Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond - Chapter 12
So hesitant to write the next chapter -- it's a crucial one. :O
(But I rather like the way this one turned out!)
Title: Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond
Fandom: Naruto
Type: Multi-chaptered
Rating: Pg-13
Pairings: Deidara/Sakura
Word count: 4,891
Summary: Naruto had been bragging all day that his new jutsu was his best yet. Sakura and her new situation beg to differ. Post time-skip. DeiSaku.
“Oh goddamn its cold!” Sakura didn’t care if she’d now lost track of how many times she’d said that - it was true.
Deidara rubbed his arms in a futile attempt to keep warm as they walked carefully along the icy road. “We almost should’ve kept those ugly tavern clothes, yeah. This is one of the few times that I’d be willing to sacrifice style for comfort.”
Sakura chuckled weakly at that, the sound coming out choked and strange as her teeth chattered. “I don’t know about that... I had that awful brown dress, remember?”
“I’m trying not to, yeah.”
She would have stuck her tongue out at him had it not been so cold. “Whatever. Point is we have got to have the worst luck. Ever. Just when we’re getting closer to home, we get hit by a massive snowstorm. What did we do to deserve this?”
Avoiding an icy patch on the road, Deidara said, “If you’re talking karma, yeah, I can think of a few things I’ve done that might’ve merited this.”
“Just a few?” she asked, raising an eyebrow in doubt.
He shrugged, unconcerned. “Maybe a bit more.”
“Well thanks for sharing your karmic retribution with me, you jerk. Keep it to yourself next time.”
“So mean, yeah! Would you really wish all that on me?”
“Yes, I would,” she said with conviction as she shivered. “And I still hope you get reincarnated as a duck.”
They grinned at each other for a moment before Sakura covered her face and looked away -- the biting wind made her teeth hurt. Glad that they’d at least thought to buy new boots, Sakura now thoroughly regretted their decision to leave for the nearest port town that morning. The storm had started only a few hours after they’d left, and much to Sakura’s dismay they’d already gone too far to turn back. As long as they stuck to the main road they’d get there eventually - Sakura could only hope fervently that ‘eventually’ meant ‘right now’.
The harsh wind and snow that drifted from the nearby fields made it difficult to see as she squinted into the distance. After hours of being faced with a constant wall of white, she almost didn’t register what she was seeing when small specks of light appeared through the storm. Deidara, however, wasted no time in rejoicing. “Lights! They’ve got to be coming from a town, yeah.”
Struck by a wave of excitement as she realized he was right, Sakura stepped forward a little too quickly - the treads of her new boots were no match for the sudden movement combined with the slippery road. As she panicked and felt her feet slip out from under her, Sakura reached for the closest thing to try and steady herself. Unfortunately for Deidara, that happened to be his sleeve. Unbalanced, they both toppled over and were left sprawled out across the snowy road.
With one arm trapped painfully under his travel partner, Deidara wasn’t amused. “Thank you for that, yeah.”
“Sorry,” Sakura apologized sheepishly as she stood up. She pressed a hand gingerly against her tailbone which had taken most of the fall. It was going to be sore tomorrow, she thought with a grimace.
Deidara winced as he massaged his wrist that had been pinned beneath Sakura. With a slight twinge of guilt, Sakura held out a hand to help him stand. “I didn’t mean to take you down with me.”
“It’s fine...” The brief moment of surprise that Sakura felt at being so easily forgiven was quickly crushed. Deidara reached towards her proffered hand but grabbed her wrist instead. After pulling himself up, he picked Sakura up by the waist and dropped her unceremoniously in a nearby snow bank.
“Now we’re even, yeah.” Deidara turned away and strolled casually towards the distant lights, oblivious to Sakura spitting curses at him as she extricated herself from the snow.
Humiliated and with her clothes now cold and wet, Sakura formed a snowball and threw it at Deidara’s back. He stepped to the side, dodging it easily, and continued walking as though nothing had happened. Sakura glared and ground her teeth before stomping after him.
By the time they reached the town, Sakura could feel her wet clothes beginning to freeze to her skin. With the frigid wind blowing harder as they approached the sea, the sensation was more than just a little unpleasant. Breath coming in short gasps as she shivered, Sakura could only bite her lip to fight back tears. Being warm seemed like such wishful thinking she almost couldn’t imagine it. Deidara glanced over at her, his face somewhere between guilt and a scowl, and muttered words that were drowned out by the vicious wind.
Too cold to protest or care, Sakura felt Deidara place an arm around her shoulders as he steered her through the streets. She closed her eyes, trying to convince herself that she was already somewhere safe and warm and allowed herself to be led. When Deidara managed to locate a place to stay for the night, Sakura was only vaguely aware that he half carried her up the steps and into the inn.
Without even a nod to acknowledge the innkeeper as they entered, Deidara kept his arm around Sakura’s shoulders and marched her directly to a chair by the fireplace. Surprised but grateful, Sakura stretched her hands out towards the fire as she sank into the cushions of the armchair. Glancing up, she caught Deidara’s eyes for a second before he looked away, adopting one of his usual haughty expressions.
Curious about the newcomers who had so suddenly invaded her establishment, the innkeeper called out, “Welcome!”
Before she could stop herself, Sakura sighed in relief. “I am so glad you speak English!” With parts of her body suffering from the beginnings of frostbite, she wasn’t in the mood to negotiate in hand signs.
“Of course I do!” The woman’s accent was thick but understandable. She stepped out from behind the desk and pulled a blanket from a nearby sofa. Deidara took it from her and draped it around Sakura’s shivering form as the woman explained, “We get lots of traders here -- you have to learn a few languages if you want to stay in business. Now what can I do for you two? A room for the night?”
“Yes, please!” Sakura answered desperately as Deidara handed over their money.
The woman inspected the coins with a frown. “Hhmm... Foreign currency.” She sighed and shook her head, handing the money back to Deidara. “I don’t accept that.”
Sakura’s face fell. She must have been a pathetic sight indeed; the innkeeper’s expression softened into a kindly smile as she looked at her. “Not to worry though, dear. We’ll figure out payment tomorrow - you can get the money exchanged at the bank. In the meantime, I’ve got the perfect room for you and your boyfriend.”
Sakura growled and hugged the blanket tightly around her shoulders. That misunderstanding was starting to get old. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
The innkeeper’s smile was completely unfazed. She winked knowingly at Sakura. “No, of course not, dear. Now come along.”
Sakura clenched her teeth in frustration as she gathered the remains of her energy and stood up from the chair. As the woman turned back towards her desk, Sakura could feel Deidara trying to stifle giggles beside her. She stomped on his foot. He doubled over in pain as the innkeeper brought them their key.
++
Sakura awoke the next morning to Deidara throwing open the blinds. “How is it that the one day you manage to wake up earlier than me is the one day when I really need more sleep?” she groaned, closing her eyes against the light.
“It’s already noon, yeah. You can’t sleep for the whole day.” With an evil grin, he pulled the covers from the bed.
“I can see now why you’re in the Akatsuki,” she grumbled as she curled into a ball to try and retain the warmth of her stolen covers. “Clearly you have no mercy.”
“Quit whining,” he said as he handed her a plate of crescent-shaped pastries. Sakura bit into one and almost spilled the jam filling down her shirt. “You should be excited, yeah - if we can find a ship today we’ll be on our way home soon.”
That thought caused her to bite her lip. No longer hungry, she placed the rest of the pastry back on the plate. She pressed a hand against where she’d bitten her lip and turned away from Deidara. It was silly, she knew it was, but the feeling of apprehension she’d experienced the night before returned. She wanted to go back to Konoha, but at the same time she didn’t.
Noticing Sakura’s sudden change in mood, Deidara sat down beside her on the bed. He studied her face closely before narrowing his eyes and asking warily, “You’re not getting sick or anything, yeah? ‘Cause if you do I’m not taking care of you.”
Sakura’s eyes flitted up to look at his. She opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say what she was feeling. He would probably laugh at her and she would feel like a complete fool if he had no reservations about never seeing her again after their adventure. She closed her mouth and swallowed, at a loss for what to say.
Their eyes stayed locked on each other’s and Sakura had a moment of fleeting, wishful hope that he understood her unspoken thoughts. Deidara looked away first and tugged distractedly on some loose strands of hair. In that instant, Sakura wished more than anything to know what he was thinking.
Deidara took a deep, steadying breath and stood up from the bed. Without meeting Sakura’s gaze, he made his way to the door. “Let’s go, yeah.”
Still disoriented by her previous thoughts, she blinked. “Go? Where?”
“To the harbour, yeah.” His shoulders were tense and Sakura could see his knuckles go white as he gripped the door handle too tight. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
As the door closed behind him, Sakura buried her face in her hands. She wanted to scream and shake Deidara until all of his hidden emotions tumbled out. It was embarrassing, torturous even, to think that she was the only one who had developed some weird sort of attachment. But she couldn’t tell him what she was feeling; they just didn’t do that. Besides, she couldn’t even clearly identify her own thoughts and emotions. With a shake of her head, which did little to clear it, Sakura got up and prepared to go outside.
++
The freshly fallen snow crunched beneath her boots as she stepped out onto the street. Deidara was leaning against the side of the inn, gazing absentmindedly up at the clear sky. “Shall we?” Sakura asked, pasting on a falsely cheerful grin. He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and nodded.
As they walked in the direction of the port, Sakura had a chance to take in her surroundings. Between the storm and her own pitiful condition, she’d hardly noticed the town the night before. The buildings were made mostly of stone, but the wooden shutters and snow-covered roofs gave them a certain charm. The streets weren’t particularly busy, but they still had some life to them. People nodded to each other as they hurried into the warmth of the shops. Sakura couldn’t help but smile to herself; she liked the town.
When they arrived at the port, Deidara looked around in confusion. “Where are all the boats, yeah?”
Furrowing her brow, Sakura wondered the same thing. “The water’s all covered in ice too,” she noticed as she approached the edge of the harbour.
“You be careful you don’t fall in there, Miss.”
Startled, Sakura turned towards the voice. An older man, bundled up against the cold so that only a few wisps of grey hair were visible, nodded in greeting to Deidara before continuing, “That ice won’t hold you, and the water’s so cold you’ll lose your toes.”
A familiar note in his voice triggered memories of her first C-rank mission, and Sakura asked, surprised, “You’re from the Wave Country, aren’t you?”
“Right you are, and if I’m not mistaken, you’re a long ways from home yourself.” He tilted his head towards a nearby building. “Now let’s get inside before we all freeze to death.”
The air inside the bar was thick with smoke, and the wooden floors creaked as Sakura stepped inside. Deidara looked decidedly unimpressed with the grimy surroundings. “Don’t get the house beer,” the man warned with a grimace as he pulled off his hat and scarf.
Once they’d settled around a table, Deidara and Sakura both ordering water to the dismay of the bartender, Sakura asked curiously, “So why are you all the way out here, Mister --?”
“Taku, just call me Taku.” He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from a jacket pocket and offered one to Deidara, who shook his head in refusal. “I do some trading between here and the Wave Country. Just so happens that this year I didn’t make it back before the winter kicked in, so now I’m stuck until the ice thaws.” He shrugged as he fumbled with a pack of matches. “It’s not that bad though, Cìen’s a nice place and most of the people here can speak our language. It’s just so damn cold, I’ll never get used to it.”
Sakura laughed, delighted at the chance to talk to someone so sympathetic. “You’re telling me! What a change from what I’m used to in Ko--” Catching herself just in time, Sakura pretended to cough. “Ah, the Fire Country.”
Taku raised an eyebrow at Sakura’s slip-up, but didn’t press her. Taking a long drag on his cigarette, he looked at Deidara. “And where are you from, young man?”
“One of the northern countries, yeah,” Deidara replied as the bartender arrived with their drinks.
“Well with a dialect like that, I’d expect so.” Taku downed the liquor he’d ordered in one go. “I guess you’re used to the cold then. Right at home here, eh?”
Deidara made a face as he tried a sip of water; Sakura made a mental note not to drink her own. “Not really, yeah. We’re looking to get back to the Fire Country as soon as we can.”
“Well, you’ve still got a bit more time to wait.”
Sakura leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “What do you mean?”
Taku tapped the ashes from his cigarette into his shot glass and explained, “There’s no way anything can sail when the water’s all icy during the winter.”
“So we have to wait until spring?”
“Not exactly,” Taku replied, as Sakura and Deidara exchanged confused glances. If they couldn’t set sail now and they didn’t have to wait until spring, when could they go home? Taku cleared his throat before continuing, “You have to wait a few months after that too, until summer. The ice melts off the northern mountains in the spring and causes rough conditions at sea. You’d be crazy to travel then!”
Sakura felt her heart do an uncomfortable flip-flop between relief and disappointment. They would have to stay in Cìen for longer than she’d expected. While this meant she wouldn’t be reunited with her friends back in Konoha yet, it also meant... She glanced over at Deidara from the corner of her eye, but looked away quickly when their gazes met.
In an attempt to clear her mind, Sakura changed the subject and made small talk with Taku for a while as Deidara looked thoroughly bored, until the older man thanked them for their company and took his leave. “If you two need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” he told them before once again braving the cold outside.
After Taku had left, Deidara slouched in his chair and rubbed his eyes wearily. “I can’t believe we’re going to be stuck here for such a long time, yeah.”
That comment stung. Was he really so eager to go back to the Akatsuki? A knot in her stomach told Sakura that she had been silly to think he’d grown to consider her as a friend. She shifted uneasily in her chair as Deidara continued, “It’s not like we can make a bird and fly across the ocean either - that would take too much chakra.”
Her breath caught in her throat as her mind registered the word ‘we’. Whether it was intentional or not, Sakura wasn’t sure, but it was enough to make her smile. She might be uncertain about what he felt towards her, but she was at least confident that whatever happened they’d be in it together. “Come on,” she said, standing up, “We can’t mope around here all day.”
“You’re right, yeah. Let’s look into getting our money changed over to the currency here,” Deidara suggested as he followed her out of the warmth of the bar.
“Good idea,” Sakura agreed as the chilly wind outside made her shiver. “Then we can get some real clothes. I can’t wait to get rid of these ones.” She plucked at a threadbare sleeve with disgust.
“We’ll also have to pay our bill at the inn for last night, yeah.”
Sakura blinked. “Oh. Right.”
“You forgot about that didn’t you?” he smirked at her, teasing.
“Of course not!” she lied, feeling her ears turn pink. Embarrassed, she quickened her pace, heading towards the main part of town.
++
The new coins they’d exchanged for their stolen money jingled pleasantly in her pocket as Sakura browsed through racks of clothing. Aware of the appalled looks the rather cute shop assistant was giving her current outfit - the faded, torn, and ill-fitting military clothes she’d snagged ages ago - Sakura hurried to find something more suitable. She was glad that she and Deidara had decided to separate while shopping, certain that he would have noticed her reasons for rushing and taken full advantage of the opportunity to tease her.
As her eyes fell on a familiar colour, Sakura pulled a shirt from its hanger. The button-up blouse was fitted and had cute sleeves that puffed slightly around the shoulders. Best of all, it was red; that perfect shade of red that marked her as a Haruno.
After a few more minutes of searching and a quick trip to the change room, Sakura cinched the belt on her coat and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Along with a plain pair of jeans with the red blouse, she’d also found a knee-length white coat with a matching hat. The outfit certainly didn’t qualify as practical ninja-wear, but it was much more appropriate for the weather.
Pleased with her purchases, Sakura made her way back to the inn. Halfway there, a familiar voice called out, “Nice coat, yeah.”
Sakura turned to find an attractive young man, hands in his pockets and blond hair in disarray from the wind. She was about to give him a scowl and tell him she wasn’t interested before she focused in on his smirk - she would recognize it anywhere - and did a double-take.
Deidara had found himself a pair of fitted jeans and a pea coat which he’d left unbuttoned, revealing a black, collared shirt. The effect of the properly fitting clothes was stunning, and Sakura felt herself flush. Even his face looked different, as Sakura noticed that a few square meals had begun to fill out his hollow cheeks. As her traitorous heart beat rapidly and her inner self had a swooning fit, she was unable to deny a simple truth -- Deidara was, in fact, quite attractive.
Flustered by her sudden realization, Sakura could do nothing but stare. Or perhaps it wasn’t all that sudden, she thought, finally putting a name to the some of the more awkward and confusing emotions she’d felt during their time together.
“If your eyebrows go up any further into that forehead of yours, you’ll lose them entirely, yeah”
Carefully schooling her expression, Sakura grumbled embarrassed excuses at him. It was no use though; even if she appeared calm, her heart and mind were both racing at her new discoveries.
“Glad you like it,” he smirked superiorly, with a gesture towards his clothes. “What did you get?”
Sakura undid the belt and buttons of her jacket, tensing as the cold air hit the thin material of her shirt. Deidara made a strangled noise of disgust. “Red? Again?”
His comment squashed her previous thoughts. Certain that her face was turning a shade to match her outfit, Sakura told him hotly, “I’ve always worn red! It’s my -”
“It’s your family’s colour, yeah I know,” he interrupted and waved a hand in dismissal, which only served to make Sakura angrier. “But that doesn’t mean it looks good on you. Why can’t you wear something normal, yeah? Like that,” he said, pointing to a window display in a nearby shop. One of the mannequins was modeling a cute, casual blouse with a pink, brown, and white striped pattern. Inwardly, Sakura agreed that it was a nice shirt. However, she knew that admitting to it would result in her unending suffering.
Ignoring the window display, she told Deidara, “I think what I bought is just fine! I think it’s cute.”
He gave her a long-suffering sigh and explained, “The shirt is cute, yeah. But red doesn’t do anything for you. At all.”
“You’re just saying that -”
“No, I’m not just saying it, yeah. It’s true.” He heaved another sigh before explaining, “The actual shirt is cute, I agree. The cut on the sleeves is good for someone with your figure - it helps balance you out. But red isn’t your colour. I’ve already told you it clashes with your hair and eyes, yeah. It’s also no good for your complexion - you tend to blush easily, so if you wear red you’re just going to look like a giant tomato.”
Sakura had to make a conscious effort not to stare open-mouthed. She could hardly believe her ears. “I can’t believe I’m getting fashion advice from you. You’ve got more taste my best friend back in Konoha!”
Deidara preened.
“And she’s a girl,” Sakura added futilely - nothing could wipe away the self-satisfied grin on Deidara’s face. At a loss for what to do with him, she asked, “Why do you care about my clothes anyway? You’re not the one wearing them.”
“No,” he replied morosely, “But I’m being seen with you in public, yeah.”
They bickered all the way back to the inn, where they were met by the innkeeper who held out a hand expectantly. Upon the discovery that they’d spent a little too much money on clothes and no longer had enough to cover the cost of their room, the woman set them to work. “Don’t worry,” she’d said as she’d shooed them into the kitchen, “Peel enough potatoes and you can stay here again tonight.”
The work was welcome, as Sakura spent the rest of her day trying to bury the flash of attraction she’d felt for Deidara.
“I’ll bet you we did have enough money for the room, yeah. That woman just wants cheap labour,” Deidara grumbled while chopping carrots. Sakura didn’t reply - all of her concentration went towards washing dishes and trying not to notice that he’d rolled up his sleeves and undone a few buttons at the top of his shirt.
“What’s got into you today, yeah? You never seemed to be the domestic sort,” Deidara remarked as Sakura scrubbed furiously at a greasy pot and tried her best to ignore him. When he didn’t get an answer he continued talking, mostly to himself. Sakura grinned involuntarily at his good mood before refocusing her thoughts on other things that weren’t liable to make her heart beat fast and her face tinge pink.
“So if we’ve got to stay here for a while, we might want to find a real place to stay, yeah. You know, like an apartment or something.” Deidara didn’t look at his fingers as he sliced and peeled vegetables with the telltale efficiency of a ninja with a sharp object. “Since it’s going to be a few months and we’re pretty much broke, we should probably get jobs too.”
Inwardly, Sakura doubted that Deidara would really get a job - he didn’t seem the sort. Tuning out his words, she sank into her own thoughts. They were going to have to settle in the town for a few months. She missed Konoha dearly, but there were far worse places to be than Cìen. It was a little too cold for her tastes, but it was cute and peaceful. If she could just get over her silly feelings of attraction, she had no doubt that she and Deidara could live together for a few months without killing each other. It’s what she had wanted anyway, she had to admit; the chance to be around Deidara for a while longer. She’d gotten what she’d wished for, so there was no sense in agonizing over it.
Quashing her newfound feelings for Deidara shouldn’t prove too difficult either, Sakura thought. She tried to reason with herself that he was the same as he’d always been, only now with nice clothes. He was still annoying, arrogant, and sometimes downright mean. He wasn’t the sort of guy to show to your parents, and they’d eventually have to go their separate ways. Not to mention he looked kind of like a girl. The desire she felt made absolutely no sense. Clearly she just wasn’t thinking properly today.
In an effort to convince herself of this, she dared a glance over at him. Deidara’s blond hair was starting to escape his ponytail. Blinking hard against the effects of the onion he was dicing, he launched into a tirade against the kitchen knives which were far too dull in his opinion. Sakura couldn’t help but smile.
Distressed by her own traitorous and involuntary facial expression, Sakura turned her attention quickly back to the pile of dishes in the sink. So maybe it wasn’t going to be so easy to deny her feelings. Sakura wondered what was wrong with her. You do always go for the wrong sort, her inner self reminded her, much to her annoyance.
Barely noticing that the frying pan she’d been cleaning for the past few minutes was now spotless, Sakura sighed with resignation. If she wanted to be completely honest with herself, perhaps she had been drawn to Deidara ever since they’d stopped being outright enemies. In the past though, the situation had been too chaotic for her to give the matter any real attention. Now that her mind was idle and not focused entirely on securing basic necessities, frivolous thoughts could be allowed to surface.
Sakura frowned to herself. For her own good, she decided, she needed to put Deidara back into the category of ‘friends only’. If he would just stop wearing such well-fitting jeans maybe she could put this out of her mind. She was certain that she would laugh at herself later for being so silly. And really, how hard could it be to ignore Deidara? She’d had plenty of practice.
Buried in her thoughts, Sakura turned on the faucet absentmindedly to rinse the dishes. Her hands worked automatically, and she didn’t notice that she’d cranked the hot water to full until she plunged her hands under it.
“Ouch!” With a gasp she drew her hand back from the scalding water. Clenching her teeth, she hissed in pain. Her fingers sported a worrying shade of red where they’d been burned. In her state of shock, Sakura’s first reaction was what came naturally to her. After years of practice she almost didn’t need to think as she channeled chakra towards the burned skin.
“What are you doing?!” Deidara demanded as he grabbed Sakura’s hand in his own, causing the blue glow of medical chakra to fade abruptly. Startled, Sakura looked up at him, uncomprehending. “We can’t use chakra, remember? You want to send this country’s ninja after us too, yeah?”
Eyes locked with his, Sakura made no reply as Deidara squeezed her hand almost painfully. “We have to pass as ordinary people here, yeah! That means no chakra. At all. What would happen if someone walked in and saw it?” Finally loosening his grip but not releasing her hand, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Sakura nodded weakly, unable to look away from him and perfectly aware that he was holding her hand for longer than necessary. His face revealed little, but his eyes were a mixture of anger, concern, and something she was unwilling to place.
As his gaze swept downwards, over her lips, Sakura froze. It was only an instant, but when his eyes flicked back up to meet her own, Sakura felt her world crumble. She could no longer deny it; this inconvenient attraction had been in the making for a long time. Somewhere along their journey, somewhere between all that had happened - enmity, confusion, escape, friendship, desperation, relief - they had found in each other something they were still reluctant to see.
In the aftermath of her realization, Sakura knew only two things for certain: Deidara had nice eyes, and she was so screwed.
++
Chapter 13
(But I rather like the way this one turned out!)
Title: Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond
Fandom: Naruto
Type: Multi-chaptered
Rating: Pg-13
Pairings: Deidara/Sakura
Word count: 4,891
Summary: Naruto had been bragging all day that his new jutsu was his best yet. Sakura and her new situation beg to differ. Post time-skip. DeiSaku.
“Oh goddamn its cold!” Sakura didn’t care if she’d now lost track of how many times she’d said that - it was true.
Deidara rubbed his arms in a futile attempt to keep warm as they walked carefully along the icy road. “We almost should’ve kept those ugly tavern clothes, yeah. This is one of the few times that I’d be willing to sacrifice style for comfort.”
Sakura chuckled weakly at that, the sound coming out choked and strange as her teeth chattered. “I don’t know about that... I had that awful brown dress, remember?”
“I’m trying not to, yeah.”
She would have stuck her tongue out at him had it not been so cold. “Whatever. Point is we have got to have the worst luck. Ever. Just when we’re getting closer to home, we get hit by a massive snowstorm. What did we do to deserve this?”
Avoiding an icy patch on the road, Deidara said, “If you’re talking karma, yeah, I can think of a few things I’ve done that might’ve merited this.”
“Just a few?” she asked, raising an eyebrow in doubt.
He shrugged, unconcerned. “Maybe a bit more.”
“Well thanks for sharing your karmic retribution with me, you jerk. Keep it to yourself next time.”
“So mean, yeah! Would you really wish all that on me?”
“Yes, I would,” she said with conviction as she shivered. “And I still hope you get reincarnated as a duck.”
They grinned at each other for a moment before Sakura covered her face and looked away -- the biting wind made her teeth hurt. Glad that they’d at least thought to buy new boots, Sakura now thoroughly regretted their decision to leave for the nearest port town that morning. The storm had started only a few hours after they’d left, and much to Sakura’s dismay they’d already gone too far to turn back. As long as they stuck to the main road they’d get there eventually - Sakura could only hope fervently that ‘eventually’ meant ‘right now’.
The harsh wind and snow that drifted from the nearby fields made it difficult to see as she squinted into the distance. After hours of being faced with a constant wall of white, she almost didn’t register what she was seeing when small specks of light appeared through the storm. Deidara, however, wasted no time in rejoicing. “Lights! They’ve got to be coming from a town, yeah.”
Struck by a wave of excitement as she realized he was right, Sakura stepped forward a little too quickly - the treads of her new boots were no match for the sudden movement combined with the slippery road. As she panicked and felt her feet slip out from under her, Sakura reached for the closest thing to try and steady herself. Unfortunately for Deidara, that happened to be his sleeve. Unbalanced, they both toppled over and were left sprawled out across the snowy road.
With one arm trapped painfully under his travel partner, Deidara wasn’t amused. “Thank you for that, yeah.”
“Sorry,” Sakura apologized sheepishly as she stood up. She pressed a hand gingerly against her tailbone which had taken most of the fall. It was going to be sore tomorrow, she thought with a grimace.
Deidara winced as he massaged his wrist that had been pinned beneath Sakura. With a slight twinge of guilt, Sakura held out a hand to help him stand. “I didn’t mean to take you down with me.”
“It’s fine...” The brief moment of surprise that Sakura felt at being so easily forgiven was quickly crushed. Deidara reached towards her proffered hand but grabbed her wrist instead. After pulling himself up, he picked Sakura up by the waist and dropped her unceremoniously in a nearby snow bank.
“Now we’re even, yeah.” Deidara turned away and strolled casually towards the distant lights, oblivious to Sakura spitting curses at him as she extricated herself from the snow.
Humiliated and with her clothes now cold and wet, Sakura formed a snowball and threw it at Deidara’s back. He stepped to the side, dodging it easily, and continued walking as though nothing had happened. Sakura glared and ground her teeth before stomping after him.
By the time they reached the town, Sakura could feel her wet clothes beginning to freeze to her skin. With the frigid wind blowing harder as they approached the sea, the sensation was more than just a little unpleasant. Breath coming in short gasps as she shivered, Sakura could only bite her lip to fight back tears. Being warm seemed like such wishful thinking she almost couldn’t imagine it. Deidara glanced over at her, his face somewhere between guilt and a scowl, and muttered words that were drowned out by the vicious wind.
Too cold to protest or care, Sakura felt Deidara place an arm around her shoulders as he steered her through the streets. She closed her eyes, trying to convince herself that she was already somewhere safe and warm and allowed herself to be led. When Deidara managed to locate a place to stay for the night, Sakura was only vaguely aware that he half carried her up the steps and into the inn.
Without even a nod to acknowledge the innkeeper as they entered, Deidara kept his arm around Sakura’s shoulders and marched her directly to a chair by the fireplace. Surprised but grateful, Sakura stretched her hands out towards the fire as she sank into the cushions of the armchair. Glancing up, she caught Deidara’s eyes for a second before he looked away, adopting one of his usual haughty expressions.
Curious about the newcomers who had so suddenly invaded her establishment, the innkeeper called out, “Welcome!”
Before she could stop herself, Sakura sighed in relief. “I am so glad you speak English!” With parts of her body suffering from the beginnings of frostbite, she wasn’t in the mood to negotiate in hand signs.
“Of course I do!” The woman’s accent was thick but understandable. She stepped out from behind the desk and pulled a blanket from a nearby sofa. Deidara took it from her and draped it around Sakura’s shivering form as the woman explained, “We get lots of traders here -- you have to learn a few languages if you want to stay in business. Now what can I do for you two? A room for the night?”
“Yes, please!” Sakura answered desperately as Deidara handed over their money.
The woman inspected the coins with a frown. “Hhmm... Foreign currency.” She sighed and shook her head, handing the money back to Deidara. “I don’t accept that.”
Sakura’s face fell. She must have been a pathetic sight indeed; the innkeeper’s expression softened into a kindly smile as she looked at her. “Not to worry though, dear. We’ll figure out payment tomorrow - you can get the money exchanged at the bank. In the meantime, I’ve got the perfect room for you and your boyfriend.”
Sakura growled and hugged the blanket tightly around her shoulders. That misunderstanding was starting to get old. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
The innkeeper’s smile was completely unfazed. She winked knowingly at Sakura. “No, of course not, dear. Now come along.”
Sakura clenched her teeth in frustration as she gathered the remains of her energy and stood up from the chair. As the woman turned back towards her desk, Sakura could feel Deidara trying to stifle giggles beside her. She stomped on his foot. He doubled over in pain as the innkeeper brought them their key.
++
Sakura awoke the next morning to Deidara throwing open the blinds. “How is it that the one day you manage to wake up earlier than me is the one day when I really need more sleep?” she groaned, closing her eyes against the light.
“It’s already noon, yeah. You can’t sleep for the whole day.” With an evil grin, he pulled the covers from the bed.
“I can see now why you’re in the Akatsuki,” she grumbled as she curled into a ball to try and retain the warmth of her stolen covers. “Clearly you have no mercy.”
“Quit whining,” he said as he handed her a plate of crescent-shaped pastries. Sakura bit into one and almost spilled the jam filling down her shirt. “You should be excited, yeah - if we can find a ship today we’ll be on our way home soon.”
That thought caused her to bite her lip. No longer hungry, she placed the rest of the pastry back on the plate. She pressed a hand against where she’d bitten her lip and turned away from Deidara. It was silly, she knew it was, but the feeling of apprehension she’d experienced the night before returned. She wanted to go back to Konoha, but at the same time she didn’t.
Noticing Sakura’s sudden change in mood, Deidara sat down beside her on the bed. He studied her face closely before narrowing his eyes and asking warily, “You’re not getting sick or anything, yeah? ‘Cause if you do I’m not taking care of you.”
Sakura’s eyes flitted up to look at his. She opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say what she was feeling. He would probably laugh at her and she would feel like a complete fool if he had no reservations about never seeing her again after their adventure. She closed her mouth and swallowed, at a loss for what to say.
Their eyes stayed locked on each other’s and Sakura had a moment of fleeting, wishful hope that he understood her unspoken thoughts. Deidara looked away first and tugged distractedly on some loose strands of hair. In that instant, Sakura wished more than anything to know what he was thinking.
Deidara took a deep, steadying breath and stood up from the bed. Without meeting Sakura’s gaze, he made his way to the door. “Let’s go, yeah.”
Still disoriented by her previous thoughts, she blinked. “Go? Where?”
“To the harbour, yeah.” His shoulders were tense and Sakura could see his knuckles go white as he gripped the door handle too tight. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
As the door closed behind him, Sakura buried her face in her hands. She wanted to scream and shake Deidara until all of his hidden emotions tumbled out. It was embarrassing, torturous even, to think that she was the only one who had developed some weird sort of attachment. But she couldn’t tell him what she was feeling; they just didn’t do that. Besides, she couldn’t even clearly identify her own thoughts and emotions. With a shake of her head, which did little to clear it, Sakura got up and prepared to go outside.
++
The freshly fallen snow crunched beneath her boots as she stepped out onto the street. Deidara was leaning against the side of the inn, gazing absentmindedly up at the clear sky. “Shall we?” Sakura asked, pasting on a falsely cheerful grin. He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and nodded.
As they walked in the direction of the port, Sakura had a chance to take in her surroundings. Between the storm and her own pitiful condition, she’d hardly noticed the town the night before. The buildings were made mostly of stone, but the wooden shutters and snow-covered roofs gave them a certain charm. The streets weren’t particularly busy, but they still had some life to them. People nodded to each other as they hurried into the warmth of the shops. Sakura couldn’t help but smile to herself; she liked the town.
When they arrived at the port, Deidara looked around in confusion. “Where are all the boats, yeah?”
Furrowing her brow, Sakura wondered the same thing. “The water’s all covered in ice too,” she noticed as she approached the edge of the harbour.
“You be careful you don’t fall in there, Miss.”
Startled, Sakura turned towards the voice. An older man, bundled up against the cold so that only a few wisps of grey hair were visible, nodded in greeting to Deidara before continuing, “That ice won’t hold you, and the water’s so cold you’ll lose your toes.”
A familiar note in his voice triggered memories of her first C-rank mission, and Sakura asked, surprised, “You’re from the Wave Country, aren’t you?”
“Right you are, and if I’m not mistaken, you’re a long ways from home yourself.” He tilted his head towards a nearby building. “Now let’s get inside before we all freeze to death.”
The air inside the bar was thick with smoke, and the wooden floors creaked as Sakura stepped inside. Deidara looked decidedly unimpressed with the grimy surroundings. “Don’t get the house beer,” the man warned with a grimace as he pulled off his hat and scarf.
Once they’d settled around a table, Deidara and Sakura both ordering water to the dismay of the bartender, Sakura asked curiously, “So why are you all the way out here, Mister --?”
“Taku, just call me Taku.” He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from a jacket pocket and offered one to Deidara, who shook his head in refusal. “I do some trading between here and the Wave Country. Just so happens that this year I didn’t make it back before the winter kicked in, so now I’m stuck until the ice thaws.” He shrugged as he fumbled with a pack of matches. “It’s not that bad though, Cìen’s a nice place and most of the people here can speak our language. It’s just so damn cold, I’ll never get used to it.”
Sakura laughed, delighted at the chance to talk to someone so sympathetic. “You’re telling me! What a change from what I’m used to in Ko--” Catching herself just in time, Sakura pretended to cough. “Ah, the Fire Country.”
Taku raised an eyebrow at Sakura’s slip-up, but didn’t press her. Taking a long drag on his cigarette, he looked at Deidara. “And where are you from, young man?”
“One of the northern countries, yeah,” Deidara replied as the bartender arrived with their drinks.
“Well with a dialect like that, I’d expect so.” Taku downed the liquor he’d ordered in one go. “I guess you’re used to the cold then. Right at home here, eh?”
Deidara made a face as he tried a sip of water; Sakura made a mental note not to drink her own. “Not really, yeah. We’re looking to get back to the Fire Country as soon as we can.”
“Well, you’ve still got a bit more time to wait.”
Sakura leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “What do you mean?”
Taku tapped the ashes from his cigarette into his shot glass and explained, “There’s no way anything can sail when the water’s all icy during the winter.”
“So we have to wait until spring?”
“Not exactly,” Taku replied, as Sakura and Deidara exchanged confused glances. If they couldn’t set sail now and they didn’t have to wait until spring, when could they go home? Taku cleared his throat before continuing, “You have to wait a few months after that too, until summer. The ice melts off the northern mountains in the spring and causes rough conditions at sea. You’d be crazy to travel then!”
Sakura felt her heart do an uncomfortable flip-flop between relief and disappointment. They would have to stay in Cìen for longer than she’d expected. While this meant she wouldn’t be reunited with her friends back in Konoha yet, it also meant... She glanced over at Deidara from the corner of her eye, but looked away quickly when their gazes met.
In an attempt to clear her mind, Sakura changed the subject and made small talk with Taku for a while as Deidara looked thoroughly bored, until the older man thanked them for their company and took his leave. “If you two need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” he told them before once again braving the cold outside.
After Taku had left, Deidara slouched in his chair and rubbed his eyes wearily. “I can’t believe we’re going to be stuck here for such a long time, yeah.”
That comment stung. Was he really so eager to go back to the Akatsuki? A knot in her stomach told Sakura that she had been silly to think he’d grown to consider her as a friend. She shifted uneasily in her chair as Deidara continued, “It’s not like we can make a bird and fly across the ocean either - that would take too much chakra.”
Her breath caught in her throat as her mind registered the word ‘we’. Whether it was intentional or not, Sakura wasn’t sure, but it was enough to make her smile. She might be uncertain about what he felt towards her, but she was at least confident that whatever happened they’d be in it together. “Come on,” she said, standing up, “We can’t mope around here all day.”
“You’re right, yeah. Let’s look into getting our money changed over to the currency here,” Deidara suggested as he followed her out of the warmth of the bar.
“Good idea,” Sakura agreed as the chilly wind outside made her shiver. “Then we can get some real clothes. I can’t wait to get rid of these ones.” She plucked at a threadbare sleeve with disgust.
“We’ll also have to pay our bill at the inn for last night, yeah.”
Sakura blinked. “Oh. Right.”
“You forgot about that didn’t you?” he smirked at her, teasing.
“Of course not!” she lied, feeling her ears turn pink. Embarrassed, she quickened her pace, heading towards the main part of town.
++
The new coins they’d exchanged for their stolen money jingled pleasantly in her pocket as Sakura browsed through racks of clothing. Aware of the appalled looks the rather cute shop assistant was giving her current outfit - the faded, torn, and ill-fitting military clothes she’d snagged ages ago - Sakura hurried to find something more suitable. She was glad that she and Deidara had decided to separate while shopping, certain that he would have noticed her reasons for rushing and taken full advantage of the opportunity to tease her.
As her eyes fell on a familiar colour, Sakura pulled a shirt from its hanger. The button-up blouse was fitted and had cute sleeves that puffed slightly around the shoulders. Best of all, it was red; that perfect shade of red that marked her as a Haruno.
After a few more minutes of searching and a quick trip to the change room, Sakura cinched the belt on her coat and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Along with a plain pair of jeans with the red blouse, she’d also found a knee-length white coat with a matching hat. The outfit certainly didn’t qualify as practical ninja-wear, but it was much more appropriate for the weather.
Pleased with her purchases, Sakura made her way back to the inn. Halfway there, a familiar voice called out, “Nice coat, yeah.”
Sakura turned to find an attractive young man, hands in his pockets and blond hair in disarray from the wind. She was about to give him a scowl and tell him she wasn’t interested before she focused in on his smirk - she would recognize it anywhere - and did a double-take.
Deidara had found himself a pair of fitted jeans and a pea coat which he’d left unbuttoned, revealing a black, collared shirt. The effect of the properly fitting clothes was stunning, and Sakura felt herself flush. Even his face looked different, as Sakura noticed that a few square meals had begun to fill out his hollow cheeks. As her traitorous heart beat rapidly and her inner self had a swooning fit, she was unable to deny a simple truth -- Deidara was, in fact, quite attractive.
Flustered by her sudden realization, Sakura could do nothing but stare. Or perhaps it wasn’t all that sudden, she thought, finally putting a name to the some of the more awkward and confusing emotions she’d felt during their time together.
“If your eyebrows go up any further into that forehead of yours, you’ll lose them entirely, yeah”
Carefully schooling her expression, Sakura grumbled embarrassed excuses at him. It was no use though; even if she appeared calm, her heart and mind were both racing at her new discoveries.
“Glad you like it,” he smirked superiorly, with a gesture towards his clothes. “What did you get?”
Sakura undid the belt and buttons of her jacket, tensing as the cold air hit the thin material of her shirt. Deidara made a strangled noise of disgust. “Red? Again?”
His comment squashed her previous thoughts. Certain that her face was turning a shade to match her outfit, Sakura told him hotly, “I’ve always worn red! It’s my -”
“It’s your family’s colour, yeah I know,” he interrupted and waved a hand in dismissal, which only served to make Sakura angrier. “But that doesn’t mean it looks good on you. Why can’t you wear something normal, yeah? Like that,” he said, pointing to a window display in a nearby shop. One of the mannequins was modeling a cute, casual blouse with a pink, brown, and white striped pattern. Inwardly, Sakura agreed that it was a nice shirt. However, she knew that admitting to it would result in her unending suffering.
Ignoring the window display, she told Deidara, “I think what I bought is just fine! I think it’s cute.”
He gave her a long-suffering sigh and explained, “The shirt is cute, yeah. But red doesn’t do anything for you. At all.”
“You’re just saying that -”
“No, I’m not just saying it, yeah. It’s true.” He heaved another sigh before explaining, “The actual shirt is cute, I agree. The cut on the sleeves is good for someone with your figure - it helps balance you out. But red isn’t your colour. I’ve already told you it clashes with your hair and eyes, yeah. It’s also no good for your complexion - you tend to blush easily, so if you wear red you’re just going to look like a giant tomato.”
Sakura had to make a conscious effort not to stare open-mouthed. She could hardly believe her ears. “I can’t believe I’m getting fashion advice from you. You’ve got more taste my best friend back in Konoha!”
Deidara preened.
“And she’s a girl,” Sakura added futilely - nothing could wipe away the self-satisfied grin on Deidara’s face. At a loss for what to do with him, she asked, “Why do you care about my clothes anyway? You’re not the one wearing them.”
“No,” he replied morosely, “But I’m being seen with you in public, yeah.”
They bickered all the way back to the inn, where they were met by the innkeeper who held out a hand expectantly. Upon the discovery that they’d spent a little too much money on clothes and no longer had enough to cover the cost of their room, the woman set them to work. “Don’t worry,” she’d said as she’d shooed them into the kitchen, “Peel enough potatoes and you can stay here again tonight.”
The work was welcome, as Sakura spent the rest of her day trying to bury the flash of attraction she’d felt for Deidara.
“I’ll bet you we did have enough money for the room, yeah. That woman just wants cheap labour,” Deidara grumbled while chopping carrots. Sakura didn’t reply - all of her concentration went towards washing dishes and trying not to notice that he’d rolled up his sleeves and undone a few buttons at the top of his shirt.
“What’s got into you today, yeah? You never seemed to be the domestic sort,” Deidara remarked as Sakura scrubbed furiously at a greasy pot and tried her best to ignore him. When he didn’t get an answer he continued talking, mostly to himself. Sakura grinned involuntarily at his good mood before refocusing her thoughts on other things that weren’t liable to make her heart beat fast and her face tinge pink.
“So if we’ve got to stay here for a while, we might want to find a real place to stay, yeah. You know, like an apartment or something.” Deidara didn’t look at his fingers as he sliced and peeled vegetables with the telltale efficiency of a ninja with a sharp object. “Since it’s going to be a few months and we’re pretty much broke, we should probably get jobs too.”
Inwardly, Sakura doubted that Deidara would really get a job - he didn’t seem the sort. Tuning out his words, she sank into her own thoughts. They were going to have to settle in the town for a few months. She missed Konoha dearly, but there were far worse places to be than Cìen. It was a little too cold for her tastes, but it was cute and peaceful. If she could just get over her silly feelings of attraction, she had no doubt that she and Deidara could live together for a few months without killing each other. It’s what she had wanted anyway, she had to admit; the chance to be around Deidara for a while longer. She’d gotten what she’d wished for, so there was no sense in agonizing over it.
Quashing her newfound feelings for Deidara shouldn’t prove too difficult either, Sakura thought. She tried to reason with herself that he was the same as he’d always been, only now with nice clothes. He was still annoying, arrogant, and sometimes downright mean. He wasn’t the sort of guy to show to your parents, and they’d eventually have to go their separate ways. Not to mention he looked kind of like a girl. The desire she felt made absolutely no sense. Clearly she just wasn’t thinking properly today.
In an effort to convince herself of this, she dared a glance over at him. Deidara’s blond hair was starting to escape his ponytail. Blinking hard against the effects of the onion he was dicing, he launched into a tirade against the kitchen knives which were far too dull in his opinion. Sakura couldn’t help but smile.
Distressed by her own traitorous and involuntary facial expression, Sakura turned her attention quickly back to the pile of dishes in the sink. So maybe it wasn’t going to be so easy to deny her feelings. Sakura wondered what was wrong with her. You do always go for the wrong sort, her inner self reminded her, much to her annoyance.
Barely noticing that the frying pan she’d been cleaning for the past few minutes was now spotless, Sakura sighed with resignation. If she wanted to be completely honest with herself, perhaps she had been drawn to Deidara ever since they’d stopped being outright enemies. In the past though, the situation had been too chaotic for her to give the matter any real attention. Now that her mind was idle and not focused entirely on securing basic necessities, frivolous thoughts could be allowed to surface.
Sakura frowned to herself. For her own good, she decided, she needed to put Deidara back into the category of ‘friends only’. If he would just stop wearing such well-fitting jeans maybe she could put this out of her mind. She was certain that she would laugh at herself later for being so silly. And really, how hard could it be to ignore Deidara? She’d had plenty of practice.
Buried in her thoughts, Sakura turned on the faucet absentmindedly to rinse the dishes. Her hands worked automatically, and she didn’t notice that she’d cranked the hot water to full until she plunged her hands under it.
“Ouch!” With a gasp she drew her hand back from the scalding water. Clenching her teeth, she hissed in pain. Her fingers sported a worrying shade of red where they’d been burned. In her state of shock, Sakura’s first reaction was what came naturally to her. After years of practice she almost didn’t need to think as she channeled chakra towards the burned skin.
“What are you doing?!” Deidara demanded as he grabbed Sakura’s hand in his own, causing the blue glow of medical chakra to fade abruptly. Startled, Sakura looked up at him, uncomprehending. “We can’t use chakra, remember? You want to send this country’s ninja after us too, yeah?”
Eyes locked with his, Sakura made no reply as Deidara squeezed her hand almost painfully. “We have to pass as ordinary people here, yeah! That means no chakra. At all. What would happen if someone walked in and saw it?” Finally loosening his grip but not releasing her hand, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Sakura nodded weakly, unable to look away from him and perfectly aware that he was holding her hand for longer than necessary. His face revealed little, but his eyes were a mixture of anger, concern, and something she was unwilling to place.
As his gaze swept downwards, over her lips, Sakura froze. It was only an instant, but when his eyes flicked back up to meet her own, Sakura felt her world crumble. She could no longer deny it; this inconvenient attraction had been in the making for a long time. Somewhere along their journey, somewhere between all that had happened - enmity, confusion, escape, friendship, desperation, relief - they had found in each other something they were still reluctant to see.
In the aftermath of her realization, Sakura knew only two things for certain: Deidara had nice eyes, and she was so screwed.
++
Chapter 13