-4-

Terrified Eyes

I looked from one side of the room to the other, taking in all the terrified little faces, the trembling shoulders. How ridiculous. I hadn't done anything to any of them. Well...maybe the three girls huddled in the corner farthest from me. I sent them a pleasant smile. Seeing the blond pitch sneer in response, I narrowed my amber eyes and offered her that unhinged grin that was far too wide to be happy. I once heard a woman compare it to a grinning wolf who had just cornered a limping lamb.

Her eyes flashed away from me quickly, and she tried to converse with her loyal followers. I went back to scanning the room. In the back corner opposite of my Chase-Trio, I spotted who I was looking for. In the past year, there had been little progress. He was still wary about me. I blamed it on the absolute trust he had for his Uncle.

I hadn't been sure if he would be coming this year. Maybe I had changed something by existing. I just...couldn't remember knowing when he started at the academy. I didn't pay attention to stupid things like that. Although, I was beginning to wonder if I should have.

Gaara sat all by himself at his desk. As his only 'friend' and fellow object of village wide terror, I took it upon myself to plop right down beside him. Gaara's tired teal eyes shifted towards me.

At the front of the room, the Chuunin tried to protest, until he realized who I was. The villagers would be very happy if the two monsters killed each other off. Sometimes I really just wanted to flip off the entire village.

"You're here."

"Yup. Did you think I'd become a civilian or something?" I asked, looking offended, "Please. I couldn't do something that boring...I'd rather run into the desert with nothing but a blindfold on with no provisions."

And as I said before, I'm reckless, but not suicidal. Let's face it...there are times to come when being a civilian really was suicide.

He remained silent. I sighed in boredom and looked to the front of the room again. There were twenty-nine kids in the room. After a few more minutes passed and no one entered the room, the teacher began to speak.

"Alright, everyone, sit down and be quiet!" The man shouted loudly. Somewhere, in the center of the room, a little boy whimpered. What a wimp. He'd drop out. A lot of these little brats would.

"HALF OF YOU WILL BE GONE BY THE END OF THE FIRST MONTH!" The room erupted into confused, offended or terrified little voices, all chattering about. I scoffed, but didn't say anything, "You are all here to learn how to become proper ninjas! You are training to become a part of our village's military force. This will not be a path for the faint of heart, or the unfit. From this moment on, you will no longer be seen as children, but as ninjas in training!"

"All of those in here who know, or have known a kunoichi or shinobi, please raise your hand." I, along with a number of other students raised their hands. Gaara raised his, looking utterly bored, I felt for the kid. I hated school. In the Test Drive, I had avoid going to school most days. I was a bad student. When I could, I would take off for days on end, just driving my car.

The teacher looked at all the hands and nodded, "Then those of you with your hands up should know that this isn't an easy career choice. If any of you are having second thoughts, I want you to go home tonight and think long and hard. If you still aren't sure you want to do this, I suggest you don't come back."

I wondered if this guy realized he was talking to kids ranging in ages four to six. But you had to admit, the guy was 100% serious, and right all the way.

"NOW THEN! When I point to you, I want you to get your ass down here and introduce yourself to the class! Just tell us your first name, and last if you want, what you like, hate, and anything else you want to say."

His hand flew towards our corner and it landed on me. I understood right away. Singling out a child and forcing them to speak in front of a large number of peers can really scare a kid. He thought this would make me uncomfortable? Make me cry? Did he think I'd be embarrassed? Please. The people in the sandy pile of shit called a village need to get a life, dammit. Stop tormenting four year olds.

I smiled cheerfully and got out of my seat. I practically skipped down the steps of the classroom, making sure to jump over one little twerp's outstretched foot. I paused for a moment and looked at him, "You should tuck in your foot. Someone might break it."

He looked ready to shit himself.

Still smiling innocently, I continued on to the front of the room. I bowed my head to the teacher, who's name I still didn't know. I turned and looked at the classroom, full of trembling children.

"Hello! My name is Aisako Shimizu!"

During the past year I had learnt my last name. It meant Pure Water. I guess it was because my family was from Ame. If rained there a lot, right? So...pure water fell from the sky all the time. It made me stand out in a way, because who else in Suna has a last name about water, which is our rarest resource?

"I really like reading, training, moving fast, my dad, being nice to others and playing with my friends!"

Sure I only had one friend, but they didn't need to know that.

"WHAT FRIENDS?!" Someone called, earning themselves a burst of giggles from the class.

"Oh! And I really like beating up annoying people! If they're weak then they have no right to go picking fights!" I added, feeling my smile turn into a taunting sneer as I spoke, my eyes zeroing in on the six year old who had spoken. She ducked down and turned to face one of her friends, as though she hadn't called out at all.

Now, I had tried to be a nice little girl with my introduction...but that little brat had just ruined things for me. I decided to

"I really, really hate people who call me or my mother anything remotely offensive...but I don't really like my Mommy all that much either...I hate adults who think that just because they use big words I won't be able to understand them. I also dislike stupid people, like most of the people in this room. OH! And my ultimate goal in life is to out live all of you, so I can spit on your graves and destroy the grave markers! And then die in an awesome fashion later on."

Sensei stared at me for a moment, looking much paler than he had at the beginning of the day. I smiled at him before making my way back to my seat. No one tried to trip me this time.

Somehow, I felt like things would be a lot more fun now.

I watched as one by one, nameless little specks came up, on by one. Eventually, Gaara was called upon. I smiled at him from where he stood at the front of the room. His teal eyes looked towards me for a moment.

As odd as it was, for someone as old as me...he was my only friend. Really...he and my father were the only people I had. I supposed the situation was the same for him...he only had his uncle...and me. I never forgot how he would change as he aged. He would become a sadistic monster...he'd kill hundreds of people...just to be acknowledged. He would look pretty good for a kid though. Just saying. Then...he'd meet Naruto...and he'd start to change. People would acknowledge him as their Kazekage...he'd be loved by everyone. He'd become peaceful. A good guy.

And then...where would I be? I was a monster, according to everyone I met. Even the demon-child knew it. He wasn't as scared of me as he once was. He didn't greet me with 'I'm not supposed to talk to you', like he had for the first eight months of our...well...whatever you would call our relationship. I suppose it was a friendship...but he never called me his friend. At least not to my face. I don't know if he told his Uncle about me or not...I wasn't sure I wanted anyone to know...well...not officially. People noticed us hanging together, that much was true...but what if the Kazekage made us hurt each other someday?

And even if he didn't make us fight...what would happen after he meant Naruto? Would we still be 'friends', or would he leave me behind...Maybe I would prove to be a bad influence. Or Naruto wouldn't like me...Gaara ended up being very close with Naruto...so he'd leave me because Naruto was more important.

I shook the stupidity out of my mind. What was the point in worrying? And if he didn't like me, I could always find other people...even if it meant abandoning this dump.

Gaara began to speak, "My name is Gaara. My father is the Kazekage. I don't like people who run away from me...or people who try to hurt me. I also...dislike people speaking badly of others who don't deserve it. I...like?...the colour orange."

I blinked, and tried not to laugh...it looked as though...I had turned Gaara into a depressed Naruto. Or something. That bit about the colour orange at the end had been fabulous!

Gaara walked calmly back to our desk and slid into his seat. I smiled at him happily, "Good job."

"What did I do?"

I paused, "I...dunno. I just felt like congratulating you."

"Oh. You did...good as well?" Well...didn't he sound confident. What a great boost to my confidence.

"Why thank you, my good sir."

He didn't respond. I snickered before turning to the front, and watched the teacher write something on the board. RULES AND CODES OF THE NINJA.

"Alright, kids. Starting today, we will be going over some of the rules and codes that all ninjas must follow!"

I rolled my eyes, but paid attention anyways.

My head was killing me by the end of the day. I rubbed my throbbing temples before looking at the folder in my hands. It was just full of page after page of codes and rules...and 'personal' letter for my parents stating that the teacher didn't think I could handle life as a ninja, and he strongly suggested I try becoming a waitress, or something along those lines.

Bullshit, right?

Yep.

I planned to use it as spit-ball ammunition.

The teacher dismissed the class for the day, and I was only of the first out, using the window by our desk. Gaara didn't seem to mind the fact that I crawled over him to do so. in fact, his sand rose up to push me along. That had terrified me for a moment. Because while it did help me, it could have wrapped around me and dyed the classroom in red hues. I'd much rather believed that the sand liked me too.

I stood on the ground out side for a moment, glancing at Gaara, to see if he was going to come out with me. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes, before standing up and walking to the door, like a civilized person. I felt my chest tighten, in a childish moment of rejection. I didn't see why I should care, but there were times when my body betrayed me, and acted like the little twerp I really was. Of course a four year old would feel hurt when her only friend didn't want to be around her.

I laughed at the stupid little emotion and began making my way home. As I rounded the corner of the academy, I spotted a person, who could have only been Gaara's Uncle. After all, he had a smile on his feminine face as he spoke to the little container.

As if he felt my stare, Gaara glanced over at me. I grinned happily, before glancing around, to see if there was anyone waiting for me. I doubted my mother would be, but maybe Daddy.

There wasn't anyone.

Daddy had left for the Chuunin exams with his team, so I was left at home with Saki. Despite Daddy's constant attempts at bringing us closer, Mommy still stared at me in fear from time to time. I couldn't blame her though...there were times, when I was speaking to Daddy, that I said something that just...wasn't right for someone my age. I wasn't a genius in her eyes...I was a monster. There had never been a time when I spoke in anything less than full sentences. How I knew the language, I wasn't sure.

It sounded like English to me...but at the same time, I suppose it didn't...I can't explain it.

I sat across from Mommy and smiled as I ate our dinner. She just sat there in silence. I let the smile die and I continued to stare at her. She shifted under my stare and looked up at me.

"What?" She asked in a defensive tone.

"Why is everyone scared of me?" I asked. It was a bit of a tradition. Everyday, I would ask one of my parents this. I was hoping they'd snap sooner or later. From the way my mother's eye twitched, I say the time was coming.

She let her chopsticks drop to her plate, and she stared at me, looking so very frustrated.

"You don't want to know, alright, Aisako? Just...knock it off. Your dad doesn't want you finding out, so just deal with it!"

I scoffed loudly, staring at her with a bland expression.

"So, you won't say anything about it, because your husband told you to? Do you realize how weak that makes you sound?" I asked her, dropping any remaining persona I had of a child, "I thought you were someone no one messed with? Is that all because of Daddy? Are people so 'scared' of you because of who you married, instead of who you are?"

She stared at me, "You're starting to sound like your father. Knock it off."

"I won't. He's the only role-model I'm willing to use, since you're such a wimp. What little girl would ever want to be like you? I used to think you were cool...especially after that time you sent Tsubaki packing...but maybe you aren't useful anymore? Do you think Daddy will remarry someday?"

Never say I sounded like my dad. Please. I was a bad-guy and we all know it. So...threatening to kill my Mommy wasn't out of bounds...not for me anyways.

She stared at me for a moment, before a chuckle slipped past her lips, "I forgot you said things like that."

I blinked. That...hadn't been the reaction I was hoping for.

"Oh trust me kid, if you even tried, I would kill you in a heartbeat. No one in the village would blame me. Still...I'm not going to tell you why they think you're a monster...which you are, by the way, so stop looking so hopeful."

I pouted.

"BUT! I am willing to tell you PART of why they think I'm so evil...and trust me, it isn't because of your father. Let's face it...he belongs with the tree-huggers in Konoha."

There was no arguing there. He was more likely to be Naruto's dad than the Fourth Hokage. And that was saying something.

"A few years before you were born...your father and I came to Suna after we were hunted down by shinobi who were after us...because your father and I are missing nin."

I blinked and stared at her. Dad...was a MISSING NIN!? What?

"It's true." She sighed, "I remember the good old days, when we'd return to the hide out, and he'd be covered head-to-toe in blood..."

I nearly laughed at the dreamy expression on her face.

"So everyone is afraid of you, because you and Daddy are bad guys? I hardly find that enough. I mean, they call you an 'evil witch'." I said, but then shrugged, "Oh well. I guess I can deal with it...why are you a civilian?"

"I'm sick. Running around isn't good for my lungs."

"Oh." So, Daddy had been telling the truth about that. it was nice to know he hadn't been lying. I missed Daddy though. His stupid genin team had been taking up more and more of his time, since all they ever did was go on C-Rank missions. Sometimes they escalated to B, and I had to leave the room while he told Mommy about what happened. Apparently, 'my little ears are too innocent to hear the bad things Daddy has to do sometimes'.

Yeah. Bull, right?

"Morning Gaara-kun!" I said cheerfully as I plopped down in the seat beside him. He hardly even turned his head to look at me. I blinked, a bit surprised he hadn't said anything back...usually it was just 'Hi' and that was that.

"How was your weekend?"

Nothing. Usually, He'd say something about his older siblings or his father...his uncle...anything.

What the hell was going on?

"Gaara?"

He turned his head away to stare at the board.

Day thirteen of the Academy. The last few days had been hell. The teacher, whose name I had yet to learn, so I named him Carl, had finally stopped sending those god awful letters home. Although I was pretty sure he had gotten tired of brushing them out of his long brown hair after I put them there in spit-ball form.

That was probably the only good thing that had happened. I found the work easy enough, and the 'training' hour, where he made us play 'tag' and 'hide and seek' was simple enough, thanks to the games Gaara and I used to play. He...hadn't been talking to me lately.

And the older kids had found out that I went to the academy.

I had twelve-year-olds telling me to go die. And then they'd try to kill me. The little bastards were actually trying to kill me with their 'ninja' training. Some kid actually stabbed me a few days ago!

It was hilarious...until my child's body overran my teenager's mind. I...didn't feel too happy. I was...really angry. I'm not sure what...but it was a lot harder for me to smile normally. I could still grin like a madwoman...but it wasn't as fun...or comfortable as my normal smile.

The boy that stabbed me had proven I wasn't untouchable, like many of them seemed to believe. So...I often had to outrun them home...to save myself the hassle.

"Gaara-kun." I greeted duly, before taking my place beside him. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, like he always seemed to be.

"Aisako...chan."

My head snapped towards him so quickly I heard something CRACK waaaay louder than it should have...but I ignored it. He hadn't answered me for the past WEEK! Why was he starting now?!

"So...now you're talking to me again...did I do something wrong?"

"No."

"No what? No you aren't speaking to me, and you're talking to someone else named Aisako...or No I didn't do something wrong?"

"The second one."

"Oh good. I thought you'd replaced me or something." I said, smiling cheerfully. Finally, there was someone to talk to again. It was alright making fun of older kids and their mothers (you wouldn't believe how sore some brats could get about their Mamas), but Gaara was WAAAY better than them. Talking to him didn't mean bruises.

"I...wouldn't do that." He said, staring ahead at the board, where Carl was writing today's 'lesson'. it would appear we were learning about Relations with Konoha. I already know the answer to that. Crappy Relations. In a few years, someone we thought was Kazekage would be like 'yo, go blow up the tree huggers' and we'd all have no problem with it.

One because we were shinobi, and that basically meant everyone in our village could use us like a public water fountain and we had no choice and Two: Who cares about a few tree-huggers?

"Why didn't you talk to me?"

"My Uncle...told me why you weren't natural."

"Oh?" Finally! Now someone could tell me, "So...why am I unnatural?"

"I'm...not allowed to say."

'YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! GOD DAMMIT ALL TO-'

"I...was frightened by what he said at first..."

I froze.

"And then...the monster from my nightmares...told me you were only going to use me...and that I shouldn't trust you." I stared at him for a moment.

Even the deformed sandcastle was warning him away from me. Wow. Don't I feel special.

"He said...if I didn't talk to you...you'd go make new friends and forget about me."

I scoffed. "Please. Since when was it a good idea to listen to him? I mean...how could I forget about you? You're my only friend in this life."

He was probably the only real friend I had in either lives. At first...I just wanted to befriend him, so I could stay alive...but now...he was one of the only people I had...and...As odd as it was for someone as old as me...I was clinging to the four year old...the idea of him leaving me alone...

It was terrifying.

So~! They've started their academy days and Gaara knows why everyone hates Aisako...not that he'll tell her. (It'd be no fun that way)

A big thank you goes out to MerhppDerhpp, Littlebirdd, MrsAnimeNerd, The Hate Child, thefire1995, xela521, Kiki's-stories-of-awesomeness, and TheQueen'sKnight for reviewing~!

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