Behind the scenes of the Harvest Festival, a malevolent plot ticks closer to fruition.
Chapter 1
A puff of white hung evanescently in the air. Another blow, and it disappeared altogether, only for an identical vapor to assume its place.
"Kankuro, it's cool. Do you want it to be ice cold by the time you eat it?"
Another wisp of white appeared.
Temari rolled her eyes and turned toward the street, tugging her scarf tighter.
Across the asphalt road stood a redhead with his back turned to her, his attention locked to the various static TV screens behind the shop's glass. Framing the window were gauzy streamers in purple and orange; the display's corners beset by similarly-colored party poppers.
A yelp, and Temari turned around to see a red-cheeked, tongue-lolling Kankuro juggling his paper-wrapped meat bun, steam rising from a noticeable bite mark.
His brown eyes quickly caught her judgmental gaze.
"Ih… as'in… oo eh."
The blond frowned.
It wasn't cool yet. Clearly.
"What is he doing."
Temari stepped back, arms raised before her in alarm. She relaxed. Gaara had wordlessly moved next to her.
"Wah 'ome?"
Kankuro held out the meat bun toward his brother, who raised a hand in refusal.
A crease in the teen's brow caught Temari's attention.
"Something bothering you?"
The redhead's frown deepened, and he crossed his arms.
"The news was saying tonight will be… chaotic."
Kankuro chomped down on his snack.
"Chaotic how?" He asked, mouth full.
"They were talking about pranks."
Temari and Kankuro eyed each other before resting their sights back on their younger brother.
They laughed.
"Well, tonight is Halloween. That's to be expected."
Gaara's eyes narrowed.
"Yes… but combined with the intel I've received, there will be more than just pranks tonight."
Confusion was again evident on his siblings' faces.
The redhead elaborated.
"Tonight, the dead will walk among the living, and the living will become like the dead."
A loud buzzer shrieked in the dimly-lit hallway.
Thick walls the color of earth trapped its cry and hid it from the outside world.
At its end, two iron doors groaned apart, rusted and weary from disuse.
Two figures in black appeared, chains in hand which led tautly back to the shackled wrists of a young, shuffling man.
Blue eyes squinted and darted about before resting on a silhouette opposite the doors.
Wordlessly, the two guards handed his chains to the new presence. As he was again led off, he heard the scuffing of rubber soles against dirt, and then the inescapable clamor of the iron doors closing.
After that, he didn't know how much time had passed, nor did he necessarily care.
All he knew was that he was out. Not just out, but outside, in the outside world.
His maroon prisoner uniform was swapped for a hooded jacket and jeans. His manacles were tossed aside in a pile of metal. And his person found himself taken by the unknown guard a considerable distance from his prison to the entrance of a cave overlooking the city.
It was about time he spoke up.
"Hey, what are we doing out here?"
The teen shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, shivering against the icy breeze.
The other man's expression was vapid.
"He ordered your release. He awaits you inside."
"Hey, wait a mi —"
Before his protest could finish, the other man swiftly took off down the mountain path, dipping out of sight.
Deidara growled.
He shot an annoyed glance at the cave to his right.
Narrowing his eyes, he headed in.
It only took a few steps before something caught his eye and a grin plastered itself on his face.
"Well, well…"
"I see they are to your liking then."
Deidara turned around, where a masked man had suddenly appeared.
The blond lowered his eyelids in a calculated observation.
"So you're the one who released me, hm? You've done your research."
His palm squeezed shut and then opened, revealing the figure of a white bird.
"White clay. I've heard it is your preferred medium."
Deidara crushed the bird in hand, eyes fixed on the man in the mask.
"Cut the talk. You released me? What do you want, hm?"
A sound of amusement emitted from behind the mask.
"Simply put, I am throwing a Halloween party. And I want you to be the entertainment."
X
A/N: I set out to make a quick, cheesy Halloween oneshot, and now I have this, which is getting unexpectedly dark.