Suteta - (Akatsuki fanfic)

Part 14

 Note:

Geez, it took me freaking FOREVER to update this story didn't it? XD Sorry about that ^^; Good news is, I was able to post the new chapter before I go on my 4 day trip! Of course, while I'm gone, I'll also continue to work on updating my stories. Aaannnd you may be seeing 1 or 2 new ones ;3

Well, my lovely readers, on with the show!

~MGPD

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Everyone really seems to be in a fit over this child, don't they? At the moment some of the members were holding a meeting in Konan's office. They weren't talking very quietly, especially Hidan and Deidara with their arguing. Though, Tobi could scarcely hear the conversation, as they had left him to keep an eye on Hanaki in the living room. Or as Zetsu put it, 'keep her entertained and away from the office.' Why it would be such a problem for her to overhear the conversation, he wasn't sure. However, since watching her for as long as he has today, Tobi had an educated guess.

Whenever her name came up in the distant conversation, she paused her activity and angled her head in the direction of the office. She would hold perfectly still, make an expression depending on what she heard –whether it be confused, frustrated, thoughtful, or something else-, then go back to what she was doing without saying a word. She's showing great signs of observation, he noted. Of course, she likely couldn't understand half of what anyone was saying, which would account for her confused and frustrated expressions. But what about the things she could understand? What could be going through that little mind of hers? The prospect was an interesting one, but whether her actions were from intelligence or natural curiosity was difficult to tell. Perhaps that's why Zetsu hadn't said anything. He never did like mentioning something he was unsure about.

Currently Tobi was across from the toddler, lying on his stomach on the floor with his arms propping him up so he could draw on a sheet of paper. She was sitting on her knees, also drawing but with much more focus. Earlier he figured this would be the best option for keeping her quiet and occupied, and she certainly was after seeing all the colorful pencils he set out. It was also good for keeping up his "brain-dead-six-year-old" act.

"Obi! Obi, lookit!" Hanaki nearly shouted for his attention. The masked nin raised his head to see she was holding up the drawing she made. It wasn't a great work of art by any means, but it was colorful and easy to tell the basic likeness of who it was meant to be.

He couldn't help but laugh, grinning behind his mask. "It's Sempai wearing lipstick!"

A bright smile spread over her face and she giggled. "Giiirlyyy~" she chimed. Originally that was her way of getting back at the arsonist for making fun of Kisame, but it had become her personal joke. It was all the funnier because Deidara couldn't do anything about it. No one would let him.

"Oh, let me try!" He picked up a red pencil and grabbed a clean sheet of paper. Then he quickly drew a huge, ridiculous-looking pair of lips, and after coloring it in he held the picture in front of his mask. "Now Tobi looks just like Sempai!"

That earned him a roar of laughter in response. Hanaki clutched her sides as if she just couldn't contain her amusement. Sure, it may not seem as immensely hysterical to some people, but to her it was priceless. Even so she apparently felt the need to disagree. "Obi's not girly!"

I really have to get used to that, Tobi thought. Despite the fact he knew it was because she couldn't process names very well, it made his nerves jump whenever Hanaki said his that way. 'Tobi' was simply an alias he used in the Akatsuki to hide his real identity, so her inadvertently processing it into a part of his real name was somewhat unsettling. Though, she is just a child after all. There isn't much harm she can cause unless I give myself away. Which wouldn't happen until he saw fit, of course. He was so good at pretending he was someone else everyone but Zetsu was clueless as to what he was really like. So being called by something slightly different wasn't a problem. Besides, it was actually fun to have her around and giving her company was something to do other than portray himself as a fool all the time.