Note from the Author: Here we are at last! The event that triggers the fic's conflict. I hope you all like Itachi and Kisame in this chappie. Kisame was a bit out of character in this chapter, but I found it amusing. Also, the 'Anna' mentioned in this chapter is Dei's girlfriend. ...yes, I just said 'girlfriend'. Anyway, don't worry, she's not a 2D Origional character like some people make for their fan fictions. Heck, my sister hates OCs, but she said Anna seemed pretty interesting. You'll hear a bit about her next chapter, but try not to lose focus, fangirls. XD
Disclaimer: I do not own Deidara, Itachi, or Kisame. I do own the food Kisame was eating though. Deidara stole it all from my pantry and fridge, the bast--ahem. I mean, enjoy the chapter!
Back at Deidara's apartment, the blond burst through the door, kicking it aside with a bang. After entering, he tossed his clay bag across his shoulder, hanging it skillfully on a hook on the wall several feet away. He grabbed his visor off of his eye, and placed it on a coffee table at the front door that he'd designed to look like a hawk, with the wings bent in a manner that served as the table surface.
"Whew. That was a decent enough day. Now to watch the tube." He made his way into his kitchen, usually keeping the remote control on the counter through habit. It was just then when he noticed that the remote was missing. Pondering for a moment, he concluded that Anna must have dropped by and watched some TV for a bit. Heck, she was probably in the living room watching it right now.
He walked over to the fridge, opening it to get a pop for him and his girl. "Heh. The woman shoulda told me she was gonna drop by today." he said to himself, at last finding what he was looking for and closing the fridge. He opened one of the sodas and walked out of the room, drinking a bit from it. As he approached the living room from down the hall, though, he heard the TV. It was on the Iwagakure daily update channel, announcing the celebration. For a moment, the blonde swelled with pride over his idea, but then realized something; Anna hated watching what she considered to be 'boring television', which just so happened to include the information channel.
It was at the moment he realized this when he heard a familiar deep voice speak up from in the room. "Geese, Itachi-san. Can you believe how open about their accomplishments this village is? I mean, what idiot decides to hold a party because of the defeat of some half-assed village, eh?"
It was the guy from this morning. And this Itachi he was referring to must have been the shorter of the two. They were following him after all, and now, they were in his house. He stepped backwards slowly, trying to stealthily make his way toward his bag of clay. After the second step though, he noticed that someone was standing right behind him, and turned around to see the shorter of the two, Itachi, standing right behind him, holding his bag of clay.
"Looking for something, are we?" the young man said in a cold tone.
"Oi, Itachi-san!" called out the other one. "You got him or what?"
"Yeah." called out Itachi, gesturing to the living room, then addressing Deidara. "We want to have a word with you."
Just who were these guys anyway? Stalking him was one thing, but then they break into his home, and order him around?! Still, it didn't seem like he had much of a choice at this point. Itachi was holding his bag of clay, his only means of defense at this point. Quietly and obediently, the Iwa nin followed his captivator's orders, and walked into his living room.
He saw the other one slouching on the couch, with what appeared to be a large bandaged sword sitting up against the couch next to him. And...the nerve! This guy even had a bowl of potato chips next to him, that he was munching on even as Deidara sat down in one of the open chairs.
The larger guy then picked up the remote, turned off the television, and turned his attention to Deidara. "You know, you really need to get better channels. I mean, the Art Channel? Come on! Where's the Sports Channel on this piece of junk!"
Deidara smirked sarcastically, still knowing fully the situation he was in. "Oh, so you ARE from the cable company after all? Let me guess, you're the guy with plumber's crack, and your little buddy Itachi is the hard worker who wires things and stuff while you sit on your fat ass eating chips?" Despite his situation, Deidara could not pass up a chance to say that.
"Har, har, yeah, you're quite the comedian. But you've got no room to talk, what with that girly hair."
A vein pulsated in Deidara's forehead. "Oh yeah?!? I'll have you know that my hair, like my entire life, is a work of art! I'll bet you couldn't pull off anything more alluring!"
"Oh yeah?!" The larger one pulled off his shade, and Deidara gasped for a moment upon the realization that...the guy was blue and had gills, like a fish, or a shark, and even had sharp teeth and small beady eyes. "I'm as dead sexy as they come, pretty boy!"
"Kisame, we are not here to argue. Let us cut to the chase." said Itachi, who was leaning against a wall in the corner of the room.
"Er--right." Kisame cleared his throat, and looked Deidara square in the eye. "Shoshin Deidara, the leader of our organization, the Akatsuki, has heard of your talents, and wants you to join our little group."
"Oh, so this is about a job then?" Deidara replied, relieved that this wasn't a hostile situation after all. "Then you should have said so this morning. That way I would have known that when you guys showed up around my mission site today, I would have known you were just marveling at my talent. Well, if it's a job, then you should know that my minimal fee is--"
"This is not for a job." said Itachi.
"WHAT?!" Deidara got out of his chair. "Then what the hell?! I mean, if I'm not getting paid, then you aren't getting my services!" He turned his back to them and folded his arms. "It's non-negotiable."
"We knew you would say that." said Kisame, feasting on another handful of potato chips. "And we were told to tell you that if you come with us, you'll gain something better than money."
"And that would be?!"
Itachi was the one to respond this time, and seemed to be staring off into the distance the whole time. "Power."
Deidara turned to the men once more, and flipped them off. "Take your power and shove it up your asses. I'm got everything I've ever wanted right here."
Itachi got off of the wall, and then faded suddenly, disappearing from Diedara's sight. "Wha-what the?!?"
"If thats' your decision." said Itachi, who was standing back to back to Deidara. "Then we cannot waver it. However, we will give you two weeks to consider our offer."
Deidara was now paralyzed with fear. How in the hell could anyone be so fast?!
Kisame got off the couch and stretched, grabbing the bandaged sword, and handed the bowl of chips to Deidara and taking the other soda out of his hand before walking out of the room. "Keep buying this brand. Best salted food ever."
Itachi was the next to leave the room, but stopped at the doorway, and spoke one last time to Deidara, not even turning to look at him. "Remember our offer well. Also, dispose of this. I find littering to be a bit...distasteful." Itachi tossed an apple core over his shoulder at Deidara, who caught it for fear of it hitting his head. It was from the apple that went missing from his hand this morning. That means...
As Itachi left, Deidara knelt to the ground, trying to catch his breath after witnessing the raw display of skill that had taken place just a moment ago, and threatened his very life. The words of Itachi were still ringing in his ear even after he had returned to his room, plopping himself on his bed to rest. 'Remember our offer well'. Why did he have to? Were they trying to imply something?