disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

note: I have revised the first chapter. please read it if you don't want to get lost.

Chapter 2: Stranger in the Dark

Deidara awoke with a start. He nearly jumped out of his bed and quickly looked about his room. Sasori wasn't in bed, probably out doing something with his puppets seeing as one was missing. The window's blind was open and the moon shown brightly. It illuminated the room quite well. And yet, it felt dark to him, dense almost.

"Ugh, I need a drink," he said to himself. The blonde then proceeded to get out of bed and walk down to the kitchen.

On his way down the stairs he couldn't help but notice that Konan, Pein and Zetsu were in the living room talking. They were speaking in hushed yet loud tones. That is until they noticed the teenager half-way down the steps.

"Deidara, come here," commanded Pein. The mentioned ninja straightened up and was all business, wide awake ready to go. Then he yawned and slouched again before sauntering over.

"You know it's past my work hours, what's got ya all worried?" he casually asked in a respectful tone. He didn't want to piss any of them off.

Zetsu stepped forward and spoke first. "I was out on patrol when I saw this man." He paused and handed Deidara a picture of a man walking along a path in a dark cloak.

'Wait,' he looked closer, 'that's-!' The blonde stood erect and said, "he's on the path that comes straight for the base! What do we do?" Panic very temporarily gripped his throat, but was soon back down.

Konan glared at him and sharply retorted, "we're not doing anything. You're to invite him in and seat him next to the fire! Understood?" She took a threatening step towards the teenager.

"Yes!" replied Deidara automatically. He then ran back to his room and changed out of his grey cotton pants and t-shirt into his black t-shirt and put the fish-net over it. He then slid on his black pants and ran downstairs to wait.

-A Few Minutes Later-

Deidara was asleep on the couch. His nap was unfortunately cut short by a knock at the door. He leaped towards it out of reaction and stopped just before ripping it open. Instead he carefully opened the door and saw the cloaked figure before him.

"Hello," came the voice of a male. He wasn't older than 16 and had his hood on, so you could only see his mouth and chin. "May I enter? All the inns have closed and the other homes are dark."

Deidara smiled for two reasons. He was trying to act friendly and he knew what was going to happen to this man. "Yes, you certainly may. I'm Deidara, you name is?" he stated thrusting his hand out for a quick and firm handshake.

"My name is, Iru. It's nice to meet you, Deidara." He slowly stepped in and followed the blonde to the fire place. the stranger sat and stared into it while relishing the feeling of its heat on him. Diedara sat on the opposite end of the couch.

"Not to be rude," began the cloaked figure, "but aren't you up a little late?" He tilted his head in a curious manner while looking at the eighteen year old.

"Haha, well actually-er-I was coming down to watch some TV. I don't sleep much because of a sleeping disorder. Funny you came along when you did! Haha," Deidara said this while the entire time rubbing the back of his head in embarrasment. He then grabbed the remote and turned on the television set.

He flipped through the channels to his favorite one. It was an art channel and he liked to see what other kinds of art there were that he might be able to put into his own work. He immediately got into it and forgot about the guest. That is until the black-clad person said something.

"Do you like art?" he asked with a small smile. Deidara jumped a little before answering.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm an artist actually. He grinned as he though about giving a small demonstration. "Would you like to see what I do?" Then he saw Zetsu sneaking up behind the guest to capture him. But, before this was succeeded Deidara gave a subtle signal to not do it yet. Zetsu complied and slunk back into the shadows.

The stanger spoke up again. "Okay, go ahead. I always like to see an example of art being created." He stood up and smiled a little more waiting.

The blondes mind thought about it a little and decided to catch the other off guard. "Here, first I take my hand," he said putting up his hand showing off the mouth. Amazingly the person barely reacted, just got a funny look. "Then, I take my clay," continued the artist.

The clay was now being chewed up by the hand, and while they waited, Deidara planned what he would make. The stranger on the other hand just kept staring, watching what was happening. A critical expression was now all you could see.

"Ah! The clay is done!" Deidara said, letting the hand spit it out. "Now, I shape it." With that he quickly turned it into a spider half the size of his palm and chucked it onto the wall. "Watch."

Iru did as he was told and watched as the spider first crawled around, and then leaped onto the victim. Before Iru could react, he was hit by the stunning explosion. Then, Zetsu landed on top of him and bound Iru with ropes. "Come with me," stated the plant person. "You're going into a holding cell."

-The Next Morning-

Deidara made his way down the stairs. He grabbed two cups of ramen and then went down to see the new prisoner. He chuckled seeing the guy's expression when he got blasted. 'He deserved it, knocking on a person's door in the middle of the night!'

Soon he was underground and following the dimly lit passages to the cell labeled 3-A. "Hey, wake up!" the blonde yelled throwing the ramen at the cell's occupant.

"Thanks," he replied grabbing the food out of mid-air and pouring some hot water from his nearby sink. They may be Akatsuki, but they didn't believe in cruelty...much. Before Deidara could start on his, already warmed and tasty, the prisoner had started eating and was going pretty fast.

"Woah woah! Slow down, no one's going to take it!" Deidara stated. He took sat down on the floor and ate his. "So," he began, "why were you out so late last night? Doesn't the dark scare you?" he teased.

The cloaked teenager threw his cup through the bars of the cell into the trash can on the other side of the hall. "Actually," he said, "I'm terrified of the dark." He then lay down on the floor and stared up at the ceiling.

Deidara on the other hand couldn't believe the shot he'd just seen. His noodles were sticking out of his mouth he'd been so surprised. 'Wow, that was amazing!' He slurped up the noodles and put the food down. "Did you-I mean-how did you get that good!?" Deidara was alarmed. 'Was this a ninja?'

The teenager looked over and answered, "I practiced. It took me about a month to finally get down throwing objects. I'm better with bows, slings and spears though." He looked back at the ceiling.

'Oh my god, I have to tell the others!' Within moments Deidara was upstairs and talking to the other Akatsuki members.

"Hey!" yelled, Iru, "you going to finish your noodles?"

END

Will Iru get the noodles? Will the others believe Deidara? And why is Tobi so hyper?