Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto Shippuuden or any characters in it.

Italics are thoughts or flashbacks.

A/n: Thanks to Kyra213 for beta-ing the fic!

Chapter 7

Sasori woke up feeling sleepy from the lack of sleep the night before. His head felt dizzy as he yawned. He reached out to turn off his alarm automatically, and groggily sat up.

"Morning, Danna, un…" A voice spoke, which made Sasori turned immediately.

There, a blond lay in his bed, staring up at him. "Deidara?" Sasori was shocked. When did he get here? Questions filled up Sasori's mind. Oh right…his bike broke down and Sasori had offered for him to stay the night. But then, what was the blond doing in HIS bed?! Sasori thought he had told Deidara to sleep on the couch?

"Un…you were having nightmares." Deidara replied, as if he could read Sasori's mind. "So um…" He smiled like he usually did.

"Get off my bed." Sasori said coldly.

Deidara laughed, "Gosh, you needn't be so uptight about everything, you know, un?" He flung his hands in mid-air, "It's not like I did anything to you…"

Sasori blushed. Faking a cough, he got out of bed and entered the bathroom. Deidara merely stared at the redhead, his usual Cheshire-cat grin plastered on his face. He really looks cute when he's embarrassed, thought the blond magician as he, too, got out of bed, sliding on the T-shirt he had left on the couch.

Turning on the cold shower, Sasori let the water wash away his sleepiness. The image of the blond laying half-naked next to the redhead intruded Sasori's mind. He shook his head to clear out the image. Gosh…how could he think of the blond that way? It was really embarrassing. He felt his face burning despite the cold water splashing on it.

Sasori began to ponder if it was okay for him to go on with the relationship or if he should just stop seeing the blond. The magician seemed to knock off his sense of reasoning and make him act unlike his old self. But it would be unbearable for Sasori to stop seeing the blond.

'Why not give ourselves a chance?' Deidara's words seemed to echo in Sasori's mind. He bit his lips. Well, the redhead did give them both a chance but what did it get him in the end? He seemed to change totally, acting like some love-sick fool without any rationality.

First of all, Sasori Akasuna WOULD NOT go out on a date coughs make that TWO dates with someone he just met for reasons unrelated to business. Secondly, Sasori Akasuna would never run into the crowds, hoping to see that someone and definitely not stare at said someone thinking he was beautiful. Thirdly, Sasori Akasuna would not wait at the hospital with the same someone and offering comfort to aforesaid someone whenever said person needed it. It had always been Sasori's way to mind his own business.

Sasori thought that it was an unhealthy change for him.

Well, it is natural to feel that way when you are in love, said inner-Sasori. And you seem to be happier than you were before he showed up. Sasori could not deny that. He was at ease whenever the blond magician was around.

"Another chance…" Sasori muttered to himself. Then maybe he would quit if he were to lose himself again…

Reaching out, the redhead turned off the tap. Wrapping a towel around himself, Sasori then stepped out of the bathroom. Deidara sat on the couch, magazine in hand. The blond looked up and smiled at him the moment he walked out of the bathroom.

"Mm…you look sexy, un."

Sasori glared at the comment as he hurried to the closet to get himself something to wear. It was a Saturday, and therefore he did not need to dress up in anything formal because he did not have to go to work. What a strange country Iwa was, to ban anyone from working on weekends, except for the restaurants, the malls, and the likes.

A plain T-shirt perhaps…thought the redhead as he took out the piece of clothing that he wanted to wear. He could hear the door closed behind him and he knew that the blond magician was using the bathroom.

A certain Uchiha laid his back on the seat of the airplane. He turned his head slightly so that he faced a younger Uchiha next to him. Said younger Uchiha seemed to be asleep. Smiling, he ran his fingers through his brother's hair. The younger didn't seem to notice as he continued his slumber.

The older Uchiha known as Itachi sighed to himself. Well, who could blame him? His one-week vacation was already over and now he was heading towards Iwa to assist his boss in his job. Oh well, at least Sasuke would be with him during his stay in Iwa. Just imagining the nights he would spend with his younger brother made him smirked unconsciously.

'You are such a pervert, Itachi.' He mentally scolded himself. Who could blame him? Sasuke seemed so…so…desirable. Itachi had noticed his attraction towards his younger brother when they were younger. Still, he hid it from everyone, including Sasuke. Itachi seemed to be a natural for hiding things, keeping his emotions locked inside, no one seemed to be able to read him.

FLASHBACKS…

Itachi was 14 and Sasuke was 7 when their parents divorced. The two siblings were forced to be separated from each other. Their father – Fugaku – had remarried and moved to Suna along with Itachi while their mother – Mikoto – remained in Konoha along with Sasuke.

The siblings could only see each other during the summer and it was not pleasant for the younger Uchiha who was very attached towards the older one. In a few months time, the phone bills sky-rocketed and Mikoto had no choice but to cut off the phone line. Sasuke had thrown a tantrum but still could do nothing about it, only wait till summer came.

The two brothers spent every summer together until their father died of liver cancer. At that time, Itachi was already 23 and Sasuke was 16. After the funeral, Mikoto offered for him to move back to Konoha with them, but Itachi had declined the offer, because he had already secured a job in Suna. Sasuke resented Itachi for that, thinking that Itachi did not want to be with him.

The brothers did not spend their summers together after that and Sasuke refused to speak to Itachi for two years. Being the prideful person he was, he had never forgiven his elder brother. Sasuke only spoke to Itachi because he was to live with his elder brother while he studied at one of the colleges in Suna. It was not his idea to study in Suna, but their mother's.

Sasuke grudgingly packed up and left for Suna. Being the prick he was, Sasuke did not say anything more to Itachi when they were living together. Itachi too did not do anything special to ease Sasuke's anger problems and he treated Sasuke as usual. He did not even ask the younger sibling why he wouldn't talk to him, continuing to act coldly as usual which annoyed Sasuke to no end. Just to spite his brother, Sasuke started dating girls and even brought them home. Yet, Itachi still said nothing.

This went on for three years until a certain pink-haired lady by the name of Haruno Sakura came into the picture. When Sasuke told Itachi he was going to marry Sakura, the impassive mask Itachi had worn all along crumbled. His eyes turned wide and he stared at Sasuke, not knowing what to say to him. Sasuke, of course, noticed the changes in his elder brother's expression and smirked.

Oh, he was so going to toy with Itachi. "So, what do you think?" asked Sasuke as he chewed his dango. The next thing Sasuke knew was that the dango stick had been snatched away from him and Itachi's lips were pressing against his. It was not something he thought Itachi would do, but the younger Uchiha liked it. He, too, was secretly in love with his elder brother but he had not dared to admit it in front of Itachi. He had his pride.

Itachi then pulled away from Sasuke, saying something like, 'If you really love her, I won't object to it.' Then he turned and was about to leave the room when Sasuke threw the plate that held the dango at him.

It hit Itachi right in his face. Thank goodness the plate was made of plastic and not glass or else it might have hurt Itachi badly. But that might be the reason for Sasuke throwing it at his elder brother. He knew it wouldn't injure his brother in any way.

Itachi stood there dumbfounded. He noticed that his little brother was fuming from the way he glared at him, his breathing uneven. The younger of the two then stood up and walked towards the elder one. He passed by him and was about to leave when Itachi suddenly grabbed him by the wrist.

"Where do you think you are going, Sasuke?" Itachi's voice came out monotone. His grasp on Sasuke's wrist tightened suddenly as he pulled the younger one towards him. "It is rude to throw things at your brother like that." He met his younger brother's eyes.

Sasuke gulped. He would not show his fear in front of his brother. "Ah, what are you going to do about it then?"

The grip on Sasuke's wrist loosened. Itachi then whispered in Sasuke's ears. "I want you to clean me."

Sasuke blushed. Was his brother trying to seduce him? It seemed like it. Oh God, he certainly did not expect this. This was just so unreal to him. Sasuke let his eyes fall onto his elder brother's facial expression. Itachi's mouth had curved into a smile…no, more like a smirk.

The event that happened after that is strictly M-rated which is unsuitable for this PG-13 fanfic. (The actual fact is the incapability of the author to write *coughs*)

END OF FLASHBACKS…

Itachi sighed softly; he couldn't believe he had actually done that. Still, he never regretted having to claim Sasuke as his own. He bent over Sasuke's sleeping figure slightly and planted a kiss on his forehead. He stared at the sleeping figure. Did Sasuke know how much he meant to him?

"Grandma Chiyo! For the hundredth time, I said there's no one in there!" A panic-stricken Sasori said as he pulled his grandmother away from the door of the bathroom.

It was inconvenient that Sasori's grandmother had chosen now of all times to barge into Sasori's suite. The old woman was suspicious to find the bathroom door locked and hear water running from inside.

"Then why is the door locked, my dear grandson?" questioned the old woman. "Don't think I've gone senile, Sasori." She raised a brow, "You've brought a woman here, didn't you?"

Sasori fidgeted, "No…" It would be simple if he had just brought a woman back but no! It had to be that blond magician who was a MAN! And they didn't even do anything together. Not that Sasori wanted to do anything with him. He swore he had not thought anything perverted about the blond. 'Yea right…' Inner-Sasori said sarcastically.

Sasori had no time to argue with his inner self. He was more concerned with the situation at hand. If his grandmother saw Deidara, Sasori knew she was either going to faint from the shock or yelled at Sasori.

He was so not going to risk letting his grandmother find out that he was gay…which he denied a thousand times over! He was only attracted to ONE guy, so that did not mean he was gay. Right…?

"Now, now Sasori, don't lie to your grandmother." said Chiyo. "It's perfectly normal for a man to bring a woman to his room." She chuckled. "Tell me Sasori, is she a beauty?"

Hearing the sound of the water tap being turned off, Sasori began to panic, not even hearing his grandmother's question. Oh no! He's going to be out in a couple of minutes! The redhead paled at the thought of his grandmother seeing the blond magician. Various scenes began to pop out in Sasori's mind and one of them involving Chiyo killing Deidara with her purse. The most optimistic one was that Chiyo accepted Sasori's sexual orientation and all was well – still it didn't take a genius to figure out that it was IMPOSSIBLE for that to happen.

Sasori felt his heart stop when the doorknob turned and the door opened to reveal…no one there. No blond magician in sight. Sasori's eyes widened with surprise. What is going on?

Chiyo scratched her head. "Hmm? Weird, why isn't anyone in here?" She pushed the door wide open to fully reveal the bathroom. Aside from the sink, the bathtub, the toilet bowl and all the things that were usually found in hotel bathrooms, there was no one.

Sasori wanted to let out a sigh of relief but he was too surprised to do so. It did not make any sense to him. He had seen Deidara enter the bathroom minutes ago and the blond couldn't have disappeared out of thin air. It was not logical.

Just as Sasori was about to say something, the doorbell rang. Chiyo turned, "Oh! That must be Sakura." She then made her way to open the door for the pink haired lady who greeted the old woman with a warm smile.

"Morning Grandma Chiyo!" Then she waved at Sasori. "Good morning Sasori-kun!"

Sasori was not paying attention to the lady because his mind was still pondering about the incident. It makes no sense! It makes no sense! It makes no sense! Then suddenly a word popped into his mind. Magic…that would explain the whole thing. But being Sasori, he would not and could not accept that as an explanation. Yea, it must have been something else. He made a mental note to ask the blond magician about it afterwards.

"…I hope you don't mind." Chiyo ended her sentence.

Sasori who had finally snapped out of his trance blinked, "What?"

Chiyo shook her head. "Pay attention when I'm talking to you, Sasori," she scolded. "Anyway, I had invited Sakura to have breakfast with us. I hope you don't mind." She narrowed her eyes at the redhead, hinting something along the lines of 'you-better-be-nice-to-my-future-granddaughter-in-law'.

"Sure…" Sasori said in monotone, hints of sarcasm present in his voice. "I would be glad to have breakfast with Haruno-san."

Then the three left the room.

TBC…

A/n: I'm SO SORRY for the LATE update! T.T Busy with making AMVs and school. *sigh* Oh well…I hope you like the chapter so far. Please R&R btw.