For Eternity, Chapter Twelve
Disclaimer: Naruto © Kishimoto, The Rose of Sharyn © KsE
Author's Note: I apologize for the long wait on this. I had half the chapter typed and I couldn't come up with anything. I forced myself to finish it before Christmas [I did good with less than 5 hours to spare on my clock! as a well-deserved gift for my beloved readers. I'm sorry you had to wait so long. Hopefully the next chapter won't be such a long wait or as cheesy. x3
メリークリスマとあけましておめでとうございます！
Joyeux Nöel et Bonne Année!
Deidara dialed the number to Sasori's apartment. No answer. He tossed the cordless phone aside and grabbed his jacket and keys. Locking his door behind him, he headed to his car. It would be cheaper and perhaps more sensible to take the bus or train, but for some reason he felt that he would get there faster if he drove.
Pulling out of the parking lot, Deidara turned down the main rode, heading towards the center of the city. He turned on the radio as he drove.
"Local underground metal band, Akatsuki, who got signed a label a few months ago, will be releasing their first full-length album next week,"The DJ said. "An' duuude, it's f---en sweet. Here's a taste of—"
The DJ's voice faded away, drowned out by the honking of car horns. Deidara turned up the radio, but by the time he did, the DJ had already finished speaking. A song Deidara had heard once before was now playing on the radio.
"What would I do, to behold? The smile, the face of love. You never left me, the rising sun will always speak your name."
Deidara tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music, wishing the light would change so he could go. He was getting more anxious to see Sasori.
About twenty minutes later, Deidara pulled up to Sasori's apartment complex. He parked the car and got out. Since he wasn't exactly sure which apartment was Sasori's, he checked the inhabitants list that was posted at the front of the building. 'Akasuna no Sasori' lived in apartment 2-A. He ran up the stairs to the second floor and banged on the door to 2-A.
"Son, what the deuce are you doing?"
Deidara turned to a small old lady who was craning her neck out of the doorway across the hall. He bowed apologetically. "I am sorry,Obaa-san, I am looking for Sasori."
"Well, what are you, an idiot or something? He ain't home."
Deidara grimaced at the lady's bluntness. "Do you know when he'll be back?"
"No."
"O-"
"But I can tell you where he's at."
--
Deidara looked down at the crumbled napkin in which he had written the location of the building where Sasori was. He parallel parked his car on the side of the street and stepped out. It looked oddly familiar. A moment later, Deidara realized that this was close to where he had first met Sasori….Deidara shuddered at the thought of the horrid coffee incident.
Deidara walked down a dark alleyway. He came to a heavy metal door and knocked on it. He could hear some yelling from the other side of the door. Moments later, it opened.
"Deidara!"
Deidara nearly fell over. He braced himself in the doorway and looked down at Tobi, who had attacked his waist in a hug. "Tobi….what are you doing?"
"Tobi missed you!"
A dark haired figure appeared in front of Deidara and pulled Tobi away with ease. Deidara recognized him as Akatsuki's lead singer, Itachi. Itachi stared into Deidara's eyes, never looking away for even a second. "What do you want?"
"I…uh…need to talk to Sasori, un."
"He's busy," Itachi said simply.
"I really need to talk to him. It's important."
"I said that he is busy."
"Damn, Itachi, give the dude a break," the blue-haired drummer, Kisame, said.
Itachi turned away to look at Kisame. "Fine," he said. He looked back to Deidara. "He's not here."
"But he'll be right back!" Tobi added quickly, catching onto Deidara's disappointment.
"He will?" Deidara asked Itachi.
"Yes," Itachi replied reluctantly. "I suppose you can come in until he gets back."
Deidara stepped into the room. It was large and spacious, with barely anything in the room. There was sound equipment and various instruments. Save a table and some chairs, the room was empty. Deidara took a seat and twiddled his thumbs.
After about fifteen minutes of waiting, and fifteen minutes of listening to Itachi bitch about every god damned thing, Sasori arrived. He bore two plastic bags filled with Chinese take-out.
Tobi ran over excitedly. "You're back! Tobi is so happy! And hungry! Did you get chopsticks? Tobi loves chopsticks!"
Sasori took a step back, a bit bombarded by Tobi's…eagerness. He set the bags on the table and looked over at Deidara quizzically. "Uh….hi?"
Deidara smiled in return. "I decided that it's possible that you aren't completely bonkers."
"Jolly good," Sasori said a bit dryly. He pulled out a box of lo mien. He slurped up some noodles. "How did you know how to get here?"
Deidara shrugged, dodging an egg roll Tobi was trying to feed him. "Some crazy old lady across from your apartment gave me directions."
Sasori nodded knowingly. "Chiyo-baasan." He paused. "Was there something in particular you wanted to know?"
There was. But now…after all the excitement of getting there and everything, Deidara had forgotten exactly what it was. "Yeah…um….why don't you tell me about…your past."
Sasori nodded. "I can do that."
The sun was blazing hot as the two shinobi traveled in the desert. "Danna," the blonde one said, looking down at his partner from a flying clay bird. 'Danna' was within a grotesque puppet called 'Hiruko.
"What?" Sasori demanded irritably. He wasn't big on talking. Especially while on a mission. Deidara's loud mouth could easily give away their position if it came down to it. Hell, Deidara in general could give them away.
"Are we there yet?"
"Does it look like it?" Sasori asked. For Christ's sake! They were in the middle of a desert. There was nothing around but sand. Did Deidara honestly think that they could be remotely close to their destination while they were in the middle of no where?
"Uh…no…un."
"There's your answer."
The two were silent until they reached the outskirts of a small town. As much as he hated to, Sasori had to de-summon Hiruko and walk normally. Hiruko would attract too much attention.
Deidara beamed. "That's how I like my danna, un!"
Sasori snorted. "I'm not your anything." The walked beside each other into the town. Both knew that Sasori was full of shit. Sasori wasn't good at expressing his emotions…so why the hell should he bother? Deidara knew how he felt anyway. There was nobody who could replace Deidara. He meant…well…everything.
Deidara clasped his hand with Sasori's as they walked into the town. They didn't get any weird looks like one would expect. Deidara looked like a woman who lacked a 'chest' so no one really thought anything of it. Except Sasori.
"Deidara…" Sasori said, uncomfortable with the 'PDA'
"You know, Danna," Deidara said with a grin. "If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were blushing."
After Sasori finished telling his story, Deidara stared at him. What was the point telling that? "…That was random."
Sasori looked to the ground. "Yeah. It was the first thing that popped in my mind…"
Deidara nodded. "I can tell." The two began talking about other things, such as Akatsuki's album release. Secretly though, Deidara wondered if Sasori liked him for who he was and not as memory of someone who no longer existed.