AN: Oh, snap! And so the shenanigans continue~! What have Aina and Deidara in store for us this chapter? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out! Thank you all for the awesome reviews so far! Sakura and I love to get reviews, so please keep them coming! Well, I SUPPOSE I can let you get reading, right? ;)

Once again, I apologize for not figuring out a way to separate scenes yet...I just can't figure out how to get any dividers to stay...hopefully, you guys can figure out where the spaces are supposed to be, so it isn't too confusing. Gomenasai!

Chapter 19: Girl's Lavatories Aren't for Guys

"Deidara, Deidara!" Aina shouted as she sped through the halls and burst through the door to said bomber's bedroom.

"You're lucky I'm not painting my nails this time," he muttered as he tapped his foot against air, his leg resting on his knee.

"Funny how you're not asking what I want."

"Oh, I know what you'll tell me, un."

"Do you, now?"

"You want to either tell me about another scheme of yours to get Emi and Danna together or you want me to help you think of said scheme, un."

"Heh heh, you're smarter than I thought!"

"Hey, now!"

The kunoichi burst into laughter as she witnessed her boyfriend quickly sitting up from his laying position on his bed.

"I'm only kidding, Dei, goodness."

"You better be," he frowned, "un."

"So did you want to hear what I have to say?"

"No, I don't," he replied bluntly. "I don't want anything to do with it, un."

"Bu-but Deidara...!"

"I'm only kidding, Aina, goodness."

"Aha... very funny..."

"Now you know how I feel, un."

"Oh, so this is now a conversation about our feelings, huh?"

"Yup."

She smiled. "Well, in that case, I feel we should execute our next plan to get Sasori and Emi together!"

The blond smirked. "Well, aren't you the sly one, un."

"Tee hee!"

"So what's the plan?"

"Well, you see..."

"So, now you're going to drag us to the mall..." Sasori grumbled from behind his book, 'Puppeteering for the Not-So-Average Puppeteer, Volume 18.'

"Aw, come on, Sasori no Danna, it'll be fun, un!"

"No."

"Please...?"

"No."

"But-"

"No!" The puppeteer quickly stood up, slamming his book closed. He began to walk out of the living room, when Emi entered.

"Ah, Emi!" Aina shouted, bouncing over to the younger kunoichi. "Dei and I are thinking of going to the mall! Wanna come along?"

"Oh, that does sound like fun. Sure!" Her purple-blue eyes looked towards the red-head. "Will you be joining us, Danna?"

"Well, I...sure, why not?"

The two girls smiled to him. "We'll leave in a few minutes then!" Aina cheered as she left to find her shoes. Emi quickly followed suit, leaving to two men alone.

"Danna...you are something else, un."

"What?" Sasori looked towards the blond, confusion on his face.

"She has you whipped. Completely."

The red-head opened his mouth to speak back, but found that he didn't know what to say. The truth was, she had him completely wrapped around her finger. He was helpless when it came to her.

"Brat," he finally muttered, quickly exiting the room.

"Hey, you're the one who started it, un!"

The four reached the mall grounds and soon found themselves inside. It was quite busy for a weekend, but then again, when was a weekend never busy? Then again, they were also in Amekagure... again...

"So where are we headed to first?" Emi asked with a smile on her face.

The elder replied with a grin. "Anywhere! Just holler if you see something!"

"Sounds good to-Oh! Look at that, un!" Deidara stated and dashed in a random direction, dragging Aina along. The other two watched, quite baffled at how quickly the blond left and just as quickly disappeared into the thick crowd of civilians. Sasori wasn't amused.

"That brat," he murmured. "Where did they go?"

"I don't know, it's hard to see," Emi replied with slight worry.

The puppeteer looked around and subconsciously grabbed at the girl's hand. "I suppose we have to go find them. Stick with me, alright?"

Emi blinked, followed up by an obvious blush flushing her cheeks. "Yes, Danna."

"Goodness, Dei, what in the world did you find to make you run so fast?"

"A convenient way to lose them. Mwahahahahahahaha!" the blond laughed heartily, huge grin plastered on his face.

Aina couldn't help but laugh with him. "You sly dog!"

"I like to think artistic and clever, un!"

"Not so sure about the artistic part, but definitely the clever!"

"Hey!"

The green-haired medic laughed again, throwing her head back. "Well, now that we lost them, let's take a look around!"

Emi and Sasori went looking around for half an hour before giving up on finding the couple. With so many people around, it would be almost impossible to spot them. So, they found themselves figuring out what store to enter.

"Get your frozen head bands here!" a young man's voice rang over the talking of the crowd. "Frozen head bands are great for the summer heat! Yours for only $9.99!"

"What ever could a frozen head band be?" Emi pondered aloud as she wandered towards the vendor. Sasori wordlessly followed her to the vendor.

"Hey, there! The name's Mikey! Wanna check these out?" he asked as he handed Emi one of the products. "You see, it's inspired from the ninja head bands. Instead of the metal plate, it has an ice pack, so it'll keep you cool!"

"Hm," Emi placed it against her forehead, immediatly feeling the coldness.

"That...seems like a very interesting product," Sasori mumbled, a look of skeptic across his face.

"It is very interesting!" Mikey smiled to the puppeteer. "It's never been seen before! Something new, something different, something fresh!"

"Well, it definitely keeps you cool," the purple haired ninja commented as she pulled it off. She blinked her eyes, attempting to get rid of the slight pain that formed where the ice pack was. Her blinking messed up her balance and the young girl found herself heading for the ground.

Noticing her falling, Sasori attempted to catch her, but it was too late. Her head crashed into one of the boxes of frozen head bands, making a thud sound.

"Emi!" he quickly knelt down beside her, helping her to sit up. "Are you all right?"

"I think so," she responded, rubbing the back of her head. "I have to admit, falling on ice isn't so much fun."

The scorpion gave the smallest hint of a smile. "I'm sure the pain will go away in a few minutes."

"Ah, gosh, dang it!" Mikey shouted. The two looked to see him inspecting the box Emi landed on. "They're broken! I won't be able to sell them like this!"

"Gomen, gomen!" Emi burst into apologies. "I didn't mean to, I promise! Gomen nasai!"

"I'm glad you're all right, miss, but I am going to need to be compensated for the damages."

Giving a small sigh, Sasori reached for his wallet. "Here, this should cover it."

"Arigatou."

Sasori picked up the slightly damaged box, and helped Emi to stand. The two waved to Mikey before departing from his shop.

"Gomen!" Emi called out one last time.

"So, anywhere else you'd like to go, un?" the infamous bomber, Deidara asked the medic kunoichi.

"Well, I don't know," she replied thoughtfully. "We've already checked Play Ninja, F.Y.E., Hot Nindo... And you got to see your Sleeping Bhudda and the artist's section in Ame's Borders..."

"True," the blond nodded, thinking. "Hmmm..."

...

The couple stood in silence for a moment, the sound ringing in their ears.

"You're hungry, aren't you, un..."

"Heh heh heh," the green-haired girl gave him a sheepish smile. "How'd you guess?"

A chuckle escaped the young man's lips. "Let's get something to eat then, un."

"NINJA BURGER, AWAAAAAAAYYYYY!" the girl shouted quite obnoxiously as she instantly sped towards the food court.

Deidara followed behind with a laugh, trying to keep up with her. "Aina, you better slow down, u-oof!" The bomber suddenly found himself toppling over towards the floor. What he didn't realize until just then was...

"A-Aina!" he exclaimed in shock. "I-I'm... Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Deidara," she replied, under him. "Can you please get off now? You're quite heavy..."

The ex-terrorist could feel his face flush with heat as he sat up, helping her along the way. "G-gomen..."

"It's fine..." Aina looked at him, trying to stay calm despite the red on her face and the skipped beat in her chest.

"Well..." He cleared his throat. "Why did you stop then, un?"

"Because we're here. You didn't see that?"

"Ah... oh... no... un..."

"Let's just see what there is and order."

"Right..."

The two made the rest of their way up to the ordering counter, thankful that the line had finally dissipated. Aina had already picked what she was going to eat.

"Welcome to Ninja Burger, may I take your... Aina-chan?"

'Oh no...' the two shinobi simultaneously thought in dread as they took to recognition of the voice.

"Su-Susumu?"

"It is you!" the brunette beamed, then spotted Deidara and gave him a sour look. "And the dumb blond..."

"Hey! Look who's talking, un!"

Aina grabbed at Deidara's hand to motion for him to be quiet. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here now, what else?" Susumu replied sweetly, again giving Deidara another sour look. "Now that the baka got me fired..."

"Serves you right," the blond growled venomously.

"Can we take our order now?" Aina interrupted.

"Yes, serve us, peasant, un."

Boff.

"Ow!"

"I would like a 10-piece Churiken with the Katana Slices, please."

"Right away, hun." The young man once again gave her a smile. "And you, Blondie?"

"I'll have a Ninja Jr. Burger... un..."

"Coming right up, princess."

"Why you-!"

"Deidara, let's find a seat."

Doing as he was told, he followed the kunoichi to a seat, all the while, glaring at the fresh-looking boy. He saw that a few girls from behind them were hitting on said young man. The bomber couldn't understand how anyone would like a scrawny piece of meat like him. Deidara, himself, was obviously better!

"Don't scold like that," Aina commented after a minute of him pondering.

"He...irks me, Aina, un."

"I know he does, but that little kid over there is horrified because of your face."

Sure enough, a couple tables away from them was a little boy, staring at the blond with a horror-struck face.

"Please try to look...neutral?"

"I...I'll try." Deidara fought the urge to grind his teeth together. "But still, that Susumu guy..."

"He annoys me too, Dei. There's nothing we can do, though."

"Can't you get a restraining order on him, un?"

"I could if he actually did something to me. However, he hasn't really done anything that would stand out in court to be in my favor."

"His hitting on you should count, un."

"If he weren't giving me compliments as a way to hit on me, it's possible."

Susumu then came to the table, a massive tray of food in his hand. "Here we go, for the lovely lady..." he reached to grab Aina's food, placing it in front of her, "and for blondie."

"Arigatou, Susumu," Aina emotionlessly thanked him.

He smiled to her. "Enjoy."

"Un," Deidara waved his hand in the air before reaching for his burger. As he ate, he seemed to lighten in mood. The grimace on his face disappeared.

Aina looked at him, slightly confused. "You seem to be in a better mood already."

"Well, you said I shouldn't scold, un."

"What did you do?"

"What do you mean 'what did I do,' un?"

"Well, you obviously did something, or you wouldn't already be in a happier mood."

Deidara grinned as he took a bite of his burger. "Just wait, un."

Seconds later, and explosion came from behind the blond, where Susumu was. The contents of his tray were charred as the people around him gasped.

"What? When did you...?"

"As he was leaving, un."

"You brought clay with you?"

"Never know when you might need it, un."

The green-haired ninja attempted to look upset at him, but eventually lost the battle as a smile appeared on her face. "He's gonna get fired for that..."

"Yup, he is, un."

"Aww, they're so cute!" Emi giggled to herself as she lightly poked her fingers through a good-sized cage to pet some small puffs of fluff. "Can I buy one, you think?"

"I don't think so," the puppeteer answered, crouched beside her as he studied the long ears and pink noses of the many rabbits and bunnies. "I don't think pets are allowed."

"Aww... but you have your puppets and Deidara has his clay, and Itachi has his ravens, and Kisame has his sharks and his goldfish, and-" She was suddenly interrupted by a hand landing on her shoulder.

"I get it, I get it," Sasori replied. "But animals are hard to take care of. With such things comes great responsibility."

The younger pouted. "Are you saying I'm not responsible?"

"No, not at all." He looked down at her. "I'm just saying that rabbits need more care than Kisame's fish."

Emi gave a small groan. "Ok..."

"Now, come on, how about we get you something to ea-"

Boom!

Sasori stood there for a short moment, his train of thought completely lost. "...That brat," was all he could mutter after some time of thinking.

"Was that... Deidara's bomb?" Emi asked, bafflement apparent on her face.

The puppeteer once more grabbed the girl's hand and started making his way to the stairs. "Is there really a reason to question such an obvious thing?"

Upon reaching the top of the steps, the red-head looked around, trying to spot Deidara. It was only moments later when he spotted said man's famous hair poof and marched his way towards said poof.

"Brat," he started.

"Ah! Crap!" Deidara gave a small gasp. They weren't supposed to find the couple so soon.

(So...Nino couldn't think of what to put next...she has a cold: Typing typing typing attempting to figure out what to put here so it doesn't seem so awkward. Awkward is an awkward word! Who puts w with a k and then ANOTHER w? What where they thinking...but still...to come up with something to put here that would actually make sense. I mean, I shouldn't just sporadically jump to Pein and Konan sitting on a beach side drinking small beverages out of coconut shells, right?)

"This way, Dei!" Aina called out to him. In reaction, he followed the green-haired girl as the two ran through the crowd and ran through a door. The blond turned around to see if Susumu was anywhere in sight, along with Danna. Susumu was just on his way in, but gave a perplexed look before stopping. Deidara didn't have time to figure out why before the door completely closed shut.

He turned to Aina, only to catch glimpses of worn-out, dull pink stalls. His eyes blinked. "Hey... Aina...? Are we in a bathroom...?"

"Yes, we are," she replied, panting a bit from all of the running.

Then, like an electric shock, something immediately hit him.

"We're... in a girl's bathroom... aren't we..."

To their left, a girl turned over from retouching her make up in the mirror. A toilet flushed and a few seconds later, a girl walked out of a stall. Both spotted the two and stared.

"Yes," Aina confirmed. "Yes, we are."

"Why the h-"

"KYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" the girls screamed in absolute horror, finding a plunger, along with make up to chuck at the apparent blond-man-who-isn't-a-girl.

"GAAAH!" Deidara shouted, covering his ears from the screeching echoes as he made attempts to dodge every attack make-up girl and plunger girl had. Aina, on the other hand, stood clear out of range, being on the opposite side of the room.

"Aren't you gonna help me, Aina, un?"

"Actually, it's kinda fun to watch you get attacked by make up." She gave him a cheesy grin.

"BOMBER CAT IS NOT AMUSED, UN!"

"Since when were you a cat, Deidara?"

"OBSCURE REFERENCES, UN!"

"Heh, sorry! I'll.. I'll make sure you're ok when this is all done," she chuckled. "Have fun!"

"Gee, thanks, Aina. I really appreciate your love and affection, un!"

"I love you~"

"LIES!"

(And so you know, Sakura is NOT sick with a cold...but thought to try and match Nino's mental state-of-being: And the horse went nay, because he didn't want to eat carrots. He wanted to have beef stew with Aina and say "yay~!" and ride out with her into the sunset, as Deidara chucked one of his little clay birdies at the sun and made the sun go boom. And so Sakura tried to one-up Nino's shenanigans and Hidan danced around in happiness as he did his Jashinist rituals for all those who 'sploded for Jashin, as he didn't have to kill anyone, therefore, he got to be masochistic and lazy instead of sadistic and hardworking. And Hidan lived happily ever after... Well, until 'Kuzu showed up. And all of this happened, while Pein and Konan were sitting on the beach, drinking small beverages out of coconut shells.)

Emi, Sasori, and Susumu found themselves looking at the girl's restroom door...flabbergasted.

"Did...did Deidara...actually...?" Emi struggled to find the words she wanted to say.

"Why, yes, I think he just did," Sasori responded, eyes glued to the small female symbol on the center of the door.

"You know," Susumu started, "I always knew something was wrong with him."

"I'm going to go in and check on them!" the young girl shouted over the crowd as she ran towards the restroom.

Sasori's eyes widened. "Wait, Emi! Don't get lost!" He lowered the hand he had raised to reach for her, realizing she was long gone. "Drat, well, I guess there was nothing I could do anyways."

"You're group is absolutely crazy, you know," the Ninja Burger worker observed, watching the violet-haired girl run into the crowd.

"I don't even know where to begin in telling you just what they are like," the scorpion shook his head, his face falling a little.

"I know, you aren't even normal, Mr. I-don't-need-to-eat!"

"Well, it's true. I'm a puppet, and so do not require things like food."

Susumu looked over to him skeptically. "You are just...weird...and creepy."

"Happy Halloween?"

"Dude, it's, like, the middle of September..."

"Where I'm from, it feels like Halloween every day."

"Oh..."

"GAH! GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN!" Deidara yelled from the bathroom, running out at a speed faster than light. Just behind him, the two girls continued to throw assorted make-up things at him, following hardly a couple feet behind the blond.

People in the crowd quickly quieted down at the commotion, parting to make a path for the blond-bomber. Even after the blond and two girls went by, people in the crowd just stood there, dazed and confused.

Aina and Emi both popped their heads out of the door, surveying the scene. When they saw Susumu was still out there, they quickly ducked their heads back into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.

The puppeteer and Ninja Burger employee simply stared at the scene before them. After a moment, Sasori burst into laughter; a rare sight to see. "I really wish I had taken a picture of that!"

"Dude, I have a camera phone right here," Susumu offered said phone, all up and ready to go.

"You are now my new bes-"

"Sasori, we do NOT make best flippin' friends with the freakin' enemy!" Aina barked as she snatched his collar and dragged him over to the bathroom at top speed. Emi blinked in slight confusion and just chuckled nervously.

"Eh heh heh... gomen...?" she said before Aina pulled her away and slammed the door shut.

Susumu just stood there awkwardly, having almost no idea what had just played in front of him. "...Wow, she's got quite the vocabulary..."

"What was that for?" the puppeteer growled at the eldest of the medic nin. "I wanted to get a picture!"

"You don't have to worry, I have a picture right here!" she replied, causing Sasori to quiet down.

"...I knew there was a reason we kept you in the Akatsuki," he smiled, bemused, "I just knew it."

Aina grinned with a chuckle. "Oh, I feel glad to make you so proud!"

"You should. It's a rare compliment from me."

"I can only imagine."

"So..." Emi started quietly, "how long should we stay in here?"

"Until Susumu's gone," the elder replied almost instantly. "No way I'm going out there with him around."

"Wait... What room are we in anyways?" Sasori asked, now thinking about it. He looked around and saw worn-out, dull pink stalls.

"The girl's lavatory," the younger answered.

"WHAT?" the puchinello gasped. "Ok, that's it, I'm out of here. I'm not about to get humiliated like that brat, for absolutely no reason!"

"No!" Aina blocked the door with her body. "Not with Susumu out there!"

"Why not?"

"You were about to make friends with him! Friendsssss...!"

"So? Didn't you ever learn to love your enemy?"

"EW!"

"I don't mean literally, it's an expression, Aina!"

"I don't care! He's Susumu! Susumu! It means creeper!"

"No, it doesn't..." Emi stated thoughtfully.

"HE'S AN EXCEPTION, YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" Aina scowled. "Don't cloud the issue with facts!"

"Gomen!"

"Be nice to Emi," Sasori frowned, pulling the small girl away. "If you're not gonna let me out, then I'll just go home."

"Ha! How so?" Aina gave him a cocky grin, still in front of the door. "I'd like to see you try, Mr. Puppeteer."

"Suit yourself."

Poof!

The green-haired medic blinked in utter confusion as both he and Emi disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Say what...?" she questioned. "Poof...?" All of a sudden, she hit the brick wall of realization. "...Ooooooohhhh... poof! He wanted to get out of the bathroom, and he couldn't go out from the door, so he, yeeees... Ha ha... I get it now...!"

"Dude..." Hidan started, looking at the small phone, "...that is awesome!"

As everyone began to laugh, the door burst open, revealing a very angry blond. "WOW GUYS! THANKS FOR THE BACK UP, UN!" the blonds face started to turn pink, then to a dark shade of red. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS WOULD JUST LEAVE ME! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL OF YOU, UN?"

Aina blinked her eyes. "Love us?"

"Aina..." the bomber growled between his teeth. "Don't even start with me, un."

"But-"

"I'm gonna walk out of here! When I get back, we are all gonna pretend like that picture doesn't even exist, un!"

As the door slammed shut, the entire Akatsuki simply stared at the front door. Mere seconds later, it reopened.

Deidara stood looking at everyone once again, attempting to act normal. "Ok, you know what? I don't even know where to begin, un."

"I love you." Aina smiled to him, her eyes seeming to twinkle.

"I...I-ugh! Why do you have to be so cute and adorable, un?"

"Because you love me too!" she grinned, getting up to go to him.

Deidara began to walk away. "No, I don't. Not after today, un."

"Yes, you do~" the green-haired girl giggled as she followed him.

The blond stopped in the middle of the hallway. He turned around and pulled her into a hug. "Yes, I do...but I'm still not happy you just left me there, un."

She looked up to him, her chocolate brown eyes looking into his ocean blue ones. "Gomen...I love you very, VERY much!"

"I love you too, un."

"Wow, that is ever so touching, but I'd like to get to my room, please," Sasori demanded, standing a couple feet away.

"Gomen," the two said together as they stepped to the side of the hallway, letting the puppeteer through.

Emi followed close behind, struggling to hold up a box. "S-Sasori no Danna, wait!"

Once he reached his door, he turned to the girl. "Yes?"

"What do we do with this?" she asked, starting to shiver a little. "We can't just leave it sitting..."

"Oh, right." He took the box from her, slowly realizing that she was still human, therefore, more apt to getting cold. "I'll take care of it."

"Arigatou..." She paused, suddenly feeling a little awkward. "And, um... Gomen..."

"Hm? For what?"

"Making you buy them... I'm such a klutz..."

"You are a klutz," Sasori replied, giving Emi a feel of shock.

Her face went red with embarrassment. "You... I..."

"But I don't mind it," he continued, causing her to look up at him. "It's actually kind of cu..." He paused instantly, catching himself.

She blinked. "Cu...?"

"Cu... Cu... Customary... for you..."

"...Eh?"

"It's customary... It's normal..."

"...Oh... right..." She looked down, her voice had a hint of slight disappointment. Suddenly, she felt a hand touch a strand of her hair, felt it being lifted and tucked behind her ear. She looked back up feebly at the puppet master who gave her a gentle smile.

"But it's kinda cute too."

This, then, made the younger's face start to turn completely red. "O-oh..."

The red-head chuckled, using a hand to pat her head. "Don't worry about the headbands. It's not that big of a deal."

Emi blinked and nodded in return and her danna once again turned to go into his room. She couldn't help but smile awkwardly as she mumbled: "Arigatou, for understanding..."

"Emi, come make dinner with me!" Aina called out urgently. "Before Hidan steps foot into the kitchen!"

"Oh, um, coming!" she called back and headed towards said kitchen.

Sasori looked back before closing his door, a chuckle coming deep within his throat. "Douitashimashite."

AN: Le GASP! Are Aina and Deidara's plans finally beginning to work? Maybe...maybe not...you'll just have to look forward to chapter 20! By the way, I figured I'd share with all of you, since this is chapter 19, that we are at Deidara's age: 19 years old! Sorry I missed your birthday this year, Dei-Dei! Maybe next year...But I think it'll be a while before we get to Sasori's age in chapter numbers...*cough cough* 35 *cough cough* ANYWAYS...REVIEW! Sakura and I want to hear from ALL of you! Whether you're a returning fan or a new comer, we don't care! Domo Arigatou!

Nino and Sakura