“What do you mean, ‘what Tanju did to her’, un? I thought they were just from the battle.”
Sighing, Mikansei wasn’t sure what to do now. She had known she had had to say something to Deidara, but when Sasori had spoken up for her…when he said that…it meant it would all have to be explained. It meant more and more people would find out, and Sasori being alright with what had happened had been a miracle to begin with, let alone Deidara seeing the situation in the same way. But the words had been spoken, and there was nothing she could do now. She’d just have to hope Sasori would be able to do something about it.
But Sasori didn’t appear as bothered by Deidara’s question as Mikansei was. It seemed more from irritation than anything else, and as such she frowned in confusion, watching him carefully for what he would say next. Sasori wasn’t quite certain himself. He knew Mikansei wasn’t exactly okay with all that had happened to her, but if they all knew, then it would make things so much easier. They wouldn’t react how she thought they would do; he knew that without a doubt, and with that thought, he nodded imperceptibly to himself, and looking over at Deidara, said simply,
“I’ll explain…but I only want to do it once. Get everyone together and I’ll come and talk to them.”
Blinking in surprise, Deidara nodded dumbly a moment later and disappeared from the room. True, he wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but Sasori had said he would explain, so a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. But Sasori had made his decision, and turning back to Mikansei, after loosely wrapping some bandages around her arms, he asked gently,
“Do you think you’ll be okay to stand?”
Nodding slowly, she said she felt fine now, but a strange feeling of frustration rose within her. He hadn’t even asked if she wanted to talk about what had happened, instead just stating he’d reveal it to the entire Akatsuki without her permission. She had thought he was her friend; that there was something inside of him that she connected with and would make her closer to him than with any other person before her. It had only been heightened when he agreed to help her with finishing the experiments Tanju had done to her. But now he had said that…she was beginning to worry that he was turning his back on her.
Sasori, quickly noticing the look in her eyes and knowing what she thought, responded,
“Mikansei, I know I said that without asking you first, but they won’t kick you out. They need to know if I’m to fully finish what Tanju started. Trust me.”
Holding out his hand as an offer, Mikansei ran through all that he had said and done in her mind, that same smile flickering onto his face. She had trusted him before, told her story, and he had been fine with that fact. For all she knew, the same thing could happen again, and as such she took his hand, slowly standing. Taking a couple of wobbly steps, Sasori soon stepped in and placed an arm around Mikansei’s waist, acting as her crutch, and slowly walked to the door.
The moment he opened it, Deidara appeared, and stated—hiding a small smile at how close they were both getting,
“They’re all in the living room, Sasori-danna. So you can come and explain now, un.”
Nodding in agreement, he slowly walked Mikansei down the corridor, both in silence. Strangely enough, the only thing running through her head was Sasori’s arm around her waist. She had never truly been touched in an intimate way; the only time had been with Tanju, and it had scared her so much she had killed him there and then. But this was different. His arm was gentle and supportive, and not trying to get any closer than that. It had been so long since Mikansei had truly been around people that it seemed strange to her, but there was still an innate reaction that brought up a fluttering feeling in her stomach again, making her legs even weaker than they had been before. All worry about what would happen in a moment was lost; all that mattered was his arm around her.
Sasori couldn’t help but think the same, feeling pretty happy in his current position.
Things only changed as the living room came into view, all of the Akatsuki gathered there, talking quietly as they wondered what was going on and why Deidara had asked them all to come. Mikansei instantly tensed at their appearance there, and Sasori instantly noted that fact. Having already thought she might be a little nervous talking to the Akatsuki about everything, he twisted his head to look at her and said quietly in her ear,
“I’ll tell them. I won’t say everything; just what needs to be said, Mikansei. I promise.”
Though she quickly turned and tried to protest, Sasori quietened her with a word, stating softly in return, a smirk passing like a shadow over his face,
“It took a lot of courage to tell me back there, and we were alone. You’ve been through too much today to have to say it again in front of all of us. I’ll do it.”
Sighing quietly, Mikansei nodded, though she didn’t want him to have to do anything he didn’t want to. Secretly, though, she couldn’t help but be glad. The idea of having to speak to all of them made her nervous, and to know there was someone to soften the blow a little made her feel so much better than she would have done normally. So she said nothing as he led her over and gently sat her down in the nearest chair, smirking at her once again and turning back to the others, now a little impatient, as Leader stepped forward first and began,
“Deidara said you wanted to talk to us about Mikansei. But what about? And why is she hurt? Is it from the mission today?”
Shaking his head, Sasori took a breath, wondering how to begin, but eventually decided on just saying what he knew, and replied calmly,
“No, it’s not. Mikansei was the one who killed Tanju, yes, but she’d been working for him for the majority of her life.”
Instantly they all narrowed their eyes, having never expected that fact, and looking down at the floor, nibbling the inside of her lip, Mikansei couldn’t bring herself to look up, waiting until Sasori went on a moment later,
“He killed her parents when she was little, and then took her back with him. Because of her abilities, he wanted her to work for him—to be the perfect weapon. So he started experimenting on her. But Mikansei killed him before he got the chance to finish it, which is why the wounds on her arms wouldn’t go away. It affected her to the point where she collapsed in my doorway earlier.”
Blinking in surprise, Deidara glanced over at Mikansei, having been right in the idea that she would have gone to visit Sasori, but having had no idea that she had collapsed, let alone that she’d been experimented on. If he’d have known, he would have gone to see if she was alright, but all he could do was continue to listen to Sasori, glancing back as he said,
“What the true nature of it is, I’m not sure, but from what I can make out—from what Mikansei has told me…it was to make her invincible and enhance her chakra. But I’m used to dealing with the engineering of people’s bodies—adding on battle adaption’s and stuff. So I offered to try and help her out—to finish what Tanju started. Not to continue in his goal…but if it’s not finished, then it will continue to hurt her. So I was trying to help.”
For a moment there was complete silence. They were shocked at the idea that she’d been trained all her life by the man who killed her parents, who had then gone on to experiment on her. Leader was now beginning to understand why she was obliging. To be made into the perfect weapon, she must have had to obey every order of Tanju’s without question, and even though she had killed him, it had still be evident when she was found by Sasori and Deidara and brought to him. They had suggested Mikansei work for them, and as he would be her leader…then she’d have to be respectful, and well…practically worship him.
“I agreed to Mikansei working in the Akatsuki, Sasori. So if what happened to her isn’t finished is affecting her…”
At this Mikansei held her breath, scared that he would say she would have to leave, only for her head to snap up to look at him as he finished simply,
“Then I have no objections to letting you try and make that happen.”
YOU ARE READING
