Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, life's a bitch but I've surviiived, happy birthday to me. I'm 17 now.

Okay so you MAY want to go back to chap 20 as there was a miiiiinor edit done there lol

This chap turned out rather long, I hope you appreciate it cx DEI AND SASSY ARE JUST SO UNFF ugh xD most of it was written very late at night tho so I apologize for the possible lack in quality of this chap ;-; I try.

Also, to those who felt slightly confused by Naruto earlier - last chapter was the first time he was mentioned, so don't think you just didn't remember him. He will be discussed a bit more in this chap.

Review, please~ I gave you a long chap and it's my birthdaaaay~

Chapter 21

Rain dampened the blood red locks that rounded the pale face gazing down at Deidara. The intensity of the dark eyes sent familiar shivers down his back that had nothing to do with the temperature or his soaked clothes. He gazed back at them and opened his mouth for the two words, "Hello, Danna."

The older man sighed and Deidara could instantly feel the pain his mind had so far numbed come back to life and hit him with full power. He winced. The dark sky and cool rain had managed to dull the feelings in him, he had already been lingering on the border of consciousness. He had decided there was really no use in trying to get up and with his numbness resigned himself to the path through the tunnel at the end of which they said to be light.

It was so sudden - the sight of the familiar red colour, like fire it had made the tunnel separating him from reality and closing him inside the numbness melt. The walls had all fallen down and were washed off by the rain, reality and pain hitting him like a wave.

Even with all the pain and cold surrounding him that he was very aware of as of the moment Sasori had appeared, Deidara had never felt more alive.

"What do you want?" Deidara groaned, only then realizing how hoarse his voice was and how sore his throat. "How're you here?" It was the question Deidara managed to form, mixing together "why're you here" and "how did you find me".

Sasori sighed again. "What're you doing, Deidara?" he asked, disregarding the inquiries aimed at him.

Deidara coughed and winced at the scratching feeling at the back of his throat. "Contemplating over life's complexities. What're you doing?" he retorted.

"You're going to catch a severe cold, if you stay here."

Deidara rolled his eye. "Do you think the body collector will honestly care if my corpse had a sore throat before death or not?"

Sasori's eyes narrowed. Apparently he finally caught the blond's drift.

Without a warning he bent down and picked the younger male up, doing his best to be gentle, which went totally unappreciated by the blond who, with his barely audible voice, let out a groan.

"Put me down!" Deidara hissed with his bruised face pressed uncomfortably against the rough fabric of Sasori's jacket. "Why can't you even let me die in peace?"

The redhead completely ignored the complaints as he spent a moment shifting the weight on his hands, holding the younger male close to his chest and started walking away from the small puddle of blood which quickly got washed away by the rain.

"Thought I told you," he said, "I'm going to take you down to hell with me. Which means I'm not going to let you die yet."

Deidara huffed. "Good luck with that," he responded. "If blood loss won't get me, the cold will."

"Be quiet and rest."

"Make me," Deidara challenged, managing to put a grin on his face as he looked up at the redhead in hopes of irritating him enough to put him down.

Sasori's look was calm as his eyes met Deidara's and he replied nonchalantly, "Be quiet or I'll kiss you."

Deidara blanched and for a moment Sasori's eyes widened the slightest amount in fear that something was off and the blood loss had really gotten to the blond. His grip instinctively tightened on the body until the irked expression the younger male pulled made him relax as he watched the other hide his face in his hair and jacket.

"I hate you."

Sasori rolled his eyes and fixed his gaze ahead of him.

"I love you, too."

-x-

A strong aroma of incense was the first thing Deidara's senses caught when he finally came to. The warm scent filled his lungs with a pleasing touch as his bare chest rose gently; his throat and windpipe felt like new, as though there had never been any harshly burning soreness in them to begin with. Deidara's chest descended as he blew out an equally smooth breath that slithered like silk against his insides.

Deidara opened his eye. He could feel something wet and warm covering his injured eye, which definitely was not the patch he was used to wearing. He was lying on a table of some sort in a room with dry yet thick air, visible smoke hovering below the ceiling. As he tilted his head he could see candles everywhere - on the tables and the windowsills. The wooden walls were decorated with special ornaments and small paintings related to, as far as our captain was concerned, to spirituality.

One look at his own body told him two things: a) he was naked, b) he was healed. Both terms were unnerving and surprising at the same time. There was one white sheet covering Deidara's lower regions, which he was thankful to, while being very aware of the nudity that hid beneath the sheet and understanding its implication to the fact that someone had undressed him while he had been unconscious.

Deidara sat up, holding onto the sheet as he wrapped it around himself, and hoisted his legs off the table. He was very conscious of every movement of his body and the fact that he could literally feel nothing to remind him of that night - he was not sure when it had been exactly as he did not know how long he had been unconscious.

The young captain jumped off the table and took off the white patch on his eye. The floor was surprisingly cold compared to the room temperature and there was no sight of his clothes or boots anywhere. Sighing, Deidara walked to the exit and pushed the curtain aside. It revealed an empty hallway with the same scent of incense filling the space. He walked out of the room and down the hallway when an elderly woman dressed in white turned the corner, coming into view.

"Excuse me!" Deidara said. "I'd like to check out. Could I get my clothes back?"

The woman looked at him in wonder for a moment before smiling amicably. "How're you feeling, dear?"

"I'm well, thank you," Deidara replied, scratching the back of his head in slight discomfort. He would have preferred for the conversation to not stretch too long before he got dressed again. "I really should get going, though, so if I could just get-"

"Oh, young people," the woman chuckled, "always in such a hurry. The man who carried you here was just the same."

At the mentioning of another "man" Deidara's body tensed and he grimaced. So that old bastard was put in the same age category as him? Then again, looking at the woman Deidara thought, anyone would have looked young to a seventy-year-old.

"He isn't still here, is he?" Deidara could not help but ask.

"I believe he has left," the woman said and started passing by him. Deidara had not noticed the folded sheets she was carrying before; he had blocked her way on wherever she was supposed to deliver those. A sigh of relief passed through the blond's lips at her words.

"Your clothes were taken away from cleaning. I will return them to you shortly, if you'd just wait in your room, please."

"Cleaning?" Deidara's tone of voice went up as he thought of all the knives, guns and his sword that he had had stored away in between the layers of his clothes. "What about the-"

"Do not worry yourself over those accessories." The woman gave Deidara a knowing smile. "We are not the police. All of your property will be returned to you shortly."

Deidara raised an eyebrow as he watched the woman walk away. Just what kind of an underground place had Sasori taken him to? Deidara sighed harshly as the image of the man's face engendered in his mind, bringing along a baggage of frustration that sleep had banished up until then.

Just what was that bastard thinking? Showing up from who knew where to stick his nose where it most certainly did not belong, dragging Deidara there and then leaving without an explanation? Not that Deidara was not glad to have him gone - of course he was - but now he was forced to deal with everything death would have spared him from. He would have to go to wherever the given coordinates pointed to and make it there in three weeks minus the time he had been unconscious, which was still an unknown amount to him. To top it off, his entire crew was on vacation scattered around Singapore and there was no way he could have set sail on his own. Deidara was starting to feel like picking a fight with a gang of killers just to spite the redhead and save himself from the troubles of life.

"Sir, your clothes are here!"

Deidara turned around and walked back to his room with his head lowered. He knew himself well enough to understand that he would not choose that option no matter what - sense of responsibility and debt to Naruto would keep him alive long enough to get him to wherever the coordinates would lead him.

His current mood encumbered his appreciation of the freshly smelling clothes as he slid them on and secured all his equipment in the right places. Checking his pockets, he found everything that was supposed to be there, there, with one single exception - the paper with the coordinates. Deidara was sure the workers of the place were not responsible for its disappearance - he had had items of much greater value on him and everything had been returned to him. Which only left one person...

"Just can't leave me alone, can you?" Deidara sighed, but the corner of his mouth had twitched slightly upwards, belying his irritated tone.

Deidara walked through the hallway and ended up in what seemed to be the lobby with the same woman he had seen before occupying the chair behind the receptionist table. The blond went up there and started digging in his pockets for a pouch of coins as he spoke, "How much do I owe you?"

The woman gave him the same pleasant smile as before. "Everything has already been paid for, no need to worry."

The fact that he had been paid for and was now in Sasori's debt irritated Deidara greatly. His voice was dripping with strained patience as he said, "Please tell me the sum so I can pay it. It is me you took care of, so it is I who is in your debt."

The woman waved him off with a sense of strictness to her tone. "It is not us you are in debt to, I am afraid."

Deidara swore under his breath. "I'd much rather settle this right here than-"

"You could just treat me to a beer and we'll call it even," a voice sounded from behind Deidara, making the hairs on his neck prickle. He lowered his head and kept his back on the entrance as his grip on the pouch in his pocket loosened. "Or did you really think you could still avoid me?"

Deidara could very well hear the smirk in Sasori's voice but he refused to have his eyes witness it. He pulled his hat lower to shield his face and whipped around, dashing across the room and out of the door, past the figure with arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the wall.

Deidara knew without looking as he stepped out onto the street and chose a random direction that he would be followed. He kept walking until he reached a corner and had put a desired distance between himself and the shop; then he came to a stop. The footsteps behind him halted and Deidara took the time to mentally count to ten and calm himself before turning around. A pang pierced his chest the second his eye met with the brown ones.

"Where's the note?" Deidara demanded.

Sasori smirked. "I don't talk business on streets," he said and walked past the blond, Deidara noticing the fiery glint in his eyes before he passed. "How about that beer, brat?"

Deidara was not sure what unnerved him more - the nickname that sent his head reeling into a mixed salad of emotions, or the look in Sasori's eyes that he recognized from the times the redhead had had a clear upper hand. Unlike when that pink-haired woman had referred to him as such, when Sasori called him a brat, it left behind something wholly different than pure vexation in the blond. It was a word that came with a package of memories, both from 5 years ago and some a lot more recent.

Deidara sighed harshly as he trailed the redhead. If anyone thought his past with his family was a mess, they should have just seen his love life.

Sasori led them to a tavern Deidara was not familiar with. To tell the truth, Deidara had never been to that part of Singapore, despite his numerous visits to the place. It was not too crowded, which was something the blond appreciated. The duo walked up to the bartender and ordered their drinks before settling down behind a table, both on opposite sides. Deidara's gaze was fixed on the mug as he refused to meet the other's eyes and Sasori monitored his antics with amusement.

"You're sulking just like that one time we visited Cuba and at the hotel you were so frustrated with your feelings towards me that you accidentally wandered into Kisame's room." Sasori chuckled at the memory as Deidara sent him a confused look. "Nearly got yourself killed back then."

"You mean, you nearly got me killed back then," Deidara corrected him with a frown. "Those were your men who shot Kisame for reasons I still don't get."

"Kisame was a potential threat," Sasori explained, sipping on his drink. "We used to be on the same side - he was a part of the original Akatsuki - but during our time in England he met someone... should I call him a love interest? Apparently the interest was rather strong and Madara had made him an offer that allowed him to meet this interest quicker than I. So he had to go. Of course, harming you was never part of the plan, which was why they needed to go as well."

"It's rather strange listening to you sharing all this information," Deidara marked. "You wouldn't even tell me the meaning of your tattoo before."

Sasori shrugged. "I've nothing to hide anymore. You're not a helpless child that could easily be tortured for information by anyone anymore."

"I don't agree on being one back then, either," Deidara muttered. Surely he had been naive and reckless back in the day, but he had also been willing to give up on his own life for the redhead. No-one would have gotten information out of him about Sasori even back then and the fact that Sasori belittled it so easily was, truthfully, hurtful.

"Helpless enough to-"

Deidara sharply cut him off, "Regardless, loyal enough to follow your every order. Don't think carrying the corpses of the servants that I'd killed hurt any less than a twisting blade in the shoulder."

Sasori considered his words, eyes analyzing the sullen mask that had covered the younger male's face. Despite the uncaring facade the blond had put up, Sasori took notice of the flash of melancholy hidden in the ocean blue orb. "Perhaps," he finally admitted.

Silence enveloped them as the redhead leaned back in his seat and enjoyed his drink. Deidara's mug was on the table in front of him and he did not touch it. It was not as though he expected there to be anything wrong with the drink; there was just something about what had been said that was weighing on his mind and no matter how hard Deidara damned it, he could not stop the mild heat gathering in his cheeks as he pondered over it.

"You mean..." he started and trailed off as he lowered his head until the chin was pressed against his jacket and the hat had sunk low enough to cover his face.

"Hm?" Sasori prompted as he took in the shrunken figure of the younger male.

"...you knew already then?"

"Knew what?" Sasori quirked an eyebrow as an amused sparkle danced in his eyes. He was not certain of what the other was referring to but knew it to be interesting judging by Deidara's behaviour.

"...knew why I was sulking back then..."

Deidara hated the way he was acting but despite everything he had been through, he could not find it in himself to be straight-forward about the matter and face Sasori straight on. It was like his kryptonite - even though he was ready to take on death any time of the day, he could not talk about his feelings from five years ago without a strong sense of discomfort and embarrassment.

Managing to fluster him even more, Deidara heard Sasori chuckle and sent him the dirtiest look he could muster.

"Back then, no," the redhead admitted. "You were a first for me in many ways and believe me I was not playing dumb when I said I did not know how to keep you alive. My knowledge on love" - Deidara winced at the word - "was even poorer. These are just the dots I've connected afterwards."

This soothed Deidara and he let his body ease up as he came out from behind the shield of his jacket and hat. He took the mug in front of him, cocking his head back as he let the liquid pour down his throat. Removing his other hand from his pocket, he produced a pouch of coins on the table and shoved it towards Sasori.

"Here," he said. "Now we're even."

Sasori shook his head as he pushed the sack back to the blond.

"You were never in my debt. I was redeeming my own."

Deidara sent him a questioning look. "What're you talking about?"

"An eye for an eye," Sasori said, not meeting the blond's gaze. Deidara sensed sudden discomfort from the other, which was not something he had anticipated. "If it wasn't for you, I would've died on Madara's ship already."

The crease between Deidara's eyebrows deepened once he realized what incident the other was referring to. "That time you got shot was my fault!" Deidara all but shouted and even stood up, leaning in with a fuming expression as he propped himself on his hands on the table. "Of course I had to do everything I could to make you well again. If I hadn't kissed you and made you turn your back on the fight, you would've never been shot!"

Sasori eyes had widened. "Is that what you've believed all this time?"

"It's the truth!" Deidara argued heatedly.

Sasori shook his head in denial. "I was just careless," he said, "You're not to be blamed for that."

"I disagree," Deidara stated firmly as he sat back down, keeping his glare solidly fixed on the redhead.

Sasori waved him off nonchalantly. "Feel free to do as you wish, but take your money back."

"I owe it to you since you paid for me!"

"Technically," said Sasori, "I forced the treatment upon you. So you can keep it."

"You're vexatious," Deidara snapped.

"Of course." Sasori chuckled.

Deidara growled. "Just when do you plan on giving me my note back? And how the hell did you find me by that church anyway?"

"Konan mentioned it. And I'll give it back after you've explained what it's about."

Deidara's eye widened and his jaw hung loose for a moment as he took in the redhead's casual figure as he stated his demands like it was an everyday thing for him to do. Like it was only natural for him to know what Deidara was up to. Like he had never broken anything off between them in the first place.

"Why're you so persistent on sticking your nose in my business when you agreed to let me go?" Deidara demanded.

An eyebrow arched. "I don't recall agreeing to anything."

"Behind the Golden Dove!" Deidara exclaimed, earning a few curious looks from the other visitors before he forced his voice quieter. His eye narrowed as he hissed at Sasori who gave the impression of being unaffected by all the troubling emotions that were storming inside the blond. "You - said," Deidara reminded him, stressing every word separately, "If you must go, go. You - let - me - leave."

"I never said I wouldn't follow."

Deidara stared at him incredulously, wishing he knew harsh enough words to spit at the redhead that would actually offend him. Unfortunately there was no point in telling a demon to go to hell as the only reply he would get would have been along the lines of been there, done that.

"Don't you have some other important pirate business to take care of?" Deidara snapped. His patience was being worn extremely thin.

Sasori smiled. "As it happens, I don't have a ship to care for anymore. I'm just a guy who caught a ride with the British Navy to Singapore with a few friends. I'm free to do what I will."

"Which would be getting in my way all the time?"

"It's a pirate's duty to take care of their treasure, isn't it?"

That was the point where Sasori lost the younger male. Deidara's angered expression twisted into one of mild confusion.

"I thought I blew up all your treasure together with that ship? Or do you really have some buried on an island like in the urban legends?"

Sasori chuckled and downed his drink. "Not all treasure is silver and gold, brat."

"Am I supposed to know what that means?"

Sasori did not reply.

Deidara sighed and shook his head. "Some things never change," he muttered.

"That aside," Sasori said as he set his empty mug on the table, "what's waiting for you at these coordinates?"

"Death, probably."

That comment succeeded in getting the reaction Deidara had been waiting for - Sasori's calm expression darkened and eyes narrowed at him, jaw visibly tensing. The topic of death did not seem to sit well with him, Deidara had noticed.

There was intense silence between the two while Sasori's only words were the ones his eyes emitted, which was another demand for explanation from the blond. Deidara did not know what it was about death that riled the redhead after the death toll he had induced during his life time, but something in his expression made the blond cautious about pushing it.

"It's a long story," he said finally.

"I have time," Sasori pressed.

Deidara could see that there was no way out and took a deep breath.

"It's an old friend of mine, Naruto," he started, shifting his gaze onto the table to avoid the burning stare directed at him. "We met back when I was living with the Iwagas. I owe him a lot, more than I can probably even dream to ever repay. He was the son of a family friend and we grew very close one summer. It was right after my 14th birthday and I was going through a rough period back then. It was when my revulsion for those snobs had reached its peak after nobody believed me when I said what my uncle had done to me. I really hated life and everyone back then.

"Every single day I was forced to watch those powdered pigs living like Gods, never bothering to step down from their high horses in fear of getting a speck of dust on their new pair of shoes. All the while they were perched high up on the clouds, I was withering down in a pit of mud and not once - not a single time did anyone hold out their hand to help pull me up. They were just content with watching me fade away as long as their own clouds remained clean and untouched."

Deidara bit his lip and his hand curled up into a trembling fist as he remembered the emotions that had overwhelmed him back then. The angst and pure hatred for his family, which had never completely faded. Even now, years after their horrible deaths, Deidara could not find it in himself to forgive them.

"Naruto was the only one that took the time to listen to what I had to say and actually believed me. He helped me cope. Without him, I don't think I would've ever made it so far to meet you."

"Wouldn't that have been fortunate for you," Sasori muttered.

The corner of Deidara's mouth twitched and he chuckled, grateful for remark that induced the slight change in atmosphere. "Maybe," Deidara agreed. Slowly as his face fell again, he continued, "I haven't seen him ever since I met you. As you can imagine, despite his understanding nature, showing up as a pirate captain behind his polished door wasn't exactly something I could've done. I never wanted him to get involved in this. He deserves a good life, one that would lead him to heaven. Not like you and I, you know?"

Sasori chuckled. "Not like you and I, indeed."

"Behind that church I met my uncle," Deidara continued a lot quieter, chewing on his bottom lip, "and some ruined souls he has deceived into calling him Lord. He has captured Naruto and now wants me to meet him at those coordinates three weeks after our meeting."

The young captain scraped a hand over his face and let out an agitated growl. For a moment he had managed to make himself forget about it by shifting his attention to Sasori; God knew he was quite a distraction. But now that he was forced to explain it all, even the redhead could not block the feeling of utter despair headed his way.

How the hell was he supposed to save Naruto? Even if he could gather up some men in such a short period of time - which was unlikely - willing to go on such a mindless trip with nothing in it in for them - even less likely - and make it there in time - chances of that were already very close to zero - how could he ever make up for everything he had put Naruto through when he couldn't even redeem what he had done for him in the past?

"Or..." Sasori prompted cautiously, anticipating the ending.

Deidara did not reply.

"I see," Sasori said. "The obvious."

"Yeah," said Deidara. He rubbed his eye and focused on breathing normally to gather his wits. Even with the chances barely hovering over zero, he still had to try, which meant gathering as many men as he could for starters. There was no time to waste, he had to move.

Deidara grabbed his mug and emptied it, letting the alcohol fill his system and make up for the optimism and hope for a good future that he lacked. The mug met the table with a loud slam as Deidara blew out a determined breath and fixed his gaze on Sasori, stating firmly, "I gave you what you wanted, now I need that note back. I'm already short on time and I still need to gather a crew."

Sasori cocked his head to one side as he gave the blond a calculating look. "You need some men to set sail as soon as possible," he mused.

"Yes," Deidara said with a note of urgency while Sasori's thoughtful expression gave the impression like he was in no hurry and had all the time in the world. Which he probably did.

Sasori's hand went into his pocket and he pulled out a folded paper. Deidara's eye widened and he reached to grab it instantly as it was set down on the table, only to find Sasori's firm hand keeping it pinned against the wooden surface and not letting it go.

"What?!" Deidara demanded, glaring daggers at the redhead. Did Sasori not have even the minimal amount of decency in him to let him go and attempt to make use of his miserable life while he still had it, or was he really planning to hinder that as well?

"What would you say," Sasori started, slowly straightening up and leaning closer to the blond, "if I offered you a crew that would be ready by sunrise?"

Deidara's expression was incredulous. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," Sasori assured him. "A proper crew, the best you can find, and most definitely the quickest."

Deidara rolled his eye. This could not be that easy, there had to be something. "What do you want in return?" he asked.

"A passenger seat on your boat."

And there it was.

Deidara swore under his breath and turned away as he considered it. There was a long list of reasons why he knew it not to be a good idea, but the passing seconds in his mind only managed to stress the urgency and issue of time, winning against every other counter argument his mind had to offer. He had no other option, he finally decided.

"Deal."

To be continued...