Chapter Twelve

Veronica was tired. She was very tired. She had no idea how Sasori and Tobi walked to Suna in the first palce... Deidara offered a few times for her to ride the bird, but she curtiusly denied his offer. Then even Tobi knew something was wrong. After a couple more minutes of walking in the heat, Veronica collasped. "Veronica-chan!" "Imouto!" Tobi and Deidara shouted simotaniously. Deidara landed his bird and ran to his sister. "Imouto, are you okay?" Deidara asked worriedly. Heck, even Sasori was a bit worried. Veronica nodded and stood up slowly.

"I'm fine... Let's keep going." Veronica said putting on a fake smile which didn't help in this situation.

"Veronica, you're flying with Deidara." Sasori ordered.

"No!" Veronica shouted, then blushed from her outburst. "I... I don't wanna ride the bird." She whispered.

"Why not, Veronica-chan?" Tobi asked in his innocent clueless voice. Veronica sighed.

"It's Gaara-sama..." She explained. "I... I don't knwo how you do it..." The three stood... some more dumbfounded then the others. "I love being in the Akatsuki family, but killing isn't my thing... Seeing Gaara-sama like that kills me inside..." Deidara frowned. Why hadn't he noiced before? He was supposed to be her big brother.

"I'm sorry, Imouto." Deidara said frowning. "I should've known..." He whispered to himself. "How about you ride the bird, but stay on the back... Will that do?" Deidara asked concerned. Veronica gave a slight nod before passing out again.

When Veronica awoke, she was in an unfimiliar area. It was a dark cave. She then noticed all the other members on the Akatsuki were there except Zetsu, Konan and Nagato. "Where are we?" Veronica asked standing up and joining the seven. "This isn't the base..." She said looking around.

"Looks like Sleeping Beauty woke up." Hidan said chuckling. Veronica and Deidara glarred at him.

"We're in one of our many other smaller bases so no one will find out where our real one is located." Itachi explained nonchalantly. Veronica blushed and nodded. Hidan sighed rolling his eyes at the girl.

"Umm... What about... Gaara-sama?" Veronica asked shyly.

"He's dead." Kakazu said with no emotion in his voice. "We took the One-Tailed Shukaku from the Kazekage, and he died in the process." The money lovin' mummy man explained. Veronica 'oh'ed.

"Konoha's ninja are on their way." Zetsu said appearing from the ground. "There's seven of them."

"Sasori, Deidara... you got this?" Itachi asked the two. Both nodded. Veronica then noticed Sasori was still in his puppet. "Let's go Kisame. I believe my brother is near by." Itachi said with a smirk. Kisame nodded and the two disappeared. Hidan and Kakazu then disappeared. Zetsu went back into the ground, and left.

"I wanna stay in help fight." Veronica said to the two.

"You couldn't even stand looking at a half-dead body, how can you stand to stay and fight?" Sasori asked snickering. Veronica fummed.

"I wanna stay and help protect my family." Veronica said lowering her head. "The both of you plus Kisame-san, and Itachi-san tought me everything I know... Before this mission, you made me train almsot the entire day. I've learned much from the four of you, and I really wanna stay and help. Please let me fight, Sasori-san." Veronica kept her head bowed. Sasori sighed and Deidara smiled.

"And Tobi wants to help too! Tobi is getting strong too! Zetsu-san has been teaching Tobi." Tobi said grinning under his mask.

"Fine," The two cheered. "But Tobi's with Deidara. I can't deal with him anymore." Sasori said sighing. Veronica nodded. "Veronica, I want you to stay hidden until I need your help." Veronica nodded again.

"Tobi, same to you. Go wait outside." Tobi nodded and followed Deidara's orders. "Ready for some run, Sasori-danna?" Deidara asked smirking as they felt the chakra's approaching.

The front of the cave shattered into millions of pieces. Theres at the front of the cave stood three ninja and an old lady. Sasori quickly noticed the old woman. "Chiyo-baa-sama." Sasori said smirking.

"Sasori." The old woman said back to him. "Still playing with your puppets, I see." She said with a smirk.

"Gaara!" The blonde ninja, Veronica knew was Naruto, shouted as he saw the lifeless body of his red-headed friend on the ground. "You killed him!" He shouted angerly. Veronica frowned.

"Naruto, calm down." It was Kakashi. "We'll fight them as a team." Kakashi ordered.

"Really now?" Deidara asked smirking. He quickly made one his of clay birds and brought it to life. He hopped ontop, then the bird picked Gaara up with his mouth. "See you soon Sasori-danna." Deidara said waving. Her looked to the corner where Veronica was hiding, and smiled. Then he took flight, flying off with the Kazekage's body. Naruto quickly went after him.

"Sakura, Chiyo-sama, take care of this one. I'll help Naruto." Kakashi ordered before leaving the cave.

"Get ready Sasori... This won't be an easy fight." Chiyo said with a smirk. "Sakura, stay back until needed please. This is my fight." Chiyo said. Sakura nodded and backed up to the walls of the cave. Sasori dropped his Akatsuki robe from the puppet. His huge poison tail hung above his head, ready to attack.

"I was hoping you'd say something like that, Chiyo-baa-sama." Sasori smirked under his puppet. "I know one thing for a fact Baa-sama," Sasori said snickering. "One of us is going to die this battle." He smirked. "And it won't be me."

I sure hope it won't be you Sasori-san...

Everything else has been different since you arrived, maybe this will be different as well...

But think... If Chiyo-baa-sama dies, who will bring Gaara back to life?

I have an idea...

I don't like where this is going...

(line!) - - - - -

A/N: Next chapter will be with Violet again!! XD I won't be able to use the computer for... uh... six days? 'Cause I'm going to Georgia 'cause my brother's getting basck from Iraq. I'll hopefully have chapter thirteen up... either tomorrow before 8 in the morning, or in six or so days. lol.
Lot's Of Love,
SakuraKissy