Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto Shippuuden or any characters in it.

Summary: AU Fic. Sasori was a successful businessman who sells puppets. On the way to a business meeting one day, Sasori's car broke down. Deciding not to make his fellow businessmen wait for him, he got out of his car and decided to walk towards his destination until…

A/n: Special thanks to my friend Eartha for giving me ideas to write this chapter. Thanks Eartha!

Italics are thoughts or flashbacks.

Chapter 3

"I think we should use the wood imported from Konoha instead of the ones in Iwa." Said a voice, snapping Sasori out of his trance.

The redhead blinked, "I'm sorry, but could you repeat that please?"

"I said, we should change the material for the project." Said a blue haired woman. She touched the surface of the material. "The wood, to be exact." The woman, known as Konan continued, "The wood from Konoha is known for it's durability, unlike the wood here in Iwa."

"But it'll cost more to import the materials!" Exclaimed Kakuzu, the treasurer of FanTocHe. He made quick calculations with his calculator and then showed the figure to everyone at the meeting.

Pein – the leader of the FanTocHe rolled his eyes. "The capital merely increased by 2 cents each, I don't see a huge difference."

"Now you see, Pein-san, we are business people, we need to think of a way to rake in more profit and not…"

The argument continued as Sasori's mind drifted to elsewhere. He was really troubled by the thought of his used-to-be fiancée's visit. What could she possibly want from him? Hasn't he told her that it was all over for both of them? Women…he really doesn't get them.

"Sasori-san, what are you doing?" A voice owned by a certain snake-like man snapped Sasori out of his thoughts.

Sasori shook his head as he soon realized that he had drawn a rather messy drawing on the piece of paper in front of him. That piece of paper was a summary on the whole project that was handed out to everyone here at the meeting. Sasori felt like he wanted to slam his forehead against the table. It was so humiliating getting caught in such a childish act by your business partner.

"Err…I'm sorry." Sasori mumbled as he closed his eyes, "It's just that I always do that when I … sort of…zone out a little."

"You don't look really well, Sasori-san." Orochimaru stated. "Something's bothering you?"

"Nothing much really." Sasori lied, as he toyed with the pen in his hand. He pushed aside the problems in his mind and focused on the planned lunch with the blond. He still couldn't get why he had asked the blond out to lunch? I mean…hasn't he already help the blond the night before? It was fair that the blond had helped him back this morning.

The whole lunch thingy was unnecessary…but somehow the redhead got a feeling that he had to invite the blond out for lunch. OMG, does that mean he was interested in men now? Sasori shook the thought out. Hell no! He assured himself that he was not gay…that it had just been a…mere attraction. Yea, a mere attraction to the beautiful…wait, had he just thought that the blond was beautiful? He certainly did not think that the blond was beautiful! Okay…so maybe the blond was in some way attractive to Sasori…but that doesn't prove that he was gay!

'Okay…I'm just being kind by inviting that brat out for lunch.' Sasori's mind made a conclusion.

'But since when did Akasuna no Sasori become so kind?' Inner Sasori retorted.

Gaah! Sasori felt his mind explode trying to think of reasons for his behavior. 'This is purely a friendly gesture of asking someone out to lunch…' Thought Sasori, happy that he was finally able to come up with a reason, but then inner Sasori had to interrupt.

'Oh? Since when did Akasuna no Sasori makes friends?' Inner Sasori beamed evilly, finally winning the battle. Sasori brushed off inner Sasori's comments and stick to the 'this-is-purely-a-friendly-gesture' reason.

The voice of Pein and Kakuzu seemed to be amplified as the argument continued. Konan merely glared at both men and rolled her eyes. 'They should ought to act more mature, instead of argue like kids.' Thought the bluenette.

Finally the whole boring meeting ended in about an hour or so and it was lunchtime now. The redhead left his briefcase in the office and proceeded to exit the building. He was not the least surprise when he saw the blond waiting for him on his bike. The blond was grinning his usual Cheshire cat grin as he waved at the redhead. The redhead walked towards the blond.

"Good afternoon, kiddo un!"

Sasori frowned, "Hey, brat. How many times have I told you…"

Deidara chuckled, "Just kidding, Sasori-san un. Just kidding un." He shook his head, "Geez, you should be so serious all the time un."

Sasori rolled his eyes, "Brat." His eyes then shifted towards the vehicle in front of him and he gulped. The memory of the ride that morning was still vivid in his mind.

"Come on, un." Deidara handed Sasori the helmet. "I'll take you to some place nice for lunch un."

Sasori heaved in a deep breath, 'Here goes nothing…' He thought as he put on the helmet and got on the bike. His fists clenched tightly around the fabric that was Deidara's shirt.

The blond chuckled, "You really are nervous, aren't you un?" He then continued, "Just relax and enjoy the ride un. Err…and oh, you shouldn't grasp onto my shirt like that un. You won't have enough support un."

Sasori stared at the Deidara's back. "Then…where do I hold?"

"My waist, maybe un?"

Sasori felt his cheeks burned as the grasps around Deidara's shirt loosened, and a pair of hands wrapped around the blonde's waist. "Like this?" The redhead felt his heartbeat quickened and he could have sworn that his face was as red as his hair now.

"Yea un." Without looking back, the blond started the bike.

Sasori's eyes widened this time during the ride as he glanced sideways at the buildings and people on the sidewalk. 'Hey…maybe the ride wasn't too bad after all…' He let himself relax and enjoyed the view. The cool breeze hitting on his skin was so comfy that he let his eyes closed and forgetting all the problems that he was facing.


"We are here, un!" Exclaimed an excited voice, which obviously belongs to the blond named Deidara.

'What a sweet scent…' Sasori thought as he inhaled deeply, as his eyes slowly fluttered half-open. OMG? Had he fallen asleep? His eyes snapped open all of a sudden. All the sleepiness disappeared at once as he realized that he had fallen asleep with his face buried against Deidara's back. "Shit!" He jerked himself backwards and away from the blond.

"Fallen asleep, Sasori-san un?" Deidara turned towards him and smiled. "You are just like a kid you know un? You even look like one un."

Sasori seemed to be slightly insulted by the comment. "Stop calling me a kid, brat." He then proceeded in hopping off the bike. His eyes widened as he noticed his surrounding. They were at the beach! There weren't much people at the beach at the time because it was weekday. Okay…how the hell did he get here without noticing? Oh yeah…he was asleep just now. "Brat…where the heck…"

Deidara cut him off, "Didn't I told you, I would bring you to somewhere nice for lunch un?" He grinned as he showed the redhead the hot dog stall next to the sea. "There! Kisame-san sells the nicest hot dog and burgers in the whole Iwa." The blond then proceeded to wave at the said Kisame-san – a tall guy that had weird skin colour…it seemed that his skin was almost blue.

Sasori raised a brow. "You brought us all the way to the beach just to eat some freaking hot dog?"

"No…Kisame-san sells burgers too un."

The redhead gritted his teeth as he looked at his watch. A freaking forty-five-minutes ride! He realized. Oh man, he had only a one-hour lunch break, plus Orochimaru had told the redhead to get back earlier than the supposed time because he wanted to show the redhead around the factory area.

Sasori slapped a hand across his forehead. "I'm going to be late, in case you didn't notice, brat. Lunch break is only one hour." He glared the blond who looked surprise. "Plus, my business partner is waiting for me back there! Argh!"

"Gee…I didn't know that un." Deidara's visible blue eye appeared apologetic. "I thought…"

Sasori cut him off, "Forget it," He seemed upset, "I'll just call them and tell them that I would be a little late." With that, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number. "Hello…this is…"

Deidara on the other hand had proceeded in ordering two extra-large sets of lunches, which came with fries and soft drinks. After the phone call, Sasori turned to realize that the blond had stood next to the stall, which was quite a distant away from where the redhead was standing. The blond waved at him and Sasori strolled towards Deidara.

"Hey, this is Kisame-san un." Deidara introduced the stall owner to Sasori, who merely force a smile as he greeted the man.

"So err…Sasori-san, is it?" Kisame started to break the ice. "Do you like the beach?" He asked the redhead, without looking up, his eyes still glued to the hot dogs that he was flipping in the pan.

"No." Sasori's reply was short as he looked away (or more precisely at the sandy ground). 'The sand here was also different from the sand back in Suna.' Thought the redhead.

"What's on your mind un?" Deidara asked the redhead.

"None of your business, brat." Sasori replied, he was clearly still upset that the blond had made him late. 'Oh! It was your own fault for opening that big mouth of yours and asking him out for lunch!' Inner Sasori stated. 'Besides, you cannot blame him for not knowing your schedule. No point making blondie here feel bad, no?'

"I'm sorry un." The redhead could hear the hurt in Deidara's voice. "I didn't know that your lunch break was only an hour un. If I do know, I wouldn't have brought you here un." Sasori looked at the blond who wasn't smiling right now.

"Look, I'm S-…"

"Two extra large set lunches are ready now." Kisame interrupted the two as he handed the lunch set to Deidara.

"Thanks un, Kisame-san un." Deidara's expression immediately lightened up as he took the lunch set. He then proceeded in taking out his wallet but Sasori beat him to it. "Hey un…"

"I'm paying, remember?" Sasori reminded the blond.

"Oh yea un." Deidara grinned. "Does that mean you've forgiven me un?"

Sasori narrowed his eyes, as he pulled back the cash. "Okay, you are paying, brat." Deidara rolled his eyes, as he was about to pull out his wallet. A smirk crossed the redhead's face as he handed the cash to Kisame. "Just kidding, brat."

"Now look who's the brat here, un." Deidara rolled his eyes as he handed Sasori his share of the lunch. Sasori took it and muttered a quick 'thank you'. They then found a spot under a shady tree to sit and have their lunch.


"So, do you like it un?" Deidara questioned the redhead as he swallowed a bite.

Sasori glanced at the blond, "Nothing special." He then took another bite. 'Yummy' Inner Sasori exclaimed. He didn't want to admit that he like the food well because he didn't feel like it and secondly, he just feel like he have to hate the things that caused him to be late. So the innocent hot dog bun took all the blame.

"Oh…" Deidara's smile seemed to falter a bit as he too, took another bite from the hot dog bun. The ketchup from the bun seemed to leak out and was left at the side of the blonde's face. Deidara proceeded in licking the sauce away.

Sasori watched the blond. 'Oh god…he looks really sexy, no?' Inner Sasori asked. Sasori almost bit his own tongue. Oh no, he didn't think that the blond look sexy. No, he did not.

"What's wrong, Sasori-san un?" Deidara's gaze fell onto the redhead now as he studied Sasori's expression.

"Uh, nothing." Sasori shifted his gaze away as he felt his cheeks burned.

"Pervert un."

"What the?!" Sasori turned and glared at the blond who looked at him with a smirk. The blond inched closer to the redhead. "What do you think you are doing?!" Sasori felt as if his heart was going to stop beating as the blond brushed his lips softly against Sasori's.

"You like this, don't you un?" The blond whispered seductively. "Ah, I remembered… Sasori-san's lips tasted sweet un." The remark made Sasori blushed as he remembered the incident last night. The blonde's lips against his, the blonde's tongue exploring his mouth…oh it felt like heaven.

When Deidara was about to pull away from Sasori, Sasori's hand shot out and pulled him towards him as their lips crashed feverishly. 'Oh screw it! What if I am gay?!' Sasori thought as his eyes snap shut as he enjoyed the kiss.

This time, Sasori was the one who slid his tongue into the blonde's mouth, as he tasted him. He pushed the blond against the tree trunk as he continued to explore the blonde's mouth with his tongue. He could taste the ketchup inside Deidara's mouth.

This time it was Deidara who broke the kiss, both of them were panting for air. They stared at each other silently. Deidara was the one who broke the silence. "You are a great kisser, Sasori-san un."

Sasori averted his gaze and faked a cough, "Ahem…aren't you going to finish your lunch?"

"Oh shit…" Deidara soon realized that he had scattered his lunch on the ground when they were kissing.

Sasori rolled his eyes as he handed the blond his share, which was tucked safely somewhere. "Here, you can have my share."

Deidara's beamed, "Aww! Thanks danna un!" as he grabbed the share of food.

"Danna?" Sasori raised a brow.

"Hehe, just feel like it un." Deidara spoke. "You don't like it un?"

"No…" Sasori shrugged. "Just felt weird…" He took a sip of coke, "Well at least it's better than 'kiddo'."

"Un." Deidara began to chew on the food in his mouth.

"Anyway brat, your only job is as a street performer?" Sasori questioned, "No part-time job or whatsoever?"

"No un." The blond stared at the redhead, "Why un?"

"Nothing much…just curious."

"Un…" Deidara looked away, "Anyway…I forgot to ask you when we first met un. So, where are you from un? You don't look like you are from here un." He stated, pointing at Sasori's flaming red hair. "That hair color just doesn't seem natural in Iwa un."

"Suna."

The conversation ended as both of them busied finishing their lunch. "I guess we should take our leave now un." Deidara broke the silence. He smiled, "I thought you hate to make other people wait for you un?" Sasori was taken by surprise. He had never told the blond that before, so how did Deidara know? It was as if the blond could read his minds. The blond chuckled as he read the shock from the redhead's face. "I guess I'm right then un." He shrugged, "From the way you acted before, I guess un…"

"I see…" Sasori stood up. "Shall we?"


The couple was now at the entrance of the FanTocHe building, Sasori handed Deidara the helmet, as he looked him in the eye. Inner Sasori screamed to say anything! Anything that wouldn't just let the blond leave and not come back, but Sasori's pride held him down.

"Guess you won't believe me un…but I really like you, Sasori-san un." The blond spoke all of a sudden.

"But, we just met…yesterday." Sasori wanted to smack himself for saying that. 'Oh, smooth…Sasori' Inner Sasori pointed out sarcastically.

"I know un…" Deidara bit his bottom lip, "How do I say this un…" He tilted his head a little, "Fate un? No…" He shook his head, "Look, I can't explain it un. But somehow I got attracted to you un…I think you are attracted to me too, Sasori-san. Don't deny it un."

"I…"

"That kiss proves it un."

"I don't know. I just, acted that way. It was strange…" Sasori shook his head, "And…we are both guys…"

"Does it matter un?"

"Not really…" Sasori shifted uncomfortably, "Just that, I feel weird…when I'm around you…" Sasori paused to think of the little magic show yesterday. For some reason…he was drawn towards it…towards the blond.

"Ah… I've found the word un. Magic un." Deidara stated.

"Yeah right…" Sasori snorted.

"You don't believe in it un?"

"No, if I believe in magic, then I would be admitting that Santa Claus really do exist." The redhead stated.

A hand shot out to caress the redhead's cheek. "You know, I guess the reason you still look like a kid, is that you couldn't leave the past behind un…"

The redhead's eyes widened. "What does that suppose to mean?" Sasori felt his heart clenched all of a sudden as the memories of his past flashed across all of the sudden.

Flashbacks…

'It seems that it was psychological… that the child couldn't seem to grow'

'Something seems to be bothering him…avoiding the growth…'

End of flashbacks…

Sasori remembered when he wasn't growing normally as the other children in his school; his grandmother had taken him to various doctors and psychiatrists, hoping that they could help him. It took the psychiatrists long enough to observe the situation and write down the report to his grandmother, but the blond standing right in front of him now, seemed to know everything of him. It was really creepy.

"What do you know about me?!" Finally finding his voice, Sasori snapped. He slapped Deidara's hand away and shifted his gaze to the floor. Tears brimmed at the edge of his eyes as he found himself sobbing.

"Sasori un…"

"Shut up!" The redhead felt himself shivered, as tears seemed to pour out uncontrollably.

Flashbacks…

"Magic? If it does exist…then I wouldn't be here alone now, would I?"

"There has never been magic or miracles, just cold hard reality."

"You should have told me that they wouldn't come back, grandma…" Said a 12-years-old Sasori. "Then I wouldn't have to wait for a miracle to happen every Christmas."

End of Flashbacks…

A pair of hands wrapped themselves around Sasori and pulled him into an embrace. Sasori did not try to pull away. He just buried his face against Deidara's shoulder as tears continued to trickle down.

"You know? Through each tear you shed, you get stronger un?"

Sasori didn't even bother to reply. Some of the passerby looked at the couple oddly but some of them didn't even bother to look. Sasori was obviously oblivious to his surrounding as he continued burying his face against the blonde's shoulder. It felt…so warm. Gradually…the sobs subsided.

"Come on, I think you should get going un…" Deidara spoke suddenly.

Slowly, Sasori shifted away from Deidara as the arms around him were pulled back. It had been years since he had cried. The only time the redhead remembered crying was when the news of his parents' death reached him. He had changed himself completely after that and had never cried anymore…well, until today.

"Thanks…I guess." The redhead refused to look at the blond in the eye when he spoke.

"Don't mention it, un." Deidara nodded with a grin as he ruffled Sasori's hair. Sasori glared at the blond who was obviously taller than him. "You could give me a call, ya know un?" Deidara handed the redhead his name card.

"Street magician…" Sasori read. "Is that even a proper job?"

"Duh, I still didn't have any problems in paying my bills and am not dying of hunger un." Deidara pointed out.

"Right…" Sasori rolled his eyes and he looked really cute with that expression that made Deidara want to ruffle his flaming red hair again, but this time, the redhead stopped him. "Oh no, you don't, brat!"

"Fine un. Anyway, see you around un." Deidara started his bike, as he waved at the redhead, "Bye, kiddo un…"

"Hey!" Sasori yelled at the blond, annoyed.

"Right, danna un. Bye un!" Then, Deidara took off.


Sasori entered the lobby of the building and proceeded in getting to the elevator when a voice stopped him in his tracks. A voice to scarily familiar stopped him in his tracks. "Sasori-kun?" Sasori turned to see a pink haired lady standing behind him.

"Haruno-san…" He frowned, "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I told you I would be coming here today, Sasori-kun?"

TBC

A/n: … O.o Err…Please R&R to tell me what you think. Ideas are welcomed too!