A/N: Thankyou kindly for everyone who watches and reviews this story! I just wanted to tell you all that, and that it really means a lot! (deep bow) Anyways I'm back from my long fine arts trip in Dallas. It was mucho fun btw and we brought home two giant trophies! So enough said, here's chapter eleven! It's uploaded early 'cuz I'll probably be busy this weekend. woot! Please enjoy and remember that constructive criticism is always appreciated!
Sticks and Stones Chapter Eleven
Tsuki was very surprised to be welcomed back into the Akatsuki. However, none of this mattered so much to Tsuki, so much did than a certain grumpy blond.
For the past couple of days, nothing seemed to matter what she did, nothing seemed to work. And it was really starting to take a toll on her self esteem.
"Ugg…"Sighing deeply at herself and collapsing on the side of one wall. Another failed attempted to get Deidara talking to her again. Even after all of Tobi's ecstatic encouragements, Tsuki was beginning to feel a little hopeless about the whole matter.
"How's our little wallflower doing? I hope Deidara isn't giving you too much trouble."
Tsuki immediately perked up at the voice.
"Konan!"
"The one and only kid."
"Konan-san!" Yelled Hidan and Tobi excitedly from behind.
Hidan rushed up to the blue haired beauty in an almost glomp attempt.
"Hey there sweet stuff! Got anything good for us today?" He said with a gleeful glint in his eyes and a hint of suspicion.
"Off Hidan! Or you wont get it!"
"Seriously Hidan, you're making an idiot of yourself…." Kakuzu remarked, pulling back his aroused partner several feet back.
"Wait, what's going on?" Tsuki asked.
"Paycheck." Kakuzu stated briefly.
"But how come Konan san gives them out?"
"Just the way it worked out kid." He replied.
"Cuz fucking Kakuzu here would jip us every paycheck time!" Hidan teased rather loudly.
His witty remark earned himself a one-way trip to Kakuzu's fist.
Hidan nearly split his gut in laughter as the impact nailed him square in the jaw.
"Enough you two!" Konan yelled. She sighed, taking her single free hand and to message the top part of her forehead. "Geesh those two are rowdy…"
"Tobi…"
"Here!" He pronounced cheerfully.
"Here…and give the second one to Deidara will you?" holding out two rather small brown envelops for him to grab.
"Yes ma'am!" Excitedly taking the two envelops.
"Kakuzu…Excellent work on your previous mission. I heard a great report from Pein." handing over his pay.
"Thank you Ma'am."
"Hidan."
"Yes Ma'am?" he said almost too sweetly. Konan eyed him suspiciously with slight disgust before handling over his pay.
Hidan grinned wickedly.
"Tsuki?"
Tsuki's ears perked up.
"Huh?"
Konan held out a smooth brown envelop, and at first, she had no idea what to do. The others were speechless. Tsuki hesitantly accepted the package.
"Wait…! How come she gets one too?!" Hidan protested.
Konan was really starting to get fed up with Hidan.
"'Cuz unlike a certain someone I know, she actually does something useful." Konan said in a sarcastically cold tone.
Hidan scoffed, but just before he could get in another word, he was stopped by Kakuzu's hand over his right shoulder.
"It's still minimum wage right?" He said, directing his statement to Konan.
"That is correct. "
"Hmpf…" Clearing his throat, he seemed rather satisfied. He and Leader had worked out a sort of deal involving Tsuki's paycheck. Leader was insistent she get one, but Kakuzu still wasn't overly fond of the idea. Hidan immediately felt left out, and started bugging his partner about the 'deal' he and Konan were talking about.
"Nothing…" He sighed annoyingly trying to walk away. Hidan, closely behind him.
As soon as they had left, Konan sighed, gathering her thoughts once more to what she was going to do next. Suddenly remembering, she turned her attention to Tsuki.
"Oh yeah, you can buy stuff with that envelope. It's not much, but it should get you through a few personal girl stuff, and other things you might need…You'll also be in charge of buying things for the house, it'll be part of your duty as housekeeper. Got that?"
"Yes Ma'am!"
Konan lifted the side of her lips into a slight smile.
"A couple of us will be leaving in about an hour for a small town just down the side of the hill here. You're welcome to join us if you want."
'Shopping with the Akatsuki?'
"I'd love to!" Tsuki exclaimed almost at once. Her facing lighting up like a kid receiving candy.
"Good, meet us in the foyer, one hour from now. Be sure you're not late. If you try running outside the barrier without us, you'll never be able to make it back. Is that clear?"
"Hai!" She piped cheerfully.
--
It didn't take long to reach the village. Walking about 30 minutes to reach Murabai; a small town whose main export was the plum. Tsuki certainly was one of the lucky ones this time of year, many of the show plum trees were already in full bloom, falling dreamily to the ground in a seeming less white pedaled snowfall. She continued to awe as she made her way through with the others. The ones who had gone with her, Konan, Tobi, Hidan, Kisame, and Kakuzu, who were all used to this sort of event, said nothing. Konan smiled and giggled softly though, when a blossom landed gently beside her cheek. Kakuzu slightly irritated, just sighed as the fluffs of white continued to shower them.
Konan stopped walking, which caused the others to stop as well. Her attention directed toward a certain little housekeeper.
"Now then, Tsuki, do you see the little shops around here? You may go to any which one of them, to buy things. Try not to spend it all on useless stuff. Remember, you only get one pay check."
Tsuki did her best to pay attention, though Konan could tell she was eager to jet off and explore, Grinning wickedly, signaling to Konan that she was all ready to go. She nodded and the whole group went off in their own directions. But before Tsuki could walk off two fast, Konan called her back.
"Two hours! Meet back here!"
"Yes Ma'am!" she sung, yelling back, waving, enthusiastically before dashing off to the many array of stores and shops.
She got the basic necessities out of the way first, her own tooth brush and paste (she'd been using Tobi's extra one for a while now but the smell of bubble gum paste for the past few days was getting to be overwhelmingly sickening.) a few extra pair of clothes, and PJs, hair ties for when she worked as well as cleaning soap, and some nice scrub brushes for the house. She told herself not to buy too much at once, but as time passed and the more stores Tsuki passed, the smaller her paycheck was becoming.
"1,000 ryo…" she sighed heavily at end of another purchase. She had probably start heading back now. The two hours Konan had given her were almost up, and with nearly all her money spent, there wasn't much left to do or buy.
She flashed the store clerk a nice smile before running out of the store and into the blossomed covered streets. Outstretching her arms, shopping bags still in hand and arm, sighing and breathing deeply the fresh sent of plum blossoms. As she gently returned back to earth, a certain store's street sign caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Curiously running closer to the shop, Tsuki noticed it to be a captivating little Japanese book and antique store.
She entered in quietly. The sound of the door's bells, delicately echoing through.
Author's Footnote: I'm not entirly sure what the exact exchange rate for the ryo is( I'm guessing it's like the yen). I just sort of guessed and assumed 1,000 wasn't very much.