Author's Notes:

A story I wrote... *counts* around three years ago. Just wanted to post it here and perhaps get some feedback ^^ This one is the unedited version.

~o~o~Red Strings of Fate~o~o~

Chapter one: Hidden and Found

I wiped my wet little chubby cheeks furiously and hugged my legs. I've been trying to find the perfect position to sit for hours… without any luck. My back made an eerie cracking sound every time I moved. This tiny hole I was trapped in forced me to crouch down. It was dark inside and it lacked air; I was getting dizzier and weaker every passing minute. My stupid, wild imagination didn't help either. This haunted building, whether I wanted it or not, made me keep on picturing the monsters and other daunting creatures that could attack the helpless me in the dark. I let my long straight auburn hair fell like a curtain as I buried my head in my legs.

Where are they? Why isn't anyone coming?

I mentally grunted as I accidentally stomped on my bad foot. My twisted joint throbbed with pain once more. I could swear that my cheeks were red right now… Not from blushing, but from me constantly wiping the tears that came out. I couldn't say a word… I couldn't scream; not even a whimper, until someone had found me. They could hurt her if I did. My most precious belonging.

Suddenly there were noises… Footsteps. The person seemed to wander around for a while, the sound echoing through the building.

I'm here! I'm here! Please notice me, please! However, that 'someone' appeared to walk further and further away from where I was. When his, or her, footsteps could no longer be heard, I bowed down my head; gradually losing hope.

Still, a miracle occurred. Moonlight shone through the cracks of the wood and stone. I carefully looked up and my heart leaped in joy.

"Sasori-nii-san!" I shouted; or at least intended to. My throat was dry and I was already nauseous from the inadequate amount of oxygen. I could never think that the presence of this red-haired boy, who was 6 years older than me, could make me even more pleased than I usually feel when I meet him in normal occasions. I was about to strangle him to death with my hug until those tedious, yet venomous words slipped out of his mouth. The moment just had to be ruined. Again.

"What are you doing here brat? I've had enough work without you frequently disappearing and yet here you are. You know very well that I've got a thinner patience-string than much other people, but why do you keep bothering me?" I frowned and glared at him, ignoring my frail and puny form.

"If you're so bothered by my common 'disappearances', then don't search for me at all!" I croaked. Of course it sounded more like a frog than my usual voice; I haven't had anything to drink for eight hours. Take or give several minutes.

"I had to. Your Aneue is practically freaking out" I scowled. It was always about her. Sunagakure adored her. The male jounin were head-over-heels… They dreamed to go out with her (naturally including those perverted old men I hated so much) as the females fantasized what would it be to be perfect… like her. Chuunin and genin (boys andgirls) took her as a role model. Parents compared their children to her. I loved my Aneue, please don't mistake me, but it was and is never a crime to be jealous now isn't it? Why? I heard you ask… Because I was the total opposite of her.

True, I was still young, (Though with an over-developed mind, a set of colorful vocabulary and a head harder than any rock. I could be sweet only to the people I like) but anyone could notice the difference. It was like heaven and hell. Like I wasn't related to her. At all. We were at least still half related. Same father, different mothers. That shouldn't have made a gigantic gap of dissimilarity between us. It shouldn't. But it did, much to my dislike. My lifeless long russet hair, dull left hazel eye and my dark emerald right eye were nothing compared to my Aneue's shining and wavy red hair, her brilliant sparkling crystal blue eyes and proportional body. Yes, my irises were odd. Deal with it.

Puppet-boy here was no exception. I caught him glancing (a polite word for 'ogling' and 'drooling') at my Aneue when she was shopping (I followed *cough*spied*cough* her that day, though I was partly dying {ok, maybe a little too harsh… it was a fever} and limping instead of walking. An old perv ran into her yesterday and stalked her… I couldn't just let her be).

Wow, I thought about all of that in less than 2 seconds.

And I still could maintain my glare.

I feel so proud of myself.

He offered me his hand, which I glowered at.

"Take it, I want to go home. NOW" His emotionless mask remained, as usual, but the irritation dripping in his voice was hard to miss.

"I can't walk"

"Then crawl" I huffed.

And I thought that the air in the desert at nightfall was cold. After I had successfully dragged myself out, I let his long and firm fingers wrap my dainty hand. Only then could he see that bruises and all sizes of cuts covered me from head to toe.

"A fight? Expected of you. How unladylike" I growled silently and balled up my left fist.

"T'wasn't a fight. I played here and SLIPPED" The last word was full of sarcasm, yet he ignored it. He wasn't going to let a 7-year-old intimidate him. It could hurt his pride.

"Keep yapping Pinocchio" Yep. He was definitely a puppet-obsessed jerk.

"You would've called me a liar even faster if I told you the truth" I looked away from him and he carried me easily, as if I was a feather… Or worse, a nothing. I didn't realize how cold I was until my body was against his. The cozy warmth made me smile a little, but I quickly changed it.

"Try me" The edges of his is crept upwards; mocking, no doubt. I clutched his robe, afraid to fall. The fact that he was jumping on rooftops, not walking, scared me even more. I didn't want to hear any 'Oh how could he do that?' or 'Sasori would never do such a thing' or even an 'It must've been your fault for being too heavy'. Believe me. I was more than merely experienced in the 'Making-Sasori-Mad' department. He wouldn't even hesitate to release me from his embrace right now if he wanted to.

"No, like I said, you won't trust me. Or maybe, you'd turn as red as your own hair and drop me. Again" I emphasized the last word to remind him of how many times I have landed on my bum due to him 'fortuitously' dropping me.

"And like I said, 'try me'. Or are you deaf too now?" I pinched his arm without any mercy and he shut his eyes for a split second, then reopened them only to angrily stare back. Whoa, if looks could kill.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way to my house!" He looked at me with a 'Duh-isn't-it-obvious' look and turned his face away to concentrate on the road. At least my attempt to change the subject worked.

"Details when you arrive home" Okay… Maybe it didn't work after all. Seconds later we arrived in the Kazekage's… office. Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!He devilishly smirked as he saw my reaction. If it wasn't for my ankle, I would've kicked him and made a run for it. He walked casually; still carrying the feebly struggling me in his arms, and went upstairs to the meeting room. I noticed that some people in the building were looking at us. He must've seemed like he was a kidnapper right now.

He leaned on the wall beside the door. I've stopped struggling by then. I was hungry, thirsty, my whole body hurt and it was still cold. Sasori's heat could only warm up half of me. My right part was completely neglected. My eyes were partially closed, fatigue was building up inside of me and my small body couldn't take it any longer. If it wasn't for the door slamming, I would've passed out for sure.

"It's not usual to see you here Saso- Itsumi-chan! What happened to you!" She rushed to me and examined me there. Great. More medicine.

"How did you get so many bruises!"

"Chiyo-baa-sama, I have to inform her sister"

"Oh yes, go ahead, leave Itsumi-chan to me, we will be in my room" He handed me to her and without both of them noticing, I was narrowing my eyes.

'Take it, I want to go home. NOW' BLEH! He only wants to meet Aneue sooner! SICK JERK! JUST WATCH WHEN I'M HEALED! I'M GOING TO PUT A TWENTY METER RADIUS BARRIER BETWEEN YOU AND ANEUE! I shouted madly in my head.

He only wanted to impress Aneue… through saving me. Then he would be the hero. And they live happily ever after. Boom. End of story. Then again, fairy tales need an antagonist right?That was me, I thought again.

I wasn't aware because I was too caught up in my thoughts (and mostly other plans to get rid of puppet-boy, regardless of how much I owe his family), but I was already on a bed… With Chiyo bringing the familiar, icky, gooey, ridiculously stinky green substance and a glass of water. I cringed my nose at the medicine, but was glad she understood that my throat my making a desert on its own.

"What happened? I heard you were missing" She asked me gently while mixing the stinky medicine with another horrid looking liquid.

"I… They took Yuki-hime and called me a baby and cracked her arm off and hit me and said if I want to have Yuki-hime back I'll have to stay in the hole inside the haunted building for 10 minutes without a sound but then they closed the entrance with some stuff and I couldn't get out so I waited" I said without a single comma. I couldn't lie to Chiyo; she would detect it right away. Yea, that was the truth. That was why I was in this mess. To get my birthday present back.

"And how long exactly DID you wait before Sasori found you?"

"When I went inside it was around 1 o'clock"

"It wasn't necessary to do that Itsumi-chan… I or Sasori could make you a new one"

"No. No thank you, Chiyo-baa-sama. It won't be the same if it's not Yuki-hime" She sighed and gave me a neatly folded towel, but before I bit it, I had one more question:

"Chiyo-baa-sama, why don't you use your mystical… palm technique… thingy…?"

"I'm sorry Itsumi-chan, I attended the meeting right after a mission so… I'm quite exhausted… Forgive this old hag"

"N-No, it's ok" I bit the towel and closed my eyes.

Aneue and Sasori came when Chiyo started to bandage my right arm. I was breathing heavily, trying to catch my breath. I loathed that medicine. It always burns if you put them on your wounds.

"Itsumi-chan!" She shouted and kneeled beside Chiyo's bed.

"Kireina-chan, your imouto will be fine. Although I suggest that she stays here for the night"

"Please, Chiyo-baa-sama, you and Sasori-kun have done far too many for us! I would not want to-"

"I know that you mean good, but her wounds will hurt if you touch them. Carrying her back to your house would not be the best idea"

"They do not hu-! Mmpppfffhhh!" My interruption was cut off by the only male in this house. I bit his hand; of course.

"Well then… At least please let me repay your kindness this time. Please!"

"We will, we will. Now please let me finish bandaging her. Kireina-chan, could you please make dinner?"

"Of course!" Aneue squealed in glee and rushed down to the kitchen, Sasori-nii-san gladly following, rubbing his now red hand.

"Chiyo-baa-sama"

"Yes?"

"Will Sasori-nii-san be angry?"

"Why would he be, Itsumi-chan?"

"But I lost… Yuki-hime…" Her motherly hand patted my head and I looked up to see a smiling Chiyo-baa-sama.

"You just have to find out don't you? By the looks of it, you haven't told him the truth" I shook my head slowly. I was actually scared. Terrified that he would hate me for real. We both always talk like that to each other, but that didn't mean we hate one another. I didn't. Arguing with him was always fun :3

Aneue fed me some porridge as she was eating her own meal. She apologized for not realizing sooner and promised to make up for it. Although it wasn't her fault. Her thoughtfulness only made her MUCH MORE popular and loved by others. I was proud to have a sister like her… And as mentioned above, jealous. She went home after washing the dishes, kissing my forehead and saying 'good night'.

Yet again, I couldn't find a comfortable position for me to sleep. The only body parts I could move were my lips (and everything in it to communicate) and neck... And eyelids if they count too. I tried my hardest to magically fall asleep, but it didn't work. The door squeaked open and the red-head was already sitting on the chair that was beside the bed. This was why I wanted to sleep early.

"D-Did Chiyo-baa-sama tell you?"

"No, she asked me to find out by myself which is why I'm annoyed" I muttered something that I hoped was inaudible to him and sighed.

"Promise you won't be mad?"

"I'll consider that"

"Really, really, really promise?"

"Hn"

"Swear?"

"Whatever"

"Pinky swear?"

"I don't want to swallow a thousand needles" He monotonously murmured.

"I… Ummm… I… I lost… ehhh… Yu-Yuki-hime…" His eyes went wide and he stood up, letting the chair crash on the ground.

"I tried to get it back! I swear, I swear! And when I swear I don't swear like you!" I raised my hand to shield myself from him and paid no attention to the pain.

"THAT silly thing was why you were in there! FOR HOURS!"

"You promised that you won't be angry!" He stopped when he saw the tears forming in my eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You could've thrown that thing away and I won't care the least bit"

"Maybe you don't, but I do! That was why I told you that I don't swear like you! You always forget!" He grunted and sat closer to me. Not too close, because honestly, I stunk.

"Your puppet… 'Yuki-hime', was the first normal puppet I've ever built when I was 10 so anyone else could control it by hand and not by chakra strings, you snotty stubborn little brat. How could I forget that?"

"You're still mad. Your expression is still scary" He wiped out my tears and poked my forehead.

"Go to sleep whiny cry-baby" He kissed my head softly and flicked off the lights… When I realized what have happened, my face was red. Not only from embarrassment, but also from fury.

"YOU RED-HEADED JERK TAKE THAT BACK! THAT WAS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE MY ANEUE HAVE KISSED ME AND NOW IT'S COVERED WITH YOUR GERMS! THAT WAS A BLOODY INDIRECT KISS! TAKE THAT BAAACK!"

That night I dreamed about Yuki-hime. She twirling by herself, wearing the new dress that Aneue made. Apparently, Sasori was controlling her, but I didn't mind. That way, I could dance along with her. At the end of the dream someone whispered to me: "I swear that I'll take you to see snow, just you wait and see"