Chapter Nine

You're My One and Only

--

The last time I saw you, we were laughing and smiling, our group of friend's all around us. Your black graduation grown flowing over the body I had known so well, your hat missing because we had all thrown them at the end of the ceremony. You held my hand tightly, leaning down to kiss me. But I darted away, giggling as I raced away. You just smiled and rolled your eyes.

My best friend gave me a hug, laughing as we danced together. It was over, high school was at an end. Eighteen years old, and you started college after summer, we were ready to take on the world. To show everyone our worth.

And it happened… You walked across the street. I was the only one who saw the car coming. It was slow-motion at that moment, and it still seemed like everything happened in the blink of an eye. I screamed your name, tears already spilling over my eyes. You turned to look at me… you looked confused as I raced towards you. And then…

This is anything but a love story. It is anything but.

--

Hidan glanced down at his work. English class was boring, but it gave him a chance to think about the man he had lost, the love he had been denied. It felt so long ago… and yet it couldn't have been more than a year. Was it really that long ago?

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Finally. Hidan jolted to his feet, his hands clenching around backpack as he darted from the room, careful to avoid anyone who might ruin this.

Suddenly, a gentle hand was on his shoulder. Hidan spun around to see Deidara there. And he broke down. In the middle of the hallway, as kids rushed to and from classes, Hidan broke down crying against his best friends shoulder.

At the end of the hall, Sasori, Kakuzu, Kisame, and Itachi watched Hidan break into the thousands of pieces he had desperately been holding together.

Sasori glanced up at Kakuzu, whose eyes were glued to the ground. He turned and walked off without a sound, Sasori only sighing as he looked between his friend and the small albino who was much more of a mess than they had originally realized.

--

Deidara showed up to math's a bit late, smiling as he showed the teacher a late slip. He went and sat beside Sasori, smiling sadly to the young puppet master. The red-head reached out a hand and clasped Deidara's.

"When you're ready," Sasori leaned over and whispered. Deidara nodded, eyes clenched shut as he tried to stop the tears that threatened to fall.

"Hidan's in the nurses office. He, uh, he needs to sleep, un," Deidara murmured, resting his head against Sasori's shoulder. "I'll tell you guys the story at break. But only to a certain point, un, cause Hidan has to tell you the rest."

"I got it," Sasori said quietly, stroking Deidara's hand with his thumb. It was Hidan's story… but they all needed to hear it.

--

Deidara sat close to Sasori outside the school, the group gathered beneath an old tree, grass underneath their feet. Sasori had his arm looped around Deidara's shoulders, head leaning against Deidara's.

Kisame and Itachi sat against the tree, Itachi content to occupy Kisame's lap. Kakuzu stood a bit apart from the others. Hidan was absent.

Taking a deep breath, Deidara began. "We, meaning Hidan and me, met some high school kids our eighth grade year, just before we graduated, un. They were juniors, and kind of bullies. But there was one boy who was kind to us, his name was Pein. He and Hidan had a special relationship when Hidan turned fifteen, un, they were like boyfriends. Though Pein said they couldn't be until Hidan turned eighteen. They were really in love, even though they were three years apart, un. Hidan really loved Pein, he was all the idiot would think about. And… I think, no, I know Pein loved Hidan. Pein was like the leader of our group, he told us what to do and when. Hidan followed his every order, and if you know Hidan, he doesn't do that a lot, un. He loved this guy."

Kakuzu visibly tensed. "So, what happened to the guy?" he muttered.

"He died."

The new voice made them all turn. Hidan was walking towards the, hands in pockets, eyes red and black bags lay under the red orbs. He stood next to Kakuzu, looking down at the ground.

"Hida, un?" Deidara whispered, looking up at his best friend with concern. Hidan just shook his head.

"Graduation day of high school, that idiot goes and gets hit by a car," Hidan laughed bitterly. "He was jay-walking, the moron! …Fucker decided to leave me behind. He always did that. And this time, I can't catch up to him. So you don't have to be fucking jealous of a dead man, Kakuzu, he's gone and not coming back…"

With that, Hidan turned and walked off, sticking his hands back in his pockets. Deidara and Kakuzu shared a glance before the tall masked boy took off after Hidan. This… was something he needed to do, because only someone who truly loved Hidan would be able to understand.