He wasn't feeling normal.

Usually Sasori didn't care what Deidara did in any shape or form, as long as he didn't blow anything up or be so stupid that it would endanger the mission. He often was, but still. But lately things had changed slightly, and he was starting to care. When Deidara had been getting so concerned over Angel and everything going on with Bokun, he felt the need to ask what was wrong, get into a conversation about what he was feeling even though normally he would have left things as they were, not caring what Deidara thought or felt. Then he was strangely—emotional, if it could be said—of what was happening with Angel, Bokun, and now, the rune, and things were only heightened with the new information. But still, he couldn't fight the inevitable...

They'd have to leave soon.

Sasori himself felt reluctant to do so, with what had happened, right from the beginning, and that Bokun, Angel, the house...they were all connected to the rune somehow. But they had no concrete proof. If they needed to stay, they'd have to find something else that would allow them to; otherwise the mission might as well be over. Sasori found himself searching more thoroughly for something to keep them there. A search that continued out of the library as well. They could still stay in the area while searching for it—it was clear the rune was here—but even Sasori knew they might as well be leaving the River Country altogether. There was just too much of the unknown to truly know how to act upon leaving the house. No matter how hard they tried to make it otherwise. Sasori knew Angel was keeping things from Deidara—something he understood as well. Whether Deidara knew that closer he got to her, the more she pulled away in an effort to protect him, he didn't know. But she wasn't going to be revealing anything. If she did there'd be a conflict. One which Sasori wasn't sure of.

But he had to tell Dei.

So, for the first time during their stay in the mansion, Sasori got up from the library, and began to walk. It took him longer than he thought it would, whether through speed or just by turning the wrong purposefully, but he couldn't fight it much longer, and soon found himself outside the door. Edging closer into the room, he said nothing until Deidara finally turned round, smiling and greeting him, albeit more fatigued than usual. His eyes were tired; his face was strained from all that he was trying to do with Angel. Sasori had known about the dreams he had had; he tossed and turned in his sleep as he had them, and it was obvious he would hear them. And he was wearing the effects of his dreams right out there on his face. It wouldn't affect his fighting skills; the majority of his fatigue attacking his mind, but it affected him still. And he had more to come.

Deidara knew it had been coming that very morning. He knew Sasori had put it off until the last minute, and was extremely grateful for that. But it was the inevitable. And it had come. It wasn't like he could fight it in any sense. Not only would it be fruitless, but he did not have the mental energy to do so. He felt so drained of life he felt like agreeing with everything that was put to him. Sasori's words included. The look on his face as he turned round to greet him was exactly the same as it had been in his dream, albeit without the happy feeling that had been there at the start.

Maybe that had been there to cushion him.

A bit of driftwood acting as hope to cling onto as he drifted into a sea of despair.

Though once again nothing lasted forever. That driftwood had to break; to erode away and leave him with nothing.

The cushioning feeling could only shield him for so long.

And then what would he do?

Sasori's words poured out, starting as facts, trying to turn into something that would comfort him, only to realise he was making no sense. Either that, or he trailed off into silence at the look on Deidara's face, and in his eyes. Or lack of it. Deidara was never a completely emotionless person. Sure, he didn't run around hyper squealing like a little child 24/7—it was only for a few hours of the day—but he didn't bottle everything up. If there was something bothering him, he'd let it show. But not now. There was nothing there. Not one scrap of emotion that would reveal if he was angry about his decision, or upset at them having to leave, or anything.

And so he finished up with a few mumbles, and then stated simply,

"You knew, Deidara."

"I knew," He replied, nodding apathetically, Sasori's statement rousing no reaction from him,

"I knew when things started getting worse. Before you probably even knew. We were deep in the research; had found so much stuff on the rune but couldn't put it together. And I knew we'd need something. A...key, of some sorts. And we wouldn't find it here."

Their silence remained in place for a few good minutes, nothing ever changing on either of their faces. But eventually Sasori stood, stating he needed to collect up all the information they did have, and think about where to go next to fit it all together. Deidara nodded, turning back to the clay—which Sasori noticed was barely touched—without so much as a goodbye, halting only when he called out softly,

"Do you want me to tell Angel...or shall I?"

And without hesitating, Deidara answered,

"I will."

His answer was nothing Sasori hadn't been expecting, but it was the way he said it that was affecting him slightly. His voice went deeper; there was so much hate and sadness and anger in it...but somehow without a trace of emotion in his voice at all. For once in his life, he felt so unsure about what to do, or better yet, about what was happening to Deidara, and as such had to remain a silent presence in the background. A fate which he could do nothing but to accept, and left soon after, as quietly as he appeared.

Deidara wanted him to come back; wanted Angel to appear; wanted to be alone...he didn't know. He craved Angel, wanting to see her for one last time, see if she would be okay—for the most part—and at least try and spot if she would be upset about them leaving. But at the same time, he knew if he saw her he wouldn't know what to do. He'd cried in his dream when seeing Angel die, but leaving her alone would probably have the same effect. He wanted someone to talk to about it—most likely going to be Sasori—but still desired to be alone and debate about so many things in his head. And with the idea that Angel would probably be turning up soon...he returned to poking his clay without actually turning it into anything. It was all he could do to hold on to the hope of the dream, and close his eyes as he thought about it, smiling absentmindedly at the happiness that had filled him as he had had it. That was what he wanted. To live with that feeling constantly.

Only he couldn't.

Because he was leaving her.

When there was something really wrong, and ultimately got worse as he had stayed there.

And he knew he'd be the one standing on the other side of the mirror.

But when it came down to it...

Would anything ever really be okay?