Make Me Real

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor any of the characters involved in this story (unfortunately. Hey a girl can dream) There will be violence, adult themes, you know grown up content. I have forewarned you. This story is immensely twisted and I am surprised I stayed sane writing this.

Hope you enjoy and review! I love the critique3

"I hate this wretched willow soul of mine, patiently enduring, plaited or twisted by other hands."
Karin Boye

I was never like the other kids.

Sure I went to school, got good grades, laughed, cried, the whole shebang. I went to the movies, shopped, ate ramen, trained, and looked to be like any other genin in Konoha. But unlike all the other kids, I had my best friend.

Only the strangest part is that no one else could see him. Isn't that odd?

He had been my best friend since I could remember.

I was eight years old and a loner.

Kids teased me about the size of my forehead which usually sent me running in tears to my mother. This time I didn't want her comforting words or her pained expression.

I was tired of being alone and hurt by the others.

Why did they have to be so cruel? I had never hurt anyone before. I didn't lie or steal. I considered myself an easy person to get along with. So why was I tortured for one physical flaw if my personality overshadowed that one detail?

I pondered this as I sat beneath my favorite cherry blossom tree. They always bloomed so beautifully and in abundance. But there was something about that one tree overlooking the mass of oak outstretching and making a green horizon that reminded me of myself.

There was no other plant to keep it company through the roughest winters or the terrifying storms. Nor were there any to behold the beauty and wonder of the other fellow siblings of nature.

It stood alone and strong on that hill, roots grounded deep into the earth. That is where we differed. I was not strong or grounded like the tree above my head. I felt more like the cherry blossoms that floated down from their perch on its twisted arms.

They looked so graceful, almost as though they were dancing their way to the grass below. I could only dream of having such grace, such carelessness as they met the soft green blades that waited to cushion their plummet to unexplored territory.

My emerald eyes stung from the tears I had shed on the way there. I felt weak for letting their taunts get to me but I was only one person, and a child at that. With a sigh I turned over, my pink locks a sharp contrast to the grass beneath me. I wondered if it would always be like this.

If I would go through an endless cycle all because I wasn't the epitome of perfection.

Just as another treacherous tear slid down my pale cheek I heard footsteps approaching me. The rustling of grass beneath feet called my attention as I sat up. What or exactly who I saw would change my life completely.

A boy that looked about my age came walking towards me.

He seemed so much different then the other children and I didn't remember seeing him in the Academy. Crimson hair sat atop his head in a wild disarray that looked as untamed as the elements. His eyes were the color of sea foam, pale but never dull. They were outlined with thick black lines which drew more attention to their amazing ocean hue. He wore a large gourd on his back, what it held was unbeknown to me.

He had this dark aura about it that emitted power and dominance. He was certainly a stark contrast to the lightheartedness of the surrounding area.

I watched with curious eyes as he came to a stop a few feet in front of me. There was no life behind his expression. It was almost as if his body were an empty shell moving of its own accord. I stared into the jade pools and saw a reflection of myself. Almost as though I were trying to capture my image in stained glass.

There was something about his eyes that reminded me of the tides. They kept pulling me in, their intention unknown. But I didn't care. I didn't know if I would float along with it or be dragged under. All I knew is that this boy peaked my interest.

And that was difficult to do.

Usually I was very skilled in reading people. Even at an early age I could tell when people were uncomfortable or upset. Even my own mother had taken notice of my unusual sixth sense and how mature I was for my age. People seemed predictable and therefore I was never taken aback by their actions or words. But this boy...

His blank expression to anyone else would have caused them to alienate from him or even strike fear. To me it only made me curious. I suddenly felt the urge to want to know everything and anything about him. It didn't matter if it was as important as his origin or as trivial as his favorite color.

I wanted to peal back the white canvass and see the workings behind this painting.

He remained silent and I wondered if he had turned to stone right before my eyes. I licked my dry lips in anticipation and spoke. "Who are you?" He didn't answer.I tilted my head to the side and almost whispered the words, "Are you like me? Are you all alone too?" My lips trembled and my hands began to sweat from under his gaze.

Before I could utter another word, he placed his large gourd against the bark and sat down. I watched him, waiting for him to say something.

Anything.

Instead he merely looked at me and gave a nod, his eyes narrowing. My heart seemed to clench in my chest and a wave of compassion spread throughout my fragile form.

I knew the pain. I endured it. But even though it should have made me bitter I would never wish it on anyone.

Not even the people who inflicted it onto me everyday.

I looked down and noticed for the first time that I had dug my fingers into the dirt, pallid fingers grasping almost desperately at the blades of the eyed shone with pain as I whispered an apology. He didn't reply to my saddened voice but merely gazed almost thoughtfully at the rosin blossoms. He had the same expression from before but for some reason it seemed almost peaceful in my eyes.

I stood from my place and stood so I was right in front of him. His attention immediately turned to me and his body tensed. Jade eyes narrowed in suspicion and I could tell he was trying to unravel my intentions. I squatted down on my knees so that we were at eye level with one another.

I smiled, closing my eyes and proclaimed, "Don't worry. I'm all alone too. If you want I'll be the best friend you ever had." I could hear his sharp intake of breath as my proclamation hung in the air between us.

I opened my eyes to his wide ones, for once his face lacked its stoic mask.

I sat criss crossed and leaned my elbows on my knees. "My name is Haruno Sakura but you can just call me Sakura. What's yours?" He seemed to hesitate, eyes taking in my every action as though he expected me to grow into some three eyed monster. I waited patiently, a smile plastered to my face. After what seemed like an eternity, his deep voice filled the void. "Gaara"

His voice seemed very mature for someone his age but for some odd reason it suited him. My smiled brightened as I chirped, "May I call you Gaara-kun?" He seemed even more surprised but hid it well. His short nod filled me with joy. "Well it's nice to meet you Gaara-kun. I've never seen you around. Did you just move here?" He shook his head and placed his arm on the leg that was bent.

I could already tell he was a person of few words. "Well...where do you live?" I asked curiously. At that he stood from his place, his fists clenching at his sides. "Far away" was his answer before he threw his gourd over his back and walked off without another word. I stared after him wondering why he left so sudden.

'Maybe I was talking too much?'

Well it would not have surprised me. I may have been alone most of the time but I could sure talk the night into day if I wanted.

I stood from my place and ran, hoping to catch him. But as I neared the lip of the hill, he was nowhere in sight. 'Man he must be really fast.'

I half ran, half skipped back to my house. I had never felt so light before. Almost like a feather among lead as I moved in between the busy streets filled with Konoha's residents. I could see people watching me with a perplexed expression but couldn't bring myself to care.

I had a friend! Someone who didn't care about how big my forehead was or if I was strange.

Because Gaara-kun seemed just as alien as I was. Maybe we came from a different planet. Maybe we came from meteorites that fell on two opposite poles of the earth, only to be joined by the magnetism of our destined friendship.

Maybe we were just both weird.

Whatever it was filled me with happiness. I hurriedly opened the front door to my house, only pausing to take off my shoes at the door. "Mama I'm home!" I called out. "In here!" she called to me from the kitchen. She was washing dishes, her pink hair tied into a tight bun. She wore a faded red apron around her waist.

Her image was the perfect example of a housewife.

I walked to her and smiled brightly. "Hi mama. What have you been up to?" I already knew the answer to that but liked to ask anyways.

She stacked another dish onto the marble counter and smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. "Oh just cleaning around the house. Laundry and such. How was school?"

My face became downcast for a moment but I pushed it away. I did not want it blackening my mood. "I passed my exam with a really high score" I hoped she wouldn't notice how a didn't answer her question. "That's wonderful dear" came her reply. I breathed out a sigh of relief.

I definitely did not get my perceptiveness from my mother.

I clasped my hands behind my back, practically bursting with excitement. "And I made a friend today!" I exclaimed. This made her turn to me, a wide smile on her face. "Really? How nice. Where did you meet them?"

I didn't want my mother to know about my sanctuary so I lied and told her, "I met him at...the ramen shack." She smiled and turned back to the dish in her hand. "Well you should invite him and his family over for dinner. What's his name?" I leaned forward and backward on my heels and smiled at the image of him in my head.

"His name is Gaara."

At that moment the plate in my mother's hand fell and crashed against the floor. Her whole body tensed, almost as though if I reached out to her she would shatter. My eyes took in her clenched hands clutching the edge of the sink, her intense posture and the slight tremor that ran along her frame.

My eyes drifted to the broken plate that lay in pieces by her feet. I swallowed passed the lump in my throat while trying to steady my racing heart.

"Mama?" I called out tentatively. She turned to me, harshly gripping my shoulders. Her eyes shone with horror as she nearly shook the life out of me. "He's here in Konoha? Did he hurt you? Where is he staying?" I could only stare with incredulous eyes as she shot one question after the other. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"No he didn't hurt me mama. He said he doesn't live here. He said he lives far away. Are you okay mama?"

Her hold on me loosened as she seemed to get a grip on reality. She turned away from me, gasping. "I...I'm sorry dear. I just thought..." her voice drifted away as she clutched to the fabric of her apron. She turned towards the kitchen window and breathed deeply. "Why don't you go read on your room. I'll clean up." Her voice was devoid of emotion. It was unlike her.

I nodded slowly and walked to my room. A thick layer of confusion blanketed my thoughts as I tried to wrap my mind around what just happened.

I didn't know it would be the beginning that divided my mother and me. I could never guess how much it would change me and my perspective. Most of all, I didn't see how twisted my world would be.

How twisted he would make it...

How perfectly maimed...

AN: Yeah so I took an idea for an old story and made a new one. I hope it comes out alright. Thanks for reading :)