"Hey! Don't go near him! He's dangerous!!" said a boy, pulling her back.

"What'd you mean? He doesn't look dangerous." she said, pulling her arm free.

"He's the kid with a monster sealed inside him! If you go near him, his sand will kill you! He's a freak!"

The young girl paused, remembering her past...

flashback...

"Stay away from her! She can't control herself!!" "Freak!" "Monster!" "Devil Child!!"

end flashback...

The girl defiantly walked over to the young boy sitting by himself, watching the other children play.

"Hi ya! I'm Mei! What's your name?" she asked.

The boy looked up, surprised. "W-what are you doing? Don't you know...I'm a monster..." he said quietly, looking back down at the ground.

"You don't look like a monster to me!" she grinned mischievously, "In fact, I think you look pretty cute!"

The boy looked up again, blushing.

"So do ya have a name or what?"

"Gaara."

"Cool! I like that name! Wanna go play?" she asked, still grinning.

"Y-you wanna play with me?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure! We can play tag, or hide 'n seek?" she answered.

"Okay..."

A few hours later...

"Cool sand! Can I see it?!" Mei asked excitedly.

"Um...I don't know. It's dangerous." he whispered.

"It's fine! Please?"

"Okay..." The sand swirled around her, making different shapes as she clapped delightedly.

"Yay!"

Gaara smiled hesitantly.

"Hey Gaara, will you show me around? I'm new here." she asked.

"Sure."

They began to walk around, Gaara pointing out all the important buildings. As Mei looked up at one of them, she tripped, knocking Gaara down. His sand immediately swirled around her, because she had knocked him down. It cut her arm, making her bleed.

"Ouch!" she cried in surprise.

"No, I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean it...I'm so sorry..." his voice trailed off.

This is it. She's going to leave me...run away screaming like everyone else...

She looked at him, and grinned. "It's okay, I know you didn't mean it."

"B-but I h-hurt you."

"It's fine! Watch!" she said, and as she ran her fingers over her arm, the cut healed. "See, I'm fine! It didn't even take up too much chakra! Besides," he voice became quieter. "I've had worse."

When his scared expression still didn't go away she said, " I know what it's like to be all alone, and have everyone hate you. So we can stick together and be friends!"

He stared at her for a second and then said, "O-okay, I'll be your friend."

She grinned, and helped him up.

He smiled hesitantly and asked, "Do you have someplace to sleep at tonight."

"Nope."

"Then you can stay with me! I'm sure my siblings won't mind!"

"Okay! Thanks!" she said, and grinned at him.

They walked back to his house, and when they got inside, Gaara announced that Mei would be staying with them.

When Temari got over the shock, she attempted to smile, and said, "Um, O-OK. What's your name?"

"I'm Mei. I don't really know my way around town, and Gaara said I could just stay here, so..." Mei said, her voice trailing off.

Kankuro walked in, walked past Mei, then stopped in tracks, walked backwards, and stared at her. "That's a girl." he stated in shock.

"He's not too bright, is he?" Mei whispered to Gaara.

Gaara smirked. "Not really." he turned to Kankuro. "Mei will be staying here for as long as she needs. She's my friend, so be nice to her."

Kankuro just nodded, still in shock.

"Come on! You'll just have to stay in Kankuro's room for now. He can sleep on the couch." Gaara said, as he pulled Mei up the stairs. Mei smiled at the two astonished siblings, before running after Gaara.

6 years later...(They're both 11 now.)

"Gaara?"

"You're leaving." he said, emotionless.

"You knew that I was going to someday. I can't stay here forever. I've already stayed for six whole years! That's like, six years longer than I thought I would. Besides, I have to gain some control over my sharingan. If I don't now, it might be too late. I'm going to Konaha in hopes of training under the third hokage." she said.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"You need to stay here Gaara. You need to gain control over your sand. And besides, I won't be gone long."

"You'll be gone for years."

"I'll come back, I promise!" she said, giving him a hug. "And besides, you're gonna be Kazekage some day!"

He stared at her incredulously, "Everyone hates me! How am I going to be Kazekage?!"

"You will. Here, let's make a bet. I bet you $1,000 you'll be Kazekage when I get back." she said.

"Okay. But you'll just lose your money."

"Whatever. Oh, and if you can't pay, or if I so choose, then I can substitute the debt from $1,000 to one kiss." she said, grinning wickedly.

He stared at her again, and said, "It's a bet."

"Great!" she hugged him again, and then kissed his cheek, making him blush. "I'll be back, promise!" she said before disappearing into the night...

gaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaaragaara

a/n: Rose0404: Well there you have it! It gets better! Promise! ;D

Naruto: Sup?

Rose0404: What the heck?! What are you doing here?!

Gaara: Hn.

Sasuke: Hn.

Naruto: Hey! You aren't even in the story, teme!

Sasuke: Neither are you, baka!

Naruto: I will SO be in the story! Believe it!

Sasuke: Whatever!

Rose0404: This is weird... Oh, and every time you don't review, Gaara loses some of his sexiness! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PEOPLE! PLEASE REVIEW!!!