a/n: Hey everyone! Thank you for all your lovely reviews! (over ninety reviews—good heavens!) Anyways, I'm not really sure if this drabble makes sense or not…I'll explain at the end, and if it still doesn't make sense, let me know. Disclaimer on my profile, no warnings…enjoy!

Drabble 038: Art Fair, AkatsukiNeji

Neji frowned and pulled out a crumpled flier from his pocket. His art teacher was offering his art history class if they attended an art fair that was going on this weekend. It was supposed to be all sorts of artists coming to exhibit and sell works.

Honestly, Neji was looking forward to it. He enjoyed art, and he enjoyed learning about it. He was going to meet up with a couple of friends, hang around the fair for a bit and then head out to lunch. Neji edged his way out of the crowded subway car and out on to the platform before pulling out his phone. He raised an elegant eyebrow when he saw that Shikamaru had sent him a text.

Where are you?

Neji chuckled—Shikamaru was always worried about his safety. Be there in five minutes. Coming off the subway now. Neji sent the text and started up the stairs that would take him to the rest of the world.

XXX

Neji pulled his coat tighter around himself and shivered. Shikamaru looked over at him and laid a comforting hand on his arm. "Just one more group left, and then we can head somewhere warm."

Neji smiled warmly at Shikamaru. "Thanks." Sometimes, he wasn't too sure about what his friend's feelings were for him, and it frightened him a little.

Ten-Ten looked at the elaborate black and red design on the final group's board. "Akatsuki—red moon? Weird name for a studio."

As odd as the name was, their artwork was stunning. A group of seven or so students sat by displays of various works of their art; the students were all in the late teens. One man, Kakuzu, had a display of tribal masks while another, Hidan, showed off his religious works of art. There was a puppet display, an optical illusions display, and an explosives exhibit as well. Neji tilted his head to the side as he viewed a mobile decorated with various origami forms.

A young woman with a flower in her hair sat beneath the mobile. "Which is your favorite one?"

Neji jumped. "I beg your pardon?"

The woman smiled faintly. "My name is Konan, and I made this display. Which origami is your favorite?"

"My name is Hyuga Neji; it's nice to meet you. And…" Neji frowned slightly. "I'd say the crow is my favorite one, although the scythe does look…interesting."

Konan made a small mark in a notebook on her lap. "I'm seeing which ones people tend to like. You're the first person to choose the crow. I have to say…you chose wisely." Konan smiled up at him.

"Oh? Well, I'm glad. Your art is really amazing," Neji said earnestly. "I'm here for an art history class…it's inspiring to get to see what people get up to with their art these days."

"I'm glad you're enjoying the exhibition." Konan smiled up at him serenely. "Good luck with your art history class."

Neji smiled. "Thanks!" He glanced back over his shoulder as he hurried away. He wasn't sure what, but something had been strange about that woman.

Konan's eyes narrowed as she watched Neji go. When he was out of sight, she quietly took a white square of origami paper out of her notebook and began to fold the paper in to a dove.

XXX

In the evening, after the art exhibit had been torn down, the students from the Akatsuki studio crowded around Konan and her notebook.

"I have to say, this really didn't quite turn out how I imagined." Konan tucked her origami flower securely in to place behind her ear before continuing. "Only a couple of people liked the crow, Itachi-kun."

Itachi chuckled. "I'm not too surprised. I don't get along well with everyone."

Konan's smile turned mischevious. "However…most people liked the dove next to the crow. They said it had a 'good contrast'."

"The dove?" Itachi looked at Konan's mobile and was surprised to find several new origami additions to the work of art. "Who does the dove represent?"

"There was a boy with pale eyes who wandered over here. He did seem a bit young though…" Konan pondered.

"What was his name?"

"Hyuga Neji; he said he was here for an art history class." Konan's lips quirked in doubt. "Will you bother?"

Itachi frowned. "More often than not, your strange occult origami seems to be relatively accurate…it's worth a try."

"I think he signed one of the studio's mailing lists." Konan pulled out a black binder a cardboard box and handed it to Itachi. "Have fun!"

The rest of the Akatsuki began to jostle around Konan, now that she'd interpreted Itachi's outcome. Meanwhile though, Itachi wandered over to a park bench and began to flip through the black binder, his eyes zooming down the pages until he found the name he was looking for.

Hyuga Neji.

Itachi's lips quirked upwards. Even if he knew absolutely nothing about Neji, he had to admit…the other boy's name had a nice ring to it.

a/n: So…basically, Konan made origami animals to represent different people, and then she used her occult origami skills to decide whether or not the Akatsuki should meet people who had come by the art fair. I don't know, but this idea randomly popped in to my head…I feel like this didn't come out as clearly as I wanted to, but I gave it my best.

Anyways, thanks for reading, and don't forget to leave a review on your way out! See y'all next drabble