Disclaimer: Whoa...I've been spelling that word so many times, I almost forgot how to spell it...I don't own Naruto, by the way...

15: Pein

I walked down the street, ignoring the glances that I received from passerby who thought my piercings were either intriguing or scary. I didn't have time to give them a glare to get them to back off. I needed to get to Sasori's place and talk to him. Well, actually, I felt like I should go over there and laugh in his face and tell him that I was right, but I was a bit – not by much – more considerate than that. So even though I had been right after all, I also realized that he had just suffered a horrid breakup and I needed him to be on his toes for whatever was going to happen next. Unfortunately, I knew the way he got better was talking to someone. I was going to make myself his prime target for the next few hours.

When I reached his house and knocked on his door. A little boy who looked somewhat like him – meaning the hair and empty expression – answered the door. "What do you want?"

I stared down at him and then realized who he was. Sasori had talked vaguely about him once or twice and from my memory I could tell that this was his little brother. "I want to see Sasori."

"It's nice to want; builds character," Sasori's little brother said and attempted to shut the door in my face.

"Let me see him," I commanded.

He looked up at me angrily and said, "Now why should I? Just because you have a strong voice and you're the leader of a gang that I don't give a shit about? Just because you think you can boss me around and get away with it? No way. I'd rather tell you to fuck off before I let you see my brother."

I blinked in surprise and changed my tactics. "I need to see your brother now. I don't really care what you say; if I have to I'll push past you and go in without your permission."

Sasori's little brother seemed to take this into consideration before he decisively said, "Alright. But not because you're threatening me. It's only because I decided that if you can get him to leave his room, then I don't mind you being here. Just don't piss him off even more, got it?"

I nodded, he stepped aside and I walked in. I liked the kid. He reminded me of Sasori. I made my way up the stairs and to Sasori's door. I knocked loudly and listened to several crashes and then the door opened and the redhead stood there, looking at me stupidly.

"I need to talk to you," I announced and walked into his room.

Sasori sighed from behind me and, after shutting the door, he went to his bed and sat down. "What do you need to talk to me about?"

I pulled out the desk chair and set it down in front of him. "Why weren't you in school today?"

"Why should I have been?" he asked, sounding really unhappy. "I don't think I had any particular orders to be there."

"Don't wear me out, moron. I know that Deidara dumped you and what I really want to do is rub it in your face. But I won't. I will, however, tell you that Kakuzu asked him to join and he accepted." I watched his face turn from grumpiness to pure rage. Before he exploded, I continued, "I don't want to talk about that though. What I want to do is know why you didn't show up in school today."

Sasori took a few deep breaths before he managed to grunt out, "I didn't want to see him. Okay? It didn't exactly make it to my 'top ten fun things to do' list. And besides, what's so important about today?"

"I don't know…it's just like every other day, right?" I asked pleasantly. "And you're supposed to be there everyday!"

Sasori snapped his head up and he shouted, "One day won't kill anyone!"

"You better be there tomorrow for the meeting, though," I warned him. Then, setting that aside, I said, "I also want to know what happened last night."

Sasori looked half relieved and half weary. "What more do you want me to know? He broke up with me." I shook my head and told him that I wanted to know the story. So he told me; by the end of his story, he seemed like he might cry. I ducked my head and thought it through.

"I'm sorry," I managed to squeak. I hated putting myself into situations like this, but when I had to, I thought I did okay at sounding compassionate. "He sounds like he tried his hardest to be like the biggest jerk he could manage."

Sasori had his back to me, but he quickly spun around and, sounding panicked, said, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, it sounds like he was trying to convince himself of everything he was saying at the same time as convincing you," I paused and made sure I thought that I was right before going on. "I don't think he really meant it, even if he sounded like it. Really, I think he was more hurt than anything and the breakup was just something he didn't think through all the way."

Sasori was staring at me blankly now. Then, suddenly, he broke down and crumpled onto the ground crying. I turned my head, not really knowing what to say or do. After awhile, he sat up and whispered, "I don't know whether to believe you or not. I want to think. I'll be in school tomorrow, but for now, could you leave?"

I looked at his desperate expression and sighed. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then." I got up and left, walking down the stairs and toward the front door. Sasori's little brother was sitting in the living space of the front entrance.

He stood up and stared at me hopefully. "Is he gunna leave his room soon?"

I felt pity surge through me as I said, "I'm not sure if he'll leave tonight, but he has to go to school tomorrow."

The boy looked down at the wooden floor sadly and softly said, "Okay…Thanks for coming."

I didn't mention that I hadn't come to get Sasori to leave his room, but instead I asked, "By the way, what's your name?"

He seemed surprised. "My name's…Gaara," he said quietly. "Did Sasori never mention me then?"

"He never mentioned your name. He says a lot about you." Being kind wasn't something I often was, but when someone obviously needed me to be, I could be nice. "Thanks for letting me in."

Gaara nodded and then stared at the stairs where Sasori was standing. I left quietly, deciding that I was tired of being there. I walked back down the streets, the lamps on the side of the road blinking on as the sun sank slowly behind the mountains. I stopped and watched the orange orb intently for a minute or two, then made my way back home. I'd be getting a phone call from Konan soon; since I had turned off my cell phone, I knew that she was not going to be happy.

Well, time to face the music…

A/N: Pein is a very cool leader if you ask me. But is anyone asking me? NO! Well, does it matter? I guess not. A semi-important filler chapter and I once again ask you to please review.