AN: There will be three chapters, 'The Murderer' 'The Artist' and 'The Lover.' They will be focused on the building relationship of Sasori and Deidara with small parts of Akatsuki's planning/information, the power of the Bijuu/Pein's jutsu and a earlier original character.
'noname': As I have never found an official age for Pein, and still haven't, I chose to have him be 35, even if someone can show me proof of his actual age, I won't be changing it because I want him to be 35. Just like I chose to write his name as 'Pein' rather than 'Pain.' Also just to clear things up, there is no Yahiko, Pein's real body in this fanfiction is Yahiko's body/Deva path from the anime.
Deidara was laying sideways on his bed, his head hung off the bed listlessly. His legs rested horizontally against the wall. The week that Pein gave them off seemed great at first, but now, Deidara was bored. Without Itachi to annoy and Tobi's constant chatter. Everything was silent. Three days into their week off and Deidara had meticulously cleaned all his weapons, washed all his clothes, collected and prepared bags of clay and now he huffed a sigh of annoyance. There was nothing to do. Yesterday, Hidan and Deidara had wallpapered Kakuzu's wall with his money. The blonde hadn't seen Hidan since and Kakuzu suggested not so kindly that Deidara doesn't go looking for him. Sasori forbid Deidara from going near the miser. Deidara's blue eye drifted over to Sasori boredly. His bang was off his face as his head hung upside down. Deidara's scope was sitting on his table, he had no need for it at the moment. Deidara didn't even realize his mistake until Sasori's unreadable eyes looked to Deidara's face. The eyes locked onto Deidara's damaged eye. The milky white eye and scar was a hideous opposite to the rest of the blonde's well shaped face. Deidara rolled off the bed quickly, he stared at Sasori challengingly.
"You're just like the rest of them un." Deidara spat out in accusation, he turned to leave but Sasori had already caught his arm.
"I'm not like anyone brat." Sasori's voice wasn't cruel but it still held a warning tone.
"I know I'm hideous, I'm a monster...a freak un." Deidara pulled his arm away from Sasori, "take your best shot. I don't care un."
"You assume I care what you look like. You're wrong. I don't care." Sasori slammed Deidara into the wall with unforgiving vigor. "I didn't care about the scope and I don't care about this. You insecurities piss me off."
"You're full of shit Danna, it's obvious you care about my looks. You wouldn't have an interest in me otherwise. I'm just an obnoxious brat. Right?"
"Stop being so fucking melodramatic Deidara." Sasori had learnt, when Deidara was really angry, he didn't add 'un' to his words. Sasori remembered that he had once accused the blonde of faking his personality.
"Let me go Sasori." Deidara, despite being slightly taller than Sasori, couldn't push the red head off him.
"Not until you admit you're acting stupidly."
"What the hell do you want from me?"
"I don't want anything from you." Sasori pushed Deidara's bang out of his scarred eye. "I want you. All of you. Even your obnoxious attitude and ridiculous insecurities."
"You really don't care un?" Deidara's voice lost its bitterness, it was soft, unsure.
"It's a part of who you are." Sasori stepped away from Deidara and allowed him to move away from the wall.
"I'm going to go train un." Deidara left the room without a second glance at Sasori. As he walked through the corridors, his thoughts were all focused on one thing. Sasori. Although Deidara respected and understood that Sasori was severely emotionally stunted, Deidara needed more of a clue as to where they stood. Sasori would allow contact on occasions, other time's he'd tell Deidara to not so politely go away. Deidara was sick of the misguided signals. Sasori had been the one to initiate this whole thing but now he shyed away from it, leaving Deidara to try and figure out what was going on. Sasori had slept in the same bad as him three nights ago. Deidara tried to sleep in Sasori's bed last night and got a fist for the effort. It was emotionally draining. Deidara was however, surprised by Sasori's reaction to his eye. They had been partnered for over three years and Deidara never let Sasori see his ugly reminder of his Father. Deidara had the deeply ingrained fear that anyone who saw it would be disgusted. Sasori really didn't care at all. Deidara reached the door to the outside training yard. Instead of opening it he kept going. Heading up the stairs, coming closer to the heavens. The ex-Iwa nin knocked on the door in front of him.
"Come in, Deidara." Pein's voice was calm. Deidara entered the door and stood in front of Pein's desk hesitantly. "What can I do for you?"
"I need something to do un." Deidara wanted to focus his attentions somewhere else.
"I see. Does this have anything to do with Sasori?" Pein smirked slightly at Deidara's discomfort.
"No un." Deidara then changed his answer, knowing it was pointless to lie to Pein. "Yes, just give me something to do un."
"Give him time, let him come to you. Sasori is not adept at emotions nor will he change that anytime soon. Even for you. He's making an effort, don't push him. That will shut him down more." Pein's advice was not delivered cruelly, it was almost reassuring.
"I don't know where I stand with him un." Deidara was unsure why he was talking to the Leader about this.
"To Sasori, you are the most important person in his world. I know you doubt this but Sasori was never any better than Kakuzu with partners. He killed them for things you get away with every day."
"He didn't kill Orochimaru un."
"Orochimaru disgusted Sasori but he left Sasori alone."
"I know he treats me differently to others but he's still cold to me most of the time un."
"Sasori hasn't had any emotional attachments to anyone since he was eight years old and his parents were killed. In three years, you've changed Sasori more than anyone. We are the same age, we've known each other for over half our lives and yet Sasori never showed any kindness, affection or caring to me or anyone in Akatsuki until you."
"Probably because you're an egotistical bastard un." Deidara deadpanned then looked horrified, "I didn't mean that un."
"Yes you did." Pein chuckled. "You just described everyone in Akatsuki though. Don't forget, I will be the Kami of the new world. Only I have the powers to change the world."
"Like I said un." Deidara frowned and added, "if you have the 'powers' then why do you need us un?"
"Even Kami's have help, angels, demons. Whatever you want to call yourselves." Pein shrugged.
"Do you care about us un?"
"When I was younger I didn't particularly care about the well beings of my members but Sasori, Kakuzu, Zetsu. They've all been me with me for twenty years, Kisame for fifteen years. It's hard not to have some feelings towards them. They all went through partners pretty quickly, no one was compatible with them. It was frustrating but not overly so. In the end I just gave them temporary partners. When Itachi came along ten years ago.I was able to place him with Kisame without problems. I was happy with the addition. I thought Orochimaru would have been the perfect partner for Sasori but it turned out Orochimaru was just using us. I could have kept placing temporary members with Sasori and Kakuzu but I wanted to find permanent members." Pein looked at Deidara who was shifting his weight from foot to foot. "Do you want to sit down?"
"Please un." Deidara hesitated as Pein stood and walked into the darkness, beckoning for Deidara to follow. Pein lead Deidara through a door and into a large room. It was completely opposite to the room Pein addressed them in. A window replaced the wall overlooking Ame, Deidara thought it must have a jutsu on it because he'd never seen the window from outside. Deidara could practically see all of Ame out the window, no towers obstructed the view as this room was the highest place in Ame. The clouds were siting heavily outside. The room was obviously set up to give Pein and his huge ego a more Kami like presence. Deidara could spy a small ledge, no doubt Pein spent a lot of time out there. Now that he thought it about, his scope often picked up movement from the ledge and he'd seen Konan and her angel wings fly off the ledge.
The room was bathed in light and it had a large cream coloured couch that faced the window. A small mahogany table sat in front of it. An origami rose sat in the middle of the table. Various shelves lined the walls with books and more origami. Behind the couch was a dining table with two matching chairs. Deidara counted four doors. The one they entered through and three others. One door was open half way and Deidara noted it to be a bedroom. He guessed the other doors to be the kitchen and bathroom. It was all so normal that Deidara felt like he didn't belong in this private sanctuary.
"You're the only person to see our room. I hope you keep this quiet." Pein's threat was clear.
"Of course un." Deidara continued to look around. He spied a shelf with various photos. Deidara inspected them closely. Pein and Konan sat with a small dog, the dog was licking Pein up the side of the face. Pein and Konan seemed amused by this. The two children perhaps only ten looked sickly thin. Their hair hung lank around their sunken faces. Despite this, they seemed happy in each others presence. The older they got, the more somber their photos were. The dog was only in one. "You had a dog? I really didn't expect any of this un."
"What were you expecting? A dungeon? Torture devices hanging off the walls?" Pein looked amused. "His name was Chibi, when I was an orphan he used to be my only friend, until I found Konan of course. He was killed trying to protect us from Hanzo and his tyranny."
"I guess I was expecting...more darkness un." Deidara picked up an origami tiger, marveling at it's design. "It's beautiful un."
"I'm glad you approve, Deidara." Konan's soft voice reached his ears. The only female in Akatsuki was standing at the now opened door of the kitchen. She was wearing a simple black kimono with red trimmings. The ever present flower in her hair didn't make her any less dangerous.
"It's not true artwork though, but I guess I can still appreciate it un." Deidara sat the origami down and suddenly he felt completely out of place. "Maybe I should go un."
"We haven't finished our talk, sit down Deidara." Pein motioned to the couch.
"Alright, so you haven't answered my question un." Deidara dropped onto the couch and placed his legs on the coffee table.
"I will, let me continue what I was telling you." Pein sat down next to Deidara.
"I'm going to go make tea." Konan then glared at Deidara. "Get your feet off the table."
"Sorry Konan un." Deidara grinned sheepishly.
"I wanted permanent members for Akatsuki. I wanted to bring my organization closer together. It would have been impossible to reach my goals if my members weren't getting along and were killing each other off. I would never be able to trust them with my tasks. I tried to find the perfect partners for Sasori and then Kakuzu. You were my first option for Sasori after Orochimaru defected and I was right." Pein gave Deidara a look that dared him to say otherwise.
"How did you even know about me un?"
"It was your fate and mine that I found you. I was in my library researching a kekki genkai and I knocked your clan's folder down. You were the last listed heir of the clan. There was not a lot of information about you but I was highly interested."
"I had a clan un?"
"Yes, your mother came from one of the only clans in Iwa. Sadly, it was small clan due to restrictions from the Tsuchikage, they gave your mother to him as payment to keep their clan alive. The Tsuchikage lied though, once he married your mother, he killed the clan. As you know, he despised the kekki genkai. When you were four years old, he killed her. I had information on you up until you were ten. Your photo drew me in. It reminded me of Konan and myself at that age. No one that age should know that pain."
"She was forced into it...It wasn't her fault...Did she love me un?" Deidara was shaking with anger at his Father.
"Yes, she was killed because she tried to flee with you. She never wanted this life for you."
"I'm glad I killed that bastard un." Deidara growled out.
"I know it pains you, but I believe it was fate. Children like us are fated to be the future, change the future for the better. The children of the next generation won't have to know the trials of life so young. They won't have everything torn away from them."
"Why didn't you take me away when you found out about me un?" Deidara demanded. "And why, are you determined to change the world for the next generation? It's not our responsibility, it's not our fault the world is so fucked un."
"You were too young, I didn't know your skills. I sent Zetsu to watch you but at that time I was helping Itachi and then he joined us. You never truly left my mind but I had to focus on other priorities. When your turned fourteen and made jonin I thought things may have changed for you. It was my poor judgment, it wasn't until you left your village in a rather violent manner that I realized my mistake. I spent the next year tracking you down. Even though you were unaware of it, you eluded Zetsu with great skill." Pein ignored Deidara's second question.
"Did you ever doubt my eligibility for Akatsuki un?" Deidara sensed the warning and didn't push Pein for an answer.
"No. Despite the way Sasori treated you, and Itachi's dislike of you. I knew you'd stay with us for a long time. I never doubted you."
"Did you pick Hidan for Kakuzu just because he's immortal un?"
"Frankly, yes. It would be pointless trying to find a partner Kakuzu would ever get along with. Hidan was my only option, he's tiring but I don't regret my choice."
"What about Tobi un?"
"I never expected him to survive. Zetsu was fondly attached to him. He asked me to make Tobi his partner and I agreed."
"So all of your members now...we're your fate un?"
"I guess you could say it like that."
"Kami's have angels and demons. You have fates un."
"Yes, I like the sound of that. Perhaps I will use it."
"Pein's Fates." Konan whispered softly, she sat a tray of tea on the table and sat next to Pein.
"Do you really think this Bijuu thing will work un?'
"I am unsure, I am tempted to give each member a Bijuu to draw from it's chakra but it's risky." Pein noted Deidara's confused face and continued, "there's always the risk of the Bijuu escaping and causing havoc, by merging them together I will destroy their forms so they will not pose a threat."
"You said you didn't know what will happen when we use their chakra un."
"I formed the idea back when Jiraiya still taught Konan and myself, he used senjutsu, by doing so it would draw in natural chakra and it was extremely powerful. I began to play with the idea of finding another chakra source and eventually I learnt about Bijuu, it seemed obvious that they would have the largest power sources and if I gathered them all I could use them as an inexhaustible chakra source. However using outside chakra can lead to body alterations. The body tends to alter to the type of chakra."
"So we could end up with traits of the Bijuu un?"
"It's possible but only when you're using the chakra."
"Why didn't you just turn us into Jinchuuriki then un?"
"Use your brain Deidara. Bijuu installed in a human host are difficult to control and most often kill their hosts when they're being placed inside a body."
"We're getting their power without the risks un." Deidara nodded thoughtfully, impressed.
"In theory." Pein smirked as Deidara's face fell slightly.
The members of Akatsuki stood upon their assigned finger of the King of Hell statue. The sealing of the Kyuubi was putting Itachi and Kisame in a dangerous situation. Their bodies were being guarded by Sai and replacements were ruling Konaha. However, if anyone noticed this, it would be all too easy to eliminate the Akatsuki members. It wasn't helping that the sealing had already taken five days. The Kyuubi had mass amounts of chakra. It's Jinchuuriki was risen off the ground, his head thrown back, mouth wide open as chakra spilled out of it. The glowing red chakra exited out of the eyes and nose as well. Naruto began to choke, finally the sealing was entering the last stage.
"Don't screw up." Pein warned.
"If I end up with a bladder infection I'm not going to be fucking impressed." Hidan looked over to Pein.
"I don't think anyone will be impressed, your whining pisses us all off." Kakuzu grumbled out.
"I'm with Hidan. I really need to piss un."
"Charming." Sasori rolled his eyes.
"You're pathetically weak." Itachi goaded.
"No, I'm human un." Deidara snapped back, "at least I'm not a little bitch."
"Very mature Deidara."
"You started it, why can't you just keep your opinions to yourself un?"
"Enough brat." Sasori then glared over at Itachi, "no one wants to hear your shit Itachi."
"Shut up. Focus. We're nearly finished." Pein silenced his members effectively. The chakra began to thin out and the dragon spectrals pulled the chakra out faster. Another ten minutes of silence and the last remnants of chakra was sucked out. The Jinchuuriki fell to the ground with a thud. Nartuo's mouth was opened grotesquely. "It's done. Dismissed."
"About fucking time." Hidan jumped off the statue and headed straight to the toilet. Deidara chased after him with the same idea in mind.
"Children." Kisame shook his head with a toothy grin. "Well best be getting back to Konaha." Kisame's astral form flickered out along with Itachi's.
"Twenty years of hunting down the Jinchuuriki. It's finally over. Even if you didn't trust us with the information and task until last year. Yet still, now that I think about it, yourself, Konan and Zetsu seemed to always be off on secret missions and I was paying for large amounts of confidential information." Kakuzu looked over to Pein. The stitched man gave a weary stretch as if to shake off the last twenty years of strenuous and tedious work.
"Yes, I'm glad it's over. Your patience has been much appreciated." Pein let a rare smile grace his face, even though it was hardly noticeable, his lips were turned up softly. It seemed suitable that the three members and his angel who had been with him since the beginning were there for the end of the Jinchuuriki. "Things should be a lot easier from now on. Get some rest, the next time I call you all together will be to gain the power of the Bijuu." Pein didn't banish the statue. He left it standing grandly in the large basement. Zetsu sank down into the earth floor. The remaining three males and Konan walked up the steps to the first level of the Akatsuki base. Pein and Konan headed for the elevator that would take them to the top floor. It could only be activated with a seal word and only Pein and Konan knew it. It was their private elevator.
"We should probably go to the kitchen before the terrible two get there and destroy it." Kakuzu looked down at Sasori with amusement.
"I agree. Between them, there will be nothing left." Sasori stepped into the elevator and selected the eighth floor. The kitchen, lounge room and one of the many training rooms were situated on this floor. The elevator opened and Sasori let out a grunt of annoyance. "Too late." From the open door down the hallway were loud argumentative voices.
"I saw it first un!"
"Fuck off blondie, it's mine!"
"Get your own un!"
""It's the last steak, you won't even fucking eat it all!"
"I'm hungry un!" A large bang.
"You fucking dick! You blew it up!"
"Hidan, Deidara, sit the hell down." Kakuzu snapped from the doorway. The two younger males sat down on the kitchen stools obediently.
"Brat, I know it's hard but please try to use self control." Sasori eyed the exploded pieces of steak disdainfully.
"What happened to your stupid bet?" Kakuzu looked at the young males questioningly.
"I won of course un." Deidara puffed his chest up, "that means you have to cook me food Hidan!"
"Fuck off. You didn't win."
"Hidan, I counted three hundred and twenty eight. That's not including the ones in buildings that I blew up un."
"Well I think our partners kills should count as well." Hidan was confident Kakuzu would have racked up large numbers.
"They weren't part of the bet un." Deidara looked at Sasori, "besides, I doubt they would have kept count."
"Yes they fucking did. They would have being curious."
"Hidan's correct. I suppose I will partake in your bet." Sasori liked the idea of not having to cook or clean anymore.
"So Sasori, ready to make us some food?" Kakuzu's eyes glinted, "It's not an exact number but close to four hundred."
"And what is Hidan's count?"
"Seventy six." Hidan said sulkily.
"I guess we could say your total score is five hundred." Sasori's tone was pleasant.
"What would that make our total score, Danna un?" Deidara seemed smug.
"It was a close call," the red head then smirked, "well not really. our combined score is around eight hundred."
"This is all your fault Kakuzu!" Hidan yelled.
"I told you that you wasted too much time on each body." Kakuzu slunk out of the kitchen moodily, Hidan raced after him swearing obscenities.
"And I thought we have issues un." Deidara chuckled and slumped further into his chair, throwing his feet up onto the table.
"There is no 'we' brat." Sasori pushed the blonde's feet off the table, they hit the ground heavily.
"You know what Sasori?" Deidara stood up, he placed his hands on the table and lent over the table, his blue eye flaming. "I'm sick of you're shit. You want me, you don't want me. You're giving me fucking whiplash. Either you want this, or you don't. I won't be your toy, I've been fucked over too many times. I won't let you use me for your own sick pleasure." The raging blonde pushed back off the table and rounded it, he stared down at Sasori, his hands were noticeably shaking.
"You mistake me for someone who gives a damn." Sasori said evenly, despite his shorter stature, he managed to look down upon Deidara. "Your concerns are not mine, if you think I will bend to your every wish then you're sorely mistaken"
"Give me an answer or I'm gone Sasori."
Sasori punched Deidara in the stomach, the younger male struck out with his own fist. Sasori avoided the punch with ease, he moved behind Deidara and held a kunai to Deidara's throat. The scorpion grabbed Deidara's long pony tail with his spare hand and ripped his head down, whispering harshly in Deidara's ear. "Does this answer your question?" Sasori let Deidara go but not before nicking the blonde's tender neck, drawing droplets of red.
"I hate you." Deidara barely rose his voice, it was more hurt than angry. Deidara turned and left the room. With determination, he returned to his room and gathered some of his belongings into a bag. Deidara ripped off his cloak and threw it on the floor with loathing disgust. He wiped the blood off his neck, the blood was darker than it should have been. Deidara didn't think much on it, his thoughts clouded with rage. Deidara picked up his clay pouch, strapped it around his waist and left the room without a second glance. Deidara's hand was already forming a clay bird, by the time he reached an open window it was ready. The clay bird was formed, it was large hawk. Deidara jumped onto the bird and commanded it into the sky. The rain fell heavily and the blonde could feel Pein's presence in each wet drop. Deidara knew that Pein would already know his intentions. Yet it didn't stop him, the hawk fly higher into the sky, hiding in the dark clouds. After only minutes, the clouds dispersed as Deidara left Ame.
"Leader, Deidara is leaving." 'Should we kill him?' Zetsu looked indifferent.
"No. Let him go." Pein was sure he wouldn't need to interfere.
Deidara urged his clay hawk onwards. The ice cold air made his eyes sting but he ignored it. Crystal clear blue sky surrounded Deidara, clouds were non existent. The expanse of blue just made Deidara feel alone. His head throbbed and his vision blurred momentarily. A raw burning was making itself known, it was in his very veins. It made him shift uncomfortably. Deidara felt a drain on his chakra and he commanded his hawk to spiral down to the ground. It was moving at break neck speeds and Deidara didn't slow it down, before the impending collision between the earth and the bird, it pulled up. The hawk hovered above the ground and Deidara jumped off. The hawk was melted back down into clay and Deidara continued to walk on. The blonde looked around at his surroundings. He hadn't payed attention to where he was going, he'd been in the sky for at least three days.
The earth below his feet was hard and compacted. Muddy brown in colour. A few trees sprouted out of the earth but no leaves remained on the branches. Sparse tufts of grass struggled to get a hold in the earth. Deidara groaned, he'd flown north and ended up in the Earth country. His home country. The country he abandoned in a bloody display. Deidara glanced in all directions, the scenery was the same. He didn't want to turn around and return to Ame. Instead, despite the warning signs going off in his mind, he walked forward. Towards Iwa. Deidara wasn't stupid though, he wasn't going to Iwa, but if he continued north then he could turn east and go back to the Waterfall country. The sun beat down against him cruelly. It made his head spin more. His stomach churned horribly. The burning in his veins was still present. Deidara then laughed harshly. The sound was swallowed up by the barren land. The blonde knew why he was feeling so off. It made sense now. His hand absentmindedly played with the cut on his neck. Deidara hesitated, distracted by a chakra presence. It was coming directly in front of him. Rather than trying to hide, he stood his ground. It only took two minutes before a small figure appeared on the horizon. It seemed to move faster now. The figure didn't get much larger as it neared Deidara.
"Ironic, I was just coming to find you." A young teenager stood in front of Deidara defiantly.
"I forgot about you un." Deidara smirked.
"I never forgot about you, every minute I think of nothing but killing you. Holding your still beating heart and squeezing the life out if it." The teenager growled out.
"Bit melodramatic aren't we un?" Deidara stared into the teenager's eyes. The young boy was from Iwa, Deidara had killed his parents, Sensei and team-mates. It figured the boy would track him down now of all times.
"You're going to die here Deidara."
"What's your name? You know mine, it's only fair I know yours un." Deidara asked conversationally.
"I'm Ryuga Karou. I'm fifteen and I will be your executioner today." Karou's eyes glinted.
"You're a lot more amusing now, no screaming and crying un." Deidara taunted. Bile rose in his throat and he swallowed it back down.
Karou ran at Deidara, engaging him into a taijutsu fight. If Deidara had being well then this fight would have been over now. The teenager was strong, he would challenge a jonin but he would have no hope against an Akatsuki member. However, Deidara wasn't well. Karou wasn't landing any hits but Deidara could feel his energy wane away quickly. Karou dropped to the ground to avoid an attack from Deidara and kicked upwards. Karou's foot caught Deidara's chest and he flung the blonde through the air. Deidara hit the ground without correcting himself. He rolled and slid to a stop. Deidara coughed up blood. It had nothing to do with the kick. The painful burning was becoming more prominent. Deidara held back a moan of pain. Karou pulled Deidara off the ground and punched him in the stomach before throwing him over his shoulder. Deidara slammed into the ground.
"You're not even trying." Karou spat down at Deidara, placing a foot on the blonde's throat.
"Really? I couldn't tell un." Deidara rasped out, Karou's foot pressed down harder. "What can I say? I'm not well un."
"Some people would want to wait until their opponent is at full strength. It would be cheating otherwise. Not me though, I just want you dead." Karou said darkly.
Deidara grabbed Karou's foot and threw him into the ground. The blonde jumped up, his vision blurred again. Deidara tried to focus on Karou but as the teenager stood, Deidara could see multiply of him. Karou pulled out a kunai and charged at Deidara, he deflected the kunai pushing Karou's hand past him. Deidara then wrapped his hand around Karou's wrist and brought his other hand up in a chopping motion. Deidara's hand hit Karou's elbow and the boy's arm was snapped. The bone cracked loudly and Deidara pulled him into the ground. Karou held back a scream of pain, his eyes watered. Deidara had ensured the teenager wouldn't be able to use most ninjutsu. Karou couldn't form the handseals correctly. Deidara wiped away the blood on his chin. Another surge of pain wracked his body and Deidara dropped to the ground as the pain only contiuned to intensify. Karou took the chance to pin Deidara to the ground, the avenging teenager slashed his kunai across Deidara's throat without mercy.