Yeah, for the sake of realism, Konoha is officially located in the Midwest of the U.S. And that would mean that Suna is around Arizona or New Mexico…yeah….that general area. Fair Enough? Okay, I'm going to answer a few questions you might have. OCs? Ok, maybe a couple just to illustrate the fact that this is in fact a high school, but don't fret about it. OOCness? Possibly, but that's for you to decide based on your interpretation of the characters. Sex? Definitely, but later, once characters develop. If you have issues with it, then by all means let me know, and I'll warn you before hand. I like to explore different things while writing, so expect gay and straight relationships. Violence? Yes. No question about that. Cliché? Probably. Alright. Review if you feel inspired to, but, most of all, have fun.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. (Sorry, all of my fun disclaimers are in my other Naruto fic, Bird-boy. Keep a look out for it. I'll post it ...someday).

There was a park a few blocks from Konoha Township High School. A place I found myself flocking to often, even in the winter months. My sanctuary. Home of the first friend I ever made in Konoha. She was shy. She always told me how surprised she was at her own boldness since she called me out. Her kindness knew no bounds. That winter's morning in Konoha, when I met her, remains unforgettable.

Never assume that desert and temperate climates are anything alike. I learned that lesson the hard way my sophomore year. When I arrived in Konoha, it had been late at night. Nights are cold in the desert; it was nothing I wasn't used to. But in the desert, the moment the sun peaks out from its hiding place on the horizon, the entire world overflows with warmth. There, like no other place, can you truly see the influence of the sun. The Earth as it awakens. There's no place like home.

Winter in Konoha meant cold mornings, cold afternoons, and colder evenings. That soft, gentle feeling as the warmth slowly enveloped you, as the shadows of the night slowly receded in the wake of the sunrise, did not exist in this place. This new environment. This city I could not yet call home.

The soft crunching of the snow beneath my feet. The white powder as it veiled the trees, concealed the ground. There was grass here. In the spring, this place would be green. Flowers here would be common. It would rain. Different. Where had my home gone? Where was my sand? Would I ever see the rare beauty of a desert flower again? A strangeness in the pit of my stomach took hold of me. I wanted to cry for the first time in many years.

I wandered around this unfamiliar place. Through this unfamiliar park. I knew that I would be late, but the world suddenly seemed so much bigger. The universe had suddenly expanded. School, tardiness, mere subjective concepts. Inconsequential. I was alone in the universe. I let myself fall against a nearby tree. Yet, another reminder of my solitude. Of my distance from home. I wanted the majesty of the desert sunrise. I wanted to return to the place in which I belonged.

"Why are you crying?" came the soft murmur of a girl's voice. Quiet and sounding far away, I closed my eyes and let it fill me. The soft caress of comfort embraced me. I knew this feeling. I lightly fingered my cheeks, feeling the fresh moisture as it rolled down them. She was right; I had been crying. "Are you new around here?" she continued. The tender voice echoed in my mind, not my ears. For the first time since arriving in this town, I smiled.

I picked myself off the snowy ground. It was like I was a child again. This is how I met my first friends in Suna after all. I approached the owner of the voice, taking my sweet time. Once again, the universe expanded. School did not matter anymore. Time did not matter. I could go at my own pace. Though I did not actually hear the voice, I knew where it came from. Just a feeling. I emerged from the small patch of forest to find serenity.

The snow seemed untouched, freshly fallen. Swings, two slides, a ladder and stairs, platforms. A playground like the ones back in Suna. I felt my inner child rise within me. The snow covered it all. The owner of the voice was definitely here. I knelt down near the swing set, and brushed the layer of frost from the ground. I knew that she, too, was obscured by the pure white depth. After a fair amount of digging, she appeared before me.

"You found me," she beamed. For some reason, I felt like crying again, but I chose to hold it back.

"Hello," I greeted.

"And good day to you. It's always nice to meet someone new. Change can be wonderful, can't it?" My face fell slightly. Shifting into a more comfortable position, I sighed.

"Not always. Sometimes it's just too much." She lightly stroked my fingers with sympathy. She was cold, but her affectionate touch more than made up for it.

"Oh yes of course! Too much change can be scary, but it can also be an adventure! Whether it be good or bad, every new experience is worth something." Knowing how much older than me she was, I took her wise words to heart. She continued on to ask, "I don't mean to pry, but may I ask why you were crying earlier?"

My eyes glazed over with sorrow. I nodded softly. "I guess you could say I'm homesick."

"Oh! You poor dear! Is it very hard?" I let my eyes fall closed as another tear made its way down my face.

"Yes," I whispered. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be able to tell her that I could handle it, but I could not lie to her. I felt so weak, so isolated. Without my desert, what was I?

"Oh, it must be so lonely. I understand. It's the same reason that makes me dislike winter." I looked at her with a glint of curiosity in my eye.

"Does winter make you homesick too?" I asked.

"Oh no, dear, you see, I've been all over this world. Earth is my home. Right now, I'm quite content to stay in this playground, but winter is such a lonely time. It's too cold for all of my children to play with me."

"Your children."

"Oh, yes, dear. You should come here during the summer months. The children all come and they play with me. Oh it's wonderful to have so much company. Simply wonderful. But now, I've frozen over. It will be months before they return." I lightly pat her.

"I see," I began. "Well, I'll be here for awhile, so I'll be sure to come visit whenever I can."

"Oh, that would be most wondrous! Indeed it would!" she cried, agreeing with herself.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Why, of course, dear."

"Do you remember much about your home?" She grew quiet. I was worried that maybe I had asked a taboo question.

"Well, that is a rather difficult question. You see, dear, I've had many homes, but if you are referring to my original home, then yes, I do recall it. I'm a lot older than I look, dear. You see, the first thing I remember was the ocean."

"The ocean?" I echoed, a bit shocked at her origins.

"I used to live near a more shallow part of the ocean. You'll have to excuse me, dear, the details are rather fuzzy. But I don't believe we had much land yet, here on Earth that is. Oh, it seems I'll have to think about this more. We may have to save this for another day." I didn't really hear anything after "I don't believe we had much land yet." I gaped at her. Had she really been living since primordial Earth? When there was only water? I had never really asked my friends back home their age. I mean I knew they were old, but not that old. "You know, dear," she began. I snapped back to reality as I felt a sudden gust of wind upwards, and she danced around me, spiraling. She laughed as she settled back down. "Something about you reminds me of home."

Smiling playfully, I added, "I should be saying the same thing to you." It was true. Talking to the sand here did remind me of home. I may not have been able to speak to the desert anymore, but at least I had a piece of home here in Konoha. No matter where I went, I would always have my sand.

"May I ask your name?" she inquired. I nodded, brushing a deep ruby lock behind my ear.

"Gaara. My name is Gaara."

All right, I'm going to stop here. Well? Questions? Comments? Criticism? Even if you have none, I hope you enjoyed chapter one. Until next time. Sorry if you're confused.I'll try to work on that if so.