Okay, guys. What's up? I'm actually giving myself two days for this chapter, so hopefully it'll be well written instead of the norm 4 hours or so. Also please note that I did go through the other three chapters and added a couple of lines as well as edited the errors, so feel free to check those out.

I can't believe I haven't uploaded in 3 weeks or so. Actually I was excited because whenever I read fanfiction or something and they mention something where they think it's cool, I go and check it out and someone told me I persuaded them to go check something out so MILESTONES you guys. Milestones, with you lovely people are being made.

Let's dedicate this chapter to… Koryandrs for reviewing all three chapters and being fantastic. Whoop. Whoop.

Warning: Slightly gory… whoops, that wasn't supposed to happen, my friends.

Deidara:

I couldn't even look over to see if Sasori looked as horrified and flabbergasted as I was. Probably didn't, that bastard has three facial expressions: blank, annoyed, and angry. He's just… wait, no, stop. There is a powerful looking captain sizing me up, who from our dimension was good enough to be picked for the race, and he was toying with his sword's hilt that is strapped to the back. Was this really the time to be bothered by my partner's lack of soul? Hell no. Definitely not… however, I did find myself glancing at him quickly and seeing his intent face fixed on him, his acquired sword raised. My eyes slid over to the background and I scowled. The crew we went through so much trouble getting was now more confident with their captain here now. Tch.

I looked down at my own sword. Neither of us were swordsmen, so to take on the captain and his crew alone… now that it was established that the man withering in agony was not the captain, seemed absurd now. How did I believe we could take these guys on before?! Where did that confidence come from? Wait, no, stop this too. Why was I losing my head now? After only the second planet jump was I really going to snap? Was I going to be beaten by a racer who wasn't even in the race? No. As I said before, not with my planet on the line will I not go down without a fight. And fight I would. Fight like how I did on ground level all those years. Fight like how I fought with Hidan. Fighting was what I knew best and was what I would do until my last breath.

The sudden feelings of inexplicable calm that I got from the loss of panic swept through me with a deep inhale. I had this. I was that cocky teenager who caught the attention of the universe. Only question was what would we do? We weren't going to fight them head on, that's for sure. It was already clear to me that although Sasori was great with everything, I was the better plan maker and he was good at following, eerily great actually. I glanced around the deck, this time really looking, not at the people, but at the ship itself.

It was big enough and had the several masts with the elevated platform, about five feet higher, for the helm. Different elevations… hmmm. Maybe that was workable? But I needed time to think so I tried to occupy the time with talking, wasn't really creative, but it needed to happen as a distraction. "You pirates aren't easy lookers are you? Isn't that a bit clichéd? Maybe next time, we get captured by pirates it'll be by attractive people, un." I smirked, but it was more like a reflex as my eyes gazed around, mapping out a battle sequence that could possibly result in Sasori and I actually living.

He wasn't like the other guy, where as my comments didn't unhinge him. He smirked, just as lazily, just as arrogantly, "Confident you're going to live through us?"

I shrugged, "Well you are only a bump in the rode right now, un."

His sharp teeth bared in a humorous grin, "Forgive me, if in the ocean there are no roads." His hands clasped around the sword and pulled out the large and oddly shaped, clothed sword, holding it loftily and easily as a kid holds a branch.

I laughed loudly and could feel Sasori cringe beside me. I think he'd come to resent my laughter in these situations. Last time I was offended by his lack of faith but honestly I couldn't blame him this time. Not when I lost faith in myself and that was saying something. "That would explain why it's taking us longer to jump back this time, wouldn't you agree, Sasori my man?" Hopefully Sasori understood I needed this time to properly think. I feel like if we just…

There was a pause as I regarded the ship and the captain regarded Sasori. Finally, Sasori broke the silence, "Really, Deidara? You're still having trouble over there? Finally got beaten that badly by a guy that went down three seconds flat? That's disgraceful. I've already regained my cool. These guys aren't strong. Do you see how they're coming after us in large numbers instead of one on one? Don't make me laugh."

I glanced over incredulously, forgetting about my plan for the moment. Sasori was saying what? I understood he was stalling but still I had to make things clear, which was probably what this bastard wanted. I looked at him disgruntled and cocking my head to the side, "Hey, fool, do you not see him?" I didn't really think much about it as I stomped on the white haired guy's gut, making him whimper loudly. Maybe next time he wouldn't punch my cheek. "I'm not having trouble with him, imbecile. It's the shark man with the pointy teeth, un. Didn't you ever pay attention in biology, or were you too busy stuffing your rich ass with food?" I ignored my stomach's pained response.

Sasori smirked, "No I paid attention. Isn't it the shark that gets beat so easily by dolphins, a third of their size? Well, brat, you're a third of his size." What? Was he saying he was going after the others whilst I took care of him? Did he put that much faith in me? Not like we have much of choice. I guess this was Sasori's countdown. 3.

I looked at him reproachfully before tsking and looking stoutly back at Team 3's guy. He was gazing between the two of us amusedly. "Lovers quarrel?" He asked as if he wasn't about to fight us.

I tilted my head in consideration. "Do pirates support gay relationships?" I took in a deep breath, missing my loose clothing, because it was visible in these tight suits. 2.

He shrugged, "We don't really care. It's not like we aren't stuck on the seas months at a time."

"Wow, you're really open, un." 1.

His smile curled sadistically, "Like you'll be in a few seconds." I was only barely able register the chills crawling up my spine from that statement before he charged, unusually fast for someone his size. I jumped out of the way just in time as his still clothed sword arched down where I was standing seconds before. Sasori spun immediately at the approaching pirates and met them head on. I jumped back again, leading us towards Sasori's fight and he followed once again slashing with what looked like a blunt sword. However with the power behind it there was no doubt in my mind I didn't want to be hit.

It was like a choreographed dance, he would swipe forward, to which immediately I would dodge just by hairs, sucking in my stomach and leaning back on my heels to avoid the slashes. His smirk grew and it was a habit for my own to appear, although mine was slightly tired and would shake from low panting as I would jump back using all my power to get out the way to avoid his long range. Somehow he had to lose that sword… but I couldn't do that alone. My back brushed up against Sasori's. He acted with instinct, having needed to since he was taking on five at a time, he spun with quicker speed than the Captain could imagine mustering and slashed out, which I narrowly ducked, hissing out a breath. Sasori's sword grazed the Captain's stomach, and there was a thin line of blood, seeping out as he dragged it across. In milliseconds Sasori blinked, process he'd tried to kill me but had hit the Captain before he looked down at me and instinctively jumped as a sword came slashing towards him, not needing to look to see it coming.

From the ground, my arm moved with a fighter's instinct as I used my sword to stab upwards, digging the tip into the man's wrist. He yelped and dropped the sword. Just as I reached for it, something heavy smashed against my back. Everything blurred as a resonating pain shook me to the core. I lost my breath and gasped. It wasn't that I forgot about him, it's just I got preoccupied with helping Sasori. It was painful and I felt myself blacking out so I fought the bruising pain with a stinging one, by biting my lip and allowing the iron tasting liquid to seep into my mouth, hoping for that sensation to be enough to keep me awake. Wasn't he supposed to be finishing me off, I don't know. Everything feels distant. I wasn't sure how I got to that position but I was looking back as the tall blue blur was under a vicious onslaught by a little blur of white and red. I felt my lips curve into a ghost smile. So Sasori did know how to use a sword, that or he was a quick learner. Of course, why was I surprised?

When I was watching their fight, for what might've been minutes or milliseconds, something clicked in the back of my mind, watching their different sizes. Hadn't I made a fighting sequence with elevation? I did… huh. Well I should return the favor to Sasori for saving me.

I numbly rolled, grabbed the other sword, and landed in a standing position, wincing slightly as everything kind of tilted in my vision. I swiped at all the blurs that were becoming somewhat more distinct each second. Sometimes I would make contact with skin, causing my swipes to slow as they dug into the meaty flesh, but sometimes they would too. However I was in too much pain to feel any one slash. Ha.

I made my way through the crowd and limped up the stairs, still slashing wildly behind me, on the deck, I was followed by those who I hadn't made a lucky strike with, which looked like what three? Four? I looked across the deck at the two fighting below, Sasori seemed to be slowing and every now and again I could make out a grunt coming from him, which meant I needed to put my plan into action now. I backed up and just as I did, Sasori screamed in pain. It wasn't one like a person generally heard. This was like a tortured animal. I winced, not for myself, but for him, if he was screaming then that must've been one hell of a hit. That's when I stopped limping and went to the back of the helm, the wind whipping my hair around, but I ignored that too, and shook my head before running as if I hadn't lost so much blood. I ran all the way to the edge and bunched my legs before I jumped up and outwards, flying through the air towards him and Sasori, both who looked over not comprehending as I had jumped 13 feet through the air towards them. Midair, I swung my arms in front of me making an X. Just above the blue blur I tilted my body forward, making my head go under and cleaved out my X with as much strength as I could. No, with more strength than I had because to end this I needed to be stronger than I was. There was a sickening contact made when I hit his shoulders, but I didn't stop, I bore my dropping weight down on my hacking and heard the twisted crackling noise as I practically sawed off both arms. His body went limp and we both fell. I landed on him, my legs straddling him as we both thudded against the ground. My head ricochet forward, jarring my whole body still.

He didn't scream, I didn't breathe. I was aware his seemingly never-ending flow of blood was staining my suit and clogging into my hair that spilled over my shoulders, but I couldn't feel it. Was it the suit that made this seem so surreal or was it I? Actually, no one made a noise but I couldn't look behind me, I couldn't move, except downwards. Actually everything was really blurry and I did now feel every single slash… the one on my forearm… the one of my back… the two on my… right leg… the… one… on… on… my…. Last thing I remember was my head slumping against his, slick with sweat I didn't process, coldness that I didn't process either.

-x-

Everything ached. The throbbing headache I felt, didn't allow me to open my eyes. My face twitched in several throbbing attempts to open them. Damnit, let me fucking open my eyes! I tried growling, which came out more as a closed mouth croak. There was a cool hand that touched my forehead and I leaned slightly away from it as I was just beginning to feel the chillness of wherever I was. At least there was a scratchy wool blanket over me.

"Deidara are you awake?" It was Sasori and although it hurt so very much to open my mouth, I felt I owed it to him because at this moment I wasn't thinking of what I went through, I was remembering his scream and after all we decided I would fight the Captain.

"… No." I answered, my throat raw, why the fuck was it raw? Did I down oil or something? I could practically see him rolling his eyes even if my stubborn eyes refused to open. It was quiet. It was my turn to roll my closed eyes. Trust Sasori to not answer my sarcastic answer. "…What… happened?" My throat was too raw to even cough.

It was quiet for a few seconds, as Sasori seemed to think about how he'd answer. "You killed a man by almost cutting off his arms." There was no emotion in his voice, but I knew he wasn't judging me. After all he smiled when I asked him if it mattered when I quite possibly killed Kakuzu.

However I started to remember things, although they weren't effective memories as I did experience everything like a drunkard. But it was news to me that he died, although it shouldn't have been. I frowned slightly, which if it was anyone but Sasori then it might've been mistaken as a grimace to the pain, however Sasori was quickly becoming the person who understood me best. Not surprising either. It would be more questionable if he didn't after all these multiple life and death experiences. "He… died?" Damn these two word sentences that took longer to ask then it should've.

There was a dark laugh and I felt pressure against the bed (if you could call it that, as it was pretty hard and smelled putrid) as Sasori leaned against it, probably just as exhausted in his own rights. "Yeah, a couple of minutes after you passed out. The crew was more than willing to help out the two kids who took out more than half their crew single handedly. So they're up there, taking us East. We're about a couple hours away" So we were below deck, no wonder the air felt like it held mildew and smelled less of the sea and more of other unmentionables. He paused for a moment and I didn't interrupt him as I could feel his thought processing, plus it was pretty painful. "Although they were especially impressed by the one who flew through the air and cleaved off the arm of their captain."

I smiled as much as I could against the pain, "Almost." I corrected.

He laughed, a true laugh, which was a lot more musical sounding than his darker laughs. "Right, almost. How'd you think of doing that? You're right. Expect the unexpected."

I sighed, attempting to position myself better, but ultimately just ended up wiggling a little before giving up on the notion of comfort. "Elevation… your… scream…" I stopped because I think he got it.

"My screams made you do something so brash?" He asked, confused.

I nodded, ever so slightly, it was more like a slight incline and decline on my head. "Because… of… me." Three words. Finally.

"You? What do you mean?" He asked, not understanding. I could feel him shift on the mattress; at least he was able to adjust himself.

His scream was resonating in my ears and for a moment I was lost of breathing. His scream sounded so painful… "We... agreed… my… target."

"It was merely a suggestion. Don't forget you helped me before I helped you and because of it you're like this." His voice didn't emotionally break at the sign of my broken body, but it was disapproving.

"How… are… you?" I asked, because like me he got hit by him, only I didn't have a full-fledged fight.

Again he shifted around, "I think he cracked a couple ribs, but I'm not bleeding, not like you anyways. The area is pretty bruised badly, but again nothing I can't handle. I patched up the area with the supplies they had aboard. Yours was worse, although not surprising since you took on the five people I told you I'd take."

"What… did… you… do… for… me?" I asked, not caring to respond to this.

His weight left the bed as he got up and I heard shifting through objects nearby, "Cleaned your wounds mostly with the rum. They didn't have any real first aid, although I think this surpasses 'first aid'." He murmured as an afterthought. I laughed which once again sounded more like a croak. He continued, "Bandaged up your bleeding, nothing too serious but you had over 10 bleeding wounds so you lost a lot of blood collectively and your skin is heavily bruised from the Captain's hit, you might've also broke some ribs like me. I trickled water down your throat since you lost so much blood and you were probably light headed."

"It… doesn't feel… like… you did. My throat… feels like… shit." I grumbled.

"Hey, I said you were dehydrated." He snapped, "Plus you were out throughout the night and I've been mindlessly watching you to make sure you didn't die on me, brat."

I smirked, which dully hurt, but then again everything did, "Do you… want… a thank you?" I asked, mockingly.

I don't know how he's been able to hear or make out any of my words but he did peevishly respond, "No. We're even now. Remember you said for me to save you? Well I did."

"After… I… saved you." I laughed, which sounded more like wheezing. Sasori kept making me laugh even though doing so made my chest hurt a lot. Maybe I did break those ribs?

"Just go to sleep." He said, smashing a feathered pillow that smelled like urine into my face.

I tried struggling for a few seconds, but ultimately decided I did want to go back to sleep… it hurt too much being awake. I sighed contently pressing my face up into the pillow. He relented it and placed it next to me, gently picking my head up and placing it on the pillow, before murmuring, "Sleep. I'll wake you up when we arrive." I heard his footsteps going up the creaking steps before he lightly closed the door. I sighed and it was less than a few seconds before I dozed off.

-x-

Instead of waking up on my own, I was gently shaken awake. This time, although my sight was still blurry I could open my eyes. I looked up. Sasori's hazy face stared down at me, with his chocolate eyes gazing into mine; at least I think that's what I saw. Mostly I saw his disheveled red hair everywhere. It was messier than when I saw it before and that made me smile a little knowing that he wasn't as pampered as he had been up in the city. Here we were the same. Well, not exactly with my body feeling like it got beat up with a sludge hammer. Somehow, even though he claimed to have broken ribs he didn't look in pain. At all. "We're next to the portal." He took both my forearms and gently hefted me up but I grimaced.

"I'm not a doll, un. I won't break." My eyes widened as every word came out relatively easy, albeit a little sore. Finally.

He eyed me, rolling his eyes, pausing in his helping, "Of course not, you're just someone who almost died." He said sarcastically.

I shrugged his arms off and hoisted my self up, pausing as my head felt slightly dizzy, "Just get me water." He eyed me for a second before turning away and taking a few steps into the dimly lit barracks. I looked around, apparently we were in the captain chambers as my bed was the only one. He didn't need to go far to get the water from the giant table. He grabbed the water skin along with an apple and loaf of bread. "Here" He held out his hands with the food on his palms.

At the sight of the food my stomach instantly growled. Have I really not eaten in over two days? I took them first and wolfed them down. A browning apple and stale loaf of bread actually tasted like the feast I had before the race began. Wow. Sasori was silent as I ate. When I finished I grabbed the water skin from his hand and guzzled it down, allowing it to replenish the dull sore in my throat. I sighed contently, handing him back the skin and then got up, taking a few awkward and swaying steps. While I got up, Sasori gathered a couple of water skins, bread, and apples into a pack, which he slung around his back. Good thing he thought of it because in this state I wouldn't have. The couple of scratches on my leg stung as I put pressure on my foot but I ignored it. Instead I followed Sasori's steps up the stairs. Whilst on it I paused as a thought came to me. "Did you see them?" I didn't have to explain, he knew whom I meant, and it would be unwise to forget.

He shook his head, also coming to a halt as he tugged open the door, "No. I don't know what place we're in."

I nodded. I couldn't imagine us being dead last. After all we had a ship and last I saw them Kakuzu was passed out with Hidan. I followed him outside, squinting against the blearing sunlight that hurt after being in darkness for almost a full day. He led us over to the plank and while we walked I looked around, everyone was staring at me with reverie and slight fear, even if I was barely able to walk. I looked at the spots where I knew for sure people died, all that was there was blood. Huh.

We reached the plank; he took the lead and walked gracefully even though it wobbled. He raised his wrist but stopped and turned over to me, gazing curiously, "Do you regret it?"

I looked back at the large bloodstain where the Team 3 doppelganger died, "Killing him? No. I said it before: he was going to kill us, un."

I looked back in time to see Sasori shake his head, "No. Joining the race. Nothing good has happened yet for you."

I smiled ruefully before shaking my head slightly, "No. I don't regret it, after all: isn't the prize worth it? The experience. I was so bored before, Sasori my man. So dreadfully bored, that this, even the life threatening moments have all been worth it, un." He gazed at me thoughtfully not responding before I redirected the question back at him, "What about you? You said nothing good has happened for me, not for you. Something made it worth it?"

He regarded me peculiarly and rolled his eyes, which I didn't get either, "Yeah. Something good has happened, I think." He turned back around, satisfied and tapped the Jumper. A portal opened just below us. He got ready to jump off.

"Wait!" He glanced back, "What was it? The thing that made all this worth it?"

He smiled, one of those rare ones which made him look just as royal he did the first time I saw him, even if his hair was matted, his suit stained with blood, and his face slightly gaunt. He shrugged, "Maybe when we win I might tell you." When. Like me he didn't accept the thought of us losing. He jumped off.

I leaned over to look down at him, forgetting all of my pain. I watched him plunge into the vapor. I stood there for a few seconds before I realized the portal was becoming smaller. "Shit!" I jumped off without much thought and plummeted through the portal as well. I guess we cleared stage two, then?

-XX-

So how was it? I honestly wasn't expecting to chop off Kisame's arms but it happened, mortal combat style, yeah? So did you guys enjoy it? Review, favorite, or follow if so cause I love those, right?

Oh and if you guys have planet ideas you want to happen or people they come across to fight (especially the Akatsuki) then feel free to request as again, I just really wanted a story with pirates and this was the only way I saw fit as I didn't want to copy a lot of ideas, you know? So that's the birth of this story. Whelp. Until next time then? (^_^)/ =