Akatsuki Lovers~

~Of the Sand~

~ Request for lexyreed92 ~

You laid in your tent out in the forest. The cool breezed kept you from overheating during the summer evening. You were looking for someone. Someone legendary. Someone whom you've adored from a far and you're dying to meet. Master puppeteer. Sasori of the red sand.

Grandma Chiyo was teaching you her healing techniques ever since you were 10. Through the years of intensive training and lots of stories, Lady Chiyo would give you a small puppet around the size of a doll. She always told you that the puppet was from Sasori. He did know of you and every time you got a new puppet, it tugged at your heart strings. Then, the puppets stopped coming. Sometimes, you would ask Lady Chiyo personal questions about him like what he was like. Sometimes she'd answer you. But, when it came to what happened and why he left, she'd always change the subject.

Grandma Chiyo didn't want you to leave. You were her student. And she, along with many other people, told you outstanding and adoring stories about Sasori. You wanted to meet him. Be with him. And that is why you're out here in the forest. You've been searching for three months now. You're almost there. It wasn't hard to find information about the rogue group the red head was with. The hard part was finding where he was.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The sun shone brightly in the sky, shining down on your face, waking you up. You yawned and gathered all your things before taking down your tent and packing it away. You walked through the trees of the woods and soon an opening came into view. A lake of crystal water rippled in place and you smiled at the peacefulness of the scene.

Throwing your bag down and taking out and extra pair of clothes you had, you stripped. Slowly, you stepped into the lukewarm water and sighed, relaxing under the morning sun. Bobbing under the water, you wet your hair before coming above the water. You shook your head and opened your eyes, and there it was. The black cloaks. The red clouds. Walking along the path that passes the large lake.

As quickly and quietly as you could, you got out of the water, dried off, redressed and pulled your bag onto your back. You ran across the water of the lake, making it to the path they were on once they were a good distance ahead. And you followed.

After half an hour, you were in the land of fire. Where we they going? Looking around and not paying attention to the task at hand, you bumped into something... More like someone. You looked up and your eyes widened. The male in front of you was a part of the same group as Sasori. His face was shaded by the straw hat covering his head, but it was obvious that he wasn't Sasori. Definitely after he took his hat off. He had blonde hair and striking blue eyes.

"Who are you?" You glared up at the blonde. He didn't seem to like your tone so he glared back.

"I should be asking you that, un. Since you followed us for damn near an hour." Deidara retorted.

"(Y/N)." A voice came from behind you and Dei chuckled as you froze. You slowly turned around and was met with big ashy brown eyes. You gasped quietly... He was literally breathtaking.

"S-Sasori..." Your eyes almost welled with tears of happiness before he had you up against a large boulder, his hand wrapped tightly around your neck.

"Why are you here? He growled and stared at you.

"I-I... I was looking f-for you!" You grab his trying to pull it away, but his gripped tightened.

"Why?" you choked from the lack of air as he continued to question you.

"I-I needed t-to s-see you!" He dropped you and you gulped down air as fast as you could.

"We can't let you leave, un." The taller male spoke up and Sasori nodded. The shorter male did a couple of hand signs before touching the boulder behind you. The large boulder moved to the left and revealed a dark tunnel. Sasori grabbed your upper arm and pulled you into the tunnel.

Shortly after, you three were in something that looked like a large house. You were so confused but kept quiet. Sasori basically threw you down on a couch and other members of the Akatsuki circled around.

"Who is she?" A calm voice boomed from behind the 8 men surrounding you. They parted like the red sea as an orange haired man walked through and stood right in front of you. Just his presence had you shook down to your core. Sasori spoke up, answering the man's question.

"(Y/N) (L/N). Ninja from the village of the sand." You looked around and recognized only one face. Itachi of the leaf.

"Why is she here?" The man questioned again and faced Sasori.

"In search of me. It seemed to be a personal quest, and she followed us here." The Rinnegan-eyed man nodded and faced you.

"You used medical jutsus don't you?" He said as more of a statement than a question. You nodded and stared at him.

"Good. Welcome to the Akatsuki." The orange haired male turned and walked away without saying another word. Just like that, you became a rouge ninja.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_3 ½ Months Later-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Shut the fuck up, would you?!" You rolled your eyes as Hidan kept bothering you. These past few months have been beyond crazy. After getting to know everyone, you became fond with all of them. Except Sasori... You were disappointed in a way. You didn't know what to expect when you met him... but it surely wasn't this.

You learned everything about him. He's very punctual. He considers his puppetry as art. Very skilled in poisons... And... He can't feel. Anything. No pain, no emotions. Nothing. And it would be very rare if he cracked tiny grin or chuckled at one of the dumb jokes that one of the guys told. But, you were trying. He barely talked to you, but you knew that he was aware of your feelings. You wanted something between you two... it just wasn't happening, but you weren't ready to give up yet.

You went to your room and went through your bag. You pulled out three small puppets. One looked like a model. Beautiful woman with brown hair and brownish eyes, just like the red head. Another one looked just like one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru. The last one... Was of him. Sasori. You had no idea why he sent them, or what they meant from him. But you were going to find out. You zipped your bag shut before leaving your room and going to Sasori's. You knocked quietly and waited.

"Come in." A fond smile came onto your face when he answered. You slowly opened the door to his room and stepped in. He wasn't looking at you. He was putting in screws to what seems like the shoulder of one of his puppets.

"Yes, (Y/N)?" He looked over his shoulder at you. Blush consumed your face as you stepped closer and sat on his work bench next to him.

"I-I was wondering if you could tell me what these mean..." you spoke quietly and laid the three small puppets on the table. Sasori continued to look at you. Shock hidden behind his stoic facial expression. The male sighed quietly.

"You still have those? After all this time?" He asked as he went back to working.

"Yeah... they are precious to me... because they're from you. I know they have a meaning." You rested your cheek in your hand as you spoke. The clang of his materials caught your attention. He had put his tools down and faced you fully.

"Fine." He lifted the puppet of the woman and set it in front of him. Sasori did a few hand signs and it's like the puppet came to life. She walked around the table and touched her hair.

"This puppet... is of my mother. I missed her as a child and I felt that she was beyond strong. I made this puppet for you because I think that you're as strong as she was." Sasori spoke with much adoration as he continued to watch the puppet walk around the table. He did a release jutsu and the puppet fell back to its inanimate state. Next, He picked up the puppet of Orochimaru. Like the real Sannin did, the puppet extended its neck and hissed quietly. You giggled a bit and smiled up at Sasori. His eyes met yours and your giggling came to a stop. He slowly leaned closer without you noticing. Within seconds, his lips were on yours. You continued to blush heavily and kiss back. The red head pulled away with a small smile.

"I know what you've been doing, (Y/N)... That is why I'm thanking you for taking care of these puppets... They are what make me feel... And I return to you the love and adoration that you've given me." You blushed even more and nodded.

"Y-You're welcome." You did it. You've finally completed the goal you've had for years. Sasori moved hair from your face and kissed your forehead while mumbling a short but sweet 'I love you'.