Will be writing Lost in the darkness final chapter tonight but I had an idea for this one so I decided I would write another chapter on it first :) Enjoy! Thanks to @onehellofanalexis for the follow :D

Authors note: I haven't changed any of this chapter :D

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Sasori's POV

I looked over to Manami sleeping and couldn't help but let a small smile cross over my face. I was so glad she was back, she was one of the only people who ever understood me and my love for puppetry.

"Is there a reason that you're staring at me?" she asked me with her eyes still closed.

"No reason, I was wondering whether or not I should wake you up. It's time to go now, get the brat and I will pack up" I replied thankful that I couldn't blush or else I'd be a very bright red by now. She nodded and got up to wake Deidara up while I packed up our things.

"So where exactly are we going anyway?" Manami asked as her and Deidara started to walk up behind me.

"We have orders to take you to a nearby cave so you can meet your new partner" I explained and she gave me a look of disapproval. "What?" I questioned her slightly annoyed.

"Nothing, let's just get going I hate to keep people waiting." she replied and Deidara rolled his eyes.

"At least I know where Danna gets it from, un" he snickered and I glared at him before getting into Hiriko that was now completely fixed from yesterday.

Manami's POV

I watched Sasori give Deidara a dirty look before getting into his puppet and I chuckled a little before following him further into the forest.

"So have you guys ever met my new partner?" I ask and they shook their heads before everything went quiet again. "Is anyone else at the cave?"

"No, the members of the Akatsuki never meet together in the one place unless it's absolutely necessary and even then we meet as astral projections. There are hideouts scattered all over the place and at one time there is never more than around two teams situated in the one place." he answered me and I felt a little disappointed.

"That makes sense. It's too dangerous and foolish to keep everyone in the same place for too long." I replied and wondered if I would ever see Sasori again while in this organization.

We finally reached the cave and inside I saw the figure of a tall, slender woman that looked in her twenties. When I got closer I noticed she had an oval shaped face with high-cheekbones. Her eyes looked empty and cold and were an emerald green in colour. Her dark hair went past her shoulders, stopping at her hips as she stood straight with her lips slightly puckered and looked like she was very sure of herself, giving off an 'I'm better than you' vibe that I instantly hated.

"So you finally got here then? Is this her?" I heard the woman ask and Sasori nodded. "She's a bit young is she not?" she questioned making my blood boil, causing Deidara to smirk slightly.

"I have a name you know? It's Manami and I'll have you know I'm thirty-six years old so I wouldn't be so disrespectful kid." I replied coldly, earning a glare from her causing me to feel very proud of myself.

"Hm. Pleasure to meet you Manami," she sneered, "The name's Akumu."

"Your name means nightmare. Good it suits you perfectly." I retorted and she looked like she wanted to kill me but didn't and laughed off my last comment.

"We should get some rest. We leave in the morning on our first mission together Manami." she spoke in a sickly sweet manner and I nodded keeping up my emotionless facade.

I walked to the other end of the cave away from the bed mats and sat down leaning my back against the wall. I watched as Akumu and Deidara went to sleep and then jumped when I felt someone touch my shoulder.

"Relax, it's just me." Sasori said chuckling slightly at my reaction.

"That wasn't funny!" I snapped back making him laugh a little more inside his armour.

"You have been very distracted ever since we entered this cave. You must really hate her if you allowed yourself to focus on her that much." he told me and I sighed knowing he was right.

"Yeah I guess you're right. I need to ignore her like I normally do with everyone but you and Deidara." I admitted and then gasped a little as I felt myself being dragged inside Hiriko. "Sasori, what are you doing?" I asked slightly confused and he just stared at me with his same blank expression.

"Thank you for coming with me." he mumbled and I nodded not sure what to say in reply to that. I stiffened slightly when I felt him hug me tightly. "You can trust me Manami. I have never hurt you before, right?" he queried when he felt me stiffen and I relaxed a little.

"I know. Sorry, it's just been a while since I let anyone give me a hug. I just wasn't expecting it was all. Give me a heads up next time." I spoke softly before hugging him back.

"Your hand isn't turning properly." Sasori stated when I pulled away from the hug. I turned it left and right and noticed he was right.

"I guess it doesn't. I must have been in a hurry last time I fixed it. I can fix it now." I replied and then looked at him blankly when he grabbed it and started fixing it himself.

"You don't need to help me. I can fix myself, that's the advantage to my puppet body." I informed him and he nodded in response.

"I know but I want to help." he said without looking up from what he was doing. I smiled and thanked him when he was finished. I sat in his puppet for the remainder of the night as we talked about what happened in the past twenty-four years.