A/N: I just want to inset a note here. I LOVE YOU GUYS! ALL OF YOU! SERIOUSLY! I GOT FIFTEEN REVIEWS! It was so exciting!
Fairytale dedicated to and requested by: AkAtSuKiClOuD and narutofweak
A blur of bright, fluorescent pink caught Deidara's eye, distracting him from the clay model he was working on. He ground his teeth, but decided that he would ignore it.
As the blonde shaped the beak on the bird, a flash of pink he saw out of the corner of his eye distracted him again. Deidara growled under his breath when he realised that he had accidentally put the beak on wonky because of this. He corrected his mistake, and attempted to ignore the offensively bright once more.
However, when the blonde bomber saw the annoying colour out of the corner of his eye once more (causing him to snap the leg he had been working on), he sat bolt upright.
"Tobi!" He exclaimed, annoyed. "Either stop dancing around like a moron, or take of that ridiculous, pink outfit!"
The last part of Deidara's command came out more forcefully that the rest of his sentence, and Tobi stopped his enthusiastic movements in order to look at his sempai, baffled.
"But Sempai," Tobi said innocently. "Doesn't Sempai like what Tobi's wearing?"
Even for Tobi, that was a ridiculous question. The masked man was dressed in a pink mini-skirt, wearing a pink singlet t-shirt, covered by a pink, fluffy, jersey. Around his neck was a sparkly pink scarf, and a pair of pink mittens draped around his neck had been forsaken only due to the fact that it was the middle of summer and the room was stifling.
Even his normally orange mask had pink stripes painted on it. It was obvious, Deidara thougt, that the idiot had done them himself - it looked like he had at first tried to follow the curves on the mask, and then given up and just gone straight.
And although Tobi's feet were hidden by the pot-plant that he was standing behind (no one except Zetsu actually knew why the pot-plant was there), Deidara was willing to bet that he was wearing something pink on his feet as well.
"Why," Deidara ground out through gritted teeth, "Are you wearing that?"
Tobi jumped up and down excitedly. "Because Konan-chan and Hidan-san and Itachi-san set fire to Tobi's wardrobe!"
Deidara raised his eyebrow, torn between interest and annoyance. "Why did they do that? And why would you decide to wear that instead of just buying new clothes?"
"Tobi doesn't know why Tobi's wardrobe was set on fire. Itachi-san wouldn't tell Tobi. And Tobi did buy new clothes. Tobi bought these!"
"Why couldn't you buy normal clothes?" Deidara complained. "What was wrong with an Akatsuki cloak?"
"Well, first Tobi was going to use Konan-chan's clothes because it was her who set all Tobi's clothes on fire, but when Tobi looked through Konan-chan's wardrobe, Tobi couldn't find anything pink. Konan-chan is a girl, so Konan-chan should have lots of pink, but Konan-chan didn't, so Tobi asked Leader-sama why. Leader-sama said it was because Konan-chan wasn't the type of person to wear pink. And when Tobi asked why that was, Leader-sama said it was because nobody else did. So Tobi has decided to wear pink so that Konan-chan will!"
"Tobi…" Deidara said slowly, still processing the long-winded explanation. The masked man looked up at the blonde like a puppy dog would look at someone who was holding up a bone. Clearly he was pleased with himself.
"That is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard!" Deidara exclaimed.
"What is the most idiotic thing you have ever heard of?" A bored voice asked. "And Tobi, what is that horrendous outfit you're wearing? It's worse than Sasuke's."
The two Akatsuki members looked up to see Itachi stroll in. Tobi looked offended at Itachi's comment.
"It isn't horrendous, Itachi-san." Tobi informed him indignantly. "It is what Konan-chan should be wearing."
"Why would she wear that?" Itachi asked, amused.
"Because Konan-san is a girl, and girls should wear pink," Tobi said matter-of-factly, as though explaining how one plus one equals two to a five-year-old. Itachi just raised his eyebrows impassively.
"I know!" Tobi exclaimed suddenly. "We should all wear pink!"
Itachi immediately lost his amused expression.
"No." He said bluntly.
"Please? Pink would suit Itachi-san!
"No."
"Tobi will read another fairytale."
"…Everyone else has to wear pink as well."
"Okay!"
And so it was that eight Akatsuki members found themselves gathered around Tobi in various pink garments. All the less-than-willing ninja had found some gain in wearing such unusual dress.
Kakuzu was in a pink bunny rabbit costume, and, although he was glowering rather frightfully, he was looking rather pleased with the considerable amount of Tobi's savings that he had acquired in exchange for his dignity.
Itachi had found a pink, flowery dress that he thought suited him. Unfortunately for Itachi, his eyes weren't what they once were…
Deidara was once again bound (with pink rope), and was in a dress that matched Itachi's.
Zetsu had spontaneously grown pink azaleas, and he seemed a little too interested with the flowery pattern on Itachi's and Deidara's dresses. Tobi had appealed to the black side of Zetsu, and had some how managed to convince both sides to dye their Akatsuki cloak pink.
Pein had adamantly refused to wear pink, and so he had been banned from the room by Tobi. He was currently sulking in his office, knowing that he was missing out on a story and contemplating how he could sneak in so that he could listen as well.
Kisame had been threatened by Itachi, and, although no one actually knew what had happened behind the closed door of their shared room, Kisame had walked out wearing pink and looking a lot more nervous than he had when he went in.
Sasori had settled for using a pink, octopus-like puppet that he owned. Tobi had looked confused as to whether this was acceptable or not, but a glance at the many weapons on each of the puppet's tentacles seemed to convince him.
One would have thought that Hidan would have been the hardest person to convince. However Itachi knew differently. All it took was a casual threat as they passed each other in the hallway, and ten minutes later Hidan could be found huddled in the corner wearing a pink tutu with matching ballet shoes, to the amusement of everyone present.
The only missing person, other than Pein, was Konan herself. No one had been able to locate her.
"Tobi, you promised a fairytale," Itachi reminded him. Tobi sighed resignedly - he had hoped to wait for Konan. But he pulled the story book out of his cloak anyway, and flicked through it.
"Hmm…What can Tobi read today? How about Cinderella?"
"What's Cinderella?" Itachi asked, sounding intrigued. In answer, Tobi began to read.
"Once upon on a time, in a far away kingdom there was man whose first wife died. He then married the proudest and haughtiest woman in the kingdom, who had two daughters that took after her in every way.
"The man had a sweet and kind daughter from his first marriage, whom the man's new wife could not bear. The girl's good qualities made her and her daughters seem even more detestable. She ordered the girl to do all the dirty work around the house - the cleaning and the sweeping and the polishing.
"She was made to sleep in the attic on a very hard mattress, while her two stepsisters had luxurious rooms with many comforts. Because of her ragged appearance from the hard work and harsh lifestyle, the stepsisters gave her the name Cinderella."
"Who's going to be Cinderella?" Hidan asked.
"Are you volunteering, Ballet-Boy?" Deidara retorted quickly, with as much dignity as he could muster from his bound position on the floor. Hidan blushed and glared at the blonde.
"Tobi know who Cinderella will be!" Tobi said quickly, before an argument could start. Everyone looked at him expectantly.
"It's…Kisame-sans turn!" He said, after only a brief moment's hesitation. Kisame choked on the air he was breathing.
"Why me?" He complained. "What did I ever do to you, Tobi?"
Tobi shrugged. "At least this means Kisame-san can't be an ugly stepsister," He pointed out. The rest of the Akatsuki, who had breathed a sigh of relief upon not being chosen, all lost their triumphant smirks.
"The poor girl suffered in silence and did not dare to complain to her father. But although she had to wear rags and was always grimy, she was still a hundred times more beautiful than her stepsisters, even when they were in their most expensive, magnificent dress."
"HA!" Kisame shouted, causing a few people to jump. "At least I'm pretty!"
"It so happened that the king's son organised a ball, and sent out the invitations to all the important people in the country. The sister's were delighted when they received their invitations, and spent the upcoming months choosing their clothes and hairstyles that they would wear on the important night."
"Who are the two stepsisters?" Kisame asked, a bit happier now he knew that he would be prettier than all the other chosen characters.
"How about Deidara and Hidan? They argue like sisters," Sasori suggested. Although Hidan and Deidara seemed outraged by this proposal, and the insult that went with it, no one else seemed to have a problem with it. Tobi nodded in a decisive manner and continued.
"Because of the ball, Kisame had a lot more work to do. While Deidara and Hidan could talk about nothing else but what they would wear, Kisame had to prepare their clothes as well as do her usual chores. But although she had to help them and give them advice, she couldn't make any preparations herself, as she wasn't allowed to go."
"Not so great to be Cinderella now, is it Kisame?" Kakuzu mocked.
"Hidan and Deidara mocked her for it, teasing and insulting her in all manners. As the day of the ball got closer and closer, the step-sisters' excitement grew. Finally the evening came, and, after spending the day preparing, Deidara and Hidan departed for the ball, leaving poor Kisame to sit in her raggedy clothes in front of the fireplace.
"Kisame began to weep. Konan, her fairy-god-mother, heard this and witnessed the girl's unhappiness.
"Konan isn't even here, un," Deidara said. Tobi shrugged.
"Deidara-sempai could be the fairy-god-mother as well," Tobi suggested. The withering glare he received from the blonde gave him his answer.
Kisame sighed "Oh, how I wish I could go to the ball." Suddenly, in a cloud of purple smoke, Konan appeared behind her.
"She said "But you can, Kisame dear, for I am your fairy-god-mother. Now go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin."
"Kisame was confused by this instruction, but she obeyed Konan nevertheless. When she returned with the large vegetable, her fairy-god-mother tapped it with her magic wand and it turned into a beautiful golden carriage.
"Then Konan found the mousetrap, in which were six live, white mice. She told Kisame to life the trap lid and let the mice out one by one. Kisame did so, and, as each mouse escaped, Konan tapped them with her wand and they turned into lovely horses to draw the carriage.
"Then she told Kisame to fetch the rat-trap, and turned the one rat in there into a coachman.
"As the coachman took a seat on his carriage, Konan told Kisame to go to the watering can behind the house. "In it you will find six lizards. Bring them to me," Konan told her.
"Kisame did so, and as soon as the lizards were tapped with the magic wand they turned into brightly coloured foot men with fine uniforms.
" "There you go, Kisame," Konan said, pleased with her work. "Now you can go to the ball in style."
Kisame said to Konan, "But fairy-god-mother, how can I go to the ball dressed like this?" She gestured at her raggedy appearance.
"Konan smiled. "Not to worry, my dear," she assured the girl as she tapped her with the magic wand. "You shall have an outfit finer than anyone else in the city."
"And as she said this, Kisame's rags changed into a magnificent dress of gold and silver material, embroidered with precious stones.
"And then, with one last wave to Konan, Kisame got into her splendid carriage, aided by her six fine footmen, to be driven by her handsome coachman and pulled by her six white horses. But just as she was leaving, her fairy-god-mother gave her one last warning.
" "Kisame dear, make sure that you are back before midnight. Because at the twelfth chime of the clock, the spell will break and all of this will disappear."
"Kisame assured Konan that she would heed her warning and the coach set off.
At that moment, Tobi paused as he noticed Pein sneaking into the room wearing a pair of fluffy pink pyjamas. The masked man smirked, but didn't say anything.
"The Prince, Itachi, was stunned by Kisame's beauty, and he immediately requested a dance. Unfortunately for everyone else at the ball, once Itachi had danced with Kisame, he refused to dance with anyone else."
"Oh, no way!" Itachi protested. Tobi ignored him, and Hidan sniggered at both the Uchiha's and Kisame's horrified looks. Deidara thought this was a bit rich considering the ballet costume he was wearing.
"Kisame was having such a great time with Itachi that she completely forgot about Konan's warning. It wasn't until the clock began to chime that she realised what time it was.
"She fled the ballroom hurriedly, despite the desperate calls of Itachi for her to return. In her hurry, she left one glass slipper behind, which the prince noticed.
"He picked it up and announced: "With this slipper I shall find my new bride. The girl whose foot fits this shoe must surely be the lady I danced with, and I will make this woman my bride."
"Meanwhile Kisame returned home, dressed once more in her raggedy clothes. When Deidara and Hidan returned, she asked them how the ball went, and primped and preened them and saw them off to bed. Then she returned to in front of the fireplace to cry.
"Three days later, a knock on the door sounded, and when Kisame opened it she was surprised to see Prince Itachi standing there, holding her glass slipper! The Prince had visited every other house in the kingdom, and had still not found a foot that would fit.
"She invited him in and called her stepsisters, but was disappointed when he didn't recognise her due to the rags she was wearing. He immediately demanded that everyone in the house try to put the slipper on.
"Hidan tried first, but her foot was too fat. In the end, Itachi ended up snatching it back off her. Deidara also attempted to squash her foot into the dainty thing, but her foot was too long.
"Prince Itachi turned to Kisame. "What about you?" He asked.
"The sisters scoffed. "Kisame? Why, she's nothing more than a servant. Besides, she wasn't even at the ball."
"But Itachi insisted, and it was with trepidation that Kisame slipped the slipper easily onto her foot. The sisters gaped in shock.
"With a poof, Kisame disappeared in a cloud of smoke and re-emerged dressed in the finery that she wore on the night of the ball. The Prince recognised her instantly, and whipped her away to marry her as soon as possible.
"And then the coach-man reappeared, and Konan the fairy-god-mother decided that he really was a lovely once-rat, so she named him Pein and married him.
"The end."
"What was that bit at the end?" Pein spluttered. Tobi shrugged.
"Tobi thought that it seemed appropriate. Nice pyjamas, Leader-sama."
Pein blushed. The entire room was silent for a few moments, with no one appearing willing to speak. Then the door to the room creaked open.
Konan emerged from wherever she had been hiding, and walked into the room of men, and plants, dressed in pink. She rubbed her eyes, not quite sure of what she was seeing.
"Erm…did I miss something?"
A/N: So the bit at the end of Cinderella, with the PeinKonan pairing, was really random; it was dedicated to BleachUlquiGrimm, who voted for Konan as Cinderella so that there could be KonanPein pairing. However, Kisame won the votes, so I slipped that pairing in at the end.
The next fairytale is The Princess and the Frog, and I was wondering who would like a KonanPein pairing in it? Tell me in your reviews!