Sasori was not a patient person. He preferred people to be short and to the point when they had something to say. But if there was something he was known better for than his lack of patience it was his short temper.
"And just why can't I turn her into a puppet?"
He kept the growl from escaping but he couldn't stop his eyes from narrowing and the three irk marks to pop over his head.
"The woman you picked up isn't as incompetent as I had first thought she'd be." Pein answered matter-of-factly.
"She's a civilian not a kunoichi," Sasori glared.
Pein raised a delicate eyebrow. "And what would you need a civilian for to turn her into a puppet? She wouldn't be useful to you in combat."
"I could use her for espionage missions," Sasori slowly crossed his arms over his chest. "And she would make a fine collection to my artwork."
"You easily caught her you can go find another just as easily for espionage missions. As for your collection," Pein glanced toward the door before looking back to Sasori.
"I'll allow you to go in search for another seeing as I shall be keeping this one alive."
Sasori fisted his hands underneath the long sleeves of his cloak. He couldn't see them but he was sure his knuckles had turned white. "Leader-Sama if I may, I brought her in specifically for the fact that I have never met anyone with beauty quite like hers. She's exotic to put it plainly. One of a kind, perfect for my collection."
"My command is final," Pein stated with an unwavering gaze. "You are not to go over my decision."
"Tch," Without another glance Sasori sharply turned leaving the room behind him.
Find another one? He had stumbled upon this one by pure chance. Everyone in the five great nations had too many similarities except Kirigakure and Kumogakure but he wouldn't look in either of those villages. He didn't like how some had sharp teeth like Kisame in Kiri and most of everyone in Kumo were built physically unflattering. The only exception he would make is if he could use them in combat.
Sasori wanted nothing short to perfection for his artwork and he had found it in her.
She was at the perfect height, not short nor overbearingly tall. Her legs were long and slender whereas her upper body top on the shape of an hourglass. For a civilian she was quite fit. Deidara had made such a comment to Sasori when she was hanging onto him yesterday. For a female she hadn't aggravated him; that was an extra plus in Sasori's book. Her skins' complexion was flawless and soft. Her facial features... He couldn't put his finger on it but there was something different the way her face was structured compared to others. Was it the shape of her face? Her cheekbones were rather high and sharp. For Kami's sake even her lips were different. He contemplated on her hair. It seemed a dark brown at first yet when the sun shined on it her hair glittered specks of blonde mixed in with brown.
And then there were her eyes.
They were a large deep dark green that could rival the forests' leafy greens and didn't slant. Yet when he made eye contact with her they became just a little bit brighter.
She was in one word; perfect.
And he couldn't have her.
Sasori placed a hand over his eyes rubbing the tension away that was starting to form.
No, he thought. His leader was wrong. He wouldn't be able to find anyone else like her for his art.
Sasori mentally sighed as he maneuvered through the Akatsuki base. He was passing through one particular hallway when a door suddenly swung open with a familiar brunette stumbling through the doorway. He blinked, catching her in his arms straightening her out as her whole body trembled against him.
He glanced inside the room the trembling female had come out of seeing no one there. She had been by herself.
He glanced back down at her remembering Pein's earlier words. Sasori grunted dropping his hands down as he again continued to walk down the hall leaving the distraught woman behind.
It didn't take long for him to hear the sound of her footsteps running after him and feel her grab on to his hand.
Sasori snatched his hand away but stopped in place.
"You found me at a bad time Doll."
"Ah... Could I.. Um..." She paused biting her lower lip.
"Tch, out with it woman," growled Sasori.
Consciously Sasori blamed his reaction on the conversation he had just had with his leader.
The woman froze. When she looked up at him her face changed to a blank one. He noticed her eyes didn't have that shimmer in them.
"Never mind,"
She walked passed him and disappeared from view as she rounded a corner.
He watched her until she was out of his sight. He could only imagine what would happen to her if anyone else finds her roaming about the halls by herself. She'd either get in trouble or into a terrible situation knowing how Hidan can be.
He began to walk heading to his original destination.
Let someone else find her.
He wouldn't worry about her or about her strange behavior. She's only a woman, he thought. A woman that had caught his eye but a woman nonetheless.
He didn't even know her name.
There was an air of tightness around the brunette. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she focused more on the ground as she continued to walk straight.
Step
Step
Step
Kimmy wasn't one to let a man's' words affect her but she hadn't expected the problem she had encountered before bumping into Sasori/Danna (she still wasn't sure about his name). He caught her at a moment when she felt weak and she had foolishly hoped he would have helped in some way, taken a moment to remember some kind compassion on another human being that wasn't doing good.
How could I forget, he's part of a terrorist group. There's no way someone like him could show kindness no matter how small it could seem, even after… after that…
Kimmy fisted her dainty hands wishing she could disappear. She just wanted to go home where it was safe.
But home wasn't even on this planet. Her shoulders sagged. If this were the case then she wanted to go ahead and bury her troubles with alcohol.
Drink until she couldn't tell which way was up and which way was down. Or until she lost consciousness. Whichever came first.
A lair full of men. They have to have alcohol around here somewhere. Unless this stupid world got rid of it. She didn't even want to think of that.
Little kids could go and train to be ninja to get themselves killed yet no booze?
She'd sooner kill someone.
Kimmy hadn't noticed how far she had walked nor did she care. She just kept on walking feeling her body start to shake remembering what had happened before she ran into Sasori no Danna.
"You won't die dear. A fate for someone so beautiful won't fall on you."
She wanted to shake those words out of her head.
His hand had touched her inner thigh slowly hiking itself up higher and higher with each word he spoke.
She wanted to forget his touch on her body.
She aimed to hit his solar plexus and make a mad dash for the door but he caught her flying fist and pushed her against the wall restricting all her movements. "Let me go!" She had cried out in desperation but he wouldn't listen to her pleas.
The look in his eye, how could she ever forget the malice in them?
She wanted to shake the feeling of being taken advantage of.
Step
Step
Ste-THUMP
Kimmy had walked straight into someone.
Her eyes shot up and met blue.
"You know your sense of direction sucks," Deidara stated, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
She stared at Deidara, the one who shared his bed with her and saved her from Hidan before.
"Unless, that is, if you were looking for me then that's a whole different story," he continued.
His words seemed to fly over her head because she couldn't quite grasp what he was saying.
He's evil
Deidara had a contagious aura that wanted to draw her to him.
Just like the rest of them
He placed his hand on her shoulder. His lips were moving but she didn't hear a single word.
He's no different from any of them
Kimmy placed her hand over Deidara's catching the look in his eye before yanking at it harshly and pushed him behind her as she ran like hell were after her.
Run.
Keep going.
Just.
Don't.
Stop.
A full twenty minutes had gone by with no sign of the captive. This was bad. No matter what way a person looked at it, it was downright humiliating for a captive, civilian no less, to be able to evade the Akatsuki members in their own base.
They were on the lookout for her but it made it extremely difficult when it was mentioned that the captive had no fucking chakra to track her down with.
How the hell was she even alive?
No answer had been given.
So they had to go search blindly for the troublesome woman.
One could say the base was built similar to the structure of a labyrinth what with the hallways stretching out and jointed in with other hallways.
Some even had dead ends.
Each member knew the layout of the lair like the back of their hands. A simple civilian would get lost. All they needed to do was hunt her down and find her lost and trapped in one of the hallways.
Easier said than done. She currently had the upper hand.
"Don't worry Senpai! Tobi will find Pretty Chan!" The orange-masked childish man declared, pointing a thumb at himself with much enthusiasm. Deidara sent an annoyed glare toward the hyper-active man.
"Then go look somewhere else, hm."
"Ohhh!" Tobi exclaimed, throwing his arms up as he started to run around his beloved Senpai before stopping in front of him. "Tobi will lure Pretty Chan out with sweets!" The blonde glanced at the man opposite him incredulously arching an eyebrow. "The hell Tobi?"
"Yes! Tobi is smart!" Tobi declared running around happily, his arms dancing above his head. "And when Tobi lures Pretty Chan with the sweets Tobi will keep Pretty Chan away from the ugly faced Deidara!"
"Tobi..."
Tobi continued with his excitement ignoring the dark aura that was emitting from the angry blonde.
"And Pretty Chan will be so happy and thankful that Pretty Chan will make something awesome for Tobi! Much better than that ugly stuff that Senpai makes for art! Ohhh, Tobi bets Pretty Chan is a good cook! What does Senpai think?" Tobi finally stopped in his speech long enough to look back at Deidara.
He was seething with rage.
"...Senpai?"
"You have one fucking second! Hm!"
Tobi jumped back flinging his arms in from of him as he started to run at full speed.
"Wuuaaaaahhh!"
The Akatsuki lair shook at the sound of explosives ringing throughout the hallways.
"Fucking Deidara! Don't blow up my room again damn it!" Hidan's voice echoed throughout the lair.
Not everyone was searching diligently like some of the others. Kakuzu was locked up in his room going over the Akatsuki's finances. Truth be told, if he did go searching for Kimmy he would maim her or turn her into a bloody pulp. A captive should know better and not cause trouble for a very powerful group. He didn't like the idea of the organizations' pride taking a low blow such as losing sight of her.
It had been put upon Deidara to find her since he had been the last to see her but once the others had caught wind that she was missing somewhere in the base they had decided to search too.
All with different motives of course.
Kisame was one of them that wasn't searching for Kimmy.
So imagine the look on his face when he had gone to the cellar to get a few shots for himself and instead he saw the said "missing woman" passed out on the ground with empty bottles of sake strewn around her small form. There was one he noticed that was nearly finished in her hand.
"Well, well, well," Kisame smirked as he sauntered toward the unconscious woman. This was a sight to behold. Out of all the places she went to, she had gone for the cellar.
Kisame had to hand it to her. He hadn't thought of looking for her here. Wasn't a bad place to hide either. At least there was sake to accompany you. Better company than what he could say for most of the other Akatsuki members.
Without thinking twice about it Kisame pulled her up with one hand and threw her over his shoulder hearing the bottle that had been in Kimmy's hand clank as it fell to the floor.
His plan was to drop her off in one of the captives' rooms. Kisame was going to do just that heading in the direction when he was making a turn down a hall until-
"Oi, Kisame!"
He didn't have to turn around to know who that was.
"Hah! So you found the little bitch, eh?" Hidan grinned, popping up next to Kisame. The tall blue man gave the Jashinist a toothy grin. "Found her passed out in the cellar."
"How many bottles?"
"Seven,"
Hidan gave a low whistle, a glint appearing in his eyes.
"The bitch can drink then huh?" He rubbed at his chin thoughtfully before a lecherous grin made its way onto his face. "I like her! You don't fucking mess with some good shit like that." Kisame knew exactly what Hidan meant. That sake was hardcore liquor. Not bad for a woman to finish a few bottles before passing out within a base full of villains.
Stupid, but not bad.
Kisame started walking again noticing Hidan in stride with him. Hidan wanted something, he could tell.
More like someone, he thought as Hidan openly grinned at the sight of the girl on Kisame's shoulder. He could only imagine the perverted thoughts passing through the Jashinists' head at the moment.
"Oi, Kisame, I'll take the little bitch from here."
Kisame could see Hidan's hand just itching to grab her. "Is that so?" He flashed Hidan a smirk. "Hate to break it to ya but I got her first. I get the first round with the little runt."
"Ho ho, Kisame!" Hidan slapped Kisame's back smirking widely. Hidan waved a hand in front of him dramatically as he spoke. "I would have stolen her from you to get a good fuck but I'll hold off."
On that note, Kisame's original plan was to take her to a prison cell but things don't always go the way you expect them to now do they?
And that was how Kisame had brought Kimmy back to his room. She's good company. He wouldn't be able to enjoy that company though if she were traumatized. Oh if only he had known.
He couldn't stick around though. There was a meeting Pein had called for once the young woman had been found.
Without delaying any further he made a few quick hand signs leaving Kimmy in his room with a clone. He wondered what was so important to call all of the members for in a meeting.
Pein studied each member that stood before him. He waited for the outburst.
"What the hell do you fucking mean we're gonna jump into another world damn it?!" Hidan screeched, surprise covering his entire face.
Ah, there it was.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes before smacking Hidan upside the head. "Shut your mouth Hidan."
"Ow, Kakuzu, that hurt like a bitch you asshole!" Hidan complained rubbing at the sore spot on his head.
The rest of the Akatsuki members were either absorbed in their own thoughts or murmuring the news amongst each other before finally looking back to Pein again.
"It's just like what I said Hidan."
"That must be one big jump, eh Itachi?" Kisame grinned down at his partner.
"Hn,"
The mystery what that one word could mean.
"There is only one person I can think of that has achieved this," Pein continued. "I have reason to believe he's in this 'new world.' The place he has chosen I have no doubt will help us to step closer to our goal in reaching peace,"
The murmurings started again.
Pein pushed on. "The woman that was captured; Sanchez, Kimmy is proof that this world exists."
That brought immediate silence.
He finally had their complete attention.
"I won't go into further detail just yet about that. It will have to wait until the preparations are ready. For now," He paused, making sure each member took his words in. "I'm going to have separate groups collect the studies of one ninja; Matsumoto Haru. You all shall do so in between times of capturing the jinchuuriki. We're not going to forget our original goal." At this Pein tossed a scroll to each group. "Be warned, Matsumoto Haru is known best for hiding his evidence."
"Tch, why not destroy the evidence, un?" Deidara interjected.
Pein glanced at the Akatsuki pyromaniac considering his question. They needed to know as much about their missions as possible before he sent them out.
"He considered them too important to destroy so he opted instead to hide them away. Matsumoto Haru is a master at Genjutsu. He most likely set any evidence under a heavy Genjutsu as well."
Each member nodded at the new information.
As for their captive...
"Sasori, Deidara"
Both made eye contact with their leader's hard gaze.
"You both shall escort our captive to headquarters in Amegakure. It's best she remain away from the opposing villages."
"Hai," A firm nod from both. Satisfied, Pein moved on.
"Your missions start tomorrow morning. Sasori and Deidara, you both shall bring the captive first before starting your respective mission." Another grunt of understanding followed by a set of nods.
"Meeting adjourned, everyone's dismissed." Just as quickly they had showed up, every member had disappeared straightway after that.
Konan stepped next to Pein looking him straight in the eyes. She knew just as well as he did that he would have preferred taking their captive along with them.
Tobi though had completely objected to that. Whatever reason it was Pein wasn't further able to inquire why when the other members had started showing up for the meeting.
Whatever the reason though it was now gone and he wouldn't be able to ask now. Just as well though, Pein had his own mission that required his immediate attention before heading back to Amegakure.
He and Konan had to leave tonight and night was approaching very quickly.
With a silent agreement amongst the two, they headed back to his office to prepare for their important mission.
Two days had passed.
Two very long days.
Kimmy had been in a sour mood the first day since she had been woken up to jostling and movement that didn't help the hangover before finally noticing she wasn't in that retched base. She was out in the open again on the shoulder of one Deidara.
Knowing she was no match to take on both, let alone one really, Kimmy had decided to stay silent. It really did help for the pounding headache roaring at her senses.
Whenever Sasori (she finally learned his name was just Sasori) ever glanced in her way she would either glare darkly or stare blankly back at him. When Deidara tried speaking to her she threw a fit by slamming her middle and index finger into his pressure point knocking him out while she tried to run away.
Imagine her surprise when she stopped running in mid step.
She looked back noticing Sasori's hands positioned in a funny way. His fingers moved and she unwillingly turned around moving back. She noticed clear blue-like strings attached to her body and Sasori's fingers.
It oddly made her think of a ventriloquist.
The next thing she knew when she stood before him he pulled a vial out, noticing it was a one use needle injector.
It felt like he stabbed her in her upper arm with it.
Two things had occurred in that moment.
One; he dispelled the blue strings that were attached to her.
Two; she still couldn't move. In fact, she collapsed to the ground. No doubt he used some type of paralysis on her.
Oh wait, she forgot to mention one last thing before trying to escape.
Three; It was in that futile escape that she had finally retrieved her missing phone from Deidara.
Did she forget to mention that she hated the manga book and its author for making humans with extreme powers? Because she did, she really did.
Two days spent in silence and annoyance.
Kimmy felt very bitter at this point, now viewing everything from over Sasori's shoulder. She had no idea where they were going or what they were going to do to her.
It was on the third day she decided that maybe things were finally looking up for her.
Metal clangs broke out into the air as she saw metal objects thrown in their direction before being blown up with Deidara's art or tossed in a different direction by Sasori's own set of kunai's.
Before she knew it, a large group of ninja were surrounding them. She could only hope she made it out alive. Another part of her was hoping Sasori and Deidara were strong enough to take these new guys down. Enemies usually killed everyone on sight.
She didn't believe for a second people took kindly to captives in this world.
She may not be a part of their organization but she doubt these ninja would pay attention to that. She was with them. It would already be assumed she was affiliated with them in one way or another.
Sasori wouldn't put her down during the fight. She wondered after a shuriken grazed passed her if she was partially being used as a human shield.
The fucking prick.
She watched, horrified yet entranced as she watched Sasori and Deidara battle effortlessly against the large group of ninja.
If anything it looked as though Deidara were having fun after setting a bomb off blowing a persons' head off.
Kimmy screamed when the chunks landed nearby Sasori and her.
Without much movement Sasori pulled her off his shoulder now standing her next to him. He growled a low warning to not run away or she would be severely punished. She could only nod in return.
Satisfied with her answer, Sasori pulled a scroll out from inside his cloak. More attacks were being thwarted, how, Kimmy did not know. Before she knew it, smoke clouded her vision. She blinked her eyes until she noticed a human-sized puppet next to Sasori.
She threw her arms up in exasperation. "Seriously; the fuck?! How?!"
That one second of distraction on Sasori's part as he was about to shut Kimmy up was all the distraction the opposing group needed.
It happened so quickly Kimmy didn't even have time to blink as she felt someone grab her outstretched hand lifting her off the ground and pulled onto a branch in the trees.
She heard shouts and noticed a wisp of Sasori's red hair before being pulled once again in a different direction. Someone had kidnapped her from her kidnappers!
She could only assume the worst. No way will she try and deceive herself that she'll be in good hands.
And the question popped up as the one who had her over their shoulder jump through the trees.
Should she struggle and try to get away from them? She wasn't sure.
"Haruhi Chan, we're going with that plan," Her captive spoke to the other woman beside them.
"Hai," she nodded.
Kimmy wasn't able to see what was going on as her captive slapped something over her nose.
Drugs, she thought as she whiffed in a sweet scented rag, her eyelids feeling heavy.
Before she knew it, her world went black.
The red head was quick, quicker than his opponents had expected him to be as they came into closer view. He smiled darkly.
There.
The kunoichi had his captive in her arms.
His finger twitched, sending his puppet ahead to attack. With smooth skill he sliced, cutting one of the kunoichi's arms off. She howled in pain as she fell in mid-jump falling and crashing toward the ground with his captive tumbling down near the kunoichi.
Sasori jumped down from the tree branch and landed in perfect stance. "I believe you took something from me. I came to take it back." He smiled cruelly as the kunoichi glared daggers up at him, tears streaming down her face from the immense pain of losing her left arm.
"G-Go to h-hell!"
Sasori 'tsked,' tilting his head to the side in amusement. "You're done for," a grin crept across his angelic features seeming all the more horrifying in the kunoichi's eyes as the puppet he wielded aimed to attack her.
She lifted a kunai up ready to block when the puppet stopped of its own accord. Its weapon merely inches from hacking her up. A moment later she found herself shoved up against a tree by the puppet. Its master walked dangerously slow before standing in front of her. His voice was low but had a steel edge to it making the hairs on her back stand.
"Where is she?"
The kunoichi narrowed her eyes. "Sh-She's right there d-damn it!"
A kunai was placed below her throat. "You're wearing down on my patience. Now tell me; where is she?"
Silence met his question.
"Wrong answer," Sasori spoke, slicing through the kunoichi's throat. She fell as a heap on the floor before he threw the kunai at his captive.
Just as he thought as he stared blankly.
It was only a clone.
What they didn't know was his captive didn't have a trace of chakra in her. He had sensed the chakra from the clone seconds before he was going to strike
Sasori stared up at the trees.
... Great
Kimmy woke up feeling groggy and disoriented. She tried to rub the feeling out of her eyes but noticed her hands had been tied up.
She turned her head trying to blink her eyes more as she surveyed her surroundings.
It was night time and she was still in the forest. Her new captor had set up camp she supposed but there wasn't any fire. She guessed it was so no one would come looking in their direction. Her captor was a few yards off to her left doing what? She didn't know. All she could tell was that he was awake from the way his head moved this way and that. It was pretty dark out here with only the moon as a source of light that peaked through small openings through the leaves of the trees.
Very dark.
The next thing she did was check her feet. No ties there. She at least had her feet free. That's a good sign. If she wanted to escape she had to carefully plan it out this time. This may be her only chance and she may never get another opportunity.
Kimmy glanced around the area wondering if there were anyone else nearby then she tried thinking back if he had anyone else tagging along with him. Besides that one other woman he called 'Haruhi Chan' there had been two other males but she didn't see them now.
She glanced around again but didn't see anyone else. Was it just them two then?
Her captor was on alert, probably taking night shift to keep watch of anyone. Maybe he was waiting for someone as well? Either way she wouldn't be able to escape with him being on alert.
Kimmy sighed inwardly before leaning her head on top of her bent knees.
Why did people in this world have to be so alert? The author just had to make a bunch of ninja with weird abilities.
Just then, a loud growling noise broke through the silence. Her captor jumped up, kunai in hand, eyeing the area Kimmy was at.
She was sure he couldn't see the blush tinting her face. Her stomach had just growled.
All she had been eating were those tasteless nut filled bars Deidara or Sasori provided. It's supposed to be high in the essentials one's body needed to consume but she still wanted an actual meal that made her full. Thus her stomach's rather loud grumbling of protest.
She buried her face deeper in between her knees as she gripped her hands into fists mortified he had heard.
Thirty seconds... Forty-five seconds... A full minute passed until she heard a cough then something hitting her leg. Surprised, she lifted her head up to look at a rations bar by her feet. She picked it up with her bound hands before glancing back up at the man who had returned to his post.
"Thanks..."
He merely nodded in return.
She fumbled with the wrapper with her bound hands before ripping it open with her teeth instead and bit into it.
Even though it was tasteless like all the other ration bars she's eaten she smiled slightly at the small gesture of kindness this stranger had showed her.
Days had passed after that incident. They would follow their ritual that had formed between them. In the morning her captor would pick up any traps he would set at night and pick her up into his arms as he ran through the forest.
Twice a day he would give her a rations bar and she hadn't tried running off during the nights either nor fight against him.
He hadn't pushed her for any more information after he found out she had been captured by the Akatsuki, which she felt truly grateful for.
Conversation between them was, in her part, awkward. So they kept it very limited.
By the end of the fourth day she concluded either his partners had gone off in different directions or they had died.
By the fifth day she finally got to see a very large wall long in perimeter that broke the view of the trees. She could practically feel her captor relax when he saw it too.
When he got close he spoke with two officials that stood by the large doors. They gave him puzzled looks when they saw her in his arms. Be it the way she dressed or any other possibility she couldn't be sure. All she had heard was needing to go to T&I whatever the heck that was to take her to.
Soon after they had let them in she was left gazing in amazement when she saw the inside. If she had any more doubts that she wasn't in her world the sight of this village had taken it all away.
It was the same village the protagonist Naruto grew up in. Seeing the carved faces on the rock wall on the opposite side of the village proved it to her.
Her captor hadn't taken her through the streets like she had expected. Instead he chose to jump rooftop to rooftop to get to their destination.
Before she knew it they had stopped in front of a building before entering inside. Everything went by in a blur after that.
One moment he had taken her inside the strange place, the next moment was even harder to explain.
It was like they were had just entered before the room had disappeared completely and they were in a whole different room.
What the hell was that?!
She couldn't voice her question though. Her eyes were fixated on another man in the room. He was dressed all in dark colors and a long black trench coat.
Another moment had passed before her captor had set her at a table with one available chair. She watched as her captor spoke with the new man before letting her eyes trail and examine the room. It was bleak and not had much to it. It looked exactly like an interrogation room much like the one she would see in the show NCIS.
Oh, maybe that's what the 'I' stood for in T&I. Interrogation. So then T must stand for... Something and Interrogation... T...
Her eyes widened just as the new man smirked in her direction. Her captor had left as he started to approach her.
"My name is Morino, Ibiki and you're in T&I also known as the Torture and Interrogation unit. Seems like my fellow comrade had some very interesting things to say about you." Kimmy could only stare at the scars on his face.
Ibiki continued. "Now we can do this the easy way where you answer all of my questions or we can do this the hard way where I force the answers out of you. Personally I like a good round session when one doesn't give in so easily. It makes my job more fun that way."
She concluded then in her mind that he was a sadist.
"Let's begin then shall we?"