I knooww, I promised an earlier update! I tried, though, really. ;;
Anyways, sharing an umbrella in Japan is considered romantic, so that's why Sasori's so reluctant.

Previous:

"…I…believe you…"

He had said it so quietly that Deidara had to take a moment to realize what Sasori had said. It seemed almost unreal, and Deidara breathed in Sasori's scent, murmuring, "Do you trust me?"

It took Sasori longer this time. Finally, after several moments, he opened his mouth, nails digging just a little deeper than before, and replied,

"I trust you."

And Deidara held him tighter than he ever had before.

It was raining. Deidara scowled as his mother practically shoved the umbrella into his hands, warning him that he would look unsightly if he walked into school wet, and maybe he could even find that "cute little redhead I saw waiting for you that one day" and share it with him, because of course, having someone waiting for you was a sign of attraction.

It was a good thing that his mother didn't know that the "cute little redhead" she was apparently pushing him towards was the one who beat him up in the beginning of the year. And that the "cute little redhead" was taken.

Deidara opened the umbrella as his mom closed the door behind him. As he walked out into the rain towards the path heading to the school, he sighed. Umbrellas weren't one of his favorite things; sure, they kept him from getting wet and all, but…holding one was the annoying part. His arm got tired after a while.

Share an umbrella…? he thought as the patter of the raindrops hitting said item sounded above him. With…Sasori-san? The mere thought of it made his cheeks darken to a light red. He couldn't…Itachi would be on him like glue.

But Itachi never walks down this path.

The thought crossed his mind. That was true…and it was also true that he couldn't just leave Sasori to walk in the rain if he was umbrella-less…

Speak of the devil, there he was.

He was leaning against the trunk of a tree, already soaked, trying to shelter himself from the rain. He was looking the opposite direction, not noticing the blond approaching him.

"…It's not going to stop, you know."

And he turned at last, silver eyes meeting with blue.

Somewhere deep in Deidara's heart, he was hoping that Sasori had been waiting for him.

"I know."

"Then why…?"

Sasori didn't answer, and Deidara shuffled a little.

"Walk with me, un."

"…!" Sasori's eyes widened at the request. He hesitated before replying, "Idiot. Someone could see."

"We could just…tell them you forgot yours and that I'm just helping you out."

"Tch, yeah right."

"Well I'm not just going to let you walk in the rain. My…conscious wouldn't allow it."

A small smile curved at Sasori's lips. "Conscience, brat."

"Wh…Whatever, they sound the same and you know I'm still bad at English…" Deidara turned away in embarrassment. Now that the feeling was back, could he really hold up his offer to share his umbrella?

"I can tell. You still have that ridiculous accent."

Deidara glowered at the comment. "You're not exactly perfect yourself, un!"

"More perfect than you." Sasori smirked, coaxing out another dirty look. "…Say 'star.'"

"…" Deidara hesitated. "…S…Staa…" His face reddened further as Sasori snorted in amusement. "Just get the hell under here already!"

And before Sasori could react or protest, Deidara had marched over and dragged him under shelter of the umbrella.

"Oi, Deidara!" he snapped, though making no move to escape as he was led back onto the path.

"Just calm down. It'll be fine."

"'Fine?'" Sasori repeated angrily, before spitting out a 'tch!' and turning away, face red. "Like hell…"

"How's your shoulder?"

"…It's alright."

"That's good."

Sasori shivered slightly. "Yeah…"

"…Are you cold? Do you need–?"

"No, I'm fine. Just…keep your jacket to yourself this time."

"If you say so…" Gripping the umbrella's handle just a little tighter, Deidara glanced over at the other. "…I…like your name…Sasori-san."

With confusion shrouding his face, Sasori looked over, blinking.

"Er…'sasori,' un. I think it's…artistic, and suits you pretty well. Has…anyone told you?"

"…No." Sasori looked away. "People made fun of it back when I was younger."

Deidara faltered, gazing at Sasori in sympathy. "Well…I think it's unique. I like it."

A faint flush heated up Sasori's cheeks. "Thanks…Deidara."

"Un." Deidara smiled. "…Hey…so–" He abruptly cut off and froze as he felt Sasori's hand through his hair. Blond strands floated softly down, and Deidara could only stare are Sasori lowered his arm with the hair tie in his grasp.

A group of girls, each under their own umbrellas, giggled at the two before Sasori snarled at them, to which they scurried away quickly, still laughing.

He turned back, slightly flushed more, with the band around his right wrist. "…So I know you'll never break your promise."

"Wh…What…?" Deidara glanced at the hair tie before returning his gaze to Sasori.

"You're doing this of your own will, not because Pain asked you to." Sasori broke the eye contact. "…And so…if I…if I'm going to trust you…"

"…I…understand, un…" Deidara forced a grin. "I'm just happy I've earned your trust."

Sasori scowled. "Don't say it like that, idiot!"

"Like what?"

"Like…" Sasori's voice lowered to a mumble. "Like it's so important…"

"It is."

"–!" The blush deepened. "Just…just keep walking, brat."

Deidara nodded and continued on. Silence enveloped the two of them for several minutes, and then Deidara saw it. That white umbrella to the right of them, hiding someone not usually walking the route. He knew Sasori saw her too, because he tensed, his hand unconsciously moving towards Deidara's.

"…What's…she…?!"

"I don't know." Deidara moved his hand slightly so Sasori would grab his wrist. "Just calm down, un."

And then she looked their way, noticing Deidara and offering an apologetic smile before opening her mouth to call out to him. But then she saw who he was walking with – who he was sharing an umbrella with – and she quickly looked away, the hope gone from her expression, her pace quicker than before.

The grip on Deidara's wrist tightened, and once the white umbrella was far enough away, Sasori ground out, "…When I see her…all those memories come back to me…"

Deidara's eyes washed over in sympathy. "Sasori-san, that was in the past…you needn't–"

"You think I can help it?!"

Suddenly Sasori halted, letting go, and Deidara looked back at him.

"I hate her…I'll never forgive her…"

"…You don't have to."

As Deidara approached him, Sasori looked up, an almost painful haze fogging up his eyes. He reached out, wrapping his arms around Deidara's torso and pulling him closer, into a soft embrace.

"Please…I need y…I need this right now…" he whispered against Deidara's neck when he heard the other let out a quiet noise of surprise.

Without saying anything, the blond raised his own arms, embracing Sasori in return, one arm around Sasori's waist and the other across his back.

Pain and Konan watched in silence from afar.

}}––––––»

"I refuse!"

Pain sighed and rubbed his temples. "Sasori, can you be cooperative for once?"

"Cooperative with that?" Sasori snorted in disbelief, glancing at Hidan. "Not gonna happen, God."

Deidara edged slightly away from Kakuzu.

"…Anyways," Pain continued, ignoring Sasori's furious eyes. "Knowing we have at least one pair that'll work fine…" He glanced at Itachi and Kisame, then Kakuzu and Deidara, "…Maybe two, but that's not the point. The point is…since you'll be working in pair, you'll need to understand your partner–" Sasori snorted. "–And so, today you'll just walk around and attempt to get along. If Orochimaru's group appears…well, that'll be a good chance to work on your teamwork."

"…" Sasori could barely contain his disdain. "You come up with the most ridiculous ideas, you know that?" He flipped around and began striding off.

"Ah, Sasori-san!" Deidara ran after him.

"Sasori, don't go. If you go Deidara'll go and then everything will be pointless." Pain had the rising urge to hit something. Hard.

"Everything already is pointless." Sasori halted. "I am not working with Hidan.'

"Just try it."

"No."

"Sasori!"

Sasori grumbled something before grinding out a venom-filled, "…Fine."

"…?" Deidara cocked his head at Sasori's sudden, fight-less acceptance.

"But–"

Oh, there it was. Deidara shook the confusion off his face.

"Only if I can hit him at least three times."

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. "Yes, and I get to hit your blond three times."

"No way."

"It's only fair, Akasuna."

"You hit harder than I do," Sasori seethed.

"…You hit pretty hard, Sasori-san…" Deidara mumbled.

"Do you want to get hit?"

"Sasori, you will not hit Hidan."

"I highly doubt that."

"Sasori."

"…Fine. I'll try to hold back as much as I can, God."

Pain rolled his eyes and turned to Kakuzu. "Is that good enough for you? I don't think you'll be getting a better answer."

"Alright." Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll do the same."

"…" Sasori glared bitterly.

"Then everyone's dismissed."

"Tch." Sasori glanced at Deidara before stalking over to Hidan and growling, "Let's go, idiot."

Itachi and Kisame nodded at each other and started off.

"Blondie."

Deidara turned to Kakuzu, flinching ever so slightly.

"Let's go."

"…Un…" Deidara nodded.

As the three pairs set off, Konan turned to Pain. "I'm having second thoughts, Pain…"

"Konan, this worked perfectly. Sasori and Hidan need to learn to get along, and Deidara and Kakuzu need to learn to respect each other too."

"Then what about Itachi and Deidara-kun and Kakuzu and Sasori?"

"…Itachi and Deidara is pushing it."

"…Right…"

"Do you see now?"

"…I still don't like it. If they get attacked, Sasori and Deidara, and Kakuzu and Hidan would be the best, since they know the other's weaknesses and strengths. Mixing it up like that…"

"Konan." Pain stared at her straight on. "…If they get attacked, what do you think Deidara will do? He's a smart boy, he'll think that maybe Sasori is being attacked as well, and rush to find him."

Konan sighed.

"Am I right?"

"Yes…"

}}––––––»»

Sasori tried to tune out Hidan's worthless talk about sacrifices, and Jashin, and converting and whatnot. It was only when Hidan grabbed his shoulder and spun him around that he narrowed his eyes and resisted strangling the other boy.

"Hey! You listening to me, redhead?!"

"No, quite frankly, I'm not." Sasori glared and shrugged his shoulder from Hidan's grasp. "And I suggest you don't touch me again or I'll do something very unpleasant to you."

Hidan simply grinned and asked, "You're thinking 'bout Deidara-chan, aren't you?"

"No," Sasori retorted at once.

"C'mon, I know you like him."

"He's just a friend."

"I can keep a secret."

"He's just my best friend."

"Who you love."

"I don't." Sasori glowered darkly. "The only one I love is Itachi."

Hidan clucked his tongue. "Well, I'm sure Deidara-chan is really hurt by that…right, Deidara-chan?"

Something within Sasori twisted into a tight knot. He turned around with wide eyes. "Dei–"

There was no one there.

He turned on Hidan instantly, eyes filled with fury. "Hidan…!"

"You actually fell for it!" Hidan was overcome by laughter, holding his stomach. "And you said you don't love him!"

"Shut up…!" Sasori clenched a fist.

"Alright, hit me!" Hidan perked up immediately. "Then I can tell Kakuzu, and he can hit Deidara-chan!"

"…" Sasori felt his nails dig into his palm, and he uncurled his fist before he broke skin. He whirled around and began stalking off, ignoring Hidan's exclamation of,

"Hey, wait, redhead! We have to stick together!"

}}––––––»»

"…I am not your Akasuna, so don't expect me to act that way towards you. I won't hesitate to hit you if you anger me. I don't care if you're bleeding on the ground, if you're dragging me down, I'll leave you."

Deidara scowled. "I'm happy you're not Sasori-san. There's only one–"

"–Which is a good thing."

"…" Deidara glared.

"If you anger me, I will hit you. Hard."

"Yeah, you told me."

"Would you prefer for me to hit your face or somewhere else?"

"Wha–" Deidara felt anger bubbling within him. He narrowed his eyes and snarled, "I'm gonna kick your ass–!"

"Let's see you try."

Sasori's advice arose in Deidara's thoughts, and he smirked.

"I don't need to," he responded. "I bet I could take you anytime, un."

"Don't be cocky."

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.

"Besides, since Orochimaru isn't targeting you, it must mean you're no threat to him, right?"

"Don't be a smartass."

Anger sparked in Kakuzu's eyes. "You…"

"Don't underestimate me, un."

"Don't piss him off."

Kakuzu's fist barely missed Deidara's face, as the blond dodged just in time. As Deidara backed up to gain himself some distance, Kakuzu ground out,

"I'm not afraid of Akasuna. I know for a fact he's not as powerful as he's made out to be."

Blue eyes narrowed. "…What are you talking about?"

"It's just a lie made up by Pain and Itachi," Kakuzu lunged forward, catching Deidara off guard, "in hopes that it would keep Orochimaru away from him."

Deidara winced as he blocked one of Kakuzu's punches, feeling the sheer power of it. He laughed, and retorted, "Sasori-san is plenty strong."

"But he's nothing compared to Itachi or Pain." Kakuzu managed to get a solid hit on Deidara's cheek, sending the blue-eyed boy stumbling backwards.

"…Maybe not physically." Deidara brought his wrist across his cheek.

"…What are you going on about?" Kakuzu's gaze was sharp.

"Nothing you could ever understand." Deidara smirked. "Sure you aren't the powerhouse in this group?"

"I'm the one that intimidates my opponents," Kakuzu stated, like it should've been obvious.

"Really?" Deidara's smirk grew. "You're not doing that good a job then."

"Then I guess Akasuna knocked out the small amount of brain cells you had."

"–!" At once, Deidara became rigid.

"Look." Kakuzu relaxed, though his eyes stayed harsh and piercing. "I know Akasuna is your weakness, and you his. What I don't get," He took a step forward, "is why you don't give up on him or confront him, and why he doesn't dump Itachi and go with you or dump you and stay with Itachi."

"…" Deidara put on a wry grin. "I don't know what you're–"

"Don't play stupid." The look Kakuzu was giving Deidara made the blue-eyed boy wince a little, the grin slipping off his face instantly. "Everyone knows there's something going on between you two. It's not a secret."

"I never said–!"

"You act like it." Kakuzu strode up to Deidara and shoved him against the wall, leaning in so he was staring Deidara in the eye.

"Now tell me…" he breathed, danger soaking each syllable, "why you're going after Itachi's boyfriend."

Hesitation wavered in Deidara's eyes as he was faced with Kakuzu's demeaning gaze. His lips slowly curled back into a sneer, and he replied haughtily, "Now that's none of your business, is it, un?"

Kakuzu wasted no time in pulling Deidara back and slamming him back against the wall.

"There's a side to you that no one else knows about," he growled as Deidara hissed in pain. "The 'fair' crap you spew is just a guise, isn't it?"

"Depends." Deidara shrugged. "If I was fighting Orochimaru I wouldn't care if I was fair or not."

"–Because of Akasuna?"

"…"

"Why didn't you falter when I said–?"

"'Itachi's boyfriend?'" Deidara snorted, glowering. "Like I'm gonna show any weakness to you."

The look in the dark-haired boy's eyes warned Deidara that another blow was coming, and he braced himself, thinking of a way of escape, but a voice suddenly cut in:

"Alright, alright, that's enough!"

Both Deidara and Kakuzu turned to the sound at once, Deidara's face turning exasperated.

"What do you want, un?"

"Oh, c'mon, Deidara!" Suigetsu sighed, ruffling his own hair. "Sakon and Ukon were supposed to come, since, y'know, they're supposed to parry Kakuzu and all, but then we heard that Art Pair had been scrambled with Zombie Pair so I was all 'Hey! I have a fifty-fifty chance at getting Deidara, so–!'"

"Zombie Pair?" Deidara cut in.

"Hm?" Suigetsu blinked. "You didn't know? Kakuzu and Hidan are known as the 'Zombie Pair' of Akatsuki."

"Why?"

Suigetsu snorted in laughter at this. "Because no matter how much you hit them down, they just keep getting right back up." He smirked, revealing more of his fang. "…Just like a pair of zombies."

Deidara didn't look impressed. He forced his way out of Kakuzu's grasp, and glared at Suigetsu. "Why do you keep following me?"

"Well I have to do my job, y'know. It's either you or Akasuna, and I'd rather follow you around than him."

"I thought you said Orochimaru was gonna leave Sasori-san alone–!"

"He is."

"Then why do you need to follow us around?"

"Orochimaru does want you two together, y'know…"

"What?"

"…!" Suigetsu froze, his smirk faltering for a second. "Er, well…hey, we're ordered to go after Zombie Pair, anyways, and, uh, since you're with Kakuzu, doesn't that mean Akasuna is with Hidan…?"

"…" Deidara's eyes narrowed before widening in realization. "Tayuya…!" He ran off.

Kakuzu watched him go before returning his attention to Suigetsu. "…What do you mean, Orochimaru wants them together?"

"Uh…" Suigetsu smiled and replied, "I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play games with me."

"Honestly."

"You just said Orochimaru wants Sasori and Deidara together. Why?"

"…Should be pretty obvious…"

"If you won't tell me…" Kakuzu rolled his right sleeve back, "I'll beat it out of you."

}}––––––»»

"Don't listen to her, redhead! Geez!"

Sasori ignored him and backed up more, eyes wide.

"C'mon!"

"Oh just shut up!" Tayuya snarled. "Akasuna's not gonna listen to you! He's too much of a pansy!"

"Redhead, she just called you a pansy!"

"So what? He can't do anything! Just look at him, standing there with that dumb expression on his face, feeling sorry for himself!"

"Fuck you!" Hidan clenched a fist, looking around again to see if there were any teachers around. "I'm your target, got it?! So leave him out of it, or Deidara-chan will kick your ass!"

"Yeah, yeah, everyone knows how much blondie is head over heels for Akasuna," Tayuya snorted, rolling her eyes. "But I'm not afraid of him, or any of you Akatsuki bastards for that matter!"

"Because you're a fucking retard!"

"Look who's talking!"

The words Tayuya had uttered still reverberated within Sasori's head, taunting, jeering, deriding him for still missing his parents. He stepped backwards until he felt his back press up against the wall, giving him a small spark of reassurance. A hand went up and covered his face, and he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to breathe from there, rather than from his nose. His warm breath hit his palm repeatedly, his free arm snaking around his midriff as he attempted to calm himself down.

Don't listen to her anymore…don't let her get to you…

"Ha! Just look at him!" Tayuya sneered as her eyes landed on Sasori. "All curled up like that! What a coward!"

"He's like that," Hidan retorted, glaring darkly, "because you fucking hurt him emotionally! That's playing dirty!"

"Since when have you cared about that? Have blondie's fair rants finally gone to your head?"

"Hell no!" Hidan scoffed at this, disgust clouding his features. "But you're scarring him all for recognition as best? You could really fucking hurt him, and you're willing to go that far just for Goddamn status?!"

Sasori's eyes shot open at this. Hidan…

"Like I care!"

He closed them again, as if it would drown out the redheaded girl's voice. A pair of arms wrapped around him suddenly, and he opened his eyes again slowly as he was held firmly to someone else.

"…Deidara…" he murmured, almost instinctively, resting his chin on the other's shoulder. His arms relaxed from where they had been, moving to around the other's torso.

"Sasori-san," Deidara mumbled back, gently stroking the redhead's back. "I'm sorry, I came too late…"

"You bet you did…" Sasori muttered, receiving a chuckle in return. "…Deidara…"

"Yeah?"

"…Please…don't leave me…"

Deidara's eyes widened at this. He tried to pull back to look at Sasori's face, but Sasori's arms had a firm grip on him, stopping him from seeing it.

"Deidara, I'm…tired of being weak."

"Sasori-san, you're not–"

"I'm tired of that autophobic state, I'm tired of being like this, whenever someone mentions them, I…" Sasori hid his red cheeks by pressing his forehead to Deidara's shoulder. "…If this is all feeling does for me…"

"No, Sasori-san–!"

"Then I'm better off without it."

Upon hearing this, Deidara's teeth clenched, and he gripped Sasori's right shoulder, shoving him back against the wall rather harshly.

"…!" Sasori's eyes widened and he looked Deidara in the eye in surprise. "Deidara–"

Hidan looked over at Sasori's shocked voice, just in time to see Deidara's free hand clench into a fist and slam into Sasori's cheek. He stared dumbly, until Tayuya blurted out, "Holy shit!"

The exclamation broke both Hidan and Sasori out of their stupor, and Sasori turned his head back to look at Deidara as he uttered the blond's name once more.

"Don't say anything like that again, un."

Sasori only watched as Deidara walked away, towards Hidan.

"But anyways," Deidara continued more haughtily, smirking as he halted next to the silver-haired boy, "why aren't you hitting her, Hidan? Can't beat her?"

"Wha…" Hidan just blinked, looking at Sasori before back at Deidara. "Dude, Deidara-chan, you just hit redhead!"

"…I don't like him talking like that." Deidara faltered for a moment, before he smirked again. "So? Is that it? She's too good for you, un?"

"Hell no!" Hidan scowled. "Just…I don't know if there's some damn teacher around, and I've already got detention with you art losers and Uchiha, and the more shit I get into here, the less I get to do for Jashin-sama! So I can't afford to get anything else from that damn principal, seriously!"

"Is that so."

"Yes it's so!"

Deidara stared at him with an unimpressed expression.

"What?!"

"…Oi." He returned his attention to Tayuya, ignoring Hidan. "I thought Orochimaru was gonna leave Sasori-san alone now, un."

Tayuya scoffed. "Yeah, duh, I thought Suigetsu blurted it out to you? Orochimaru wants us to go after Team Zombie. He's not interested in that coward anymore."

"…Then why do you continue verbally attacking him?" Deidara's eyes narrowed and his anger welled up at the word 'coward.'

"Obviously because I want to!" Tayuya spoke as if what she said should've been clear from the start. "Orochimaru didn't say anything about attacking him if we wanted to, just that it wasn't his priority anymore."

"Why do you want to? What did Sasori-san do to you?" Deidara felt his blood start to boil.

"He just pisses me off! Like you, blondie, you piss me off as well!"

"…" Deidara bit back his anger as he felt it rise up too high, breathing deeply before glowering at Tayuya with a cold expression. "…Get out."

"…Aah?"

"Go back to Orochimaru. Leave. I don't care where you go, just move from my vision, un." A forced grin pulled at Deidara's lips. "Before you get me angry."

"I'd like to see you make me!"

"…Hidan."

Hidan looked at Deidara, still trying to register that Deidara had actually hit Sasori. "What?"

"Chase her off."

"What?!"

Deidara turned to him. "You heard me."

"But what about Jashin-sama?!"

"I don't care. Pain-san told me to protect Sasori-san, and that's what I'm gonna do. Besides, she's your counter." Deidara smirked.

"You're not the boss of me, Deidara-chan!"

The smirk turned into a frown.

"Yeah, that's right!" Hidan grinned. "I'm going to find Kakuzu! You can deal with her yourself!"

"But–" Deidara sighed as Hidan stomped off. "You're her target, idiot, not Sasori-san!"

"Heh!" Tayuya shook her head before turning around and going the other way to cut Hidan off. "See you later, coward and coward's pet!"

Deidara's eyes narrowed into a glare, directed at Tayuya's disappearing back. When she was out of sight, he blinked his glare away and turned back to Sasori. He felt a slight twinge of guilt when Sasori didn't meet his gaze, and walked slowly towards him.

"…I won't apologize, un."

He stopped in front of the silver-eyed boy, his eyes focused on Sasori's averted ones. "…Does it hurt?"

"Maybe not in the sense you're referring to."

Hesitantly, Deidara placed his hand on Sasori's slightly red cheek, meeting silver eyes as they looked back to him.

"You don't…fully trust me yet, do you."

"…I trust you. I told you that."

"Your eyes tell me different."

Sasori looked away.

"…I can't read you, what you're going to do next or what you're planning to do…it makes me feel uneasy, and maybe that's what you're referring to…"

"But I told you–"

"It doesn't matter." Sasori's eyes narrowed a little. "…It still doesn't make up for the fact that I can't predict you."

"…I'll call you danna."

At the word danna, Sasori looked back at Deidara, surprised.

"Then I'll have to protect you." Deidara grinned.

"But you call Kisame that…"

"We're just joking around with it," Deidara reassured. "I'll stop now, though, since it been given to you…Sasori no danna."

Faint redness came into view on Sasori's cheeks. "You won't hit me anymore now?"

"If you say something stupid like 'I don't want to feel,' then I will."

"You're not supposed to hit your danna."

Deidara shrugged. "Oh well."

"…Are you gonna do what I say?"

"If it's not stupid, then I might. Maybe."

"…"

At Sasori's silence Deidara chuckled softly. He rested his forehead against Sasori's and took his hand off Sasori's cheek. "Alright? So from now on you'll be my danna, un."

"…Mm…"

"And I'll protect you no matter what."

"…You better."

"I will." Deidara smiled.

Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine. He pulled away from Sasori almost reflexively, looking to his right.

Itachi.

Kisame was with him though, and Deidara felt slightly better at that, and he smirked. "Yo, Itachi."

"…You speak so relaxed," Itachi commented, "for one who's just been caught in close proximity with Sasori."

"He's my friend," Deidara replied. "I have the right to help him calm down when he's troubled, un."

When Itachi's eyes became shrouded in doubt, Sasori cut in.

"Itachi, that's…all he was doing."

"You don't need to cover for him, Sasori–"

"No, all he was doing was trying to calm me down and make me feel better." Sasori's gaze was sharp, but his voice stayed the same composed tone. "I don't want you blaming him and making assumptions just based on something you see without learning the details."

"…Danna…" Deidara stared with wide eyes at Sasori, his voice quiet.

At first, Kisame thought Deidara was talking to him. He blinked, before realizing that Deidara was referring to Sasori. Itachi noticed this at the same time, and his eyes became a dark red.

"Deidara."

"…Yeah?" Deidara hesitantly looked at the Uchiha.

"We need to talk."

Sasori narrowed his eyes. "Itachi–"

"No."

He stopped, looking in surprise at Deidara.

"…I'll talk with him, un."

The dark-haired boy nodded solemnly, and he turned to face the way he'd come and walked in that direction.

"Kisame." Deidara followed, while talking to the taller student. "…Watch over Sasori no danna for me." He intentionally said the name 'Sasori no danna' loud enough for Itachi to hear.

"Alright." Kisame glanced at Itachi before walking over to Sasori.

Deidara looked back at Sasori one last time before turning his attention to Itachi's back, walking away slowly.

"…" Sasori's expression became almost longing. "…Idiot…"

}}––––––»

"He wanted to become something that couldn't feel, Itachi!"

"And he told you?"

"Twice!"

Itachi didn't answer, and Deidara grew more furious.

"You never do what he needs! You just do what he wants, un!"

"What are you talking about?" Itachi's almost pure red eyes locked with Deidara's blue.

Deidara flinched back just slightly, responding, "You haven't tried to cure his autophobia once."

"Because he says it's no big deal–"

"Exactly!" Deidara snorted. "…Autophobia isn't some minor illness. It won't go away with time."

"If Sasori says he's fine, then I'll trust that he is."

"He's only saying he's fine because he doesn't want to be alone. The way to cure autophobia is to leave him alone for extended periods of time, un!"

"…"

"…Does his grandmother know?"

"No."

"Why not?" Deidara narrowed his eyes. "Because danna doesn't want her to?" He stiffened slightly when Itachi's eyes turned just a bit more red for a second, resisting the urge to break eye contact.

"You don't know his grandmother. You don't know what she'd do if she knew. So don't act like it."

The tone of his voice…those eyes…! Deidara felt something within him snap. "Don't look at me like that, with those damn eyes!"

Itachi didn't respond.

"Those eyes…that look down on me, like I'm not worthy!"

"…I don't trust you with Sasori," Itachi responded coolly.

"And why's that?!"

"Because not only have you beaten him up in the past, you've worked with Orochimaru, befriended the girl who hurt him, and befriended two members of Orochimaru's group, one of which who is my personal counter."

Deidara could only stare, before breaking out in laughter. "You're…holding things that have already been resolved against me?" Anger suddenly overcame his features. "Don't screw with me!"

The Uchiha's eyes narrowed more.

"Danna and I have already resolved the fight between us, and Kimimaro and Jyuugo were my friends before I was even aware of your 'relationship' with danna! Orochimaru only controlled me because of a weakness I had back then, and I'd rather you not mention her around me, got it?!"

"…Whether or not they've been solved does not nullify the fact that you have done these actions before. I cannot trust you, because there's no proof that you won't commit such acts towards Sasori again later."

"Wha–The fact that I'm protecting him should be proof enough!"

"Last time I checked, Pain ordered you to."

"–!" Deidara clenched a fist. But he forced a smile and sneered, "I see what you're doing here. Alright, so what do I have to do for you to trust me with danna?"

"…It all depends on your actions from now on."

"So all I have to do is protect him?" Deidara grinned. "Okay, sounds great. Was planning to anyways." Upon seeing Itachi looking at him pointedly, he smirked. "What, you want me to explain in detail why I have feelings for him and promise you that I'll stay by his side and whatnot?"

"…No."

"Then what's with the look?"

"…"

Shrugging, Deidara stood up. "I'm leaving, un." He walked across the room with no explanation other than that, and began opening the door.

"I don't like your new attitude."

Itachi's statement halted Deidara for a few moments, but he said nothing in reply and merely opened the door so he could get out, and closed it behind him as he left.