Reality Check: A Deidara Love Story

Chapter 24: Fly

Who knew how long Deidara was sitting in the hallway, his elbows resting on his drawn knees, his forehead resting on his forearms. It was obvious he was in great distress; multiple times, Kakuzu had asked him a question or tried to make conversation, but nothing worked as he would not say a word.

It seemed as if a billion days had passed before Deidara lifted his head again, but that was only when he'd recieved a tap on the shoulder from Konan.

"Deidara," she said gently. "It's been two days already since the incident. You can go and see Rai if you want. Yesterday I had Kakuzu bring her to a room, but you've simply been sitting here."

"I..." he croaked, voice crackly from misuse. "It's been two days?"

"Yes."

"Have the others returned, yeah?"

"No, not yet. They're still heavily set on Orochimaru's tail, and I promise you and Rai, we will get to him soon enough. Now, I think it's time for you to eat at least a small meal and have some rest."

"...Has she woken up yet?"

"I..." Konan paused, "...No. Rai is still in her temporary coma."

"Then I'll be here, un."

"Deidara." Konan looked into Deidara's eyes with her piercing orange ones, glaring intensely. "I understand how you feel, to lose a lover like this, but the best thing you can do right now is be by her side. That's actually the only thing you can do to help her - that is, if you actually desire to help her. Sulking around isn't going to do anything."

Konan was a bit surprised as her eyes met his again. They looked so dull; they looked so dead. Usually they were quite electrifying and bright, but now, they looked as if all life had been sucked from them. There were terribly dark bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep, casting ghostly shadows on his face. It seemed as if the male had lost ten pounds in the last couple of days, his bones and joints becoming more prominent and defined, his cheeks a bit more sunken and hollow. There were lines around his lips from constant frowning.

She was quite worried about his state of health and mind, and it surely would do him some good to see the face of his lover again.

"Come on," she commanded in a voice high in stature. "Deidara, this is an order. I order you to go and see Rai at this very moment."

There were another few seconds of silence until Deidara shakily stood, his legs wobbling, knees knocking together. Konan could see it now; his ribs were clearly visible through the fabric of his shirt, his frame more gaunt.

"Let me help," she offered, taking his arm and winding it around her shoulders. He had no energy to resist, and he barely trudged on with heavy feet down the hallway until they reached a large, birch wood door, its brass knob glimmering as if to mock him for not coming any sooner.

Taking the knob in her hand, Konan slowly twisted it open and pushed open the loose door, entering the sunbathed room. It was furnished in a very organized style with everything matching the same color scheme: whites, creams, ivories, peaches, and more. In the very center of the room, its headboard next to three large paneled windows, was an occupied bed, its canopy obscuring view of who was using the space.

Though Deidara had been feeling frustrated and in despair for the past couple of days, as his eyes landed on the bed, he released his hold on Konan and rushed forward on his own. Konan rushed forward and grabbed a chair sitting by a desk in the corner and placed it next to the bed, where Deidara collapsed and caught his own breath.

"Rai," he breathed as his eyes landed on her sleeping face, eyes closed. Konan took the notion to quietly slip out of the room, not making a single sound as she shut the door behind her. "Rai, wake up, yeah."