21. Tila's First Mission

"I say we leave now" Sasori says calmly. "Alright then," I agree as Dei nodded along at Sasori's impatient idea.

"Where should we start then, Sasori my man?" Dei asks, leaning back and relaxing on to his hands.

"As it so happens, I have subordinates working for me in the sand village on the council." he says, a dark smirk forms.

"And how's that going to help, Hm?" Dei asked sceptically. "Because, the one tail - Shikaku, is the demon of the sand. My own village is the host to it." Sasori explained coldly. Deidara raised an eyebrow.

"You have this thought out pretty well as usual, un." He seems a tad annoyed.

"Yeah, unlike you, I have a brain." Sasori spat back causing Deidara to frown..

"Well then, Let's get ready and go." I say. Trying to breaking the weird tension I can feel forming between them.

"I'll organize for my subordinate to meet me tomorrow just before nightfall, pack your things. We're leaving in twenty." Sasori coldly informs before standing. He shoots one more death glare down at Dei then walks off. I stay seated for a moment, watching Dei as he leans back on his arms, his gaze travelling up to the ceiling of the cave roof. "Sasori really ticks me off sometimes, un." I could sense traces of irritation in his voice.

"Why is that?" I questioned, Never really understanding why they butt heads so much.

"He's always going on about how art is something that should last for an eternity... Art should be fleeting! A quick flash of beauty before fading away, making it's existence so much more sublime, Hm!" He rants.

"You both could argue for an eternity about it but I doubt it would change either of your opinions." I pat him on the thigh reassuringly. He sits up and gives me that all too familiar smirk.

"Your right... Come on, we don't want to keep him waiting or we both won't hear the end of it, un."

He quickly stands, holding out a hand to help me up too. I take it, he pulls me on to my feet. Suddenly, I feel something wet and soft on my palm.

"Why'd you lick me!" I huff, looking down at my drool covered hand.

"Guess you taste good, un" He teases. I sweat drop, wiping it on my pants. I sigh before walking off. Of all the excuses? That's the best he could come up with?! Dei calls out from behind me. "I was kidding yeah?"

I just ignore him and keep walking down the hall towards my room, closing my bedroom door behind me as I get there. I start putting a few changes of clothes in to a scroll, then, pack it in to a small side bag. I continue to put a few essentials away in to another scroll, and then pull out my weapons and medical supply scrolls and pack that too.

I'm lucky they're small scrolls or they wouldn't fit. I then grab my Akatsuki cloak and put it on, then, sit back down on my bed. Have I forgotten anything? Clothes. Weapons. Medical supplies. Small essentials, hair brush etc.

That should be fine. I try to convince the other half of me that doesn't seem to agree. Oh wait,

"My onesie!" I exclaim aloud. Oops. I reach into my draw and pull it out, then, quickly poof it in to my Essentials scroll. I shut my door behind me as I leave, slowly walking back to meet my comrades.

As I get closer to the cavernous room I see Sasori standing alone against the boulder. I pick up my pace and stroll over.

"Why's Deidara taking so long..." Sasori grumbles under his breath. I lean up against the wall beside him, gazing up to the ceiling. Sasori glances over at me. "What's so interesting about the roof?" He asks suspiciously.

"It just fascinates me I suppose." From my peripheries I notice the questioning look he gives.

"I've always been drawn to nature, ever since I was young," I explained. Sasori looks up and gazes at the small speckles of light that are breaking their way through the cave roof.

"I see... I guess you're just able to see the beauty in simple things." His comment is a whisper. His eyes glaze over, still fixed above.

"Are you saying that I'm simple minded?" I chuckle. The innocence not being lost on him. "Not at all, I know there's more to you than that. It's a gift, being able to appreciate the simplicity to life... I wish I could have..." The target of his fixture being replaced as he sets his attention on me. A softness lingering behind beige irises. I feel my breath catch in my throat.

"Let's go yeah!?" Deidara's shout from across the room pulls me out of my daze. Sasori too. Deidara's long ponytail bounced as he walked straight up to the rock I'd been leaning against, his hand slamming it.

"Release!"

The rock rumbles as it moves from behind me. I start to fall back, a squeak escaping me. But, before I fall I'm quickly caught in steady arms. I look up, Sasori frowns down at me. He was so close, too close for comfort. Our eyes meet, his breath hits my face. Shit, snap out of it. As though reading my mind, Sasori pulls away first.

"Deidara! Damn it, be more careful next time!" He yells, carefully setting me back on my feet.

"Yeah! What he said!" I yell too. Dei awkwardly laughs.

"Ah sorry, un." He rubs his forehead, expression dropping inwardly. My attention was quickly pulled to the beautiful day outside, WOW. Sunlight!

I step out from the cave, walking closer to the forest edge. Our cloaks billowing in the wind. I take in the sight of all of the beautiful green trees, the grass, the fresh smell overpowering my nose.

We continue to walk, Sasori and Dei start talking about random stuff but I was hardly paying attention, much too busy enjoying the freedom. All of a sudden, they stop. I accident bump in to Deidara's back.

"Oh, sorry." I look up at him, taking a few steps back. He waves it off as though unbothered. Instead, pulling out a chunk of clay. The mouth on his palm starts to chew. Sasori looks down at Deidara's pouch. "Are you sure you brought enough?" He asks doubtfully.

Deidara's palm mouth spits out the wad of clay and Deidara starts moulding it. "Of course I did, un." He rebuts defensively, now opening his hand and throwing the small clay bird into the air.

"Hm!" He exclaims. The tiny bird poofs, becoming larger. Sasori and Deidara jump on to it. I stare for a moment, in awe at the pretty white clay bird. It's so majestic. Deidara is far more talented then people give him credit for. I feel myself being lifted in to the air, only to realise Sasori had picked me with his Chakra strings. Letting me go when atop the bird with them.

I give him a puzzled look. "You were taking too long." he answers my unasked question. I look down, seeing everything beneath us shrink as we ascend in to the sky. We're soaring through the air... I sit down and enjoy the view. A few hours pass by, the sun sits on the horizon line as it sets. I stare out, watching as the ball of light slowly fades away to be replaced with the darkness of night.

"Let's take a break" Sasori prompts, so we start to descend. I hop off, walking around to stretch my legs. I take it upon myself to peer into the bushes to check that there wasn't anyone nearby.

Deidara and Sasori sit down, leaning against a tree. Dei pulls a few rice balls out. He looked over to me.

"Til, come have one, un." He beckons. I settle down in between him and Sasori. He handed me a rice ball. I take a small bite, chewing slowly to savour the taste.

"Did you make these Dei?" I curiously asked.

"Yepppp." He mumbled, mouth full of food. "They're delicious." I grinned, taking another bite. We relaxed for an hour. Discussing possible plans on how to obtain Shikaku. After, we set off again, in to the sky. I'd gotten comfortable at the tail of his bird, peering in to the darkness below. I felt Sasori sit beside me. Placing his hand on my thigh, giving it a light squeeze. It felt nice, reassuring, safe.

I flash him a tiny smile, he returns it.

"This is my first mission." I keep my voive hushed as I confess Sasori. He eyes me suspiciously.

"I don't believe you." He rebuts, but the softness in his tone gives me the feeling it isn't that he think's I'm lying. I lean closer, my shoulder pressed up against his chest. We are so close, yet again. I feel my heart picking up pace ever so slightly.

"I'm serious, I've never been on a mission before..." I whisper, his gaze searched mine. Our faces are merely inches apart. Sasori gives a puzzled look.

"Explain?" He blinks, as though truly baffled as to how that was. I try and relax, letting out the breath I'd been holding until now. Guess I had some explaining to do. Making sure to keep my voice hushed as to not break Deidara's concentration, I begin to tell him.

"I grew up on the outskirts of a very small village with my mother. The village hidden in the waterfall. I never went to a Ninja Academy because the only one was miles away. I didn't live in the main part of the village and I couldn't get there everyday... So, my mother taught me what she knew as a Medical Shinobi. She taught me a few Jutsu, but, I never learnt anything officially. That's also why I don't have a headband..." I trail off.

Sasori squeezes my thigh lightly again. "What about your father?" He asks slowly, as though curious but hesitant in case it crossed boundaries.

"I never knew him. I grew up with my mother only. But...." I stopped, the thought of how she had been slaughtered crossed my mind. I'd pushed it so far in to the back of my mind so I hadn't had to face that reality. I closed my eyes, squeezed them shut. Trying to push it out of my head.

"Tila?" Sasori questions, gently pulling my face closer to his. I place my trust in the soothing way he says my name. I open my eyes and all I see is glints of worry-filled pools of beige. I can't look away, they're pulling me in. But when he asks me what's wrong I come back to my senses.

"I just tried really hard... To forget the memories..." Sasori wraps an arm around my shoulder, his other rubs my knee, pulling me impossibly closer.

"Let's forget this conversation. We'll talk when we get back." I'd never imagined in my wildest dreams that Sasori had such a gentleness to him. It was tantalizing, lulling me in to him inevitably.

Did he know my fears? All I can focus on is the tender way he's holding me against him. Everything else faded away, being made completely irrelevant in comparison to the warmth around me. I peek over at him, back up into those eyes.

"Yeah, you're right." I smile lightly. Light breaks across the horizon. It blinds me. My smile widens.

"Look Sasori, isn't it beautiful?" Pointing out, captivated by the way the light shines frivolously across the tree tops, the shadows it casts. Sasori tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

"It doesn't come close to being as beautiful as you, though." I nearly choke on air, turning to look at him instead of the sun. Heat reaches my cheeks, a light red brushing across his own. Was he blushing? Or was it just a reflection from the positioning of the sun.

"That's was smooth... I don't know what to say." He smirked cheekily.

"Don't say anything then Baka, otherwise you'll ruined the moment."

We both softly chuckled. After the moment we'd shared dissipated he stood up. I turned around, listening to them talk.

"Let's take a break. You two need a nap." Sasori pats Dei on the shoulder.

"About time, Hm." Deidara says, unable to hold back a yawn. Soon enough, we're back on the ground. I summon a sleeping bag. Sasori keeps watch seeing as he didn't need to sleep. Dei and I get a good three hours. I have no idea what Sasori did to pass by time, maybe be played sudoku?

When Dei and I woke it was around lunch. I'd happened to noticed that we'd been sleeping under a a fruit tree. So, we picked some apples and ate them. I peered at Sasori, he appeared very bored from where he sat. I shuffled over beside him. He glances at me for a moment, then, goes back to staring into the clear blue sky.

"Want a bite?" I ask, holding the apple up. He doesn't even look at it.

"No." he says, plainly. Deidara looks over.

"Didn't Sasori tell you, he doesn't need to eat because-" Sasori's quickly interrupts.

"That's enough" he's abrupt. Deidara is taken back at this, the air surrounding us suddenly becomes thick. Sasori stands.

"We need to go on foot from here. It's too dangerous to showcase ourselves in the air. We're too close to the border." Deidara and I exchanged glances.

"I'm sick of waiting, let's go." His tone turns chilly. Not wasting another second he walks off. I quickly get up, holding out my hand for Deidara. He takes it, we both follow behind Sasori in silence. We walked for four hours before anyone speaks again.

"We're getting close." His tone still chilling, Cold as ice. Those are the extent of his words.

We continued to walk in silence, my mind fazing. What could be wrong with Sasori... Since I'd woken up his mood had completely shifted. I didn't want to ask, I don't think I even could at this point. Not when he's like this. But, I wanted know... Was I the only one who thought this? No, no normal Human being can go without sleep or food, yet keep living. I cared about Sasori, he'd cared for me too. So, what's going on?

He held a tough exterior. I knew from experience, when someone has trauma it shows in how unwilling they are to open up... To trust... To love. Something clicked. I stop thinking about the whole ordeal.

I was on a mission. I was not here to play love games and maybe that was for the best. I matched my pace with Sasori's. "How far now?" I ask.

"Not long." he replies. We continue walking briskly. Eventually he stops. Deidara and I do too. I notice night falling, then, a figure steps out from behind trees. A man wearing a light brown outfit with a sand Shinobi headband approaches cautiously.

"Lord Sasori," he bows low. Sasori stares down at him. Unrelentingly.

"So, you remember who I am, do you?" Goosebumps ripple across my skin at his cold demeanour. The man raises his head.

"Of course I do, as soon as your Jutsu broke I remembered who I really was and-" Sasori lifts his hand to silence him.

"I came here for information. Who is the one tails Jinchuriki?" He asks, gaze void of any emotion. The intensity was enough to make me uncomfortable let alone the trembling man before him. I pity him.

"Gaara, The Fifth Kazekage of the sand." he manages to spit it out despite his palpable fear. Sasori continues asking questions. "What does he look like?" I watch on.

"He has short red hair, no eyebrows and the Kanji of love on his forehead- he has an older brother and sister too..." He becomes more hurried in his response.

"What are his abilities?"

"He carries around a large gourd of sand which he controls. It's his ultimate defence." Sasori pauses, clearly a thought crossing his mind at this specific piece of information.

"Well, Sasori, my man. That's everything, right?" Dei asks. Silence. "Let's get out of here, Hm." Deidara turns to face me.

"I'll finish things up here, you two go on ahead."

Deidara grabs my wrist and starts walking me back to the open field we'd crossed on our way here. We get halfway through the green field when Deidara finally let's go of me. I look to him in confusion. "What's he going to do to him?" I ask, a strange worry filling me. Deidara stops, turns, and looks me straight in the eye.

"Til, look, I know you just joined but I can tell you're not a cold blooded killer. I'm saving you the trouble of seeing something that you're just not ready to see yet, Hm." A moment passes, he sighs.

"So, you and Sasori don't want me to see you kill someone?" I squint at him.

"Is that it? I have a feeling that there is something Sasori is hiding from me. I know you've noticed it too. Why?" I ask plainly. He stares at me for a moment, as though in contemplation. But, nothing.

"I don't get it." I sigh inwardly, giving up. Deidara grabs my shoulders and shakes me.

"You need to stop worrying, he'll tell you when he's ready, yeah?" With that, I hear footsteps approaching behind us. Sasori walks past us casually. Like he didn't care what we were talking about, or what we were doing.

"Hurry up or do I have to drag the two of you along with my strings?" He says dangerously. Deidara releases his grip on my shoulder and pulls out some clay. His palms start chewing. Next thing I know, there's a massive bird waiting for us to get onto.

"Let's just fly. We'll get back well before dawn." Dei hops on. Sasori doesn't argue, instead, he jumps on too. Before I can even move he uses his strings to lift me up.

"I could've gotten on myself you know." I huffing. He breaks in to a faint smirk.

Glad he's dropped the emotionless act for now, I take my usual spot and watch as we fly at full speed. For a moment, I felt myself slipping, but, Sasori's Chakra strings hold me. Maybe he hadn't detached them since we'd first set out...

A few hours pass. The hideout eventually comes into view. We'd accomplished our mission, but, I was left with more questions than I'd set out with. I wanted answers.