6 years ago
I walked around Suna as my dad was sent on a B-Class mission here from Konaha. I had begged him to take me with him, anything to get away from the kids who teased me back home. I had been walking around for about an hour until I wondered onto a park. 'There are kids here! Should I leave?' I pondered. 'Will they tease me too?' I was consumed with worry. I was then brought back to reality when by screams of terror. I looked up to see everybody running away from a red-headed boy.
I turned my attention to him; he appeared to be really sad… 'Just like me' I thought grimly. I approached him cautiously. When I was finally face-to-face with him, his emotions swiftly changed from anguish to shock and then lastly fear.
'Is my forehead that ugly that he's scared of it?' I thought broken heartedly
"Hi, I'm Sakura Haruno…What's your name?" I asked
"I'm G-g-gaara," he whispered.
"Gaara? I like that name!" I complimented him, slowly gaining confidence .
"R-r-re-really? I like your n-name t-t-too" he stuttered
"Umm… Why did everybody leave?" I asked the question that had made me worry.
'I pray to Kami it wasn't me.' I hoped.
I saw him wince at the question
"It's be-be-cause I-I have a…Monster in me." He whispered the last part, it was barley auditable. He casted his gaze down to the ground as his eyes began to fill with tears.
"Are you going to run away to? Are you going to hurt me? Or maybe even both…" His voice was so full of pain and heart break tears even started to grace my own eyes.
"No I won't run away. I may not understand the pain of harboring a demon is , but I can relate to the pain of not being able to make friends. The kids back in Konaha tease me about my big forehead." I lifted my bangs up and showed him.
"Are you going to laugh?" I asked with concern displayed on my face.
He shook his head and kneeled down and kissed my forehead.
"I don't think it's too big." He comforted me as he pecked it again.
I felt my face grow hot as blood rushed up to my head.
"No one has ever said that before th-thanks." I said
"Do you want to play with me." I asked, anxiously waiting for his answer.
"O-of course! But can I ask you one thing?" he requested
I nodded my head.
"You're my friend right?" I could tell he was worried about my answer as he clutched his clothes in his hand
"That's right! I'm your friend!" I was really happy
'I'm somebody's friend.' The thought of it brought a cheerful smile to my face
"My friend." He whispered
"Mine…" He looked up to the sky deep in thought.
For the rest of the day we played together, and the day after that, the day after that, and the following day as well. I spent whenever I could with him. On the last day of my father's mission I ran at top speed to meet Gaara, leaving a pink blur for all to see throughout Suna. When I made it to the park I was completely out of breath anticipating for Gaara's arrival. I heard noises coming from behind; I turned around and was immediately met with his jade eyes.
"Gaara!" I yelled clearly thrilled to see my friend. I tried to give him a hug, but his sand blocked me. That's when I saw something written on his forehead 'Love'?
"Gaara?" I tilted my head to one side confused. I was at a loss; his sand shield never stopped me before and what was that on his head?
"What's wrong?" I was concerned
'Gaara what happened?' I asked myself.
"Hn…" He grunted. His sand then started to slide around my waist and I felt my feet leave the ground
"Gaara!?! What are you doing?!?" I cried
"I'm testing to see how much you truly love me." He replied in a frighteningly emotionless voice
"What do you mean? And why are you doing this?!?" I asked.
"Because love is just an emotion the mind creates, it's a fleeting emotion like happiness. You have it, but it does not last forever. You can love somebody for a day, but it'll just disappear one day, or the person never loved you at all in the first place. Love is just another word for pain. If I love only myself I won't get hurt, but want you to love me as well." He explained in the same emotionless voice.
All my thoughts were jumbled up by his answer. 'Could what he is saying be true? Is love just another word for pain?' I questioned myself.
"Sakura do you love me" It wasn't even a question, but a demand
"I do Gaara." I answered. I tried to get out of his sand but it just got tighter and it became harder to breath.
"If you really loved me you wouldn't try to escape!" He hissed
"Gaara you're hurting me." I gasped out.
"Love hurts, Sakura." Was his only reply to my pain.
"Please stop!" I begged
"Do you love me?!?" He demanded once again.
"Please…" I breathed
"Not until I hear you say it!" He growled
"I LOVE YOU GAARA!" I screamed loud I heard birds fly away from their trees. Tears streamed down my face, black spots started to appear in my vision. Gaara then finally released his grip on his sand and I fell to the ground covered in blood and wounds.
Gaara walked towards me, he bent down and kissed my forehead. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red collar.
"This is to remind you of who you love." He hooked the collar around my neck'
"Sakura you will love only me. You will only die for me. You will do anything for me without hesitation. You will only belong to me!" That was the last thing I heard until I let the darkness consume my world.
When I woke up I realized I was back in Konaha. I looked down on the collar round my neck and found the Kanji for 'Love' hanging from it.