A/N: I couldn't help myself. Here's another chapter for you guys :)

Warning: Language, violence, gore, the beginnings of an actual plot...

Konan pouted, cheek squashed in her palm as she leant against one of the shop's back counters. "Pein is such a ladies' man," she complained, watching her leader swiftly come to the aid of a struggling woman carrying too much for her small arms. "People should know better than to take more than they can handle."

"Konan, why don't you go over and help instead of making Pein do it then?" Kakuzu asked from where he was carrying a cardboard box filled with children's toys.

Konan gave him a gruff look. "I don't like standing around waiting for people to make decisions. They're too slow," she muttered, her stormy eyes going back to watching Pein.

"Hey fuckers!" Hidan loudly greeted, earning a startled look from several customers and a glare from his leader.

Kakuzu looked over with a raised brow. "What are you getting all worked up for?"

Hidan settled himself in between Konan and his partner, pointing a remote at an old television set up in the corner on the ground. "Kisame's on right now," he said, flicking through the channels until he got to the News Station.

"Weather report?" Konan questioned.

"The only thing he does on the motherfucking show," Hidan laughed as the broadcasters turned the screen over to Kisame for the evening weather report.

Kisame coughed into a hand, motioning to a map behind him with plenty of clouds. "As you can see, we have several large storms making their way into our area- that's going to give us low temperatures for the rest of the night and well into next week," he said. "But on the bright side, the sun will be up and shining all during this time- so don't get too down!"

"Booooo! Get off the fuckin' screen! Your forecasts are wrong half the goddamn time anyway!" Hidan loudly yelled, though his eyes were lit with mirth.

Pein stormed over, smacking the silver-haired man across the head as the last customer left for the day. "Will you shut up? Normal businesses would've fired you long ago."

Hidan looked over his shoulder and stuck his tongue out as their leader went to close the shop up. "Asshole…"

Kakuzu rolled his eyes. "Hidan, you call everyone that," he said.

"Because it's true," Hidan argued.

Konan sighed, pushing off the counter. "I'm going to get Sasori now. We'll be back to get ready for tonight."

Hidan nodded, turning the T.V. off. "See ya then bitch."

Kakuzu kicked him.

"Why do you always aim for my balls you fucker?" Hidan screamed as he crumpled over.

Konan politely smiled. "Thank you Kakuzu."

"No problem," Kakuzu replied.

~X~

"Pein."

The orange-haired man looked up and the back down from where he sat in a chair at the shop's front desk, feet propped up on the counter and reading the daily paper. "Is something wrong, Itachi?"

Itachi was dressed in their black force uniform, cellphone hanging limply in one hand. "I've been trying to contact Deidara," he said. "But I can't reach him."

Pein scanned the newspaper in his hands, sparing the worried raven a brief glance. "We still have time. He'll show up eventually," he nonchalantly said.

Itachi bowed slightly. "If you say so. I'll go double-check our supplies with Kisame."

Pein hummed in the back of his throat as the Uchiha left, lowering his newspaper to stare out the front door of his shop. The sky was beginning to turn orange and red with dusk. Darkness would settle in soon.

~X~

Kisame clicked his utility belt into place, looking at Itachi who was slowly doing the same. "I'm kind of excited," he said. "I mean, I know I shouldn't be since Orochimaru's a pretty dangerous guy and all- but I can't wait to smash my fist into his smarmy face. We finally have a chance to bust and ambush this guy!"

Itachi nodded. "He's too dangerous to be left on his own, much less starting a riot up in the black market. Do you have everything you need?" he asked.

"Just about," Kisame replied. "I need to get my sword though. I've always wondered how well Sameheda can cut through snake skin." He snickered and then left the equipment room, leaving his partner to shake his head after him in exasperation.

"Hey Itachi-" Sasori poked his head through the door. "Where's Deidara? It's getting late."

Itachi tilted his head to the side. "He didn't arrive yet?"

"Not that I know of," Sasori said.

"There's still fifteen minutes," Itachi said back, not letting his anxiety show. "He'll be here."

Sasori shrugged and then left, calling for Kakuzu to load all his weapons in the cars they'd be taking.

I hope he'll be here, the raven thought to himself. Because we'll need all the extra hands we can get.

~X~

A bronze key slid into a rusted lock, twisting to unlock the paint-chipped door. A hand pushed open the door with a wide swing, blue eyes peering inside.

"What can I say un? It's good to be home?" Deidara asked himself, chuckling and shaking his head as he stepped inside the pigsty that was his apartment. "Hell no."

He hadn't paid the bills in a week, so his electricity had been shut off, and the room was stuffy from lack of fresh air inside. It smelled faintly of burnt potato chips and melted cheese. A horrific combo. Luckily, Deidara was used to putrid and potentially dangerous fumes.

"Let's see…what will I need to bring?" The blonde thought aloud. Some of his own belongings for sure, and all his needed school supplies. Should I get some clothes too? I really don't know what else is in that closet hmm… He picked a knapsack off the floor and emptied the candy wrappers out of it, looking around the apartment room he'd come to call home. He tossed a small box of tools he used for creating his bombs, along with unhooked fuses and a bundle of wires. "What else…?" He looked at a dresser pushed close to the open window.

Deidara frowned, finding himself coming closer to his dresser, cluttered with homework assignments, loose pens and pencils, packets of chewing gum, and a wooden picture frame lying crooked near the edge of the dresser. Deidara stared silently at the picture, pushing aside several papers to make room for it. When was this taken again…? It was on her birthday- wasn't it?

A beaming child of nine held a peace sign towards the camera, light brown hair and stunningly bright blue eyes on her tanned features. She held a stuffed bunny in one arm, and the elbow of her older brother in the other, urging him to stare at the camera too.

"…"

'Come on nii-san! I want you to take a picture with me- it's my birthday you know!'

'Cameras don't like me. You of all people should know that sis'.

'Pu-lease! Just one for me?'

Deidara narrowed his eyes, scoffing.

"Hmph. Stuff like that…isn't important anymore." He flipped the frame over, walking over to his messily made bed to finish packing his bag.

~X~

"The sun is setting," Sasori commented, looking out at the sunset before turning to stare at his leader. He and the others were gathered at the entrance of the garage, waiting for any sign of Deidara to show.

Hidan threw back his head with an exasperated groan. "I'm tired of sitting the hell around and doing nothing! Can we go now?"

Kakuzu looked down at his watch. "Pein, time's wasting. Orochimaru will be back in less than an hour."

Itachi tried his phone for the third time. "I can't reach him," he said.

"This is our only chance to get into that factory," Konan worriedly said, biting her bottom lip. "Pein, what do you want to do?"

"We can't afford to wait any longer," Pein coldly said, turning around. "We're moving out."

The force exchanged glances with one another before following after their leader. They had a job to do.

And nothing would stop them.

A/N: Well so much for extra help. With Deidara off in his own world...

Next chapter coming soon~