Oh hai. Sorry for the wait. I should've gotten this chapter out a while ago. Unfortunately, I got really sick and was stuck on bed rest. Also, there was just a hurricane that passed by here so the power was out for a while. Still not quite completely well, but getting better. School's starting in a couple of days, so I'm gonna try and dish out chapters as often as I can. Probably one a week...
Just a note: this is yaoi. Y-A-O-I. If you don't like it, don't read it. It is ItaDei, ItachixDeidara. And also as I have received questions about this before, it is set so far back for a reason. You'll find out why later.
On with the story!
--
Deidara awoke to the rays of the sun warming his face. Cracking his eyes open, he looked over and found the space next to him in the bed empty.
He sat up and looked around to find Itachi sitting across the room, already completely dressed, writing something.
"So, you're finally up," he spoke, looking up.
"Um, I guess, un."
"I wanted to let you sleep as long as possible. Though I would've had to wake you if you didn't get up yourself within the next hour."
"Why, un?"
"In about an hour or so is when everyone really starts to get up and move around. You'll need to leave before then if you don't want to get caught."
"What?!"
"Better hurry."
Deidara hurriedly got up from the bed and grabbed his discarded clothes.
"Here. You might want to clean up a bit first," Itachi said sliding a dish of water and a wet cloth.
"Arigato, un."
He hurriedly wiped himself down and dressed, slipping on his kimono and wrapped the obi around, knotting it.
He bowed down to the still sitting raven, "Arigato again, un."
--
Deidara turned to leave. But Itachi couldn't let him. Not like that.
He stood up and walked over, grabbing hold of the blond's arm.
"I said in about an hour. You still have time, at least, to make yourself presentable."
He reached over and unknotted the obi. Slipping it off, he uncreased it and wrapped it back around Deidara's waist, flat, and neatly tied it in the back.
"Arigato, un."
"You know, you don't have to thank me for every single thing I do for you."
He could tell the blond was embarrassed, the way he looked down. He smiled.
"Don't worry about it. Here, come with me. I want to show you something."
Itachi took hold of Deidara's hand and led him out, across the field to the stables. Leaving Deidara at the entrance, he walked over and saddled up his favorite horse and climbed up and seated himself, grabbing the reins. He trotted over to the entrance and stopped before the blond, reaching a hand down. Deidara took it, blushing slightly, and Itachi hoisted him onto the horse to take seat behind him.
"Now hold on, okay?"
"Y-yeah, un," Deidara answered wrapping his arms tightly around his waist.
"Is something wrong? You're squeezing awfully tight."
"I-its just, well, I-I've never ridden a horse before, un."
"Oh, well, its very nice, relaxing, or exhilarating, depending on how you drive it. I'll make sure to keep him at an easy pace for you."
With a nod from the other, Itachi started the horse. Deidara whimpered slightly at the sudden movement but relaxed a bit as the wind blew through his hair. He sped the horse up to a canter as they headed toward the forest.
Itachi guided the horse through the trees and down a path hidden within the foliage. They trotted along until they came to a clearing.
--
Deidara couldn't believe his eyes. The hidden clearing was probably one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. There was a small waterfall crashing into a lake, the water glistening in the morning sunlight. Flowers bloomed in the crisp, green grass attracting the butterflies and bees that pollinate them.
Itachi swung his leg over and dismounted, reaching up to help him get down as well.
"I come here often. When I want to escape my life, my nagging family, when I want to relax in peace."
"I can see. Its beautiful, un."
Itachi grasped his hands tightly and leaned down, pressing his lips against his, kissing him deeply.
"I want to see you again. Here."
"When?"
"I can't come tomorrow, the next day?"
"That's fine, un. Anytime."
"Alright. After sundown, I'll meet you here," Itachi leaned down to kiss him again, "I have to leave now. Aishiteru, Deidara-koi."
"Aishiteru, Itachi-k-koi, un."
Itachi smiled and kissed him again, holding him tight. When he let go, he mounted his horse again and rode off. Leaving Deidara to make his way back to his village.
--
That evening, Itachi sat on the edge of the walkway, looking off into space.
"Whatcha thinking, Aniki?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing much, Otouto."
Sasuke walked closer and sat next to his older brother, "Is it about that yellow-haired boy again? Did you ever figure out his name?"
"Deidara."
"Hm. Not bad. Did you see him again?"
"Last night."
"Did anything happen?" When Sasuke saw the look on Itachi's face, his eyes widened, "seriously?! Y-you really like him. Don't you?"
"I think...no. I know, I love him."
"Wow, Aniki. That's deep. But, you do know what would happen if Otou-san finds out about this, right?"
"He won't. I made a tryst with him. At my spot."
"Gonna make more?"
"I believe so."
"I wish you both the best. Just remember, I'll always be there for you, but I can't help but feel worried about you Aniki."
And with that, Sasuke stood up and walked off toward his own room.
The days passed much too slowly for Itachi's liking. He waited until darkness fell on the planned day and grabbed his horse, making his way into the forest.
--
Deidara looked up into the dark sky as the stars started to twinkle. Feeling it was a good time, he started to make his way into the forest. He concentrated on remembering the path he took as he trudged through the trees and pushed aside the branches of the trees to reveal the clearing to be even more breathtaking than he'd remembered it.
The water glistened surreally as the bees and butterflies were replace with fireflies fluttering about. He was broken from his musings by strong arms wrapping tenderly around him. He'd jumped at the sudden touch and sighed at the realization of the person behind him.
"Itachi-koi, un."
"I missed you. I couldn't wait to see you again, Deidara-koi."
They shared a passionate kiss, embracing each other lovingly. Itachi trailed feather kisses down his neck as he slowly lowered him down into the soft grass.
"Aishiteru."
--
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months as the two lovers made tryst after tryst, meeting and loving each other night after night covered by the darkness shrouded about them.
Deidara couldn't have been happier. He loved Itachi more than anything and spoke to his mother every night about his love for the raven.
Itachi loved his blond more than anything in the world. It made him glad to know how happy he'd made his love and vowed nothing would happen to him under his care.
Sasuke sat and talked with his brother whenever he could. He loved to see Itachi smile again. He couldn't remember his nii-san smiling as he did since they were young and used to play together. He loved to hear Itachi's stories of how he would be with his blond. Sasuke would sit and listen to his brother talk and wished he could one day find someone he would be able to love as much as Itachi loved Deidara. He couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of his brother and would wonder what his future lover would be like.
--
"I-I don't know what to do anymore," a frustrated Fugaku spoke while pacing back and forth in front of the bed.
"Just leave him be. Don't stress yourself over this situation so much."
"How can I not stress over this, Mikoto?! Itachi is my oldest! My heir! And he shows absolutely no interest whatsoever in any of it all!"
"But he seems at peace. You know, I haven't seen him in such a happy disposition since he was a child. There's always so much tension between the two of you."
"But he's twenty-one, Mikoto! Twenty-one! And he still has no wife! Much less an heir! He's dishonoring this family! The other clans are starting to look down on us. The fact that the boy refuses to take any girl that almost practically throws herself at him, and manages to greatly offend each of the girls' clans in the process! Its as if he wants, as if he's aiming to destroy me politically."
"He's not trying to destroy you, Fugaku. He's a peculiar boy. Maybe he's just not meant for a family life. He's probably just dealing with his own little world right now."
"That might be what's wrong with him..."
"Don't let him get to you. Sasuke's fifteen now, you should start looking for a wife for him. There's more girls available for someone his age rather than Itachi. Why don't you just turn your attention to your younger heir for now."
"Don't you see, Mikoto? Even if I do turn to Sasuke, Itachi's still going to be there, bringing this clan down. I have to deal with that before anything else. Maybe there is something going on with him that he's not telling anyone..."
"Fugaku..."
Fugaku called for a servant.
"Hai, Uchiha-sama," the girl bowed.
"Kazumi, you are Itachi's personal servant, are you not?"
"H-hai."
"Have you noticed anything odd about him lately?"
"Besides the fact that he seems very happy, h-he does go out riding a lot."
"Well, he's always done that. Riding is his release."
"Well, he goes out riding late at night, quite often. While everyone else is asleep. I've woken up a few times and have seen him ride off."
"Really?"
"Hai."
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Well, there you go! Hope everyone is enjoying it! Reviews are loved! Jaa-ma!!