Kiku loved living in Suna. She'd heard people talk of other villages full of forests and lakes, villages built by the sea, and villages on mountains or near waterfalls. They always seemed to be in awe of these places but Kiku could never understand why.
The young girl slipped her shoes off her feet and stood atop the warm sand.
She loved the feeling of sand between her toes and the warmth from the sun while she danced around playfully.
A gentle wind rushed by, her short curls brushing against her cheeks as it did. She never wanted to go anywhere else. Suna was perfect.
It was early afternoon and Kiku were waiting for Gaara to show up for their usual meeting. She'd told her mother that she was going to visit Sana-chan again, but instead ran to hers and Gaara's usual meeting place instead. She'd wanted to show him her new doll, Akane-chan. Kiku had been very excited when she'd bought her from a local doll shop. She cost half a month's allowance, but Kiku didn't care about the cost. The child had wanted Akane-chan so badly from the moment she spotted her in the shop window.
She was about the size of a baby, with a pale cream dress and red hair that made Kiku think of Gaara. That was what she loved most about her new doll...and what had caught her interest in the first place.
"Kiku-chan?"
At the sound of the voice Kiku stopped dancing and looked around, her gaze finally settling on the red head running towards her. A wide smile spread across her face as she ran to meet him, holding her doll out so he could see.
"Look what I got Gaara!"
Gaara looked at the doll and then down at his bear, which he currently had held to his chest.
"Did you name her like we named Kuma?" he asked.
Kiku nodded and sat down on the sand.
"Yup! Her name is Akane-chan."
Gaara knelt down on the sand in front of her, setting Kuma on his lap.
"Her hair is like mine." Gaara noted.
Kiku nodded and hugged her.
"I know...that's why she's so pretty."
Gaara wondered a little at her comment but kept quiet. It was silent for a while and Kiku played with the sand, stacking it into a little moantain.
She poked little holes in it and said they were windows.
"I made a house!" she happily declared, pointing at her pile of sand.
Gaara laughed and held out his hands, the sand swirling around beside him, eventually settling into the form of a miniature palace.
Kiku's eyes opened wide and she clapped her hands together.
"Amazing!" she cheered and Gaara smiled. "I wish mine was that cool."
"We can share this one." Gaara said sweetly and her smile spread wide.
Kiku jumped to her feet and cheered.
"A castle! Just like a prince and princess would have! Ooh I know! Let's play prince and princess, Gaara! You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess!"
"That's silly Kiku-chan." Gaara giggled and stood up as well.
"No No! It'll be fun! Akane-chan can be our daughter and Kuma can be the brave ninja that keeps her safe." Kiku nodded and hugged her doll. "It will be lotsa fun! I promise!"
After a moment of convincing, Gaara finally agreed and the two both set to playing around their sand palace.
Little did they know that, at that very moment, Sana-chan...the very girl Kiku's mother thought her daughter was playing with right then... was on her way to Kiku's house to ask her mother if she could come out to play.