Atopos - I'm finally back! Couldn't get online, yada, yada. Anyways, I got this idea from...some show I was watching...can't remember now. I thought it was pretty cute.

Standard disclaimer applies.

Someone Needs a Partner

"Deidara, Itachi wants to know if you have the--" Kisame stopped mid-sentence, staring in disbelief at the scene before him. He tried his hardest to comprehend the situation, yet couldn't come up with a reasonable solution to it. Instead he entered the room and stood right behind the boy. "What the hell are you doing? Or would it be best for me to just back out the way I came in?"

Deidara – the one in question and in desperate need of sanity, according to Kisame – was seated at a low table with a small tea party setting in place. He also stared at Kisame for barging in without knocking, and looked as if what he was doing was normal (which it wasn't!).

Kisame decided it was best for future reference if he told Deidara what was on his mind at that moment. "Now, I know you miss Sasori a lot, but I don't think this is a good replacement."

Of course, he was looking nervously at the redheaded puppet (who was without a soul now), who's wooden body was currently sitting across from Deidara. A pink, frilly hat was placed on his head, which matched the apron and spring dress Deidara had also forced upon his late master. The scene would have been adorable had it not been for the fact that Sasori was not only a puppet in a dress, but also a dead body in a dress.

Deidara appeared to be disgusted with the way Kisame judged him quickly. "Please, as if I would miss that slave-driving asshole, un. I'm just a little lonely from how quiet it is now that I don't get yelled at every few seconds. Now, if you don't mind, un, Mrs. Periwinkle and I are in a heated discussion about how to improve my art."

"You're starting to scare me, Deidara," Kisame muttered awkwardly. He then gave the young blond an odd look, and began to whisper in his ear. "It's not talking back, is it? It's not saying anything like: 'Don't be an idiot, my art's better'?" When Deidara shook his head firmly, Kisame sighed in relief. At least the blond boy wasn't completely out of his mind. "As long as it doesn't answer back."

"Don't worry, Kisame-danna!" Deidara beamed brightly, "If anything cool happens, I'll let you know first! Un!"

Kisame sighed again as he headed for the door. "Deidara?"

"Yes?"

"We need to get you a new partner really, really soon."

"Un…"

- Atopos