Hidden Villages

I: Touch of Sand

Seeing the night sky always calmed the mind of the small child. Gaara heard the faint sound of a voice in both his dreams and waking hours, yet the young child found himself unable to quite remember the dreams or make out the words said. The feeling of loneliness didn't raise it's ugly head at these times even though Gaara knew full well he was alone. After all, Yashimaru needed some time to sleep.

The auburn-haired child glanced over from his window at his maternal uncle. Gaara's sea-foam colored eyes took in the calm look on is uncle's face and began creeping over slowly in hopes he wouldn't wake the man. He reached the futon Yashimaru lay on and reached his hand out towards his uncle's closed eyes.

A brown eye snapped open as his uncle peered out from the sandy colored locks of hair which cascaded down in front of his eyes. Yashimaru's mouth twisted into a soft smile. "Lord Gaara?"

"Yashimaru." Gaara's youthful voice pierced the quiet, his mouth twisting into a wide smile.

"Good morning Lord Gaara." Yashimaru sat up despite. His brown eyes looked over at the window and saw the sun was just starting to peek over the edge of the horizon. The man bushed a lock of his sandy-brown hair away from his face.

Quickly things proceeded into the morning routine. Gaara sat in a chair while his uncle stood behind. The child felt a comb gently pull through his hair as Yashimaru carefully untangled the auburn locks making sure not the slightest tug occurred.

Gaara's lips pushed together in excitement as his small fingers tightened around the seat of the chair. His feet wiggling ever so slightly while his mind focused on his latest train of thought. He felt Yashimaru lean over slightly, but out of the corner of his eye Gaara saw a look of curiosity on his uncle's face.

"Do you have any plans for today Lord Gaara?"

"Uh-huh. I'm going to enter the academy."

"You are?" The tone of Yashimaru's voice shifted slightly. His uncle's calloused fingers continued gently untangling the "This is the first I heard about this."

"Uh-huh."

"Lord Gaara, are you sure you're going to enter the academy?"

"Kankuro and Temari did." Gaara's foot continued wiggling slightly in excitement.

"Yes. Your older brother and sister are attending the academy."

"I am to." Gaara felt his uncle stop running the comb and calloused fingers through his hair, but the man remained silent. The boy looked up letting his sea-foam colored eyes look into his uncle's brown eyes. "Yashimaru?"

"I'm just a little confused Lord Gaara."

Gaara recognized the look on his uncle's face as the look the man became lost in thought. "Yashimaru?"

"The academy huh?" The look of thought on his uncle's face disappeared, and the bright smile which somehow chased away the feeling of loneliness appeared on Yashimaru's face again.

"I'm old enough."

"Oh."

"Temari and Kakuro were this old."

"I see." Yashimaru's fingers finished taking care of Gaara's hair. "So, what are your plans for the day?"

"Enter the academy." Gaara's small mouth twisted into a frown. In the back of his young mind the child knew he'd already told his uncle that.

"Yes, but the academy only allows entrance of new students during the entrance ceremony."

"Oh." Gaara slipped into his chair at the table while Yashimaru prepared their breakfast. The smells of cooking filtered through the room as Gaara thought over Yashimaru's words carefully. "Is that today?"