Deep in the hot and parched deserts of the Sand village a small park sits hidden behind a tall rock landscape where rarely anything grows on its own, children used to play in it but where soon scared off by events that shocked and horrified those who lived there. That, of course, was all but for one small child who would play there alone with his small stuffed bear on the swing set quietly. Staring out at the tumble reeds and dust that would circle and dance in the warm breeze, occasionally how ever people did come to the park. This was not to play but to torment the young red head, innocent and harmless, but they never understood that. They saw a monster and that's all they would ever see, blinded by what everyone around them thinks and whispers. He did fear them and would try to run but this time he was cornered, his only protection was the sand shield around him.
'there he is' the voices would shout, 'get him', they would chant, 'monster', 'demon', it was their war cry; their only logic against this mere child. He would cry in despair and plead for them to stop, plead for anyone to help him, he never meant anything he did, he tried to apologies only to be shunned. When the yelling suddenly silences he would open his eyes and look to watch them leaving him crying, taking a brick from his innocence to shatter with them. One of those days was different however as he sat alone in his sunken thoughts, the voices were shouting their usual monotone, rocks were at the ready along with prepared, practised and rehearsed lines that he knew too well. They came but ended so soon as their attention was averted away towards a tall dark figure coming closer, fast in its strides and calmly stopping beside the young child. Terror lurked in the young Childs eyes looking up at this unfamiliar figure, they do not look back but instead a hand is struck down at him. Not to hit but to protect him from the attacks, they seemed oblivious to the boys powers yet knew of them.
The attacks would start but never got far before they were shot right back at the thrower instead hitting them, People call him a monster, people call him a freak for being different; but what are these anyway? Someone frightening the civilians or is it someone too scared to understand and so they hurt them to make up for what they do not have? This tall figure basked in the dusk and shadows of his cloak and hood, he now stands in front of the child, the people that before warned them of the child questions their sanity to no reply. Only another loud click of the rocks being hit back towards them, they glare and leave in disgust eyeing down the figure and motioning spits towards the child. Once gone only does the figure actually rest their arm and look down from the dark veil to look at the child, checking for any injuries to find none and giving a short sigh seeing he's fine. His voice surprises the child to widening his eyes and staring, they sounded younger than he thought.
"are you okay?" the voice musters in a calm voice turning to completely look at the young boy, his green eyes looking and trying to break the veils stealth. Only a short nod is replied before he looks to his feet, this seemed to make the saviour curious towards him. "what's your name?" this however surprises the young boy into looking back up again. "Gaara…" he speaks in a husk voice unsure of this new figure, was he friend or foe?
"that's a nice name, Gaara. My names Grell Matsoukis" they reply as a puff of smoke descends them down to Gaara's height, a short chuckle is relived and the veil is dropped. Grell was 5 or 6 years-old just like himself. "I saw them attacking so I wanted to help" they smile in a friendly manner, he was a friend, someone Gaara could possibly even trust, even if it where only to last for a little while. "I'm new to the village, you go to the sand village school right?" Grell seemed rather talkative compared to Gaara who himself only nods or shakes his head to answer his questions, he would try to smile, just a little towards the boy just that little bit taller than himself. "maybe we can become friends" he chuckles again in a childish manner, Gaara smiles at this, a friend? Surely it was some sort of dream, even the most dim of children wouldn't talk to him. "I'll walk you home if you like, Gaara" he smiles again taking the same form as before and becoming silent inside the village, the streets empty and quiet as usual. Gaara smiled once again giving a short wave as Grell who casualy waved while walking away further down the street.
[12 years later]
Supposedly there would be days when you didn't see him, and then days when you did. He just appeared suddenly, shouting threats up the main hall, then went away again. You didn't question it. Nobody said anything to Gaara. You just averted your eyes when he was there and laughed about him when he wasn't, behind his back. You knew he was coming when you heard his shoe's along the stone floor, regular as a heartbeat. Gaara was 18 and had become Kazekage, yes the Kage of Sunagakure. He had become emotionless and cold by his late teens, ignoring anyone who would talk to him and 'disposed' of those who dared to give him sass. The tall red head had moved into a small apartment with his brother and sister Kankuro and Temari, even though Gaara's social problems where not at their best they were a close family who protected and stuck up for each other in every situation given. They would do their separate things, Temari would usually train and talk to her friends while Kankuro worked on his puppets and made them stronger. Gaara on the other hand would sit alone in a corner trying to have his own space, talking wasn't his thing even during training or sorting out missions and files for the town, that was probably why he had been paired with his siblings.
There was one fault to his social wall and that was a certain person who was obsessed with him more than any girl in the village, Grell. He had in fact passed all the tests and became the ANBU captain for the Sand village. Well known for his power and his attribute to saving Gaara from the organisation 'Akatsuki' this title however was broken only when he saw the Kazekage, foolishly attempting to glomp him only ever came to a face first into a sand wall, fist, foot or Kankuro and Temari using their own Jutsu to get rid of him. It wasn't that they hated him but his personality was above annoying in their minds, he was too friendly for anyone's liking who knew him.
Grell had elusive green eyes and red glasses that where rather classic because they had a chain on the end that held it together with small metal skulls attached to the frames, his features where rather feminine and he had slightly pale skin with long flowing fire crimson red hair that reached his ankles. Sharp shark like teeth freaked even the strongest of ANBU members and unlike any other captain he would wear a red jacket that hung off on his elbows, it only ever sat on his shoulders during battle or training, always wearing black trousers and a white shirt with a black waist coat. Grell took to wearing long boots with brown straps all the way up them and a short flat heel, his appearance reminded everyone of an upper-class, old fashion, posh English man. What made him the 'red devil' was not just his love for everything red but that he fooled even the smartest of men into thinking he was a woman, he always wore fake eyelashes but didn't have excessive make-up, he also loved to prance about and talk like a giddy school girl when it came to fashion, beauty or love. You knew he was coming because of his chainsaw screeching in sing song or vibrating when it turned on, Grell went everywhere with it; Like Gaara's gourd it was part of him.
Gaara had been walking calmly around the village always on his guard because as usual, Grell would most likely be hiding in an alley waiting for the perfect chance to pounce, when it did not happen he felt like it was a dream. Being pounced and then told over and over how beautiful he was irritated him, gluing Grell to a wall with his sand had become a daily routine that everyone was used to by now. It wasn't until later had he remembered Grell had been sent to a meeting in another village to speak with other ANBU captains, it was a field day for them all having to put up with the deity for an entire day. During the dusked evening Grell had returned still his happy go-lucky self, beside him his best friend who would always take the form of an animal to walk beside him. "it's a cruel reality isn't it?" Grell questions making the cat sigh rather irritated by him. "it's not often that Kami creates a perfect person like you Kyara, both beautiful on the inside and out" Grell smiles at the black cat making her actually stop. "w-what…?" eyes widen when Grell suddenly picks her up and does a half way twirl sending her off into the air and letting her land back on her own four feet.
"I understand how you feel since not everyone is blessed as you are, but you must console your self otherwise how will you go on living?" Grell softly adds smiling like a lady fantasising about her dream ball dance with the prince, twirling on the spot as he does so. "and think about this, Kyara! Why do you think they put works of art in museums? Because beauty should be shared with the world! And those born beautiful should promote beautiful things! I do all of this because everyone must be made to feel like a star! For beauty! For those working night and day to pursue beauty! But don't worry! I have decided to share my work with you!" Grell does a twirl hugging him self then punching the air excitedly, Gaara had stopped near by and concealing in the shadows.
"here's a tip! When setting down your glass extend your pinkie finger as a cushion…" Grell mumbles as he goes as if it where a step to step instruction guide. "then that way when you set it down you wont make a lot of noise" Grell then rambles quietly to him self again before suddenly turning back to Kyara then smiling again. "but above all else Kyara, you must remember how beautiful a glance to the side can be.." the red head turns and pushes his glasses up with a rather handsome smile but she seems to be deep in thought. Kankuro and Temari and been passing and stopped to stare after noticing Gaara.
"I've got it!" Kyara gasps putting her paw into her pad and smiling happily, Grell smirks. "ah so my--" Grell is suddenly cut off by Kyara as she stands transforms out in joy. "you're obnoxious!" silence consumes before they find Grell had frozen and was now twitching his eyebrow, both sand siblings laughing hysterically at this and agreeing. Grell still frozen looks at the cat now standing in front of him smirking in amusement at this, the red head looking down then growls rather angrily.
"what did you just say?!" the red head snaps taking all of them back in surprise, Grell looked about ready to strangle the cat, his elusive green eyes about ready to blaze. "he's not worth the words Kyara" Kankuro laughs stepping out from the shadows taking the two by surprise, followed by Temari and of course Grell's favourite person, Gaara. "welcome." Grell calmly state attempting to regain his status and grin happily at the Kazekage, they where ready for that instant happy field frolic towards him.
"Havn't you got better things to do" Temari smirks as Grell takes a short step forward a devious grin on his face.
"in that case…let me hug Gaara until my hearts content!!" he yells charging forward like a blind bull towards the Kazekage with arms stretched, the Kazekage moving only to watch the attacker go face first into a wall behind him, Gaara steps towards Kyara to distance him self again followed by his brother and sister before turning to look at him. Rather dazed then being even more confused when a plant pot above knocks him in the head. "why are you harassing poor Kyara anyway?" Kankuro raises an eyebrow while scratching the cat behind the ears fondly, the girl smiling contently at the action. "because she said something she shouldn't have uttered in front of me!" he pouts shrugging as the cat glares then smirks as if to say 'you are what I say you are', Gaara for once actually saying something in a bored and calm tone.
"shouldn't you still be in the other town?" Grell shrugs again sorting out his frazzled red hair, and mumbling slightly when he can't get it just right. "They ordered me to find something in the desert while they had their meeting, but I couldn't find it and I was hungry and tiered. So I rested for a bit in a flower field and when I woke up the meeting had finished close to here without my knowing, that should be the other captains faults for not coming to look for me. Sometimes I wonder if they actually like me or do this every time to get rid of me" Grell clasps his hands together and tilts his hip in an attempt at dramatising his story as the others whisper amongst them selves that its obvious that no one likes him.
"but now I'm here, waiting for my prince's kiss…a kiss with the tongue" Grell swings his hip and puckers up his lips towards Gaara, Kankuro glares putting an arm up to protect the Kazekage, Gaara on the other hand doesn't seem swayed by the strange notion. The cat idly walking closer and hitting the taller man in the leg and glaring. "like I said, your obnoxious. Of course they sent you out on that mission to get rid of you, you're an annoying idiot who needs to grow up and actually Act like a grown adult. You're worse than Naruto…" the cat hisses and murmurs trotting away beside the three sand siblings, Grell stares at them all walking away and starts to stomp on the ground like an enraged rhino grabbing his chainsaw and shaking it around.
"just because I have more looks that you will ever have!" Grell hisses again taking them back at the words slipping from his mouth, since when did he threaten or speak like that. "hey…" Temari puts her hand up looking over her shoulder for a moment at the furious red head, Grell had now stopped and was staring but still glaring angrily. "Kyara is right, you need to grow up and stop acting like that. It's not cute nor is it funny" Gaara suddenly replies making Grell freeze again and stare, they only nod and walk away leaving ANBU captain on his own in the middle of the street.
"even Gaara…?" he slowly places the edge of his chainsaw to the ground and watches them until they are out of site before sighing gently, a short grumble reminds him of his urge to eat and soon he sits alone eating ramen. Walking casually he strides to the park where he had first met Gaara and then glances at the play set still there but alone, everyone had gotten bored of the park and had abandoned it leaving it to Grell to use as a place to think and hang around in. Gaara would come to the park at night since he never slept but learnt that Grell would come looking for him so had chosen somewhere else, even though the Deserts were hot in the day they were cold as ice at night. Swinging on the metal chain he stares out into the empty abyss feeling much like Gaara did when he was younger, had time really changed that much that Gaara became Grell and he had become Gaara. Even though the red head denied being hated he knew deep down he was, he could remember all the missions his team members would send him on alone while they worked together, even in the Chuunin's Grell was left to his own devises by the members.
"worse than Naruto…?" he murmurs looking down to his polished back boots sighing then shaking his head at the thought, other than this he had been thinking a lot about what they had all told him. At first he ignored their remarks but to have heard Gaara tell him the same was a heart breaker in his eyes, even his own childhood friend had come to resent him. At first if people glared or shouted at him it never truely hurt his feelings or pride but now he didn't understand the stomach churn and so tried to ignored it and tell him self they were just fooling around, however if Gaara told him something he took it to heart and believed it to the end. Not that the Kazekage really understood him but did anyone really understand him?