Against All Odds

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

AN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS! If it's more polite for me to respond to each of you individually (in general, as a rule), please let me know (I won't be offended or anything). My web etiquette just sucks. XD.

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4: Almost Grateful

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Sakura didn't even know what she was feeling anymore. This place… this place was evil, pure and simple, and her lousy excuse for a companion didn't seem much better. She looked at him. Well, at least he seemed to be disappointed. Not that she could really read the machine very well. And not that she really cared at this point anyway.

She threw her hands into the air, not even bothering to consider how dumb she looked. As far as she was concerned, life was over, and a little stupidity wouldn't hurt a bit.

"We're stuck here!" she cried. "I was going to see them again! And now, and now…"

Oh, Naruto. Sasuke-kun. She could hear his voice even when it wasn't spoken aloud, could see them both smiling briefly before turning away, their backs to her. Just like it always was; she dragged further and further behind. And what was all this for? A medicine? Those people could be as sick as they wanted to be. She hoped they all suffered and died.

"Oh shut up," Sasori said, though she was happy to hear the bitterness in his voice as well. "And get up. You'll get filthy." He scoffed disdainfully at her messy clothes, and she felt herself turn beet red. So she hadn't changed, and the journey had taken an obvious toll on her appearance. A girl can't look perfect all the time. "Not that you aren't already."

That was it. They were in the same crappy situation, but all this antisocial, hidden person wanted to do was insult her and then claim he needed her help. Well, he'd have to pay the price of respect. She was so through, ethics be damned.

"Oh please," she hissed at him. "At least I'm not so ugly that I have to hide myself in a doll!"

Ha. She could tell that he was very annoyed, and she felt a grim satisfaction wash over her. Inner Sakura celebrated with shouts of delight.

"That isn't to say you couldn't use one."

Why? Why her of all people? Why did this have to happen? Inner Sakura had now turned more pissed than usual, utterly deflated, but utterly raving still. Snide, sarcastic asshole. She'd had enough of being shit on by guys. Briefly, she remembered the little girl who complained that the legend was all about men, men and their machismo. Well, the kid was right. Men sucked. The whole damn legend sucked! She stood up angrily and kicked the dirt around her.

"This isn't fair," she whispered, completely broken. No smarts, no strengths could save her now. She was trapped in the cave with this monster. Forever. "Why am I stuck with you?"

Sasori groaned. "I'd ask you the same question," he said, "but the answer is too obvious already. This place wants to drive me insane." He swung the mighty tail in one direction. "Come on. Let's get walking. We have to find a way out."

"Yes, let's," Sakura said sarcastically, all the anger and pessimism creeping into her voice. "Because the last time we did that, it turned out brilliantly!"

Suddenly, the scorpion's tail twitched as if to make a movement for her throat, though something within the machine obviously thought better of it. However, all too quickly, the machine was up in her face, its dull wooden nose almost touching hers. She didn't even flinch. He wanted to kill her? Oh, he could try.

"Silence, little girl," the puppet snarled. "Just because the beasts here can't hurt you doesn't prevent me from doing so." It turned its head away, surveying the forest for a very long moment. The man inside seemed to control his temper, and when he spoke again, he had cooled.

"Besides," it reasoned, "at least this place is light. Now, you won't stumble clumsily like a fish out of water."

Deadly scorpion tail or not, Sakura was really ticked and feeling very rebellious. He dare threaten her after he had asked for her assistance; would he really hurt her though he needed her help? Anger getting the best of her, she decided to take her chances.

"You really are an idiot," she retorted. "The crystals probably grow better deep within the cavern. We followed the light, but we should have followed the darkness if we wanted a way out!"

"Well, I didn't see you suggest that earlier," the beast said disgusted both at her and, Sakura recognized with a smirk of contempt, that she had been completely right. "Where was this sudden stroke of brilliance when we needed it most?"

That was it, Sakura decided. They were through. She would not travel another step with this beastly person, this gloomy, bothersome person whose existence seemed to center on making her miserable.

"Like you had infinitely better ideas," she said coolly. With her fiercest glare, she spoke her thoughts aloud. "That's it. I'm not traveling with you anymore, so goodbye."

The machine seemed to be in absolute shock, almost as if no one had ever disobeyed him. It shuddered slightly.

"Excuse me?" The voice was calm, but Sakura didn't miss the threatening tone.

Like she cared. "We're through," she repeated, almost sounding bored. "This isn't working, so we're splitting up." She paused, gauging the machine's reaction. The atmosphere had become deathly silent. Oh, well. "Good luck. Or not. I hope you rot within this cave."

She shrugged in thought. "At least it's good for something."

And with that, she turned away, leaving the machine unmoving behind her.

Then, the puppet made an utmost un-puppet like howl, a screech that seemed to come not from the man within but as if the tool had made the noise all on its own, a noise fit for a true monster. The sound waves shook the trees around them.

"I'd kill you, but you're dead already," it spat in reply, the man in the machine, sneering. Then, hulking greatly, it stalked off into the woods. Sakura laughed at its hunched figure before turning away. Without another spare glance, Sakura spun around and marched into the other direction as far away from that thing as possible.

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Yes, all this place really wanted to do was make him as miserable as hell. A stupid decision, a stupid adversary, an even stupider little girl… Sasori almost growled aloud in frustration. That little girl was the worst of it. He really loathed kids like that.

Kids that could only mourn for their friends, their loved ones. Kids that got too emotional.

And, he thought briefly, kids that were too kind. She had not hesitated to help him even though he had nothing really to offer. Helped him because it was the right thing.

Some ninja she was. It was almost laughable and a real shame he couldn't have used her, let his temper control him instead of smarts.

In a most un-Sasori-like manor, he snapped the trees with his tail, suddenly finding movement much easier, more than likely due to his rage. He needed an outlet. That pink-haired brat should've been it, but frankly, it wasn't worth the effort.

The trees shattered like sticks.

And then suddenly, Sasori found himself face-to-face with another bone creature, looking even ghastlier in the fake sunlight. If Hiruko had a more responsive mouth, it would've been drawn wide open. The timing could not have been worse. Everything about this place really pissed him off!

Adjusting a joint within Hiruko, his puppet made another roar.

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As Sakura stalked through the woods, she ignored the very pestering and very persistent voice in the back of her head, thinking instead of Sasuke-kun, thinking of Naruto. The forest was so quiet, and there was a lot of time to reflect on what she missed… what she'd never see again…

Then, she heard it, loud and clear, echoing as if off walls. Sakura jumped as she heard the crashes, crashes that vaguely resembled the falling of trees. Her eyes widened.

Sasori.

Okay, so it was her stupid instinct, wanting to save someone she had previously never wanted to think of again. She had been unbelievably mad at him about fifteen minutes or maybe it was an hour ago (not that time really mattered in this place at all), but she felt suddenly guilty as possibilities of a shattered puppet filled her head. He did need her. And without the length of his puppet's enormous tail, maybe she'd have a tough time fighting those damned bird creatures herself. Not that she was really sure it was a bird creature. But she knew he could use her assistance…

She closed her eyes, thinking back to her earlier reflections. What would Naruto do in this situation? What would be the right thing to do?

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Hiruko couldn't fight anymore, that much was certain. It could barely walk, so much for rage. The bird thing gnawed at his cloak and Sasori shook his head disgusted. Why of all the things did he have to be killed by this? Damn, damn! He had never been more flustered, and he was known for being calm! But this enemy… these pathetic enemies were outdoing him again and again. This was… this was…

Goddamn that Pein asked him to go here.

Goddamn that he agreed.

Goddamn that Deidara couldn't convince him out of the mission.

Goddamn that he wouldn't let Deidara convince him out of the mission.

And goddamn letting that stupid brat get the best of him, goddamn her for inadvertently condemning him to death. Sasori wasn't one to believe in ghosts, but if they existed, he would haunt her till her grave…

"Need some help?"

His head turned towards the pink-haired girl. Part of him was truly upset that he was being rescued by his new least favorite person, another part truly surprised that she came at all. And yet, the strongest part of all had known that she would come along... and he felt almost grateful for it. Almost.

He knew about second chances. And he knew he wouldn't make the same mistake twice and piss her off. Yes, he really did require her assistance because despite her irritating attitude and her constant whining, she had strength that could crush diamonds and a heart stronger than gold. Qualities that he lacked. Qualities that in this miserable hovel, he really, really needed.

"About time," he rumbled as he extended his tail toward her feet. "I can't move Hiruko very well, so hurry up. I hate being kept waiting."

He saw the girl smile, and he wished he didn't sound so thankful at her appearance. He sincerely hoped he didn't sound relieved – they hadn't even been separated that long or anything.

But the words she spoke next had nothing to do with any of that; just an exhilaration, a preparation to her upcoming attack.

"Well, that's one thing we have in common."

With that comment, she lunged at the bones.

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They were walking again together. Sasori realized dully that he had to soothe her temper, keep her on his side, and, he noted, the best way to do so was probably to converse with her and earn her trust. He did not want to feel annoyingly helpless ever again.

And besides, while he didn't mind wandering without speaking, it wasn't like they were doing anything truly important. So, he could try to be… oh what was it she called him? Not antisocial. He could try to socialize.

Oh. He could try.

"I can't believe we're stuck in a forest, fighting those monsters," she complained. "Those bone, those vice…" She lost her voice while trying to think of a name. "Vice… de… plats… ploys… wait, what word am I looking for?"

"Vice de plats?" Sasori asked, clearly amused. Just because he couldn't really anger the girl into running off didn't mean that he had to abandon his sarcasm or skepticism. "Yes, what word are you looking for? Your rambling is incessant. Most un-ninja-like."

She acknowledged him coldly, her green eyes turned to ice. "I'm a ninja," she assured him. "Don't insult me."

Within Hiruko, he resisted rolling his eyes. But it was so easy and very, very hard to turn down. She practically asked for it. But a subject change would probably be more appropriate for the both of them.

"Well, what are you then?" he asked trying to instill interest in his voice. "A genin? Chuunin?" He paused. Actually, start with the basics. "How old are you?"

"I'm fifteen," she said shortly. "And I'm a chuunin." She glared at him. "Well, what are you?"

"I'm a lot older than you are," he said easily, avoiding her questions. He had a feeling she'd approve much less of him when she learned of his real occupation, and she couldn't stand him already. While he knew that many ninja would jump at the chance to be in the good graces of the Akatsuki, he also knew that a little girl with her spunk and her spark would jump even higher to try and kick them in the gut. Not like she ever could, but still. The less she truly knew about him, the better for them both. No need to complicate things unnecessarily.

"An old man," she snorted. "Figures."

Sasori chuckled at this remark, and she looked surprised. It seemed she was expecting a snappy insult. But really? An old, old man? His appearance might be a little shocking. Not that he'd let her see it.

"Well," he said, a smile on his lips, "I suppose you could make any assumptions that you want."

"I can't let my guard down around you," she noted dryly. "What's up with talking to me anyway? I was under the impression that you couldn't care less."

Sasori shook Hiruko's head. It barely creaked much to Sasori's disappointment, but the message seemed to get across anyway. "I don't. But you're much more useful than I first assumed, and if pleasantries can keep a good mental state, then that's all I need."

"If you want to make me happy, then tell me how to get out of here."

Infuriating.

"I could send you to the next world, if you like," he offered generously, not that he could really back it up.

She glowered at him again.

"Fine. If you want to make me happy, then tell me what you are."

He had thought over this, very, very briefly, realizing that, yes, he did need to tell her something substantial about himself; otherwise, she'd suspect him anyway.

"An artist." So much for substantial.

"You aren't even making me content," she said wryly. Shaking her head, she surveyed the forest, looking anywhere but at him. "I give up."

"An artist is a profession," he insisted.

Sakura ignored him, studying the ground and seemingly lost in thought. He wandered comfortably in the silence (he didn't need her interrogations), and she seemed more at ease as well, absorbed within her own thoughts, and not engaging with him. And yet, when she spoke again, her thoughts were surprisingly analytical, and Sasori regretted not thinking more thoroughly himself.

"You can't move your puppet as well, right?" she asked, a frown in the crease of her eyebrow. "Does that mean that you can't move as well either?"

"No," he said, not bothering to try and shake Hiruko's head. Too much effort at this point for sure. "I can move fine. But none of my weapons even work in this place, and Hiruko gets worse every passing minute." He sighed, though he doubted whether the girl heard it. "I can't use my puppets. It's as if they're stuck within their scrolls."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"Stuck…" she said quietly. "I wonder if those bird things keep attacking you because of Hiruko."

"What?" His eyes were wide. Oh shit. Yes, he knew that this was coming, but that didn't mean it made him any happier.

"They don't think of you as a threat," she said, saying the words that Sasori least wanted to hear. "So they'll fight you anyway." She looked at him directly. "You know what?" she said. "You should get rid of that thing. You can move okay, but Hiruko can't. You're too easy a target."

"I am not letting go of the only weapon of mine that works." No way. He doubted he could use any of his powers in his normal state. Without Hiruko, he would be utterly helpless.

"But your weapon might be the only reason we're getting attacked," the girl argued, her temper flaring. "If you'll notice, you've only been attacked while you're alone!"

"Don't say that!" he hissed at her. "You've jinxed us!"

"How the hell have I jinxed anyone?" she argued, and Sasori just shook his head again. Every time, completely on cue, a monster would come out and attack them! They always did at the very worst moments if that was one good thing he learned about this goddamned place!

She rolled her eyes at the silence that followed and at the way Sasori braced himself. He hated being so damn tense, but this cave was the worst thing that ever happened to him. She sighed.

"Look," she said sarcastically, as she pat the ground, the dirt rising up slightly, "it's just earth." She twirled her hand in the sky. "Watch," she said, as the air swished through her fingers, "it's just sky." She went over to a tall white tree, and stroked it gently. "See?" she asked. "It's just a tree."

Sasori felt himself calm down. Why did he keep getting so tense in the first place only to have this child tell him off? He should've been the one in her position.

And then, the ground began shaking, Sasori and Sakura looking around wildly for the source. They shared the same shock as they realized what is was.

"Not just a tree," Sasori said, his voice completely flat now. Okay, so he had been right anyway, but he was too upset to feel victorious. The trees were snaking out of the ground, curving, and pointing, completely sharp. "They're bones."

Sakura nodded, beyond denial completely.

"Okay," she admitted, "now I'm sorry."

"It's a little too late!"

"I-"

Something hard and strong slammed onto the back of her head as the bones continued to rise around them, and the girl fell into Hiruko's cloak unconscious. And even worse, splintered wood suddenly filled the air, snapping and cracking with the sound of breaking bone against metal. Hiruko's tail, no… Hiruko's whole body torn apart by the bones…

He left the remains behind quickly, grabbing the girl away from the bones, and running from the scene. The bones continued to rip at one of his favorite possessions, one of his prized works of art. Heaving the girl over his back, he felt only regret and the briefest hint of fear as he raced through the land, his face calm, his head calm – he could do this, he did this well. But none of this changed the undeniable and unfortunate truth.

Hiruko had been smashed, and he was exposed.

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AN: The word that Sakura was looking for was "plot devices." This chapter sucked. Sorry. XD.

If you thought they were OOC, they do get more on track next chapter. But this chapter, they were adjusting to shock, so naturally they'd be a bit hotheaded. That's my excuse anyway, but if you'd prefer to dismiss this chapter as pure garbage, then I can't blame you as I've accepted it myself. X0.

(Please stick around anyway. XD. Next chapter, it does get better. I think.)