Your Akatsuki Life ~#13~

{You}

{Cimora}

Things were beginning to settle down after the incident with the "Imposter Near" and Cimora's injuries. Everyone was going back to doing whatever it was that they were doing before.

No one knew what Pein and Konan were doing. They hardly ever came out of Pein's room. Sometimes, if you were feeling rebelious enough, you could stand outside their door and hear them talking. But if you got caught, you were in for a world of hurt.

Itachi spent most of his time talking to you, or Cimora. It was obvious that he liked her. You were blind if you couldn't see that. Cimora was blind. She was blinded by their friendship to notice the way Itachi looks at her, or the tone in his voice when he talks to her. It was actually pretty...sweet.

Kisame spent most of his time training. In fact, a majority of the blood that stained the grass in the training field were from him. You never knew if it was his blood, or his unfortunate sparring partner.

Sasori spent a large amount of his time in your room, talking to you and Cimora. Cimora and Sasori were getting along a little better now. They obviously got over the whole brother-and-sister-rivalry thing. If Sasori wasn't in your room, he was in his doing God knows what. Most likely working on a new puppet, or messing with his poison some more. As if it wasn't complex enough.

You ran into Deidara a few times, but not that much. Most of the time he only talked to you to give you messages from Pein, or whoever. If he wasn't doing that, he was plotting out ways to get Itachi away from Cimora so he could have her for himself. You roled your eyes at his every failed attempt. Watching him is like watching Wildly Coyote chase the Road Runner. Harmful, but very entertaining. He became one of your most frequent patients.

Hidan stayed in his room worshipping a lot. Each week it seemed his bloodshed became worse, but every time you tried to help him he would push you away and say something like "It's Jashin's will. His will is my command, I am his vessel." He kinda scared you sometimes.

Kakuzu came up with some very weird ways to get to see you. It was obvious enough that he had a crush on you. Each week he would come to you with the same internal problems, and you would always give him the same answers. Or he would purposely get hurt, maybe training with Kisame, then expect you to help him. You did. But he was starting to get annoying.

Tobi did almost the same thing, but he would offer you stuff. "I'll take my mask off if you hug me." You would usually give him a hug anyway. Why he was an S-Ranked Criminal and so childish, you would never know. Once he actually came to you saying he bit his lips and he would lift his mask just below his nose and ask if you would kiss them better. It was rather cute.

Zetsu minded his own business. The only internal problems he had were arguing with himself. Or his "other half", whatever you want to call it. So he never really needed your advise, and he rarely got hurt. Considering he was mostly used as a spy, instead of going of missions.

Cimora was her regular hyperactive self. Her days were spent drawing, bothering Sasori, or teasing some of the other members. She did have a secret crush, but she refused to tell anyone. And she denies it whenever you bring it up. *cough* Itachi *cough*

>> FF 2 Years >>

{You now look like this}

{Cimora now looks like this. Only she has red hair.}

"Nervous?" you asked Cimora.

"'Nervous'? No! Why would I be nervous?" she chuckled.

You glared at her disbelievingly.

She looked down at her feet. "Is it that obvious?"

"You're shaking like a leaf," you said through clenched teeth, holding the bobby pins.

"Sorry, Near," she appologized.

Itachi had finally gathered up his courage and asked Cimora out on a date. Of course, she agreed, but now she was having second thoughts. Cimora was a little embarrased because she hadn't been on a date in a long time, she almost completely forgot what to do. You said you would help her. You hadn't been on a date in 5 years, so you were a little rusty. But you had seen enough romance movies to put the pieces together. You helped her pick out a dress, and now you were doing her hair. She wore an elegant kimono. [I don't even know what 'elegant' means, I just wanted to use that word. ^^;] It was dark brown with golden flowers winding up it. You were pulling her hair in a high bun with light curls falling gracefully on her cheeks. Maybe some chopsticks for the chinese look?

"There. All done," you said, standing back.

Cimora admired herself in the mirror for a little while. "You sure it's not too much?"

"No. You look fine."

Cimora looked unconvinced.

Your eyes flickered to the doorway, then back again. "Sasori, tell her she looks good."

Cimora about fell off the chair when she saw him. "Where did you come from?!?!"

"You don't wanna know," Sasori said sarcastically.

He circled around Cimora for a while, looking her up and down. Cimora looked nervous, as if her older brother's opinion meant more to her than anything. You rolled your eyes, quite confident.

Sasori stopped. "She looks good. I like it. Except for this." There was one strand of hair that wouldn't go back in the bobby pins that was sticking up, Sasori pulled it out.

"Ow," Cimora whined.

"Perfect!" Sasori seemed quite pleased with himself, as if he was the one that spent so much time on her hair.

"Cocky b@st@rd..." you mumbled.

"What was that, Near?" he looked at you accusingly.

"Nothing. I said you're cool, man."

The three of you chuckled at the joke. Then someone knocked at your door.

"Come in!" you called.

Itachi walked through the door, looking very smexy! You went over and greeted him. Itachi's jaw dropped and it looked like his eyes were gonna bulge out of his head when he saw Cimora. Cimora looked pretty shocked to see him looking so good as well. Sasori waved his hand in front of Cimora's face, but she gave no sign of life. Sasori just shrugged it off.

"Y-y-you look...v-very...wow," Itachi studdered.

"And you..." Cimora started.

You slapped your forehead. "Now, the two of you go have a great time!" you said, pushing them out the door. "And go think of some real adjectives!" you called after them.

"I like their adjectives. Short, simple, easy to remember," Sasori said.

You smiled. He was pretty calm, but he had a sense of humor as well. He just knew when to bite his tongue. You flopped onto your bed, laying your head on his surprisingly comfortable stomach. You grabbed the remote and turned on the T.V., flipping through the channels for something good to watch.

Sasori played with your hair out of boredom. It felt good, and your eyes were beginning to droop. Not because you were tired, but because you liked how if felt. How everything felt at the moment. Sasori's fingers tangling in your hair, his steady breathing and the gentle rise and fall of his stomach, the security you felt when you were with him...like nothing would ever harm you. You wanted to just lock yourself up with him and shut the whole world out. No troubles. No responsiblities. No stress. Just you, and the guy you fell absolutely crazy over.

But it was impossible. Not because he was a puppet. Hmph. You couldn't care any less about that. You loved him anyways. But because you were a medical ninja. There were strict rules about that that you agreed to follow. No, you didn't know you were gonna meet a cute guy that made your heart race every time you saw him, and gave you butterflies every time he talked to you. But what's done is done.

"Master Sasori!" came a voice you don't hear very often. You opened your eyes instantly and saw Deidara standing in the doorway smiling like an idiot.

Sasori seemed irritated. "What do you want, Deidara?"

Deidara flinched at Sasori's harsh tone. "Just letting you know that Pein is sending us on a mission tomorrow. Better get some rest." He walked off, closing the door behind him.

"A mission?" you questioned.

"Deidara and I still haven't caught our Jinchuuriki yet," he explained.

"Which Jinchuuriki?"

"...I'm not sure... I think Deidara is going after the Ichibi."

"And you?"

"I'm not too picky."

You stiffled a laugh.

"What?" Sasori looked confused.

"You're not picky. Right! And Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy are real too!"

Sasori smiled, "How do you know they're not?"

You smiled back. You sat up and flipped yourself around so you were lying next to him. You both were lying on your bed. Which was a twin sized, with one pillow. So you were very close.

He held you in his soft brown gaze for a while, before you broke it. He traced his finger in different patterns on your bare arm. That was the only difference about your cloak. You cut the long sleeves off. You worked with your hands so much that you didn't want the loose sleeves getting in the way, not when there were lives at stake.

Sasori opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself. You stared back into his eyes, searching their endless depths. He was hiding something. You didn't know what, but you could see it, you could feel it.

"Near..." he started.

He didn't say anything for a long time, and you were beginning to get impatient. "Yes?"

"I'm not any good at this whole "stalling" thing, so I'm just gonna come out and say it." He took a deep breath before going on. "I didn't know what to expect when you started staying here just to take care of Konan. At first, I thought nothing of it. I thought I wouldn't care. I didn't think I would have such feelings for you...because I'm a puppet, and that fact restricts me from some things. But something happened. I don't know what, but something...incredible, and I like the way it feels. I don't want this feeling to go away..."

"What are you getting at?"

"Near...I think...I love you."

Your eyes widened and you became short of breath. Your worst fears had been realized...

[Oh! See? He did confess. In a cheesy, but really sweet way. I truly have found the perfect Shippuuden Love Song for Near and Sasori. Actually, it's more like Sasori to Near. And the AMV is amazing! I promise! Keep a look out for the next chapter of YAL!]

Here's the video and song:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X_oDFQzdxXg