Rico: 2nd chapter, I'm excited to continue this story!
Hidan: I need more appearances in this story man!
Rico: No one cares about you Hidan. You're like the least popular Akatsuki member
Hidan: Well people, all of you who hate Hidan! You're all idiots!
Kakuzu: Shut. The Hell. Up. You talk way too much!
Hidan: Don't start with me Kakuzu! I'll poke a hole in every last one of your hearts!
Sasori: BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP SO WE CAN START YOU FRICKEN IDIOTS! Have you ever considered getting married?
Kakuzu and Hidan: ...
Rico: Finally... Can you do the disclaimer without fighting?
Kakuzu and Hidan: Rico does not own Naruto; he only owns Kasumi and Ayumi.
Rico: Enjoy!
** Chapter 2: The Next Step
Sasori and Deidra proceeded to begin cleaning up what they could, which was the trash and whatever was tipped over throughout Akatsuki Manor. They weren't exactly sure what to do about the now gaping hole in the wall, much less about the random pink flamingos who made a home in their pool, so they decided to take whatever heat they were destined for from Pain. Not like it was anything new anyway. After spending an hour tidying up the mansion as best they could, Sasori and Deidra decided to see if the girls were awake.
They went up to Sasori's room, where Kasumi had gotten her clothes on. Sasori felt his heart, sink, knowing she was getting ready to leave. Ayumi was gone, probably to the bathroom or something since she usually stuck around the mansion with Deidara. Ayumi lived alone, so she never really went home unless she and Deidara were just trying to get away from everyone else.
"Where are you headed so early?" Sasori questioned. Kasumi turned to face him, and smiled.
"Oh, good morning Sasori, and Deidara. I really have to be getting home, my friends have been lighting up my phone all night," she said.
"Oh, I see. I'll walk you out," Sasori offered. Kasumi gladly nodded.
Deidara went ahead to see where Ayumi had went off to, while Sasori and Kasumi walked out. Kasumi got to the front door of the manor, when Sasori stopped her.
"Will I see you again?" Sasori asked, an almost pleading look in his brown eyes. Kasumi placed her hand on his cheek.
"Of course! I'm not sure when, but I'll see you again soon," Kasumi said, smiling up at him. Sasori was about to ask how would he do that, when he felt her slip a piece of paper in his hand. Sasori smiled and nodded at her. "Call me." Kasumi winked at him, getting a blush out of the S Rank Ninja, before she finally walked out of the mansion closing the door behind her.
Sasori quickly recorded Kasumi's number in his Iphone, not wasting any time. Sasori couldn't help but smile thinking of seeing her again.
"Looks like puppet-boy is rather happy today for a change!", Sasori heard Hidan's taunting voice behind him.
Sasori turned to see Hidan, and Kisame smirking at him. "Tell us Sasori. Is it that girl you were with last night?", Kisame asked, still smirking.
"What concern is that of yours?", Sasori said, forcing himself to put on his usual serious expression.
"Well it's not often that we actually see you smile, puppet-boy."
Sasori could think of no way to explain that, so instead he just looked away.
"HA! I knew it! Sounds like someone has gotten Sasori to open up! I didn't think Deidara was actually going to find a way!" Kisame exclaimed. Sasori glared at them.
"Whatever," he said, rolling his eyes. Sasori took the initiative to walk away before he had to hear either of them get another crack in.
"Perhaps, I should make the bitch a sacrifice to Lord Jashin, huh?," Hidan shouted after him, making Sasori stop his tracks.
"If you touch her... I will cut your head off, drag it on the ground, and toss it into the ocean. Let's see your 'Lord Jashin' revive you then." Sasori said, half turning his head. Hidan could see the killer intent in his eyes.
"You don't intimidate me puppet-boy! Just bring it!" Hidan said, allowing his pride to overflow.
"I have no reason to fight with you for no reason. I'm just warning you," Sasori said, turning away. "Oh, and relay this message to 'Lord Jashin' for me." Sasori threw the middle finger up at Hidan while not even turning. Hidan growled and attempted to lunge at Sasori, but Kisame held him back.
"Lord Jashin will punish you, piss-pot! He does not like heathens!" Hidan shouted, irate. Sasori smirked in satisfaction, and walked away. It was always fun to provoke Kakuzu and Hidan, they were the most interesting when angry.
Sasori didn't really have any plans for the day, so he decided to pass the time by first cleaning up his room and then working on some of his puppets. Since the Rain Village pledged allegiance to The Leaf Village, there has really been nothing but peace in the 5 Great Nations and the surrounding areas. Akatsuki rarely got missions, and if they did they were always B rank or below. There was really no need, but Sasori always liked to be prepared.
As he worked, his mind kept drifting to Kasumi. Even though it had not been very long since he had seen her, he missed her. Sasori tried to push her out of his mind and focus, but he simply couldn't. When he finally thought he had her out of his mind, Sasori realized his puppet was arranged entirely wrong. Sasori's face fell flat on his desk, and he sighed in defeat. He stayed like that for a moment, and his mind couldn't help but drift back to her.
"Sasori my man, what's your deal, hmmm?" Sasori heard Deidara's voice from behind him.
"I can't stop thinking about Kasumi, and I can't focus on anything," Sasori said, frustrated, with his head still on the desk. Sasori heard Ayumi giggle.
"Sounds like you're attached already!" she said. Sasori finally sat up, and nodded sincerely.
"You should just see if she wants to do something tonight or tomorrow, yeah? If not, you can at least just talk to her, hmm?" Deidara offered.
Sasori thought both of those sounded like good ideas, and nodded. Sasori took out his Iphone, and dialed Kasumi's number. It rang for a few moments, making Sasori more and more nervous. He was still relatively new to all of this. Just when Sasori was about to give up, he heard Kasumi shuffling the phone on the other end.
"Hello?", she answered.
"Hey Kasumi, it's Sasori," Sasori said, motioning for Deidara and Ayumi to leave. They obediently moved quickly, knowing one way or another they would figure out what happened.
"Oh hey Sasori! What's up?"
"Nothing really. I was just wondering if maybe tomorrow night, you wanted to go out somewhere?" Sasori wasn't sure if he was pushing it, but he really wanted to see her.
"Oh gosh Sasori, I would but I'll be busy at the hospital all week, and next week too. It's all I have to do, since there are not many missions lately." Sasori's heart sank a bit. "But I'll be free next Saturday and Sunday! Besides, over the next 2 weeks you can text me anytime, and at around 7:00 you can call me." Sasori perked up a bit hearing that.
"Alright, you will definitely be hearing from me this week!" Kasumi giggled a bit.
"Okay than, looking forward to it!"
Sasori and Kasumi talked on the phone for several more hours. Time simply passed by them, and before they knew it they had been talking for 4 hours. Eventually, they each had to plug their phones in to keep them from dying. Neither of them wanted the conversation to end. Eventually, Kasumi had to end the conversation to shower and prepare for her shift at the hospital the next day. By the time they had gotten off the phone, it was 8:00 and the sun was setting.
Over the next few days, Sasori and Kasumi texted back and forth during the day, and Sasori would call her in the evening, always resulting in at least a 2 hour conversation. Sasori found himself more and more eager to see her again the more they talked. The other Akatsuki members found it amusing although a bit weird to see one of the most emotionless members become one of the most cheerful. The only time they saw him in his usual irritable mood was when Tobi well... was Tobi. Tobi annoyed almost everyone in Akatsuki though, what else is new? Deidara understood though, because the entire reason Sasori became the emotional man he was because of the love he craved from his parents.
The weeks passed by rather quickly for Sasori, he was always cheerful and smiling. The next Saturday came before he knew it. Kasumi and Sasori had decided on that Saturday, they would go see Yuki Fujikaze's new movie, "The Adventures of Princess Gale: In Stranger Lands". Sasori left to pick Kasumi up at around 7:00 so they could go out to get frozen yogurt to pass the time before their movie started, which was around 9:00. Following the directions Kasumi had texted him, Sasori arrived outside her apartment after a short walk.
Sasori knocked, and Kasumi peeked a single eye out of the door to check who it was. "Who's there?," she asked.
"A guy named Sasori!", Sasori said, smirking. Kasumi giggled a bit. She closed the door to unlock it, and greeted Sasori with a hug. Sasori noted that he loved her perfume. Sasori admired her attired for the evening, which was a black jacket, covering a blue and black striped tank-top, with some slightly tight jeans, and some black ohau boots.
"Come in for a few moments, I'm not ready just yet." Kasumi said. Sasori nodded, and followed her inside. "Make yourself at home, I won't be long!" With that, Kasumi went off into another room to finish her make-up and her hair, closing the door behind her.
Sasori took a seat on her couch, and began looking around Kasumi's apartment. The purple walls were what caught his immediate attention, aligned with several paintings and photos. The floors were a beige carpet, save for the tile of the kitchen floor. The kitchen was on the immediate right after entering the apartment, which had a round wooden table with 4 chairs spread around it. The living room, which was where Sasori was, was covered in a large pink rug, a couch with an end table and matching chairs, with a TV and small bookshelf resting adjacent to it. The shelf was aligned with several books, along with a few framed photos and a few knick-knacks. Sasori noted the framed picture of Kasumi with who he assumed to be her parents.
Still zoned out looking around her apartment, Sasori did not notice Kasumi emerge from her room. Kasumi smiled and shook her head at the zoned shinobi. Sasori was snapped from his thoughts by Kasumi waving her hand in his face.
"Earth to Sasori! I'm ready now," Kasumi said, sticking her tongue out.
"Oh sorry. I kind of zoned..." Sasori said, a bit embarrassed. He wondered how long she had been trying to get him back.
"Yeah I noticed," Kasumi giggled. "Ready?"
"Yeah, let's go."
With that, Sasori and Kasumi left, Kasumi grabbing her purse and locking the door behind her. The walk was a bit quiet, but it didn't last long because they arrived at the place, titled 'Iwao's Frozen Yogurt', relatively quickly. It was fortunate that Kasumi's apartment was right down the street from the mall, which housed the theater and the frozen yogurt place. Sasori ordered himself some blueberry tart frozen yogurt, and some raspberry tart for Kasumi.
"I love this place, I'm glad we both agreed on it!" Kasumi said, taking a seat across from Sasori.
"Yeah, Deidara and me come here when we're in the mood to have some frozen yogurt or to clear our minds from the idiots we live with," Sasori said. "Which is alot, trust me."
Kasumi laughed. "I can imagine, they seemed like a bit of a hand-full when I would hear you get rid of them while we're on the phone."
"Oh yeah, you have no idea until you live with them. Hidan is the worst one, but it's usually fun to make him mad. Payback's a bitch, I always say."
"Heh, if I were you I would always play pranks on him. Pranking is something I specialize in."
"Since he can't die, I suppose it counts when we get pissed enough, we cut off his head and hide it somewhere. Last time, Kakuzu got so pissed he went to the yard and just chucked it as far as he could. We didn't find it for a few hours, but we had a little help from Hidan's non-stop yelling." Sasori chuckled.
Kasumi laughed. "Oh wow, that's so mean! Hilarious though, I want to see you guys do that one day!" Sasori laughed a bit.
"Trust me, it's bound to happen one day soon. He's been getting on mine and Deidara's last nerves lately." Sasori took the last bite of his frozen yogurt, and the conversation continued.
Sasori was telling Kasumi about his humorous experiences living at Akatsuki Manor, mostly about how he used to torture Deidara when he first joined. Kasumi was doing more laughing than talking. They always enjoyed their conversations, even if they were random. Before they knew it, it was 8:50, which meant they had to be going.
Sasori paid for their yogurt, and they both walked into the main entrance of the mall and went up to the cinema. Sasori bought their tickets and a large popcorn, and they both headed towards their particular theater. They arrived in good time, since the previews were just starting.
"Think this will be any good?" Sasori asked. He had seen the first movie, which was pretty good. Sequels always seemed to be disappointments though.
"If it's anything like the first, it should prove to be really good. Either way, it'll be better than wasting our time watching the new Harry Potter film," Kasumi replied.
"Can't disagree on that," Sasori said, nodding in agreement.
They quickly got quiet as the movie began. The movie managed to live up to its name, and proved to be more action-packed, romantic and emotional than the first. In the end, when Princess Gale sacrificed herself for her people, Kasumi could not help but cry, and she buried her face in Sasori's chest and hugged him tightly. Sasori could do nothing but hug her back, and run one of his hands through her hair to comfort her.
By the time the movie was over, it was really late. Sasori walked Kasumi to her apartment, and they stopped on her doorstep.
"Thanks for a really good time tonight, Sasori," Kasumi said, smiling at him.
"Anytime, I'd like to do this again sometime," Sasori replied, smiling back at her.
Kasumi's smile widened into a grin, and she was about to speak but something caught her attention. "Oh Sasori! Look!", she exclaimed, pointing to the sky.
Sasori turned to the sky and was amazed by a beautiful meteor shower, passing over the Hidden Rain Village. "Let's get on the roof to get a better view!" Kasumi said, jumping up onto the roof of her apartment. Sasori jumped up next to her, still looking at the sky.
"It's beautiful. I remember when my parents and I would watch these," Kasumi started, her smile fading. "In fact, the last night I spent with my parents, there was a meteor shower. It is my cherished and final moment with them."
Sasori was curious now. "Your final night with them? Why?" he asked. Kasumi looked down, and Sasori could see the pain in her eyes.
"The next day, they were fighting in The Hidden Rain's Civil War alongside our God, and they were killed. I was 10, and I've been alone ever since." Kasumi explained, tears now flowing from her eyes. Sasori was shocked. There was really someone who had been there, in the same place he has? That same dark and lonely place? Sasori instinctively hugged her.
"I know how you feel," Sasori said. Kasumi's eyes widened, and she looked him in the eyes. "I originated from the Hidden Sand Village. My parents were killed when I was a child too. Although I had my grandmother, I was so lonely, and I eventually left my village, and I joined the Akatsuki, ending up here." Sasori looked down, he had never really opened up to anyone but Deidara before.
Kasumi could not believe that there was someone who understood her pain, her lonliness. She could not believe there was someone she could actually relate to. Much less, she could not believe this person had her heart.
"I've lived my life these years since then, longing for something, a purpose. In the time I've gotten to know you, you've shown me that someone like you is what I've been longing for. I want you to be mine, Kasumi." Sasori said, blushing. He had never done this type of thing before.
Kasumi was in shock and for a moment she was speechless. Kasumi thought for a moment. She did in fact like him back, but could she allow herself a relationship? The pain she had endured by losing her parents was almost unbearable. If she were to lose Sasori, her emotional scars would be opened all over again. Kasumi decided to trust Sasori, since he had proven her wrong time and time again about how he could be bad.
"Yes, Sasori. I'll be yours," Kasumi said, smiling big at him, her tears now gone. Sasori smiled the biggest smile he ever had. They found themselves locked in each other's eyes for several moments, before Sasori made the first move and kissed her. Kasumi kissed him back, wrapping his arms around his neck and moaning softly in his mouth. Sasori pulled her closer by her waist, and opened his mouth to deepen the kiss.
Just as it was about to go further, they found themselves in the middle of a pouring rain. It must have been 12:00 am already, since Pain makes it rain every Sunday, the entire day and night. Kasumi squealed in surprise, and they immediately jumped down, and Kasumi scrambled in her purse to find her key, unlocking the door as quickly as she could. Sasori and Kasumi got inside quickly, and she turned on some lights.
"Wow, I didn't even realize it was this late!" Sasori said, laughing even though they were both soaked.
"Neither did I! Time got away from us, it seems," Kasumi said, giggling as well.
"Well that rain is a bit deeper than usual. Do you mind if I stay the night, Kasumi?" Sasori asked, hoping she wouldn't. Even though they had just started going out, Sasori felt as though he was asking a bit much.
"No not at all, Sasori. My home is yours!" she said, winking at him. Sasori was relieved to hear that. He truly didn't want to run through the rain all the way back to the mansion. On top of that, he decided it would be awesome to spend a night when Kasumi alone. Having not seen her in 2 weeks, he would miss her if he went home, even though they had spent most of the evening together.
Kasumi yawned. "I'm really tired, Sasori. I'm about to go to bed soon," Kasumi said to him.
"Yeah, so am I. Where can I sleep?" Sasori asked.
"Well, normally guests sleep on the couch or make a pallet on the floor," Kasumi said, and Sasori raised a brow, getting a giggle out of the girl. "But you're my boyfriend, so you can sleep with me." Kasumi said, winking. Sasori was relieved to hear that. He had been there, done that, and hoped to never go back. Couches are one of the most uncomfortable places to sleep. 'Screw that', Sasori thought.
"Alrighty then, sounds like a plan!" Sasori said, winking back at her. Kasumi shook her head and smiled.
"Carry me! Please Sasori?" Kasumi asked, holding her arms out and looking at him with puppy dog eyes. Sasori rolled his eyes, causing Kasumi to giggle as her picked her up and carried her to the bed. He set her down, and laid down behind her. Kasumi turned, and Sasori wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer, with Kasumi returning his embrace. The new couple fell asleep in each other's arms to the sound of the pouring rain outside.
I worked hard on this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it! Read and Review please, I would appreciate hearing what everyone thinks of it so far. I got the inspiration for this chapter in my Anatomy class AGAIN. When class is over, I always have a lot of time to think, which always results in new ideas for the chapter. I'm hoping you all enjoy reading this story, because I put alot of pride in it! Since school has started, usually I'm working on this in between homework but I will try and update often! Till next time!