Hearts Desire, Minds Resist

Your footsteps echoed asyou skipped cheerfully down the dimming street.Your joyful expression did not match your surroundings. The narrow street was silent and near dark. Each step you took harmonized with the peaceful and almost eerie sound of the wind that wassliding past the buildings. Each gust of wind picked up sand and blew it through the air. You were used to the sand hitting your face, it was a familiar sensationthat you got used to, but your eyes still didn't appreciate it much.

The white sundress you were wearing fluttered like butterfly wings every time the wind blew through it. You hated dresses. Your mother picked it out for yourfifthbecause it was your birthday. The funnything was your blissful expression on our face had nothing to do with your birthday, in fact your birthday was over.

Almost there! you thought, almost breaking in to a sprint as you saw the small lonly looking park. A small boy was sitting on a swing staring so deeply at his feet, like they were the most intresting thing he'd ever seen. In his small hand he held a teddy bear. His deep red hair stood out of the bland sandy atmosphere, as did his stunning blue-green eyes.The very color seemed to have depth itself.
He looked up. The expresion on his face changed form extremes of despaire to joy. "Yumi" he said as a smile spread on his face. You returned the smile and sat on a swing. He had always called you Yumi, ever since you met him. You full name was Yumiko, but you liked his name for you.

"I'm just as old as you now Gaara!" your smile widend. Gaara laughed. "I bet I can still beat you at tag though." he said. "I don't know, I'm way faster then yesterday!" you said jokingly,standing up. "We'll see.." He says also standing. You ran as fastas you could considering you were wearing a dress. You felt sand slid around your leg and grab you and you fell quite hard on to the ground. He ran right up to you. "Are you okay Yumi! I really didn't mean to, I'm so sorry!" he said quickly in a paniky voice. You were just about to say I'm fine, don't worry about it Gaara when you caught the words at you lips. You had an idea.

"My ankle" you said winceing. "I'm really sorry, let me help you up!" he said panic written across his face. He grabed your hand and pulled you up. The second he let go of your hand you sprinted away saying "Just kidding". "That wasn't funny you cheater!" He sceamed to you smiling himself though, relived you wern't hurt.

You played around for hours more, completly losing track of time. "I told *pant* you *pant* I *pant* could *pant* still *pant* get you." You gigled. Both of you were laying on thesandy groundlooking up at thestary sky. "Hhhh" you gasped "It's really late,Okasanis going to kill me!" You stand up and so does Gaara. "Goobye" "Bye Yumi" He says smiling but with deep sadness in his eyes.

You got to your house. It was a very small house but your mother allways taught you to be greatfull, and you were.You grew up with just youryour mother. Your mother always told you that your father wasn't here, that he was in a better place, but he was watching you. That whenever you wanted to talk to him,you could look at the stars. He may not answer, but you could always be sure he was listening.

You opened the door. You wish younever did. That image would stay with you for the rest of your life.Tears poured from your eyes as you saw your mother with a kunai through her heart. Blood was everywhere. You sat there sitting in you mothers blood crying.