Hi! I updated faster this time! x3
It's a short(er) chapter, unfortunately. I haven't had much time to write, because I've had to work (On roads…) and had friends over, so I don't think the chapters are going to be as long as the last one (Or they'll take a while to get up if so).
Uhm, this one is two days after from that last scene. The end is after Sasori and Deidara's session after school.
Previous:
Sasori reached up and drew the drapes before snuggling back into his bed. But instead of falling asleep, he lay there with his eyes open, staring at the eagle. Everything was all screwed up. It was going to be hell to get it all back to normal again, if that was even possible.
"I'll find out some way to straighten this all out in school," he murmured, his eyes half-lidded. "I'll make up for what I did to you yesterday…Deidara…"
Pain had called another meeting the day after to announce that Konan had defeated Kidomaru, and that the only one left was Kimimaro. The next three after Kimimaro was defeated were Tayuya, Sakon and Ukon, and Sasuke. Deidara had looked away when Kimimaro's name was mentioned, and Itachi stiffened a little when Sasuke's was.
And again, because saying it the day before hadn't been enough, Deidara had asked Kisame if he was all right. Sasori had scoffed at this. The guy gets a few scratches and bruises and Deidara gets all worried. Konan had a huge bruise on her right cheek and the brat didn't even pay her any mind!
Deidara also hadn't been on the usual route to school, either. Heh, if Sasori didn't know better, he'd say Deidara had walked to school with Kisame.
Who Deidara was talking to – again – at the moment.
"Kisame…no danna…"
Kisame looked intrigued at his nickname. "Danna? Why are you suddenly calling me that, Deidara?"
Sasori watched through the corners of his eyes, feeling his fists form and tighten. What?
"I don't know…I like the sound of it." The blond blinked. "C-Can I call you it?"
"Sure."
Deidara smiled. "Thanks, Kisame no sanna!"
There was that smile again. The one that Deidara only gave to special people. Sasori felt a scowl darken up his face. What was so special about Kisame?
"Hey, so it's really alright to call you danna?"
"Yes."
Sharp nails dug mercilessly into Sasori's palm, finally breaking the skin and allowing blood to run freely from the open gashes.
"Un…do you think Orochimaru will ever just accept defeat?"
"Probably not. He's had a grudge against Sasori-san for some time now, I don't think he's going to…" Kisame trailed off. "…Anyways…he's very stubborn and set on his goals. I don't think he'd just accept defeat."
Oh, so he closes up now at just the mention of my name? That's it. Sasori stood up and whirled around.
"Sasori–!" Itachi turned at the sight of the redhead storming off.
"Don't follow me, Itachi!" Sasori halted, narrowing his eyes, "I…I just need some time…"
The sentence was left unfinished as Sasori continued out of the cafeteria, though his stride was calmer than it had been just a few moments previous.
Deidara bit his lower lip, tightening a fist. He didn't watch as Sasori exited. He wouldn't forgive me anyways…
"…Is he going to be okay?" Konan asked in concern.
"He has his outbursts once in a while…" Pain answered, reading his book. "He might be like this for a bit, but once the phase is over he'll return to normal…I believe…"
"Pain, I'm worried…he seems very…confused."
"…Fine." Pain sighed, switching his gray gaze to the blond. "Deidara, go after him."
"…!" Deidara looked up in shock.
"Pain," Itachi started, glancing sharply at Deidara, "I should go after him. Sasori–"
"Itachi, we don't need you two getting all romantic. We need to make sure Sasori is all right. Deidara is going because he's the closest to Sasori besides you."
"Why not you?"
"You actually believe Sasori would listen to me when he's like this?"
Itachi ground his teeth together slightly and looked away, defeated. "…No…"
"Then it's settled. Deidara, go retrieve Sasori."
"Yes sir…" Deidara muttered, slowly standing up and moving to leave. Eyes directed at the floor, he saw a small red dot. He's…bleeding? Something within him started to hurt, but he shoved it aside and kept going at the same, almost slow pace.
From the corners of his eyes, Itachi watched Deidara leave. When the blue-eyed boy was out of sight, he whipped towards Kisame. "Kisame, don't get too comfortable with Deidara-kun."
Kisame's face stained over in confusion. "Why, Itachi-san?"
"…He's a bad influence," Itachi mumbled.
––––––»»
Grandma's going to annoy the hell out of me because of this… Sasori stared at his palm, watching the blood dribble down. He sighed, looking around for something to wipe the crimson liquid off with. Nothing. Well, there was the drinking fountain, but Tsunade would have his head if she found him washing his hands there. Guess he had to go to the bathroom and clean up. While tracking blood. Or he could just hold his hand to make the blood drip onto his other hand, but then he'd look like some wounded animal…maybe he could just shift his hand upright so the blood wouldn't…
"…" Hearing footsteps, Sasori ended his thoughts. Without looking at the newcomer, he stated out, "Itachi, I told you not to…" Finally turning around to face the other, Sasori's ash-rose eyes widened.
"Pain-san told me to come retrieve you and make sure you're alright," Deidara mumbled, not meeting Sasori's shocked gaze. He held out a few napkins and continued, "Here's something to clean your wound."
"Dei…" Sasori stared.
"…Are you going to take them?" Deidara's eyes met Sasori's.
"M-Mm…" Hesitantly, Sasori took the napkins and pressed them against his bleeding palm. "…Thank you…"
"Don't mention it," Deidara replied, swiveling back around. "Can you come with me? Pain-san wants you back."
"…I don't want to."
"Why?"
"…Just because."
"Pain-san wants you back! He'll be pissed at me if I don't return with you!"
When no response was heard, Deidara ground his teeth together and lightly snarled, "Fine then. I'll tell Pain-san that I couldn't because you were being the stubborn asshole you are."
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Acting like what?"
"Like…" Sasori didn't know how to word his sentence. "Like…not Deidara…"
"Why…do you care?"
Had that been a serious question? Sasori didn't know. Was Deidara asking if he cared or why he cared? He faced away from the other. "…Because…"
"…Because why?"
Deidara was facing him now, ice eyes searching for an answer. So he was asking why Sasori cared after all… "…You're my friend, and…"
"And?"
Sasori felt his face heat up. "I…just…"
"…" Deidara flushed slightly as well and looked over to the side for a few moments. "U…Un…"
"Deidara, don't–" Sasori attempted to halt the blue-eyed boy, but Deidara was already walking away. Cursing quietly under his breath, Sasori followed, dropping the napkins and managing to get next to Deidara's right side before he sped up his pace.
"Deidara! You brat, I…I have something…I want to say…tell to you…" He trailed off towards the end, seeing Deidara stop and turn around once again.
"What?" Deidara asked, seeming genuinely interested.
"I-I'm…I…" Sasori took a moment to scold himself for not being prepared to apologize. "About before…after school…I…" What could he say? 'I'm sorry?' Psh, yeah, that would work. Chew Deidara out and start spewing crap at him and a simple 'I'm sorry' will make it all better. Heh, not.
"Un…?"
Just apologize and see how it goes from there…that's all I have to do… "Deidara, I…I'm–"
"Senpai? Deidara-senpai?"
Deidara spun around, his lips twisting downward into a frown. "What is it? I'm busy right now."
"I just wanted to say hi!" Tobi grinned, giving Deidara a hug – and causing Sasori to bristle viciously – before backing away.
A sigh made its way from Deidara's lips. "Tobi, I don't have time for your stupid games. Go find Zetsu and bother him, un."
"Pain-san told me not to visit Zetsu-san during lunch."
"Then just visit someone else."
"But I just have one question for you, Deidara-senpai!"
"…Fine."
Tobi grabbed at one of Deidara's hands with both of his, grinning widely and staring straight into blue eyes. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime this week! I've come to like you very much, and–!"
"No way in hell is Deidara going to go out with you," Sasori snarled, storming over and yanking Deidara's hand out of Tobi's. "So go run off now, you little runt."
"Sasori–!" Deidara tried to get his wrist out of Sasori's grasp, his cheeks slightly scarlet.
"Come on, brat, we're getting out of here," Sasori growled, pulling Deidara behind him.
"But–!" Tobi called after the two.
"Shut it, stupid!" the redhead hissed, looking back. "He better not follow us."
"Sasori-san!" Deidara snapped, succeeding in freeing himself from the other's grip and causing the both of them to stop. He turned his head to see Tobi sigh and walk the opposite direction. "I'm sure that's not what he meant!"
"What the hell else could 'I was wondering if you wanted to go out' mean?!"
"Just like, you know, hanging out and all!"
"I don't care. I'm not taking that chance."
Choosing to ignore what that sentence could have implied, Deidara retorted, "Look, I don't need you breathing down my neck if someone asks me out! I'm perfectly capable of choosing–"
"So you're going to go out with that idiot?"
"No, of course not! I'm just saying that I don't think it's fair–"
"Who cares if it's fair? Nothing's ever fair!"
"Stop being such a jackass!"
"Fine then…" Ash-rose eyes sparked and Sasori took Deidara's wrist back in his hand and started off once more.
"Wait–!"
Sasori continued, disregarding Deidara's protest, striding hastily. Soon, he arrived at his locker, and, still keeping his iron-like grip on Deidara's wrist, Sasori worked on completing the combination to make the metal door open.
"Sasori-san, you've been acting strange ever since–!"
"Here!"
Deidara's sentence was cut short as the golden eagle statue was shoved to his face, his eyes widening.
"Take back your stupid, handmade eagle!" Pants flew from Sasori's mouth as he finally let the wrist go. "Take it back…!"
"Sasori…san…" When Deidara made no move to retrieve the item, Sasori promptly dropped it into his hands. He lifted his head from looking at the sculpture, staring with wide eyes at Sasori. "You…knew I…?"
"Of course I did, idiot!" Sasori spat. "I was right there when you blurted it out!"
There was no response. Deidara merely bit his bottom lip and averted Sasori's gaze, clenching his fingers a bit tighter around the eagle.
Moments went by, with just silence. And then, Sasori spoke, softly, almost tenderly.
"Deidara…I'm sorry…"
"…" Deidara met Sasori's eyes.
"I'm bad…horrible with people…the only one…the only one I feel completely safe and comfortable with…is Itachi…" he admitted, taking a step forward. "Itachi is the only one…I can talk to without…"
"I don't blame you…" Deidara mumbled. When Sasori stepped towards him further, he embraced him, with a pause, and dropped to his knees.
"I'm horrible with people," Sasori repeated, clutching onto Deidara's shirt. "When you came, and I…I could talk with you just like I could with Itachi, I didn't know what to do…I'm so confused, I don't know what to do, and when you…act like Itachi, I get even more confused…"
Sasori…was Sasori opening up to him? Opening up even more? Then why did it seem so…empty? When Kimimaro opened up to him, even though not a lot, he felt emotion and…something there. But Sasori…it was like nothing…
"I'm not used to communicating well with others…I'm sorry for yelling at you and everything…"
"…I…it's okay…"
Fragile. That's how Deidara would describe Sasori. He put up an amazing defensive barrier, but still, it always felt that with the right aim and right weapon, Sasori would just break down and shatter.
The target: his heart.
The weapon: his parents.
Everything had a weak spot. And Sasori's was his time alone, growing up without his parents. He was like a fire: as long as you kept tending to it and feeding it, it would grow to be great and powerful. But with nothing to support or take care of it, it would become sickly and small until it finally died out. And the one taking care of Sasori's fire right now…was Itachi.
"Keep the eagle." Deidara placed the ceramic raptor on the ground. "I gave it to you."
"But you made it…"
"It's yours now."
Pulled back, Sasori gazed at the blond for a few seconds before easing himself out of Deidara's hold, picking up the eagle and standing to slip it back into his locker.
"Sasori-san."
"Mm?"
"I…want to go and talk with Kimimaro some more…"
"…Really." Sasori closed his locker. "Have fun then."
"…Could you tell Kisame no danna that I'll have to finish the conversation with him…later…?" Deidara froze, seeing a hostile light fade into view in those silver irises.
"Kisame?" Sasori's voice was like the hiss of fire being suffocated by water.
"U-Un…"
"Tch." The ash-rose-eyed boy's lip curled a little, and he quickly swept past the other.
"Sasori-san!" Deidara spun around, but Sasori was stalking down the hall already, and it didn't look like he was going to come back, stop, or even listen.
What just happened? Deidara stared at Sasori's shrinking form, a feeling of guilt settling in his gut.
––––––»
"Ino!" Deidara called, running over to the girl as he saw her sitting on a small grassy hill. "You're staying after today, un?"
"Yeah," she replied as Deidara sat down next to her, a breeze playing with her hair. "I've…got to help someone."
"Oh?" Deidara blinked as she blushed slightly and her fingers twitched a little amongst the grass. "Well…there's…something I need to ask you. If you don't mind."
"More on love?" Ino asked, cocking her head. "…Is there someone else you're going after, or…?"
"No, but…" Deidara inhaled, receiving a puzzled look. "…You said that you have to love someone for who they are, what they are; not who or what they aren't, right?"
"That's right."
"…What if…" The blond's voice quieted down. "…What if the person you're in love with…is just the shell?"
"…!" Ino's eyes widened.
"How can you love someone for what they are…when they aren't anything?"
Ino was silent for a while, redirecting her gaze to the ground. If someone wasn't…anything? Just a shell…?
"…D…Deidara-san…" she managed out. "…Everyone is someone. There can't be someone who is…nothing."
"But…"
"A shell…if they're just a shell…then you have to restore them to what they are. If someone feels like they're just…unneeded, then you just have to make them feel needed."
"…It's not that…"
"Then…if there's something that happened, and they're stuck in the past…then bring them to the present. You can't advance to the future if you're stuck in the past…Deidara-san." Ino turned to the newest student. "A nightmare doesn't go away unless you wake up."
"…How do I make him wake up, un?"
"…" Ino returned her line of vision to the grass. "…You have to stop the nightmare from being a nightmare."
Deidara kept his mouth closed, thinking. What could he do to make Sasori feel better? What could he do to make the nightmare go away…?
"Hey, New Guy!"
He froze, feeling a sharp wave of dread crash over him. Turning, he saw Suigetsu standing next to him, lips crafted into a toothy grin.
"I heard some interesting news," Suigetsu smirked, his voice slicked with honey.
"…What," Deidara asked warily, feeling Ino tense up, "could it possibly be, un?"
"That you're friends with Jyuugo."
––––––»»
"Itachi…stay over tonight…"
"I thought you'd ask this," Itachi replied, lowering his head and brushing his lips against Sasori's. "…I already told my parents I am."
Sasori closed the gap, pressing his lips to Itachi's and wrapping his arms around the Uchiha's neck, pulling him down.
After a bit, Itachi leaned back and asked softly, "Am I sleeping in the guest bedroom?"
"No," Sasori shook his head. "You're sleeping here, with me…"
"Won't your grandmother get angry?"
"You know how she is to you, Itachi…"
"You're alright with me staying so close for so long?"
"Mm…of course…"
As Itachi kissed him and stroked his hair in a way that made Sasori shiver, Sasori knew Deidara was wrong. Pressing their mouths together? This definitely wasn't just that: especially since Itachi's tongue just found its way into Sasori's mouth. And the half-assed hugs–
"Ah…!" Sasori breathed out as Itachi's fingers pulled a little on his hair.
Feeling the fingers buried in his dark shirt grip harder, Itachi repeated the action, coaxing out a similar response. He brushed red bangs away from covering Sasori's forehead and pressed his lips to it, hearing Sasori give a small gasp as Itachi's fingers ghosted over his neck and collarbone.
And then the dark-haired boy moved down to the junction of the neck and shoulder.
"…!" Sasori closed his eyes as he felt the other's lips graze that spot.
"…Are you feeling better?" Itachi asked as he lightly nipped at the skin.
"Y…Yes…"
"Alright." Itachi moved back up and pressed his lips to one of Sasori's flushed cheeks before lying down next to the redhead.
"Itachi, I…"
"You don't sound better…" Itachi frowned, pulling Sasori closer.
"I'm fine, Itachi," Sasori replied.
"Are you remembering the past again?"
"No…"
Itachi held the other more firmly. "Then what…?"
"Nothing…"
"Tell me…"
"It's nothing…"
"Sasori…" Itachi kissed him deeply, lacing his fingers into Sasori's hair. "Tell me what's wrong…"
I can't betray Deidara… Sasori pulled back. "Nothing…"
"I'm trying to help you…"
"I know, but…nothing's wrong…"
"…If you insist."
"…" Sasori opened his mouth to talk, but closed it ultimately. He pressed closer to Itachi, a feeling of comfort washing over him.
"…Hey…"
"…?" Itachi watched as Sasori looked up at him.
"Do you think you could…go after someone else, besides Kimimaro?"
"What?" Itachi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I just don't see why we should take him out first…"
"He's one of their strongest members."
"So is Tayuya…could you go after her instead?"
"Tayuya is Hidan's…"
"Hidan could go after Karin…"
"…Then when would we take Kimimaro out?"
"…Towards the end…with Kabuto and Orochimaru…"
The Uchiha shifted slightly, nuzzling his nose into red hair. "…I'll talk to Pain about it."
A quiet purr rumbled from Sasori's throat. "Thanks, Itachi."
"Sasori, Itachi!"
Both boys looked towards the doorway, seeing Chiyo standing there.
"…Are you two going to go to sleep now?"
"No, Grandma," Sasori answered, "We were just going to get up."
"Oh, I see." Chiyo looked over at Itachi as the teens sat up. "I take it Itachi is staying over?"
Itachi nodded. "I hope I'm not imposing on you."
"No, of course not." Chiyo laughed. "You're always welcome here, Itachi."
Yes Itachi and Sasuke still have their parents.
And Chiyo likes Itachi. A lot. If Itachi came at, like, midnight, Chiyo would still let him in…
〜Arrina