Chapter One – Origin Part Two
It was her first day alone. Eri wandered throughout the region, searching for a suitable village. Not long after her journey started did she come across the Village Hidden in the Sand. So long had she dreamed that she would come here in search of salvation. Temporarily, she did.
Upon entering the fates, she discovered a small redheaded boy about her age, clutching a large gourd and a pocketknife. He sat in the shade alone. Eri approached the boy, fishing in her messenger bag for the lunch that she prepared herself. She tried to hand it to him.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, eager to make a new friend. The boy looked from the lunch to her, shook his head, and said, "I don't take charity." Eri smiled sweetly and said, "This isn't charity. I was just trying to befriend you. Besides, you look very lonely, sitting under this tree all by yourself." The boy thought again and reached for the lunch in Eri's outstretched hand. "Are you sure you want me to have this? You don't even know who I am, nor I do you." Eri nodded and took another lunch from her bag.
"Do you mind if I sit with you?"
"Go ahead."
Quietly, the children ate their lunches. Every now and then, they would glance nervously at each other. Eri was the first to speak.
"My name is Eri," she said. Her eyes glowed green, happy to have made a new friend.
"Gaara," replied the boy. He had finished his meal and was staring at the beautiful girl sitting next to him, which he thought all his life would be impossible.
"It's nice to meet you, Gaara." With saying this, Eri smiled again. Gaara looked down.
For the first time, Eri actually made contact with a peer, and was happy for her success. "I have come to the Sand village in search of a home and some training. I wish to become a ninja and hunt down my lost half-brother. What about you? Why are you lonely?"
Gaara looked away and said, "I live on the streets. I have no home, no family. I have no friends. I am a freak. I am feared." Eri marveled at Gaara, the boy of no fears. She found herself strangely attracted to him.
"I have an idea," she said. Gaara turned to look at her, a questioning look on his face. "You can come with me to apply for a home. You can pose as my brother. We will live together and be a happy family."
You make it sound so easy, thought Gaara.
Gaara brought Eri to the Hokage to request membership of the Sand village. They made up a story that suggested they were family, and the Hokage pretend to believe them (he knew, of course, that they lied because their physical appearances showed no resemblance).
When Eri and Gaara met the Hokage of the Sand village, they glanced at each other and nodded. They began their tale.
"Lord Hokage of the Suna village, we request your permission to live here as family," Eri began. "My name is Eri, and this is my brother Gaara. We are orphans. "
Gaara nodded his head in agreement, while the Hokage listened carefully, eyeing the pair. However, the Suna village Hokage had his doubts.
"You are orphans. Where does your origin lie? What village do you come from?" he said suspiciously.
"Um…" Eri was at a loss of words. Surely she did not think that she could fool a wise Hokage such as the one before them?
"Our parents came from the Sand village and were kicked out. We don't know why. We were born afterwards into the wild… outside of the gates." Gaara spoke out of nowhere. The girl beside him sighed with relief, for she was not expecting the Hokage to ask such questions.
"Hmmm…" the Hokage said. "Gaara and Eri… Gaara and Eri…" He said their names multiple times, seeming to engrave them into his head before he decided their fate.
After what seemed like hours, the Hokage finally agreed to spare them. "I have decided," he said. "I will grant you permission to live in the Sand Dunes. You will be put in the care of Old Woman Shiori. You may leave her residence at age twelve to shape yourselves. But be warned. Shiori needs your help also. Her death is slowly coming upon her, despite her healthy lifestyle."
With that, the triumphant duo was dismissed and found their way to the Sand Dunes with the help of Gaara, who knew the village inside and out. They approached Shiori's wooden door and knocked. In response, a small old woman with osteoporosis opened the door, welcoming them.
"Hello," the old woman began. "You must be my new children. I have been expecting you. Come. Come inside where it is cooler."
The pair of children did as they were told, fascinated by a woman not much taller than they were. They turned to watch the door close, as the door to their lives also closed forever.
