Chapter 21

I was supposed to get this up yesterday, but it didn't happen because my mother was hogging the desktop computer, and since my laptop is having problems right now I can't upload the chapters from there.

Happy Superbowl Sunday! 8D

~Go Giants~

It might as well be a national holiday in America! I swear it!

~Deidara~

"So, I'm your date to to your Grandmother's, un." I deadpanned as Sasori parked the car into the driveway of a large house.

"Yes. The witch said that if I didn't bring a date than I was going to hear it."

"You afraid of an old lady, un?" I asked in amusement.

"Yes, actually. I don't want my eardrums to burst while I listen to her. Now are you going to complain or shall we go in?"

"We can, un, but-"

"Deidara." He gave me a stern look before he got out of the car right after shutting the engine off. I pouted slightly as I got out and walked beside him. I was just happy enough that I got to wear my comfortable clothes, and not a suit like I knew sometimes went on here.

"Yes, un?" I said innocently as he knocked on the door.

"Don't do anything stupid, and try to actually act somewhat intelligent."

"Hey, un! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Take it like you will, brat." He sighed and looked at me. "But it was meant to be taken as it sounds."

"'Take it like I will,' un? That sounds kinda dirty, Danna. Kinky even, un." I said with a large smirk, making him frown at me.

"You see? That is what I was talking about. Try not to act like that in front of Chiyo." Just as I was about to say something else the door opened to reveal the old woman. She looked the same as she did the last time that I saw her. Yet again, that time wasn't of my choosing either.

"Oh, Sasori! There you are, just on time – as always. Come in, come in. You know that you can, and who is your friend? He looks familiar." Once we were inside she shoed us into another room, which turned out to be the living room.

"This is Deidara, Granny. You've seen him before when you taught the art class for me."

"Oh? That's why then!" I felt myself starting to sweat-drop. That was what he just said. Then I frowned as she carried on. "He also looks like that Ino Yamanaka girl."

"I don't, un." I said with a frown. I was doing my best to not snap at her saying that I was clearly male.

"Deidara, don't be rude." Sasori chided lightly, and when I looked at him I could see the amusement in his eyes. It annoyed me how he thought that it was funny when someone said that I looked like Ino. He knew that I hated it, and I was sure that is why he found it funny. That was part of the reason, I was sure.

All I know is that when she left - saying that she was bringing back tea – I was pretty relieved. She didn't say anything other than that, and I was feeling like hitting her. I was sitting on the couch next to Sasori and when I heard him chuckle slightly I glared at him.

"Shut up, un. It wasn't funny."

"From your point of view, brat. From mine it is."

"Shut up, un." He smirked and before he could say anything more the old woman came into the room with a tray. There were three cups on there – which I assumed held the tea – along with a bowl filled with chips. She sat it down on the table in front of us before taking her own seat on the other couch. Why did people have multiple couches?

"Sasori, I thought that you said you were bringing a date, not a friend?" She posed it as a question and and innocent one at that, but I knew differently. If she was related to Sasori, she was related to the devil. Yes, I did think that my boyfriend was related to the devil himself. Oh well.

"I never agreed that I would bring a date, you expected it from me. Besides, who said that he isn't my date?" Said red-headed man spoke up, and when I looked at him his eyes were narrowed. Something was telling me that he wasn't a big fan of his grandmother.

"So you brought a boy as your date? A young boy as your date, and here I was expecting you to not bring anybody. You can go home now!" She raised her voice and I thought she was talking with us, but she wasn't. There was a shape of a person: a girl no less! I guess I should've guessed. Sasori said that Chiyo had this habit of getting dates for him.

"You mean I was here for a date? I don't think I agree with that!" The girl looked about 16 with short black and red hair. I recognized her as Inara, she was somewhat smart – as she was in my Math class.

"Apparently you're not now, deary." Chiyo said with some remorse.

"Hey Dei, hey Sori-sensei." Inara smiled with a wave but then frowned at Chiyo. "I didn't agree to that! I thought I was just helping you for the day."

"You would have been helping me."

"Enough bickering." Sasori snapped. ….He never had good patience. I learned that even before I had known him for a couple weeks. "First off, Granny Chiyo, I've told you before that I was bisexual. Me being in a relationship with another male shouldn't surprise you."

"It's not that he is male – even though that thought disappoints me. It's about his age." I felt like I was being left out. No, I didn't actually feel left out. I knew what they were talking about, I just felt like I was in the middle of the conversation. I looked over at to my side when I felt someone else sit on the couch. Inara gave me a look that she was confused to as she sat down on the arm right beside me.

"Really now? He's older than some of those other girls that you set me up with are. That pink haired wench that you always try and get me with is barely even 16 yet."

"Don't speak rudely of Sakura. She is a lovely girl. Besides, he is what, 17?"

"I will be 18 in a couple weeks, un." I muttered just loudly enough to be heard.

"See? He's at least older than those girls. Hell, he's older than she is." He nodded to the girl right next to me.

"Hey, I didn't even know about this, so don't look at me." Inara said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Besides, he's only a year older than me."

"It means I'm still older, un." I commented, and I noticed her roll her eyes.

"Sasori, you know that I don't feel comfortable with you dating someone this young. Not to mention I am disappointed that you are dating a boy."

"First off: you've no reason to feel uncomfortable with me being with someone as young as Deidara, because you always try and set me up with 16 year olds. You also have no reason to be disappointed, because even if I did end up in a relationship with a woman than I wouldn't even think of wanting to have children with her. They are little monsters."

"What a shame. I always wanted great-grandchildren."

"You will get those from Temari, so stop pestering me on the matter, because I am not planning on leaving Deidara anytime soon." My eyes unintentionally widened at the words, but decided to say something about it later. I didn't want to say anything near Chiyo. I wasn't really that comfortable with her. Not to mention that Inara was here, and I didn't really know her that well either.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Alright then."

With that everybody lapsed into a silence. It was somewhat comfortable, but it could have been better just as much as it could've been worse. It was like one of those silences where nobody wanted to say anything to break it – in other words, an awkward silence. I would've spoke quietly with Inara, because even if I didn't know her that well, I still knew her somewhat. But the same rule applied. I didn't want to break the silence.

"Since I am obviously not needed here can I leave?"

"No." Chiyo responded with a look at her. Phew, the silence was over.

"Why not? I'm not needed."

"You can go get us some of the cookies that I made earlier, and then when you come back we can talk about different things."

"Fine." The blue eyed girl groaned. "Just as long as the subject isn't something that shouldn't be brought up in conversation." When she got up and left I looked at the two relatives to find they were just starring intently at each other. Neither were blinking.

"I know what you're playing at, you old hag."

"Too bad you can't beat at it, my little scorpling."

"What are we going to be talking about, un?" Both of them shifted their gazes to look at me, and I felt a little uncomfortable. Both of the stairs seemed the same, even though I knew they were completely different.

"We are talking about what we shall be discussing once Inara returns." Chiyo said evenly, still not blinking.

"What would that be, un?" I asked a little nervously. Sasori wasn't blinking either, and it was starting to really creep me out.

"A life or death situation." Said red-head answered for the old woman, and she was nodding.

"If it isn't decided soon, all of us might fail at our quest in survival." Chiyo spoke. It was almost like they were in sink.

"W-What are you taking about, un?" They were really starting to scare me.

"We are talking about what we will be doing for the next art festival." Chiyo answered with a smile.

"Are you serious, un?" I said, dumbfounded. That's what they were doing. They were acting, and speaking like that just because of an art festival. I could just feel the sweat-drop that was most likely on my forehead. I might like art, but I didn't think it was the end of the world... Unless it a nuclear bomb... After all, those things are deadly and art is a bang!

"What did you think that we were talking about, brat?" Sasori asked with a raised eyebrow at me and I frowned at him.

"I honestly didn't know, un..." I was still feeling dumbfounded, but then I felt a little happier when he placed his arm around my shoulders.

"Did you mean it when you said that you weren't planning on leaving me, un?" I asked when we got back to his house. It was around 5 in the evening and I was tired from the long day, but it did have it's amusing moments. I had to admit that most of those moments today involved either Inara or myself...

"Of course I meant it, brat. I don't go into relationships with people unless I actually think that they are worth it." He replied in his normal monotone voice.

"Are you sure, un? I mean, you don't really seem that happy..."

"Deidara, I might not act like I'm happy, and I might not look it either, but I am happy. Happier than I have been in a long time."

"You mean it, un?" I asked as I sat right next to him on the couch.

"Yes, I do." He said with a sigh. "Now, stop asking the same thing over and over. You're not a broken record."

"Sorry, un." I said with a sheepish smile. "I just wanted to make sure that you wanted to be with me, and that I wasn't forcing you."

"You couldn't force me to do anything. If anybody forces anything upon the other it will be me forcing it on you."

"Alright. I just want you to be happy, un."

"I told you that I was."

"Alright, un.." I heard another sigh and before I knew it he had my chin in his fingers and had me meeting his eyes. Before I could say anything he had placed his mouth onto mine gently. It surprised me at first because he was never the one to initiate a kiss, but less than a moment later I was kissing back.

"Stop sounding like you don't believe me when I say what I say." He said sternly when he pulled away.

"Alright, un. Sorry." I said with a nod.

"Good. Now, are you wanting to stay here again tonight, or are you actually going to go back home?"

"I want to stay here again for the night, un." I answered quickly. I always wanted to stay here. It was a lot better than the house that I had to live in. He let out another sigh.

"You know, you have to go home sometime. You can't keep staying here and not going back to there."

"Home is where you are the most happiest, un, and that means that house isn't my home."

"Whether you think that way or not, you still live there. You have to go back there sometime."

"I do, un."

"I meant on weekends to. Whether you like Haki or not."

"But-" I was going to say more when my phone started ringing. I took it out from my pocket to see that it actually was Haki calling. Speak of the devil. I thought and I looked at Sasori before flipping the phone open.

"Hello, un."

"Where are you?"

"At a friends' house, un." I answered.

"Well get home right now. We need to have a talk. Tell your friend that you will see them at school, and come home."

"What did I do, un?" I asked. I had done nothing, or nothing that I was aware of.

"You will find out when you get home." He said before he abruptly hung up. I shut my phone and frowned at Sasori.

"I've got to go, un." I said.

"I told you that you did sometime. I was right, and Haki is making sure that you do." He said while looking directly at me.

"I know, un." I sighed.

"Go on then. We don't need Haki getting even more irritated." He said, and I nodded and got up. I sighed as I made my way out of the house.

"Get in here, Deidara!" Haki shouted as I walked in through the door. I walked into the living room to see him sitting on the couch, his expression unreadable. I walked over and sat in the chair that was right across from him.

"What is it, un?" I asked. I was feeling really annoyed.

"Where have you been?"

"I told you over the phone that I was at a friends house, un. I wasn't lying."

"That's not what I meant, and you should know that." He said with a frown on his face. "I meant, where do you always go? You are always gone after school and don't come home until after dark on most days, and on weekends you tend to not come home at all."

"I'm hanging out with my friends."

"It's those Akatsuki bastards again, isn't it?"

"They aren't bastards, un." I said, frowning back at him with the same intensity.

"Yes they are, and I forbid you to see them."

"What, un!" I said, outraged. He couldn't do that shit! …...Alright, maybe Sasori was right and I was picking up too much bad language from Hidan...

"You heard me. You need to spend less time with them. You are never home because of them and you are picking up bad habits from those kids that you go to school with."

"You can't stop me, un. I'm surprised you even know a thing about the Akatsuki."

"I'm not stupid. They were still a gang when I went to school. I know that some of the younger members are in your year, and I don't like them. You are not to see them."

"Like I said; you can't stop me, un!"

"I can find my ways. If you don't listen to me then there will be consequences." His grey eyes were hard with something that I couldn't even begin to think of what it was.

"In a couple weeks I won't have to listen to you, un! And I don't plan on listening now either!" I rose to my feet and headed towards the doorway. Before I made it out into the hall and up the stairs my uncle had one last question.

"Who's house have you been spending time at?"

"Hidans', un." I said before hurrying out of the room before he could say anymore. I ran up the stairs and into my room, shutting and locking the door before I actually took off my shoes. That's when I decided it was time for something that made up a good part of his week. After I had flopped down onto my bed I focused my eyes onto the ceiling.

Time for some much needed glaring.

~Haki~

That little bastard was lying to me.

I knew that fact from the beginning, but I at least thought that he was better than everybody else in this city. I thought that he had known enough sense as to not lie straight to my face, but I guess I thought wrong. I gave him a chance to tell me the truth, and he didn't take it.

"I'm not stupid, Deidara." I whispered even though I knew he couldn't hear me. I wasn't stupid. I knew most of what was going on, even if it wasn't being told to me. I knew fully well that Deidara was heading to Akasunas' house after school with those other three brats.

I figured this out shortly after Orochimaru called me. After he told me that information everything seemed so obvious. I didn't need his help, but I guess it had been helpful. I never liked him at all, but I guess I could thank him.

Whether or not Deidara wanted to cooperate with me, I was going to find out the full truth.

So, since it's Superbowl Sunday my father won't be on the desktop and my mom won't be on that much either. That means that I should get the next chapter up today, and possible even the chapter after that! :D Isn't that great?

You bet it is!

Please review! Please?

And

GO GIANTS! Woohoo!

By the way, I don't really care for the Superbowl. I'm only here for the food.