I ran beneath the magnificent star specked sky. The wind bit against my cheeks and I pull my cloak tighter around me. It was late and I had just finished a high ranked mission and was heading home. I approached the gates to the Sand Village and present the guards my paperwork. They wave me through with a nod. Slowing to a walk once inside I suck in the succulent air. I approach my house and put the scroll into my pouch as I unlock the door.
I'll bring it to the Kazekage tomorrow. I thought to myself as I kicked off my shoes and draped my cloak on a hanger. I make a beeline for the shower, desperate to get this grime off of me.

After the shower I dry off and glance at myself in the mirror. My long black hair dripped on the floor and matted to my face. I looked at the mark that rested over my heart on my chest. As far as I know, I was born with it. It was an intricate, swirling circle that was the size of a half-dollar. I bring my stare up to look at my eyes, now a pale blue. With a minimal effort I focus and make them turn red, red with the Sharingan.

When I was left at the Hokage's doorstep in the Leaf Village they realized right away I had the Sharingan. He raised me, teaching me to control it best I could. When I was about 5, he explained to me that only 3 others he knew of had the Sharingan, seeing as it was a clan trait. One of them was an exiled ninja, the other was Sasuke, who was my close friend at the time. The final person was Kakashi, but I don't remember him all too well.

When I was 5, Sarutobi had made a deal with the Kazekage that he could adopt me as a peace arrangement. Sarutobi, always wanting to believe in the good of people, never would have thought the Kazekage would put me through rigorous training to use me in an attack on the Leaf Village. Deep in my heart though, I know the Leaf Village is my home. The Kazekage isn't aware of my feelings toward the place, but I'm sure he has his eye on me.

Sighing I pull on a tank top and shorts and head out to my balcony. I check the windows of the house next door and see the lights are all out. Leaping onto the roof nimbly, I am not surprised to see my neighbor, comrade, and friend Gaara sitting on the roof. I plop down next to him and fold my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.

"Back from your mission?" He asks quietly. I nod.

"Did you get the scroll you needed?" I nod.

We both relax and look at the darkened sky enjoying the quiet and each other's company. I think that Gaara opens up to me more than anyone else. After a while I get up and bid him goodnight.

"My balcony doors are going to be open like always okay?" I said and he nods and says goodnight. I always leave them open for him if he needs anything. And plus he likes to wake me up in the morning. As I slip into unconsciousness a nightmare begins to unfold.

I am a baby wrapped in cloth that was being carried by someone whom I couldn't see. Rain pelted down all around us and the person carrying me began to run. My mouth opens in a cry when the sound of thunder cuts through the air. The man looks down at me, his whole form cast in shadow. Except his red eyes. These eyes held no hostility or ill intentions, only heart-breaking pain and tenderness. A voice came to my head then, belonging to no one in particular. "He only looks at her with those eyes, that cold ruthless man."

We reach our destination and he looks away from me to knock on a door. Setting me down gently on the doorstep he backs up, giving me one last glance, before disappearing into the rain, leaving those haunting red eyes in my mind forever.

I awake in a cold sweat, someone hovering over me. My hand flies out and whoever it is catches my wrist firmly.

"Kayumi." They say in a warning, flat tone.

I calm down enough to see its only Gaara standing above my bed. He must have been trying to wake me up for a while because he drops my wrist with an agitated stare as I sit up.
"I'm sorry…what time is it?" I ask quietly, trying to still calm my racing heart. Those red eyes…
"Almost 10 am, you need to get up and dressed now." He said softly, recognizing the look on my face.

I pulled the covers off my legs and fly out of bed, whirling around the room in a frenzied panic, throwing things together in my bag and searching the closet for my clothes I had laid out.

"Shit Gaara, why did you let me sleep in so late?!" I demand and pull off my night shirt and shorts to put on my favorite dress. Its black and white, very intricate with a low lacy neckline that was open like a diamond, connecting in a blouse-like collar around my neck. It displayed the mark that was on my chest. The kimono was form fitting, it split on either side along my hip, and straps wrapped like an X along my legs and hips. I held my twin kantanas along either side of my hips and a kunai pouch on my thigh. I began to pull my ebony hair into a long pony-tail, holding the rubber band in my mouth.

"Grab the scroll for me please, Gaara. It's in my bag." I mumbled through clenched teeth.
He went to retrieve it and tossed it on the bed as I finished tying up my hair. I nodded thanks and finished packing my stuff in my bag. This included a moderate size set of clothes, more than moderate amounts of weapons, scrolls, poisons, bandages, etc. "Alright, ready?" I asked with a huff.

Gaara nodded and grabbed one of my two bags and hoisted it on his shoulder. We both walk to the Kazekage's office and meet Temari and Kankuro outside the door. Temari gives me a small smile and nod, and then when her eyes dart to Gaara the smile disappears and she looks down. Kankuro knocks and we hear a voice granting us to enter.

"Ah, welcome, welcome." The man behind the desk, our Kazekage, says with a cold smile.
He motions for us to sit and we do except for Gaara who stands a bit behind my chair. I quickly get up and pass Kazekage the scroll and he nods, putting it on his desk.

"There will be Chunning exams held in the Leaf Village in two days. I want you 4 to compete in them. I already made arrangements for you to be entered and a place for you all to stay. We will depart today so you have time to settle in, train, and…ah look around." He explains, folding his hands.

"Why are we competing in the exams? We are already ranking ninja." Temari spoke up. He gave her a cruel smile in return.

"This is because you 4 will be there under the pretense of joining the exams, while you will actually be waiting for our planned invasion of Konoha. You are to scout out Konoha and report back to me daily. Do not blow your cover, or you will be slaughtered along with the rest of the village." He explained in a casual, but cold tone.

The sand siblings nodded, Kankuro grinned. I took in a small breath and finally met Kazekage's eye and gave a nod. He stood up.

"Good, you will be under Baki's team. He will escort you to the village. Meet him outside, and if you have any questions ask him. Be gone." He swept his hand out.
We all got up to leave, and I was the last one to file out. Hesitating in the doorway I looked back at the Kazekage. He gave me a cold glare that spoke a thousand words. The loudest ones were I'm watching you, Kayumi.