Just a little note before this begins! Kusuma in one of the many indian languages means flower. So if she refers to that, you'll understand! YAY! Onward, Gaara-sama! .

P1: It's the end but the beginning. Meet Kusuma!

Light...

This town is full of it...

...yet...

I can see the darkness that seeps around every corner...

"I'm so tired!" I said with a groan as I sat up, only to hear my father's annoying calls repeating. 'Honey get up,' and 'Stop day dreaming and come down stairs!' floated up to me like a large bell ringing in my ear. I spit at the door before rubbing my eye. "Just a few more minutes won't hurt..." Laying down again and throwing the covers over my head, I fell asleep.

"WHY DIDN'T ANYONE WAKE ME UP!" Panicing, I jumped out of my bed after reading the clock that said nine o'clock sharp...at night! "Dad," I wined as I ran down the stairs, "why didn't you wake me up?! I missed a day of school!" I stopped abruptly when I saw him sitting in the dark. I stood there for a moment, confused. I might of been a nine year old, but I was old enough to know something was wrong. "...Daddy...?" His shoulders stopped shaking as he looked at the wall opposite of me.

"He took Kanti today..." He whispered. My eyes widened. "How many does he want? Can't he just leave us alone?" I stood in the dark with him, knowing just who he was talking about. He had killed many, and now Kanti, my father's best friend. Swallowing my nervous saliva, I felt my tongue dry quickly. Like sand paper on a board, I spoke:

"Gaara..."

I looked out the window to see two of our sand ninjas gathering the dead body. I held my hand to my mouth as I choked on vomit. Even now, I could see the sand still sliding off all his finger tips. The hand on my mouth turned into a fist. I looked at my dad, then at the corspe. My father was right. He was a monster, and he needed to be stopped.

I burst open the door and looked to my left, and then my right. Which way...which way? I could hear my father calling my name in alarm:

"Kusuma...Kusuma!" I saw fresh, turned out sand trailing to my left, and I darted forward. My father was now up and at the door, demanding that I returned.

Sorry pops, I thought, I'm doing this for everyone. And so, I continued to run till I finally found the end of the trail; and there he stood. Gaara.

"Gaara!" He froze before he slowly turned. He held a bag in his hand. The only thing that gave me comfort was the full moon over our heads. He turned all the way around and gave a small smile. I felt the color from my cheeks drain. The hotness seemed to cool as I felt my knees turn to butter. With the courage I had left, I pulled a kunai out. I stuck it out, hand shaking quickly. "Gaara...you killed another person!" His smile was coated over with a sad expression I thought was fake. He took a step forward, and I backed up another. "You...you killed my dad's friend...your hurting him! So...just stop killing everyone!" I said, tearing my eyes away from the empty blue eyes that I found both frightful and captivating. His out stretched hand fell to his side. There was only silence. I took another step back before dropping the kunai. "This is my only warning, Gaara..." I said, turning around. I wondered myself where I was getting this courage... "don't kill anyone else..." I started to run back before a grip landed on my foot. Panic struck into my heart before I looked down and saw sand enveloping my foot. I screamed in horror as I looked up at him while trying to struggle free.

"P-please wait!" He called. "I...I don't want to be alone!" I could only struggle and scream. I wasn't getting anywhere. Where was daddy? Where were all the ninjas that swore to protect me? "Please..." I looked up with sweat rolling down my cheek. My hair stuck to my face as my breath quickened. He stretched his hand out to me. "Don't leave me alone..." His eyes, they were filled with a loneliness that I had never seen...but, with the sand covering my eyes slowly, I screamed as only darkness filled my view.

"Ah, that was good, dad!" I said with a smile as I walked past my father, who was cooking his meal, and towards the door while patting my stomach. "I guess I'll see you when I get back!"

"How about you eat, first, Kusuma." I froze for a moment, just about to turn the knob, before thawing and smiling over to him.

"What ever do you mean, father? I just ate!" He pointed his spachula over to a seat and I sighed, giving in. "How can you tell everytime?" I asked, resting my head on my hand as I sat down. He laughed heartly.

"Father's intuition," He stated with a wink. I sighed, lying my head flat on the table, stretching my arms. "besides," I looked up with a blink, "anyone can hear your stomach a mile away." I blew my cheeks out and let my chin rest on the table again.

Allow me to introduce you to my father: Abato Kinba.

"Ne, father," He turned to look at me with blinking eyes. "Do you remember what today is?" He smiled a joyful smile and nodded.

"Of course! How could I forget? Today is..." The food suddenly caught fire and he turned his attention back to it with panic. He tore his hands away from it and held them in the air. I stood up with a smile that only I could see.

"I'll go get help! It'll spread!" I lied. As I stepped out the door, the illuision disapeared, and his food was fine. He growled as he leaned out the window to call:

"Kusuma Kinba! Don't think you can get away with this! I'll get you when you come home!" He called. I stopped running and waved happily at him as I turned around.

"I love you too, father!" I sang. I turned back around to hear him yelling at me more. I looked up at the hot desert sun as I ran. "Ah la la! It's so hot! I want ice cream!" I said as I twirled, jumping twice on my left foot, right one in the air, and then doing it on the opposite side. I laughed as I jumped up with my right hand sticking up high above me. "That's my prize for today! If I work hard enough with Anji-sensei, I'll be able to eat icecream!" A one last twirl to complete my happy dance, I stopped and made my way to the meeting point with my teacher.

Oh! I'm sorry, I haven't told you about Anji-sensei! She's really nice. My cheeks swirled with pink. She's my idol! Anji-sensei even lets me call her by her first name (her real last name is Pachu)! Anyway, she's one of the top chunins in our village of sand.

"Anji-sensei! I'm here!" Her bangs swirled with her graceful body as she turned to answer my call. A light smile fell on her face as she gazed at me.

The best part about her being my instructor is that she's mine and mine only! That's right, I'm her only student!

"Anji-sensei, what are we going to do today?" She smiled as she patted my hyper head.

"You've been such a great student..." I looked up at her in confusion. Sadness leaked out of her eyes and her soft lips that were still curved up in a smile. "I'm going to miss you." I looked at her, panicked.

"What do you mean?!" I asked in alarm. She turned around and looked back at me.

"Come, let's go for a walk." I lowered my head but nodded. She was going to do this the hard way. What was it? I wanted to know, and know now. I ran up to catch up as I thought of every possible reason I could think of. What did she mean? It tore at me as I waited for the silent angel to speak.

"Kusuma-chan," I looked up quickly. She quietly looked from me and up at the hot sun I had been praising. "I entered you into the Chunin exam." The blood drained from my face as I stared at her. "You will leave tomorrow." What was wrong with me? My mouth felt like the desert: dry. I finally found my tongue.

"W...what?! Why?!" She looked forward as I continued. "Why did you enter me without even asking me if I wanted to?!"

"Tell me, Kusuma-chan," I looked back up at with pained eyes, "why did you become a ninja?" My eyes widened at the sudden question. I looked around in the small market street. "Kusuma-chan, I asked you a question."

"I don't want to be hurt again." She turned to me in alarm as I narrowed my eyes towards the ground. "Never again...will I have to look up from the ground between life and death...never again." My grip on my arm tightened, nails digging in, blood sinking into the cloth of my shirt. I closed my eyes as I whispered the demon's name that had done this to me: "Gaara..." I hissed his name again, "Gaara...I will protect myself from him...that monster..." I whispered. I closed my eyes as I took in deep breaths. Gaara had taken my childhood away.

"That night...he had almost killed me..." That's right, if it hadn't been for Anji-sensei, I wouldn't be here.

"No...let me go!" I screamed as I banged on the sand coffin. Tears road on my rosy cheeks repeatedly. "Let me out! Please!" I yelled. No one was there, no one but that monster. "You monster! Let me go! I...I'll kill you, I swear!" I yelled. The coffin tightened around my legs and I screamed in pain. "Stop it! Stop it I said!" I raised my shaking voice but it was not answered. Sand started to fall into my mouth and I coughed, my arms tucked beside my stomach. I was either going to be squished like a bug or drown in the sand.

"Enough, Gaara-sama." The sand tightened before falling back to the ground. I layed there, breathing the air of life I had almost lost. I felt tears reappearing in my eyes and I let out a glad cry. A soft hand was guided to the back of my head to help me sit up. "Are you alright?" I opened my eyes lightly, fearing to see the lonely eyes of Gaara the monster. But instead, I saw gentle, understanding eyes from a young girl I did not know. The twelve year old smiled lightly before turning her head back to Gaara. I clung to her shirt as she narrowed her eyes lightly, a smile still on her face. "Gaara-sama," He jumped at the sound of his name. "Gaara-sama, can you try to control that sand of yours? It's quite the helper, but sometimes," Her smile disapeared, "it can try to help a little too much." He looked down and nodded before turning. He stopped at the bag he had in his hands. He picked it up and turned around to look at me with the yearning eyes.


"Ano...Anji-san..." He whispered. She looked up at him as he walked up. I pulled at her shirt as I dug my head in it. She smiled, though. He gave a happy sigh as he continued, his words a little more comforted. "Anji-san...I didn't mean to--"

"What are you smiling about...you monster?" Both of them gazed down at me. I looked through glisening eyes of hate. "You didn't mean to, eh? You almost killed me!" I started shaking in my small body. "Go away! No one wants you here!" I yelled before crying into Anji's arms. Gaara's bag dropped as he sadly looked at me. His sadness turned to a sudden anger as he gripped at his heart.

"Why...doesn't anyone want me?"

"What?!" My father stood in my doorway as I slowly packed my bag. "Your going to the Chunin exam in the village of Kahona?! When was this decided?" I stopped before looking towards, but not at, my father.

"She decided without telling me. She said it was the teacher's choice to decide." I wiped my eyes as I felt my father staring sadly at my back. He lifted his hand to his hair as he ruffled it. It was a bad habit. It always mean that he was troubled and was going to try to fix it. "Stop fidgeting, dad. It's not good for you. I want to leave you in one piece, if you will." He sighed before asking.

"Well, when are you leaving?" He looked as if he had given in. I felt so bad, as I was still scheduled to leave tomorrow. I felt like I had to tell him the truth, but then, a lie. "Kusuma?" I smiled sadly as I made my desicion:

"In one week." There was a silence that lingered in the room. It was the first thing that popped out of my mouth. But, still, this lie didn't seem to make him anymore cheerful. He gaped at me, wondering if I was telling the truth.

"One week?!" I turned my head back to my suitecase and closed it, finished with my packing. What would he have thought if I said tomorrow? Standing up, I smiled over at him.

"Come on, father," He rested his hand on his face, and I took his large arm in to my guiding hands, "I'll make dinner tonight."

The moon light fell onto the sand in the dusk of morning. I saw Anji standing outside of my house, waiting for me patiently. I turned back around, my cloak fluttering behind me. I looked at my father from the kitchen. He was out from the wine I had snuck into his food last night.Putting the letter down from my heart, I left it on the table. I took one last look at my father. I knew I wouldn't see him for such a long time...and my heart bled. Finding the feeling in my feet, I quickly ran outside with my suitecase, meeting up with Anji.

"Are you ready?" She whispered. I nodded and she turned to lead me to the traveling group we were in. I turned to the old house I had grown up in. I could see my younger self running happily around with my father. A tear fell before I folded my hands together.

"For you, father, I will be strong." I brought my hands up to my lips and opened them as I inhaled the cool night air. Exhaling, a light blue swirl flew in the air. It started to shine with the stars before it flew into my house. I smiled a sad smile as a tear dropped. "I love you, daddy." Anji called out to me and I turned, running towards her.

And as my feet's light taps grew lighter, my father woke, rubbing his eyes.

"Kusuma...did you ope' whe window?" His words swirled together as he sat up. He looked over at the chair by the window as a breeze blew through. A small, blue teddy bear sat there, smiling the same sad smile I had, straight at him. He got up in alarm as he grabbed the teddy bear. "Kusuma...?!" He whispered. It's eyes glisened as it opened it's mouth.

"Daddy..." He looked down at it with shaking hands. It was my voice he heard. "Daddy...I love you..." His grip grew tight on the stuffed bear before it turned into the light blue sparkles that floated out and into the air once again. He screamed in agony as he felt tears coming to his eyes.

"Kusuma!"

"What's wrong, Kusuma-chan?" Anji asked. I blinked as I looked back at the distant town behind us. The four cloaked people looked at me as I stared at the village. I shook my head as I turned around.

"...It's nothing, let's go." I said in a whisper. It wasn't nothing...I could hear my father calling me in pain. But I had to look forward. I had to be strong.

We both have to be strong. After all...today is the day mother died.