The Living Doll || Sasori

Ch. 6 - Old Friends, New Friends

Standing up, Shizuka picked up the basket next to her and began walking. She didn't know how long she was staring at the stream, but she figured she had been there long enough. Her feet took her to a very familiar home - Sasori's abode. As she stepped inside, it looked as barren as she had found it almost a year ago. Picking up the jar of the herb she had picked, she placed it on a shelf with the other herbs she had collected over time. The previous jars had begun to collect dust, so while she was there, she busied herself with cleaning the small hideout before leaving.

"Sasori-san will return." She murmured to herself as she walked down the narrow forested path with her basket full of flowers and herbs. They'd been together for a couple of years; he wouldn't leave her behind. She had created a special bond with him over that time.

Coming back to Orochimaru's hideout, she sauntered through the dimly lit halls until she had made it to Kabuto's room. Room was an understatement; it was more of a nest for him. He ate, breathed, and slept experimentation in that room. It came as a surprise to see that he wasn't in there. Not wanting to question anything, she dropped off the basket and began to head back to her room.

"What a pleasant surprise, Snow White." An eerie voice interrupted her. "I was sad you weren't here to greet me at the door when I came back."

Shizuka turned around sharply and was met face to face with Orochimaru. The male looked as if he hadn't aged a day since he had left. Taking a step back out of shock, she bowed her head respectfully. "Welcome back, Lord Orochimaru."

"You don't have to be so modest. I see you've grown quite a bit while I've been gone." He eyed her before smirking and crossing his arms as he turned away. "Come with me."

The female looked after him for a moment before following. What did he want her to do? Surely he didn't know about Sasori; she had made sure to cover her tracks well and arrange her time so the schedules didn't overlap. Maybe she was just feeling paranoid from the sudden surprise that he was back. This probably didn't matter anyway; Sasori was gone.

Shizuka and Orochimaru entered the main room where she would usually get her blood drawn. In the room were a group of four people she didn't recognize. There was a tall, robust male with patches of orange hair, a smaller female with red hair, a tanned male with six arms, and a pale two headed male with light bluish-gray hair. They all had the same signature purple rope belt that she had on, however their uniforms were adorned with the yin-yang symbol.

"Go ahead and introduce yourselves. Don't be shy." Orochimaru smiled as he motioned for Shizuka to step forward.

The white-haired female looked at the group of unknowns in front of her cautiously. This was the first time that she had seen new people here, since she had only ever known of the people locked away deeper into the hideout. Was that where they came from? Mustering up a smile to try and hide her faltering confidence, she spoke first. "Hello. My name is Shizuka. It's nice to meet y-"

"What's your body count?" The crimsonette cut her off.

Shizuka was confused as she replayed the question in her head. "Huh?"

"Damn, you deaf or something? How many opponents have you defeated?" The female crossed her arms impatiently.

"...Four." Shizuka answered quietly as the images flashed through her mind. Three out of self-defense and the fourth was assisting voluntary suicide. None she was proud of to say the least.

"You're weak as hell." The red head scoffed. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you right now."

The robust male was next to speak, focusing his words on the rude female next to him. "Tayuya, please stop doing unnecessary things."