deiXoc part dedicated to my dear friend in Tennessee.

book titles/foreign words

demon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ =later

- =next day flashbacks are marked

Mitsuki

It's been several months since Kiro destroyed the Akatsuki base. Since then, it hasn't controlled me much. Well, save a few times some random people in Amegakure pissed me off. And the couple times I got into arguments with Deidara. At least he would forgive me afterward, even if it was partly because Sasori gave him death glares if he didn't.

Ame was nice, even though sometimes I went crazy on the inhabitants. It rained a lot, which didn't really bother me. Deidara told me countless times I should be relieved it only rained. Other than the near constant rain, the village was pretty. It was surrounded by a forrest on all sides. The buildings were all small, unlike the skyscrapers I was used to. But it made the village homey.

At first, we had stayed in a nice little inn. Our room had two beds- one for Deidara, and one for Sasori and I. After awhile, the two had enough money to rent an apartment (they had gotten jobs). Our apartment had two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a living-dining area. It wasn't a bad apartment considering what they paid for it.

Of course, Sasori and I are still very much in love. The sole rule of apartment, as established by Deidara, is that we aren't allowed to make out anywhere but in our room. That isn't that bad- it could be a lot worse. While Sasori and Deidara worked all day, I would tend to the apartment- cleaning and cooking, to be specific. It's not that I didn't want to work- I did, thinking it would be nice to help pay the bills- it's that Sasori was afraid some co-worker would hit on me or something.

I had argued the not getting a job for awhile. My main point was that I could defend myself in any situation. I had other points, my favorite being my want to contribute to the apartment. Which is how we ended up agreeing on my doing the cooking, cleaning, and on occasion, a few errands, like grocery shopping. The only other times I left the apartment was to go out with Sasori.

Half the days I would spend on my laptop, talking with my friends back in America. I did that mostly because I didn't have anything else to do- the apartment was relatively clean. I always put my laptop away a little before Sasori and Deidara came home from work. Even so, they still knew that I spent most of the day doing anything but cleaning. Although I was sure Sasori knew I had a laptop.

Today was as boring as ever. I've been on my laptop for the past several hours working on a chapter to one of my now many stories. Usually it doesn't take me that long to write one chapter, but I'm multitasking. I'm talking to a good friend on the internet. Really, we've just been catching up. We haven't seen each other in a really long time.

I told her all about the world I'm in. She asked about how to get here, and, being a good friend, I told her how to. I didn't actually expect her to write it down or anything- it was just fun to tell someone. So when she told me she was thinking about running away and coming here, I was a little shocked. No matter what I do before she comes, I won't tell Sasori and Deidara.

I just hopes she gets here fast, and in one piece.

-

I wake up at about 9 the next morning. Sasori and Deidara are long gone, I'm sure. I slide out of bed and change into a nice summer dress Sasori bought for me (I picked it out of course). I then walk out into the living/dining room and right on into the kitchen. On the counter near the space looking into the living/dining room, there's a note from Sasori. He only leaves me notes when there's something he needs me to do. Today it's grocery shopping, and on the back is the long list, telling me he procrastinated on making me go out again.

I sigh and set the note back down on the counter. I'll go shopping after I fix myself breakfast and do the dishes. I open the fridge to find it's nearing emptyness and what's in there expired already. I sigh and grab crackers from the pantry. Then I get a glass of water from the sink. Some breakfast I'm having.

I finish my breakfast and turn to the sink. Time to do this heap of dishes I've procrastinated cleaning for the past couple of days. If I recall, Sasori was mad at me over that last night. Well, he'll be happy to know the dishes will be clean when he gets home. When I finish with the dishes, I empty the fridge and pantry of expired foods. Then I grab the list off the counter and head for the door.

At the door, I slide my shoes on. I snatch the spare key off the rack. I shove it and the list into the pocket on my chest. I then proceed to open the top drawer on the dresser sitting in the entryway. From it, I grab my wallet and a small purse. I jam my wallet into the purse and sling the purse over my shoulder. Then I walk out the door, locking it behind me.

The grocery store in Ame is actually small. I like it though- the size makes finding things easier than at those super markets back in America. When I walk in, I grab two baskets, knowing I'd need both. Then I pull the list from my pocket and start getting things.

When I finally have everything on the list- a bunch of it is junk food that Deidara enjoys eating in front of the small T.V. we have when he gets home from work- I go up to the cashier. A lot of people in Ame know each other, so I'm familiar with her. She always fills me in on what I'm missing being locked up in the apartment all day. She constantly tells me I need to take a stand and just get out of the apartment more often. I always tell her I don't want Sasori mad at me and she proceeds to tell me he's a bit too controling.

"So, shopping again for Sasori and Deidara?" She asks as she rings up all the food.

"Yeah. The fridge ran empty this time. I didn't really notice though." I reply.

"Oh, that's terrible. Why does Sasori always procrastinate on sending you to the store?"

Her question was rhetorical, but I answer anyway. "I think he's just worried some guy'll kiddnap me and rape me."

"This is Amegakure, for Pete's sakes! The most dangerous thing here was the Akatsuki, but they're gone now!"

"I know. But it happened once......................................."

"Yeah, I know. You told me about that one awhile ago."

"I guess he's just, you know, a worrywart."

"I'm almost thinking you should ditch him for Deidara."

"I would never! Besides, Deidara SUPPORTS the whole keep me in the house deal!"

Before she could respond, the door flung open, causing the bells to jangle loudly. In walked a girl a little taller than me with short black hair. Her skin was a few tones darker than mine, and her eyes were dark, almost black, and guarded by glasses. She wore a black t-shirt, black jeans, and Converse sneakers. I recognized her....................................as Mitsuki, the friend I had been talking to yesterday.

My jaw would have dropped if the cashier lady hadn't softly told me how much I owed and throwing in that Mitsuki looked like some goth chick. If it weren't for the fact that I wasn't supposed to cause any trouble, I would've killed that woman right then and there. Instead, I practically shoved the money in her face, snatched up the bags, and left. As I walked home, I could sense Mitsuki was following me. I didn't really care, but I knew Sasori would be mad about it.

I walked into my aparment a few minutes later and put my purse back in the top drawer of the dresser. Then I walked into the kitchen and proceeded to put the groceries away. The whole time Mitsuki silently watched me from the kitchen doorway. I finally finish and turn to face her, looking her over once more.

"Ok, so I obviously can't tell when you're being serious just by IM." I say, trying to cover up my shock and near agitation.

"Yeah, sorry 'bout that." She replied, leaning on the frame of the door.

"Well, welcome to my apartment. Actually, I live here with two guys."

"You live here with TWO guys?!" Her eyes light up.

"Yeah, they're pretty nice..........................but a bit overprotective."

"What're they like? Are they single? Where are they?"

"First, they're at work. Second, only one's single."

"Wait, who's the other dating then?"

"Me."

"Ooooooooooooo, tell me about it!"

"I will, would you just be patient?!"

"Ok, ok. I'll shut up so you can talk."

"You remember how I was sent to a private school, right?"

"Yupp."

"Ok, well, there was this new kid in school. His name's Sasori Akasuna. He has bright red hair and chocolate brown eyes. Anyway, he was there to take me to this organization called Akatsuki. After some random events, Kiro ended up destroying the Akatsuki base. Also, Sasori and I fell in love during that..........................."

"Aww, that's so cute!" She makes this weird face she gets when she's happy. "So what about the other guy?"

"The other guy is Deidara. He has long blonde hair tied up in a half ponytail with his bangs falling across the left side of his face. His eyes are cerulean."

"Oh, sounds like he's cute."

"You might not think so after you hear the next part of the story."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there was a love triangle between the three of us."

"No way!"

"Way. But it wasn't what you would think. You already know Sasori and I love each other. Well, Deidara loved Sasori."

"So he's gay?"

"Not sure if he still is, but he got over Sasori a long time ago. I kinda feel bad for him though.......................I've been down that road before."

"Yeah, I remember that."

"Well, anyway, there're only two bedrooms here. I share one with Sasori, and Deidara has his own."

"You SLEEP together?!"

"Yeah, but we haven't gone THAT far yet...................................."

"Good. 'Cause if you had, well, you could've gotten pregnant, and that wouldn't be good."

"Oh so true. Even though I know Sasori wouldn't leave me, it's not worth the worry."

"Definately not."

"I guess you're gonna have to sleep on the couch. That is, assuming Sasori and Deidara let you stay."

"I hope they do, 'cause I don't really have any money..........................."

"Way to come prepared, Mitsuki."

"I didn't have any money back home!"

"Is it really that hard to 'borrow' some from your parents?"

"Yeah, I don't know where they stash the cash."

"Wow, that sucks."

"Yeah, so I definately have to stay here."

"I hope they won't mind......................................"

When Sasori and Deidara came home, they were greeted by the smell of dinner. Mitsuki and I had worked several hours to make it, hoping the food would help persuade them to let Mitsuki stay. Sasori, however, was in a slightly bad mood today, and it only worsened when he found Mitsuki in our apartment. Deidara decided to take cover over at the couch, turning the T.V. on and lowering the volume.

First, Sasori snaps at Deidara. "Turn that thing off!" Deidara grumbls, but obliges. Then, to me, Sasori shouts, "What is the meaning of this?!" He jabs a finger at Mitsuki.

"What, I'm not allowed to have friends over?" I ask in reply, struggling to remain calm.

"You could've told me!"

"I had no idea when she was going to get here or if she was actually serious!"

"So she isn't even from this world. I don't want you telling your friends about this world!"

"What, you want me to lie to my friends?"

"If that's what it takes to keep them from knowing!"

"I don't want to betray their trust! They already hate me enough as is!" I then ran to my room, locking the door behind me. I slumped down to the floor and started crying.

"We worked hard to make dinner for you guys." Mitsuki says meekly, shying away into the kitchen a little.

Sasori growls something about his not eating and sits on the couch. Deidara gets up and sits at the dinning room table then digs into the food. Mitsuki watches Deidara from the kitchen, glad the food wasn't going to waste. She was getting hungry herself, so she walks in and slides into the seat across from him and starts eating. He lookes up long enough to thank her, then goes back to eating.

~:Neutural P.O.V.:~

After dinner, Mitsuki had silently taken hers and Deidara's dishes into the kitchen and washed them. Then she proceeded to put all the leftovers away in the fridge. Deidara could tell she was nervous, and, because he wanted to get far away from Sasori, joined her in the kitchen. He sat on a stool and watched her bustle about.

When she finally wasn't busy, he says to her, "So, you're Momoko's friend un. Where're you from un?"

She looks at him and blushes a little. "Tennessee." She replies, her voice having fallen soft and a bit shaky.

"Never heard of it un. I'm from Iwagakure un."

"I haven't heard of that either."

He laughs a little. "If you ask me, I'm kinda glad un. All there was there were rocks, rocks, and more rocks un."

"It wasn't much better in Tennessee."

"Oh really un? It sounds better than Iwa un."

"It's not. And what's with the weird sentence ending?"

"I dunno. It's just kinda habit un."

"Oh. It's kinda.................nice."

"You're the first one ever to compliment it un."

"Really? I'm amazed."

"It's just like how everyone is about my art un."

"Really? What's your art?"

"The explosion un." His eyes light up. "I make bombs out of clay un."

"That's cool."

"You mean it un?"

"Yeah, it sounds like a lot of fun."

"It is. Maybe I could show you sometime un."

"That would be nice." She smiles brightly.

~:Momoko's P.O.V.:~

I can't take it anymore. I've been in here for hours now, crying the whole time. Sasori must be really mad because he hasn't come to check on me once. Maybe he's just trying to calm down so another argument doesn't explode. He probably doesn't want things to get worse than they already are.

I stand and wipe my eyes. Then I check my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are still red and a little puffy from all that crying. Otherwise, I look perfectly fine. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself. That seems to help my appearance a little. Then I gather my bit of courage I have left and go out to the living/dinning room.

When I walk in, I notice Deidara and Mitsuki talking away in the kitchen. They have no idea how tough relationships can be sometimes, but they'll find out. My eyes sweep the room and rest on Sasori, who is sitting on the couch, staring at the T.V. as if he can destroy it by look alone. I internally laugh at this, and am reminded I'm not wearing my glasses, having taken them off when I started crying. I don't bother to put them back on though as I sit on the couch at quite a distance from Sasori.

He doesn't notice me, so I lift the T.V. and let it drop onto the floor, damaging it. He looks up at me and seethes, "Deidara's gonna be mad about that you know."

"I don't care if he tries to kill me." I reply dully. "What I want to know is why you're so mad at me."

"Because you didn't tell me about your friend coming."

"Is that all this is about?"

"No."

"Then tell me what else you're mad at me about."

"It's not about you."

"Then why are you so mad at me about something so small and insignificant?!" I shout.

"You're so ungrateful!" He shouts back.

"Me?! I'm the one who keeps this apartment clean!"

"Do you pay the bills?"

"No, but I'm willing to contribute! I can't though, because you're such a worrywart!"

"You...................................think that I'm a worrywart?"

"You are! You still worry that some guy's gonna try to rape me again! You worry I'm not strong enough to look out for myself, when I've proved I'm stronger than you! You don't give my abilities any credit!"

He stares at me, shocked. Then his face hardens into a full-force glare. "GET OUT! LEAVE AND DON'T YOU DARE COME BACK!"

I get up and run into what had been our room. I grab my laptop bag and put all my stuff in it. Then I shoulder it and go into the bathroom. I grab my stuff from there, dumping it into a small bag. I finally grab my purse containing my wallet from the dresser drawer.

I turn and snap at Sasori, "I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY!" Then I storm out.

A/N: Reviews are like sugar. Sugar keeps me going. So review peoples!