Note: This is the first Naruto fic I've written in like... years. woah. I don't know what's happened to me.

Also this fic is based off of the song Radio by Lana Del Rey. c:

SWEET LIKE CINNAMON

Chapter 1: Take It Or Leave It

By Kirschstein

Sai rarely smiled. At least not genuinely.

Sasori came to realize this fact over the years spent with him, but it never bothered him. He wasn't much of a smiler himself and honestly, out of the two of them Sai seemed to be the more upbeat. It seemed Sasori realized a little too late that having the freakishly pale boy by his side had been good for him. Even if only a little, Sai's presence had changed him. It was gradual, so much so that he hadn't noticed it until now. But being with Sai had made Sasori subtly... happy.

Happy. It was strange and foreign word to him. As he looked up at Sai, saw the gentle curve in his lips - a real smile - Sasori felt a twinge in his chest. He supposed the reality of the situation had only hit him just now, even though he'd been aware that he was moving away months before.

"Don't look at me like that." Sai's tone was playful, eyes forming crescents as he tilted his head to the side. "Grandfather has only given me a few minutes, but you'll make me want to stay if you keep looking at me like a wounded kitten."

"Then come with me." Sasori spoke seriously, even though he knew that was impossible. Neither of them were old enough to make decisions like that by themselves. But what was he supposed to do without Sai? Sasori was certain he would have spent all his child and adolescent years alone if not for the other boy, and now would be no different. Sasori needed him.

Sai sighed as his eyes opened again. "You know I can't do that. But look." He reached down, digging his hand into his corduroy messenger bag. "There's something I've wanted to give you. I've been waiting until now, actually."

Sasori's eyebrow raised when he saw the folded piece of paper his friend was now gripping. "What is that?" He momentarily glanced behind him, at the line that was forming in front of his designated terminal. When he looked back, the paper was unfolded and Sai was holding it out to him.

Sasori's jaw went slack. The paper Sai was offering him.. it was a sketch. Of them. An extremely realistic sketch of a photo Sai forced them to take over a year ago. Sai was smiling cheerily, his arm around Sasori's narrow shoulders. The redhead was looking in his friend's direction and smiling as well. But only faintly.

"Sai.. you..." Sasori looked from the paper to the pasty face before him, disbelieving. "You drew this? You could have just given me the original picture. It would have saved you a lot of trouble..."

Sai chuckled, the hand not holding the sketch lifting to rub the back of his neck. His raven hair was thin and lacked much volume, but Sasori thought the look suited him. He liked the way the tresses rested at the middle of his neck. Honestly, the haircut made him look really hot - not that Sasori would ever say that aloud.

"I suppose you're right. But I worked really hard on this, just because I wanted you to have a piece of me with you in your new place." Sai blinked at the shorter boy and waved the paper in front of his face. "Take it, Sasori."

Sasori huffed and opened his mouth to protest, but a noise behind Sai shut him up. He peered over his shoulder and saw Sai's grandfather, Danzo, standing a few yards away from them. He leaned on his wooden cane and was glaring in their direction with a rather impatient look on his wrinkled face.

"Wrap it up now, Sai! I have somewhere to be, remember?"

His friend visibly cringed at the sharp tone, and Sasori signed inwardly. It's always like this...

"Yes, Grandfather." Sai looked back at the elder with furrowed brows. "Just give me a moment more, please."

Danzo scoffed, waving his hand dismissively as he began to walk towards the elevator the led down to airport's left-wing exit.

"I guess... we've been prolonging this, huh?" Sasori glanced up at Sai when he turned back, doe eyes drooping as he took the sketch and ran his thumb over the paper's edge.

Sai bit his lip and hung his head, a small, wistful smile claiming his lips. "I don't want to say goodbye yet."

I don't want to say it ever. "I know... but Granny Chiyo's waiting in the terminal, and they'll be closing the gate in fifteen minutes." Sasori's lower lip twitched ever so slightly, his gaze lowering to the rubber toe of his Chucks.

And then, suddenly, there were arms encasing his small frame. Before Sasori had a chance to gather what was happening, he'd been pulled into Sai's chest and held firmly. He blinked, tilting his neck to look up at the slightly taller boy with raised brows. He meant to protest again, but his own feelings got the best of him and he relaxed.

"I will miss you, so much." Sai spoke softly, and Sasori's lips curved downward as his own arms wrapped around his middle.

"Yeah," He nodded, his voice taking a glum tone, "Me too."

"Oi, Sasori."

Sasori blinked and tilted his head up, a look of mild irritation etching over his face. The raven-haired male that had claimed his attention was not at all who he wished was sitting beside him in that moment, but he held that particular detail inside and opted to tugging the sleeves of his hoodie over his hands.

"Yeah?"

Sasuke tilted his head, the whisper of a grin on his lips. In one hand he held a capped ink pen, idly twirling it between pale fingers. He was looking at Sasori with such intensity that hit made him blink down to the spiral notebook in front of him.

"Did you hear what Mr. Umino said?"

"No," He admitted, "Wasn't listening." I was thinking about Sai, and you interrupted me. "What did he say?"

Sasuke lowered his pen and folded his hands, resting his chin on the backs of his fingers. In the three weeks he'd sat beside Sasuke in class it seemed that was his favorite way to sit. Sasori thought it looked dumb though, sort of like he was trying way too hard to be cool. But he didn't say that.

"There's a project being assigned, and we have to work on it with a partner."

Sasori bit back a groan. He'd always very much despised working in groups, since in the end he was too controlling to really let anyone have a say in how the work was to be executed. It was easier to just work on it by himself. But nevertheless, he'd entertain Sasuke's obvious offer to work with him. He was certain that was where the raven was going.

"What, you want me to be your partner?" He crossed his legs at the ankle. Ever since Sasori had transferred in Sasuke had been inexplicably attached to his hip; showing him to his classes, offering to sit with him at lunch. Sasori was convinced the kid had some weird stalkerish crush on him, but he sort of liked the company since Sasuke, in some ways, reminded him of Sai.

"Well yeah." Sasuke's grin had broadened slightly. He leaned in closer and Sasori instinctively scooted his chair backwards. "We're both at the top of the class. We'd make a good team, don't you think?"

Sasori considered his words. It was true; he and Sasuke both had pristine GPAs, which was partly why Sasori tolerated him without much protest. The redhead had never been a nice enough person to be friends with someone who wasn't on the same intellectual level as he was, anyway. It'd be way too frustrating.

"I suppose you're right." Sasori agreed after a slight pause. Sasuke nodded to him and Sasori returned to doodling a wooden mannequin in the top corner of his notebook.

The project outlines were passed out during the last minutes of the period. The task didn't seem like it'd be too difficult, but even Sasori knew that amount of work would need to be divided if it were to be completed in the span of time Mr. Umino had given them before the deadline. Immediately after class, Sasori had called up his grandmother and told her he'd be heading to Sasuke's house after school, deciding it was best to start on it immediately. Sasuke had been delighted, and to Sasori it seemed like it was more about the redhead coming over than them actually working on their assignment. He'd grimaced the entire car-ride to the Uchiha Estate.

"The fuck is the pizza? Hm."

"We only ordered it twenty minutes ago."

Deidara grunted and kicked his feet up on the coffee table. He glanced to Itachi, who had his monochrome-colored bass guitar resting over the lower half of his torso, fingers plucking the tune of the song Yahiko composed the week before. Deidara softly hummed along, picking up his iPhone and checking exactly how much time had passed since they called Papa John's. Itachi was right (he fucking hated that he was): twenty-one minutes ago. The blonde's nose wrinkled slightly.

"Damn, I'm hungry. Hm." He sunk a little on the leather couch. After a moment, he noticed Itachi's fingers had suddenly stopped moving and he was twisted around in his seat, looking towards the arched doorway that led into the hall.

"What is it?" Deidara's hand lifted to scratch the skin around his eyebrow piercing.

Itachi simply placed a finger over his own lips to indicate to Deidara that he wanted him to be quiet and listen. The other man squinted.

"Wh-"

"When your best friend's all strung out,

you'll do everything you can 'cause you're never gonna let it get 'em down,"

Shit. It was the most angelic thing Deidara had ever heard. Someone was singing in the other room, loud enough for he and Itachi to hear clearly. This angel's voice was lofty and sweet, and retained a pretty strong range from what he could hear. Without realizing, Deidara had stood from the couch and made a move to sprint out of the den to go find wherever the singing was coming from.

"Wait."

Grumbling, the blonde looked to his dark-haired friend. Itachi was moving his bass to the side and standing up as well.

"What am I waiting for? Hm."

"Let's go together. You're not very charismatic and you might scare whoever that is away."

Cerulean eyes narrowed at the comment. Oh fuck you. I'm hella charismatic, you smug idiot. But for once, his mind wasn't bent on countering Itachi's insult. He needed to uncover the identity of that singing angel.

"Waves in theta, slipping into dreams

Oh, I can feel, I can feel, I can feel the celestial beings."

Both men followed the voice down the wide corridor. Socked feet moved over the floor in quick strides, Itachi's steps light while Deidara practically galloped along the hardwood planks. They reached the kitchen, and Deidara's mouth formed an 'o' at the rather unexpected sight that greeted them.

A petite, fair-skinned redhead was standing in front of the open refrigerator. He was swaying his hips and singing loudly to the tune that blasted from his Apple earbuds, completely unaware of his surroundings.

"You know him, Itachi?" Deidara didn't take his eyes off the boy. Something about the kid had him transfixed, and it wasn't just his singing, he knew. He was so fucking cute. Deidara's lips curved into a smirk when Itachi said, "No. He's probably Sasuke's friend."

Deidara decided he'd reel him in the best way he knew how: with art (Music, to be more specific). He took a few steps into the kitchen and opened his mouth, singing along with the boy.

"It dries up

I've been a river bed, I tried to salt the wound

I've carried more than I can, I feel I've got a lot to prove,"

The boy looked up, startled, owl eyes widening as he nearly dropped the water bottle he was holding. Deidara was standing before him now, his smirk wide and toothy as he placed a hand on the top of the fridge door to trap him.

"You have a beautiful voice, hm."

"Deidara.." He could hear Itachi's warning tone behind him, but he ignored it. The cutie popped his earbuds out and shoved them into his pocket, never once breaking the gaze. He lifted a small hand to push at the chest of Deidara's Death Grips t-shirt.

"Who... who the hell are you?" The redhead fumed at him, but somehow this only amused Deidara further. He stumbled a bit when the boy began pushing him backward. "Back up, you creep!"

Deidara chuckled. "Sorry, sorry," He heeded the request and took a step back (mostly to balance himself), his hands resting on the hips of his skinny jeans. "Let me properly introduce myself, hm? I'm Deidara." He inclined his head forward and tucked his hair behind pierced ears. "And you're damn cute."

The boy looked furious. Without a word he ducked under Deidara's arm and walked behind him, pushing passed Itachi and running out of the kitchen. Deidara watched, brows furrowing in frustration.

"...Damn it. Hm."

"I told you you'd scare him away." Itachi was leaning on the doorframe, his arms folded as he smirked over at the blonde.

"Fuck you, Itachi." Deidara growled and flipped the other man off. "He's just playing hard-to-get."

"I don't know, he seemed pretty frightened. I thought he was about to whip out the mace, honestly." Itachi chuckled darkly and pushed himself from the doorframe, holding out his arm when Deidara tried to leave the room.

" You have no chill, Deidara." He told him, which caused the blonde to grit his teeth. "Let me go instead. He might take well to a calm approach."

Deidara wanted to yell at him for that snide comment, but the look on Itachi's face, as well as their desperate need to know that kid, kept him from doing so. Instead, he seethed quietly and perched himself at the island counter.

"Fine," Deidara reached for a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos from the center of the marbletop island. "If you think you're so fuckin' charming, see if you can convince him to be a replacement for Konan, hm?"

Itachi looked in the direction the redhead went, his head tilting some. "I'll do what I can."

Deidara tugged open the bag of chips. He almost added "and make sure to get his number for me too", but he decided he'd keep his pride intact and force it out of Sasuke instead. At least there was one Uchiha that didn't make it his duty to make Deidara feel stupid with every-fucking-thing they said.

Sasori climbed the stairs two at a time. He hadn't looked behind his shoulder to see if he was being followed, but he couldn't hear anyone so he assumed he was safe. What the hell had even happened back there? He'd been attacked by some blue-eyed creep with really - really - long hair, and then there was that other one; the genetically blessed man who sort of looked like an older version of Sasuke. Was he his brother? Sasuke hadn't mentioned anything about having a brother, not once.

Sasori's grip on the wooden banister tightened when he reached the landing. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand touched his back, and he swung around, staring up at the man before him. There he was again; the dark-haired, dark-eyed guy who was so tall he practically dwarfed Sasori. The boy started to turn and run but the man held up his hand to stop him.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

His voice was comforting, somehow. Sasori bit his lip and his hand dropped from the banister. "What do you want?" He glanced to the side. "I... Sasuke's waiting and-"

"Oh, so you are Sasuke's friend."

Sasori gulped and took an instinctive step back. "Are you his brother?" He asked, looking up and wrapping his arms around his middle, trying to actually shrink into the oversized hoodie he was wearing (Sai's oversized hoodie).

The man raised an eyebrow. "He didn't tell you about me? I'm hurt..." He gripped his chest, huffing in feigned offense. Sasori then noticed the Uchiha crest that was printed on the silver pendant he wore.

"I'm Itachi Uchiha."

His claim seems legit... Sasori swallowed a breath. "I'm..." Should I really tell him my name? This entire situation feels kind of dodgy... But even though he was nervous, the man's gentle aura was enough to disarm and slightly calm Sasori down. "I'm Sasori. Sasuke and I are working on a school project together."

Itachi chuckled and stepped closer. "That explains it." He held his hand out to Sasori, presumably for a shake. When he did the redhead noted the dark tribal markings that peeked from under the pushed up sleeves of his Henley.

"It's nice to meet you, Sasori."

"...Yeah, same." Sasori shook the man's hand, speaking slowly. "Are you friends with that blond guy? He creeps me out..."

Itachi's face was unchanging as he dropped his hand and returned it to his side. "Deidara has a tendency to come on very strong. I told him he'd probably end up scaring you away, but he never listens to me." Itachi briefly looked over his shoulder and shook his head.

They discussed me? That's really... unnerving...

"What even did he want with me?" Sasori asked, a grimace forming on his lips as he recalled the event that took place a few minutes earlier and shuddered.

"Well.." Itachi turned back to the boy. "...Like he said, you have a beautiful and unique voice. We've been in desperate need of a new lead singer for our band." He paused, black eyes giving Sasori a quick once-over. "We're called Akatsuki. Have you ever heard of us?"

Akatsuki. Somehow Sasori was expecting more of a lame name if a guy like Deidara was in it.

"No I've never heard of it." He said, then he backtracked, rehashing what Itachi had said before. Lead singer? They really thought he was good enough for something like that? The only other person who'd heard him sing was Sai, and it was only quietly when they'd lie around in Sasori's room with their sketchbooks.

"That's..." Sasori's eyes widened and he sunk his teeth further into his lip. "I don't know what to say to that."

Itachi opened his mouth to respond but then his eyes shifted to something behind Sasori. His expression changed considerably, the redhead noticed.

"What the hell are you doing here?" It was Sasuke's voice, and he sounded thoroughly annoyed. Sasori looked over his shoulder to see the black-haired boy standing on the step above the landing, gripping the banister with narrowed eyes.

"You moved out." He spat, "I thought that meant you wouldn't be skulking around here anymore."

Itachi smiled, the sight surprising Sasori enough that he took another step back.

"I came to see you, baby brother." Itachi's tone was teasing as he spoke. Sasuke snorted and made a "tch" noise under his breath.

"Are you harassing Sasori?" He stepped down and threw an arm over Sasori's shoulders. The boy tensed a bit and looked down at his feet, avoiding both males' gazes.

"Not at all." Itachi waved his hands in defense, then reached over and tapped Sasori's shoulder to get him to look up again. "Consider my offer, will you?" He ignored Sasuke's glare as he began walking back down the stairs.

"I hope to see you again, Sasori."

When Itachi was out of sight Sasori expected Sasuke to let go of him, but he didn't. He turned the redhead around to face him and looked over him with a concerned expression.

"What offer did he make you?" Sasuke asked, "He's not trying to pick you up, is he? That scum bag.. he steals-"

"No." Sasori looked up at Sasuke and petted his shoulder in gentle reassurance. He was still a little confused as to why he hadn't mentioned anything about his brother before, but then again, Sasuke seemed to really resent the guy so he wouldn't press. "Calm down. It was stupid. Means nothing to me."

Sasuke nodded after a moment, then yanked Sasori around and began tugging him up the stairs alongside him. Sasori remained silent, looking over his shoulder every now and again to see if Itachi - or even Deidara - was there. He really hated to admit he actually was considering the offer. But even so, Sasori knew his social deficiencies would get in the way of something like that. And also, he wasn't a musically inclined person in any sense of the word. Judging by their appearances, they seemed to be some kind of edgy rock band, and would probably tease him for his lack of musical knowledge. No way would he ever let someone talk down to him. Never.

But on the other hand, Itachi and Deidara both were pretty hot. Sasori was mildly curious to see what the other band members were like, and maybe if he was a completely different person he'd have actually accepted Itachi's offer. But Sasori was too prideful to admit interest in something he'd so openly showed distaste about.

As he walked into Sasuke's room, Sasori peeled his hoodie off his torso and plopped down on the desk chair. Oh well, he thought, they'd just have to find another person to sing in their little band. Sasori was hardly cut out for something like that, anyway, even though he did feel sort of bummed that he couldn't do it.