i'I've been here before…' you thought as you examined the sandstone buildings.

'This is…Sunagakure…'

Your walk brought you before an old swing. You sat in the seat.

"What are you doing here, cat piss?"

Before you could turn, you were thrown off the swing. Looking up, you realized you were surrounded. The four kids who attacked you whilst you were sleeping, your classmates from your school, and several adults, including the irate shopkeeper, loomed menacingly above you. They each gave you an evil sneer, then proceeded to beat on your tiny, six-year-old frame.

"Stop! Please, someone…make them STOP!" you sobbed, curling in a ball and covering your face.

"No one can hear you." taunted a little girl. The shopkeeper growled, "You're all alone."

"No…you're not alone…"

When the beating suddenly stopped, you peered above you. Everyone had disappeared, all except for a headless boy. Screaming in terror, you curled back into a ball.

"Are you having another bad dream?"

A small hand touched your shoulder. You bit your lip and forced yourself to look directly at the boy once more. Little by little, sand was pouring into the emptiness above his shoulders. First it formed a neck, then a chin…after a few seconds you were greeted by a familiar face.

"I know you! YOU'RE the one who gave me my backpack!"

He smiled.

"Don't you remember my name, Ai?"

Your gaze dropped shamefully to the ground.

"…No…I'm sorry…" you murmured.

"I saved your life! This is the thanks I get?"

The boy grew before your eyes, taller and taller, until he towered over you. Your name, the Kanji character for love, appeared above his left eye.

"Sand Coffin!" he growled. Sand surrounded you, paralyzing you as much as his gaze had. You cried out to him as you flinched in fear.

"I'm sorry! Please, just give me a few more minutes! I'm sure I'll remember!"

"I should have killed you long ago, you murderer…"

Crying heavily, you struggled against the sand. "I'm not a murderer! I didn't mean to – NO! DON'T!"

He'd raised his hand. "Sand Burial!"/i

"GAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRAAAAA!" you screamed as you bolted upright.

"Well good morning to you too!"

"Awf!"

You blinked a few times. Kiba and Akamaru came into view.

"Hello there…what, what's…?" you stuttered. Looking around at the white room, you quickly realized you were in an infirmary.

"Three days pass, and you finally awaken…we were afraid you might not make it…"

Kiba started and turned – it was Shino. He was holding a small gift box, which he set on your bed stand next to your other gifts.

"Wait – three days? I missed the preliminaries? What happened?"

Kiba recounted every match, Shino filling in for him the things that happened after Kiba was carted off.

"Sasuke beat Yoroi, Shino swarmed this creepy Zaku guy with his beetles, Kankuro, that sand jerk's teammate, won his match with Puppet Jutsu, Sakura and Ino tied and lost, Tenten went up against Kankuro's teammate, Temari, and really lost...then Rock Lee jumped in but his sensei stopped him. Shikamaru played this mind game with the needle girl and made her crack her skull against the wall...that was kinda funny...and then...well...eh. Not important." he ended lamely. Shino cleared his throat.

"Kiba lost to Naruto, badly. He left on a stretcher. Then Hinata was next, and she fought Neji." He paused as you gasped. He nodded quietly. "Rather horrid...she's here in the infirmary, too..."

"Hinata! I have to see Hinata!" you cried, jumping out of bed. Dodging Kiba and Shino, you'd just reached the door when – BAM! Something very solid ran headlong into you!

"Ow! Sorry about that…wait, you're AWAKE? HEY EVERYONE! KITTY CAT'S AWAKE!" Naruto yelled down the hall after you'd both fallen on your rumps.

"Let me go! I have to see Hinata!" you growled as Kiba and Shino dragged you back to your bed. As Naruto sat on the edge, he said, "Oh, I just saw Hinata! She's doing better now, they tell me. She hasn't woken up yet."

Three ninja burst into your room, panting. "Ai!" they cried.

"Hello Sakura, Ino, Shikamaru…"

"Wow…they ARE real…" murmured Ino as she approached you, entranced. You arched an eyebrow. "Umm…what are, if I may ask?"

"Your cat ears…I was wondering why Naruto called you Kitty Cat…"

"Yeah, it's cuz she's a cute little kitty cat! Aren't you, Ai? Yes you are!"

Everyone, including even Shikamaru and Shino, bopped Naruto on his noggin.

"Aww, guys, he's just trying to be nice…" you cooed.

"A little too nice…I have training with Kurenai - sensei today, so…"

Shino kissed your forehead and left. Your face got really red.

"Yeah, she wants me and Akamaru to help, too, so…"

Kiba gave you a hug, then licked your cheek. Akamaru licked the other, then they, too, departed. You could hear them arguing down the hall as your face flushed.

"How in the world do you do it?" asked Sakura as Naruto angrily washed your face. You blinked up at her, your head tilting to the side a little as you gnawed your finger. "Do what?"

"Oh, come on, half the boys here are in love with you!" snapped Ino as she placed her flower bouquet with the rest of the gifts.

"They can't be…why would you say that?"

"Okay, this is turning into girl talk. Come on, Naruto, let's go."

Shikamaru placed a gift on the stand, then began to drag Naruto away. "Wait, don't forget about my gift!"

Naruto dashed back, placed a small box upon the stand, kissed one of your furry ears, then ran off. The two remaining girls both glared at you.

"Well…they're really, really affectionate, it seems…but, why?"

Sakura placed her gift next to Ino's, then gave you a good once over.

"For starters, you definitely stand out with those eyes, and that hair…" she trailed off. Next was Ino's turn.

"You're shorter than us, and SO much thinner…is that why you faint a lot?"

"How'd you even know about that, Ino? I didn't meet you until recently." you commented quietly.

"A little bird told me. Anyways, are you anorexic or something?"

You freaked out.

"No! No, of course not! I'm thin because of my clan! The Ueda clan members are all thin! As for my fainting…I was born like that. I'm really sensitive to pressure changes, temperature changes, things like that. I don't always faint."

They stared at each other, then back at you again.

"I see it now…" said Ino as she began to examine your gifts. After turning back to you, she murmured, "You have a certain…'moe'…that's what you are."

"Yeah, and the cat ears really help." said Sakura.

"Are you serious? I'm not that cute. I'm just -."

"OH. MY. GOD!"

Ino was holding a vase with a single pink rose in it. A turquoise ribbon, the same color as your hair, was tied around it.

"Wow, Ino, lemme see that!"

"That's such a cute flower! Did someone give it to me? Or, are those in all the hospital rooms?"

Ino gave you the stink eye.

"You have no idea what this flower is, do you Ai?"

You shook your head lamely.

"This is a desert rose! You NEVER see these around here! They're kind of common in the desert, but only if you know where to look. Ai, this is an EXTREMELY rare flower! It's REALLY valuable!"

You were afraid to ask how valuable it was, but went for it anyway.

"Umm…how much is it worth, then, Ino?"

She put the vase down as gently as if she held a live bomb instead of a flower.

"For just one stem…the cheapest you'll find them is for 50,000 Ryo."

You flipped backwards off your bed, crashing onto the floor.

"50…50?" you whispered as the girls helped you back into the bed.

"You're not looking so hot…"

"Ino's right. Ai, maybe you should get some rest."

"Yeah, I-I-I think I'll do that…50,000?"

They laughed, then left.

i'Everyone's been so nice to me…' /iyou thought as you opened your gifts. Kiba and Akamaru bought you a belled, black choker; Shino got you a butterfly bracelet; Shikamaru gave you a brand new Shogi set; Naruto got you two coupons for free meals at the Ichiraku; Sakura brought you some dumplings from the Amaguriama, which you snacked on immediately, and Ino brought you a bouquet of flowers.

i'Hmm… the vase has no name tag…'/i

A nurse walked in.

"You're recovering awfully quickly, aren't you?" she said after removing your bandages. Your wounds were almost fully healed.

"You must have really good medicine! Miss, did you happen to see who left me the rose?" you asked as she put on fresh bandages.

"No, I can't say that I did. Sorry, dear."

"Oh, it's okay."

She snapped up her medical case.

"I suggest you rest up, now. I think your three days of sleep did you a lot of good. You'll be out of here in about two days."

She left you to your thoughts. You slumped back and covered up in your blankets.

i'I have a feeling I know who left me that flower…' /iyou thought as you turned on your side to gaze at the desert rose.

i'I know it was him, but…I just don't believe it…wow, he sure has changed in the past years. He's frightening, but down inside, I think my Gaara is still in there somewhere. I could see it in his eyes. I watched him murder those people without even flinching, but…I still want to be his friend. Is he truly a monster? Is that why I'm drawn to him – because I'm a monster, too?'/i

You sighed.

i'When I leave the infirmary, the first thing I'm going to do is go see him…' /i