dear_mun | Voice testing

[Oh man, Gaara. You're so little.]

Oi, Y'don't know me but er-- we're like, friends when you're older and stuff, so...

I mean, you lookin' t'go somewhere or somethin'?

[Gaara looks up with a confused blink. Hey, mister. You look tall from down here.]

Friends? [He shakes his head, sounding a little sad as he answers.] I don’t have any…

Mun’s looking. I don’t wanna go.

[Aaah, don't be confused Gaara!

He'll just be crouching down real fast like, resting his hands on his knees, elbows jutting out behind him.]

Hey! Don't you worry, you're gonna make some awesome friends when you're older, right?

You scared?

[He takes a step back, clutching tightly onto his bear as he regards the other with caution. Sorry Naruto, but he doesn’t believe you.]

N-no… [Fast head shaking; denial.] ‘M not scared.

[Now that the older boy is crouched down, Gaara can see his headband without squinting.] Oh… you’re from Konoha. [Still somewhat wary. Suna and Konoha don’t have a very strong alliance at this point.]

[Ah-- Right. Yeah, he remembers what it's like, which is why it's easy to drop down to sit on the ground instead, crossing his legs in front of him.]

Yeah, Konoha. It's okay though. I promise, yanno?

I know ya probably don't trust me or anythin' right now, but ya will. Lesse, I reckon we're like-- 13 when we meet!

[Gaara doesn’t back away, but doesn’t get any closer either. Father had always warned him to be careful, in case enemies were around to attack him.]

I dunno. [Slight shrug.] Suna and Konoha aren’t friends.

13? [Gaara repeats, and then with all the brilliant declaration of a child.] That’s old… But not like the Hokage.

[If he attacks you, it'll just be one of those scary hugs!]

Yeah, not yet - but we change all that.

[He's so proud too-- for all of a few minutes.]

Ah-- That ain't old!

[A hug? What’s that? D: Mun doesn’t think Gaara was even shown that gesture of affection.]

Why do you wanna be my friend? You don’t hate me too?

[Yes you are, ~~Naruto~~ But you’re big. I’m gonna get bigger and stronger too.

[He'd know that feeling from being that age. ;; OH YOU TWO. Ahem.]

Huh? You kiddin'? Why wouldn't I wanna be your friend? We're like-- real similar you know?

[Just going to flash that award winning Uzumaki!grin right at you, Gaara.

and-- YOU CAN DREAM ON. Taller than him!? Pah.]

[His answer comes easily.] ‘Cause I don’t have any friends. [Obviously, there must be something wrong with him.]

We are? [Blinkblink. That grin puts Gaara at ease a little, enough for him to take a step forward and look closer at the blond.] But our eyes and hair look different… and I don’t have funny lines on my face.

[A beat.]

Um… maybe your eyes aren’t working.

[Hey, shut it. Naruto and Gaara have the same height and weight in Shippuden. >( Jerkface, stealing my thunder.]

Edited 2012-06-20 19:48 (UTC)

[Oh. Right, yeah little. His smile faded for all of a few seconds before he shoved another right back, shaking his head a little.]

Hey hey, leave the marks alone, yanno? I was born with 'em. 'Cause my Mum was a jinchuuriki before me.

[Getting his drift? He sort of hopes so.]

Ah-- You tryin' t'be funny or somethin'?

[Because he's seriously having trouble marrying up Gaara and Gaara with humour like that. Okay, so maybe Gaara humour is a little over his head but that's not the point.

AND HE'S TOTALLY A QUARTER OF AN INCH TALLER THAN YOU.]

[His eyes go wide, and his voice drops down to a whisper.] Your mom was a jinchuuriki? [But no, he doesn’t draw the connection that it means Naruto is also one.] Father said the host in the Leaf is a boy.

[Blank stare.] No. You see things when your eyes are tired. [His face scrunches up as he tries to figure out how to explain it.] It’s like… genjutsu.

[LIAR. MAYBE WHEN YOU SPIKE UP YOUR HAIR.]

[He grins at that reaction, although the light in his eyes sort of fades at the talk of it all. His parents were proud of him, and he'd keep making them proud!] Yeah. I mean, er... She died when I was born so...

I was the next host.

[It's said with a thumb jabbed into his chest.]

S'why we're kinda the same, yanno?

[Another laugh.] Haaa, Nah. It ain't a genjutsu or nothin' trust me! It's like. You know, My Mum and Dad died when I was little and-- you an' me, that's kinda like how we're the same?

It gets better, yanno? It's gonna be hard, but I know you'll be great. [You know, Kazekage, great.]

[No! That's with flat hair and no sandals!]

[Gaara looks down for a moment, and then quietly nods. He thinks about his mom a lot, and wants to know much more about her than the little information he was given. His father doesn’t like to talk about her, for some reason.]

Oh… [His eyes get even bigger.] You’re a host. Like me. [And he takes a step closer, looking at him curiously.] Um… you have the Nine Tails, right?

[And here, he looks a little confused.] My da-father isn’t dead. [Said with some pride.] He’s the Kazekage. He’s a very strong ninja.

Gets better…? [He’s not following.] I’ll keep training… I have to work hard every day.

[Tsk, tsk, Naruto. Denial. XD]

[He knows that feeling very well, except the only people he had to ask were Sandaime who refused to say a word and-- well, that was it. He doesn't think about it these days though.]

Yep, his name's Kurama.

[Whoops.]

Yeah-- Yeah I know he ain't. I just meant... you know, I know what it's like when stuff's hard? [So this was before he started getting so angry? He still would have been hated, he knew. There wasn't a host he knew of that hadn't been feared and despised.]

I promise.

[SHUSH]

It seems your father forgot to mention that hurting people is in the job description.

[ He's going to take a moment to look Gaara over now, unaware that this is the very same kid he will help murder in the years to come. ]

Edited 2012-06-20 04:34 (UTC)

Huh…?

[His senses aren’t all that sharp yet, but he isn’t getting very good vibes from this man. Sadly, with so little information in Suna, and his current young age, Gaara doesn’t know who this is.]

Father said it’s okay to hurt the bad guys. It happens when ninja fight their enemies.

[ That is just as well that you didn't know, Gaara. It would be to his disadvantage if you found out. He isn't hiding in a puppet either, and is still very much in the flesh. Yes... flesh, not wood. Not yet. He wouldn't want you remember what he looked like. ]

[ Gaara's naivety almost makes him laugh, though all that comes of it now is a little twitch at the corners of his mouth. ]

Sound advice-- only if you could always tell your enemy from an ally. What of father's advice when you have to fight a friend, mm?

Edited 2012-06-20 14:22 (UTC)

[Gaara looks confused for a moment, because he doesn’t have any friends, so he can’t possibly understand how it feels to fight them. Then he realizes this man must be talking about allies.] You’re not s’pposed to fight allies.

[A short pause as he clutches the bear closer to his chest.] Oh… unless they betray the village. Then they’re enemies.

[ To be honest, Sasori isn't much of a social butterfly either, so he really shouldn't be speaking of friends. But yes, he meant allies, and comrades. ]

No, you're not.

[ The little gesture does not escape him, and there is a moment where his memories flash back to his parents. The moment is fleeting, though, and Sasori recovers, expression as unfathomable as it always had been. There may, however, have been a hint of bitterness. ]

But if you were under orders to kill your best friend? Or... the Kazekage himself?

[ Was that a smirk just now~? It's hard to tell, but his fingers itched to pat the scroll that read 'Sandaime'. ]

[Surprisingly, that question doesn’t bother Gaara. Maybe if he had friends, and knew what it felt like to share emotional attachments to them, he might be more troubled by it. Though, if asked to kill someone like Yashamaru…

He just looks at the other with big, innocent turquoise eyes as he thinks about his answer.] I don’t have a best friend. [So, that wouldn’t be a problem.] But the Kazekage gives the orders. He doesn’t wanna die.

[Thank goodness Gaara is too young and untainted at this point. Wait until he understands more of the ugliness in the world.]

Are you a ninja too, mister?

Edited 2012-06-20 15:24 (UTC)

Then that is a blessing in disguise.

[ To Sasori, such relationships were trivial and fleeting and not worth his time. Human beings were such volatile creatures, transient beings that changed their minds at will, changed their feelings, changed everything. And those that he got attached to always died. He had given up relying on human contact a long time ago, when he was about your age, Gaara. ]

[ And as for the Kazekage giving the orders-- ] Nobody wants to die, but you might want to kill him. [ Right, that came out a little too sharp, whoops. ] ...Hn. Perhaps it is our best interests that I save myself the trouble of explaining such a concept to you and let you believe that the Kazekage is without failings himself.

And yes, I am a shinobi. [ The Sunagakure hitai-ate is on him somewhere, hidden. He still holds on to it, though, after all he's said and done. ]

A blessing…? Like, a good thing? [Small frown.] But everyone else has friends… Is that bad?

[His eyes widen and he immediately shakes his head in denial. It’s not something he would even consider, with his current mindset. He respects – and fears – and is completely obedient to his father. He can’t imagine ever wanting to kill him.] ‘M not gonna kill Father. [And then, he gives the stranger a serious look.] Are you trying to kill him?

[More head shaking.] Father doesn’t fail. He’s very strong. He’ll protect everyone in the village.

[Gaara is staring at his hair; it’s rare for him to see other redheads.] Which village are you from? [He starts looking him over to try and find a headband.]

You will never know the pain of letting someone you cherish go, so yes, it is a good thing.

[ Sasori's interest perks up here, and there is a little smirk going on then when he realizes he is talking to none other than the Kazekage's son. ]

Heh. They said the same of the Third. [ That right there is a sinister chuckle, laced with pride, the smile that follows hiding a big secret. ]

The Kazekage's son, hm? How precious.

[ At Gaara's staring, Sasori almost smiles. ] We could be related, you and I. [ He isn't going to spoil the fun and give all the deets away just yet... ]

But… I wanna have friends. I wanna play with the other kids. [He can’t identify it yet, but even now, he often feels lonely. Training with Father keeps him mostly busy, and Yashamaru is really nice to him, but he doesn’t see them all the time. He wonders how it would be, playing with other kids his age and making friends.

Nodding in agreement.] He was very strong. But he dis… disa… He went away. That’s why Father’s the Kazekage now. [He is oblivious to the man’s secretive motives, but he still gets bad vibes from him. Intuition just isn’t something a child like him can explain.]

Uh huh! I have a brother and sister too. [Blank stare.] What does ‘precious’ mean?

[Gaara raises the teddy bear’s arm to point up at his hair.] Your hair’s the same color as mine. Are you in my family too? Nobody has red hair ‘cept me.

[ Don't we all want the same things, Gaara?

He looks down at the child staring up at him, sad brown eyes meeting turquoise, almost in sympathy, almost understanding. Sasori knew loneliness. It had long been his enemy, and he had tried to fight it. But accepting it had become easier than fighting it, although it didn't really make it all go away. And so it stood there, like a shadow creeping in the corners wherever he went, uninvited, forever reminding him of why he did the things he did. And to make himself feel better about it, he had canvassed it with art. ]

We will always want... so many things. But unless you earn it, it is not yours to keep. [ Like friendship and trust. But what did he know of trust? He had always been content in breaking it. ]

Went away? Heh. Yes, he did leave. For good, not unlike all the other dead men before him.

[ The corners of Sasori's mouth twitch at the innocent question. Precious hm? The child was too young to understand sarcasm, so a dictionary definition ought to suffice, he assumed. ] Precious means cherished, of immeasurable value.

[ And at the mention of hair and family, Sasori finally crouches down to the boy's level, scooping up a handful of sand and letting the grains slip through his fingers, the wind carrying it off in between them. ]

This... was once home.

[ ...He could never forget. ]

Edited 2012-06-20 17:09 (UTC)

[“We”? So he was talking about himself too.] What do you want, mister? How come you don’t like having friends? [That’s what it sounded like, from what he was saying. Something still tells Gaara he should be careful around this stranger, but it is much easier for kids to let their guards down.

He looks down for a few minutes, staring at the worn teddy bear huddled in his small arms. A while passes before he lifts his head back up and says.] I dunno how to earn it. They won’t come near me. They say mean things sometimes. They even said… they hate me. [So naturally, his follow-up question is:] How do I earn friends?

Uh huh. Father’s… [trying to remember the word] council people think he’s dead too.

Oh… I’m precious to Da-Father? Why? [So many questions. Sorry, Sasori. Yashamaru has always been patient with Gaara and his curiosity.] What about my brother and sister? And the village?

Home? [Blink, stare.] You’re from Suna?

[Gaara watches the sand drifting away in the wind, and then suddenly, he reaches one hand toward the trail. He catches some wayward grains and withdraws his arm, returning the sand to the red-haired stranger, depositing it back into his hand.]

I don’t ‘member seeing you before…

What I desire is far greater than any fleeting human relationship. [ The answer come easily. ] I want to create the greatest masterpiece the world has ever known: eternally beautiful, everlasting, unchanging, and unyielding to human weakness and death. [ He looks at Gaara then, the same sad, cold gaze sweeping over the innocent young face. ] I want to become it. What more could one want than to truly become perfection? ...I wouldn't expect you to understand, of course.

[ And as to the question about earning friends, well, he's not really going to be too helpful. Sorry, Gaara. He is instead just going to pause and stare at you for a while, expression blank but eyes mocking. ] I find it amusing, this need to earn the affections of worthless judgmental little children. [ By amusing, he means disgusting. ]

[ And kami-sama, there were more questions. This child had so many questions! Sasori does not have too much patience to deal with all of them, unfortunately, and he snaps with: ] How would I know?

[ Sasori watches as Gaara deposits the sand back onto his hand, and in a moment, merely shakes it off, standing to his feet once more. ]

It wouldn't make sense if you did. [ See him before, that is. ]

But you will hear of me. [ So much confidence. ]

[He scrunches his face up a little, doing his best to comprehend what he’s saying. Trying not to let all of his inexperience show.] You wanna be perfect and beautiful? And… live forever? If you could do that… people won’t ever forget you, huh?

[Easy, Sasori. Gaara is young and naïve. He has no idea that friendships and bonds come with so many variables and possible heartache. All he knows right now, is that he wants to get rid of the weird bad feeling he has, whenever other kids exclude him.

He does, however, recoil at the snap, and lowers his head in a silent nod. This feels similar to when he gets reprimanded by his father, and his instinctive response is to be obedient.]

......

[He watches the stranger throw his sand back down, causing the small redhead to frown somewhat thoughtfully. He stares at him some more, trying to make his brain remember. There are a lot of people in the village, but he would have remembered someone like him.]

…Okay. [He finally answers.] I’ll be bigger and stronger, when you see me again.

[ Well, try harder, little one. It shows. ]

I do not wish my existence to be merely a memory either.

[ Gaara's reaction to the snap, though, has him almost sighing in relief. The questions have finally stopped pouring forth and all is slightly bearable now. ]

Hn. [ Looking down at him now, he considers the possibility of them meeting again in the future. ] What is your name?

[Perfection can’t be achieved in a day.

He looks a lot more serious now, much more like a ninja instead of a child, in spite of his answer.] Maybe you can be a spirit. They won’t die, and they’re not only memories.

Gaara. [Hesitantly.] What’s yours?

...In order to become a spirit, I must die first. [ That would have defeated the purpose now, wouldn't it? ]

[ Gaara. Would they really cross paths again? ]

Akasuna no Sasori. [ He could have said he was just plain old Sasori, but no. If the boy were to remember him, then he will remember him as the man who turned the golden sand red with the blood of the enemy. ]

[He nods, like that outcome doesn’t surprise him at all.] Everyone dies.

[That name triggers something in his mind, but only vaguely. At that age, he isn’t informed of all the shady ongoings of the village just yet.]

Your name has our village in it. But you don’t live in Suna anymore?

[ He is just going to take in a breath and hold back that sigh here. Where was the point in arguing with a child? What did that make him? ]

[ Ah, the inevitable question, to which he smiles, a secret behind that rare expression. ] You could say I... 'disappeared'.

Dis…appeared. [Right, that’s the word they used when they were talking about the Third Kazekage.]

Does that mean you’re… um… [What was that term again…] A traitor?

Was the Third a traitor?

[ Oh no he wasn't going to admit right away. In his defense, there really was no treachery involved when there was no loyalty to begin with. ]

[Blinkblink. Looking at him innocently.] I dunno. [The councilmembers didn't talk about the Third like he had been a traitor.]

I think... a traitor wants to do bad things to his village.

[ He's also looking down at the other innocently~ ]

Wanting to do and doing it are entirely separate things. The Sandaime Kazekage was none of those.

[ He takes a step back then, just once more to look at the boy stood in front of him. He couldn't confirm the eerie aura that emanated from the child, but wondered if the Kazekage had transferred the Ichibi into his own son. Sasori was no stranger to that aura; he had been in Sunagakure when the previous jinchuuriki had been alive. ]

When we meet again, Gaara, I should hope it would be in battle.

Okay... then he wasn't a traitor. [But now he's looking at the other as if trying to figure out if he fit either one - or both - of those criteria.]

You... wanna fight me? [Hey, a challenge meant that Sasori thought he was strong enough to fight... right?] Okay. When I'm bigger and stronger, we can fight.

[The sand movement was just a figment of your imagination, Saso~]

[LOL STAAAAAAAARE]

[What are YOU looking at, stranger?

Little Gaara stares right back, tightly clutching onto his stuffed bear.]

[STARING SOME MORE

But then he speaks else this would go on.

Forever.]

Are you related to the Kazekage? You look just like him.

[He could throw his bear at you, to figure out if you’re really a statue in disguise?]

Uh huh. He’s my father. [And Gaara has to squint as he looks up to see his headband, because holy hell, you’re even taller than the other guy.] You’re from Konoha too.

...I did not know that the Kazekage had children.

[HE THINKS YOUR GAARA'S KID, LITTLE GUY]

[Oh, God. Somewhere, older Gaara muse just spazzed. THANKS A LOT, SAI.]

Um, I have a brother and sister too. Do you know Father?

Voice testing

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oh wow... what a meeting |:

Play nice, Saso. >:

ahaha nice? |8

s-stranger danger D:

He won't lay a finger on you yet, bby!Gaara <333 But no, not nice at all

bb!Gaara is so trusting. >_> Stop trying to corrupt him! XD

Re: bb!Gaara is so trusting. >_> Stop trying to corrupt him! XD

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...darn it. He's so cute :C

Don’t drop the second shoe, Saso. >:

h-he'll try ahahaha D:

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that icon gets me all the time <33

I hardly get to use it. XD Smiling is not Gaara's forte, sadly. >: super srs all the time

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