Chapter Twelve- Past Mysteries

"Yoink."

The small photo that Shadow held in her hands was pulled out of her grasp before her eyes. She looked up to see Sasori perching above her, inspecting the photo he had previously stolen.

"Give it back." She demanded. She put her hands on her hips impatiently, not even trying to grab the photo by force, as she had learned from their previous game of 'Steal-and-Keep'. She didn't exactly want a repeat of the last time she tried to get something back from Sasori. Shadow shuddered, a vein popping. After her nap she had gotten up and burned her bra to ash.

Sasori stood unmoving, still studying the photo when he finally said, "So, who's the girl you tried so hard to forget about?"

"What are you talking about? The photo is just faded."

"Liar. It's obvious that you've been over obsessively rubbing over that particular spot. So tell me, who is she?"

"Just a girl." Shadow replied impatiently. It was a very warm afternoon that day, and the weather was perfect. Shadow didn't want it ruined but obviously since Sasori was there, that dream shattered.

"Unless my eyes deceive me, which I doubt they are, she has red eyes and silver hair. The other girl is obviously you, big frown and all."

Shadow rolled her eyes, reaching to grab the picture and sighed in aggravation as Sasori pulled away. He jumped to the roof of her room and leaned on the lamp that hung there.

"And it looks like you haven't changed at all since this photo was taken, hm?"

"Shut up."

Sasori continued his observations, "So let's see…. This girl… She's about your height... Oh wait a minute… It looks like she's a reflection. How is that possible though? Her reflection doesn't look like you. And at second glance, it looks as if you're wearing something other than your usual get up. Something even more revealing than what you wear now I see. Were you in some sort of organization?"

"Black Orchard," Shadow replied warily. It was obvious that Sasori was there for answers.

"And who are they?"

"Some wannabe organization for loser, murderers, and psychopaths. "

"Hm… This photo is fairly recent looking. I'd guess you were… fifteen when it was taken?"

"Damn you."

"I guess you were." Sasori smiled as he threw the picture back at his partner. It floated gracefully in her hands and she shoved it in the back pocket of her black pants.

"So other than reminiscing of 'non-existent' people, what else have you been up to?" Sasori asked in a bored manner.

"What's it to you?" Shadow asked suspiciously.

"Nothing. I was just wondering. Do you have to act so suspicious around me all the time?"

"Yes."

Sasori chuckled. "Well, the main reason I came here was to ask whether you've ever heard of the name, 'Reiko'."

"No… Why?" She quirked an eyebrow up questioningly and he shrugged.

"Well, while I was in town I came across an odd girl who went by the name 'Reiko'. She had silver hair, and she was bombarding me with irrelevant questions on you… Several times I believe she was trying to kill me without my notice. Just wondering whether you knew anyone of the sort, as she seemed somewhat like you. Violent, I mean."

She rolled her eyes and ignored his insult as she thought, "Um… Not that I know of, though back home, I did have my own personal group of fan girls who followed me everywhere... It is possible one of them wandered around here…" Shadow placed a finger to her lips as she thought of any other possibilities.

"Mm… And you're the one who says I have an ego…"

"Hey! I never said that I set it up."

"Having your own fan group must be nice…"

"Shut up."

"You're too cruel."

"…" Shadow clenched her teeth as she tried not exploding.

"Oh, also, I wanted to give you this." Sasori threw a piece of paper that was crumpled up and it hit Shadow lamely in the forehead. Sasori snickered.

Shadow uncurled the paper and smoothed it out. "What is this?"

"A piece of paper."

"I know that dummy. I meant, what is it about?"

"You'll just have to read and see."

"You suck."

"Thank you brat. I love you too."

Shadow scowled as she began to skim through the paper. "Eh? What do amulets have to do with me?"

"Take a good guess."

"My necklace?"

"Yup. I researched on seals and necklaces, and the kanji written on yours resembles the one that said that it was used to seal demons."

"So?"

"So it seems that you're hiding some sort of power. I'd like to know what that power is. Are you a demon of some sort? Oh wait, scratch that out, you can barely stop me from breaking out of a wardrobe."

"Go to hell."

Sasori sighed and clutched the area where his heart would lay. "You meanie…" he sighed. He dropped his head as if he were about to cry, but there was a full smirk still visible on his face. "And here I thought you'd be happy to talk with me about your sorrows."

"What sorrows?"

"The ones you won't tell me about…" Sasori stood and jumped to the roof next door. He landed gracefully as he made a salute and called, "Well, I guess I'll be off then."

"Good riddance!" Shadow yelled back. She huffed. What was that all about? She thought to herself.

It's a definite. Sasori thought, as he entered his room. She's hiding some sort of power… And it has to have a connection with the girl I saw in her photo.

He grabbed the scroll that lay uncurled on his desk and re-read the passage that had a picture of a blood red necklace.

What could it be? He wondered.

Edited: August 7, 2012