[A/N: Gave up trying to think of a title for this chapter, sorry. But hey, at least I've updated something.]

Chapter 3:

Deidara sighed as he leaned back against the wall of his little room. Perhaps Sasori hadn't exactly been his friend, but he was the closest thing Deidara had had to one in a long time, and Deidara just felt dull and empty now that he was gone. Sure, he could go blow something up, but that would just make him remember all the times he'd argued with Sasori over art forms.

Stupid Sasori. Where had all of his proud words gotten him? Lying in pieces in the middle of a desert, where he very well might stay shattered until the sand buried him.

Deidara couldn't quite bring himself to say it served him right. After all, something similar could very well happen to him someday. That day might not be that far off, either.

It wasn't like he had wanted to join Akatsuki, anyway. If it wasn't for that Itachi he'd still be flying around doing freelance bombing for anyone who would pay him. That hadn't been the safest occupation, but people like him thrived on risk. It had been way more fun, too—why did they have to track down all the jinchuuriki anyway?

Hey there! How you doing?

Deidara actually jumped at the sudden intrusion on his consciousness. He hadn't been expecting it at all—he and Ino hadn't had any contact for a couple weeks—so the sudden cheery greeting had shaken him, especially since he had been trying to get used to being alone.

Um, he thought lamely, not so good…I guess.

Ino thankfully sounded much more subdued when she replied. I'm sorry. What's wrong? You don't sound sick, and you don't have a headache or anything…

You can read my mind? Deidara shot back sharply, immediately on edge. How many hundreds of secrets had he thought about since first meeting Ino?

No, Ino answered, and Deidara relaxed. I can sense a few physical things through our connection, that's all. Right now all that I can tell is that you're probably sitting down and that there's nothing wrong with your sense of balance. Are you going to tell me what happened?

Sighing a little, Deidara thought about what he could say that wouldn't give things away. I was out doing… things-I'd-rather-not-discuss…with a friend. Any then things went wrong. And now he's dead.

Oh. Ino's mind-voice sounded a bit surprised at Deidara's matter-of-fact statement. I'm really sorry, she continued, her tone more subdued than its usual energetic chirp.

It's okay, Deidara replied, hoping Ino would take this as an end to the conversation. He's just gone: I can deal with it.

But aren't you sad? Ino asked, sounding concerned.

Sure I'm sad! Deidara shot back indignantly, a little surprised that this was the truth—he hadn't given this much thought yet. I'm just being practical about it, okay?

You don't have to get so upset, Ino chided. I'm only trying to—

Just leave me alone!

There was instantaneous silence from Deidara's mental visitor. "Ino?" he said aloud. She might be a bit frustrating, but Deidara had liked the sense of companionship their conversations gave him. "Ino, I didn't mean it."

Ino didn't answer.

Had she even been real? Some of the things about her were too coincidental to be true—from her description, she basically looked just like him, and what were the chances of that? Maybe she was a mental construct and he had just destroyed her with his rejection.

Even if Ino wasn't a real girl, Deidara wouldn't have felt so alone with her there.