OMG OMG OMG OMG WOW! I don't know how many people have favourited by crap story, but THANK YOU! You have made me want to write more, and sooner, so THANK YOU ALL!, and so here is an extra-long chapter, and if you have any ideas, or things to add to Gold eyes, and I will consider them.
Deidara blinked slowly, waking up from his uncomfortable sleep. His crystal blue eyes were clouded and his manner was groggy. He reached out for his cloak which he had refused to sleep in. When he could not find it he sat up, awake as if he had never slept at all. His eyes darted around until he saw it, in a heap on a rock. Yawning he walked over to it and picked it up. It didn't budge.
"Mmmmpf," groaned the coat.
Deidara's brow wrinkled in confusion. He lifted up a corner and peeked within. It was Ari, curled up in a ball, one hand clutching the cloak, the other wrapped around her small body. Deidara's eyes boggled at the sight of Ari, alive and so innocent looking.
"I see you've found Ari, brat," Sasori called from the entrance of the cave.
"When, how? Un," Deidara rumbled confusedly.
"She arrived last night mumbling something about loose tiles and stupid guards. She was tired so I let her sleep, brat," Sasori explained.
"Oh, un," Deidara replied, stunned.
"Once she wakes, we are heading back to base. No side-tracking," Sasori commanded.
Deidara nodded in reply, gently placing the corner of the cloak back down so Ari was completely covered.
An hour passed before Ari awoke. In that time, Deidara prepared a large bird to fly back to base and Sasori gathered supplies for the trip. It would take two to three days, since the Leaf Village was in chaos.
Ari sat up, finally awake. Her whole body ached from flying and running so much. When she was not greeted by the stone walls she was accustomed to, Ari panicked. momentarily forgetting the events of the week.
"Ari, good to see you're awake," Sasori called from the darkness of the cave. The events of the week returned to Ari's memory quickly. With a sigh she replied:
"How long was I asleep?"
"Longer than necessary, Ari. We need to get going," Sasori called, walking through the darkness and to the entrance.
Ari stood up and followed Sasori out into the harsh summer sunlight.
"Ari!" Deidara called from on top of the HUGE bird,
From what Ari could see, he grinned and leapt down, landing on the ground with the grace of a cat.
"You're OK, that's good to know," he stated, checking her over, searching for any wounds.
"Yeah, stupid guards," Ari laughed, her golden hair blowing in the wind.
"You two hurry up, we don't have all day!" Sasori called impatiently from the bird's head.
"Coming Danna!" Deidara yelled in return.
Ari opened her wings and leapt up onto the bird, landing with natural grace right next to Sasori, and in turn Deidara landed next to her, formed his hands into the seal of the ram, and closed his eyes. The giant bird flapped its wings and took off into the skies. Ari gasped at the feeling of taking off in such a way. Deidara opened his eyes and released his hands from the seal.
Ari stared down at the ground, which was passing beneath them at an incredible speed. Ari looked away and came face to face with Sasori.
"Sasori, what's the Akatsuki base like?" Ari asked.
"It's like a village, but with ten people. You receive missions and you get a partner, which makes you like a team of sorts. Pein is the leader, the Kage, and so you must address him as either Leader-Sama or Sir," Sasori explained briefly.
Ari nodded her head in understanding.
"What are the people like?" Ari asked.
"They're criminals Ari, not all of them are nice," Sasori retorted harshly.
"So?" Ari replied.
Sasori sighed,
"Pein is the leader, he is powerful and cruel. Konan is his right hand woman, she works as the part time medic and can be quite cold. You already know me and Deidara, then there's Kisame, he has a sense of humour and likes to get drunk. He is partnered with Itachi, and as you probably know he killed his clan," Sasori started.
"I know Itachi! He was in my Gennin team!" Ari exclaimed.
"Then there's Kakuzu, he is obsessed with money, and won't hesitate to kill you. He is partnered with Hidan who is a religious prick, who WILL try to kill you. Zetsu is the last, he is a cannibal and works as the spy, he also will try to kill you," Sasori finished.
"Ok, got it. Stay away from Zetsu, Hidan and Kakuzu, don't piss Leader-Sama off, and don't go near Kisame when he's drunk," Ari summarised.
"Sasori, Ari hold on!" Deidara shouted just as a flurry of kunai passed by the bird.
Ari leapt off the bird in the midst of the confusion and spiralled, dodging every weapon that came her way.
"Ari!" Deidara yelled worriedly.
"Brat, focus on the battle at hand. Ari knows what she's doing!" Sasori yelled in return, summoning a puppet and sending it down to the battle below.
Ari swooped, a kunai clutched in hand. The unsuspecting enemy nin never saw her coming, his jugular was sliced and he died within seconds. Ari moved on to her next target. When Ari was a Chunnin, her missions had become more difficult and she had to kill. She was fine with killing one or two, as long as she had a valid reason for it. Some of her missions involved executing seemingly innocent people. And so Ari had learnt to become emotionless. With no emotions hindering her, Ari could kill thousands and not receive any nightmares, all because she didn't remember any of the feelings at all.
"Hello girlie," called one of the ninjas.
Ari's eye twitched, she hated being called girlie. It always brought back horrible memories of her childhood.
"What did you just call me?" ground out Ari.
"Girlie," the ninja sneered.
Ari dashed forward, her eyes wild with rage. The ninja stepped to the side in an effort to dodge her, but Ari swung her arm out wide and clipped his side with the kunai. Blood dripped at an unsteady rate, the wound already undergoing the process of healing. The ninja chuckled.
"Good girlie, but not good enough," laughed the ninja, as he pulled a katana from a holster on his back.
"Let's dance girlie," he called, grinning.
Ari held her kunai threateningly towards the ninja.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with, Shinobi."