Author's Notes:

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Thanks you starry123 for reminding me through her review that I should also write some translations. I'd also like to thank WaffleNinja44904 for adding this story to your faves list!

Translation:

*Onii-san / (name)-nii-san= big brother

*Otou-san= father

*Aneue/Onee-san= big sister, but Aneue is a much more respective way

*Ohayou (gozaimasu)= good morning

*Arigatou= thank you

Chapter Five: Sickly Sweet Revenge

I woke up not knowing where I was.

Or maybe it was just my momentarily defective brain.

No doubt I recognized this place. I'd been here too many times. I rubbed my surely swollen eyes with my good hand. That was when I noticed what had happened to my other.

It was too, swollen, and purplish. A bruise had formed overnight the size of a palm. An adult's palm. At the exact same moment, something punch me hard: reality. Otou-san was dead. He had 'ceased to exist'- or so he had said once. I balled both of my hands into fists and bit my lip. I had cried enough and I wouldn't let any of those tears escape their place again. I didn't want Aneue to be worried about me anymore. I didn't want anyone to think that I'm a crybaby. Yesterday was embarrassing enough.

"Aneue?" I hadn't realized that my throat was so dry until I called my only family member left.

"Aneue?" I discarded the blanket that was put on me and walked towards the door. No energy was needed to open it, because there was a force from the other side already, which immediately stopped when the other person felt that he had hit something. I, who was thrown back from the sudden impact, glared at him before standing up, dusting myself afterwards.

"Breakfast" I blinked.

Why would he bring food upstairs? Especially in his room-

"I said breakfast. Let's hope that you're not deaf too" He put the tray on the small table beside his bed, lifted me up and put me on the soft mattress.

"I can walk and I'm not deaf." The sentence had no kind of intimidation at all.

I hate arguing right after waking up…

"I think I can settle for breakfast in bed" I grinned.

"Don't get used to it" Sasori-nii-san opened something. Whatever was inside it, it smelled heavenly. Like flowers and sweets mashed up together. He must've noticed me staring instead of eating.

"It's a salve for the bruise" I never knew salves could have such wonderful fragrance.

"You're not lying are you? You sure you're not trying to punish me for covering your cloak with my germs?" He scoffed.

"My plans are secrets I would never reveal" Well, that didn't exactly answer my question, did it?

"Now hold still- though if you want me to apply unnecessary pressure on it, I'd be glad to" I gulped- as far as I knew, he wasn't one for jokes in this department.

"Chiyo-baa-sama's medicine always have a foul stench. Did you make this?" I was rewarded with a slight shrug before he gently smeared the cool peach-colored cream on my skin. He then placed the tray on my thighs.

"Late for a mission" I nodded, understanding, yet curiosity tickled the edges of my mind. Onii-san? Tardy? Highly unlikely.

When the door clicked close, I exhaled, half-unaware I was holding my breath most of the time. Whereas other people would take a pity on me and treat me specially, Sasori-nii-san would act as if nothing had happened so I wouldn't remember the painful incident. Of course, when he was gone, he took his magic along with him. But he was being extremely sweet, so when I glanced at the glass of milk, a bowl of cereal with the same white substance and a note that said: "Get taller", I could only laugh.

There was no mission today- but he sure did have a job to do. He searched around the perimeter, knowing that he wouldn't be far from the area. Wherever Kireina-nee-san went, he tailed along like the sick stalker he was. The red-haired boy sighed. Of course he had no right to say so, since he had played the same role several times- it was just a reminder of why he needed to see him. One of them, anyway. That wasn't even the reason that blinded his common sense.

Then, he appeared in his line of vision. The soon-to-be puppet master did not hesitate. He dashed, leaped, and threw a blow square on his nose. The teenager didn't believe in taijutsu- it was so very degrading to have to touch your opponent. However he made an exception for today, just so he could feel the thrill of his bone breaking under his knuckle.

To be assaulted by a far younger boy head on- now that's degrading, he smirked smugly. Then again, he was a very good shinobi for his age.

Kireina's POV

"Ha ha. Yes, of course. Oh. Really? How amusing" All I needed was to utter a few words in the middle of his never-ending speech to keep him going. It wasn't my intention to hurt him; physically or mentally. Then again, to pretend that I was interested was getting boring and very irritating. If it wasn't the Kazekage's order, I would've left a long time ago. I did try.

"Oh my, look at the time! I have to go to Itsumi-"

"Didn't Chiyo-baa said that she would sleep the whole day? Let her rest, Kireina" I wasn't fond of him addressing both Chiyo-baa-sama and me improperly. Annoyed, in fact. A small pitter patter of steps averted my gaze to a familiar figure. Yet, no sooner than I could open my lips, he had landed a blow- a strong blow on Juukiri-san's face, effectively shutting him up.

"S-Sasori-kun!" The Sasori-kun I knew was calm, collected and full of pride. The one I saw before me was enraged, at the same time content and still bulbous with pride.

"What the- YOU!" Juukiri-san jerked the boy's collar after regaining his once blurry vision.

"That's not even a quarter of the things I want to do to you" When the man growled and raised his arm to attempt an assault, I decided that things were getting out of hand and ceased their brawl. Juukiri-san released him out of his grasp, both still glaring at each other.

"Sasori-kun" There was a threatening tone in my voice, urging him to explain.

"He needs to apologize" I stared at Juukiri-san, whose nose was clearly broken, and uttered his name with the same tone.

"What did I do?" I snapped.

"Oh I know you must've done something. Something terribly wrong, at that. Or else, this boy," I pointed to Sasori-kun with my chin. "who I've known his whole life, wouldn't attempt such a hasty confront with such determination"

"Don't you think he might be using your trust and do this for fun!" I knew there was something fishy about him today. He had been delaying my intention to visit Itsumi-chan more than ever.

"I've helped raising this boy and I know his behaviour well. Don't you dare say that he would use me. For all I know, he is a better shinobi than you'll ever be. Now spit it out- what have you done to my sister?" He gulped, sending a brief glance full of hate to Sasori-kun before returning his attention to me.

"He hurt her badly. Her wrist was in the point of shattering and is now seriously bruised," A smirk decorated his porcelain smooth face. "which is what I would gladly do to you" Out of the blue, Juukiri-san kicked the poor boy in the shin- Sasori-kun was just fast enough to reduce the impact by using both of his hands and landed on his feet somewhere behind me. I heard it more than I saw, because at that moment I was too busy handling the impolite man before me and sending him to oblivion.

Itsumi's POV

I changed into the clothes I had purposely left in this house weeks ago slowly. The cold shower helped to ease the pain better than I imagined, yet now it throbbed dully still. Silence dominated the house as I dried the bowl and glass I had used to eat, having washed them earlier.

The door burst open and I heard my name being called. Peace never visited and stayed too long.

Aneue!I giggled and ran to her.

"Aneue!" I flung myself to her and hugged, thus hiding my hand from her view. My happiness ended when I saw blood.

"Onii-san!" It was still trickling from his mouth. It looked like it hurt.

"Yes, Sasori-nii-san punched Juukiri-san in the face and it ended with him being kicked" I released my Aneue, hand covered by my body and approached him.

"Are you ok?" I didn't like having debts, so I had better pay it now.

"I blocked the kick" He wiped the trail of blood on the side of his mouth. That was when I saw the deep gash on his lower arm.

"He did it because he demanded an apology from him for your injured hand" Since Aneue knew, there was no point in hiding it anymore. I left it hanging limp beside me.

"What! How stupid can you be!"

"I'm not weak-"

"Neither is he! You could've gotten hurt worse…" He seemed worse. His face was flushed and he was panting.

Wait a minute. Boot. Juukiri kicked him with his trademark boot- the one with the sharp edge…

"Aneue," my voice was vaguely trembling with fear, "Juukiri did not poison the blade he has in his boots, did he?" Aneue swore. It was the only time I had heard her curse.