Chp 3:

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

"Get up," a male voice demanded. Kitsune was lying back against the bird gazing at the darkening sky.

The puppet sighed as he jumped off the bird. "Don't make me wait," he growled. In a flash she body flickered in front of the Akatsuki partners.

Kneeling before the puppet she asked, "when do I start my mission, sir?"

They both looked down at her, expressions unreadable. Both probably a bit surprised. She was all of a sudden willing, and very respectful. That's probably because they had her life in their hands.

"not now. We are just going to stop and rest here. It's another day's journey to the Hidden Water." A small pouch of coins was placed in front of her.

"You and this brat will go and get a small hotel, only one room for all of us. Then go get something to eat. I'll meet up with you later, there's someone I need to meet," the scorpion said as he headed towards the village.

"Deidara-sama, why do we need to get a hotel room?" she tilted her head a little. Deidara rolled his eyes and took off his coat.

"tch, well, since we are in a criminal organization we have money. Might as well sleep in a hotel right, hmm?" Deidara tossed his coat to Kitsune, who held it with confusion. He was fixing his clay pouches.

"Where exactly did you sleep when you were in missions for Danzo?" He crossed his arms, "Don't you get money, un?"

"No, Danzo-sama never gives money out. I sleep in the trees, steal money or food and finish my mission as quickly as possible," Kitsune attempted to fold his cloak, it was kind of hard since it was very large.

"tch… Should've guessed, hmm. While you were all off in day dream land, Sasori no danna gave me instructions for when we arrive," Deidara took his coat back and tied it around his waist, hiding his clay, "since me and you are new to Akatsuki, we have to pretend like we're on vacation or something and book a hotel, un."

"Deidara-sama, I did not join Akatsuki," she stated as she walked into the town. The blonde exhaled then went to catch up with her. As they walked into town they noticed some sort of activity going on.

"Seems like a feastival, hmm. Might be hard to find a hotel then," Deidara observed. After a few attempts to get into a hotel they finally found one.

"We're looking for a room big enough for three, hmm."

"Three? Do you have a child?" A young women behind a desk said.

"We aren't—"

"We don't have kids. We are just meeting a friend, un," Deidara cut of Kitsune.

"Ok, here's your key," a receptionist said, "room 203. Take the stairs and it's just down the hall on the left." They both nodded and went for the stairs.

"What don't you understand about pretending, un?"

"Nothing. Deidara-sama did not tell me we had to ipretend/i to be a couple," her response was blank.

Sticking the key inside the door, Deidara and Kitsune walked into the room. It was small, but big enough for three people. There was only one problem, one bed and one futon.

"I can sleep outside," Kitsune stated.

"No, we can't risk you getting kidnapped for information. You iare/i after all dead, hmm," Deidara threw his bag of clay and his coat onto a chair. "Plus Danna doesn't really sleep, un." She nodded.

"Let's go eat then, hmm."

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

"What do you want to eat, hmm?" Kitsune looked up at the blonde man and blinked.

"Geez, Danzo didn't let you do anything! I would hate to work under him, un," Deidara grinned, "My art is more free than that."

"Shut up…" she snapped quietly. His grinned turned upside down.

"hmm? Why do defend him, un?"

iYou talk a lot/i, Kitsune wanted to say but kept it inside. Instead she completely ignored his last question and headed towards a small restaurant. Deidara trailed behind her.

"Why do you follow me?" Kitsune asked as she took her seat and opened her menu.

"Danna told me to make sure you don't run," he also took his seat. They sat quietly until they ordered their food.

"If you guys are partners, why does he boss you around?" Kitsune tried to break the ice.

"He would never listen to me, un."

iGood point/i, Kitsune thought.

"tch… and cause I was forced to join, hmm." The young women looked up, a little surprised. Deidara sighed.

"If I lost against Uchiha Itachi, then I ihad/i to join. And well I lost, all because of that stupid sharingan, hmm," He continued.

"I hate Uchihas…un."

Kitsune smirked at his statement.

"What are you smiling 'bout, un?"

"I too hate Uchihas… Deidara-sama."

Deidara grinned. Food soon arrived at the table and they ate. After a while, Kitsune asked, "Deidara-sama, why don't you run away from Akatsuki..? They have nothin' on you…"

The blue eyed man didn't even take a second to think.

"Itachi mocked my art!" he slammed his fist onto the table. Kitsune gave an unnoticeable flinch. "Nobody gets away with that, un! The only way I can get my revenge is by staying with Akatsuki, hmm!"

"I have to stay until I make him understand the beauty of my art! My art is fleeting. My art is a bang, un!"

iHe really does talk…/i Kitsune thought.

"how do you plan to beat Itachi-san?"

"With my art of course, hmm!" The young girl inwardly sighed, trying not to roll her eyes. Moments later they left the restaurant.

"We have to go meet up with Sasori no danna now, hmm."

They both headed out of the town into the forest to the spot where they landed on Deidara's bird. Minutes past with no sign on the puppet so Kitsune went up into a tree and gazed into the stars.

"Where the heck is he, hmm?" Deidara muttered under his breath.

-SLAM

The branch where Kitsune sat was attacked by a metal object. Instinctively, Kitsune ninja jumped to safer ground before reuniting with Deidara on the forest floor.

"Tch, what took you so long, Danna, un?" Sasori ignored his partner and turned to the female.

"Were you planning on escaping, brat?" spat the scorpion. Kitsune let out a silent sigh.

"no, I was simply waiting in the tree, Sasori-sama," she gave a quick light smile. Fake smiles were always a good mask.

"Go back to the hotel, I need to speak with blonde brat privately," he commanded, "and don't even think about running." Sasori threatened.

"Yes sir," Kitsune gritted her teeth. She did not like being threaten but she left before he could finish the threat.

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

Kitsune laid on the futon she placed right next to the window. Her body was snuggled beneath the blankets as she watched the stars glisten.

-squeak

The door opened followed by footsteps. Kitsune did not turn, her mind was off in who-knows-where while her eyes remained hypnotized by the stars.

"Brat, go get some sleep, we're leaving early." Sasori's voice sounded younger. Maybe he took off his puppet suit. Kitsune didn't bother seeing what his true form looked like.

Hours drifted by until Sasori was sure that the young teens were asleep. Roaming around the room, he quietly made his way to another window.

Quietly, he opened it, letting in a rush of cool air. The skillful scorpion made his way to a tree right outside the window and perched himself onto the branch.

Then he made some quick hand signals and closed his eyes; like he was meditating.

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

"Leader-sama…" A vague grey figure appeared in front of the pierced man.

"The blonde brat is doing pretty well. He's obeying orders but talks a lot. The brat might actually be a good partner." Sasori reported.

They both stood in a metal room with a large opening. The balcony had a perfect view of a city if it wasn't blurred by the pounding rain. It had no windows, letting fresh air in.

"The girl?" the leader asked tonelessly.

"She listens, somewhat. At least she has the respect for her elders. Even if blondie was younger than her," sasori said, "until she finishes her mission, I won't know for sure if we should keep her."

"Has she tried to escape?"

"No. There's no indication going to try either. Although, I can tell she's thinking about it but the brat's smart enough to know that we'll just going to give her a fate worse than death if she tries."

Sasori paused.

"Danzo was smart to kidnap her. But he raised her so strictly, she says she's never been to a hotel or eaten at a restaurant in years," he folded his arms.

"I almost pity the brat," the scorpion spat.

"hm… Dismissed." Sasori left in an instant.

"Eavesdropping Madara?" the orange haired man called into the darkness.

"at least you know we don't have to kill her…" he turned to face a dark abyss, "yet…"

A hooded man stepped into the moon light.

"care to tell me again why we are keeping her?"

"I just need her alive for now and away from Danzo. Might as well manipulate her so we could use her abilities to our advantage," he replied lightly yet sinisterly.

"Why exactly do you need her alive?" the akatsuki leader took a step forward.

"This isn't part of your sick and twisted scheme, is it?" A blue haired women suddenly appeared. "Torturing a girl that has no connection to you what so ever?" the young women drawled as she walked next to her partner.

"tsk… you think so low of me Konan," Madara crossed his arms above his chest. "I am merely torturing a girl who doesn't know iwhat/i connection she has to me."

Konan frowned. She could sense the sarcasm in his voice followed by an evil smirk.

"Plus… she's amusing… isn't she?" He took of his hood, revealing his red and black flamed mask and long spiky hair.

"Danzo's trained her well… I still haven't broken her, even after weeks of torture yet she's willing to help us."

"She's still loyal to Konoha," pointed out the leader.

"Yes she is…" Madara agreed, "but as long as her life is in our hands, she's willing to help. So let's just keep her, shall we Yahiko?" The blue haired women and pierced man shot Madara a murderous glare.

"Sorry… Yahiko's dead, right Nagato? Konan?" The ginger man firmly moved his hand in a horizontal motion, flinging Madara to the wall. Simply, the masked man phased through the wall, only to reappear behind them.

"Never use that name, Uchiha," threaten Konan.

"My dear..." he circled around them until his eyes met theirs. Sharingan blaring brightly and demonically, Madara said," Never forget who I am."

Defeated, both partners nodded.

"Good… Let's just she what she'll do.." Madara said as he walked past the duo, "And when the time comes…" He stood, back against the pounding rain, "I'll kill her myself." In a flash, he disappeared.

"I pity the girl…" Konan murmured.

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

The blonde woke up to the sunrise. Rubbing his eyes, he flung his feet out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Tap was running, he washed his face and went out to get his cloak.

"Oy brat, Where's female brat?" the puppet called. Sasori was back inside his puppet, Hiruko.

"Um.. she's…" Deidara stuttered. She was nowhere in the room.

"Find her, brat!" The blonde opened the door and ran out, bumping into someone in the rush.

"S-sorry, un."

"Deidara-sama?" Kitsune landed on her butt, with a towel wrapped around her.

"I-I went to the hot springs… I haven't been in one for a while…" She confessed lightly. Deidara grabbed her arm and dragged her into the room, not saying a word.

Throwing her to the floor, Deidara said, "Here's your brat, danna, un."

"tch, get clothed, brat. Seducing doesn't work around us," the scorpion spat.

Sasori shot a dirty glare at the blonde who was checking out the poor spy. Kitsune stood up, dropping the towel the floor; showing that she's already fully clothed.

"Why were you wearing the towel if you were clothed, hmm?"

"I was simply holding it," her reply was innocent. "Disappointed Deidara-sama?" The blonde's face flushed red from anger, and embarrassment.

"Don't talk like that to your superiors, un!" He snapped.

"You're younger than me, Deidara-sama," she calmly replied. Metal ringing, Kitsune was pinned onto the wall with Sasori's tail.

"What's with the sudden attitude, brat?"

"What attitude, Sasori-sama?" she shot a quick smile. "I was forced to work and obey you, that is all. It doesn't mean I must enjoy this." Her statement was cold but true.

"And… I haven't disobeyed you yet… have I?"

"nh-!" A sharp pain ran through her body; the same pain as the day before.

"Do not get smart with me, brat! Or have you forgotten what we could do to you?" The dark threat made its way to her brain. She understood. Sasori's tail recoiled, letting Kitsune fall to the ground still in pain.

"S-sorry, sir…" she pressed through her teeth. The pain stopped a short moment later.

"and you…" he directed his attention towards the blonde. "Don't go easy on her. There will be consequences for you, too, newbie."

Deidara only nodded, averting the glare from his partner.

"tsk… Teens.." he muttered. "Let's go, if we leave now we can reach the Hidden Water by dusk." Kitsune got up and bowed in agreement, trying to ignore the post-pain.

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

Sure enough, they arrived on the outskirts of the Hidden Water at dusk.

"The man you'll be seducing is, Tsubaki Yurato." Kitsune blinked at the name.

"Somewhere in his stronghold is a scroll. There's a picture and more details in this file. We'll meet back here in three days. Blondie and I need to go do something else."

"Here, un," the blonde held out a folder.

"What if I finish early, Sasori-sama?" said Kitsune as she took a tan folder from Deidara.

"We will meet here in three days," he repeated coldly.

"… Yes sir."

"Oh, and you have to kill him after you get the scroll," Sasori said before parting ways. Deidara followed, not uttering a word.

Ninja teleporting, she made her way to the strong hold of the Yurato clan.

Kitsune pondered as she stood in front of a mansion like house.

What to do…