Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Preferable Path to Perfection is You ❯ Epilogue ( Chapter 17 )

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 17: Epilogue

"Deidara?"

"I don't like your tone, yeah. What?"

Itachi gave him a tiny, mildly nervous smile from the living room doorway. Deidara frowned- the other had gone to fetch sugar half an hour before, so why was he now standing in the doorway like he'd done something wrong and was waiting to be scolded?

Itachi stepped aside and let Sasuke enter the room and quite suddenly, it all made sense in Deidara's mind.

"A word of warning," Itachi remarked, grabbing Sasuke's shoulder as he stepped forward. "No violence in my house. You two will get along, do you hear me?"

"Of course," Sasuke replied smoothly, his tone indicating he might just disregard that warning. Deidara met his eye cautiously, shrugging in defeat after a moment.

"What did I do?" He asked tiredly.

"You left," Sasuke responded easily, glancing over his shoulder as Itachi wisely left the room and closed the door behind him. Deidara felt like calling out to him not to go, but pride kept his lips sealed. He wasn't scared of a teenage kid.

Sasuke stepped towards him and he took the thought back rapidly- okay, yes he was, how did he manage to look so intimidating like that?!

"I left so your brother could get his head straight," he explained coolly, his voice betraying nothing as Sasuke sat beside him on the sofa. "I know you and I both agree the complex isn't working out for him, yeah."

"Agreed," Sasuke nodded, sighing heavily in defeat as he realised he had no more he could say on that particular matter. "If you hurt him I will hurt you back, hear me?"

"Loud and clear, yeah."

"Do you want my cinnamon cake recipe?"

Deidara's eyes widened, looking stunned. "Do I what?"

"Are you hard of hearing as well as stupid?" Sasuke snapped, rolling his eyes. "It was a simple question, yeah."

The sarcastic teasing of Deidara's speech riled him up immediately, causing the artist to clench his fists in annoyance. "I'm sure I can make cinnamon cake without your recipe."

"Itachi likes my recipe," Sasuke taunted. "Are you sure?"

Deidara faltered for a moment, turning his eyes to the floor. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll take it."

Sasuke smirked and reached into his pocket, pulling out the recipe he had written out already as though he had known the other would agree. "It's our little secret," he explained, his voice in a whisper. "Don't let even Itachi see this, alright?"

"Sure," Deidara agreed, taking the paper and giving the younger Uchiha the smallest of smiles.

"This is an acceptance of your relationship, just so you know," Sasuke explained, shrugging awkwardly as he looked at the floor, cheeks tinged just a little in embarrassment.

"Do you want a pat on the head for it?" Deidara responded airily, narrowing his eyes to the paper in front of him as he attempted to make the words out.

"I don't know what we would have done without your consent, yeah." He paused in mock thought. "Oh yes, I do- we'd have done it anyway. But thanks for the thought."

"I'm going to physically put you back on that train myself, even if it means tying you to the damn seat," Sasuke responded, a murderous look in his eyes. It went by completely ignored by its recipient.

"Your handwriting it atrocious," Deidara replied instead, finally pulling the paper away from his gaze in frustration. "Am I supposed to understand this?"

Sasuke scowled at him and glanced over his shoulder. "What's wrong with it?" He argued sharply. "What can't you read?"

"Any of it!"

"Then you'd better add English to your college curriculum!"

From his post outside the door in the hallway, Itachi smothered a soft chuckle behind one hand. Perhaps the two would never be firm friends, but there seemed to be potential on the horizon. It all sounded reasonably light hearted, after all.

"My English is just fine, it isn't my fault your handwriting looks like a spider crawled on the page and died, yeah!"

"Do you want the recipe or not, because I'm this close to just shredding it and smacking you-"

"Is that a threat, Uchiha?! I swear the only reason I don't rip your throat out is because I respect your brother-"

"The only reason I don't rip out yours is that I can't stand the idea of him moping about like he did when you left. Hear me- when you left, you fucking jackass. I have no idea what he sees in you-"

Itachi breathed deeply and tilted his head to the wall, banging against it softly in frustration. Alright, maybe not.

Story End

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