The Secrets We Keep *COMPLETE* (Sasori x OC? / Itachi x OC?)

Hurt

Maeme spends the following months avoiding Orochimaru to the best of her ability to keep Sasori appeased. The snake man continued to make snide comments and still openly stared at her, but hadn't tried to antagonize her as he had done before. She did take note of the curious expressions most of the members typically held when they saw her, even ones she had never met. Sasori had the same look and barely spoke to her unless it was important, which thoroughly irritated her.

The day had been long and boring for Maeme so far. There weren't any available missions, Itachi has been strangely absent, and Kisame returned to hating her since she won the last time they'd sparred, leaving her with nothing to do. She lets out a sigh and allows her head to fall back over the edge of the bed, her hair cascading to the floor. Memories of Suna had been clouding her mind for a few days and the simplicity of making sure that Sasori was safe. It was a lot easier to hold up her end of the bargain with Chiyo when they lived across the street from each other and hadn't defected. Her grey eyes flick over to the desk where Sasori is seated, his back toward her and focus on the poisons laid out before him.

"Sasori."

No response.

"Hey."

Still nothing.

Her temper flares and in a fluid movement, she gets to her feet and crosses the room. She shoves his chair backward before placing herself between him and the desk.

"What do you need Maeme?" He asks finally.

"Why won't you talk to me? What did I do the day I attacked him to make you despise me that much?"

"I don't despise you. You have irritated me for disrupting my work."

"You barely speak to me. When you do, you have this weird look on your face. What is it? What did I do? Or maybe you're just mad that I attacked your partner?"

"You never told me you could fight like that."

Maeme's expression deadpans before a harsh laugh escapes.

"That's what you're upset about? That you didn't know my fighting abilities!? What does it matter? My job is to protect you, not the other way around."

"You have some sort of agenda related to me that I don't understand. You've always been a burden, following me like a lost puppy. Why do you stick around and risk your life to be near me?"

Her eyes widen before narrowing dangerously.

"Because I have to whether I want to or not. I'll still protect you, but don't worry, I won't follow you like a 'lost puppy'." She grinds out as the door suddenly shuts, signaling her departure.

Maeme forces herself to slow her stride to a normal pace as she makes her way through the halls with no clear destination. Sasori called her a lost puppy and a burden. Those words echoed in her head. She knew her presence wasn't desired, but she didn't think he thought of her that way. Of course the arrangement wasn't what Maeme had planned for her life but never did she see it as a burden. Shaking away her thoughts, Maeme lets out a small sigh before laying across one of the chairs in the main room.

"What are you doing?"

"Failing in my attempt to contain my anger, what does it look like?" She retorts sourly, lifting her head to scowl at Kisame.

"Trouble in paradise?" He snickers, causing her expression to darken.

"Not funny. There's no 'paradise' and we aren't a thing."

"I'm just curious as to what exactly is the connection between the two of you. You're always saying there's nothing between you yet you protect him as if you owe him your life." Maeme sits up to face the swordsman properly before narrowing her eyes.

"There is nothing between us and I do protect him. My reasoning for such is none of your concern."

Kisame pauses for a moment before smirking.

"What about this: we spar and if I win, you tell me the truth, but if you win, you can ask something or make me do one thing within reason?"

"Considering I will definitely win, I have nothing to lose. You have a deal."

Maeme wipes the sweat from her brow while mentally cursing. She had been too confident in her abilities when she agreed to Kisame's bet, causing her to underestimate him. She throws herself to the floor as his sword sweeps over her, barely missing the mark. Her hand shoots out toward him, large spikes of earth jutting up to follow the path. He jumps out of the way, foiling his attempt to drive the sword down into her abdomen and giving her a chance to regain her footing. She takes the opportunity to gain the upper hand by jumping on the spikes and launches herself at him. He swings the sword upward in defense but she flips over it, landing a kick to his face. Maeme quickly forms the signs to create multiple clones surrounding Kisame on all sides before slipping into the fray as they attack at once. As he slices through the clones in one blow, Maeme jumps into the air unseen. A smirk crosses her face at the assurance of her victory, her foot trained at his head; a clear knock out on impact. Kisame looks up and smirks confidently. His hand shoots out, latches onto her ankle, then roughly slams her to the ground. Before she can pull herself up to fight again, the tip of his sword gently brushes the skin of her throat.

"I win." He grins.