So, this is the first chapter of a new story. I cant guarantee how frequent updates will be, and I'll work more on Pokemon when I fix my other computer up enough to get my chapters off of it...
I have a little request of everyone, check out my profile and let me know how y'all think that this story should be formatted.
I stood over the red-haired man, unsure of exactly what to do. I had been on my way to my next job, when I found him, barely breathing on the ground. I reached down to check his pulse, when I instinctively drew my hand back. Wind surged around me and I realized that the puppeteer I had been running from had caught up to me.
"There you are Altera." He stepped closer, and I hissed, drawing a kunai from my belt in a meager attempt to protect myself, "Ah, who's this person behind you. A pity, I think I'll have you kill him." I slashed out, extending my wind in hopes that I could stop any of his chakra strings from getting on me. I rapidly glanced between the puppeteer and the unconscious boy behind me. I knew I was at a disadvantage, and I needed to escape. Fast. I saw the boy stir at the moment a string caught my left arm. I slashed it off and knelt down to reach for the boy. If I could get him on my shoulder, I could run. Right before I could touch him, my body froze. I cursed, knowing someone had caught me with threads.
"Who are you?" The boy asked, as his grey eyes fluttered open. His glance was lazy, and I tried to pull back, but I was held in place. I noticed the blue threads coming off his fingers, and realized that he was the one holding me in place. He glanced behind me to see the other puppeteer and frowned.
"You're struggling against a puppet user?" He said, looking annoyed.
"Um, I can't move when you have strings attached to me." I whispered, hoping that the puppeteer wouldn't hear me. The boy in front of me smirked.
"Then I'll be using you." He said with a smirk. I felt my body move over to help him into a sitting position before he turned me to face the puppeteer.
"Altera, I know you want to fight with me. Why don't you just kill that guy and come back to me." I shuddered, and I heard the boy laugh from behind me.
"I don't think so." The boy said amusement lacing his voice as he summoned another puppet. He pulled me back to kneel down beside him. He draped his arm over my shoulder, and had me help him up. With a few gestures, he had the other puppeteer writhing in pain on the ground.
"So, Altera-" I cut him off the moment he started.
"It's Gabrial. Please, Altera's my clan name. Only my master can use it." He looked down at me with a smirk. I blushed and looked down when I realized that he still had me under his control.
"Gabrial. That sounds so familiar. It couldn't be though. What are you doing here right now?" I looked away, knowing that I shouldn't tell a stranger my mission.
"I'm out on a mission to confirm a death and remove evidence." I said, knowing that he wouldn't let me go until he got what he wanted.
"Who's death?" I felt my face burn up at his question. When I had received the orders, I had been saddened to have to go through with them. I had known the man since I was young, since I served his family, and he had promised to be my master when we grew up. When he had left the village, I had been assigned to the next puppeteer.
"Someone who I was supposed to work with eventually. Until he left, that is. Now will you please let me go?" He laughed, and I could have sworn it was the same musical laugh of my old friend. I felt movement return to my limbs, and I sighed happily. With a quick stretch, I reached for my pocket to check the picture I had been given. When I pulled it out, I noticed a second picture flutter to the ground. The boy grabbed it before I could get it.
"So it was you." He muttered before returning my picture, "Good luck finding him."
I stared at the picture trying to figure out what he meant when it clicked. That had been my target. Sasori of the Red Sand. I smacked my head before running after him.
"What do you want Gabrial?" He asked without even turning to look at me.
"Idiot. I thought you were dead! You cant expect me to just walk off and ignore you." I said as I barely kept pace with him.
"Yes I can. Go back to the village. Go protect the Kazekage, and go back and serve that puppet using brother of his." He whipped his arm around in an attempt to knock me out, but I caught it. Years of martial arts had caused my unnatural reflexes to be high enough to at least catch blows from my weakened friend.
"No. I want to stay with you." His eye twitched as he looked at me. He sighed before lowering his arm.
"If you still remember the basics of taking care of puppets, you can accompany me until someone comes to retrieve you." I nodded and stood at his side, bouncing on my toes.
"Thank you Sasori!" He shook his head and led me to a cave. When we got there, he sat down to start cleaning sand out of his joints, motioning for me to help him. I picked up a small brush and gently brushed the sand out, carefully making sure not to scratch his puppet body. He relaxed a bit and allowed me to take over cleaning while he closed his eyes.
"Gabrial, you know I can't keep you, right? I left the Akatsuki, and now I'm just a rogue ninja. People will be out to kill me. If you stay, you'll die." He said when I finished cleaning. I swallowed. It hadn't occurred to me that staying with Sasori would be dangerous now. He looked up at me, and I met his chestnut brown eyes, "See, look how scared you are. Go back to the village. Report that I'm still alive. They'll send someone to kill me, and you can go back to being happy without me."
"If someone comes to look for me, I'll go back. For right now, I want to spend time with you." I said, reaching for my dog tag. I frowned when I realized it wasn't where I normally wore it. I stretched and Sasori put a hand on my back. I looked up to him, and saw him frowning at my back.
"You're bleeding." I shrugged and resumed stretching. I heard him get up and rummage around in a small tool kit, "Take off your vest, I need to treat your injury." I felt him tug at my vest and I blushed.
"Sasori, I don't feel comfortable…" I tried to start, but he quickly ended my struggles with some chakra strings. I unwillingly shrugged my vest off, and I shrieked at the pain that suddenly started.
"Sorry, I need to sterilize your cut. There's sand in it. After I finish that, I'll have to stich it shut." I let out a whimper, tears streaking my cheeks as it felt like my back was burning. I hated needles. I felt pressure on my skin and promptly passed out.