He Had It Coming

A/N: Pein is what the members refer to him as and we will continue referring to Nagato as Pein. **He does NOT look like Yahiko!** and he doesn't look all sickly either! Just a healthier version of Nagato. Zetsu is going to be two individual people: Kuro and Shiro (twins). Lastly, if you didn't already get it from the summary or prelude, this story is intended to be set in a modern age.

12:23am, April 18

A loud sob of disbelief and anger echoed as Deidara fell to his knees. A dead Sasori laid on the ground with blood seeping from a bullet wound, straight through his heart, onto the wood chips only a few feet away. "Come on, Deidara." Pein's voice was gentle, but heavy with the knowledge that crying will do nothing to help.

"Somebody heard that gunshot. The police will probably be on their way." Itachi couldn't help but notice how much of a mess this had become in less than minute.

"Can we fucking leave now?" Hidan asked. Police arresting them was not part of the plan and he didn't intend to go through the whole interrogation thing all over again.

"That's kind of insensitive."

"Don't you care if we get CAUGHT, Kisame?" Hidan retorted.

"I mean Deidara's right here! You just watched a man get shot. Shouldn't you care about someone who's-I don't know- our friend? He's-"

"That's bullshit! At least I did what I was supposed to do. It wasn't my fault!"

"No one's blaming you, Hidan. Shut up." Kakuzu couldn't help but get involved. The shock was beginning to wear off, becoming replaced by anger and confusion. They didn't know what to do besides argue.

"Oh and where the hell-" Pein turned around; the glare he leveled towards them brought silence once more to the group.

"This...this can't be happening.." Deidara looked around. "Am I dreaming?".

"C'mon we have to get going, Deidara." Pein spoke with pauses to make sure his friend understood. When he received no reply, he quickly turned to the twins still near the tree. "Clean this up. Get rid of any evidence that we were here. I'll take Deidara home." He slowly pulled the blonde to his feet. Turning towards Itachi and Kisame, "I don't need to tell you guys where to put them, right?" There was an odd emphasis on 'them'. As if, to Pein, saying the word 'drugs' itself was a crime. Which should be a crime. What kind of person sells drugs, but can't say it? Hidan and Kakuzu were ordered to check the building where the gun went off. Stone cold eyes stared out at the rainy sky. He failed as a leader.

12:25am, April 18

Deidara continued to repeat the words 'this isn't real' while Pein walked him to his car. "I'll drive you home." When the blonde realized what the Akatsuki leader was about to do he tugged himself from under the heavy arm. Pein knew he was overstepping his boundaries, but at the same time Deidara's grief was palpable. Past experience had taught him that death was more forgiving on the one that died.

"I can walk." Deidara pushed a hand off his shoulder, turned around, and walked off towards his dorm. A text was sent to Kuro and Shiro to watch over Deidara. The twins were busy! They had cleaning to do. This message was then forwarded to a masked man-child wandering around the city looking for 'the best show' (whatever that meant).

1:03am, April 18

Tears streamed down the blonde's face. He couldn't go inside his dorm. Why? Because Sasori was in there. Sasori was all over that damn place. Opening the door was easy; he thought he'd just lie and go to sleep on the couch. He couldn't. The entire place smelled like Sasori. Sasori's puppets, Sasori's work, Sasori's furrowed eyebrows, Sasori's brown eyes, Sasori's dead eyes, Sasori's dead body, Sasori's blood everywhere. He was shaking too much. Everything was going too fast and he accidentally ran out and slammed the door shut.

How was he stupid enough to lock himself from his room with his keys AND phone? Somebody had to help him get back in. Did he want to go in? Did he want to answer that question? He'd rather have mouths for hands than get help from Itachi. Kisame was always with him anyway so there'd be no point in asking him. Hidan and Kakuzu wouldn't do a single thing for him without Deidara paying some fee or listening to the Jashinist preach his 'word'. Pein was doing leader stuff and how embarassing to ask your higher up to break into your apartment. That left Kuro and Shiro. They were creepy to say the least. There was a rumor around town that the twins were cannibals. Tears blurred his visions and a silent cry escaped his opened mouth. Sasori would've helped him. Sasori would have rolled his eyes right now and called him-

"Senpai," Blue eyes snapped open, "what are you doing outside of your room?" A mass of golden hair whipped around.

"Tobi?" It was utter shock combined with disbelief. It was a dream, definitely a hallucination. He blinked twice. "What..what are you doing outside of my room?" It held no hostility that the blonde usually carried toward him. Rather, it held the tiredness of an overworked mother who was just fired from her job, but had three kids to feed at home. There was no emotion in that voice. As if feeling the overwhelming sadness was too much to bear in itself.

"Kuro and Shiro texted me to stop by. They said that since Sasori-" at the name Deidara's legs shook and he fell to his knees and began to wail. He wrapped his arms around himself and rocked gently. Sasori was dead. He had died. There was nothing left. He was nothing. His eyes hurt. Everything hurt. Arms wrapped around him. He felt himself being lifted. A light pinch was felt and everything was getting dizzy. Maybe he should just go to sleep now.

3:45am, April 18

Right now, a meeting is called for almost all police and detectives to gather in the main area of the KPFI (Konoha Police Force of Investigation) building. Chief Tsunade stood at the front with her arms crossed. Her assistant, Shizune, stood off to the side. Many officers were upset and restless considering this meeting was so early in the morning. A pink haired officer in particular was extremely upset. Why was this meeting so important? The entire police force was here! After around 30 minutes to make sure everyone was present, the chief cleared her throat. "This meeting will start with the topic being the serial killer named Topeng."

"Glad to know you called EVERYONE here so we could be aware that the Topeng Killer has struck again. Wow, really needed to hear that at 4 in the morning." Scoffs and murmurs rippled all around. Tsunade slammed her fist down on the pedestal she was speaking from. It shook just like the defiance in everyone's eyes in less than a second.

"The reason I have called you all here was to brief you on Topeng's recent attack on the police force." She stared long and hard around the room. "Neji Hyuga was found dead after his shift today. He hung himself. That was the lead detective for this case. He was in contact with Topeng through anonymous messages left on voicemail. A note was left saying the guilt was too much and he couldn't take it anymore. But a voicemail was left recorded saying 'time is up'. Obviously Neji was influenced by Topeng to take his life." The chief landed her eyes on the cop that spoke out earlier and glared. "I'm here to encourage that we must respond with our minds, not our hearts." The whole room was awake now. Everyone knew Neji was practically hung up on taking Topeng down, but not many realized how much of a toll it took to on him.

Sakura couldn't help but think of Neji's cousin, Hinata. Who would tell her? Again after a long pause Tsunade spoke, "Which is why, as of now, the Topeng Case will be temporarily on hold. The team under Neji should see Shizune after and turn in all files and evidence." There was a long pause. Tsunade was amazed to see how a sea of eyes could change from shock to outrage in a split second of realization.

"You're just gonna let this guy run around crazy, murdering people left and right?" There were shouts in agreement. The police risk their lives everyday. There's no reason why this should be different. Why was Chief making these rushed decisions?

"The fact is we have one of our best out there dead with no explanation, but suicide. I am not willing to let you all drop like flies. This would risk the peace of Konoha. I repeat: the safety of this city is more important than an investigation that will risk the lives of the only ones protecting this city!" Her voice commanded and left no room for arguments. The room was silent once more. "We will take precautions like longer shifts and tighter surveillance in the public, but we will not engage the Topeng Killer head on anymore." The people were divided. How were they to protect if they feared for their lives as well?

5:31am, April 18

The meeting concluded and, as everyone was leaving, Sakura made her way to Chief's office. She received specific orders to see Tsunade after the meeting was over. When she walked in she was surprised to see the chief rubbing her temples with her eyes shut. The green-eyed girl closed the door and greeted her boss.

"Sakura please take a seat," she started immediately, "Sasori Akasuna was found murdered four hours ago roughly 1 in the morning. KPFI was called onto the scene at Sahow Park. There were neither fingerprints, significant disturbances on the playground, nor many clues on events leading up to the point for a gun to be fired. It was only clear, from what the neighbors say, a gunshot then a scream was heard. A mother called some time before the murder to complain about 'a drug dealing' occurring inside the park. She could not see what they were doing, but claimed that they were gathering in a huge bunch 8 or 9 people. Although the killing in Sahow Park this morning was nothing like the pattern Topeng Killer demonstrates, KPFI received an anonymous tip that it was Topeng's doing. A relative of the victim also came in spewing nonsense, almost hysterical, that her grandson was killed by the Topeng Killer."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"I trust you the most, next to Shizune, which is why I didn't put you on the case in the past. But seeing Neji's example shows I need someone more trained and equipped with better decision making skills." She only felt more confused. "I am putting you on a solo mission to catch the serial killer Topeng. Sasori was an Akatsuki Gang member; if his death is what the witnesses say, there may be a connection between Akatsuki and the Topeng Killer. I want you to go undercover and infiltrate them looking for information on how he died."

"How can you be so sure that there is a correlation between Topeng and Akatsuki? You said it yourself that Sasori's death was nothing like the patterns Topeng displays on other victims. True enough you heard it from 2 random people, but is that really the trustworthy type of evidence?" Tsunade pursed her lips together and paused.

"You don't need to ask questions. Orders are absolute. All I need to know is whether or not Topeng was involved. They've been around for a year and we're still at square one. With thirteen victims now, I will take any leads I have left." Guilt spread through the younger and an embarrassed apology was mumbled. Of course Chief knew what she was doing! She's trying her best just like anybody else and is pushing to get this solved. It wasn't less easy to deal with Neji's absence for her than anyone else in the building.

"So when do I start?"

"At 2:00pm you'll see me again for more details. But right now I have," Tsunade looked behind her to see the shadow of a figure by the door, "other people to have discussions with." Both nodded at each other in a goodbye and she exited the room. Once Sakura opened the door, Shizune pushed by holding many files/boxes of evidence looking...overwhelmed.