A/N: This chapter contains violent content. Caution is strongly advised. This is also a two part chapter.
It had been nearly a month since that conversation, since Deidara had seen that peculiar look in her eyes, and since he had decided not to question it. Nearly every day he wondered if he should bring it up, if he should say something and figure out why she looked as if she understood his pain so completely, but every day he chose not to.
They had grown even closer because of it and it seemed like they were still growing together. Something else had changed between them as well, she was much more attentive. She cared for him so much that Deidara began to wonder if they had switched roles. Akahana was so sweet and gentle towards him, almost as if any form of rough housing would damage him beyond repair. He wanted to tell her that he was fine, but he feared that if he did her fussing would cease and he would be left without those soft touches and tight hugs. He cherished those timid moments with her more than anything else.
Deidara had long since accepted that he was falling in love with her. He knew that this could not be stopped, he was no fool. His foster mother had told him that when he found the right girl, he would know and he would feel what true love was. The only thing she had not told him was how hard it was falling for a girl that already had found her everything.
Sometimes the blonde boy wondered if he could convince her to run away with him, if he could promise her some perfect and invaluable thing that she could not refuse. He was smart enough, however, to know that this would not work. How could he tear her away from Hiro? A man who, certainly, was not willing to let her go?
Still that impossibly strong need to have her with him kept him wishing.
~.~
Hiro had just arrived home for the evening and Deidara had just left when her paranoia started. Akahana knew instantly that something was wrong; she could sense it in her fiancés demeanor. He was too sweet, too loving towards her. Even on their best of days he was not so gentle and caring. Something was going to happen tonight and it would be bad.
"Darling," her fiancé nearly purred, "Why are you so distant from me? You know how I love you."
Akahana almost flinched at his breath in her ear. It had been a long time since he was this close to her and was not trying to inflict pain. "I do know."
"For that, I am glad."
His fingers traced down her spine and she grew increasingly more uncomfortable. "Hiro, what are you doing?"
His voice was soft and steady but she could feel the malice building up behind his words, "Why do you keep yourself from me?"
The girl was confused, what did he mean by that? "I do not understand."
His fingers gently twirled her hair then tugged it harshly, "We have been together for so long, we are to be married, yet you will not give me all of you."
Her face, contorted slightly because of the pain in her scalp suddenly twisted with understanding, "You know that I cannot. Not until we are married."
"And we will be!" he half shouted in her ear, hand reaching around her body and pulling her back against him roughly, "I do not wish to wait anymore."
Fear was building in her chest. She could not let this happen, she would fight if she had too, run if need be. She was not willing to give up that last little bit of herself that she had kept pure from his evil. It was untainted and she needed that to remain. It was her only connection to a life without his wicked ways. "You must. I am not yet ready."
"I don't care any longer." He growled, yanking hard on her shirt, "What you say does not have any meaning. I am in charge and I have the power."
She knew that she could not stop him with words so she instead sent her elbow flying into his stomach. Hiro was shocked enough that he loosened his grip on her frail body. She used this split moment to squirm away from him and run out of the room.
A furious yell echoed behind her. Whatever it was that he had said, if it was even real words at all, sounded so angry that her panic doubled. Akahana knew that if she did not get out of the house not only would she get raped but she would also be savagely beat.
One thought kept her moving through their home, the thought that she had some place to go. She knew that if she could get away, she could go to Deidara. She knew that she could tell him and he would protect her. Akahana knew she would be safe with him.
Just as her tiny hand wrapped around the doorknob of their front door, she was grabbed around the waist in a very forceful and rough manner. A scream left her lips and she struggled wildly as her fiancé lifted her feet off the ground and carried her away from her escape route.
"You ungrateful bitch. How dare you run from me? I am the only man to ever love you. The only one who took you in from the cold streets. You owe me everything! And you brush me off!" The arm that was wrapped around her waist tightened so much that tears fell from Akahana's eyes and she could barely breathe.
Hiro threw her down onto the bed then quickly leaned down over her. Akahana was not sure when they had gotten all the way upstairs but she did know what would be coming next. She screamed as her fiancé wrapped a hand around her throat. He squeezed roughly on it and forced her to silence. After a few tense moments of that quiet he leaned in close to her and hissed in her ear. "I will be sure to make it so no other man can ever love you."
Silent tears slipped from her eyes and she knew that he would do just that.
~.~
When the phone rang while Deidara was getting ready he became very confused for two reasons. One, no one ever called his house phone, and two, who the hell needed him at 7 in the morning? "Hello, un?"
"Deidara!" a pleasant voice spoke from the other end, "Its Hiro. Sorry about the early call."
"Oh. Hello. It's alright, yeah. I was awake already." A new question was added to Deidara's list of confusing things. Why the fuck would Hiro call him?
The man on the other side of the phone chuckled, "Oh good. Well, Akahana is feeling really ill today and would rather not have anyone come over. So we won't need you today."
The young boy's heart sank a little bit. "I see. Well thank you for calling me, un."
"No problem! Bye."
"Good bye." Deidara replied and clicked the end button on his phone.
The blue eyed man refused to believe what Hiro had said to be true. Why would Akahana not want him there if she was sick? He had taken care of her before when she was under the weather. Deidara knew that something had to be very, very, wrong.
Grabbing his keys from the counter, Deidara decided that he would just run over there. He knew that he was directly defying Hiro and therefore putting this job in jeopardy, but his concern for the green eyed girl overwhelmed his fear of being fired.
The familiar drive was made in mere minutes and Deidara noticed upon pulling into the driveway that Hiro had already left the house. Strange that he would leave his soon-to-be wife when she was so ill.
The blonde carefully opened the door and let himself into the home. He took his shoes off just as he normally would and walked into the living room. Once he found that to be empty he softly padded his way up the stairs and over to the bedroom he knew the couple shared. His hand softly knocked on the door and he spoke very quietly, "Akahana?"
After a few moments of silence a very raspy voice replied, "Dei…?"
The sound of her once beautiful voice worried him, and he could not keep that concern out of his voice, "Yes, un. It's me. Can I come in?"
"No."
The answer was so quick and so short that Deidara instantly felt a pain in his chest, "Oh…" was all he could manage as a response.
"Not because I don't want to see you." The hoarse voice added, "I just don't want you to see me."
"Why not, yeah?"
When no reply to this came he grew even more worried. He decided to ignore her previous statement and go in. He just needed to see that she was alive and okay. Even if she looked sick he didn't care, just seeing the bright green eyes would be enough. Deidara could always deal with her rage later.
He opened the door and took a step inside the dark room. When he still got no response he brushed his hand along the wall to the light switch.
This was when Akahana chose to speak, "Don't turn on the light."
"Why, un?" he questioned, finger poised on the switch.
Her reply was so soft that he had to strain to hear her, "You won't like what you see."
Figuring this to be utter nonsense, Deidara flipped the switch and quickly found that she was right. He did not like what he saw.
Not one fucking bit.
~.~
"Oh god!" Deidara practically screamed, crossing the room and reaching out to her, "What happened, un?"
She couldn't see him perfectly through her blackened eyes but she could still see the obvious concern and panic on his face. He looked like he might cry.
Akahana did not want to tell him what had happened. She didn't want to speak nor did she want to show him more of what had been done to her. Akahana simply wanted the comfort of his arms. She knew that she should be afraid of any touch now, but she could never bring herself to be afraid of this man's touch, of the gentle way he held her close to him. No, she did not fear him. She needed him.
"Deidara…" She sobbed out, holding her arms open for him.
Without hesitation he pulled her too him. She nearly screamed because of the pain his tight embrace brought, but she needed his comfort to much to ever turn this away. Akahana cried into his neck and he whispered in her ear as she did. What exactly it was that he said was unknown. She couldn't focus long enough on it, but the softness of his voice eventually calmed her down and for the briefest of moments, she felt safe again. She felt like nothing had been taken from her.
"Akahana." He breathed out softly, still holding her close. "What happened to you…?"
Very slowly, she began, "Hiro happened to me."
And just like that the dam broke.
