I tried to make this chapter a little better than the last, so hopefully its worth your time. I'm a little stressed out about a few things, like how I found out that one of my closest friends has cancer... and then there's a lot I have to do before I move to my dorm. Anyway, enjoy! And take care, I don't want anyone else getting cancer.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other character except for Ryoko.
"We're here, yeah."
It was a little past midnight as Ryoko slid off the wing of Deidara's clay bird, still shaking from nervousness. After they had set off again in Amegakure territory, Deidara had created three clay birds for transportation so that they would arrive at the main base at his estimated time. The blonde rode alone whilst Sasori and Ryoko shared a ride and Itachi and Kisame shared another.
Being blind while riding on a giant bird for Ryoko's first time was a little more frightening than it would have been if she wasn't. Sasori was seated in front of the kunoichi as she occasionally grasped whatever part of him she could whenever the bird made a sudden move or lurched. Despite her nerves, Ryoko had noticed that Sasori didn't exactly feel human under his Akatsuki cloak. He felt a little too hard and lacked bodily warmth as they flew through the heavily clouded skies with the rain pouring down on them.
At first Sasori had stiffened at the unfamiliar contact, and shook her off the first few times. After a while, though, he got used to it since Ryoko kept unconsciously holding on to him anyway.
Ryoko forced herself to stop shaking, but realized she couldn't, because it was mostly due to the chilly air around them. She noticed it had stopped raining as she took several strides forward to who knows where, though her red hair was still dripping wet.
"What part of Amegakure are we in?" she asked through chattering teeth.
Kisame watched as Deidara manipulated his birds to fly high up in the still clouded sky and blew them up before he turned to Ryoko, who seemed startled at the far away explosion. "We are in a very secure area near the border of Bird Country." He grinned, bearing his shark-like teeth before adding, "On the small mountains of Amegakure."
Ryoko's red eyes widened slightly in surprise. "On the mountains?" It was no wonder why it was a bit too cold for an early summer night.
Deidara responded as the group continued forward on the soggy green field. "Like Kisame mentioned, they are small, and are the only mountains in Amegakure. No one bothers passing over them, which is what makes this place ideal for our main base."
Sasori ignored their conversation and instead took interest in observing the night world around them. They were located in a large crater surrounded by mountains that was created when a comet crashed down from the skies long ago. For him, it was nature's way of creating eternal art, an idea he worshipped since the death of his parents as a child.
He looked to the small river on his far right in admiration, though he did not show it. It came from the tallest peak of the mountains and ran down through the well maintained grass until it came to the edge of the circular field, where it crashed down as a waterfall through an opening of the crater. The opening was the only place where the mountains parted slightly and allowed for the Akatsuki members to gaze down on the earth without having to climb the giant hills.
From Deidara's clay bird, Sasori had noticed that the river split the circular green field, not in a straight line of water, but an 's', making the field resemble a yin yang sign. Yes, it was truly a mark of nature's eternal beauty.
"Um…" Ryoko hesitated, making Sasori snap out of his admiring thoughts. "So we're here right?" She felt like an impatient child for asking so many questions.
Itachi's onyx eyes stared straight ahead at the small castle in front of him the Akatsuki referred to as 'the main base' as he answered her question. "Yes."
Having tucked her short staff under her arm, Ryoko nearly tripped as the group climbed the stone stairs that led to the huge wooden doors of the castle. She regained her balance and started forward again more carefully, unaware of Deidara's amused blue eyes on her. It was mean to find Ryoko's handicapped situation humorous, but then again, he was Akatsuki. Who cares?
They came to a halt at the top of the steps as the wooden doors loomed over them. Itachi, being at the front of the group, made a few hand seals and the doors swung open silently. They made their way inside quickly before the doors closed slowly behind them.
"Well, here we are, yeah," Deidara announced, spreading his arms in presentation. "I know you can't tell, but we're in the lobby right now-" The blonde was sharply cut off as Kisame elbowed him. The tall blue man fixed his yellow eyes sternly on Deidara, making him realize the way he'd rudely pointed Ryoko's disability.
"Its okay," Ryoko said quietly with a small smile. She was about to ask whatthey wanted her to do next, but stiffened when she heard light footsteps echo around the elegant room as someone new walked across the nicely polished cherry wood floors towards them. A woman, Ryoko observed, taking in the scent of the newcomer.
Ryoko tensed slightly as the woman came to a halt a few feet in front of her and spoke. "Good, you are here." Was she speaking to her? "We weren't expecting the arrival of all of you at the same time. Did you finish your mission early, Itachi?"
Ryoko relaxed as the woman's soothingly calm voice reached her pierced ears. This woman sounded like she posed no threat, and probably looked nice too. However, Ryoko wasn't completely fooled. Underneath all those layers of elegant beauty she could not see, the woman held a powerful chakara within her. The red-head smirked slightly. As expected of Akatsuki.
"Yes," Itachi's monotonous voice shook Ryoko out of her thoughts as his now crimson orbs pierced into the woman's indigo ones. "And we've accomplished the side mission Leader requested, as you can see."
The woman's matching indigo hair moved slightly as she nodded once. She turned to Sasori and Deidara as Itachi and Kisame headed up a large stair case and to their own rooms for the night.
Ryoko shifted uncomfortably as she felt the woman's eyes land on her for a few seconds before looking back to the artists and speaking. "Before you two rest for the night, there's a meeting tomorrow at ten in the morning, so be ready."
"Good night, Ryoko, yeah," Deidara managed out through a yawn as he followed Sasori up a stairway opposite the one Itachi and Kisame had descended into. They both lead to the same floor and were located in the lobby, but it didn't matter, because it just looked better that way.
"Good night," Ryoko called back before turning her attention back to the indigo haired woman. She waited patiently as the woman watched the last of Deidara's blonde hair disappear in the mildly lit hallway above them.
"My name is Konan," she started, taking in Ryoko's worn out and soaked appearance. "It is nice to finally meet you, Ryoko."
Ryoko kept her cautious emotions beneath the surface as she breathed in Konan's papery and flowery scent. So, she knew who she was and had been expecting her. But what did Akatsuki want with her? The unanswered question still lingered in the back of her tired mind as she greeted Konan. "It is nice to meet you too."
Konan let a small smile grace her elegantly beautiful features as she gave a nod of approval at Ryoko's manners. She wasn't exactly sure what kind of person Ryoko might have turned out to be and it would have been bothersome if it was someone rude and unintelligible.
"I know you are tired and worn from the journey, and no doubt Sasori or Itachi, perhaps even both, made it tough for you. I will take you to our guest room where you will stay for the night," the indigo-haired woman stated, looking into Ryoko's sightless eyes. Before Ryoko could protest, she quickly added, "I know you have many questions, but I promise you that they will be answered tomorrow after you meet Pein."
Ryoko shifted her weight on one leg, feeling her patience starting to wear thin. "Pein?" she asked curiously.
"Leader. Only I really refer to him as Pein."
"Oh."
"I'll take you to your room now," Konan said, taking Ryoko's hand.
Ryoko stiffened at the contact as she was pulled away by Konan. The redhead tugged her hand away gently, not wanting to offend Konan. Who knows what this woman could do to her if she got offended?
"… I can walk myself, thank you," Ryoko told her quietly yet firmly, unsure of Konan's reaction.
Konan simply nodded and lead Ryoko away from the stairs and the lobby and instead went through a hallway in the left side of the small castle. She stopped at a large cherry wood door and turned the knob, exposing small dark room.
"Because it is meant for guests, this room is smaller than the rest, but it still includes a small bathroom." Konan held the door open for Ryoko as the readhead stepped foot inside and sneezed at the dusty filled air. "I apologize for the untidiness; we don't house guests often."
"I can tell," Ryoko replied with a tone of humor.
Konan smiled. "There is a bathrobe and a kimono hanging in the bathroom if you want to clean up. Someone will come get you in the morning for breakfast and then you'll be able to meet Pein," she explained briefly. "Call me if you need anything."
Ryoko nodded. "Thank you."
With that, Konan closed the door and Ryoko to sunk onto the bed. She coughed as dust descended into the air and stood up abruptly to get away from the dusty old bed.
"Geez! Do they ever clean in here?" she mumbled to herself as she walked around the small room, looking for the bathroom. Instead of sitting and thinking as she had planned to do, the redhead settled for changing out of her muddy clothes and taking a quick shower.
When she was finished, Ryoko bravely stepped out of the bathroom in a short white bathrobe to face the dusty room again. After she placed her dirty clothes and gear at the foot of the bed, she yanked the comforter off the mattress and shook it, making dust fly everywhere. Coughing, she did the same with the pillow and placed it with the dustless side up back on the full sized bed when she felt she'd gotten most of the dust off.
Without bothering to use the comforter or any other layer for warmth, Ryoko finally let herself lay on the bed and sighed.
"Smells like an old attic in here," she complained to no one. Her sightless eyes closed as she realized she probably did everything she did in the past hour in darkness. "I've been in darkness," she muttered bitterly to herself before her mind finally drifted off to dream world.
One thing Ryoko liked about having dreams was that she could see. She awoke with a smile and stretched as she lay in bed still in her white bathrobe, her sense blurred by sleep. Suddenly she became aware of a presence in the dusty room. She sat up abruptly and pin-pointed the newcomer's scent, but before she could do anything it spoke.
"Good morning!" a male voice said rather loudly. The cheeriness radiating off of him and his loudness made Ryoko flinch. "I'm Tobi!"
Ryoko would have stared at him, but settled for letting her sightless gaze rest straight ahead as Tobi shifted somewhere on the mattress.
"Um… I'm Ryoko," she began a bit cautiously. "Though I can't say it's a pleasure to meet you."
Tobi's swirly orange tilted along with his head as he replied, seemingly hurt by her words. "Why not?"
Ryoko would have thought the gesture was cute if she could see him and if he had not startled her.
Ryoko narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Because you entered the room without knocking, startled me, and you're loud."
"But Tobi thinks you're nice."
Taken by surprise, the redhead tugged the hem of her bathrobe unconsciously.
"Thanks… I guess," she replied, unsure.
Tobi grinned under his mask as he grasped Ryoko's hand and pulled her up with unexpected strength. "To breakfast!" he announced as he began pulling her away.
Ryoko pulled back, alarmed. "What? No! I'm not even properly dressed!" She twisted her wrist and broke free from his grasp. "Just give me five minutes, okay?"
"Okay!" Tobi cheered as he stepped out of the guest room and closed the door.
Five minutes later, Ryoko stepped out of the room and into the hall dressed in a fire red kimono that she found hanging in the bathroom. It was a little too big, but it hung comfortably loose on her womanly figure.
"Ohhh… you look so pretty!" Tobi said, taking in her appearance.
Ryoko had a feeling he said probably said that to anyone, but still blushed at his compliment. "Thank you, Tobi," she said hesitantly, holding her short staff to the polished cherry wood floor. "Lead the way."
At this, Tobi took her hand and pulled her along behind him as he basically broke into a run to the dining room.
"This isn't a race!" Ryoko said in slight panic. She raised her staff and hit Tobi on who-cares-where a couple times in attempt to slow the energetic boy down. Maybe he wasn't a boy, but he sure acted like one.
A few moments later the duo arrived at the beautifully decorated dining room. Located in the center of the room was a long mahogany table with matching chairs on every side. A huge lengthy window allowed sunlight to burst in from the outside world with its rich red curtains drawn the sides.
Scenting Sasori and Itachi at the table with cereal (except for Sasori, who was reading a book), Ryoko broke free from Tobi and smiled. "Good morning," she greeted, happy to find someone she knew. Well, not really.
"Hn," Itachi grunted in greeting as he took another spoonful of cereal in his mouth.
Sasori simply settled for glaring at Tobi and Ryoko for their loud entrance. "You disturbed the peace," he stated, annoyed.
"Sorry, Sasori-sempai!" Tobi apologized as he waltzed into the large white kitchen, leaving Ryoko to converse with the two ex-nin.
The redhead stood in the same spot where she broke free from Tobi with a puzzled look on her face. Why did Sasori sound different? His voice was not so menacing anymore and he sounded younger.
"Um… Sasori?"
"What?"
"Why… do you sound… different…?" she trailed off, unsure.
Sasori sighed. He knew he would have to explain this to Ryoko sometime if she stayed any longer than a day. "I sound different, because I was inside one of my heavily guarded puppets yesterday. His name is Hiroku."
"A puppet…?" Ryoko thought back to the time when she had first met Sasori and heard him say something about creating puppets out of the bounty hunters that had attacked them. So, he's a puppeteer, Ryoko thought silently to herself. That's why he smelled of wood and leathery corpse… corpse?! "You make puppets out of… humans?"
"Yes," Sasori replied, as he turned back to the book he was reading.
Ryoko swallowed, but other than that, managed to control her uneasiness to not show. She let out a small "oh" as Itachi, who had finished his cereal, looked at her with a small glint of amusement in his eyes. She was about to follow Tobi into the Kitchen when something else dawned on her. Why did Sasori still smell of wood and leathery human flesh?
Before Ryoko could ask, Sasori closed his book and stood up.
"Its about time for the meeting," he directed at Itachi as he walked out of the dining room. Tobi could be excluded for all he cared.
Itachi gave no reply as he too stood and headed into the kitchen with his empty cereal bowl.
Tobi came out of the kitchen, balancing two bowls of plain cereal in either hand and walked towards the long table. "Sit over here, Ryoko-chan," he called as he set down the bowls of cereal and plopped down in front of one.
Ryoko did as she was told, her mind still lingering on her disturbing thoughts as she carefully sat in the chair next to Tobi.
"Aren't you going to the meeting?" she asked, taking a spoonful of tasteless cereal in her mouth. Didn't Akatsuki have any taste? The stuff wasn't even worth eating in Ryoko's opinion.
"Nope," Tobi replied as he slipped his orange mask over his mouth so that he could eat. "I already know what it is about anyway."
"Really?" Ryoko asked a bit disinterested. Was Tobi a member of Akatsuki? He didn't exactly act like one and he was missing a seemingly important meeting. Maybe he was just keeping an eye on Ryoko.
"Yeah," Tobi said casually, eating his cereal. "Its about you."
Now Ryoko was interested.
I hope you enjoyed this one! I'll try to squeeze in another chapter before Friday, which is when I have to leave. Please take the time to review since I took the time to write you this fic.
Oh! And I don't exactly have a plot... ; But I'm thinking of making this a romance fic if nothing comes to mind. So! Please let me know who you think Ryoko would be good with. Pein and Konan are together, so neither of those two. xD I will take your opinion into consideration and I'll linger on it even more if you state a reason along with the Akatsuki of your choice. Yes, Hidan and Kakuzu will be in here... next chapter, in fact.
Review!