Itachi's theory was correct. He'd finally finished analyzing the scroll and putting all the pieces together late into the night – he even did it twice just to be sure – and it all led to the same thing: Sasori needed to be reminded of his traumatic experience he'd gone through as a child. It was rather cruel, even for Orochimaru.

The Uchiha had wasted no time in contacting their Leader. Pein, using his astral projection, listened as Itachi explained what they would have to do. Though he also found it to be a bit cruel, the Akatsuki leader was more relieved to finally have this whole situation over with and his members back in commission. He thanked Itachi for his work and decided that they would go over the plan more thoroughly in the morning before attempting anything.

Itachi agreed and waited for Pein's projection to fuzz away before turning to his bed, tired but not wanting to sleep. How could he? He didn't want to admit it, but he'd grown somewhat affectionate for this child, and now he'd be forced to watch the Sasori's care-free spirit crushed.

Just like Sasuke. He felt a pang of guilt hit his chest and he ran both his hands through his hair, sitting down on his bed. His mind went back to that night and all its horrific details. He couldn't erase from his memories the look on Sasuke's face when he'd first discovered their parents, and then when he found out it had all been Itachi's doing.

It had to be done, but there was no way he could escape the guilt from hurting his brother so badly. Well, there was one way, but he still needed to wait a few more years for that…

He must've stayed up all night lying in his bed thinking, and he was surprised when he heard a knock on his door, followed immediately after by the appearance of an impatient and excited Deidara. "Pein called a meeting this morning, hm. You finished it?" The sculptor frowned as he stepped closer. "You look like shit, you doing okay?"

Itachi turned his head away, reaching up with a hand to rub his face, frowning in embarrassment as he wiped away tears he hadn't known he'd cried. "It's the…strain on my eyes."

"Okay, hm. Well, Pein wants us in the meeting room in half an hour."

"Where's Sasori?" Itachi turned his head back toward the blond, glancing behind him to see if the little red head had followed him in.

Deidara chuckled. "Kakuzu's watching him until the meeting's over."

Itachi stood up from his bed, cracking his neck. "How did you get him to agree to do that?"

"Not my idea. Pein's orders, hm." Seeing that his assignment of informing the Uchiha of the meeting was completed, Deidara turned and left the room, deep in thought.

He could've sworn Itachi had been crying, he hadn't missed the wetness on his cheeks. But then, the raven had been using his eyes a lot lately. Deidara noticed that his own eyes got a little watery if he focused on his clay for too long. And he couldn't for the life of him think of anything that would make the heartless Uchiha cry. He was a murderer, after all; someone who had massacred his entire clan, save for his little brother, in one night, just to test his abilities. If he could do that without any emotion, there was probably nothing else that could break the Sharingan user.

Deidara shook his head. Who cared? The jutsu was finally going to be reversed, Sasori would go back to his boring puppet self, and life and missions would go on as usual.

He went to his room to grab his Akatsuki cloak, slipping it over his shoulders and zipping it up. It seemed out of place to go to meetings or to meet with the Leader without it, and he noticed all the other members seemed to feel the same way. Even Sasori always wore a cloak on his real body, on top of donning Hiruko with one. Deidara found it a little unnecessary, seeing as the puppet rarely came out of Hiruko, especially out on missions. In fact, the only time the other artist was out of his favorite puppet was when they were at the base, and even then he stayed inside the privacy of his bedroom – well, not that you could call Deidara barging in at least once a month private.

Deciding to follow one of the older Sasori's traits and not keep anyone waiting, Deidara walked down the hall and took a seat in the meeting room. Kakuzu's room was down the same hallway and wasn't far from the meeting area, and Deidara could faintly hear Sasori's high-pitched voice, followed by the short grumble of Kakuzu's. It sounded as if they were arguing about something, and it brought an amused smile to the blond's face.

Itachi entered a short while later, open Akatsuki cloak hanging loosely over his shoulders and the scroll gripped tightly in his hand. Half of his hair hung out of his ponytail; he brushed it behind his ear as he sat down, truly looking a mess. Deidara looked away before he was caught staring, instead focusing his attention on the space where Pein's projection would materialize.

And it did after roughly fifteen minutes of waiting. "The plan today is to return Sasori back to his normal form," he began, not wasting any time with formalities. "Based on what Itachi has discovered, that plan involves Sasori finding out his parents have fallen in battle. How do you two plan on telling him?"

Itachi was silent. He didn't like the way Pein was insinuating that he would also be there to tell Sasori about his parents. That was strictly Deidara's job, Itachi had done his work.

Seeing that the Uchiha wasn't going to contribute to the conversation, Deidara spoke up. "I figured just telling him like it's happening in real time would be the best way. Though it doesn't seem entirely…ethical, I've written a fake note from his grandmother." He pulled it out of his cloak. "It explains that she's just received the new that his parents have fallen and won't be returning home, hm."

"I see," Pein nodded. "Though from what I've discovered from one of Sasori's subordinates, it appears that she never outright told him about their deaths. He figured it out on his own after the waiting became too long."

"So that's why he hates waiting, hm."

"You don't think telling him directly would interfere with the jutsu's reversal, do you Itachi?" Pein asked, rinnegan meeting tired onyx.

"I don't see how it could," the raven replied after some thinking. "As long as the same feelings of distraught are felt, it should work." The sentence felt wrong to say out loud, but he ignored the guilty sensation in his chest. They needed to carry out this mission and have it be done with already.

"Very well," the Akatsuki leader nodded once more. "Then we will move on to the next topic. When Sasori is returned back to his normal state of body and mind, how he'll react is uncertain. Have you given any thought as to how you will restrain him should he go volatile?"

The two members glanced at each other. They hadn't thought about that. Even if Sasori didn't remember being a child, he would definitely remember Deidara slapping the back of his head and his sudden loss of chakra. That alone would warrant a severe beating, one which the blond wasn't looking forward to.

Itachi sighed, wondering if Kisame's presence would help. He was strong, he could maybe hold the puppet until he calmed down. No, Sasori had too many secret weapons hidden in his body. If he was really that aggravated, Kisame could end up poisoned. Maybe if he trapped Sasori in the Water Prison jutsu…but that'd only be a temporary fix, the redhead would likely be even more angry once released, and there would be no way to stop him.

"Nothing?" Pein asked. "No matter, we'll come back to that. If Sasori doesn't recall this past week, you are to tell him that the jutsu Deidara attempted on him merely knocked him out for that time period and that we kept him under close observation. We won't tell him anything he doesn't need to hear."

"I agree, hm." Deidara really hoped his partner remained oblivious. There was a chance he could be spared from the pain Sasori would surely inflict on him if he found out what had really happened.

"However, if he does recall the past week, you are to use any means necessary to keep him from lashing out and destroying the base or killing a comrade. If that means that I have to step in, then so be it. We cannot have our cover destroyed and we cannot lose a member."

"I understand."

"Alright, hm."

"Very well. I'll station Zetsu outside the base in case Sasori tries to leave for whatever reason, and Hidan will also stand guard outside." They all knew that it was mostly because the Jashinist would only make things worse if he were to get involved inside. "Deidara, you will inform Sasori of his parents' deaths here in this room. Itachi, you will stand at the ready should anything go wrong. I'll have Kakuzu stand guard just outside the door as well."

Deidara grunted. He had suspected that he'd be the one to give Sasori the bad news, but he didn't think he'd have to do it with Itachi breathing down his neck. A quick look at the Uchiha revealed that he seemed to be having the same dislike for the plan. However, Pein's word was final, and in truth, it was the best way to be completely prepared in case the red head went berserk.

"Are there any questions? The rainbow-colored apparition before them flickered, indicating Pein was preparing to go tell the others their newly-assigned missions.

With negative answers from both men, the projection fazed out, leaving Deidara and Itachi to ponder how they were going to handle their roles in the plans. The sculptor sighed quietly, opening the letter feigning Lady Chiyo's handwriting. "Well, might as well get this over with already, hm." He stood just as Sasori came running into the room, followed by an irked-looking Kakuzu.

"Uncle Deidara, he hit me!" The child jumped into the blond's arms, wrapping his limbs around his torso. Deidara gave Kakuzu an accusatory look.

"Oh, for the love of- I just spanked him a little!" Kakuzu growled, throwing his arms up. "It was only three swats, he was being a brat!"

"Was not!"

"Why, you little-"

"Kakuzu, please, let's just focus on the mission," Itachi cut in. "Has Leader informed you of the plan?"

"Yeah," the treasurer grumbled, giving Sasori one last narrow-eyed look before stepping back outside the door, slamming it behind him. "Hurry it up in there!"

Sasori relaxed in Deidara's arms and the blond set him down. "What were you doing to make Kakuzu so angry?"

"Nothing! I was playing on the floor like he told me to and I bumped into the desk and all his stupid coins got knocked over and he told me to pick them up and I said 'No!' and then he picked me up and spanked me for no reason…What's so funny?"

Deidara forced a serious look on his face. The thought of the Puppet Master being given such a childish punishment was laughable. However, he hoped for Kakuzu's sake that Sasori had absolutely no recollection. "It's nothing, hm. But hey, listen. I have to tell you something." He felt Itachi stiffen beside him, and even Sasori picked up the sudden tenseness in the room.

There was a long pause in which Deidara tried to figure out where he should even start. How did you tell a child that his parents were dead? He'd done plenty of horrible things in his life – he'd killed people – but he'd never stuck around to see the aftermath. All he cared about was his art and the single fleeting moment of chaos. After that, it didn't matter anymore, and that went for all shinobi, no less anyone in the Akatsuki, for crying out loud. But now, looking into the tawny brown eyes of this child that, technically, had already had to go through this pain once, Deidara felt a slight pang of guilt and unease.

"Your grandmother wrote back…"

"What did she say?" Sasori gave a curious look to the letter Deidara gripped tightly in his hand.

"C'mere, I'll read it to you, hm." The bomber sat back down in his chair, pulling Sasori onto his lap. Itachi turned away slightly to give them their privacy. At least that's what Deidara thought. In reality, the raven just didn't want to see the expression on Sasori's face when the news was broken. "Dear Sasori, I'm glad you're having fun with your Uncle Deidara, and he's told me what a good boy you've been, hm."

"She didn't really write the 'hm', did she?"

Deidara couldn't help but chuckle a little at that. "No, you little shit, now pay attention." He used his free hand to run a hand through his hair. "I'm very proud of you. But Sasori, I'm afraid I have some terrible news. Your parents…" He paused, unknowingly having the same internal struggle Chiyo had had over two decades ago. He couldn't do this. There had to be another way. There must be another way to reverse the jutsu. He'd look over the scroll again himself.

"My parents?" Sasori glanced up at Deidara. "What about my parents? Are they home now?" The blond froze.

"Your parents are dead, Sasori." Itachi turned toward the child, expression unreadable. Deidara's mouth dropped open slightly in shock. There was a long, deafening silence. And then Sasori jumped off Deidara's lap and ran out of the room.

And slipped right past Kakuzu, who hadn't heard any commotion and so was caught off guard by the streak of red flashing past him at hip level.

"Shit, get him!" Deidara pushed himself into a standing position, immediately running after the kid. Itachi took a deep breath and released it before following.

The three men gave chase but weren't quick enough to catch the former puppet before he slipped into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, locking it.

Deidara skidded to a halt outside of it and banged on the door. "Sasori, come out of the bathroom."

"No!"

"Come on, we need to talk! Hm."

"Just go away, you liar! My parents aren't dead!"

Itachi sighed, putting a hand on the door. "Sasori, I'm sorry we had to be the ones to tell you, but if you would just-"

"I said to go away!" he yelled, and there was the sound of something breaking from inside the bathroom.

"Open the door, Sasori!" Deidara shouted, shaking the handle like a wild animal trying to escape its cage. "Now! Hm."

"I'm not coming out! Ever!" Another loud noise of something shattering. Though it wouldn't be difficult to just bust the door down, they knew Pein (or Kakuzu, for that matter, who was standing just feet away and looking pissed) wouldn't approve of the damage to the base, even in a situation like this.

"If you don't unlock this door in three seconds, uh, you're getting another spanking," Deidara threatened, frowning awkwardly afterward. Itachi sighed.

"Sasori, please come out. We know this is hard-"

"Like you know anything about how it feels!" Sasori screamed, all the while sounding like he was completely dismantling the bathroom. Itachi growled, startling Deidara, who backed away slightly. Of course he knew how it felt! He knew more than anyone-

"Itachi," Deidara said quietly, hesitantly putting a hand on his shoulder. "Your eyes."

Itachi stiffened. He'd activated his sharingan without thinking. He closed his eyes, opening them again only after he'd calmed down enough to deactivate them.

"Sasori, I'm counting to three before I kick this door down. If that happens, you're not going to like the consequences," the Uchiha said evenly. "One."

To his and Deidara's surprise, all sounds from the bathroom came to a stop. The men shared a questioning look.

"Two...?"

There was a click, indicating that the door had been unlocked. Deidara reached his hand out and gently turned the knob, opening the door cautiously. "Sasori?" He peeked his head in, looking through the trashed bathroom and finding the child sitting curled up in the tub, shoulders shaking as he cried quietly. Immediately, the artist entered the room, giving no second thoughts before climbing into the tub with the broken child and pulling him to his chest. "Hey, now, it'll be okay."

"…Th-they're really gone?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, un." Deidara bit his lip. He glanced toward the door at the sight of Itachi stepping silently into the room, crossing the bathroom slowly before giving in and joining the two in the bathtub.

The raven couldn't bear to just stand back and watch the world come crashing down around this broken child. Not again. He gingerly placed a hand on Sasori's shoulder, rubbing it. "I know, I know." They sat huddled in the tub together for another five seconds before a sudden poof! startled the two adults, and then smashed in between them was Sasori, the real Sasori, the puppet.

The red head looked just as startled as the other two men in the room. One, because Itachi and Deidara were in such close proximity, and two, he was naked.

"…Sasori, my man?" Deidara averted his eyes as he backed away, out of the tub and out of Sasori's personal space. Itachi did the same. He'd never seen that part (or lack thereof) of Sasori, and he didn't quite know what to think. Except that obviously the reversal had been a success. Now it was time to determine how much the red head knew.

"How are you feeling?" Itachi asked, unzipping his cloak and tossing it unceremoniously over the puppet.

"What the hell is going on?"

Hooray! The reversal was a success! I think one more chapter should finish this fic off, and it seems like it'll be the most fun to write.

Until then, I'd like to thank all the readers/favoriters/followers/reviewers who've taken the time to read this little story that until just a few weeks ago was just trapped in my head. Your support has been my motivation to keep on keeping on writing, so thanks! :D

Also, I'd like to thank InkDragons for giving me the idea to have Itachi be the one who actually tells Sasori about his parents!