Bound by Heartstrings
Chapter 7
-Wow this is the farthest I've ever gotten in a fanfiction! I think I'm going to party! Whoooo!
Special thanks to those who reviewed in the last chapter!
Satoru I knew from the minute I read that review I liked that person!
And…
Rosi-chan what a surprise huh, well you could be like Rosi-chan and get free art requests just by reviewing!!! See that easy!!!! By the way thanks Rosi-chan, Luvs ya bunches!
I don't own Naruto only my own characters.
Please enjoy my works.
The morning was full of fog and the air was damp with the rain that had fallen the night before. It seemed to rain a lot, maybe it was because they were in Amegakure, or maybe it was just them. Sasori, you could tell, didn't appreciate the rain, it made his joints stiff, he would complain all the time, and Eri would just smile, nod and say that it was no wonder he came from Sunagakure. He complained just to hear himself talk she knew that, along with the fact that she loved hearing him preach, whether or not it was about his stiff joints or why that one step on the back porch was just high enough for him to trip over it in the night, whatever it was it amused her.
The dull warm lighting that emitted from a lamp in the living room lit up the house just enough for the two to see. Anyone outside wouldn't see the light for the think dark curtains were pulled tight.
The two were up, preparing for the mission ahead of them. They had no idea what they were suppose to say, but Leader had made it clear that they would know as soon as they met up with the Suna ninjas they were supposedly suppose to meet up with along the way. They were then surprised even more when Leader told them that they had successfully captured one of the tailed beasts and that just two weeks later they would be on the protection force with Itachi and Kisame while the rest sealed the beast. They suspected an attack from Suna and Konoha in an attempt at rescue of the demon container. They were there to make sure that didn't happen.
"What's your idea for this mission Danna?" asked Eri, she leaned back in her chair and played around with a metal spoon, melting it then reforming it into something else then back into a spoon.
Sasori was temporarily caught up with the continual changing of the spoon to answer her, which was until it turned into a plain blob of metal and she chucked it to his head.
Disheveled Sasori glared at her, and rubbed the spot above his eyebrows where it had hit.
"It's probably a look out mission of their so convinced that Konoha and Suna are going to attack at the sealing ceremony, they won't make us fight then fight some more if it's against them," he answered counting over his puppets' scrolls on last time.
"Oh yeah that makes sense," she said and stood up, "So ready to go? It's going to at least take a day for us to just get to Suna even though we're so close, that stupid surveillance stuff, it's so annoying."
"Well if you don't want ANBU black ops to kill you in your sleep you better be thankful," shot Sasori back also standing up, "Let's go."
Eri grinned at the puppet man's bitterness and followed him to the door where he got into Hiruko, and they walked out side greeted by the dark dank houses that rose up around them, this was a shadowy part of the town, the Akatsuki HQ wasn't to far from here, and Sasori and Eri could have decided to live out of there, but Sasori liked his privacy and Eri always agreed with him.
The trip was as most uneventful other than Sasori cussing out some of the guards on their way out. The wind, though, did pick up once they arrived on the Suna/Ame boarder.
Eri didn't like the fact that soon they would be walking though sand and that it could get her arm's joints jammed ups, but diligently she followed on behind Sasori without voicing her concerns.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the coordinates that the Leader had instructed upon them to be at. There in the middle of a small clearing sat a scroll, but since they were ninja they knew it would be booby trapped.
"Eri-san," said the Hiruko voiced Sasori.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Can you created something that we can use to figure out what kind of trap is there?" he asked, careful where he stepped.
"Like a pear or something?" she asked.
"Sure, just make sure it'll trigger the trap," he replied.
Nodding Eri concentrated her chakra and made her index finger on her left hand elongate into a long pole. With it she shifted about until a wire was tripped and thousands upon thousands of poisoned senbon pierced the ground.
Sasori walked forward, making sure to evade the needles and picked up the scroll. He opened it up before their eyes and read it in a hushed whisper.
Two of the tailed beasts we have, in approximately 2. 35 minutes you will see the holder of the Ichibi.
Your mission is not to capture him but to test his strength; you are NOT to kill him
-Pein
"You were right, it's basically a scouting mission," said Eri as Sasori rolled up the scroll.
He didn't reply as he strapped a time bomb to the scroll and threw it far off. A boom echoed throughout the forest.
"Keep up your guard," he said simply and looked on behind where the scroll was positioned. Down below was a trading route, no doubt that the Ichibi would be coming down it shortly.
"When I blow my whistle you get behind the vessel, I'll be in front; we're measuring his capacity so it's best if you kept your distance. Now hide," instructed Sasori, his vice was not only eerily deep and rumbling but it was stone cold with hate. Eri nodded and disappeared into the trees.
Approximately 2 minutes later
Who Eri supposed to be a simple traveler maybe even a ninja turned out to be more of a king. No not a king…
A Kazekage.
He and his brigade of ninja were on their trip to Konoha. Eri's body suddenly felt like it was really made of lead and was sweltering in the heat. It choked her up and made her shiver with fright.
These were the real deal, this was a Kage, the best of the best, the strongest of the strongest, and her and Sasori alone were to test his capabilities. Her palm began to sweat and her throat and mouth dry. Could she do this? Would she survive?
A shrill high-pitched ringing knocked her out of her thoughts. The guards of the Kazekage heard it too and immediately tensed.
Then she saw him, standing erect before the brigade, strong and lithe. Amazingly he wasn't in Hiruko like most battles…he didn't have to be.
Remembering a little late she too jumped out of the trees and onto the road below. Her grace eluded her and she stumbled and a bit but still the guards revered her with fearful curiosity.
"Kazekage! Ichibi! Show yourself!" shouted Sasori, his voice demanding and thick with loathing emotion. Eri shiver and her stomach flip-flopped in hunger for that voice.
The curtains to the main float opened and a person walked out in the Kazekage uniform. The air seemed to thicken and it seemed static clogged Eri's ears, and chakra buzzed around erratically.
"Akatsuki," said the man in the Kazekage clothes, his voice too sounded young and full of loathing.
He took off his hat, to Eri's surprise his hair was almost the same bright red as Sasori's. Amazed at the transaction, Eri found herself removing her hat with Sasori. The guards began to whisper and fret at the sight of Sasori's flaming scarlet hair and harshly striking, unforgiving eyes. He looked arrogantly cruel yet terribly beautiful in the way ht sun fell on his angelic face, Eri found herself blushing.
"Sasori no Akasuna…how odd to see you," replied Sasori's almost Kazekage twin.
"Yes, I can say it's been sometime since I've seen that robe and weakness," spat Sasori, his eyebrows creasing together.
"What are you up to?" asked the Kazekage.
"You won't get any answers from me," snarled Sasori back, clearly losing his cool with him.
"Then what about your new partner?" asked the twin who then turned around. The majority of the guards did turn their attention to her.
Now on the spot Eri's dry throat took its toll... she could feel the power just leaking from him and the dark rings about his eyes shook her with fear. She didn't know what to do, that was till his eyes were found on her.
His warm chocolate eyes bore into hers with heated intensity that made her heart beat leap up. She had to do this, to make him proud, to show her worth.
"Eri, my name is Eri," she said softly yet loud enough for them to hear. Eyebrows were raised and soft whispers emitted around the group.
"If your last partner wasn't as ridiculous this one sure takes the cake, Sasori no Akasuna," growled the Kazekage the sand and air around him whirled at high-speed.
It was as if you blinked you'd miss it; there was a puff of smoke and draped over Sasori's shoulders lay the 3rd Kazekage, only now a puppet. Sasori clearly didn't appreciate the comment, but he did give off a smug glare that burned holes into the Kazekage.
"Do it,' said Sasori his eyes flicking over to Eri for a millisecond, before taking on the oncoming Kazekage.
Eri shot into hand-signs and her right arm exploded into a much larger size. With the other she pulled out a kunai and, surprising the guards, merged the kunai and her hand to create a blade-like appendage over the back of her hand. It wasn't pretty but what it was designed to do wasn't either.
Even with the metal arm, Eri was miraculously fast and agile, one after another jugulars were pierced, brains were scrambled and human forms were disemboweled. Amidst all of this carnage Eri's small feet wove in and out of the lumbering feet of the Suna ninjas, swerving her body in and around the enemy ninja.
Now this wasn't to say Eri was not being hurt as well. She currently had 2 senbon in her right calf which was growing numb, and a kunai sticking awkwardly out of her left shoulder blade. Other than that small cuts and bruises covered the rest of her, the Akatsuki cloak had dong been torn to shreds. Sot there she battled alone in her one sleeved shirt with protective wrapping beneath and her thick tight canvas-like capris.
She had a good many ninja down and they thinned out, she realized, when she got a glimpse of Sasori's fight.
Somehow he had gotten the Kazekage to a standstill, his puppet amazingly flashed through katas before unleashing jutsu after another. That was all being done with one hand with the other Hiruko was taking on the guards which decided to help their wounded leader.
Staring that long was one of the most terrible decisions she made.
She could almost feel the kunai pinch in-between the metal of her shoulder and she could almost feel the wires being snipped. But most of all she felt the weight of the arm pull her down, right into a kick from a ninja.
It smashed her right in the jaw with enough power to throw her in between the Kazekage and Sasori's fight.
Her arm had returned to normal size but what felt like forever, she laid there on the ground and tried to cough the blood away that was seeping from a bitten tongue. Her chest heaved and she sputtered in and out of conscious before hearing his voice.
"ERI! Get up! Get up, Damn it! Get up!" shouted Sasori.
Eri's heavy eyelids flickered open just quick enough to see the red haired Kazekage shooting at her at an alarming speed.
She clenched her left hand and felt a gash bleeding freely on her palm. Blood was made from iron…iron was a metal.
The Kazekage had the breath knocked out of him as a large pike rose up out of nowhere and pierced him through the right side of his chest.
The partner of Sasori's called Eri stumbled to stand and her prosthetic arm hanging limply.
Temporarily distracted, he pushed his sand after her before she could react, fear made her eyes grow wide and her breath hitch. This was it this was going to be the end…
CRASH
The sand hit a form but it was not one with a beating heart.
Eri blinked and something stood in front of her, no someone stood in front of her…
Sasori did not know what compelled him so much to rescue her especially at the utter destruction of Hiruko, but he did. The scene of his death flowed over and over in his mind and tormented him with that guilt.
"Danna…" choked Eri, Sasori swiveled around quickly, grabbed her about the waist and pulled her along with the remaining puppet away. He could feel her hot blood running down her arm from the wound on her hand.
He landed a few feet away and safely let her down; keeping his eyes focused oh the enraged Kazekage.
"I didn't think you were much of a hero Sasori, apparently she means more than the last one," taunted the Kazekage.
Sasori said nothing but growl under his breath and reach into a back pocket. There he brought out a pill for Eri.
She looked at it confused, before he explained its use.
"It's a blood pill, it'll replenish you," he said eyes never leaving the Kazekage.
Eri's hand shook as she took it. Quickly she swallowed it.
"Can you fight?" he asked.
"No, my right arm is useless I can't move it," she whispered in returned.
Quickly he glanced back at her.
"Do you trust me?" he said suddenly startling her.
"Wha…"
"Do you trust me? Yes or no!" he shouted using his remaining puppet to deflect some sand shuriken.
Eri's throat burned and her body ached, but she trusted him? Yes of course he was after all her Danna. But what about his past partner, the Kazekage seemed to know about him and he's dead. Did he too trust Sasori-danna?
"Eri!" shouted Sasori, impatient at her stalling.
"Yes, I trust you! I trust you completely!" she replied.
Quickly Sasori turned around and replaced the damaged Kazekage puppet back in its scroll, he then turned to her.
"Good," he said before hauling her to her feet. She blushed immensely as he grabbed her wrists and held them before her. As he removed his hands Eri was amazed to find thin blue chakra strings connecting her to him.
"I have control of you now, you'll do as I instruct. Don't disappoint me, this should be an honor," he whispered into her ear. Shivers ran down her spine and it felt like hot water was being poured down her stomach. The searing breath and huskiness of it all made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
"Dance."
With Sasori's guidance Eri flew and dodged and struck with amazing precision. It was truly incredible. He didn't jerk her around like she thought; now it was as if she were dancing. It was then she realized his puppets were art.
And now she was one of his puppets.
So now…she was his art.
She returned quickly to him, standing in front he pulled her against his body and her deep breathes matched his. Their hearts raced as one or as much as they could and it felt finally as if they were one.
Sasori could smell the sweat tricking down her spine and the feel of her hair against his neck awoke emotions and urges once lost with age. It amazed him at this new discovery.
He wanted her.
And in more ways then one.
Then it happened as she dodged the Kazekage advanced on her. Sasori couldn't make her move in time and the fearful event awakened in his mind again…
"Danna!" shouted the blonde, but it was too late, everything from the toes to the fingertips was covered and he could do nothing but stare in shock.
Slice
Eri stared down at her abdomen to see the lines of red swell on her now exposed flesh. Her stomach flipped as the blood began to flow. And then…she screamed.
Laughter rang from the throat of the Kazekage as she fell limp against the chakra strings. Horrified Sasori ran to her side as fast as he could. Her front was getting soaked in her own blood and she began choking on the red substance that bubbled up in her esophagus.
He tore off his cloak exposing his plain hooded one beneath and lifter her up using the cloak to soak up the blood.
He said noting as he picked her up bridal style, laying her useless arm over the bunched up cloak and took off.
Her head bobbed unconsciously against his shoulder.
He couldn't let her go, like him, he wouldn't let her go. He was too broken to leave alone again. He needed that condolence that she produced. She couldn't die because if she did…he would too.
The trip seemed to take so long; he ran and ran never stopping. He couldn't every second he wasted another second she lost.
As he crossed the boarder it began to rain, making the dust that clung to his form wet and muddy, slowing him down, his feet got stuck in the mud, but still he ran on.
She was so cold, so terribly cold as he ran into the village of Amegakure. The storm had soaked him thought and he knew he didn't have much time left in her.
He kicked down the door to the hideout and began running to the infirmary, screaming all the way.
"Kakuzu! Kakuzu get down here now damit! Kakuzu!" he shouted.
Again he kicked the infirmary door down and ran to an empty cot. Gently he bent his cold stiff arms to lay her on the bed. Her pale blonde hair stuck to her face which was terribly white and her lips were blue.
Kakuzu slid in and ran to the puppet's side.
"What the he…" he caught a glimpse of Eri and he stopped mid-sentence.
Hastily he removed the cloak to gasp. The cloak was soaked and the 3 red gashes still bled.
Sasori backed away unsure of what to do. The sight so much blood…her blood…it scared him, it just scared him. There was no other way to put it he was terrified of the thought that he would lose again someone so close to him.
Kakuzu took a pair of shears and cut away the damaged shirt. Ignoring any male vibes he quickly took a clean cloth and doused it in disinfectant. Gently he began to clean the cuts. Over his shoulder he shouted for Sasori to retrieve 3 blood pills from a cabinet. Stiffly the shinobi made it too the cabinet his eyes frozen in despair. He gave them to Kakuzu who ordered him to feed on to her.
His hands felt too large and cumbersome as he opened her lips and dropped the pill in. As gently as he could he rubbed her throat so she swallowed and left the two remaining pills at her side.
Kakuzu began to stitch her up when an odd carbon buildup began to crust over the wounds.
"What the…" began Kakuzu. Sasori pushed him out of the way, splattering water over him.
"She's healing herself," he said in amazement, "That's carbon mixed with iron and other things… she's rebuilding herself."
Kakuzu watched in shock. The tow men stood there unsure what to do next.
"I'll just bandage them up…go ask Konan-sama if she has some spare clothes, we need to get her out of these wet ones," ordered Kakuzu. Reluctantly Sasori obeyed.
Konan scowled at him as usual but did hand over the necessities. Awkwardly she asked if he was going to dress her himself. When he shook is head 'no' she replied, "Do you trust Kakuzu to?"
In the end Konan agreed to do it for them. Sasori appeared content were as Kakuzu a little downtrodden.
She walked out of the infirmary a few minutes later and threw the wet clothes to Sasori whom she ordered to change and wash his clothes.
He complied only so he would have something to do. It was getting boring quickly with no Eri to talk too.
. that was 17 written pages and 7 typed pages!!! Ugh!!! Well please, tell me what you think!! Reviews are greatly appreciated!! Did anyone get the connection between the title o the chapter and a certain event in the story?? If you did let me know you'll get a free art request!! And remember Blooper chapter is the last chapter, if you got a blooper let me know!!!
Kuroi Hihane
