Thank you, deidaralover4evr, MitchiMarra , Envyyyyy and FireFox Vixen for the lovely reviews. And once again, a thank you to anyone that favorite'd or followed.

They mean a lot :) If I didn't get any, I probably would have given up on this story. Bah. On to the chapter.

The characters do not belong to me. Dude, stop assuming that they're mine. I will slap you.

Please enjoy!

The Pianist

Chapter 3

Sharks and Starfish

Deidara puckered his lips in thought, arms folded neatly beneath his chin. "And you have no idea where you left it?" Sasori blinked back at the blond he had just met not but a few hours prior. He placed the steaming teacup upon the elegant china with a soft click, eyes narrowing at the boy before him.

"Of course I know where I left it. I dropped it when you carelessly bumped into me." Sasori growled as Deidara stared back.

"You probably shouldn't have left it on the floor, un." Deidara took a sip from his cup, large sapphire orbs rising to meet a fuming redhead.

"I only forgot that it was there because I wanted an apology."

"Oh." Deidara mumbled, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if remembering the accidents from earlier in the day. "Well, you should have been watching where you were going." Sasori huffed at this, resting his chin upon his open palm, averting his gaze to the wall. "Un."

"The same could be said for you, Brat."

"Brat? Don't call me that, un!" Sasori's eyes slid back to the blond, disinterest clouding his even stare. "You don't have to be such a jerk, un. I invited you to tea as an apology."

"And I extend my gratitude, but frankly I don't know why I'm still here." The bored redhead drawled, gaze falling to the thin wisps of steam uncurling from the tea. Deidara considered the redhead for a short while, an uneasy silence falling over the pair; save, the hum of conversation and clinks of china surrounding them. The blond sighed, about to excuse himself.

"If you'll excuse me, I must find my book." Sasori interjected, standing up, fingers still resting upon the table. "Thank you, for the tea. Try to be less of a clumsy brat." Deidara blinked slowly, startled by the interruption of his almost-statement.

"And you can try to be less of a rude jerk, un!" Deidara quipped, a little too loud for a nearby couple's taste. Sasori raised an eyebrow, watching the blond give the couple a sheepish smile, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. "Sorry."

"Good luck with your problem, there."

"What problem? I don't have a problem, un." Deidara glared at the redhead, only to receive a bemused glimpse from his retreating peer. Deidara grumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets, grabbing any spare change. Who does that guy think he is? Where does he get off being such a jerk? "You have a problem!" He called from his seat, earning more amused glances from the neighboring tables.

Deidara snorted at the redhead's back, eyes narrowing further as Sasori waved lazily, disappearing beyond the heavily polished doors. "Un." He pouted, tossing the tip onto the table, shooting an annoyed glare left, and then right.

Deidara trudged out the door of the café, eyes downcast as he thought over the very reason that he was in such a rush to get to his room in the first place; and the reason that he caused his new acquaintance to be so angry with him. There was indeed a pattern in the ballroom murders, he knew it—but he couldn't put his finger on it. What did they all have in common? There must be something linking them?

"Why so glum, Blondie?" Deidara jumped at the sudden disturbance, holding both hands out before him in a defensive stance.

"Eh? Where did you come from, Kisame, un?" Deidara's arms fell to his side, swaying slightly as he looked over his friend. "What the hell happened to you?" He cocked an eyebrow at the blue man, earning a shrug.

"Konan wanted to run an experiment. Who am I to say no?" Kisame chuckled, flashing a toothy grin at his blond comrade. Deidara nodded slowly, still unsure of why he was blue. But when it came to Konan, why question it?

Deidara noted, eyes lighting up as he pointed a trembling finger in Kisame's face; stifling laughter he sputtered. "You look like a stinking shark, Man! That is so freaking hilarious, un." Blond hair bouncing as he clutched his belly, finding this amazingly comical. And perhaps it was never that funny to start with, but when you coupled the statement with an image of Kisame lurking about the sandy floor, eating starfish; it proved most entertaining. To Deidara, anyway.

"Oh yes, let's all laugh at my suffering." Kisame rolled his eyes.

"Oh, shut it. You know you enjoy eating starfish, un, Fishy." Deidara giggled, watching Kisame's face twist into a grimace.

"Sharks don't eat starfish. Well, I don't think they do." He rubbed the back of his head, preoccupied with the concept of sharks eating starfish. Kisame 'aha'd at the blond, recalling the very reason that he had met up with him outside of the café. "I saw you sharing tea with Sasori, how did you lure him out of the auditorium? I've been trying for a while to get that boring, old bastard out of there, but he never wants to come. How'd you do it?"

Deidara blinked slowly, "You know him, un? He's so mean. I invited him to tea because I crashed into him in the hallway and I felt bad. I don't know how else to say sorry, un."

"Yeah. Wait how come you never invite me to tea?" Deidara shrugged, traipsing off in the direction of his room. "Seriously, Man. How come you never buy me tea?" Kisame continued, tailing the fleeing blond.

"Because I'm never sorry, un."

"What about that time you blew up my shoe?"

"Like, I said. I'm never sorry."

"Oh, you're an asshole."

"Un."

Coffee colored orbs focused on the pair, only sliding back to the crumpled paper after the pair had vanished behind a corner. He stared at the bold heading on the newspaper, mouth set in a straight line; he gulped, a prickling heat pooling in his chest. There was absolutely no way the blond was on to him. But it would be best to tail him, he observed, much to the health of his remaining sanity.

This was going to be difficult.

Oh yes. Another chapter done. And what? Some plot, I need more plot in every chapter.

Nah, I'm kidding. Plot is for the weak! Mwahahahahahaha! I kid, again. I'll work on it x.x

Please review and tell me what you think! I will give you imaginary highfives! C'mon! You know you want imaginary highfives!