Okay, Imma gonna warn EVERYBODY right now - the Past Arc has the most mature themes so far. If you can't take them, walk out now . . . although keep in mind, I warn for a reason.
So it looks like Pez is a little worried about that explanation, huh? Well . . . read on.
21 Jump!
Natasha was shocked when she saw Pez turn and walk away without making a word. She jumped, then ran to catch up. "Pez, wait-"
"What?" Pez turned, her face devoid of emotion. Natasha bit her lip. With her face like that, it couldn't be good.
"Pez, I want to know what you think," Natasha went. "And I don't want you to blame us."
Pez nodded, but Natasha wasn't satisfied. "Listen . . . it's a big deal - you cannot tell anyone. I mean, everybody knows, but they don't know the details . . . they think Itachi killed his clan in cold blood-"
"-because that's the assumption, huh?" Pez asked. For the first time, her voice was truly cold. "If somebody kills their family, it must be assumed that it was done on purpose."
Natasha could not respond to that. Pez stared straight at her, her face a stone. Natasha tried to speak. "Pez. . . what are you talking about? I didn't mean that at all!"
"But you just said it yourself," Pez went, crossing her arms. "'They think Itachi killed his clan in cold blood.' That sounds a lot like assuming that it's the usual case. Where does that put you two?"
Natasha gasped, shocked. She's never been this - upfront - about something like this. "Pez, I don't understand what you're talking about? Unless . . . does this have anything to do with your past?"
Pez turned on her heel and walked away, not looking back. Natasha went wide-eyed, shocked. She almost wanted to call after her, before Itachi placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned - he looked pained.
"D-Don't worry about her. She has a lot to think about," he said.
"This doesn't make any sense," she went softly, staring at her retreating back. "I mean, what was she talking about? It almost sounded like she was upset that we would assume such a thing."
"Do you know her past?"
"No."
"I don't either. Perhaps she's just in shock, darling. She needs some time."
"I suppose you're right," Natasha nodded, hugging Itachi tightly. "I"m sorry . . . I didn't want you to relive those memories."
"It's okay . . .it only reminds me what has to be done."
She pulled away, shocked. "Itachi!"
"I have to do this, Natasha. Not now . . . but soon. Soon he will have to."
"You know I won't let you," she went softly. "I won't let you get killed . . ."
He shook his head sadly. "Natasha . . . you weren't the one who had to kill his family that day-"
"I'm the one that abandoned mine," she said. "At least, the family I cared about. How is that different?"
"At least you could go back to them."
"And that's your way of going back?"
"Yes."
"Itachi . . ."
He finally looked away from her. "Now's not the time to talk about it, alright?"
She bit her lip and held her peace. Instead, she said, "What do you think is going to happen?"
He was silent for a long moment. Then he took her into his arms again, holding her head against his chest. "I don't know," he finally admitted. "But I do know that what we started . . . might turn into a storm."
Natasha had to silently agree. She had a feeling her tornado wasn't going to be stopped easily.
000
Deidara, Natasha, and Itachi gathered in the latter's room, staring silently at the floor as they thought over what Natasha had told them about Pez's odd behavior over the last weeks. Nobody was willing to suggest anything - none of them knew what could ever make the energetic, silly, young girl so stoic. At least, Natasha didn't. By the awkward silence of the room, she could only assume that her friends were not aware either. The sun was setting in the window, and a light line of blue at the top sill reminded them that the night was coming - thankfully, days after the full moon. The darkness had spread inches down the window before somebody finally spoke.
"That is bizarre for Pez, un."
They burst into conversation. "That's what I was thinking!" Natasha went, crossing her arms under her chest. "She seemed to be offended when I explained about the Uchiha Massacre. I expected a large response, but I didn't think she'd just turn and walk away without saying anything!"
"Do you think there's a connection between her past and our story?" Itachi asked.
"I don't know. I know nothing of her past."
"Well, why don't we ask, un? I mean, that's important! Why did we never ask?"
"I'm not going to pressure her. She did not pressure me."
"But Natasha, this might be important."
"Still, she's been here for three and a half months already. If it was an issue, Pein would tell us."
"Her jutsu was an issue - you said it yourself that Pein should've told you but never did."
"He's right, un! We need to either ask Pein or figure out ourselves!"
"NO!" Natasha glared at them both - they shrunk away slightly, shocked at her fierce tone. Silence grew. "I refuse to make her tell us anything unless it becomes an issue," she said, standing and pacing. "I'm not going to bother her because of mere suspicions. Pez's reasons for wondering about me were valid, although I have no idea how she had those odd dreams. That's not the point, though - she had reasons to suspect. We do not."
"She did bothered to ask," Itachi pointed out.
Natasha sighed and stopped, slouching slightly. "I know. But I refuse to do the same to her. She's my friend. I refuse to pester her."
"What about us, un?" Deidara asked. "What if we want to ask her ourselves?"
Natasha glared at him. "No. We are not bothering her, Dei. If we pry, then we will only create problem. You need to calm down."
Suddenly, Deidara leapt to his feet. "Wait a second, un! Who said you were the one that told me what to do?"
"Dei! This is not a laughing matter - this is real."
"This has ALL been real! And yet I've been doing fine on my own!"
"Deidara, you are FAR too young to be making these choices-"
Finally, he glared at her with venom, making for the door. "Natasha, un, stop it! I'm not a child anymore!"
The door slammed behind him, leaving Itachi and Natasha in stunned silence once more. Natasha let out a long sigh, turning to Itachi. "Are you going to complain too? Am I also treating you like a child?"
"I don't know what to do," Itachi went, standing and wrapping arms around her waist. "But I understand that she's your friend. She's mine, too. But right now, things are too overwhelming to just make a decision about it."
"I know . . ." she leaned into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck as he started to sway gently, holding her close. "I just wish that I knew what to do, instead of being an ignorant child."
"You're not ignorant. And you're not a child," Itachi said, kissing her forehead. "You're my darling girl, and you will figure out a way to make this right - with all of us."
000
Deidara couldn't sit still, even in his own room. The sun had set completely - the once dark blues were turning to black, and stars were starting to litter the sky. The waning moon started rising to the east, only marking how long his unrest had been growing. Deidara tried to calm down, tried to go to sleep. But his thoughts kept him awake, kept him from sleep, until eventually he found himself picking his way through the hallway to Pez's room.
He knocked on the door. "Are you there, Pez?"
"No."
Deidara raised a brow and opened the door. Pez was laying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. George wasn't even in the room, having chosen to go somewhere else. Deidara pulled the door closed. "You alright? I heard something happened earlier."
"I'm fine, Dei . . ." Pez looked away. "I'm just tired."
"Are you sure?" Deidara asked. "Did Natasha bother you at all?"
"No! She didn't."
"Was it her past?"
"No . . ."
"...is it your past?"
"NO!"
The most insistant word yet, and it almost made Deidara step back in fright. "Pez-"
"I'm . . . I'm okay, Deidara," Pez got off of her bed and walked to the window. "I'm just tired, that's all."
Deidara stared at her with drawn brows. "Pez . . . do you want to talk-"
"Deidara, I would really, really like it if you would just leave."
Silence. Deidara stared at his feet in confusion, his mind swimming. "But, Pez . . . if it's your past, please let me -"
"It has nothing to do with my past!" She told the window. "It's none of your business!"
"But-"
"Just let me sleep, Dei."
Deidara stood his ground and stared at her back, confused. "But, Pez . . . listen, we all have things in our past that we don't like. But you can't bury them. Think about that . . .please."
He was halfway down the hall when she heard her shout.
"I HAVE NOTHING TO BURY!"
The door slammed, and Deidara stopped and leaned against the wall. "Pez . . . " he slid down the wall and started crying into his knees, his actions ruled by his deep, deep confusion and regret for being able to do nothing.
000
Natasha was sitting on the windowsill of her room, quietly watching the moon as she rubbed her shoulder. Her mind was swimming as if in molasses - nothing added up, like a puzzle without a piece. She traced shapes on the glass with her finger, first a heart and an arrow puncturing through it, then a heart behind it with another, crossing arrow. She traced a small circle in one of the hearts, not intending to write a name, but only to keep her occupied. She had a feeling that if she didn't, she would leap up and do something rash.
A squack brought her out of her daze. She turned - George tugged on her sock, staring up at her with wide eyes. Natasha smiled a little and picked him up. "Why are you here instead of Pez's room, buddy?"
The penguin seemed to shrug as Natasha absently petted it, thinking. When they had first found the penguin, Itachi had suggested something - Could Madara have put George here? He's the only one that would've had the ability to do so. I wonder . . . I never did get an answer from him. Maybe I should -
Her hand suddenly ran over something rough at the back of George's neck. The penguin squacked - Natasha pulled her hand away and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, little guy. Is something on the back of your neck?" She turned the penguin in her lap, looking at his neck.
Her brows rose into her hairline. It looked as if there was a small burn on the back of the bird's neck - a very small circle, surrounded by three tomoe in an even pattern. Natasha gasped - it was the Sharingan. So he DID put George there! she realized. But why?
George wiggled. Natasha released him, and he waddled over to the closed door. "You want out?" Natasha asked. She stood and walked to the door, opening it. "Here."
The penguin didn't move. Natasha stared at him and nudged him with her foot - "Come on, go ahead." Then she heard it - quiet sobs, coming down the hall.
She looked down the hall and saw Deidara huddled on the ground, his arms around his knees. "DEI!" She ran over to him and knelt. "What's wrong?"
The blond artist didn't seem to respond. Natasha slipped her fingers under his chin and made him look at her. His eyes were red. "Dei?"
Deidara's lips trembled out a word. Then he shuddered and started to cry. It was all Natasha needed.
"Pez."
She released him and stood, turning down the hall to see Itachi walking towards her. His eyes were wide. "Natasha?"
"I need to go see Pez. Take care of Dei," she passed him and trotted to Pez's room, quickly leaving the other two behind. What the hell is going on? she asked, gritting her teeth. This is bloody ridiculous.
She stopped at Pez's door and rapped. "Pez?"
No response. She opened the door to Pez, lying on the bed again. Natasha stepped forward. "Pez, what's going on? Dei is crying."
Pez slowly turned to face Natasha. Her eyes were almost empty. "Deidara doesn't cry."
"Is something wrong-?"
"NO!" Pez got up and looked away from her, angry.
Natasha stared at her. Slowly, very slowly, she clenched her fists and glared at her. "Pez. Do you really want to hurt the people around you?"
Pez snapped. She turned around with furious eyes and stomped forward.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
She shoved Natasha against the wall and ran out. Natasha gasped as her right shoulder pulled sharply. "PEZ!"
She bolted from the room and started chasing after the distance back of Pez, running down the hall in the direction of the statue room. Her shoulder started to hurt - she kept running, her bare feet pounding on the ground. She passed Deidara and Itachi, shouting - soon Deidara passed her, and they chased Pez into the statue room. The younger girl ran out the door as Kisame dashed in, blocking them. "What's going-?"
Natasha pulled a kunai and growled at him. "OUT OF THE WAY!"
He stepped back. She ran past him with Deidara ahead of her, out the door and past the gates, across the lake. She could see Pez running into the forest - Deidara was faster, and he ran into the forest quickly. Natasha gasped and reached out towards him.
But then she felt a huge slam of pain as she felt her shoulder pull, the hurt so bad that she fell to her knees and shouted.
"Natasha!"
She heard his voice of caution, but she struggled to her feet again as a soft rain started falling. She tried to keep going, but the pain was too much - she fell again, her shoulder throbbing.
"NATASHA!"
Thunder suddenly crashed overhead as Itachi made it to her side, eyes wide. She tried to stand. "I'm fine, I-"
"NO!" He took her in his arms. "You can't keep going! Dei can take care of-"
"I CAN'T LOSE HER!" she shouted, trying to break free from his iron grip. Her heart throbbed, her fears beating through her blood as she writhed in his arms. Itachi's grip stopped her, leaving her to mutter in fret and in fear.
"Natasha . . ." he held her closer and turned, walking back to the base. "It'll be okay . . . she's going to be fine."
"I can't . . . I can't . . ." Natasha couldn't speak anymore. She fell asleep in his arms, her last thought a prayer that no matter what, Pez wouldn't die.
000
Deidara gasped as he followed Pez, his feet pounding the mud beneath his feet around him as he ran, thunder sounding in the distance. He soon was following the blue glow of Pez's eyes, his eye glued on her back as he gasped, hoping - praying - that she was not going the direction he hoped, even as he followed the very path he was dreading.
The trees broke. Yards ahead was a cliff edge. Pez stopped at the very edge - Deidara shouted at her, and she turned.
"Why did you follow?" she asked, eyes blaring as the rain started pounding harder.
"Because I need to know what's wrong! PEZ!" he screamed, fear controlling his voice. "PLEASE! DON'T RIP OUT MY HEART AND THROW IT IN THE THUNDER!"
Nothing happened for long moments. They stood and stared at each other in the rain, Deidara gasping and Pez eeriely quiet. Then: a voice cleaved the rain.
"I never had your heart, Deidara."
Pez turned to the cliff.
Deidara gasped and ran.
His scream sounded.
She jumped.
"NO!" Deidara fell to his knees as Pez disappeared, followed by a SPLASH far below and a crash of thunder. He stared in shock.
She was . . . dead?
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Deidara leapt up with every intention to throw himself off the cliff. Hands restrained him, pulling his arms behind his back. He screamed words he could barely recognised - he heard a rough growl shout into his ears, words like "She's fine,", "She's not dead," and "She'll be back!" echoing through his head. Then he saw a blue hand rap his temple out of the corner of his eye, and everything melted away.
I know I rarely make comments at the bottom, except to announce that a new arc is starting. Well, this is the same arc. No change. But: I want to say this to EVERYONE.
Pez did not commit suicide.
Yes, I purposely spoiled you. But when PEZ-candy1 and I originally published this chapter, we agreed to spoil our audience for one reason - because neither of us wanted anybody to think, even for a week, that we would have something so series occur in this. There will NEVER be any form of self-mutilation in this, and there will DEFINTELY be nothing so harsh.
Had to be said, man. I may be an author, but I have my right to protect myself from what I think are bad choices, and not saying this now seemed like a bad one to me.