Chapter 8: The Way of the Shinobi!
Yuki
'Go down.' Itachi instructed me. 'Help your team.' I closed my eyes and sighed. There is no point in trying to go against him. Itachi would make me be there for team 7.
'Where will you be?' I asked him, knowing he'd make his move after I went to my team.
'I'll be at the hideout… Or… Maybe…' He stopped suddenly. 'Did…. Did you hear that?'
I squinted my eyes at him.
'Hear what?' He put his left index finger on my lips. A silence fell between us, and a sudden scream made us jump. I recognized it and scanned it through my head.
My eyes widened suddenly, and I jumped up.
'Deidara!' I yelled, and ran towards to sound of the screaming.
Tobi
I stood beside him and watched him in anxiety. He was clutching his head, with tears running down his face non-stopping. His blue eyes became pained, and his face pale. He had torn out the hair wrap that pulled part of his hair up into a ponytail, and thrown it into a nearby river.
He was screaming horrendously, and then his head and hands started bleeding from tugging at his hair so hard, nearly ripping it out.
I couldn't do anything. I had tried so hard, too. I had tried talking to him, patting his head, back and shoulders. I even tried giving him some clay. But nothing would work.
I leant back against a tree.
'Oh, Deidara…' I murmured and folded my arms. 'What am I supposed to do?'
Itachi
I briskly followed Yuki to where the screaming was. Kisame came up behind me and nudged my arm.
'Where's Tobi?' I asked him.
'He went to find Deidara.' Kisame look up at me. 'I'm guessing that's who's screaming.'
I looked up at where Yuki was running, her teeth bared with sharp fangs. Her eyes had transformed into frightening cat's eyes.
I sighed. 'Looks like it…' Kisame landed on a branch heavily before leaping off of it.
'I don't get it.' He growled, and I looked back at him. 'What is it with Yuki and Deidara?' I looked ahead again, and glanced at the clearing.
'I think…' I murmured. 'They have something with each other… Like…' I thought for a moment. 'Like they share the same… Pain…' Kisame gave an emotionless chuckle.
'Yeah, Right.' He caught up with me and leapt from tree to tree by my side. 'I've seen the way he looks at her.' Kisame's face turned calm and he stared at Yuki's back. I glanced into the clearing we were about to run into. I nodded.
'Aye.' I murmured. 'I, too, have noticed.' Kisame looked at me.
'Does Yuki know about Tobi…?' He asked cautiously. I shook my head.
'I haven't had the heart to tell her…' I closed my eyes. 'It would rip her soul into pieces…'
Yuki
I charged into the clearing, and caught sight of Tobi. He was a way off, but I saw he had his head in his hands, and he looked like he needed help. I ran over to him and knelt in front of him.
'Tobi-kun, what happened?' I asked. He looked up at me.
'He won't stop.' He cried. 'I tried to help him. But he just won't stop!' I put my hand on his shoulder.
'Who? What won't stop?' I asked.
'Deidara.' He said, and my heart stopped. 'He won't stop screaming…'
'Screaming?' I cocked my head to one side.
'He won't stop screaming… Your name…' He cringed and ducked his head between his knees. I leapt up and ran towards the noises of crying and screaming which was near a river. I glanced down it, then up, and saw Deidara leant against a tree, screaming, with blood poured down his head and hands. My eyes widened, and I called out to him, then bolted at him.
His screaming became louder and louder as I neared him, and my sorrow for him became deeper and deeper. As I reached him, I slowed to a walk and approached him cautiously, taking one step at a time. He was still screaming, and he seemed oblivious to my presence. I touched his shoulder, but he was still screaming. My mind raced.
What was I meant to do?
'Deidara-kun…' I murmured 'I'm here…. What's wrong…?' But he still screamed through clenched teeth. I didn't know what to do… I was so rubbish…. Immersed in myself, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and nuzzled against his neck.
'Please Deidara-kun… Please stop crying….' I whispered into his ear. 'It makes my heart ache to see you in such pain…' Thus, he still screamed. My eyes pricked with tears, and I cradled him in my arms. He gasped for air for a moment, and he sobbed loudly. I bit my lip in anxiety, and rested my forehead on his shoulder. He tugged at his hair again, and screamed once more. I stopped all my movements as he started to yell my name out loud.
What was I meant to do? I felt so lost… I sat back, keeping one arm around his shoulders, and reached up, slowly prying his fingers from his ragged hair. He stopped screaming from, which I gathered, the pain, and he sobbed through gritted teeth. His eyes where clamped shut, and the blood that ran down his face and hands was horrific… I moved my hand down and held onto his.
I heard Tobi cough from a few meters away, and I looked up at Deidara to see the tears had stopped and his eyes were slightly open. He was still sobbing lightly, but he seemed okay for the moment.
'…Deidara…?' I whispered. And his eyes rotated towards mine. He whined and a tear fell down his face. He seemed extremely inanimate. It reminded me of when Sasori had attacked him. Tobi walked over, and he patted my shoulder.
'All will be well.' He murmured. Then turned and walked away. I looked at Deidara who was looking like he wanted to die.
I stood up, and he looked up at me, then I held out my hand to him and smiled.
'Don't be afraid.' I murmured, repeating Itachi's words. 'I am here.'