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I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 10: Sumiko's Art

Sumiko certainly was glad being back from the mission. When she mentioned fooling Kabuto, the Akatsuki members bashed him based on stupidity. When she told how she disabled Orochimaru so that she could steal the ring, Sasori rose so fast and had the façade of wanting to kill Orochimaru. When she mentioned Sasuke, she glanced carefully at Itachi, trying to gauge his reaction. Itachi's face did not change, but his eyes did have a momentary flicker.

Sumiko soon turned her attention to Pain when he and Konan entered the room. "We will have an induction ceremony for Sumiko officially joining the Akatsuki in one week. Presents are expected so please pick good, practical items."

Pain and Konan soon swept off, but Sumiko noticed a glint in Konan's eyes. That woman was born to shop. Sumiko smiled, but Sasori pulled her arm. "What's up bro?"

Sasori's eyebrow twitched. I'm glad she's back to normal… But the informality is killing me… "I am taking you on a mini-vacation. Everyone's getting you presents so it will be easier if you are out of the way."

Sumiko nodded with enthusiasm as Sasori led her into his room. She glanced at all the puppets, having been unable to see them on her previous trip. "Your art certainly has diversified and improved bro."

Sasori nodded and pointed at a couple of puppets that Sumiko headed towards. "Remember the puppet on the right?"

Sumiko smiled wide. "Yeah… When you left, you took her so Kazekage-sama wouldn't think that I was to be incriminated with you." Sumiko extended out her chakra strings and attached them to the puppet. The puppet looked just like her except it wore a kimono. Sumiko smiled and pumped a little bit of chakra into the puppet and then you could not tell the difference between Sumiko and her puppet.

"Sasori, I'm going to test Takara on the other members." Sasori looked up at Sumiko's apparent eagerness.

"Fine, but don't cross the line."

"Aww, not even a toe?"

Sasori rolled his eyes and Sumiko snickered. "Thanks a lot Sasori. I really appreciate everything you have done for me."

Sasori glanced up. "Your speech patterns changed again…"

Sumiko rubbed the back of her head. "I know I used to speak really informal back then, but after talking formally for so long, it is a habit. Besides, I only switched for old-times sake, but that was starting to give me a headache."

Sasori smiled and Sumiko dashed out of his room. Using her chakra strings, she navigated Takara down the hall into the kitchen full of Akatsuki members. They spotted Takara and uproar ensued.

"Sumiko-san, you should wait with your brother," Itachi intoned.

"Yeah, we are kind of working on your gift," Kisame reasoned.

"Yeah, get your ass back to your brother," Hidan scowled.

Kakuzu hit Hidan over the head. "Dumbass, Sasori won't appreciate you talking that way to his sister."

"Wait a moment… That isn't Sumiko-chan! It's a puppet, un!"

Sumiko walked into the room and using her chakra strings, made Takara bow. "How did you know Deidara-kun?"

"Eyes, un. Her eyes don't sparkle the same way yours does Sumiko-chan."

Zetsu appeared behind Sumiko. "Get out of here now! We are getting your gifts ready." Sumiko smiled at Zetsu and bowed out. Sasori had made sure to reintroduce her to everyone. She was also pretty sure that he threatened anyone that hurt his sister.

Sumiko walked back to Sasori's room with Takara accompanying her. With a poof, Daisuke appeared at her heels. "I have been looking everywhere for you Sumiko-sama."

Sumiko paused. "What is it Daisuke-kun?"

Daisuke looked into her eyes. Sumiko knew that something was wrong immediately as she picked him up. "I have something to tell you Sumiko-sama… and it may very well anger you…"

Sumiko glanced at him. "It surely cannot be the worst thing that has ever happened. Just tell me."

"I was never going to tell you, but Deidara has been good to you. I can tell that your heart swells when you are near him. With that in mind, I can divulge this knowing you will be happy."

Sumiko was now annoyed. "Divulge what?"

The fox looked very uncomfortable. "Well… I knew you long before I met you in this body."

Sumiko raised an eyebrow. "In 'this' body?"

The fox bowed. "My name was Mamoru. I understand if you don't remem…"

Daisuke was silenced by a fist coming in contact with him. Sumiko's eyes were ablaze with fury. "You asshole! You are with me all this time and let me turn myself into an emotional black hole and do not even tell me that you were my boyfriend back then? What the hell did you do that made me young like this and change you into a fox? Some twisted Jashinist ritual?"

Daisuke nodded. "It's not twisted. I sacrificed my human form for a fox form in order to protect you in the future. The eternal life is my gift towards your future."

Sumiko glanced at Daisuke with a hollow look on her face. "So, when everyone I care about grows old and dies, I am to merely exist without someone to love?" Sumiko stalks off towards Sasori's room in a daze.

Deidara had hidden his present for Sumiko well and was looking around everywhere for Sumiko. She was about to enter Sasori's room when she spotted Deidara. She cracked him a small smile, but that did not stop him from noticing. "Sumiko-chan? Did Daisuke tell you, un?"

Sumiko was shocked that Deidara knew about the situation. She took her hand off the door knob and walk towards him. "Why…?"

"I forced him to tell me when he wouldn't let me kiss you, un. He made me swear to not tell you and I told him that he better tell you soon." Sumiko blinked back tears and found herself in Deidara's embrace. "I understand if you would rather be with him than me. After all, he was your first boyfriend."

Sumiko shook her head furiously. "Deidara-kun… I want to be with you. You make me feel happy. I even thought of an answer to your art question."

Deidara smiled. He rested his chin on top of Sumiko's head as she was a little shorter than him. "So, is art eternal like what Sasori-danna believes or is it a short lived explosion like I believe?"

Sumiko moved her head so that she looked into his eyes. Their faces were maybe a couple of centimeters apart. "My belief of what art is falls under both categories. I believe that love is an art. It can be a short-lived, heated romance or the long-haul commitment that lasts forever."

Deidara smiled at her. "Where do you think that our combined work falls under, un?"

Sumiko glanced up at him. "We are still getting acquainted, but there are many determining factors. It may be a while to reach to the point of art, but…"

Sumiko's spiel was cut off by Deidara giving her a tentative kiss on the lips. She smiled at him. He was about to give her another gentle kiss when they heard a camera go off. Kakuzu's tentacles were holding a camera and both tentacle and camera was retreating. Deidara and Sumiko looked at each other for a split second and understood. They dashed after a gleeful Kakuzu.

"It's moments like these that really show you the value of the blackmail you garner."