~Art's Most Valuable Form~

~Act No. 3~

Photography

Sakura

'Sakura."

"Sakura!"

Sakura awoke with a yelp, and jumped out of reflex, only to land headfirst onto the floor. She groaned at the sudden pain, and pulled her herself up slowly. Still groggy from the night before, she yawned. She stared halfheartedly at the grinning blonde in front of her, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"Ino?" Sakura yawned."Why did you wake me up? It practically just past daybreak."

The blonde seemed horrified that she was even asking her that. "Sakura Haruno! We came to Vegas to do things! Not so you could sleep. We have to get started! Goodness girly."

Sakura was suddenly very awake. She had almost forgotten where she even was. She smiled sheepishly at her best friend, and rubbed her head in embarrassment. "Ha, ha, sorry..."

The horrification was replaced with satisfaction, and a knowing smirk, "Well everyone else is already in the lobby, waiting. So I'd get dressed if I were you."

"What?" Sakura cried, running to her luggage in the other room. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! I'll be ready in a less than ten minutes!"

Sakura ended up grabbing a white tank-top, with a light green over-tank and blue jean short-shorts. She raced to the back into the bedroom, and into the bathroom, took a five minute shower, and dressed in less than a minute. She practically threw the bathroom door open to meet with a time-keeping Ino staring down at her watch.

"Six minutes and fifteen seconds," Ino recited, then smiled. "That's a new record Sakura."

Sakura gave a half smile as she searched for her white sandals, and threw her nightwear back into her suitcase. Seeing that she was completely ready at this point, she grinned at Ino. "So what's first?"

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Sasori woke at the crack of dawn. The Sun had just crossed the horizon, and it was shining on his form. He was awake almost instantaneously, and got out of the bed. His bedroom was the color of the morning rays, a light orange that tinted every place in his room. It was a nice color, he decided.

He got showered up, and dressed in a red T-shirt with black clouds, and grey khaki shorts. He figured that he might as well use the free clothes he got from Akatsuki Productions.

By the time it was six-ten in the morning he was already getting to work. There was a girl in Madrid that wanted a large portrait for her father for his birthday. She hadn't been very specific about the details, other than that she wanted it to look like him. Glancing down at the picture she sent, he got to it. It had to be 5ft by 3ft, and with a dark setting he decided, it would work with his features well.

Strokes collided, forming the brushwork of angels. Colors mixed with shades, creating deep contrast that only he could create with the upmost of precision. He was finished in about an hour, give or take a few minutes. Then he simply kept the painting on the isle to dry.

Going over to his next project he started on something he hadn't finished the day before, and completed that in less than five minutes. It was only then that he realized that was all he had for the day while he was in the hotel. He would have to send everything that he had into the post before he went and started on a grander scale graffiti painting down in one of the main parks of the area.

On that thought, his Iphone started to ring with the song that he had specifically used for Deidara's calling card. He grabbed it and pressed answer on the touchscreen.

"So what are you doing today, Danna?" Deidara asked. He still sounded drowsy. It was obvious that he had just gotten up.

"A spray-painting job down in Taka Park, around one-thirty," Sasori replied evenly.

He would probably get there a few hours earlier, but he knew that the blonde only asked at this time of the day before Sasori was already out and about, and busy. Since Deidara also had he day off, he would probably spend the next few hours sleeping the day away, much to Sasori's irritation. One should not waste such time on something that is almost trivial, especially when it went unwarranted.

"Well, then, okay, guess I'll see you later than, yeah," Deidara replied rather awkwardly. Sometimes Sasori was just too straightforward for his own good, it just made him sound rather strange at times.

"I would think so," Sasori droned lazily into the phone. "You always seem to follow me wherever I go."

Sasori could just imagine Deidara's annoyed face as he said the next few words very flatly, "You're such a creep when you want to be, un."

Then the phone went dead, and Sasori shrugged uncaringly, before he placed it into one of his pockets. In the mean time, he should probably get some of the doorkeepers to help him with transporting the artwork to the postoffice.

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The morning went by almost too quickly for Sakura, and it was nearing two in the afternoon. They still had a few more stops that they were supposed to complete, but after walking most of the way, the entire day, they were all exhausted. Except for Sakura, that is; she still wanted to reach the rest of the other places before nightfall, and she most certainly didn't want to go back to the hotel to sleep until the night hours came. She didn't even want to go down to the casinos. It just wasn't her style. Even if she didn't mind not going to a few places, she just didn't want to go to a gambling establishment.

So now she was at a crossroads with her decisions, and Ino wouldn't like it, nor would the others. She glanced up at the clear azure sky, only to block her eyes for the blazing Sun. She walked like that for a few moments before she glanced back at her friends who were all walking ahead of her by a few steps. They were coming close to a park, Taka park if she was correct. They were also decently close to the hotel, and she could find her way back if need be. It seemed like an inviting enough place to sit down, and let herself get shaded from the dreaded heat of the sunlight for a bit.

"Hey guys," Sakura called out reluctantly, causing all of them to stop, and look at her.

"What is it Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked with an obnoxious yawn.

"I think I'll stay here for a little bit," Sakura replied nervously. "I'm not really tired, just text or call me when your ready to leave again."

"What? Sakura, we can't just leave you here," Ino stated worriedly.

"Ino, it's a park," Sakura pointed out.

With knitted brows, the four gazed at each other rather worriedly, before Sasuke nodded in acknowledgement. He always had believed that she was a strong girl, and for that, Sakura was glad. It was just a thing that had connected them as friends since they were little. It went unsaid, but forever there.

"Well, ok, Sakura," Ino spoke. "I'll call you later when we need to get ready. Be safe, okay?"

They all exchanged goodbyes, and Sakura was left on her own in front of the entrance to the park. It was a simple cobblestone pathway, with tree's every few feet from another. People walked along the pathways, with friends, their special person, and children. It was just like any other park that she's been to. The place wasn't exactly flat, but there wasn't large hills either. Palm trees were around as well, just as any other place in Vegas, clashing greatly with other trees. Metal benches were there and again in random places. It was a good change of scenery, even though she hasn't been in Vegas for more than a day, albeit the passing cars, the constant lights, the honking of cabs, it was tiresome.

Sakura took in a deep breath, letting the scent of the ever moving city escape her senses for a while. The scent of trees had always been inviting to Sakura, and probably because of her strange connection with life; spring more specifically. Her mother-when she was younger-had always told her that her colorings were sent from powers beyond understanding. Being born in late March, and being given the colorings of a flower, not to mention her name literally meaning cherry blossoms. It was a gift, Sakura decided, and she just figured that even a little magic was worked into her, even if it be her imagination. It was simply a comforting thought, of sorts, and it was because of that, that she really enjoyed having her colorings the way they were. Even if some people may think otherwise.

It was after a few minutes when she found a small lush garden with small steps for people to walk on, and there wasn't anyone around. She became intrigued right away, a smile lighting on her face. She jumped from each one with the playfulness of a child, and she giggled at her antics. She was in her element, with flowers surrounding her. It was practically dream.

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Deidara had been walking through Taka park, making his way over to where Sasori said to meet up with him, when he noticed a streak of petal pink in his peripheral vision. He stopped dead in his tracks, and his searched frantically from where he stood, gaining the uncertain glances of passerby's in his direction. Thankfully no one had remembered him out in broad daylight yet, but he knew that it was bound to occur.

He swore that it was the same color from the girl in Sasori's drawings. It was exactly the same. Exactly. Sasori never made mistakes, and this certainly wasn't going to be the start.

Inevitably, he began the search of the girl with alias of Sakura. He had no idea what he was thinking doing this, but somehow he wanted to seek out this girl and find her. Heaven knows why, probably just mere curiosity on his part. He had no idea what he would say to her, but did it really matter? Maybe...But that wasn't important at the moment!

Flashes of pink went from his right, and he broke out into a run. He would find this girl. Somehow he was very determined to. Maybe they would be friends in the future or something. Maybe she would know he was. Who knew? And he didn't care.

Then he stopped from behind a tree, breathing heavy pants as quietly as he could. There she was, prancing about in the middle of a garden filled of blossoming flowers, seemingly happy. It was almost an exact replica of Sasori's drawing that he had made the night before. The only thing missing was the cherry tree in the background with the petals flying around her. His eyes widened in shock. This had to mean something. It seriously couldn't be a freaking coincidence. It was only too bad that he couldn't be Sasori, but he knew that the damned Puppet Master wouldn't do anything about this. He wouldn't have searched her out.

Then he was met with a decision that had to be answered. Either stay behind a tree until she leaves, or reveal himself to her. Giving an inward sigh, he ruffled up the sleeves on his blazer to his elbows, before stepping out from behind the tree. He put on a sheepish grin, as he rubbed his head. She hadn't even noticed him.

Suddenly, without him even thinking of his next words, he blurted out softly, "Sakura?"

Taken out of the daydream that she had sucked herself into, she straightened. She blinked a few times, and glanced curiously in the direction that her name had emitted from. What she saw shocked her completely, and she thought she was still in a daydream.

"Deidara... Iwa?" Sakura questioned confusedly.

He seemed shocked too, as if the answer he had expected was differently. Did he know of her from the night before when she had sang with Itachi? She would think so, but she couldn't be sure.

Deidara shook himself, before grinning ear to ear, "Is your name actually Sakura, yeah?"

She stared at him incredulously, "Yes, it is."

He placed his hands on his hips, and seemed confidently satisfied, but stunned nonetheless. "Your name is seriously Sakura, un. Wow. I can't believe it."

"Is that a problem?" Sakura asked confusedly. Was he insulting her, or was he trying to figure something out? She couldn't be sure. This situation was very strange, and completely unexpected.

"Good God," Deidara ruffled his locks. "This a practically a miracle, un."

Now she was really confused. "A miracle?"

"I can explain on the way, yeah," Deidara replied with his signature grin.

"On the way?"

He motioned for her to come over. He was being very vague with her, and her troublesome curiosity was hard to overcome, so she crossed a few stones before meeting up with him. She was seriously going to get to talk to Deidara Iwa? This was a normal college and high school girl's dream. Sakura, however, didn't treat people like they were all high and mighty unless they were very powerful people in the government. She treated everyone equally for the most part, with respect and kindness. Whether they be famous or not wasn't exactly a big deal for her. They were people, not Gods.

The grin etched on his lips created the urge to smile back at him, as if it was contagious. She smiled up at him then, and he took that as an opportunity to start up a conversation while they started walking. "So how is it that you know Sasori?"

Sakura smiled sheepishly at him for a moment, "You could say I bumped into him. Literally. I made us both fall over. It wasn't a very great pastime of mine."

At that, Deidara tilted his head back, and burst our laughing. He glanced back down at her between laughs, and quirked a brow at her in amusement, "Seriously, un?"

Sakura giggled with him, as if she's known him her entire life, "Yeah. He didn't really seem very happy. He practically glared at me, before saying to watch where I was going, and walked away."

He laughed a bit more, and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Oh trust me, Sasori glares at everyone when he's irritated, and he's very easily irritated."

"I'm guessing you know him well," Sakura decided to say, a smile on her face.

"I suppose that you can say that we're best friends," Deidara admitted, with a shrug. "Although, our personalities clash like enemies in a war, at times, yeah."

"I see."

A silence ensued, and Sakura felt rather awkward about it. She had a lot of questions to ask. She found herself stumbling over her words, "Wh-Why did you want to talk to...me anyway?"

At that Deidara stopped walking. He stared up at the sky for a moment with his hands rubbing the back of his head. How should he say this? "Umm Sasori-

"Deidara, your late."

Sakura, nor Deidara had noticed that they were now in the middle of the park, right next to a large gazebo with four cement paths meeting at four points to it. There were large tree's high above them, encasing them in the middle of the park. Small leaves traveled with the small amount of wind, and sunlight traveled between breakthroughs of the trees.

"Sasori Danna..." Deidara mumbled. There was a twitch in his lips that described nervousness.

Sasori was on the ground using a vast number of different types of spray paint, creating different forests and sceneries from around the world. From another artist it would probably seem terrible to have something so colorful on a cement pathway for a park, but this was as if a person was walking a different world. It was perfection.

When Sasori heard his name called again, only this time more awkwardly, he glanced up with a steady gaze to meet Deidara's lone blue eye. However he noticed a pink haired girl beside him, one that looked equally as worried as the man beside her.

"You!" Sasori declared, glaring perplexity at her. He stood immediately, and glowered at Deidara, "Why would you bring her here?"

"You can say I found her my completely accident, un..." Deidara mumbled, looking away from Sasori's piercing eyes.

"My name," Sakura suddenly said with more authority than thought possible for herself, "Is Sakura Haruno, not 'You'.

Both boys stood and stared at her sudden announcement; Deidara with joyous relief that he wasn't in Sasori's gaze anymore, while Sasori stared at her in shock, his impassiveness broken slightly.

"That's you name?" Sasori asked incredulously.

"Yes, it is," Sakura admitted with finality.

While Sasori looked to Deidara blankly, the blonde just grinned knowably, feeling superior for once in a long time. Then Deidara turned to Sakura, and asked abruptly, "Well Sakura, why are you in Vegas? Business or pleasure?"

Rather startled at the unexpected question she froze for a moment, barely able to connect words together other than mumbles. After a few tries she cleared her throat, and spoke with a smile, "Pleasure I guess. My friends and I came here for the week. I just saw your showing last night."

"Really?" Deidara said mischievously, "No wonder you recognized me, I am pretty noticeable, un."

Sasori scowled at the blonde. "Only because people wonder whether or not your a girl."

Deidara snapped his head at the redhead, "That is so not true and you know it, yeah!"

Sakura was rather curious to their argument. It was actually kinda true that he did look like Ino...Not that she would ever admit that aloud to him. She kinda wondered what would happen if they met each other. Would they scream and be horrified that they looked a lot alike, or would they not even notice? It would be a very entertaining sight for either to happen.

"You are recognizable," Sakura said truthfully.

They stopped mid fight to glance at her, while Deidara grinned, Sasori returned to his normal blank expression.

"You didn't recognize me when you landed on me," Sasori stated thoughtfully.

"No. Sorry... I didn't," Sakura admitted. "Not until I entered the Dawning Theatre House did I know just who you were."

Sasori shrugged uncaringly in response, and returned to his piece, placing a rag over his mouth. Deidara then starting walking into the gazebo, glancing over his shoulder as to tell her to come along. She followed suit, running to catch up to him. He placed his long fingers across the white railing near where Sasori was, but not so close so that he came near the chemicals of the spray paint. Sakura stood beside him, watching Sasori at work.

"Did you like the show last night, yeah?" He asked curiously.

Sakura nodded vigorously. "It was absolutely amazing. I can see why they call it the best show in all of Vegas."

His grin broadened, "Which was you favorite, un?"

Sakura glanced down at Sasori for a moment. He was so immersed in his art, so in his element. He was so confident in it. It was like...magic. Like when she sings.

Deidara noticed her gaze at Sasori and he chuckled lightly, "Oh, so you liked his the best, did you, yeah?"

"I...I guess. I liked yours a lot-" Sakura started awkwardly.

"Don't say that just because I'm the one your talking to, un," Deidara interrupted with a smile. "Say what you want. It doesn't really matter to me, as long as I love what I do, un."

"Well...Other than Itachi's performance, and Yahiko's I really did like Sasori's the best," Sakura said shyly, putting a strand of pink hair behind her ear.

"It is considerably amazing what Sasori can accomplish in a matter of minutes," Deidara commented. "He replaced another act, un. At first,the rest of us Akatsuki weren't sure about him, but he made Akatsuki Productions even more popular that it was before he came."

"I heard about that," She said unsure whether she should ask or not. "What...exactly happened?"

Deidara's face turned grim, as did his tone. He sounded so foreign when he sounded like this, "It's not something most of us like to talk about, un."

Sakura's blood ran cold, and guilt ran through her veins, "I-I'm sorry I brought it up..."

He gave her a rueful smile, "You were curious. Can't say I blame you, yeah."

She was about to respond when Sasori suddenly announced flatly, "It's done."

Sakura slowly looked at Sasori with shock. He seriously couldn't have completed it all could he? Oh God. He did! All four pathways were complete! She gazed down at the closest one to her, and saw Mount Fuji with a beautiful sky with white clouds around it. Every tile had a different design, and each looked amazing.

"Well," Deidara started with his grin intact, placing his hand's into his pockets, "Where to now, Sasori-Danna?"

Sasori who had already put all the bottles of spray paint into a messenger bag slung over his shoulder, pulled out a large black camera. "Photography," Then he gazed at Sakura with half lidded chocolate eyes, "Without her."

It was then that Deidara put an arm around her shoulder, startling Sakura greatly, "Oh please, we are so bringing her with, yeah!"

Sakura looked from Sasori to Deidara in shock, "Really? You want to bring me along?"

"Of course, yeah!" Deidara exclaimed happily. "You seem pretty awesome to me."

She felt rather bashful, and a light blush ran over her face. "Thanks."

Inevitably, Sakura had went along with the two performers. They walked around the park for about thirty minutes, Sasori taking pictures when he saw fit, and Deidara chatting with her happily. Sasori wasn't showing the photographs to either of them, and finally Sakura was just too curious. She ran over to where he was, taking a picture of the grand pond while Deidara and her were behind him a ways on the boardwalk.

"Can I see your pictures?" Sakura asked, when she was near the redhead.

He simply turned around, his face devoid of emotion. "For what purpose?"

"Your the best artist in the world," Sakura spoke, "I haven't seen many of your works in the past, and now that I actually get to meet you, I kind want to see just something, that is, if you'll allow me."

He didn't even take a second to answer, as if he considered her explanation good enough. "Don't break it."

He took a step forward, and handed her the large camera from his grasp. She handled it with ease, and pressed a few buttons to make it work. It was different from others she's handled in the past, but she made it fit to her needs, nonetheless. There were at least a hundred different pictures by now. Sakura skipped through all of them, her face lighting up in amazement.

She smiled up at Sasori. "So it is as they say. You make the smallest detail wonderous."

"You can use this type of camera." It wasn't a question. He had actually sounded momentarily impressed.

She was taken off guard at the straightforwardness, but she covered it quickly. "Um yes, I took a few photography classes while I was in high school."

"Show me," He demanded. He was partially interested in her experience with a camera. There weren't many people that could use the camera he had and handle it so simply, especially since he had gotten this one specifically from a company a few weeks ago. It hadn't even been sold on the shelves yet.

She raised her brows, a smile working it's way over her lips. "Seriously?"

He nodded in reply, "However many you desire."

At first when she saw Sasori things would be embarrassing, but apparently not. It was actually a lot easier than she expected. When she first started with the shots he simply watched her skeptically.

"Look for details," He instructed formally.

She nodded, doing exactly as he said, finding smaller aspects of the scenery, and adding them to the bigger pictures.

"Find contrast."

She did that as well, finding that something that wasn't the same and matching it with something that was different, and putting that into the picture.

She was swallowed into the world of photography, taking pictures with barely even having to think about it. She took pictures of the lake with the wind blowing the tree's in the background, leaves that cascaded down to the water with grace. She didn't hear or see anything else.

"She's more worthy of the art than I had anticipated," Sasori told Deidara as he walked up beside him, his narrowed eyes aimed right at Sakura.

"She does seem really into it, yeah," Deidara commented with a shrug.

Sasori shook his head, "That's not what I meant. Art has value to people, but when consumed in it, it creates something even the greats cannot even accomplish."

"You have that gift to," Deidara said, trying to figure out what he meant.

"It's not a gift exactly," Sasori explained. "Art itself is a gift to people like us and we simply use it's creation."

"That might actually make sense Danna," Deidara replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I guess I have it too when it comes to explosions."

Sasori shook his head with a sigh. To Sasori, explosions weren't exactly his type of art, but if he told Deidara that, he would just get an arrogant smirk in return, and the words, 'That's because you can't make them!'. And that's only because he was never taught, and he never exactly found it necessary to perform such a thing.

After awhile Sasori was getting impatient of simply standing there, so inevitably he started to draw in his sketchbook on a nearby bench. He had just wanted to do the scenery around him, but yet again he drew the girl with it. He had never drawn or done any artwork for one person specifically more than once, unless it be a character he liked, but never an actual person. What was going on with him? The colorings stuck in his mind like glue. But just like the last two other times, he just didn't think it looked quite right, as if something was off or missing.

"Are you going to tell her, yeah?" Deidara asked. He was perched on the railing behind him, wrapping his legs around the lower rails as to not fall off and into the pond.

"No," Replied Sasori with finality. He hadn't even stopped his sketching.

Bewildered, he questioned, "Well, why not?"

"I have no desire to let her see them," Sasori uttered icily.

Deidara was dumbstruck, "Why the hell not, Danna?"

After that, Sasori did stop his drawing, and he glared at Deidara with the most icily eyes he could make. He simply had no desire to repeat himself, and this conversation was not one that he wanted to continue.

This in turn, made Deidara question even more, but almost worriedly. He was confused as to just why Sasori didn't want to reveal the drawings that he created of her. It was peculiar behavior. He hadn't ever acted like this before about another series of drawings. He stopped all questions at that moment, and decided to further investigate quietly, and see Sasori's interaction with Sakura. It was the only way. Just what was going on though?

Seeing the somber expression on Deidara's face, Sasori simply turned back to his work, and uttered, "Do not speak of it to anyone."

After that, Deidara jumped from the railing, and strode over to Sakura who was snapping pictures with carefulness. She was in such a zone that Deidara almost didn't want to interrupt her, but staying here with Sasori the way he was, it was just best to move forward.

"Sakura, un," Deidara said, announcing his presence. He was standing right in front of her, and he waved at her form, but got nothing.

When she didn't respond, he strode right in front of the camera lens with a cheeky grin on his face. This however, only caused Sakura to yelp, and stumbled backwards, and land on her butt on the wooden planks. She gazed up at Deidara in bewilderment, "You scared me!"

He chuckled slightly, and held a hand out to her. With a flat look, she took it, getting back up to her feet. She held the camera in her grasp.

"So what do you want to do now, un?"

Sakura quirked a brow at him, "What do you mean?"

He pointed to himself than Sasori, "We both got the entire day off, yeah. What do you want to do?"

Sakura took a moment to collect her bearings. "You want to hang out with me for the rest of the day?"

He shrugged, "Why not? You seem like a pretty cool person."

She flashed Deidara a rueful smile than looked at Sasori, "He doesn't seem enjoy my company, you sure that it's okay?"

"Oh please, I've done a hell of a lot worse things to irritate him, un," Deidara said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"If you actually want me around than sure, I'll come along."

At that, Deidara's grin widened, clearly satisfied at her answer, "Ok than, un! What do you want to do?"

Sakura grinned at the idea. She hadn't gotten to finish her sightseeing adventure, and she seriously wanted to complete it, "Sightseeing."

"That's a good idea," Sasori announced, suddenly right next to them. "I wanted to do a few pictures for my website."

Deidara rubbed his hands together, excitedly. "Alright then, un. Let's get started!"

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Art's Most Valuable Form

Author's Note:

Updated: August 18, 2013

Hey guys! This chapter was suppose to have all the sightseeing parts in it too, but it got too long... Sorry! And again I am so so so sorry, there is wayyyyyy too much dialogue in this chapter. But I love this story soo much! So so so sooo much! It's gonna be a really long story so I hope you guys stay tuned!

Sasori was a bit rude in this chapter :/ But ya know what? That's just Sasori, but don't worry he'll fall for our little pinkette in the future!

Tomorrow morning I have 6am vball tryouts. It's gonna suck, but wish me luck! I also got my Akatsuki ring set in the mail today! I was so ecstatic!

Please review! I read every one of them, and I take them all seriously, and there so appreciated!

Ja-ne!

-Cassandra