Living with Gaara (Naruto fanfic)

Chapter 1: Childhood.

(Anya POV)

I never understood why the adults would always point in my direction and whisper amongst themselves whenever I'm in their sight. Plus the occasional pitying look my mother would gave me. I also never understood why no one would play with me and shunned me like a plague when all I wanted to do was to make friends with them. I never understood anything until now... Until this boy of my age pushed me and I fell on my butt. Secretly, I thanked the heavens for the soft sandy ground which cushioned my fall. My eyes never stray from the boy before me as I stared at him in confusion. Why did he pushed me when all I did was play by myself? "You make me sick. Go somewhere else and play." He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at me. "Really? Where are you sick? Maybe I can make it go away." Smiling brightly up at him, I did not know the meaning of his words then.

Instantly, his face contort to one of anger at my response. He pulled me up from the ground by grabbing the front of my shirt. "Shut up! Who do you think you are?! Once you made me sick you can't make it go away!" His spit literally flying to my face and I cringed back from saliva boy. "But-"

"No buts! Just get out of my sight!" He cut me off rudely. Me being me, just have to be stubborn and speak up. "But why?! I'm only playing here and I'm not even disturbing you." Hearing his growls, I flinched at the sound of it. Hearing the ruckus we caused or he caused, the village kids soon surrounded us and watched on as we're putting on a free show for them.

"You really want to know why?" Suddenly he had this evil glint in his eyes and his whole demeanor changed from angry to scary. Looking at his pudgy face, I don't feel keen to know the answer anymore. "I will tell you why then! Nobody likes you here you freak! Even our parents told us to stay away from you cause you can't use any Jutsu techniques. I bet even your mother must have doubted you're not her real child! HAHAHAHAHA! She gave birth to a useless child! HAHAHAHAHA!" As he laughed at me, the crowd laughed along with him too. They are laughing at me and I should feel happy since I was the reason for their laughters.

However, the more they laughed, the more I felt this slight pain in my chest. This uneasy feeling won't go away no matter how much I tried to reason with myself. It's like their laughters are stabbing my heart and it kept ringing in my ears a bad way.

I hadn't realised that tears were streaming down my face and my fists were clenched so tight till my knuckles turned white. I hadn't realise they were now laughing at my crying face as countless fingers kept pointing towards me while holding their bellies. I also hadn't realise how ignorant I was till now that is and how I wished I hadn't asked any questions. Their faces are a blur in my eyes, the tears clouding my vision. All I can picture in my head is their condescending sneers and sniggers. "Go away ugly! Nobody wants you here!" Saliva boy picked up a small stone and threw it in my direction, bruising the side of my forehead. "HAHAHAHA! Look! It's a headshot!" Everyone started cheering for him and followed his actions. They picked up small stones with rough edges from the ground and kept throwing it at me.

My tiny frame trembled slightly as I felt every new bruises and cuts forming on my body. I wanted to run, but my legs seemed to have a mind of their own. I didn't know how long I stood there nor how long they continue their throwing stones at me game, but what I know is that it felt like an eternity for me.

After some time, the crowd finally dispersed while I just stay rooted on the same spot in a bloody mess. Saliva boy walked up to me and smirked smugly in my face, but I'm not looking at him, my head was facing down. "So you have already learnt your lesson huh? Don't come and bother me next time, freak." With that said, he walked away like the others, leaving me here all alone. The tear stains on my cheeks are mixed up with the dry blood running down my forehead.

It was a beautiful evening that day with the orangey glow of the setting sun among white cotton clouds. And that day, the evening was engraved in my mind and heart so deeply. A reminder to tell the 7 year old me to not be so stupid next time. With that in mind, I slowly approached my house, wincing with each step I took due to the cuts and bruises on my legs.

By the time I reached home, it's already nightfall. My mom saw the state I was in and she just sighed. Taking my small hand in hers, she led me to the living room and made me sit down on the plushy blue sofa. Seconds later, she returned with a first aid kit in hand and started tending to my wounds. The silence between us was so awkward and thick till I think I could hear a pin drop literally.

She did not ask who did this? How did I get these injuries? No questions whatsoever. I wished she'd just asked me, but her silence told me that she already knew what happened and had expected this outcome long ago. "Mommy... Am I your child?" Sobs starts wrecking through her body once her hazel brown eyes met mine. Without a word, she took me into her arms, embracing me tightly. "I'm sorry little one..." Was all she said as she hugged me close to her heart. I could feel the droplets of her tears landing on the top of my head as we cried together. That night, mommy decided to sleep with me and we held onto each other's hand throughout the whole night.

Her hand felt so warm and it made me feel safe. It's okay even if the whole world hates me. As long as I have my mommy by my side, I know everything will be alright...

---Meanwhile @ Sunagakure---

A boy who looked less than 10 with a mop of red hair sat on the wooden swing solemnly, watching the crowd of kids from afar who are playing together. Their boisterous laughter made the boy clutched onto his poorly sewn teddy bear tighter.

How he wished to join them, playing catching and running around so freely in the open area. As if on cue, a blue colored softball rolled until it's touching the tip of his shoes.

He eagerly picked the ball up then glanced around to search for the owner of the ball. Soon, a boy around his age with short brown hair and a few freckles on his face appeared. The boy kept looking down at his feet, refusing to make eye contact with the red-haired boy.

"Erm... That ball is mine. Can you return it to me please?" He watched the brown haired boy fidget nervously in front of him and raised the hand out that's holding onto the ball, intending to return it to him.

However, the brown haired boy jumped backwards as if he had just seen a monster, reaching out to grab him. The red haired boy who saw this, can't help but feel a slight pang in his heart. Since he didn't want to scare the brown haired boy any longer, he dropped the ball to the ground and walked away.

Even without looking back, he knew that the brown haired boy had already picked up the ball and ran far away from him; the village monster. He's already used to their reactions, but still it never fails to bruise his already broken heart each time it happens.

He hadn't realize the tears staining his cheeks as it slipped past his eyes, until he saw the watery substance staining his beloved and only toy teddy. In absolute silence, he hugged the teddy bear tighter to his chest as he cried. No one was there to hear him as he stood alone, under the shade of a huge tree sheltering him.

All he ever wished for was someone to be his friend and play together with him like the kids he saw earlier on. He's not a monster and he promised that he won't hurt them, so why won't anyone want to play with him?

Is he destined to be alone like this without a single friend for life? Or is there someone or anybody at all that is willing to be his friend and accept him for what he is? The more he thought about it, the tears that he held back so desperately slipped past his defences.

The red haired boy cried alone with no one there by his side to comfort him. His only comfort is the poorly sewn teddy bear in his arms.

--End of Chapter--

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