Walking into the Akatsuki family's office sent butterflies swirling inside Deidara's stomach. He carefully regulated his breathing and put on a bored front. He learned early in his life that people like the Akatsukis were sharks. When they smelled any weakness, they honed in on it and used it to eviscerate the victims. They squeezed every drop of life out of their victims and their men.

To distract himself from such dark thoughts, he checked Emiliana out discreetly. How did that woman get kidnapped, sleep in a shitty bed handcuffed to him, and still look like she walked off the runway? Even her hair was fucking perfect. She looked like those women who spent hours to create the perfect tousled look. Needless to say, she still looked bomb, even in her wrinkled suit. She pissed him off, which cleared his head; he needed his thoughts to be clear when dealing with these gangsters.

In Pein's office, Deidara was outraged. "What do you mean I gotta babysit this brat?!" Deidara stood up indignantly but Pein stopped him cold. "Remember who you the money is for."

Remember who the money is for. Deidara's lips screwed tightly in outrage at the threat.

"Fine then, I want a grand a day."

Pein gestured his hand in compliance. "Done. Also, if you retrieve the 5 million, it's yours, as long as the lovely Dr. Einaudi is unharmed."

Emmie looked astonished and a bit concerned. She was right to be worried, Deidara thought. These pricks always had another agenda.

"Why charge me with getting my brother's innocence and why pay this guy," she jerked a thumb at him. "Well because you two have the most to gain, thus you would work the hardest together." Pein said nonchalantly. He leaned back in his leather chair and gestured to Konan. "Two weeks, that's all I'm giving you. Mr. Iwakure, your advance." Konan slipped a wrapped package into Deidara's hands. The meeting obviously over, the guards led Deidara and Emmie out.

Deidara drove back to the apartment in stony silence giving Emiliana the opportunity to review her options which were admittedly none. She didn't even know her brother was involved with the mob or the people who worked for him; she didn't even know where to start. Emmie slumped in the cheap seat and looked out of the window forlorn. She wasn't a quitter but right now she didn't have any idea where to start.

Deidara looked at her askance, "You're not quitting on me now are you?"

"Shut up, no I'm not. I'm thinking about how I'm going to approach this."

He nodded sagely, "So Emmie, do you have a plan?"

"No," she admitted, "And don't call me Emmie!"

Deidara pulled into the sketchy parking lot and parked. Disembarking, Emmie side stepped a gooey condom in disgust. Deidara laughed rudely, "So why don't you wanna called Emmie, princess? Not respectful enough?"

"Emmie is a nickname among my friends. You calling me that implies that we are friends. We are assuredly not friends! Don't call me princess either!" Emmie drew back her shoulders and marched into the building. "You're such a princess," Deidara remarked as he watched her step carefully over litter and cigarette butts. "Only princesses use assuredly in a sentence." She stared at him balefully and led the way into the elevator.

Deidara looked at Emmie who was biting her lip, clearly deep in thought. He cleared his throat which earned him a gimlet stare. "Don't give me that look," he muttered and walked out the elevator. "I have a plan." Emmie looked at him abruptly giving him her full attention. Deidara unlocked the door and walked in, shedding his jacket on the way. "So there's a real small chance that your brother is innocent but we're not gonna get any answers asking the higher ups. We need some evidence before accusing people." Emmie sat on the bed, pulling her knees up to her chin. Nodding she replied, "Yeah, I don't know who works for my brother let alone who's with the mob."

Deidara plopped down beside her and took his hair out of the bun he had it in. Cradling his head in his hands, he looked up at the ceiling. "Alright Emmie," He started, ignoring Emmies' sour stare, "We're going to hit up Frission and start asking if those nerds are buying anything. We find the dealer then ask him about the supplier." He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. "What are you doing? Let's go now!" She shook him until he swatted her hands away.

"Chill princess priss, it's a night club. No one goes out until midnight. Let me sleep first, I couldn't sleep at all last night with you snoring." Outraged, she kicked him in the side. "I so do not snore! You're the one who keeps touching me!"

Deidara rolled away from her, "You bimbo, we were cuffed together! Where are you goin'?" Emmie had stood and was headed towards the door. "I'm getting my stuff so I can shower. Or do I need permission?" She demanded. "Whatever, go shower. You reek." He smirked knowing full well how mad that would make her. The bathroom door slammed behind her told him that his dart hit home.

After a while, Deidara felt the bed dip as Emmie slid into the covers. He sat up and headed towards the shower. Thankfully she hadn't gotten water everywhere and neatly hung up her wet towel. In the shower, he thought about what they needed to do, first he needed to get her clubbing gear and most importantly a gun. He needed to get in touch with his contacts. Finished, he blow dried his long blond hair and eyed Emiliano's hair brush. Nah, she's be pissed as hell if she found 1 strand of blond amongst the black and he really didn't need to deal with another fight.

Heading back to the bed, he yanked the covers back from Emmie and went to sleep. Deidara woke up feeling hungry and blinking groggily he opened his eyes to the sight of Emmie snoring quietly in his face. Oh great, more ammo, Deidara thought with glee and reaching for his phone to tape her, he realized that his hand was resting on her arm. In shock he rolled away but rolled too far and landed his ass on the cheap carpeting. He wasn't holding her, technically. His hand just happened to be on her arm he denied vigorously. "What's happening, are you ok?" she murmured, half asleep.

Deidara was slightly touched that Emmie was being nice but that was quashed when she laughed, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Deidara shook his head to clear it and noticed her skimpy night clothes. "Nice," he smirked. Emmie tightened her lips and drew the covers up hiding her body. "Shut it. I was planning on a solo vacation, not getting in bed with an illiterate gangster."

Affronted, Deidara stood and loomed over her, "Fuck off, my parents were married." Emmie drew up the covers even higher to hide her smile but her eyes shone with mirth. "Illiterate means you can't read or write." Deidara annoyed ripped the covers off of her, "I knew that. And I can read and write."

Emmie sat up and stretched, Deidara didn't bother averting his eyes, he watched the fabric slide and contour her figure appreciatively. She was annoying as hell but goddamn she was all sorts of hot. "When are we eating? I'm so hungry," she asked. Deidara tied up his hair and replied, "After we go shopping. Get dressed, were heading out now."

At Hidden Mist Consignment shop, Deidara shoved a stubborn Emmie through the door. "Ew I hate consignment shops! They smell weird and other people have worn this stuff!" she tried to dodge and slip around Deidara but he hooked an arm around her. "Keep quiet you brat," he hissed while smiling pleasantly at Haku, the quiet transvestite shop keeper. "Not everyone can drop thousands on a pair of fucking shoes. Now look for some clubbing stuff. Not like you club," He let her go and started picking stuff off of racks glancing at them and either putting them back or thrusting them at Emmie.

"You don't know me! I'm not wearing this! This is just string! String and polyester!" Emmie held a slip of fabric between 2 elegant fingers. Deidara stared at her outfit critically and continued shoving them into her unwilling arms. "You need to wear sexier stuff."

"Oh is this a challenge? It's on, you choose something and I will. I bet my choice is going to be sexier," Emmie cocked her hip. Deidara stared at her calculatingly, "Fine. Winner gets first dibs on the shower." "Done."

15 minutes Deidara was done and was currently sitting in the 'husband' chair where other hapless men sat waiting for their spouses to finish shopping. "Let's goooooooo," he whined. "It's only been 15 minutes," Emmie exclaimed, browsing through the aisle. "Hey, I think is an authentic Gucci! It's got tags and everything!" She whipped around accusingly, "Are we buying shoplifted goods?!" Deidara shrugged, "It's not like it's hurting Gucci anything." Emmie tilted her head in thought. Finally she exclaimed satisfied, snatching something off the rack.

"Finally, just these Haku." Deidara slid their stuff across the counter. "It's on the house, Dei," Haku said softly. "No, how much do I owe you?" Deidara insisted. "It's what you've done for my husband, we can't thank you enough," Haku smiled gently, ringing up their purchases and folding the items neatly. "See you, man. Uh Haku. Uh sorry." Deidara stuttered, grabbing the bag. He watched approvingly as Emmie slipped a 20 into the tip jar.

Emmie looked at him inquisitively. "It's nothing, his er, her husband was falsely accused of something and I proved him innocent." Deidara shook his head, "It's ancient history, now get in the car."