I finished the second chapter. YAY! Okay, so I've decided not to change the title, because as one of my friends pointed out, it could be interpreted two ways. I could be 'partners' as in associates, or it could be 'partners' as in lovers; thus, the title shall be staying. Also, the rating may change; it's not too graphic now, but I intend for it to be... and my terrible language is seeping into the story --;

Lastly, I would like to thanks those who reveiwed; I love you all! XOXOXOXOX

thoughts

carnivore Zetsutalking

Now to the story...

Partners

Chapter Two

Deidara spent over an hour showing Hidan every room in the Akitsuki headquarters: the kitchen, the bathrooms, and where everyone's bedrooms were.

"And this is your room, un," Deidara said, opening a black door at the end of what seemed to be the millionth hall they had gone down that day.

"It looks like Leader-sama already sent your things here," Deidara commented. "That was nice of him, un!"

Hidan just nodded and looked around the room. The walls were a light grey and there were no windows; the only furniture was a black dresser, a small black desk with a matching chair, and a bed with dark grey bedding.

Cheery, thought Hidan.

Hidan walked over to his belongings and began to unpack his clothing onto the dresser when he noticed a large, black leather bound book lying on the floor. The book had the same symbol on the cover as the one on his pendant.

Oh, hell no!

"WHY THE FUCK IS MY BIBLE ON THE FLOOR?!?" Hidan screamed, picking up the book and dusting it off. "How could someone just drop this so carelessly on the dirty floor? I mean, honestly, would you just drop an expensive vase on the ground? No!"

"Yeah! You should never disrespect art that way! Un!"

"Exactly! It makes me so mad! I could just kill someone right now. Seriously!" Hidan swore for several minutes before kissing the book and whispering: "Forgive this mistake,

Jashin-sama."

When Hidan finished speaking, he was red in the face and breathing heavily.

"That was one passionate speech, un," said Deidara. "Ya know what? I like you. I think we'll be good friends, un."

"Thanks," Hidan said, calming down. "I think so, too."

After a light lunch consisting of stir-fry and miso soup, Deidara and Hidan sat down in the common room and told each other about themselves and the things they enjoyed. Hidan summarized the beliefs of his religion, Jashin, while Deidara, in turn, told Hidan about his love of art. After an hour or so of that conversation, Deidara started telling Hidan more about the other Akitsuki members.

"Okay," he began, "so Zetsu has two personalities, un. One of 'em is the shy human side; the other's the carnivore. It can get weird talking to him sometimes, un. Ya never can tell who yer talkin' to." He laughed, and Hidan joined him.

"And then you have my partner, Sasori; he has hundreds of battle-puppets, an' all of 'em were made from actual people, un. He takes extremely good care of all of 'em. And guess what; he even made some of himself mechanical. Isn't that cool, un?"

"Yes, it's very impressive," answered Hidan; the respect he held for Sasori's accomplishments was obvious in his voice.

"Yeah, but the greatest thing about him si that he loves me more than anything he'll ever make, un!"

"You're together?" Hidan, asked, arching a pale eyebrow.

"Oh, yes; it'll be three years next month, actually. Why? That doesn't bother ya, does it, un?" Nervousness crept into his voice and he lowered his head slightly.

"No, no! Not at all! I didn't mean to give the impression that I was bothered by it," Hidan reassured quickly. "You just caught me a bit off guard, that all. So, you've been together for a long time?"

"Yes," Deidara said, a contented smile gracing his slightly feminine features, "and I'm so glad this doesn't bother you; I wouldn't want to lose a friend so soon because of something like this, un."

Hidan smiled, pleased that he was considered a friend by Deidara.

"So," he said, "how'd it happen?"

"What, un?"

"You know; how'd you end up together?"

"Ohhh." Deidara blushed, embarrassed that by his moment of obliviousness. "Well, we had been working together for two years, and I was already so much in love with him, un! He always told me I was too loud, but he was never really mean about it. Sasori was so sweet, too; he'd always take such good care of me if I got hurt or was sick.

"So one day, after a mission, he was healing me; I'd gotten a slash to my hip. It was a deep cut; hurt like a bitch. Un! He was so careful when he was cleanin' up the wound and bandagin' it; I decided to tell him how I felt, 'cause it was obvious by his carefulness that he cared for me in some way. So I said to him: 'Sasori, I wanted you ta know that I love you.' An' he just blushed redder than my blood, un! Then he hugged me, an' I knew that he felt the same. I was so happy, un! I love 'im so, sooo much!"

Hidan smiled; the sweet story had sent a gentle warmth throughout his body.

"I'm rather envious, you know," he said jokingly.

"I know, un," Deidara replied; his eyes were slightly hazy, and a silly grin that only love could bring about was plastered on his face. "But it hasn't gotten very physical, ya know? Sasori's almost as shy as Zetsu. It's just the cutest thing, un!"

"I can't wait to meet him," Hidan said, laughing at Deidara's comment.

"Uh-huh. I think you two'd get along really well, un."

"Anyway," Hidan said, bringing their conversation to another topic, "What about the others?"

"Well, Itachi and Kisame are partners, like I told you, un, and they–"

The main doors slammed open, and a black blur came flying through the air and landed between the two men. Hidan picked up the object and found it to be a cloak matching Deidara's, with the Akitsuki's signature crimson clouds decorating the bottom half.

"Oh," said Deidara, unaffected by the loud noise and projectile. "That would be them now, un."

Both Deidara and Hidan turned to the doorway to see a large figure with blue hair pushing another, smaller figure against the now closed door. The smaller figure's arms were draped around the large figure's neck, on leg wrapped around a thick thigh. The fact that they were kissing was incredibly obvious, but neither seemed to care.

"Hello Itachi, Kisame!" Deidara called out.

One of the tanned hands lifted from around the broad shoulders in a small wave. The larger man raised a large blue-ish hand and flipped Deidara the birdie. From the man's actions towards Deidara, Hidan was able to conclude that this was Kisame, which meant the smaller figure was Itachi.

From a hall to the left of the couch Hidan and Deidara occupied, Kakuzu entered the common room, snorting in ill-concealed disgust.

"They're back," he grumbled. "Goody."

As Kakuzu turned to leave, a pair of black pants landed on his shoulder.

"Itachi!" he bellowed, his gravely voice echoing throughout the common room. "Keep your pants on, you slut!"

Hidan looked between Kakuzu and the couple at the door. Deidara tried to muffle his growing laughter behind his hand.

Kisame broke the kiss with Itachi and turned his head towards Kakuzu; a thin line of saliva still connected his lips to Itachi's.

"Watch what you say, ass-wipe!" he yelled.

"Oh, just shut up, you stupid shark," Kakuzu retorted.

"Ha! A fight! There will be much bloodshed."

Hidan jumped and turned to face the owner of the voice behind him, seeing Zetsu standing there with a crazed grin on his face.

After this exclamation, the situation became too much for Deidara, and he burst into

full-out laughter, falling to his knees and clutching his shaking abdomen and shoulders.

Both Kisame and Kakuzu turned towards Deidara's quivering form and glared.

"You little freak!" Kisame screamed, taking a step towards him.

Kakuzu followed suit, and they advanced on Deidara, who was still kneeling on the floor laughing.

Suddenly, two thick wires coiled around Kakuzu and Kisame's waists.

"Don't you even think of laying a finger on him," said a menacing voice from behind them.

Deidara's head shot up, eyes wide and sparkling, tears of laughter still trickling down from the corners of his eyes.

"Sasori, un! I'm glad you could get back so early!"

A figure with messy auburn hair and pale skin stepped out from behind the two struggling and restrained men, loosening the coils keeping them captive, but not releasing them completely. His lips were curved up in a tiny smile, and his sea-green eyes showed love and caring.

"Hello, Deidara," he replied.

Deidara bounced over to him, delivering a small kiss to the corner of his mouth; Sasori's cheeks were now dusted with a light blush. Deidara pulled his head back and skipped over to Hidan, linking their arms and pulling him back over to Sasori.

"I have someone to introduce you to, un," Deidara said excitedly. "This si Hidan; he's Kakuzu's new partner, un! I think you two are gonna get along real well, un!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Sasori," Hidan said politely. "Deidara has told me a lot about you."

"The same to you, Hidan," Sasori replied.

Itachi walked over to the group, his long black hair flowing behind him, and held out his hand in front of Hidan.

"Uchiha Itachi; nice to meet you," he said.

Hidan took his hand and shook it, smiling awkwardly, aware of Itachi's state of undress.

"HEY!"

The exclamation brought everyone's attention to Kisame, was still trapped by Sasori's wire bindings; Kakuzu had also yet to be freed. Sasori gave them a wary look, and then released them with an exaggerated sigh, retracting the wires back under his cloak and into his mechanical body.

"Oh," Deidara said, distracting everyone from the tension between the three men, "I have a great idea, un! We should have a welcome dinner for our newest member!"

"You can, but I'm going to my room. You're all giving me a terribly headache," mumbled Kakuzu, rubbing his temples.

"What? He's your new partner! How can you just–" Deidara cut himself off. "Hmph!"

He reached into his cloak and pulled a small clump of clay out of one of he inner pockets. He held the clay over the mouth on one of his hands and looked around at the group, daring any of them to disagree with him.

"Fine," Kakuzu said after a moment, defeated. "We'll have your stupid dinner, but there are to be now bird-bombs."

Deidara pouted at being talked to like a child, but then he smiled triumphantly and led the group towards the kitchen– Itachi had to stop to get his pants before running to catch up with the rest of the group. There were no further arguments.

There you go; chapter two is finished!

I can't guarantee that the coming chapters will be so long and posted so soon, but I'll try.

Oh, and I'm not sure how far I should skip ahead to in chapter three; I want to start the chapter on Hidan's and Kakuzu's first mission together, but I'm not sure if that should be a few days or a few weeks farther into the story. I'm also not sure how close to their deaths I should end the story. If y'all could give me some feedback on the situation, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for sticking with the story!