A/N: Updates may be a bit later than usual. I'll apologize in advance ^-^u

But I hope you enjoy the story anyway!

Warning: Language, violence, etc...

"Sasori, I hope you've done as I-" Pein cut himself off as he pushed open the door to his member's office.

It was empty, and the tense atmosphere of an argument still hung in the air.

Pein walked into the room with a frown, taking in the messy state before his gaze fell on a scratch mark in the wall across from one of the desks. He walked over, a curious look on his face as he noticed the broken phone lying on the ground under Sasori's swivel chair. This does not belong to Sasori, he thought to himself as he bent to pick it up. The peeled tag on the bottom of the piece he held made him cock a brow.

"What in the world…?"

He quickly turned on his heel, storming out the office with a dark look on his face.

~X~

"Finally un…" Deidara let out a heavy sigh, throwing his head back against the bricks of the wall he had slid down.

The skies were a dark grey, rumbling with the oncoming sound of a storm. Thick clouds billowed, gathering above the center of the city, and luckily away from him. He was resting on a sidewalk outside some old drift shop, crutches thrown beside him, and in the way of anyone else trying to walk by. Not like he cared. He was too tired for something like that.

With another resigned sigh, the blonde reached into his jean pockets and pulled out his phone. The number he called was on speed dial.

"Hello?"

"Kabuto. It's me, Deidara," he said.

"Oh Deidara! Are you okay? I tried asking your friend Itachi where you were today but he kind of gave me the cold shoulder."

"That guy's not my friend," Deidara muttered, massaging the side of his head with two fingers.

"Well ignoring that- what happened? You never miss school for the sake of your scholarships!"

"I know, I know. The school already knows I'll be out for a while," Deidara said. "I got into an accident with my bike and screwed up my leg. On top of that, I apparently have a concussion yeah."

"Wow, sounds pretty bad. Would you like me to take a look at you?"

"No, it's okay." Deidara pursed his lips as he scanned the almost empty streets in front of him. He knew his friend was a trained medic, but if there anything he hated, it was being touched. Kakuzu was lucky he was unconscious.

"Don't worry, I understand."

There it was. That kind statement Deidara had been expecting from his best friend. The other boy truly cared for him- he knew he did. And in turn, he cared just as much. They had been through too much together for the bond of friendship they shared to be broken so easily with words. But…

"Deidara? Are you still there?"

Deidara jolted slightly, suddenly feeling nauseous and lightheaded. "Yeah…I'm still here. Listen. Kabuto…" In the background of the other line, he could hear faint murmurs and the sounds of clinking containers. "W-What are you doing right now?"

"Me? I'm just trying to find my medicine. I have a killer headache but don't know why. Of course," he laughed, "it might be due to my roommates blasting their video games. Why do you ask? Do you want some company?"

Deidara frowned. "No. I think I'll be fine un. I'm just lying on my bed now," he lied.

"There's something else on your mind. What's wrong?"

"It's just that I-" the blonde cut himself off, not knowing what he was going to say. He felt nervous and sick to the stomach. "I…"

"Deidara?"

"You would never hide anything from me, right?" Deidara blurted out.

"Huh? What brought this on?"

"Just answer me!" Deidara snapped. He took a deep breath at the surprised silence on the other line. "I'm sorry. Just tell me…please."

"…"

"Kabuto?"

"Of course not. Why would I ever need to hide anything from you?"

Deidara exhaled deeply. "You're right. Sorry- I must've hit my head too hard un." He let out a soft chuckle. "I don't know what I'm babbling about."

"It's alright. As long as you get some rest."

"Will do." Deidara ran a hand through the front of his bang, tugging on the strands absently. "Wanna hang out tomorrow sometime after you get out of school yeah?"

"Sure! Um…let me think… Let's do it around three or four. I have to get back to the dorms by seven to study for a Physics test."

Deidara felt himself choke on his spit. "S-Study? You never study!" he exclaimed.

Kabuto laughed loudly through the speaker. "I know right? But Itachi told me I should start doing some work on my own."

"And you listen to that guy but not your friend of over fifteen years?" Deidara asked in disbelief.

"Well he wouldn't let me borrow your notes! At least tell him to let me see them if he wants me to pass this year!"

Deidara started to snicker. "Now that I think about it, maybe you should do a little work by yourself hmm."

"D-Deidara!"

Deidara laughed. "Kidding. The next time I see him, I'll gladly let him know," he said.

"Hmph. You're so mean to me sometimes Deidara-kun."

"Using Japanese honorifics with me?" Deidara felt himself break out into a wide smile. "Then I know you must be pouting. Very well un. You'll get your notes for tomorrow and today. How does that sound, Kabuto-kun?"

"Sounds like we should have a movie-marathon tomorrow. As long as you bring the popcorn and drinks, I'll be good to go."

"Kami- all you think about is your damn food," Deidara grumbled with a grin. "Fine. But you better have the comedy films out."

"Whatever you say. Well- I've got to get going now. Make sure you sleep a lot tonight for that concussion and try to stay away from hitting your head or loud commotion. Also rest that ankle and make sure you don't go stiff-"

"Alright, alright, doctor," Deidara joked. "I get it. I'll take care of myself un. But you do the same."

"I haven't fallen off a bike yet."

"You know what I mean," Deidara said with a roll of his eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Just pick me up at the supermarket when you get out of school. I'll be lounging around."

"Why the store?"

"I'm going to go shopping for my apartment. And for your stupid snacks."

"Hooray. I'll see you there."

Deidara moved the cellphone from his ear. "Yeah- later." He waited until his friend had hung up on the other line before snapping his phone closed and jamming it back inside his pocket. The humor thrill he had gotten from Kabuto was starting to fade, being replaced with a wave of dizziness. He really shouldn't be out in the city right now…

A sleek Bugatti Veyron breezed by, lifting his hair and tossing it violently in the air.

Deidara blinked.

The car screeched to a stop at the top of the road before beginning to move backwards, the windows rolling down as it did so.

~X~

There was an obnoxious banging on his door, but he couldn't be bothered to get it. He didn't feel like shouting to tell whoever was on the other side to go the hell away, but the agonizing headache he was getting as a result was only growing worse.

"OPEN THE FUCK UP!"

Sasori's answer was to ignore the silver-haired man's yell and roll over in bed. He was more tired than he originally thought. Any chance of peace he assumed he had left was destroyed when Hidan broke his door down.

Hidan stalked into the room, obviously livid. "Get your ass up Sasori!" he barked.

Sasori pulled his pillow over his head. "Go away Hidan. You've just made my head hurt more than it needs to," he said in a muffled voice.

Hidan yanked the pillow of his face, glaring at the redhead as he said, "Your partner's fuckin' missing."

"And…?"

"And Pein found Yakushi Kabuto's phone in your goddamn office," Hidan scowled.

Sasori sat up. "What?"

~X~

"Itachi?" Deidara leaned against the wall for support as he climbed to a standing position. He warily eyed the Uchiha staring at him as he put the car in reverse. "What the hell is he doing?" he wondered aloud.

"Just get in," Itachi said with a roll of his eyes through the window, pulling the car to a halt.

"No."

"Either you come willingly or I'll make you," Itachi said. "Unless you'd like a repeat of Tayuya and the others as you wander alone through the streets?"

Deidara's face was one of utter disgust, but now his ankle was throbbing and vision swarming with black spots. He limped over to the car, tripped into the doorframe, and collapsed onto the leather passenger seat with a muffled groan.

Itachi let out a tiny sigh, unbuckling his seat belt to get out and walk around to the other side of the car. "You're quite helpless, aren't you?"

"Shut up," Deidara muttered as the raven helped him sit up and then shut the door to get back in the driver's seat. He slowly reached behind him to pull his own seatbelt across his body, clicking it in place as Itachi started the ignition. "What are you even doing out here?" he asked.

"This is the quickest way back to headquarters from school," Itachi said, pulling out onto the street with his usual speed of not-normal-or-safe-for-the-citizens-of-the-city. "We'll be there in five minutes."

Deidara blanched and quickly averted his gaze to the blurred view outside the window. "Could we not go back there right now?"

Itachi blinked at him in surprise. "What?"

"Just…not right now un." He narrowed his eyes. "If I give you directions…will you follow them?"

"…"

"Well?"

Itachi stopped at a red light, turning to stare at the teen next to him. "Where are we going?"

Deidara hummed in the back of his throat, sparing Itachi a glance. "Kabuto's place."

~X~

"I don't understand," Sasori murmured, turning over the broken phone in his hands. "I could've sworn Deidara was texting on his own cell, not this one."

"Well he obviously wasn't," Pein snapped.

Sasori glanced up at him. "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"I want you to find out what your partner is up to," Pein ordered. Hidan was leaning behind him on the counter, scowling and picking at his nails with a switchblade. The three were on the upper floor of Akatsuki Deals- Kakuzu and Konan holed up in the downstairs lab for a reason they had yet to explain, and Kisame had left a few hours back in a claim of searching for 'something important'.

"Is it because of what Orochimaru said?" Sasori asked with narrow eyes. "You're suspecting Deidara of being a traitor?"

Pein looked at him. "I'm not accusing him of anything," he said. "I'm just curious as to why he had Kabuto's phone of all things."

Sasori thoughtfully hummed. "Itachi mentioned something about them being friends," he replied.

"Is that so?" Pein murmured. "This is news to me. But I believe we can make it to our advantage." He took the shattered phone from Sasori's hands, pocketing it in his apron. "I have a plan. But I'll need you to cooperate with me," he said.

Sasori blinked in surprise before narrowing his eyes. "What kind of plan?" he asked.