Angel Of The Sand

A Naruto Fan Fiction Story By: Kilik Saiyaku-Captain Green.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other manga...no matter how much I wish I did.

(Ten Years Ago)

Gaara: 7 Years Old

Sakura: 6 1/2 Years Old

The girl with the straight pink hair watched the boy on the playground crying. She blinked her large emerald eyes once slowly, wondering what was the matter. The boy with the red hair was crying, although it looked like he was trying not to. He had dark circles around his jade eyes that made his eyes look bigger than they were. 'Why isn't his makeup smearing?' the seven-year old Haruno Sakura wondered absently.

The red-haired boy picked one arm up, the one that wasn't holding his bunny, and wiped away at the tears on the same side of his face the arm was on on his body. He raised his head, drying his eyes and started watching the kids at the park all play. He kicked with his feet so he swung a little bit, but other than that didn't move much. He turned his eyes to the pink-haired girl watching him, trying to hide from behind a mailbox. He lowered his head, still staring at her.

Sakura noticed him staring, and with a peep scurried behind the mailbox so she was totally hidden. Why did he look so sad? Being the happy person Sakura usually was, she didn't know if she could let him stay that way. It just didn't look right, to see the boy crying. There was one thing that looked a little off. Planks of wood circled the whole playground, keeping a certain amount of sand in. What didn't look right was the fact that there was more sand pooled around the boy than in any other area.

Sakura shrugged her shoulders, before taking a deep breath. Her mother had always told her that a friend in need was a friend indeed, and as far as she was concerned she was friends with everybody, even those she didn't know. Sakura walked out into the playground, covering half the distance easily, putting on a brave front, but the closer she got, the more Sakura realized she was terrified. Hadn't some of the villagers said there was something wrong with him? No matter, he was hurt and Sakura wanted to make it better.

Gaara looked on as the pink-haired girl came about halfway between him and the mailbox. She stopped there, hesitating before she continued. Gaara raised his head, looking at her, hugging his bunny close to him for comfort, sure that she would throw a stone or something at him. He closed his eyes and buried his face in the top of the nearly stuffing-less bunny, waiting for the impact.

Sakura watched him bury his face in the bunny as if he was afraid of something. 'What a chicken.' Sakura thought to her self, before walking to him, before stopping right before him and planting her hands on her hips.

"You." Sakura said loudly and boldly, which caused most of the other children to stop and stare as she spoke with the Jinchuriki.

"M-me?" Gaara asked fearfully, raising his head slightly to look at Sakura.

"Yes. You. Why are you crying?" Sakura demanded, looking proud despite the fact she was wearing a red tank-top and blue-jean shorts with an explorer's cap atop her head.

"B-because..." Gaara stammered, desperately trying to think of something, but unable to.

"Because what?" Sakura demanded again. Because of the position she was with the sun, Gaara had to squint his eyes looking at her.

"If you're gonna make fun of me just go and leave me alone." Gaara said, his voice as hollow as most of the emotions he felt.

Sakura's stern look faltered. Make fun of him? What for? She just wanted to know what was wrong. By now all of the kids in the park had stopped playing and were watching. Sakura walked over and sat down on the swing next to Gaara. She shivered a little when the sand beneath his feet moved a little as if the wind had blown it, before settling down again.

"Why would I make fun of you?" Sakura asked, softer this time.

Gaara looked at Sakura as if she had just asked if their current location were hot.

"You mean, you don't know?" Gaara asked, hopeful at the chance to make a friend. Well, other than Yashamaru. But that was his Uncle, so he didn't count.

"Know what?" Sakura asked cluelessly.

"I..*sniff*...have a monster inside of me...it kills people..." Gaara said, his eyes starting to water up again, knowing Sakura would be disgusted and leave, or even make fun of him with the rest of the kids.

"Well, if it's the monster inside of you that kills people, why are YOU suffering for it?" Sakura asked, still not catching on.

"Because they think I'm the one that does it."

"That's stupid. You said everybody knows it's inside of you, right? Well then, I don't get why they think it would be you doing it." Sakura said, crossing her arms roughly.

"Because sometimes it controls me and makes me do it." Gaara said quietly, before a look of realization came upon Sakura's face.

"Ohh...so then why don't they take it out?" Sakura asked softly.

"Because it would kill me."

"Oh...I'm sorry..."

"What are you sorry for? I'm the one that kills people..."

"I don't know. I just felt like I needed to say sorry. " Sakura said, getting frustrated.

"Oh..." was all Gaara said, before he kicked the sand.

"So why don't you go play with anyone?" Sakura asked curiously, not understanding why the Shukaku would impair him socially.

"Because they all hate me for having the monster. I don't have any friends..." Gaara said, his eyes threatening to spill over.

"Well, I'll be your friend. My name's Haruno Sakura." Sakura said, before Gaara looked up, genuine happiness in his eyes.

"My name's Sabaku no Gaara." He said, holding out his hand for a handshake, the way his father had taught him, when he wasn't abusing him verbally and physically, anyway.

Instead of shaking his hand, Sakura reached over and gave him a hug. Gaara froze, afraid the sand would kill her. When it didn't, he slowly put his arms around her, and rested his forehead on her back. He smiled, before he heard someone yelling,

"Hey! Look! Forehead is hugging the monster!" One little kid yelled, before they all started laughing. Gaara pulled away and looked at Sakura. Her forehead wasn't that big. But she looked as if she were about to cry, as she looked down into her lap.

Gaara stood up angrily, which made all of the kids take an involuntary step back.

"She does NOT have a big forehead. And I don't want you guys making fun of her again! Ever!" Gaara yelled, before a small wave of sand pushed forward, knocking all of the kids onto their bottoms, which helped emphasize his point. The kids all ran away in fear, leaving Gaara and Sakura alone.

Gaara turned to Sakura, and walked back.

"They're jerks. You don't have a big forehead." He said, before she looked up at him with tear-stained eyes.

"Thank you." She said, before she heard her name being called.

"Sakura Haruno! Where did you go? It's time for dinner! I made salted ice cream!" A female voice shouted out, alerting Sakura and Gaara to the presence of her mother.

"Coming Mommy!" She yelled back, before turning to Gaara.

"Umm, thank you for defending me from those bullies." Sakura said, blushing.

"No problem." Gaara said, giving a weak smile. His face went into that of a shocked one when Sakura leaned over, kissed him on the cheek, and said bye.

"Bye..." Gaara muttered numbly, before putting his hand over his cheek.

Before she was out of hearing range, Sakura turned around and yelled,

"I'll be back next year on this very day! I live in Konoha! Come see me sometime!" She shouted, before running off to her mother.

Gaara smiled, before his face turned grim. It was getting late, and he had to go home. He started trudging off, to Kazekage Tower.

Well, here's the first chapter ladies and gents. If anybody can guess what two FF Author's the salted ice cream idea came from, then I'll give them...free invisible stuff! Yay! I'll even give you a hunt, they co-wrote a story together...which evolved into basically a trilogy, having...what was it, four or five sequels? I don't know, anyways, R&R and get back to me with what you think. I will try to update once every day, maybe more than that if I can, so stay tuned, and we'll be back to fun time with the Cap'n.

Everybody's Truly, (Because Everyone Wants A Bit Of Captain Kilik)

Kilik Saiyaku-Captain Green