Alright. I think I've started a little habit; I always seem to post two chapters at a time... hm. Anyway, I'm on the ninth chapter now, and it's going to be the second to last chapter. Yes, I'm only doing ten, but I'm posting ten at the same time as this; I was going to do more, but when I finished ten I said 'hey, going farther with this could ruin it'.

"talking"

thoughts

(( notes))

Let's begin.

Partners

Chapter Nine

Hidan and Deidara spent a few hours talking and laughing before Deidara left to go sleep in the room he shared with Sasori.

Deidara's so lucky, Hidan thought as he prepared for bed. Oh, great! Here comes the jealousy again... Jashin, I wish I had someone to share a bed with. Kakuzu, what are youdoing to me? I've never felt this way before; it's like the new emotions are hitting me like a bunch of over-sized kunai. Wow... there's an interesting simile.

He buried himself in his blankets.

I'm too tired for this. I should just sleep.

?????

Hidan woke early the next morning. Turning to look at the alarm clock on his night stand, he let out a tired groan. The numbers on the screen flashed bright and red: 7:11.

He rolled back over and covered his head with his pillow. He quickly began to drift back into a state of unconsciousness.

Just as he was about to fall back asleep, Hidan heard a loud, almost urgent, banging at his bedroom door. He jumped.

Hidan rolled out of bed and trudged over to the door, opening it after having minor difficulty with the handle.

If not for his reflexes, Hidan would have been hit directly on the nose by Deidara's fist as he continued to try and knock at the now-open door.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, un! You opened the door before I could stop," Deidara said.

Hidan grunted and gave Deidara a sleepy look, asking the reason for his early morning visit.

"Hidan! Hidan!" Deidara squealed, shaking with excitement. " Itachi and Kisame are back, un! I looked out my window, and they were only about a quarter of a mile away! Let's go meet them, un!"

"I thought they'd only been gone a couple days," Hidan said, bewildered by his friend's enthusiasm.

"I know, but I missed them so much, un!"

Hidan just nodded.

"C'mon, then. Let's go, un!" Deidara said, grabbing Hidan's wrist tightly and dragging him out into the hall.

As they set a fast walking pace towards the entrance, Hidan managed to pull his arm free of Deidara's vice like grip.

Turning a corner too quickly, Hidan slammed into someone coming from the opposite way, sending them both down to the floor.

The fist thing Hidan noticed after coming out of his slight daze was his position; his legs were tangled around the other person's thighs, and one arm rested next to their head while the other was trapped between their chests. The second thing he noticed was that he wasn't wearing a shirt, clad only in his loose sleeping pants, which seemed to have fallen lower than they already were during the fall. The last thing he noticed was that he was sprawled out on the man who had plagued his thoughts so often in recent weeks.

Looking up and catching Kakuzu's gaze, Hidan's blush matched his eyes. A Hidan looked into Kakuzu's yellow and black eyes, he began to find it increasingly difficult to look a way. Without being aware of his actions, he began to lean farther on to Kakuzu.

Everyone stayed still for a few moments, and Deidara began giggling and cooing at the pair.

The silence was broken by a familiar monotone.

"On the hallway floor, Hidan? I thought you had more decency."

The three looked up to see Itachi standing over the fallen pair, one slender eyebrow raised high in question.

Hidan's blush darkened.

"It's not what it looks like, perv," Kakuzu retorted, glaring at Itachi.

"Fine, fine," Itachi replied, waving one hand dismissively. "But if you want your argument to be more convincing, you should probably get up."

Hidan immediately jumped up and away from Kakuzu, who slowly pulled himself to his feet after the extra weight was removed. Both looked anywhere but at the other.

"Well," Deidara said, clapping his hands together and breaking what was becoming a very awkward silence. "Itachi, you should come hang out, un. We missed you so much, un! Kisame won't mind much, will he?"

"No, he just went to lie down. I have no idea what could have made him so tired," Itachi replied, reaching around and massaging his lower back.((1))

"Alright, then. Let's go. We can talk in my room," Hidan said quickly, eager to put distance between himself and his partner.

The three walked back to Hidan's room and sat on his bed.

"Did Deidara tell you about his anniversary?" Hidan asked Itachi.

"Yes, he did," he replied.

"Oh!" Deidara exclaimed. "I have new news, un. I have new news!"

"What is it?" Itachi asked, looking at Deidara expectantly.

"Well, it's not really my news, un," Deidara said.

Hidan groaned, knowing what was about to be said. However, he did not do anything to stop Deidara form continuing; he knew that it was inevitable that Itachi would find out eventually.

"Okay, here it is," Deidara started, pausing in a obvious attempt to build suspense. "Okay, un." Another long pause and a deep breath. "Hidan likes Kakuzu!"

Itachi looked between Deidara and the now-blushing Hidan. After a moment, he let out a small laugh, as if to say that that had been the most obvious thing in the world.

((1)) Those who don't get this should just go away now.

Only one more chapter to go!