Chapter 10: Sending Shivers Down My Spine
"Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me!"
She froze, staring at the scene taking place in the penthouse. Life swam around her, as did the faces of three people she thought she'd never see again.
"MEISHA-CHAN! MATTY-KUN! JEILLE-KUN!"
Instantly, Arty found herself on top of three the teenagers, who smiled weakly. She beamed at them all the same taking them in with shock and glee. Meisha was even more beautiful than Arty remembered, with her golden-red hair and dark brown eyes. Matty was still his crazy, blue-haired self, he was even still wearing fishnet shirts.
But Jeille. WHOA! When did Jeille become such a hottie? No, he wasn't the shy boy she knew from her team back in Konoha. In fact, he was an emo hottie (anyone who knows what an emo-hottie is can start cumming right about now). Hisblack hair was long and silky, his yellow eyes fierce. He was petite, actually. Very smallbuild. But, unfortunately, he was wearingtight jeans. Arty looked at him.
"Uh, Jeille?"
"Yeah, Arty-chan?" Jeille asked her excitedly. He still seemed to have a bit of a crush on her.
"Are you wearing your little sister's pants?"
"NO! My mom got them for me!" He said hurriedly, covering up his waist.
"So," Meisha said giggling, "Your mom buys you jeans at Guess?"
They all burst out laughing.
"No, actually, I bought them for myself, I wore them for Halloween, and I thought that they would make you laugh. From what we've heard, laughter is not much of a routine thing for you anymore," Jeille said seriously.
With that, they all picked her up and then threw her on the couch before jumping on her, screaming, "COUCH ORGY!"
As soon as Arty got her breath, she answered him. "No, I have to admit, things have been pretty crappy since I left."
"Don't worry Sexy, we have supplies," Meisha said before reaching over into her bag. She withdrew a few things and showed them to her friends.
"Ahhhhhh," Arty said excitedly, "My four favorite men. Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Ben, and Jerry!" (AN: Heehee, this reminds me of camp. My friends Liz, Katy, Jack, Ally, and Matt used to do this. We also spent a lot of time listening to Queen. And one day, my friend Molly had gone to Target and I had asked her if maybe she could get me some pickles. She got me a HUMONGOUS jar. Me and my roommate ate them all until we were sick. Good Times, good times...)
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She never asked them what they were doing there. She could figure most of it out by herself. But three days later, when they left, it was like Tokyo had transformed intoa place so bright and beautiful that Arty was not sure what the Hell she'd been doing for three years. Or, more importantly, what had she been missing?
She sat at a park fountain, reading a book, Raz close by, as always. He was always somewhere near. But for some reason, Arty felt like a normal girl for a second. Not a Mafia Princess, not a cursed Heiress, just a normal girl reading a book by a fountain. And it seemed she was not the only one who agreed.
"Well, hello Might Have Been/No One/Forgotten-san, how pleasent to see you."
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Orochimaru sat huddled over and gasping for breath at the man's feet. It was his daily torture at the hands of the Akatsuki. He cursed Razuli once again.
How could the boy have been so stupid. Orochimaru had told him to wait for instructions, and what did he do? He attacked the target, put the enemy on their guard, let them escape, and then just disappeared! Now, here he was, huddled over in pain, paying for his 'deception.'
Yes, see, after Orochimaru had told the organization of Arty's existance, they had launched a full attack on the village to find the girl, but had turned up with nothing. Just a forewarned, stronger village, an angry Uchiha, and a weaker army. They had of course, blamed Orochimaru for this, and had been torturing him ever since as punshment.
Curses on that boy. Even with the advantages this body gives me, I can't possibly overrun the entire Akatsuki, even if they ARE weakened.
But the day would come when he would get his revenge.
You said it, Boss.
Thank you, Gaara. Don't worry, we'll be out of here in a few days.
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Raz watched with foreboding from behind the newspaper he was reading. What the Hell was she doing?
Artemis was chatting cheerfully with that man in the jeans and Pink T-shirt. She kept batting her eyes and tossing her hair and smiling at him. Raz's blood boiled, what the Hell was she doing?
"Patty-sama," he whispered into the microphone hanging from his ear, "Get in there and stop this, what is she doing?"
"Dude! Calm down! For Christ's sakes, dude, she just FLIRTING. Jeez, let her have her fun, she's been stuck in a penthouse all day. She doesn't get to meet a lot of people," this exasperated, hyper voice of Eucharista Patricia said over the phone.
Patty was a girl Itachi met two years back whohad sworn to destroy the Akatsuki for destroying her family when she was a young girl. She had trained in The Village Hidden In The Mist as Kunoichi and had become a jounin at the age of thirteen, surviving on determination alone. Itachi had recognized the strength in her and the determination (so much like his younger brother's) that he had recruited her instantly. Of course, loyalties would have been a worry, but Patty had fallen head over heels for Itachi soon after meeting him. And now, at twenty-six, she had become a confidante of theirs, and one of their only fully trustworthy employees. Of course, Itachi did not wish for Patty to be in any kind of danger, so he restricted her relations with Artemis to a near minimum. It was a shock to Raz at first that Itachi would worry about anyone other than himself and Arty, but Raz suspected Itachi was hiding some deeper feelings for the crazy little ninja than he let on.
But of course, they had other matters to attend to. Things were not looking to good for Arty right now. Especially since with every movement that guy made, Raz felt more like crushing every bone in his body.
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"Well, If it isn't Hoshina-san. Didn't think I'd see you again," Arty said politely, stuffing her books into her bag.
"Oh, don't feel the need to leave, I'm not stalking you," Kent said, noting her gesture as he sat down next to her, "After all, to do that, I'd need to know your name so I can find out where you live. But supply me with that information, and I'll get started as soon as you want. How's Monday? 6 o'clock, The Starbucks down the street?"
Arty laughed, feeling more at ease. She smiled at him, a gesture he returned. Suddenly, Arty felt a little hot. She brushed some hair away from her face, doing it more extravagantly than she originally had intended. She blinked a few times. What the hell was she doing? She was flirting. Why the hell was she flirting. Haruno Artemis---Uchiha Mika did NOT flirt. Never had she ever flirted, in all her life. WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON! JESUS CHRIST ON A GODDAMN CRACKER! WAS SHE THAT DESPERATE!
"My name is Artemis."
Yep, she was that desperate.
Kent smiled, "Great, is there a last name you could give me?"
"Well," she said, gathering her books up and standing to leave, "I'm not sure about that, let me see on Monday."
Kent smiled, "See you then, Artemis-sama."
"Bye."
Artemis got up and walked away towards the curb where a car was waiting. It was then it hit her.
She was going on a date with someone she barely knew. She was breaking all the rules and going on a date and risking her safety. She was going to defy Itachi. She was going to hang with some stranger and drink coffee. She was going to go out alone. She was in deep trouble. Itachi was going to kill her if he found out, which he would. But worst of all, she had absolutely nothing to wear.
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Men in dark robes started toward him, but Orochimaru just let them be suffocated by the sand. The men choked and fell. Ahhh, revenge was sweet. He started for the door.
No! Wait! My Gourd!
Orochimaru sighed and drew it to him. He bolted then and ran as far as he could from the cave, toward freedom. Time to deal with that stupid little boy servant of his. Raz better be waiting for him when he got home.
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Itachi banged his fist on the desk, Raz jumping slightly next to him at the violent gesture. "God Damn it! How did he get away?"
The three men stood before him sullenly.
"We're not sure," said Sasuke, "But we believe Gaara of the Sand might have been involved."
Itachi looked at the three jouninin shock. "What? Gaara? Why? How?"
"We're not sure how," said Lee angrily, "all we know is that we found traces of his attacks at the place where Orochimaru was held. We're not sure what their connection to each other is, all we know is that if Gaara is involved, we have even worse problems."
Itachi growled. They had recently learned the location of The Akatsuki's headquarters where they were holding Orochimaru. A large fraction of it's members resided there, keeping the snake at bay. This had been perfect, for if they launched an attack there, not only would Orochimaru be gone for good, The Akatsuki would be weak enough to make it easy to finish them off for good. But now, The akatsuki were weak and Orochimaru was free. Which basically left Orochimaru free to take Sasuke's body whenever he wanted. In fact, that was the whole reason Sasuke was here at all. If the Akatsuki were still strong, then Sasuke would have to stay in Konoha to protect it. But now, they would be too distracted trying to count the damages and find Orochimaru to watch the village. But this was bad, really bad. And if Gaara was involved... Orochimaru had increased his power tenfold. Not to mention he had a lot more information on Sasuke that could prove to be valuable...
It was then that it hit him.
"Someone, get to Konoha, stat."
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Orochimaru stumbled around the house in a furious rage. Where the fuck was the boy? He was no where! What the Hell had happened? Had he even left Konoha?
Wouldn't put it passed the coward to be dead...
No, Raz was not dead, Orochimaru was sure of it. But where was he?
He needed information.
Might I make a suggestion?
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Sakura stared out the window with a weak smile playing on her lips. The sun was shining much too brightly, the birds were singing, and everyone out were wearing identical squinty smiles they only bore because they thought it appropriate on such a 'beautiful' day. The days that Artemis had despised. Oh, Arty, always seeing observing every single thing that was wrong with everything, always seeing through the bullshit. Always making sure everyone else saw it too.
Would the next ones be like that too? Or would they be a little more accepting? It would make things much easier on her, but at the same time, it would be a bit of a disappointment. Arty used to make her laugh the way she protested everything.
"Little Miss, do you realise apig had to die so you could have that Hot Dog?" The woman said to her from across the dining table to a four-year-old Artemis.
The little girl looked up from hermeal at theLady with flashing eyes. Sakura sighed, she knew it was a mistake letting Artemis come with her to meet the actress.
"Miss, do you realise that twenty times as many plants had to die so you could have that salad? I'm just trying to save as much life as I can, I'm sorry."
Sakura laughed fondly at the memory. "Oh, Arty, you never could keep your mouth shut, could you?" She asked aloud.
"I don't know, but if it is so, I hope she gets that from you." A familiar voice said from behind her.
Sakura looked around. Her eyes widened. "G-gaara-kun?"
The figure of Gaara of the Sand pushed her up against a wall, clutching her neck. He leaned in and licked her neck with a long, thin, forked tongue. "Guess again," he hissed.
Sakura screamed.
Orochimaru covered her mouth. "Now, Sakura-channnnnnn, would you be so kind as to give me the location of both yor daughter and my son?"
"No." Sakura said angrily, kneeing him in the balls.
"UGH!" Orochimaru moaned, doubling over. "You're going to pay for that, bitch," he said, advancing on her.
He started for her, Sakura backed away fearfully until she hit the wall. Orochimaru's eyes flashed as he reached for her.
But he stopped instantly, his eyes wide with shock. He choked and sputtered, spitting out blood, until finally, he fell to the floor, a kunai sticking out of his back. Sakura looked up at him, then looked up to see her saviour.
Raz stood above the body, looking down at it with blank eyes. Sakura opened her mouth and utttered thanks, but Raz didn't answer. He seemed to be frozen, he just stood there silently, just looking down at the body.
Sakura looked at Raz, then looked down at the body. The red hair, the shape of the jaw, that intimidating aura... She was standing in the room with Gaara's only son. And his killer.
"Raz..." Sakura said hollowly, before her voice failed. What was she supposed to say?
They just stood there awkwardly as the blood stained the floor slowly. When the body was finally drained, the gourd Gaara so treasured dissolved.
"I remember now." Raz said. "He was my father... He... hurt me and then Orochimaru took him and I... I was happy and then I wanted... and then I..."
With that, he collapsed on the ground, face first into the sand and blood. Sakura burst into tears. Nothing really mattered now...
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AN: Oh, this is going to rattle you a bit. But wait unil next chapter. Things get a little, weird... Don't worry, things don't end here. We've still got a ways to go.. Oh, and if you listen to Bohemian Rhapsody, you'll see why this song is PERFECT for a theme.