Pocket Change

Sasori 1

Just Smile

He came from a rich family that exceeded in the world wide trading and shipping. Their mansion was large and beautiful, the business highly respected, and the family well liked among their business partners. The boy was home schooled to keep the heir safe from the savage people desperate to get their hands on the Akasuna money left to him after his parents death when he was only five. Now, at the age of seven, he was looked after by his grandmother, and had no idea what it meant to have a friend.

Then he met the sister of one of the maids that worked at the manor. She was small, tiny like fairies described in the storybooks his mother used to read him. Though her body was small the smile that graced her face was huge. It changed her features from a delicate baby to a silly fool. The first time they met she had that smile on while playing in the garden. He had decided to work out on the patio that day as he practiced his weakest subject: English.

As she twirled about he called out, "What are you doing?"

Her sunshine yellow dress fluttered around her tiny legs while her plum colored hair spun freely in the air. She stopped spinning to looked over at the redheaded boy with wide lavender eyes that sparkled in the early summer sun.

"Dancing with the wind," she answered with a giggle.

"What?" he questioned. Raising a crimson brow at her he rested his chin in his palms staring at the lower classed girl like she was crazy.

"When the wind blows you move with it," she explained.

When the wind picked up again she showed him what she meant. With a grin she began twirling and dancing happily once more. Feeling the cool grass beneath her bare feet and the warm rays of sunlight against her cheeks as she danced away.

Running a hand through his tousled red hair the boy asked, "What's your name girl?" His hazel eyes never leaving her as she slowly came to a stop.

Dropping to her knees she sang, "Kazumi." Her yellow dress floated around her like a blanket while she stretched her arms out over her head. "And yours?" she asked.

"You don't know my name?" he said stupefied.

"Should I?" she questioned with a fading smile.

"Sasori," he informed flatly.

As he turned back to the work he was suppose to be doing a maid called from the stone path that lead to the front of the mansion.

"Kazumi! Come along it's time to go grocery shopping!" the maid hollered.

"Bye-bye Sasori-kun," Kazumi waved as she took off for her sister.

After that they met quite frequently. Sasori took to doing his work in the garden while Kazumi played or danced or sang. He found her actions entertaining and would never get any work done when she was there, he was too captivated by her free-spirited personality. In truth Sasori thought she had a horrible singing voice, perhaps she was tone deaf, but when she spoke poetry or recited a passage from a book the boy found himself listening even closer enjoying the sweet bell like tone her voice picked up. But it wasn't just her voice he paid closer attention to; there was her giant grin, her bubbly laugh, her bright lavender eyes that didn't have a worry.

Sasori also hated that about her. Hated how she hadn't a care in the world while he was expected to run an entire empire when he turned eighteen. He was jealous of the innocent girl. He wanted to blow off classes and goof off just like her. He craved the outside world that wouldn't devour him whole. Sasori hated Kazumi when she wasn't around, but when he watched her enjoy herself in his luxurious house he felt the hatred melt away and a sense of calm and happiness course through him. It was like her smile was his own, even though he couldn't remember the last time he had smiled since the passing of his parents.