Chapter 1: A Thought
For just a fleeting moment, Gaara wondered if anyone could ever need him. Then he shook off the thought and faced the vast city before him. Below, people moved throughout their lives. They didn't notice the person, watching from above. Behind him, someone spoke:
"Gaara-sama, what are you doing out here?" It was Kankuro, Gaara's older brother, a master puppeteer.
"Nothing," he replied hastily. "Just thinking."
Just as the older one was about to ask why, Gaara cut him off.
"Kankuro-san, what's it like to be loved?" The younger of the two had previously attended the wedding of one of the village women to his brother. "What's it like to be… needed?"
Kankuro didn't know how to answer that question. It wasn't something that could easily be explained. "Well, it's kind of complicated. I suppose it's wanting the best for the person you have feelings for. And it means that they want the best for you, too. It's when you don't care what happens to you, as long as the other person ends up happy."
"But, what's it feel like?"
"I think that's something that you have to discover for yourself."
"No one could ever love me. There's something inside that's too evil to love. I know it." Gaara countered.
"I don't believe that. I know there's someone out there. Someone who can look past the dark shadow and see the light within. Listen, I have to get back to Shaliza, but there's some people waiting in the meeting hall for you. I'll see you later."
"Thank you," Gaara said, still pondering his brother's words. Was there really someone to love him? No, he thought, probably not.
He stood for a few more moments, thinking on what Kankuro had said. Past the dark shadow… The light within… Gaara really hoped that his brother was right, but he wasn't quite ready to admit that to himself.
In the meeting hall, the village Elders, those who considered themselves wise enough to give "good" advice, met the young Kazekage.
"Sama, we need a restriction against homeless mongrels roaming the streets of our village."
"What for?" Gaara asked irritably. The Elders were always making stupid suggestions such as this.
"They're everywhere. The useless, the weak, the ones that don't have homes. They shouldn't be allowed to live here in our," the Elder paused for effect, "Utopia."
Gaara snorted. "Utopia? This place is hardly perfect, and to be frankly honest, I'm quite sick of your stupid 'restrictions.' People, who want to live here, can. I'm not going to start something about this until I see that there are many who don't have homes. Until I see that those who are homeless are causing trouble."
"But they are!" cried a second. "Why, just yesterday, one of them approached me, asking me for yen."
"And did you give him any?" The very annoyed man asked.
"Of course not! Why should I help those people?"
"BECAUSE YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF THIS VILLAGE! ONE WHO HAS TAKEN A VOW TO HELP OTHERS! That is why you should have given him at least a little money to get some food!" Gaara exclaimed. The frivolity of these Elders was incredible.
"But-…" another tried to defend them.
"You couldn't help one person?!" Gaara shouted. "One person who didn't have a way of helping themself?"
"Why should we help those… animals?"
This was the final straw. "That's it. All of you are dismissed. But before you go, you all have a new job. Next to the children's playground, I want a homeless shelter built, and I want the 20 of you to build it. While you are constructing this building, I will construct a new Council of Elders. You are exonerated, both from your duties, and this hall."
The 20 men left the hall, muttering to themselves.
I shouldn't have to deal with this. Gaara thought. I'm only seventeen. But, he supposed, it was his job. He was the Kazekage after all.