It was a beautiful day as Deidara and I continued traveling, the blonde seemingly deep in thought while I just remained cloud gazing. I don't know what he thought of me now, if he disliked me even more, but I felt relieved as if I've finally been freed from the burdening weight I've been carrying inside me this whole time.

"I still think what you did was really stupid." He spoke up all of a sudden.

"Yeah of course, I was young and dumb."'

"You still are young and dumb, hm."

"I was younger and dumber. Come on, don't be so smug. I find it hard to believe you never did anything you regretted."

"The only thing I regret was being defeated by Itachi, hm."

"Right..." I rolled my eyes, not believing him.

"... and maybe a few one night stands, like the one with Aimi…"

"Oh, I'm sure you really regretted that." I replied with a hint of sarcasm. I couldn't help but still feel salty about that.

"It really bothers you, huh?"

"No, Deidara, I wasn't bothered by it at all..."

"Then I wonder why you just barged in the room and cut off her head, hm?"

"I wonder why..."

Despite having made that oath to myself that I would never abandon him, a part of me still resented him for what he did with her that night, but perhaps my jealousy was crystal clear to him. I wonder what he thought about that?

Deidara did not answer but simply looked down to the world below us with his eye scope while his golden mane swayed with the wind. We were so much alike, yet I could never really tell what he was thinking.

"...hm?" It sounded like he spotted something. In an instant, the bird started descending and we landed on a clearing of a forest.

"Deidara-senpai, you've come back to me!" A strange-looking man wearing the Akatsuki cloak and a swirly orange mask ran towards us.

"Ugh... Tobi." Deidara grunted.

So this was Tobi, his former partner who overstepped the limit of Deidara's patience, according to him.

"Oh, Senpai! You brought the other woman with you!"

"What?"

"Just ignore him." He whispered to me before turning back to Tobi. "Why are you alone here? Weren't you supposed to stick with Zetsu, hm?"

"Senpai, he- he… he was eating a person! It was horrible! I couldn't watch..."

The blonde let out an exasperated sigh.

"You're hopeless as ever, hm."

"But Senpai, you won't believe what I saw!"

"What is it?"

"Try to guess!"

"Another damn bug? Look, we don't have time for guessing games, if it ain't the three-tails then- "

"Correct! Ten points to Senpai!"

"Wait, what?! You found the three tails?!"

"Yup! Just by the lake! There was this force separate from the leaf ninja engaged in a vigorous clash over the three tails!"

"Seriously? If this is a joke, I will kill you, hm!"

"I'm not kidding, Senpai!"

Deidara used his eye scope to survey the area around the lake.

"Hmm… I see a bunch of Anbu keeping watch. There really must be something going on in that lake, hm."

"See, Senpai? I'm a very useful ally! You must be very proud of me for doing your assignment!"

"Don't get cocky! For all we know you probably misheard something being the idiot you are. I'll have to go confirm it, hm! You guys stay here and wait." He barked before sneaking up to the Anbu.

"Ah! That's not how you say 'Thank you', Senpai!" Tobi sighed. "What a hothead! No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend. Or… are you his girlfriend?"

"Oh, no, we're not like that." I looked him in the eye or rather at the black hole where his eye was supposed to be. What a weird mask. Why did it only have a hole for one eye? And why was he wearing a mask in the first place? People wearing masks were not very trustworthy and that was a long proven fact.

"So… " Tobi attempted to break the ice. "How did you enjoy your time with Senpai? Is he also a meanie to you?"

His voice was cheerful and high-pitched but something about it put me off. I could tell that he was a carefree and childish person but other than that I could not distinguish anything in his tone, no determination or particular ambition for anything. I don't know if he has one or if it was masked, just like his face.

"It was alright." I mused, not wanting to indulge too much information. "You guys seem more intimate than I imagined."

"Of course, Senpai was my first love. He was so excited to leave me for you! Such a heartbreaker!"

"Tobi, I can hear you, hm!" Deidara snarled as he returned.

"Woah, you already defeated all the lookouts! You are awesome Senpai! But not as awesome as me! I found it so you owe me!"

"Don't get so big-headed, hm! Sure, you found it but we still need to catch it." He crossed his arms. "But you're right, I do owe you one. What do you want?"

"I want to have our wedding in a bug garden!"

Deidara's face grew sinister, which scared Tobi, or that's the impression I got; it was impossible to tell Tobi's expression aside from his bizarre body language.

"I was just kidding Senpai! All I want is free dangos..."

"I change my mind, hm. Your info wasn't even accurate! You said there were forces from the leaf fighting over the three-tails, but there were only Anbu!"

"Really? That's weird. But at least you know now where it is thanks to me!"

"Whatever. Let's go Anjira, hm!" He beckoned me to get on his bird.

We flew over the great lake with Tobi following as he ran below us on the water.

"The lake's pretty big. It would be faster to make it come out by itself, hm. Tobi would make a great fishing bait."

"I'll lure it out." I announced before jumping down to the water.

"Oi, you just had a surgery; take it easy, hm!"

"So did you."

"Be careful, the fog can cause hallucinations."

"Yeah."

I strung my guitar, playing my music loud enough so that the vibrations would reach deep underwater.

Not even ten second passed when I heard a low, very loud growl and as I looked at the water, I could see a gigantic shadow emerging towards the surface. Whatever lived there must not like this sudden noisy disturbance.

"Anjira, it's coming! Get back, hm!"

I jumped up and as soon as my feet landed on the clay bird, a colossal armored turtle surfaced, causing water to splash everywhere. It was so enormous that could devour me in one bite. The bird was on the same elevation as its face so I could stare directly into its giant red eye.

"Holy shit, it's huge! So this is what a tailed-beast looks like?"

"Pretty much, hm." Deidara answered, very relaxed in this situation.

"Well, Senpai, this is your assignment so I will just leave it to you guys-"

"Hey Tobi, I think it's about time you prove your place here in the Akatsuki so I'll leave the rest to you, hm." Deidara flew us out of the three-tails reach, leaving Tobi behind.

"What?! Senpai, this is not even my mission!"

The beast raised its tail to hit Tobi..

"Are you sure about this? He might get killed."

"He won't die, hm." Deidara said confidently.

"Deidara-Senpai, you are the most evil person ever! I will tell Leader about this!" Tobi cried, running away from the beast as it chased him and gradually caught up to drag him underwater. I know that he annoys Deidara quite a lot but this kind of punishment was just brutal.

"Deidara… Would you test me like that too?" I shot him a questionable look.

"Of course not!" He patted my head. "Unless you did something really bad, hm."

I could still see the figure of the three-tails underwater and it didn't look like Tobi was coming back up anytime soon.

"Do you think he's..."

"He's hopeless as ever..." He muttered after making a loud exasperated sigh. He then proceeded to create a clay fish and threw it to the water, making it swim towards the three-tails.

"Katsu!"

Tobi was sent flying in the air, proceeded by the three-tails floating on its back, not moving. My mouth went agape. That was impressive!

"Did you just defeat that with a single bomb?"

His eye twinkled and grinned widely as he threw his hair back.

"Yes, I did."

"Remind me not to piss you off." Just as I said this, Tobi jumped on the belly of the three-tails and triumphantly shot his fists in the air.

"Oh yeah! I single handedly defeated the three-tails! Bet you didn't see that coming, Senpai!"

"Don't get so carried away and forget I saved your life, hm!" The blonde glared at Tobi.

The scolding continued as we tied the three-tails to Deidara's birds. The two were actually really funny together and I tried my best not to laugh at them. Deidara ordered Tobi to make sure the three-tails doesn't suddenly wake up and sat down on the bird beside me.

"Say, about Tobi… Why is he wearing a mask?"

"Beats me. He's probably really ugly, hm."

"Senpai, I can hear you! Actually I'm wearing a mask because I'm so handsome and I can't have girls follow me around all the time. I mean, I don't mind but you know, Senpai might get jealous."

"Right." Deidara rolled his eye.

I chuckled and looked and the sun setting, feeling uplifted.

"What are you smiling for?"

"Nothing, I'm still amazed that you defeated the three-tails so easily."

"It's not a big deal. It was weak because it didn't have a host."

"Are you saying that Jinchuurikis are stronger?"

"Yeah, having a human mind control that kind of power gives them tactical advantage. Thinking about it, there are only three more tailed beasts left. We're almost there, hm!" He smirked and showed off his hand. "I hope we get assigned to the nine-tails. I've got unfinished business with Naruto, hm." He continued.

"That's the nine-tails?"

"Yeah, he's a very powerful Jinchuuriki, hm."

Seemed like from this point forward we would have to look for people, which should be easier than finding a lone beast hiding somewhere in the wild. It was quite satisfying to catch one although I didn't really contribute that much to the capture of this one. It was mostly Deidara's work. Though, I still couldn't help but dread for sealing process, it was just so exhausting!

We eventually reached the Akatsuki base late at night and miraculously, the three tails remained unconscious the whole time.

"You guys are gonna leave me out of the party after I almost died?" Tobi moaned, frantically waving his arms around.

"Stay here and play bodyguard or something. I don't know, hm."

"I'll still tell leader that I'm the one who defeated the three-tails!"

"Yeah, yeah."

The boulder closed behind us and we jumped to our designated places before the rest of the Akatsuki joined us as holograms.

"Took you long enough." Leader commented as he stared at the three-tails.

"Well, if we had known it was a turtle, we would have found it sooner, hm."

"And how goes Anjira's condition?"

"I waited for you bastards and paid the surgeon in advance. You never showed up! You pay me back, you hear?" Kakuzu grouched.

"It was an emergency. But she'll still need new lungs among other things. We'll be there after we seal the three-tails, hm."

"I see." Pain approved. "Did that hospital have spare organs?"

"Yeah, they did."

He really wasn't planning to have himself fixed, was he? Well, there was no way I would let him live incomplete because of me. I know that he will get mad at me for that, I know it might damage his reputation, hell, it would even raise some suspicions. But I don't care! I want him to be healthy and achieve his artistic ambitions without complications!

"Deidara needs a new kidney as well." I felt all eyes on me.

"What for?"

"Anjira, no!" My partner yelled but I went on.

"They did not have any spares."

There was a soft murmur and I assumed they were already suspecting something. Afterall, it was a really big sacrifice, especially since we haven't even been partnered for that long., and I doubt other members would go that far for their partners.

"Are you guys together already or something? You're closer than I thought." I heard Hidan say.

"No, we're not, hm!" Deidara was glaring daggers at me.

"Eh, what the hell. Deidara donates a kidney to his partner but you can't even give me one of your five hearts, you greedy bastard!" Hidan nagged his partner.

"You don't need one. Now shut up or I'll rip your heart out and shove it down your throat."

"That's enough!" Leader's voice killed all murmurs and squabbles. "Very well, I expect that all procedures will be done as soon as possible so you can be ready to hunt the next target. And in the meantime, Itachi and Kisame, I expect the four-tails to be brought here within this week. We've wasted enough time already. Let us commence the sealing of the three-tails."

All of us channeled our chakra but I could still feel Deidara's wrath. I don't care, this was for his sake.

After three days and three nights of nothing but concentration, the sealing was finally done.

"It is finished. Good job everyone. Until next time." The leader's hologram dispersed and so did the others until the only people left inside the cave were Deidara and I.

"What the hell were you thinking! Now everyone believes we're dating or something!"

"Is it really that awful to be dating me?"

"Wha-what! I don't even know if that's allowed in the first place!"

"I don't give a damn about what they think. You know it's for your own sake. Come on, let's go meet up with Kakuzu."

"I don't want to be cut open again!"

"I've been cut open countless times. You'll be fine."

"I'm not like you, hm!"

"Come on." I gestured my hand at him. "I can't have you suffering while we travel."

"I'm not suffering... " He took my hand. I didn't not expect that. "Whatever, let's get it over with, hm!"

The warmth of his hand was comforting and the feeling of the lips on his palms was funny but I did not pull away.

I was glad he saw my point. Now all that was left was to catch the remaining beasts so that we could be free to go wherever we wanted.