Kakashi was deep in thought. After telling him what Suigetsu had told me, he had remained silent. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and grim.

"Of all times to go without a Hokage. Even the elders would lend some support in a time like this…At least with them finding a new hokage would be easier."

"Yea, it's a pretty bad situation." Wow, that sounded stupid. I really didn't have much thought on the matter.

"Yea…" Kakashi trailed off, lost in thought again. "Well you can go now; I need to consult with some people."

I nodded and watched Kakashi leave. I considered going back in to Suigetsu, but decided to go home instead. Konan would want to know what all this had been about anyways.

…

I had previously been used to seeing Deidara yelling or causing some sort of commotion in another way…always centered around him, of course. He demanded the limelight, but you would never guess this watching him now. He was sitting, silent, eyes half lidded, and staring intently into the grain of the table…or at least that is how it looked. I sat across from him, staring into his face. Or maybe by being this abnormal, he knew it would draw my attention and therefore he would still be getting all eyes on him. That must be it.

I snorted and closed my eyes in my own amusement, to think I thought he may be unpredictable even for a second. I just needed to think about it.

"What?"

I opened my eyes; he was looking at me now.

"I was just thinking."

"About?"

"You."

He was silent. I thought about what I said and realized how many ways it could be taken.

"And you laughed?"

I sighed. "No, that's not what I meant."

"What the hell else does it mean?"

"Never mind." I stood up…wow I just jinxed myself. Now I'm going to get the screaming, melodramatic Deidara.

"Why do you do that? You think you are just so much better than everyone, it's so damn annoying!" He slammed his fist on the table.

"No, Deidara, I do not."

"Then what the hell do you call it, huh?"

Damn it, I regret saying anything. I walked into the kitchen and started getting a glass of water.

"ANSWER ME!"

"Deidara, go away! You are such a child!" I turned around, setting the glass on the counter hard. "Yes I laughed. I laughed because you are so damn palpable. You whine and whine and complain and stamp you foot when things don't go your way and when they do; it still isn't good enough for you! Just grow up. The world isn't yours to dangle from your little finger; there are a million things more important than you. To everyone, to me…EVERYTHING is more important to me!" I don't know if it was just the sudden act of yelling but I felt dizzy and nauseous. Slowly I sat down on the ground and tried settling down.

"You're a fucking asshole."

I heard Deidara leave. I vomited a second later, the metallic taste of blood rising up my nasal. I closed my eyes and held my sides. I was so tired…I know I am not going to have much longer to put things in order.

"Itachi, are you okay?"

I looked up, "Kisame?"

"Yea, I was about to knock and tell you that Kakashi wants you to come see him…I ran into Deidara as he was on his way out. He said that I better come inside."

"Yea…I made him mad."

"I better get you into the hospital…this hasn't been happening very much has it?"

"No, the stuff they gave me helps."

Kisame helped me to my feet and we walked out of the apartment. As we headed to the hospital, I looked down the road for Deidara.

…

I had not been in my own apartment for such a long time. I had almost forgotten where it was, but now I was inside. I was furious. Itachi was so infuriating; I don't know why I am so drawn to him when I despise him so much…apparently not as much as he hates me.

I sat on my own bed, glaring at the wall.

"DEIDARA-SENPAI!"

I spun around, standing as I did so. "T-Tobi? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"I miss my senpai," his voice was pouty. Tobi stood casually against the wall on the other side of the bed.

"What the hell do you mean? You tried to kill me!" I suddenly remembered the change in him that day, it was… unsettling. All of a sudden I really just wanted to leave. "Tobi, go away or I will have to punish you."

"But, senpai! I just want you to come back…we need you. I was just following orders because you were not meant to leave! We NEED you back!"

"What do you mean?"
"We need you to come back; we cannot do this without you!"

"Do what?"

"I cannot tell you now; Nagato-sama said I was not to say!" Tobi whined and scuffed his toe on the floor.

They needed me? Well, things had become less than desirable here. I wouldn't mind seeing some action again. "Nagato sent you?"
"Yes, yes, yes! He was going to find me a new partner, but I asked him if I could try to get my Deidara back…he agreed that would be better and sent me to find you. He told me you would be in the Leaf Village, and I found you!" Abruptly, Tobi jumped on and over the bed, his arms spread to embrace me but I would not have it.

"Tobi don't touch me!" I sidestepped him easily. "Tobi…"

"Please come back! I can wait for you to get ready! You should wait until night to leave…they will be less likely to give us trouble."

I paused for the effect of thinking, but I had already made up my mind. "Yea, okay. Tobi, directly across from here is a small river, across from that are woods."

"Yes! I came thought those!"

"Yea okay, just go there and wait for me…I'll be there at around eight."

"Great! I will wait there for you Deidara-senpai!" Tobi exited out an open window, most likely where he came in.

I sighed and sat back down. I really wasn't looking foreword to more of Tobi, but this was a better option than staying in Konoha.

…

I stopped. Suigetsu had just walked out of the door directly in front of us. He stopped and we just stared at each other.

"Hi Kisame-senpai!" he broke the silence with w toothy smile. "I haven't seen very much of you!"

"Yea, glad to see you are doing better, kid."

"Hm," he closed his eyes and smiled. When his eyes opened, Suigetsu was looking right at me. "Itachi-san, I was actually just wanting to have a word with you…now would be perfect if you are not too busy?"

"Sure…Kisame, I'll come by later."

"Yea, I'll see you later."

Kisame left, the second he did so Suigetsu's fallacious smile disappeared. His eyes were grave, staring unblinkingly into my own.

"What did you need to say?"

He continued to stare at me. Just when I thought he would never move, he turned and started walking down the hall. Without a word I followed Suigetsu.

It had something to do with my brother, of that I am certain. We continued to walk past any streets where people were still out attending last minute errands by the fading light. It took longer than it should for me to realize where he was headed.

When we walked through the gates, the yellow tape long since fallen to the ground, I closed my eyes. I followed the sound of his feet on the unused street, past the houses of near and distant relatives…all long since dead. When he finally stopped I waited for him to speak before opening my eyes.

"Your brother…Sasuke…you loved him?" Suigetsu stood with his back to me.

"Yes," we were standing on a small wooden landing at the edge of a lake. I was glad Suigetsu was finally referring to Sasuke in the past tense.

"And you want to get revenge, don't you?"

I sighed, "Suigetsu…Sasuke was my world. Everything I ever did since the day he was born was to protect him. But all of my efforts only led to his demise…to seek revenge would be upon myself."

He turned to glare at me. "I meant on Orochimaru…for what he did to him."

"Sasuke was an idiot. Everything Orochimaru did was only made possible by Sasuke."

He was silent; this was probably the last thing Suigetsu would have wanted to hear.

"Suigetsu…revenge is not what needs to be focused on. But I do agree, without Orochimaru this world would be closer to the place I would have wanted my brother to live in."

Suigetsu turned away again, "So you do want him dead as well?"

"Yes."

"I know Konoha has been trying to be rid of him for years…I think it's about time something was REALLY done."

"Yes, there are current actions being made to take him and the remainder of the Akatsuki out. It is what they need our assistance for."

"Yes, but I want to make sure it gets done…I have an idea." He turned to me again, his violet eyes sincere and somber. "Itachi, I am going to need your help…I am sure this is going to work. Since I awoke here, this is all I could do…create this plan."

"What do you have in mind?"

After I left Suigetsu, he said he was going to stay with Zabuza, I walked along the river. It was dark and I was enjoying the cool breeze on my skin. Some people would think it is too chilly, but it suits me just fine.

Something catches my attention out of my peripheral. I almost don't turn but something makes me do so.

The figure was walking swiftly into the woods, his blonde hair catching the early moonlight.

"Deidara?"