He never thought this could happen to him, but it did. A friend, a friend, he had a friend in this lonely world. At first he wondered what he had done to deserve a life of loneliness and now he wondered what he had done to deserve a friend like her. He didn't care, as long as he had her then he didn't feel so different from everyone else.
Sure no one would play with him still, but amid all the running away there was always her there to walk up to him and take his hand just smiling and saying 'let's go play'. He could forget all his troubles when he was playing with his friend. She made him forget about the shuns of the other children and made him only focus on her.
Even his family noticed his change in attitude which his siblings were glad for though their father didn't look so happy, they couldn't really tell what he looked like seeing Gaara like this. His uncle was glad someone had the courage to befriend that monster, but deep down in his heart he wished he was alone . . . just like him.
Gaara, on the other hand, could have cared less about his family. All he focused on was his one and only friend Matsuri. She was everything to him and he treasured her high above all and everything.
She was his treasure and would always be in his heart. If anything ever happened to her then Gaara would fall even more into darkness. Probably never being able to be pulled out again.
He never wanted to think of that, but one day when he just sat and watched Matsuri run around the merry-go-round she fell and skinned her knee. Gaara quickly got up and looked to see if she was in distress. This was a natural reaction thanks to all the times he's been shunned—to halt before deciding to go and see what had happened.
Gaara quickly shook that off though seeing her eyes fill up with tears. His heart nearly broke seeing his only friend crying. He ran as fast as he could to her and when he got there he looked at her and she him as he asked—
"Are you okay Matsuri-chan?"
"I . . . I don't know," she sniffed and cried as she held her skinned knee. "It's hurts Gaara-kun."
Gaara just stood there not knowing what to do. What could he do? He wasn't no medical-nin you know.
Once he figured it out he smiled and took a seat in the dirt next to Matsuri and said—
"Then I'll wait for you to get better."
Matsuri just looked at him. Her crying had stopped to let room for confusion. She had never had a friend so devoted to her. She hadn't had much friends due to her being inside all the time from her parents being away.
Matsuri's frown soon turned upside down thanks to her new friend. He was everything she could ever want or ask for. Funny how she never asked for a friend such as him and there he was . . . like a knight in shinning armor sticking through the hard times with her.
He was like a knight yes, but then again he seemed so frail on the inside. She noticed that the first time she tried to go home. He lashed out in fear that she would never come back. She was his only friend in the world and he was very thankful . . . she could see it in his eyes and actions.
Like now . . . he was staying with her until she stopped crying. She had to smile, what else could she do in a situation like this? He was so kind to her.
Matsuri soon stood up and wiped the dirt off her. Gaara just starred at her wondering if she was really okay.
"Are you okay—Matsuri-chan?" he asked a bit confused about how a smile could make her feel so better.
"Mhm, thanks to you Gaara-kun," she smiled with slightly pink cheeks.
"What did I do?" asked Gaara.
She then took his hand and placed it on her heart just smiling. Gaara gasped slightly at this action, but once she spoke he understood so much better.
"My scrap on my knee might not be healed, but my scrap on my heart is . . . thanks to you," she said with a smile.
Gaara smiled wide and jumped for joy inwardly. He had no idea he had that kind of an effect . . . or that could happen to the heart. It could though because of that one time his heart ached like someone had cut it.
"Hurray!" exclaimed Gaara as he jumped to his feet and hugged Matsuri.
Matsuri jumped back a little by this sudden move making her lose her balance and come crashing to the ground with Gaara on top of her. She just looked at the little one so happy that he was tearing up.
"Uh . . . Gaara-kun . . .?" she said not understanding the reason for the tears. "Why are you crying."
"Because," he said with a smile as he rubbed his face into her neck. "I am happy that you are happy."
"Is that all?" she asked cocking her head to the side a bit.
"Yes," he said with smile as he closed his eyes and let the tears call on Matsuri's small dress.
Matsuri again couldn't help but smile. He was so frail on the inside—she was right about that. This made her all the more protective of him making sure no one hurt his feelings and if they did she was there to glue them back together.
Matsuri squeezed Gaara into a tight hug. He was caught a bit off guard by this, but soon he just melted into her like she was his mother holding onto him for dear life and he was her child just wanting to listen to her heartbeat and be oh so close. His own arms wrapped around her and held onto her tightly.
As he closed his eyes visions of her playfully running around giggling danced in his mind. He wanted her to stay forever like that and never change no matter what. Gaara soon opened his eyes remembering what he was called by others . . . a monster. Could someone stay the same even with a monster? Could she be happy—with him?
Gaara tugged on her sleeve and wiped his eyes on them staining them with his tears. Would she eventually run away in fear of him like the others? What ever would he do if she left him?
What ever would he do if she left this world? If she . . . if she died? Gaara thought on that for a bit and just the thought of her dying angered him so this caused him to protectively squeeze Matsuri a little tight for her.
"No," he whispered. "I won't let you die!"
"Gaara?" gasped Matsuri seeing his grip was getting a little too tight for her.
If she ever died . . . then . . . then he'd go with her!
"No, no!" he cried. "I don't want you to die!"
"Gaara, I'm not dead," she said looking at him as he buried his face into her chest, but he was as one deaf to her.
"Let me go with you if you do!" he pleaded.
"GAARA!" she yelled to get his attention, which worked by the way.
"Huh?" he said looking up into her onyx eyes.
She just smiled at him though as she let go of him and placed her hands on both sides of his face. She lightly rubbed his plump cheeks almost like a caress before she hugged his face and closed her eyes gently saying—
"I won't go anywhere if you don't Gaara-kun."
She then felt the tears fall on her arms. She felt Gaara's arms come to embrace hers that were wrapped around his head like holding a baby. She felt his fingers bend tightly around her sleeves and just tug at her making sure she was telling the truth.
Matsuri knew that his trust was very low in anything and anyone and so she made sure she'd do whatever she could to build it up between the two of them because she wanted it. She'd stay there in the dirt as long as it took for Gaara to realize she wouldn't move unless he did like she had promised.
She then felt the tears fall on her arms. She felt Gaara's arms come to embrace hers that were wrapped around his head like holding a baby. She felt his fingers bend tightly around her sleeves and just tug at her making sure she was telling the truth.
Matsuri knew that his trust was very low in anything and anyone and so she made sure she'd do whatever she could to build it up between the two of them because she wanted it. She'd stay there in the dirt as long as it took for Gaara to realize she wouldn't move unless he did like she had promised.
Gaara would have stayed that way forever if Matsuri wouldn't have rolled to the side to roll him off her and look at him by her side. Gaara just starred into Matsuri's kind eyes for the longest time as they laid on their sides together. She seemed to never be out of smiles and he hoped the day would never come when she had.
Matsuri held onto Gaara's hands tightly even though he wasn't holding onto hers. He seemed rather numb at the moment as he starred at her just looking for any signs of rejection of their friendship. She smiled because she knew in her heart he'd never find any . . . she just hoped his heart wasn't blind enough not to see it.
It's right there Gaara-kun, just see it, she said in her mind as she scanned his own tired eyes.
Before she had known it . . . she had drifted off into dream. Gaara still just watched her. For the hours she had slept he just watched her—wondering what she dreamt of—what it was like to dream or even sleep. She made it look so easy and beautiful Gaara almost felt he could do the same.
He grasp her limp hands and closed his eyes trying to mimic her, but moments later he opened his eyes just not being able to sleep. Gaara then scooted a little closer to her and closed his eyes asking—
"Can you help me to sleep . . . Matsuri-chan?"
She didn't respond though. She was already deep he in sleep. It was understandable. He was wanted to be close and watch her peacefully dream.
"What do you dream about Matsuri?" he asked her.
Even though she still slept he kept asking her so many things she'd never remember. He knew this, but felt in his heart he had to ask them.
"Can you hear me . . . Matsuri-Chan? . . . do you want to hear me?"
Gaara's eyes then glanced down at the hand he held in his. His little thumbs rubbed the top of it and just felt her light smooth skin. She was so soft and this brought up new questions and wonder.
He wondered if all the females of the race were like this . . . soft and caring and full of smiles. If they were anything like her then yes . . . yes they were.
"The sun," said Gaara as he picked his head up and noticed the sun coming up.
His heart somewhat sank knowing that when the sun came up she'd be gone. His eyes showed sorrow wishing he could keep her here forever, but he couldn't. She had her life and he had his . . . but one thing was . . . she was his life.
"Uh," said Matsuri opening her eyes as the light shown on them.
Her eyes widened somewhat seeing Gaara's face right in hers. It was a little awkward and too close so she asked—
"Uh . . . Gaara-kun . . .?"
"Good morning," he said with a smile.
Matsuri scooted back and saw confusion in his eyes as to why she did that. His feelings weren't crushed or anything, just a bit confused. She didn't need to explain that though. He'd be fine.
She got up and wiped herself off. She inhaled the morning air and smiled. She turned to Gaara and said—
"Well, I better get home before my Nanny notices I'm gone. See you tonight Gaara-kun."
"Yeah, you too," he said as he stood up and watched her disappear in between the houses.
As Matsuri left she watched Gaara just sulk in sadness as she left. He was like a puppy, fearing its master whom he loves will never come back when she will. It made her heart ache just seeing him like that and so she couldn't help but turn around and run back to him to give him one last tight hug.
It was a little too forceful than she expected though. The impact forced both of them off their feet and back onto the ground—this time with Matsuri on top of him. She hadn't the time to mentally kick herself for running so fast or giggle. She just wanted to wish him good-bye and make sure she leaves seeing a smile on that sad face.
The only way her little mind could think of doing that was by giving him one last tight hug, but falling over made her heart race so fast her mind couldn't think straight. Before she knew it she had given him a kiss on the cheek and up and ran off before he could react and she had to see anymore sad faces. If she would had looked back she would have seen a frozen Gaara just sitting there in the dirt with his hand on his cheek where she kissed him.
Gaara had never really received a kiss before and so it was quick shocking. He couldn't really think of anything but on how different that felt. What exactly was that? Was all his mind ran through. He knew, but he couldn't believe it.
"Mat . . . suri?" he said wondering if she had even been herself in that moment.
Gaara searched his heart and it only told him yes. That was her and she did that just to make him happy and smile . . . well it worked. A smile appeared on Gaara that stretched from ear to ear.
"Matsuri-chan," he said with a smile so happy from his heart.
Be my friend forever, please, His heart asked.
