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

Sickness

 Maeme begrudgingly walks behind Sasori toward Yukigakure, a small leather bound book in hand. From what she'd picked up from Sasori's conversation with the leader, they are on a simple investigative mission. A group of rogues have settled near one of the old base locations and Sasori is to decide if they are a threat, then wipe them out if need be. After failing to keep her focus on the book, she closes it with a sigh before lengthening her stride to match his footfalls.

"So, what crawled up your butt this time?" She asks, casting him a look.

He doesn't respond so she rolls her eyes and repeats herself.

"Okay, fine." She grinds out, stepping out in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest. "Talk."

"What do you want Maeme?"

The irritation is clearly present in his tone, but she doesn't back down.

"You've been really cold toward me for the past few weeks, what's going on?"

"You haven't been around for me to be cold toward you." he comments, stepping around her and continuing on.

"Because I was doing what you wanted me to. You didn't want me around, so I stayed away. This attitude of yours is rather annoying though."

"I do not see why this would concern you since your attentions have been elsewhere."

Her eyes narrow dangerously but she chooses to not murder him in favor of walking ahead to scout the area.

The pair reach Yukigakure a few very tense days later, something Maeme was almost grateful for. They were closer to finishing the mission so she could return to the base and the comfort of Itachi's arms, but they still had several days to go. As their feet crunch through the snow, she mentally curses herself for forgetting to bring a coat. She also curses Pein for sending two Suna natives to an area covered in snow. Her foot slips on a small sheet of ice but she catches herself and begins her string of expletives out loud. She really wishes she had worn a shirt with longer sleeves.

"The base is a few hours past this village. We will stay here for the night so you don't freeze to death." Sasori snidely informs her.

"Not everyone can turn themselves into puppets." She shoots back, shivering against the cold. "I'm so ready to get this over with."

They check into a small inn on the outskirts a few hours later, the innkeeper scolding Maeme was for not dressing for the weather. Maeme offers the elderly woman a polite smile before taking the key and heading up to their room with Sasori in tow. All she wanted to do was hide in the hot springs for a while. She wasn't sure if she could hold her tongue if she stayed beside him for much longer.

Morning arrives much too soon for Maeme's liking , leaving her shivering again as they head out of the village. Sasori refused to wait for her to purchase a coat from one of the shops. The pair had spent the night in a very tense silence and his actions so far this morning irritated her further. She swallows back her mounting anger and scouts ahead to keep herself occupied. By the time Maeme spots the base, snow is coming down heavily and any remaining traces of a decent mood are gone.

"I spotted the base up ahead. Let's hurry up and get this over with." She huffs.

"You're in such a hurry to get back. Don't get distracted."

"My only distraction right now is the cold, because someone wouldn't let me get a coat." She growls in frustration.

"If you weren't so caught up with Itachi, you wouldn't have forgotten your own. I will not pay for your mistakes."