(Deidara is 16. Sasori is 25)
-In Sasori's bedroom-
"You're getting better, Deidara."
"Th-thank you. I feel better, too, un."
Sasori smiled and finished wrapping the bandages around the blond. "Hopefully nothing like this will happen again."
"Yes, but all we can do is hope, un," Deidara replied, his droopy eyes downcast.
"You need your sleep, love," Sasori said, rubbing his thumb on the blond's arm, "Is there any reason that you aren't?"
Deidara smiled and shook his head. "None." Lie.
Sasori frowned and sighed, before standing up. "I have to go to another meeting, so please, try and get some rest."
Deidara kept his smile and nodded. He closed his eyes and felt his Danna kiss his forehead before leaving.
When he opened his eyes again, it was still dark and he was in the bed. He finally managed to fall asleep. He turned his head. But his master wasn't back yet. He hadn't been able to sleep for such a long time and he hated it.
He spent so much time worrying about Hachiro and his Danna that he barely had enough time for himself. The raven still tried to talk to him whenever they were alone and that bothered the blond. He knew that the raven liked him, but he couldn't return the feelings.
Deidara pulled his knees up to his chest and closed his eyes. Maybe he could fall asleep again. He heard a click and his eyes snapped open.
"Danna, un?" He vaguely saw his master's figure, but something was different. Was he shaking? "Da-" He was cut off by a cloth. He tried to push the stranger off of him, but failed. His eyes started drooping and he fell back into a waiting hand. The smell was terrible, but he couldn't find himself to care, as he saw those set of shining blue eyes...
It was the only way, Deidara... I'm sorry.
-Meanwhile-
Sasori suppressed a yawn and continued to walk down the hall to his bedroom. He heard whispers from the down below and his eyebrows furrowed. He looked out a window and saw a carriage in the distance.
He could see someone carrying something, or someone. He squinted his eyes and saw a flash of long blond in the moonlight. His eyes went wide and he sprinted down the hall. He wouldn't make it. The castle was huge and they were already riding away.
No! He picked up his pace and ran out of a door. The carriage was only a speck in the distance. He could feel his blood boil and when he was about to go run for the carriage he heard a call.
"Your highness, your father wants you," Matsuri yelled from the door. Sasori turned around and glared at the brunette. He could see her hiding her smirk and that made him even angrier.
His love had been taken away from him and she had something to do with it. "Where are they taking him?"
"Taking who? Your highness, your father really needs to see you."
She's lying.
He ran after the carriage, ignoring the slave's yells. "Deidara!"
The horses just sped up and Sasori cursed. He would not give up. He wouldn't let his love be taken away from him again. He couldn't. The next thing he knew he was tackled to the ground.
"Please, your highness, what has gotten into you?" A guard asked, confused.
Sasori just shook him off and got up to run again, only to have the guard pull him back.
"You shouldn't be out this late, your highness. Your father wants to see you."
Sasori saw now that the carriage had gotten away. His heart beat slowed and a shadow loomed over his face. He fell to his knees and stared at the ground.
"Your highness?"
-Unknown-
Deidara panted as he tried to take off his blindfold. Where was he? Why was he tied up? Who took him? He whimpered and tried to stand up, only to fall. He had woken up like this and it was one of the most terrifying situations he had ever been in.
He heard a door open and light poured in. "Ah, you finally woke up."
Deidara could feel his eyes go wide. Hachiro. "Wh-where am I, un?" No answer. "Why did you take me?" Nothing.
"Hachiro~ Did he wake up yet?"
Deidara flinched. It was a woman. "Yes, Madam Aoi, he woke up," the raven explained.
"Oh, well- Hachiro, untie him!"
"He may try to run-"
"Well, I'm sure, but he's safe here," the woman retorted. Deidara heard footsteps coming towards him and he flinched. "Don't be scared, Dear. I won't harm you," the woman reassured.
"P-please... I want to go home, un," Deidara whispered.
"See, I told you. He's attached to his own captor. This is why it would be hard to take him."
"Hush, Hachiro. Don't scare him."
The next thing Deidara knew, his hands and feet were untied and his blindfold fell from his eyes.
"Are you okay, Dear?" the woman asked kindly.
Deidara's eyes went wide. She had long blond hair, she was pale and her sky blue eyes shone only with kindness. She looked exactly how he imagined his mother.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"I told you he wouldn't talk to us, Madam Aoi. This was just a waste of time," Hachiro muttered, as he leaned against the doorway.
"Don't be so negative, Hachiro. All he needs is some rest. Look at his eyes."
"Yeah, I bet the prince never let him sleep at night."
Deidara's eyes went wide with anger and he was about to yell something, only to be interrupted.
"Don't be rude, Hachiro. I'm sorry, Dear. He's never really like this," Aoi said, smiling down at Deidara.
The blond just looked away and pulled his knees up to his chest. He didn't want anything to do with these people. Why was he even there? Had he been kidnapped? Yes, that was obvious, but he wished there was some reason.
"You are probably wondering why you were brought here and the answer is very simple."
Deidara's eyes slightly widened. Did she read minds, or something?
"It's what I do. I help slaves that have been used by their masters. I find it wrong to use a human being like that and I try to help them. I haven't done this in years though, so hopefully I can do it again," Aoi explained, still smiling.
Deidara closed his eyes. They don't understand. They took me away from the only person I love and they see themselves as heros. He wanted to cry.
"Where am I, un?"
"Konoha, Dear."
Deidara felt his heart stop. He couldn't be that far away. He wouldn't listen to it.
"Wh-why did you bring me here, un?"
"Well, this is where I live and Hachiro used to live in Konoha so it was easier for him to bring you here," Aoi explained with a small smile.
Deidara shook his head and felt tears pool in his eyes. "I have to go back... Danna, he-"
"Oh, yes, your master... I'm sorry, Dear, but you can't go back. What do you think he'll do once you come back? I've seen it happen before and I don't want to see it again." For once there was a frown on the blond's face.
"He doesn't use me," Deidara whispered, some tears already falling, "He couldn't. He loves me and I-"
"See, Madam, he's in denial!"
"Hush, Hachiro! You don't deal with things by yelling all the time."
Deidara just ignored the duo fighting and let his head fall on his knees. They didn't understand him at all. They probably see him as an insane slave who had gotten used to their master using them. But that wasn't Sasori. He never hurt the blond, he was always careful with the things they did and he protected him at all costs.
But he doesn't even know where I am...
"Let's get you out of those slave clothing and into something more comfortable, okay?"
Deidara felt a tug on his sleeve, but he wouldn't look up. He'd rather die than get help from some strangers who didn't even understand what they were doing.
"We won't harm you, Deidara. We want to help."
"I already told you he wasn't going to like this," Hachiro muttered under his breath.
It seemed when you got to know him, he was more blunt and rude. Deidara began to wonder if it was just him that made him so shy.
"Deidara-"
"Just leave me alone. I don't want your help. Just... go, un," Deidara whispered and he held his knees tighter to his chest.
Aoi frowned and looked down at the blond, determined. "I am going to help you."
She stood up and pulled his arm. Deidara tried to fight her, only to find that she was much more stronger. She began pulling him out of the room and Deidara cursed to himself. He was not about to take help from anyone who kidnapped him.
He cursed again when the sun hit his eyes. It was so bright. "Now, let's go into my room and find you some clothing!"
Deidara pulled his hand away and looked at his surroundings. A fairly large house, which meant she was a noble. It was sunny, but not blistering like in Suna.
"I'll show you around later, but right now we have to wash you up and give you some clean clothes. Honestly, Hachiro! Did you roll him in dirt on the way here?"
"No, he just fell asleep in his old clothing!"
Deidara ignored the bickering people and let his eyes wander again. There was a portrait of a man and a woman. The woman was Aoi and the man he had never seen before. Brown hair, brown eyes, kind smile. By their clothing Deidara guessed that they had just gotten married.
"Ah, don't waste time looking at things. We have to clean you up!"
Deidara felt his arm being pulled to somewhere else and he glared at the woman and followed.
"First let's pick out some clothing, then you'll take a bath, then we'll have breakfast!"
Deidara grimaced as his stomach rumbled. He had no idea how long it took to get from Suna to Konoha, but he guessed about two days. (A/N: In the show three.)
They walked into a big room, which had a dresser that was already open. "Let's see... You can wear this shirt, and those pants and I have a brush so you can make your hair after the bath," Aoi explained, smiling.
The older blond handed him his new clothing and he stared downat it. A white button up shirt; it didn't seem too expensive and brown pants.
"Well, go into the bathing room! There are already buckets of water waiting for you in there. I'm sure you've taken a bath before?"
He nodded and headed in the direction of where Aoi was pointing. Hachiro was gazing at him sadly, as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. Deidara glared at him and continued to walk. He got into the bathing room and saw a mirror, a bathtub and a rack of towels. Very plain.
After he closed and locked the door he began to fill the tub up and he touched the water. It was between warm and hot. Taking off his shirt, he eyed himself in the mirror. His skin was sun kissed and he was lithe. You could see his ribs and he now understood what Sasori meant that he needed to eat more. His heart clenched in pain. His master had just came back, but he was taken away. When would they have a normal life together?
Deidara touched a mark that Sasori had made a few days ago and he frowned. If they saw just one thing out of place they would assume the worst. He turned around and looked at his back. A mess of scars. He frowned and got into the tub. There was a bottle of soap and a scrub.
He picked both up and began lathering the rag with the scented liquid. Very slowly, he began scrubbing his arms and chest. He already missed his Danna. His soft touches, his soothing words. His caring look, whenever he got hurt. He missed everything.
He rinsed his body off in the water and began scrubbing his hair. Soon he was all clean and was out of the tub. Eyeing his new clothes, he frowned. Not something he wanted to where, but it seemed like that was all he had since Aoi wouldn't let him where his regular clothes.
He stepped out of the room, his old clothes in hand and his new ones on. They fit him fine, which was almost a shock. He usually wore something too small, like old clothing or his Danna's and those were too big.
"You look better, Deidara," Aoi said, smiling, "I can help make your hair."
Deidara shook his head and backed away when she got closer. "I can make it, it's fine... Thank you, un."
Aoi nodded and held onto her smile. Maybe she really was kind.
"Madam Aoi, what do we need at the market today?" Hachiro asked, a basket in hand. His eyes landed on the blond and Deidara looked away.
"The usual, Hachiro. Thank you," the blond answered, as she stirred her soup in the kitchen.
Deidara resisted the urge to lick his lips. It smelled so good! He quickly brushed his hair, successfully getting all of the knots out of it. Soon it was in a loose braid, his fringe also wrapped in it.
"Would you like some soup, Deidara?"
"Y-yes, please, un."
Aoi nodded and gestured for the younger blond to sit down at the table. Once he was settled, she poured a bowl for him and set it in front of him, a spoon resting beside the bowl.
Deidara ignored the silverware and grabbed the bowl, already drinking it.
"Oh, you don't know how to use utensils?"
The former servant stopped momentarily to shake his head and he began drinking again.
"Why not?" Aoi asked, as she sat down.
Deidara put down his bowl and stared at the table. "I was never taught. Danna usually helped feed me, un."
"The prince fed you?"
He nodded. "When the food was really bad and he didn't want me to eat it, he gave me his food."
"That was nice of him," Aoi said, smiling.
Deidara glared at her. "But you still think that I shouldn't be near him because you think he may be using me, un?"
The older blond's smile slowly faded and she stared at the table solemnly. "Hachiro told me that he left for the war and didn't say goodbye. He left while you slept and-"
"But he promised that he'd come back and he did... But that doesn't matter anymore since I'm gone now, un."
Aoi frowned and didn't say anything else. She let Deidara slurp his soup and pick up the vegetables with his fingers.
"Would you like some more?"
"Yes, please, un."
Aoi nodded and got up from the table, bowl in hand. She used the ladle to pour more soup for the teen and once it was full, she put it back on the table to be eaten again.
Deidara nodded his head as a thank you and began drinking again.
How long am I going to stay here? Will I ever be found? The thought made him shudder. No, Danna will find me... I just have to wait.