-three weeks later-

"Kakuzu?"

"Hmm?"

Suigetsu looked up into Kakuzu's eyes as the two of them walked down the corridor towards an antique shop. Suigetsu had recently discovered that another pirate movie had just been green lit by a major studio, and would be in theaters in about 2-3 years. Thus, he needed to start shopping around for mid-quality cutlasses to resell after the film released. He'd invited Kakuzu along to see what a normal "work day" was like for the sword aficionado. As they walked along the two conversed, and now Suigetsu was about to bring up a somewhat sensitive topic. "Why don't we ever go to your apartment? I don't mean to stay the night; just going in for coffee or something like that."

Kakuzu quickly tried to think up some reply that didn't involve explaining that Hidan might not like seeing Kakuzu's new boyfriend, considering that he had long harbored a crush on the banker. "Well, it's a bit of a mess. And my roommate is something of a pain around company."

"Oh? You have a roommate?" Suigetsu pressed.

Shit, he'd forgotten that Suigetsu didn't even know about Hidan in the first place. Well, may as well roll with it now. "Yeah. He's loud, immature, cocky, has no common sense whatsoever, and can't seem to stay out of trouble for more than a week, if that." Suigetsu snorted, making Kakuzu raise a brow. "What?"

"Sorry, but it sounds like you've managed to cohabitate with your polar opposite," the man answered with a smirk.

"Tell me about it. And consider yourself lucky to be living on your own."

"Well, I used to have a roommate, you know. Cute kid named Sasuke. He kept to himself and never touched my collection; probably the best roommate I ever had. But then he skipped town with his boyfriend and left me all by myself with the rent."

"That sucks."

Suigetsu shrugged. "Sometimes it's nice to live on your own. I don't think I could go back to living with someone unless it was in a long term partner or something like that." His eyes lit up as they stopped in front of a door. "Ah, here it is!" A sharky grin crossed his face as he grabbed the handle. "Stand back and watch a pro at work, Kakuzu."

-n-

"Say 'Deidara', un."

"RAW, decaff!"

"No, Deidara! Dei-da-ra. See?"

"RAAAW, Dei-caff!"

"Er, that's closer, un," the blond answered with a laugh. "Here, have some melon!" Fritters happily took the melon cube from Deidara's hand and began to nibble on it, much to the blond's delight.

Hidan rolled his eyes at his boyfriend's antics. "Forget it Deidara. I've been trying to teach Fritters for months now, and that Jashin-damned bird only thinks in terms of coffee."

"You never know, un," Deidara replied. "Maybe that'll be Fritters' birthday present to you, un! Wait, that reminds me…"

"What's up?"

"What do you want for your birthday, un?"

Hidan turned the thought over in his head for a bit. His seventeenth birthday wasn't for a few more weeks, and he actually hadn't thought about what he'd like to get. "Dunno. Probably books or something." Deidara gave an exasperated sigh, making Hidan raise a brow. "What?"

"Nothing, un. It's just, telling someone that you'd like a book is possibly the worst, vaguest answer you can give. There are literally thousands of books in even the smallest bookstore, Hidan; how can I pick one that you'd like for sure, un?"

"Ok, ok, don't be so dramatic," Hidan pled. "Just a mystery novel, then. Preferably where some dumb fucker goes on a murder spree or does something really messed up, like keeping his girlfriend's head in a freezer."

Deidara winced at the description. "That's pretty morbid, un."

"That's what makes it so fucking fun to read!"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of someone unlocking the door and stepping inside. Hidan peered over the back of the couch to see Kakuzu and a man with white hair coming inside. "Oi, dumbass, who's the new guy?"

Kakuzu sighed and rubbed his temples in agitation. He'd been hoping to avoid springing Hidan on Suigetsu without proper preparation, but apparently fate was once again conspiring against his plans. "Sorry about him," he said to Suigetsu as he shut the door behind the two of them. "My roommate is a bit difficult sometimes, and- "

The white-haired man waved his hand dismissively, cutting off the banker's apology. "It's fine. My name's Suigetsu," he called out to Hidan, "and I'm guessing you're Kakuzu's roommate?"

Hidan nodded. "Yeah. Hidan's the name. You Kakuzu's friend?"

"Hm, more of a boyfriend really."

Hidan raised a brow. "How the hell can you put up with the dumbass long enough to date him?"

"This coming from the guy that snuck into my room while I was sleeping to kiss me," Kakuzu thought dryly.

Suigetsu merely laughed at the comment. "I can see what you mean about Hidan, Kakuzu."

"Oi, what's the dumbass saying about me?! If it's about the can of soup and the microwave, I was totally framed for that!"

Suigetsu quirked a brow at Kakuzu, but the banker was in no mood to discuss his long and mentally-debilitating history with the Jashinist. He walked into the kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets, intending to change the subject to dinner. "Hidan, are you and Deidara going to be eating here tonight? It looks like all we have is rice and beans…"

"If you have any cheese and veggies, we can make chili," Suigetsu suggested. "Let me check your fridge."

"That sounds good. Didn't peg you as a cook though."

"Oh, it's just something my mom showed me how to do when I was growing up." Suigetsu stuck his head out of the kitchen and into the living room. "You guys want some too?"

"Count me out," Hidan called out as he got off the couch. "I'll just get a pizza or some shit later. I'm going out for now, ok Kakuzu?" Without even waiting for an answer, the teenager headed out of the living room and towards the apartment exit.

"Hidan, wait up, un!" Deidara called out as he chased his boyfriend through the apartment and out the front door. "Jeez, what the hell was that about?!"

"Nothing. Just…forget it, ok?" Deidara didn't pursue the subject, and for that Hidan was grateful. In truth, he couldn't give the blond an answer because he himself was unsure as to why he'd suddenly felt the need to evacuate the apartment. It was just…something about Suigetsu bothered him. Really, really bothered him.