An Eternal Explosion

T w e n t y - F o u r

My legs let out from beneath me, my body collapsing forward. Sasori immediately reached forward to catch me before I hit the ground, his eyes as wide as plates. His mouth opened, various sounds coming from his mouth, yet he couldn't make any words.

"Are... you alright?" I wheezed out.

"Y-you brat... W-what were you thinking?" He stumbled out.

"I was th-... thinking I needed to... save you..."

"W-we have to hurry back to the base... W-we need to get... get Kakuzu. W-we need to ge-"

"No, Sasori"

"-t Kakuzu to... to stitch up the wound. A-and then you'll be... you'll be alright."

"Dann-"

"Don't talk. W-we have to get you to the base."

"Dann-"

"Don't worry, e-everything's going to be okay. E-everything is going to be okay."

"Sasori!"

My voice cracked towards the end, myself immediately bursting into a fit of coughs. The redhead immediately quieted and began to look at me worriedly. The pain in my back only grew, feeling as if it were on fire. My head weakly turned to look towards the old lady and the pink-haired teenager, each only inches from the two of us.

Both were frozen in place, absolutely shocked at the way everything had played out. Neither said a word, nor did they move. Both were completely frozen, having no idea how to react to the situation. The arms holding me tightened slightly, as Sasori backed away from the old lady and the teenage girl.

At a tiny movement of the pinkette, Sasori moved his hold in order to raise a hand. Flame burst out from the pipe, forcing the two females to jump backwards. The old lady could barely make it herself, forcing the pinkette to help her.

"S-Sasori... go back to the base."

His eyes widened at my words, puppet body rapidly shaking his head back and forth. He refused to move away, only pulling my closer to him. My hand lifted, trembling uncontrollably, to touch his cheek. It was cold, due to him being made of wood, yet somehow seemed soft.

"I... I can't leave you. I-I won't leave you." He protested.

"Please, Sasori... If you stay, you'll die."

"I'd rather die than leave you here."

"M-Maybe... but I want you to live. You have to live."

Then, I saw something that I'd never thought I'd see. Something I didn't even think was possible. Yet, here he was. Right in front of me. A small tear formed in each eye, before proceeding to roll down his cheeks. They continued to come, and refused to stop. Sasori was crying.

"How are you back here? N-Naruto... Does that mean..." The pinkette questioned in astonishment.

"Sakura, look closely. This one... this one's different."

"I think you're right, Lady Chiyo..."

"Just who are you, dear?" Chiyo, I believe, questioned.

"You have no right," Sasori snarled, "to know who she is. You have no right to interfere with the Akatsuki. You're dead to me, you both are! You will both pay, I will destroy you both!"

"D-Danna, it's alright. B-But you have to hurry. You have to go."

"D-Dei, no..." Sasori murmured.

A tear fell onto my cheek, the puppet holding me against his chest. He buried his face into my neck, another sob getting caught in his throat. My arms shakily moved around his waist, holding him close to me. My mind didn't want to let go, didn't want to give him up, but I had to. Or he would die beside me.