Four year old Sakura opened her eyes, it was dark. Lifting her head with a grimace Sakura peeled her face from the cement; blood from a gash on her eyebrow had dried to the cement. Her head throbbed painfully and Sakura pressed her forefingers to her temples.

Memories from yesterday presented themselves to her; the villagers had done this, damn people. They had chased her into the alley she now laid in. They beat her black and blue. Sakura remained conscious long enough to hide herself from the eyes on the street.

Sakura killed her mother. When she was born her mother just… died. The doctors could give no reason for the horrible death. After the death was announced the hospital room filled with animal bones. Sakura was to blame. Along with her pink hair Sakura was viewed as a bad omen to the villagers. They figured if Sakura was able to summon the dead, she wasn't human. They could abuse a four year old with no ill afterthoughts.

Rising to her feet Sakura leaned against the alley wall. Waiting for her head to stop spinning Sakura mapped out the route to the shack she lived in. Her father abused her and blamed her for her mother's death; Sakura had never been welcomed in any home.

After limping to the shack, being sure no one had followed her, Sakura braced a 2x4 against the door. At least it would keep most people out. Sakura dropped down onto the mattress on the floor and rolled herself in the multiple holey blankets that littered the once grand bed.

Groaning, Sakura rolled onto her stomach and protesting ribs. Reaching over the edge of the mattress Sakura pulled a small box from the floor. Opening it one-handed, Sakura let her possessions spill out onto the mattress.

Picking up a crimson locket on a heavy chain, Sakura held the cool metal to her chest and let her beating heart warm the metal. Placing the locket in front of her face Sakura opened it and listened to the soft lullaby that came from it.

Notice me, take my hand

Why are we strangers when

Our love is strong

Why carry on without me

Every time I see you in my dreams

I see your face, it's haunting me

I guess I need you, baby.

The locket slipped from her limp, curled fingers and Sakura murmured in her sleep.

When Sakura woke in the morning she had come to a decision. She would leave the Village Of The Leaves. Rushing around Sakura collected her most valuable possessions in her little box and clasped her locket over her neck, letting it rest on her heart.

Exiting the hut Sakura wanted to laugh. This was the last time she's return. Taking her time, Sakura strolled around the village, taking in the places she had actually liked. Sitting under a cherry tree to watch the sun peak over the village walls was the longest she sat.

Sakura left the village during the change in watch guards; Sakura wasn't looking for any questions.

Sakura didn't know how long she ran, she covered 75 miles in 2 hours to be exact. As the vegetation became scarcer and the temperature began to rise, Sakura slowed her pace and took her time.

Sakura had expected the trees to go on forever.

Little patches of grains began appearing. Sakura steered clear of them. Fighting her way through a bush over her head Sakura gasped when she arrived on the other side. There was no green for miles. Steeping cautiously Sakura giggled when the sand shifted under her foot.

Sakura quickly decided that she liked the sand and began running again. For another hour Sakura ran. Walls loomed in the distance and Sakura picked up her speed, the thought of water and some shade urged her on.

'Another village, finally!' Sakura thought slowing her pace, there were guards. Pursing her lips Sakura looked around, a group of elderly people were approaching the gate, running stealthily Sakura grabbed hold of one of the men's robes and donned a mask of childish wonder.

The guards let them through without a problem, one of the even smiled at Sakura.

Letting go of the man Sakura ran through the crowd, leaving a pink blur in her wake. Sakura walked around after distancing herself from the village gate.

Looking around Sakura found the symbol of the village. "Suna." Sakura said, running the name over her tongue.

Giggling Sakura walked another few blocks. A park was hidden behind a large building and Sakura smiled when she found swings. Running to them Sakura sat on one and pumped her tiny legs, climbing high into the sky. After her flight Sakura studied the park, there wasn't an adult in sight only a few groups of children playing.

Still sitting Sakura pulled the locket over her head and opened it; the lullaby brought a little comfort in the foreign surroundings. The locket was ripped away by another child.

"Hey, give that back!" Sakura said indignantly, jumping to her feet. The older boy looked down at her and sneered.

"What'cha gonna do about it?" the boy asked mockingly. Lowering her head Sakura breathed in deeply and screamed, lunging at the boy. Taken by surprise, the boy fell and Sakura got a good hit to the noggin. From behind them Sakura noted steps. They must have attracted a crowd.

"Why did you take the girls locket?" A small, cool voice inquired from behind them. The boy under her froze; Sakura smacked him in the face, grabbed her locket and rolled away. When he didn't attack her Sakura looked up in surprise.

"It's Gaara!" he screamed, jumping to his feet he took off in the opposite direction.

Sakura blinked in surprise and cocked her head. Turning to the boy Sakura saw him walking away, running to get in front of him; Sakura was surprised to see a look of shock on his face.

"Well, lemme thank you properly." Sakura said looking the boy over. He was taller than her and his hair was an amazing red. For one so young, he had a tattoo that said 'love' on his forehead. His startling mint colored eyes were heavily rimmed in black. He was dressed in a beige poncho, black baggy pants and a set of strong sandals.

Steeling herself to meet a new person Sakura spread her tiny legs and stuck out her hand. "My name is Sakura Haruno, thank you for scaring that meaner away."

The boy's eyes widened even more and he took her hand cautiously. "Sabaku No Gaara." He said in greeting. "Aren't you gonna to run?" he asked slowly.

Sakura tilted her head and put her hands on her hips. "Why would I do that?" she asked. "Well, people don't like me because I have a demon in me so I can control sand." Gaara said in one breath, closing his eyes. He obviously expected her to run.

Sakura's eyes widened. "Show me!" she ordered, dragging Gaara over to the sandbox. Gaara followed, quite surprised, and sat Sakura in the sand. Concentrating lightly; he willed a handful of sand into the shape of a carnation. Sakura's eyes widened and she leaned forward in surprise, delight written across her face.

Gaara smiled and handed it to Sakura, "You can have it." He said coyly, holding it out to her. Sakura took it in gentle hands, leaping forward, Sakura hugged Gaara. He was so startled, he hugged her back.

Seeing the shock on his face Sakura looked down, a blush spreading over her face. "I-I'm sorry, that's the first present I've ever gotted." It was Gaara's turn to look confused. "Why?" he asked. Sakura pushed some sand around under her foot. "Well, in my old village, people didn't like me. Cuz I killted my mummy." Sakura said. Gaara's eyes widened. Their stories matched. "My mummy died too, no one likes me either, they all call me demon child." Gaara said, looking down too.

As first friendships go, the talk of sadness ended when a ball kicked their way went unclaimed. Gaara and Sakura played the rest of the day away, playing games like hide and seek, jump rope, and Gaara's amazingcal sand tricks.

But the sun had to set eventually. A teenage girl and a boy about a year older than them approached. "Gaara! Dad wants you home, you better hurry, or he'll hur-" the girl said, stopping dead a few feet away when she saw to youngsters hands linked together and the smiles on their faces.

"Did Gaara make you play with him?" the younger boy asked, shocked to see them together. Sakura giggled into her empty hand "No, Gaara-kun would never do that." She said, as if stating an obvious fact.

"Sakura-chan, these are my siblings; Temari and Kankuro." Gaara said, looking at Sakura's expression. "Sakura-chan's my new best friend!" Gaara said proudly to his siblings. They stared as though the children had told them the moon was made of cheese.

"Riiight. Well, Gaara, dad wants you home either way. Did you forget we were weapon shopping today?" Temari said slowly. Gaara looked down sadly. "We'll walk you home Sakura, it's too dangerous for you to be alone this late."

"I don't have a home." Sakura said quietly, moving closer to Gaara in the cold desert breeze. "They didn't like me and they hit me all the time, so I runned away." She said even quieter. Temari's face tightened, a sickened look crossed her face as she studied the injuries on Sakura's tiny frame.

"How long did it take you to get here?" Kankuro asked from behind Temari's legs. "I ran for three or four hours." Sakura said, running the figures over in her head. Temari gasped. "I don't think so dear, it takes a fully trained ANBU three /days/ to get to Konaha."

"There's no way a girl can run that fast." Kankuro said, stepping out from behind Temari. "I'll race you to." Kankuro stopped and looked around. "The slide." He said, approaching Sakura. Sakura let go of Gaara's hand and stood next to him. "Tem, can you count down?"

Temari rolled her eyes "Ready? Set, GO!" she said.

Kankuro took off. Looking to his right, wanting to see how slow Sakura was Kankuro was shocked to see she wasn't there. Looking ahead, Sakura sat at the top of the slide, looking down at the sand siblings with a smug smile on her little face. Kankuro gasped and fell over his feet.

"Sakura-chan, you're amazing!" Gaara yelled admiration bright in his eyes. Temari gasped. "Come here Sakura." She said slowly. Sakura ran over in seconds. "Seeing as you have no place to stay for the night, and that the sun is already set, you can stay with us for a while." Temari said, kneeling in front of Sakura.

Gaara jumped in joy and Kankuro picked himself up huffily from the ground and dusted himself off. "Com on, you lazy bum, let's get home." Temari said in Kankuro's direction. Grabbing Sakura's hands Temari and Gaara took off to the front of the park, leaving Kankuro to take up the rear.

Hello people. I've been looking into my old stories and have decided they need some touching up. I've redone this first chapter. Leave me some reviews, let me know what you think!