"If anything were to happen to us, we want you to take this scroll and do exactly as it is written in it."

Her parent's words haunted the dark haired girl's mind as she was sitting on the floor of her new bedroom. In her hands she held the scroll her parents gave her before they died.

'Are you going to open the scroll or stare at it whole day long?' Her inner demon asked her impatiently.

"Well I would have opened it if the damn thing wasn't sealed." Akuma said sighing as she flipped the scroll on the other side. "They could have at least left me a note or something on how to break the seal."

'There must be something important which they had told you when you were a child. Try to find anything suspicious. Try to find the answer.'

"Trust me Chi, my mind is sharp. I would sense a lie or anything suspicious in one's words a mile away. However, finding the answer is another story."

Akuma still remembers what her father said to her. One day, during her teachings, her father told her about clan's history. The Kuro clan was well known for their gruesome ways back in the day, especially taking information from their enemies when needed. Not many possessed this ability however. Those who did would drink the blood of their enemies to complete their task, and could learn even the tiniest details of one's life. Thus her father would always say one thing; the answer is always in the blood.

Then the realization hit her. 'Blood… That is it!' With speed, she brought her index finger to her finger and bit hard. She then held her bleeding finger above the scroll as few drops of blood landed on it. To her amazement, the scroll flew up in the air and opened itself, then fell on the ground in front of her.

"Chi, we did it. We actually broke the seal!" But Akuma's excitement died as soon as she saw the strange writing on the scroll. "You have to be joking. How am I supposed to understand this is gibberish!?"

'Well if you haven't slept on some of your classes you would have. This scroll is written in the ancient language of your ancestors. With my help and with the help of your books you should be able to decode this in-'

"I think I need to get some fresh air. There is no way in hell I'm starting to decode this now." Akuma said as she got up and left her small apartment. She never liked her old language. Her lessons as a child were never easy, and when learning their old language was added, she reached her limits and gave up on it.

That day in Sunakagure was nothing but unusual. Clouds formed above the village and the temperature dropped way above average. People were preparing for the upcoming storm which came only few times per year and drought which would come after the fresh weather. However you could still see children playing nearby at the village's biggest playground, just where Akuma decided to take a walk. She enjoyed the current weather and preferred it much more. After all, she never was used to dryness. Her small village was located once near Amagakure, land of endless rain which was a perfect terrain for her. Justu's which involved water was her specialty after all.

She stared into the gray clouds and smiled. That however a bad choice she made. Not noticing the ball which flew in her direction, it ended up hitting her face. Instinctively, her hand covered the side and she grumbled in pain. She looked at the direction where the ball came from and saw couple of children waving their hands, signaling her to throw the ball back to them. Instead she threw the ball in the opposite direction, but only to land in the hands of a small boy with red and spiky hair. He looked at the ball curiously then at Akuma and children located not far away from her. The little boy smiled and was about to return the ball, when other children him to keep it and ran away. The frown replaced his cheesy smile. He dropped the ball and sat on the sand alone, poking it from time to time.

'Kids these days, they're acting so unsocial.'

"I don't get why act towards a little guy like that, so cruel. Well, might as well get acquainted with someone since apparently I'm going to be stuck here forever."

Akuma walked towards the direction of the red haired who didn't acknowledge her presents and spoke. "They are just being pricks; don't let them get to you."

The boys head went up to see the person who spoke to her. His sea green eyes stared at her filled with astonishment. He never thought there would be a day when someone other than his uncle would speak to him in a normal manner. Akuma saw his innocent eyes full of loneliness, and along with his cute face it couldn't be any more heartbreaking.

'Well it looks like you have competition in looks Akuma.' The dark haired girl agreed with her inner demon. She felt that she needed to cure his loneliness. So she sat in front of him and gave him a small smile.

"What's your name?"

"Why didn't you run away like everybody else?" The boy asked confused.

"Now why would I do that? Want to be friends?"

His frown was replaced by a cheesy smile, and his eyes glimmered, full of hope. "You mean it?"

"I always stick to my words. My name is Akuma."

"My name is… Gaara."

"What an unusual name, but who am I to say." Akuma said chuckling. "Both of our names means demon in some sort of way."

Gaara smile fell a bit, and she looked at his new friend again, couldn't help but staring at her bandaged right eye.

"Does it bother you?" When he was caught staring by Akuma his face turned red and he looked down, shaking his head. "It's not as bad as you think it is, nor it is exactly what you think. I might tell you the story behind my right eye one day."

"So it doesn't hurt?"

"No Gaara it doesn't." Akuma smiled softly and was about to pat his head, but was stopped as sand started to move and grabbed her arm with speed. She was caught off guard and froze in shock. She never saw anything like this technique before in her life.

That is when Gaara also started panicking. He didn't want to lose the first friend he had ever made. However instead of struggling, Akuma stared at amazement, till sand retreated itself.

'Now this is getting interesting. He is the carrier of Shukaku, the one-tailed demon.'

"Moving sand, so you're the infamous jinchuuriki of the Village hidden in the Sand. It's alright; I'm not going to run away."

"How can you be so calm around me?"

"Because unlike others, I don't see you as a threat and I know that you wouldn't hurt someone unintentionally. Want to play?"

Gaara couldn't feel any happier. They took the ball which was dropped by other children and played till it began to rain.

"Now what are we going to do?"Gaara asked disappointed at the weather as they sat in the little playhouse in the playground as a shelter for the rain. "I hate the rain."

"I love the rain the best. It can be fun."

"How can it be fun?" Gaara asked Akuma curiously.

"Well, you can run in the rain, splash in the puddles and also I can do this." Akuma extended her hand through the small window of the playhouse, collecting water in her small hand. Then she brought it to herself, and told Gaara to watch carefully. She began to focus and manipulate the water. The water flew in the air and began circling around Gaara, who watched in amazement. The water ended up in front of it and took shape of a star. Then Akuma froze it and the icy star fell in Gaara's lap.

"I heard of water users but Ice?"Gaara was fascinated by this new discovery. "Are you a jinchuuriki as well and can control ice because of it?"

Akuma shook her head. "Sadly no, I control ice because I come from, not one, but two clans. My mother is a Yuki, whose kekkei genkai is this ability."

"Where are your parents?"

"They passed away not long ago." The dark haired girl frowned.

Before Gaara could've asked anything, his name was being called from outside. The two children only then noticed that the rain has stopped and that a sandy-blond hared man, with fair skin and violet eyes, which made him look somewhat feminine, searched for his nephew.

"Over here Yashamaru!" Gaara called his uncle and exited the little house, with Akuma following behind.

"There you are Gaara; I have been looking for you everywhere. Who's this?" The sandy-blond hared man asked.

"This is Akuma, she is my new friend!"

"A friend?" He looked at the dark haired girl and then offered her a gentle smile. "I am glad to see that you made a friend. You only moved here few days ago, am I correct?"

"Yes sir." Akuma replied simply.

"How do you know that Yashamaru?"

"Your father, the Kazekage, informed me of her arrival."

'His father is the Kazekage? They are nothing alike!'

"It was nice playing with you Gaara, we will continue playing tomorrow since you have to go."

Gaara frowned at their soon departing, but had to let it go. Sun was already setting behind the darken clouds and night was going to catch them soon.

"You promise to be here tomorrow as well?"

"I promise Gaara." Then hugged him and ran back home, knowing that next a lot of work was expecting her for the next few weeks.