Really sorry for the long wait! I had, er, writer's block and a whole lot of homework from school. xX;
Even now, I'm really not liking how I did this chapter…it seems too…bad and rushed and choppy…
Previous:
Like what? Deidara paused to think. It's not like I can ask him to smile for me…one, because I don't really care to see him smile because I haven't seen it before and we're still kind of hostile towards each other, and two, he's not Sasori-san–
"What's going on here?"
The ice-eyed boy froze, slowly turning his head to look behind him. "S…"
Speak of the damn devil…
Ash-rose eyes were narrowed dangerously as Sasori approached. "Get away from him."
"W-Wait, Sasori-san!" Deidara spun around, eyes wide. "It's not what you think!"
"Did you not hear me?" Sasori growled, ignoring the blond. "I said get away."
"We're not doing anything to him, Akasuna. We were merely talking."
"Screw that! Like Deidara would ever want to talk with you!"
"You sound as if you know him…inside and out."
"Get the hell away from Deidara!"
"Sasori-san!"
Sasori's eyes widened as he found Deidara in front of him, blocking his way.
"You won't hurt them, un." Deidara's voice was eerily cool, contrasting with his narrowed eyes and furious snarl. "I won't let you."
"D…Deidara…" Sasori stared in shock.
"Deidara-kun, we can handle ourselves…" Kimimaro stated, flicking his irises to look at the silver ones not directed at them. "Let Akasuna pass."
The newest student focused his attention on the boys behind him. "I won't let you hurt him, either."
"Deidara…" Jyuugo almost winced, a sympathetic look creeping onto his face. "You can't have it both ways…"
"What Jyuugo is trying to say," Kimimaro added on, "is that you cannot defend Akasuna from us, and us from Akasuna. It doesn't work that way."
"Don't you dare try and order Deidara around!" Sasori hissed, bristling in anger.
"We're not, Akasuna. Calm yourself." Kimimaro's voice was slowly gaining an irritated glaze.
"Stop trying to feed me bullshit!" Sasori snarled, fists clenching. "Because I won't take it!"
"You're going to make me angry, Akasuna. I don't think you want that."
"Don't hurt him," Deidara intervened, eyes narrowed at the white-haired male, voice having a dangerous ring. "I won't hesitate to take you out if you do. Even if you so much as touch him, I'll return it much harder."
"…He's not kidding, Kimimaro…!" Jyuugo warned the green-eyed teen quietly, "I can see it in his eyes…he's not just saying it because Sasori's here: he means it!"
"If you two are itching to take someone down from Akatsuki," Deidara muttered softly, "then take down Hidan. I could care less, un."
"Hey."
Deidara's eyes widened as he turned to the redhead.
"I don't have any idea of what's going on," Sasori growled, lip curled. "And I hate Hidan as much as you, but even so, I won't approve of sacrificing him to Orochimaru."
"Sasori…san…" Deidara stared.
"I never thought that you ever could, but from what I'm seeing, and from what you just said, I take this as betrayal?"
"N-No…! No!" Deidara felt his cool, strong persona from before shatter as he gazed at Sasori's angered and hurt expression.
"I…I'm going to tell Pain. And he'll be the one to kick your ass." Sasori made move to leave. "And we'll figure out what to do with you then."
"But…"
"Deidara-kun…"
Sasori froze.
"If or when…Pain comes after you, you can tell him what's going on. He is your leader, am I right? Then he should listen to you."
He turned around and saw it. The hand resting on Deidara's shoulder. He snapped.
"Get your hand off of him!"
"…!" Deidara's eyes widened as Sasori roughly made his way in between him and Kimimaro.
"Don't you dare…ever…touch him again!" Sasori ground out, hostility seeping into every sound that he uttered. "Orochimaru's slave!"
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed at the statement.
"Sasori-san…"
The ash-rose-eyed teen stiffened at the voice, and spun around. "Deidara–?"
"Don't you dare ever talk to them that way again!"
A fist met with the soft skin of Sasori's cheek, catching him off guard.
Deidara's teeth were grinding together, his anger taking over the shocked emotion that had enveloped him before. But once again, the anger was short-lived as the action he had just preformed came back and hit him full force. The next thing he knew after that, his back was pressed against the wall, a hand around his throat.
"I don't know what's going on…" Sasori seethed, glaring into wide blue eyes, "And I hate it! If you're so loyal to Akatsuki, to me, then tell me! Tell me what the hell is going on here!"
"Deidara-kun is our friend."
Sasori's eyes widened, his grip around the taller boy's neck weakening. "N-No…"
I can't have him changing in front of Kimimaro and Jyuugo… Deidara thought as he saw the expression on the redhead's face. "Sasori-san…will you listen? I'll tell you everything…if you will…"
The hand was withdrawn slowly. A shaky look still resided on Sasori's face. He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it in the end.
"Oi! Redhead! Oi!"
…! No way…please, tell me it's just my imagination…! Deidara felt dread shiver up and down his spine. He chanced a look to his left, and just about died. Okay, it's not my imagination…Sasori-san just needs to change back…
"Redhead! Look! I found this!"
"Not again…" Deidara mumbled bitterly, briefly catching the confused faces of Kimimaro and Jyuugo.
Sasori turned, still slightly under the hypnosis of his fear. He stiffened at the sight of Hidan and stared. "Wh-What the hell do you want, you shitwad?!"
"Ah?" Hidan halted his sprint, his face letting a confused expression fall over it. "Hey, hey, hey. Redhead, are you…?" He turned to Deidara. "Deidara-chan, why the fuck does he look like a baby that just shit itself?"
"He doesn't," Deidara snapped defensively, stepping away from the wall. "You're imagining it." Oh, so he's going to fade out from it this time instead of snap out of it…great…
"Seriously, don't try that crap, Deidara-chan. It worked for that damn leader, but not for me." Hidan kept whatever he had hidden behind his back. "Now, I know you like redhead and all, but I'll give you one warning if you're trying to get into his pants–"
"I don't like him that way. Get it through your thick head." Deidara tried to sound convincing, figuring that if he couldn't even admit to himself of his feelings about Sasori, then no one else shouldn't know of them either. "Now what do you want?"
"Fine! If you don't want my warning…" Hidan grumbled. "Well, anyways! Redhead! Hey! Look! Stop acting like baby shit and look!"
"Hidan–!" Deidara stepped forward quickly.
"I'd rather act like baby shit than be baby shit."
He turned, eyes widening. "Sasori-san!"
Sasori had a hand touching his forehead, lip curled slightly as he glared at Hidan.
Damn, I wasn't paying attention to him… Hidan sighed, frowning. "And I really wanted to see what the hell was up with you, redhead."
"That's really such a shame." Sasori scowled, lowering his hand, "And now that you've got my attention, what could you possibly want?"
"Seriously, no need to use so much sarcasm on me."
"Answer me what you want or leave."
Jyuugo looked puzzled at the scene for a second before turning his attention to Deidara, mouthing, "Trouble in Akatsuki?"
Deidara caught sight of the silent message through the corners of his eyes and he blinked before mouthing back, "Sasori-san just doesn't like him."
Jyuugo nodded while Kimimaro arched an eyebrow.
A grin took over Hidan's lips.
"…" Sasori's eyes narrowed. "What do you have this time?"
"You're really going to let me show you?"
"…You sound as if you're trying to get my approval…"
"So what if I am?" Hidan frowned. "I'm tired of your insults. They annoy the shit out of me, and then you go and insult Kakuzu too! I figured, if I gained your respect like Deidara-chan, you'd treat me like you treat him and Itachi, and that fucking leader–"
"Which would then lead to me treating Kakuzu nicely." The expression on Sasori's face was unreadable. "I'm impressed, actually. You actually thought something out."
Hidan simply beamed at the praise.
"But showing me crap won't get you my respect. Got it?"
"But you'll like this one!"
"I doubt it."
"You already agreed!"
"…Tch. Fine. What is it?"
"Sasori-san, you're going to regret this…!" Deidara hissed under his breath, glancing at Hidan.
"Yeah, I know," Sasori muttered back.
"Look!" Hidan revealed the item he had, holding it in both his hands. "I think it's a rabbit, but I'm not actually sure."
Deidara twitched as he saw the black lump, while Sasori narrowed his eyes at the metal spoon sticking out of the animal's head like an antennae.
"Idiot, that's a mole…where did you find that?"
"A mole? Damn! I wanted a rabbit!"
"Are you telling me you can't tell the difference between a mole and a rabbit, un?"
"Well Kurenai-sensei's rabbit is black!"
"That doesn't make it a mole!"
"Deidara, shut up," Sasori growled, then glaring at Hidan – or the mole. "So, you're telling me you wanted to sacrifice Kurenai-sensei's rabbit."
"Well, duh!" Hidan held the carcass closer to his chest. "That fucking thing's always taunting me and Jashin-sama, seriously! Twitching its damn nose at me, as if it's saying, 'Ha! Look at me! I can fucking twitch my nose and you can't!'"
"…" Sasori cocked his head, disgust washing over his expression.
"Oh! Oh! But look! Look what I found I can do!"
"S-Sasori-san…"
"Stay back, brat."
Hidan promptly lifted the mole and placed it on his head – presumably ignoring the revolted look from Deidara – before letting his tongue hang out, and his eyes direct themselves skyward.
"I am a mole zombie!" He stretched out his arms in front of him. "I will eat your brains!"
"…What is he doing?" Kimimaro stared at the purple-eyed teen, backing up a step.
"I have no idea." Deidara watched as Hidan limped around, the mole still resting on his head.
"Idiot brat," Sasori ground out, "he's acting like some shitty 'mole zombie' as he just announced."
"Un, well then, Sasori-san, why the hell is he acting like a 'mole zombie?!'"
"You think I know?" Sasori scoffed. "But he's about to get my fist to meet his face in a second."
"How about you do it now? He's really freaking me out…!"
Sasori looked at the expression on the taller male's face. Deidara looked positively disgusted, along with a dash of wanting to cling to something – Sasori, perhaps? Sasori smirked. "No, I'll let him go on for a bit more."
Deidara gave an offended gape at the other. "Bullshit! Are you telling me you like looking at that?" He snapped a finger at the still going Hidan.
"Hey, I heard that, Deidara-chan!" Hidan stopped and glowered slightly at the newest student.
"Hidan, take the Goddamn mole off your head. Now."
"Shut up, redhead! I can do what I want!" Regardless of his statement, Hidan took the black animal back into his hands, made a face at Sasori, and grinned at Deidara while holding out the mole. "Deidara-chan! What should I call it? I was thinking Mister Mole or something around those lines–"
"What the hell is wrong with you today?" Deidara snarled, earning himself an intrigued look from Sasori.
"…You understood Mister Mole?"
"No, but I understood that he wanted to name the stupid thing!" Deidara paused. "Wait, you mean I'm worse than Hidan at English?"
"Yeah, face it Deidara-chan: you're a dumbass at English. Like redhead with history."
Sasori's lip curled. "Excuse me for not knowing – or caring, for that matter – what happened two hundred years ago."
"Redhead, you don't even know what happened in World War II!" Hidan snorted, rolling his eyes. "Watch this, Deidara-chan!" He pointed his mole at Sasori. "What was one place in Japan that was atomic bombed by America?"
"I don't know, Tokyo, or…something."
"…Sasori-san, are you failing history, un?"
"Heh, yeah, just about as much as you're failing English."
"Kimimaro…" The orange-haired student mumbled quietly to the other.
"Just stay out of it and watch, Jyuugo."
"Seriously, redhead, I still can't believe you didn't know that!"
"Well I do know what makes up an atomic bomb, if that's what you want to know!"
Hidan froze. "No, that's okay! Uh…" He tightened his grip around the black lump before running off, shouting, "Kakuzu! Kakuzu, hey, I got another that you'll like this time!"
"Tch." Sasori's lip curled. "Idiot."
"…Deidara-kun, we're already late for class…I hope you don't mind if we take our leave now."
He looked over to the others instantly, eyes narrowing as he stomped over. "Just where do you think you're–?" Equally angry blue eyes drilled into his own silver, and he halted, gazing in shock.
"It seems the great Akasuna has been tamed after all."
Red streaked across Deidara's cheeks as he turned back to Kimimaro. "What do you mean by that, un?"
"Nothing." And with that, Kimimaro turned and walked off, Jyuugo tagging after him.
Deidara tried to go with them, but Sasori's harsh voice froze him.
"You're not going anywhere, Deidara."
He gradually swiveled back around, wincing at the piercing glare.
"Now, back to the main topic."
"U-Un…"
"…You're friends?"
"…Yes."
Sasori's glower gentled. "Alright. Fine. Being angry at you won't help my situation." He sighed. "Tell me about it."
"We…were friends before I joined Akatsuki. I wasn't going to end it just because I joined."
A red eyebrow rose. "That's it?"
"Un…"
"How'd you become friends?"
"Orochimaru doesn't allow relationships in his group…Kimimaro and Jyuugo were 'together,' but keeping it a secret. I…found out, and didn't tell anyone, as he asked."
"And today?"
"I had Orochimaru promise that he'd let them be together…Kimimaro just came to thank me, un." Deidara shifted. "Are you going to tell Pain-san?"
Sasori tilted his head, sighing again. "No, I won't. But if Pain somehow finds out, one, it's not my fault, and two, I won't help."
Deidara snorted. "Thanks for your support. I'm going to class now."
"What–?" Sasori blinked. "Wait, no! You have English, right? Then you wouldn't mind missing it!"
"Sasori-san, I can't do that! My mom would kill me!"
"Alright, then I guess I'll tell Pain…"
Oh, that little–! "Fine, I'm staying! Dirty jackass…"
A triumphant smirk took over Sasori's lips.
"Stupid–Hey, where the hell do you think you're going now?!" Deidara hurried after the other as he started off.
"To the wall, brat, so I can have something to lean against," Sasori snorted, reaching his destination and sitting down.
"Is that right…" Deidara tried not to meet Sasori's eyes as he went over to join him.
"Yes, you don't see me going anywhere anymore, do you?" Sasori stiffened slightly as the blond joined him.
"Funny." Sarcasm laced Deidara's words.
"Tch." Sasori looked away, an uncomfortable look now showing clearly on his features.
"…Sasori-san?"
No answer.
"Are you–?"
"I never thought you were a girl."
"Un?"
In a flash, Sasori's cheeks turned the color of his hair. "I didn't. I lied."
"Then…what?" Deidara was flushed slightly from the statement.
"I was just angry at her at the moment, I didn't really notice you…and I was angry at you that one time, so I just…"
"I-I…"
"You don't even look like a girl. Just because you have long hair…" Sasori, despite his blushing face, gazed back at the other. "…Jiraiya doesn't look like a girl, does he?"
"No, of course not."
He chuckled softly. "My point…"
"…So…what do you like to do? Just…random question…"
"…Woodworking? Carving and the likes. I like to draw, as you know…and, as you've probably guessed…art related things."
"Oh? Really?" Deidara stared in awe. "You must be really good with your hands then."
They both paused.
"N-Not like that…I only meant…"
"Just…just change the subject."
"Un, okay then…"
The area was silent for several moments. Sasori liked quiet. It gave him time to think. Especially better when there weren't any distract–
"…Take better care of your hair…it'd look…better."
Fingers. There were fingers running through his hair. Sasori reddened even more – if that was possible – and managed to splutter out, "Wh-What the hell are you doing, idiot?"
"Trying to comb your hair. It's so messy." Deidara paused, looking oddly at Sasori.
"No! Stop, dammit, Grandma tried it once, and you know what? I looked like some stuck-up prick rich boy!" Sasori grasped the wrist, dragging it away from his hair.
"I don't know about rich, but you are a stuck-up prick, un…"
…I'm going to ignore that. "Besides, what's the point of making it look nice if it's just going to get messy again in the end?"
"Heh…good point…but does that mean I'm a girl if I like making it nice?"
"Where does that come from?"
"Well…Sakura told me she likes to make her hair nice and all…and I'm sure you probably wouldn't want to be like her, so–"
"Are you comparing me to her?"
Blue eyes widened. "N-No…" Something sparked in Deidara. "Wait, Sasori-san…I want to know…I really do…what she did to you, un."
Sasori stiffened. "No."
"But–"
"No."
"Saso–!"
"I said no!" Sasori shot up and began storming off.
"Don't go!" Deidara quickly stood up and wrapped his arms around the other's torso, preventing him from moving forward.
"Let me go!"
"Sasori-san, please!"
"No…no…"
He was weakening. Deidara could tell. "Sasori-san…"
"No…"
"Please…"
"…Why?"
"I want to help…I want to help you as much as I can."
"…"
"Tell me…what is causing you all this pain…what did Sakura do, un?" Deidara breathed, tugging the other teen's body closer.
"It's none of your concern…" Sasori responded, looking away.
"Please…tell me…I want to help…"
"She…" The redhead's grip on Deidara's arms increased. "She insulted my parents…"
"Your parents–?"
"My dead parents."
Deidara stiffened, arms tightening around Sasori's torso, burying his face into the other's neck. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"
"I…didn't even get to know them…she told me they didn't love me…and thinking back…I really don't have any proof to say that they did…to prove her wrong…"
"No way…" Deidara felt the other's body tense painfully, taking in a deep breath. "Sakura…she said that to you, un?"
"I wouldn't lie about something like that…"
"It…it's not true…Sasori-san, it's not true…"
"…But…"
"They loved you, I'm positive…and you still have a grandmother who cares for you…"
"No…"
"Un…?"
"You have no idea how it feels…to be living with an old hag of a grandmother…"
"I thought you liked your grandmother…"
"I hate her…I act like the perfect grandson around her, but I'm only using her for my own needs…she tries to be my mother, someone she's not…she's not my mother, Deidara, and she tries to be anyways!"
"Sasori-san, calm down!" Deidara held on tighter as the redhead's fingers dug into the skin of his arms.
"I hate her…her and that damn bitch…"
"How…" Deidara asked quietly, moving his mouth slowly upwards as Sasori turned to face him. "Sasori-san…how…"
"…How what…?" Sasori murmured, feeling the other student's lips brush against his.
"How did your parents die…?"
Sasori's eyes widened before he roughly shoved Deidara off of him, turning away.
"S-Sasori-san?" Deidara exclaimed, looking in surprise at the other.
"That's none of your business, shit!" Sasori snarled, his eyes narrowed.
Deidara stared as he recognized the same harsh pain resurfacing in the pools of silver.
As Sasori stalked off, the taller male didn't give chase.
More on Sakura's past in the next chapter, because otherwise you'd all be going 'wtf?' at this info.
Uh, the Kimimaro-Deidara thing will be solved later.
…Yeah, I'm kinda afraid of my mind now…mole zombies. Lol. Yeah. And I believe my 'funny' part has been draining out of me. D: I blame school.
I'll try and get the next chapter up soon…er than this one.
〜Arrina
