Connection
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Disclaimer: Naruto and its character are owned by Masashi Kishimoto-san
-Shard- Break
He was alone.
Not really, the Suna representative was there, Yashamaru was there, and even if they weren't, teddy would still be here. So he wasn't alone. The pale hand of a redhead boy clutched tightly onto a purple stuffed bear. The toy plush had fading spots on its sides looking as if it had been squeezed once too many times. It had lost the original cuddly form and was now more of a soggy, worn-out bear.
Sabaku no Gaara held his teddy bear securely with one hand. His other hand was grasping tightly onto the fingers of his caretaker. They had entered the Fire Country for several days now along with some shinobis from Suna. However, today is the first day that they stepped into the boundaries of the Hidden Village of Leaf. Only he, his caretaker, and the Sand representative, who bore the permit into Konoha, were allowed to step through the gates and into the village.
Leading the way, the representative seemed to know exactly where to go and wanted to be there at once, resulting with his quick pace. Yashamaru didn't hesitate to pull the young Gaara along as they passed the colorful structures of the village.
Gaara, however, wanted to slow the pace to examine everything around him closely. On their way through the Fire Country, he had mostly seen trees and dirt roads. The members of sand did not stop at any towns, only passing by to restock their equipments. Even then, Gaara was not taken into the town and was instead taken around it.
The redheaded boy tried to capture everything in his view. From the popular wooden fences used in the streets of Konoha to the high cliffs where different faces were carved onto it. A monument. Yashamaru had called it. A monument for the Hokages, the leaders of the Hidden Village of Leaf.
Although Gaara insisted in a small voice that they should walk slower, Yashamaru did not comply with his request. "Forgive me, Gaara-sama, but this is with the strict order from your father, the Kazekage-sama."
Gaara had said nothing after that, keeping a fewstrides behind and allowing Yashamaru to pull him along. After passing near the busy shop-filled streets, they came to the less-crowded part in Konoha. Gaara's eyes darted from his left side to Yashamaru's back, and then to the right side before directing them back to Yashamaru's back, then moved to the left again, continuing the cycle.
At one point, they reached a building that had a round sign hanging from a pole. On it was a kanji word for "ninja". Is that an academy? Gaara had never been to one before. Private tutors came to teach him at his home, so there was never the need to enter the academy building.
As Yashamaru pulled him further, he saw a clearing off to the side. The playground, however, was in lack of children. It was only when Gaara look further beyond did he realized that the children had left the playground to gather by a high fence that separates the park from a building.
His caretaker's pace did not change, and Gaara was forced to look over his shoulders to keep the crowd in his view. Just before they turn into another street, he saw small dark objects flying over the fences.
Balls?
-Shard-
When Yashamaru had said: "Don't go anywhere too far." He had probably meant not to leave the premise of the Hokage building. Still, he also did not restrict him from going further. After all, Gaarawas just assuming that Yashamaru had meant to tell him to stay near the Hokage building. He didn't exactly say it, did he?
He would be just going around, he'll be back really quick. After all, his caretaker had lead him all the way to the Hokage office only to have him sit quietly while he and the representative discuss subjects with the Hokage. Yashamaru had respectfully asked Gaara to stay quiet during their conversation about important matters.
At first Gaara complied and was quiet for a long time. However, patience was not something he could hold for a very long time. Atone point he began to fidget in his seat. His hands restlessly shifted his stuffed bear. That was when Yashamaru became aware of Gaara's growing irritation. There were still many things that the Sand representative had to speak to the leader of Konoha about, thus he could not leave. But Yashamaru knew better than to risk Gaara's annoyance.
That was how Gaara ended out here. Alone.
Well, he came alone in his free will. He wanted to explore the village, minding carefully not to wander too far. He wouldn't get lost. As long as he remembers the different turns he'd made, he'd remember how to reach back to the place he was before and thus, not lost.
If he was lost, he'd look around until he finds his way back. Nothing bad would happen to him. Nothing bad would hurt him. Nothing could hurt him.
Sabaku no Gaara walked around the streets of the Village of Konoha, holding his purple stuffed bear closely in his arms. More people were returning to their homes at this time. The sunset cast glowing golden rays over the colorfully painted architecture that was very common in the village of Konoha.
He retraced the steps from the Hokage building back to the entrance where they came from. If he goes the same path, he wouldn't be lost, right?
Step by step, he made his way back towards the gates of Konoha. Halfway there, he reached the park again, the crowd of kids who where by the fence had dissolved away and were scattered back in the playground. No one was near the fence anymore, there were only a few leftover balls rolling around. Gaara took a few steps closer. No one seemed to want to be there anymore.
No wait.
Amidst the remnants of the raining balls, a lone figure stood firmly on the ground. Gaara could only see the back of his head, which was a mess blond hair that reflected off the setting sunlight. It was a boy.
Gaara blinked.
Why was he still there? The boy from Suna glanced at the wire-tip of the fence. There were no more balls flying down. Everyone else had left as well. There was nothing left. So why is he still there?
The blond-haired boy continue to stand abnormally still with his head hung in the air. Silence enveloped him completely. Gaara could only peer at him from a distance. It wasn't long before he caught the tremble that started out as a small vibration on the boy's shoulders.
The lone boy began to slowly sink to the ground. Without warning, he dropped down all the way onto his knees, making Gaara jump. Regaining his senses quickly, the redheaded by took a few steps closer and leaned his head in curiosity.
Was he…crying?
From the way that the blond-haired boy trembled, it would seem so. The watching boy winced lightly before taking a few more steps closer. From his point of view, the boy looked like a reflection of himself.
Why is he crying?
It was really no concern of his. He had been here for barely a day. Gaara turned around and began to walk down the path where he came from. Besides, iftaht boywere to seehim, he'd just run away,Gaara reasoned. He'd just run away like everybody else.
At the corner of the street his feet stopped its pace.
Gaara stared down at the old, purple, worn-out stuffed bear. Guilt crept over. He tightened his grip on the stuffed animal. He risked a glance behind his shoulder. They blond boy was still there, crouched, crying.
Was it all right to leave him there?
Gaara held his bear in a death grip and continued to look on the ground.
So just let him cry on?
He hesitated.
Like what others would do to him?
Gaara's hands loosened from his bear. He set it carefullyso it leanedagainst the wall in sitting position. He held an index finger in front of the bear's sewn-on button eyes. Stay here. With that, he turned and jogged slowly to the entrance of the park.
The redheaded boy took a silent, deep breath. He looked nervously forward as he walked closer to the blond-haired boy. When he reached a distance that he felt was respectful, he made an abrupt stop. His presence was still oblivious to the crying child on the ground.
He took another breath, clearing his mind, still careful not to make too much noise. Now, to analyze: why was he crying?
His green eyes looked up at the wired-tipped fence again. Wasn't he waiting for something? Was it because it his ball was still over on the other side? Could someone have forgotten his ball?
He closed his eyes. Small sound of pouring grains was heard as golden sand appeared. The sand gathered and coiled around the boy's outstretched arms like ribbons, yet never making contact with his pale skin.
I am the sand.
The blond boy stirred.
The sand drifted slowly away from his arms in small amounts. They gathered together and flew over the fence. In the empty ground they scattered and danced, covering the deserted area.
Gaara, with his eyes closed, felt the ground on the other side. He felt the warm cement surface. He felt smooth, dry walls. But most importantly, he felt the shape of a rough sphere in the corner of the fence. His hands made a motion by bringing his fingertips towards himself.
Bring it back.
He opened his eyes slowly and followed what he saw was worn-out red ball that was in a state worse than his teddy. The bowl-shaped group of sand that he created descends slowly towards his arms, making a perfect landing onto his palms. He smiled softly at his success.
Just then, he froze.
The boy was looking at him.
Even without looking up, he could feel the gaze of someone directly in font of him. Looks like the blond-haired boy had released himself from his human ball and caught his sand performance. Probably. Or else he wouldn't be looking at the dissolving sand around his arms.
It just hit him that he wasn't prepared for the next step. His mind had thought up a very simple plan when he tried to reach for the ball. It was to get the ball, drop it, leave without any notice, and hope that when the boy finish crying he'll notice his ball and thought that he had missed it by mistake.
His plan was successful so far. Except now, he could notescape unnoticed anymore. He risked a quick glance at the boy. The glance was too fast for him to catch anything. His following attempt to look at the boy in the face turned to be the same failures.
Was he going to run away too?
"U-um…!" The two boys spoke in unplanned unison.
Gaara panicked. His mind jumbled to form an excuse, yet he could barely grasp the words even in his mind. T-the ball…I found it on the other side –I mean, I found it and…I found the ball and…this ball, I found it around and I think it's yours…so…this is your ball…and…I found...eh…
He opened his mouth but could only mouth the tongue-tied words. He continued to make attempts to speak his thoughts, to say something. However, his attempts all ended up with him losing his voice and looking away. He needs to give the ball back. He needs to give the ball back!
Taking another breath, although it did not calm him like he wanted it to, he tried to focus his mind to look at the boy ahead of him. The boy was sitting on the ground, his attention focused on him, making Gaara nervous. The blond boy seemed unaware of the trailing tear marks on his cheeks. The tear paths streamed down through the three strange slash-like markings on each side of his face. His blond hair was still a golden mess regardless if it was seen from the back or front. He had…nice blue eyes.
"U-um…here." He took a few uncertain steps forward, making sure that he was not too close. He bent down and rolled the ball across the distance before withdrawing away instantly. The blue-eyed boy said something too low for his ears to catch.
"U-um…ah…um…" Gaara jerked his head up rapidly, giving a quick, unsure smiled. Looks like he is going to run away too. "Well…um…bye!"
He backed up a few steps, feeling strangely embarrassed when he smiled nervously again. It wouldn't be unexpected, would it? Of course he would run. Everyone would. Everyone…
He spun around and broke into a run. The thought swirled in his mind. Unwanted hot liquid burned his eyelids. He made for the entrance to the park in which he came from. If I run away first, then I wouldn't see them running away from me.
He stopped at the fence that lined the entrance to the park. Did he dare to look back? Would he meet the empty ground? Would he see the back of the boy running away? That's most likely.
Still, he dared. Maybe he didn't want to believe. Maybe he wanted to confirm. Maybe he just wanted to put an end to that small hope he had.
He turned. He looked. He ran.
He didn't cry anymore.
The boy back there…
He didn't run.
Leaving Gaara in wonder.
tbc
Response
Uke Love: First reviewer of the story! Thanks so much!
Mistress DragonFlame: Yes, it was the only ball in the other side. Again, thanks for the review!
Dairrokkan: Thanks for the compliment!
Aihze: Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Fanficreader: I wanted to read more Gaara and Naruto childhood-fics too.