Deidara stared until realization hit him. "Oh, bump knuckles, un?"

Sasori blinked. "This could have waited."

Sakura gave a small smile. "I know but I want to do it now for good luck."

That being said, the three held out their fists and bumped knuckles.

"Let's complete it and get out."

Sasori waited at the door impatiently for Deidara and Sakura to arrive. They could be so slow and both of them knew how much he hated waiting. After a spar, they went in to pack. The job wasn't entirely easy considering their achy muscles from the short training. It probably wasn't a good idea since they had the mission right after but Sasori just wanted to make sure he wasn't rusty and was ready. There was no way in hell he wouldn't be able to take care of himself again.

No more than ten minutes later, Deidara walked up to Sasori followed by Sakura, both with Akatsuki hats in hand.

The red head growled from inside Hiruko. "It's about time brats. You know I hate waiting."

Deidara made a 'tch' sound. "Not our fault you choose to wait and sit around in that cramped puppet, un."

"It's not cramped brat and-"

Once again, Sakura came in between the artists. "Let's go you guys! Geez, can't you two stop arguing for more than ten minutes?!" Seeing Deidara about to comment she shot her hand up. "Don't say a word."

Sasori shifted in Hiruko. "We're leaving." He stated he and walked (more like crawled) out the door. They had a long mission and personally, he did not want to elongate it by arguing or meaningless chit chat.

The three ninjas traveled in utter silence save for the automatic breaths they took. There was no time for talking because they were out of Akatsuki territory and could be attacked at any given moment.

It was getting dark, not to mention they had been traveling for about twelve hours so the team found a clearing next to a secluded pond and set up camp. Sasori stepped out of Hiruko and put him back in his scroll for the night while Deidara went to collect wood and Sakura stared at the newly appearing stars. She shivered when a cold wind blew around the small area.

"You're cold." He stated more than questioned.

The konoichi smiled. "I won't be soon as Deidara comes back. Sasori, aren't they pretty?"

The ex-puppet looked up to whatever she was pointing to. "What?"

"The stars. They're nice, ne?"

"Oh." Sasori continued to look up. "I never noticed. Stars didn't interest me when I was a child."

Sakura gave him a curious glance. "Really? It seems like everyone liked to look up at the stars when they were younger."

Sasori took off his cloak folding it to use as a makeshift pillow. "I had other things to worry about as a kid."

She was really curious now. "Like what? Not like you had parents." She flinched when a death glare was sent her way. "Oh no..." "I'm so so so so soooo sorry! Sometimes I-"

Sasori removed his glare and laughed softly. "You talk too much." He didn't know why he was laughing. Normally, he would have killed anyone who was dumb enough or had the guts to say something like that. But thinking about it, he had changed since then he guessed. He wasn't sure if that was a bad or good thing but it definitely felt better to laugh and smile. Those were things he wasn't accustomed to doing after his parent's deaths and joining the Akatsuki. It was safe to say that considering the circumstances, he was never used to it all.

Sakura blushed and smiled letting herself laugh as well.

When Deidara came back, to say he was confused would be an understatement. What is so funny about being on a life risking mission? And if they weren't laughing about that then what was it? Deidara looked at the two with heavy logs cradled in his arms and let them drop to the ground causing said members to tune their attention to the blonde. "What's so funny, un?"

Sasori shrugged. "It is just that Sakura has the tendency to talk too much for her own good."

Deidara chuckled and flopped down in the dirt. "Well it's true Sakura-chan, un." The blonde looked over to Sasori. "Can you make the fire?"

"No."

"Why not, un?!"

"I don't feel like it and I can't without my wooden arm."

Deidara scoffed. "Oh please danna enough with the bullshit, un. I know you turned some part of you into a puppet, un. And I know because I saw you light a candle the other day when you thought I was still sleeping, un!"

Sasori felt his temple bulge and yelled as loud as he could without giving away their location to any enemies. "You idiot! That was a lighter!"

Deidara blushed as Sakura laughed and leaned over the wood starting the fire while they were arguing about only God or whoever knows what.

"We should get some sleep ... you two."

The artists turned away from each other to see that Sakura was already lying down and dozing off.

Sasori nodded and laid down close to fire while Deidara laid on the other side. The stars were really pretty that night. He wished he had started noticing them when he was a child.

TBC

-clasps hands together- I'm so sorry! I just don't like jumping right into a new scene and stuff. I like to build up to the moment so be patient! Next chapter I promise will be very enthralling.