I held my breath as Deidara's clay bird landed on the ground. The infiltration was a success, much to my dismay. I got down from his thing-a-mabob and stared at the quiet village; families sleeping peacefully inside their rooms not aware of what might happen to them if I let these two do what they want. I cracked my knuckles and turned to face Blondie.
"What's next?" I asked.
"I'm going to look for the jinchuuriki, Sasori-no danna on the other hand's going to kick a bunch of Suna-nins' asses." He answered.
"So you guys really are serious about making me a spectator, huh?" I said as I raised an eyebrow. "You guys get to look cool and stuff like that while I pretend to be a fan girl and squeal every time you land a hit on someone's shithole or something like that."
"Well, yeah." Blondie smirked. "We gotta go. Don't do anything stupid, hm."
"Oh, I can't promise you that. I'm naturally a psychotic dudette, who knows what I'm capable of doing."
"If you ever become a hindrance, you have to prepare for the consequences you must face. Deidara, let's go." Sasori coldly stated as he started to leave.
"Jaa ne~ Have fun~" I exclaimed, waving my hand to them. "Bring me their heads when you get back alright?"
I stared at their bodies gradually becoming dots as they walked further away from me. I stayed exactly where I was and crouched. I closed my eyes as I counted the minutes that passed by. A minute had passed, then two. I stood up after three minutes and took deep breaths.
I just hope I get there before he does.
I jumped from roof to roof trying my best to hide myself in the dark. My breathing became ragged. I suddenly felt my whole body shook with fear as I got nearer to where Gaara was. Cold sweat continuously fell down my face as my chest heaved rapidly with my heavy panting. Calm down Seikatsu, calm down.
Surprisingly enough, I got inside their headquarters. Seems like I got here first. What a relief. I know I looked like a total mess when I asked a suna-nin if I can talk to the Kazekage. Seeing his reaction, I think he has mistaken me for an enemy so I immediately introduced myself. "I'm Hijoshikina, Seikatsu. A kunoichi from Konohagakure. I know I'm wearing this cloak and you must be thinking I'm a member of Akatsuki but it is part of my mission. Spying them and watching their every move is the reason why I am wearing this right now."
The guy nodded as he scratched his chin. "Alright then,"
He led me to a room where I saw Gaara's figure staring outside a window. The suna-nin closed the door behind him and left me with Gaara inside. I smirked. I know he's just waiting outside, prepared to attack me if I ever try to do something.
"Gaara," I called out.
He turned around and his eyes widened with shock. I sighed. Here we go again.
"Before you jump to conclusions let me explain. I'm on a mission, and that is to infiltrate the Akatsuki's hideout and pretend to be a rogue ninja for them to accept me as their new member. Y'know, for spying purposes." I stated.
His shoulders relaxed. "What are you doing here Seikatsu-san?"
"I came here to warn you. Two Akatsuki members are here to get you. They said they plan to extract the bijuu out of you. After the extraction you'll die. We can't let that happen now right?" I pursed my lips as I swallowed my saliva. "I want to help you I really do, but I can't. All I can do is warn you. If they see me fighting with you they'll know that I'm just a spy and who knows what they can do to me. What they can do to Konohagakure… I know you understand my situation."
He just remained silent. And for the first time the silence made me uneasy. "Gaara, please take care. I got to go. An Akatsuki member would most likely bust inside your headquarters. Please don't let them kill you." I was about to pat his shoulders when I suddenly withdrew my hand. He'd probably swat it away anyway. I turned around and walked towards the door. Just when I was about to leave the room Gaara told me something.
"You take care as well, Seikatsu-san."
I looked at him, smiling sadly and left.
XXX
I went back to where Blondie and Mr. Rotten Potato left me. I felt a hint of relief that I successfully talked to my friend. All I can do now is trust him. I lay down on the ground and stared at the stars scattered in the pitch dark of the night admiring its beauty as it shined brilliantly above me. The cold breeze slightly made me feel at peace. I reached my hand up as if I can grasp one of those twinkling stars. "I wish it could last forever…" I whispered. I know I'm just trying to ease the nervousness that I was feeling. I should have followed my brother's advice… more like order. I just used this mission as a scapegoat to escape from my duties as a ninja. But I guess I'm still too childish to think that an S-ranked mission could save me from my worries… from my fears. It actually led me to them. Now I know that I will never forgive myself if something happens to Gaara.
It was foolish of me to leave my village, leave my friends and family. I didn't know what was ahead of me as I chose this path.
I bitterly grinned. "I'm rambling inside my head. Am I really that bored?" I muttered to no one in particular. "Wonder what my siblings are doing right now… Aoi probably hates me for leaving without saying goodbye…" I stood up and stretched. I really don't have time to act like a pessimist.
I wandered around and stumbled upon a scary-looking figure. I gulped. "W-who's there?!"
Silence.
"I-I… I have a kunai knife!" I exclaimed as I took out my weapon with shaky hands. "S-show yourself! I ain't scared of you!"
"Seikatsu, what are you doing here?" said a familiar voice. I've heard that voice from somewhere.
"Uhh… who're you?"
He walked towards me and that's when I realized that it was Sasori. That's why it was familiar. "What are you doing here?"
"Uhmm, I really don't know." Let's face it. I can't act myself when I'm with Sasori. He's just too scary. If I give him a shitty remark he'd probably kill me without hesitation. I may be weird to the point people think I'm demented but I still value my life.
I stared at him and tilted my head a little to the right. He noticed it immediately and glared daggers at me. I blinked a few times before looking away. I can't even look for one single trait that could redeem his ugly appearance. Every part of him looked hideous. I won't be surprised if he's some kind of unknown specie. I don't even know if he has feet. He drags his body whenever he walks, he slouches to top it all off. I think ugly runs in his family. "Uhh, Sasori-san?"
"What?" he irritatingly asked.
"Uhmm, you're a puppeteer, am I right?"
"What of it?"
"I'm just a little curious since I haven't actually seen any of your puppets before."
"You're seeing one right now."
"What? Don't tell me your body is a puppet's body?"
"Yes. I turned myself into a human puppet when I was fifteen." he proudly stated.
I grimaced at the thought. If he turned himself into a human puppet at the age of fifteen shouldn't he look young and well… more human? I guess ugly does run in his family. "I assume you're done with your task huh?"
He nodded. "We just have to wait for Deidara to come back. He is foolish to make me wait, knowing that I hate people making me wait."
My heart raced as he mentioned Deidara. I suddenly remembered Gaara. What is he doing right now? Sasori seems to trust his partner that he will succeed. Not a good sign. I clasped my hands together and waited for his return. Expecting the worst.
It wasn't very long when Blondie came back. He didn't get down from his clay bird. "Sasori-no danna."
"You are late."
"I'm sorry. I had a little hard time kidnapping the jinchuuriki, hm." He pointed at his thing-amabob's tail. "He was too stubborn. Had to make him acknowledge my art forcefully, hm."
I held my breath as I looked at the bird's tail. There he was, lifelessly lying down. My mouth went agape as I tried to slow my rapidly beating heart. I felt goose bumps all over my body. "Y-you… made him… go boom boom."
"Yeah I did." Deidara smugly said. "Hop on, we don't have much time, hm."
XXX
We flew in silence. I stared at the surroundings blankly as my thoughts slowly killed me with guilt. I let him kill the kazekage, he killed him. I didn't know he would lose to someone like Deidara. The Akatsuki members are truly on a different level. If Gaara ended up looking like a beaten puppy that would mean the people I'm with are scary as shit with their monstrous strengths. I better be careful. Still thinking of yourself, have you no shame?! I exclaimed inside my head. It's true that I am selfish, in many ways actually.
"Seikatsu," Deidara called out as he waved a hand in front of my face. "Oy, you still alive?"
I only nod.
"You're spacing out, hm. Are you alright?" he asked.
"Y-yeah. Don't worry about me." I monotonously answered.
He stared at me for a moment before diverting his attention to who knows where or what. I closed my eyes as I felt my anger boil inside me. How can I face Tsunade-sama, my brother and the others knowing that I can't save one friend? I'm not trying to act like Naruto or something like that. But that's the truth. Saying that I am already capable of doing what I must be doing, that's bullshit. I want to cry hoping that it can wash away some of the guilt that's consuming me. But I can't. It's as if there's something that is preventing my tears to fall. I sighed.
"Oy, Sasori-no danna, what did you do to Seikatsu? She's not acting bitchy at all, hm." I heard Deidara say.
I just ignored him.
I know that going back to Konohagakure would prove that I am weak, incapable of doing certain things. I can't let these people intimidate me any longer. I should probably drink a lot of milk to strengthen my wet cardboard like back bone. I'm starting to sound whiny with all this drama.
"Seikatsu, stop staring at me with that blank look." Deidara said.
I just glared at him and looked away.
XXX
"A Suna-nin came to kick our asses, I daresay." I whispered to Deidara. I looked at Kankuro and his eyes filled with anger, desperation… a mixture of both. Wearing a straw hat to disguise yourself has an advantage too. If you don't want your comrade's brother to kill you, for example.
Kankuro took out one of his puppets and showed it to Sasori challenging him to a fight. He's not thinking rationally.
"Ah, my old puppets, how nice to see them again." Sasori said.
"Y-you're Sasori of the Red Sand?!" Kankuro exclaimed. It's funny he didn't know he's Sasori.
"Duh, and it's stupid of you to challenge him to a battle." I muttered.
"Deidara, you two go on ahead. I want to play with my old puppets for a while." Sasori said.
"Don't be late, hm." Deidara grabbed my wrist and dragged me to his clay bird. He brought me somewhere with trees, bushes and shit like that. A forest huh?
"Seikatsu," he began. "What do you think of art?"
I stared at him. I furrowed my brows as I thought about it. "Uhm, I don't know. Art is a form of self-expression."
"Art is an explosion, hm." He boldly stated.
"If that's how you see it then I guess it could be considered as art." I dully answered. "Make your clay thing explode."
He fed his hand's mouth some clay and it molded a butterfly. He let it flew. He grinned as he exclaimed, "KATSU!" and the butterfly instantly exploded. I sighed. This is stupid. Acting like this towards the guy who killed Gaara is loathsome. Pretending like nothing happened… I really am a despicable person.
"It's funny you call my name whenever you make something explode." I tried to grin but failed.
"I didn't call your name, hm."
I was about to make a remark when Deidara told me to get going.
A/N: Hey guys~! What's up?! The blue sky of course~! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter~ Reviews are deeply appreciated. ^_^
PS: Please do bear with Seikatsu's drama crap. She'll loosen up eventually. :P I just want to make her more human compared to my first version of her.
