Violet's POV

I was so close to tears when Kiba finally caught up to Ari's (and Scar's) scent.

We'd stopped at the edge of the Village, where it bordered the forest to one side. It was deserted. But Kiba adamantly told us that they'd definitely come this way. They were here, but once they stopped, their scents vanished altogether.

Kiba was, understandably, frustrated. His face was all red, and he kept growling things to himself. Gaara wasn't any better. He was just silently seething. And honestly? That was harder to bear.

"What now?" Kankuro muttered in frustration. He was still standing by me, though I wasn't sure why. He thought I was annoying, why would he go out of his way to be near me?

"We need to find them." My voice wasn't realy strong, more like a whimper. But it was so quiet outside, everyone heard me just fine.

"We will," Temari said firmly. She wrapped one arm securely around my shoulders. "We just need to figure out what happened." She and Kankuro shared a look over the top of my head. It was kinda hard, but I got what they were "saying" to each other.

What are the chances we'll actually find them?

Not really high, if I'm being honest.

What are we going to tell Vi...?

"Tell me we'll do everything we can to get them back," I said softly, eyes locked on the ground. Even so, I knew they flinched. "That's all I'm asking. It's my responsibility to help them. You guys don't owe us anything. But I'd be really grateful if you would give me some help. Please." I looked up with teary eyes.

They pretty much melted on the spot.

Which I found weird. They always seemed like such cold, heartless meanies on the show. But to us--me and my sisters--they were sweet and caring (for the most part). Even Gaara had managed to soften up around my sister. That made me wonder....

Did we change the storyline at all....? Just from coming here....?

The thought made me go cold.

I tried to shake it off and focus on rescuing my sisters. There wasn't a whole lotta evidence, but I was sure theyd been kidnapped. They wouldn't have just left the Village. Especially without me. We were at each other's throats sometimes, and I was really good at annoying Scarlette, but that was just how we were. It didn't change the fact that we love each other. They wouldn't leave me, like our parents did.

"Hey, Doggy?" I said, turning to Kiba. He made a face at my nickname for him, then just sighed and linked his hands behind his head, giving me a thoughtful look.

"Yeah?"

"Can you smell anyone else here besides Ari and Scar?"

He hesitated, nostrils flaring as he inhaled. His nose twitched. Akamaru yipped once or twice. "It's... weird," he said finally, screwing up his face as though he couldn't believe it wasn't butter.

Er, I meant he couldn't believe what he was smelling. Sorry! Ari loved those commercials.

"Weird how?" Kankuro pressed impatiently.

"I don't smell anything human," Kiba clarified. "But there's a really overpowering scent of wood. And... clay? I'm not sure but... yeah. I think it's clay."

Akamaru barked loudly, backing up his partner's words.

Aw! He was just so cute!

Back to what I was thinking about.

Clay... and wood?

Holy mother fluffing hippos.

Scarlette's POV

I sat still, huddled against the wall, hidden beneath a layer of early morning shadows. My head was pressed to my knees, eyes shut tightly as my only way to block out the world. I didn't want to show Ari my tears again.

It had only been a few hours since Pain-sama (as Deirdera later instructed us to call him) informed us we'd be used as bait to ensnare Gaara, the very unfortunate host of the One Tail Shukaku. Even though only such a short amount of time had passes, we'd been allowed to roam the base and meet the other members of the Akatsuki. Only Ari had taken them up on that offer. I was, according to Ari, "sulking".

Ari wasn't being insensitive. She understood how I felt, how I knew all of this was directly our faults for interfering in this world. But what she didn't know was that i blamed myself far more than I did her or Violet.

I was the one who got close to Gaara. Specifically, I was the bait, not Ari. She was just another unnecessary victim.

Tears rolled down my cheeks sluggishly as I thought of Gaara's fate, the one I had brought on him. We'd changed so much. The Akatsuki wasn't meant to make an appearance until after the Chunin Exams. And here they were, attempting to kill Gaara long before they were even after Naruto. If he died now, there would be no Lady Chiyo to save him.

The words "He won't come" played over and over in my mind, like a chant, or a prayer. Yet deep down, I knew what a lie it was.

Ari's POV

Apparently, Tobi was out on a mission.

That made absolutely no sense to me. He wasn't even a full member of the Akatsuki yet. What the hell could he be doing on a mission?

I only really cared because I finally wanted to find out why he'd brought us here. At first, I thought it might've had something to do with baiting Gaara. But then I realized he would have had no way of knowing if Gaara would kill us or not. So that idea got through out the proverbial window.

In a way, though, I was kinda relieved I didn't have to face him yet. I didn't want my world to come crashing down around me.

Anyway, Scar was still in our room. I'd done my absolute best to comfort her, but she was having none of it. I couldn't blame her though; I was just as upset to know we were supposed to lead Gaara to his death. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened. And I know Scar thinks she's the worst of us, for getting so close to Gaara. She probably thought it was her fault more than it was ours.

I sighed softly, hating our situation.

"Hey, kid, what's up with that constipated face?"

"Uh, I'm constipated?"

".... Zetsu probably won't eat you now, at least."

A grin instantly flickered to life on my face as I laughed at Kisame, Fishman extraordinaire. He flashed me a wicked smile as he rebandaged Samehada. 

Yes. I was hanging out with the Akatsuki like it was no big deal. And yes, I was still fantastically pissed at Pain. But.... I dunno. I didn't want to wallow in grief like Scar was. That was how she coped. This was my way.

"Hey... hey Deidera!" I called between laughs. The blonde bomber turned away from his partner, who didn't bother acknowledging my existence. My grin turned evil. "I was just wondering.... Do you by any chance like Sasori?"

"What, un?"

"Like, like like," I clarified, wiggingly my eyebrows suggestively.

It took a moment for my words to sink in. When they did, his face turned red. I wasn't sure if he was embarrassed or mad though.

"I d-don't have feelings for D-Danna!" he shouted, raising a defiant fist in the air. 

I snickered while Kisame bust out laughing. Even Hidan, who was sitting on a couch across the room, sharpening his blade, cackled. 

Obviously, I took his stuttering as verification that he did have romantical feelings for his partner. "I will create SasoDei! Hell yes!" I cheered, throwing my hands up in glee.

"Did you just think of that?" Kisame chuckled.

"....Yes. Yes I did."

"Brat."

"Yes, Sasori-danna?" I answered cheerfully, swinging around to face him again. I just knew he meant me instead of Deidera this time. Possibly because he had stepped very far away from the blonde bomber after my little announcement.

"Don't say things as disgusting as that, unless you'd like me to rip out your organs and turn you into my newest weapon. Leader-sama only needs one hostage."

"But it's my OTP!" I shot back.

He raised a brow.

"Oh, right," I laughed awkwardly. "You don't know what that is...."

"Ari, you really will be dead if you continue to blurt out things without proper forethought. And I very much don't want to have to explain to Violet how you were turned into a puppet. She'll most likely hate her Kitty."

"Scar!" I greeted. She stood in the doorway that connected to the hallway that held all our rooms. She leaned against the frame, her arms across her chest. Her black eyes were rimmed with red, but her cheeks were dry and her nose was pretty clean. If you didn't look too closely, you wouldn't have known she'd been crying.

Sasori smirked at her arrival. 

Pretty sure that's the closest he ever got to a smile.

Pouting, I threw a kunai at her, which she caught expertly in one hand, letting the knife swing around her finger until it slowed to a stop. For some reason, they'd let us keep our weapons pouches. 

Idiots.

"Kitty is so much nicer than Sasori-baka," I said seriously. "He wouldn't turn me into a puppet! Vi knows that! She wouldn't hate him just cause Sasori-baka did something to me."

Scar sighed, her way of agreeing with me, and settled down next to me at the long wooden table the Akatsuki had set up in their main room. 

"So why'd you rejoin the world of the living?" I asked quietly.

"Curiosity," she said simply. 

"Huh?"

"It's nothing," she amended shortly. After a quick look around, she asked, "Where's He Who Shall Not Be Named?"

Ah. She meant Tobi.

"Mission," I replied with a shrug. Her eye twitched in response. Yeah, I knew she'd be mad cause of that. She really wanted to slug the guy. I did too I just.... Scar really wanted to slug the guy.

Kisame suddenly switched seats and plopped down across from me and Scar. He sent my sister a grin that she returned with a blank, uncaring stare. "So you're the famous Scarlette, huh?" he said, ignoring the look she gave him.

She sighed again. "Does it matter? Do you really find the need to know a prisoner's name? Especially one who has no future to hope for?"

I winced slightly at the certainty in her voice.

"I do when I'm bored," Kisame replied easily, shrugging. My sister face palmed. Except, it wasn't her palm that she smacked against her forehead. It was the table. So... face-table-d? 

"Hey! Is Leader-sama sure we can't just kill the bitches?" Hidan suddenly piped up. I turned around in my seat and scowled at him. He snarled back at me, magenta eyes glinting. I stuck out my tongue.

I heard Scar say, "So I see you suffer from childish teammates as well."

"You haven't even met Tobi yet," Kisame groaned. Scar remained indifferent even after hearing his name, and chose to simply nod.  

"Aaaanyway," I said brightly. "Scar missed out on the best conversation! Let's start over. Hey, Deidera! You have a huge crush on Sasori-danna, right?"

Both my sister and a very ticked-off redhead slapped slapped me upside the head.

Aw, they were getting along so well! But who was better for her: Sasori, or Gaara?

Stay tuned, folks!

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Sorry, sorry, sorry! I know it's short! But I'm trying to think of fun things they can do with or to the Akatsuki! Oh well. Hopefully the next chapter will be better!