"Good morning, Ai."

"'Morning, Granny!"

You were eating breakfast, all dressed for school.

"Why do you insist on wearing black everyday? Today it's your hair ribbons, yesterday it was your skirt, and your blouse the day before! Do you like black?" she asked.

"Well..." you paused to think about it. "Black's a nice color. I like purple better, though. I just wear black because it reminds me of home."

Nodding her head, her eyebrows still furrowed, she said, "I see...so, why do you always wear that hat?"

"It helps keep me cool when it's sunny, and it keeps the rain off me. I get sick really easily, you see."

Yet again, you're saved by part-truths.

"That hat's for the desert, though. It looks silly here. When I'm in the market today I'm buying you some new hats," she held up her hand to stop you from refusing, "No, no, it's the least I can do, the way you take care of me here. You'd make a good maid."

"Well, I'm too young to work, and I can't stay here for free, so I do my best to keep this home clean!" you exclaimed, jabbing your spoon high in the air. Granny patted your hat as you giggled at the affection. After finishing your breakfast and brushing your teeth, you ran off to school.

School was certainly different for you. You'd been attending for a month now, and were passing everything with flying colors, but the other kids didn't seem to like you. They all ignored you when you spoke, and called you a "freak" whenever they passed you by. It had all began on your first day of school, during gym. The teacher was teaching you how to play basketball. It was raining, so you were using the gym inside. Something that rather confused you happened.

You were picked last for the teams, because you were the new kid. Your team captain ordered you to stay in the corner, so you did so. Everyone ran around, laughing and playing, leaving you to stand alone. Time was almost up, and the teams were tied. Your captain called for a time out, then your teammates came up with a plan, and called time in. Left out, again, you jogged next to your captain as they dribbled across the court.

"Can't I do something?" you asked.

:Yeah, get out of my way." he retorted, aiming a pass at the girl behind you. He threw it way too high.

'Why is she just standing there?' you thought, watching the girl raise her arms hopelessly. You called out, "I'll get it!" and dashed towards the wall. Running up the wall, you caught the ball, then leaped over the heads of several astonished children and one bewildered teacher, and slam dunked the ball in the hoop. You jumped down.

"Did we win?" you asked the teacher. From then on the teachers always gave you strange stares, and the children called you "freak." You were a little sad, but your good grades always made Granny happy, and that's all that mattered.

Things were going a little strangely though, you noticed. All the kids in your class seemed to be passing notes today. Then they'd suddenly stop, and glare at you. Or they would break out in a fit of giggles. i'Are they talking about me?'/i you wondered as the bell rang. You were just about to walk out the door when several of your classmates blocked the way.

"What's wrong?" you asked.

"Get out of our school, freak." said a boy as he pushed you backwards. You easily regained your balance.

"But…Granny's always so happy when I show her my grades…"

A kid pushed you from behind.

"Aww…aren't you a little goodie two shoes?" he taunted. Turning around, you noticed your whole class had surrounded you. Startled, you jumped towards a window. Anticipating your move, three of your classmates managed to grab your ankles and throw you down. You flipped in mid-air, knocking the children on their heads, and landed on all fours.

"Please don't attack me! You'll just get hurt!" you warned sympathetically.

"How dare you hurt our friends! Yah!"

The whole crowd lunged at once. You tried to duck and dodge everyone, but you had been surrounded.

i"Bloody them up!"i/ whispered Yami as a boy grabbed your wrist. You froze as the incident that happened with Gaara played through your mind.

WHAM! A punch connected with your cheek. Your hat landed with a soft thump, sending gasps through the crowd. Adrenaline began to pump through your veins. i'Fight or flight?'/i you thought frantically.

i"Fight."/i

"Shut up, Yami!" you screamed as you bolted out the door. The children chased you down the hall, throwing books, chalk, whatever they could find.

"Get out of here, kitty litter!"

"Go to hell, cat piss!"

You reached the double doors, burst through, then took off down the street. When you got home, you went straight into your room and slammed the door. You collapsed on your bed and started crying. The door creaked open, but you didn't care.

"Ai?" murmured Granny, worry in her voice. Sniffling, you commanded, "Go away!"

"What's wrong?"

"I was born!" you turned and screamed at her. Her eyes widened a bit, then softened.

"Ueda…I knew that name sounded familiar…" she said as she came and knelt beside you. "I won't make you go back if you don't want to."

Sniffling, you looked up into her wizened gaze. "Really?"

"Of course not. Your classmates are young. They wouldn't understand."

"But you do?"

Her gaze drifted towards the ceiling.

"Not quite…but I won't pester you for answers. You see, the Ueda clan is regarded as…a myth, more or less. I'll admit, I didn't quite believe you when you said you were from Yamigakure…now I see you weren't lying."

Gently, she touched your shoulder.

"If you wish to leave, feel free to do so. I won't stop you."

"If you'll allow me, I'd like to stay." you told her after a short pause.

Granny smiled.

"I'd really like that."