this is the final chapter.
thank you all for putting up with me once again.
*Flashback*
"What un?"
"That's terrible news!"
"Fine by me."
"How do you expect us to make money now?"
"Itachi, that means we can go to Kiri once you're better, right?"
"Where the hell do you expect me to go?! I'm not welcome back in Yuga!"
Pein sighed, they were even more difficult to handle when Konan wasn't around.
"Quiet, all of you," he demanded. He was met almost immediately met with silence and stared out at everybody in tired shock for a moment before continuing to speak. "when and if Konan makes a full recovery, we will discuss a reunion, but until then you are free to do as you please."
"So… we're on vacation?" Tobi asked tentatively.
"Yes. An indefinite vacation," Pein confirmed, "you will each receive a payout, 30% of the money you would have made as a part of the Akatsuki, to support you while you're out in the real world. And feel free to keep the cloaks."
"What about the children?" Sasori asked, "What's going to happen to them?"
"I've already contacted their families, they'll be returning home to live out normal lives, for the time being. I encourage you all to try and do the same."
There was silence for a moment, as everyone considered what had been said and tried to process the emotions running through them all at once. The same question crossed most of their minds; what am I going to do now?
"The Akatsuki is all I know un," Deidara said quietly. It seemed to be an unspoken thought shared by everybody else in the room. "You're the only people who have ever spoken to me outside of an orphanage."
"Tobi's gonna miss you too!" Tobi exclaimed. He latched onto Deidara, like he would when they were younger and he was scared, though he wouldn't admit it out loud or even in his head, he was just as scared as any of the others were.
Deidara tried pushing Tobi off, finding it too reminiscent of time he wouldn't get back – and of course annoying as hell. "Tobi you idiot, let go, un! We'll still see each other all the time! It's not like we're going anywhere!"
"Actually, you are. You all have six hours to return to the camp and pack. After that time is up, I've hired some people to pack up what's left and put it in storage," Pein said.
"So you're throwing us out?" Hidan asked.
"Pretty much. You have…" he paused to look down at his watch, "five hours and fifty six minutes left."
That had been almost six months ago.
The Akatsuki had reluctantly split up, as it was virtually impossible for the eight of them to stay together without Pein and Konan to reign them in when their differences got the better of them. Plus, they didn't have a nurse constantly on call for when their fights got too bad.
They were in the real world now, and the real world didn't allow them to be reckless of to have all of the things that made them feel safe and accepted; like being together constantly.
Kakuzu had been planning to go back to Taki, but after remembering the incident with Deidara, he figured it wouldn't be a good idea. He knew there were a lot of sick people in Ame, and a lot of poor people as well, which made it the perfect place for him to settle down for a while and establish himself as an underground doctor, since it was neither legal nor boring, and he'd be able to swindle poor people out of their money. Plus, he wouldn't have to go outside all that often, so the freak thing wouldn't be a problem.
He'd had it all sorted out from the moment Pein told them they couldn't stay at the camp any longer. But there had been an issue. The six of them – excluding Itachi who was recovering, and Hidan who was the subject – had made a bet, because they all knew they couldn't let Hidan go off on his own, and Kakuzu had lost.
So that perfect life he had imagined, where he never had in interact with anybody outside of business hours, was obstructed by an immortal psychopath. And the immortal thing just made it that much worse, because no matter what he did, Hidan just wouldn't die!
They lived in the outer part of the city now, in a cheap apartment which was easily accessible to those desperate enough to go looking for them in the first place. It was better than the places they had both started out, but a huge downgrade from living with the circus.
"This is fucking boring, can't we go outside?" it had been six long months of complaining, similar to that, from Hidan, every single day.
"You can go outside," Kakuzu replied. He was with a patient, an idiot who had gotten himself shot in some sort of gang fight. The best thing about Ame wasn't the poor people, it was the people who did shit they knew they shouldn't, and got hurt in the process. They were even more desperate for secret, questionable medical attention. "I'm busy."
"If I go outside by myself, you'll lock the damn door! Don't be a fucking prude!"
Kakuzu sighed and tuned out the other. It wouldn't be wise to lash out in front of a paying customer. That would definitely break their cover as slightly normal people, which they had been told to keep until a time came when they had the choice to go back to the Akatsuki.
"Look Hidan, if you shut up and leave me alone for a week, we can go outside for five minutes when I'm done with this."
And as expected, Hidan went off on a rant about how five minutes wasn't anywhere near the equivalent of a week worth of silence, and the last time they went outside, it had only cost half as much, and living here was worse than living on the streets in Yuga, because at least there, he had been able to interact with people – before killing them brutally, but that was hardly the point.
Kakuzu sighed. It was only another six months before he could meet up with the rest of the Akatsuki again to replace their bets.
Tobi had stayed in Konaha, since it was the only other life he knew. And since he was no longer welcome in his actual home, Tobi used the money he was given, to find a place for him and Sasuke to live while Itachi recovered in the hospital, subsequently dragging Zetsu with him due to abandonment anxiety which had festered beneath his skin for about six years.
Sasuke went back to school, like most of the circus kids did, and they were all accepted back into regular society, as though they had never left.
For Tobi and Zetsu, it wasn't so easy, which could've been attributed to Zetsu's appearance, or strange personality quirks which Tobi had developed over the years, leading most people he came into contact with, to believe he had multiple personalities.
Still, they managed to make ends meet by picking up random jobs where they could that fit their set of skills – virtually none of which had any real-world application. They managed to hold out until Itachi got well enough to leave the hospital.
The past five months – after Itachi had been discharged – had been a blur of part-time jobs, school functions, trips between Konaha and Kiri, and getting used to the city life, which never seemed to move.
Tobi thought it was lucky that Kisame constantly insisted on visiting his own village, or they'd all be stuffed into a tiny apartment all the time. It was also lucky that Kiri had such good medical facilities, or Itachi wouldn't be able to leave at all. It was a blessing that he was still alive, but even he had said that healing was a bitch.
"Heading out again?" Tobi had just gotten home from a ten hour shift at a drugstore where he'd managed to get a somewhat permanent position. He hated working. People were complete idiots. He'd come home to find Itachi packing his things again, though it was hardly necessary since he hadn't fully unpacked the last time. "You might as well just move there."
"Maybe one day," Itachi replied, as though he hadn't planned out what the next five years of his life were going to be like – any further than that would've been bordering on obsessive – now that he knew he was going to live. "We have to leave room for the possibility that Konan will wake up. And besides, I'm not leaving Konaha until Sasuke graduates."
Tobi laughed, "You already spend more time in Kiri than you do here. You only stay more than a weekend if Sasuke acts out at school."
"I like it in Kiri," Itachi said quietly, and in his own defense, "the people are nicer there and they stay out of your business."
"And everything is a thousand times more expensive!" Tobi added.
"It doesn't matter, there are more job opportunities there, and people don't look at us like we're freaks."
Tobi paused at that statement and frowned, "even if you wear your cloak outside?"
"Even then," Itachi confirmed.
"Then why the hell don't we live in Kiri?!"
"Because it's too expensive and all of Sasuke's friends live here."
"So what? We can leave the kid here; he can stay with that Uzamaki kid or something!" Tobi exclaimed, forgetting for a moment that it was a small apartment and Sasuke was home.
"We're not leaving my little brother here alone. But I can't be here all the time, so you have to watch him," Itachi finished packing his things and brought his suitcase out to the main room, where Sasuke was doing his homework and watching the TV.
"How the hell is that fair? He's not my little brother! And it's your choice to leave every other day."
Itachi shrugged, "Sasuke's fine with it, right?" he looked over at his little brother, who nodded.
"Yeah, as long as you're not gone too long," Sasuke drawled.
"And besides, I know you love to make other people happy," at this point, Itachi smiled, something that would've been a non-existent feat when all of this began, but had become a regular thing as of late.
"I hate making people happy!" Tobi growled, "I want to watch the world burn in its own misery!"
"Tobi, sit down and let it go, you can't make him stay," Zetsu advised from the kitchen.
"Oh yes I can! You just watch!"
However, during this brief exchange, Itachi managed to slip out the door, rendering Tobi's argument and point, invalid.
Tobi scowled at the door as it slammed shut, too exhausted to bother chasing after his cousin. He'd get him back in six days when he came running back home, as that seemed to be his pattern; two days at home and six away, and Kisame had all but forgotten that he even had a home here.
Tobi let out a sigh and went to join his younger cousin in front of the TV. No matter what he said – and though he would never admit it – he was content with this life.
Sasori hadn't wanted to go back to Suna. Ever.
He still refused, even after all this time, to speak about what had happened to him, and Deidara accepted that, enough to stay completely away from Suna.
So they ended up in Iwa, since it was the only other place Deidara knew well enough to keep relatively out of trouble.
He was a little sad when they'd moved into a nicer part of town, which left them further away from the place he had once called home. But it felt safe to have a consistent place to stay, and to wake up every morning and see the same thing outside his window, and to have the same person with him all the time.
Up until six months ago, the most consistent thing he had had was the Akatsuki, and they moved on every two weeks. Growing up had been a tough experience.
It had taken a while to find a job, since Iwa was anything but a land of opportunity, and he didn't want to settle for anything boring, but eventually once the money they'd gotten had dried up, he'd been forced to take a job at a local café, while Sasori found work with a temp agency and had more or less gotten over his fear of people.
It was a simple life, and that was probably what Deidara loved about it.
Seven months after having left Konaha, they sat on a roof, above a market place with the setting sun beating down on them. They were watching all of the people down there, going around and living their normal lives like being a normal person was easy to do. Those people down there had their own trivial problems, and had no idea they were being watched.
"Peasants," Deidara muttered, suppressing a cackle. He was twirling a ring around his finger, which he had managed to swipe while he and Sasori were walking through the crowds. Of course he'd stolen other things as well – because old habits die hard – but the ring felt somehow reminiscent.
"What was that, brat?" Sasori asked.
"Nothing Danna un," Deidara said, leaning back. It felt great to be back in Iwa. He thought that every day, but coming back here after all this time, was amazing. "I used to come here all the time you know, un."
"Really?"
"Yep. Made a living off of those idiots down there un," Deidara pointed out at the marketplace fondly. "I pretty much lived up here for three years un, this block was my whole world. I figured I'd never leave."
Sasori had also gotten over his aversion to Deidara's hands – and his somewhat irrational fear of them biting him – and took hold of one, not looking away from the sunset they were watching. "I'm glad you did."
"Idiot, un," Deidara mumbled, "don't you ever turn off?"
Sasori leaned in closer, brushing away blonde strands of hair, he said quietly, "not when I'm around you," before placing a soft kiss against Deidara's jaw.
"Danna un, quit it!" the blonde said, stifling his laughter at the almost ticklish feeling as Sasori continued placing soft kisses along his skin. He could feel his face burning, and tried to hide it, but to no avail.
"Why? Your reactions are so fun to watch," Sasori spoke against the tanned skin of Deidara's neck. He was beginning to give in, quelled laughter turning into softer, more embarrassing noises. After a few moments of false struggling, they fell from the stone railing they'd been seated on, and hit the roof with a thud. Sasori allowed no time for recovery before kissing Deidara properly. Having started out his new life with a fear of things like this, Deidara embraced the weirdly wonderful feelings that were coursing through his veins at what seemed like such a simple act.
Life had been full of moments like that lately, and it had been so great that Deidara almost forgot about the life he used to live.
He still held guilt in his heart over what had happened and he still spoke to Itachi over the phone all the time, in fact he spoke to all of them whenever it was possible, but he was just as happy to stay in Iwa for the rest of his life.
So it was both a pleasant and an unwelcome surprise when they returned home late that night to find two letters nailed to their door. Surely a phone call would've been more convenient? But this certainly added a dramatic effect.
There was one addressed to each of them but the content was the same:
I hope you have enjoyed your stay in the real world this far and have not faced any troubles relating to your differences, these past few months.
However, the time has come for you to make a decision.
Konan has woken up and by the time you receive this letter, we will be on the road again along with anybody else who wishes to join us. Our first stop will be Iwa, where we will wait for two weeks. If you wish to rejoin, I trust you know how to find us.
However, if you decide to remain living a normal life, no actions will be taken to stop you.
Whichever choice you make, will be respected.
-Pein and Konan
Deidara held his letter tightly in his hands, ignoring the drool escaping his mouths and soaking the paper, he held it tightly to his heart.
"Un, what are we going to do?" he asked. He loved his new life, but maybe Sasori wanted to go back? Or maybe he wanted to go back and Sasori didn't want to be called a freak anymore. Or maybe –
Sasori gave a reassuring smile and wrapped a comforting arm around the blonde. He knew this meant more to Deidara than it ever could to him. "We'll go wherever you want to go, brat."
Deidara smiled as well and said, "Un, let's leave it up to fate."
so, i don't think i'll be writing another long story like this for a while but, if any of my lovely readers have ideas for shorter stories i could do, feel free to either leave a reveiw or PM me. just make sure it's one of my fandoms (see profile for details) and to leave a pairing and a prompt, and a rating as well, if possible.
otherwise, i probably won't be writing much for a few weeks. but this has been fun, hope everybody enjoyed themselves while sticking it through to the end.