"Hey guys let's play kickball!" A young boy brown haired boy shouted happily to a group of school children.
"Yea!" two of the other children shouted in unison.
The group of children played happily until one of the kids managed to kick the ball onto the roof of a nearby building.
"Way to go, now what will we do." The brown haired boy groaned.
The group looked up as they saw sand flying onto the roof and picking up the ball. The ball seemed to float down into the hands of a small spiky red haired boy, around five or six years old, the same age as them.
"Ah it's the monster!" A girl screamed.
"Run!" The brown haired boy yelled and the group began to run.
The red haired boy reached a hand out and sand flew and wrapped around the ankle of one of the girls who began screaming as she fell. Her eyes were full of fear. The red haired boy put his hand down and the sand fell. The group of children helped the girl up and continued running away.
The small red haired boy was known as Gaara. Most only knew of him as a monster since he had one of the tailed beasts sealed within him. His ability to control sand scared many of the village. Most of them knew he was created to be a weapon and nothing more.
"Hey are you alright?" A small female voice spoke. A young girl smiled softly as she walked over. She had long black hair and deep blue eyes. She could not have been more than five years old. "Don't listen to them, you aren't a monster"
Gaara wiped his tears away and looked at the girl. "You aren't afraid of me?"
The girl simply shook her head "Nuh-uh"
Gaara was shocked. Most people here were afraid of him and ran away, but this girl walked over to him to see if he was alright.
"Mei!" A woman's voice called "I told you not to run off!" A tall thin frail looking woman walked over and grabbed the young girl's wrist. "Let's go. I told you to stay away from him." The woman began walking dragging the girl by her arm.
"But mom I-" The girl tried to speak but her mother shushed her. The young girl looked back at Gaara who was silent.
"Gaara wake up" a male voice woke Gaara from his dream.
Gaara rubbed his eyes and sat up in his bed. "What is it Kankuro?" Gaara spoke roughly, still half asleep.
"You were talking in your sleep again…" Kankuro chuckled. The two boys were brothers. Kankuro was slightly taller than Gaara with short messy brown hair. "Who's Mei?"
"Nobody…" Gaara sighed. That day that he kept dreaming about happened about ten years ago. She was the only kid in the village that was not afraid of him. He was crushed when her mother forced her to move out of the village. Mei's mother was very paranoid so she moved away with Mei since she feared Gaara was getting to close to her.
Gaara got up and took off his pajama pants and put on his black pants, black shirt and red unbuttoned trench coat. "What do I have to do today?" Gaara sighed as he put on his black vest that buckled on the sides.
"Your schedule is clear today, the first time in a while." Kankuro chuckled.
Gaara sighed "Guess I'll walk around the village for a while." Gaara walked out of the room as a girl with medium length blonde hair worn in four different ponytails upon her head walked past him.
"Hey what's with him?" The girl asked.
"Hey Temari, he had that dream again. He was talking in his sleep about someone named Mei." Kankuro sighed.
Temari was the sister of Gaara and Kankuro, she was very much a tomboy with the attitude she gave off.
Temari sighed "Every time we bring it up he shuts himself off."
"I know" Kankuro looked out the window.
Gaara walked out of the building and down the street. Unlike ten years go, Gaara was well respected around the village. People no longer feared him, in fact they loved him. He walked down the street and saw children playing, parents shopping. It was a beautiful day in the Sand Village. He occasionally gave a nod in acknowledgement to those who waved and greeted him, but as usual he was quiet.
Gaara turned a corner and saw a tall thin girl with long black hair standing by the small flower shop. She was wearing a black knee length kimono with a red belt. She also had on black sandals. He couldn't recognize her, and he knew almost everyone. She must be new… He thought to himself.
The girl turned around, she had sharp blue eyes with black eye-liner framing them.
It can't be…Gaara thought to himself…
"G-Gaara?" The girl spoke softly.
"Mei…" Gaara spoke in return.
The girl walked over with a smile. "How are you? It's been so long. I hear you are the Kazekage now."
Gaara nodded "Yes…How is your mother?"
"She died, she killed herself…" Mei sighed
"I'm sorry to hear that." Gaara replied awkwardly.
"I see people finally see the real you…a very kind person" Mei smiled softly.
Gaara swallowed hard, he was never used to praise so he did not know how to react.
"I have to finish unpacking, I'll see you around." Mei smiled and waved goodbye before walking down the street.
Gaara was still in shock to see her again. It had been almost ten years since she left. Gaara shook it off and continued his walk around the village. He wondered where Mei was staying now that she had returned. Gaara walked his lap around the village before returning to his home in the Kazekage's building.
"Hey, how was you walk?" Kankuro grinned.
"Fine" Gaara replied.
"I couldn't help but notice you with that girl" Kankuro chuckled.
"What?' Gaara attempted to play it off like he had no idea what Kankuro was talking about.
"I finally remember who that Mei girl was. She was the girl who was always hanging around you but her mother kept dragging her away. She was a really nice girl, I remember that he mother had a mental breakdown and moved away with her. It's great to see that she is back."
"Yea..." Gaara whispered.