AN:
JK: I'm back, with a vengeance. (dun, dun, duuuun!) ...And I need a life.
To all my reviewers: I apologize for the abrupt killing of Sasori. I had to.
To Eye-Freak (again) - I totally know what you mean, so it's cool, dude.
This chapter is dedicated to Aly-Uzumaki, who has just lost a loved one.
Current chapter contains: A small (humourous) reference
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
--
"Dead...?" Itachi gasped. "Sasori...? How is that even...?"
"It was that pink-haired twerp from Konoha and his own grandmother." Pein said, reaching to rest a hand on Itachi's shoulder.
"But-"
"DEIDAARRAAA-SENPAIIIII!!" an obnoxious, and all-too-familiar, voice yelled as an orange and black blur knocked Kisame out of the way from the couch and glomped Deidara.
"Tobi!" Kisame yelled, more surprised then angry. "Can't you see Deidara is upset?"
"Look, look!" Tobi excited babbled. "Tobi is a good boy!" he held up Sasori's ring. "No I can join the Akatsuki as your partner!"
"GO AWAY!" Deidara screamed. "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU ANNOYING BRAT!"
"But...Tobi is a good boy..."
"Tobi...I think you should go upstairs...let Deidara get his head around what happened." Zetsu said, light prodding him up the stairs.
"Okay, Zetsu-san! Tobi is a good boy!" Tobi happily scampered up the stairs.
"How could this happen?" Itachi murmured. "How...?"
"I don't know, but we should not drop our guards. Clearly, we've underestimated our foes." Pein looked down. "I will have to think of another way to capture the other jinchuriki. You all are dismissed."
As everyone went their separate ways - Deidara ran upstairs, refusing another hug - Kisame put an arm around Itachi's shoulder to lead him upstairs.
"What's on your mind, kiddo?" the shark-nin asked, noticing the troubled look on his partner's pale face.
"...I feel bad for Deidara...he and Sasori-"
"I know, I know." Kisame ruffled his hair.
"Kisame...if I ever lost you...I don't...think I could live."
"Itachi-kun, don't talk like that!" Kisame said sharply.
"But-"
"Listen to me, yes it would hurt you if something happened, but that's no reason to give up on living. Itachi-kun, if I ever - God forbid - lost you...yes, it would kill me on the inside, but I wouldn't give up on living. Itachi, I want you to promise me something."
"Anything for you, Kisame otou-san." Kisame grinned and affectionatly ruffled Itachi's hair at the mention of his rarely-used nickname.
"If something happens, promise to keep living for the both of us." Itachi was slightly taken aback, but replied:
"Only if you promise the same thing."
"I promise."
"Then I do, too." Itachi smiled. "But, Kisame...what if I break my promise?"
"Then when we meet in the afterlife, I'm gonna paddle you for lying."
"KISAME!!"
"And don't think I'm kidding, either."
"YOU are IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Am I?"
-Later, in Deidara's room-
Deidara was idly making some clay birds and sending them into the backyard to detonate.
"Sasori-no-Danna..." he sniffled.
"Deidara, how many times have I told you to put your clay AWAY?"
"Why you?"
"Deidara? Did you fall down the stairs again?"
"Why...?"
"...I said ten o'clock Deidara. I know you can read the clock from your position, so give me the time."
"Why not Tobi?"
Suddenly, there was a knock at his door.
"Dei?" Itachi called.
"C'min, un."
"Dei?" Itachi walked in and shut the door behind him. "Hi."
"Hey."
"I'm really sorry about-"
"I know, un...if you had lost Kisame-"
"I was going to say now having Tobi for a partner." Itachi smiled at his weak attempt at cheering Deidara up. Deidara smiled back.
"Thanks for trying, un."
"Uh-huh."
"It's gonna feel weird not having him around to yell at me for being late, un. Or not cleaning my room...or..." Deidara's eyes watered again and in an instant, Itachi had him in a tight hug.
"I know." was all he could think to say. "I know."
"I...miss him..." the blonde whimpered, muffled by Itachi's jacket. "I...loved him, un..."
"Shhh..."
"Maybe...just like you and Kisame...we could have been that close."
"I think you were."
"But Sasori-no-Danna never-"
"Deidara, I know he cared."
"He can't feel anything, though, un!"
"He felt something toward you, though. I could see it. Just a small flicker, but it was there."
"How-"
"Sharingan doesn't just allow me to copy jutsu, you know."
"And handwriting." Deidara grinned. "Like that time-"
"-I forged a love letter to Sakura from my brother while I was in Konoha."
"I wish I could've been there to see it, un!"
"It was histerical."
"Hey, Itachi?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks for cheering me up, un. You really are my best friend."
"...and you're mine."
--
AN:
JK: Personally, I liked Kisame's comment. Hehe. I'll see you next chappie!
