"Get the ball!"
"I got it!"
"Kick it over to me!"
Laughter echoed through the empty playground. Well, two children were playing with a ball during the cooler hours of the day. It was a daily routine that one of the children was used to while the other looked forward to that time of the day. One was a girl, full of life and thought of the world as a wonderous adventure. The other was a boy, shunned from his village and most of his family. They had been friends for the several years the boy had been born, the girl was three years older than him. She was training as one of the youngest Genin in Suna and teaching the young boy how to control his chakra.
After their little game, she went over to the boy out of breath, "That was fun, Gaara."
"Thanks," Gaara smiled shyly as he watched Ura sip her tea, "Ura, why do you train so much?"
Ura looked over at him with her childlike innocence with a smile. She reached over and touched his arm without the sand blocking her that time, "So one day, you and I can fight. You're super strong, Gaara, and I want to be as strong as you."
Gaara seemed surprised by her answer and shyed away again, using his sand to remove her hand from his skin, "Do...do you want to be like the others?"
"No!" Ura stated quickly as she dropped her tea in the sand, "I want to be like you."
He turned his head towards her, his eyes slowly widening as a smile formed on his lips. Ura was relieved to see that he had finally understood what she had meant. Though Ura could see her parents were worried about her being with Gaara, she didn't want to leave him alone. So many of the other villagers left him to suffer in silence, but Gaara was so much more than the monster they create him as. She could see his potential and his strength. Gaara was very powerful and she could see that if he didn't control his chakra or strength...it could be the death of many people.
Ura came out of her thoughts when Gaara tugged on her wrist, "Come home with me, Yashamaru is making my favorite tonight."
"Sure," Ura smiled and followed him home.
Her parents watched from their window in fear. Though her father was angry and worried about his daughter, her mother held a similar smile as she watched her daughter leave. He cursed beneath his breath and went to drink his beer, "Damn that girl of ours... Has she no idea the danger she's in! I'm going after her."
"No you won't, Gokui," the woman crossed her arms over her pregnant belly, "Ura is quite capable of keeping herself alive at this point. She is at the safest point in all the village."
"And what if he gets mad at her!" he stomped over to her, whispering sharply in her ear, "What if he sees her as an enemy by mistake! Ura will be crushed to tiny pieces."
The woman eyed her husband then smiled even wider, "At this point, Ura is the only friend Gaara will ever have that knows him inside and out. Our Ura will be the best kunoichi of Suna with Gaara in the palm of her hand. She will be the next Kazekage."
"Shows how much you know, woman," he chugged his beer, then threw it at the window where they watched their daughter, "I have other plans for her."
She widened her eyes, stumbling over her swollen feet over to her husband, "I told you no! She is not leaving us!"
"I'm saving her life," her husband stated angrily as he left the house to go to the Kazekage's mansion.
Ura sat in Yashamaru's kitchen as Gaara ate the dinner his uncle prepared for him. She ate some of her food, but was thinking about her training that evening. If she ate too much, then she may get sick. Instead, Ura poked at her food some more, ate a little and claimed she was too full to eat anymore. Yashamaru simply smiled and thanked her for joining them for dinner. When Ura was about to leave, Gaara stopped her with sand wrapped around her wrist, "Don't leave..."
"Sure, ok," Ura nodded and continued to sit next to Gaara.
"Gaara, she has to go home to her family," Yashamaru chided softly as he started to do the dishes.
"Then...can I walk you home?" Gaara asked as he looked over at Ura.
"That would be cool," Ura nodded with a playful smile.
After dinner, Gaara and Ura walked together as the full moon began to rise. They were too engrossed in their conversation to notice a drunken man approaching them. Gaara looked at the ground as the man sneered at him, "You ssshould be locked...in a damn cage..."
"Shut up!" Ura demanded as she stood in front of Gaara, "Don't talk to him like that!"
"Get out of the way, girlie!" the man raised his hand to slap her, then clumsily stepped back.
Ura's rage was growing as she pulled out her kunai, "Do not...think i'm weak..."
"Ura..." Gaara grumbled.
She turned to see that Gaara was getting just as mad as her. If he harmed the man, then Gaara would get in serious trouble. Ura couldn't let Gaara set himself up like that, not when she was trying to help him. She lunged at the man with her kunai, "Get out of here! Go back your bar!"
"Damn kid," he raised his bottle to hit her with, "Just shut the hell up!"
Ura threw her kunai at the bottle and smashed it into pieces. The man stumbled back as he realized that Ura wasn't joking when she said to leave. He quickly turned and ran off, leaving the two kids alone. Ura turned to Gaara to see tears coming down his face. She wanted to cry too, but it just wouldn't come. These moments came frequently anymore since his dad saw him as a monster too. Ura bent down a little to get face-to-face to Gaara, "It's ok now, Gaara, we're safe."
She was startled when he hugged her neck gently, feeling his hot tears on her shoulder. Ura held him as well, too happy for words to know that he trusted her so much. There was no better feeling than knowing Gaara was safe. Due to her worry in Gaara's safety, she wouldn't let him walk home alone. Instead, they sat on Ura's roof and looked up at the stars.
Gaara then asked her in a whisper, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Ura thought about her answer for a few moments. It was clear she wanted to be something big one day. She then answered in the same whisper, "I want to be the Kazekage of Suna."
They both didn't say anything for awhile. Ura was growing tired, but again, she didn't want to leave Gaara alone for his safety. Gaara noticed how tired Ura was getting suggested that she should sleep. Ura waved his suggestion off and asked if he would watch her train that night. He happily obliged and went out towards the dessert.
"I will inform the Hokage of her arrival then."
"Thank you, i'm sure you understand why I'm sending her off."
"Of course, for her own safety."
Ura had finally collapsed around midnight in the sand from being so exhausted. Gaara sat next to her sleeping body as he looked up at the moon. He was tired too, but he didn't want the beast inside of him to take control. It was too risky, or that was what everyone else said. Gaara looked over at Ura. She was the only one in the entire village that actually hung out with him and played with him. He had spied on her a few times to see if someone was making her or paying her. Each time he had only gave him more happiness, Ura came freely. No one forced her.
"Gaara..."
He turned over to Ura and saw that she was just talking in her sleep. Gaara appreciated Ura as his closest friend, the only one close enough to him that he felt safe. Yashamaru was different, he was family. He loved Gaara. Gaara smiled to himself as he lain next to Ura, reaching out and took her hand softly in his hand. She would never leave his side.
The next day, Ura woke slowly and saw Gaara's friendly gaze on her as he lain next to her. She smiled softly and saw that he was holding her hand. Ura stretched her legs as she slowly sat up, "Good morning, Gaara, you ready for breakfast?"
"Yes!" Gaara answered quickly as he stood up, "Are you going to make breakfast again?"
"Do you want me to?" Ura asked as she also stood up.
If her dad wasn't home again, then she would make breakfast for Gaara. But, if he was, she'll just suggest that she has been craving some restaurant food. Ura led the way with Gaara still holding her hand. She was the luckiest person in the world. Gaara trusted her and tried to be by her side whenever he could. There was no other place than she would rather be than by his side. Ura glanced at Gaara, his cute looks were a plus too. Gaara noticed her looking at him and smiled, holding her hand a little tighter. Maybe one day they would fighting on the same team, and he would be her partner when she became the Kazekage.
When they arrived in the village, her father was waiting with his arms crossed. Gaara stood behind Ura as she approached her father, "Yes, Dad?"
"Pack your things, your dreams have come true. You're heading to the Village Hidden in the Leaves," he smiled, seeing Gaara's scared reaction.
"What! That's not fair!" Ura yelled as she balled up her fists, "I can't leave!"
"You're leaving tonight," he walked away.
Ura didn't know what to say, all her dreams were being sent away from her. If she went to the Leaf, she wouldn't be able to come back as the Kazekage. She turned to talk to Gaara, but he just stared at her in disbelief. There was no way she could leave Gaara alone. No. There had to be a way to remain with him. Ura went to hug Gaara, but he sent her a few feet back by pushing her away with his sand. She called out to him and tried to have him listen to her. It wasn't working. Gaara slowly walked back into the village as tears streamed down his face. Ura wasn't giving up, there was no way she was leaving with Gaara feeling like that. She got up and ran over to Gaara, "I don't want to leave you!"
"Yes you do!" Gaara screamed at her as his eyes hardened, the sand morphing around him, "That's what your dad said! It was a dream come true!"
"Gaara, listen to me!" Ura shouted, she wouldn't let him leave her alone, "I don't want-"
"Stop it! Stop lying!" Gaara sent his sand at her.
His sand wrapped around her arms, squeezing tightly as he could. Ura screamed in pain, the feeling that her arms becoming crushed was too much for her fragile body. Gaara released her then walked away as tears dripped down his cheeks. Ura felt the same hot tears on her own cheeks, why did this have to happen? Why did she had have to leave? Gaara would never forgive her...
Ura stood up and examined her arms. She was surprised to see Gaara hadn't broken her bones, but her skin was scarred. Bruised and scarred, Ura looked around. There was no worse feeling than knowing she was all alone in the world. She went back to her home as the tears continued to fall. When she entered, her mother had placed a plate of breakfast on the small table for her daughter. Her mother could easily see that Ura heard the news and so did Gaara. Ura's mother was not the motherly type, she did not coo over her child like other mothers did. In fact, she was the one who made Ura become a kunoichi to make herself stronger.
"Gaara was not pleased, was he?" her mother asked softly.
Her daughter couldn't answer from choking on the image of Gaara's saddness. Ura couldn't eat her breakfast from the saddnesss that enveloped her. Watching her daughter like that...well, it even made her mother want to comfort Ura. It didn't matter though, what was done was done. Her mother touched her swollen belly and glanced at Ura, Suna was no match for them. She went over to Ura and pulled her away from the table, leading her down to the private study that her mother forbade from anyone entering.
She pulled her daughter inside and locked it, then opened the closet door inside the room. Ura watched in curiosity as she saw her mother had so many scrolls hidden in that one closet. Her mother brought out a large scroll and handed it to Ura, "While you're over in Leaf, you will train the hardest, do you understand? You may be in Leaf, but you are a Suna kunoichi. Your heart remains here and you will fight soley for here. In this scroll is a kekkai-genkai even your father doesn't know about. I want you to be the best with this kekkai-genkai, do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You will be under the command of a shinobi named Kakashi Hatake. When you arrive under his care, you will tell him that you will come back to your home when you become a Chunin. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good girl," her mother stood up and held her belly, "Now pack your things, Ura. I want to talk to you about one more thing before you leave."
Ura nodded and obeyed her mother's task. She packed her clothes and her ninja gear, then met her mother in the living room. For the 8 years she had been a girl, Ura knew her mother had always wanted to be a kunoichi of Suna. Her mother was head strong and had settled with a man that knocked her up with Ura years ago. It was a mistake, of course, but Ura had her mother's love even if it were shown in a different way. Her mother walked over to her and placed a hand on her hand, "Tell me, Ura, what is your Nindo?"
"Uhm... To be by Gaara?" Ura looked up at her mother.
"No, your nindo is to fight for those who cannot and lead the world to a new time," her mother stated as she pulled her hand from Ura's head.
"Yes, ma'am," Ura nodded as she went over that same nindo in her head.
Her mother went back to fixing a meal for her husband when he arrived later on. Ura felt her eyes sting from the same tears as she glared at the door. Why did she have to leave?
"Fight hard, Ura," her mother said softly, "No one is going to go easy on you over there. There will not be anyone who will love you other there like they will here. Come back when you are a Chunin so you can be the Kazekage."
"Yes...ma'am," Ura hesitated as she felt her anger began to rise, "Mom...why are you sending me to...Leaf?"
Her mother turned with her deep brown eyes narrowed, "I'm not sending you anywhere, your father is."
They didn't speak another word to each other. Instead, Ura left the house with her pack on her back. She had to find Gaara one last time, there was just too much she wanted to say before she had to leave. Ura leaped from roof to roof, hoping to find a trace of Gaara somewhere. When she reached Yashamaru's small home, Ura knocked on the door. When he opened the door, his eyes dimmed when he saw that it was Ura. She asked where Gaara was, and he merely shrugged and said he didn't know. With that answer, Ura ran through the town in hopes of finding Gaara.
By noon, she still couldn't find him. Ura found some sanctuary from the heat in the shadow behind the Kazekage's mansion. She pulled out some stationary and began to write a small letter to Gaara. Promises. They were all she had of when she would return to Suna. Her tears reached the paper as she folded it when she was finished. There was so much more she had wanted to say, but it was no use. Unless she could talk to Gaara herself, there was no way he would ever know her true feelings. Friendship, yes, but she saw Gaara in a different light. Though she couldn't quite put a word on it, she saw him as her own life. If he was hurt, so was she. If he was happy, then so was she. Gaara brightened her day and gave her peace at mind when she knew he was safe at night. Seeing him hurt like earlier made Ura feel so hurt herself that she had wanted to kill herself on the inside just to end the pain.
"Hey, Ura."
She looked up to see Temari and Kankurou looking own at her. Ura stood up and waved up at them, having them leap from their window to her. They had heard of her leaving and questioned her. She didn't say anything, but handed them the letter she wanted Gaara to have. Tears welled in her eyes again, but she lowered her head so they couldn't see. Temari took the letter and reassured Ura that they would find Gaara and have him read the letter.
"You are coming back, right?" Kankurou asked as he looked away for a moment.
"Yeah... When i'm a Chunin," Ura answered, "It may not be too long. I'm a Genin now, so..."
"Right!" Temari tried to be positive, "You'll be back here in no time."
"Yeah..." answered Ura, then she said her goodbyes to her two other friends and left.
Gaara was no where to be found for Ura. It was as if he was evading her on purpose. It wasn't fair. Why was Gaara mad at her when she didn't even want to go? Ura didn't want to wait anymore. She didn't want to remain in the Sunagakure if Gaara wasn't saying goodbye to her too. As she walked to the gates, she took one last look at Suna as tears dripped from her eyes. Somewhere, Gaara was in the village feeling sad too. Ura turned towards the village and shouted, "Just you wait, Gaara, I will be back and i'll find you!"
Pausing, Ura felt some relief. Maybe Gaara had heard her, maybe not. But, she wasn't going to wait for him that day. Ura would miss Gaara's friendship dearly. He had been so close to her and vice versa. She turned and exited the village on her own. One day, she would find Gaara and tell him how she felt all those years of friendship. To her, he was not a monster. He was not a menace. He was human with imperfections, but he was hers. Ura touched her heart where she felt the greatest saddness, soon...soon she would return. She would be back and let Gaara know that even when she left, she didn't stop thinking about him. No matter how mad he was at her, she would fight for him, she would protect him, and give him what no one has ever given him.
It took her about the rest of the day and night to reach the Konohagakure. She was too tired for words, starving for food, and so thirsty that she didn't have any spit to swallow. Ura reached the front gates to find a man with gray hair, reading a book with some weird pictures on the front. He looked over at her as she approached the village, "What's your name, child?"
"Ura," she panted as she wiped the sweat off of her brow, "of the Sand."
"Not anymore," he smiled as he handed her a new handband with the Leaf symbol, "of the Leaf now."
"Keep it," Ura panted more as she clung to her own head band, "I...am from...the Land of the Wind... When...when I'm Chunin, i'm going home."
