(Deidara is 18 and Sasori is 26)

-Two months later-

Deidara walked behind his master and his wife as they went on their weekly walk. The queen mostly talked about nonsense with her friends, or that the baby had begun to kick. Her husband was kind enough to reply and ask her questions as well since he still had to be kind to her.

Everything had mellowed down and Deidara was finally able to relax. He was never scared anymore when he was alone unless it was for a few days, but since he was back with his Danna that never happened. He was able to stick up for himself more and he rarely ever felt afraid anymore. He had changed into what most people would call a "man".

"What're we having for dinner, Sasori?" Sakura asked, as she picked a red rose and smelled it.

"The usual, if you want something else you can ask the chef to make something different tonight," Sasori suggested as he saw his wife somewhat slip the flower onto his cream colored shirt.

"No, that's fine," The queen mumbled. That was another thing. Since she was pregnant she had mood swings, but this was the opposite. She was mostly calm all the time and whenever Deidara was around she would just give a small glance/glare and look away. It seemed that she still disliked the blond but she couldn't get rid of him since this was the person her husband had chosen to love.

Soon their walk was over and they went their separate ways. Deidara and Sasori continued to walk in the garden, smiling and being close to each other. Deidara smiled when he saw the wall he used to climb when he was nine and he nudged his Danna.

"Don't even think about it, brat. I could catch you before, but not anymore."

"Are you calling me fat, un?" Deidara asked, crossing his arms.

"The opposite actually. You're so boney, you'd probably stab me if you fell," The redhead explained with a chuckle. Deidara stuck out his tongue making his Danna smirk. "Come on, let's go back to my room since I have a few herbs to mix."

The duo walked beside each other on the way to the King's room, mostly talking. Deidara began looking out the windows, seeing all the desert birds flying around. "Sometimes I wish I could fly," He blurted out.

His Danna smiled and they continued to walk. "It would be fun, wouldn't it?"

The servant nodded and smiled. "It'd be nice to be free all the time. To not have any restraints whatsoever, un," He whispered, his smile falling. He turned back to his master who wore a confused and sad expression.

"I understand if you don't want to be here, love," Sasori said, walking over to his servant. "It's not fun being confined like this," He said, understanding. He also had his limits, even as a king but his love... His love was far more restricted, even as his servant. Sasori touched his arm lightly and pulled him away from the window. "Come on, let's go to my room." Deidara nodded.

Deidara lied down on his stomach while he read a new book. His Danna was currently writing down notes for his current experiment and the sound soothed him. Soon the blond began kicking his legs in the air out of boredom. He was tired and he was on his master's bed, so a little nap wouldn't hurt, would it?
Deidara closed his book and lied his head down, enjoying the warm sun beating down on him. He stretched out and let his hair spread out around him, making the golden strands practically glow.

He was slipping under and it felt great-

Knock knock.

Deidara groaned and rolled over, catching his master's attention. The redhead sighed and walked over to the door. "Yes?" He asked, like always, annoyed.
"I-I am sorry to bother you, y-your highness, but your father h-has called another meeting... H-he said it was u-urgent," A young servant said as he tried to avoid the King's intense stare.

"I will be there shortly," Sasori replied, closing the door. Sighing, the King went over to his desk and tidied up, knowing the meeting would take up the rest of the day. He looked over at his servant and sat on the bed to shake the blond's shoulder. "Deidara."

"Mmm..."

Sasori sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. "I have to go to a meeting. I'll try to be back as soon as possible."

Deidara mumbled something and nodded. Smiling, Sasori leaned down and kissed his head before leaving.

"You're late, Sasori," An old general hissed into his hand.

"I am sorry, but I had other things to attend to-"

"Like what, Sasori?"

The King narrowed his eyes. "I find it very informal to call me by my first name, general; and as for questioning me, I don't appreciate that either."

Someone coughed and they were pulled out of their squabble. "Well, we need to find out when The Rain will strike again and if we are ready for..." Sasori zoned out. It was the same speech over, and over again. He had already told them what was best but they were never satisfied; always wanting more. "Any suggestions, your highness?"

The redhead sighed. "Make sure the scouts around the kingdom are doing their job. If not get new ones... We have already lost over half of our army and we need new recruits."

"What are you suggesting, your highness?" A knight asked, already not liking the new idea.

Another sigh. "We all knew that we would have to recruit sooner or later but it's desperate now. If we don't get any new soldiers then we won't last this war much longer."

"What's the point. They'll just die and the whole kingdom will hate us even more," The same old general spat, glaring at the table in front of him which was turned into a map for current and future locations.

"That's why we train them first, general," Hissed Sasori. He was really getting tired of the old man's behavior.

"It takes years to fully train a soldier. You even have experience that it takes more than a few mere months."

The King took a deep breath and tried to unclench his fists. It was like this every time. "We teach them the basics of fighting and surviving in the battle field. That is what's important now-"

"When have we ever done that?"

A few knights coughed or looked away, younger generals and advisors just sighed and hoped the King would go soft on the old soul.

Sasori got to his feet, now fed up. "We have been doing that for almost four years. You would never know because you complain about back pain and say you're too tired to help our soldiers! You say you help enough with our country and kingdom but you do nothing! You may have contributed years ago but this is now; the past means nothing now. If you have nothing to give right now, then go." Sasori pointed to the door.

The General was baffled. Never before had he ever been called out. Not even when the boy's grandfather ruled!

Suna's former King sighed. "Kaori, you do have to consider that by now you would have retired. You should respect Sasori more now that he is King," He said with a bored tone.

Sasori almost didn't like it that his father was sticking up for him, but it seemed to shut the general up. Taking another deep breath, the redhead sat down and they continued their meeting.

Hours later the meeting was over and all Sasori wanted to do was stretch his legs and go to bed. The moon was already high in the sky when he left the room, but thankfully servants went and lit the lanterns in the halls for when they retreated to their rooms.

A few knights stayed after for small chats about the war or none-important things. Sasori was walking away but he was stopped when he felt a hand land on his shoulder. "I don't know what you think gives you the right to treat me like that, Sasori, but I will not tolerate it."

The said redhead turned his head to see who had stopped him, his face impassive. "My right is, is that I am King. If you have any problem with that, we can duel, like they did back in your days. If you want to, just tell me." Everyone fell silent.

The general huffed and let go of the prince, before walking away. Soon the talking quietly grew again, the topic now being the King and general.

Sasori continued to walk to the third floor, his father following behind him. They were both headed to the same place so this didn't raise any suspicion. "Sasori." The King stopped and waited for his father to catch up with him.

"Yes, Father?"

The older male sighed and ran his hand through his messy hair; a habit that Sasori always had. "General Kaori is an old general, Sasori. He has been fighting before I was even born. It would be wise to not anger him any further," The redhead advised.

Sasori just looked at his father. "I don't understand why I should respect him when all he has ever done is insult me; even you."

"It would be best, Son. Kaori has powerful connections and can make almost anything happen."

"Why haven't you gotten rid of him by now?"

"... Like I said, connections. Your grandfather tried and it got him killed; I myself tried but was left with a warning to not do so again. Now you, Sasori... I know how you can be and if the general sees one thing that suggests that you will get rid of him, it's the end for you. That little stunt you pulled in the meeting could've done the trick."

Sasori sighed and looked down. "I'll be more careful, Father. Thank you," He muttered and the taller male nodded before walking away.

The King just stood there by himself, his mind flowing with thoughts. He had known this man from when he was just twelve and even then he was bitter. He always wondered why his father never got rid of him, but the redhead never gave him an answer.

As Sasori walked back to his room he saw his wife's room lit up. His eyebrows furrowed as he walked over to the door about to knock if it weren't for a few quiet whispers.

"No Sasori knows it's not his," A quiet sob.

"H-how did he find out?"

Sasori's eyes slightly widened when he heard that voice. He would know it anywhere because he would always train with the teen when they were younger. His teacher's best pupil.

"Please, Lee, we've never even made love. He even told me that he hates me~" Sakura sobbed once more.

"How dare he! I will go and talk to him right now, your majesty!"

"No! If you do he'll know you're the father... Just leave it alone, Lee..."

Sasori already began walking away. He didn't want to know who the father was in the first place because he knew it would just complicate things. The walk back was quiet and he liked that since he it gave him reassurance that no one would bother him.

Once he got to his room he opened the door expecting to see his lover still asleep on his bed. What he didn't expect to see was the teen gasping for air like he had just been strangled moments ago. Sasori closed the door and rushed over to his servant who was sitting at the edge of the bed.

"What happened?" He asked, as he kneeled by his love to see his face. He saw his lips glisten and he noticed it was blood.

"I-I don't know, un. A... A man came here and threatened me. S-something about a place, un. Keeping i-in place?" Sasori shook his head and brushed his hand against his lover's cheek.

"Did you see him?" Deidara shook his head.

"I-it was still dark-"

"Wait... When did this happen?"

Deidara shook his head, trying to remember. "About a few minutes before you came in... Not even five, un," He said, slightly confused.

Taking a deep breath, Sasori sat on the bed and pulled his servant to his chest. He had a strong feeling he knew who it was who hurt his blond.

-Morning-

Deidara groaned when he woke up. Being chocked the night before was not something you wanted to wake up to, especially with bruises. It even hurt to breathe. He heard a gasp and felt warm fingers trace his neck. Opening his eyes, he saw his master staring down at his neck, anger boiling in those brown orbs.

"It'll heal, Danna," He reassured, his voice slightly hoarse.

The King shook his head and turned away, now glaring at the bed. "I want to know who did this."

Deidara frowned. "I-I said I don't know, honestly, un."

Sighing, Sasori looked down at his love's neck already feeling his stomach churn. His neck was laced in purple and blue bruises in the shape of two hands, that wrapped all the way to the back of the blond's neck. He had a split lip that was caked with dry blood, a scab. Sasori hated seeing his love so abused whenever he left him alone. It broke his heart every time he saw his servant was used to the treatment. It hurt knowing that he couldn't stop the one who had done this.

He saw something move out of the corner of his eyes and he felt a hand on his cheek. His eyes moved to see Deidara give him a small smile as his thumb wiped something away. A tear. "It's okay, Danna, un. I'm sure it won't happen again," He whispered, smile still in place.
Sasori took the blond's hand in his own and kept it there. For once he hoped the blond was right.

If any of you have a problem with Sasori crying you can suck it and have a nice day! :D

Review?