Hey guys! I'm back! And in this chapter, there's a surprise character! Enjoy!
And yes, this chapter will open up with a dream as well.
~PunkyAngel
Chapter 3: Queens of Competition
"Saso-kun!"
He opened his eyes and found himself staring up at the blue sky. He sat up and saw the same blue haired girl. She was running to him, with tears cascading down her face. This time, she was wearing a pure white sun dress, which had dirt all over the front of it.
"What's wrong?" he said, finding his voice really soft and high-pitched, like it was when he was little.
'So this is a memory...'
"Saku-san... S-She pushed me d-down! And t-then she called me s-s-stupid!" she wailed.
Without thinking, he stood up and embraced the little girl. She wrapped her little arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest, still crying.
And he felt her.
"It'll be okay. I'm here now. Everything is going to be alright-"
"Sasori-kun!"
He looked back up and saw another little girl running to him. This one had short, bubblegum pink hair and green eyes. She wore a fancy pink dress, which looked way to fancy to be running around in.
"Sasori-kun, come play with me!" she exclaimed, pushing the other girl out of the way. The bluenette hit the ground with a thud, getting dirt all over her tear stained face.
The pinkette wrapped her arms around his neck, but he didn't feel it at all. He looked at the little girl on the ground, who reached out to him.
He reached one hand out to her.
As soon as their hands touched, the pinkette around his neck disappeared.
He was warm again.
He was awake, but he didn't open his eyes. He wished he could keep dreaming just a little longer. With no such luck, he sighed and opened his eyes. Luckily, his curtains were drawn closed, so he wasn't blinded like the morning before.
He slowly sat up, locks of red hair falling in his eyes. He stood and stretched. Once the sleepiness left his body, he went to his bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror.
He blinked and sighed. "I've got to find out who she is." he said to himself.
He turned the water on in the tub and stripped down, waiting for it to get hot. Another sigh left his lips.
He felt the water with his fingertips and eased himself down into the tub. He leaned his head back on the wall and sighed, getting comfortable in the warm water. As he closed his eyes, he relaxed and slowly fell into a sleeping state.
A loud and thunderous knock was heard at the palace doors. Haku, who was startled and dropped a vase he was polishing, angrily stomped to the corridor. He gripped the handle tightly and swung it open, only to be almost knocked backwards by a loud and ambitious blonde. Haku was picked up at least two feet off the floor as two arms embraced him.
"Haku, un! How are you? I didn't know you still worked here, un!"
Haku gritted his teeth quite painfully. "Yes, Deidara, I still work here. Now please... Set me down."
The grinning blonde obliged. "It's good to see you, un. Where's Sasori?"
Haku straightened his clothes and looked at Deidara, his composure back in his face. "The master hasn't come down for breakfast yet."
Deidara chuckled and looked at the staircase. "Could I go up and see him?"
Haku put on a forced smile. "Sure. I have a... mess to attend to anyways." he said and stomped off to the broken vase on the floor.
The overly excited blonde grinned and sprinted up the stairs and down the hall, knowing exactly where he was going. He skidded to a halt in front of two large wooden doors. With all his might, he kicked them open and rushed into the room. "SASORI!" he shouted.
Moments later, he realized that there was no one in the room but himself. His blue eyes scanned the dim lighted room and landed on the bathroom door. He smiled evilly and slowly walked over to it.
"Okay, three..."
He raised his fist high above his head.
"Two..."
He clenched his fist and grinned big.
"One!"
He brought his fist down on the door, banging it over and over. "SASORIIII! COME OUT, UN!"
Inside the bathroom, Sasori jolted awake and hit his head against the wall. "Agh! Fu- What! I'll be down in a minute!" he shouted.
"Well, hurry up, un! I ain't got all day!"
Sasori rolled his eyes, knowing exactly who was standing on the other side of the door.
After the redhead was dressed and had greeted his friend, they both went down for a much delayed breakfast.
They talked and smiled and laughed. It had been at least two years since he'd last seen Deidara, and he'd already began to get annoyed with him, in a good way of course.
"So, Deidara, you have yet to tell me why you've surprised me with this visit."
Deidara grinned and pulled out a familiar envelope from his pocket. "I had to escort one of the ladies here. She stopped at an inn and wasn't awake when I left, un. I let her assistants do that. She irritates me, un..." he said and rolled his only visible eye.
"Which one is it?" Sasori asked.
"You'll see... And you'll regret it as soon as you meet her, un."
Sasori cringed as he saw a flash of disgust cross the blonde's face.
As if right on cue, a loud knock came from the doors. Haku hurried past the two, shooting a glare at Deidara. The blonde smiled sheepishly and his cheeks turned red.
"DEIDARA!"
Said blonde's eye began to twitch.
Another blond stormed in, smoke likely to have come out of his ears.
Deidara grinned at the fuming spiky haired blond. "Look who decided to join the world of the living, un. Good to see you, Naruto."
Naruto's eye twitched and he clenched a fist. "What's with you up and leaving? Do you know how IRRITATING she gets?"
"I HEARD THAT, YOU JERK!"
Before anyone could even blink, a powerful fist met with Naruto's nose, flinging him across the room. Right into Haku's just cleaned shelf of china dishes.
Haku stared in horror and heartbreak as he watched as every single plate and cup hit the ground, shattering into a million pieces.
Naruto covered his nose, tears forming in his blue eyes. "Sa-Sa-Sakura! That really hurt, ttebayo!"
Mentioned pinkette strutted in, a look on her face no one could comprehend. "You should learn to keep your mouth shut then, idiot!"
The two proceeded to shout at each other until Sasori growled with impatience. He stood, his seat not making a sound as it moved across the floor. He looked at the two, his eyebrow slightly beginning to twitch.
The redhead took in a large breath and cleared his throat rather loudly. This caught both of the bickering peoples' attention.
Sakura flushed and let out an embarrassed giggle. "I am so sorry for Naruto's disrespect, Prince Sasori. As you've heard, I am Sakura Haruno of Fire Country. Pleased to see you... Again."
Sasori suddenly became utterly confused. Again? What does she mean... Again? he thought as he took her hand, which she had been holding out for some time. He bowed and kissed it, lasting a little too long for him and a little so short for her. As he let go of her hand and turned away, Sakura looked somewhat hurt and angered.
"Haku, fetch Aoi." was all Sasori said.
Haku looked up from mourning his broken dishes. "Hai..." he said, his voice so monotonous it was almost robotic. He dragged his feet behind him as he left the room.
Then there was silence.
Just awkward silence.
"Sakura, you punch really hard..."
Silence.
"Shut up, Naruto."
After Aoi came and showed Sakura to her room, the pinkette was inseparable from Sasori. Where he went, she followed. When he sat, she sat a little too close.
And it was only the first day.
That night, when Sasori was tired and had the biggest migraine he could imagine, he decided to go to his room. He quietly shut his door, knowing Sakura was only a few doors down.
His lights were off, so he began to unbutton his shirt and slide it down his arms. He nearly jumped out of his skin when two arms snaked around his bare torso.
He felt a pair of warm lips on his shoulder and he shivered just a little.
"I like where this is going, Prince Sasori..."
The redhead quickly moved away from the person, switching on his light. He scrutinized the woman standing there, wearing only a flimsy, see-through fabric, supposedly to be a nightgown.
"Lady Sakura, this is highly inappropriate." he said, his voice strong and slightly cold, "I'm going to have to ask you to return to your room to retire."
The pinkette huffed and crossed her arms, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
"I apologize..." she said, tossing her shoulder-length pink hair over her shoulder. She walked past him, gently brushing her shoulder against him.
Sasori closed his door and locked it.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
After Sasori had his bath and had changed into his night clothes, he sat in his bed, just staring at his bedside table.
His hand twitched and his brain was running on full speed.
He had to draw her.
He opened the drawer and grabbed his sketchbook. He stared at his drawing options.
He'd already used pencil so he grabbed charcoal instead.
Smiling from ear to ear, he began to draw.
I'm so so so so sorry that took me so long! I will work faster!
~PA