HELLO, MINNA! Wow, after I uploaded Chapter 16, we gained three new followers! WELCOME TO THE FAM, MY LOVES! ^_^ Seriously, your continuous support is outrageous. On a side note: this is just me bringing a serious note on my end, as an author. One thing I see sometimes is when people click on long stories, but only read the chapters with the smut scenes, especially if they're specifically looking for smut (i.e. they're looking at only M-Rated fics), without reading the rest of the story, which isn't fair to the author, because they put so much time and effort into their stories, ESPECIALLY if it's a long one. I'm not pointing any fingers or calling anyone out on here. I do sincerely hope that if you're reading this story, you're reading ALL OF IT, and not just the smut scenes and moving on with your life. But I'm also hoping that I'm not coming off as sounding rude and harsh; to the regulars that have been here since day one and to those who have joined and I KNOW you've read all of it, I'm not speaking to you. I'm just hoping what all I'm saying is making sense to you all. Again, I don't want to come off as an asshole for speaking up about my concerns. But anyways, back to the story! With the incident that just occurred, what will happen? Chapter 17 is up and ready! Enjoy and Rate and Review, onegai! :3

Monday Afternoon…

Deidara clicked away on the laptop in his office. It was a bright, clear day for November; the sun had just reached its mid-way peak, with puffy, white clouds dotting the baby blue sky around it. The loud thrum of traffic was silenced by the thickly-panned windows and also because he was on the 24th floor of the HQ building for Iwa Stratos.

So far it had been an easy day. The normal morning meeting with the sales reps to discuss new ideas and deals with the different businesses Iwa Stratos was partnered with, lunch with Hidan at the usual café near work, and just an hour ago, a video meeting with an international business leader to talk about updates in sales in their country.

It was all about keeping the industry on top.

Suddenly, Deidara found his mind wandering.

To yesterday…and Sasori's confession.

He had been expecting an explanation, but certainly not to the scale his roommate had given. It had almost felt like he had laid everything out on a serving dish, throwing as much as his could onto that plate until he was stripped naked and could do nothing else but wait for a reaction.

Deidara had even shocked himself by his actions after the confession, what with going over and hugging him and placing a gentle kiss on his neck.

He gripped his hair in his hands.

Gah! Why had he done that?!

(Because you feel the same way)

Shut up, no he didn't!

(Yes you do)

No. He. Didn't.

(Denying will only make it worse)

He wasn't denying anything.

(Yes you are)

No he wasn't!

(Yes. You. Are-)

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and he looked over towards it. "Come in, un."

Without hesitation, Ino marched in and began speaking. "Today has been so exhausting with all these meetings, don't you think, Dei?"

"There hasn't been that many and don't call me Dei, un," he responded, still typing on his laptop. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched his cousin march over and slap the top of his computer down. He sighed. "I was writing up an important document, Ino, un."

"Never mind the document right now, Deidara," she exclaimed, slamming a thick manila folder in front of him, "we have more important matters to discuss."

"Which are, un?"

She came over and sat on his desk, much like how a secretary would in order to seduce her boss. However, Deidara paid no mind to this act as he took the folder in his hands and opened it.

"For the past two weeks, Daddy has been venturing towards a new partnership with a local company," Ino began to explain. "He and the company's owner have had multiple meetings within the last week and just today, they finally made a deal. The company is called HelioTech. Ever heard of it?"

"Y-yeah, un. It's where Sasori works," Deidara remarked.

"Who's Sasori?"

"My roommate, un," he gave his cousin an annoyed look. He had told her before that he had gotten a roommate with moving into the penthouse.

She waved her hand at him. "Details, details. Anyways, HelioTech is a very well-known computer programming company that Daddy thinks will benefit Iwa Stratos in the long run."

"We have enough computer programmers under our wing; we don't need anymore, un. And please stop calling our boss 'Daddy.'"

"But he is 'Daddy.'"

"He isn't mine, un."

"You're never this moody. Are you PMSing or something?" the glare from the older male was enough of an answer for her. "Fine, fine, I'll stop. So our boss wants HelioTech to join the industry."

"And how will that profit us in the long run, un?"

"It's all in the paperwork," she tapped the folder with a manicured index finger. "Predicted sales numbers and statistics for the next 10 years show I.S. thriving with this new partnership. Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to this deal."

At the sound of her voice, Deidara turned his gaze up to her face, studying her expression; it was unreadable, but held a note of defensiveness. He knitted his brows together. "What is it, un?"

"As you said, we have enough programmers under our wing," Ino began, not meeting his eyes as she spoke, which was a very bad sign for the male. "Mr. Iwa relayed that information to the owner of HelioTech, saying that if they joined I.S., they would have too many programmers to handle. So…they came up with an agreement."

"Ino, I'm not liking where this is going, un."

"Then you're going to hate what I'm going to say next," she murmured, finally looking at him. Her eyes were filled with regret. "The agreement they made was this: as long as the owner was fine with losing at least 20 employees under his wing, he would get the full amount of money he was asking for, for his company; enough money to retire comfortably in the suburbs."

As the information processed in Deidara's brain, he began to feel fear creep into his body, slithering its icy way into his veins and quickly working its way into every extended limb, instantly turning him numb with dread. His heart began racing as he flipped through the folder until he reached the page he was looking for, swallowing the cotton ball-sized lump in his throat as he scanned the words on the white paper.

"Ino, you can't be serious, un?!" he gaped up at her. "Some of the employees on this list have been working there for over ten years."

"And we have programmers that have been working for us for over twenty," she countered back. "Losing a few workers will not hurt us, Deidara. The sales and statistics take those losses into account."

"What about their families, their livelihood, un?" he stood up, towering over his cousin's 5'2" frame, glaring. "News flash, Ino, not everyone comes from a privileged past like yourself. Some of them have actually had to work their asses off to get the job they have, un. And taking it away from them without a shred of remorse is wrong."

"Last time I checked, you also come from a privileged past, so don't preach things like that when you can't even relate to it!" she yelled, standing her ground. She got off the desk and strode over to the door. With her hand on the knob, she twisted to look back at her cousin. "There is a rule when working for a company, Deidara: never mix business with friendship. The industry, the company, it all comes first. Sure it may suck sometimes, the decisions we CEOs have to make, but at the end of the day, if it benefits the company, then the decision must be dealt with accordingly. Mr. Iwa has already signed the partnership, but needs the CEOs' signatures as well. I have already signed it because I know what's good for Iwa Stratos. You don't need to make a decision right away. You have three weeks starting today to make one. But know this: if you sign it, I.S. with thrive and you'll gain the respect you deserve as Co-CEO. But if you don't and refuse, the partnership will fall, along with any chances I.S. may have at gaining a lead in the technological race every country is fighting in right now. I'm sorry this decision has been left in your hands, but this is the job of a CEO. Sometimes we have to make hard choices for another's benefit. We're hosting a party next weekend for HelioTech to have the employees meet some of our own in order to make good relations once we partner with them."

And she left with that, her last remark almost like a jab to Deidara, who was still staring after her like a lost puppy. It wasn't even cold in the office and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as an icy chill went down his spine, igniting goosebumps to appear on his skin.

Gazing back down at the paper, he grinded his teeth together in frustration, rage, and anger.

He knew he had to sign it.

It was for the good of the industry.

So what was stopping him?

Easy.

Sasori's name was on that list.

"Everyone, may I please have your attention?!" Sasori looked up from his computer to see the owner, Mr. Sato, standing over by the entranceway to his office. His wire-rimmed glasses were perched near the end of his nose, which he pushed back up to the bridge with two fingers, his dark brown eyes scanning the faces of the awaiting crowd to make sure they were listening before continuing. "I have important news to discuss with you all!"

Without warning, a large crash resounded from the printing room along with a few bangs before the door busted open and Tobi sprinted out. "Sasori-senpai, the printer is broken! I tried printing out a large order, but then the printer started beeping, so I thought-"

"Mr. Uchiha!" Mr. Sato yelled, gaining the attention of the intern. Sasori hid his face in his hands, knowing full well that the crowd's gaze was on him. He heard Tobi cough lightly in embarrassment. "My apologies, Mr. Sato."

"Anyways, as I was explaining, the reason I have interrupted your routine schedule is to announce a partnership that will most likely be happening within the next month."

Sasori knitted his brows together in confusion.

"I have been discussing this partnership with the other owner for a few weeks now and we both believe that joining forces will help our companies in the long run."

The redhead stood up and walked out of his cubicle to hear the owner better.

"It is with my pleasure that I have decided to partner up with the worldly known company, Iwa Stratos," cheers and applause erupted all around him as the news hit the employees' ears.

However, Sasori wasn't celebrating with everyone else.

Iwa Stratos?

Wasn't that where Deidara worked?

He remembered the night the brat finally told him where he worked. They had both been in the living room, watching a T.V. show he couldn't remember.

"Hey, Sasori, un?"

"What is it?"

"I…haven't told you where I worked…have I, un?"

"No…you haven't, actually," he had looked over at his roommate, noticing the hesitation in his eyes. He had taken a deep breath before speaking. "I'm…Co-CEO at Iwa Stratos, un."

Sasori remembered feeling shocked, his eyes wide. "Geez, what's your salary, then?"

"…$1.4 million, un?"

"Holy fuck, brat," he had breathed out, running a hand through his hair. "But I mean, with that much money, surely you didn't need a roommate, right?"

"You're right on that, un. I didn't need a roommate," Deidara had exclaimed. "But Itachi said getting one would help with the cost of the penthouse, so I figured I could give having a roommate another shot, un."

"And how is that turning out to be for you?" he remembered asking that with hesitation. Deidara had gazed at him with a playful expression. "I don't know, un. I guess we'll see."

The blonde had told him that about two weeks into living together. Sasori couldn't understand why he had been so hesitant to tell him about his job. Had he been worried about what the redhead would say?

Possibly.

Deidara seemed like the kind of person to have everyone else's best interests at heart, first, before his own, which was good, cause it meant that the brat actually cared about other people, but it was also bad, cause it meant he rarely focused on what made him happy, besides his art.

And with the issues he dealt with on a regular basis…no wonder he got so fucked up, both physically and mentally.

"Mr. Akasuna!"

Through the still cheering and celebrating employees, Sasori heard his name called. He turned his gaze over to Mr. Sato, who was gazing right back at him with a smile on his face. "May I speak with you in my office?"

Sasori entered the room without hesitation and sat down, waiting for the owner to join him. He closed the door and went behind the giant, modern-looking desk to perch himself in the swivel chair. A few seconds of silence were exchanged while the two just looked at each other, much to the redhead's discomfort. He fidgeted in his chair. "So…why was it that you called me in here, sir?"

"Why do you think I called you in here?"

"Um…I'm getting a pay-raise?"

Mr. Sato laughed.

Hmph…of course he would laugh.

"Mr. Akasuna, you're thinking too big here," the owner chuckled. "What I'm here to discuss with you is your appearance."

"My appearance, sir?"

"You know, all the…piercings and…'hipster'-style clothes? You know…those?"

"I understand what you mean by appearance, sir, but I must say that it hasn't caused much of an issue since I've been working here."

"And I understand that, but here's where you must compromise with me for just once."

"…Alright? What is it?"

"Iwa Stratos is holding a sort of…get together, a…party, per say, in celebration of the future partnership with us. It's meant for us to meet the other employees you all will be working with," Mr. Sato explained, smiling.

"Wait, so…the partnership hasn't officially happened yet?" Sasori asked.

"No, it hasn't. I'm still waiting on the Co-CEOs' decisions."

So either it was Ino or Deidara holding off on deciding, huh?

"Okay, so what does a party have to do with my appearance?"

"For one night, Mr. Sasori Akasuna, I am asking you to look your most professional and formal for this party," Mr. Sato leaned on the desk with his elbows for emphasis, studying the redhead. "This is a chance for I.S. to view the employees that will be working under their name in the future. You need to make a good impression."

Annoyance crept its way up through Sasori's body at those words.

His boss was asking him to change who he was for the sake of not soiling the HelioTech name in front of such a high-rated company.

Just like all the other assholes in his life before him.

Through the anger that was beginning to seep out of his pores, he forced himself to smile at Mr. Sato. "Of course, sir. I will look my top shape for the party then."

"Excellent!" Mr. Sato clapped his hands together, grinning. "Now, I must ask you to get back to work. The program's deadline is this Friday."

"Of course, sir," with a nod of his head, the pierced male exited the office and more or less stomped back to his cubicle, where he plopped onto his own swivel chair and began writing a new line of code.

"Heyyyyy…psst…Sasori-senpai?"

"What is it that you want, Tobi?" Sasori glared at the wall he knew the intern was behind. "You almost got me in trouble back there."

"Sorry, senpai, I was just freaking out over the printer," Tobi explained, voice low so as not to draw attention to the two. "But what was it that the boss man wanted to talk to you about?"

"None of your business, Tobi. Now leave me alone, alright? I need to concentrate," Sasori exclaimed, not hearing another word from the intern.

In the silence, his senses became hyper aware. His ears picked up the distant sound of a telephone ringing and someone answering with the normal greeting, the insistent clicking of fingertips against keyboards, and the silent thrum of a fan not too far off in another cubicle. His nose picked up the faint scent of coffee that had been made about an hour ago, the slight smell of cheap perfume as a woman walked by, and the faint odor of drying ink from freshly printed papers. His eyes were glued to the screen, watching as new lines of code appeared in rapid fire succession, filling the page before he went on to a new one. He felt the sensation of his tongue piercing clicking against the backside of his upper teeth, and all his senses suddenly became hyper aware of that one thing. His ears heard the familiar click against enamel, his taste buds recognized the metallic flavor of the bar, and the roof of his mouth felt the metal's cold surface against its rippled terrain.

And suddenly…he wished to have Tobi's annoying chatter fill his ears instead.

The silence was all but too loud for his comfort.