I actually rather like this chapter. LOL Anyway, read on people!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, unfortunately. 8C

.:~:.

The next thirty-two hours had been utter and complete torture on Deidara. He had locked himself in his room and had refused to come out except for late at night when he would go visit Sasori, who was neither improving nor getting worse. It was on the thirty-third hour of Sasori practically knocking on Heaven's gate when someone knocked on Deidara's door.

The blond looked up but said nothing. He looked away again as the door opened to reveal Konan. She looked upset and nervous about something as she crossed the room silently and moved to sit on Sasori's bed with Deidara.

"Deidara …"

"Un?"

"The last thirty-some hours have been trying on myself and Sasori and even you." She said. Deidara finally managed to look up at her at the mention of Sasori. "And …" She trailed off before she sighed and came straight out. "Deidara, Sasori is dying. He won't live more than another hour."

The blond's eyes widened as he stared at her desperately, silently asking for her to tell him she was joking. But when she only looked away he knew she wasn't and instantly tears clouded his vision. 'No, Danna! No! You can't leave me like this! You just can't!' He wailed silently as he curled up in a tight ball and allowed himself to shake.

He felt a hand on his back but hardly noticed. After a while Konan got up. "Come on." She said. "I'll take you to him." Deidara didn't need to be shown the way but he definitely needed the comfort right then and there so he took her extended hand and allowed her to lead him through the house and to the medical wing.

Konan stopped in the doorway and nodded for Deidara to go in. Deidara hesitated for a moment before he slowly crossed the room. When he glanced back he saw that Konan had disappeared. The blond went over and climbed up onto the bed beside Sasori. He gently grasped his hand and felt fresh tears spring to his eyes at how cold he was. He also noticed how his breathing was really shallow. Konan was right. He was dying.

"Danna …" He whispered and shook his head, not bothering to wipe the tears away. The redhead didn't even twitch. Deidara hung his head and then moved so that Sasori's head was in his lap. The blond proceeded to play with his red hair while the tears continued to fall down his face.

"Please don't leave me." He whimpered though he knew it was pointless. "Please …"

The redhead suddenly twitched a bit and Deidara froze, looking down at him. When nothing happened he closed his eyes and lowered his head again, sobbing. He was still holding onto the redhead's hand and could feel the life slowly leaving him. He promised himself to stay with him until he fully passed on, no matter how hard it was on him. He wanted to at least be there when his Danna died.

Another twenty minutes passed and Sasori's breathing had gotten so shallow that it couldn't be heard anymore and even his heartbeat had slowed down to practically nothing. Deidara had stopped crying after a while, having cried so much that he couldn't cry anymore. He traced two fingers across his Danna's cheek, silently telling him he was there.

Finally, as Sasori was literally on the verge of death, Deidara tightened his grip on his hand and spoke. "Danna … If you're really going to leave me then I at least want you to know something." He whispered. He didn't really care if the redhead heard him or not; he just had to say it.

"We fought a lot when we first became partners and at first I hated you. But then … I don't really know what it was but somehow that changed and I actually grew to like you and care for you, your safety, your life, just you in general.

"I guess you could even say I loved you." The blond choked on a sob here but resumed after a moment. "I never told you, not even once, that I cared. Not even once did I say that you mattered to me. Never. I'm sorry." He said and then bent over so his forehead was against his Danna's. "I just wanted you to know before you go that if I could have it any other way I'd take your place. You deserve life and I know that for several years you missed out on it because you had turned yourself into a puppet. You may never have felt the same way I did … but as my final words to you I just wanted to say …

"I love you, Danna. First as an equal. Then as a partner. And now, finally, as a brother. You were the most important person in my life … and I'm glad I met you." The blond fell silent as he was unable to say goodbye. It just pained him far too much to say it.

Deidara didn't move as he allowed himself to sit there and sob, knowing that by now his Danna would be gone. At least in the end he had finally told him how he had felt. It just felt so … soon. So sudden. It was painful and heartbreaking.

The blond started to pull away from Sasori but stopped when he felt something cold gently touch the side of his face. He opened his eyes and quickly realized it was a hand. Sasori's hand. Deidara quickly looked down and into a pair of soft, brown eyes staring up at him. His own tear-filled eyes widened as he jerked back in shock.

"Danna?" He exclaimed a bit more loudly than he meant to. "Y-you're alive?"

The redhead didn't say anything as he just nodded and continued to stare up at Deidara. The blond blinked twice before shaking his head. "No, that's impossible …" He murmured and closed his eyes for a moment. "You were almost dead. There's just no way for you to suddenly bounce back to life like that …"

"I did." Came Sasori's gentle voice and once again the hand, which was starting to get warmer, was placed on the side of his face. Deidara stared down at Sasori for a long time, as if trying to convince himself he was real, and then finally managed to grin and reach up to cover the redhead's hand with his own.

"So … you're not gonna die on me?" The blond asked. Sasori shook his head and moved to sit up, pulling his hand free of Deidara's. Once he was sitting, Deidara practically lunged forward and wrapped his arms around him, hugging him fiercely. Sasori returned the hug, though not as fiercely due to lack of strength.

"I won't leave you until it's truly time." The redhead whispered into his ear. "Clear?" Deidara nodded and then let go of Sasori, sliding off the bed to stand up. He held out a hand to Sasori, who took it gingerly, and got off the bed. He almost fell over from going so long without using his legs but Deidara held him up.

"Come on. Let's go tell Konan and Pein and everyone else the good news!" Deidara exclaimed happily and proceeded to help Sasori walk out of the room. Things had turned out alright in the end, after all.

.:~:.

Sasori: I LIVED! =D

Yes, yes you did. XD

Sasori: THANK YOU!

Deidara: *glomps him* T.T I'll never leave your side ever again, Danna! I swear it!

Sasori: Choking. Not. Breathing!

Deidara; Tehe ... Oops ...

LOL Anyway, this is all I have written right now but I am steadily working on the next chapter. Expect it sometime within the next few days to a week, maybe even today if I can find the inspiration and ideas! (I usually update fairly quickly).

BY THE WAY, IDEAS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND HELP ME UPDATE FASTER! ^_^