Okay, well I was told by some very nasty writer on here that I can't write little replies to your reviews up here. They threatened to have me banned. So, I'll just personally reply to everything from now on. But, I thank you all for sticking with me, through thick and thin. I can't apologize enough for the lateness of this chapter, or the one coming next week. I'm sorry!!! But ancient Greek is just THE worst class ever!
The summary: Leader-sama has finally won a long and brutal court case against his ex-wife(and yes, this could happen. There have been divorces, and lawyers, since at least the 5th century B.C. Deal with it.). Finally, he's proven that he is the more responsible parent, and has gained full custody of their, now teenaged, daughter, whom he hasn't seen in 10 years. Happy though he is to have her back though, and away from his wife and her second husband, a leader of a terrorist organization of S-class missing-nins, bent on world domination only has so much quality time to spend with his little princess. Therefore, he's enlisted the help of the recently returned Sasori and Deidara, since both have their jinchuuriki obligations fulfilled- and aside from possibly turning his daughter into art, Sasori seems like a level-headed, trustworthy guy. Deidara isn't too far off from her age, and might be able to relate to and talk to her if she needs a confidant in Leader's absence- someone like Itachi sure as hell couldn't fill that role. So, they've been given strict orders, and have to make sure the girl is safe and happy. But is everything going to go as planned, death threats or no?...
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Nor do I own any characters in aforementioned series. All rights and privileges belong solely to Masashi Kishimoto, the series' creator. I just wrote this fan-fic was all...
Daughter of the Dawn
Chapter 10
At around 9 the next morning, Sakura decided she was hungry. Really, she didn't know how she could even be thinking about food; everything right now seemed to make her so nauseous and dizzy. But she lifted her head from her tear saturated pillow, giving I to her loudly protesting stomach as she made her way to the door. …Funny, didn't Deidara or Sasori usually come bring her breakfast, or wake her to bring her down to the kitchen to eat with everyone else by this time of the morning?... She glanced back over her shoulder at the clock- 9:12am.
At first Sakura was a little annoyed that they'd seemed to have forgotten about her, but suddenly she remembered where she was, mentally slapping herself, slightly coming out of her depression induced stupor. Quietly she looked out the door on both sides, then hurried out into the hall, to try to find the way out of Akatsuki's huge complex; enough was enough, she missed her friends, and who was to say they wouldn't have something happen to them next, while she was stuck here?
The hideout had never been packed from what Sakura had seen, except for maybe the dining area, but as she walked through a maze of empty hall after empty hall, somehow it just didn't seem right. There should be someone around, right? But nobody came out to try to stop her, it didn't make any sense.
Finally she recognized the hall that she wound up in; it was where Deidara's 'art room' was, and the dining room was somewhere down the hall and around a corner. 'How the hell did I get that turned around?! I'm pretty much back where I started, this isn't a way out…'
Deidara had been brooding outside nearly all night, as evidenced by the huge crater-like area around him, which was a lush forest the day before.
This pristine setting, and his reflections on the past day's events, were suddenly broken though by a loud, annoying yell. "Deidara-sempaaaiiiii!!!" Deidara glanced up as Tobi skidded to a stop in front of him, doubled over trying to catch his breath.
"Look, Tobi, I'm not in the mood…un. Go bother Zetsu-san, or Itachi or someone if you want to play, or need a book read to you or something.." Deidara slowly got up from his place on the ground, brushing himself off lightly from the accumulated dirt, and digging a hand into his nearly empty clay pouch. Like hell he was going to stand around and listen to Tobi's crap all day; but he'd have to fly to get far enough away.
"Deidara-sempai wants to read me a book?... Well, the Leader said I had to come out here and get you, for a sealing ceremony and some kind of really important meeting. But if you'd rather sit here and read a book and blow stuff up, I'll go and tell him you can't come, like a good boy." Tobi replied happily, more than willing to help out his sempai by delivering his message to Pein.
"Ugh, I'll be in, in a few minutes Tobi, it's not that I'm not gonna come. Don't worry, just go. Give me a few minutes to…admire my work…un, and I'll be in." Deidara said exasperatedly, turning away from his annoying ex-partner.
"Okay Deidara-sempai!" Tobi replied enthusiastically, bounding off. Tobi wasn't sure of exactly what it was that put Deidara so down in the dumps, but contrary to popular belief, he wasn't stupid, and he had a good enough guess at what could have caused it. At least he wouldn't have to order Pein to kill Deidara for interfering with important plans, as long as things continued along this way.
Deidara stood there for a moment, staring at the destruction he had made, before turning around and grudgingly following Tobi into the base.
"That's the Leader's daughter, isn't it?" "What amazing skills of perception. Yes, obviously. And she isn't supposed to be wandering around without Deidara-san or Sasori-san." "Maybe she's gotten lost trying to find the kitchen or something? We should go find out what's going on and see if we can help her.""Please… you and I both know what's going on. But we should definitely go talk to her though."
Sakura pulled at a door along the end of the hallway she had found herself in, forcing all of her strength into the ornate handle. Finally the door gave way, and Sakura looked on with anticipation… into a broom closet.
"Kami, isn't there any way out of this place?!" She whispered to herself, feeling more like screaming in frustration. She glanced down the empty hallway, trying to figure out which way to try next, turning back soon after to close the closet door; she bit back a choked scream as that plant, Zetsu was it?, materialized from the wall next to the door, his Venus flytrap slowly opening.
"Can I help you?""I think Leader-sama spoke with you about any escape attempts, Sakura-san. Come with me." Sakura backed up against the far wall, staring at him wide-eyed for a moment, before bolting down the hallway.
Zetsu merely sank back into the wall, reappearing in front of Sakura at the end of the hallway.
Sakura skidded to a stop, ensuring a safe distance between herself and the human plant, and lowered her head for a moment. She wasn't stupid, and she knew that even though the members of Akatsuki wouldn't kill her, as their Leader's daughter, if she tried to fight her way out now she'd have every member in the base here trying to peacefully subdue her in minutes. She had no idea what Zetsu's specialty jutsus were. And as for her father… if she attacked and possibly killed any members of his organization, somehow she doubted he would be so hesitant to exact punishment on her, no matter how loving and doting he seemed during all of their past meetings.
Thinking quickly she said, "I was looking for Deidara-san, and I got lost. This stupid place is like maze, and I couldn't find my way back to my room, or find anyone to ask. It's a good thing you came along and found me." She balled her fists behind her back, holding back her anger and paranoia.
Zetsu looked at her askance, not believing her for a moment. "Deidara is outside, Sasori is in his room down the hall from yours. Right now, we're all needed in a meeting though, so you have to come with me." Zetsu turned and walked in the direction Sakura had been heading.
Sakura paused for a moment, but when Zetsu stopped and was about to turn back towards her, she followed after him, still sure to keep a safe enough distance between them though.
Deidara stood on the right index finger of the sealing statue, watching Tobi bounce up and down excitedly, and wondering where the hell this supposed jinchuuriki was. He glanced down briefly to where the jinchuuriki should be laying, at the foot of the statue, before looking back up quickly as his ring began to glow and the Leader materialized in the room along with his partner.
"I had been assured by Zetsu-san that Itachi and Kisame would not fail me again, and had discovered and successfully retrieved the 8-tails, but it has just come to my attention that I was misinformed and during the course of Zetsu's return here, that somehow you two failed to retain hold of it?" He glared sternly at Itachi and Kisame, his voice low and dangerous.
Kisame squirmed under his gaze, looking like he wanted to crawl out of his skin as he racked his brains for a reply that would suffice to explain the failure.
The Uchiha remained as impassive as ever, looking as though the Leader could have been having a pleasant conversation about the weather instead of berating them for their mission's failure.
"Um, well Leader-sama, sir, we finally caught it and all, and I and made sure to drain most of her chakra, but the jinchuuriki had some kind of chakra replenishment we didn't know about. We just finished talking to Zetsu-san, and then me and Itachi-san knew we were being watched." Kisame rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I mean, it was fun," he couldn't help but smirk, "they put up a good fight, unlike most ninja. But.. all of a sudden the jinchuuriki was full on, 8 tails, and…"
"We attempted to subdue it, but believe one of the Rock-nin reached the jinchuuriki while we were preoccupied during battle. We are still unsure of how chakra was restored, but after assessing the situation and our own depleted chakra levels, found it unsafe to continue retrieval at that time." Itachi interjected coolly, summing up the events leading to the jinchuuriki's escape.
Deidara smirked widely to himself, even though he did feel a bit bad for Kisame. But it served that self-righteous Uchiha right, always thinking he was the best and all. Now he'd failed to get two jinchuurikis. The Leader must be pissed.
"Well, Itachi, Kisame, since you two are apparently incapable of completing the simplest of tasks, I will have to reassign this mission. You two will be placed on a probationary status for the time being, so I recommend you don't fail me again." Here Pein paused, as the heavy doors to the room were opened, echoing through the cavernous space.
Zetsu poked his head in, looking at the Leader expectantly. Before anything was said, the Leader glanced over to Tobi, then gave Zetsu a curt nod. Zetsu turned, his form disappearing from the doorway for a moment, before the doors were opened completely and he walked in, with his hand lightly on Sakura's back to guide her.
Sakura walked slowly through the doorway, glaring angrily back at Zetsu, who was following not more than a foot behind her.
Kisame and Deidara both stared wide-eyed at the new arrival. "Hey, she wasn't gonna help with the sealing, was she?... I mean, if we needed someone else, we could always haul Hidan in here, but I don't know if it's really right to make the girl join in…" Kisame said, worried that the Leader had wanted his daughter to take part in the ceremony- the ceremony which now, thanks in part to him, couldn't take place.
"No, Kisame-san. I wouldn't ask that my daughter take part in the ceremony unless she wishes to do so. And I'm sure she doesn't. Sakura is merely here to watch, since there's nobody available to watch her, and due to that fact, she got lost. It's much safer for her if she's here with us." He replied, before getting back to what he had been saying before.
"As I was saying before the interruption, Sasori-san, Deidara-san, you two are the only available team as it stands to bring back the 8 tails. I will take my daughter for the week, as I'm sure that gives you enough time to find information on the jinchuuriki's whereabouts and capture it. As I informed you all the last time we met, both Kakuzu and Orochimaru had been killed. It has been brought to my attention that now both Uchiha Sasuke who as you all remember killed Orochimaru, and the Kyuubi vessel along with a team from Konoha- including the Copy-Ninja Kakashi- are attempting to find this location, in order to 'rescue' my daughter. I want you all to avoid them, at all costs. We cannot afford to lose any more members, and I don't have the time to go searching for your replacements. If they were to gain information from you, or learn of the location of this base, a good portion of Akatsuki's plans would be undermined."
Sakura gasped. Naruto and Kakashi-sensei were coming to save her after all. And… Sasuke? She couldn't believe it, the last time she'd seen him, he'd been ready to kill Team 7, and if Orochimaru hadn't dragged him away… Could Naruto have somehow found him and finally brought him back to Konoha while she'd been stuck in this hellhole? She brushed away from Zetsu, standing at the foot of the statue trying to make sense of everything her father had said.
"What?! But Leader-sama we already captured our jinchuuriki, why do we have to clean up after the perfect little Uchiha..un?!" Deidara yelled explosively. He wasn't like Hidan, he was usually careful to keep his temper around the Leader, but he'd tried to clean up after that pompous Uchiha before, and all it did was leave him armless and the laughingstock of the organization for a good month.
"Deidara, shut up." Sasori intoned from across the statue.
The Leader just stared at Deidara for a moment, a bit taken aback, before replying, "Deidara, I'm getting tired of your attitude. It's one thing when directed at your partner, but I won't take such insubordination. Don't force me to send Zetsu and Tobi, because I can assure you you'll regret it much more than Kisame or Itachi will regret their failure."
Konan lightly touched Pein's arm, trying to comfort her friend without crossing any lines, and whispered something to him. "Yes, I'm aware Konan-san. I'll be going now. Sakura, come. And Deidara, Sasori, I expect the Hachibi in a weeks time."
Sakura stared up at the imposing statue, reluctantly sending chakra to her feet and making her way up.
"Wait a minute…un. I'm not gonna be stuck with that stupid puppet, un. He'll probably get all sappy again and get himself beat up by an old lady," Deidara laughed. "Tobi, come on, you're coming with me. Sasori-no-Danna can stay with Sakura-san or whatever, I'm sure that's what they both want anyway. You helped me get the three tailed biju, you're gonna help me with this one."
"But.. but Deidara-senpai. You didn't do anything, you know it was my one hit K.O." Tobi said, testing Deidara's patience. "Anyway, I thought I'm Zetsu-san's partner now senpai…"
"Tch. You're always complaining I don't spend enough time with you, and here I wanna take you with me, and you complain that you don't wanna go…un!" Deidara jumped off of the statue angrily, turning back to the Leader and saying, "Don't worry, I'll find the stupid jinchuuriki, and I don't need help doing it either."
"Nooo!! Wait, Deidara-senpai! Tobi's sorry! I mean, I do want to spend time with you, even if you can't control your temper.." Tobi hurried after Deidara. "Sorry Zetsu-san, please don't be angry at Tobi!"
Zetsu gave Tobi an eerie smile, which only Tobi could find reassuring. Sakura shuddered at the sight, glad she'd gotten away from the plant. "I could really care less Tobi, if you really want to go with Deidara-san. Just make sure you're a good boy…" "Besides, you're always getting in the way during reconnaissance missions, you're better off with Deidara since you two are so alike."
Tobi paused, confused, and tilted his head to the side, while Kisame, who knew he was still in hot water, tried his best to stifle a fit of laughter. Even Sasori couldn't help but chuckle a little to himself at that.
"Tobi-san, are you certain you're capable of this mission, and would like to take Sasori-san's place?" The Leader questioned.
"Yep! Tobi's ready to go battle more demons. And Tobi won't run away this time either!" He gave a little salute to the Leader, the candlelight in the room gleaming on his mask and giving the eyehole a strange glow as it flickered. Deidara stalked out of the room, Tobi following close behind jumping up and down in excitement.
"If you'd prefer, and if Sakura-san agrees, I could handle caring for her until Deidara returns from the mission." Sasori said carefully.
"I don't think that's the best idea, after previous circumstances. How can I be reassured that there will be no attempts to harm or kill her again?"
"Ask Sakura-san, I'm sure she can reassure you if you don't believe me. Although I told you I had learned my lesson, and was apologetic sir."
"Um… I could help to watch her, if you don't trust Sasori-san or something. I mean, what the hell am I gonna do to her, feed her to my fish?..." Kisame broke in, trying to lighten the mood.
"Pein-san, if she's harmed…"
Pein held up a hand to silence his partner. "Sakura, I hesitate to leave you in the care of these two, but it's my understanding that to have a working relationship with a child, you have to make compromises. I've told you, I want you to feel as at home here in Akatsuki as you did in Konoha; so tell me, which do you prefer, to remain here with Sasori-san and Kisame-san to care for you, or to come with me to Amegakure?"
Sakura nearly choked on her words. The Leader had just informed her of the true location of Akatsuki's headquarters; and while it obviously didn't help her with escape, since it wasn't her location, once rescued she could tell Tsunade-sama. But, he must have known he said it, right? Could he really have put that much trust in her in so little time?
All Sakura knew was that she had to get out of here, and quick. "I.. want to stay here, if that's alright…. Otousan." The word felt like acid on her tongue. "Sasori-san wasn't lying, he has tried to act nicer, and yesterday, when I heard about Okaasan…" Sakura trailed off, not willing to let herself cry in front of the entirety of Akatsuki. The tears welled in her eyes, shining like diamonds in the flickering candlelight.
Her father suddenly appeared in front of her, drying her eyes before he grasped her firmly by the shoulders. He spoke in a low voice, full of compassion, "Oh, yes, I just heard the news myself Sakura. Such a tragedy, but I'm not surprised. The village has been destroying itself piece by piece for years. Your stepfather was no exception to the corruption of a village like that. But take heart dear Sakura; don't try to hide the pain, instead remember what was taken from you and use your pain to better society, to realize that you can prevent others from feeling the same. That Sakura is our real goal, regardless of what your shishou may have told you about us. All we wish to do is to help others like ourselves. I hope in time, you too can understand that Sakura."
Before she could say or do anything in reply, he was back on the statue, and his and Konan's astral projections faded away.
"Heh, the wasn't so bad, eh Itachi-san?" Kisame smiled widely. "I thought he would put us on bathroom duty, or make us watch those sick educational cartoons with Tobi every morning."
"Hn. It could have been worse. However he may still decide on a more fit punishment." Itachi replied stoically. He left without another word.
"So, uh… babysitting, huh? Never done it before, so I've got no idea what the hell we're supposed to do." Kisame laughed.
"Don't worry Kisame-san. Thank you for your help in offering to watch Sakura-san, but I'll inform you if we need you for anything." Sasori told him.
"Heh, well that's a relief. I'll be in my room then for now.."
Sakura was still a little worked up, but relieved that at least she wouldn't be spending the week in another new base, with her frightening father and his girlfriend or whatever she was as her only company. Her voice shaking, she turned to Sasori, "Um, thanks I guess for offering to watch me so I could stay. I mean… I don't like you, or Deidara-san, but out of everyone here, I guess you're the…" Sakura searched for a word. 'Most normal? No, though in a place like this, maybe they actually were. Nicest? Not exactly, though Deidara, in a good mood, she really couldn't complain about- like another Naruto.' "Because you got assigned to me when I got here, I guess I feel like the transition is easier around you guys… especially when you aren't trying to kill me." Sakura forced a laugh. "I'm sorry Deidara left, but I'm glad you both didn't is what I guess I'm trying to say… And maybe whatever his problem is, he'll get over it on his mission or something. Tobi is weird, but he's always so happy, he's gotta be able to cheer Deidara-san up…"
Sasori just nodded curtly. "I doubt Deidara will ever be able to control that temper. Or that you will ever be able to control your silly emotions; but I don't wish for miracles, and I suppose I'm glad I could help Sakura-san."
Sakura followed Sasori as he too left the meeting room, her mind lost in thoughts of Naruto and Sasuke coming to rescue her any day now. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't bursh past what her father had said. There was no way Akatsuki was made to help people in pain, just no way. But then what was the real purpose?
So yeah, this chapter is crappy, and not much happens, but next chapter is going to have lots of angst, drama, tragedy, and even some romance thrown in!! Keep your eyes peeled for late next week!!! And don't hate me for it either, just warning you now... But yeah, I don't know, I can't explain it, but because of all the shit happening next chapter, I couldn't make much happen in this one. I wanted to...I just couldn't manage it. I'm sorry!! Oh, and um, Deidara fans(me included, lol) I don't think there's much more DeiSaku on the way... heads up for you guys. This IS a SasoSaku fic after all. :)