A/N: Hi, guys! I know this story is slightly boring (with the lack of Itachi), but it gets better, I promise! I'm just trying to set the scene and mood of the Akatsuki and I want it to be realistic as well. I hope this doesn't cause any disinterest in the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any characters associated with Naruto.
Tomoko had gotten more homesick as the days progressed in the large Akatsuki hideout. She'd never lived with ten other people before. Even at that, she had also never felt more alone. Tomoko was aware that no one there would care to speak to her so she avoided conversation. She rarely left the room she'd been sojourning in.
"Tomoko!" someone called from the hallway. She didn't wanna speak. She didn't even want to respond, but she was too scared not to. The brunette girl climbed out of bed to open the door. Outside of her door she found Zetsu, calm as ever. "Pein said he'd like to speak to you," the white half of him spoke, clearly energetic. Then the black half of him spoke, "Urgently." Tomoko stood motionless in the doorway as Zetsu turned on his heel and prodded away.
Her mind raced with a billion things. What could he want me for? I'm no use to someone like him. Tomoko brushed her hair out of her face and patted her old, dirty kunoichi clothes loose of any wrinkles or lint. Clearing her throat, she made her way down the corridors towards the hideout's living room that branches off into Pein's office that she had previously seen. Her shoulders were stiff as she walked by S-Rank ninjas casually chatting. Tomoko could feel some of their eyes beaming at her, especially Konan. The blue-haired woman had grown not so fond of her for an unknown reason.
Tomoko turned the doorknob to Pein's office door and opened it to find Deidara standing in front of him. "Zetsu told me you wanted to see me," she said as she quietly closed the door behind her. She swallowed loudly and stepped next to Deidara. "Yes, I asked for both of you." Tomoko and Deidara looked at each other for a split second and then redirected their attention to their leader. "I simply want you both to go to the grocery store. I requested Deidara to come with you so you wouldn't run away. I have a list for you, and you can also stop somewhere to get new clothes. You don't need one of our robes just yet."
Tomoko's shoulders quickly slouched. This is all he wanted me for? Grocery shopping? Am I a fucking maid? "At least I don't have to sit around and watch Tobi for any longer," Deidara spoke, slightly looking up at the girl who was just a couple inches taller than him. "You're tall for a girl," he lastly said as he walked out of the office.
"Thanks?" she let out with a relieving sigh. Tomoko took the grocery list from Pein with a slight nod of her head and followed Deidara out of the door, closing it behind her once again. She walked into a conversation between Deidara and the others. Tomoko decided to wait alongside Deidara until he was finished.
"So what's this big mission you and her have to go on?" Hidan teased. "We have to get groceries. Well, she does. I have to watch her like she's a dog or something," Deidara replied, letting out a laugh and glancing at the young woman. A wave of sadness washed over her that nearly pushed tears out of her dark eyes. Tomoko knew she didn't belong there, and even though she considered herself to have a thick skin, some stuff they would say really did hurt her. She simply stared at her feet like always as she continued to wait. "Leave the poor girl alone. She's never done anything to you guys," Zetsu interrupted the rude teasing. All eyes turned to Tomoko once again.
"Yeah, sorry. I forget how young she is sometimes," Deidara apologized he looked into her melancholic eyes. Tomoko nodded once again, not even attempting to force any words out. He lightly grasped her shoulder and escorted her out of the hideout. It wasn't until they were a couple kilometers away from the town when Deidara finally spoke again.
"I really am sorry, about calling you a dog," Deidara said. He wasn't wearing his robe, so he didn't look suspicious. He looked like a normal teenage boy, someone you wouldn't expect to be in an organization like the Akatsuki. "Yeah, it's okay. I don't belong there anyways," Tomoko said, unfolding the piece of paper to analyze the long list. "Well, we just don't know you. We don't know your strengths or weaknesses. We don't know about any of your ninja skills. We don't even know your last name." Tomoko nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're all just a bit intimidating." Deidara smiled a bit. "We aren't that bad once you get to know us. Anyways, were you in Itachi's brother's group or something? That's why he took you, eh?"
"Not exactly. I was with Sasuke at the time. I'm friends with him, I guess. He's different, though. I don't think he cares one bit that Itachi took someone like me," Tomoko said, refolding the list and putting it into her pocket. "But, you are a student, right? You have a sensei?" Deidara questioned, suddenly getting interested. The town came into view as they spoke. "Um, sure. Anyways, that's the town, right? And you have the money?" Tomoko asked, avoiding the question. "Yeah, it's the town, and no, do you?"
"What? You don't have the money?" Tomoko panicked. We did not just walk however many kilometers just to not have the money! Are you kidding me? "Just kidding!" Deidara laughed, pulling out a wad of ryō. "You're a jerk."
They arrived at the grocery store. Deidara decided it was a good idea for him to carry the basket as she collected the groceries from the list. As they paraded around the store, they continued to speak. "So what's with Itachi? Do you know anything about him?" Tomoko questioned, wanting to know more about her technical kidnapper. "Ah, well, no. He doesn't talk much. I just know he killed the Uchiha Clan and left his brother alive. He joined right after actually, from what I heard. Itachi made me join a few years later, though. I guess we're both alike in some way," Deidara explained. "Right. So, I understand each of the Akatsuki have your own specialties. What's yours, Deidara?" Tomoko asked, just trying to get at least some information out of the Akatsuki that she could grasp. "Explosives. Clay. Actually, clay explosives," Deidara said as he examined shelves of sweets. "What about Hidan's?" Tomoko questioned as she dropped a box of noodles into the small basket. "Hidan? His stupid Jashin shit. Jashinism, or whatever. He's immortal, in short." Immortal? There's no way he's immortal. She decided not to question further about Hidan. "What about... Konan?"
"Paper, or something. Listen, you probably shouldn't ask me about this stuff. Ask Itachi? Or someone who's smarter than me. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. I just like art," Deidara solemnly explained as they continued to collect groceries and small talk. After leaving with handfuls of grocery bags that Deidara had to carry, they went clothes shopping, which Deidara dreaded.
Soon enough, they arrived back at the hideout with bags upon bags of food and clothes. "You know," Tomoko said as she filled the fridge with groceries, "if this is all I have to do, I don't mind being in the Akatsuki." Deidara and Tomoko both shared a laugh as they finished unloading groceries.
Tomoko began to slowly put away from her newly bought garments and sandals in her latest room. I guess, this could be my new home... I still need to gather information on this organization. Amidst her thoughts, they were shortly interrupted by someone standing in her doorway. She turned to see the raven-haired criminal. His eyes were the color of ink and his Akatsuki cloak was zipped down to his midriff, as his hand comfortably rested on the zipper from inside the dark robe. Itachi's eyes always, for some reason, looked as if they were filled with sorrow. "Kakuzu is looking for you. Pein needs more information about you," he said sternly, as always, and without another blink he stepped away from the doorway and trotted away.
What else would they need to know? Tomoko hastily followed Itachi out of her room, hoping he'd be where Kakuzu was. However, he was nowhere to be found as soon as she stepped out of her door, as if he'd vanished.