XI. An old friend, About hangovers, sweets and old friends


Sasori took the book while watching Itachi from the corner of his eyes, he was sure as Hell not willing to get murdered by the Uchiha now that was for sure. Looking down at book in his hands he quickly read over the title with an arched eyebrow.

"About hangovers, sweets and old friends" he read.

"With ten bottles sake that is really no wonder." Pain commented with his blush still present on his checks, he was seriously loosing face in front of the organization.

"I'm more interested int he last part of the title." Sasori commented back, since they all become Akatsuki he doubted they had to many friends left beside each other.

"I think we will find out in the book." Konan said smiling.

"True." Itachi said while looking at Sasori who glumped nervously and quickly started reading.

On the next morning were all eight chibis in a foul mode,

"As already pointed out no wonder." Hidan said.

but they hurting tummies and little heads were not as worse as they four babysitters who got the beating of they lives and were now looking like mummies after getting the beating of the lives.

"They deserved it." Said both Konan and Deidara in union.

"Moter instints." Whispered Kisame to the other males who nodded.

Deidara was cleaning at the moment a suddenly someone knocked on the door. The blond looked away from dusting and walked up to the door.

"Who could that be un, it is to early for everyone to return?" he said as he opened the door. When he opened it he was suddenly standing in front of a young woman with long black hair which ended in silver strains. Her eyes were a strange mix from emerald and violet. "Erm…can I help you un?"

Sasori looked up confused as suddenly Kisame broke out in a huge grin and jumped up.

"RIA!" he yelled excitedly.

"So you know that woman?" Pain asked as Kisame settled down.

"Yep, her name is Riako Matekeshi…" he started, but was interupted by Kakuzu.

"I have heard about the Matekeshi clan they are said to be the best swordfighters and also excelent healers who created the legendary jutsi Thenshi no Kokoro which can even heal a heart and make it beat when the owner is since two hours death." Kakuzu said.

"Yes her father was the jonin assigned to create the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist so I can garantue about that her father was who thought me how to fight with a sword and his father was the creator of Shameshade." Kisame said fondly.

"So she is a rather powerfull ninja." Pain said.

"Yes she is also rather nice and kind expect if you manage to get her angry then is the only thing a person can do and that is running for they lives, on of her specialityes is to combine her chakra scalpel with her sword or her families special genjutsu." Kisame explained.

"My father told me once about that jutsu it is called Touch of the Goddess of Death, there was no one who could survive that genjutsu they all died from horror." Itachi explained.

"Yes." Kisame said nodded, he saw Riako's aunt once performing that jutsu when he was still a genin and they were attacked.

"Now that this is settled Sasori continue." Pain said while making a mental note to send Kisame out to get that woman to join Akatsuki.

"Hay, you must be Deidara." She said.

"Uhm…yes."

"Let me guess, Sharky forgot to tell you guys hat he invited me over." She said in one annoyed tone.

Everyone turned to Kiam who blushed.

"What? That was my nickname." He said.

"Erm…Sharky? You mean Kisame told you were our hideout is?"

"Yes, my name is Riako, I was with Kisame in the same class and later were we in the same genin team." She said.

"Wow, Kisame didn't tell us that you would come or he didn't come to that…" Deidara said.

"Did something happen to him, oh wait, Hiashi told me that his nephew and older daughter are here to help out as long as the fifths jutsu doesn't wear of." She said and Deidara only gapped.

"How does she…"

"If she doesn't explain in her next line then I will." Kisame said.

"Yes she explains." Said Sasori.

"Don't look at me like that, I met Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuuga before I got in Kiri to the Academy and unknown to everyone we always told each other the recent happenings in our villages."

"Met them also a few times it was always interesting." Kisame said and the others choose not to ask.

"Wow really? Oh right come inside." And with that both walked inside and begun to talk.

Deidara found it really funny to hear that Kisame once

Saori suddenly looked up with an amused smile on his lips.

"Please Ria, don't tell them anything embarassing…" Kisame whined.

"To late." Sasori answered grinning.

tried to make waffles, but ended up having all of them stuck to the ceiling.

At this everyone bust out laughing, but Sasori suddenly stopped as he read the next part.

"Erm…Kisame." He said and read the next part.

He was also stunned when he found out that the young woman was also one artist with a rather unique jutsu which he found in a way tempting.

"Ah that yes her option about art is really something interesting plus her jutsu with which she can express it." Kisame said as he was suddely thrown to the ground with both of they Artists sitting on his and staring down at him. "Erm…I will explain after we have read the book and she doesn't explain…" Kisame said nervously as Deidara and Sasori sat back down and he could also sit up sighing in relief.

It was one hour later that Itachi walked downstairs and looked confused at the scene.

"Ah, you must be Itachi, the one who killed his own clan and is now Kisame's partner." Riako said smiling. 'Kisame is really fond of the boy, even if he is much younger then he is, he respects him.' She thought.

"Thanks." Kisame heard Itachi whisper to him.

"Ugh…" Itachi felt rather confused.

"Hay Itachi, this is Riako, Kisame's friend." Deidara explained while grinning at the Uchiha which the other couldn't place in meaning.

"Hay…"

"Typical." Sasori said.

"Hey you two, while others are away we could make something for them, I have lust for cake." Deidara suddenly said and not even waiting for one answer dragged the two with him in the kitchen.

Now that one could get messy…

"Definiately." The whole organization said.

After dragging both in the kitchen Deidara let go of them and begun to throw different types of cooking books at them.

"Deidara, do you even think that this is such a good idea?" Itachi asked after catching the sixth book thrown at him.

"Sure, it will be fun un. That would make the others happy and let them forget they hangovers un."

"Erm…aren't Kisame and the other members of your organization three years old again?" Riako asked confused as she catched one other book.

"Well technically yes, but after letting them with four idiots of the good side they found the fifth's sake ration which she hid here from her two pupils and well yesterday we needed to take care of eight full drunk chibis un." Deidara said as he moved with the seven books in his arms a bit away from the regal and sat down on the ground and opening the first one.

"Well, even if Sasori was also full, that little psychopath still tried to kill me." Itachi growled.

Sasori read with a groan as he threw a nervous glance at the Uchiha again.

"Erm, what did you do? After what Kisame has written me I got the feeling that Sasori is more of the serious type who only fights if he really needs to do it." Riako said.

"Or if he is three years old." Hidan said grinning, but Sasori ignored him.

"The ground is sitting right in front of us." Itachi said.

"Oh, cute a love triangle." She said, ignoring the Uchiha's death glare. "So which cake should it be?"

"She is absolutely unfazed by Diva's glare." Hidan said shocked.

"She isn't the type to back away from anyone." Kisame said, his best friend always knew when a situation was dangerous for her or not.

After one hour of reading through the books the trio stood between the two options; 'Death by chocolate cake' and 'Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake'. After some debating they decided to do the second one.

"So now that is settled let us begin un!" the blond artist yelled enthusiastically and threw a fist in the air.

"Ok, I will see what we need." Riako said and Itachi only sighed. This couldn't end good.

"Is something wrong Itachi?" Deidara asked.

"Nothing." Was the short reply.

"So, we will need;

1 cup (about 5 ounces) chocolate cookie or chocolate graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
2 pint baskets California strawberries, stemmed and halved
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 1/2 cups whipping cream, divided
1 tablespoon sugar "

"Ok, I found the butter, sugar and whipped cream un." Deidara said while he looked through the fridge and the cupboards.

"Isn't that strange that we have atleast three boxes of whipped cream?" Hidan asked and both Pain and Konan blushed while hoping that non of the others noticed.

"I think we lack on strawberries." Itachi said.

"I will work on that." Riako said as she bit in her finger, drawing blood and drawing a summoning seal. "I need your help my friends." At that smoke filled the kitchen, when it cleared eight crows appeared.

"Her clan was always in contract with the crows and signed the contract every time as new family member was born." Kisame explained.

"How can we help you Riako?" the crow with a blue band bound around his neck asked.

"I need you to fly out and fill these four bags with strawberries." She said and handed them four bags.

"Roger Riako." Said the bird saluting and they flew of.

"While they are away we should start with the baking." The black haired woman suggested.

"So, what do we need to do first?" Itachi asked.

"Let me see." Riako said as she picked the book up again. "Ah here it is. In a bowl, mix crumbs and butter to blend thoroughly. Press evenly onto bottom of 9-inch springform or cheesecake pan. Stand strawberry halves, touching, side-by-side, pointed ends up with cuts sides against side of pan. Set aside. Ok we skip that one as long as we don't get the fruits." The other two nodded and the cooking begun.

After the crows returned they started baking. While doing this they had got whipped cream, corn syrup and choco chips everywhere and on each other. Well the first part was easy, but as everyone could see none of the tree could bake properly.

"Well she can make some things, but cakes…erm she needs practice…" Kisame said remembering the "Cake-accident".

"Erm… what now un?" Deidara asked as he licked butter from his fingers.

"Place chocolate chips in blender container. In small saucepan over medium heat, mix water and corn syrup; bring to boil and simmer 1 minute. Immediately pour over chocolate chips and blend until smooth. Cool to room temperature."

"Ok un. Erm…the flames don't want to go on." Deidara said.

"Let me see." Itachi said. "Aha, the gas wasn't turned on properly. Kakuzu and his greediness."

"Be carefull what you say Uchiha…" Kakuzu growled.

"Erm…Itachi…I would pull away if I were you." Riako said as suddenly a gigantic fire errupted.

"What the…" was the only thing the shocked and smoking Uchiha could get out.

"I think the flames got suddenly to much gas un…"

"So I noticed…" Itachi said as Deidara was cleaning his face carefully with a black cloth.

"You two know that you look really cute together." Riako said smiling and both blushed. "But we should continue now. Ok the instructions say that meanwhile, in large mixer bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups of the cream to form stiff peaks. With rubber spatula, fold cooled chocolate into whipped cream to blend thoroughly. Pour into prepared pan; level top. Points of strawberries might extend above chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours. Up to 2 hours before serving, in medium mixer bowl, beat remaining one cup cream to form soft peaks. Add sugar; beat to form stiff peaks. Remove side of pan; place cake on serving plate. Using a Pastry Bag with a star tip pipe or dollop whipped cream onto top of cake. Arrange remaining halved strawberries on whipped cream. To serve, cut into wedges with knife, wiping blade between cuts."

"Ok, that means that we are soon ready, hopefully." Itachi said.

"Seeing a show Itachi's cooking looks like I would say we also hope that they are soon ready and that the kitchen survives." Pain mumbled to himself.

So they followed the instructions which lead to the nearly explosion of the kitchen at least ten times, firstly because of the oven and secondly because Deidara got frustrated with the chocolate and the cream from which the half landed accidentally on Itachi's head. Then they almost burned the cake, but after some tiresome hours they were finally ready and were now laying exhausted, messy and sticky on the kitchen table.

Ten minutes later they heard the front door open and everyone walked inside.

"Hey guys we are back!" Anko called out.

"In the kitchen un…" come Deidara's voice out of the kitchen.

As they walked inside the kitchen they noticed the great mess and the three nins.

"Erm…what happened here and who is she?" Anko asked as the three stood up.

"Oh I'm Riako. Hey Sharky, when you get back to normal we need to speak about why you didn't tell your friends that you invited me." Riako said as she put a finger on chibi Kisame's nose. It was strange, but Anko suddenly felt a pang of jealousy when the blue skinned boy giggled at the other woman. 'How do the two know each other and how close are they?' she thought.

"Wow, two love triangles at the same time." Hidan said before dodging the others attacks.

"We will get cleaned up and then go rest. And from today on the one who dares to suggest me to bake a cake ever again in my live that person is already as good as death…" Itachi growled as he left the kitchen.

"CAME!!" the eight chibis yelled happily and threw themselves at the cake on the table.

"Hey, I want some to!" Naruto yelled as he joined the fight for the cake.

"Oh look they even made a cake special for us four." said Gai touched as he noticed a second cake with they names on it.

"Wow, and I thought they were still mad at us for yesterday." Kakashi said.

Everyone stared now confused at the book as suddenly they faces cracked int o evel grins.

"Well it looks that they re not mad at us." Ebisu said as he begun to eat.

After finishing they cakes Ebisu, Kotetsu, Kakashi and Gai suddenly felt strange. They stomachs hurt terribly and nausea took over them.

"Uhm…are you four ok?" asked Tsunade looking worried. The four didn't answer only turned greener as Gai's and Lee's spandex suits and dashed to the nearest bathroom.

When they run to the bathroom they passed Itachi and Deidara who were grinning as they passed them.

"They deserved that." Itachi said grinning.

"I agree about that, it was a good idea to put that medicine in the cake un." The blond artist said.

When the two went in one of the three bathrooms together they didn't notice that they were followed. A little shadow was slowly sneaking up to the door.

"Sasori I think you are to young at the moment to watch that." Konan said to the blushing redhead.

"Where do you think you are going?" the little hand stopped only inches from the door as he was suddenly picked up. "Let me guess, you are Sasori." Riako said as se turned away with the child from the door. She got herself already clean.

"Len me no…" Sasori tried to get out of her arms, but to no veil.

"Not such a chance Sasori-kun, let the two be if they are happy." She said softly as she stroke through the child's messy red hair. Sasori stopped wiggling around and looked with sad eyes at the young woman.

"And that won't help to get her to put you down Sasori." Kisame commented. "She can stand pleading looks rather long…"

"Ugh…" Sasori suddenly groaned.

"Well are you doing something with Shary's friend or are we getting a free peek at Diva and Barbie?" Hidan asked before he found his mouth shawen shut…again…

Meanwhile were Deidara and Itachi doing everything except getting clean under the shower and

"The later one…" Sasori said.

in one other bathroom were four certain Konoha ninjas still kneeling in front of the toilets and throwing up.

"I…ugh…I thi…think they a…are still mad a…at us…" Kotetsu managed to say before needing to lean down again as an other wave of nausea washed over him.

The others only nodded pained and threw up again.

"The chapter is done who reads next?" Sasori asked.

"I will." Kisame said happily as he took the book from the redhead.

To be continued…