The man smiled warmly at his daughter. "Miyuri. I have a mission for you. It's very important, can I trust you?"
"Yes papa, you can trust me." His daughter smiled earnestly, her red eyes wide and happy. She was the most important thing in his life, his sweet little girl. Such a cute little thing, my little girl. Looks just like her papa. I'm just so damned proud of her…
"Today for dinner, we are having something very, very special. But we don't have all the ingredients! We need a capable ninja, someone to go on a very special trip to retrieve them from the grocery store. Can we count on you?"
She nodded. "Yes papa." She stood up extra straight, obviously proud that she was getting a mission. I haven't even started my first year of academy, and I already have a mission!
"Good girl. Here is the money. Make sure you come back promptly, now! We're counting on you!" Her father smiled as he handed her some coins.
She skipped happily down the lane, hand clenched carefully around the money she had been given to complete her assignment.
From her front porch, her mother and father watched her go. The mother spoke up. "She's too young. This won't turn out well. She's only five years old!"
Miyuri caught sight of the other children only seconds before they saw her, instantly slowing and turning around to go the other way. Please don't see me...please don't see me...
"Look! It's the green haired freak! Where you going, blood eyes? Gonna eat some babies?" The leader of the pack said, laughing loudly at his own joke as he yanked her back by her arm. His entourage laughed with him, like they always did.
"Leave me alone! I don't eat babies!" Her lip trembled and her voice dropped to a whisper. "My eyes are just red...It's not my fault…" I hate him! Why does mother keep telling me to be nice to him? He thinks he's sooooo important just because his grandfather is Councilman Tao…
"Aww, is the freak gonna cry?" He noticed her hand fisted around her coins and began to reach for it. "What's this, freak? You got something there?"
"Go away!" She cried out as he yanked the coins out of her hand. "They're mine! Stop!"
"Money, huh? Where did you get it?" He weighed the coins in his hand, holding them out of her reach as she jumped for them.
"Give them back! I'm on a mission!"
"Yeah right. You're not just a freak, you're a liar!" He threw them as far as he could, the coins becoming lost in the sand almost instantly. "I bet you stole those. You're a dirty thief! Do you know what my family does to thieves?" His snarl was inches from her face this time. "We lock them up in a cold dark room and throw away the key!"
"No!" Miyuri struggled in his grasp, tried to run, but the older boy held her arms behind her and yanked her off her feet. She started kicking him, thrashing wildly, obviously terrified. Sadly, that just made the boy laugh.
"Get her feet!" The boy said, and the others joined in. He laughed at her again, dragging her kicking and screaming into the nearby academy. Her struggling only seemed to amuse him more as he brought her to a closet and shoved her inside.
"Stop it! Stop it!" She screamed at him, tackling the door just as it was latched shut. "LET ME OUT OF HERE! LET ME OUT!" Miyuri shrieked, weeping as she attacked the door of the closet.
She heard laughing on the other side of the door, but no one came to let her out. Okay Miyuri, calm down. You can do this. It's just like your eyes are closed...She sobbed quietly, breathing fast and panicked.
It seemed to last forever, time stretching for days. Each second of terror seeming like an hour, but it was only minutes before she started hearing screams from outside her dark prison.
"RUN! IT'S THE DEMON! THE MONSTER IS COMING! HE'LL KILL US ALL!"
A demon? "Let me out! Don't leave me here!" Visions of terrible monsters feasting on her bones renewed her energy to fight, and she resumed banging on the door.
"No! Don't let her out! If he eats her he might be too full to come after US." She heard the other children make their escape and her sobs renewed. I...I don't want to be…e-eaten...
She froze, trying not to make a sound as she heard the chair being removed from the door, the lock being unlatched. Her breath froze in her throat. Oh no…nonono. The monster is coming to eat me…
When the closet door was opened, she screamed, a terrified screech escaping her throat before she could stop it. But soon she blinked. In front of her was...just a little boy.
The boy had red hair and eyes that looked older than his age. He looked very tired, dark circles drowning his sea green eyes. She blinked at him again, and he turned away, his tired eyes dropping her gaze.
His face hid most of the sadness that came with being habitually greeted with screams. Without trying to initiate a conversation, he began to walk away, so used to rejection that the possibility of a person willing to talk to him didn't even occur to him at this point.
"Hi. Thank you for saving me. I'm Miyuri Sato. I'm sorry I screamed. I was expecting someone else…What's your name?" Miyuri rushed after him, stopping in front of him and thrusting out her hand for a handshake.
The boy stared at her for a moment, confusion showing on his face. He looked at her hand as if surprised. Cautiously, he reached forward, shocked when she didn't pull away at the last moment. He shook her hand quickly and pulled away, sure that she didn't want to touch him for extended periods.
She looks like a doll. Her skin was a pale cream, with only the tiniest hints of tan. How does she stay so pale in Suna of all places? The girl's white shirt was a little too big, and it hung from her shoulders, making her look like a little girl in her older brother's clothes. She's…nice.
She gave him an encouraging smile, a question in her eyes, and he realized suddenly that he hadn't told her his name. Of course. She doesn't realize that I'm a monster yet. Once I tell her she'll be afraid like the others. "I…I'm Gaara. The cursed son of the Kazekage." He watched her warily, waiting for the terror and hate to enter her eyes, for her to back away or scream again.
She grinned, then impulsively gave him a hug. "Nice to meet you Gaara. You're my friend now, so I can hug you. Right?"
He blinked at her again, frozen in shock for a moment by the hug. "You…aren't scared of me…are you?" He sounded confused, relieved, and suspicious all at once.
She frowned. "Why would I be afraid of you? You saved me. You're weird, Gaara, but that's okay. I'm weird too." She waved her hand at her eyes and hair, still hugging him with one arm.
Perplexed, but thankful, Gaara returned her hug tentatively.
Abruptly she stiffened. "Oh no! They threw my money away! I'm going to be in trouble!" Her eyes had turned sad, tears gathering and about to fall. "M-my d-dad is g-gonna be d-d-d-disappointed!" The tears began to fall, great big drops trailing down her cheek like crystal.
I like it better when she is happy. Gaara observed her, seemingly impassive. "I will help you find what you seek. Take me to where it happened."
Outside, she pointed in the direction the boy had thrown it. "He threw the coins this way." She sniffed, not liking the chances of finding the coins in such a large sandy area.
He took his chakra and sent it out into the sand, making it his. After a while, a hand made of sand came out of the area. In its palm rested her coins.
She watched him, wide eyed. She couldn't do anything so advanced, and she was awestruck that he could. "Wow! You're amazing, Gaara. You're really strong, aren't you?"
He watched her, unused to praise, unsure how to respond to it. "I can…do a lot with sand."
She gave him another hug. "I think you're really cool." She looked at the sky. "I have to go shopping, I'm on a mission." She said proudly.
She looks proud, but her eyes are worried. "What is wrong?"
"Well…Some of the other kids are really mean to me. What if they take my money again?" Her eyes brightened. "You're really strong, Gaara. Will you come with me?"
He looked at his feet. "I do not think your parents would like you being seen with me."
She gave him a wide eyed look. "Oh, but my papa is really nice. He's the bestest papa in the world. He won't care, you'll see."
When she came home, proudly carrying two bags of groceries, her parents were waiting on the porch.
"Miyuri! What took you so long?" Her mother's face was worried, but also annoyed.
"Welcome home Miyuri. I see your mission was successful. Did you get everything?" Her papa's eyes crinkled as he gave her a warm smile.
"I got them papa. Every single one." She came forward and gave her papa a warm hug. "I'm sorry I took so long."
"Miyuri, princess, I am very proud of you. You did good, my girl." He patted her on the head and rose. "And since you completed the mission, the change is yours to keep!"
Miyuri was sent on another mission the very next day, to buy some seeds for her mother's garden. She was only moments from completing her mission, humming as she skipped down the street on the way home, when once again Iyashii Tao caught sight of her.
"Aww, too bad. I thought you were monster chow for sure…You know how much monsters like to eat scared little kids. Guess you were too much of a freak, he didn't want to eat his own kind."
"Hey! Gaara isn't a monster! He's more human than you are!" She yelled back, stomping her foot. "At least he's not a big bully like you!"
He laughed at her, his face getting ugly and mean. "You've got a lot of nerve, freak, talking to me like that." He reached out and grabbed her by the front of her shirt, bunching it tight around her neck as he lifted her up, preparing to hit her.
She closed her eyes tight, waiting for the blow to come, and was surprised when instead the boy dropped her and she was lifted by a hand of sand from below. Her eyes opened and then widened as she took in the scene before her. Gaara had lifted the boy in another hand of sand, and Iyashii was frantically trying to get out of its grip.
"Don't ever hurt her again. If you do, I will come after you…" The hand gave the boy a hard shake, then let him fall to the ground. "I will hurt you…Do you understand?"
Iyashii was crying. His entourage had long since scattered, and along with it his courage. He ran away quickly down the street.
Iyashii Tao was still crying when he ran into Miyuri's mother, quite literally plowing right into her. She knelt to meet his eyes, voice kinder than it ever was with her own child. "Iyashii! Whatever is wrong, dear child?"
When Miyuri returned home, proudly carrying her bags of seeds, her parents didn't meet her on the porch. Brow furrowing, she walked inside and found her parents waiting for her in the living room.
"I have the seeds Mama. I didn't forget any, Papa." She smiled, frowning as neither parent returned her grin. "Papa?" He wasn't meeting her eyes, wasn't smiling. Her face fell. "What's wrong?"
Her mother spoke, her voice icy. "Were you planning on telling us that you have been playing with a monster?"
"I'm not playing with a monster." Her face and voice were puzzled.
"Gaara of the desert is a demon, Miyuri! You are not allowed to play with demons. He is dangerous!" On the last word her mother's voice turned sharp, cutting like a knife.
"He isn't dangerous! He's my friend. He wouldn't hurt me."
"He hurt the Tao boy! Of course he's dangerous."
Miyuri turned to her father, hopeful. "Please papa, he's a really nice boy!"
Her father looked away as if ashamed to look upon her, saying nothing. Her mother reached out and took hold of her arm. "Perhaps a night confined to your room with no dinner will make you see reason."
"Papa? Please say something…" Her voice trailed off as her eyes filled with tears. It was like all of the sudden her sweet papa didn't love her anymore. He wouldn't even look at her. "Papa! Look at me, please!" He said nothing, still not looking at her as she was dragged away. "Papa, look at me! Papaaaaaaa!"
The next day Miyuri abandoned her new mission to play with Gaara. She was still mad and still hurting, but she simply wanted to play with her best friend. Why can't they understand?
"Miyuri! Catch!" Gaara yelled, abruptly interrupting her thoughts, smiling slightly as he sent a light brown ball of sand hurtling toward her at reckless speeds.
"Ack!" She squealed in mock fright as she dove for it, tucking it under her arm as she twisted in mid air, trying to land on her feet. She could tell she hadn't balanced the move enough, and braced for impact, only to find a soft hand of sand had gently broken her fall. She glanced to Gaara, surprised.
He blushed, met her eye. "You're my best friend, Miyuri. I'll always catch you."
"He isn't a demon! He's just a little boy!" Miyuri glared at her parents. "He's NICE! Way nicer than the other kids!"
"Miyuri! Be sensible, you stupid girl! He is a monster. You must never see him again, do you understand?"
"But he isn't a monster…he saved me…"
"Don't be ridiculous! He's not even human." Her mother slapped her. "You will never see him again!"
"He's my only friend! I won't give him up! I WON'T!" She ran out of the house, slamming the door hard enough to make her mother flinch.
Gaara was silently watching the other kids play when she found him. When he saw her tears, the bruise on her cheek, his face darkened. "Who hurt you?"
"M-my mother…S-she doesn't want m-me to see you anymore." Her tears became full on sobs as she said it. His face fell.
"It's because of me?" His eyes, too, filled with tears that were quickly gone, blinked away almost before they happened. The only person my age to treat me kindly, and my friendship only gives her pain…
"It's not your fault! It's HER fault! And I won't stop seeing you, no matter what! You're my best friend! I'd rather be locked in a closet forever than give you up!"
He blinked at her, his own eyes warming slightly, almost obliterating the shadow of sadness. "You're my only friend." He reached for some sand, held it in his hand, and held it out to her. His fingers opened, allowing her to see a tiny rose made of sand. "Just in case." He blushed. "To remember me by…"
"I'll always remember you, Gaara." She looked up, surprised to see it was so late. She bit her lip, then sighed. "I have to get home, or else my parents will be even more upset with me." She gave him a tight hug, clinging to him as if afraid to leave.
Gaara waved, worried. I hope I don't lose her.
On her way home Miyuri stopped by the market, wanting to give Gaara a gift in return for the beautiful rose he'd given her. She took her time, walking along the aisles searching for the perfect one. There were lots of wondrous things, but many were out of her price range.
She finally settled on a ceramic necklace with the symbol for 'important bonds' on the front. I hope he likes it. I'll give it to him tomorrow.
"Where have you been?" Her mother greeted her at the door.
"Out." Miyuri said icily.
"Out with your little demon friend, Miyuri?! I told you. I warned you. I'm trying to protect you, you stupid chit!"
"You're trying to steal my only friend from me!" She tried to shove past her mother to go to her room but was knocked back. The sand rose fell from her pocket and broke on one of the front steps. "No! Not my rose!" She knelt beside it and began to cry, cradling the broken pieces in her hands. "I…I hate you." Her breath falling in broken sobs, she didn't even notice her mother going back inside until she'd returned.
"We're leaving this place tonight. You'll be safe from this…this…creature in Konoha. You'll see, once you're away from this devil's spell. You'll learn it's for the best." She pried the broken pieces of rose from her grip.
"No! That's mine!" Miyuri scrambled for them, collapsing into sobs when her mother threw the pieces into the night. "Please…Please don't do this! He's my friend! He's not like you think!"
"It's worse than I feared." Her father's voice came from the doorway, colder than she'd ever heard it. "We must leave at once."
"Papa! Please papa, you don't understand. He's a nice boy! He's not a demon! He's not a monster, he's just a little boy!" Her eyes overflowed and her vision blurred as her father stepped forward.
"This is for your own good Miyuri. You'll see." His voice was emotionless, distant, as he easily overpowered her and carried her to the carriage. Even kicking and fighting as hard as she could, she was only a child. The necklace she'd bought began to slip out of her pocket in the struggle and she stopped fighting to clutch it in her fist. Her other hand came up to ineffectually stop her tears, but they fell faster than she could wipe them away.
Miyuri's tear filled eyes barely saw the scenery as they left the city. Her thoughts were consumed with Gaara. I…I've lost my only friend.