Because I Met You

Chapter 1: The Red-Haired Boy

He's always sitting there, alone, by himself. I wonder why everyone is so afraid of him... He doesn't seem dangerous. I should ask Mari about that. She's my best friend after all. Well... only since like a week ago, since that's when her family found me outside, with no memories of my past. Since then, she's been taking me along with her to the playground every day. The strange thing is that he's also always there. That boy with blood red hair, holding a teddy bear, sitting alone on the swing... I always want to approach him, but each time I try, Mari just pulls me away without telling me why. Today, we are playing ball with her other friends. She's pretty popular among the kids in this village.

"Hey, Mari..."

I want to know more about that red-haired boy...

"What is it, Kiu?"

She answers me cheerfully.

"Um... Well... I'm still wondering why the boy over there is always alone..."

I point at the boy while asking her the question that's been on my mind. She immediately pulls my hand away.

"Are you crazy? Do you want him to kill us?"

She whispers frantically and pulls me further away from him. Kill us? Is that boy really capable of doing that? Why would he?

"Who is he?"

I'm still curious, you know.

"He's Gaara... The demon child..."

Demon child? He seems pretty innocent to me. I just think people are way too afraid of him for no apparently good reason.

"He doesn't seem that scary."

"You're not from here! You wouldn't understand!"

Mari is getting angry at me... I guess I should just drop the subject.

"Oh no! The ball!"

One of Mari's friends screams as the ball rolls to where Gaara is sitting.

"What do we do now..."

Mari looks terrified. She lets go of me and backs away even further from where Gaara is. He then picks up the ball and tries to give it back to us. That's my chance to approach him! I'm pretty sure none of the others will anyway. I run towards him to go take the ball.

"Kiu!"

Mari tries to stop me, but I'm already way too far ahead. Besides, she doesn't dare get any closer. Gaara looks at me and hesitantly hands me the ball. I take it from him and give him a cheerful smile.

"Thank you, Gaara!"

He looks really surprised. He smiles back after a bit though. I don't get how people are afraid of such a sweet looking little boy.

"Do you want to come play with us?"

I ask him. I want to get to know him better. Besides, he could make some friends if he approaches other people. I hear Mari's friends whispering around me.

"Is she crazy...?"

"He's going to kill her...!"

"She's an outsider, she doesn't know anything..."

"She's probably just as dangerous as he is..."

Gaara looks at me.

"I think... your friends won't be happy if I play with them."

He says with a sad face. Well if they won't play with him, I will. I turn around and throw the ball at them. Mari catches it and looks at me with a frightened face. I turn back to face Gaara.

"Then, let's just play together, you and me. Who needs them, anyway?"

"You... want to play with me?"

I nod and smile at him. He smiles back. I hear all the kids leaving. Did Mari go too? It doesn't matter. I'll just tell her how nice Gaara really is and we'll all be friends after that!

"So, Gaara, do you usually just sit around on that swing?"

"Yeah..."

"You know, I don't remember ever sitting on a swing before."

"Never?"

"Maybe I did, but I don't remember anything from my past."

"Where are your parents?"

"Parents? I don't know if I have any."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize, it doesn't really matter, since I don't remember a thing. Oh, by the way, I'm Kiu."

I extend my hand towards him, waiting for a handshake. He looks at it in confusion. Doesn't he know what a handshake is? I've seen Mari's parents do it when someone came to visit. Mari also did it when she first introduced herself to me. He's still looking at my hand. I should help him out. I reach for his hand and take it in mine. I shake it while grinning.

"That's how you shake hands, Gaara."

He looks so surprised. I wonder if he can help me out in riding a swing. He seems like he's an expert at it. I let go of his hand.

"Hey, Gaara..."

"What is it?"

"Can you... teach me how to ride a swing? It seems like it's fun, but I don't know how to do it."

"You can sit on it and I'll push you... if you want."

"You will? Thanks a bunch!"

I run to the swing and sit on it. Gaara rushes to my side and starts pushing the swing gently. Soon after, he pushes it harder and I start laughing in joy. This is so much fun! After a while, he stops. I get off the swing and give him a hug.

"That was so fun! Thanks, Gaara!"

"N... No problem..."

I pull away from him.

"Gaara... Can we be... friends?"

He looks surprised again. It's like a day full of surprises for him.

"Friends? With me?"

"Who else, you dummy?"

I grin at him and he smiles the brightest smile I've ever seen in my life. It's ever brighter than the one Mari had when one of the guys asked her to be his girlfriend. I think she's way too young for this, but really... Who am I to tell her that?

"So? Are we friends?"

"Of course!"

He answers cheerfully. Great! I'm friends with Gaara! I have a feeling we're going to be really good friends.

"It's getting really late. I should get back home before Mari's parents freak out."

That's what they usually do when Mari's late.

"Oh..."

Gaara looks down.

"Do want to walk me home? It's not that far."

Gaara immediately looks up and smiles. He nods and walks up to me. I take his hand and we head towards Mari's house.