My Dead Lily:
Chapter 2
TaurenLeaf
Wham! Naiyuri woke to the deafening sound. Wham! She tiredly rubbed her eyes. Deidara…you wake me up one more time and I'll—Wham! …that's not right... It's not coming from the door…
Naiyuri got up and opened the window, catching the warm draft as it filled the room.
One…no two figures, she processed. There were in fact, two silhouettes in the distance. The taller of the two had its arms extended towards the other. The second figure looked unstable; it was tripping and had odd shapes coming out of different areas. The figures were obviously a puppeteer and its puppet. The puppet was sloppily throwing weapons at a clay board (trees were rare in Suna), as unprofessional as a snot nosed, C average, academy brat.
Training? At this hour? Naiyuri threw on a quick outfit and jumped out her window, leaping from rooftop to rooftop until she was directly above the man. "How can you be training?" she asked.
"Sorry, I didn't realize anyone would be awake," the puppeteer replied. He was dressed in a black robe and had on a headdress. What is a headdress, you ask? It's an ugly thing that some ugly people put on their head—probably to try hiding something ugly. And that wasn't all that was strange about him; his face was caked with purple paint, sort of like a woman with her beauty mask. Well, not that much, but why would anyone want to color their face purple?
"That's right. No one in their right mind would be awake at three in the morning. Which is exactly why you're disturbing my sleep!" yelled Naiyuri, annoyed. "Then again, I can see why you're training."
"Huh?"
"You're doing it all wrong. Toput it plainly, you just suck."
"What?" the stranger said, in a slight irritation.
"Here, lend me your puppet." Naiyuri ordered. Ordered, as in—the man didn't have a choice.
"No way! It's a prize–"
"—you want me to use you instead?" she said, in a tone she used often with Deidara. She found it entertaining how easy it was to make men ten times as tough as her (although they were rare), fall to her feet and obey anything coming.
"Use the puppet, the puppet's good."
"Watch," said Naiyuri. She quickly formed her chakra into strings and attached them to the joints of the puppet—just like how Sasori-sensei taught her.
She pulled back her fingers slightly, and with a last exhausted creak, the puppet fell apart into each and every individual piece. Naiyuri made, with another jolt of a finger, all the pieces flip perfectly, revealing the kunai, needles and all the other hidden weapons. The man stared at it─there were a couple weapons he had never seen before.
Suddenly, they shot upward and flew—top speed, at the man. And once again, with a twitch of a finger, they abruptly stopped in mid-air, inches from face of the surprised puppeteer, as if someone had pressed the pause button.
"Wow... I mean, that's basic stuff…"the man said unconvincingly.
"Really, is it now?" Naiyuri questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Let's see, then."
She brought her arms up slowly and dramatically. Sasori of Akatsuki's apprentice crossed her arms, resulting in weapons once again flying towards the surprised man. He, knowing the puppet the best (supposedly) dodged them with ease. He was the one who installed them. At first, the puppet had weapons that were worn out and useless. He had replaced them all (or so he thought).
Naiyuri smiled. She twisted her fingers in a way that seemed impossible. Two new compartments opened, and the weapons they contained burst out. They were missiles, ones that the man hadn't ever seen. They spiraled and twisted and whatnot, without Naiyuri even moving as much as an inch.
When the man dodged them, they followed—he couldn't get away. "Stop them! I didn't know about those, okay?"
"Hmph! I knew it…" Naiyuri said. This puppet is definitely Sasori's; an older version…She swiftly pulled back her arms and released the chakra strings, all in one gesture. The missiles stopped.
"You've got to teach me that! And how did you know about those anyway?"
"Hmm… You're right, you definitely need to learn it, or otherwise, you'll still be as crappy as you are right now." Naiyuri said, completely ignoring his question.
"Hey—I'm the best in the city!" he said. And he wasn't just flattering himself.
"Well then, this city must be full of weaklings," Naiyuri muttered under her breath.
"I heard that! You can't just say something like tha—"
"The problem is that I won't be able to teach you," said Naiyuri, as if she'd already thought long and hard about it. "I'm a great teacher and all but I've never taught anyone with such a low level of talent like yours or anyone as rude as you."
"What! You're the one that's insulting me!"
"I prefer to call it honesty. You should be happy I'm giving you constructive criticism. Besides, you can just forget that you've ever met me. I, however, will go back to sleep nowand wake up drowsy. And when I fall, which I know I will, my comrade will laugh at me. All because of you."
"Well—what if I look down on myself for the rest of my life because of this?"
"So you think you have low self-esteem?" she asked, in obvious 'I don't care about you' attitude. She wasn't even looking at the man. Apparently, she found the dirt lodged under her nails of much greater importance.
"No—" he began.
"So what's your point?" Naiyuri snapped, finally making eye contact.
"That I'm the Kazekage's brother, so you should be more respectful towards me!" announced the stranger, satisfied.
"Oh, so now you're hiding behind the Kazekage's back, eh?" said Naiyuri, eyebrows raised again.
He opened his mouth and closed it again. This was the first time anyone has spoken to him like this, before or after he put Gaara in the picture. "You—OK, that's it! You're definitely not going anywhere!"
"Now you're being vindictive. Didn't the Kazekage tell you to forgive and forget? You guys must not have been very close."
The puppeteer was taken aback. "This is why I hate women! They think they know everything!"
"You are such a sexist!" Naiyuri rolled her eyes. "Maybe it's not because women are bad but because you can't get a date!"
"What? I'm very sexy in most women's minds! You're just missing out!"
"Uh-huh," said Naiyuri, unconvinced. "Let's see your attributes: you wake people up before dawn, you've got low elf-esteem, you hide behind your brother's back, and you're a sexist. What am I supposed to see in you?"
"Hmph," grunted the stranger. "Whatever. So are you going to teach me or what?"
"I will if you pay me." Naiyuri held out her hand, "Nothing's free these days. So give!" It wasn't a bad idea either; Akatsuki didn't pay their members…
"Can't you be nice?" he emphasized.
"I could, or I could be paid. I choose being paid." Naiyuri replied, completely lacking any expression of kindness.
"Fine, meet me down the main street in three hours."
"Right…and I'll be on the lookout for some rude, weird guy in a dark robe."
The man look annoyed, "My name is Kankuro, in case you're wondering."
"No, I wasn't." Naiyuri answered.
"You really are heartless. What's your name anyway?"
"How many times have you ever called a teacher heartless? Sensei is all you need to call me."
"Yes, sensei," Kankuro retorted lamely, grasping what little pride he had left.
"I hate you! I hate you so much! You sexist—THING, you have no respect for any female!" Naiyuri yelled at the still sleeping Deidara, her voice shaking with hatred. When Naiyuri woke up, she had felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of anger she needed to let out… No doubt from the previous day's meeting. "What is wrong with you? Do you think all women are meant to be whores or something?"
"Kunoichi's started out being prostitutes, right? Yeah…" answered the just awoken Deidara, yawning. "They may be a little different but they still constantly nag at people."
Naiyuri glared at Deidara, "I DO NOT nag at you! I've never talked to you for any period over five minutes!"
Deidara pushed himself up to a more comfortable position. Obviously, Naiyuri wasn't going to let him sleep. "The only pleasure a woman can give a man is sexual pleasure, yeah… And even then they don't do too much of it. So life would be much better if they stayed in bed all the time…" content with his answer, he added his ever so famous, "Yeah…"
"How would you know, you perverted art freak?" Naiyuri asked coolly. She had quickly calmed herself. "I bet you're still a virgin!"
Deidara knew she was right, he was still a virgin. But in no way was he going to let her have the satisfaction of knowing that. "I have done it. Countless times too, you're the only virgin here."
"Nah—I have, with my boyfriend. Well, before Sasori made me kill him. I never would've thought you did it," Naiyuri analyzed him. "In fact, I think you're lying. No girl in their right mind would ever touch you."
The words stun Deidara cold. "What?"
"You heard me, you're lying." Naiyuri repeated her words with more confidence.
"You know, you better lure little Naruto-kun out or else you'll get kicked out of Akatsuki…" Deidara said, changing the subject. It was getting a little out of hand.
"Who'd want to join it anyway?" Naiyuri spat out. "…with that Tsukiyomi?"
"You've never even experienced the full of it! The thing that Itachi gave you was just a taste!"
"What are you talking about? He did the same thing to you!" Naiyuri was confused; as she's been a lot lately.
"No, what he gave you was just a fraction of the real thing. That jutsu uses up chakra pretty fast and heavily. When he finished with you, he had more than he should have," explained Deidara. "Hah, I think he fancies you …"
"Really?" Naiyuri was shocked. Her voice showed curiosity and just a tiny bit of excitement. She'd never thought that Itachi would like her! It wasn't likely for a man that cold to have any feelings, much less expressions of fondness.
Maybe Akatsuki wouldn't be too bad...Her expression was not unnoticed.
"Yeah, I think so, and I'll give you some advice, don't let him know you like him. He killed his last fan-girl…" It was a lie. Itachi hadn't had a fan-girl since Konoha, and he definitely wouldn't even bother with a girl, not even to kill one.
"By the way, turn off the lights. I'd like to get some sleep." Deidara managed over a yawn, leaving Naiyuri to ponder her thoughts.
Behind the hardened-sand made desk of the Kazekage, Gaara sat, thinking. His body had resorted to the typical Kage thinking position: elbows propped up, chin resting on intertwined fingers and a look of fierce concentration….Is Akatsuki related to that bomb?
"Baki," Gaara called out, "Baki. I need you to get me Naruto and Sakura-san."
In a flash, Baki appeared and nodded, "Yes."
--
Down in the village streets Naruto was looking for a worthy present with the help of Sakura. He was running out of time, Temari's party was the next day and he didn't have a clue of what to get her. "Sakura-chaaan! How about this one?"
"Naruto…don't call me that out loud, it's embarrassing…" Sakura muttered, looking over her shoulder.
"Ah!" Naruto stepped back. He had finally noticed all the people watching them. It was like a scary movie—how everything would be quiet and you think that the main character is alone but then she turns around and a half dead man is just standing there? It was just that feeling. Naruto was about to start yelling at the crowd when he overhead what two teenage girls were saying.
"Yeah, that's them! They're the ninjas who helped with the rescue!" one of them said, "That guy there is a really close friend of Gaara-sama, too."
Naruto's irritation of the people was quickly replaced by a newfound hope. Yeah! Yeah! I finally get fan girls!
"Are you sure? I thought he would be better looking…" the second girl said, pouting. "He looks like a…"
"Like an idiot?" the first girl suggested.
Naruto's face instantly fell. His eyes grew into snake-like slits, an expression unfavorable enough to rival Shino's.
"That's it! Yeah, hideous! Haha, Gaara-sama looks 100 times better…"
As their laughter faded away, Sakura's own began. "Haha… I'm sorry—Hahaha—I can't stop!" she sputtered out, trying to contain her self; clutching her stomach.
Naruto responded, still with his sour expression, "…and you say I'm embarrassing…?"
The laughter was cut short; a man appeared in front of them. "Naruto-san! Sakura-san! Please come, Kazekage-sama needs you immediately."
--
"Hello Naruto, Sakura-san." Gaara said when the pair arrived. He nodded towards his close advisor and former team leader, "Baki, you may leave now."
Gaara skipped right to the point. "Naruto, remember the jewelry shop we went to yesterday?" he asked, hoping that his memory wasn't as bad as what Shikamaru had mentioned.
"Of course I remember!" Naruto replied, unusually grouchy.
"Naruto, are you okay?" Gaara asked, worried. Was Naruto still mad about his joke yesterday? Maybe jokes were no good after all.
Naruto glared at him. "How come you get the girls?"
"What?" Gaara was confused.
"Why is it that you get the girls?" Naruto asked again.
"Sakura, what is this about?"
Sakura laughed, "While we were looking for a present to give to Temari-san, we err…" Sakura shot a glance at Naruto, "we heard some girls talk about you."
"That's it?" Gaara asked.
"No, there's more," Sakura gave out another burst of laughter. "They said that you were very sexy and elite," Sakura giggled. "Whereas Naruto was―" Sakura's laughter wouldn't stop.
"Yes?"
"They said he was―" Sakura tried stopping her laughter, but only made things worse. Her inhuman strength cracked the wall behind her as she banged on it.
The door flew open. "Hi, I heard a noise so I came in and―" Temari stopped. "What did you do?" She pointed to the newly broken wall.
"I'm sorry," Sakura managed to squeeze, through the laughter. "I couldn't—stop."
"Well, Temari, since you're here, stay. Okay, Naruto, about the store, remember the girl there?" Gaara asked.
"Oh yeah, what happened to her?"
"Exactly," Gaara pressed. "What did happen to her? Think Naruto, what was the last thing you saw?"
"Hmm…" Naruto thoughtfully brought his hands to his chin, "the sand dome."
"No, before that." Gaara replied.
"Uh...an explosion?"
"No, close though."
"It wasn't an explosion?" Naruto was confused. Surely, something exploding would be an explosion.
"No, that's not what he meant." Temari explained. "He means close to that time period."
"Oh," Naruto thought about it again. "Let's see…Didn't someone grab her?"
"Yes, someone did grab her," Gaara reinstated. "And what did the bomb look like, Naruto?"
"Someone's art project. A sculpture."
"Akatsuki," Temari immediately realized where her brother was going.
"That's what I thought, too." Gaara agreed.
"Wait, so Akatsuki came back to Suna?" Sakura suddenly became very serious. "How did they know that Naruto was here?"
"I don't know," that was the part Gaara hadn't worked out yet. "But Naruto, you have to be careful now."
"I know, I know." Naruto said in a monotonous tone. "I've heard from Ero-sennin enough times already."
"Well, there's also another theory that I have. Akatsuki might not really know that you're here. See, if they did, they wouldn't have set off that bomb; they wouldn't want to injure Naruto. So…what I'm wondering is, why would they grab the girl? What is so important about her?" Gaara stood up and paced around his desk.
Temari scoffed, "Nothing. They were probably just going to rape her. She's got to be dead by now."
Sakura clenched her fists, her muscles showing. "I'm not going to let Akatsuki get away with it! They're going down…"
"Sakura, calm down. I personally disagree; I think she actually has more value than that. They wouldn't destroy a whole building just to get one girl."
"Maybe she's a famous prostitute?" Temari offered. "Or…an old girlfriend that has dumped one of them… Who knows?"
Naruto glanced at the wall clock. "Gaara, we have to go. We'll talk about this later, okay?"
"Sure, but Naruto―"
"Hmm…?"
"What was that thing the girls were saying?"
He turned away… "They said I looked hideous."
Even Gaara couldn't hold in his laughter.
All over Suna, clocks struck three PM. The restaurants were empty now; most people had already gone back to work, training, or taking their afternoon nap.
"Damn, where is she?" muttered Kankuro.
Far in the distance, Naiyuri was still walking in a leisurely fashion. She turned her head several times to smell the fresh flowers while she walked. Her steps held extra bounce, and only someone who knew her as well as Sasori would realize that she was an unreasonable amount happier than she had been in a long time.
"You're late!" Kankuro yelled furiously.
"I know. I just wanted to test your patience." Naiyuri said, using the ever popular phrase.
"Yeah, yeah. So where's your puppet?"
"Oh, I don't have one. They're so annoying! You have to carry them, take care of them, and the extra junk is very irritating." Naiyuri said in a knowing tone. Her voice was much chirpier as well, and all of this because of what Deidara said.
"…How are you going to help me train then?"
"You'll see, you'll see..."
"I'm paying you! It's the least you can do to tell me how the hell you're going to train me!"
Naiyuri shrugged, "It's really your choice. We can just do nothing and waste even more time."
--
The trip to Naiyuri's training ground was long and hard. They had walked nonstop for hours through sand so hot that there was a layer of steam just above the surface. By the end of the day, the pair had confronted wild desert animals, fought off a swarm of desert bees, and both thought of each other as food. When they finally reached their destination, the sun was already starting to set.
"So," Kankuro paused, taking a deep breath. "This is the place?"
"Yup" Naiyuri's arrogant voice replied. "I really can't believe you're already tired! What kind of survival training did you go through? How to survive in Candyland?"
"But there's only sand! How am I supposed to train here?" Kankuro protested. After a couple of hours with no one but Naiyuri, he had found out it was best to ignore her comments, not matter how rude they were.
"Shinobi should be able to fight in any situation. Actually," Naiyuri smiled, "I have no idea where we are."
Kankuro's mouth dropped. I didn't bring anything! We're going to starve...
"So your first lesson will be to find a way back to Suna. Preferably before we die."
He blinked, "What? You don't even know how to get back! How do you expect me to know? What if I can't get us back?"
Naiyuri smiled innocently, "I don't but really, do you want to be like me? ...not knowing anything?" Her sarcasm-covered words were completely missed.
Kankuro scoffed, "Why would anyone want to be like you?"
Naiyuri's innocence left, the blow of the wind only added to the effect of her sudden change in attitude. "Because—I can still kill you."
Kankuro's stood in amazement, "You're not serious, are you?"
"What? You don't think I'm capable?" Naiyuri threatened as she took out a kunai from the hem of her skirt.
"No, no, I think you're very capable. Really, I think you're better than my brother, which is impressive since you're a girl," Kankuro was never good at sucking up. "Now, since I so elaborately complimented you, please don't—"
"Shut up!" Naiyuri angrily yelled at him.
"What?" Kankuro was very confused. Most people would say something along the lines of 'thank you' but she chose the exact opposite.
Naiyuri raised the kunai closer and closer to Kankuro's throat. His eyes widened with fear; no one wanted to die at the young age of 17. He hadn't even done it, yet. The kunai soon reached his neck, piercing parts of skin from which perfect drops of blood spilt. He shut his eyes, scared to the point were his whole body was numb. He heard a sharp whooshing sound.
"Eat."
"Huh?" his eyes opened wide, and he looked around. Poking out of a sand dune was a newly deceased coyote with a dagger perfectly penetrated through its head.
"But first, you'd have to skin it." Naiyuri said. "Lesson number one, always check to make sure your kunai sash is full, you never know when you might need one. For example, they're used for quick and silent assassinations given its size. You can also use it for killing things such as this immensely furry thing for food. Or—as all weapons could—you can use it to help remove slow traveling poison or if the situation demands, use it to break out of genjutsu."
"Now, do you know how to make fire?" Naiyuri asked a few hours of 'important' lessons later. She looked up at Kankuro for a reply, but he had long ago fallen into extremely deep, dreamless sleep. Tomorrow, then...
Kankuro pushed himself further. The Kazekage Tower was only ten yards away now, and he would soon be in a nice tub of steaming hot water. Just the thought of being able to rip everything off and soak him self from head to toe kept him going. The puppeteer had lost his headdress, his robe, and most of his purple paint had washed off with the heavily dripping blood from his forehead. Kankuro wasn't in any critical condition, but he had a lot to learn. Who knew making fire would be so hard? No wonder the Uchiha clan is considered elite...
"What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered to himself.
He felt better the second he entered the air conditioned building. Using the wall as support, he clambered up the stairstoward his bathroom. His body was working like a puppet—the more he moved, the better he felt. Naiyuri was right: if he was capable of functioning normally in these circumstances, the stronger he would become.
By the time Kankuro settled in the water, it was one in the morning. He was completely relaxed and actually had added bubbles to the bath. It took him about five seconds to realize something. He was missing the most important part of a bubble bath. One of his most important friends.
Kankuro sat silent in the tub, listening for any sounds. When he was sure he was by himself, he walked across the room, wrapping a towel around his waist in the process. He stopped at the tiled wall on the other side of the room. At first glimpse, the wall seemed like an abstract piece of art—it had a couple of gold tiles among many other dark colored ones. But the walls true function was only known by a handful of people.
Kankuro kicked a certain spot of the wall, causing tile to fall out (duh), leaving an empty space. Kankuro began moving the tiles around, like a puzzle. He had had the steps memorized since he was five, back when his father was the Kazekage. Left, gold to right, up, gold down…
When he finished, in the place of the wall that had no significance minutes ago, was a portrait of a golden duck.
Kankuro raised his arm towards the Duck. Closing his eyes, he concentrated his chakra to his hand and pushed it through the wall. The duck immediately spread out and created an opening—almost like the Leaky Cauldron entrance to Diagon Alley, millions of universes away. Right beside the entrance, there was a cabinet. Inside the cabinet there were thousands of….
Rubber bath toys.
"No, no, I don't need you, Sir Leo. No— not you Miss Koala…" he said, pushing his way through the cabinet. "Aha, Mr. Duckie! I have found you!" Kankuro childishly exclaimed. He had picked the oldest of them all—good 'ole Mr. Duckie.
He slid back into the bathtub, and closed his eyes. Everything was perfect, just the way it should be…
BANG!
Kankuro's eyes shot open.
"Where have you been!" Temari's voice boomed. The peace had left too soon.
"Ah!" Kankuro rushed to cover himself with pink bubbles. The door Temari thrust open was still shaking from the sudden force. Do we have to talk about privacy issues again…?
Kankuro spoke as normal as possible, given the situation, "Temari, we've gone through this before. I let you pick my meals, I let you pick my clothes, and I even let you train with me! But this has gone too far, is having the bathroom to myself too much to ask for? I mean really, y—"
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Temari repeated, with much more fury. The older they got, the more Temari acted like a replacement for their mother.
"I was training," he said, "you know, like I always do?"
"Liar!" spat Temari.
"Seriously, I was," Kankuro was getting annoyed. Who knew telling the truth was so hard? "I met someone, and she's pretty good. Anyways, if you don't believe me, you can meet her tomorrow. I invited her to your party." Not yet...but she better say yes when I ask her tomorrow…
Tap. Tap, Tap-Tap, Tap.
Naiyuri cringed in her sleep. She groaned and muttered something about shutting the fuck up, but still, lazily, grabbed the black robe hanging pathetically from the nightstand and dragged herself out of bed.
Tap. Tap.
God…Naiyuri decided against the robe, if whoever it was wanted to see her that badly, they wouldn't mind seeing more of her…
She dragged herself out of bed to the door. Who do you think you are to—"Oh…it's you. I thought you didn't want to train today," she yawned, slumping on the door frame. "Didn't you say something about being too sore?" She propped her hands up on her hips, looking just like a swimsuit model.
Kankuro stood in the open doorway, gaping at the inappropriate clothed Naiyuri. "Do you always answer the door in that?"
"Depends, do you always wake people up early in the morning?" Naiyuri questioned back.
"Okay, I see your point," Kankuro replied. He looked over her shoulder, into hotel room. "Do you need a place to stay or something? For free, I mean."
Naiyuri bit her fingernails, and asked thoughtfully, "Maybe, what do you have in mind?"
Kankuro shrugged, "You could stay with me."
"And get waken up possibly even earlier?" Though there'd be no more Deidara…
"Sorry! That was just a one time thing!" Kankuro apologized.
"Two times," corrected Naiyuri.
"Uh huh, so are you in or what?"
"I'll think about it," Naiyuri answered. She waved her hand absently, dismissing the idea for now. "Well, if you don't have anything else to say…" she started closing the door.
"No wait!" Kankuro stuck a hand out and stopped the door. "I need you to do me a favor…"
"What?"
"Can you go to my sister's birthday party today?" Kankuro asked. "I know it's short notice, but I promised she'll get to meet you today. She kind of got mad at me yesterday for being gone a whole day without telling anyone."
"What is she? Your mom?" asked Naiyuri, jokingly.
"Yeah, the only thing she hasn't done is child birth."
Naiyuri began to laugh, but caught herself. She hadn't laughed in years. How did this guy make her laugh on the third day they've known each other?
"So, will you come? Plwease?" Kankuro pleaded, transforming into his childish self. "There's free food."
"Yeah, yeah…" Naiyuri rolled her eyes. "But only for the food."
"Fair enough, but you have to dress formally…"
"That's fine. I have the perfect outfit," replied Naiyuri. "Okay, then. See y─"
"Wait!"
"What now? No, don't tell me. You told your friends that I was your girlfriend and now you want me to pretend I'm some lovesick girl?" Naiyuri asked.
"Well, no. I just need to know your name. You've never told me, it wouldn't look good if I spent a whole day in the desert with a girl whose name I don't even know. Although, I wouldn't mind impressing my friends, it'll be nice if they thoug─"
"No. And it's Naiyuri."
"Naiyuri what? What's your surname?" Kankuro asked curiously.
Naiyuri forced a smile, "I don't have one. Now leave."
CONTINUED!
