Upsetting Information

[Deidara]

The muffled sound of the waterfall was behind them, hiding the entrance to the Akatsuki base. Deidara walked down the dark hall, slower than he usually would have. He wasn't looking forward to giving Leader-sama the information that Kaida and himself were asked to collect. Part of him thought he might even know about their little trip back, for Deidara's personal reasons. He hoped that he didn't though, otherwise he didn't know what the consequences would be.

Their footsteps made small clacking sounds against the ground as they neared their leader. "This will be... interesting, hm..."

[Kaida Hinote]

Kaida's pace was identical to Deidara's as they slowly made their way through the base, time counting down to the moment when they would be face to face with their Leader. She could already invision his piercing eyes boring into Deidara's and her own as they unveiled the bad news.

She was also dreading the possibility of him being aware that they delayed his recieving of this information by going back to Iwagakure. Her fears were deepened even more when she thought that Deidara could be, and probably would be, punished for something she had suggested. She looked over at him walking next to her, and she was suddenly enraged at herself for coming up with such an idea that could get him severely chastised.
But moments later, she remembered the way that Deidara had smiled when he had seen his family, and the furious red that had swelled up in her eyes was overcome by a tranquil turquoise.

Reluctance and anxiety brought a lush forest green to her eyes, though flecks of indigo still lingered, as did the memory of Deidara seeing his family again, as Deidara commented at the event that was to occur momentarily.

She sighed, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Interesting wasn't the word I had in mind..." she admitted.
They turned down another hallway, reaching the end of it, and they found themselves standing in front a rather large door. Kaida inhaled deeply, while trying to prepare herself, both mentally and physically, for what was to come.

[Deidara]

Deidara stopped as Kaida did, in front of the large door. He looked forward at it for a few moments, trying to think of excuses for Kaida and himself to leave, but he knew they would have to see him sooner or later.

He looked beside him at Kaida, watching her dark green eyes for a second. He gave her a small, encouraging smile, though he wasn't very confident himself. He knocked on the door a couple times, then hesitantly opened it.

[Kaida Hinote]

Kaida's emerald eyes met with Deidara's cerulean ones. She returned his faint, reassuring smile, though uneasiness still coarsed through her. She followed through the doorway after Deidara after he pushed the heavy door open.

They crept into the room, barely lit by the torches that clung to the dark walls. Kaida scanned the room, catching sight of the last person she wanted to see at the moment. Pein was seated behind a sinister-looking desk, his elbows resting on its surface, hands pressed together, as if he were praying. His forehead rested on the tips of his fingers, his closed eyes directed towards the wooden exterior of the desk. By his composure, she could depict that he was already irritated.

Great. I already know how this is going to go... she scoffed to herself. She stopped a good few feet from the edge of the desk, trying to put as much distance between herself and, as she exaggerated, death. On the other hand, she tried to remain as close as she inconspicuouly could to Deidara; she firgured, if push came to shove, neither of them would be too far away to help the other.

The trio was swallowed by a heavy silence, attempting to crush the 2 bearers of bad news. Moments ticked by, the silence seeming to scream, before a voice washed it away.

"So you've returned," Leader-sama stated.

"Yes, Leader-sama..." Kaida replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"What do you have for me?"

Kaida glanced over at Deidara, sending him a 'do-you-want-to-start-or-should-I' look.

[Deidara]

Deidara's hopes of Leader-sama not taking out his anger on them dwindled even more once he saw his irritated posture, resting his forehead on his hands like he had a headache, or was stressed.

The silence seemed to last forever, and it made Deidara's gaze shift from their leader to the floor uncomfortably. Once he spoke, his attention returned.

Deidara looked at Kaida the same time she glanced over at him, then he looked forward again at Pein and started to explain.

"It seems like the Leaf Village is spreading information about the Akatsuki," Deidara started, trying to keep a tone confidence in his voice. "Apparently Itachi-san was spotted in Konoha when we captured Tikani and Kakashi, hn." Pein's grim expression made Deidara want to look at the ground again, but he refused and kept his attention forward. He neglected to tell him that Hidan and Kakuzu might have been spotted as well.

[Kaida Hinote]

Kaida watched Pein cautiously as Deidara explained, expecting him to snap at anytime. She tensed, as Leader-sama's expression intensified, his cold eyes snapping open to look at the both of them. Chills surged through her body as this happened, and she tried not to visibly shudder. Kaida took note that Deidara had left out the instance where Hidan and Kakuzu had been spotted on their last mission. She swallowed her trepidation before she opened her mouth to report.

"That's not all..."she began. "There is also a possibility that Hidan-san and Kakuzu-san had also been seen during their mission in Suna."

Pein's eyes shut again, seemingly in an attempt to keep his cool. She could feel the tension rise in the air, and she anticipated the moment when all hell would break loose. She turned her gaze to her feet, ready to submit herself to pain.

"Is that so?" Kaida snapped her suprised, orange eyes back to Pein. Where was the screaming? Where was the torture? Not that she wanted any of that; it just wasn't she was expecting at all. Maybe he was saving his anger for Hidan, Kakuzu, and Itachi.

Pein rose from his seat, and Kaida had an urge to take a protective step back, but she refraimed from doing so. He made his way around the desk to cross over to the 2 before him. The frazzled Leader loomed about 3 feet from them, irritation clear on his face.

"Now, I have another mission for the both of you..." he informed them. His already furious glower became more frightening before he added,"But, I am not sure if that is such a good idea, considering our current situation. And I also fear..."
He took another step closer.
"..that the 2 of you will neglect your duties as you have done on this past mission."
Alarming red washed over jade as slight panic set in behind Kaida's straight face.
He knew.

[Deidara]

Deidara glanced over at Kaida when she informed Leader-sama about Hidan and Kakuzu being spotted as well. He was suprised she said anything about it. It would anger him more, and he was just waiting for him to snap, mentally preparing ways to either calm him down or get the hell out of there.

But instead he acted calm. At least, a lot more calm than Deidara was expecting. He was thinking the same as Kaida; that Leader-sama was just saving the lecturing for Itachi, Hidan, and Kakuzu. But he still didn't know what to expect. He watched his movements carefully, and nervously.

His visible eye widened at Leader-sama's reference to their previous mission, and how they'd 'neglected their duties'. Panic raced all the way through Deidara's body. He couldn't look Pein straight in the eyes anymore, and he averted his gaze to the floor.
"I'm truely sorry, Leader-sama, that was my mistake, hn. I wanted to go back for personal reasons, and that's not what the mission was for." He said, trying to save Kaida the blame. "It won't happen again." He added, trying to finish the subject so neither Kaida nor Pein could say anything more about it. He looked forward again at Leader-sama, hoping he would stay calm and collected like he had been before.

[Kaida Hinote]

Kaida's eyes were wide as Deidara admitted why they had gone back to the village, though she had a feeling he already knew the reason. She tried to cut in on various occasions, to clarify that it was her idea to go back. But when she heard 'it won't happen again', she knew that there was no room for her explination.
Why is he doing this? I'm the one who suggested to go back. She thought to herself frantically, as she watched Pein cross the short distance to stand immediately in front of Deidara.

She could feel herself become extremely edgy, her once plain, scarlet eyes now bearing a ring of jet black around the rims of her irises. She felt that if he snapped, she would too, even though she was well aware she was no match for him. But at least it would, hopefully, spare Deidara a brutal beating. She continued to watch, senses hightened to detect any sign of him losing it.

"You're right, Deidara," Pein hissed. "It will NOT happen again." Kaida observed as Pein's eyes drilled into Deidara's, attempting to make him feel small. Though this action was directed towards Deidara, the affect was working on her.

"You're emotions are getting the better of you...both of you." Kaida felt herself jolt slightly when Pein's eyes flashed over to her.
"You will both go to Konohagakure. You will find out any other information crucial to our existance. Also, discover who has all the facts about us, and take them out. Do in any others who have the same knowledge, and report back here immediately. 'Personal errands' are strictly forbidden, and you will keep your emotions in check. And above all this. Do. Not. Get. Spotted. Know that you are getting a second chance you don't deserve; do not waste it. If you fail this mission, consider yourselves dead. Am I making myself clear?"

Kaida's eyes flushed to emrald once again as she answered him, barely audible.
"Yes, Leader-sama."

Pein's attention was directed back to Deidara as he waited for his answer.

[Deidara]

Deidara took in a short breath, his attention immeadiately shifting from the floor to Pein's peircing, cold eyes as soon as he stepping directly in front of him. He tryed not to wince back, and managed to just blink his eyes instead.
He half expected a hit to the jaw, and if Leader-sama were to snap, Deidara had all he could do to defend, let alone counter attack. Pein was a very skilled, strong ninja, someone you wouldn't want to battle with, especially when he was your leader. Also, Deidara could win his battles more easily from a long distance. Bombs were useless if they were detonated a few feet ahead of him.

Deidara blinked again at the emphasis of the word 'not', then shifted his gaze again to look at the floor next to him. Even after the verbal beating he got from Leader-sama, it was worth seeing his mother and little sister. But he definetly was not about to say that out loud.

He listened to the details of their next mission silently, and heard Kaida's small agreement to it. It was silent and he realised Pein was looking forward again, waiting for Deidara's responce.
His gaze shifted forward again, Deidara's visible eye with a hint of anger mixed with the nervousness. Part of him honestly was a little mad, and wanted to say something witty, but he knew better.

"Yes, Leader-sama." He answered, his voice a little louder and more self-confident than Kaida's, most likely because of his short temper.

[Kaida Hinote]

Kaida sent an incredious glance to Deidara after hearing the tone he used with Leader-sama. She was positive that Pein had taken note of this also, and she was expecting him to let Deidara have it at any moment.

But the scenario took a different turn. Pein's glare just continued to darken, daring Deidara to make another move as the one he had taken previously. He leaned in centimeters closer, to get right in the blonde's face, taunting him. She knew how Deidara's temper was, and she wasn't sure how much more of this he was going to take.
"Good."
The simple word was dangerously low and stern, enough to petrify anyone.

Kaida tried to contain her shudders once again, and she took his final word as the que to leave. She turned swiftly, not daring to meet her forest eyes to Pein's steely ones. It took much resistance on her part not to bolt for the door while she paused to wait for Deidara to begin to leave also.

[Deidara]

Deidara stayed perfectly still as Pein's glare darkened. He anticipated the pain, or at least a verbal beating, but the only thing he scolded him with was one, simple word. But his tone made the nervousness Deidara had return.

He noticed Kaida begin to leave and he turned to follow her, knowing better than to say anything else. He walked through the large door, exiting Leader-sama's office after Kaida. He grabbed ahold of the handle and closed the door after himself, then let out a frustrated sigh.

"Let's go, I guess, hn." He started to walk back to the exit, his black cloak ruffling behind him because of his pace. He glared forward, his thoughts still on the encounter with their leader.

[Kaida Hinote]

Kaida sighed to herself as she stared after Deidara, who had started to storm towards the exist as soon as he was out of their Leader's lair. She found it displeasing that Deidara had, once again, been placed in a lowly mood. Before, having to leave his village, and now, from the unkindliness of their Leader. She had a solution to his woes for the first situation, but now, she felt like she was at a loss. She hoped he wouldn't remain like this for the span of the mission; she would probably lose it.

One reason she enjoyed getting assigned missions with Deidara was because he kept things lively, and not so serious. The formality of the others was unnerving at most times, and she rushed to complete the missions just so she could break from the grim atmosphere. It was different with Deidara, however; his smart remarks and witty comments kept Kaida, well, sane during dreary missions.
But if his encounter with Pein left lingering fury, she had a feeling this would be a dreadful mission for the both of them.

This mission....
Kaida suddenly remembered where they were destined to, and the painful memories she had managed to keep locked away for years seemed to break free, one by one, clouding her head with every step she took; another step closer to a place she hoped never to see again. In attempt to keep these thoughts at bay, and to break Deidara from his mood, she tried to lighten the atmosphere, unaware that her eyes would contradict her efforts.

"Well, that went well..." she joked. "At least we're still alive, right?"