I had been with the Akatsuki for a week now and had grown incredibly fond of all their company, well, apart from Zetsu. He bugged me, I'm still not too sure why. Especially Sasori, who I was becoming increasingly close to. He really was that brother I never had, and actually never wanted, but boy had I been missing out. He was just the best thing. Hidan who never failed to make me laugh, and I'm still finding Jashinism fascinating, if a little strange. And Deidara. His companionship I never tired of. He understood when I was having trouble training. He stood up for me when all the others laughed. And he made sure he was always there for me. I had only felt like this once before and I didn't like it. It only got me hurt.
My training was going pretty well. Everyone said I was a very quick learner and never failed to inform me of how I was doing. I loved the feedback, especially negative, it gave me things to work on. Only Itachi didn't seem even a tiny bit impressed. Kisame told me this was because he had been a 'child prodigy who had done a million times better'. Nevertheless I still felt encouraged by the others enthusiasm, and completely enjoyed my sessions. I could already do simple Jutsus like shadow clones and was learning to manipulate my chakra. The whole ninja thing is so much better than I could have imagined. I mean, all the things you can do, but especially running. Just running. Going fast everywhere, I loved it.
I was working on my strength with Hidan - it was currently my weak point - on the edge of the field, when Itachi approached us,
"Leader Sama wants to see you, Sora." he told me, sounding totally bored.
"Aw man, this was just getting fun." I moaned, but I didn't really mind. It was wet and cold, I was very much used to the sun.
"You coming in Hidan?" I questioned him, although I was fairly sure the answer would be a yes.
"You think I wanted to be out here in the fucking rain? Of course I'm coming."
I walked into Leader's office and sat down, knowing he would just have told me to anyway.
"It is time for you to begin training your Yuritaigan." He explained my reason for being here, "You will be training with me."
"So I'm stopping the training with the others..?" I questioned sadly, I really did have fun with them.
"No, you will continue your normal training with them. You can have what is left of today and tomorrow off." He answered the question I was about to ask. Did they really need my mind reading? I swear he can do it anyway. I left his office without another word. Two days off? That was fantastic. I went to attempt to find the others in this maze of a base. I had quickly found that those rooms I had initially seen were only about a tenth of it. There was a games room, with a pool table and plenty of cards tables, an indoor swimming pool! And I think a simulated garden for Zetsu… him and Kakuzu were out on missions but we could still have fun without them. They probably wouldn't have joined in anyway. Unless it was cards, Kakuzu really loved cards.
The guys were in the living room almost as I had found them on my first day. Sasori was cooking lunch but as soon as I walked into the room everyone looked hopefully my way. Sasori wasn't a bad cook, but it was the general opinion that I was better. Fair enough, I was a chef.
"Help?" Sasori implored me,
"Yes, please do, un." Deidara agreed, receiving a glare from the unwilling cook.
"Now now children, no need to fight, I shall cook for you." I joked, making Itachi laugh, spilling his coffee on Kakuzu's new sofa.
"Uh oh. Kakuzu will not be happy. That sofa really wasn't cheap you know.." Hidan grinned maliciously at Itachi's misfortune,
"Lucky you have a maid, huh?" I chuckled, walking towards Itachi with a wet cloth to clear up the evidence of his crime,
"Why are you helping him, un?" Deidara muttered as I walked past, making me laugh. I thought his grudge was cute. Mind you, I thought everything Deidara did was cute. Or funny, or nice, just in some way attractive. Crushes totally suck.
We lounged around after lunch, watching a film. Only Kisame wanted to do something else - so we ignored him. It was Hidan's choice and so was pretty gory - unfortunately no one else felt like watching The Notebook. It's "too cushy", I had to roll my eyes at that. Men being men. I had to hide behind cushions, my hands, Sasori, whatever was within reach. There was a time it got so bad that I accidentally grabbed Deidara's hair instead of the cushion I was aiming for. He hit me in the face with my intended target and it promptly turned into an all out pillow fight. Me, Itachi and Hidan vs. Deidara, Sasori and Kisame. Good times.
I was hiding under the table with Itachi while Hidan duelled Deidara. Deidara's back was to us and I could see Hidan's manically grinning face. I felt like help should be given, even though Hidan didn't look like he needed it.
"I'm going in." I whispered, Itachi grinned at me realising what I intended to do,
"Get him good Sora." He told me. I slowly crawled out of our shelter, putting my finger to my lips when Hidan looked my way. I stood up and softly, softly tiptoed up behind Deidara. Hidan hit him once especially hard, signalling me good to go. I ran the last few steps and jumped onto Deidara's back, putting my hands over his eyes.
"Attack!" I screamed, Itachi and Hidan simultaneously vaulted the sofa, surprising the opposition who had been "hiding" there. Deidara staggered around the room, almost tripping over numerous items,
"Guess who!" I whispered in his ear,
"Oh, well, I dunno. It must be someone fat, un…" he answered, his voice spiked with sarcasm. I crossed my arms and huffed, but as I was no longer holding on I started to lose balance. This caused Deidara to start toppling over and we ended up on the floor, Deidara pinning me down,
"I have a captive, un!" he shouted,
"Likewise." I heard Itachi's voice, as he and Hidan stepped out holding Kisame and Sasori's arms behind their backs.
"Follow my lead." I whispered to Deidara, winking at him. I had a vague plan formed in my head. Although I was supposed be helping Hidan and Itachi I thought I would have alot more fun if I switched. I slowly started to stand up and Deidara followed, holding my wrists behind me.
"Will you do a swap guys?" I falsely pleaded with them,
"Well, do we have another choice?" Hidan laughed, "Deidara?"
"Yes, I'll swap her. For both of them, un. Though, she's worth more." he answered laughing, catching on.
"Ok. Now." I told them and Deidara let go of me. I scooped up my pillow as I walked away from Deidara. I reached Hidan and stood next to him for a moment.
"Change of plan!" I shouted, hitting him round the head.
Our fun ended abruptly when Leader Sama walked into the room,
"You are supposed to be criminals! Not five year olds!" he shouted, only half joking. I couldn't understand why I had enjoyed it so much, normally I would have thought it childish. But these people, my friends, brought out a side in me no one has seen for quite a while, and I liked it.