Disclaimer: See 1st chapter

Warning: See 1st chapter

Thanks all anonymous reviewers and any who I may have missed pm.

Avatarislife - I very much appreciate you taking the time to leave a review especially since reviewing isn't your thing and that you are liking the story so far.

Guest - Thanks for reviewing, I do appreciate it. Glad you are enjoying the story so far.

MysticSpeedForce - Thanks for your wonderful review! Glad you liked how I did the fight. Konan and Deidara's scene was one of my favorite parts to write. My coughing did thankfully go away :)

Spook - Thank you for the review, I very much appreciate it. And I'm glad you are enjoying the story so much.

Jinxabelle - Thanks very much for taking the time to leave a review. I appreciate it. I know what you mean with Sasori and Deidara. I'm glad you enjoyed the story to the point that you did :)

Sorry for the quite long delay in posting this. Merely life being life. I'm not sure why I'm getting this posted today as I had a very shockingly terrible day and really just can't believe it happened. Yet I sat down, finished the needed tweaking and here it is.

Also note that I do not have a beta and there are bound to be errors and I apologize in advance.

Chapter 25 – A New... What?

Tobi straightened, watching the body disappear below the water till it could no longer be seen, deep satisfaction rolling through him despite that he still had Nagato to deal with. And…, turning away from the water, he gazed at the spot where Konan had stumbled off towards. He still had to deal with her. He returned his gaze back onto the dark water, not in any major hurry; she couldn't have gotten far in her condition, his mind going to more pressing matters.

Was it wise to kill Nagato?

He'd been contemplating whether it was a smart idea seeing as he needed Nagato to sync with the statue that housed the tailed beasts. If he killed Nagato he would have to find someone else who was compatible.

But keeping Nagato alive… in his condition he couldn't do anything. He needed someone to move him in the contraption that he stayed in, that supported him. Konan was the one who aided him (and the other bodies of Pein – but they were now all destroyed), and he would soon finish Konan off.

Surely Nagato couldn't pose any trouble now? He could kill him after the sealing of the last two buiju was taken care off. No one should know where Nagato is stashed… and he could always move him to another, more secluded area and unless someone stumbled upon him Nagato was incapable of doing him any harm.

A slight jolt went through him and his eye closed as he heaved heavily, he didn't need to turn around to know who had just shown up, of all the times…

The base they were currently using was not too terribly far from Ame but Deidara was supposed to be waiting at the hideout for all three members that were unaware of his identity to be at the base. If he was here… he couldn't very well kill them… unless… he'd already done the deed. It was possible but Kisame wasn't due back… he could have returned early. Or Pein had deliberately told him the wrong date, though he couldn't fathom why he would. Kisame clearly didn't involve their plot.

It didn't matter, not at this moment, what did matter was that Deidara was here and could clearly see the state he was in. Due to his earlier carelessness against Konan he'd lost an arm, he had been planning on taking care of that before Deidara saw him as he did the last time he lost his arm. He hadn't wanted Deidara to see. And now he'd have to explain as he knew Deidara wouldn't be happy without an explanation, granted the artist knew of his immortality, so technically he wouldn't have to go far into it.

Still it was one thing knowing and another to see and he knew that the artist was shocked given his stunned silence.

"It's not that bad." Tobi uttered, his tone holding soothing undertones.

Deidara jolted, the deep voice breaching his brain and bringing him out of his stunned state yet the surprise remained and the shock.

How can Tobi be injured!?

Granted he wasn't naive enough to think that Tobi was unable to take hits but he's immortal! The word seemed to echo in his head and he zeroed in on it with some relief. Yes, Tobi is immortal... because if he wasn't he'd be bleeding a lot and would be concerned with being mended yet he stood on the moving water still, clearly calm.

So then he shouldn't be stunned or shocked or anything to find Tobi in such a state – even though anyone else would have eventually perished. Tobi had been in a fight, had to fight Konan and Pein, so it was understandable, plausible that Tobi wouldn't come out unscathed. It was just... a part of him viewed Tobi as indestructible, simply because of all the bombs he'd sent the masked nin's way over the years and his uncanny ability of always coming out fine.

Deidara lightly shook his head, feeling more calm then when he had stumbled into the open water and caught sight of Tobi injured, mostly due to the others words.

But...

He glanced about, eyeing the water and his frown deepened, how would Tobi attach his arm? If it had been severed it was somewhere decomposing deep beneath the water and if it was removed another way...

Deidara's forehead knitted and a mouthed hand found its way to his forehead, Tobi did say that his immortality was different then Hidan's. So then perhaps he didn't need his severed arm back...?

"Oh..." he uttered belatedly, "good."

Tobi sighed at the words and turned around to face his blond, he opened his mouth to explain only to close it a second later, a light frown marring his hidden mouth. He didn't feel to incline to go all that into it... "You remember what I said?" he asked instead.

Deidara's eyes darted up from the missing appendage to lock with Tobi's slightly visible face, an unpleasant emotion slithered down his spine as he caught sight of the other's eye.

Tobi sighed, lightly running his hand through his short, slightly matted hair, the sun was warm and thus his clothes and hair were drying. "Do you?" He pressed; he could tell Deidara about his stash of eyes later.

Deidara struggled with his expression, trying to keep the worry off and put on a bland if not calm expression. Finding it to difficult to speak, simply nodded, figuring that Tobi was referring to their talk about him being immortal and thus he shouldn't be worried.

"I'll get a new one; it will simply take some time." Tobi finally offered some of an explanation.

Deidara blinked a few times, his mouth parting a little as the words processed and he almost gaped but quickly schooled himself, Tobi is immortal, he had to remember that.

"Why are you here?" Tobi got down to the next important topic, having wanted to go straight to it but knew better then to glide over his state.

Deidara's frown returned, a little annoyed at the abrupt change in topic but decided not to press the issue. Tobi was fine, even said his arm would be back – he'd get a new one, so he really had no reason to continue that line.

Eyes dropping from the imploring gaze, and feeling mildly certain that Tobi was thinking he'd bailed – been unable to go through with things, stated, "Kisame and Kakuzu got away..." feeling a bit smug now that Tobi couldn't keep thinking such.

"Got away?" Tobi parroted slowly. He didn't need to ask if the artist had used one big explosion from the start because if he had no one would have gotten away. His eye slipped shut as he willed down his rising anger, he had of course anticipated Deidara fighting them and he hadn't forbidden the blond from doing so – not that if he had would have stopped the artist from doing it. Still... while he knew that not offing them at once gave threat to one if not all of them escaping he had really expected Deidara to kill them, without needing to spend more time on them. Now that two of them had gotten away and were still alive, they would no doubt plan to come back. Two...

"Well," Tobi said at last, ignoring the blonds twitch, "at least you killed Hidan..." Tobi paused, and his brow knitted, "and how exactly did you kill him?" Or was Hidan simply down for the moment? If that was the case, Kakuzu could repair him and they would still have all three of them.

Deidara scowled; thoroughly ticked that Tobi had apparently such little confidence in his ability.

"It's not that I'm doubting your capabilities," Tobi hurried to clear up after noting the pissed scowl and not in the mood to deal with exploding clay, "but he does have a form of immortality."

Deidara scoffed, yet felt the words have a calming effect as what Tobi was saying was true, and Hidan had suffered past bombs from him before and had lived, so Tobi's doubt was reasonable. "I simply blew him up from the inside, hmm."

Tobi felt surprise and mild shock jolt through him, from the inside? He hadn't known that Deidara was capable of such a thing. That was... incredible. He was quite glad that Deidara was on his side, for he had no desire what so ever to see if that would do him any harm. A moment later, a vague remembrance of Deidara's fight with Sasuke flared, hadn't Deidara attempted such a thing then? Ah no matter…

"That's good." His tone carrying his approval and satisfaction, while he supposed it would be better to give more of a decent complement he had more pressing things that needed to be done. And judging from the way the blonds' eyes lit up, his small acknowledgment was enough… for now. "Hidan's ability was the most annoying." Pausing, he tilted his gaze to the lightly rushing water, "I've taken care of Pein, but Nagato remains."

Deidara's brow furrowed feeling perplexed, having never heard the name before he ended up blurting out, "who?"

Tobi's mouth stilled as the word washed over him and he slowly closed it, he had neglected to tell Deidara of the real person behind Pein. That was the second time he'd done so… silently he prayed (to who?) that he hadn't forgotten to tell Deidara anything else. By not telling the artist, he risked Deidara thinking he was deliberately keeping things from him and granted there were a few things that didn't need to be told right away, such as his stash of sharingan but Nagato being Pein should have been told.

Tobi exhaled heavily, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair, "Nagato is really Pein." Seeing the puzzled frown increase and the blonds' mouth part, he quickly added, "You are aware of the fact that Pein had five bodies, yes?"

Deidara stared for a moment, thinking Tobi was avoiding clarifying before blinking and giving a nod.

Seeing this Tobi continued with some haste, "the Pein that ran things was also like the other Pein's; they were controlled by someone else, like puppets. This person is Nagato."

Deidara's mouth dropped as the words slithered over him.

"Nagato is unwell, so he created six bodies to act as him. Now that all six of those bodies are dead, he is all that remains, but he will not be as much trouble to take care of."

"Oh," Deidara offered, he couldn't believe that he had never perceived that to be the case. Sure he'd suspected that the other five were controlled by Pein but… he had thought they were a part of Pein, just separated. Hmm, perhaps the six were a part of… Nagato?

His thoughts stilled as Tobi spoke, "however right now Konan needs to be-" Tobi broke off at the odd noise from the artist and raised an inquiring brow.

Deidara, feeling a little like he was under a microscope with the heavy stare from the other, crossed his arms across his chest and shifted his head a little to the side, gazing at the mounds of water then at Tobi, "I ran into her on my way here un."

Tobi shifted a little, almost like he was going to move towards the blond yet couldn't decide if he wanted to, "and?" Tobi pressed when nothing else was forthcoming.

Deidara's eyes fell half lidded, "I…" Deidara broke off with an irritated grunt, aggravated at finding it so difficult to admit to having killed her. "I threw a bomb at her," he said at last.

Tobi's eyebrow shot wide and he couldn't contain his surprise, Deidara had killed her? "And you're sure she's dead?" He probed, he needed to be sure, he couldn't risk Konan gallivanting alive. She would no doubt hideaway and plan, try and come up with some way to kill him and he would be none the wiser if Deidara told him she was dead. He wanted to think, to believe that Deidara wouldn't lie to him but he knew that Deidara cared about Konan. There was a chance… a slim chance that Deidara would do something like that…

Deidara's face darkened but he refrained from snapping at the raven, he knew that Tobi was aware that he was against with killing her, and his words didn't necessarily say he'd killed her. (Even though she had been injured…)

Stiffly he nodded and unveiled the small object he'd kept clasped in one hand.

Tobi didn't need to look twice to know that the object resting in Deidara's mouthed hand was Konan's Akatsuki ring. He doubted Konan would have freely given it, still… "You saw her die?"

Deidara's glaring eyes snapped to red and that was all the answer Tobi needed, but Deidara verbally answered with certainty, his tone biting, "yes."

Tobi nodded lightly in acknowledgment, "good." Now there was no need to hurry, as he knew that the two remaining members would not devise a plan so soon. Furthermore they did not know the situation. So for the time being he could put them on hold, while he didn't like the idea of doing so since he'd planned to have this all wrapped up with the death of Pein and Konan. After all it wasn't like he had massive amounts of free time.

Tobi turned his attention to his only arm, gazing at the small object in the palm of his gloved hand. Perhaps Deidara was right... he may still need the rings, and Nagato. There were still two tailed beasts left...

"Here," Tobi suddenly voiced, tossing the small item to the stationary blond not too far away. "Hold onto this."

Deidara's visible eye went a little wide, mostly in surprise as he hadn't been expecting Tobi to throw anything at him, but he wasn't a shinobi for nothing and as the small metal object zoomed at him lightly he deftly caught it in his free hand. With a light frown Deidara opened his hand wide to stare at the object and to his surprise, (even though he should have guessed) found Pein's Akatsuki ring. Deidara's gaze drifted up and raised an inquiring eyebrow. Earlier Tobi had said to destroy them, so why should he hold onto it? Or did he want to wait till they had all of them?

His musing was stilled as Tobi spoke, "I've changed my mind."

Deidara blinked but needed no farther elaboration, a smirk stretched across his face and he nearly said aloud 'I told you so,' but managed to refrain. After all he'd said he'd only say those words if they had destroyed the rings and then later deemed that they needed them. So instead he nodded and dropped the ring with Konan's and safely tucked them away together.

"So," Deidara uttered, "what now?" Now that things had been explained he felt fidgety, what he really wanted to do was go over to Tobi and make sure he was truly fine. To see... to feel for himself and yet he didn't. A part of him couldn't fathom why, yet he felt that Tobi wouldn't appreciate it, which he frankly thought was absurd. But Tobi had said he was fine, and going over there might come off as if he didn't believe the raven. And he didn't want Tobi to think he believed he'd lie to him, not after his reaction concerning the document. Still the urge to disregard that was steadily going stronger, and a part of him just didn't care that Tobi had told him he was fine, he wanted to make sure!

He shook his head swiftly, his hair twirling at the gesture, some hitting him in the chin, leaving an irritatingly small itching sensation on his skin.

Screw it!

The urge, the desire was too strong to ignore, mind made up he went to move forward only to jerk a little as he realized he couldn't as some time during his rapid musing Tobi had closed the scant space between them and now stood in front of him. His eyebrow twitched, he couldn't help feel annoyed that Tobi could sneak up on him and he didn't even notice it! But he quickly snubbed the feeling as he took in Tobi's appearance up close, his hands twitched, wanting to reach up and assess the damage, even though he could clearly see where Tobi's arm had been wiped from existence. Inwardly he grimaced.

"Do you feel it?" he unintentionally blurted out, a light embarrassed red sheen spread blatantly across his face. It was a stupid question... but Tobi was immortal so maybe he didn't feel the pain or the absence of his arm. Granted Hidan had been immortal to and he had always felt the pain but Tobi had also said his was different. At least he hadn't asked if it hurt, that would have been for sure a stupid question seeing as he had his arm... both his arms severed and he had keenly felt that.

Tobi closed his mouth in a thin line, he'd been about to answer the blonds' prior question, his lone working eye swept over the portion of the artist's face, noting the genuine curiosity and the hidden concern and sighed lightly. He didn't want Deidara to dwell on it... but he supposed the blond would until he had his arm back. Though it made him feel warm that Deidara genuinely cared.

"No," he answered at length, deciding to be honest. Not that he wouldn't have been had it truly been painful.

Deidara eyed the pale face, trying to assess whether Tobi was speaking the truth, his arms raising upwards a little, still desiring to touch before deciding that he was, simply because Tobi's face held no pain, his posture didn't suggest that the loss of a limb bothered him. A sense of relief enveloped him and he sagged a little.

"Are you injured?" Tobi asked suddenly making Deidara start.

Deidara wanted to feel annoyed seeing as his other question had yet to be answered, unless Tobi had replied and he'd been to focused on his thoughts to hear it, but since Tobi sounded concerned he just couldn't bring himself to feel anything but warm that Tobi cared, not that Tobi hadn't ever not cared.

"Not really," Deidara answered after a brief pause, as if he couldn't decide if he was or not.

Tobi frowned lightly, "and what does that mean?" his tone displeased. He couldn't see anything due to the cloak, it wasn't torn and he gathered the blond had changed before coming here, but he could be injured, he half expected Deidara to be injured seeing as he had fought all three members.

Deidara barley held back the sigh that almost burst out at the tone, "nothing big, un." And it was true the only major injury had been a thick gash near his stomach but it wasn't deep, just barely grazing his skin. He'd bleed quite decently, which gave the impression that it was worse but it wasn't. Really, Tobi shouldn't make such a big deal out of every time he was injured, okay so maybe he was exaggerating a bit, but he couldn't help but feel like if he got a simple cut, like a paper cut Tobi would be on him, fretting.

Not that he didn't know why, his attempted suicide hadn't set well with Tobi, that and because he cared. He didn't want Tobi to be hurt either but with Tobi he didn't have to worry as much, hardly at all.

Tobi nodded a little, after carefully surveying the artist, he wasn't lying and if the blond had been severely hurt, he knew there would be telling signs. But the blond stood firm, his breathing was fine, nothing suggested otherwise.

Slowly, some of the strain left and he almost desperately wanted to pull his blond into a tight hug but refrained, mostly because he only had one arm. "Good," he settled on and lightly brushed a gloved hand over the artist's cheek, bumping the strand of blond hair in the process.

"There are still two tailed beasts left," Tobi stated, rounding to the unanswered question.

Deidara blinked, an eyebrow rising, he was already aware of that and simply gave an imploring gaze as he knew that Tobi had to have something else to say.

Tobi shifted his gaze away from the blond to the dark blue water, "The eight-tails is bound to be the more difficult of the two to capture," Tobi paused as a heavy sigh escaped, "but even if either one was captured we can't remove the tailed beasts without -"

Deidara made a small affirmation noise, unintentionally stilling the raven's words.

Tobi fell silent, pondering, Nagato could still sync with the statue but the statue was meant to have ten individual's working at once because of the massive amounts of chakra required to do the sealing. Granted he could use his stash of Zetsu's to fill the spots… Hmm, Tobi blinked, that actually wasn't a bad idea.

He wasn't quite ready for either tailed beast but with the start of the war and all the other little things with it… not to mention the two remaining Akatsuki, ex-Akatsuki members to deal with it may be best to detain them until it was time.

Inwardly he grunted; now he was regretting not grabbing Naruto when he had the chance. And all for what just so that Sasuke and he would face each other, considering the situation at this point in time, it wasn't really worth having them do so. But he knew that both Jinjurriki had been hidden, a part of him had hoped that they would be out fighting during the war but hadn't cemented anything on it. Time was different, or he should say the people of this time were different.

First though he needed to know how things with Kisame's mission went.

Deidara flexed his hands several times as he impatiently waited for Tobi to continue, just when he was thoroughly fed up with the silence and waiting, Tobi turned from his distant staring of the lightly rushing water and met his gaze.

"Do you know how things went with Kisame?"

Deidara's mouth fell a little, as he had not been expecting the question, but didn't ponder it long, "Hmm, no… but he came back injured and missing shark skin."

Tobi's lone eye shot up in surprise and mild shock, something unexpected must have happened and perhaps that explained Kisame's early return. Now he was quite curious about the events. His gaze went skyward, still marveling the fact that the rain had ceased in the Hidden Rain when it was supposed to be never ending, well he knew what his next move was.

Deidara tilted his head, seriously wishing he knew how to read minds when Tobi finally, officially answered his question, "we will go back to the base," at Deidara's inquiring look he added, "I want to see if Kisame left anything for Pein."

Deidara nodded lightly, that made sense.

And without farther words, Tobi wound his only arm around Deidara's shoulders and they vanished.

Tobi took in the slightly damaged hideout with a wide smirk and entered through the relatively wide hole then using the sealed entrance. Deidara followed closely behind. A weird feeling enveloping him, and he figured it was due to the fact that the damage was his doing and that he would never see any of the other members (save Zetsu) again in this place.

Tobi sped right to Pein's office and upon entering he was glad he'd decided to check for anything from Kisame as there, resting plainly on top was a message and a scroll from the former mist nin. After reviewing the contents of both items, he turned to the silent blond, who was near the door way.

"I want you to stay here for now," he held up his arm to still the protest he knew was coming, "I'll be back shortly."

Deidara's face went sour, usually when Tobi said shortly it wasn't so. It could be a day or two…

Tobi suppressed the threatening amused smirk, "you should patch up the hole."

Deidara glowered, a glare settling on his face at those words, knowing it wasn't a suggestion. Not that he disagreed; if he was going to remain here for a while it wouldn't do to leave a clear sign for passer bys.

When Deidara refocused on the raven, he twitched violently as he found the space where Tobi had been empty.

Fucking bastard!

With a furious scoff, Deidara turned on his heel, deciding to take care of the hole now then wait. It wasn't like he had anything else to do.

~88

Deidara wafted a hand in the air to help dissolve the irritating smoke, it had been a long time since he'd burned something, and if Hidan had seen he'd never hear the end of it. His frown deepened, Hidan would never give him a hard time again and it plainly felt weird.

Shaking his head to rid of his current thoughts went about of disposing of the ruined food. He knew why he'd done so bad, or partly why, it'd been almost three days and Tobi was still not back.

What the hell was he doing?

Granted he knew that a war was underway but he hated just sitting here doing absolutely nothing! What also annoyed him was Tobi's lack in telling him all the going on's, oh, sure he'd told him of Kabuto and the war, though that had been after they were said and done. Why couldn't he tell him, for instance where he was going and planning to do?

He hated the not knowing and the idle waiting, a part of him was drilling at him to go outside and do something! And while he had no qualms with venturing near the base he didn't think it would be a good idea to go to any of the nearby villages – not when a war was on the way and he didn't know the entire situation. He did know that the main villages were involved and while not all the villages, the smaller ones would have an active role (mostly because they were made up of just civilians), didn't mean that they wouldn't rat him out. Granted he wasn't known all over but one just never knew.

Deidara slumped against the counter top, his appetite gone, and even though he could hear Tobi's words about eating he couldn't bring himself to go to more trouble.

"What did you burn?"

Deidara jolted at the sudden deep words and almost went for some clay before his mind realized it was simply Tobi. He turned his head to the side to glare at the masked nin but before his gaze rested on the elder something soft hit him in the face, with a slightly puzzled frown Deidara tentatively pulled the material from his head, where it had draped itself after being thrown. A dark brown almost red color assaulted his gaze and as he held it out in front of him he realized it was a cloak, kind of like the one he's always worn, except upon a more thorough examination he discovered a hood on the back.

"What's this un?" Deidara questioned in confusion, his eyes shifted from the clothing to the raven, who was just a little ways in and his visible eye went a little wide. A strange feeling enveloped him and at first he couldn't ascertain why. It wasn't the fact that Tobi had both arms now – he was immensely ecstatic and relived, even though a part of him wanted to touch, to feel, to make sure Tobi's arm was really there and fine. Tobi was clad in a new cloak, like the one he was holding but instead of the swirled orange mask he had worn since he'd met the raven a plain white one with three small dots almost shaped like circles were in place as eye holes, save the third. The design over all reminded him of the sharingan, which plainly looked weird to see it on a mask. The mask, unlike his last one went up over his head and covered his hair. Deidara inwardly grimaced at the lack of taste. Why wasn't he wearing the orange one? Okay, he knew that it had been damaged and repairing it would have been practically impossible seeing as the fragments had vanished into the water, and it made more sense to just get a new one. But surely Tobi had a better mask then that horrible white one? Granted at least it was white and didn't shout almost blindingly saying 'here I am! Shoot me!' But Deidara didn't care about that anymore, he missed the orange mask. Tobi just didn't seem... right without it.

"It's our new outfit." Tobi informed, "Since my cloak was torn, I needed a new one, I figured it was time for a change. The Akatsuki cloak is now well known, it would make it difficult to move around. And with the war, it would be practically suicide."

Deidara nodded slowly still caught up in the new mask, but still had the mind to agree. After all, while it was obvious that those in the Akatsuki had mostly been identified, wearing the printed red clouds was to eye catching. It was smarter and a little safer to change to something plain; it would help them blend in.

Deidara straightened a little, pressing his lower back into the counter, having turned around when he examined the article, and peered at Tobi with an imploring look, a deep frown now blatantly visible, "You're not going to permanently wear that, are you?"

Tobi blinked under his new mask, his head tilting to the left, "what my mask?"

Deidara nodded vigorously, his hair swaying from the movement but he paid it no heed.

A frown stole over Tobi's face, feeling a little annoyed that Deidara apparently didn't like his new mask, though a part of it was pride. "What's wrong with it?"

"What's not wrong with it," Deidara mumbled under his breath, causing Tobi to almost miss the words.

Tobi crossed his arms, and huffed a little, "you use to rant about me getting a less colorful mask."

Deidara nodded, "hmm, yeah." And now he does it, when he could care less. "But that mask is... horrible looking." He bluntly stated.

Tobi's frown deepened, Deidara was being completely honest...

"Don't you have one like your last one un?" Deidara asked with hope and light curiosity.

Tobi's arms dropped and he sighed heavily, not being able to ignore Deidara's obvious dislike of his mask, and asked almost resignedly, "would that make you happy? Me, get a different mask?"

Deidara lit up a little and that was all the answer Tobi needed. "Fine, we can go into town and see what they have."

Tobi turned and Deidara jolted a little, realizing Tobi meant now, and hastily slipped on his new cloak over his blue outfit and as he made his way towards the other stated cheekily, "you look weird with no hair."

Tobi stopped abruptly, his mouth opening to retort 'it was under his mask', but simply sighed heavily and trailed behind his obstinate blond.

"What about this?" Tobi asked, holding up a dark colored mask, so dark that it didn't look like it had any eye holes and if left on the ground could have been mistaken for some kind of beetle.

Deidara raised an annoyed eyebrow, "don't be absurd!"

Tobi sighed heavily as he put the mask back, every single mask he'd asked the blonds' opinion on he'd say something demeaning. Not one mask was Deidara thrilled about... but then neither was he. Most of the masks were very thin, and the colors on most of them were so thick that it made them look putrid. A few he'd found that weighed well and looked durable had been plain white or white with a small colored design. According to the shop owner the masks were meant to take after ANBU masks. That ruled out those, that and they were white. Apparently this time around Deidara didn't want white, he wanted something of color.

"We've been to almost all of the stands!" Tobi whined in his 'Tobi' voice. This is not how he wanted to spend his time with his blond, he could think of much more fun things he'd rather be doing!

Deidara leveled a glare and moved past the raven, "almost is not all, hmm."

Tobi sagged, a heavy sigh leaving him before trailing slowly behind the younger male.

Tobi rooted through mask after mask at the second to last stand in this village, ignoring the shop owner who was trying to get him to buy all of them at an apparently 'good' deal. Deidara stood near the raven, his arms crossed loosely across his chest, his eyes surveying mask after mask intently. He didn't overly care if the mask was orange but he wanted something of color! Maybe a royal blue... or... His thoughts trailed off as his eyes alighted onto the last mask stand not too far away, just barely visible among the other masks rested something tinged with blue. His curiosity spiked he wondered over, leaving Tobi who was idly shifting through the few remaining masks.

As soon as Tobi felt Deidara leave, he stilled, one hand gripping a mask the other in motion he dropped the mask and watched his blond head over to the last mask stand. Not even debating it Tobi meandered towards the artist, with a war on the way he wasn't about to let the blond out of his sight, not when he could help it.

Deidara ignored the shop owner's greeting as he stopped before the almost crowded stand piled with masks. He gingerly picked up the one that had caught his eye, it was indeed blue, not quite a royal blue but pretty close, and it was still dark yet had tinges of light, pale blue. Perhaps the mask had just seen the sun to much? He eyed the durable mask critically and deemed that not so. It had a few ridges that looked like a swirl design but trailed off on the sides as if the maker had changed his mind at the last moment, but it didn't look bad, or unfinished. Up close the swirls weren't too hard to see but because of its dark color, far away would trick the eye into seeing a smooth outer surface. All in all this wasn't a bad looking mask, it was durable, not to thin, didn't feel cheaply made and the two holes for the eyes were about the same size as the hole on Tobi's orange mask, and it sunk in this mask too, he was sure would make it difficult to see Tobi's eyes. And it looked the right size too.

"This one?" Tobi's suddenly deep voice issued from slightly behind him, jolting him a little, with a light hum he acknowledged the words and turned a little towards the taller male, the mask shifting more into the light.

Tobi took the mask from the blonds' hand and thoroughly inspected it; the mask had to be something he was interested in to, after all he'd be the one wearing it and for unidentifiable amount of time. Shifting away from the stand and after making sure no one was looking, from what he could see, removed his current mask and tried the blue one on.

"Well?" Deidara asked with a tilt of his head after a few silent moments had passed, his arms coming up to cross over his chest.

Tobi replaced his current mask and turned to face the blond and the stand of masks, "it's suitable."

Deidara blinked, a light frown gracing his face and he peered imploringly at the older nin as he paid, "but you like it, right?" He didn't want Tobi to change to a mask if he didn't like it.

Tobi tilted his head a little, surveying the lightly tan face for a moment, "of course! I wouldn't buy if I didn't." Let alone wear it, he thought silently. Which was kind of a given.

He went to pocket his newly bought mask but thought better of it and quickly switched masks so that he was wearing his new one and the old one, he pocketed.

Deidara couldn't help but beam a little, now Tobi looked like how he'd grown so use to, except now instead of an orange swirled mask he had a blue one. The best thing about it was that his hair was visible.

Deidara was jolted from his musing when a gloved hand grabbed a hold of his and entwined their fingers together. Deidara made an odd noise and tried to pull his hand free but hardly could, much to his vexation.

"Tobi!" his voice thoroughly annoyed.

"So I was thinking Senpai that we could go to the festival, I overheard one of the mask owners talking about it. It sounds fun and it's only a couple of hours away." Tobi stated, completely ignoring the blond.

Deidara stilled his pointless tugging, glancing to the side so that he couldn't see the raven. It wasn't that he overly minded holding hands it was just that everyone was going to give them looks. Sure most mistook him for a girl and it was pretty common for a couple – a guy and a girl to hold hands but...

"Don't worry so much Dei-chan." Tobi uttered his tone almost comforting, interrupting Deidara's musing.

Deidara felt the words wash over him and couldn't help but feel stupid for letting such a small thing get to him. Really what did he care what others thought? Sighing, he uttered an inaudible 'fine.'

"So," Tobi implored, now speaking in his childish voice. After a few moments of still silence Tobi added, "doesn't it sound fun?" giving a light squeeze to the artist's hand.

"Not really," Deidara muttered, his gaze eyeing nothing in particular, but still facing away from the masked nin.

Tobi refrained from giving a dramatic demonstration, instead giving a light airy sigh, "why not? There will be tones of food and games!"

Deidara scoffed, as if he cared about games!

Tobi inwardly huffed at not being able to entice the younger male into going, his gaze drifting away from his blond to glance skyward in thought.

Deidara's eyebrow twitched at the sudden silence, he'd been expecting Tobi to go on and on, like he always did in the past till he agreed. Not that he always agreed but it was usually easier to get the other to shut up.

Deidara shook his head before biting his lip, did Tobi want to go? He glanced down at their entwined hands, he probably did, otherwise he wouldn't have brought it up. A part of him wanted to just agree since it would make Tobi happy but it was a festival, which meant a lot of people. He wasn't very fond of crowds.

"We'd get to spend time together!"

The sudden words had Deidara turning to lock on blue as he quelled the light scoff, "we can do that anywhere, un."

Tobi waved his free arm, "but this would be something fun!" When that still didn't interest the blond Tobi fell silent again but not for long as a moment later something he hadn't mentioned spiked his attention and a devious almost smug smirk broke out on his covered face, he was sure that this would entice the artist.

"Aw, I was really looking forward to the fireworks!"

The last word echoed for a moment and Deidara felt himself perk up. He loved fireworks! They were just like his art. A fraction later he inwardly grimaced, damn Tobi, he knew him so well. As he knew full well that to see the fireworks he'd have to go to the blasted festival.

"Great!" Tobi exclaimed having seen the way Deidara had perked up and knew that he'd gotten the younger male to go.

Deidara nearly scoffed at Tobi's assumption that he was now going but... the prospect of fireworks and he knew he wouldn't turn that down and so did Tobi, the bastard. Tobi didn't have to sound so smug about it. Deidara leveled a glare but remained silent.

"So we have some time to kill..." Tobi uttered, yet sounding positively cheery, no doubt because he'd gotten Deidara to go.

Deidara blinked a tad startled as his hand was suddenly dropped and he almost remarked on it but before he could decide he was nudged in the back a little and he craned his head to the side until he saw blue and raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"Why don't you go to the library Senpai, I have to get something." Tobi stated even though it sounded more like a demand.

Deidara pulled away from the other's touch, swerving around to glare angrily at the taller male, "and why should I, hmm?"

Tobi crossed his arms, his head giving a small tilt, "I just told you why, Senpai."

Deidara's glare darkened, "and why should I, just because you told me to!"

"Well it will make it easier to find you," Tobi quickly voiced, an arm waving almost frantically, the last thing he wanted was for the blond to get truly mad and throw a bomb, they didn't need to draw attention.

Deidara scoffed in derision, as if that was a big deal, he was sure Tobi would find him just fine either way. "I could just come."

Tobi shook his head swiftly, "No! You can't Senpai!" He quickly raised his arm to still the snapped shout of 'why not', "because it's a surprise! If you come, you'll ruin it!"

Deidara simply glared heatedly into the blue mask, he frankly didn't give a damn about a surprise! He seriously started contemplating on throwing a bomb at the bastard, but he could sense that no matter what he said he wouldn't be able to convince the raven to let him come. Though it would make him feel better.

Sensing that the artist no longer planned to argue, Tobi pointed to the right, "I think the library is in that direction!"

He shifted closer to the pissed blond and again nudged the younger male in the back, trying to get the artist moving towards the library. While he could find Deidara simply no matter where he was, so long as he wore the ring, he didn't feel comfortable with the artist wondering around alone. It wasn't that he doubted the blond's ability or anything but anything could happen and Deidara wasn't immortal.

Deidara huffed, making his annoyance clear but not being able to ignore Tobi's clear insistence, trudged off in the gestured direction, deciding that if Tobi took too long he'd leave without him.

After making sure that Deidara entered the library, Tobi disappeared into the crowed.

~ End Chap

Sorry I ended it there. I could have put the next scene but I think it was better to wait. Does anyone recall the festival? It's next chapter.