CHAPTER 01

"Really, that thing is a puppet? I actually thought it was you."

"As dumb as you are."

Another mission completed. If one thought joining Akatsuki was a thrill, they were so miserably wrong. The members were allotted missions, mainly those involving recent activities of the hosts of the Tailed Beasts and the conspiring villages; they completed those, rested and were again allotted the same uninteresting missions. After a month or two, those people who occasionally seek change, would get bored to the core. Deidara was one of them, which is why he complained too much and Sasori, well, he wasn't patient with him.

"But then, I don't get it. Why would you hide in that ugly rat's ass, hm?"

"Deidara, do I really have to explain everything? Like you were thrown off-guard knowing this is not my real body, so will be my opponents. Is not that an advantage?"

"Hm, if you say so." Deidara knew if he continued to talk to Sasori the way he casually does, the latter would definitely react. Sasori did not seem the type to say anything concerning himself. All he talked to him about was art and missions.

But Deidara's curiosity was definitely taking the peaks now. If that wasn't how his partner looked, then how did he? If it is true that he is around 35 years old, then he must be a fairly old man, maybe with beard? His creative mind started to imagine the various Sasoris there could be. This imagination took the best of him and he was even more curious than before.

He somehow drank the feelings of intense eagerness and quietly walked the path to the latest Akatsuki hideout. This hideout was located in secluded forest patch near the Village Hidden in the Grass. Akatsuki always chose the small, weak village corners for its hideout. They had to find a place which would not be easily spotted by the Five Great Hidden Villages and which would also allow them to function unimpeded. The Hidden Grass Village allowed them fast access to the Earth, Fire and Wind Countries.

This hideout was a judiciously crafted underground cavern with a narrow entry point. Deidara and Sasori descended down the ragged stairs and spotted a familiar figure swathed in darkness. It was Konan, the leader's partner and messenger.

"So you two have come. How did it go?" Konan spoke coldly, not caring about anything else but results.

"The Five Tails Jinchuriki, Han from the Village Hidden in the Rocks, left for an 8-day long mission in West Boundaries of the Earth Countries. He is going alone, so it is our best chance to capture him." Deidara explained, as Sasori, perhaps, did not even know which Tailed Beast they had to collect information on.

"Good work. I shall inform the leader, while you two should rest. Any orders I receive will be conveyed to you by tomorrow."

Deidara simply nodded and headed towards the rooms in the hideout and Sasori followed. Actually, Deidara had wanted to ask if they were the ones who would be hunting Han down, but asking Konan wasn't a good idea. In front her, he would not dare to act spontaneous.

Most of the hideouts had rooms for at least two pairs to rest and everyone had different rooms. Rock was carved to create a bed-like shape and also a table. There was nothing in the room except for these two carved figures, well, at least that made it seem like a room, not an empty space.

Without a word, the artists parted into their rooms.

Upon entering his room, Deidara shoved his hat off. He hated it most of all! That straw build and the fancy tassels hanging around it were really irritating. He also removed his cloak soon after and rested down on the rock structure. He looked up at the ceiling and fell half-asleep soon after.

Around fifteen minutes later, he remembered something he had to do! What about Sasori's face?

He completely forgot. This was a very good opportunity for him to know what he looked like. He would be resting in his room and all Deidara had to do was take a peek. That couldn't be too tough.

Yeah, sure.

He was up against Sasori of the Red Sand, who was apathetic and downright cruel. What if he never let his guard down in the first place? What if he slept inside that rotten puppet? No, that couldn't be it. Everyone needs to get some air and that puppet would need maintenance too. Too many thoughts started to bottle up in Deidara's mind and when that happened, his fuse would go off.

Whatever. He was still going to try. He snuck out of his room and carefully inspected Sasori's room from outside. He made small clay spiders and left them to crawl over the vertical walls of his room. The spiders were strong enough to dig into the walls, but it took time. The blonde waited patiently until they made a hole in the wall. Soon enough, the spiders were through and a keyhole sized cavity emerged. Deidara put back the spiders in his pouch and leaned in to see through the whole.

Nothing.

The room was empty. Sasori wasn't there. His ugly puppet wasn't there. But that was definitely his room as the hat was placed there.

"And what exactly are you doing, Deidara?"

Yikes. Deidara slowly tilted himself and saw Sasori (still in that useless puppet) glaring at him. Well, as long as he was in that puppet, his eyes always seemed red and creepy. "Uh-uhm, I was just…"

"…trying to know what I truly look like?" That's why he was Sasori! He knew just how impulsive his partner was and had already anticipated his actions. Though the way he was doing it was disturbing.

And there was Deidara, still wondering how in the blue hell was he supposed to respond to that, damn it!? He continued to look awkward and perplexed, just to delay the question.

"Come."

"Huh?" Deidara could not understand that 'come' thing. What? Was he going to show his face? No way. Then was he going to give him a beating or possibly teach him a lesson? Again, Deidara had started overthinking. He shook all his thoughts away and simply followed his partner.

A/N: I have no idea why I decided to publish this or even write this. Well, I am trying. Let's see where this goes and yes, I don't know where I am taking this.