WD: Ok, hello. So, this chapter is a little shorter than the rest, and maybe a little boring. Sorry about that. Anyway, you know what they say, "the calm before the storm". Hehe...I won't give too much away. So thanks again for the reviews. :D

Disclaimers: All Naruto characters and themes belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Original character(s), themes, and inanimate objects belong to me.

Chapter 9

The bell rang. Zetsu and Kari left class quickly before anyone could spot them. They left the school without any troubles. Kari smiled as she walked next to Zetsu, heading towards the shopping district. She had brought her wallet to school that day, luckily enough. She wouldn't have to walk all the way back to her dorm. There was a light layer of snow on the ground and it wasn't too cold, but cold enough so that there was snow falling lazily from the sky. It was her favorite type of winter weather.

"Where do you want to go first?" black Zetsu asked.

"I think we should get Kisame's present first. Weapons are pretty popular at this school," Kari replied. Thanks to her friends, she knew exactly what she was going to get everyone. Zetsu nodded.

Kari had been to the weapon store a few times. Every time the group had gone shopping, Kisame had always insisted that they go in. Kari stared around at the weapons. There were enormous varieties of weapons, but Kari headed straight to the section that held swords. The swords came in all shapes and sizes, but Kari knew what she was looking for and found it almost immediately. A sword, probably around five feet tall, was situated on the wall, on its side. Kari knew as soon as she saw it that she was going to get it. She went over to it. It was expensive, as she thought, but not outrageously expensive, which puzzled her.

"It's a Christmas special," the storeowner said, as if reading her thoughts. "You want to get it for someone?"

"Yeah, my friend, Kisame-kun," Kari replied. The storeowner smiled.

"I figured as much. See, there were two of those swords, but Haku already came and bought the other one for Zabuza. They're two different makes though, so don't worry about that," he explained. Kari nodded and turned to Zetsu.

"It's huge. Do you think you could help me carry it?" Zetsu nodded.

"Of course, but maybe we should come back here after we've gotten everything else. It's…kinda big," white Zetsu suggested. Kari nodded slowly.

"I didn't think of that. Good idea." She turned to the storeowner. "Could you keep this here? Just until we get back?" she asked.

"Of course! Kisame is one of my best customers!"

Kari decided to go to the book story next. She could get Itachi and Tobi's presents there. She went to the drama section first, looking through plays that Tobi might like to read and most likely act out.

"Don't get Shakespeare. He's got them all," black Zetsu warned. Kari nodded.

"Thanks Zetsu." She continued looking. She passed Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Statesman, Cinderella, and many more. 'I'm sure he has all of these,' she thought, annoyed. As her eyes passed over all the titles, she caught a title. Tales of a Thousand and One Nights. She pulled one off the self.

"Does he have this one?" she asked Zetsu. Zetsu looked at it and shook his head.

"He'd like it though."

"He'd like them, actually. A thousand and one nights, I don't think they'd all fit in one book," Kari replied with a small laugh and took the books off the shelf. "There's…14. Ok, that should be good."

'More than just good,' white Zetsu thought. Black Zetsu stifled a snort.

"Hey! If I get all of them, I get them for half price!" Kari exclaimed before bounded off to the Mystery section. Zetsu shook his head in amusement as he followed her.

"We'll hold those while you look," white Zetsu offered as they reached the Mystery section. Kari smiled and murmured thanks as she handed the books to him. She then proceeded to browsing through the mystery books.

"Hmm…Kisame said that he has or has read all books in this section that date back to…a month ago. Ok, so I've got to find a new book that he hasn't read," Kari mumbled to herself as she looked.

"How about this one?" Zetsu held up a book. A Twist of Orchids. Kari took it from his hands and read the inside cover.

"Yes! It's a new book and the third one of a series! Itachi must have read the other two, so this is good, very good. Thanks Zetsu," exclaimed

"No problem," Zetsu replied.

The music store was easy. Zetsu grabbed three CD's that Hidan didn't own. There was a Slayer CD, a Slipknot CD, and a Metallica CD. Kari was extremely glad Zetsu was with her. She would have had no idea what CD's Hidan had, or didn't.

The art store was the second to last stop of the day. Kari went to the section that held clay. She had been to this store so many times she knew where everything was. She stood in front of the clay. Deidara usually just bought the cheep grey clay because he bought a lot of it. Kari thought about Deidara's favorite color, but came to a dead end. Deidara didn't really have a favorite color. He pretty much liked them all, well, all the primer and secondary colors. He hated the color pink. She chuckled to herself as she pulled red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple clay off the shelves. She put it in the carriage that she had with her and continued on towards the paints and canvas. She decided that she'd paint a picture for Sasori. She smiled as she put a large canvas and some oil paints in her carriage. Sasori didn't start opening up to her, really, until he saw her art. When she was painting in art class he commented on it, and afterwards, he would discuss art with her, saying things about how Deidara didn't have a clue.

"You think you've got enough there?" black Zetsu asked sarcastically. Kari snorted.

"Hey, we're almost done. I've still got to pick Kisame's present up. After that, I just need to make a check for Kakuzu, and buy your present, but I'll do that tomorrow when you aren't around," she stated. Zetsu nodded.

"And you have enough money for all this?" black Zetsu asked, the white side silently asking the same thing.

"I knew I'd want to get everyone something for Christmas, or in Hidan's case just something. So, I've been saving up the money I get from my part time jobs and you'd be surprised how much I've got," she explained.

"Jobs? As in, plural?" white Zetsu asked.

"Yeah, one wouldn't have been enough, so, I got a job at a café on the weekends; I work at Ichiraku Ramen shop Mondays and Wednesdays; and I work at the Pet store Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays," she stated with a smile as she paid for the items. Zetsu grabbed most of the bags. He could lift a lot more than her.

"You did that…all because you wanted to get us stuff?" black Zetsu asked.

"Well, originally, but I like my jobs. They're fun." Zetsu chuckled.

"You are strange," black Zetsu stated.

"Agreed," white Zetsu added. Kari just laughed.

"Welcome back!" Kari and Zetsu walked back into the weapon shop after dropping everything back at the girl's dorm.

"Thank you. I'd like to buy that sword now," Kari stated. The storeowner nodded.
"Alright, I have it right here."

"Thank you!"

"Thanks for coming with me today Zetsu. Without your help, I honestly don't know what I would have done," Kari stated as Zetsu walked back to the girl's dorm, carrying the sword, with said girl.

"It's no problem. We wanted to help. Besides, you're going to the dance with us," white Zetsu replied.

"Yeah, but I also want to go to the dance with you. I wouldn't want to go alone either," Kari stated.

"I don't think you would have had to worry about that, Kari," black Zetsu stated dully.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. Nothing," he replied. Kari opened her door when they reached it. Zetsu set the sword against the wall inside.

"Thanks again Zetsu," Kari said with a smiled.

"No problem, again," white Zetsu replied. Kari laughed.

"Well, I better get started on Sasori's painting. It might take a while," Kari stated. Zetsu nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Yeah, bye," white Zetsu replied. Black Zetsu muttered a goodbye as well and left.

Zetsu was walking towards the meeting point. He was meeting with the other guys. Normally, Kari came as well, but Zetsu didn't ask her since she already told him that she was busy painting a picture for Sasori. The others would probably be suspicious as to why the girl wasn't there, but Zetsu wasn't really worried.

"Zetsu-san!!" Zetsu saw Tobi running towards him. The rest of the group was walking behind him at a much slower pace.

"Hello Tobi," white Zetsu greeted.

"Where is Kari-chan?" Tobi asked, now directly in front of the plant man.

"She's back at her dorm," white Zetsu replied.

"What is Kari-chan doing there? Why isn't she here?" Tobi asked.

"Because she isn't," black Zetsu growled.

"She just wanted to stay home, that's all," white Zetsu explained.

"But Zetsu-san was with Kari-chan before…"

"We were just talking about something. It's not important," white Zetsu said, cutting Tobi off.

"Talking about what Zetsu-san?" By now the others had arrived.

"We invited her to the dance," black Zetsu lied.

"What?!" Tobi shrieked. The rest of the group covered their ears.

"What the hell Tobi, h'mm!?" Deidara shouted, smacking the masked boy in the head. Tobi was too shocked to react. The first part of his plan was ruined. And it was Zetsu who had ruined it! Tobi was very upset. Of course, he wasn't mad at Zetsu. He hadn't known about Tobi's perfect plan. Tobi sighed, not paying attention to what was going on around him. He would have to think of something else to get Deidara and Kari together…of course! His second plan! Tobi laughed quietly to himself. His best plan yet, and his only plan before the holidays were over. It was perfect. Nothing could ruin it! Tobi had a Christmas party every year, so it wouldn't seem suspicious. Tobi grinned behind his mask. It was so simple. All he had to do, while the two were at his house for his Christmas party, was get them together. Yes! His plan would be perfect. He just needed them to stand underneath the mistletoe.