Chapter one: The Journey
Long, stunningly pink hair blew in the wind as a small, young girl, clad in red, skipped across the desert sand. She was so excited to be visiting Suna with her parents! On any normal occasion they left her at her best friend, Ino Yamanaka's, house and left for a few weeks to do their diplomatic work.
You see this young girl's parents were ambassadors for Fire Country – employed by its capital Konoha. Their job was to make 'nicey nice' with the Wind Country's Kazekage and the Suna council so that if some bully people started picking on Konoha, they would have some friends to help them fight off the meanie heads. Each country had these diplomats and would send two of them to the other four countries – water, wind, earth, and lightning - to try and make peaceful negotiations.
At least that's what the pink-haired-6-year-old's mother always told her whenever her parents would have to go to Suna. Each and every time her mother had to redefine the big words like negotiations and diplomats for her. However over more recent years they'd be leaving more frequently and seemed more stressed each time they came back. Once, her mother even had an injury on her wrist that now left a nasty scar. In accordance with the their frequent travels, they didn't want to burden the Yamanaka's each time they had to leave so now that she was 6 they were finally taking her with them – although that just seemed to add to their stress.
She was excited to be visiting another country so she overlooked the word – burden. THAT was a word she didn't need to be defined. Neighborhood kids always called her a burden whenever they would play ninja and she couldn't do anything useful. Even Hinata Hyuga was a better teammate then her - and that girl was beyond shy.
"Sakura!" A young woman around her 30s with mousy brown hair and honey colored eyes rushed to catch up with her daughter. "Young lady you slow down and stay with your parents! The sand is unpredictable and dangerous! You don't know what it will do!"
Sakura slowed to a halt and looked up to mother with wide eyes and a pouty lip that always made everyone she met melt. "Yes mama." Sakura's mother knelt down instantly and pulled her in a fierce embrace upon seeing the signature pouty lip.
"Remember that when we're in Suna you are to never - and I stress the word never – leave mommy or daddy's side okay sweetie?" Sakura nodded, even though her mother couldn't see the gesture with Sakura's head resting on her mom's shoulder.
"Your mothers right my little cherry blossom." Sakura's father knelt next to her mother to be directly leveled with Sakura's eyes. This was a parenting technique they used. They found it better to look her directly in the eyes then to look down on her. His emerald green eyes pierced into her paler version. "Suna isn't like Konoha, it isn't as safe here." He told her, seriousness ringing in every syllable.
Her mother finally let her go and Sakura just nodded at both her parents in understanding, but she could tell by the worried look on their faces that they didn't believe she really understood what they were talking about.
And in all honesty, SHE DIDN'T. How could she when they were always so vague when talking about sand? They'd warned her about it 5 times before they actually left the Village hidden in the Leaves, 10 more times on their way to the desert itself and 6 more, if you count the lecture she just received, since entering the desert.
She really didn't understand – what was so wrong with sand? Since being in the desert she hadn't had a problem with it! It warmed her toes when it slipped under her sandals and even though it got in her eyes and mouth sometimes, she really didn't mind – she could always just wash it out eventually. Sakura didn't care if she was dirty because one day she would be a ninja and ninjas needed to put up with the worst possible conditions. She saw this more like a training exercise.
But back to the "dangers of sand". What made it even more confusing was that there was sand in Konoha too, just not nearly as much, but there was still sand. Her parents never spazzed out and started lecturing her on how 'deadly sand was' when she was out playing with her friends in the stuff, so what was so bad about it now? If they had given her a few more details then maybe she would understand...
But of course that was never going to happen.
So she just decided to nod her head when he parents started up another infamous 'sand rant'. And then skip on her way merrily as if they hadn't said anything at all. A six-year-old's attention span, no matter how mature this six-year-old may be, only went so far when hearing the same thing over and over again.
Her parents shared their worried expressions before sighing and moving to either side of her. Both of them took one of her hands in theirs and they continued towards Suna's gates – as a family.
Her first look at the city was… well black, considering she had fallen asleep on the way there. She came in and out of consciousness every now and then and registered two things while in her 80% state of sleep.
She was lying on her fathers back as they continued on their way to Suna.
They were very close.
She knew they were close because the sun was setting and the stars were becoming visible sparkles shining in the darkening sky. Her parents would have stopped to make camp for the night if they weren't just a few minutes away from their destination.
All of a sudden her father stopped moving and a voice coming from above boomed. "Who's there? State your business!" Sakura, a bit more awake after hearing such a loud call, shrank into her dads hold a bit more, eyes slightly widening and darting up towards the sky. From her position, she was able to see a smidge of what appeared to be a gate made of some kind of sandy-stone like material, but mainly all she saw was sky and brilliantly bright stars that took her breath away. It was hard to see all the stars in Konoha because the trees blocked a lot of them out. She was shaken from her awe upon hearing her Dad's voice vibrating against the ear she had pressed against his back.
"Konoha Diplomats, Kazuna and Takeshi Haruno accompanied by daughter, Sakura Haruno." His voice rang with a certain authority – stating his position above the sentry that had called out to them. Yet his voice still contained a certain degree of politeness. There was no question to why her father was a diplomat – he knew just how to say things.
The sentry paused, Sakura wondered for a brief moment if he was checking some kind of list but didn't have long to ponder this as she heard him proclaim from his position at the top of the gate, "Entry granted!" And the gates opened.
At this time of night most of the Suna villagers were retreating into their homes, it was a bit earlier then when most Konoha residents went home and Sakura got the feeling something was up by the way her father tensed.
"Do you think we should have just made camp back there?" Her mother whispered to her father, trying to be discrete and failing.
"Hush. The sand has ears and eyes you know!" He father was quieter but a sense of dread seemed to escape him for a moment before he quickly got it under control. Sakura was confused again. Her parents could be so silly sometimes, sand having ears and eyes? We're they losing their minds? And yet, hearing her father and mother scared and on edge put Sakura in the same emotional state. Her parents were supposed to be her emotional rocks that calmed her down when she freaked out. She'd never seen them scared before.
What was it they were so afraid of?
Their pace was hurried, moving with a purpose. The purpose to get the hell off the streets. Kazuna glanced at her husband and sleeping daughter hoping they would make it to the Kazekage's office – as it was required diplomats report to the Kage of the country upon their arrival – without running into that … that… Kazuna shivered at the thought of it.
Takeshi noticed and drew nearer to her. "Its okay. He's probably indoors by now anyway." He rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder, yet they still picked up the pace. A faint breeze blew some sand around them and both of the Harunos shuddered.
Oh how Kazuna wished she didn't have to bring her daughter with them. What if it found her? She didn't think of what it would do to their beautiful little girl. She'd only ever seen the monster once, two years ago, sitting all alone at a swing, teddy bear in hand. She hadn't known at the time what he was, so she decided to approach him…
~Flashback~
Kazuna sighed and stretched after exiting a particularly long negotiation. Takeshi was staying a bit longer speaking one on one with the Kazekage himself. As much as Kazuna would like to dwell on the question of what they could possibly be talking about, she was tired of thinking and decided to just ask him later. Walking further away from the massive beehive of sand she turned a corner and saw him. A little boy around 5 years old, just sitting on a swing, teddy bear in hand, looking at the ground with the saddest eyes Kazuna had ever seen in her life.
Is he lost? She thought, her heart aching for the crestfallen child. Looking around she couldn't see a parental figure anywhere so she decided to approach him and make sure he was alright – after all, her soft spot was children.
"Excuse me sweetie," Kazuna said softly, kneeling down to be eye level with him just like she did with her daughter at home. His head shot up, obviously startled and the sand around them began blowing. Kazuna noticed she's scared him, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, you just looked so sad I was wondering if you were lost?"
The boy visibly calmed down, and gave a weak smile. Unbeknownst to Kazuna at the time, the sand stopped moving as soon as he was calm.
"No I'm not lost." He said in a quiet, withdrawn, and somewhat vulnerable voice. After a moments pause he looked back at the ground. Kazuna was puzzled, most of the children she met would never STOP talking – save, of course, the shy Hinata – but this boy, he was so withdrawn. Was he shy too?
"My name is Kazuna Haruno, what's yours?" She said, gesturing to herself before doing the same gesture to him. His eyes looked up at her again for a brief while and he told her.
"I'm Gaara…."
"its nice to meet you Gaara. Why are you all by yourself?" She continued the conversation, though in her mind she was backpedaling through her memories. She could have sworn she'd heard that name before. But where? When? And why did it seem so important?
At her question he looked down again sharply and his shoulder slumped. Kazuna thought that there was no one in the world that could look more defeated then this little boy – this Gaara – did right now.
"Because of their eyes…" He whispered so softly Kazuna wondered if the voice had just been her imagination.
"What do you mean 'their eyes' Gaara?" She asked confused by his vague answer.
There was another moment's pause before he spoke again looking directly into her eyes.
"You're not scared of me?" She seemed taken aback by the question. Why would she be scared of such an adorable child? Her heart reached out for him because of they lonely disposition he had. She tilted her head to describe her confusion.
"Why would I be sca-" but she never finished her sentence when a voice overcame hers.
"KAZUNA WHAT ARE YOU DOING GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Kazuna involuntarily jumped and stood straight, turning around to face the voice only to see her husband a few yards away from her. She relaxed after seeing it was just him, but went instantly back on alert once she noticed the strain and fear in her husbands eyes.
"What's wrong Takeshi?" She was beyond confused at this point and also on edge.
Takeshi glanced at the now wide eyed Gaara, the sand around the young boy was swirling due to his scared demeanor. Instantly fearing for his wife's safety at seeing the sand move, he calmly gestured for her to come over.
Kazuna glanced back at the boy and knelt down next to him one more time.
"I'll be right back, okay? I'm just going to have a word with my husband really quick." She stood again and walked over to Takeshi. "What's wrong?" She asked, concerned about his odd behavior.
"You were talking to a demon Kazuna. That boy is the Shukaku!" He whispered harshly, his eyes never leaving the boy. Kazuna widened her eyes at this. There was no way… no possible way that lonely little boy could be the Shukaku's host. But if he was, then his question of why she wasn't afraid of him was no longer confusing. She turned to look at the boy again. "See the swirling sand around him? Its unnatural. that isn't due to a breeze, he was going to attack you!"
Suddenly Kazuna's eyes widened in fear, her irises becoming mere slits as she remembered the meeting where that name was mentioned. The Kazekage told them to stay far away from the demon in the village – Gaara. She couldn't believe the supposed demon was this little boy and that she had just disobeyed the orders of the Kazekage – unintentionally of course. But the main reason her eyes widened and she became nearly paralyzed with fear was because she saw the sand moving around the little boy and the spot were she once stood. Had he been about to attack me? She took her eyes away from the sand and looked into his eyes. His eyes were angry and strained. He seemed upset all of a sudden and for the life of her Kazuna didn't know what she did to make him that way.
"Those eyes… why, why?" He seemed so broken as the words barely carried over to the two political shinobi standing before him. Takeshi grabbed Kazuna's hand and started to tug her away, slowly at first, then a bit faster as she still looked behind her at Gaara. His eyes widened in sudden fear and anguish and he got up off the swing, dropping the bear in his hands. "Wait…Please.." His voice cracked and was strained as he spoke up. His hand reached out to her. "I… I DON't... PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!" tears sprung from the corners of his eyes as he shut them tight, cringing at his emotional pain he brought his arms around to hold his heart. The sand shot out and grabbed Kazuna's wrist, attempting to pull her back.
She screamed. It was blood curdling, awful sound. Half because she was started and shaken up by the sands sudden movements, half because of the crushing grip it had on her wrist squeezing tighter and tighter as it tried to pull her towards Gaara. Burning into her flesh and tearing off thin strands of skin at odd points as the individual grains moved across her skin. She continued screaming and Takeshi frantically took out a kunai and sliced through the sand, but it just quickly rejoined together and dragged Kazuna closer to the emotionally unstable 5 year old.
"Gaara!" A young man with mid-neck-length, sandy blonde hair stood behind the demon. And the sand dropped as Gaara's eyes opened to see the damage he had caused. Still wide eyed, he turned to face the young man. "Yashamaru…" He turned back to Kazuna looking at the mutilated and bleeding wrist. He tried to step towards her, arm outstretched, eyes terrified as he stared at her hand.
Takeshi stepped forward to make a separation between the two of them and Gaara froze, eyes falling to the floor. "I'm… I'm so sorry…"
Takeshi spat at him and then pulled Kazuna away.
~ End of Flashback ~
She looked at her wrist, an ugly scar reaching from the base of her palm to the middle of her forearm. She traced it with her forefinger - the bulging pure white skin made a cobweb like pattern and was a constant reminder of Suna's demon child. A child just one year older then her precious daughter.