Reunion

Sasori's POV

When I woke up, I still didn't feel rested due to the fact that Nishi had screamed for at least half of the night. I'm surprised no ANBU came with all the noise she was making. The sun hadn't risen yet, but I wanted to get an early start and finish this mission as soon as possible, so that was a good thing.

I looked over at Nishi who was still asleep; I'll have to carry her. When she does wake up, she'll probably be screaming in my ear. Sighing, I got up and untied her from the tree before re-tying her and picking her up. Before leaving, I scanned the area for any chakra signature and, sensing none, I began to walk.

It wasn't long after the sun had risen that I noticed Nishi beginning to wake up. I should probably put her down before she starts yelling again. But just as I was about to set her down she did just that.

"Why are you carrying me again!?

"Because you were sleeping when it was time to go," I answered, setting her on the ground.

"Couldn't you have waited until I was awake!? And why am I tied up!?"

"No I couldn't, and your tied up so you don't run away."
"I already told you that I don't trust you, now come on."

"I can't!"

"And why not?"

"Because my legs are tied up!"

"Fine, I'll untie your legs," I grumbled, beginning to do so. Once I finished we began to walk again. As we did, I could feel her glaring at me but I didn't really care, I just needed to complete the mission.

"So, why did you come and get me again?" she asked.

"I already told you; to settle things with your brother."

"But why do you care if we like each other or not?"

"Because apparently he cares and until you two settle things he'll be depressed."

"He does? But wait, why do you care"

"Because if he's depressed then he can't complete missions," I growled. Why did she have to ask so many questions? Couldn't she just follow me quietly?

"Is that the only reason?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Really really sure?"

"Yes!" I shouted at her, losing my temper.

"Did your leader order you to do this?"

"No."

"Then there must be some other reason for you coming," she continued to push.

"Fine, he's my partner so I have to care at least little," I grumbled. Okay, so maybe I did care about the brat a little, but that didn't mean I liked to admit it to others.

"So you do care about my brother!" she shouted in triumph.

"Just shut up!"

"That's ok, there's nothing wrong with caring about someone," she said smiling slightly.

"You're even more annoying than your brother," I mumbled.

"Thank you." She laughed.

I groaned and began to walk faster. This girl really knew how to get on my nerves, but it did seem as though she cared, if only a little. That should make things at least a little easier.

Pein's POV

Okay, so maybe trying to order Deidara into forgetting what happened wasn't such a great idea. And maybe rinneganing him a few times wasn't the best thing to do either. But how was I supposed to know that he'd be crying for almost three days straight?

I could even hear him right now. The only time he ever stopped was when I made Konan go force feed him or the three hours or so he actually sleeps. And I know it's beginning to get on everyone's nerves. But we just need to be patient and wait for Sasori to get back. Then all of this will finally be settled.

I glanced across the room to see Konan glaring at me. She had dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep and looked completely ticked off.

"Come on Konan, you've been angry for three days now; what do you want me to do?" I asked but was only answered with silence. It seems everyone is angry with me now, but at least Sasori will be back within one or two days.

Sasori's POV

"Is there any other reason you hate your brother so much?" I asked. I usually didn't like to talk much, but I was curious.

"Well, as you know, he left me all alone and…"

"And?"

"And… Well isn't that reason enough!?" she shouted, looking away.

"Didn't you say the villagers used to be cruel to you both? Didn't his leaving make them stop?"

"It did but… He shouldn't have left," she said. I decided to end the conversation, she was being too stubborn. Besides, everything will be fixed once we back to the base.

"When are we going to get there?" She asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Sasori answered.

"Hey, what's your name?" she asked. That's right, I never told her.

"Sasori."

"Can we take a break?"

"Why?"

"I'm tired."

"No."

"Pleeeaaase," she whined.

"No." Then suddenly she just stopped and sat down.

"What are you doing?" I growled in annoyance.

"I said I was tired," she said, with a hint of a smirk present on her face. I just stared at her annoyed and slightly shocked by her childish actions.

"Fine," I said, narrowing my eyes at her slightly. This girl was really irritating; whiney, loud, stubborn, arrogant, just like Deidara but worse. Yet I could see that a small part of her did seem to care about her brother, she just didn't seem to want anyone to know. And that was going to be the hard part; getting her to admit that she cared so the two of them could finally settle things.

"Do you have any food? I'm hungry," she asked.

"Here," I tossed her the small amount of food I had remembered to bring.

"Thanks," she said, beginning to eat it.

"Okay, let's go," I said, once she finished eating, getting up.

"Okay, we're almost there," I said, turning to Nishi.

"Okay," she grumbled. The closer we got to the base the grumpier she seemed. And it wouldn't exactly be ideal if she acts this way once we get to the base. Because the worse her mood is, the harder it'll be to get her to work things out with Deidara. Who knows, maybe everything will go better than expected…

"We're here," I stated as we approached the large cave that was Akatsuki base. Doing the necessary hand signs, I opened the entrance. When I walked inside I was surprised to see Pein standing near the entrance to the rest of the base.

"Sasori, finally, you're here. Hurry up and fix things," he said before walking off. He seemed a little off; I wonder if something happened while I was gone. I walked down the hallway with Nishi following close behind, seeming slightly nervous. Then again, who wouldn't be in a building full of dangerous S-class criminals?

"Wait here," I told her as we got to the entrance to Deidara's room. When I walked in I saw pretty much what I had expected, my partner buried under his blankets, not wanting to talk to anyone. But what I didn't expect was that he was crying. I knew he had been upset but I didn't expect things to get this bad while I was gone.

"Hey brat, I'm back," I said to get his attention.

"Danna un?" he asked, sitting up.

"You're a mess."

"Shut up un," he scowled.

"Your sister's here."

"What un!?" he gasped, his mouth wide open.

"Your sister's here."

"Why un!?"

"So you two can settle things."

"No," he said, going back under his covers. Sighing, I walked over to his bed and began to drag him out.

"Come on brat, you really need to stop doing this I grumbled," as I pulled him out.

"Get up."

Groaning, he got up. With him following I left the room and entered the hallway where Nishi was waiting. I walked down the hallway with the two of them following, glaring at each other as they walked. I decided to take them to an empty room where they had nothing to throw at each other. I also had made sure that neither of them had any weapons, or clay in Deidara's case. Shoving them both into one of the base's spare rooms, I closed and locked the door behind them. I waited outside the room, listening as they continued to shout and scream at each other until everything suddenly went quiet. Deciding to see what had happened; I unlocked and opened the door, shocked at what I saw.

Nishi was trying to choke Deidara while he was pulling her hair. Running over to the two, I managed to release their grips on each other. They then settled for just glaring at each other angrily Deidara panting and Nishi rubbing her head where Deidara had pulled her hair. Seems like I won't be able to just let them work things out on their own…

"Just calm down you two. What happened?" I asked, trying to figure out what was going on.

"He was rude to me!"

"She was rude to me un!"

"Only because he was rude first!"

"Shut up un!"

"You shut up!"

"Both of you shut up!" I shouted.

"Geez Sasori-no-danna, calm down un."

"Yeah, chill out man." Glaring at the two idiots in front of me, I tried again.

"Okay, Nishi, what did Deidara do that was rude?" I asked her.

"He raised his voice at me," she said, crossing her arms and turning her nose up.

"And Deidara, what did Nishi do that was rude?"

"She insulted me un," he growled, glaring at her.

"And was either of those good enough reasons to attack each other?"

"Yes!" they both shouted.

"No, no it wasn't you idiots." What is wrong with these two?

"Now, Nishi, why are you really so angry with Deidara?"

"Because, he left and-"

"So!? I-

"Deidara let her speak," I grumbled.

"And he left me alone." She finished.

"Deidara, why did you leave her?"

"Sasori danna you know why un…"

"But she doesn't," I growled, almost completely losing my patience.

"I left so the villagers would stop hurting her un."

"But you left me alone!" Nishi suddenly said.

"I did it to protect you un!"

"You would've done better protecting me if you had just stayed!"

"I wasn't strong enough to protect you un!"

"So!? I didn't want to be alone…" she mumbled. And all that followed after that was a very awkward silence. It was a while before Nishi began to speak again.

"I didn't care what the villagers did; I just didn't want to be alone."

"Nishi I'm sorry un. But why didn't you tell me that before I left?"

"I didn't know that's why you were leaving," she said, looking away.

"I'm sorry Nishi," Deidara muttered, also looking away.

"I-It's fine I guess, I did eventually get some friends, so I'm not completely alone," she said with a small smile.

"That's good un," Deidara sighed, also smiling slightly.

"… And Deidara, I don't really hate you, I was just angry that you left," Nishi said.

"Sorry un."

Okay, I think this is as far as I'm going to get with these two.

"Come on Nishi, I'm bringing you back to Iwa," I said, opening the door.

"Ok," she said beginning to follow me out of it.

"I'm coming to un," Deidara said.

"Why do you have to come!? I'll be fine on my own!" Nishi shouted at him.

"So, I'm still coming un!"

"No you're not!"

"You're not the boss of me un!"

"Shut up!"

"You shut up un!"

"You!"

"You un!"

I attempted to tune out the bickering as we walked down the hallway and to the front entrance. After we left the base, we began to walk in the direction of Iwa. This is going to be a long trip…