A Day With the Akatsuki (Part 1)

Sasori stood up, finishing restoring his puppets' weapons. A jar of purplish poison with its id tightly screwed on was sitting on his work table. He hurried to the bathroom to clean himself. His stomach growled. Breakfast time.

The rest of the Akatsuki were nowhere to be seen but Sasori was used to it. Most of them were in their room lazing around. He passed through Deidara's door and hesitated then knocked.

A scruffy and tired Deidara answered the door. He wasn't wearing his Akatsuki cloak. Sasori smirked at his scrawny and weak appearance. The blonde scowled.

'What is it, Sasori?'

'Sorry, did I interrupt one of your perverted fantasies?' Sasori mocked. Deidara's skin turned red but he kept his scowl on his face. Sasori sighed. 'Ok, ok, I just wanted to ask if you want breakfast. Hidan is not around to throw food around.'

Deidara perked up. 'Is Fury cooking?'

His question caught the puppet master off guard. 'Er…dunno.'

Deidara had him waiting for a minutes then emerged, fully dressed and surprisingly clean. Sasori suppressed an amused grin. Deidara off to see Fury, that was a funny image.

When they reached the living room, which connected to the kitchen. They saw Tobi frantically twisting his fingers and flapping his hands hysterically. Deidara switched on his full senpai mode.

'Aren't you supposed to be in the kitchen?' He demanded. Tobi jumped and his flapping increased, sending uncomfortable drafts at Sasori and Deidara.

'Tobi knows that, but Fury-kun wants to make breakfast for us.' He explained.

'Oh, so it's Fury-kun now?' Deidara muttered under his breath. Sasori elbowed him in the ribs.

Suddenly, the kitchen door swung open and Fury stepped out, looking immaculate as usual. Deidara sighed inwardly. Her coal-black eyes flickered from Tobi to Sasori then rested on Deidara who smirked at her. Her lips turned up at the corners.

Sasori decided to cut in. 'Is breakfast ready? He asked, briskly stepping in front of Deidara. She laughed and threw her hair over her shoulders, which was swinging indignantly. The three of them stepped into the kitchen.

Breakfast was just as mouth-watering as dinner. There were stacks of warm-buttered toast and eggs and bacon. Sasori racked his brains to remember ever having these ingredients. Kakuzu, who was in charge of their money and income, rarely bothered about food bills and the Akatsuki lived on cup ramen most of the time.

Deidara picked up a slice of toast and bit into it. Sasori joined him, his eyebrows raised when he swallowed his portion of bacon and eggs. Fury sat down beside Sasori and tucked in too.

'Good?' She asked.

'Great!' Deidara corrected her enthusiastically. She smiled. 'The others are going to blow their heads off when they taste this.'

'I didn't think it was healthy to live on cup ramen all the time.' She said, her hand brushing against Sasori's as she reached for more toast. He stopped chewing for a second then continued eating, feeling Deidara's gaze scorching his red hair.

Deidara seemed to finish even quicker than usual. He put his plate in the sink then stalked off. Fury sighed in relief. Sasori grasped the opportunity to talk to her.

'Something wrong?' He asked.

'Not really, it's just that it's better to be myself when Deidara's not around.' She said, looking weary. 'He monitors my every movement. I can't do any touching without feeling awkward.'

Sasori nodded. 'Hmm…'

'Yeah…'

'Can't blame him. He's in love with you.' Sasori said. Fury grunted indignantly. He couldn't take it any longer; he leaned forward. 'So am I.' he murmured, before kissing a surprised Fury on the cheek.

There was silence then Sasori pulled away reluctantly. Fury's cheeks were hot red and she was breathing heavily. 'I knew this was going to happen.' She muttered.

Sasori widened his eyes. 'Deidara told you?'

'I figured it myself.' She replied sheepishly. She glanced at the spot where Deidara had disappeared. 'Why did he go off anyway?' Sasori knew she wanted to avoid the subject so he let it go.

'Leader-sama sometimes calls us for early missions. He's probably in his office.' Sasori said, smiling gently at Fury who was scarlet.

Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, Deidara came back, his rice hat in his hand. He snapped at Tobi who put on his own hat and walked out. He turned to Sasori and Fury who were talking randomly about Fury's life in Konoha.

'Sasori? Fury?' Deidara called, the redheads twitched a fraction of an inch. 'Leader-sama just sent me on another scout mission. I'll be out of here for a day, so,' He waved his hat at Sasori while looking at Fury. ' You're in his care for today only.' He emphasized when Sasori smirked.

Fury nodded. She stood up to clean the plates and Deidara bent over Sasori with a steely glare. 'Enjoy it while you can.' He snarled unpleasantly then stalked off. Sasori rolled his eyes then grinned widely. This day was starting off really great. He watched Fury's back as she washed the dishes, wishing he could wrap his arms around her.

'I'm turning into a pervert.' He told himself, leaning against his chair.

~…~…~

Sasori took Fury for a tour around the Akatsuki's hideout. He also explained to her about each and every detail and hobby of the Akatsuki members in which he left Itachi out since none of them knew much about him. Fury was unnaturally fascinated by Zetsu's greenhouses and the unusual plants inside it. Sasori finally persuaded her to leave the greenhouse while she was absorbed in a mutual conversation with Zetsu.

'I saved the best for last.' He said after visiting and digging up every detail of the Akatsuki members. Fury looked at him curiously. He walked down the hall towards the bedrooms, talking all the way. 'If Deidara was here, he would have shown you his exploding clay collection, or as he most insultingly calls 'art'.' Sasori said sourly. Fury grinned, already knowing about Sasori and Deidara's constant battles of their opinion of art.

Sasori stopped in front of his room and opened it. He beckoned at Fury who followed eagerly. The soles of her shoes brushed against something soft and small and the floor made a soft sloshing noise. She looked down and realized that she was standing on a wooden floor with wood shavings covering most of it. She picked up a tiny piece of rubbed it against her thumb and index finger.

'Hey, is this oak?' She wondered out loud in surprise then picked up another piece. 'And maple!'

Sasori disguised his surprise with a wide smile. 'You sure know your subject on botany.' He took the pieces from her fingers and slipped his warm hand through hers. 'They are the best kind of wood to make puppets. Here.' He steered her across the messy room and led her into the shadows. Fury heard a door creaked open.

It was dark inside wherever Sasori had brought her. She felt Sasori's hand let go of hers and panicked slightly from the momentary blindness. She stepped forward then bumped into something warm and solid then something even warmer and soft on her lips.

'Oops!' She heard Sasori muttered, a definite happy tone in his voice. There was silence then suddenly the room was bathed with dim candlelight. Sasori was smiling. Fury bit her lip. He grinned at her. 'Sorry.'

'So is this where you make your puppets?' Fury asked, changing the subject and looking around the room with true interest. There were half-finished puppets hanging around the room. Sasori sighed and nodded.

'These are some of my projects and puppet dummies I used against my newer creations.' He gestured to some apparently heavily damaged puppets. Fury suppressed a shudder and watched Sasori absentmindedly sweeping wood shavings off the worktable with his hand.

'I'm curious. Where do you keep the poison?' She asked him. He looked up distractedly then slowly digested what she just said. A smile spread across his flawless face. He turned and disappeared into the darkness then returned with something in his hand.

He lifted it up for Fury to see but he wouldn't let her touch it. 'I keep my handmade poison in here. You're not supposed to touch it with bare fingers but for me it's an exception.' He turned the bottle amusingly in his hands.

'Poison gas?' She asked. Sasori laughed.

'You're quick. I keep the poison gas stored in preparation in my combat puppets. You're not allowed near them either.' He laughed at the last part and Fury scowled, irritated.

'Can I visit Deidara's room?' She asked, wiping the grin off his face.

'I'm not allowed near it.' He said, putting the bottle down, looking dejected. Fury shrugged.

'Guess that concludes our tour, you were a good chaperone.' She turned to the door. Sasori looked up panicking.

'No! Wait, you, er, haven't seen the training grounds yet.' He said quickly. She smirked and swished out of the door. Sasori followed hastily.

Out of the Akatsuki hideout, Itachi and Zetsu were watching a rather comical battle between Kisame and Hidan. Rather than fighting, the two of them were boasting about their weapons, waving them in front of each other dangerously.

'You!' Hidan cried, spotting Fury first. Kisame and Zetsu turned around in surprise but Itachi, who probably knew she was coming, acted like nothing had happened at all.

Kisame, Zetsu, Hidan and Itachi's eyes skimmed over Fury and beside a flushed Sasori. They exchanged glances, sending signals that clearly stated, 'Who's going to win this bet?'

Unfortunately, Fury saw their expressions. 'What?' she snapped. Kisame just grinned at her.

'Nothing.' Hidan replied, swinging his blade which was nearly knocked out of his hand when Kisame brandished his Samehada. 'Hey, no fair! The match is on hold!' he yelled. Zetsu rolled his eyes as the two of them started a sword fight.

Itachi sighed. 'So, Fury, how's your battling skills? No doubt fighting with Iyarashi has strengthened your abilities.' He said, feeling through satisfied when Kisame and Hidan froze. Sasori looked at him in exasperation.

'Itachi, now is not the time!' He hissed at Itachi who didn't move. Fury shrugged.

'I'm okay.'

Hidan snorted. 'Bet you can't even make a dent on a tree if you punch it.' He sneered. Fury suddenly tensed up, her charcoal black eyes blazing. Flames were licking furiously on the top of her head.

'Are you challenging me?' she asked quietly and angrily. Hidan gave a triumphant smirk.

'Don't go there.' Kisame warned mockingly. But Fury had already gone. Sasori and Zetsu watched in horror while Itachi and Kisame exchanged satisfied glances as Fury sent flaming balls of fire straight at Hidan who dodged them and deflected some of them with his blade.

'You have to try harder than that!' He laughed, screeching to a halt in front of a tree. Fire gathered fiercely at the soles of Fury's shoes. She charged straight at him, fusing her fire as chakra and aiming her fist at Hidan.

Hidan cursed then jumped just in time. Fury's fist drove straight through thin air and made contact with the tree. Hidan landed on the ground and watched in disbelief as the tree gave a loud creak and toppled over.

Sasori and Zetsu gaped. Fury swiveled around. 'Your turn.' She said to Hidan who jumped back as a huge fireball zoomed at him in full speed, burning the hem of his cloak. Kisame let out an appreciative chuckle.

The sound of the tree falling over had caught the rest of the Akatsuki's attention. Kakuzu, Konan and even Pain himself came out of the house in alarm. They froze momentarily when they saw Fury battling a desperate Hidan. Kakuzu's eyes wandered to the fallen tree which was slight charred at the breaking point. He chuckled.

'I'm going to enjoy this.' He said.

Pain narrowed his eyes and looked at Zetsu and Itachi who was already looking at him. Pain walked up to them with Konan and leant closer to his best analyzers.

'Well?' he enquired.

'She's terror.' Zetsu concluded. Konan exploded into a fit of giggles. 'It's true. She sliced down that tree without even breaking a sweat. She's something alright.' Pain nodded then turned to Itachi.

'She's a close combat type but she also excels in long range attacks. Those fireballs of hers are no joke. If she concentrates enough and gathered up all the strength she needs, her fire might be a competition to my Amaterasu.' Itachi said. Konan widened her eyes and Kisame looked at Itachi.

'You're kidding.' Itachi looked at him surely. 'Okay, you're right. She's budding form of destruction.' He turned back to the match just as Hidan yelled out.

'Okay, okay, you prove yourself, now let me go.' He shouted, trapped under a web stitched out strands of fire that singed his cloak. Fury smiled and the web died out. Hidan sat up, panting.

Fury caught Sasori's eyes and without meaning to, she laughed. Hidan grumbled and picked himself up. Kakuzu was beside him within a second, giving him a lecture. 'Next time, you really should understand who your opponent is and decide whether to pull out or not.'

'I get it.' Hidan groaned, massaging his arm which was aching of the speed and strength he used to raise his blade that deflected Fury's attacks.

Kisame fingered the handle of his Samehada. 'Too bad little Deidara's not here to watch the love of his life wipe the floor with Hidan.' He chuckled again as Fury walked up towards them, sporting a huge on her upper arm where Hidan had managed to cut. She scowled.

'Shut up.' She growled. Sasori took her arm and examined the wound.

'Deidara's going to kill me.' He muttered, taking out a bandage out of his cloak and wrapping it around the wound. 'I said I would take care of you.'

'I'll make sure he won't get to you first.' She promised. Her ponytail whipped up suddenly, purred and stroked Sasori's wrist which was still on her arm. Fury frowned and flicked her hair away. 'Sorry. This thing has a mind of its own.' She apologized to a smitten Sasori.

Itachi blinked. 'Sorry, did you say your hair has a mind of its own?' Fury nodded.

'Weird.' Konan commented, looking at Pain with an expression the whole Akatsuki understood. They are going to have a serious conversation later.

'When's Deidara returning?' Fury asked. Sasori looked up, his face distorted with contempt. Hidan and Kisame snickered. Pain shot them a warning look the turned kindly to Fury.

'This evening at the earliest, I suppose, if he hurries.' He answered.

'Of course he would.' Hidan started but Konan slapped a hand across his mouth. Kakuzu shook his head wearily.

'I'm starving.' He complained. Fury perked up.

'Ok, wait in the living room, I'll have dinner ready in two hours.' She said eagerly then rushed back inside the house. The others exchanged looks of slight relief and followed her in the house.

There was already sizzling sounds coming from the kitchen. Konan was impressed by the fact that Fury had managed to uncover any ingredients at all. The others sat down and sniffed at the scent contentedly.

Suddenly, the front door banged open and they looked up suspiciously, jumping to their feet and tensing up.