A/N: Ayyyeyeeeeeee. First of all, major thanks to DragonFire44 for giving me the motivation I needed to finish this fucking chapter. I apologize once more for how relatively long it takes me to update, but I'm currently undergoing therapy and hospital visits to determine whether or not I have to go back as an inpatient. Anyway, reviews make me update quicker just FYI ;D. Alright, Enjoy diz chapter.

Mirror, Mirror

Obsidian flames licked the surface of the concrete, molten cracks crisscrossing the stone like the threads of a spider's web. The air was sweltering, sweat pooling on the forehead of the unconscious blonde that rested in Tobi's arms, despite the former chill of the night that still lingered just beyond the borders of the flames—the hungering cold just biding its time until it could once more claim the flesh of the frail blonde.

Tobi however, was oblivious to anything that wasn't the boy in his arms or the man standing before him—crimson meeting scarlet as the two glowered at one another, eyes brimming with hatred, despite the flames threatening to consume them.

Tobi's body was exhausted—he wasn't used to exerting himself like this as of late—each muscle quivering as the laden burden of fatigue began to weave its way into each tendon. However, he knew he didn't have time to dwell on his own well-being. Deidara was all that mattered in this moment; that, and keeping him away from Itachi no matter the cost.

Itachi looked just as exhausted as Tobi, blood slowly trickling from his eyes and from one corner of his lips, a testament, perhaps, to just how far Tobi had pushed him.

It hadn't been ideal from the start, a lord of the dragons taking on a vampire lord; however, Deidara had changed all that. There was no length Tobi would go to for Deidara—the very thought terrified him. Deidara had no idea the true influence he possessed over him; all he would have to do is breathe a word, and Tobi would slaughter anyone to get what it was he requested… Truly frightening indeed.

The two men regarded each other in silence, both beginning to grow sober as the realization of what they had done sunk in. They were brothers; two comrades bound to protect one another in the heat of combat—just one of the many edicts that were enforced once one joined the Akatsuki.

They had broken a solemn vow, but neither one would breathe a word of it to anyone. Itachi regarded Tobi with a pained, almost forlorn expression. His eyes still bore the intense hatred akin to that of a feral beast that had been denied its prey, but there was an edge of softness to them now.

Itachi realized how important Deidara was to him—how long Tobi had to sit idly by as Sasori abused, violated, and treated him as little more than trash. However, there was nothing that could be done. Deidara had yet to recover his memories of the past, and, even more importantly, the Akatsuki still deemed him as little more than a "loose end."

"You know," Itachi finally spoke, his words caught in between each ragged breath, "you really messed things up this time, Tobi." He paused, gazing at the man for any sign of objection or warning. Satisfied that Tobi would hear him out, he continued pressing. "I know you care about Deidara, believe me. I won't even touch on the matter in terms of what he's been through… but, you know as well as I do…"

"Enough," Tobi cut him off, even though Itachi's words had already begun to falter. Neither one wanted to voice the words—for Tobi couldn't bear to hear it any more than Itachi could bear to be the one to speak them.

Despite their battle, despite the way that Tobi had nearly killed him in his fervor to retrieve the young blonde, Itachi couldn't help but pity him.

"Alright. We won't speak on the matter anymore." Itachi nodded briskly, his scarlet eyes suddenly heavy with exhaustion that one wouldn't expect an undead to be capable of feeling. The shadowy flames that had thus far surrounded them slowly began to dissipate; they had both used enormous reserves of magic, and at this point, neither one could continue the fight.

In spite of the temporary ceasefire, Itachi smirked, masking his agitation behind his façade of confidence and cool. Aside from a little heavy breathing and exhaustion, he hadn't even managed to scratch Tobi.

Of course, Itachi hadn't been aiming to kill him, but still—to survive his entire onslaught, restrained as it may have been, but suffer no external or noticeably internal wounds… was very impressive.

Itachi wished he had fared as well. Blood was still trickling from his lips, a slightly heavier flow coming from his eyes, and his body felt as if it had been throw through a hurricane.

Tobi was certainly a curious fellow, but for him to display such intense interest, Deidara must be even more curious.

Tobi sighed, readjusting the pale body in his arms gently so that the blonde was now being cradled rather than grasped. He turned to leave but paused, glancing back at the scarlet-eyed vampire behind him.

"How long until they send someone?" He said flatly.

"You have a week, maybe two at the absolute best." Itachi sighed. "I can reassure that this matter won't take precedence over other tasks at the organization; Kisame will side with me if I speak to him on the matter.

Kisame. One of the elves volatile experiments gone rogue. He was an incredibly powerful entity, more beast than man, but Tobi knew that he would take Itachi's side no matter what—he secretly harbored the notion that Itachi had turned him into a thrall… it was certainly within his ability.

"Right I-I am sorry, Itachi. Thing never should have gotten out of hand like this." Tobi turned his back and started walking, pausing once more. "Thank you." Then, in a distorted blur, he was gone.

"You're welcome…" Itachi said solemnly. He turned, beginning his journey toward the border of the city. Having numerous Akatsuki agents in the same proximity was bad for business. Eventually, despite their abhorrent fear of the organization, the cities would get involved, and that would just be one thing Itachi didn't need to deal with. Feet not making a sound as he began his trek, hands in his back pockets, eyes gazing up at the moon just faintly visible behind a smoky cloud, Itachi sighed. "I just hope you know what you are getting yourself into."

Ice traced across Deidara's flesh, the hair on his arms coalescing with frost, and his body was frigid—his very organs and veins enveloped in a shimmering casing of permafrost. His body moved like that of a machine that hadn't been oiled in what may have been centuries, and his eyes were glassy; the irises glazed over with a sheen of slick rime that prevented him from looking away from the man before him.

"Sasori, of the Red Sand…" The words left Deidara's lips of their own volition, despite the fact that he had no idea of their true meaning. All he knew was that he had known this man before… before the hell that he had put him through.

"So, you finally remembered something eh?" the man, shaggy red hair rustling as his shoulders moved in line with his chuckling. "I was beginning to think you were lost in there."

Deidara said nothing. His hatred burned within his chest, but the fire within in him was all but extinguished by Sasori's presence. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and slam his fists into Sasori's jaw, but the ice continued to envelop him, slowly climbing up his body as it formed frozen chrysalis around his being.

"Silent treatment huh?" Sasori smirked, his pupils enlarging within the hazel depths of his irises. "I suppose that can be expected. I wasn't exactly friendly toward you… however, know that what I've done was simply me following orders." Sasori stepped forward, and Deidara tried to recoil; however, the ice encasing his body prevented him from shifting in the slightest. A hand was suddenly placed against his cheek, and Deidara found himself gazing into Sasori's eyes—glacial blue meeting coffee brown in an intense stare.

"I did these things because I cared about you…" Sasori whispered quietly, his very breath a plume of frigid mist. "Despite these macabre orders, I really don't want to kill you…"

Deidara's blood ran cold—if such a thing was even possible at this point. "Kill… me…?" He regarded the red-haired man with a look of horror, and… almost excitement? Regardless of the hell Sasori had put him through, there was never a time when he feared for his life while he was in his company; however, to think, that Sasori had just vocalized an intention that thus far had gone over Deidara's head.

An end to his suffering—he was almost hopeful.

Deidara didn't want to die… not innately at least. However, his existence, pained as it had been, had taken a toll upon his mind, psyche, and very body. Even though he wanted nothing more than to emerge from his cocoon a shining phoenix stripped away from its tumultuous past, he had always doubted that he would possess the strength for such a thing.

And here before him, Sasori had voiced the words, in a way that held almost no threat behind them. He was simply stating a fact, and Deidara almost found solace in this. Finally, for the first time, there was nothing before him but an inherent truth. He craved it, he coveted it, and he desired it… but, what would he leave behind? Sasori hadn't even stated that he was going to kill him. He just said that it was an order he had received but was neglecting to follow through upon.

"So do it." Deidara breathe at last. "Kill me." Deidara laughed darkly, his eyes fogging over with more frost as his very emotions took on an icy chill. "It would be the only kindness you've ever shown me."

At this, Sasori winced—no, almost recoiled—as if Deidara had finally struck a nerve in his unfeeling mannequin of a being. His eyes softened, with… remorse? Deidara laughed at this prospect. His unwavering tormentor, feeling pity for all the shit he had put him through. It was truly laughable indeed.

"Deidara… I don't want to." Sasori said finally, his broken words breaking the silence. "I… I lov—"

Deidara screamed, and the world shattered; the icy calmness fracturing like a mirror meeting a sledgehammer in a whisper sweet kiss.

Tobi gazed down at the pale blonde sleeping restlessly in his bed—another nightmare no doubt. With a pained expression, he gently sat on the edge of the bedside, careful not to disturb the sleeping form as his eyes took on a mournful expression. He wished he could go inside his brain and fight away every last fear that tormented the blonde in what seemed to be a ceaseless war. However, he would have to settle for this; a quiet night with the moon behind the clouds, and a gentle warmth radiating from the frail body before him.

With an extremely delicate motion, Tobi pulled back the hood on his cloak—raven hair nearly glowing in the pale silver of the moon, and, cautiously leaning forward, he placed his lips upon Deidara's cheek and kissed him.

Standing up, suddenly overcome with intense emotions, and an almost primal hunger to crawl into bed with the blonde and make him forget about everything that wasn't his overwhelming love, Tobi walked out of the room, silent footsteps reverberating in the empty penthouse, and headed towards the bathroom where a hot shower awaited to wash away the grime and memories of the night.

Shutting the door behind him, Tobi stripped off his clothes and briefly glanced at his reflection in the no-longer shattered mirror. His face looked haggard, as if he hadn't slept in weeks rather than just a few days. His eyes were still full of that mournful longing that he wished would just bury itself away back where it once dwelled.

Sighing as he slowly stripped away his clothing, Tobi clambered into the shower, shutting the crystalline glass door shut behind him. His body was exhausted—he didn't want to admit it, but his fight with Itachi had worn him out. He hadn't received any internal or external damage, but it had been quite a while since Tobi had exerted himself to that extent.

Well, no point in dwelling on that I suppose. Tobi turned on the hot water tap and let his mind go blank; the only sound existing in the world in this moment the water gushing from the showerhead.

I wonder if Deidara is okay…? I mean… what did he see? What does he remember? Itachi had said that he was unable to feed upon him… Tobi's anger suddenly flared up at the thought, his body feeling hotter than the water as his rage boiled inside him. Despite the fact that Itachi was unable to go through with feeding, the very thought that he had even tried that on Tobi's heart and soul infuriated him to the core.

Dismissing the feelings, Tobi allowed his mind to go blank once more. The water was warm—hot even—but Tobi suddenly felt nothing but a biting chill. He had been unable to protect Deidara when he had needed him; he had driven the young blonde away from him due to a stupid mistake. Would he trust him again? Would he feel safe with him again?

Would he ever love him?

The woman's cobalt hair came to rest at her shoulders, a wistful expression framing her face as she gazed out into the chilling night air of the city.

"So, how long until he is ready Konan?"

"It's difficult to say," the woman replied solemnly, amber eyes regarding the man before her with a forlorn gaze. "One, perhaps two weeks—though, we both know Tobi won't have any of it…"

"Leave him to me Konan," the man affirmed. "He has always been volatile, but he is no match for me in his current state."

Konan froze, her lips threatening to give away her true fears, but, summoning the entirety of her willpower, she kept her face in its emotionless stone.

"Pain…" Konan's voice was trembling, but her desire to protect what was most precious to her heart kept the fires within her alive. "Tobi isn't the same person he once was. I honestly don't know how to explain it, but… he has changed… He is far stronger than you and I remember."

Pain regarded Konan is silence for a while—rippled irises devoid of all emotion. "How do you know this to be true."

"You of all people know the extent of my ability." Konan muttered, her voice barely a whisper. "I have been monitoring Tobi's aura levels, and there is a darkness to it… something that we haven't encountered before."

"Konan, you and I are the only Seraphs in existence—at least to our knowledge—and you want to tell me that a mere dragon has obtained the power to destroy us? How can that be possible?"

"Deidara."

"Excuse me?" Pain asked incredulously.

"You and I both know what Deidara is. We are the only two in existence who are aware of his true nature. Not even Tobi knows, but, I believe that Tobi took it upon himself to further his own power through the use of—"

"Demons?" Pain said levelly.

"No, his power is greater than even one of the three kings'. I believe he has become a Reaper."

Pain's eyebrows rose, but he face remained deadpan.

"Such beings haven't existed in—"

"I know what I felt, Nagato." She regretted it as soon as the words left her lips, but there was no containing the emotions.

"Konan… you know better than to speak that name aloud."

"Forgive me, Pain." Konan amended, "I have spoken out of turn."

Pain regarded Konan with a solemn gaze, the woman unable to meet his eyes. "So Tobi has become a Reaper you say?" Pain sighed, his words finally breaking the silence. "Then I am left with no choice in the matter."

"You can't mean?"

"Inform the members of the Akatsuki," Pain breathed, "if what you say is true, I cannot allow Tobi to persist. Prepare the Six Paths."

"I understand, Pain." Years of maintaining an impassive demeanor was all that prevented Konan's words from betraying her true feelings. Tobi was a wanted man now—there was no getting past it. However, she owed him one last favor, and she intended to honor her arrangement.

To defy the will of god was never an easy task, but Konan promised herself that she would warn Tobi of the impending danger.

And then, as was her duty as a Seraph, she would chase him to the ends of the earth and tear him limb from limb until he was nothing but a memory…

Cold… It was always so cold. No matter where he was the world just seemed to freeze into a glacial silence when it was forced to bear his presence. His body was accustomed to the eternal numbness that was his existence, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. His entire being bled silver, and the world around him was torn between nothingness and an overpowering, overwhelming deluge of life. He was in dangerland, the borderlands that were off the edge of the map… any moment his heart could…

"Deidara," Tobi's voice was the only thing that seemed to free Deidara from his trances as of late—not that he minded this fact; it was just disconcerting to know that his subconscious relied so heavily on another person.

Deidara was used to suffering in silence, used to having no one to fall back on but himself, and then Tobi had appeared and warped this significantly.

"I'm awake…" Deidara whispered after a long silence, more to convince himself he was tangible rather than an effort to reply.

"I didn't know where you were, and I was just so worried—did he hurt you—Deidara I'm…"

"Tobi, please don't—"

"I am sorry, Deidara," Tobi interjected. "I am sorry for what happened between us, and I am sorry that I hurt you, that I made you feel anything other than safety in my presence."

"You don't have to apologize," Deidara said silently, his eyes slowly blinking open for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. "Tobi… thank you. If you hadn't shown up… I don't know what might have happened?"

Deidara turned his head toward where Tobi's voice had emanated, his eyes coming to meet crimson irises filled with remorse. Deidara regarded Tobi, his face once again concealed by his trademark cloak, and Deidara couldn't help but smile.

He worries so much… it's endearing.

"Deidara, are you hurt?" Tobi asked steadily. Footsteps echoed silently across the cold floors, and Tobi was suddenly beside Deidara, a glove hand coming to brush his hair away from his neck.

Tobi's expression was almost entirely unreadable, but Deidara assumed that the lack of reaction meant one of two things: either there was no injury worth noting, or he was fatally wounded, and Tobi was simply trying to retain a calm demeanor. Deidara guessed the former since his body wasn't indicating any signs of distress.

"I'm fine," Deidara sighed, earning a menagerie of protests from Tobi as he slowly sat up.

"Deidara you shouldn't be moving, you—"

"—Tobi." Deidara said, slightly forcefully, "we both know that, for whatever reason, I'm okay. If you really want to worry, you should be panicking over why I haven't sustained any injuries. Honestly, I don't know what to think… I mean I know that man hurt me… but, nothing is wrong with me…"

Deidara felt his voice falter, exerting every ounce of willpower he had to suppress the deluge of tears that were threatening to come forth.

"What's wrong with me Tobi?"

Tobi's eyes once more held that sorrowful gaze; his eyes two bottomless wells of blood that held nothing but pain and regret in their depths.

"Deidara, nothing is—"

"Enough with the bullshit, Tobi," Deidara finally snapped, a torrent of emotions coursing through his veins as the world seemed to blur together. "You buy me in some sex trafficking deal, yet you don't touch me. You do everything you can to protect me, but you won't tell me why. You worry about my health, yet if I died it would have no impact on your life. Tell me what the fuck is going on… please." The last word held nothing but his vulnerability, and Deidara inwardly cursed at himself for allowing Tobi to glimpse how broken he truly was.

After what seemed like centuries, Tobi broke the silence. "So… you want to know the truth… everything?"

"Yes," Deidara pleaded, once more on the verge of tears, "I want to know why you took interest in me of all people, and why you feel the way you do…"

Tobi sighed, eyes maintaining their indifferent regret. "Very well, I will tell you everything, Deidara. I just hope you know what you are stepping into…"