Pardon me for taking a while. I had another fanfiction I was writing and I got caught up in it. Enjoy!

The country of Sand was just as the name says, a sandy wasteland. I flew with only the light of the moon to guide me. After a couple of hours, I found a village where I might rest. Slowly, I landed behind a building to undo my spell. As I walked in visible form, I noticed what kind of village it was. It was the Sand's ninja village. . . Sunagakure.

I knew that I would have to see the Kazekage himself in order to be accepted here. Around ninjas. . . I doubt that anyone would try to hunt me if I was surrounded by mortals that could put up a fight.

Since this was the first time I came into this village, I was already lost. Since it was nighttime, I didn't expect to see anyone out on the streets. And the Kazekage will already be asleep by now. So I would have to wait. I decided to go up on a tall rooftop and wait out the night.

Sleep wouldn't come to this night, this I knew. This night will be unpleasant if I sleep, for my mind will repeat yesterday's events. I still wasn't sure if anyone was awake to watch me, so I decided to jump up. I'm sure people will just think that I was a ninja, having the reflexes of one at least.

Now I was on the roof. I set my backpack to my side. The night was cool and calm. Maybe, life here wouldn't be so bad. . . Usually, in ninja village's, there is some kind of demon terrorizing the people. Maybe they wouldn't notice a halfling. And with the powers a ninja wields, no one will know that I, as a witch, can wield such powers easily. . . Yes, life here might not be so bad.

"Excuse me. . .? What are you doing on the Kazekage's roof?"

I turned around to see a young boy, no more than the age of six or seven. "Umm, I didn't know that this was Lord Kazekage's roof." Out of habit, I smelt the air. Just then, I picked the scent of a demon. I looked around. This scent was strong, which means that the demon must be closed. I didn't want to frighten the boy so I said nothing. "What are you doing outside so late boy? You should be asleep by now."

The young boy shook his head. "I never sleep. I suppose you are not from here. . . Since you didn't already know that." The boy came up and sat beside me. "Who are you?"

I sighed. The demon's scent was coming from the boy. He or his demon was strong. "There's a question I was fixing to ask you boy. . . But I shall speak my name first. . . My name is Umeko Thorn. And you?"

The clouds were blocking the moon's light, but when it cleared, I could see the blood red hair, the jaded green eyes, and the dark circle encasing them. He was. . . . cu(cough)te I suppose.

"My name is Gaara. What land did you come from?"

I leaned back on the roof, now that I could see that Gaara was in control of his demon. . . I couldn't see that a child could control such a strong beast though. "I came from the land of Stones. I'll spare you the gory details on how I ended up here."

"I don't mind. . . I have all the time in the world. . ."

I smiled at this boy, he seems quite nice. "All right." Soon I told him about how I ended up in Sunagakure. That I was hated by villagers near by, they tried to burn me, and I escaped. I didn't tell the boy that I was half witch and half demon, or that I killed an angel.

The boy looked at me and blinked. "If you didn't kill anyone, then why do you smell like blood?"

I was stunned by this boy's sense of smell. . . As a half demon, I don't get periods. . . So it must be the angel's blood. "I left a little details cut out of my story. I didn't think I should tell you. . ."

"Once again, I don't mind. . . I've done my share of killings. . ."

I looked at the boy strangely. "Gaara . . . You are a child. Your hands shouldn't be stained with blood. . ." No, no, child should be force to kill. "Why do you kill?"

Gaara just shrugged casually. "I'm a monster. . . I hate the look they all give me, the people of this village despise me with every fiber of their being. . . I'm severed from all the rest. I just wanna be normal. . ."

I shook my head. "There is no such thing as normal. You mean human, right?"

Gaara brought up knees up to his chin. "I guess. You can sense that too. . . Why aren't you running away?"

I reached out to him, messing up his hair. "Because. . . I know that it's not your fault. You're a child. My question is, how did it get there. . .?"

Gaara smiled. He playfully pushed my hand away. "I'm not suppose to talk to strangers."

I gasped. I grabbed him and started tickling him, "You should have thought of that before you approached me! Now, tell me what I want to know before you are tickled to death!" I enjoyed Gaara's laughter. . . I really couldn't see how could anyone be hateful to such a lovable child.

Soon I let him catch his breath. "Now are you going to tell me or do I have to give you your punishment again. . ." I popped my fingers.

"Truth is. . . I don't really know myself. They refuse to tell me. . . But once I do know, I'll tell you. Are you going to be in Suna for long?"

I shrugged. "I was thinking of it. I just need to see if the Kazekage will allow me."

"I'm sure father will."

I turned my sight to Gaara when he said that. "Your. . . Your father is the Kazekage?" Gaara nodded. "Why does he allow the villagers to treat you that way?"

Gaara sighed. "He allows the attitude toward me because he hates me as well. He won't let them kill me though, I suppose that's enough."

All I could think was, poor thing. . . "What about your mother?"

Gaara had a sad look on his face. "That's the reason father hates me. . . Mother died giving birth to me. . ."

"I'm, I'm sorry I brought it up. . ."

"It's ok. . . You know what? You're the first person who has been kind to me. . . Besides Yashamaru of course."

"Yashamaru?"

"My uncle. . . "

"Oh. . ." I couldn't help but be sorry for the child. In my opinion, he was too young to be given that much hate. I decided to change the subject. "So, what were you doing on your father's roof?"

"This is the highest roof in Suna. I come out here to think."

I sighed. "Hey, kid. . . Will you stay with me until morning? It's nice to have someone to talk to."

Gaara nodded. "Okay. . . And I agree, it's nice to have someone talk to you kindly. . . Not having a hateful look in their eyes. . ."

I could see how much Gaara was in pain. I wanted to hold the boy. But should I? Should I hold a boy I only recently met? I didn't know the answer. Instead, I tried to get his attention on something else. "Hey, Gaara, I'm bored. . . Do you want to play a game or something?"

The redheaded child smiled and got up. "Ball! Let's play ball! I saw many children play ball. Of course they were too scared to play with me. . ." Gaara suddenly got sad again. "I forgot, I don't have a ball."

I sat up. "Well, I don't know how well you can play with this, but. . ." I formed my hands together. I spoke a little Latin and then, in my hands formed a red rubber ball. I held it up to Gaara. "Will this do?"

Gaara gasped. "How. . . How did you do that?" He face read that he was absolutely amazed. "What kind of jutsu is that?"

I smiled. "No jutsu. . . It's magic. Of course that another story for another time. Shall we find a flat roof and play there?" Gaara nodded, jumping up and down eagerly. "As you wish, young prince." I like the idea of calling Gaara a prince. He was the son of the ruler of the village after all.

"Prince? Nah. . ."

I couldn't help but smile when little Gaara blushed. He was so adorable! I just wanted to pinch his cheeks. . . I know, I sound like one of those old biddies who had no children of their own. Or maybe one of those aunts that all the children hate. I can't remember which one was more painful in the pinching.

"Well let's get to some serious ball playing. . ." Indeed, we played with the red rubber ball til morning. At some times, I couldn't help but laugh when Gaara accidently (or so he says), knocked me right on my ass. The little rodent sure knows how to throw, I'll give him that.

I laid on the ground, pretending I'm dead. He came up to me, checking to make sure I was dead. Then I reached up and grab him and give another tickle tackle. "Gotcha!" Yes, I really did enjoy his laughter.

By: Rasaroara