Greetings everyone! A shoutout to my muses - Asuma, Kushina, and Haku! You all are awesome!
My current readers may notice the ratings have gone up from T to M. This is out of my personal concerns about language and to make room in case I decide to do lemons - If I do write one, there will be warnings.
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Warning: Slight fluff!

Chapter 21: An Agent of Multiple Causes

Song of the Chapter:
This is How a Heart Breaks – Rob Thomas
Reason: When the love between Mamoru and Sumiko ended, things just became complicated.

Temari's heart pounded in her chest as she saw Mamoru's katana soar towards her and hearing it clink against a sound as it crushed a bone, not her bones, but the wrist bone of a hand behind her. Turning back, she saw a Sound ninja and quickly used her fan to crush his ribs. Mamoru swiftly stabbed his heart and looked back at the Sand kunoichi. "You need to be more cautious. Those emotions of yours blind you." Pulling out the sword, he cleaned it and sheathed it.

Temari held onto her giant fan with caution but when she saw Mamoru's eyes she witnessed a sad glimmer of emotion. "You loved her didn't you… You used to be all reckless but now every action you do seems far more planned out…" Mamoru sneers and turns away from Temari.

"Followers of Jashin-sama can't have attachments. They make you weak and detract from what our goal is." Temari's eyes narrowed. She knew that just by his voice, it was killing him on the inside.

"Mamoru… does Sumiko-sama really love that blond Akatsuki member?" The silver haired man had his hand on the door knob. They both knew by now that the sand storm had passed. All the Jashinist had to do was twist the knob and he could avoid the question but he just stood there. "Mamoru?"

"Does it matter… that is irrelevant as to why I am here." He removed his hand from the door knob and irritably popped his shoulder. "Temari… I'm serious. You can't know I was here." He made a few hand signs and a vial of mysterious purple liquid appeared in his hand. "Drink this and you'll forget."

Temari caught the vial he tossed and looked at it with confusion."Forget you coming here?"

"Everything to do with me and Sumiko-sama. It is dangerous to know about us now." Before Temari could say another word, he was behind her. "Thank you for everything." Last thing she knew, she felt a light tap on the back of her head and collapsed. Mamoru caught her and tipping her upper body, poured the liquid into her mouth and when satisfied that she was safe in the dwelling, he exited and placed a locking jutsu upon the door.

He strode outside and walking towards the Kazekage's building, he felt an odd chill in the air. Mamoru grabbed his Jashin pendant and prayed for luck.

The next day…

Deidara woke up, dressed, in Sumiko's room and frowned upon noticing he was alone her bed until he heard a soft snore coming from the floor next to the other side of her bed. Crawling on the bed, he looked over to see a deep sleeping kunoichi who had, by the looks of it, rolled off of her bed. Somehow, despite being entangled in the sheets, she had not woken up and the sleepy state she was in was somewhat cute to the blond. Getting off, she mumbled in her sleep while Deidara picked her up. When she unconsciously grabbed his wrist, he chuckled, "You need your sleep ,un." She sleepily grumbled again which made Deidara smile.

He slipped out of her grip and walked to the living room and noticed Sasori sitting on a couch, staring at him. The puppet master did not look like he got any sleep. "Where have you been?"

Deidara inwardly smirked and knew that Sasori was doing what all murderous overprotective big brothers did. "Sumiko and I were taking care of each other's wounds. Fell asleep, un." Sasori's hand twitched and before chakra strings could restrained him, Deidara added, "Nothing happened if that's what you're wondering, un." Sasori looked at him deep in the eyes before nodding.

"Remember, hurt her and I think I'll kill you. Make you a puppet even…" Deidara shuddered and Sasori walked into the kitchen. As disturbing as the threat was, his stomach made him think of his hunger and literally stumbling into the kitchen, Deidara reached for a rice ball.

"Sasori-danna, do you regret Sumiko-chan joining?" Sasori's eyes flicker but he puts on a calm countenance as he looks his younger partner in the eye.

"At times… I think she would be better off not a member. But it is my fault for involving her with the Akatsuki. I gave her an offer to spy so… if it wasn't for me, she would have never become a traitor." Sasori shook his head trying to get rid of the surge of emotions that threatened to overflow.

Deidara put a hand on Sasori's shoulder. "However, she choose to follow this path so she is as responsible as you would be. At least this way, you can watch over her, un." Sasori shrugs as he finishes his quick breakfast.

"Hurry brat; Leader-sama wanted to see us for a mission." Nodding the blond followed Sasori to Pein's room.

Sumiko woke up wrapped up like a manicotti in the blanket covering her bed. Managing to untangle herself, she looked in the mirror and laughed seeing her hair stuck everywhere. Walking to her bathroom, she took her shower savoring the warm water. Odd… warm water is a luxury I never appreciated until now. Her shower was quick, but she had hardly touched the cold water tap and the mirror quickly fogged up due to the hot water usage. Kakuzu will kill me over the price of hot water. Stepping out, she wrapped the towel around herself and walked into her room. She walked to her dresser to get clothing when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and felt the blond nuzzle his head into her neck. "Deidara-kun?"

"Get ready; we have a mission, un."Nonetheless, his arms did not release her to allow her the decency of getting dressed. She felt him kissing her neck and she sighed contently. His hands stroked her bare arms and the sensation sent shivers down her spine until…

"EEP! Your hand bit me!" Last thing he knew, she accidentally dropped her towel and Deidara could not help but peak at Sumiko's toned figure. Seeing a cold, murderous glimmer in her eyes, he darted backwards and next thing he knew he was tossed out of her room and faceplanted into the wall opposite her door. "PERVERT!"

Deidara groaned as he rubbed his face. Sasori walked down the hall and raised a crimson eyebrow noticing Deidara. "That's going to stay for quite a while…" he muttered pointing at what looked like a black eye.

Deidara grumbled and rubbed his eye. "Be back, un." He stalked off towards Kakuzu's room, trying to avoid Hidan's shouts of 'rough nights'.

Sasori nodded and knocked on Sumiko's door."You there sis?" She opened the door and rolled her eyes upon seeing her twin. "I could hear you at the complete other side of the base. What did the brat do?" Sumiko smirked feeling the murderous chakra.

"Hand mouth accidentally bit me. He did not know how sensitive I am so I overreacted a little." Sasori relaxed as he began to laugh.

"A little… you gave him a black eye that he is trying to get rid of." Sumiko's eyes widened as she dashed off to find him. Sasori gave a knowing smirk as he walked towards the base entrance.

Deidara grunted in irritation at the cream being applied to his black eye, even though the cream vanished upon contact. Kakuzu shook his head during the whole treatment. "Never piss off a kunoichi kid. Don't know what you did but…"

Deidara was about to retort when Kakuzu's door opened and Sumiko entered, eyes wide in concern. Deidara opened his mouth to talk when she placed a finger over his lips. "I… should have told you that I am sensitive…" She kissed Deidara's forehead and she stroked his cheek. Soon, she began to kiss his jaw line and her hands tangled into the blond's hair in an attempt to pull him closer. Kakuzu's eyes widened as he tried to piece together what exactly the two shinobi were talking about.

They wouldn't… not in my room! He watched in horror as Deidara placed his arms around her and drew her into a hug. As Deidara was sitting down, Sumiko was essentially forced to straddle the artist and to be honest, she did not look too angry anymore. Deidara wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Kakuzu's eyes widened as he dashed out of his own room. Sumiko smirked at Deidara laughed.

"That teaches him for trying to blackmail us, un." Sumiko laughed as she helped him up. "Come on; we three have a mission, un."

Sumiko raised her eyebrow as she followed the blond down the hall. In the distance of the hall, she saw her twin. "To do what?"

"Capture the one tailed demon, Shukaku, who resides inside of Gaara, Kazekage of the Desert and extract the tailed beast within."