Coincidence

Author: Mitternachto

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Deidara and Sasori walked along a dark corridor. They had been walking for a while now, and Sasori seemed nervous. He didn't talk very much, and Deidara was beginning to wonder who this "Leader" was. It seemed like Sasori seemed almost scared to meet him.

"Sasori-kun, who is this Leader-person?" Deidara asked, to break the frosty silence between them.

At first Sasori didn't answer, and Deidara thought that Sasori hadn't heard him. But then he replied, slowly as if he wasn't sure himself.

"Leader is the founder of the Akatsuki, and he is the one who orders the members around. But, the truth is that no one knows all that much about him, since the members are the only ones to really meet him, and when they do, he hides in the shadows."

Sasori sighed.

"I've never even met him myself; this will be the first time for me. Novices like you and me aren't allowed to meet him. Or her. I don't know which. But personally, I'd really like to know at least his name, instead of referring to him as 'Leader' all the time."

Aha. Deidara understood that this was the reason why Sasori seemed nervous. To meet with the Leader. But then he remembered one thing…

"Sasori-kun… The day we met, you spoke with someone – a man hidden in the shadows – and you called him Leader, un."

Sasori nodded.

"That was Leader, indeed, but only a replica; A clone. A clone of shadows sent after me to check that I did my chores."

Sasori turned his back against Deidara and started walking again.

They kept going through the dark corridor, until they came to a small, chilly room with a chandelier hanging down from the roof. Deidara thought it was pretty strange to have a beautiful chandelier hanging from the roof in a cold cave, but it seemed to brighten up the place a lot.

It was really pretty, with golden curves and thin crystal-bars hanging down from it. The only light in the cave came from a torch hanging in the ceiling. The light from the torch created a beautiful prism; crossing the chandelier it created a rainbow-colored shadow on the wet floor.

"Whaaa! So pretty!" Deidara gasped as he looked at the chandelier.

Sasori stopped, and turned to Deidara with an angry face.

"Deidara, keep your voice down! You do NOT want to disturb Leader!"

Deidara put his hands in front of his mouth, to show Sasori that he'd be quiet from now on.

Sasori continued.

"This room is called the 'Room of the Chandelier', simply enough. It's like the waiting room before you can enter his private chamber. The chandelier is a gift from someone to Leader, or something, I'm not sure…"
But Sasori was interrupted by a strange sound. Deidara turned around – only to notice two gigantic oak-doors opening. Apparently the doors had been there all the time, but Deidara had been too charmed by the Chandelier to notice them.

Sasori's face became pale, as he started pushing Deidara in front of him.

"Come on, Deidara. He's waiting…"

Wet.

This room was very wet. There was water on the floor, and water seemed to come down from the ceiling too – just like rain.

Deidara stood in the largest room he'd ever seen – the torches on these walls were dimmed and only a ghostly-white light shined up the enormous cave. The ceiling was perfectly round, and in the middle of the room, two huge statues shaped like two hands were placed. They seemed to be the only thing in this room, everything else was pitch black and no furniture seemed to exist. A single door on the opposite side of the hall seemed to lead to a smaller room – perhaps the Leaders private room?

Sasori looked very nervous, as he called out in the dark room:

"Leader-sama, we are here now, me – Sasori – and Deidara of Iwagakure."

At first, not a sound was heard. But then a voice answered. The voice sounded strange, not really human, but at the same time very calm.

"Sasori, I know perfectly well who you – and your friend - are, there is no need to tell me again, please stop wasting time. It is a pretty night outside the cave, with only a pure fall of rain, so why don't you go outside and enjoy the experience of being drenched up in perfectly wet rain tonight, Sasori?"

Sasori blushed, bowed and started to walk towards the exit. He tried his best to hide his disappointment, but Deidara could see it, and he felt sorry for his friend. Sasori had been so excited, really wanting to meet the Leader, and now he was being told to wait outside.

But Deidara didn't dare to say anything to defend his friend, the Leader seemed to be a person with great power, and he didn't want a fight.

As Sasori closed the door, the Leader spoke again.

"Deidara, come closer, I want to take a look at you. Sasori has told me that you have a very special bloodline, and it would be such a waste to ignore your powers."

Deidara came a little bit closer – so close that he could see the silhouette of a man standing on the thumb of one of the hands. When Deidara stopped, the silhouette jumped down from the thumb, and landed close to Deidara.

At first, Deidara didn't dare to look up in the Leaders face, but then his curiosity won, and he peeked up on the Akatsuki Founder.

The first thing he noticed was the Leaders brilliant, orange hair. It stood like spikes right up from his head, and on his forehead protector there was the sign of the Rain village.

His eyes had peculiar circles around the center, and he had a huge amount of piercings in his face and ears.

Deidara couldn't help himself – he stared up in the Leaders face.

"If you stop staring at me, I shall make my speech short, and then you will go back to your shores again."

Deidara blushed, and lowered his head. The Leader kept talking.

"I know that you are new into the Akatsuki, but I am sure Sasori will tell you about your duties. You are set on trial, as a novice, and at proper age and maturity you shall perhaps become a full worthy member. As for now, you shall pay respect to the members, and you shall do what you are told to do, without any questions."

The young boy nodded, and felt how scared he was of this Leader. He wished that Sasori had still been with him, because he had never been as frightened before as he was now. The Leader had some sort of aura, a feeling of total control that scared Deidara a lot.

The Leader seemed satisfied with Deidaras reaction.

"As for today, Sasori will take you around the cave to introduce you to the other members. And maybe in a week or so, you'll begin your lessons."

Deidara gasped.

"My lessons…sir?"

The Leader nodded. "A private teacher will analyze your abilities and train you in combat. You will have your lessons along with the other novices, and I expect you to do well and behave."

Deidara nodded fast now, he wanted to leave this room as soon as possible.

The Leader turned his back against Deidara. "That is all for now. You may leave."

Deidara nodded, and started walking towards the huge doors. But then, suddenly he remembered Sasori's wish.

"But personally, I'd really like to know at least his name, instead of referring to him as 'Leader' all the time."

Deidara turned against the Leader again.

"Sir.. Leader-sama, un?"

The Leader didn't answer him, but Deidara tried anyways.

"May I…we…Sasori and I… know your…name? Sir?"

At first, the Leader didn't say anything. But then, slowly, he started speaking.

"My name is one privilege that novices may never have. It is good enough for you to call me Leader."

"Oh.." Deidara blushed again. He should have understood from the beginning that the Leaders name was top secret.

He started walking again, and just as he opened the doors, the Leaders voice echoed from the room within.

"It's Pain. My name is Pain."

Deidara smiled. This was a success. A final success and a real privilege. He couldn't wait to tell Sasori about the Leaders name.

Maybe, Deidara thought, maybe this Akatsuki isn't all that bad after all?

To be continued...

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WHOAH! I am SO SORRY for taking so long! It's been AGES since I uploaded a chapter on this story, please forgive me. I have been totally busy with school, cosplaying and sewing. I will start writing more, I SWEAR!

Ah, chapter… four is it? However, hope ya like it. I do NOT like my description of Pain, and I do NOT like to call him Pain! It's PEIN! But Pain was more fitting to the title :P Please forgive me. The only strange thing with his way to speak is that he doesn't drag words together like "It's" or "Weren't", but says "It is" and "Were not" instead (BIG DEAL!!)….

Ah well… I like Deidara.

((THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS!!!!!))