The day was normal, normal as in boring. There was practically nothing to do, and yes Deidara was supposed to be in lecture but he really didn't want to go. If anyone asked, he'll say that he's too ashamed to show his face after that last outburst. Currently, the blonde is actually hoping that someone would ask him, just so he could actually say it. The thought made him laugh, and a few people stared at him like he was nuts, but he ignored them all.
"Have you ever heard of Akasuna Sasori?" Hidan greeted Deidara as he handed him his lunch. Egg and ham sandwich. Deidara frowned, sure that he asked for a muffin, but he figured this was revenge for earlier that morning.
"Yeah, what about Danna, un?" Deidara replied simply, accepting his meal and digging into it immediately. He had woken up late, and he would have slept through the whole day if Hidan had not called him. Needless to say, waking up to colorful and loud profanities and threats was not exactly the ideal way to do so. Deidara swore that he would never ask Hidan out for breakfast ever again. And of course Hidan felt the same way. Waiting in the Starbucks cafe alone nowhere near enjoyable and he kept getting looks from the staff. Seriously, just because he was mumbling curses under his breath, it didn't mean that he was going to burn the place down. On the same note, looking like he wanted to murder didn't mean that he was a serial killer.
"What, un?" Deidara asked, frowning slightly when he noticed Hidan gaping at him.
"Danna?" he echoed slowly. "Never knew you were one of those who fucking worshipped him."
"Don't be stupid, un," Deidara said, rolling his eyes. "I just respect him."
"Respect him."
"Saw his essay. Was impressed, un," Deidara answered offhandedly.
"Saw his essay. Am I missing something here, blondie? When did you and that midget get so fucking chummy?" Hidan questioned, crossing his arms and not looking the least bit amused.
"Stupid, he didn't let me," Deidara said happily, enjoying the way Hidan was getting increasing annoyed and frustrated. Deidara relented soon enough though. Sure he had fun at the expense of others but not his friends. "I barged into the staff room and told a lecturer I was dying, un. When he went to get the nurse or whatever, I leafed through the stack of essays on his desk and read through Danna's."
"Blondie, come clean this fucking second. Are you a bloody stalker?" Hidan asked. He was joking of course but the overly dramatic voice and exaggerated look of horror was actually quite convincing.
"I just wanted to see if he was as good as they say, un," Deidara replied before sighing, "and he is. Better than me even. Possibly."
"He's that good?" Hidan hadn't thought that Deidara was a genius when he first saw him (no one would). Honestly, Deidara looked more like a hobo than anything with his long, often unkempt hair, especially with his fringe covering the entire left side of his face. It certainly didn't help that the neatest state it was ever in was a messy half ponytail.
"Un."
"And you're annoyed?" Hidan asked, raising an eyebrow. He was not able to keep the amusement out of his voice either.
"Not annoyed per se," Deidara replied with a smirk. "More intrigued than anything actually, un."
"Aww, blondie, can't your fucking pride take the fact that there's someone out there who might be actually better than you?" Hidan cooed before bursting out into merciless laughter at the pointed look on Deidara's face. "And look who's coming over?" Hidan proceeded to snigger.
"Danna, un," Deidara greeted happily, eyes sparkling with more than just mischief.
"Brat," Sasori replied in his usual lazy manner as he came to a stop in front of the pair. "Don't you have lecture now?"
Deidara immediately put his plan into action. "I'm too guilty to go after insulting the whole faculty," Deidara replied, trying to sound as guilty as possible, which Sasori didn't but of course.
"So why are you showing your face on campus?" he asked. He had wanted to sound curious just for the fun of it but it took too much effort. Which Deidara was not worth.
"Good point," Deidara said, laughing. Hidan rolled his eyes.
"How did someone like you get into med school?" Sasori questioned but he didn't sound particularly interested either. If anything, he was asking for the sake of asking.
"How could someone like me, much like you, not be able to get into med school, un?" Deidara retorted, his smile turning into a mirthful smirk, the same light dancing in his eyes. They were really alike in the sense of their academic ability. They were both the valedictorian of their respective schools and entered Tokyo University School of Medicine with the (same) highest mark ever in history.
"Point taken," Sasori deadpanned and started walking away. Unlike the blonde, he was not going to skip his lecture.
"Danna, you're leaving so soon, un?" Deidara asked, sounding somewhat sad, but Sasori could still hear him smiling.
"Unlike you, I have a sense of responsibility," Sasori replied swiftly without even bothering to turn around.
"See you!"
"Anyway, blondie, I have to go for lecture," Hidan informed him, "so see you later."
Deidara smiled and waved goodbye, only feeling slightly dispirited because now he would be alone and there really was nothing else to do. Anyway, it was not like he and Hidan skipped lectures on a daily basis anyway (what would be the point of attending university then?). They only did it when they feel that lectures would be really bored, like now. Deidara looked around the grounds and realised that it was mostly empty. Most people would be in lectures at this point in time. He might as well go home if he had nothing to do. Just as he stood up to leave, a voice called out to him.
"Skipping lectures, Iwa-san?"
"Iruka-sensei, un." Deidara greeted with a wide beam on his face. Iruka was one of his tutors and the nicest by far, and he seemed to be the only one who hasn't gotten annoyed at any of Deidara's antics yet. Maybe he just had a really high tolerance level. Currently, the older man looked more amused than anything at the prospect of Deidara skipping lecture.
"Heard about the ruckus you caused yesterday," Iruka told him, shaking his head slightly, but Deidara knew he was just pretending to be disappointed.
"News travel fast huh?" Deidara asked, chuckling lightly. "How's that guy? I didn't bruise his pride too badly, did I, un?"
"He's fine," Iruka replied pleasantly before taking on a more sinister tone and adopting a threatening face. "But the last I heard, he's carrying around a chainsaw and plotting your death, and he has a stack of voodoo dolls with your name written on them kept under his bed."
Deidara wrinkled his nose. "Freak much, un. But I'll be careful. Thanks for the warning though, un."
Iruka laughed. "Only you would react so calmly at the prospect of a psychopath after you."
"Do you hate him or something, un?" Deidara questioned, laughing at the face Iruka subsequently made. He looked like he had just eaten some really bitter medicine and couldn't find any water to wash the taste away.
"I mean he's a good student, but he asks too many "relevant" questions," Iruka answered, making air inverted marks and shuddering. "And he tries to kill me with his essays. He writes about two hundred pages each time with font 6. Seriously, 6!"
"Tough luck," Deidara said, shaking his head sympathetically. "I feel for you."
"It's good that you're so cheerful though," Iruka said, smiling albeit sadly. "I hope you remain this way. Not many stay in med school and continue to be so happy. In fact most of them come in like zombies."
"Even Danna, un?" Deidara asked, raising an eyebrow. Med school was difficult of course and even geniuses will have a hard time if they don't study, but he thought that Sasori would at least manage to have some free time for himself to relax or whatever.
"Danna?" Iruka asked, eyes widening considerably.
Deidara laughed out loud at his face, which was really quite comical. He looked like something out of a comedy cartoon.
"Sasori no Danna, un," Deidara replied.
"Mind if I ask why you're calling him that?"
"Nickname."
"Right… so anyway, he's a different kind of zombie. He mostly looks bored," Iruka replied. "Basically, they either look like zombie pandas with their black eyes or just zombies in a trance and Akasuna-san just looks bored. You're the only one who seems to be able to smile around here."
"Oh don't worry, I'll keep smiling," Deidara replied with a smirk. "I just brighten up the place, don't I?"
"Yes, yes, you do," Iruka conceded, raising his hands up. "Oh damn, I have to go," he said after glancing at the big tower clock behind Deidara. "See you around Iwa-san!"
Deidara smiled goodbye and continued on his way out of the campus as Iruka turned and ran off to wherever he had to be. Probably a tutorial. Deidara managed to make it all the way out of the school campus without bumping into anyone else that he knew. Taking a look at the overcast sky, he decided that he would walk anyway, despite it being a half hour walk to his apartment. The clouds would hold for that long at least.
The cool September wind was comforting as Deidara walked back home. His sweater provided just enough warmth for him, yet it was still thin enough that it was cooling. He loved autumn, especially when the weather was like this. Though people have an image of him constantly being surrounded by people, the truth was that he liked being alone, when he actually had time for himself. It was also the main reason why he decided to rent an apartment instead of staying at the dorms. If he could, he would go to the forest to take a walk at the break of every dawn but med school ate up more time he could possibly imagine and there was just no time to trek to the forest, even on a weekend. It didn't help that the nearest forest was four hours away.
Something good is happening. Deidara though as he made it just in time into his apartment before the rain started pouring.
Deidara's apartment was in one word: messy. Much like him actually. Things were organized in the sense that the clothes were in one pile and shoes in another. The state they were in, however, was a completely different story. Deidara actually liked being neat but he found that that was an impossible virtue for someone as lazy as him. He could spend one whole day packing (and he did, once) and things would somehow revert to their original messy state in a few days.
Overlooking the mess, it was actually quite a nice apartment. Dainty even. Since he was staying alone, he could not afford any apartment with more than two rooms, but his had everything he needed: two rooms, a kitchen and a living room. More than enough actually.
Deidara kicked his shoes off and they joined the pile beside the door. He then kicked the door closed. The floor was freezing cold, but Deidara didn't mind that much. It was to be expected after all. Winter was just around the corner, and the area he was living in was relatively colder since it was nearer to the sea.
He immediately made a beeline for the sofa and collapsed against it, relishing in the rhythmic sound of the rain splattering against the ground. He loved rainy days, and it was weird but he liked the thunder more than anything. The rumbling of the thunder, no matter how loud it was, always relaxed him. He had no idea why but he figured it must be because it worked as a sort of companion for him when he was lonely. And he did get lonely. So horribly lonely that he thought that he might die from it sometimes.
He needed to be around people, more for himself than anything. Because without people, he felt so insignificant and small and he hated feeling that way. It was so pathetic really, but he couldn't help it. The worst was that he didn't even really like being around people in the first place. Paradoxical, yes, but he always felt that that word described him the best anyway.
So maybe it wasn't the best of idea to have an apartment all to himself, since the feeling of loneliness consumed him more often than not, seeping into his skin and becoming a part of him. Then his heart would start feeling so cold and numb that no matter how many jackets or blankets he throws over himself, he still wouldn't feel warm. Sometimes it hurt so bad that he felt like he was drowning in ice.
The strike of the thunder shook him out of the state he was in and he immediately shook his head to rid himself of those negative thoughts. Deidara dragged himself off the couch and headed to his room instead. He immediately lay down on his bed and sank into its softness. Letting out a pleased sigh, he turned on his side and closed his eyes. The best way to escape those overwhelming feelings was to sleep so that he wouldn't have to think about them. And when he didn't think, they couldn't reach him.
Sasori growled lowly as he watched the rain slam viciously against the window pane. Really, he liked the rain and all but it just had to come on the one day he decided not to drive his car. And it looked like it wasn't going to stop anytime soon either, meaning he could either run to the subway and risk getting drenched to the bone or wait until the rain subsided which was going to take at least two hours. He hated either option, because he hated being so wet that his clothes stick to his body like a second skin, and he just hated the entire concept of waiting.
"Damn the rain," Kakuzu cured and Sasori was pleased to note that he wasn't the one agitated by the sudden downpour. "I'm going to have to spend money on a cab."
"Do you have to be somewhere?" Sasori asked, turning to his friend who was currently cursing the rain for all it was worth. It took a while before he answered, much to the annoyance of the redhead. Waiting was still waiting, even if it was only for one second.
"I have a wedding to attend," Kakazu replied before making a face. "Which means even more money being spent."
Kakazu was a junior as well, but he was in the accounting faculty. It was actually rather befitting of him actually, seeing as how he would marry money if he could. Sasori honestly wouldn't be surprised if Kakuzu would fight to legalize it, except that that would cost money so it was unlikely that he would do it.
"You could skip the wedding," Sasori suggested. He had nothing against weddings, but he was sure that whatever monetary present Kakuzu gave the couple would definitely be handed over with a curse. A strong one at that.
"I could," Kakuzu growled. "But I can't, because I have a bet with Itachi that costs fifty thousand yen."
"Itachi's being generous," Sasori commented, feeling rather surprised that the Uchiha would be willing to give so much money. It was, after all, a well-known fact among their group of friends that Kakuzu never lost a bet, especially if money was involved.
"All in the name of torture," Itachi said curtly as he took a seat beside Sasori, to which Kakuzu glared. Itachi just offered him a lazy smirk in return. "You could always back out now."
"Hell no," Kakuzu snapped as he stood up, the chair scrapping rather loudly against the floor, attracting more attention than Sasori or Itachi would like. "Just prepare the cash, Uchiha." With that, the accountancy major stormed off, leaving behind two very amused men.
"Seriously, how is he even going to survive sitting through the wedding?" Sasori questioned.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Itachi replied dryly. "So what are you going to do now?" he made a vague gesture to the rain.
"I would go home, except that I don't have my car with me."
"Come on," Itachi said, standing up.
"This is why you're my friend," Sasori replied as he followed Itachi, feeling much better ever since the rain started.
The car ride was silent, which was to be expected since neither Sasori nor Itachi was much of a talker. Sasori was staring out of the window, seemingly mesmerized by the rain droplets while Itachi was looking straight ahead at the traffic. There was no need for conversation. They liked silence. In fact, so did Kakuzu and Kisame. Even Zetsu was quiet, except when he was arguing with himself. All in all, they were a really silent group. It was no wonder that people didn't dare approach them; something which they were all immensely grateful for. Hanging out together was one thing, socializing was another and not a single one of them liked that idea very much. They were all the friends they needed.
Without meaning to, Sasori found his mind drifting to the blonde and in particular, one sentence he had said that day when he disrupted the presentation.
… it's a reminder that I'm wasting my time in med school…
The brat probably said it as a way to express himself or maybe just to annoy the hell out of the other students, but Sasori felt so much more from hearing that line. It wasn't just plain irritation he felt. Those words tugged at his heart. He had been in med school for two years already and he was starting his third. On top of that, he was going to start his internship soon (he was just informed today), because his professors all felt that he was ready for the real world. It was all every medical student could ever wish for.
Chances like this don't come around often and they only happen once in a blue moon. So Sasori would be happy, except that he never really wanted to do medicine. He was not even the least bit interested in it. The only reason he was in med school in the first place was because of his grandmother – Chiyo.
Chiyo was a great surgeon. A great neurosurgeon. People would fly from all over the world to see her for treatment. More often than not, she was their last hope and that was what made her so great. She would be their last hope and she would heal them. Most of them anyway. Some were too terminal that only a miracle could save them. Since Sasori's parents had died when he was young, he was the only one who could carry on her legacy and she made sure of that, drilling it into his head ever since he was young, until all he had ever known was to be a neurosurgeon just like her.
He hadn't mind in the slightest when he was younger and when Chiyo meant the entire world to him. All he wanted to do was to please her and make her proud of him. Even now he still had those feelings of wanting to be the person that she wanted him to be, but she wasn't his everything anymore. He had found something else to live for, but he couldn't just drop medicine. Not when he had been working for it his entire life. Not when Chiyo still expected so much from him. Not when he was just so damn talented at it.
Of course, Sasori would most probably excel at whatever he wanted to do, but his skill in medicine was almost like a gift. In theory anyway. The real test would start when he began his internship, but everyone had high hopes for him anyway. How could they not? He was the genius Akasuna Sasori and you know what? – he was the grandson of The Chiyo. And that basically sealed his fate.
"What are you thinking about?" Itachi asked. He usually didn't pry but that look on Sasori face told him that he was thinking about his grandmother again, and from their years of friendship, he knew that that was never good. Sasori never actually answered though, but it didn't mean that Itachi was going to stop asking.
"Nothing," Sasori replied immediately, because he hated making people wait as much as he hated waiting. The answer was as expected of course.
Itachi felt like he should say something, maybe pry for one, but he didn't know what to say and that would be awfully uncharacteristic of him. Besides, Sasori was particularly sensitive when it came to his grandmother and anything said about his studies with regards to her would set him off, something which Itachi did not want to do. In the end, like always, he just nodded.
"Could you drop me at Chiyo-baasan's house?" Sasori asked.
Itachi gave a terse nod but said nothing else.
"Do you need me to wait for you or something?" Itachi asked when Sasori got off at his destination. He took a look at the sky. It was still drizzling but it was a light one and the sun was already peeking out from behind the whitening clouds.
"It's fine," Sasori replied. He would much rather be alone after talking to his grandmother anyway. "Thanks for the ride."
"Welcome," Itachi said. "See you tomorrow."
"Bye."
Sasori waited till Itachi drove off before turning around and facing the building which Chiyo resided at. It was an expensive place. Take one glance at the decorative and exquisite exterior and that much would be apparent. It was practically a five star hotel. Taking a deep breath, Sasori entered the building. The inside was as impressive if not more. The first floor was the lobby and the floor was covered with a carpet so soft that Sasori's feet sank in it. He didn't know why but he always felt that it resembled a bit too much to quicksand for his liking.
The security guard greeted him and he nodded back. He had been over enough times for the older man to recognize him. He pressed the button for the elevator and waited patiently for it, subconsciously wishing that it would take a longer time. He dreaded seeing his grandmother. He loved her (of course he did, she was his only family left), but she was overbearing.
The elevator arrived quicker than he had expected and he walked inside. Swiping the card over the scanner, he waited to be taken to the topmost floor which was Chiyo's apartment. In what felt like a few seconds, the elevator opened to reveal Chiyo's home. It was as neat as ever, with everything organized in a systematic manner, much like his own apartment.
Genes, he thought wryly.
"Chiyo-baasan?" he called out.
"I'm in the study, Sasori," she replied, her voice sounding distant. After Chiyo had retired from being a doctor, she became a professor and had been Sasori's professor up until last year till she had decided to take a break. It was only going to be for half a year but Sasori was really happy nonetheless. Chiyo being his professor was just too pressurizing. He had never failed to achieve the best mark of course but the nervousness and anxiety was always there. Not that he didn't feel the same way now. All the other professors knew Chiyo and they would most definitely update her about his performance. It was just less nerve wrecking when she wasn't the one marking his essays.
"Chiyo-baasan," he greeted as he stood at the slightly ajar door. She motioned for him to come in and he did, moving so that he stood in front of her desk.
"I heard that you topped the most recent test again," she said, beaming proudly as Sasori forced himself to smile. The only time he ever tried.
"Of course," he replied. "And I have some good news too."
"What is it?" she asked, looking rather skeptical but curious nonetheless.
"I was offered an internship," Sasori relayed, watching as Chiyo's smile grew impossibly wide. "I'm starting next month."
"That's excellent, Sasori!" Chiyo exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "I always knew that you could do it! Let me guess. You were the only one, right? Juniors don't usually have this opportunity, do they?"
"No, I guess not," Sasori replied, trying to maintain his smile which he hoped was as happy as she would like it to be. Funny how she was over the moon at the prospect of him having a medical internship when she had been a doctor for more than half her life.
"Excellent, excellent," she said, beaming brightly. "I guess I'll have to go back early to oversee your education then."
"Yes, that would be good," Sasori answered even though he really wanted to convince her otherwise. Truth be told, he had come here to tell her in hopes that she would decide to take a longer break, not go back to monitor him. No such luck.
"Right, I'll have to make preparations then," she told him. He took this as a cue to leave.
"I'll visit again sometime soon then, Chiyo-baasan," he said before nodding politely and walking out of the room and the house. He calmly exited the building, nodding at the security guard as well. Once he was out, he let out a huge sigh.
Life never looked bleaker.
