Chapter 9: Lost life, Saved soul

The small band of young companions quickly moved along and, thanks to Yashamaru, they were able to make it to the Hidden sand village about two hours before night fall where they were immediately taken to Gaara's nursery and given supper. Having had nothing to eat for nearly two whole days the five leaf children wasted no time in consuming all that was placed before them.

"By the way," Yashamaru asked a rather puzzled look on his face. "What is a group of children like you doing all the way out here? Where did you come from?"

Nearly at once Sasuke paused in his eating and sat quietly in place as if contemplating what to say. He opened his mouth to speak but Sakura beat him to it.

"We were on a field trip with our academy in Tsukimaka but we got separated in the forest when we were chased by a pack of wolves. We only just managed to get away but in the process we lost the rest of our group." She responded softly.

"Oh?" Yashamaru asked in surprise. "How did you come to be chased by wolves? They usually steer clear of humans."

A sheepish look crossed Sakura's face and she turned away slightly before she answered the older man's question. "Um, well, we were playing hide and seek when we weren't supposed to and Hikoto and I decided to hide inside of a cave," Sakura paused in her narrative and a bright red blush crossed her turned face. "We didn't notice that it was a wolf den so when we saw the little baby doggies we wanted to play with them. If Kosuke and Iota hadn't come to help us we would never have gotten away…"

Yashamaru stared at the small pink haired girl in shock. "You poor children! It is so fortunate that you could get away! Please, stay here for as long as you need. I am sure that Kazakage-sama would not mind at all."

Sakura bowed gently. "You're nice to say so, sir."

"Please, call me Yashamaru."

"Of course Yashamaru-san," Sakura responded. "Arigato."

Yashamaru said nothing as he bowed slightly to Gaara and his friends as he left them alone in the room. As soon as he had left, all eyes turned to gaze in astonishment at the pink haired girl who only sat with her eyes gently closed as she sipped tea.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto finally exclaimed. "That was amazing!"

"Keep in mind that I am Sakira here Iota-kun," was her only response.

"How did you think of that so fast Saku-ira?" Sasuke asked stumbling over Sakura's new name.

"I didn't think of it really fast Kosuke-kun," she answered him. "I've been thinking it up since we met Yashamaru-san."

"S-still," Hinata said. "It was rather clever Sakira-chan."

"Why thank-you Hikoto-chan."

"How come you didn't make up a name for me Sakira-chan?" Ichigo asked in confusion. "You didn't even mension me at all."

At long last Sakura opened her eyes so that she could look at her younger cousin. "Well at first I was having a little trouble with that seeing as your to young to attend any academy so I finally decided that your Ichigo, a shy young orphan girl that ran away from Hanataka after your orphanage burned down and ended up running into a group of lost academy children on the edge of the Wind and Fire nations."

"Ok," Ichigo responded with a happy grin.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking…," Gaara began hesitantly, still unused to conversing with people other than Yashamaru. "Why are you making up names and stories?"

The four corner kids each shared a glance with each other before Sasuke nodded in resolve. "We'll tell you our story Gaara-kun," he told the younger boy. "In exchange for your own."

Gaara just nodded for him to continue.

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"You did not do as I said Yashamaru," Kazakage said the instant his brother-in-law appeared behind him.

"I am sorry Kazakage-sama, but it appears that lord Gaara has come upon a group of lost children and I feel it would be unwise to carry out my mission until they are out of the way."

A long pause and then, "Very well wait until they are asleep and then move in."

"As you wish my lord."

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Gaara's black rimmed eyes were wide in shock as he listened to Sasuke finish his story. "So your whole village was taken over? And your families and friends killed?"

"Not all of them," Sakura clarified. "But a lot of them. I'm not sure how many since my heartstrings is not strong enough to feel anyone but those very, very close to me at a distance this far."

"So now we've told you our story," Naruto stated. "So what's yours?"

"Well," Gaara began awkwardly, not really sure what to say. "It is not quite like yours but to me it is just as painful. You see before I was born my father, the Kazakage of our village, placed shukaku, the one tailed demon, inside of me. Yashamaru said that it was a gift but everyone is afraid of me and calls me a monster." He turned away before he continued in a tear choked whisper. "Everyone hates me…"

"Not everyone Gaara-kun," Ichigo said as she slipped her hand into his own. "I don't hate you."

"None of us do," Naruto added.

"You had nothing to do with what happened," Sakura told him confidently. "And if other people can't see past that and see you for who you really are then they're the monsters not you."

"Yes, Gaara-kun," Hinata said sternly. "We can see past it and we like you for who you are."

"Aa," Sasuke nodded. "After all, we're your friends."

Gaara didn't know what to say. He was so happy and for the first time in his short life he finally felt the hole in his heart close and become whole. Tears welled up in his eyes but he quickly scrubbed them away. "Arigato."

"Come on," Sasuke said breaking the comfortable silence. "It's late we had better get to sleep."

At the mention of sleep Gaara became a bit apprehensive. "I can't go to sleep," he said softly. "If I do then the demon will take over."

"So that's why you were so upset that you fell asleep…" Sakura realized.

Gaara nodded. "But don't worry; I can stay awake just fine. You all go to sleep and I'll be here when you wake up."

The five leaf children shared a concerned glance. "If that's what you want Gaara-kun."

Turning away from him the five of them went to the king sized futon that Yashamaru had had brought in for them when they had first arrived and slipped off their shoes. "Oyasumi nasai Gaara-kun," five voices rang out in unison and Gaara couldn't help but smile at their shadowy outlines.

For a few moments familiar silence reined in Gaara's darkened nursery until Ichigo suddenly sat up.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as she jumped from the bed. "I almost forgot!" Rushing up to Gaara's kneeling side Ichigo bent over slightly and planted a soft wet kiss onto Gaara's left cheek. "Oyasumi nasai Gaara-kun." She whispered before she hopped back into the large shared futon.

Gaara sat in shock as he placed a hand to his still tingling cheek and several moments passed before he finally managed to weakly mutter a reply. "Oyasumi nasai Ichigo-chan…"

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Gaara's spirits were higher than he had ever thought possible as he sat silently smiling on his usual perch on the balcony of his nursery. He was so happy. He had friends. Real friends that knew what he was and yet they accepted him anyway. He couldn't believe it.

Suddenly his senses perked and his sand shot up behind him catching several kunai before they could reach their target: his back.

Whipping his little body around Gaara managed to catch a glimpse of his masked assailant just as he struck again. An uncontrollable rage filled the demon boy's body as murderous thoughts began to consume him. Without even thinking Gaara stretched out his hands and caught the would-be assassin in a barrage of deadly crushing sand.

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For a few seconds after Ichigo awoke she sat on the large futon in a dull stupor, not sure where she was or what had awakened her. That is until she heard a loud crash followed by an animalistic howl. Trembling slightly Ichigo thought about sliding under the covers and hiding from whatever had made that terrible noise. Until she remembered that Gaara was still out there. More concerned for the welfare of her friend then her own fear Ichigo did the bravest thing she could ever remember doing in all her five years of life…she slid out of the futon.

Aroused by the noise and the shifting of the bed Sasuke slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes curiously watching the trembling Ichigo venture out of the nursery doors and onto the balcony beyond them. It only took a few minutes of silence before all hell broke loose and Ichigo's pleas accompanied a rather unworldly cry sounded in the night. The noise had barely begun before all four corner kids were wide awake and sprinting out onto the balcony.

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When Ichigo arrived on the balcony she found her friend. Only he was in a terrible state. Gaara had collapsed to his knees trembling almost painfully as rivers of hot tears poured from his dark rimmed eyes and splashed onto his light tan poncho. His hands clasped his head, the splitting pain he felt there unbearable.

Unable to see her friend in this state Ichigo turned her eyes to the second figure that lay slumped against the building wall. Blood covered his face and clothes where the sand that lay around him had crushed him into the heavy brick. His eyes were glassy and dull. No life sparked in them. Ichigo began to shake in fear. He was dead.

Ichigo suddenly found her focus being jerked back to Gaara as a rough roar erupted from his throat. A startled cry escaped Ichigo's lips as she struggled to remain on her feet as Gaara's chakra swirled around him creating an artificial tornado.

"G-Gaara-kun!" Ichigo shrieked. "Y-yamero! Stop please!"

But Gaara heard nothing as he continued to yell. His throat was growing sore and his head felt like it was splitting but still he screamed. He screamed to release his pain.

Not two seconds later the corner kids burst onto the balcony only to have the air nearly forced from their lungs. The wind was whipping so dangerously fast that it nearly created a vacuum that sucked all the air from the surrounding area.

"Why!" Gaara screamed to no one but himself. "Why do you all hate me! What have I done to you that would cause you to hate me?"

"Gaara-kun!" Ichigo shouted, trying to break through the swirling winds. "Gaara-kun your wrong! We don't hate you! Please believe me! I know that you're hurt and that you don't understand the pain that you're in, but you have to believe that there are still good people who care about you!"

Gaara said nothing. He only screamed louder as his head finally split leaving the bloody kanji for the word ai printed on his forehead.

Ichigo read it. She read it and she understood. "Gaara-kun, please stop! I love you!"

Gaara's eyes widened through the blood that ran down his face; those words echoing in his aching head.

'I love you!' he thought. 'She said it but does she mean it?'

Without realizing it Gaara's chakra began to die down to a near manageable level; just enough so that Ichigo could push her way through.

Gaara was so unsure of her words. After all, Yashamaru too had said that he loved him but in the end it was all a lie. How could he possibly trust again? His thoughts were interrupted by two short arms being wrapped around him from behind and he felt rather then heard the words that came from the red head's mouth.

"I won't leave you Gaara-kun," she said. "I love you."

'She said it again,' he thought as he began to collapse. 'She said it and…and I believe her…' After that he saw nothing but darkness.

End Chapter 9

Kaliea: Well, you can thank my brother for this rediculously fast post. He said he'd watch my baby brother for me if I posted this. Personally I think I got the better end of the deal. Anywho please review.

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