If Only Life Was Simple…
(I do NOT own Naruto, or the Akatsuki.)
Deidara crossed his arms over his chest. He wore his usual black t-shirt and baggy jeans. His long blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his bright blue eyes sparked with heat as his anger kept boiling up. Glaring at the broken glass on the floor, he sighed heavily as Sasori walked over to him from across the street. Sasori had his red flaming hair cut short and his eyes were flashing with some anger too. He wore about the same get-up Deidara had.
"The victim was killed on impact." Sasori informed him.
Deidara looked disgusted, "Is that what the medic said?"
Sasori nodded as their friends came up to chat. Pain, the leader of their team, wore a black long sleeve shirt and black dress pants. He had many piercings on his face and neck, but truly, Pain was gorgeous. Konan, the girl who had her arm intertwined around his left, wore her short dark blue hair in two short pigtails. She had on a blue shirt and a white skirt with white heels. She never smiled, but then again neither did Pain. They made the perfect couple. Hidan, Kisame, and Kakazu walked up as well. Hidan had bleached blond hair that was nicely combed back, he wore a red jersey and black jeans. Kisame had dark hair that had blue streaks in it, and he wore black sweats and a shirt with a shark on it. Kakazu stayed a bit far from the group, he wore all black and a mask over his head and face. He never spoke and when he did no one could really hear him.
Pain made a rude noise, "The blood was everywhere. The victim had a struggle. It seems they were intentionally trying to kill Itachi, but this poor victim got in their way."
Sasori gaped, "So, where is Itachi now?"
Konan interrupted, "Last I saw, he was headed home. Sasuke and Fugaku were fighting again, so he had to stop them."
"Personally, I think Itachi just needs to get Sasuke out of there. I'm sure the two brothers can live together just fine. Besides, Sasuke is twenty-two now. I bet they'd be alright." Deidara said, scratching the back of his head.
Sasori shook his head and looked at Pain. "Anyway, we need to find the prick before he picks off another one of us. I'm tired of losing comrades when we don't need to."
Pain ran a hand through his orange hair and sighed, "Have the medics clean up this mess then we'll meet up at the base. Deidara, would you please go to Itachi's house and give him the update." Then, Pain walked to the street corner and ducked under the caution tape. Konan followed him.
He pulled her against him and sighed. "This is going to be a long week."
She kissed him silently, hoping to make him feel better. "We'll get through it, Pain. We always have. But, I have a feeling Deidara is right. Itachi and Sasuke need to leave that place."
...
Sasori walked down the dark street alone. His dark eyes narrowing on the sidewalk as street lights above him began turning on. The death earlier had chilled him. Who could be after them now? They hadn't really done too much to gain that much attention. After all the shit they've been through, he could only guess at who must be trying to kill them now. He stopped and turned to look over his shoulder. The lights had gone out and the sun had completely disappeared.
How the hell-
He couldn't finish the thought as a knife came flying at his head. He narrowly dodged it as it embedded into the wall behind him. It had come from the alleyway on the other side of the street. Sasori stared into the darkness, waiting for the attacker to try for another kill.
Suddenly, a man in black appeared in front of him with a switchblade aimed for Sasori's chest. Sasori grabbed the man's arm to stop the blade. Face to face with the guy, Sasori instantly recognized him.
The long black hair and the sickly pale face of one of his old comrades, Sasori couldn't have been more surprised. His eyes widened as he watched Orochimaru smirk and jump back. He wore all black and had his extremely long black hair fall over his face. The man seemed to be smirking wildly.
"So," Sasori muttered, "You've been picking us off, Orochimaru. Why?"
Orochimaru laughed his high pitched, evil laugh and said, "This is what you get for kicking me out. I have been waiting for the day I could take my revenge. I will not be ignored by Pain any longer. Once all of you are out of the way, my organization will rule."
Sasori gave him a startled look, "You can't kill Pain. And, you can't kill me for that matter."
"Yes…" Orochimaru said slowly. "There is the attitude that I have not missed. Tell the devil I said 'hello'."
With that, they clashed again.
...
Deidara sat on Itachi's couch, watching curiously as Fugaku raged. If Deidara didn't know better, Fugaku could manage his own gang and rule the world. Which would be insanity...and Deidara would probably end up killing himself to escape the horrid fate. At least Itachi had listened to him today and he and Sasuke would be leaving with Deidara. If Deidara could get away with it, he and Sasori would just put Fugaku down. It would make everyone's life much better...but life would never be that simple.
"Deidara?" Itachi said and Deidara looked up. "Sasuke's almost ready, then we're out of here. So, how is the search for our unnamed murderer?"
"It's just going perfect. No leads. No suspects. No nothing. Pain's pissed about it, but that's nothing new, un." Deidara replied, kicking his feet up on Fugaku's coffee table.
Sasuke walked into the living room with a bag over his shoulder. He wore a dark blue shirt with an Uchiha symbol on the back of it. He also wore dark black jeans with black combat boots. Sasuke looked a lot like his older brother except Sasuke's hair was a bit more spiked in the back. They did, oddly enough, have the same power in which their eyes will turn red. It is known as the sharingan.
Sasuke looked from Deidara to Itachi. "Hmnpt...Where are we going now?"
Deidara smirked and stood up from the couch. The smirk stretched from ear to ear. "We're going to do something interesting."
...
His head bleeding profusely, Sasori stumbled down another street corner. His heart pounded, not as loud as his head, but he could feel almost nothing. Was he about to die?
He muttered, "I don't want to die, yet. I got so much to live for."
Sasori collapsed by a warehouse, a small puddle of blood forming underneath him. He barely escaped Orochimaru with half of his life. Would he die here? How could he warn Pain that Orochimaru was behind all of the incidents? Why did he have to die first? He at least thought Deidara would go first.
Sasori's eyes widened at that thought and laughed silently to himself. He looked down to where the knife wound was in his side. Blood was pouring out of the gash by the gallon. Yeah, he was dead. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't make it to a hospital now...and the chances of Sakura Haruno or Lady Tsunade coming by was next to nothing. He was done.
...
Deidara growled as Sasori had yet again missed his call. Where was the red head anyway? Hidan told Deidara that Sasori had walked off after they left the crime scene and he hasn't heard from him since. Sasori didn't even answer Pain's calls. Something had to have been up. Already, the sun was rising and still no sign of him. They have been searching for him all night. Itachi and Sasuke were even running along the rooftops.
Deidara winced as a thought occurred to him. Could...Sasori have been killed? No...it was impossible. He stood still on the street corner watching the sun creep up higher into the sky.
Suddenly Deidara's phone vibrated and he quickly pulled it out of his pocket to see that it was Kisame. "Yeah?" He answered.
"We found Sasori's cell phone on 4th street. Get over here." Kisame said.
"I'll be right there." Deidara hung up. Where the hell are you, Sasori of the Red Sand?
...
Sasori's ears were ringing as he slowly opened his eyes. Light made him shut his eyes and he groaned. Either he had been good enough to get to heaven...or he was still alive when the sun came up.
Something cool touched his cheek and only then did he realize he was alive...and that he had a nasty fever. Opening his eyes again, he looked up into the most angelic face he had ever seen. She had short black pixie hair and grey eyes. Her pale skin must have never seen daylight, but it matched her nicely. He noticed a butterfly tattoo on her neck that nearly touched her cheek and disappeared under the black tank she wore. She had a cloth in her hand as she slowly dabbed at something on his head. Blood?
She looked at his eyes and a small smile touched her lips. "You're very lucky."
Sasori just stared up at her for a minute until she moved away to put the cloth back into the water. Then she placed it on his brow again.
"What is your name?" Sasori questioned, his dark reddish brown gaze on her.
Her cheeks reddened against the pale. "My name is Star...and you are?"
"Sasori of the Red Sand." He murmured as he felt her dab the cloth on the side of his face.
She had no fear in her eyes like most did when he told them he was from the Red Sand. She'd probably be more fearful if Sasori had told her who he worked for.
"It is nice to meet you, Sasori." She said and moved away from him again. "Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"Water, please." He said, not really wanting to burden her.
She nodded once and left the room. He glanced around. It was a simple bedroom with red curtains a dresser and a nightstand. He was lying on a twin size bed with gray sheets and a pitch black blanket. Nothing was really elegant about the room, but it was just simple. It was a lot like the girl that had saved him.
...
Deidara put a hand on his face as he felt exhaustion take him over. He had to believe that his friend from the beginning was gone. They had found blood on the ground by the warehouse, DNA tests say that it was in fact Sasori's...it trailed over to the water where Deidara knew Sasori must have...
This killed him inside.
Now he had to find out who killed him. Anger made Deidara clench his fist. Sasori had been his best friend. How could he have been killed off so easily? He turned and his eyes widened as he saw a silver haired, glasses wearing fool standing a few paces away from him. Deidara grabbed Kabuto by the collar and swung him around, lifting him off his feet and slamming him against the side of the warehouse.
"Kabuto...have you seen Sasori?" Deidara's calm and polite tone differed from his harsh expression.
Kabuto's eyes widened as he whined. "N-no! Why would I have seen him?"
"So what are you doing here? It's odd to see one of Orochimaru's men standing around a stupid warehouse district." Deidara growled.
Kabuto smirked and lifted both feet to kick Deidara away from him. He landed on the ground and took off toward the streets. "See ya, Akatsuki."
Deidara ran at a full sprint after him. Kabuto shoved people out of his way as he ran through the suddenly crowded streets. When Deidara caught the slippery little worm, he was definitely going to make him pay. Kabuto disappeared around the corner, and Deidara slid around the corner as well only to see the silver haired man had completely faded into the crowd around them. Deidara's blue gaze burned with fury.
...
Sasori had finally gotten enough strength to stand. He was next to the bed when Star entered the room. She held out a bottle of water to him. He took it and guzzled it. She smiled slightly and walked over to the bed to take the sheets off it and clean them. He put the water down and pulled the blanket and sheets out of her arms. She looked up at him a bit surprised, but turned and started to remove the sheet from the pillow. She walked out of the room and he followed closely behind her. After piling the bedding into the wash, she turned to him and he was standing too close to her. She instantly collided with his lean muscular chest. He caught her before she could stumble backward.
Her cheeks blazed with heat as did his. He steadied her then put a good distance between them.
She looked down to his side where blood was starting to come through his bandages. "Here, let me take care of that." She walked up to him and gently touched his side to remove the bloodied bandages.
"How did you find me?" He asked, trying to ignore the fact that she was standing so close to him.
She glanced up, then went back to her work, saying, "That's the route I take to get home from work."
He raised a brow, "And, what do you do exactly?"
She smiled slightly and gave a tiny laugh as she pulled the bandage off to inspect the healing wound. "Apparently, I rescue bleeding, gorgeous red heads."
He laughed at that and said, "No really, what is it that you do?"
She smiled and replied with, "I'm a secretary for the I.U. Company."
Sasori seemed to accept that answer.
Star took his arm and led him down the hall to the kitchen where she kept her bandages in the medicine cabinet. Taking a minute to spray his wound before wrapping the bandage around him. Only then did she remember he was half naked. She could feel his grin as she stepped back then forward again to wrap his side. Her face heated. After she was done, she nodded at her handiwork then smiled up at him.
His eyes staring into her's, her smile disappeared as his hand cupped her cheek. He was too close to her. She was starting to sweat. He was leaning forward now...or was it her leaning toward him. Either way...she closed her eyes as she felt his breath against her lips. Just as she thought they would have made contact, her cell phone that was sitting on the counter starts to ring, snapping her out of whatever the hell was going on.
She quickly backs away from him as his eyes narrow and he looks like he's about to curse.
Looking at the caller ID, she winces and answers it. "Yes, sir?"
"Star, I have a mission for you." his creepy voice said quietly into her ear.
"Well, what is it?" She said, dreading for whatever person he was sending her after now.
"I shall send you a detailed text of what you're supposed to do and your target with a photo." He sounded excited and a bit angry. Which meant he failed when he tried to kill the target.
"Alright, I'll start as soon as I get it. Goodbye." She hung up and glanced up to see Sasori going back to the room.
The text came up and she gasped. No...it couldn't be. She stared a photo of a smiling Sasori with a circle drawn around his face with red sharpie. There was a guy with long blond hair in the photo as well, and another with black hair and black eyes. But, her target...she had just finished healing him.
...
Orochimaru was sitting at his desk, smiling at his wall where the Akatsuki members photos were. He was finally able to take them out. Pain would be saved for last, he supposed. He wanted Pain to feel as much agony as possible. Orochimaru would even go as low as killing his precious Konan in front of him. Orochimaru smirked at the thoughts that had entered his head. He could already feel their blood on his hands. Violence was definitely on his menu tonight. After all, Sasori would be taken out tonight. Next, Deidara. Everything should go according to plan.
"Lord Orochimaru." A voice removed him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Kabuto, his most trusted assistant enter his office.
"Yes, Kabuto?" Orochimaru responded.
"Deidara chased me down to the quarter today. He seems to be catching onto us. I think you need to hurry and dispose of Sasori." Kabuto said quietly.
Orochimaru smiled, "Yes, I believe I have taken care of Sasori...if not now, then he will be taken care of. I'm sure of it." Then, Orochimaru stared out the window of his office on the highest floor of the biggest building in that part of the city.
...
Star held the knife to her chest as she crept toward the room. She couldn't deny the mission. Her brother's life was on the line. If she didn't do as she was told, then...the worst would happen. A tear fled down her cheek as her emotions threatened to choke her. How unfair could life be to her? She turned the doorknob and burst into an empty room. The bed was made and a single rose with a note tied to it laid upon the pillow. Her eyes widened as she stepped closer to it.
Picking up the rose, she breathed in its wonderful scent as she thought of him. Sasori. She unfolded the note and her eyes widened as she read it.
Star
Thank you for the kindness. I owe you one. I'm surprised you even cared. That is a very nice trait I wish everyone had. The way you will just treat a wounded stranger. You've impressed me. Call me when you want to claim the favor that I owe you.
Sasori
The number was listed right under his name. She dropped the knife and put a hand to her mouth.
...
Sasori walked up to the base and put a hand to the keypad. The second he came through, he walked to the meeting room. The second the door opened for him, Deidara and Pain looked up at him. Pain's eyes widened slightly as Deidara's mouth dropped. Everyone had become so silent that Sasori had to look over his shoulder to see if maybe the grim reaper was standing behind him and that's why everyone shut up.
Deidara stood up, "Sasori, you're alive!?"
Sasori's eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, I thought I was dead, too, but I'm alright thanks to this girl."
Pain sighed and sat back in his seat. "Who?"
"A girl named Star. She found me and healed me." Sasori replied.
Pain's eyes widened once again, but he relaxed. "Did she try anything...interesting around you?"
"Like what?" Sasori and Deidara both said at the exact same moment.
Pain shrugged. "Like...try to kill you?"
Sasori's eyes widened, then he glared at Pain. "She wouldn't try to kill me."
Pain just shook his head. "Alright, if you say so, Sasori."
Tension had built up in the room and the air was heavy with some type of unnamed fury. One minute later, an explosion rocked the entire base and Pan was instantly out of his chair. He disappeared down the hallway as Deidara and Sasori were just steps behind him. They made it to the entrance and the lobby had been blasted apart. Sasori ran over to their weapons case and started picking out weapons. He tossed Pain's blade to him and took out his own switchblades.
"Hey Deidara," Sasori grinned over at his friend.
Deidara looked at him. "What, un?"
Sasori flicked the blade in his hand and it circled around his index finger. "Let's see how long these invaders last. They made a horrible mistake blasting through our walls."
...
Star and quite a few of her own men ran into the base to eliminate as many Akatsuki as they could.
"Leave Pain and Konan to me." Her boss's words echoed clearly in her mind.
Then a man with orange hair intercepted her as soon as she went through. The piercings on him must mean he was Pain. So, she danced around him easily and ran inside. One target was all she had. Once she was finished, she could go home. She ran as fast as she could through the fighting. Soon enough, she found him. As she thought, he was deadly with his fighting ability. She quickly ran toward him and the blond man that was fighting at his back. He was one of the men from the picture, she remembered.
She launched herself at Sasori, determined to kill him to protect her brother.
...
Sasori had just killed one of the men, he was simple. He felt a wave of energy coming at him. He spun quickly and caught a form against him. He tumbled with the strange woman, who had a knife at his throat.
"Damn!" He breathed and rolled, landing on top of her. He held both of her hands above her head as both her weapons slid across of the floor. "Shit..." he muttered as he realized who it was.
Star struggled underneath him. How could she have been trapped so easily.
His eyes turned murderous. "What are you doing here, Star."
She froze as she looked up at him. "I...I..."
Deidara looked over at them and raised a brow. "Sasori! What's going on, un!?"
Sasori glanced over his shoulder. "Can you cover me for five minutes? I have to do a little interrogation."
Deidara muttered something Sasori couldn't hear and replied with, "Sure, un, but you owe me one."
Sasori's fierce gaze made her stomach drop as she heard what he was saying. Suddenly, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Star, I really hope you aren't playing a game with me. You healed my wounds, and now you are trying to kill me. What exactly are trying to do?"
She bit her lip and tried to clear her head. "I...I, um, I'm trying to protect my brother."
Sasori didn't lift his head. "How am I a danger to your brother?"
"You aren't. Orochimaru is!" She shot back, making him pull back to look at her.
Suddenly, he smiled. Even though his face was blood splattered, he looked handsome. "We could help each other here, you know?"
She just gave him a questioning look.
He smirked now. "Help me eliminate Orochimaru, and we can save your brother."
She turned her head. "He will kill you."
Sasori scoffed. "Better than him have tried. I owe you a favor, right? How about we just get your bro out and call it even?"
"I wish it was that simple!" She bit out.
Still, his smile didn't waver. He got up and held out a hand to her. "I will help you. I promise, Star."
Reluctantly, she took his offered hand and he yanked her up. She instantly fell against him and he laughed as he caught her.
"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I forgot how light you are."
She blushed and stepped back from him. He turns as Deidara finished off fight with one of Orochimaru's men. Zetsu was already taking care of some of their 'guests'. Zetsu had green dark hair and pale skin. His eyes were mismatched, one was green and the other was black. He wore a black and white t-shirt and black jeans. He never spoke to anyone, but he was definitely one of the Akatsuki. All the way through.
Pain was walking toward where Sasori and Star stood.