"Here, I have an idea. How about we take a walk?"
"Walk?" Deidara asked, looking over.
"Yeah. A walk might just lift this tension. How about it?" Deidara sighed.
"All right," he consented. Tobi turned right, quickly traveling a block before coming to a small park. He parked on the street, and they got out. Immediately, the sounds of a babbling fountain and the wind blowing through the cherry blossom trees. A light frost was dusting the ground, a chilly breeze swirling around the couple as they made their way to the path. Almost without their knowledge, their hands intertwined.
"Deidara?" Tobi asked softly.
"Hmm?"
"I don't know, but it seems like. . .well, like you really don't want your child to end up in an orphanage. I don't mean to sound negative, that's usually someone else's job, but what would you do to keep your child away from a place like where you live?" Deidara gulped thickly, pondering the question.
"I- I don't hate it. . ." he said slowly, a hand absentmindedly slipping to touch his stomach. "But if I could raise it?" Deidara sighed. "I don't really have anything against it, I mean, no matter which way I look at it, it's my responsibility. And, really, having a family might be nice, but. . ." Deidara took a deep breath. "I just couldn't."
"Why?" The question slipped out of Tobi's lips without even passing through his brain.
"I-" Deidara sighed. "As long as I have to bother bringing another helpless life into this world, I might as well make sure it isn't as unhappy as me. I wake up every day, and live my life ignoring random insults thrown at me. I mean, if I had my kid, and raised it, that's all they would get. I've already fucked up their life by being me, and now no one even wants it, if I can find someone who won't just screw everything up, then it would just be better for the baby, un."
"I know. But would it be worse to let it go to an orphanage?"
"Of course. I know, I would probably have a hard time being able to support it, but. . ." Deidara sighed. "I don't know. Would it be better to be raised by a fucked up person like me, or in a hell hole of an orphanage, hmm?"
"Is it really that bad?" Tobi asked.
"Yeah, un. Once you learn how to do something on your own, they forget about you, un. I'm on the third floor, along with Ino and a few empty rooms, and they don't even come up there. They're never doing shit for us, yeah. They're barely even there, hmm." They walked on in silence for a long minute or two. Finally, with a sigh, Deidara broke the silence. "Let's sit down, I'm getting cramps." They walked over to a bench and sat down, Tobi still mulling over the situation.
"So you would raise the kid before letting it go to an orphanage?" Tobi asked softly.
"Yeah, un. I mean, I really don't want to put the kid through anything terrible, that's why I don't really want to associate myself with it, but if worst comes to worst. . .un. . ." Deidara sighed. "I know it wouldn't be fun, but, really, I am responsible. . ."
"Deidara, don't feel obligated. If you had known you could've gotten pregnant, then of course you would've done something about it." Deidara sighed.
"I know. But as long as Sasori's being himself, I have to take care of this mess. I really love this kid, and I don't want it to have to get shit because of me. And it will, no matter what, un. No one deserves that because I was stupid, yeah."
"So you'd raise it if no one wanted it?"
"If it was me standing between the kid and an orphanage, of course I would. I don't know about those bastards we just saw, but I would take ten times better care of it," Deidara sighed, leaning slightly against Tobi.
"This might seem a bit bold, but. . . If you needed to raise this child, I'd help." Deidara stiffened, evidently shocked.
"That's. . .a big commitment."
"I'm not asking you to spend the rest of your life with me, Deidara. But, can we just keep saying that we'll be together tomorrow?" There was a long, painful silence.
"All right. Till tomorrow," Deidara said softly. "And I knew they weren't a good match. I just had to try. I left a message with a nice sounding person, maybe he'll call back."
"He?"
"Yeah, definitely gay. I thought that, well, he might be a little more open, un."
"That's good."
"But. . .in case he can't. . .or won't. . .or anyone won't. . ." Deidara trailed off. "I'll have to raise it. I don't see any other alternative, un."
"Don't worry, Deidara. I'll help, if it comes to that."
"Thank you, un," Deidara whispered it so softly Tobi almost didn't hear it. But once he caught it, he smiled, tugging Deidara a bit closer to him.
"Well, hopefully this will be it, un," Deidara said as he ran the doorbell. The 'definitely gay' man had called back, and told them he and his partner were interested in meeting with Deidara. So now, on the weekend, they were at a nice house, with trimmed bushes, and smartly painted sides. And now the door was opened, and in a moment, everything was changed.
"Uzumaki? Deidara?"
"Kakashi-sensei?!" Deidara's jaw fell rudely open, his eyes going about as big as saucers. Tobi tried to regain his composure. Kakashi stared for a moment, then leaned back into the house. "Iruka! What the hell is going on?"
"What?" A shorter man was suddenly there. "You must be Deidara-san," he said warmly, extending a hand.
"Iruka! He's a student of mine!"
"Oh really? Well isn't that quaint. Small world, ain't it? Now come on in, it's cold out there," Iruka stepped back, pulling Kakashi with him. Deidara stepped in, still completely shocked. Tobi followed him, and they both slipped off their shoes in an awkward silence. Iruka led them into a cute little living room, sitting them both down on a white couch with a flower pattern. On the couch facing it, a man was already seated. "This would be our lawyer, Mizuki-san." The man inclined his head slightly. "Go on, have a seat. The couch won't eat you." By the way Deidara was eyeing it, one would think it would. But, with a slight nudge from Tobi, he seated himself.
"Ok, this is just weird," Kakashi said, sitting down next to the lawyer. Iruka sighed.
"Stop sulking. Just because he's a student at your school, doesn't mean we should discriminate," Iruka chided. He then turned his attention to Deidara. "My lawyer has been going over some papers, and my partner and I are interested in an adoption."
"Great, un," Deidara said, still looking around nervously.
"Is anything wrong?" Iruka asked.
"Um. . .no. . ." Deidara said slowly. Iruka glanced at Kakashi, who was slouching sulkily.
"Kakashi! That's rude, sit up!" Iruka hissed.
"We aren't doing this. It's too weird."
"Kakashi! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"He's right, you're not," Mizuki chimed in. Iruka turned to his lawyer, who in turn sank into the couch. Iruka had that effect an angry, cornered woman would have.
"Oh?"
"I've been looking through all the papers. You two are married, right?" Iruka nodded slowly. "Well, unless you live in Africa, you two can't have a legal adoption, unless it's a surrogate mother."
"What? You're kidding! And you couldn't have thought of this before?" Ituka cried. Tobi glanced worriedly at Deidara, who was looking slightly dejected, but it wasn't anything he hadn't expected. But Iruka wasn't done yet. "So last week when I called you, you couldn't have bothered to mention this?"
"I wasn't exactly sure, and I know you can get like a mad cow sometimes, and I didn't want to die that day."
"So you feel like a worse death today?"
"Calm down, Iruka," Kakashi mumbled. "You're being rude to our guests. And I never agreed to adopting a baby from one of my students." Iruka looked disbelievingly from Kakashi to Mizuki.
"You have got to be kidding me," he grumbled. "If you decided you were going to be picky, then why didn't you tell me before?"
"Oh, it's all right, Kakashi-sensei is always so picky, un," Deidara sighed. "He never really wanted anything to do with kids like me, yeah. I'll just be leaving, hmm." Deidara stood up. Tobi sighed, standing up as well. Iruka looked about ready to murder Kakashi and Mizuki, and when Deidara started for the door he leapt off the couch and ran after the teen.
"Deidara-san, wait!" he called, stopping the blonde. "I'm so sorry about all of this. If there's anything I can do. . ." Iruka trailed off.
"I'd rather have my baby raised by someone who wants it, yeah. Kakashi-sensei doesn't even like me, so how can he raise my kid, hmm?" Deidara crossed his arms over his chest. Iruka said nothing. "Yeah, if it were just you, Umino-san, I'd let you have the kid without a second thought, yeah. But whatever, you can't get the kid anyway because you're married, un. Thank you for your hospitality," Deidara bowed, turned, picked up his shoes, and left. Tobi sighed, turning to Iruka.
"He's just been, um, going through a lot lately. Don't hold it against him," he explained.
"Understandable. . ." Iruka said slowly, mind evidently on something else.
"Kakashi-sensei and he don't really get along. There's always been some tension between his group and authority figures."
"I see. . ." Iruka coughed. "Are you. . .um, that is, the child-"
"I'm not the father. Someone else is. But that doesn't mean I can't help out, does it?" Iruka shook his head slowly. "Wow, I don't know how I'll face Kakashi on Monday, but. . .hey, we can all deal. Thank you for your hospitality." Tobi bowed, straightened, and left.
Kakuzu sighed as he walked into the clinic. He found his way to Dr. Might's office and knocked politely. "Come in!" a cheery voice called. Kakuzu swung the door open and walked in, and the first thing he noticed was that Obito wasn't there. The doctor was sitting in his chair next to the
"Where's Obito?" he asked immediately.
"He didn't wish to continue our session, so he went back to his room. Patients are free to do leave if they wish, though it is not encouraged."
"I see." Kakuzu coughed awkwardly, still standing in the doorway.
"I'd like to have a word with you, if you wouldn't mind," Dr. Might waved Kakuzu closer, setting down his glasses. Kakuzu resigned himself and stepped into the office, closing the door behind himself. He pulled up a second chair next to the doctor. "My goodness, Kakuzu-san, you look like a child about to be scolded. You're not in trouble." Kakuzu breathed a slight sigh of relief. "I would like to talk to you about Obito."
"Oh? What has he done now?" Kakuzu asked tiredly.
"Nothing out of the ordinary or damaging. I don't have anything breakable in my office for a reason, you know."
"I see. . ." Kakuzu coughed. "Then. . ."
"I can't seem to get much out of him. He doesn't want to talk."
"Is he sober? You know, that tends to help."
"Oh yes, I thought of that. I was just wondering a few things about him, that's all."
"I see. . ."
"When, in your opinion, was his lowest point?" Dr. Might asked, looking genuinely at Kakuzu.
"I'd say. . .when he was a Sophomore." Kakuzu stopped speaking, glancing at the doctor.
"Any particular event?" Dr. Might's voice was soft and light, completely open and friendly.
"He. . .tried to kill himself. You probably know all about that."
"No, actually, I only heard that he had a suicide attempt. I don't know anything else." Dr. Might leaned forward slightly, looking interested. Kakuzu sighed.
"He was a Sophomore, and I was a Junior. He- well, I should explain that our father has a gun. He kept it loaded, but so far nothing bad had happened. I knew where it was, but I never thought to unload it, or hide it, or do anything. So it was really my fault when Obito got a hold of it and brought it to school. I really should have known, that day I didn't have to get him out of bed, and he didn't complain about going to school, so I should've known something was up. But- well, I guess I just wanted to think things were better. So we got to school, and he waited until lunch before making a scene. In the middle of the cafeteria, he jumped up on a table and held the gun to his head. He said a lot of weird things, I don't know if he had smoked anything, but he threatened to shoot." Kakuzu took a deep breath.
"What happened?" Dr. Might asked after giving Kakuzu a moment to breath.
"He didn't shoot. I don't know if he would've, but someone had the sense to talk to him and distract him enough."
"Who would that be?"
"A friend of mine by the name of Deidara. He talked to him about random things, and got him to put down the gun. I grabbed the gun, so he couldn't hurt himself, but after that they kicked him out of school. Well, since he had already turned in his drop out application, it wasn't really kicking him out, more of just accepting it. He didn't try to kill himself after that, but I had no clue where he went. He was getting high somewhere, or what. I looked for him all over, but I could never find him. Finally, about two weeks later, I found him in some alley, completely out of it. That's when I admitted him to this. . .clinic."
"I see. Who do you think Obito respects the most?"
"Respects? No one." Kakuzu was dead sure in his answer.
"Ah. Tell me, Kakuzu, why you would go to such lengths for your brother? I'm sure your money is needed elsewhere, like in saving for school or such."
"My money isn't needed anywhere else, Sir. He's my brother, and I let this happen to him. I didn't take good enough care of him before, and now I have to make it up. It's my fault he can't go an hour without his fix, or can't hold a civilized conversation with someone, and dropped out. It's my fault he's such a mess."
"If you don't mind another probing question, but I am quite curious by nature, but why is it your fault?" Dr. Might asked. Kakuzu sighed.
"If I had just gone the extra mile and taken better care of him, kept him on a tighter leash or something. I should've called the police on my parents, gotten Obito help sooner. I should've drawn attention to our situation instead of keeping quiet and handling it on my own," Kakuzu explained. He sighed, leaning back in his seat. "There's just so much I could've done, it's shameful."
"On the contrary," Dr. Might said slowly, "I think you've done an exquisite job."
"How would you know? I've managed to fuck up every little detail!" Kakuzu growled.
"Kakuzu-san, you've raised your brother for the majority of your life. That's something not everyone could do."
"Yeah, and look at him! He's a complete disaster!" Kakuzu argued.
"Only just recently has he begun to fall apart. You've gotten him help, and kept him out of trouble for as long as you can."
"But. . ." Kakuzu sighed. "He's ended up in a fucking insane asylum! I'm completely responsible for everything he's done! I could've done something, at least, to keep him from doing stupid things! He didn't know any better, and I did!" Kakuzu slumped down in his chair.
"When you look at it that way, then no one is responsible for their achievements. All the credit would just go to whoever raised them," Dr. Might said soothingly. Kakuzu sighed. "Well, are you feeling any better?"
"A bit," Kakuzu sighed. "Thanks." He stood and bowed politely to Dr. Might. "I'll be back next week to see Obito. Do you think he'll want to see me?" Dr. Might stood up and sighed.
"I honestly can't say. But if it makes you feel any better, you're the only subject he'll talk about."
"I see. Well, I should be going. It was nice talking to you," Kakuzu said, bowing again.
"I rather enjoyed our conversation as well. I'll see you next week, then?"
"Yeah." Kakuzu turned to leave, but once he made it to the door, Dr. Might stopped him.
"Oh, and Kakuzu-san?" Kakuzu turned back around.
"Yes?"
"You're only nineteen. People twice your age aren't capable of doing some of the things you're doing. Good job." Dr. Might smiled affectionately. Kakuzu stood stunned for a moment, before giving a slight not and an 'arigato' before leaving.
Dr. Might sat down at his desk, thinking deeply. It had been a long time since he had tricked someone into receiving psychiatry. But a part of him nagged that Kakuzu had known, at least a part of him, and that part was the same part that was able to be fooled that things were better. A part of him had needed to talk, that knew he needed to vent a little, had allowed him to sit down and talk about things he had likely never discussed before, to save his sanity.
A/N: Hey all, WhirledPeace here! I need you guys to tell me something: These last two chapters have been a little longer, and I guess a few chapters before were a bit shorter. Which do you all prefer? Longer or shorter? I mean, I know when I'm reading a story, sometimes with the plot it works better with shorter chapters, but sometimes longer chapters are better. I can do whichever ya'll want, so tell me in a review! Thank you for reading! (oh, and if you couldn't tell who the baby's parents are, please tell! I thought I made it a bit subtle.)