Disclaimers: I don't own Naruto.
Author's note: Uhh… well… you know my story "Pained Feelings"? This is kinda like it. Actually, I was watching the whole Yashamaru and Gaara episodes when I suddenly had a thought.
What if Gaara actually has someone who cares for him besides Yashamaru?
Well… I imagined it on my head and thought that it may be cute and good for Gaara if that will happen so here I am, creating this one shot ficcy.
Summary: An unnamed character's (female/behind the scene character) thoughts about the people of Sunagakure and that she cares for Gaara. She saw Gaara one time at the swings and decided to talk to the child. What will happen next? This is a young Gaara that we're talking about here.
NOTE: THIS IS NOT A OCxGAARA!!! Just a one-shot of a behind the scene character.)
Reminder: You are about sixteen to eighteen years old in this story while Gaara is about six.
Let the one shot start!
-Sunagakure, the Hidden Village of Sand-
Sunagakure… a village that is surrounded by sand. No duh. It's Hidden Village of Sand, right? Of course there would be sand all around.
I sighed. I had just visited a friend of mine who resides at the hidden leaf village. As I walked, I found myself comparing the two villages.
I sighed. These two villages have many things in contrast. For one, Konoha is very peaceful; while Sunagakure is… well… how will I say this? They can be violent and does not treat other villages that kindly.
And what is it that these two villages have in common?
Well… they both have youkais living inside of them.
Konoha has Kyuubi, while Sunagakure has Shukaku.
Actually, I had found the bearer of the Kyuubi quite understandable on why he was being picked on and scorned. I sighed as I thought of our Shukaku weilder.
Gaara… he was a very young boy who was totally feared by everyone. Even his siblings were scared of him. How can a young child like him bear such treatment I do not know. The Kyuubi bearer can handle the treatment given to him at Konoha since I know that he at least have that chuunin by his side.
However, Gaara was different. He does not have anybody. Even his own family fears him… despises him. The only person who I knew that cared for him was Yashamaru, a friend of mine. At least I still appreciate Yashamaru's effort to love the boy. He still cared for him even though he knew that his sister died when the child was born.
I closed my eyes.
As I opened them, I saw the child that had always been hated… alone on the swing holding his teddy bear, seemingly sad.
In short, I saw Gaara.
I suddenly felt deep pain on my heart. I clutched my clothes by the part in where the heart seemingly is. It was like a kunai suddenly pierced my heart. It really hurt me to see such a child that way.
Can't they just see?
This child, Gaara I mean, only wanted love. He wanted to experience the love coming from someone else. My eyes softened as I continued to look at him.
He was a boy who had experienced deep pain in being alone, and is still experiencing loneliness now.
I wanted to help him badly and show the child that I care, however, I didn't.
I continued to look at him with eyes that show pity and sorrow for the child.
Many people hate him.
No. Scratch that.
All of the people of Hidden Sand hates him, fears him, and despises him…
… but not me.
I wanted to show that child how much I care, how much I'll be willing to keep him and adopt him to show him that I care for him.
I even asked Kazekage-sama if I may adopt him, however, he quickly dismissed me and closed away my presence. I narrowed my eyes at the memory. He just wanted his full control over Shukaku who is inside the child… Gaara… his own son!
I sighed…
This was no way to treat his son!
His son isn't just a guinea pig to experiment with!
He so eagerly sealed Shukaku inside his own son but then will see the boy as a threat and will even attempt to kill him?! What kind of father in their right minds would do that?! Definitely not Kazekage-sama.
I didn't realize myself releasing some killer intent that was directed at our Kazekage for treating his son this way.
I am not a shinobi, but who said that even us, normal villagers, can't release killer intent?
Alright. I made up my mind. I will approach the child regardless of what other people thinks. I will show them that not all of them hate this poor little child. I saw the boy sigh and stood up.
He seems to be going to town.
Determinedly, I followed the boy.
As he passed by the dusty streets, I saw all people scamper inside their homes in fright of the child.
For goodness' sake!
They were scared of a mere child!
Can't they see what the child really wants?!
Gaara stopped walking, sighing once again.
"Why are you still here? Aren't you afraid of me like everybody else?" He asked, the question obviously directed to me.
I smiled. Finally… I got the chance to show to everyone that I am not like them. I then made soundless footsteps towards the boy and kneeled down so that when he turns around, we would be at an even eye level.
Just then, he turned around, gasping as he came face to face with me. His eyes narrowed at me. What will I say to the child?
Just then, I remembered that I have some candies somewhere in my bag.
I smiled at the boy and opened my bag. I took out my bag of candies and handed it to him. Well… why wouldn't I have a bunch of candies?
My relatives own a sweets shop at Konoha and gave me two packs of free candies.
"Here. Take it." I said.
He then held the pack and stared at it before staring at me. This sequence went back and forth until he finally had the guts to talk to me. "What is this?" He asked, eyeing the pink, blue, red, white, and other assorted colored wrappers of the candies.
"Candies, Gaara." I replied.
"Candies? What are those?" He asked.
I would have gasped out loud and cursed the people of this village if I just didn't have self-control. Gaara didn't even know what candies are! For goodness' sake! How cruel could they be?!
I smiled sadly at the child. "They are sweets. Look." I took one candy from the pack, unwrapped it, and placed it inside my mouth. I took another candy, unwrapped it, and held it out for Gaara.
"Here." I said. Gaara seemed to get the picture as he opened his mouth. He was reluctant at first but opened his mouth nonetheless. I placed the candy on his mouth, as he grew accustomed to the sweet taste.
Once again, I smiled sadly at the child and giggled as he slightly smiled at the taste. "Do you like it, Gaara?" I asked.
He nodded as he clutched the bag of candies at his chest. "Arigato." He then stared at me in confusion as he suddenly looked down at his feet. I titled my head to my side in my own confusion. "Nande?"
"Huh?" I asked. I was confused. "Why what, Gaara?"
He looked down at his feet once again, his head almost bowing, his eyes fearing to look at me. I could see through his eyes that he fears that I would then walk away and be like everybody else. But then…
I am not.
"Why don't you hate me? You don't hate me?" He asked.
My eyes softened more at the boy. Oh Gaara… you don't know how much your question affects me. I sighed and smiled sadly and gently at him. "I don't hate you, Gaara. What is there to hate of you?" I asked.
"I have the youkai… Shukaku within me. Don't you fear me?" He asked.
This child really experienced loneliness that I can only imagine. I shook my head. "I don't hate you. That was what I said. You are not Shukaku. You are Gaara, and Shukaku is Shukaku. You two are different."
"But they all… everyone does." He said.
I sighed once again. How many times have I sighed this day anyway? I smiled at him gently. "I am not 'everyone' for I am me." I said. Gaara seemed shocked at what I just said. I took this as an opportunity to actually hug him, regardless of the fact that I know that the sand may attack me because of this.
But then… it did not… surprising me and some of the people watching.
I let go of the hug and stood up, smiling at Gaara before patting his head affectionately. Just when I turned my back, I felt a pair of arms hug me from behind. My eyes widened. It was Gaara.
"Don't leave… please."
I was heartbroken at the sight that I saw. Gaara's eyes were looking directly at mine, pleading for me to stay. But what broke my heart the most was when I saw the unshed tears on the green eyes of the child.
His eyes were so sad… so sad that a mere child like him shouldn't experience. He was still hugging the candy pack that I gave him, which made me smile. I kneeled once again as I smiled at him. "Alright. I won't leave."
I stood up and held his hand, though I was still wondering on why the sand hadn't attacked me yet. Oh well… I was glad because of that.
I pulled him over to the swings in where he sat. I sat down on one of the swings while he sat down on the other one. I took a glance at him. The air was ringing with the sounds of silence. I was still busy thinking on why the sand isn't attacking me. Well… I'm not a shinobi. I wouldn't know the answer.
"Yashamaru is the only one who cares for me…"
His soft voice disrupted my thoughts. "Nani?"
His voice was cracking, and it seemed that he wanted to cry that badly. I know that he doesn't want that to happen, but he really need his release over things.
"I am alone… no one wants me… everyone fears me…"
"Everyone but me." I said gently. He looked at me with surprise all present on his face. "Oh! And not to forget Yashamaru." I added in a slightly cheerful voice in attempt to lighten the mood.
The young boy nodded as he clutched his teddy bear and the candy pack more tightly. I stood up from the swings and kneeled in front of him, earning his attention. I smiled and outstretched my arms invitingly.
He looked at me in a confusingly cute way. "You can cry on my shoulder." I said simply.
Gaara was reluctant at first but then stood and, placed the teddy bear and the candy pack down on the swing and then moved closer to me. I hugged him gently as I stroked his head and back soothingly.
A moment later, he begun to cry, pouring all of his sadness in me. I inwardly smiled. At least I managed to make him release the sadness inside of him. We stayed that way for a few minutes until the tears had ended with small sniffs.
I smiled at him. "Are you feeling better now?" I asked.
He nodded. "Arigato…" He said softly.
"For what?"
"For caring. Now Yashamaru and you care for me." For the first time that I have seen, he had smiled happily.
I smiled back.
Finally. I saw him smile a true smile.
I then stood up and gave him the teddy bear and the candy pack. "Well… I need to go." I said softly. Gaara suddenly looked sad, which pierced my heart once again. "But we'll meet again soon." I added quickly. His face brightened up.
"You promise?"
I nodded. "I promise."
I then started walking away with a contented smile on my lips. "Matte!" He called. I stopped. "Who are you?" He asked.
I looked behind me and smiled at him. "I am a friend."
"No. Your name…"
"You will know soon enough… ja ne… Gaara-chan…" I said as I continued to walk away.
As I passed by the corner, I stopped as I came face to face with Yashamaru. I smiled at him and closed my eyes. Passing by him…
"Take care of him."
With that, I continued to walk away. Knowing that we may not meet each other for quite some time. But then… I have shown Gaara that Yashamaru isn't the only one who cares for him.
People then asked me on why I was talking with the youkai. My answer?
Because I care for that child.
OWARI
Arigato – thank you
Nande – Why?
Nani – What?
Ja ne – Bye
Author's notes: Well… how is it? Is it nice? Honestly, I really believe that Gaara should have a person that REALLY cares for him besides Yashamaru. I mean… it isn't right if he would just continue to be alone, ne? He needs someone as well. Well… how is it? Reviews Please!