Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Akatsuki or any of the characters/concepts featured. All characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

'Dei, we need to leave now.'

'Just a little longer, Danna!'

Sasori folded his arms across his chest to emphasis his point. Deidara gave him a sad look.

The couple had been standing at the crossroads for almost half an hour, though for Sasori it seemed they had been there for much longer than that. And still this Itachi chose to remain elusive. Sasori shivered when he felt a particularly cold breeze brush past him, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He tapped his foot impatiently. The only reason he had agreed to wait was because he had wanted to please Deidara, but deep down a small part of him secretly hoped that Itachi wasn't coming.

Oh who was he kidding? He hoped the guy had been run over by a bus, assuming he was on his way at all.

He checked his watch again. 'We have to go now, or I'll miss my biology class…'

'Please, un! He said he would meet us here…'

Sasori bristled. 'Well seeing as he's this late, he obviously doesn't care enough!' he snapped.

Deidara recoiled. He sighed sadly and focused his gaze on the ground. The harsh temperature had resulted in flecks of frost forming on pavement, as though the ground had been dusted with sugar. His brow furrowed and he lifted his hands to his mouth, blowing on them and allowing his breath to warm them.

Seeing this, Sasori scowled. 'You're cold,' he stated.

'No, I-'

'You should've brought gloves,' muttered Sasori. Though he was genuinely concerned for his lover's welfare, that statement had come out more spiteful than he had intended. He watched, heart-broken, as Deidara hung his head.

'Sorry, Danna, un,' he whispered, feeling tears prick his eyes.

Sasori felt a lump rise to his throat. He wanted to apologise and hold Deidara in his arms. He wanted to whisper kind words to him, and he wanted to kiss him. But he didn't. He couldn't; his stubborn nature wouldn't let him.

So instead, he watched as his love crumbled a little on the inside.

Suddenly a voice could be heard. It was a little way off, and quite faint, but it was still possible to make out the words.

'Deidara! Deidara!'

The two males looked in the direction of the sound, Deidara slowly, sullenly lifting his head. A solitary figure was walking up the road towards them at a steady pace. He, for there could be no doubt of gender, was wearing a rather fetching suit and had an appealing gait.

Sasori's jaw dropped.

He stopped.

He did a double take.

No. It couldn't be. There was no way in hell that this was Itachi.

He was…absolutely, impossibly handsome.

Not even close to Deidara's level, of course, but it was still clear that he had struck gold in the looks department.

Sasori eyed him up and down as he approached, feeling it necessary to size up this new threat. He hurriedly took in each aspect of the young man's countenance, and felt rather flustered when he failed to find any faults.

His skin was flawless and, though pale, was not sickeningly so. He had high cheekbones and fine features, and all of this was framed by long, dark hair, some of which had been pulled back into a ponytail.

He was also tall.

Sasori's upper lip twitched.

When it came to appearance, he had always been confident. Not once had he felt the need to change and not once had his reflection upset him. After all, what reason would he have to doubt himself? He was better looking than most of the population and he was proud of that.

But in the presence of this intruder, everything suddenly seemed very different.

Now he wasn't attractive at all. If anything, he was rather plain, like a Mini parked next to a Ferrari.

What made things even worse was the fact that Deidara had already run up to this stranger and was now hugging him tightly. 'Itachi, un!' he cried, jubilantly.

Itachi laughed, lifting the blonde a little way off the floor and spinning him around a few times. Deidara squeaked in surprise, but soon threw his arms around Itachi's neck in delight. A hug was a rare treat; Sasori rarely gave him such attention.

Meanwhile, said redhead watched, horrified, as they embraced each other.

He felt like he had just been slapped across the face.

Within a few brief moments, the life he had been looking forward to, the life with Deidara, was destroyed.

He had envisaged everything; the job he would have, the house they would buy, the ring that would be needed, and the love that would be made. All of it came crashing down around him. Sasori couldn't hold a candle to this newcomer. And why would Deidara choose silver when he could have gold?

No.

He broke his own thoughts and shook his head, taking a deep breath. He willed himself to calm down. No, he could deal with this. His feathers weren't going to be ruffled so easily. He refused to be beaten. So what if Itachi was drop-dead gorgeous? So what if he was tall? So what if he could make Deidara laugh like that?

They were just friends.

His angel had told him that. He needed to have more faith.

Itachi pulled back from the hug and looked down at Deidara. He smiled fondly; his childhood friend had blossomed into a stunning beauty. 'You've grown more than I had expected,' he said, teasingly, poking the sculptor's cheek.

Deidara swatted his hand away and grinned. 'Me? Look at you! I used to be taller than you, hm!'

'Only by a few inches, Dei.'

Sasori's ears pricked up and his heart plunged again. Dei? Wasn't he the only one allowed to call Deidara by that nickname?

'It was way more than that and you know it, un!'

'Perhaps that was why the other kids said it would be weird if we ever got married,' said Itachi. A ghost of a smile played on his lips as he remembered the older days. He and Deidara had been so close that at one point the other children had started to tease them. 'I was supposed to be the taller one…'

Sasori blanched.

It was at this point that he decided to step in. He cleared his throat awkwardly, and focused on keeping his voice steady. 'Dei, aren't you going to…introduce me?'

Hearing this, the blonde spun around and smiled. Compliant, he pranced over and took his rightful place at his Danna's side, something that Sasori couldn't help but smirk about. He sent Itachi a haughty look to make sure he was aware of his place.

But the man merely smiled. His expression held no disgust, no bitterness, no dislike of any kind.

And it shook Sasori to the core.

'Who might you be?' he enquired. He didn't sound angry either. If anything, he only seemed to be confused.

Sasori felt rage flare up inside of him. How dare Itachi try to be the better man here? He narrowed his eyes. 'Sasori; Deidara's boyfriend,' he said, putting as much emphasis on the last word as possible.

'Boyfriend?' asked Itachi, still wearing that absurd smile.

Sasori curled his lip in disgust. Stupid son of a bitch.

Deidara nodded excitedly and promptly attached himself to his Danna, nuzzling the elder male affectionately. 'Yes,' he chirped, 'I've found someone, Itachi, un!'

But, being the observant person that he was, Itachi had noticed something; something that nullified his ability to smile at this news.

Sasori had made no move welcome Deidara into his arms, as would be expected with a lover.

He didn't scoop the blonde up, or laugh, or smile, or kiss him, or any of those things.

He remained rigid, glaring straight ahead, not paying any attention to the cute, blonde ball that was stuck to him.

Itachi scowled, finding this behaviour extremely odd and slightly unnerving. Slowly, worry began to creep over him. The more he stared, the more bizarre it seemed. If you loved someone, surely you would show a little more…compassion than that? Surely you would return the gesture? Or at the very least, look at them? Surely…you would give some indication that you loved them as well?

After mulling it over for about a minute or so, he decided that the best option would be to brush it off. Perhaps Sasori wasn't a fan of public displays of affection, or perhaps he simply disliked physical contact. Regardless of the reason, Deidara seemed content, and that was what mattered.

As long as Deidara was happy, Itachi had no need to interfere. He was in no position to do so. After all, it wasn't his relationship.

At last, he smiled. 'I'm pleased,' he said. Then he turned to Sasori, and spoke a few simple words that seemed to carry their own, hidden warning.

'Treat him well.'

Sasori bridled a little at the request, offended. His hands became fists at his sides. How dare this fool question his relationship skills? He had only just arrived! Or did he think himself better than Sasori? Pompous bastard! He turns up out of nowhere, lays hands on Deidara, and then has the gall to start giving commands? It was a fucking outrage!

By now Deidara had finally sensed his Danna's anguish. He placed a comforting hand on his lover's shoulder, and whispered, tentatively, 'Danna, un? Are you alright?'

Without thinking, Sasori whipped around and, as always, he released his pent-up fury on the one person that he cared for the most. 'Shut the fuck up, brat!'

Deidara hopped back a few steps, hurt beyond belief. He hated that word more than anything. He lowered his head for the second time that morning, and clasped his fingers together in nervousness. His voice was not above a whimper and it seemed to wobble, as though he were near tears. 'O-okay, o-okay…'

Sasori's expression softened. He had done it again. Not only that, but he had allowed himself to lose his temper in front of Itachi. He pushed aside his hate and reached out towards the blonde, determined to apologise for his actions this time.

But his lover was already being escorted away from him.

Itachi looked back once over his shoulder, and gave Sasori a look of disapproval. Then he turned his attention to Deidara, intent on changing the subject.

'Dei, did you know that I finally had to get glasses? Only for reading, but I suppose I was being too cocky before, wasn't I?' he said, chuckling when this information seemed to lift his friend's spirit.

'I told you, un,' said Deidara, smiling softly, wiping away his secret tears. 'I said you'd need them; but you never believed me, un…'

'I'll have to listen more often,' said Itachi, kindly.

Sasori couldn't hear any more of the conversation after that.

They were already too far away.

So that morning, for the first time in a long while, Sasori walked to his school with no one at his side but his shadow, trailing behind the other two. He was left alone with his thoughts; thoughts that questioned why Deidara had never mentioned him to Itachi.

Not even once.

I'm finally back! I shall now scoop all of you up and hug you until you explode! :D ...Okay, maybe you won't explode, but that's the true extent of my feelings. :D

And I have to say, though it's a little late, to the marvelous Guest who gave me so many reviews and ended the one here with 'kisskisskiss', I love you! I just wish you had an account so that I could thank you sooner; your words have been in my head ever since you posted them. :D

I hope you enjoyed reading and a review is always appreciated, but flames should only be used to make smores...

I need to try a smore one day. :3