in a murmur, his voice stitched with sadness. Slowly, Akemi turned to him. The mere site made her heart thump with pain. Was that really... How he felt? For a moment, she had questioned her own 'abilities'. She had never felt someone hurt so badly.

"But, you're not a monster," she whispered softly, as if confirming it with herself, yet half afraid of being heard. The boy's eyes widened, just remembering why the sand had allowed the girl to go. Slowly, his head lifted, and his aquamarine eyes looked to the new girl. There was so much pain in those eyes, slowly pulsing to her, that she flinched noticeably. This seemed to anger him, slightly, the sand that had previously been holding the other girl, suddenly flowing, softly, up her bare legs. "See!" he shouted, looking away, hurt in his eyes. "You're afraid of me, just like them!"

"No, I'm not afraid of anyone! Just... Your pain," she spoke in a whisper during the last but, trying her best to ignore the sand while doing so. "It.. makes me hurt, too." The sand seemed to stop at her words, dropping from her legs and ankles. She smiled, moving over to him carefully. Still, he refused to look up at her again. Smiling, she stopped in front of him, lowering her upper body and tilting her head, just so she could look into his eyes once more. They hurt to look at, no doubt, but she liked the color, the vibrant hue. He stared back, unmoving, just watching her own red eyes.

He smiled, slowly, sniffing. "I-I... You have pretty eyes," he muttered, looking away with the softest shade of pink touching his cheeks. She giggled in reply. "Your eyes remind me of the sky," she replied softly, her body straightening while her head tilted back, to look upward. "When the sun has just come up, and night it still here." He smiled, though this time faintly. At his silence, she looked back down at him.

"My name's Akemi," she said , rather random, but polite nonetheless. To this, he just stared. She blinked, smile fading. "What's yours?"

His eyes widened slightly, as if shocked that she actually wanted to know his name - or maybe, that you didn't know already. "Gah-Gaara..." he said hesitantly. She smiled again. "Nice to meet you, Gaara-kun," she replied brightly, leaning forward, and placing a small, child's kiss, upon his cheek. He smiled back, blushing yet again, causing her to giggle.

The two were inseparable then, only leaving each other when Yuki called the white-haired girl inside. Gaara was even invited to dinner on two occasions. The first time, he had been surprised, as if it were the first time he'd been invited to anything. She mused that he hadn't. Perhaps, that had been why she adored him so much. He was new to so much; kindness, friendship, a simply touch. He was innocent, in more then one way. Different from her completely. Soon, she had become everything to him. He wasn't lonely, someone truly accepted him other than his uncle. Someone to play with, and hold on to.

Maybe that's why... She shook her head, shaking all thoughts from her mind in ignorant determination. She couldn't stand to believe she made him like that. Perhaps, deep inside her heart half of her believed it. But to do so, she'd hate herself. She couldn't allow that. Her will to live would be demolished, and it would be pointless. All of it.

"Oi, Akemi!" a light, male voice suddenly shouted up to her, catching her attention. Turning slowly to stare down at the boy sitting before the fire, she could make out the small form of a smile. She returned it, though she doubted he could see it. "Want anything to eat?"

For a moment, she was silent, thinking it over... And then, shook her head. "Thank you Daichi, but not tonight. I have... Somewhere to be," she called down, getting to hew feet in one easy motion. She didn't wait for his reply, simply because he never protested. She came and went as she pleased, always seeming to find the boy in the best of times - saving him. In return, he offered her food and friendly company.

In fact, the first few times that she showed up, they didn't share their names. They only sat before the fire, silent, and enjoying the others company. It was only recently that she trusted him with a name to call her by. It was progress, in his opinion. Who knew, maybe, one day, he'd be more then company. He silently hoped so.

The streets, though not as crowded as mid-day, were still filled with the hustle and bustle of the last sales of the day, before everyone closed down, and disappeared for an evenings rest. However, with the mere site of the redheaded boy heading down the street, the small crowd quieted, as if their very breathing may bother him in some way. Some stared at him in silent fear, others, either brave or just stupid, glared at him darkly, and even muttering a few insults here and there. He was used to it all by now - the looks, the stares, the silence, and the great sighs once he had passed. Once, it had bothered him. Now, it just seemed normal. Of course, he would have liked to wait until later, but the young shinobi was restless this evening. Pacing in his room simply couldn't occupy him. So, here he was, wandering the streets in a calm silence, ignoring the harsh words and whispers expertly.

It wasn't until his site was out of their view, that they finally went back to what they were doing, most acting as if it had never happened, while others went into a frenzy of insults towards him. Akemi, hiding high up upon one of the many rooftops of Suna, Hidden Village of Sand, glared down at them all. She was never one to hate anyone, or even get worked up, but the way they acted angered her. Sure, a time ago, she had been oblivious to the abuse. She merely noted their fear of him, and the pain in his aquamarine eyes, and tried to make it better. Now, she felt sorry. Sorry she hadn't stayed. Sorry she hadn't have been a better friend.

Over the years, she had grown into a fine, young shinobi, though her expertise included only medical jutsus, technique to hide her self, and very, very few offensive jutsu. At the time, she could never have brought it upon herself to kill someone. But now, she found herself wishing these people dead. All of them. For fearing him, for hurting him in just the right ways. He had no defense against such attacks.

This bothered her even more a year ago, the first time she had gained the courage to visit the old friend. She was surprised, honestly, at how much he had changed... His innocence seemed to have disappeared, as it does with most growing children. But even so, he looked different. No feeling came from him, and his eyes seemed hollow, only showing his need for death on the occasion. She had watched him for days, studying the new boy that had seemed to take the place of her childhood friend. It hurt of course, watching him, and seeing him like that. But she didn't leave Suna, not for a full month. She merely tailed behind him, a lost figure in a crowd of people. It even seemed, sometimes, he knew she was there, his dark eyes glancing up and seeming to look straight at her. And in his eyes, she could tell, he knew someone was there. She wondered if he knew who...

Since then, Akemi had returned to Suna whenever the memories seemed to be troubling her every-day life. This was just such a return. And she found, like Gaara, she had become accustomed to their insults and hurtful words...