Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ With You I Will Journey Life's Path ❯ Where There is Love, There is Life ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: The characters, items, places etc of Naruto are property of Masashi Kishimoto. These objects are used without permission for entertainment only, not for making money. No infringement is intended.

Chapter 6: Where There is Love, There is Life

When Madara finally released them from their impromptu meeting, Deidara grabbed Itachi by the arm and dragged him straight outside again. Sasuke followed with an unreadable expression on his face, and was first to speak when they were out of earshot of the entrance.

"Itachi, you don't want to take over the business. Why did you say that you do?"

"Please don't hound me about this," Itachi requested, which ignited Deidara's temper immediately.

"Why not?"

"You're blowing this completely out of proportion," Itachi tried again. "It's not even going to happen yet! And even if it does happen soon, how many times do I have to say I don't have to take it?"

"Then I will," Sasuke pointed out.

"You won't have to either. It can be passed to someone else."

"Then there's no point in Madara passing it to Dad, is there? He already said that he wants to know where the company will go in the future, and the only way that will happen is if he promotes Dad and we agree to keeping it within the family. This is Madara- he'll pull up a contract, Itachi!"

"He will?" Deidara said, eyes widening. "Then I don't want you agreeing to anything!"

"What if I want to do it?" Itachi replied, his voice small.

"You are such a liar!" Deidara practically shouted at him. "Why is it so important, huh? Why?"

Itachi gave no response and turned away, keeping his eyes averted from them both.

"I was right, wasn't I?" Deidara whispered. "About the perfection thing? It's another way of being perfect, isn't it? You still want to be the perfect son!"

"What goes on during those therapy sessions, Itachi? You won't let me come to them- is that because they aren't helpful? Are even you even going to them at all?"

"Yes I am!" Itachi snapped back at him.

"Well you aren't taking the medication! Forgive me for thinking you might be skipping it, yeah."

"You aren't taking the meds?" Sasuke frowned immediately, shaking his head and glaring at his brother. "Itachi, that isn't sensible. They were prescribed for a reason-"

"I felt fine," Itachi muttered.

"Alright, let me explain this in terms an idiot can understand," Sasuke sighed condescendingly. "You were feeling alright because of the medication. The reason you're slipping back into your old ways is because you stopped taking it."

"I know."

"Then why did you stop?"

"It made me feel so wretched- I couldn't bear taking it anymore."

"In what way? All medication has side effects."

"In the 'I want to jump off a bridge' way," Itachi snapped sharply at him. "Forgive me for not wishing to continue taking it with such a vivid side effect."

"It's uncommon, but that can happen," Sasuke reasoned. "Besides, that's not feeling fine, is it?"

"I meant in regards to my complex. I knew that side effect would pass if I stopped taking it."

"And so did the good effects from it too! You should have seen the doctor about changing your dose or your medication."

"It was hard enough the first time-"

"That's a cop out," Deidara snapped, interrupting him.

"Blondie's got a point," Sasuke noted. "We'd have come with you again. You're not fighting this alone, you hear me? I don't want you to destroy yourself to look perfect again, and I know I'm not alone in that sentiment." He glanced across to Deidara, who nodded fervently.

"Dad wanted me to study law," Itachi finally spoke, his voice quiet. "I failed him when I switched to geography. I couldn't face failing him again, so I decided to just go along with this and deal with it if and when the time came."

"You didn't fail him," Deidara told him, his anger beginning to melt away as he took Itachi's hand. "Itachi, you decided to do what you wanted and there's nothing wrong with that, yeah.

"You asked what goes on in the therapy, right?" Itachi continued softly. "The therapist tells me that it's okay not to be perfect. Everything is okay. The word perfect is something I shouldn't use, and that I should accept that I can be okay at things."

"I don't believe a word of it, but I nod and tell her I'm listening when really I want to scream at her 'do you actually understand me at all?' because just telling me I can be okay hasn't worked for anyone else, and it isn't going to work for her."

"Relationships are about being open and honest," Deidara finally replied after a moment of silence, where both he and Sasuke comprehended what they had been told.

"I don't like that you kept this from me, but I'm not surprised. You thrive on secrets and suffering alone like some kind of fucking martyr, don't you?"

"Forgive me for trying to protect my brother and for trying to help my father," Itachi told him sharply. "It isn't like I make these decisions to be selfish, Deidara!"

"You need to tell your father you aren't interested in the business, yeah."

"Perhaps you need to stop getting involved in things that don't matter to you?" Itachi suggested instead, reigniting Deidara's temper that had just begun to calm.

"What? Of course it involves me! I'm your boyfriend, and in case you hadn't noticed we're pretty attached to each other and I don't see that changing any time soon, yeah. Are you even listening to me?"

"I'm trying not to."

"Why do I even bother?" Deidara sighed, glaring at Itachi. "Huh? Tell me why I bother with this!"

"Because you're masochistic, apparently."

"Are you trying to piss me off because you're doing a grand job of it!"

"Perhaps I am. Perhaps it'll stop you making judgements on the decisions I make to help and protect those I love?"

"And what about me? You love me, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Itachi snapped irritably at him. "What's your point?"

"The one thing I asked of you was to fight the perfection complex," Deidara pointed out. "And you're skipping the meds and therapy isn't helping, but you're not doing anything else about it? That isn't fair! You really aggravate me sometimes!"

"You realise you aren't exactly easy to live with, Deidara?"

"Stop!" Sasuke interjected loudly, cutting his brother off mid-sentence. "Stop it, both of you! Standing out here yelling insults at each other and bringing up your flaws isn't going to make the situation any better. Why don't you talk it out like adults?"

"Deidara is incapable of acting like an adult, Sasuke."

"You aren't exactly a model citizen yourself all the time, Itachi," Deidara jumped in. "You might put yourself across as perfect but you're no-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Itachi hissed, narrowing his eyes dangerously.

"What? I didn't think being perfect mattered anymore, yeah. The other day you skipped out on a class to call me- I was so proud of you for that! Or did you lie to me?"

"I didn't lie. Contrary to what you believe I'm making some progress. Besides, I'm sorry I'm not what you want me to be- you just can't accept who I am, can you?"

"Not when it threatens our relationship, no! You agreed with me that the complex had to go for us to work out."

"I didn't mean that. I mean your insistence that I am not creative enough for you. I am creative, I told you that in the church, but you still weren't satisfied."

"I just want to share my biggest passion with you, yeah. Is that so bad? Or are you so afraid of looking imperfect in front of even me that you won't do it? Because I'd just like to remind me, you look imperfect in front of me a lot."

"Not intentionally," Itachi hissed sharply at him.

"Not intentionally? Are you saying you're still- Itachi! You infuriating bastard, just give it to me straight, yeah. What matters more, me or being perfect?"

"Why are you insisting on using this as fuel for an argument?" Itachi asked, his voice low but seething.

"Because I'm fucking fed up with being second best to some crazy thought inside your brain!" Deidara shouted at him, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"So I'm crazy now?"

"You're not far off of it, no."

"That's spiteful, Deidara. If one of us has mental issues then it would clearly be you."

"Stop it!" Sasuke repeated, louder this time as he grabbed each of their arms. "Fucking hell, talk about melodrama! Itachi, stop lying about shit that you shouldn't be. Deidara, stop deliberately trying to hit him where it hurts. You two are going to have a dignified discussion like the adults you're supposed to be and I'm going to mediate it. Are we clear?"

Two silences indicated a yes in Sasuke's eyes.

"Alright. Itachi- why are you constantly lying about your mental health? Don't you want help?"

"I do, but it's difficult," Itachi whispered.

"Then ask for help. Being difficult shouldn't be an obstacle. You have one clearly infatuated boyfriend and one slowly-going-insane brother who are happy to help you. You're going back to the doctor for some new meds, and you're going to take us to a therapy lesson so we can explain that her method isn't working. Problem solved."

"But-"

"No buts! Deidara! Why were you attacking him about things you know he has a problem with? I understand why you're upset about the business thing and while I'm never going to admit it again I actually agree with you, but that's a low blow."

"Because he's been hurting me and I wanted to hurt him back," Deidara whispered, looking at the floor with shame in his eyes.

"So you're not going to do that again? If you're going to fight and scream at each other, things like that are out of bounds because it'll just lead to regret."

"I know."

"Good. Itachi- stop with the lying and protecting and saintly stuff and just be a fallible human being for once, would you?"

"Lying is pretty fallible," Itachi pointed out with an awkward shrug.

"For the record, I can protect myself," Sasuke informed him, ignoring his words. "If the business passes to me, I'll pass it on again because I really don't care what Madara thinks of me. Dad and I are getting on better these days, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sacrifice what I want for him either. Nor should you."

With those words Sasuke exhaled heavily and turned on his heel, heading back inside the building and leaving Itachi and Deidara alone. Itachi leant back against the wall and put one hand to his forehead, giving Deidara a tiny smile.

"Talked down by a seventeen year old in a light-switch relationship," he sighed. "That's quite embarrassing."

The silence between them was awkward. As always with the let down of arguments, regret was beginning to sink in to them both and all it needed was one of them to make the move to apologise. Itachi was the one to initiate it, sighing heavily and looking skyward.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "You have no idea how important you are to me. I don't care about your eccentric nature- I fell in love with you for it, even. As much as you don't believe me, I'm trying. I honestly am but it's hard, Deidara."

"I know you are," Deidara replied quietly. "Honestly, I do. It just frustrates me sometimes when it seems like you aren't helping yourself."

"I agree that sometimes I don't. I'm just terrible at asking for help, which is how it ended up how it did in the first place."

"No, you're terrible at voicing your feelings," Deidara countered with a tiny smile on his lips. Itachi laughed shortly at that, returning it despite the tears in his eyes. "Though you're going to prove me wrong by crying now, aren't you?"

Itachi shook his head, exhaling heavily and tilting his head back to the wall. "Regardless of how this came about, we needed to say these things. We could have said them in a nicer manner, but they're said now. The next step is clearing the air."

"No, the next step is this," Deidara remarked before stepping forward and hugging Itachi tightly. "I'm sorry too. I just worry sometimes that I'm going to lose you to this complex, yeah."

"That will never happen," Itachi promised. "I'm not going anywhere, so unless you have plans otherwise you're going to be stuck with me."

They stayed in the embrace, comfortable with the sound of each other's light breathing and beating hearts before Itachi gave Deidara a gentle kiss and pulled away.

"We aren't done," Deidara warned. "With this conversation."

"I know. I'll stop covering up how I feel," Itachi promised softly. "I'll be straightforward and honest with you about everything."

"And you'll see the doctor and let Sasuke and I come to therapy?"

"Yes," Itachi replied with no hesitation. "Thank you."

Deidara grinned at that and grabbed Itachi, squeezing him tightly until Itachi gasped and pushed him off.

"This kimono is far too tight for that," he said apologetically. "I swear Madara tied it tighter than before."

"He's a jerk, yeah. He probably did."

"I did say you wouldn't want to meet him."

"Yeah, but I didn't think he'd be that bad! He's using you as a pawn knowing you'll do anything to help your Dad and it isn't right."

"I know how important the promotion is to my father," Itachi remarked softly. "And I genuinely think he would deserve it even without using myself and Sasuke as leverage."

"Then tell him you aren't interested."

"No, Deidara. If Madara thinks I am then I may be able to play him at his own game." He smiled with a wicked glint in his eye. "I have a plan. Leave it to me, alright?"

"You'd better know what you're doing," Deidara warned.

"I know exactly what I'm doing," Itachi whispered. "I'm going to kiss you."

"That sounds good," Deidara replied before their lips met, tender yet passionate. He brought one hand up to Itachi's cheek, cupping it as he pulled away with a smile. "You know I can't wait to get you out of that kimono, yeah. You look incredible."

"I can't wait to get out of it either. I think it might actually be cutting my lungs in two."

"That's not quite what I had in mind," Deidara sighed.

"Keep whatever you had in mind for tomorrow," Itachi told him as he placed a finger over Deidara's lips in a shushing motion. "Sasuke is leaving with my parents to give us the time to ourselves, remember?"

"Yeah, but that's not now."

"Now is hardly appropriate."

"So what if I was to untie this obi thing?" Deidara chuckled as he snaked one hand behind Itachi. Itachi jerked away and tapped his hand lightly to stop him, shaking his head.

"Then the kimono would fall apart and I would have to go inside and find someone to retie it, and then explain why it was untied in the first place."

"You are absolutely killing the mood," Deidara huffed, folding his arms sulkily.

"You're attempting to molest me in the middle of the street! Come on, let's go inside. We've spent most of the time out here and that isn't very polite."

At the entrance, Deidara halted Itachi by tugging on his hand. "Itachi? Your Dad introduced me as your friend, yeah. I-"

Itachi cut him off with a kiss, keeping a firm grip on his hand. "I know. It's awkward for him I guess, but you know he's alright with it. We'll just have to show people otherwise."

With that he led Deidara inside by the hand, proudly walking through the throngs of people in search of somewhere to sit. A hand tapped Deidara on the arm as they walked past- it belonged to Sasori, who gestured for them to sit.

"We didn't get to talk much earlier," he said as they sat down together. "You take photographs, you say?"

"Only because Itachi doesn't like it when I want to draw things while it's happening," Deidara replied with a light hearted grin in his boyfriend's direction. "I like to capture fleeting moments. I always carry a sketchbook around, yeah."

"I craft masterpieces," Sasori remarked. "It can take me months to finish something, but I want to create things beautiful enough to last forever."

"What's the point in that? Art is all about living the moment, not preserving it!"

"What's the point in creating things that can't be saved?"

Itachi took that moment to conveniently vanish in search of his parent's table, which he found in the corner with Sasuke as well. He smiled and sat down, wincing as he did so and tugging on the kaku obi to try and get more comfortable.

"Really dear, must you keep fussing with that?" Mikoto sighed lightly. "Where have you been?"

"Just outside chatting with Deidara."

"Can I have your attention please?"

They all turned to the elevated stage at the back of the room. Konan stood on it with a pretty smile on her face, clutching the microphone with one hand and her bouquet with the other. Itachi mentally thanked her timely intervention.

"In a moment we will be conducting the speeches, but first I'm going to throw my bouquet. The tradition goes that the person to catch it will be married next, so gather round on the dance floor if you'd like that to be you!"

A handful of ladies assembled, laughing and looking a little shy, but the attention soon moved from them when Deidara practically sprinted across to join them. He sent a beaming smile to Itachi, who simply stared at him while Sasuke snickered from his side.

"I think he's trying to tell you something," he laughed as Itachi buried his face in his hands with a heavy sigh.

"Three! Two! One!" They all counted down, squealing as Konan threw the bouquet over her shoulder.

All sets of hands came up to catch it, and one only set came out triumphant. Deidara clasped the bouquet and waved it in the air, yelling across the room.

"ITACHI! HEY ITACHI! THIS MEANS WE NEED TO GET MARRIED NOW, YEAH!"

"Oh my word," Itachi muttered to himself as Sasuke burst out laughing, unable to suppress it any longer. "Dad? A double whiskey please?"

"I was just thinking the same, son," Fugaku remarked grimly before he headed for the bar, leaving Mikoto to smile softly at Itachi and put a hand on his shoulder as he buried his face in his arms across the table in shame.

"Attention please," Nagato called from his table at the head of the room as Konan sat beside him. "First, Hidan is going to say a few words for us."

Hidan gave him a grin and tapped on the edge of his glass. "Alright, listen up!" He yelled to get the full attention of the room. "Pick up your freebie drinks- I'm sure you're all loving getting drunk on someone else's money, ain't you fuckers?"

"Pick 'em up and toast Nagato and Konan, joined in holy matrimony beneath God's eyes so that means no divorcing, no fucking around, no sinning or any of that shit. Understood? Good."

With his point made he sat down, looking satisfied with himself. The people in the room aware of his usual vulgarity chuckled, while others looked stunned. Madara soon dispelled it by standing and giving the room a pleasant smile.

"Thank you all for coming today. It is with great honour that I address you as Nagato's best man. Firstly, I would like to say something to Konan- I know you've always wanted to travel to Rome, haven't you? But you aren't taking a honeymoon due to work commitments."

"You wouldn't give us the time off," Konan corrected.

"Ah, yes. Well I present to you both my wedding gift," Madara declared, slowly drawing something from his pocket in a style reminiscent of a movie actor stretching out a dramatic scene. "Tickets to Rome, and a month's leave from work."

"Are you serious?" Konan whispered as Madara handed the tickets to her. "We can't- how can we- our work, how can we...?"

"Darling, I'm Uchiha Madara," Madara told her with an exasperated sigh. "If I want you to take a month off, you'll get it. Hell, if I wanted to project an image onto moon to control the planet, I'd get it. Don't worry about the work and make sure you have valid passports, since you're leaving next week."

"Thank you," Konan murmured, still staring at the tickets in disbelief.

"With that out of the way, I re-address the congregation," Madara declared as he looked up at the assembled members of the room with a pleasant, yet entirely fake smile. "Good evening, and thank you for coming along today-"

"Blah, blah, blah," Deidara muttered as he slipped into the seat next to Itachi, thrusting the bouquet into his lap. "I don't think all these people can fit into this room with his ego, yeah."

"Did you have to show me up like that?" Itachi hissed at him as he lightly brushed his fingers across the petals of the bouquet.

"Does that mean you won't marry me?" Deidara asked cheekily.

"You're lucky I'm not ditching you for that stunt."

"I love you too," Deidara cooed, latching himself to Itachi's arm and leaning up against him with a soft sigh. "I just wanted to clear up the 'friend' issue, yeah."

"There were easier ways of doing that," Itachi pointed out, leaning across and giving him a light kiss. "Like that. Or sharing a dance together, perhaps. Or the fact we walked in holding hands-"

"Alright, I just wanted to see your reaction," Deidara admitted as Fugaku came back with a tray of drinks. He put down a double whiskey for Itachi, as requested, and passed a cocktail glass to Deidara.

"You seem the sort to drink this kind of thing," he said with an awkward shrug. Deidara's eyes lit up and he took the cocktail, taking a sip of it and nodding approvingly.

"It's nice. What is it?"

"It had some kind of filthy sounding name," Fugaku said vaguely, looking mildly embarrassed. Itachi took it from his partner and sipped it, handing it back with a smirk.

"It's a Sex on the Beach."

"Is that so?" Deidara smirked back, giving Itachi a suggestive look.

Itachi glared at him pointedly, wordlessly reminding him that his parents were sitting right next to them and such implications were unsuitable. Deidara sighed and took the flowers from Itachi's lap, graciously handing them to Mikoto with a smile.

"You can keep those," he offered.

"Thank you dear," she smiled back as Deidara grabbed Itachi's hand and pulled him to his feet with a swift yank.

"Thanks for that," Itachi gasped as he put one hand to the kaku obi still tightly wrapped around his waist. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Oh no," Deidara purred into his ear. "I guess you'll just have to remove it."

"I told you, stop that."

"You're no fun," Deidara sighed. "You know there's a garden attached to this hall, right? Shall we go out there?"

"That would be nice," Itachi agreed, allowing himself to be led across the room.

He caught a few eyes on their joined hands but he simply squeezed tighter and smiled softly to himself. He was happy to let them look. If two people in love was out of place at a wedding, what hope was there for the world?

Chapter End