A/N: Hello again fellow fanfictioners!
I'm building on Akira's relationships with Deidara and Tobi in this one, so I hope you like it!
Please R&R and let me know how I'm doing :D x
After slightly recovering from the initial shock, Akira had offered her two forefingers to Alyssa. Deidara and Tobi had returned and were being uncharacteristically patient as they waited to see they were up to.
Tenma smiled at his wife reassuringly and Akira's hand moved again to meet the frail forehead, as she began to hum a soft, relaxing melody.
Alyssa closed her eyes as though she had done this a million times. Her evident trust in her husband's words was undeniably strong as she allowed the green-haired stranger to enter her mind.
Akira's fingers began to glow a faint pastel-pink colour and light flickered through Alyssa's thoughts. Akira had never really done this without any real purpose, in the past it had been petty reasons, like proving to people that she was right on remembering certain details. Not wanting to miss any vital memories, she openly shared both happy and sad times, sending a whirlwind montage of their lives together into her memory, her first night with them, getting to know each other, their inside jokes, their arguments. Even her leaving…
They stayed like that for another few minutes, nobody daring to move in case they interrupted and, when Akira's eventually withdrew her fingers and the soft glow subsided, a single tear glistened on her mother's cheek.
Their eyes met and as they gazed at each other as a vivid understanding ignited between them. Lurching forward, a great sob burst for the old woman's throat as she clung to her long lost daughter with all her life.
'T-thank you…' She whimpered, burying her face into the soft, teal locks. 'Thank you, Akira.'
*************** Later that day ***************
The lazy afternoon sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon and Akira sighed as she reminisced in her old thinking spot. Located at the summit of the waterfall, the overhanging willow trees swayed softly in the gentle breeze like a leafy sunscreen, protecting its core from prying eyes. She leaned her head back against the withered trunk and closed her eyes, worn out from the day.
After Alyssa's memory had been restored, the trio had then proceeded to examine every photo album the couple had collected over their lifetime and they filled her in on everything she'd missed since she'd left. It was strange to think so much had happened and yet, the village looked no different to the very first time she saw it.
A voice near the head of the waterfall drew her out of her thoughts. 'Akira? You up here, yeah?'
'I'm under the willow,' she called to him, and a familiar blonde-framed face poked through the caressing arms of the willow tree. Deidara brushed them out of his hair as he moved to sit next to her, leaning against the bark.
'The old man said you'd be up here, yeah,'
She smiled as a rush of fondness for the old couple washed over her. 'I've missed this place. I used to do all my thinking up here,' She paused and tilted her head towards him. 'Was there something you wanted?'
An odd expression tainted his features that Akira couldn't quite read, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. 'I just wanted to let you know that the week Pein gave us is almost over, yeah. We should be making a move by tomorrow morning at the latest.'
A sad smile crossed her face. 'I guess we should be…'
They sat in silence for a few long minutes, both deep in thought, until finally Akira spoke again. 'Was there anything else?'
'Hmm?'
'That you wanted to speak about? You came all the way up the waterfall just to tell me we're leaving tomorrow?' She scowled internally at her sarcasm, which she hadn't meant to use.
He looked slightly offended but didn't comment on her harsh tone. 'No that was all, yeah. Guess I'll leave you to your thinking then.' He stood up to leave but he stopped as he reached the curtain of leaves.
Akira watched him curiously as he hovered there. His face was twisted into an almost angry expression and finally he sighed and turned back to her. 'How's your shoulder today, yeah?'
'It still aches, but it's getting better,' She got the feeling that wasn't what he had wanted to say. 'Erm, Deidara?'
He hmm-ed again.
'T-thank you… You know, for saving me… A-and I'm sorry that I wasn't much use back there…' She looked down awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck. When she looked back up, he was staring at her incredulously, as if he'd never been thanked before.
Unsure of how to respond, he did so in the only way he knew how. 'Yeah, yeah. Just don't slow us down on the way back, yeah? Cause it'll be my neck on the line if we're late!'
She chuckled, relieved at his sudden light-hearted tone. 'I'll do my best!'
He quickly retreated back down the uneven gravel path that led up the side of the rock wall, skidding slightly as the stones dislodged beneath his feet. What the hell was that all about? I sounded like such an idiot… He cursed himself in frustration. He wasn't even sure himself of what he had wanted to say or even why he'd sought her out. How's your bloody shoulder? What a stupid question. He tutted and hopped off the rocks towards the village, shaking his head.
*************** The next morning ***************
Goodbyes were never easy, but Tenma and Alyssa's inconsolable expressions almost broke Akira's heart as she walked away. Unable to shake her guilty feeling of abandoning her loving adoptive parents for the second time, she clutched her hands against her chest and tried to hide her silent tears beneath her teal fringe.
Deidara and Tobi had already started bickering about the fastest way to get home and she did her best to distract herself with their rambling voices.
'Fine! You can walk if you insist but don't come crying to me when Pein rings your neck for being so late, Tobi!' A giant clay owl appeared in a thick poof of smoke and the blonde leapt onto it's back. Within seconds, it had taken to the sky and was disappearing into the distance.
Akira blinked. 'Tobi? What just happened?'
The teenager turned to her and laughed nervously. 'Erm… Well we may have just lost our ride home…'
In all honesty, she didn't mind walking back, and the thought of being up on one of Deidara's flying clay constructs again made her feel a little light-headed. 'Well I guess we better pick up the pace! We don't want his head to get any bigger, do we?' She winked and Tobi jumped forward into a jog giddily. She followed and hurried to match his energetic pace.
The journey was, thankfully, straightforward and bandit-free. Akira had soon forgotten her sorrows as Tobi's happy-go-lucky attitude had her giggling all the way home. Home… She wondered absently when she had started to think of the Akatsuki base as her home. As they neared the entrance, the pair began to search the muted evening sky for a large white bird. When they both drew a blank at the doorway, they collapsed back-to-back, worn out and panting.
'What dya think then?' Akira managed between breaths. 'You reckon we beat him?'
'Probably not…' Tobi chuckled. 'But we gave him a good run for his money, didn't we?'
'That's a bad pun, Tobi!' She still laughed though.
'So, you made it just on time…' Pein surprised the duo from the doorway. 'I trust your time-off was well used?' His eyes narrowed as his gaze fixed onto Akira's bandaged shoulder.
Still leaning against Tobi's back, she grinned at their leader. 'Yes it really was! Thanks so much for letting me go at such short notice!'
Slightly taken aback by her openness and sincerity, Pein grunted and turned on his heel, stalking back into the hideout.
'I think leader-sama likes you, Akira-chan!'
'I just don't think he can be bothered to argue if he can help it,' She smiled, leaning her head back against Tobi's shoulder blades. She felt him relax behind her and, yawning, she closed her eyes. They stayed like that until nightfall, both content in each other's company as they unwound from their day's journey.
A/N: So what did you think of that one? :) Hope I'm doing okay so far x
