Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ With You I Will Journey Life's Path ❯ Unicorns Exist, I Promise ( Chapter 11 )

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 11: Unicorns Exist, I Promise

Itachi was beginning to regret the unicorn. Deidara had made comment along the lines of 'this picture was clearly drawn by a gay man', which had led to a heated discussion where Itachi had pointed out the vast difference between being gay and being bisexual.

In which Deidara had declared he didn't care what his boyfriend wanted to indentify as, as long as he drew more 'camp unicorns' to decorate the house with.

Itachi had disagreed, and Deidara had been strangely quiet. Itachi knew that meant he was planning something, though he didn't know at the time exactly what.

A couple of weeks later he had received his answer, awakening to the scent of paint and going to the source of it in the living room with a sense of dread.

Deidara had been merrily humming a song while he painted silver metallic stars on the wall, turning and giving Itachi a grin. "Look!" He had declared. "It's a unicorn!"

Itachi could see it was a unicorn. It was a unicorn that was now taking up most of his living room wall and threatening to kill him via increased blood pressure.

Deidara had painted his previously cream wall pink, then painted a white unicorn on top of it that was seemingly vomiting a trail of silver stars around it while racing along a rainbow. Itachi had never seen anything so tacky in his entire life, and he'd been witness to Deidara dressed like David Bowie.

"You inspired me," Deidara had declared proudly, and in that moment Itachi wanted nothing more than to teleport back in time and repeatedly tell his past self that the unicorn was a terrible idea. And so, he had started a mental vendetta against unicorns.

Knowing he'd wake up to a real unicorn tied up in his garden, if such a thing was possible, he'd not dared to touch Deidara's artwork. Instead he'd taken to simply attempt to ignore its existence, which made things remarkably difficult when Madara turned up at the door unannounced.

"Were you busy?" He asked in greeting when Itachi opened the door and gaped at him, eyes wide in shock. As it was Madara had interrupted a rather hot and heavy make out session in the shower, and thus Itachi was standing in a towelling gown soaking wet and thoroughly annoyed.

"I was in the shower," he replied, though it was unnecessary since that much was obvious. "Can I help?"

What he had really wanted to say was 'you cannot come inside because there is a giant painting of a mystical creature upon my walls, thus proving Deidara is still very much a part of my life', but he bit his tongue. Madara often had that effect on people.

"I'd like you to draw me up a contract," Madara responded as he breezed into the house uninvited, pushing Itachi aside.

"Let me get dressed," Itachi told him before darting back into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door and turning to Deidara. "Climb out the window," he hissed.

"Do I look like a midget? The window is tiny, yeah."

"You need to get out of the way- we're supposed to have broken up!"

"I think the giant unicorn is going to tell him we haven't."

Itachi glared at him, quickly drying and dressing before sighing heavily and going out to face Madara. He made sure to close the living room door behind him loudly, giving Deidara his cue to vanish to the bedroom unseen.

Madara was, of course, inspecting the unicorn. "Interesting choice," he mused. "I presume this is a remnant of Deidara's stay here?"

"That and the sun in the kitchen," Itachi replied, before swiftly changing the subject before Madara could remember it hadn't been present on his last visit. "I presume my father reminded you of my address?"

"He did. He suggested you may as well put your studies of law to good use and write this contract."

Itachi happily took up a pen and paper, suppressing a grin. He'd spoken to his father about pushing the idea to Madara- Fugaku had been uneasy about the idea of deception but apparently he had followed through with the suggestion regardless.

"Of course," he replied. "Just tell me which things you would like to be included, if you have any special conditions or so forth."

"I don't want you weaselling out of this," Madara warned. "I want it in writing that you have to take over from your father if I give the business to him."

"I see you are no longer attempting to be secretive about your desires," Itachi remarked, his voice indifferent but his eyes steely.

"I want you on my side," Madara agreed. "Ideally I want you working for me right now, but your father insists you're set on becoming a teacher like your cousin. It's such a waste, it really is. A mind like yours should be working the stock market, not teaching brats how to count to five."

"I wish to teach geography, not mathematics," Itachi told him blithely as he took some notes on the paper, telling himself to step above the remarks and keep the moral high ground in the conversation. "Is there anything else in particular you would like me to add?"

"Just the usual," Madara replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I'm sure you know what you're doing. I'll be checking it though, so don't think you can sneak in any get out of jail free cards."

"Listen," Itachi hissed, setting the pen down as he was unable to keep his silence any longer. "I'm doing this for my father, so I could do without your witticisms."

"And I could do without your attitude. Yet another unfortunate trait you seem to have picked up from your ex. It's probably a good thing you kicked him out when you did, you know, else I'll be hearing stories of you working for charity and fostering kittens next. Such things are unbecoming of an Uchiha."

"Being kind and acting like a pleasant human being are unbecoming acts for an Uchiha?"

"Indeed. You should ask your brother about that, the little brat. He has clearly inherited the usual attitude of an Uchiha."

Itachi nearly snapped the pen he was holding in half. "Leave Sasuke out of this."

"Ah, have I riled protective big brother?" Madara smiled patronisingly. "My apologies. I'll be back in a week's time to collect the contract."

He stood to make his way, gladly herded by Itachi who gave him a pleasant smile at the front door, waved him goodbye and shut the door calmly. Deidara emerged from the bedroom in time to see him turn and stalk down the hallway with thunder in his eyes.

"Did it go well?" Deidara ventured to ask almost nervously, disliking Itachi's flared temper.

"That man is abhorrent," Itachi hissed in response. "He- he- I'm sorry, but I have nothing pleasant to say about him."

"Then say something unpleasant about him."

"I am above such behaviour."

The doorbell startled them both. Deidara hid back in the bedroom, leaving Itachi to answer the door once more.

"I left my car keys on the table," Madara explained. "Run and fetch them, would you?"

Itachi stared at him for a moment before stepping aside, clearly inviting Madara to get his own keys. Madara stared back and leant against the doorframe for emphasis.

"I'll stand here all day if I must," Madara sighed when a full minute passed, where neither of them would give ground. Itachi finally relented, but only to get Madara off of his front doorstep.

"Here," he snapped, tossing the keys back at Madara.

"You're so touchy!" Madara chided. "You need to learn when to bark, Itachi, and I assure you it isn't at me."

He reached out and tapped Itachi on the nose patronisingly like one would a dog, leaving the man in question to slam the door behind his uncle this time.

Deidara tentatively poked his head round the doorframe to see Itachi still standing by the front door, hands clenched tightly enough to whiten his knuckles and clearly seething.

"Please ignore my last comment," he remarked, his voice clipped. "He's a fucking jackass."

Deidara said nothing, smothering a snicker with his hand.

That night, whilst curled up in the bed together, Itachi took a moment to relish in just how lucky he actually was. Deidara was curled up sleepily against his naked side, slowly beginning to drift into sleep, but for once Itachi had other plans for him.

He shifted so he was sitting up, jolting Deidara awake a little more. He glanced up with tired, confused eyes that Itachi couldn't help but smile at.

"We've been busy lately," Itachi shrugged awkwardly. "And my life has, once again, been centred around drama. How about we just take a moment?"

Deidara returned his smile, gently tugging Itachi back down and curling up next to him again. "I'm listening, yeah."

"Can you tell me more about Norway?" Itachi murmured, absently brushing one hand through Deidara's hair. "I can't believe I didn't know that about you."

"It isn't something I like to bring up actually," Deidara replied quietly.

"I don't hide it, as such, but I don't really bring it up. My life in Norway was terrible. I wish I could tell you wonderful stories about it, but I can't." He paused, musing for a moment before continuing. "I can tell you it's a beautiful country, though."

"I'm so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Deidara replied with a light chuckle.

"My life story really isn't very interesting. My parents had an abusive relationship, but my mother was someone who just couldn't say no or walk away, yeah. I don't blame her for it, but I can't say we really get along wonderfully now. One of the reasons she helped fund my time in Europe after school as out of guilt."

"How did you end up in this country?"

"Dad put me in hospital," Deidara shrugged. Itachi's eyes widened and he tightened his grip around his partner protectively. "My mum was actually born here so I guess it was natural that she came back in a fit of courage. Of course that meant dad knew where we were."

"How did he find you?"

"Mum," Deidara sighed heavily. "When he followed us here he got in contact, apologised, and wormed his way back into her life, yeah. I was so angry about that. He hadn't changed but this time I wasn't prepared to stand for it, so I moved out as soon as I could. I felt like I was abandoning my mother but I couldn't help her if she wouldn't help herself."

"Where's your father now?"

"Who knows?" Deidara replied airily. "Honestly- I don't know, and I don't care. He eventually left, yeah. Mum started talking back last I heard, so I guess he went to go find another weak-willed woman to prey on."

For a moment Itachi felt crushing guilt for his own privileged life- all his problems were ones he had conjured or allowed to spiral out of control.

His home environment might have been strained but his parents never once laid a hand on him. There was always a roof over his head, food on the table and a stable environment to grow and thrive within.

"Stop feeling bad," Deidara chuckled, as though he had read Itachi's mind. "I know you. What's done is done, and all that matters is we're here together now, right?"

"True," Itachi conceded, planting a soft kiss on Deidara's forehead. "And I love that we are. How about we make a pact?"

"In future, if either of us is annoying about something- especially if it's something the other person has said or done- how about me make it clear and work through it at the time? I don't want you walking out on me because my brother's an idiot, for example."

"And I don't want you hiding your mental issues, yeah. I know you're a headcase. I don't need that to be hidden."

"Funny," Itachi chuckled as he leaned over a flicked the light out, bathing the room in soft, pleasant moonlight. He could feel how tired he was and the look on Deidara's face same the same thing. "I think the same thing about you."

Saturday morning arrived not a day too soon for Itachi, who was rather looking forward to wasting a day at the aquarium with Kisame. Sasuke had decided to come along for the day, though Itachi knew that right then his little brother was feeling rather guilty and would do almost anything asked of him by his dearest big brother.

He'd brought a gift with him when he arrived- a plastic box, which he had handed to Deidara.

"Cinnamon cake," Sasuke had said before Deidara could comment. "It's been a while since I made one, and I thought you guys would appreciate it."

The look on his face also said 'this is also an apology for contributing to you guys breaking up, but I am far too proud to actually say so out loud so you will just have to decipher it from my look'. Fortunately Deidara got the meaning and thanked him, taking it back into the house.

They had been waiting for the younger Uchiha on the pavement by the car, Itachi hoping Sasuke wouldn't enter the house and see his new living room mural. However Sasuke had followed Deidara inside, so he had no choice but to allow it to happen.

Sasuke had stopped in the doorway, eyes on the unicorn before he laughed so hard he choked.

"Nice decor," he had complemented his brother. "Are you trying to advertise your homosexual tendencies to everyone that enters your home, because the only thing you need to do right now that would be more gay than this would be to bang Deidara on your sofa in front of guests."

Itachi ushered him straight back out of the house again, scowling at Deidara as they went, before making sure the topic didn't come up again on the drive to the aquarium.

"So what's Kisame doing here today?" Sasuke asked as they paid their admission fee, which was exorbitant considering what it was for.

"I don't actually know," Itachi mused. "Considering what he does, it's probably something related to the fish here."

They got their answer a minute or so later when they headed into the main lobby, only to find a person dressed in a shark mascot outfit make a beeline for them, waving cheerily.

"Itachi!" It called, confirming the man in question's suspicions. "Hey!"

"When you said you were working here, this isn't quite what I expected," Itachi commented, before he found himself being swept into a fierce hug by a giant shark. "Kisame! Let go!"

"Spoil sport," Kisame joked, but he heeded the request. "This is so much fun, Itachi, I tell you. I've made five children cry this morning already!"

"That sounds like my kind of job," Sasuke snickered, giving Kisame a rare smile. "It's good to see you outside of Christmas."

"And you. How are you keeping?"

"Not bad thanks. You?"

"Oh you know, the usual," Kisame shrugged as best he could wearing a costume. "Finishing my work experience, ending up with no home, living out of my car- you know, that kind of thing."

"What happened?" Itachi asked in surprise. "Is everything alright?"

"I'll catch up with you in the cafeteria around twelve thirty," Kisame promised. "It's not as bad as it sounds- I'll explain later."

Itachi wasn't pleased with that idea, gently nudging Deidara and Sasuke away so it was just him and Kisame. "If you need somewhere to stay you only have to ask," he noted seriously.

Kisame laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "You have your own life to worry about. But if you must know, I'm waiting for my mother to get back from her holiday.

"I called her and told her the problem and of course, she decided sitting on the beach drinking cocktails was more important than mailing me a set of keys or something. She's probably scaring people wearing her bikini as we speak."

"Don't be so rude about your mother," Itachi chided gently.

"Says the guy who up until recently couldn't stand his own. You're hardly in a position to preach to me. Besides- I love her, she knows that, and so do you before you start giving me shit. I just don't love her tendency to drop everything when my dad says so. Of course it was his idea to fly off to Jamaica."

"If you want somewhere to stay in the meantime, just ask," Itachi reiterated with a serious tone in his voice, before pointing past Kisame's shoulder. "There's a group of children coming in. Don't you have a job to do?"

"Twelve thirty," Kisame repeated as he headed off immediately in the direction of the soon-to-be terrified children. "See you in the cafeteria!"

"What's with him?" Sasuke asked as Itachi rejoined them, eyes narrowed very slightly in concern.

"I'm not entirely sure," Itachi replied. "I'll find out later, hopefully. Shall we go and do something fun?"

"This is an aquarium. I'm not entirely sure there's much here that's 'fun'," Sasuke pointed out. "But there's a pool outside where you can hold starfish, if that appeals."

"That sounds nice," Itachi mused, turning to Deidara. "Deidara, what are you doing?"

"Hmm?" Deidara hummed, turning back to Itachi innocently. "What?"

Itachi glared at him and indicated the poster they were standing next to. It had a few various sea animals on it, which was entirely normal. What wasn't normal was the googly eyes attached to animals, making them all look completely ridiculous.

"It was like that when we got here," Deidara attempted to protest.

"Of course it was. Remove them."

Deidara looked unhappy, but did as requested. Itachi turned to Sasuke, who raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Why are you with him again?" He asked.

"You know, sometimes I have no idea," Itachi sighed heavily. "Because I love him, I suppose."

"You should probably talk to your therapist about that. She might be able to cure you."

Itachi glanced over at Deidara once more, who was surreptitiously attempting to draw on the poster instead with a marker.

"I don't think so," he mused quietly. "I quite like it sometimes- but don't tell him that, will you?"

Chapter End