Many Masks

Written By - Treina

XII

Gaara's Mask of Sand - Part 1

Shukaku, the demon within Gaara since he was in the womb. Gaara, who was feared and hated by all, even by his parents. As a child, there was never any human contact with anyone. As years went by when he would sit alone, always alone, he built a cold empty shell of sand around him. This was contact, contact with something. This shell of sand is all that helped Gaara survive the hate that surrounded him.

For this red head has only experienced hate within his life, never did he know what friendship was, never did he know what happiness was.

But then he met Naruto, the only other person who Gaara could relate to, the only person who showed him true kindness and compassion. Naruto was somehow able to teach Gaara the meaning of the words friend, happy and life. For this, Gaara would never forget Naruto, he would always remember the things that the blond taught him and the feelings which he were somehow able to understand when he was around the blond. Naruto was Gaara's friend; his only one and Gaara would do anything for the blond.

It had been over two years since Gaara saw his friend, and he was beginning to get restless. In this month alone, he escaped assassination thirty two times and he knew that another one was due soon. In many ways, he cursed the fact that he was not born in Konoha, although there would still be many hardships, the assassination attempts would not nearly number in so many.

Yes, it was time that he ventured to Konoha, if he went alone, he could make it in under a day. Actually, today would be a fine day to leave. The sky was clear blue and the sands seemed to be still.

"What you thinking about Gaara?" Temari asked the red head who stared out of the window.
"I'm leaving," was all that Gaara said before turning to leave.
"Wait, what do you mean?" What was all this about? "How long will you be gone"
"Until the end of the storm," Gaara answered, closing the door behind him.
"The storm?"

The sands stayed still until he reached the forest, as he stopped and turned around, the storm was already rising over the dunes. He nodded, pleased that he made good time. Only a few more hours till he would reach Konoha. Sweeping across the grass was much different than the sinking sand. He could actually glide like he did inside. It was one of his favorite past times. He looked much more intimidating if he floated across the floor, yes, Konoha was sounding more and more appealing as he got closer.

Naturally, the Konoha guards were not so eager to let him in. After a million questions, they finally let him through. This was a good thing because if they had asked him merely five more questions, he would have blown up and pulled out the death coffin. But he was in the village now and home free. The first place he went, was to check Naruto's apartment. Of course he found the door un-locked and no one inside, so he left the apartment. He would wander around the village a while and look for the blond, if he did not find him by midnight, then he would have to go back to the apartment and wait for him.

He walked around the entire village a few times and into every building. Long after the sun went down, he began to check every shop and building, but he was nowhere to be found. If Konoha wouldn't accuse him of infiltrating the village, nothing would stop him from checking every house in the village as well. But still, he was nowhere to be found.
"You!" He heard a female voice behind him and as he turned to see who was calling him, the blond girl from the chunnin exam stood with her mouth gaping open and a finger pointed strait in his direction, "what are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to see Naruto," came the stoic reply, "where is he"
"..." She didn't say a word, but stared at the red head at if he were a ghost.
"Ino!" Shikamaru nudged the blond and she turned to him.
"Shikamaru!" She whispered loud enough for all three of them to hear, "it's that guy from the chunnen exams"
Shikamaru sighed and shook his head, "he's at Sakura's house, it's the yellow house at the end of this block, her parents are out of town so she's kind of having a pre-party," he answered Gaara's question and began walking, not wanting to provoke a fight or get involved with this guy at all, in any way, ever.

"Shikamaru!" Ino scolded, this time at the top of her lungs, "what are you doing"
"I'm walking home," Shikamaru quickened his pace, knowing that the red head could hear their words.
"You shouldnt have told him where Sakura lives you idiot!" Ino glared at his team mate.
"He's looking for Naruto, he wants nothing to do with Sakura..." he thought about his words for a minute before confirming them with a brief shake of the head, "don't worry about it."

Gaara said nothing, felt nothing as he walked away from Ino and Shikamaru's conversation.

"Don't worry about it?!"

It did not matter what they thought, he was not here for them. Shikamaru was a smart guy; the guy knew that Gaara wanted nothing to do with Sakura. Sakura saw him as everyone else saw him, a monster. What would he want with her? He could kill her, but that would only anger Naruto, and there was no way he would jeopardize his only friendship over some mere girl's thoughts about him. No the blond girl was foolish for thinking that anything would happen to her friend, Naruto was protecting her, always protecting her, just as he protected this village.

As he reached the steps to the yellow house, tons of voices and laughter was heard from inside the building. He placed a hand on the doorknob so gently, as if he were on a mission, and before he knew it, he was standing in a well lit room around a ton of people who seemed shocked at his sudden appearance. He did nothing, just stood and watched the people who watched him until he spotted Naruto getting yelled at by Sakura, apparently, he had broken a vase or something that was now in shattered pieces all over the floor.

"Naruto," Gaara said, and began to make his way to the blond, "Naruto," he repeated as he got within earshot.
Naruto turned around to see his friend Gaara standing in front of him. Gaara? What was Gaara doing here? At Sakura's house?
"We need to talk," the red head stated as he began dragging Naruto from the house. Sakura stared blankly through her tears at the spot in which Naruto was standing, not exactly sure what had just occurred.

TBC