This job is not easy one and definitely the most dangerous one to have too. I have to keep the Black Book up to date, which contains all the information needed on all dangerous criminals especially the Akatsuki. The village where the criminal originated from may have a little bit of information but I have to gather most of it by observing the criminal without being seen. The easiest and most relaxing part of this job is writing it all down in the Black Book then sending it out to all the villages.

I sat at my desk staring at the old information I have on an Akatsuki member – Sasori. From time to time I have to update the Black Book to ensure that the information in it is correct and up to date. This is my first time trying to gather information on Sasori, all I have is what his village was willing to give me. I doubted any of it will be of any use to me. I hit my head on the desk's hard surface with a thud, I couldn't think of any way to get close to him. If I knew where he would be in the next few days I might be able to think of something.

I need fresh air, get out of my stuffy office and return with a refreshed mind. Stepping outside I took a deep breath of the after rain air and let it all out in a long sigh. Because of how dangerous my job can become I choose to live far away in a forest so if anything were to happen no innocent bystander would be harmed. Of course that left me feeling quite lonely at times. Information is a double edged sword and I held the side that could get me killed.

"What's on your mind?"

I looked out into the forest startled to hear a voice so far from a village and froze. The dangerous red headed puppet master was leaning against a tree as he stood on a high branch. It had to be an illusion, no one knew where I lived. I made sure rumours where all anyone knew. He smirked at me. Pushing off the tree he jumped down standing straight he took a step toward me but I took a step back putting my hand on the door knob of my house ready to retreat.

"Cat got your tongue?"

"Who are you?" I inquired trying to play innocent.

"That's hurtful," he put a hand to his chest "You've been researching a lot about me recently and you've already forgotten my name."

"I assure you, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Play time was over, his expression stern and in a blink of an eye he stood inches in front of me. I didn't get a chance to turn the door knob before he backed me up into the door. He took my chin in his hand and tilted my head from side to side until he found what he was looking for. A special tattoo on the back of my neck spiralling down my back telling anyone and everyone what my dangerous task is. It's a cursed mark that I was born with so I always try my best to cover it with my hair and clothes. It's a permanent target for dangerous people like Sasori to aim for.

"Okay," I pushed his hand away "So you know who I am and I know who you are."

"Actually I don't know your name," he confessed "All I know is that there is someone who lives in the forest who could help me."

I burst out laughing "You took a chance that I was the one you were after. You play a good game Sasori."

"It wasn't that funny," he scowled "I'm hungry and your house is the first one I've seen in weeks."

"So I just blew my own cover?"

"Pretty much. Now let me inside to eat then we can talk about my deal."

I held the door knob tightly shaking my head "Not in my house. I'll let you eat but at a nearby tea shop."

"I need substantial food not some dainty tea."

"Oh just shut up and trust me."

I felt him glaring at my back as I locked my house but I assumed he was too hungry to complain. I led him to the tea shop I was referring to, someplace I go to quite often and isn't too far away. As we neared the tea shop his mouth started drooling from all the delicious smells wafting through the shop. I heard him groan, I glanced at him as he pointed to the long line. I just smiled, grabbed a menu and walked to the very back. The waitresses acknowledged our presence and came over shortly with two glasses of water.

"You come here too often," he commented eyes glued to the menu "You sure this is a tea shop?"

"Upstairs is a specialty tea shop where you can sample and purchase all kinds of tea."

"Are you ready to order?" a waitress returned.

Sasori looked at me "You paying?"

"Depends on how much information you give me."

Sasori ordered five things from the menu, as for me the waitress asked if I wanted the usual and I decided I'd eat now in case this was my final meal. Sasori handed her the menu and stared at me as I drank my water. I could tell he wanted to start talking about this deal that he so desperately searched me for but was afraid of being over heard.

"It's safe," I assured him "Now, what is this deal you wanted to talk about?"

"I want you to find all you can about Orochimaru and keep me in the loop when there's a new development."

"Interesting, but what's in it for me?" two waitresses had returned swiftly with our food "I mean, I'm not supposed to be looking into Orochimaru for roughly three months from now."

"I'll give you all the information you may need or want on me."

"That's not enough. You're the complete opposite to what rumors have claimed so far."

"I can get you into the Akatsuki as an informant. You tell them what they want to know and you can get first-hand information about them."

"Now that is quite a tempting offer. Tell me, what did you tell your leader when you came to search for me?"

Sasori stopped chewing his food and stared at me, after a moment he swallowed "What does that matter?"

"By your reaction, I'd say it matters a lot."

"I told him about someone who was researching us and a rumor that that person was living in a forest. He told me to kill the person and burn down their hideout."

"What do you plan on telling him when you show up to the base with me alive?"

"I never thought that far in advance. My original plan was to keep you all to myself, taking you back to the base isn't my first choice."

"Well then," I dabbed my mouth with a napkin and laid some money on the table "I think we're through here. Have a nice day Sasori."

I was returning from one of my informants when I noticed the door to my house was open just a crack. I clearly remember locking it behind me when I left. Cautiously I pushed the door all the way open and stepped inside. I noticed a single light on under the door to my office. Someone was in my there. I tip toed toward the door hand on the door knob when my mysterious guest spoke from behind me.

"Welcome back."

I reacted violently by attacking the person who was behind me and we ended on the floor with my hidden blade to his throat "Sasori, what are you doing here?"

"I came back to see if you had changed your mind about accepting my deal."

"It's been two weeks," I put my ear to his chest for a moment before lifting it back up "You're heart is still beating, my informant said you had turned yourself into a puppet."

"You never know how someone is until you've gotten to know them," he pushed a stray strand of hair that had fallen in my face away "Do you mind removing your blade from my neck?"

I blushed realizing I was still on top of the puppet master and pushed myself off heading to my office "As for that deal of yours, I never said I wasn't going to accept," I searched the book shelves for a specific file to put my most recent piece of information into "I just don't want to be put in the middle of the Akatsuki base. I rather enjoy being anonymous."

"What have you found out?"

"Orochimaru has a new lab assistant. A medical ninja named Kabuto."

"I put Kabuto under Orochimaru as my spy."

"He isn't your spy any more. Orochimaru removed any and all mind spells from Kabuto."

"That snake," he hissed "Who am I supposed to trust now?"

"Me," I stated closing the file returning it to the book shelf "But if you don't, you know where the door is and don't bother returning."

"That came out wrong."

I wasn't listening, too focused on grabbing some money that I have hidden away to pay my next informant but I vaguely heard him mumble something under his breath. As I walked by, ready to leave he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his chest. His arms wrapped around me and his forehead rested on my neck. I've never had this much interaction with my subjects before, I'm not supposed to. I don't understand why being in his arms made my mind spin and my heart beat really fast.

"What do you want from me?" I forced myself out of his grip.

"Information on Orochimaru."

"No," I shook my head confused by his actions "No one is this determined to get information on somebody. Now I'll ask you again, what do you want from me?"

"It's true, I want information on Orochimaru. He betrayed me," he looked at me, his face as emotionless as a doll "But I also became interested in you. If I can't coax it out of you gently, I'll just have to use force."

I backed up into my desk "One more step and I'll blow this place to smithereens', us along with it."

"You're bluffing," he eyed me.

"Try me."

I stared at him, my heart going heavy. He took in my expression then took a step forward. I set off the first paper bomb I hid under the desk, it triggered a chain reaction setting the entire house off. Sasori took the final two steps my way and kissed me just before the roof came down on us.

It took just over two years for my body to recover from the blast I had set off. I was still writing the Black Book, though information came out much slower than before due to my recovery. As long as this cursed mark on my body is there I will never stop writing the Black Book. I had to go underground for a while until I knew no one would be looking for me. Of course I then had to find a new house so I can get my research started again.

Once my body was 100% I went after my new target – the newest Akatsuki member, Deidara. He was first known as a hired assassin specializing in bombs from Iwagakure but he wasn't dangerous enough to put into the Black Book, until now. Deidara had refined his technique considerably the moment he entered the organization. It gave me cause to look into it.

Deidara was hard to find, the blonde bomb maker likes to use his clay creations to get around. In his case that meant by air, the higher up he was the more his creation looked like a real bird. I always had to search at night when he landed to get a good night's sleep. I knew approximately what area he was last spotted in so I knew roughly where to look. It happened to be a fluke when Deidara's bird landed in the exact area I was searching that night.

"Go get some firewood," Deidara's partner hissed "I don't want to freeze."

He nodded and left. I was going to follow when chakra strings pulled me down from the tree I was hiding in. I fell onto the ground with a painful thud to my butt and was dragged across the ground to Deidara's partner. He spun me around dropping his chakra strings. Not many ninja knew how to use chakra strings, my mind immediately went straight to Sasori. I shook out the thought, he died in my explosion.

"Well, well," the short ugly man chuckled "I'm surprised you're still alive."

"Excuse me?"

"Those paper bombs you set off two years ago should have killed you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he was scaring me, only Sasori would know any of that

"I'm just a civilian who happened to be sleeping in that tree which you rudely pulled me out of."

"If you don't know who I am then you've really lost your touch."

From under his cloak a silver tail appeared. My eyes widened, I couldn't believe it. This silver scorpion like tail couldn't truly belong to Sasori, the red scorpion. His tail very carefully pulled back my shirt, just enough so he could see the start of my tattoo.

"Cat got your tongue?" he chuckled.

I tilted my head "Sasori?"

"Took you long enough, my little informant."

"What happened to you?" I stood dusting the dirt off my butt.

"Your little explosion damaged my body; I had to create a new one."

"Master Sasori I got the firewood, un," Deidara returned dropping the wood the moment he saw me and pulled out a kunai "Who is that?"

"An old trustworthy partner."

"I've never heard of a female within the Akatsuki, un."

"I've never stepped foot within the Akatsuki base," I responded "But I guess you could say that I was his spy."

"So what do you have for me?"

I crossed my arms "You let me hang around then I'll give you everything, once innocent ears aren't around."

"Deal."

"Hey, wait a minute!" Deidara stepped forward "We're on a mission right now, un."

Sasori aimed his tail at the blondes' neck with a growl "She stays."

"Okay, she stays, un."

I just smiled and quietly analyzed the two of them. Sasori was much more feared, he allowed me to circle and examine his new look. I learnt that what was shown is just a puppet shell filled with weapons and defenses, while his tail was dipped in a home made poison. Deidara set up camp always keeping an eye on me as I examined his partner.

"Okay Deidara, your turn."

"To do what, un?" he snapped.

I giggled "You sound jealous."

"I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous, un?"

"Just do as she says brat," Sasori snapped.

"Why should I, un?"

"Because if you don't I'll make sure that it's your last breathe."

Deidara gulped "What did you want me to do, un?"

"Just take off your cloak so I can see what I'm working with," I replied.

He undid the cloak letting it fall to his elbows. I circled him paying attention to every minor detail, when I came back to the front I put my hand on his chest. His expression changed and he twisted away from my touch. I took out my notebook and wrote down all that needed to be in the Black Book then sat down on the ground in front of them.

"What did you write down, un?"

"Nothing important."

"Then why did you circle me like a hawk, un?"

"Gathering information."

"Like what, un?" Deidara sat in front of me like an eager child waiting for a present.

I glanced at Sasori; he nodded so I explained "You're a young bomb expert who believes art is fleeting. Though you argue with Sasori you are always wanting his acceptance. You act tough but you're just a softie, there is one person you wish to be better than but deep inside you respect him. There are two gapping holes in your chest, one is for a powerful sacrificial jutsu, and the other is for the loneliness that you carry. Do you want me to continue?"

"Not yet," he shook his head all choked up "How do you do that, un?"

"It's a skill of mine."

"Do you have all you need?" Sasori inquired "You're making him emotional."

"No she's not," Deidara smacked his cheeks "What else can you tell me, un?"

I looked up at the night sky "The sun has set, lets talk tomorrow."

The blonde pouted but agreed, his bird disappeared as he crawled into his tent. Sasori made a fire and offered up his tent for me while he kept watch. For a while I stayed awake watching Sasori, somewhere deep inside I had this fear he was going to leave me, though he had no reason to stay by my side after I blew him up. My mind wondered as sleep took over the dreams felt so real, I woke with a start feeling a hand on my cheek.

"Sasori?" I whispered staring at a body from before it was blown up "This has to be a dream."

"Come on," he helped me up "Deidara is fast asleep."

"So this is real?" I was still sleep driven; nothing could penetrate my currently slow mind "Where are you taking me?"

He didn't answer, a soft smile graced his lips, it sent my heart racing. I moved closer so I wasn't following him but instead walked beside him. Sasori stopped a few kilometers away from the camp; he held me in place and held his arms out while stepping back.

"This is my new body," his eyes turned sad "I'm all puppet, no feelings and no heart."

"The perfect ninja," I replied "Not easily killed, but why tell me?"

"This is what your explosion caused me to do."

"You say you have no heart," I touched his chest to see if it was true "Then why can I still feel its warm gentle beating?"

"That's impossible, puppets are all wood," I reached for his hand putting it to my chest "How can you have no heart beat?"

"Ever wonder why I was chosen to create the Black Book?"

Sasori stepped closer "I don't care for the reason, I'm just glad I got to meet you."

I stepped away and walked over to where the moon shone through the trees "I'm not truly alive, just a doll created at birth to hold information."

"How is that possible?"

He reached for my arm, the moon light that shone on the surface exposed bone. I pulled away careful not to stand in the moons rays and looked down. Sasori lifted my head and leaned in for a gentle kiss.

"All that time I thought it was only my heart strings being pulled," he chuckled "But it's yours too. You weren't made to hold information, you were made for me."

"Sasori," I touched his cheek lightly overwhelmed with feelings that I've never had before "The dead can't love."

"And neither can puppets. Promise me one thing."

"Depends on what's in it for me," I tried to regain my composure.

He smiled "Stay by my side until the day I die."

I tossed the idea in my head "Intriguing suggestion."

"But?"

"What am I going to do if and when you die?"

"I'm a puppet, a living weapon so to speak."

"Here's a counter offer," I kissed him lightly "I'll stick around until I get bored, but I still work on the Black Book."

"I'll take what I can get," he picked me up "Uh, you've never told me your name."

"Xara."

"My shinning flower."