Against All Odds

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

AN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS! Everyone has been so sweet and funny (no flames yet, so I'll take that as a very good sign XD), and I really appreciate them all. Next chapter is filler (sort of) and very short. Chapter after that is a little more... ambitious? Oh, well. Please enjoy chapter eight!

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8: Introductions Revisited

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When Sakura finally woke up she found her stomach starved, her joints sore, and before her, there were a dozen or so pellets that vaguely resembled some sort of animal manure. So the bird monsters around here had to go, too? Well, that was odd…

"Not very appetizing, is it?" Sasori asked. He was standing up, his hands dirty, almost as if he had been working all morning. He looked at her expectantly, and she wrinkled her nose.

"No," she said curiously. "Is it supposed to?"

"No," he replied. "But you should eat it anyway."

"What!" Sakura almost jumped up and away from the pellets having now learned their true purpose. Flabbergasted, she whispered, half in shock, half in awe, "I'd had no idea that bird shit was edible."

Sasori stifled a sound, a sound torn between absolute disgust and utter vexation. "No, you fool. They were made from nutrients in the soil." He gestured to the ground. "Your idea actually. I processed them while you slept. Very rich in calcium I'm sure."

Her mouth was wide open, and she couldn't think of anything to say. That she had to eat the pellets was absolutely shocking, but that Sasori had actually made something for her was even more so. Was he actually being very friendly –

"You look absolutely horrible," Sasori told her. "You're so gaunt, you look like the creatures around here."

Okay, never mind. Still an asshole.

Gingerly, she held one in her hand – it felt more disgusting than it looked. Did he do that on purpose? Well, it really pissed her off. She nibbled it slightly and immediately spat it out.

"You trying to poison me!?"

Now Sasori really did look annoyed.

"Well forgive me for my lack of gourmet expertise," he snapped at her. "Next time, remind me not to cook, princess."

Oh. Well, now, she felt like shit. He had obviously worked hard and diligently to make her some food, and she had refused it like a spoiled brat. Her behavior was inexcusable. Swallowing one immediately, she grimaced. Still vile. "Sorry."

"For what?" he asked, obviously livid. "For falling asleep while I explained hitokugtsu, for sleeping for about two days of time in this wretched place, or for insulting my generous donation of food?"

She winced. That was pretty bad.

"All of them," she said in a small voice, somewhat ashamed. "I'd no idea I slept so long." She stuffed another pellet into her mouth.

"I'd no idea you could sleep so long," Sasori replied coolly. "I thought you were dead at one point."

"You'd want that, wouldn't you?" she said, a snort in her voice.

"I cooked for you," he sighed, exasperated, and she felt really stupid again. "Our survival depends on one another, so I suppose the answer is no."

Frowning, she ate another pellet. Okay, so he was acting… nice. About as nice as he got, anyway. And gross as the pellet was, she could already feel strength return to her limbs. She'd been so ungrateful… She couldn't talk about that anymore or she'd feel even worse.

"Our last discussion," she mused. "Weren't we arguing about something?"

"Yes," Sasori said shortly, and Sakura regretted bringing up the topic immediately. "You called hitokugtsu, the art of human puppets, disgusting, and right when I finally had the time to explain myself after your incessant ranting, you fell asleep." She flinched inwardly. Oh yeah. That did happen, didn't it? "I thought kids these days had manners."

Kids these days? She glared at him.

"I'm sorry for falling asleep," Sakura apologized again, "but you're right – I didn't much care for human puppets. Sorry." He was still glowering at her. She stuck a pellet into her mouth again.

"But the stories by Chikamatsu Monzaemon were fascinating!" she exclaimed brightly, as she gulped the food down. She tried to smile, and he gave in, to her relief.

"Yeah, you liked those," Sasori admitted. "Somehow, you have at least a small taste in art."

"That was fun," Sakura grinned, liking where the conversation was going – away from her being a brat. "Last night, er – two nights ago, I mean. Lots of fun! Talking about art and stuff." Finishing the last of the pellets, she stood up. "Thanks."

"For the food or the discussion?"

"Both." She continued to smile, ignoring her throbbing cheeks. "It was pretty cool."

They began walking again, side by side, as they followed strange patterns in the bones, knowing that neither of them would probably get anywhere. But it was better than not trying, at least, not to mention that it gave Sakura the opportunity to think about her companion. What he had done was surprisingly kind, and yet it must have been so difficult. How could he have found the time?

Suddenly, a vast number of memories and thoughts, jumbled within her head, arranged themselves together. Sasori didn't eat. He didn't sleep. He didn't sweat or need a medical ninja. He was old even though he looked so young. His abilities were weakened here. He had a fascination with human puppets.

A fascination with human puppets…

"You turned yourself into a hitokugtsu," Sakura gasped disbelievingly. She looked at him, horrified. "I don't understand."

"I was wondering when you'd catch on," Sasori said, though Sakura could tell he was lying. He was impressed. "Actually, I thought you'd discovered that already." He sighed. "Another strike against me for overestimating your intelligence."

But Sakura was hardly listening to his false insults as she processed this newly acquired information. Every time… every time she thought she had at least begun to understand him, he threw another twist in her direction! He didn't look like Hiruko or an old man, he was deadly, he was a puppet… what the hell!? Next time, she'd learn he was some kind of God or monk. Hell, he could be a dangerous criminal that she ended up trusting! This was just so unfair!

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded. "Why didn't you fess up – you've had plenty of chances!"

He seemed surprised at her sudden change in attitude. He was an idiot. What was there not to be surprised about?

"I'm so sick of your stupid games. I can't believe that you didn't tell me!"

"You," Sasori said flatly, "are making it very difficult to get along."

"Oh screw that!" Sakura snarled, Inner Sakura trumpeting a loud hell yeah. "I don't care about rules or guidelines – if you really cared, you'd have told me first!"

In the back of her mind, Inner Sakura aside, Sakura felt a small twinge of guilt. He cared somewhat obviously; he had talked to her and made her food. But her other feelings overpowered that completely.

Sasori looked like he was about to slap her, but clearly thought better of it.

"Look," he explained, gritting his teeth, "my body is a weapon, my greatest tool. Under most circumstances, I can use it to fight, and as been so aptly demonstrated, it can serve as a disguise. Why would I reveal that to you, a stranger that I hardly know?"

Slowly, she calmed down. Once again, he had a lot of good sense. It was her fault for not having figured it out anyway. It had been so obvious.

"I'm sorry," she said glumly. "I'm just tired of all the surprises."

He nodded. "I agree. We've had enough of surprises."

So she was traveling with a puppet, the adventures of the Flower and Doll-Boy! Oh, this was just…

"I enjoyed our conversations," she sighed.

"Oh, shut up," Sasori said. "It's not like I can't think."

But that wasn't the worst of it.

"I thought you were attractive."

Sasori looked caught between hissing and laughing out loud. That seemed to happen a lot with them.

"Puppets are good looking," he argued, smirking lightly. "And the face is human enough. You can be such a ridiculous girl."

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So, she had figured it. Amazing really; he didn't suspect that she would do it so soon. But she was far more attentive than he gave her credit for. And, truly, he had enjoyed their conversations from a few nights ago. Though her opinions left much to be desired, at least she was intelligent and capable of debate.

They had been walking, in silence once again, for a while, and Sasori had time to think. Her outburst had been highly unnecessary, so unbelievably irrational. In a way though, Sasori could recognize that she had been thrust upon with just as many surprises as he had. But, was it the feeling of surprise that caused her to react so strangely or was it the surprise itself?

"Does it bother you?"

He had no idea, none at all as to why those words escaped his lips and hung into the air. There were no lousy excuses for this question (it had nothing to do with her health or usefulness, it didn't have to be said) – nothing except for a burning and surprising curiosity that had been stuck in his throat and finally spat out. The girl, however, remained oblivious to the thoughts churning in his head, answering as if he had just asked a question utterly technical and mundane.

"No," she replied, though the answer came all too quickly. "You're a ninja, and ninjas must do whatever makes them most adept at the mission."

Sasori almost laughed at her answer. It was without doubt a flawless, the right, response, but anyone could sense the obvious hesitation in the girl's voice. In a way though, Sasori was somewhat pleased; obviously the question had entered her mind before, and she had found an answer for herself. At least she was aware, even if she was a horrible liar.

"If I wanted to know that, I'd have read a textbook," he told her. "Textbooks do, after all, describe the perfect ninja." He inspected her skeptically from his standing position, a blush reddening on her cheeks under his gaze. He snorted. "And you, I'm afraid, are from the embodiment of a perfect ninja."

She turned away from him and continued walking, clearly embarrassed. Sasori sighed. That wasn't exactly the intention.

"I mean does it bother you personally?" he amended, and this time, she stopped, her posture tense. She seemed to consider her reply before finally turning back to him.

"A little," she said softly. "Here I was, beginning to get along with you and accept your humanity when it turns out you're about as real as Hiruko." As she looked away into the distance behind him, Sasori saw sadness sketched lightly across her features.

"Are you a puppet?" she blurted as if against her will, watching him with weary eyes. "Or are you human?"

Later Sasori would reason his following reply was motivated by his need to reach an understanding with this girl with whom he'd be stuck with forever, another attempt to get along. But what he felt at the instance of the question had nothing to do with rules or guidelines, nothing about right or wrong – nothing except that now, now without any shields or pretenses, she had truly answered the question more perfectly than he'd ever imagined it could be replied.

Slowly, he pulled away part of his traveling cloak to reveal his mechanic body, a body almost fully devoid of any human qualities, a tool almost through and through. The girl's eyes widened at the plug in his chest, the coil in his stomach, the lines around his neck, too thick to be anything but cut through the layer of skin and into the mechanisms beneath.

"A human that wanted to be a puppet," he said, and firmly, but not roughly, he took her own hand, soft and warm he was sure, and placed it on his chest, on the part where the chakra flowed. She was too stunned to resist. "But couldn't."

He didn't know how long they stood there, her hand touching his heart, her eyes forced straight into his, but it seemed to be forever, albeit a forever that was all too short. But the effect was permanent – the atmosphere tranquilized, and walls that were never meant to be broken crashed unceremoniously to the ground. Slowly, he let go of her hand, and slower still, her fingers curled into a fist as they left from his chest to a controlled movement to her side.

Her emerald eyes were still locked with him.

"Is there any other way?" she asked feebly, and Sasori knew exactly what she meant.

"No."

And with that, the contact was over, though the air surrounding them remained clam. Averting her eyes, she once again turned away.

"Thank you for telling me this, Sasori." Her voice was utterly sincere. The smallest of smiles flitted across his lips.

"Of course." He paused. "Sakura."

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AN: HOMG, they're on a first name basis! It must be love.

I just hope it doesn't seem like they're moving too fast. Oh, well. What's done is done. Enjoy. (Though for those of you wanting a kiss… um, you're going to have to wait a pretty long time… XD).

And Sasori's body is a weapon (yes, that was done on purpose). LOL.