Disclaimer: Go backwards.
A/N: This is it. The last chapter of Love Wars. I hope you've enjoyed. See you at the finish line.
Chapter 21:
Hiro stopped at a red light and leaned back in the driver's seat. After two years he hadn't thought a lot at all. Things just happened too fast. Thinking was creeping up on him all morning though. In the back of the car Tala and Deidara were simply relaxing. The day was peaceful. Sunny with a gentle breeze and light traffic on the highway. Next to him Itachi was texting someone. Hiro didn't care enough to hold a grudge once he'd had a talk with Itachi six months earlier.
Even with all the blows dealt to his life Itachi had fared remarkably. He lived with his mother and brother in an apartment big enough for four. His parents had finally divorced. Itachi and Sasuke both did some soul searching and got jobs. Mikoto started working as a college professor while her sons worked as cashiers at a mall. Then Itachi met a guy he liked. Not two months later they were dating and Itachi called Hiro and asked for a chance to talk with him.
Hiro agreed with every intention to beat him within an inch of his life once they were face to face but when they finally were face to face he couldn't do it. Itachi had changed, Hiro could tell instantly, and so, they talked. They talked about life since Hiro and Tala had taken Deidara from his hometown to Bey City after the Beyblading World Championships. They talked about their mental states. They even talked about Sasori's new girlfriend, Kisame joining the navy, and Hidan's upcoming marriage to a top model.
When they ran out of small talk or things to catch up on Itachi asked if Tala and Deidara still hated him. Hiro told it like it was. Neither one of them thought of him because they were still hurting. Itachi then asked Hiro to bring them with him in secret the next time they met. Hiro had bit back that he had no intention of interrupting the happiness of his lovers but Itachi had litterally gotten on his knees and begged him for a chance to make things right, so Hiro reluctantly agreed.
Tala and Deidara refused to get out of the car when they'd reached the designated meeting place. Itachi had brought his boyfriend for support. It was curiosity about the guy was that caused Tala and Deidara to finally get out of the car. Deidara remarking that he needed to make sure the guy would treat his best friend right and Tala saying he was simply looking out for his family. That had led to a long conversation of reasons to care and somehow the two admitted they didn't hate Itachi anymore.
Itachi had apologized on his knees for everything he'd done claiming he understood what love really was now. As fate would have it Tala and Deidara hated Itachi's boyfriend and they tortured him whenever he was around during a get-together. Itachi said nothing about it. He'd never really realized how much he missed Deidara's friendship until he'd lost it. Tala caring enough about his happiness to watch out for him made him too happy to speak out against it. The guy was still with Itachi and though he hadn't earned their trust yet he'd definitely earned Hiro, Tala, and Deidara's respect.
Hiro was Itachi's sensei now. Hiro would never voice it, but he was proud of Itachi. He'd come a long way, not just as a martial artist, but as a person in general. They were going to medical school together now. Itachi had said something along the lines of wanting to help others so that he might someday make up for the pain he'd caused. Hiro had said that it was a good idea and offered his support to him. There was a friendship blooming between them, it was kind of nice.
Hiro let his thoughts cease temporarily as he parked the car. Deidara and Itachi got out first, Deidara rushing to embrace his mother and brother, and Itachi taking off in search of his boyfriend. The whole lot of them were gathered at the park this fine day for a picnic and field day. There were tables set up all over. Minato and Tsunade sat at a table with their sons. The mystery of Tsunade had finally been solved a year and half earlier. It turned out she had taken Naruto and gone into hiding.
Kushina was a more devious witch than anyone had really given her credit for. She had paid some yakuza to kidnap and dispose of Tsunade and then passed Naruto off as her own son. Minato stopped working as a film producer in favor of less work hours. He became a college professor like Mikoto. Tsunade turned out to be an accomplished doctor and Hiro worked almost side by side with her now. He was still far from finished with his studies though.
They all found out later that Kushina had been killed by the same men she'd hired. Minato paid triple what she'd paid them for Tsunade's freedom. The two renewed wedding vows and moved on with their lives. Deidara was the happiest of all at that development, even though he found Naruto annoying.
Boris had died of heart failure not long after Hiro, Tala, and Deidara had moved into a house together, one courtesy of Kai and Voltaire, whom legally adopted Tala. Kai and Tala were absolutely ecstatic about it, Kai not minding at all that he was now set to inherit only half of Voltaire's riches.
There came a day a year prior that Kai asked Tyson to move into the Hiwatari mansion. Tyson agreed of course, but Hiro had to be reminded that Tyson wasn't a child anymore and that he could make his own decisions. Kai pointed out that Tala was his brother and he didn't quite like Hiro so much as he tolerated him so they were pretty much in the same position. They agreed to tolerate each other for the sake of their brothers. Hiro smiled and took Tala's hand as he stepped out of the car.
"Happy?" He asked.
"Very." Tala replied, looking towards the others.
"I'm glad." Hiro said, letting Tala lean on him, as they headed for the table Tyson and Kai were sitting at.
"Thank you so much." Tala said, while they were still out of earshot.
"For what ice princess?" Hiro asked, confused.
"Being in my life. I couldn't live without you." Tala replied, seriousness clear in his voice.
"My feelings exactly. Thank you." Hiro supplied in turn, in the same tone.
"Am I interrupting?" Deidara asked, latching himself to Hiro's other arm.
"Nothing you can't get away with." The two replied together.
"Hey Dei-dama," Hiro started.
"Yeah?" Deidara asked.
"Are you happy?" He finished.
"I couldn't be any happier. Are you?" Deidara supplied in turn.
"Life couldn't get any better." Hiro said, prying his arms free from his clinging lovers, and lifting them both onto his shoulders.
"Love you angels." He declared proceeding towards and empty table.
"Love you too." They chorused back, before all of their focus went to staying balanced on his shoulders.
"Look at them, don't they look happy?" Tyson asked, his head leaning on Kai's.
"Yeah they do." Kai replied smiling slightly at the scene. He then took Tyson's hand and kissed it.
"They'll never be happier than we are though. Don't you agree?" He only got a short laugh out of his boyfriend, whom straightened up and kissed him. Kai kissed him back while those around them urged them on. It wasn't often that they showed their relationship in public after all. As Tala and Deidara coaxed Hiro into a calm state and warded off his thoughts of killing Kai all they could think was - Life is Good!
A/N: Finished! Yay! This turned out so differently from what I originally planned but I'm still very happy with it. I hope you've enjoyed and I hope you'll support my other stories as much as you have this one. See ya! Oh yeah one big THANK YOU to all who read, will read, reviewed, and will review. Love Wars...COMPLETE!