Replacing My Sister || FullbusterFic » vonlane

Chapter 23: Strategies

Deidara entered Konan's room after knocking and closed it once inside. He walked over to Konan, who was sitting by the window, watching her knit. For a moment, his eyes dropped down to the woman's belly; her pregnancy was barely noticed thanks to the loose dresses she was wearing lately but no one knew just how long she could keep hiding something like that from Pein.

"How'd it go with Orochimaru?" Konan asked.

"He suspects me a bit." Deidara responded.

"Did he say something to you?"

"No, but I've seen it in his eyes. He knows I have something in mind, yet, he is so obsessed with having me that he would do anything for me."

"How are you going to convince him that you're telling the truth?"

"By showing him the marks Pein placed on me, by making him think I'd really do anything to get out of here, even marry him. Do you know anything about Itachi?"

"Pein has said nothing to me, but the Councilmen were talking about a military camp out on the outskirts of the Kingdom."

"It must be them. They must be camping out on the edge of the Kingdom. As long as they don't enter here, they can't be accused of breaking the rules but they're close if they need to intervene quickly."

That night, Orochimaru took advantage of the solitude of the castle and the darkness of the corridors to make way towards the room where Deidara slept and sneak inside. He went over to the bed where the blond slept and upon sitting on the edge of the bed, he stroked the blond's hair, letting those fine golden threads tangle around his fingers.

Deidara opened his eyes lazily, even so, he recognized that scent perfectly; he knew it was Orochimaru. For years that man had been sneaking into his bedroom in the highest tower of the Castle in the Wind, for years he was his prisoner. A part of Deidara hated him for what it meant to see him here alive; Orochimaru had killed his parents, nearly killed his whole family, held him against his will in that tower and had deceived and lied to him so that he wouldn't discover who he really was. But, another part of him... had a certain appreciation. Orochimaru had never hurt him, he had never lay a hand against him, never tortured him, never violated him. Orochimaru did nothing to him but keep him safe. Although his reign had always consisted on creating and fomenting fear, Deidara never really had a reason to fear him. Even so, he would take revenge on that man for his whole family.

"Good morning, little one," Orochimaru greeted, smiling as he continued stroking Deidara's hair.

"What time is it?" Deidara asked, trying to open his eyes.

"Too early. Don't get up." He said sweetly, but Deidara reached for one of the candles.

Orochimaru gently took Deidara's hand back to the bed while he turned and lit the candle himself.

"Has something happened?" Dei asked.

"No, I just wanted to see you."

"Seriously?" Deidara smiled, pretending to still be that innocent boy whom Orochimaru liked so much. "I thought you wouldn't return for me."

"I promised you I'd come back."

"I thought you cared more about conquering both kingdoms than me."

"Never, Dei. You were always the most important. Now our plan will succeed, you'll see."

"I'm scared,"— Deidara said, pretending, —"if Pein finds out what we're up to, he could endanger this child and he's the only one who'll inherit all the territories."