A/N: Like oh my gosh! I might update on time for once…or not. Anyways, as I've always said, more reviews, the more I urge myself to just friggin' update. I will make it a priority to update IF I have reviews. So, I still don't own Naruto (no surprise there…) and I only own my characters, m'kay? Enjoy.

As young toddler pushed himself to up with dirty hands, he wiped his face from the trickles of water flowing down his cheeks. He stood on his hands and knees, looking at the ground, as tears would continue to fall, fall from the tip of his nose to the sand, creating little circles of dark brown. His teal eyes closed half way, and then he blinked to try and get rid of the new tears forming in his eyes.

Fingers gripped the sand in handfuls as he stood n his knees, allowing the grain to fall through his fingertips. He released the rest into the wind and stood up, looking around at the playground. His heart would ache as he gazed upon the broken scenery. What had he done? Gaara, he…he had completely destroyed his sanctuary. His haven. It was…gone.

Looking from left to right, he managed to start moving, holding himself as he kept his eyes to the ground. As he'd walk through the town, people ran from him, into homes or anywhere that was out of his reach. They just ran. All the while Gaara held himself, whispering over and over how he did not want to be alone.

He came back to his home, and inside as always, he found Yashamaru. But today, he would not talk to anyone. No. Not even him.

Gaara silently made his way to his room and fell to the ground as soon as he stepped in the middle. He lay on the floor; eyes welled up with tears all over again. He didn't know what he'd do anymore. How would he help Mia, without hurting her? It wasn't fair…

As time would pass, and nightfall had come, Gaara remained in that same spot, a puddle of his tears surrounding his head. Countless times, Yashamaru would knock on the door, asking time and time again if there was something wrong, or if he was okay. Gaara never did answer him.

The whole while, he lay in shock, pain, misery, despair; just hoping that she was okay. That Mia was okay. Hours passed and finally, Gaara mustered up enough strength to move. He looked outside his window and could see the sun rising. His eyes, mixed with those black rings around his eyes, had also become red and puffy.

He would wobble as he made his way out of the house, Yashamaru and no one else noticing him at all. His teal eyes held that deep sorrow no child should have, but he did. He had enough to last him forever.

As he made his way across town, right to the edge, he made his way to the entrance, looking upon the big gates with the desire to leave. He had done so many horrible things in this place, so why should he stay?

As he'd slowly lifted a hand, the sand began to swirl. They began to listen to what he wanted and slowly; a wave of sand began to rise behind him. The scarlet haired toddler pulled his hand back, ready to destroy the door in one blow if needed. Right before he was about to do it, something swiftly made it's way past him. Anyone else would have died, but the sand once again saved his life.

Gaara turned heel, ready to crush whomever had done such a thing to him in his state of mind, but he stopped when he saw…her. It was Mia's companion, the girl that he had hurt. It was that Mint girl.

"Y-You…" His teal eyes went wide as he stumbled backwards, still ready to hit her with everything he had, but she simply shook her head from left to right as she stared it him with a cold hard glare, her arms gripping kunais from beneath that olive brown muffler of hers.

"You shouldn't destroy that. Think how Mia would feel." Those words struck him hard and at once, he lowered his hand. "This gate keeps all the bad things out… If you really wanted out…just ask. I'm sure we could put you out there. You'd only be another thing to add to those things we need to stay away from…"

Gaara stared at her, looking afraid as he stepped further and further from her. "Wh-Why? I…th-that thing I did to you… I swear! I didn't mean it!" Tears formed in his eyes as he crouched down, holding his head as he cringed eyes shut. "Please…don't hit me… I don't want something bad to happen to you too… You're Mia's friend…" But what Gaara didn't expect was that she simply walked closer and bent down.

"If you're that concerned…then what Mia says about you is right…" She reached out a hand and when Gaara took a look, he was shocked to find her arms bandaged up like Mia's was.

"Y-Your arm! It's—"

"It's fine… I wrap myself for the same reason Mia does." She shifted dark brown eyes away and then stood to her feet. "…Mia begged me to come see you… She wanted to make sure that you were okay… It's my job to keep her safe…"

The toddler looked up at her, wiping away his tears as he slowly stood. "…B-But how is doing her a favor keeping her safe…? A-And…why is it your job…?" He just had to ask.

"I just know she'll try to come and see you at any cost… She'll probably get hurt either on your end or by her brother… I don't like it when that happens…" Mint trailed off, putting away her kunais as she turned her head away.

"B-But why is it your jo—" Mint glared at him and Gaara silenced himself. She seemed scarier then Myne was. He tried to look away, but light had bounced off of one of Mint's belongings and hit him in the eyes straight. He began to squint and when he looked for the source, he caught sight of a forehead protector around her waist. A closer look and he was shocked to see a symbol he had never laid eyes on. It was almost like Konoha except the symbol pointed towards the sky. Almost like a ball of smoke that reached for…more. It looked like a spirit. He wanted to know the meaning of it, but he was afraid to ask.

No one would have expected over just a short while, a small pact, a simple alliance was made as he walked with Mint all over the town. Not a single word was said as the two tots drifted, everyone running from their path the whole time. Even though nothing was said, everything that needed to be, just somehow was. Gaara and Mint both had a reason for this pact, but they didn't know how similar it actually was. Actually, both had the same exact reason: it was for Mia.

The two wanderers walked side-by-side, one labeled as outsider, the other, demon. But right now as Gaara had noticed, Mint seemed in a horrible state as well.

After hours had passed, she began to heave and hold her stomach, as she would walk till finally she stopped. "…Lets… Lets take a break…okay?" She seemed to wince as she wobbled over to the nearest shaded area which seemed to be beside a building. By this time, the sun was at a point where it was like anything under it would burn.

Mint fell to the floor against the wall, eyes closed as she tilted her head down, her breath stating to even out. Gaara watched her carefully and could seed her skin was deathly white and eye bags formed beneath her eyes. Just as he was observing her, the little ivy haired tot opened both emerald eyes and looked at him, a rather stunned look turned to a glare and the other completely backed off. She didn't seem like she wanted to be trifled with. Gaara was smart enough not to anyway.

Both of them sat in silence for a while. Teal eyes had bounced around from one place to another, just trying to avoid Mint. But all the while, he was so worked up that he hadn't noticed her watching him.

She seemed to smile though, her eyes softening as she relaxed, her right knee pulled up to her chest while left leg lay completely still, both hands to the side as she basked in the cool air of the darkness. After she had seemed to regain her strength, she looked at the other, him in all of his nervousness. She shook her head and with a simple breath would call out, "Hey."

The other immediately looked towards her and he arched a nonexistent eyebrow. He was confused. She seemed a lot calmer now and it was just…weird. "Y-Yeah?" Still, he was afraid.

"…Why are you different? It can't be because of your eyebrows now can it?" She gave a sly little grin that just looked too cute to bear on a six-year olds lips. A light, cheery noise came from her as she same him flush up. He was too embarrassed to notice that she just laughed.

But as time passed, Gaara still was silent and he did not answer. He knew why he was different. He thought Mint would know, because Mia had always told him they were the same. She told him constantly that they were meant to be together because of that single fact. They were the same. The only reason they could comfort each other, make each other happy, make each other smile, it was because they already knew what the other lacked. They knew just the way to give it all back.

After a while, Mint could see that Gaara may not answer him any time soon. She gave a small sigh, but that's when he spoke. "…I am different…because Mia says I am the same…" He trailed off, leaving Mint rather confused for the time being. She might have pushed the subject further, but Gaara looked down with eyes of depression. Mia…how was she?

"Mint, how…is she?" He looked up, his face filled with worry for only one girl. The one he never really knew.

"Mia? She…" At first, the other did not know how to reply to this situation. She may say something, but it could make things worse, or she could lie for the better. But he would find out anyway. She could never lie to Mia, or anyone important to her. Mint never knew why, but she had always made it her duty to protect Mia and the ones she loved. Gaara apparently, was one of them much to Mint's disapproval. "…Nothing's changed for the better… Things…they've only become worse…" She couldn't lie. No. It just wasn't in her nature. If he wasn't that important to Mia, Mint wouldn't even be talking to him right now.

Gaara's eyes widened then he closed them slowly as tears trickled down his pale little cheeks. He was sad and angry at the same time. He was sad for the only person he really cared about, and angry that he was the one who partially caused this. It was his fault!

"It's my fault…isn't it?"

"…N-No. It's not—"

"Shut up! I know it is!" Gaara stood, the sand jumping up with him and immediately, Mint stood to her feet as Gaara's emotions went wild and in turn, the sand aimed for Mint. Luckily, she had jumped out of harm's way.

Gaara stumbled out in the open, holding his head as tears continued to fall. The sand slammed anywhere possible as Mint could only keep moving out of the way. She could have run, but she had stayed close.

"It's not your fault!" Mint had shouted, barely dodging sand that had formed into a spike and aimed right for her. But Gaara would not listen. He collapsed to the floor and he began to scream, holding his head as eyes opened wide.

Mint could see something was wrong. He looked like he was in pain, like something was just clawing to get out. Like something trapped deep within him that had been trapped there against its will. It was tearing at his insides and now was its best opportunity for out.

Gaara stood on his knees, and he cried out in pain, as back would arch to the sky. His eyes widened and pupils dilated as he dug hands deep into the sand and at once, two large claw versions burst from the ground.

The ivy haired tot had intended to help him, but at this point, she was afraid as well. She looked up at the hands then towards him and realized something. Gaara was more like Mia and herself then she ever did think. That was why Mia had cared for him so much. He didn't have as much control over it as they did. It was something scary that if it would get out, it would mean the end. After that, she turned heel and ran. She ran as fast as she could only to one place where she knew that would be holding the solution to this problem. The answer to stopping this havoc, at least, for now. She was heading back to the house, and she was going to go get Mia.

A/N: Yay! I finished it! Yay me! Yay me! Anyways, for once, I did it on time…I think. Remember, the more reviews, the more chances of me updating sooner! I do not own Naruto or any of their characters. I only own my characters. Did I do a good job this chapter? Remember, 5 reviews and above, I'll make sure I update quickly. Anything less then that and you could wait for weeks or even months! So review, review, review!