"You've grown so much!" Temari stated.
"Yeah, I swear you were like half your size when we last saw you." Kankurō gestured with his hand where her height was back then, just above his waist.
"Well, when you last saw me at least."
"Hey. Don't you remember, you were gonna tell me how you know these guys. Sasuke had returned from the medical bay. Naruto overheard this and snuck over to listen in, followed by Sakura.
"Fine... if you really must know. It was like six years ago. I'd been travelling alone for some time and didn't have a place to call home... I was wandering the desert when all I remember is passing out from exhaustion."
"Lord Kazekage, Sir!" One of the ninja urgently needed Rasa's advice. "We found a girl out in the desert. She was unconscious about two miles outside the village. What should we do with her?"
"Take her to the medical bay. I shall see to her shortly."
Upon his arrival at the medical bay, she was awake and alert.
"So what happened to her?" He asked the medical ninja who were attending her.
"Extreme malnutrition and dehydration, sir."
"Well that explains why she was passed out. Do we know her identity yet?"
"No sir, she hasn't spoken a word."
"Child, what is your name and where are you from?" He asked her directly but she just stared blankly back at him.
"The Kazekage has asked you a question. Answer him!" One of his guards shouted at her, and she recoiled in pretend fear.
"Sir, with all respect, I think she needs rest for now. Then when she is fully back to normal she may be able to answer your questions." She was thin and dirty, so they gave her some food and water.
"When she is ready to leave the medical bay, send her to me."
"What will you do with her sir?"
"If we cannot find out who she is just yet, then ... I will allow her to stay in our village on a temporary basis, someone somewhere will know who she is." He walked away.
Later that evening, one of the ninja lead her out to the village, with her hair down, messy and with dirt on her face, her clothes ragged and torn. There were small blood stains dotted around as well.
"Lord Kazekage said you're free to explore the village, just don't go causing any trouble." He left her to it.
It was then that they heard screams and then a group of children came running. One of whom had pushed her down on his way past and didn't even acknowledge her.
"Leave us alone!"
"Go away!" They cried as they fled.
"Huh? That's weird. I wonder what's going on." Saori went to investigate where the children had come from. There she saw a boy about her age with red hair and sand village attire. He looked like he'd been crying. There was a ball in his hands. "Hey. You wanna play?"
"You... you want to play with me?" He asked her timidly.
"Yeah, why not? It'll be fun." She smiled sweetly at him, which caught him completely off guard.
"Oh... Uh, if you're sure then." He tossed the ball to her and she tossed it back to him.
"So what's going on. Why were those kids running away?" She asked while still concentrating on the ball.
"Because I... I hurt them." He looked down at his feet. She wondered if he was going to cry again.
"Why did you do that?" She asked. Her expression didn't change. She showed no signs of retreating.
"I didn't mean to. It was an accident."
"Oh, well then I don't know what their problem is." She smiled. "An accident is an accident and if you apologised and explained to them that you didn't mean to, then I think they should forgive you at least."
"You really think so?"
"I would have." Her words and smile brought him comfort. They threw the ball back and forth for a while. She sensed a presence coming.
"I have to go... it's been great meeting you, I hope we can play again some time!" She ran off. That's when Kankurō appeared.
"H-hey Gaara. It's time to come home... please?" He seemed so frightened of his younger brother.
"Did you see her?" He asked.
"See who?"
"The girl I was just playing with?"
"I didn't see anyone, sorry."
"She had dark hair and dark eyes and she was wearing clothes from another village, but I don't know what village, they were all torn."
"Sounds like the girl fath... I mean Lord Kazekage was talking about. They found her unconscious outside the village. Well if you see her again, you should invite her over."
"Really? Okay!" He seemed happy.
A few days had passed.
"I didn't know when or if I was going to see you again. But I looked for you every day." He said when he finally found her again.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I went training after that for a while."
"It's okay, you still came back." They continued playing. Once again she fled as soon as she sensed someone coming.
"She was here again! Oh, but I forgot to invite her for dinner..." he looked sad.
"Don't worry, I'm sure there will be another time." Kankurō tried to reassure his brother without making him more upset. This time an entire week passed. As she was walking down the Main Street of the village, Kankurō walked past her and did a double take.
"Hey, you!" He shouted after her, stopping her dead in her tracks.
"Yes? How can I help you?"
"You're the girl, right? You match his description."
"I'm sorry, who's description?"
"Gaara, my brother. Red hair. It was a couple weeks back, he said he played with a girl with dark hair and dark eyes, you fit that description. And you are the girl they found outside the village, right?"
"So, Gaara is his name." Then she realised something and sprinted off. As she turned down a side street she saw him.
"It's you." He said, a weak smile appeared on his face. "Is it? Is it really you?"
"Yeah! I came back to see you. And I ran into your brother. He made me realise something. I never told you my name. It's Saori!" Just at that moment Kankurō caught up.
"Jeez, why did ya have to run off like that. Oh, Gaara. I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt your reunion." He was sincere in his apology, but more out of fear that Gaara would be angry with him.
"This is her, the girl I told you about. Her name is...Saori. Saori, you should come to our house for dinner!"
"Dinner? Me? Really?" She couldn't believe it.
"Why do you seem so surprised?" Kankurō asked her.
"Ever since I left my home, I struggled to find a meal. Often times I'd go days without food. So I am extremely grateful that you have invited me to your home for food." Kankurō had a look of sincere concern for her.
They arrived at their house, Temari was cooking dinner, filling the home with a powerful smell of aromatic spices.
"I remember your dad, the Kazekage, asking me questions about where I was from. And I didn't answer."
"Howcome?"
"Because I'm afraid they'll send me back."
"You know they'll find out somehow." Kankurō seemed worried for her.
"Yes, but until then, I want to enjoy my time here, and spend as much of it with Gaara!" Gaara smiled, he was so happy that someone actually wanted to and enjoyed spending time with him.They went outside to play.
"So, if your dad is the Kazekage, does that mean you will be Kazekage one day?" Saori asked him.
"I don't know, maybe..."
"I think you should go for it. Then no one will be scared of you anymore."
"You think so?"
"I think you'd be a great leader! Let's play a new game." She passed the ball to him and ran over to tag him. The sand suddenly grabbed her by the ankle and threw her up into the sky.
"Nooooooo, Saori!" He had such a look of despair on his face, almost crying, thinking that he'd just hurt his only friend.
"Wahoooooo! I'm flying! Look at me!" She began to come back down and before she hit the ground her body stopped, then gently landed on her feet.
"Wait... you... you enjoyed that? It didn't hurt?"
"Only a little, it took me by surprise more than anything. It was kinda fun just being up in the air. I felt like a bird!" She laughed, which only added to his confusion.
"But... why? Why aren't you scared. Why don't you hate me?"
"Because, I know you didn't do it on purpose. I don't think it even was you. It was the sand, wasn't it? The sand automatically reacts."
"How could you...?"
"I've been around and studied a lot of ninja arts."
"Wow, that's amazing, and you're only the same age as me. Is that how you managed to land like that?"
"Yeah, chakra control. Maybe I could teach you one day?"
"I'd like that."
"My family were strict with training and all that. But it was mostly my big brother that taught me. My dad... he used to teach me but then he stopped. He was always focussed on my brothers."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. They're dead now."
"What?"
"Yeah. My family, they're all dead. I think... the only ones I miss are my brothers. I know it sounds horrible, but my dad, he just stopped acknowledging me. I'll tell you about it some time.
"Yeah. Sure." Gaara had a look on his face, like it was bothering him more than it bothered her. "My dad tried to have me killed." Gaara said.
"Father of the year right there..." Saori said sarcastically. "I'm sorry Gaara. I know exactly how you feel. Her smile, though small, was of some comfort to him. He knew there was a wider story but didn't want to press her at this time.
The time came where they had finally tracked down her village.
"Saori, some ninja from your village will be on their way to collect you and take you home." Rasa gave her the same look he usually gave Gaara. He disapproved of their friendship, as he only saw Gaara as a weapon. And once he realised what she was, he had wanted her out of the village as she was just as much of a threat as he was, the two of them together would be the assured destruction of Suna at the minimum. "You're from the hidden leaf village and were presumed dead until a few months ago when people had found you and word got out. How does it feel that for years no one even bothered looking for you?"
"It's okay. Because I didn't want to be found." His attempt to upset her failed. She wouldn't be so easy to provoke as Gaara.
A few days later, the leaf ninja arrived. At least they waited until after Gaara's birthday, so the two were able to celebrate it together.
"Lord Kazekage, we are here for the girl, at your request."
"She's over there, on the outskirts of the village. With Gaara." The ninja nodded and dispersed to go find her. The one who found her was Sharuka.
"You must be Saori, right?" He smiled at her, but she hid behind Gaara.
"She doesn't want to go!" He cried out.
"I understand that, but she is from our village, she needs to come back home."
"Why can't this village be her home, why do you have to take her away from me?"
"It's complicated. Ninja can't just move to another village without permission. There's even a rule that says ninja can't enter another village without permission. The fact that the Kazekage has allowed her to stay here so long is beyond generous."
"I guess this is goodbye then..." he looked pained.
"Not goodbye. Because goodbye, means I may not see you again, but I promise that I will. I will come back and find you."
"I don't know what I'll do without you, Saori, you're... my only friend." He wiped a tear from his eye.
"You're my only friend too, you're my best friend. Keep training! So that when I come back here, we can have a match to see who has improved the most!"
"I'd like that." He managed a smile. She took Shauka's hand and they were nearly out of the village.
"Heyyyyyyy! Wait!" They turned round to see Gaara running towards them. When he reached them he was a little out of breath.
"Gaara? What's up?" She asked him. He held out his hand, there was something clenched inside.
"Here, take this, so a part of this village will always be with you. Take it, so you'll always remember me."
"Gaara, thank you." She held out her hand and he placed it in her palm. It was a necklace with Suna's symbol on it. She put it on and she hugged him. "I'll never forget you anyway! You're my best friend." Tears of happiness replaced the tears of sadness. "Here, this cloth has the symbol of my clan. I know it's not much but it's the only thing I own besides the necklace you just gave me."
"T-thank you, Saori."
They smiled and waved goodbye until neither could see the other in the horizon. Saori turned away from Suna and a heavy feeling swelled over her. She clenched at her heart.
"I know it's difficult, but as you said, you'll see him again." Sharuka comforted her.
"And that's how I got this necklace. I kept going back, every chance I could get. And thats why this necklace is the most precious thing I own."