The Harvest

Chapter Four:
Chasing the Light

When she was dismissed back to her room, Yukinara sat on the bed, looking out the window at the many lights coming from the other houses. They went out one by one. Except a single light out in the distance. It wasn't coming from any of the stone houses, and Yukinara wondered if it was coming from the two missing ninja. Maybe the redhead, or quite possibly, Deidara. She stood up on the bed, positioning herself to slide out the window. It was only so big, and if she slid out the wrong way, she would definitely get stuck. She pushed herself up, kicking off the bed and up into the stone square. Yukinara lied there on her stomach, thinking this through. If she made her escape this way, they would find her, and kill her. But she wasn't trying to escape. She was only trying to find Deidara. She made the final push, and landed on her stomach on the ground below. She moaned, and stood up, dusting off her clothes. They were nothing more than an old torn T-shirt and a worn pair of pants, but they were still clothes. She walked out, away from the houses only to notice a tall patch of grass growing out in the abandoned field. She would start her search there.

The moonlight was soothing. It made one feel comforted, and strong at the same time. That was the way Sasori felt. He watched as the gray clouds drifted harmlessly across the moon and far into the east. The starlight made everything that much more enjoyable. He had been thinking about his new apprentice, and just how much trouble he would be in the near future. They were going to be searching for the Nine Tailed Beasts, each one becoming more powerful than the next. Deidara knew nothing of the kind of power they possessed. Maybe he could convince the Leader to let him start off with something easy. Not quite easy, but maybe a demon with fewer tails. He had always known there was one hidden in his former village, but where it was now he'd never guess.
He looked out into the grassy fields. Two giant quavering leaves stuck out amongst the stalky grass, and Sasori narrowed his eyes. He always hated that plant. He looked over at a white shadow moving towards them. It was the girl. He sighed, still watching her as she approached. She was headed in his direction, but rather than stop her, he let her continue walking. He knew what she was looking for, heading for his light. It was Deidara. But Sasori's apprentice had long left, and wouldn't be returning until morning. Maybe if he let her run into that plant, it would teach her a lesson. The light, a simple, metal lantern. shifted endlessly on the end of the long pole to which it was attached. Rather than impeding her search, he decided to let her continue looking. In vain.

Yukinara pushed aside the tall stalks searching for the distant light she had seen through her window. It was difficult to spot over the grassy towers, and she jumped up and down, trying to spot it. It danced back and forth, eluding her every advance. A little brown bug buzzed past her, and she swatted at it to leave only for it to land on her arm. She sighed, and put her thoughts back on the light. She was still too far away. She had to get closer! She edged through another tuft of grass, reaching out for the beam of light, and the bug flew up, landing in her hair. Still nothing. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Her eyes??? She wanted to know if Deidara, a familiar face was on the end of that light, but she wasn't making any progress. That's when she heard it. The sound of rustling grass. It wasn't her, and the wind had stopped blowing minutes ago, so just what was moving in the grass besides her?

"Hello? Anyone there? Deidara? H-Hidan?" She looked all around, but no one was there, just grass and leaves. And leaves??? There were no leaves there before. Two giant ones, moving right towards her! She didn't know plants could move around! But she didn't know this plant. Within moments, she was captured, two strong thick vines holding her in place. She would have screamed, but her voice was lost, a jutsu cleverly placed on her without her knowledge. She looked up only to see two hideous yellow eyes staring back at her, a two-toned face, becoming visible behind their glow. His face was black on one side and white on the other, and all of him was encased in an incredible plant... like a man-eating plant.

"You look delicious. I think I'll eat you." He smiled grimly, readying himself for a good meal, only he stopped when the little bug flew from her hair to his. It's hollow eyes gave it a comical appearance, almost as if it were only a good imitation of a bug, only there was nothing comical about this insect. It made a giggling squeak, exploding in seconds, and the horrendous plant let her go, a terrible scream erupting from his mouth.
"Augh! It burns! Damn you, Deidara-san!" Blood flowed down his face as he slowly tromped away the same way he came in. Yukinara was still unable to scream as the jutsu was still in effect on her, but she was sure she had heard him right. He said 'Deidara.' She stood up, ending her search, and ran back through the grass, heading for her room. If they heard him scream, they would surely come looking, and they would find her! Yukinara made a flying jump once she reached her window, landing clear in the center in seconds. She dropped inside, hitting the floor hard, and she ran to the bed, throwing herself under the covers. If they hadn't already come looking for her, she was safe now. Maybe Sasori was right. Maybe running into that plant would teach her a lesson.