An extra-long chapter because I felt like it! Enjoy=)


"You what?" Deidara said, a little more loudly than he really meant to. But given the situation at hand, he guessed it was kind of appropriate.

Sasori just sat there, letting his confession sink in. He felt a bit better now that it was out in the open, but also a little tenser because he was waiting for Deidara's acceptance or rejection of the idea that maybe they could be a couple instead of sex buddies.

"I mean," Deidara cupped a hand over his mouth. The tongue on his hand licked his lip nervously. "Do you mean…that you really…?"

"Yes," Sasori said, closing his eyes and trying to untangle all the knots he felt in his muscles. He exhaled slowly, trying to be patient. For the first time since they started canoodling with each other's bodies, Sasori wished Deidara was a little more perceptive, and a little faster at catching onto things, because this was just killing the puppeteer, all this waiting.

"Is that why you cried?" Deidara said, not very tactfully. Honestly, he couldn't think of anything else to say, no matter how many times he picked his brain. Well you could've said something better than this, you fool, a voice inside Deidara taunted.

Oh, shut up, Deidara shot back, feeling only slightly crazy. It was true that he could have handled the situation better, but—

"This is really sudden," Deidara added before Sasori could answer. Sasori looked up at him, with nothing on his face. Sasori, ever the poker face.

"I know," his partner replied. "But I had to tell you before you moved in on someone else,"

"Huh?"

"Just saying," Sasori said. He didn't want Deidara to think he'd lost sleep over the possibility that the blonde was leaving him for the likes of Hidan. What did that Jashinist have that he didn't have anyway? Besides the ability to stab himself on end and not die. Actually, Sasori thought, I can do that too…to some extent. Then, maybe it was Hidan's personality. Loud, brash, with shit and fuck as his everyday vocabulary; he wasn't a remarkable guy…seriously, what is there to like? Sasori thought jealously.

"Sasori," Deidara said, wide-eyed. "I'm not seeing someone else,"

"Oh? Then why do you not want to see me anymore?"

Deidara sighed, his shoulders slumping. He walked closer to Sasori and knelt down next to him.

"It's not because of what you think. But once…erm…once Valentine's Day is over, it'll all be okay and we can be together again,"

"In what way, though?" Sasori argued. "And why after Valentine's Day?" Why can't we be together on Valentine's Day?

"In…um. I don't know. And don't ask me, un,"

Deidara didn't know what to think of Sasori actually liking him. The thought that maybe all these late night sessions hitting the bed and tangling the sheets would turn into actual love. The question was, did he like Sasori? The immediate answer was yes. He did like Sasori, but not in that way. Or did he? Was he just in denial? Were all these years of calling him "danna" a sign of affection, not of respect? Deidara didn't know. But he did like Sasori, he really did. Even though they disagreed on art, Deidara always admired Sasori's ways. But he would rather skin himself alive than to admit Sasori was the better artist, so he'd lived his Akatsuki life denying any influence from the redhead, and would purposefully pick arguments with him.

Sasori said nothing. What exactly was happening on Valentine's Day? He would have thought Deidara was planning something special for him, but that didn't work out with everything else the blonde said. And he wasn't seeing someone else—Sasori knew he was telling the truth about that.

Deidara looked at the expression on Sasori's face, which, for once, showed some form of emotion. It was like the still, lifeless pond of Sasori had finally had a little pebble thrown into it, and, for the first time, ripples were fanning out across the surface. Deidara forced himself to think in clear, concise words.

"Um…danna, just wait a moment,"

Deidara turned and walked out, reaching behind him and fiddling with the ends of his blonde ponytail. He had come to the conclusion that it would work. Yes, it definitely could. What had influenced him to think this way was the memory of that night when he had replaced himself with the puppet while Sasori was sleeping: that warmth he felt unraveling inside him when Sasori was all curled up next to him. He didn't notice it at the time because he had been too paranoid and worried about Hidan seeing, but now that he thought about it, it was definitely there. If that wasn't a sign that he wasn't just into Sasori for his body, then he didn't know what it was.

But first things first. He had to get rid of Hidan, or otherwise…and NOT after Valentine's, Deidara commanded, just to himself. He'd seen the expression Sasori wore, clearly thinking of Valentine's Day, and why Deidara was acting all cagey about it. Deidara was hit with a pang of worry that he was really hurting the guy. He probably already did, anyway, with the whole breaking up thing. Okay, so it wasn't technically breaking up but—whatever.

"Hidan, we need to talk,"

The Jashinist looked up at him, a strange expression plastered across his face.

"Weren't you here, like, a few seconds ago?"

"Yeah,"

There was an awkward pause.

"I have something to say,"

"Well no fuckin' shit," Hidan rolled his eyes. "Shoot. And it better be important, because—,"

"I like Sasori,"

"Oh? You found out abou—wait, what?"

Hidan stopped mid-polishing. He stared at Deidara with a look of complete disbelief. Deidara had felt better pinning this on himself than Sasori, so instead of saying "Sasori likes me," he said it the other way. It was probably true anyway, since it didn't feel forced coming from his mouth.

"I. Like. Sasori," Deidara said between short, staccato breaths. Hidan opened his mouth a bit, but no words came out.

"I just came here to tell you that, so you wouldn't…look into Sasori anymore,"

Hidan smiled all of a sudden, but it was more friendly than any other smile he had ever given Deidara. Ever. It surprised the blonde nin so much. Maybe pigs could fly after all, if Hidan could smile like that.

"No offence," he said, despite the amiability his face showed. "But I always thought you were kinda gay,"

Deidara rolled his eyes. Thankfully, the conversation had turned into one of those spats he and Hidan had. Thank. God.

"Is it just because I look like a woman to you?"

"No," Hidan said. "I'm not that shallow,"

"Uh, yes you are, un,"

"Just a feeling I had. Like the same feeling I have around Itachi, except Itachi's is much stronger. And does he look like a chick?"

"Not at all,"

"So there," Hidan said triumphantly. "I'm not shallow. But that ain't the point here,"

The silver-haired man sighed wistfully. "Good on ya, blondie. You got someone before Valentine's Day," he paused thoughtfully. "Even if it's a guy, and it's Sasori,"
"Wait…so you're not going to bang on to everyone about us?"

"Deidara," Hidan chuckled. "I know where to draw the line,"

It was kind of ironic, considering Hidan swore like a sailor all the time—actually, he was probably much worse—and badmouthed Pein but Deidara wasn't about to protest.

"It'll be our little secret. Not that it'll be so hard for the others to notice anyway," Hidan eyes glimmered suspiciously, but Deidara already felt light as a balloon.

Sasuke had lifted up his large black coat and slung the orchid over his shoulders so even if it rained, the water won't destroy the crepe paper. He raced onwards. Neji couldn't have gotten that far—Sasuke was faster than him. He was sure to catch up if he kept going at this pace…and he wasn't about to stop. He'd lost Neji once, and he wasn't about to let him go twice.

But even so, Sasuke felt worried that he wasn't going to catch Neji in time before he reached Konoha. Just paranoid, because…he really wanted Neji back.

Some light drizzling whipped at Sasuke's face as he ran. He felt the pot with one hand, just to check if it was still intact, even though there was a very, very low possibility it would break.

If only I had the Byakugan, Sasuke thought, and not the Sharingan.

He kept running. And he would definitely keep running until he found Neji.

Neji looked up. The sky was so grey it was almost black, and it had stopped raining for the moment, but it was sure to rain any moment soon. Neji slowed down a little. Maybe he should find a place to stay until the weather settled down. He looked at his surroundings. There wasn't a person in sight, but there was a small shelter nearby. It was like an ancient wooden gazebo. Neji wrung out his sleeves and briefly wondered if Sasuke had read that note yet. It was definitely a bit late now. The Uchiha would be back, and he wasn't stupid enough to overlook the note.

Neji closed his eyes and listened to the sounds around him.

Fuck.

Sasuke skidded to a halt beneath a large tree. The sky had started pelting raindrops at him. It was a good thing his coat was waterproof. But even so…

He reached behind him and swiveled the orchid bag around. It seemed perfectly fine. He fingered the soft material and blinked a few times, willing himself not to be too upset over Neji leaving him. Maybe it was a test. Yeah, that was possible. I'll risk it, Sasuke thought. He put the orchid back into its original position. Neji wasn't far from here. He knew it in his heart.


Suigetsu kicked back and sucked his yoghurt drink. It had started raining,a dn he wanted to go out for an afternoon-evening swim, but he'd thought again and decided not to. This was definitely a moment for relaxing.

But if only Itachi was here.

Suigetsu frowned to himself. This was one of the bad things about Itachi; with Sasuke, he never went very far without him. But of course, because they were both part of Hebi. They worked together, even when they were apart. But he wasn't in Akatsuki. And as a result, he could never really be near Itachi. Kisame—Samehada!—was with Itachi way more than Suigetsu ever had been, the lucky bastard.

Thud.

Suigetsu sat up and looked at the door. That definitely wasn't thunder—was it?

Thud. Thud.

Suigetsu got up slowly, still drinking yoghurt through the straw. He opened the door cautiously and poked his head out. The rain had eased a little, and, instead of coming down in grey sheets, they were just coming down in slow but frequent plops. Suigetsu reached out behind him and, with his toes, dragged Zanbatou towards him.

"Heey. It's you again,"

Hidan walked over and wrenched the pike from the face of the stone compound. He avoided looking at Suigetsu, trying to appear perfectly normal, as if he always visited this place.

Suigetsu relaxed a little. It was that silvery-haired guy from earlier. Itachi said this guy was called Hidan, and he was an avid Jashinist. He also swore a lot. By the way Itachi said this, Suigetsu guessed the Uchiha didn't have a big tolerance for swearing.

"Damn this rain," Hidan said. He brushed flecks of rock off his pike and blew on it. "But I have to train in it, because Kakuzu says I'm too slow,"

Suigetsu nodded. Why is he talking to me again?

"What about you?" Hidan said. "Sleeping in there or something?"

Suigetsu shrugged and leaned against the doorframe, slurping away. Hidan looked around.

"Well, I'm gonna head back if you—,"

"Wanna come in?" Suigetsu asked, out of the blue. He didn't want Hidan, really. He just wanted some company. And maybe if Itachi saw, he'd get jealous and be all cute and pretend he didn't care his lover had been hanging out with another Akatsuki member.

Hidan raised an eyebrow. "Why the fuck would I wanna do that?"

Suigetsu shrugged again. "Keep me some company,"

This guy isn't nervous at all, Hidan thought, slightly pleased at the invitation. After all, the whole point of him coming here was to catch Itachi out. He really thinks I don't know. He really thinks that I think he's just a friend of Sasuke's.

Hidan nodded and had to duck his head to get inside. He sat on the old water pump.

"How's Sasuke?" he asked purposefully. Suigetsu, however, didn't show any reaction. But inside, he was thinking about his ex-boyfriend and what he was doing at that very moment.

Oh, Sasuke. You were such a fool.

"He's fine. Want some?" Suigetsu offered his yoghurt drink to Hidan, who shook his head.

"I don't do healthy stuff,"

"It's great-tasting healthy stuff," Suigetsu egged, feeling slightly flirtatious. Hidan sniffed in disapproval.

"I'm more of a meat guy. Sorry kid,"

There was silence as Suigetsu finished off his drink, crunched up the carton and threw it aside. The pattering of rain outside increased again, and thunder rumbled outside.

"It's really fucking dark in here. How do you see anything?" Hidan asked, rubbing his eyes. His red scythe looked a deep, blood red in the darkness. Suigetsu sighed.

"I'm just relaxing here. Not trying to write scrolls or something,"

"Well I can't fucking see," Hidan whined. It was a big window into his personality, which Suigetsu was tickled pink by. It was a huge difference, to be faced with two silent-as-the-moon Uchiha brothers, and then suddenly by this guy who worshipped the evil God, and therefore probably had a thing for heavy abrasions, who talked like everyone gave a shit about what he said. Suigetsu almost nodded in approval.

"Maybe I should get some candles. Or a torch,"

"You don't know any fire jutsu?"

"No," Hidan said. "Do you?" he added accusingly.

Suigetsu put up both his hands in defeat. "I'm a mist nin,"
Hidan huffed.

"What about you?"

"Huh?"
"Which village do you come from?" Suigetsu asked. This guy really was kind of slow.

"Ummmmmm," Hidan itched his head, like he had forgotten. Suigetsu hoped not. He'd seriously think this guy was a dumbshit if he did. "Yugakure,"

Isn't Yugakure that place where…yeah. It is. Suigetsu thought.

"I'm guessing you didn't fit in there?"

"Fuck no. I hate that place. That guy who lived next to me? When he found that Jashinist symbol drawn on my wall? He took me to the town elders and told them alllllll about how badly influenced I was. Then those old geezers told me to respect the peace of the village and to stop my ways unless I wanted to be exiled or some shit,"

Hidan took a breath after his long speech, glancing at Suigetsu, who was nodding as he listened.

"So what did you do?"

"I killed them," Hidan replied simply, like that was the only logical way to solve anything.
"Who?"

"Oh, just my neighbours. Then I left that fucking town and now here I am,"

Suigetsu nodded as if he understood. Quite frankly, he didn't care about Hidan's life story, but it was better than just sitting here and listening to rain falling.

Hidan stood up and stretched. "Enough of this shit. I'm going back ho—to the, um, Lair,"

He looked at Suigetsu. "You gonna be safe here? Do you want me to stay here and take care of you and feed you and all that?"

Suigetsu picked his nails. "Can I come with you?"

Hidan furrowed his brow. "Uh. What?"

"I have something to leave for Itachi," Suigetsu grinned widely. Hidan thought about this for a while.

"Pein will fucking kill me if I showed you where the Akatsuki are," he said. "So I'll have to knock you out before I take you there,"

"Are you sure that's necessa—,"

Suigetsu couldn't finish his sentence, because Hidan had thumped him over the head with the blunt end of his pike.

"Okay. Come on, Itachi's boyfriend,"

Hidan picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. He picked Zanbatou out on his way out and ducked some more as he walked out into the rain.