Gaarsh…

-:-

"Hidan-san? Will you be leaving now?"

"Ah – yeah. I've got somewhere to be. Thanks for your hard work."

"Oh, of course. Where are you going?"

"Just… somewhere. I go there often after work."

"I see… Okay. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye."

--

Hidan left the store, putting on his jacket to seem normal to other people. He made his way out of town, towards a building lost in the forest outside. It was lost, but he found it quickly. The garden was taken care of very well, and the inside was as clean as a 223-year-old could keep it.

He walked over to a small place just a small ways away from the garden. It was here that the most beautiful flowers in the whole garden grew, without the help of seeds. The flowers simply grew. Vines created a frame around the stone protruding from the ground.

Hinata Hyuga

19XX-2008

Dearly beloved maid of this mansion.

He smiled a little to himself.

"Hi, Hinata. Do you like the garden? You'd better, I worked friggen hard on it." He chuckled to himself. The flowers danced in the slight breeze, almost laughing with him. He gently stroked one of the flower's petals, as if they were the maid herself. "I miss you, y'know? Haha, I miss talking to you." He moved from a crouch to sitting cross-legged on the soft grass, removing his hat. It crumpled a little in his clenched fist, a slight dazed look on his face.

"Aye-ay-ay… What's a guy gonna do?" He leaned back and relaxed a bit, bathing in the brief sunlight of the day. They said it was going to snow later, so might as well take in some sun. He'd grown out of his vampiric habits and come to enjoy living among humans. He kept in touch with Kakuzu, who lived in the same town as he did. It was comforting to know that he wasn't the only vampire in his town.

"I wonder what the others are doing…"

--

"Hinata-san, are you sure about this? I mean, it's been a hundred years. The mansion's gonna be a little shitty looking." Deidara and Hinata were walking down the sidewalks at the edge of town. "And do we have to walk? You might get tired… I can run back and get the car." He was extremely worried about her sudden change in attitude about the whole 'past' Hinata. She suddenly wanted to explore. She wanted to know all the details.

"The mansion's a long ways away from here – even in the car. We can't walk… Well, I can, but you certainly—"

Hinata suddenly stopped. Deidara did too, a few steps ahead of her.

"Please, Hinata. Be reasonable." He almost begged.

She looked up at him, a newly determined look on her face. "Deidara-san. I feel… different. About everything. And I know that what I feel is right. And what I feel is that I need to go to the place where she lived for the last few months of her life." She began walking. "And I don't want to take a car… since you didn't have one before." Deidara bit his lip and followed her, reluctant to each step.

It was when they were heading into the forest that he decided to carry her. He walked up behind her and swept her off her feet, catching her by surprise. "Deidara-san…"

"You even weigh about the same." He didn't allow himself to kiss her until they got to the mansion. Instead, he nosed her cheek and enjoyed her presence.

"Hinata and I… we did walk to the nearby towns a lot." He looked up to the sky. "On nice days in the winter like this." He looked down at Hinata and smiled. "And I carried her, since I didn't want her to tire or hurt in the slightest. I wanted her to be close to me, as well. I loved for much longer than the both of us thought." Hinata leaned into him, holding onto a part of his jacket.

"She loved me too… it's just that… Sasori got in the way." He gripped her tightly. Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck to comfort him. "He took advantage of her… and…" Hinata gently stroked his hair, calming him down a little. "Shh… you don't have to say any more." She hushed; and he couldn't help but kiss her then. She was so understanding… he loved her so much.

They were at the mansion a few minutes later, and they noticed a certain silver-haired man sitting in the middle of a well-grown garden of flowers.

--

Hidan glanced to his side, immediately taking notice to the couple walking in from the fence. He locked eyes with the blonde, not allowing himself to look at the painfully familiar one in his arms.

"Deidara." He murmured.

"Hidan." Deidara greeted.

There was a short silence, and Hinata glanced at the two. Hidan felt too relaxed to get up, so he said in a louder voice,

"'Sup?"

Deidara chuckled lightly.

"Heh. A hundred years and that's all you say? You're a riot."

Hidan laughed with him. Deidara walked up to where he was sitting, plopping down with Hinata still in his arms.

"Hey, hey, watch it. It took forever to grow that out." Hidan said, suddenly protective of his garden. Another silence, and Hidan finally gathered the guts to ask who the girl was.

"She's… um… Hinata Hyuga." Deidara got her into a more comfortable position, sitting on his lap. Hinata waved meekly at Hidan, who waved back.

"Hinata Hyuga, huh? Hi, then. I'm Hidan." He extended a hand towards her, and she took it. They shook once before letting go. "Nice to meet you, Hidan-san…" Hinata whispered. Something in her ticked. She wanted to say more, but also didn't. She wanted to talk to him, about his day, how he's been all this time… questions you'd ask a person if you haven't seen them for a long time.

They just met.

Perhaps he wanted to say something as well. He looked like he had so much to say. But they all knew it would be better to stay silent. He got it; she wasn't the one he was hoping to see. They understood that much. It was that understanding that gave them a connection. They could communicate through this.

I may not be her… but we can make new memories from now on!

…I'd like that.

They smiled at each other, as if they were old friends. In a sense, they were. And they would continue to be so.

Deidara glanced at both of them, his arm tightening around Hinata. He understood not long after, and cracked a smile at Hidan.

"Hinata," Deidara said after a while. "You know whose grave this is, correct?" Hinata turned to look at the beautifully decorated tombstone in front of her. "…Yes." She answered softly. She crawled off of Deidara's lap and in front of the grave, briefly paying her respects. Hidan and Deidara stood and took a few steps behind her, softly catching up with each other after all this time.

"Hinata is… her aunt." Deidara explained.

"That explains a lot." Hidan laughed to himself. "You two going out?" he asked. "Of course." Deidara answered. "Damn."

"I don't think she knows yet, though. That Hinata's her aunt, I mean." Deidara continued. "Why don't you tell her?" Hidan asked. "I don't know… something's holding me back, I guess." There was a pause. "I can't tell her everything. She has to figure some things out herself." He concluded.

"What happened to Sasori? You two left the mansion together last time I saw you." Hidan asked. He shoved his hands in his pockets and swayed from side to side.

"Oh. We live together." Deidara's look turned downcast.

"Are you two still…"

"Still what?"

"…Fucking…?"

"…Vulgar as always, Hidan."

"I say it as it is."

Deidara sighed. "…He let go after Hinata-san showed up. We're just… friends now, I guess." He looked up to the sky, the last glimpses of sun disappearing in the clouds. "He loves Hinata… and Hinata-san. Both. I don't blame him." he closed his eyes. "But… He's punishing himself for all the shit he put me through. He purposely fell in love with Hinata-san… and is living with the pain of having someone else take her away." An awkward silence between them. Hidan had nothing to say, except,

"…That sucks."

"Haha. It does."

--

Hinata… can you hear me?

Perfectly.

Wow… I… I can't believe you're right here.

I can't either.

These flowers are so… beautiful.

Hidan-sama helped me out a bit. Isn't the whole garden beautiful?

Yes… Hidan-san took great care of this place.

Has Deidara-sama taken you into the mansion yet? I hope Hidan-sama hasn't left it a complete mess…

…W-Would it be okay to ask…?

Of course. He loves you, remember?

You too.

It's different for me.

How?

You'll get it someday.

Hinata stood up and walked to where Deidara and Hidan were standing. Deidara took her hand. "What do you want to do now?" he asked sweetly, smiling at her. Hinata smiled a little in return. "Would it be alright… to go in?" this time she looked to Hidan for permission. He nodded.

The inside was a little dark, if not for the always open windows. Everything was so… old styled, compared to the houses back in town. It was like walking into an old castle in England. High ceilings, grand staircases, large doors leading to common rooms, long hallways, tall pillars, and a magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling.

She felt his hand grip hers tightly, and suddenly she felt guilty for making him come back.

"Deidara-san…" She started. He shook his head.

"No, let's keep going."

Hidan gave them a small tour of the place. Nothing's changed much, except the place was a little dustier than Deidara remembered. He got a good look at his old room; everything was where he left it. His bed was made perfectly, his drawers empty, his closet – never really full in the first place – devoid of all clothing, and the scratched up mirror he could never see himself in. There was a place, however, hidden from everyone in the mansion. And that held a box of memories from his few years at the mansion. Trinkets, gifts, useless pictures… Deidara decided to keep that box where it was.

Then they came across Hinata's room. It was here that Deidara showed most discomfort. Hinata studied him carefully as he stood stiff in front of the door. He could still smell her. He could feel her presence through the thick wood of the door. He could see her, broken and frail, in his arms on the bed. Hear her soft, crooked voice, the ailments of a broken heart. Feel her shaking as the realization hit her that she was going to die.

And it was in this room she fell asleep, never to wake again, in his cold arms that winter.

"Deidara-san?" Hinata's fingers interlaced with his, calming him down.

"You okay, man?" Hidan asked, giving him a pat on the back.

Apparently, Deidara was taking deep breaths, unnerving the other two. Hinata gave him a concerned look and stepped him away from the room.

"I'm sorry. This was a bad idea – we should leave now, if you're uncomfortable like this –" Deidara held her in place, wrapping both arms around her. "No… Let's… Stay. I want to see." Hinata could feel him shake a little, but she agreed. Hidan absently rubbed his cheek and opened the door.

"I didn't change a thing." Hidan moved aside to let the two in. "Don't mess too much up, alright?" he said it to lighten the mood, but proved unsuccessful. "Thanks, Hidan." Deidara murmured, trying to take in the whole room at once. He held onto Hinata as tight as he could without hurting her, and stepped a little closer to the bed. It was still a little messed up from the last person who was there – which was him.

Slowly, he sat down on the part of the bed that wasn't moved. Hinata sat beside him, running a finger over his cold hand. Hidan left the two alone, deciding to make his daily rounds around the house for anything to clean or fix.

"She… She died in here. That's why… That's why I'm acting so… awkward here." Deidara explained, leaning on her for a little. "I'm sorry." Hinata apologized softly. He shook his head. "It's all in the past now." They shared a silence that Hinata wasn't completely comfortable with. She knew she could do something to make it better, and it didn't involve leaving the mansion.

Silently, Hinata moved away from him and crawled over to the opposite side of the bed. The side that was still clean and unmoved. She moved the covers, crawling under. Deidara stared after her in confusion. "H-Hinata-san, what are you…" he trailed off as she deliberately left the covers open for him to crawl in.

"Let's… let's start over. Make it a happier ending than that." She referred to the spot behind her, and Deidara walked around to face her. "Hinata-san… Really, it's okay." He gave her an almost playful look to hide the way he really felt.

"Don't try and fool me like that. Join me. We can make it a better ending. I promise." She tugged at his jacket sleeve. He let her pull him down to her and wrap the blanket around them. She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. Her eyes closed, and the words flowed through her.

"Deidara-sama… I think… I think I loved you… the whole time."

Her words caught him off guard completely. His feelings took over, his actions completely as scripted by him the last time. Gently, he cupped her face, and slowly he said,

"I've loved you… the whole time as well."

He closed his eyes as she said her part.

"I'm… I'm glad." She smiled, not as weakly as before. Deidara closed his eyes tighter, pleading that this is the part that she was hoping to change.

But nothing happened. Hinata laughed a little, as if it was obvious what the next action would be.

"This is the part… where we kiss." She said. Deidara smiled. He lowered himself to her lips and pressed gently. It felt like he was kissing her for the first time. It felt like it was supposed to happen, and it was happening. Everything was right and would be right from now on. Her lips – so soft, so warm – were so natural against his. Her warmth contrasted with hers perfectly; they were a pair.

The kiss, in reality, only lasted a few seconds. But the mere feeling of it made it last even longer.

"Hinata…" he said her name without the suffix. "Deidara-san?" Hinata felt him trembling again, but it was for a different reason. He was happy – no – furiously happy. He was unbelievably happy. He kept kissing her, muttering her name in between. "I love you, Hinata. I love you so much." And he wasn't talking about the old Hinata. He was talking about the one in his arms. The one who would stay with him forever.

Forever.

--

"What're you two waiting for, Christmas? It's gonna start snowing any minute now!" Hidan called from outside the mansion. Deidara and Hinata were helping him clean a few things up before leaving for the day. The mention of Christmas made Hinata remember something. Something important.

"…OH MY GOD." She yelled as they were running down the woodland trail to Konoha. "Hinata?" Deidara inquired.

"D-Deidara-san! It's- It's Christmas!" Hinata shrieked in panic.

"Christmas?" Both Deidara and Hidan asked curiously.

"Christmas? What do you mean, Christmas? It's the holiday where I have to give everyone I know and love gifts! Oh, I can't believe it's today, Christmas!" Hinata groaned.

"Ch-Christmas… H-Happy Christmas?" Deidara tried, to cheer Hinata up a little. "Merry Christmas." Hinata sighed.

"Oh. Merry Christmas."

--

The door opens.

"Hinata! Where've you been?"

"I had something big to take care of."

"Oh. Well, come now, we're opening presents!"

"S-Sorry!"

Hinata spent the rest of Christmas day with her family, thankful that they weren't really angry at her for being out so long.

-:-

Merry Christmas everyone…!

Sorry for the somewhat half-assed ending to this chapter.

I mean, I wanted to get this up NOW for some reason.

You get that, right? Setting up a goal to finish something before something else… yeah…

So yeah.

Er… I'm glad you guys are commenting about my little love problem X'D it's a little embarrassing, but I'm glad you guys care! :D

[And i'm not going to Canada :( Fail Snow is Fail.]