Yo, sorry for the relatively late update, I was at dance camp, and when I got home at night I'd be all sore and not want to move…well anyways, here's the fifth chappy. XD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Itachi was in a total cloud: spacing out, not taking notes and even daring to sleep during reading class. Very un-Itachi-like. This left Kisame wondering how his parent-teacher conference went. His dad was really concerned about grades, right?
"So, how'd the conference go last night?" the blue kid asked at lunch that day.
Itach played around with his mashed potatoes. "Good," he said in a tired tone.
Knowing that Itachi's response was the default answer for most kids, he asked again. "Could you elaborate on that?"
The black-haired boy pushed his lunch tray aside and slammed his head onto the table. "No, but I'm in deep trouble. Apparently, my math grades aren't up to par-"
"And your dad went nuts," Kisame finished.
"Yeah, and he made me stay up twice as long as normal lost night-"
"WHAT?!" the other boy screamed out.
Itachi lifted his head. "Oh, my dad makes me stay awake to study. Says it builds character or something. Henceforth, he made me stay up later than normal last night to fix up those math tests I didn't do too well on." He blinked. "The daze is a product of that."
Kisame's eyes widened. "So you WEREN'T getting enough sleep a couple of weeks ago! I knew it! You liar," he sneered playfully.
"Call me what you will," the black-haired kid retorted, "but I needed you off my back."
Oh, I know the feeling, the blue-haired guy added to himself.
------
The next day (Friday), Kisame didn't pay much attention to his classes. He was more concerned with Deidara's little plan. Itachi said that his dad didn't want him getting drums. Would he take them back? No, they'd be a gift, and it'd be rude to take back such a thoughtful gift. Right? He hoped so.
Later that day, Kisame was headed for Sasori's house. Good thing Red-Hair gave me his address via email, he thought, otherwise this entire thing'd be a bust. But, now I'm concerned. My email is common knowledge. Good Lord.
Coming up to the house, he noticed that the front lawn was particularly neat and trimmed. Wow, someone's a bit meticulous, he said to himself, knocking on the door.
A short, old woman answered. "What do you want?" her old voice rasped. "Whatever you're selling, I'm not buying it, so-"
"Grandma Chiyo, it's okay," Sasori's unseen voice chimed in. "I invited him over."
"Oh!" she shouted, leaning to Kisame's right and bringing the redhead into the doorway with a hug. "Why, I remember just yesterday-"
"Yeah, Grandma, I remember too," he replied, rolling his eyes.
The old woman pulled away from the embrace. "Oh. Okay, then…" she said, trailing off and returning to whatever it was that she was doing beforehand.
The redhead sighed. "Well, that's Grandma Chiyo for ya," he stated in a stressed voice. "Oh well; come in. Dei's already downstairs."
--
Sasori's basement was bleak, with boxes, fiberglass strips, and wood pieces lying around. "Watch your step," he warned. "There's wood splinters everywhere."
Kisame did as the other boy said. Nothing was worse than having a splinter in your foot. "So…why all the wood lying around in the first place?"
"I'm somewhat of a carpenter," Sasori explained.
The blue-haired boy heard a loud thump from behind him, and he turned around to see Deidara lying on the floor with boxes scattered everywhere. "Danna makes puppets!" he exclaimed after getting back up.
Kisame's eyes grew wide. "You okay?" he asked, worried.
The blond gave two vigorous nods. "Yup, yeah," he said, then walking over to Sasori (who had made his way across the cellar and toward a large pile of even larger boxes). "So, these are the boxes we need to carry?" Deidara asked, as the other kid pushed them into the middle of the floor.
Sasori exhaled dramatically. "Yeah," he replied. "You can see why I need your help."
"Cha," Deidara nodded. "Those things are HUGE, yeah."
Not listening to the other people converse, Kisame decided to take a look around. The exposed concrete floor contributed to the dreariness, and lots of things were covered up…
Lifting up the tarp on top of a particularly rounded-over shape, he yelped when a nightmarish, nonhuman thing fell forward.
The redhead ran over to Kisame. "Oh, you found it!" he purred. "Hiruko! I was wondering where I put you."
The blue-haired kid's pupils dihalated. "What is that thing?!" he demanded to know.
Deidara walked over to the other two. "That's Hiruko," he explained to Kisame. "He's one of the puppets that Danna has made, and that one's his favorite. Don't ask me why; I do not know."
Sasori shouldered one of the puppet's six arms. "I'm going to go put Hiruko away now. You guys start bringing the boxes out onto the front lawn," he said, going up the stairs.
--------
After about 20 minutes, Deidara and Kisame had the entire drum set out onto the grass in front of Sasori's house. Who knew drums were that heavy? Apparently, neither boy did, since they both were panting by that time.
Deidara reached up and stretched, making noises while doing so. His black t-shirt went up along with his arms, and Kisame couldn't help but notice the large red scar snaking its way across the blond's back.
"Dei, what's that?" he asked, pointing to the scar.
The blond lowered his arms and pulled his shirt down. "Nothing," he replied, as Sasori walked out of his house. "And where have you been?" Deidara asked with a glare. "Kisame and I did all the heavy lifting while you were off hiding in your room! What the hell?!"
Sasori's eyes shifted to the ground. "Well, if you would let me explain, I'll tell you," he retorted harshly. "When I went to go put away Hiruko, some toxic stuff spilled, and of course I had to clean it up, otherwise it would've burned a hole in the floor. And then-"
"Stop there," the blond cut in. "I don't care. Let's just get these to Tach's house, yeah?"
The other two boys nodded, lifting a few boxes and following Dei through a short cut (which was, granted, pretty short). What Deidara did next is what REALLY surprised Kisame, though. When the threesome got to Itachi's place, the blond quickly checked to see if anyone was home. After concluding that the house was deserted, he went up to the doorknob of the front door and jiggled it. Hitting it in a few different places, the door eased open automatically.
Kisame stood wide-eyed. "Woah, what did he…"
Sasori sighed. "That's Dei for ya. Full of surprises."
--
A few trips back and forth later, the entire set was inside Itachi's abode. And in this living room say a puzzled Sasori, trying to make sense of the assembly directions.
"Okay, so if Rod A connects with the base, and Screw C holds the cymbal, that means that- wait, no, that's not right…" the redhead said to himself, looking at a white piece of paper that had been folded a few times.
Deidara groaned. "Danna, if you'd've let me put it together in the first place, we'd be done by now, yeah."
Sasori laughed. "Yeah, and the whole thing'd be held together with clay," he replied.
"Hey, it holds, doesn't it? And no, it wouldn't. See, I've already put together the cymbal-thingamawhatsit," he retorted, gesturing to the cymbal he had just put together.
The other boy raised an eyebrow. "Okay, then, prove me wrong. Put this entire drum set together," he challenged slyly.
The blond gave a slight "hmph" and got to work. After about 15 minutes, Deidara had the entire thing put together. "OH! What now, Danna? WHAT NOW?!" he yelled out. "I did it. Ha."
"Yeah, but only after he manipulated you into doing so," Kisame pointed out, crushing the cardboard boxes for the trash (or recycling, whatever have you).
Deidara's face flushed. "Yeah, well…I didn't see you do any assembling! There's no room for you to talk, yeah," he said, sticking his tongue out.
Sasori grinned. "Ah, Deidara-chan," he practically sang, "how fun it is to mess with your head. It's a wonder why you still have your-"
"STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU YAOI PERV!!" Dei cut him off, blushing badly. He turned away from Sasori and pouted. "I'm not THAT easy."
Kisame felt like he was going to throw up. "Okay, keep it to yourselves," he said, pinching in-between his eyebrows. "That's just- keep the images to yourselves, alright?"
"Yeah, Danna," the bond agreed. "Not everyone's as sick and horny as you are."
------
The next day, the trio got to Itachi's house before he got home and took to their hiding place (behind the ridiculously large couch).
"Dei, how long are we going to have to crouch and hide like this? Sasori asked, already sore 10 minutes into hiding.
"Not long," the blond replied, as he heard the doorknob turn. Luckily, Itachi was the first one in the house.
"I don't know why the light's on, Father," the black-haired guy said. "I swear I-"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ITACHI!!" the others yelled out, jumping out from behind the couch.
Itachi was taken aback, needless to say. No one expects to come home to their friends in their house, much less said friends yelling at him about their birthday. Which wasn't for 3 months, he might add.
Deidara's grin grew wider. "And don't forget the present!" he exclaimed, pulling a tarp off the drumset, which was set up off-to-the-side.
The black-haired kid stood in somewhat of a stupor when the gift was revealed. "So, let me get this straight," he started in his signature monotone. "You guys broke into my house and set up a drum set for me as a present, even though my birthday's in June and you could be charged in court. Correct?"
Dei's mood sank immediately. "Well, when you put it that way…and since when is your birthday in June?"
"Since 13 years ago, that's when." Itachi turned away and looked at the instrument. "Wow, I must have some pretty reliable friends, even if they can't remember dates for their lives." He grabbed the drumsticks and sat down at the drums, hesitant.
"Uh, the set is yours to keep," Sasori chimed in, noticing Itachi's hesitation.
The black-haired kid's face lit up. "Seriously?"
Kisame gave him a look. "No, we just broke into your house and set up a drum set for kicks," he replied sarcastically.
Laughing at himself, Itachi began banging on the assorted snares. "Cool. You guys are the best!"
Just then, Itachi's father walked into the room through the front door. "Itachi, what's that noi-" he started, as a look of stern anger crossed his face when he saw the drums. "What's all this?" he asked, glancing at Kisame and Co., to the drums, and back.
The black-haired boy stopped playing. "Er, these are my friends," he said, gesturing toward the others. "Deidara, Sasori, and Kisame. They gave me this drum set, and they planned this sort-of-surprise-party for me. Cool, huh?" he asked with a straight face.
Itachi's dad's gaze lowered. "You know how I feel about the drums," he said in a low tone.
"Yeah, but they don't," the son replied, returning to his drums. "And you gotta admit, it WAS a pretty thoughtful present."
The adult put his hands on two of the drums, muting the sound. "We're going to have to talk about this," he growled. "As for you, I think it's best if you left," he said in a more commanding tone to the group of teens.
No one hesitated. There was something about Mr. Uchiha that was really scary.
------
Safely down the street, Deidara, Sasori and Kisame departed. "See ya whenever," they seemed to say telepathically, as they walked their separate ways.
I hope Itachi's not getting hurt too bad in there, Kisame thought on the way home. I don't think Dei or Sasori knew about what his dad said about drums. Oh, God, what am I supposed to do now?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I curse my slow typing skills. Two hours for one chappy? Just great. Well, I do get distracted a lot, so…yeah. I don't know.
And, that part in the middle was my SasoDei fix for this fanfic. I can't help myself sometimes. XD
Reviews help Kisame with his doubts.