Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo. Also, the plot for this story was based off an animated movie called Strange Magic that I saw on Netflix once, although of course it's filled with my own little twists.

Sasori

Sasori was silent as he sat at the large table along with Chiyo, Kakuzu, Kisame and the sand siblings. He sat up straight, remaining silent through the tension. There had been a lot of fighting and arguing over the treaty during the past couple days, and finally they were attempting to sit down and discuss it in a civilized manor. Suna felt betrayed, which Sasori now understood. Yet Sasori had no choice, which Suna now understood.

"So, he was your bait?"

"Yes. A member of the fairy kingdom entered the Dark Forest and infiltrated the prison whilst my incompetent soldiers failed to notice a thing. He stole a love potion and returned it to the fairy kingdom. We took Deidara hostage, and he is to remain here until the love potion is returned. However, if the potion is not returned by the three month mark then we will assume that means they have no intentions of rescuing the prince."

"I see. I don't like that you lied to me, Sasori, but I do understand your reasoning. I have a proposition," Gaara announced.

"In regarding to the treaty?"

"Yes. I still believe that this treaty is in our best interest, and therefore I would like to rescue it. Do you agree?"

"Yes, Gaara. I believe we can figure something else."

"Good. For now, let's rest on that and each of us can think of a new deal."

"That is reasonable, I will agree to those terms. Shall we hold the next meeting... one week from now?"

"Alright. I apologize if we are overstaying our welcome, Sasori."

"It's no problem. This treaty is as important to me, as it is to you."

"Understood. Until next time."

The many adults rose to their feet before beginning to file out of the dining room. Sasori brushed past most of the others and took off down the hall, he had the urge to work on his art for a while. It wasn't as often since the arrival of Deidara that he got much free time, and he was determined to get his mind off that supid brat and the many others of his kingdom. Everywhere he went, someone was trying to convince him he was gay for the prince.

Sasori was sick of it. He understood now that they had a problem with his rude comments about being gay or lesbian, but why was everyone suddenly so positive that he was gay? It was driving him absolutely insane. Sasori found himself drowning into his art more often, trying to distract himself from the endless difficulties that life seemed to be bringing him. Just like when he slammed into another person.

"Watch it!" Sasori snarled.

"Oh. My apologies, your highness," the voice hissed lowly. Sasori glanced up with a scowl, glaring at the taller male. Orochimaru's lips formed a slight smirk, his pale skin making him appear sickly. The king never was a fan of him, in fact Sasori had no like for him whatsoever. He wasn't trustworthy, and he was sneaky. Of course the redhead did like how fucked up prisoners were after spending even an hour with him, but he certainly wouldn't want to spend 5 minutes with the elder man himself.

"How is the young prince?"

"He's recovering, now don't mention him again," Sasori ordered.

"Oh, of course. I didn't mean to upset you, I just never expected you of all people to be sexually involved with the fairy kingdom's heir."

"Excuse me?" the king seethed.

"Oh," he chuckled darkly, "is that incorrect?"

"I am not having a relationship with that brat, and for the last fucking time, I am not gay!"

"I see, so that means you wouldn't mind if I pay our dear prince a visit?"

"Stay away from him, that is an order."

Orochimaru only chuckled, his lips once again forming that devious smirk. Sasori scowled, arms crossing over his chest. He had a bad feeling, a very bad feeling. Something was going on, and he didn't exactly know what. However, Sasori knew one thing for sure. He needed to find out what was happening, before it was too late. And somehow, he was determined that Orochimaru was the root.

Sasori pushed past the creepy jailor, heading straight to his workshop. He entered immediately, and one could imagine his surprise when he saw a feminine-looking blonde sitting on the floor. Sasori clenched his fist, and uncontrollable anger began to rage through his veins. That brat had come onto him, and had kissed him. It was his fault that everyone was smothering him, telling him to share his nonexistent love for the stupid brat.

"Why are you in my workshop?" the king hissed.

Dediara's head shot up, staring at Sasori with wide eyes. The king's anger only grew more as the prince shyly looked away. He was sick of all this, he just wanted him gone. Ever since he'd shown up, Sasori's life had become incredibly complicated. Everything would have been so much easier if fairy kingdom had made the trade a long time ago. What Sasori really didn't get though, is that it had been over two months. So where was that brat's kingdom? Had they given up on him?

"Chiyo brought me, un..."

"Well, you can't be here. And you can't play with that either."

Sasori reached out his hand to snatch the clay away but Deidara immediately turned away, holding his arms around it protectively. The redhead snarled in annoyance, and harshly gripped the prince's wrist. Yet Deidara cried out, protested and screeched as he struggled to protect the clay in his arms. Eventually, Sasori yanked himself away from the blonde's thrashing.

"It's my clay, you stupid brat. Hand it over!"

"Chiyo said I could make my art, un!"

"Yeah, brat? Well that isn't art so looks like you're out of luck."

Deidara parted his lips and let out a loud wail before he chucked the clay at the redhead. Sasori hissed in pain as it harshly connected with his eye, and he stepped back to regain his footing. His hand held over his injured eye as he muttered many profanities under his breath. The prince was completely hysterical, sobbing and screaming and balling his eyes out on the ground.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Shut up, you bastard. It is art, it is! Art is an explosion, un!"

"Explosions are not art, brat. You're fucking insane! They're dangerous, and ugly and they hurt people."

"You're wrong. Explosions are beautiful, and the danger only amplifies that fact. It's a sudden beauty, and you will never be able to witness that beauty again. It leaves a print on the person who sees it, as they wish forever that they could lay their eyes on such a sight again, un."

"You know absolutely nothing. Look, brat. Art lasts forever, it's just how it is. If you can't see that, you have no future as an artist. Besides, whether you blow it up or not, your figures are sloppy. They look like the work of a toddler."

Sasori only glared down at the sobbing blonde, who suddenly froze. He remained silent and still for almost twenty seconds before rising to his feet and storming over towards the clay and lifting his foot. That was the exact moment that Sasori actually looked at the figure, and the walls he put up suddenly faltered before Deidara's foot came down, stomping on it over and over. The king only watched, as the tears continued to fall down his rosy cheeks and the scorpion sculpture was no more.

"Why did you destroy it?" the redhead murmured.

"Why do you care? You had nothing good to say about it a second ago, un!"

"It was a scorpion... Why?"

"It doesn't matter, un."

"Deidara, tell me, damn it!"

"I... was going to give it to you... as an apology, un."

Sasori went silent, an apology? Why the hell did the brat want to apologize to him? He was in a coma for two weeks because of Sasori. He had insulted the blonde's art over and over, and had been treating him poorly since the moment they met. So how could the brat be apologizing to him? After everything Sasori had done, and not apologized for, the blonde would still speak the words to him?

"I don't understand, brat."

"What's so difficult to understand, un!?"

"Why the hell are you apologizing?"

"Because I did something stupid! There, I said it. Are you happy? Deidara fucked up, let's have a celebration, un!"

"Honestly, you brat, you're so difficult."

"I'm difficult? Have you looked in the mirror lately, un?"

"You're just..." Sasori stopped. He didn't know what to say, exactly. He just didn't understand Deidara, the brat was too overemotional. One moment he was fine, and the next he's all over the place. The king took a deep breath, before he finally spoke. "Why are you so emotional?"

"Seriously, un?"

"Look, brat, what do you expect me to say? Just tell me why the fuck you're upset."

"I... thought you would understand. I guess I was wrong, un."

"Brat, I can't understand you if you're not going to be upfront."

"Fine, you want to know so bad?" the blonde's voice cracked. "How would you feel if you weren't even aloud to make art? My father won't even let me bring clay inside the castle, and I love it more than anything. You have so much clay, clay that you never even use. Art means everything me, but none of my work is ever good enough. I just want someone to like it, to respect my art. As another artist, I thought you'd understand, un."

Sasori was speechless. So speechless, that he couldn't bring himself to say a word as the blonde weakly exited the room. He'd woken up just a day before, and the king knew that he shouldn't be going off on his own. But what could he do to stop him? It was clear that Sasori had already done enough. The redhead now understood perfectly, he didn't get how he didn't see it earlier.

He himself adored his art, he didn't know what he'd do without it. In fact, when he though about it he could recall a conversation that he'd had with the brat once. It had been a long time ago, maybe a week or so after he first arrived. Deidara had been playing with the clay one time and eventually told Sasori about his father. King Minato cared for his son, Sasori had to believe, but he also seemed to care deeply for his kingdom. Deidara was no longer aloud to play with his clay, even when he wasn't going to blow it up.

It was obvious that he just wanted someone to appreciate it, Sasori knew he would feel the same. Of course his art was greatly respected by the dark forest, but he couldn't imagine a life where his work was ignored and ridiculed. He would probably be feeling the same as the brat was. Enemies aside, Sasori knew what he had to do. He went to his closet and opened the door up, quickly scanning through the shelves.

He snatched the bag on sight and instantly went towards his door, yet as it opened his eyes fell on his grandmother. Her arms were crossed and a harsh expression sat on her face, yet Sasori couldn't help but grumble. He shoved the clay into her arms and Chiyo simply grinned before turning and taking off to find the brat. The redhead just rolled his eyes, shutting the door before she could change her mind and return to bug him.

He sighed slightly as he moved towards his workbench, but stopped when his eyes fell on the clay clump on the ground. He crouched down to lift it up, quietly staring at what used to be a scorpion. He didn't completely understand the brat, not at all, but the prince had created that figure for Sasori. The king couldn't believe it, yet he did. He couldn't help but wonder, was the brat really all that bad? If anything, Sasori was the bad guy in most of their situations.

He couldn't help but chuckle slightly as he placed the stomped-on clay on the edge of his work desk. He gathered up his tools and some wood before looking to the scorpion and back to the piece of wood in front of him. Sasori brought his knife to the would and immediately started his work, a soft smile forming on his lips. A smile that had been hidden inside him for a long time, and it finally made it's return.