A young girl of four sat on the swing in the quiet park. Nobody else was there. It was midnight, and the only thing shining was the full moon. A light breeze blew, causing her long red hair to flow. Her clear blue eyes looked dull and exhausted. But, the girl had nowhere to go. She sat on the swing, clutching her pink stuffed bunny to her chest. Her black knee-length shorts and pink tank top offered her very little warmth, especially since she only wore pink flip-flops on her feet.

Despite the usual excessive heat during the daytimes of Sunagakure, the nights were always freezing cold. She couldn't go home, either. What awaited her there was pain and cruelty. She couldn't go back. She wouldn't go back. Not until she felt like she could handle it. They wouldn't care if she didn't go home. They'd assume she was dead or missing. It wouldn't bother them in the least.

She had no friends, nothing. Until she met him.

-

It was another night of just sitting on the swings by herself with her bunny, looking up at the beautiful moon. She swung back and forth slowly on the swing, making slight creaking noises, her gaze never leaving the moon.

"Mr Moon… Why do Mama and Papa hate me? Why does Papa drink that stinky-stuff? Why does Mama take those pills that make her sleep for so long? Why do they say I'm a monster? What have I done?"

Upon hearing footsteps behind her, she reluctantly tore her gaze away from the moon to look at whoever was approaching her. It was a little boy, maybe a month older than her.

Her eyes widened as she realized someone was just about to speak to her.

"Umm… Can I sit there?" asked the little boy shyly, hugging a teddy bear. The little girl stared at him with wonder, making him slightly nervous. Then, she smiled happily, and nodded.

"Sure!" she squealed happily, catching the boy by surprise. He found himself smiling back.

"What's you're name?" he asked shyly, sitting on the swing next to her.

"My name is Kari. Kurosaki Kari. What's your name?" she replied, her voice angelic and innocent. The boy couldn't help but wish he could be there with her forever.

"My name is Gaara. Sabaku No Gaara…" he replied uncertainly. The girl's eyes widened and she smiled.

"Ah! The Kazekage's son! I've heard of you! I'm glad it's you who came here tonight! I've always wanted to meet you! Everyone always said you're alone, and I don't think anyone should be alone! Gaa-kun, let's be best friends forever!" she said, giggling happily, and she stuck out her pinkie finger as a token of her promise. Gaara blushed and nodded. He couldn't believe somebody actually wanted to be his friend. He smiled shyly.

"Hai. Let's be best friends, Kari-chan! Forever!" he replied, intertwining his pinkie with hers, sealing the promise.

-

Gaara and Kari spent most days and nights together at the swings. A year after they'd met, Kari found out his deepest, darkest secret.

They were sitting on the swings during the day, as the other kids played soccer. Both Gaara and Kari were outcasts, and the other kids never wanted to play with them. However, this time their ball ended up right in front of them. Gaara hesitantly picked it up, and walked over to them. Kari followed him shyly.

"Here… Your ball…" he said quietly, but the other kids ran away. They didn't want to hear anything from him.

"It's the MONSTER! And the freak with bad parents!" they yelled.

Now, Kari had seen Gaara's sand appear out of nowhere and protect him, but she had only figured it was a special jutsu. She had no idea there really was a monster inside him. As Gaara's sand spiralled out of control, chasing the children even though his intentions were good, another of the children ran towards Kari, who was a meter behind Gaara.

"… That boy is a monster, Freakie! He's got the Shukaku inside him! The Raccoon! You two suit each other perfectly!" the boy exclaimed. Kari was shocked. Her eyes widened and she gaped. But, then, she glared at him.

"You're a mean boy! I don't care what's inside Gaa-kun! He's the sweetest person I've ever met! And don't you call me a freak! The monsters here are you kids!" she cried, tears pouring down her eyes. She ran towards Gaara, whose emotions were spiralling out of control with his sand, and hugged him from behind.

"Gaa-kun! Stop! Please! I don't care about Shukaku! I only care about Gaa-kun! And Gaa-kun looks so sad right now! Please! Calm down, Gaa-kun!" she cried, hugging him tighter. Gaara's sand slowly stopped, just before he'd really hurt anyone. The little girl who his sand had captured was crying, and his uncle Yashamaru stood in front of her.

"Gaara-sama, please stop this." he begged. Gaara stopped, and turned around to hug Kari, who was still crying.

"I'm sorry, Kari-chan… I didn't want you to cry…" he said sadly. Kari hugged him back.

"It's okay, Gaa-kun… Are you alright?" she asked soothingly. Gaara nodded. Yashamaru walked over and took Gaara away.

-

Kari was sitting at the swings again at midnight, when Gaara arrived. He was crying, and his eyes had changed.

"Gaa-kun… What's wrong?" asked Kari, jumping off the swings and running to him. Gaara looked at her.

"I… I killed Yashamaru… He… Tried to kill me… He never loved me… He hated me… Because it was my fault my mommy died…" he whispered; his voice hysterical. Kari's eyes widened.

"Gaa-kun! Don't blame yourself! Please!" she begged, hugging him tight. He pushed her away roughly.

"Gaa… -Kun…" she whispered in confusion, tears forming in her eyes. Gaara glared.

"Get away from me! I'm a monster! Nobody will ever love me! I will only love myself, and fight for myself!" he declared angrily. The tears were flowing freely down her face.

"Gaa-kun! You're not a monster, and I will never believe that! No matter what you do, Gaa-kun is Gaa-kun!" she exclaimed, moving to hug him once more. But he pushed her to the ground. This time, he wasn't angry. He was scared.

"Stay away… Or Shukaku will kill you…" he whispered. Kari shook her head stubbornly, shakily standing up.

"No… I don't care! Gaa-kun is my best friend!" she replied heatedly, hugging him tightly. His eyes widened, and he gently made her release him.

"I… I need to think… Kari-chan… Shukaku's going crazy… Run!" he said, clutching his head.

"GAA-KUN!" exclaimed Kari, reaching out for him. Seeing that she wouldn't run, Gaara sped off instead. Kari collapsed to the ground, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"… Gaa… -Kun…"

-

Kari had gone home that night for the first time. She was depressed, and wanted to be in her room. But, as soon as she went inside, she found Sand Jounins all over the place. Her eyes widened.

"… What… Happened…?" she whispered, looking around in fear. One of the Jounin walked over to her and knelt down to her level.

"Your mother is dead. She killed herself by over-dosing on pills. She left a note, but it will not open when we touch it. Only you can open it, because it has your name."

"Suicide…?" whispered Kari, tears pouring down her face. The man nodded. He handed her the note.

Child,

By the time you have opened this letter, death has freed me from the curse of being your mother. I'm writing this note to tell you why your father and I hate you so much.

My clan, the now-extinct Mirakami Clan, had a very special kekkei genkai. It's called 'The Demon Eyes'. When you were born, you were born with them. The 'Demon Eyes' are a very dangerous kekkei genkai. Those who are born with it are unlucky. You were unlucky. I was the mother of something so unlucky. Your kekkei genkai may be powerful, but you will always bring sorrow to everyone around you. Nobody will ever love you. You will be killed off, just like my clan was.

Your father, too, lost his whole clan. The Kurosaki Clan, incidentally, also had an unlucky kekkei genkai. You have that, too. You're the unlucky child with the two unlucky kekkei genkais. The Kurosaki Clan's kekkei genkai is called "Dark Storm". That kekkei genkai was considered unlucky… And you were born with that, too.

You're an unlucky child, a disgrace… Your father went crazy and ran away. I ended my life. You will never be loved.

Your Unfortunate Mother

Kari gasped and began sobbing hysterically. She began screaming. First Gaara had abandoned her, and now her parents. She couldn't deal with it, anymore… She rushed to the Kazekage and asked to be transferred to another village. She couldn't deal with this place anymore.

The Kazekage didn't want her in the village, anyways. He knew she'd been hanging out with his youngest son, and he didn't like it. He made arrangements immediately, and sent her away.

Kari didn't know where she was until she arrived there. Konohagakure No Sato.