Hanging by My Coat tails

Akatsuki as you have never seen them…

Chapter One: A night at Drury Lane.

The heavy red velvet curtains swung back one last time after an uproarious encore at the famed Drury Lane Theatre. Deidara wiped something from his eye and turned to his rather bored companion. "Truly", He said with a voice full of emotion, "that was a beautiful Tragedy"

"Truly, Deidara" came the quiet, cynical voice of his closest friend, Uchiha Itachi "Your life is a Tragedy." Itachi shook his head disgustedly, a few strands of dark hair falling into his dark eyes that were narrowed, as he eyed the stage with his lip curled.

"Come now, Itachi, even you must have felt the emotion and pain in Lady Ophelia. And that last scene with Hamlet..." He trailed off and gestured with his gloved hands, unable to articulate his admiration of Drury Lane's finest Cast. "It was thrilling, admit it."

Itachi stifled a yawn. "Next time, if we must go to the Theatre, at least let me arrange for a box in Covent Garden." He eyed a rather rowdy crew of footmen lurch out of the Theatre disgustedly." At least then I would not be forced to be in an enclosed space with these…commoners."

"You are Insufferable", Deidara sighed, carefully placing a strand of blond hair that was out of place behind his ear.

"Thank you. Now, let's leave, I shall need immeasurable amounts of scotch to rid myself of the memory of second rate actors in this cramped Hellhole" He drawled, as they both began to make their way out of the Theatre, followed by Itachi's manservant.

The rather burly man jostled Deidara's arm, and he turned. The man gave a gruff apology, and Deidara turned back to The Uchiha Heir.

" I say, do you still have to put up with that awful manservant following you about? He muttered discreetly.

"Yes. It is apparent that my Father's friends does not trust me as my Brother's Guardian and hired this ape to follow my every move", Itachi hissed, his voice containing more than a trace of rage. Friend his

Deidara looked at his friend oddly. It had not been three months since the passing of The Lord and Lady Uchiha and yet… It was almost as though he did not care about his parents, on the subject of their death he could not show anything but indifference. Except for Sasuke. Yes, Deidara thought to himself, smiling fondly as aforementioned "ape" flagged a hack for them both. I do believe that Sasuke is the only relative whom upon he will bestow more than a cold indifference. Earl

They both climbed into the hack (except for Itachi's bodyguard), who went up on top with the cabby. Deidara continued to study his friends profile in the pale moonlight that spilled through the window, ant the fleeting light of various gas lamps as the hackney cab made its way to Cavendish Square, where Itachi was staying with his Uncle Obito, whom his Father's friends did not approve of. His uncle, despite being a man of high standing was by some considered a man who was more interested in the more… frivolous things in Life, rather than his rather dull duties as Earl, more often found betting on a horse than taking care of the extensive Uchiha Grounds that were placed in his care. Itachi, being 18 had not come into the age that his father had placed on his will in case of his passing, so the care of the grounds went to the rather flighty Obito, even though the Title of Marquess of Mexborough went to Itachi.

Itachi's eyes where half closed, only a slit of his onyx irises were visible, gleaming in the pale light which made his pale skin seem creamy and flawless, The arch of his eyebrows and the sheer structure of his cheekbones seemed to accentuate the arrogant expression which rarely left his face, and his log, ebony hair was tied back neatly into a ponytail. Deidara tilted his head to one side and frowned. The one time he did not have his drawing materials on his person, was the one time he had a perfect subject, and a lovely setting

"I know I'm handsome", Itachi stated as he inclined his head slightly to face intently staring companion, "but your evident admiration for me is only serving to increase my vanity"

Deidara rolled his eyes. "You, Uchiha, are nothing but vanity." He swiftly changed the subject, not wishing to tell His Friend his sudden urge to capture his devastatingly handsome profile on paper. He instead changed the subject smoothly.

"I was actually wondering how Sasuke was doing at School," he said delicately. Itachi's face fell, and his features looked more morose than usual at the mention of his younger Brother.
"I do not think School is the best place for him right now," he said thoughtfully." I think I shall arrange for him to have a tutor, and let him stay here with Uncle and I."

"Indeed. I did now how you were going to pay the school fees and your whisky bills," Deidara said saucily as the carriage came to a halt, and he opened the door and stepped out. Itachi came out straight after him and eyeballed him murderously.
" I do not," he said coldly "have as drinking problem."
"Of course not", Deidara hurried to pacify his easily offended friend. "But a Tutor will be cheaper than school, and what on earth will you do with all that extra money?" He winked at his friend and went up the steps to a dark, polished door, one of the grandest looking one in the square and knocked boldly upon the door.

The butler opened the Door. "Good evening, Master Deidara, Lord Uchiha." He droned.

Itachi nodded, and walked into the building. "Is uncle at home?" He asked, walking straight into the Drawing room and making for the drinks cabinet. Deidara rolled his eyes again and sat down on the Divan in the immaculately presented and tastefully decorated room. The butler nodded, and left the two men to tell the Earl of his nephews return.

"See?" Deidara said slyly. "Straight to your old friend..." as he watched Itachi pour himself a drink

"Deidara, I find it interesting that you are the only one who has noticed this particular 'problem' of mine". He growled, facing away from the triumphantly grinning blonde. They both waited in companionable silence for about a half a minute.

"Itachi, Dear fellow, one of these days you will drink yourself to death", came the amused voice of Obito Uchiha from the doorway, as he beamed affectionately upon his nephew who was currently downing a scotch standing in his usual place near the drinks cabinet.

"Oh, Earl, it is not as though my Lord has a drinking problem" Deidara said lazily, putting extra emphasis on the last two words, while gazing into Itachi's furious dark eyes over the rim of the scotch glass.

Obito smirked in the true fashion of the Uchiha's. "Indeed not, although my whisky bills have increased slightly during his stay". He then sat down next to Deidara, crossing his legs and placing his arms over the back of the divan in a leisurely fashion.

"I'm not sure that they were at all low even before I came to stay with you, uncle…" Itachi said innocently, placing the glass down and coming to sit on a chair opposite them both. He leaned forward

"Actually I hoped to ask you a favour, Uncle."

"Oh? Got yourself into a spot of bother?" His Uncle enquired, eyeing him questioningly

"Not quite. How would you feel if I pulled Young Sasuke out of school, so he could come and stay here? I think…ah... I would much prefer him to have a tutor here where I can keep an eye on him and his education, rather than keep him at that school when it would probably be best for him to be with…family." Itachi faltered over this last word, and glanced away for an instant, before facing His Uncle once more

"I think that is a marvellous idea! How old is the little tyke now, 11? 12?"

"15." Itachi said dryly. He leant back, his relief hidden from his friend and uncle. He had been worried that his uncle would not approve, and The Earl had been in no temper to go back to the extensive Manor that he owned in Mexborough, and leave London and all its…distractions behind." But would you not object to sharing your home for an indifferent amount of time? I do protest Uncle-"

"My dear boy, that is of no consequence! It is just as you say: we are all family! I have not seen young Master Sasuke in a while and after that dreadful accident with your dear mother and father, God Rest their souls, we should all be very glad of lot more Uchiha's around this hole." His uncle finished his passionate speech on an irritable note, he was not at all fond of the constant filth that surrounded London in the summer months, and the heat almost made the stench unbearable.

"You would not say that if you had heard that I have found us tickets at the very last moment for Almacks", a voice at the door said, and all turned their heads to see the Honourable Hatake Kakashi standing at the door. A very flustered butler hovered behind him I

"I am most apologetic my Lord, he burst in quite unannounced-"

"That's quite all right, Jenks, its just Kakashi, Obito said graciously, waving a hand.

"Hatake, how on earth did you get tickets for Almacks? It's Tuesday night!"

Kakashi waved his hand dismissively. "I assure you, no task is beyond my extraordinary skills.

Deidara sat up straight, "I say, Hatake, How many have you got there?"

"Enough to take a convent", Kakashi said, his eye crinkling into a smile. Itachi found himself a little baffled by the man's rather outlandish sense of humour. He seemed a lot like his Uncle, who was now smiling widely at his friend.

"Well, I won't ask how you got a hold of them...But I will accept them. And I am sure that Itachi and Deidara would enjoy an evening out also". He turned his smile to his young nephew and his friend.

Itachi gave a weak smile in return to his uncle's statement as he found himself in a quandary. He hated dancing and could think of nothing less appealing that an evening of doing so, but how could he refuse without seeming rude? Maybe Deidara will say something. He knows that I hate dancing. He kept his gaze on the signet ring on his finger that rested on the arm of the chair, laying all his hopes on Deidara's dubious good nature.

"Thank you indeed, Mr. Hatake I should enjoy it immeasurably! And I am sure that Itachi would also!"

Itachi's head snapped up, and glared at Deidara, who smiled sweetly at his friend, as though in anticipation of tomorrow night's festivities.

Later that evening.

Itachi sat on the window seat that was in his spacious bedchamber before he went to sleep, unconscious of the large clock in the hallway chiming Twelve. A small strand of dark hair skittered across his forehead in the light breeze that was coming from the open window, as though trying to escape from the pale moonlight that spilled through the large window.

His mind played back the small tidbit of conversation from earlier with Obito.
"…after that dreadful accident with your dear mother and father, God Rest their souls…"
Itachi leaned forward, a slight, cool breeze from the window slithering into his room and moving the hairs that came loose from his ponytail across his forehead.
Yes...he mused to himself, a small smile playing about his lips...Accident.