SweetStealer: Wow, shot chapter. Don't shoot me. DUCK THE FLYING TOMATOES!

Notes://...there are none.

------------

Chapter 11: Pulse

Hinata could only stare blankly at the Leader. She couldn't believe it was only her first month there and she had already been poisoned, fought over, and beat a well-trained opponent. Now, as she stood in the middle of the living room with Itachi, she could only wonder in complete bewilderment how on earth she was going to survive this.

"You beat Kimimaru, correct?" the Leader questioned, coldly.

Hinata nodded respectfully. Itachi stood next to her, stiff and silent as the grave.

"Do you understand your mission?"

"Hai, Leader-sama."

The Leader paused in his questioning and glanced at Itachi.

"Let me see you change you eyes." the Leader ordered, his gaze turning back to her and piercing her heart.

"A-a henge?" she whispered, forming a hand seal.

Itachi nodded and Hinata tried vainly to remember from her former studies how to do that. She shut her eyes and hoped for the best.

When she reopened them, the two were expressionless. Hinata shivered slightly under the cold stares and was surprised when Itachi nodded his head. With a malicious smile, the Leader said,

"She will do."

------------------------------------------

Hinata was Sasori's chinadoll. The mission...it depended all on the girl. Sasori was silent as he worked, but his eyes played upon the young girl's features. There was no doubt...she was indeed lovely. She would make a perfect bride for the Kage of the Village Hidden in the Grass. Yes, she would pass the test.

However, there was a tiny catch.

She would pass, Itachi had told her, if she would kill the Kage with her own hands.

"Ah, Hinata-hime." Sasori murmured as he painted her face white. "Your face will match your eyes."

Hinata was silent and perfectly still. Sasori worked on her, the small oil lamp that hung next to him flickering with an ominous light. He was used to making his art beautiful and he intended to help Hinata. Deidara was slightly put out, but acknowledged that Sasori would probably be better for the job.

Sasori marveled at Hinata.

Her hands, her skin...lily white. Pale and still, her body so fragile...like glass. She was barely breathing. How was it, he marveled, that she could stand so still? Was it the last remnants of her old life? He had forgotten that she probably had gone through this every special occasion at the Hyuuga household.

And another thing Sasori was impressed with, if this had happened a few weeks ago...she would be dead from fright...or be backing out. This showed maturity and growth within their dark lair.

Maybe it was because she began to understand what they were all risking for her. Maybe it was because the incident with Orochimaru had hardened her heart. Maybe it was because she didn't really give a damn anymore.

Either way, it pleased them all.

Sasori knew Deidara could have easily fulfilled the position for assassinating the Kage, but there was another underlying story. The Leader wanted Hinata to prove that she was worthy of being here. But Sasori questioned this motive,

But what is 'worth' in this world?

Sasori worked on her lips. Red. A bright, lethal shade, that could be interpreted differently by the eye.

Red: passion, lust, love.

Red: death, hate, blood.

He painted her...soft, even strokes. She did not flinch. She did not move. As the empty porcelain doll she was, she did nothing. Hinata was contemplating her mission.

She could die. If she wished.

She could fail. If she wished.

But she could also succeed. Again, if she wished.

"Angel. Your robe."

She slowly turned, her eyes empty. Sasori smiled. He knew she was learning fast. Her emotions were being retained somewhere deep within her soul. She had already had discipline, silence, and the will to learn. What else could they ask for in an apprentice?

She was better then Tobi or Deidara put together, in terms of silence and obedience. However, Tobi and Deidara, though loud and arrogant as they were, could kill on a dime without even thinking about it. Sasori watched her, his eyes equally indifferent.

Hinata obediently slipped out of her usual garments while the puppeteer prepared her presentation outfit, averting his eyes. She stood before him, naked and cold, but always silent. Sasori looked her up and down, critically. Thin, pale and beautiful. Yes, she would do.

"Here."

He handed her a long, flowing kimono. There was no white. No other color to complement the red of the garment. It was silk and thin linen.

She delicately put the clothing on, unashamed of her exposure. She had no need for shame, because she didn't care anymore. Her life revolved around the mission. That and nothing else. Sasori, amazed, let the smile slide off his face as he put on the finishing touch.

Her hair, longer then when she came, was brushed until it shone. Sasori then gently put it up, stuck two sharp senbon needles in, disguised as bright glass hair ornaments, and finally held up a mirror. Hinata looked at him and then at the mirror. The artist looked down at her and whispered in her ear,

"You are beautiful, Hime."

Hinata blinked, forcing down a half-hearted sob. Sasori, surprised, went around her and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. Hinata felt the coldness and roughness of an artist's hands. She bit her red lips and felt the tears slipping out. She looked away, finally ashamed. She was doing so well...what a time to break down and freak out.

"Hinata, Hinata...Angel..." Sasori said soothingly. "You'll mess up your makeup. I worked hard on it!"

Hinata gave a raspy cry and shut her white eyes. Sasori stroked her face worriedly, hoping she would pull it together just enough so that she could kill the Kage or at least get it.

The door opened abruptly and Itachi and Deidara walked in. The Uchiha's eyes flickered and Deidara snorted.

"Good job, Sasori. She's too subtle for me." he laughed, sarcastically.

"She's wearing red. You call red subtle?" Sasori hissed, re-applying Hinata's dark mascara, letting his hands slid from her face, ignoring Itachi's possessive glare.

Deidara thought for a few seconds and finally swooped down upon the startled girl who gave a small squeak from shock and whispered,

"You are still an angel, Hinata."

Itachi, speechless, could only stare. Hinata had changed from a young, innocent girl, to what could be considered a woman. Not that he could tell...but she had definitely changed. For the better.

He bit his lips and looked away. Sasori noticed this and narrowed his eyes. There was no use in lowering the girl's self-esteem anymore. He didn't want another crying episode.

"Itachi-san. Is she not lovely?"

Hinata slowly raised her eyes to meet Itachi's black orbs as Deidara stepped back to his place. Itachi noted, with some despair, that she was empty. Why did she have to end up like them? There was no reward in this life for him...Why did she want to be with them? He did not want this to be her fate...

Deidara noticed his partner's silence and nudged him, with a smirk.

"Pedophi-" he began to his but found his words stuck as Itachi had a kunai suddenly against his throat.

Sasori smirked and put his hand on the silent girl's shoulder. Her tears were gone, her determination returned and her eyes once again empty. Itachi nodded, his approving gaze never leaving Hinata's pink tinged face.

"She's ready."

----

Sweets: Yeah, yeah, short chapter I know. Chill out. Reviews are love!