CHAPTER 6: AKATSUKI

Nanami

Being blind is annoying. Being blind is irritating. And being blind up to now is really starting to get on my nerves. How long will I stay in this condition? Not to mention the two crazy guys who's been with me all this time - whose appearances are still unknown to me. All I know at this point is their names. One of them is called Deidara, whose personality I really hate - he makes fun of me, threatens me, and irritates me to death. The other one is called Sasori - Master Sasori according to Deidara - and I don't know why, but there's something about him which makes the hair on my neck stand up whenever he speaks. To sum it all up, they're both crazy, and I really don't know what guys like them would want from a girl like me.

Also, we've been walking nonstop ever since the Sasori guy joined us. Where are they taking me, and what do they want from me? Wherever and whatever it is, I surely don't see it - and I mean it both literally and illiterally.

I came out of my reverie when I bumped onto something again. That something turned out to be someone's back... again. Who the hell is it this time? And why do they have to stop all of a sudden? This is really pissing me off.

"Hey," a voice, unmistakably Deidara's, spoke up front. "I already told you to watch where you're going, didn't I?" I can tell that his usual smirk is again playing upon his face.

"And I also told you why I can't, didn't I?" I said, pissed off.

"Don't start, you two," Sasori suddenly said. "We're here."

No one spoke for a while. We just stood there like statues. I wonder why we shouldn't just keep moving. I want this to be over, no matter the outcome. I'm sick and tired of this. Better be dead than spend some more time with these two.

"Hey Nanami," Deidara said, and I don't know why, but I just know that the next thing he'll say will come out as an insult. He's growing on me, alright.

"Now what?" I said impatiently.

"You can stand on water, right?" I knew it.

"Of course I can! What do you think of me?!"

"Hey now, cam down, will you, hmm?"

"Shut up!"

"Listen Nanami," he said coolly. How can he be like this? "We're on top of a cliff now, okay? So we'll jump down and water will greet us there, get it, hmm?"

"Enough of that. Let's go. Everyone's waiting," Sasori interrupted before I even get my say on the topic. I heard a swish of a cloak and I just know that Sasori is already gone.

"Ready,hmm?" Deidara asked me.

"And what's the point of asking me that -"

I intended to, once again, put my thoughts into words, but before I get to finish my sentence, his arm is suddenly around my waist, supporting me before jumping down on the water with me. I barely had time to concentrate chakra on my feet, maintain it and release the right amount on the water. It's a good thing I didn't scream out loud as we freefall.

Still, when we reached the surface of the water, I nearly stumbled down - even with Deidara's support - though I managed to stand on top of it. Deidara's arm is still around my waist and he caught me. So now, both of his hands are around my waist, holding me steady.

It's like the kind of thing that happens on proms, the kind where a boy and a girl dance. The only difference is that I'm not having my arms around his neck. Now, why would I compare this to something like that, considering the situation I'm in? I must be going crazy. I quickly stayed away from him.

"What's the matter, Nanami, hmm?" he asked me coolly. "I thought you could handle it." I scoffed angrily.

"You took me by surprise!" I shouted at him. "You could've at least warned me, you know?"

"Let's get going," Sasori said. He started walking. I can tell with the way the water splashes that he's growing impatient.

"Just go straight ahead, hmm," Deidara said to me.

I did as he told me so without another word. It really feels like we're already here. Now, what's going to happen to me?

...

We stopped on our tracks for a moment. That's when I heard what sounds like a big rock sliding and shifting from its position. A cool air blows through my skin and chills me to the bone. Is this the entrance to my doom?

"Come," an aloof voice echoed inside what feels like a cave. "It's about time."

We walked on, my heart pounding restlessly inside me. This place is terrifying. It's aura is bad. I can feel people inside, staring at us as we come in. I just know that danger seems to emanate from them with the way they creep me out. I feel as if I could die any moment now. I feel as if one wrong move will get me killed. I feel as if I'd be dead in a minute. I hate this feeling. I hate feeling helpless... hopeless. I hate this. I really hate this. What did I get myself into?

"New girl. Come forward," the same aloof voice called out to me. Now what am I going to do?

I was startled when someone sudenly pushed me from behind, motioning me forward. It must've been Deidara. For the second time, I nearly stumbled down. I made my way forwards not even knowing what lies ahead of me.

"There." I stopped moving when I heard that same voice. He's much closer to me now. I say he's right in front of me. "Now, turn around and face them all."

"What on earth for?" I asked without thinking.

"Just do as I say."

Frightened, I turned around and face the people I can't even see. I feel stupid. Why is he making me do this?

"This is ridiculous," I murmured, again, without thinking.

"Now, I'll get straight to the point," he said as if he didn't hear me. "I'm recruiting you to be a member of our organization, Akatsuki."

Wait. Wait. Wait. I must be insane. Did I hear him correctly? Me? A member of Akatsuki? So this is what it's all about. Akatsuki. I've heard quite a few about them. They're a criminal organization comprised of S-rank missing-nins and is the most wanted group in all of the shinobi world. And they're considering me as a member? What the hell? For real?

I can feel the tension in the air now. Clearly, this is not something everyone was expecting.

"I know this is hard for you to decipher, but please consider our offer. Your abilities will be of great use to us."

"Wait," I interrupted. "Excuse me, but are you being serious? You dragged me all the way here because of this?" The incredulity of it all is showing on my voice.

"Yes."

"And you need my answer right now?"

"Yes."

"Great," I think to myself.

Now, how should I decide? If I get myself involved with them, I'd really be a fugitive ninja. I'd be wanted for the rest of my life. Wait. Come to think of it. I'm already wanted. I'm already exiled. How different can it be, really? I don't have a purpose. I don't have anybody. What more can I lose? If I join them, I'll have both. My answer is clear. I want to go with them.

"I've decided," I said after a minute of thinking. "I'll join you. I don't have anywhere else to go, really." Which is a fact, but I can't help but feel surprised as I feel my heart hurt a bit as I said this. Maybe I really crave for companionship, after all.

"Very well," the same voice said. "Konan, take off her blindfold and handcuffs. She'll be comfortable that way."

The one called Konan must be standing just beside him, because I didn't even feel her shift from her posiition. Before I even get to say anything, she's already at my back untying my blindfold. Finally.

As soon as my blindfold falls down on the ground, I feel ecstatic, suddenly joyous, to have my sight back, to finally be able to see everything with my own eyes again. I grew accustomed to the dark for a while now, yet I still miss the beauty of seeing everything the world has to offer.

I can see now that we're in a cave and caught a glimpse of about eight men staring at me, not counting the two behind me.

Konan then started on my hands and I looked behind me to see her. She's a girl with blue hair and amber eyes with lavender eyeshadow and a labret piercing. She wore a large, light-blue paper flower in her hair. Standing beside her is an orange-haired guy whom I assumed to be the leader, probably because he was the one who've been doing all the talking.

After getting my hands freed from its burden, I used my time to survey everyone around me. Now I can see that they formed a circle surrounding me. They're all wearing the same cloak, - black with cloud designs - nail polish, - which is black - and ring - which differs amongst themselves in terms of color and the text printed on it.

To be frank, some of them look really weird. Some of them, not all of them, alright? There are some who are cute, actually. I'm still a girl, no matter what you say, and I have taste, not that I ever put my taste into account. I'm not the kind of girl who likes to flirt, okay? I avoided eye contact with any of them, though, because not one of them looks friendly to me.

For example, the guy with medium-length silver hair that was slicked back and distinctive purple eyes looks as if he's somehow hysterical. I don't know, he just looks like it. He's hot though. He wore his cloak open with no shirt, only pants under it revealing his forehead protector and an amulet. The one next to him, however, looks menacing. He's a tall, muscular man who towered over almost everyone in this place. He wore a white hood and a black mask. Something about his presence makes me want to avoid him as much as possible. Standing near them is someone easily distinguished by the two large venus fly-trap like extensions that envelop his head and upper body, giving him a plant-like appearance.

Nevertheless, the two across them look nothing alike. One of them is also tall and muscular and is even more conspicuous than the other one I just mentioned. He had a distinctive shark-like appearance, complete with pale, blue-grey skin, small, round, white eyes, gill-like facial markings under his eyes and actual gills on his shoulders, and sharp, triangular teeth. He looks really weird and terrifying, period. The one next to him, on the other hand, is a young man with onyx eyes and jet-black hair. He also had centre-parted bangs that framed his face, extending to his chin. His most distinguishing feature were the long, pronounced tear-troughs under his eyes. He's not that intimidating, apart from the intensity of his gaze, which gives me the creeps. All in all, he is handsome, though I feel like I've seen him before. Standing near them is a masked guy.

Opposite me, standing just in front of the rock which obscures the entrance - now sealed close again - are two guys. They're both young-looking. One of them has red hair and the other one is blonde.

Wait. Blonde. Deidara. Right. I totally forgot about him. I've been so preoccupied that I totally forgot about him. So this is what he looks like up close. I stared at him and he smirked at me. He looks young. He must be the youngest one here. I wonder how old he is. Maybe 18 or 19? Also, he's good-looking. His blue eyes are so tantalizing, it's hard for me to look away. It's like I was captured... again... by him... though not literally this time.

I tried my best to look away from him and luckily I managed. I now focused on the guy next to him, which is unmistakably Sasori. He looks cute as well.

Well, what the hell? I didn't expect the Akatsuki to have so many good-looking people. Even the leader looks fine. Konan is also an undeniably pretty girl. What in the world is going on? They're supposed to be a criminal organization, for god's sake.

And what's with this sudden attraction to that blonde guy with captivating blue eyes?

...

Author's Note: Now, how's that?

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