Series: Naruto
Setting: AU
Prompt: 20. Cry
Rating: K
Word Count: 2, 770
Warnings: None
Summary: Friendships made finally drawn to an end.

Bonus Writers Notes: This is the final cute chapter for the two, for real this time

Goodbye My Friend

The lounge was heating up to a night temperature from the newly lit fire, warm cups of coffee for the parents and hot chocolate for the children were brought over by the tall almost super model like blonde, placing a plate of biscuits of the table for everyone to share. Together the boy's sat together with a blanket huddled around their shoulders carefully placing marshmallows into their drinks watching them swell from the liquid leaving the parents in the distance with hushed voices, Mikoto explaining the story to them of the tales of the missing child that now had been returned. Of course it wasn't because he had just simply decided to run away from home before life was bad, informing them of the plans that they had arranged to move away to a new home that was on the other side of the country. Understanding now on what was going on brought sounds with it, smiles as they drank their coffees embellishing on what was going to happen especially with the boys becoming so close. Already know with his cross country adventure, Itachi wasn't taking it well.

An agreement came between the two families, his final night would be granted to stay at the house he spent all his time trying to find, giving him the chance so he would be able to explain to his friend on what was going on and what would be coming. Mikoto didn't want to put her son through that but she knew that he would rather do it than be told by his parents, he would try and make it as easy as possible for him but he had put his body through a lot of stress hearing the loud rasping cough, making a quick trip away to come back with a fresh change of clothes and some medicine to help him through the night.

"I will be back tomorrow" she smiled at him, adjusting the rug over the two of them after giving him both a hug. She wished she never had to put this on him but there was no other choice.

The day was spent with many tales shared by Deidara about his visit to see his family, about his grandmother who had a strange obsession with pulling his cheeks and his cousin who was so cool because she was going to work at a zoo soon and he loved animals. All the different foods that he got to try and this really tasty almond slice stuff that he wanted to bring home for Itachi to try but it would have been spoilt by then but he would have liked the food, so different to Japanese with all the creamy sauces they put on their dinner to kill the icky taste. "I wasn't booorn here. I was born over there, un" he told Itachi happily, sorting out pieced of the puzzle that the two of them were putting together.

Although the Uchiha never questioned his strange appearance from the rest of the children, there had been a few of the bigger ones that used to pick on him, calling him a worthless half breed because of his blonde hair and blue eyes that were uncommon in that society. So what he was a pure blooded Japanese, he didn't care, instead he got the best of both worlds being able to speak in two languages while they only knew one so they all had no clue when he was making jokes about them. Then again Itachi would have understood since he wasn't like others as well, his eyes were so unique from the shade of red in them that reminded him of a possessed dog or something but he thought they were pretty.

Looking down at the puzzle they were trying to complete, Itachi opened his mouth in hesitated speech trying to find the time to tell him what was going to happen when they woke up, chewing on his lip as he tapped another piece into place finding them better to focus on. "I'm moving away tomorrow. I won't be able to see you again" Never again. He was going to lose the first friend he had ever made because they just didn't want to live there anymore. To Itachi it was the most devastating thing in the world.

Tilting his head to the side watching Itachi's intent gaze on the floor he could see that he was sad and so was he to know that he was going to lose his friend but it wasn't something that they had to dwell upon for the night since it was the last time they were to be together, instead the blonde propped up to his feet and ran out to the lounge room calling out "Close your eyes, un" to him on the way out.

Just he was instructed to; Itachi closed his eyes hard rocking a little on the spot waiting for him to come back, listening to the heavy thudded footsteps of him bolting around the house. Everything floorboard in the place was wooden so it echoed dramatically whenever there was someone running and it creaked really badly when you were trying to be quiet to sneak around. Deidara had taught him about every spot that made a noise for whenever they were up early morning and he wanted to steal some chocolate syrup before his parents woke up so they would have to tread lightly through the house into the kitchen so he could feast on the overly sweet syrup. He always had a sweet tooth; he should have brought Deidara something to remember him by only that he didn't really have much on him. Maybe if he snuck out in the morning and went down to that candy store on the corner he could have got him something. Still he knew it wouldn't have been the same as something that wouldn't have lasted more than five seconds in the hands of the chocolate fiend. But Deidara certainly had been gone a long time.

Finally the door opened again with an out of breath blonde barging in, running back and forth to find what he wanted to show him only he thought he had lost it and went into a panic, searching every room until he spoke to his mother and found out that she had been keeping a hold of it just so he wouldn't lose it. A few quick breaths brought him down to his knees in front of the Uchiha, clearly his throat as he got into position smiling widely not going to make him wait anymore.

"I bought you a pwesent seeee?" Tapping Itachi on the shoulder he told him that it was alright to open his eyes, holding out the gift that he had purchased on his holidays, knowing as soon as he saw it he knew that he wanted to bring it back for him. Outstretched in his hand were two necklaces that dangled by the black string wrapped around his fingers. "One half is yours and the other is mine" Pulling them apart into the individual necklaces, Deidara laid one down on the ground out in front of him, shuffling around to his back draping the pendant over his chest, fastening the clip at the back for him before shuffling back with a smile. "Best fwiends forwever no matter wat, un" he cheerfully smiled picking up his own half and adjusting it around his neck.

Reaching out Deidara embraced him tightly knowing that he was trying his best to be brave about it, slowly brings his arms around in the same fashion hugging him back, softly nodding into his shoulder. "Forever" he muttered certainly wanting to keep that promise more than anything. A gentle knock at the door broke them apart with the call for bed time, ushering the boys off into bed and kissing their foreheads giving them wishes of sweet dreams, turning the light off and leaving them to sleep. Itachi didn't want to sleep at all, the earlier he fell asleep the faster the next day would come but Deidara was already in the land of slumber, breathing gently against his neck. Fingers twisted around the pendant on his neck that hung down close to his heart, closing his eyes clutching it tightly as well as the blonde that snuggled up close to him, unable to resist the weariness of the day drifting off into sleep also.

Bright flashes of light woke him up groaning softly in complaint that turned into coughs from the shift in positions to sit up, rubbing the daze away wondering what was going on. Another flash caused him to crack his eyes open looking between the slit of his fingers using them as a shield as a mischievous giggle came followed by another flash almost like he was stuck in some kind of weird photography booth.

"Smile, Itaaaaachi!" sung the happy blonde, taking another snap with the camera he had in his hands. It wasn't his or anything, he had just 'borrowed' it from his mother to use for the day and he was happily snapping pictures of the once sleeping Uchiha because he looked so cute like a little puppy dog when he woke up. He was determined to document every last step they made before his parents came around to pick him up including the first stop to breakfast, taking snap shots at the brightly coloured sugar coated fruit loops, then onto getting changed laughing loudly at the one picture he got of Itachi with the toothbrush stuck in his mouth while he was cleaning himself up. Next it was him taking cough medicine, him trying to run away, him locked in the cupboard and then flat on his back when Itachi made his attack to get out of the closet pouncing on top of him.

"What about pictures of you?" Itachi asked, snatching the camera of his hand finish getting off some shots for his revenge. But better yet wouldn't it have been better with the two of them together?

Standing back up to his feet he gave Deidara a helping hand, standing side by side with each other and the camera out at arms length in front of them, hitting the button for a picture with this time they were both in. That was so much better with just himself hogging the shots. Again and again they posed for the shots, moving about the house making sure they got one in every room until the noise of someone pulling up outside on the drive way made all giggles silence. The two boys looked at each other tightening the grip around Deidara's arm he knew the time had come, walking together to bedroom to get his bags, waiting at the front door all packed up but not wanting to go. A happy greeting from his mother followed from the hard scowl of his father behind him only brought the reality closer, together along with Deidara's parents they walked out to the car, Deidara's hand dropping to his own interlocking their fingers together with a taut squeeze. "It's time to go now sweetie" Mikoto told him, petting his hair softly before going back to the car to wait for Itachi.

Turning to each other there was only a small nod, Itachi gave him a faint smile keeping a brave face saying "Goodbye Deidara" to him, letting go of his hand walking to the car. A lump rose up in his throat that had to be forced down, fighting back tears that he didn't want to come out, hanging his head low knowing that it was the end. He was never going to see him again; they were moving so far away that he would forget all about him and he would be lonely from not seeing that cheery face to greet him at preschool or to sit down and listen to him talk about the most random things. This was seriously tearing him apart.

"Itachi!" he cried out running up behind him. He wasn't going to let him leave like this, he wasn't going to say goodbye to his friend just with a simple goodbye and leaving it at that, he wasn't just a friend. He was his best friend. Jumping up on his back from the size difference that almost knocked him to the ground, Deidara clung onto him, holding onto him around his neck smothering his face into his jumper. "You can't go. I don't want you to, un" he yelled sobbing furiously into him. It wasn't fair, it wasn't! He wasn't allowed to go. Dropping down back onto his feet he turned Itachi back to face him crying uncontrollably into his chest, wiping his runny nose on his shirt accidently while he tried to work out any way they could stay together. Maybe they could run away and find somewhere else to stay but then tell their parents where they were so they wouldn't worry, that way everything would be fine.

Gently he moved his face away from him, cupping his small cheeks wiping away the warm tears with his thumb with tender smile at him to let him know that it was going to be alright. "Please don't cry" he pleaded, using his sleeve to wipe the boy clean. Slowly he moved in closer and placed a gentle peck on his lips like he had before when he had first told him about what he felt for him, a mistaken childhood crush was real with the friendship that they both shared. Nothing was going to take that away from them. "We will see each other again one day" He could only hope that his words were true.

A tight embrace shared between them left neither of them wanting to leave from each others arms, who would have thought that a destructive and hyperactive blonde that couldn't pronounced his words correctly and an overly shy, solitary brunette who didn't like to be in the company of anyone could have became friends, best friends. Somehow it happened and both were thankful for every day they got to spend with each other but now it had to come to an end. Bending down going into his bag, Itachi pulled out a book for him and handed it over, it wasn't as personal as the sentimental necklaces he had gave him but he didn't want Deidara going without having something of his to keep. The book about that rascally fox that he had been reading the day they met, the last book that had taken the place of the false human contact that he had with the characters, now it would belong to him.

"Forever" he whispered in his ear pulling away, receiving a squeak back of "Forever, un" as the two parted directions again, Itachi standing at the door looking back at Deidara one last time before getting in the car, wincing at the door closed with a slam instantly feeling heavy in his chest. The car started up with a quick couple of revs, reversing out the driveway with Fugaku complaining about how much time that had been already wasted thanks to Itachi's stunt and that he was going to be punished for it once they had settled into their new place but he didn't care. It was worth it to see him.

Shaking his head at the car's rapid acceleration away, Deidara ran after it calling out Itachi's name watching the crimson eyes looking back at him while he received a small wave, a turned corner took him out of his sight only left with hearing the echoes of the car driving away towards his new life. He didn't want him to go to his new life, he wanted him back. "Momma, I want Itachi, un" he called out, unable to keep to his request crying loudly in the street, never knowing he could feel so lonely even after he was picked up and cradled by the one he called out, continuing to bawl into her deep long waves of hair.

"Are you alright?" his mother asked looking over the back seat at him, watching him look out the window at the house that was no longer in sight.

Itachi nodded slightly, turning away from her to stare further out the window, giving her another nod to say that he was. "I'm not going to cry" he said softly, trickles of salt water falling over his cheeks as he held his necklace tightly. He would never forget him, they would be friends forever not matter what.