Prologue:

There was a slight drizzle to the days of late June in Feudal Japan; the kind of light precipitation that seems to persist until everything feels a little damp from the air you breathe right down to your bed sheets. Even with a roof overhead things felt humid indoors but it wasn't anything the pair curled up inside would claim to be more than a nuisance. No, they had been too busy enjoying the comfort and the joys of life together to allow something as small as clammy weather put a damper on their moods. It was on rainy days such as these that Inuyasha, a half demon with long, silver tresses and pointed dog ears, found himself enjoying the indoors with his mate. The man held close in the hanyou's arms was a peculiar sort, a tone blonde, displaced in time from the era of the ninja. The pair had met just short of a year prior through a series of battles with a rather cruel man who had once claimed the blonde, Deidara, as his own. With the ninja freed from his captor, finally things seemed to find a sense of normality, full of the sweetness of love and the spice op passion. It was days like this when the two star-crossed lovers would not leave their bed for hours after waking if not to rest, then to share the heat of desire.

With such a session winding down, a heated hanyou threw himself back into the damp sheets, his head bouncing against his pillow and his hair fanning out beneath him.

"Hot damn kid," Inuyasha chuckled as he wiped his forehead clear of the accumulated sweat. "I didn't know you could bend back like that. How long have you been able to do that?"

"What does it matter how long I've been able to bend like that un?" Deidara asked as he rolled over onto his stomach to use the half demon's chest as a pillow and look into the other man's face. His skin glowed with the moisture of fresh intimacy and his long, blonde tresses were a mess, but his crystalline eyes seemed to sparkle with satisfaction and admiration.

"Well maybe I would have wanted to know a little sooner…"

"Like when un?"

"I don't know… like when we met! Kid that was amazing." At that, a wide smile stretched across the ninja's face and with a little effort he pushed himself up and craned his neck until his lips met with those of his lover.

With strained effort the hanyou hauled his tired arms to wrap around the frame of the shinobi. With as much energy he had invested into their romance he was surprised he hadn't collapsed. Since the pair had promised to remain with each other Inuyasha had invested all of his time and strength into their lives together, providing for them and maintaining the home they had built together. With a satisfied sigh, Inuyasha separated their lips and placed another peck haphazardly onto the blonde's crown.

With a low sigh, the younger man let himself fall limp against the other man's chest, nuzzling the warm, slick skin and humming his approval. He looked almost as if he was about to drift back towards sleep and claim his mate as a pillow, but he turned his face to look at Inuyasha again.

"So give the air a test and tell me if you think the rain will be letting up anytime soon un. It'd be nice to do a little hunting but there won't be much luck if everything's hiding un." He folded his arms underneath his chin and let go of another deep breath as if waiting expectantly for a response.

Smiling lazily, the half-breed took a long inhale, breathing in the moist air and all of the fumes it carried. As by instinct he began to pick apart the scent and what each strain told him. Another wave of wet was unfortunately on its way, but with a slight let up only an hour before a few animal scents lingered around. A deer, a few hares…

His breath caught in his throat, and he quickly took another sniff. Again a sliver of familiar musk caught in his palette and his sore muscles clenched. Deidara spotted this, but questioned too late as Inuyasha sat bolt upright.

"What's wrong un."

The elder ignored the question in search of his clothes, snatching the previously discarded hakama and yanking it on.

"Hey," the blonde reached out, "Inu, what's up un?"

"Nothing. I have to check something out. Just stay here ok? I'll be right back." Inuyasha muttered these words while tying his belt on and rushed through the house to the front door. "Just stay here." With that he closed the door behind him and stepped into the woods.

Irately that their tender moment had been so quickly severed, Deidara sat up and blew a stray strand of his mussed bangs out of his face. Gradually he clothed himself too, being put ill at ease by the sudden sense of urgency in his lover he felt it better to be prepared in case of emergency. It wasn't too uncommon for a stray demon to wander too close to their home and need fending off. Deidara only wished his partner would give him a bit more credit for his strengths and let him do more than pick off the weaker demons that found themselves on Inuyasha's doorstep.

Outside the rain came in random drops through the dense canopy and Inuyasha's feet squished into the saturated earth. The scent of wet mud wafted into the air, but with quick sniffs the mutt tried to see past it, holding onto the ribbon of odor that had seized his heart.

"There's no way," he bounded through the trees, sniffing every so often against the bark, following the faint trail left by dots of lingering scent. But finally, two hundred feet from his home, he stopped. In the crook of a large tree the scent was strongest, the host having rubbed its musk all over the branches and leaves. With the rain washing away odors of long ago, Inuyasha's claws dug deep into the branch, his anger and worry overwhelming. "It's not… that bastard. He's watching the- I can't…." he snarled and ripped long gauges into the trees flesh, the green collecting under his nails. "… I'll kill him. Watching my house like a…. I'll kill him."

Curious as to what new threat posed itself against their home this time, Deidara parted the back shoji and leaned out, keeping under the awning that covered the porch as he glanced about for the other man. Around the corner he spotted Inuyasha clinging to a young oak with his nose and claws buried in the tree's hide.

"What are you smelling un?" The ninja ventured, leaning his shoulder against one of the porch's support beams.

Inuyasha's head snapped back to the voice, unsure of what to say. The source of the smell wasn't a good one. But with all the rain, the trail leading away from the tree was cold, only the accumulated marker left on. Looking around sniffing the air once again, and without another heavy lead to find his way to the cause of his distress, Inuyasha left the tree and returned to the porch, a heated, somber look his only reply. As he tried to enter the dwelling again, he was bared by his lover.

"What is it un, tell me. You can't just get up and get all upset and not tell me un. What?"

With his anger bubbling at the surface, the hanyou had to avoid snapping in response.

"He's back. That son of a bitch has been watching the house."

For a moment every part of Deidara froze from his breathing to his heartbeat to his worried thoughts; then it all plummeted.

"You mean… Itachi's been stalking us? But… we sealed the well off un! There's no possible way he could get back through… right un?" With a nervous look on his face, the shinobi combed his blonde bangs away from his face with his fingers. "It's… only been a year… not even that long un…"

"It doesn't matter how long it's been!" Inuyasha barked. Not knowing any better response he crossed to the second support beam and smashed his fist into it, a hearty growl seeping through his lips. "I swear I'll kill him. I'll kill that fucking piece of shit-"

Deidara sighed and stepped to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe we can leave for a while, and he'll lose interest un. A little vacation how's that sound hm?" The ninja could feel his insides twist with the knowledge of his lie. Knowing the Uchiha, he'd complete his mission, no matter what.

"Fuck that! I'll fucking hunt him down now and tear his ass up!" He spun on his heel, attempting to again enter the damp forest in search of his mortal enemy. But before his foot left the edge of the home, a firm hand grasped his shoulder.

"Look Inuyasha, I'm just as upset as you are about Itachi coming back, but before you go tearing him limb from limb, why not trying to settle things with a little diplomacy this time un? Maybe he's changed a little-"

"Men like that don't change, Deidara, he was born a weasel and he'll die a weasel and the sooner he gets to dying, the better." Inuyasha snapped, taking his lover aback just a bit. The ninja's expression turned from one of worry into one of disapproval as his lips contorted downward into a sour frown.

"Don't you have any ability to let bygones be bygones un? Does everything about Itachi have to be so negative un?"

The silver-hair's shoulders squared off, and he turned ever slightly, still not able to look the man defending his long time abuser in the eyes.

"I told him to stay down and die where lay. If he wants to go again, I'll happily put him in his grave. Now let go." He tried to shrug off the younger man's hand, but it held firm.

"Well you can't find him anyway un, it's too wet. There's no use you going out in the cold and getting sick. Besides… I can't sense his energy, so he's probably long gone."

When still the ninja would not release Inuyasha's shoulder, the half demon turned away as if threatening to leave regardless of his lover's hand. This only made Deidara clutch tighter to the hanyou though, feeling the anger and the doubt rolling off of his mate like a foreboding tide.

"Inuyasha… You know more than any other that I've nothing for Itachi un, but at the same time I don't let what he did in the past rule my life un… holding onto your anger is like letting him poison you with his hate. Just let it go un… Come back to bed and I'll fix you something for breakfast un." Again the ninja tugged at his lover's shoulder, trying to coax him away from the situation as best he could.

As Deidara's eyes blink he felt the muscle beneath his palm move, and all at once the mutt spun around and gripped at his wrist, holding it callously.

"I'm not gonna 'just let it go'. I don't let go of that kind of stuff. I'm never gonna get over it. I will never get over what he did… what he did to you. I couldn't do anything last time to stop it, but I'll be dammed if I'm going to let him get away with it again. I'll kill him first. I hate him. Deidara. I will always hate him."

"Inuyasha, you don't need to sink to his level un. By spending so much of yourself against him, he's already won half the battle." Deidara retorted, returning the cold look the hanyou gave him, snatching his wrist hastily out of Inuyasha's grasp. "I'm not telling you to forget it ever happened, or act like it didn't… just don't give him the benefit of your thoughts un." When the half demon's expression didn't change, the younger man's brow furrowed and he snapped again before his partner could comment back. "You know what, forget I ever said it, you're too stubborn anyway un." With that he turned on his heel and slammed the north Shoji open, storming back into the house.

Inuyasha grumbled but slid it close behind him, taking a few heated breaths before sitting himself on the right corner of the terrace. Looking out he turned his ears out and caught every twig snap, every droplet splashing against foliage, and he crossed his legs and waited for the rain to stop.

Chapter 1:

With a heavy sigh, tired fingers traced over the sign 'scarlet' carved over an intricately painted door. A rather world-weary man hunched as he recited the kanji's name before the image on the gate shifted and the entryway opened. His red and black, high-collared cloak slipped from his shoulders, and he hung the soggy cloth from a steel hook in the wall before nearly collapsing onto the mattress in the far left corner of the dimly lit room. Rolling onto his back, Itachi rubbed his brow between his thumb and forefinger as if to alleviate a headache while spreading his rain-dampened limbs out over top of his sheets. The Uchiha wished he'd be able to catch a wink of sleep, but knew he wouldn't be able to with so many fresh, raw images burning in his mind.

He'd been to spy on his former pet, hoping to find the bond between Deidara and that mongrel to have been severed within the past year, but no such luck. There wasn't even a moment of late when the half demon wasn't within earshot of his stolen mate, and as long as Inuyasha was around, the blonde could not be touched. Itachi knew this well, for in his twenty three years, never had any man or beast seen the better of him before that mutt who had miraculously been able to steal the vision and the power from his left eye. It almost hurt him, made him ill to his stomach and to his mind to see how close and intimate the pair still were after so much time had passed. But the Uchiha would have to bide his time and bite his tongue until he could catch his former property unaware and alone; and for that opportunity he would wait, but for now he needed to fight for sleep more than anything else.

But that would have to wait. Before his good eye could fully close he sensed another being present before his door and he looked irritably at the grand shadow cast across his room.

"I'm not in the mood Kisame. Why don't you go play with your jellyfish for the afternoon?"

A deep chuckle, like the tide churning across the break, rumbled against the walls, filling the room with the laughter. The blue-haired man entered against the Uchiha's wishes, strolling over to tower over Itachi's bed.

"Well well, and where has my Ita-kun been? Your cloak's all wet, so you must have wandered quite a ways away."

With a grunt, the raven-haired man rolled onto his side, facing his back towards his fishy partner and grunting irritably.

"I told you I wasn't in the mood for your company, Hoshigaki, and my business is my own. Leave me to rest."

"Now what's this? Looks as if my little minx has a bit of a temper. No need to be nasty, Itachi," Kisame purred. But when there came no reaction, he smirked and smoothed his hand over the other's flanks, producing a shiver. "Come on, what's eating at you? I hope you didn't go off and get sick on me."

"I don't have to tell you everything that I do on my own time, Kisame, you're not my mother." Still the Uchiha wouldn't turn to face the other ninja who had begun to pet at the younger man's arm in an attempt to stir a reaction from him.

"Well aren't we pissy tonight," the shark-like man cooed, taking his nails and scraping them across the surface of the other man's cold skin. As he continued, the ninja playfully snagged the edge of Itachi's tank top, sliding it slightly off his shoulder.

"Kisame," the raven-haired ninja grunted, looking up at the elder man and furrowing his brows in a stare that was a mixture of irritation and disapproval.

His only response was a grin full of sharp teeth as he peeled his own cloak from his broad shoulders. Tossing the heavy, black garment to the side, the swordsman leaned over his smaller counterpart, looming over him and reaching out to run his rough fingers over Itachi's pale cheek.

"What do you think you're doing, Kisame?" the Uchiha questioned, not letting up his scowl.

"What does it look like, Ita-kun? It's been a long day and was thinking of a bit of you and me time. Come on…"

Not wanting to deal with the behemoth, Itachi tried to roll from underneath him, hopefully deflecting the man's intentions and sending him on his way. But with surprising force, Kisame's massive hands darted out before his body could fully turn, the fingers wrapping aggressively around his thin wrists to pin him in place.

"Nuh uh, Ita, you're not getting away that quick. Now come on, don't be so grumpy."

"I have all the right to be in whatever mood that suits me" Itachi retorted, letting his face fall into a deadpan, attempting to appear more than apathetic towards his maliciously grinning partner. "And I'd say your manhandling is doing nothing to improve my demeanor." With that he rolled again, tearing his wrist from the fish-man's paw, facing his flank towards Kisame.

Slowly Kisame's playful mood slunk into irritation, but not wanting to lose his cool so quickly, he tried another attempt at rousing his partner's interest. He hands again roamed the raven-hair's body, his rough palms smoothing over the Uchiha's ribs and to his hips, almost daring a reach around.

When all the Mist ninja received from his partner was a very icy cold-shoulder, his maw twisted with dissatisfaction, but clearly Itachi wouldn't give in. The raven haired man was almost as coldly stubborn as Kisame Hoshigaki was tall; in essence, very. But when it came to wants and opinions, it seemed the two could embargo for ages should their minds be conflicting.

Finally one of the powers caved, not being able to stand the impasse. With excessive force, Kisame grabbed the brooding other by his shoulder, slamming his body back to lie beneath him. As Itachi's mouth opened for a tart retort, it was filled with the thick tongue of the blue-hair, garbling his words.

Offended and startled, the younger man grunted and squirmed, but with another shove he was dominated in the invading kiss until he went soft in the elder man's arms. Satisfied with Itachi's compliance, the Mist ninja released some of the pressure he held his partner, but as soon as his palms slid from shoulders to sheets, the raven-haired man was lashing out. As quick as a blink, the Uchiha's hand darted out until it got a hold of Kisame's thick neck, grasping it firmly with electrically charged fingers, prodding the great brute like a stubborn bull.

The fish-man growled and his body slightly crumpled on top of the Uchiha, but the lapse in strength was short lived. Again taking hold of the attacking wrists, Kisame irritably smashed the assailant's hands above his head, yanking Itachi's arms up to a painful angle.

"You little- that hurt. You better cut that shit out or I'm gonna have to get nasty." Getting right back to business, he leaned in for another kiss, but instead took to the ninja's exposed neck, biting teasingly against the side of his throat.

Itachi growled low in his throat like an offended alpha wolf warning his underling to watch his conduct, but he was cut short as knife-like pointed teeth sunk into his soft neck, just piercing the skin and drawing tiny beads of blood from his marble skin. With a yelp as if his annoyance hand boiled over, the Uchiha twisted in the older man's grasp until he could dig his knee into his partner's gut, striking a firm wall of muscle which protected the soft organs.

"Just who's neck do you think you are biting, shark-bait?" he snarled, narrowing his eyes as Kisame released his throat and licked the scarlet from his teeth.

Having no problem with the weak abuse he was receiving, the older man suckled the wound he had created and hummed into the flesh.

"I'm playing with my minx, who do you think? Why are you being such a pain, Ita-kun? You're not making this any fun. At least help out and take your shirt off." Looking to see his partner's response, Kisame was only met with cold malice. Taking the hint, he gave the raven-hair another toothy grin and chomped onto the band of the navy top, ripping into the cloth and shredding it as he leaned away and stripped it form Itachi's chest.

Throwing the scrap of cloth that remained of his shirt aside furiously, Itachi gritted his teeth and sat up by giving the larger man a hearty shove.

"I think you have lost sight of who controls this partnership," he hissed narrowing his eyes until the one that still function nearly seemed to glow like a red ember between his thick, dark lashes. "Keep your paws off of me else I will kill you and feed you to your own sharks."

If not for his friskiness this particular day, such a statement normally drove Kisame away. But with so much effort already invested, he wasn't about to walk away with nothing.

"Mmm I love it when you act all tough. But I think I'm just gonna have to tie you up like last time, since you're in such a pissy mood." The large male quickly retrieved the discarded shirt, using the tattered cloth to tie his partners' wrists to the headboard, the younger man struggling all the while. But with his strength, Itachi didn't stand a chance.

"Untie me this second you piece of shit!" Itachi hissed as his foot popped the shark-man a good one in the jaw. Unfazed, the behemoth only chuckled and growled at his feisty little captive, pulling the bondage tighter until it nearly dug into Itachi's skin. This only enraged the Uchiha further until he was glaring at his partner with blood red eyes and bared teeth like a savage animal. "I will have you begging for death if you do not release me this instant, Kisame! Know your place!"

Smirking, Kisame only seized Itachi's jaw, cutting off his acidic rant and gripped into his cheeks.

"Oh, lighten up. If you keep thrashing around I'll end up dislocating your shoulder again. And you know how I hate wrecking your pretty body."

"Kisame, I don't want to kill you, but if you keep this game up I will not hesitate to burn you to oblivion. Now get off before I really lose my patience." Despite all his venomous threats, there wasn't anything in Itachi's body language that suggested his intention to follow through. The Akatsuki had already suffered the loss of Akasuna no Sasori, and more recently Hashimoto Deidara. To lose Hoshigaki Kisame due to something as trivial as an internal quarrel would cripple the organization as much as the loss of his left eye had crippled Itachi. He wished for the larger ninja to leave him in peace, but could not bring himself to use lethal force.

And low and behold the mass of the man lifted and departed, as if by shear will and idol threats he had succeeded in sending him away. But before he could claim his victory with rest, the sound of Kisame's low growl whispering to the door made his stomach churn, and sure enough the large portal returned to its closed state, sealing the pair of them inside the soundproof room. To Itachi's discontent his monstrous partner returned, sitting himself next to the Uchiha's detained body and resumed coaxing him into intimacy.

It seemed for a moment that Itachi would retort, but when he opened his mouth to unleash another scathing yet weightless threat, a massive palm clasped over it. The Mist ninja grinned and waggled a free finger in front of his partner's nose.

"That's enough lip from you, little minx. From now until we're finished here, the only time I want to hear your voice is when you're screaming my name or begging for me to be merciful. Is that quite understood?" To show that there was actual purpose behind his threat, Kisame pressed against his captive's skull until his jaw became painful and his neck nearly twisted. With a look of uncertainty and woe, the Uchiha finally gave in with a muffled grunt and a reluctant nod.

With an excited snarl, Kisame wasted no time stripping the pair of them and settling into his starting position. As things were set in motion around him, the raven hair could only try to get comfortable and force his thoughts to wander back into his dark mind. He closed his eyes and began again on the construction of his plan to take back that of which was once his alone.

"Deidara?" Inuyasha called off the back porch. The rain had let up very briefly but was beginning to pick up again and there was no sign of his mate. Well of course there were signs of him, his scent was all over everything in the house; the hanyou could even follow his footsteps into the forest left in the sodden ground. Put ill at ease by the news of Itachi's return, the blonde shinobi had announced rather suddenly that he would take advantage in the moment of clear weather to train in the woods. Hours had passed since Deidara had stepped out and still he hadn't returned, making his lover nervous, not liking the idea of the other man being out with a crook like Itachi running amuck but also not wanting to step on his mate's toes if he needed his alone time. Finally the rain picking up gave him an excuse to find the ninja and bring him back inside where it was safe under Inuyasha's watchful eye.

With the rain having lasted most of the day, the ground was even more flooded than in the morning, irritating Inuyasha as he sloshed through it. The trail of his lover was washed away with the continuous downpour, but a path of mud made it easy to follow and find the still steaming blonde. As slow as he knew he was, even the hanyou knew that Deidara was still mad at him, having ended their conversation earlier with heated glares and slamming of doors. Afterwards was a silent breakfast, both eating in separate rooms, with Inuyasha still sitting post outside. When the shinobi had left, the mutt had attempted to keep him home, but a stabbing look from him allowed his departure.

"Kid? Come on Dei- it's pouring out here! You're gonna get sick!" Inuyasha called out into the woods.

When there came no reply, Inuyasha forged on through the mire that squelched between his toes and the downpour that soaked his hair and robes through and through. His ears folded back as he begun to realize how furious the shinobi must be with him to stay out in this miserable weather rather than return home. The half demon forced himself onward until he reached the little glen where on several occasions he had spied on Deidara while the younger man exercised in privacy, hoping to keep the secret to his physique hidden from his mate lest he think worse of his human strength. The clearing was worn down in places where the shinobi conducted his work outs most frequently and the center of the hideaway held a monolith of a stump worn around the edges where it was kicked and punched more than frequently.

The ninja looked rather like a drowned rat, drenched by the downpour as still he continued his training in spite of the rain. He stood before the stump and kicked it until Inuyasha flinched at the sound of a crunch as the cambium finally broke under the shinobi's heel. Alternating from his kicks, Deidara began to lay his fists into his makeshift dummy until his knuckles were raw and bleeding, yet still he kept on. Through the weather and the pain, he gritted his teeth and put his body through the stresses of training, feeling himself harden against the elements of nature and battle if only a little more than before.

With all of this aggression Inuyasha was almost scared to interrupt. The more anger he could get out of Deidara before talking with him, the better. Careful not to alert the highly trained ninja in his practice, the hanyou slunk to brush, still in good range to watch but with less exposure to the rain.

After what felt like miserably cold and wet ages of the blonde kicking and punching dents in his practicing stump through the beating rain, Deidara finally paused. With a sigh, he leaned forward and wiped his sodden bangs from his face to clear his vision, flipping the soaking hair back and revealing his entire face; a rare occurrence. When it appeared as if he'd managed to catch his breath, he turned on his heel as if to begin his hike back to the house put paused and turned his gaze towards the ground.

"Alright, I'm done with my training for today un, you can quit watching me like you still think you're sneaky Inuyasha. What is it you want un?"

After the near hour of steadying his breath and maintaining his motionlessness, Inuyasha nearly fell over, but remained out of full sight. The irritation still remained in his lover's voice, so the silver-hair knew he was still in choppy waters.

"It's wet out here. I came to get you. I… didn't want you to be out here forever and get sick. I'll make lunch if you want."

Deidara stretched one of his arms across his chest to fill his time while he though, as if he might decide to stay out a while longer just to spite the hanyou.

"I wouldn't object to potato and leek soup if you're in a culinary mood un. First things first though, I'm going to put on some dry clothes." He paused and looked directly at the shrubs Inuyasha was trying so hard to conceal himself under. "Are you going to come out of there or stay all curled up like you think I'm going to bite your head off un?"

"Well… are you?" Inuyasha leaned slightly to his right and almost yelped, finding his mate having already moved to stand over him. Looking up to meet Deidara's curious look, he simply blinked.

"I suppose not un," the blonde finally sighed, taking a few steps away towards the direction of their house. The half-breed was quick to follow, still not daring to let his guard fully down. If he had learned anything in dealing with loved ones, it was that even though they say their fine… they aren't.

Thankfully as the day wore on into evening, the hot-headed ninja's demeanor improved noticeably as it tended too after vigorous exercise. He griped as Inuyasha fussed over his knuckles, bashed against the tree stump until there was almost no skin left on them. Still, tired muscles and a bellyful of warm soup relaxed Deidara considerably like music to the savage beast.

Even without nimble fingers the hanyou essentially bandaged his lover, wrapping clean gauze around his hand and tying a crude knot against the side, adding more to his overall fighter look. In attempt to add to his deliverance from Deidara's hostility he kissed his handiwork casually and set to work on cleaning up their mess.

The work out had done its job in calming the young man's mind, relieving some of the burden caused by the storm of Itachi's return and Inuyasha's still lingering grudge. Deidara had come to two conclusions: one, if Inuyasha chose to indulge in hatred towards the Uchiha, then that was not something that even his mate could readily change, and two, if Itachi really was after them again, the blonde was sure to be ready. However, by the time the pair had climbed under the sheets for the night, the ninja's brain was buzzing again with thoughts of defending himself and Inuyasha from his jealous or vengeful ex. He found his eyes difficult to close, even as he curled the curve of his spine against the hanyou's sturdy front side.

As his back pressed comfortably into his mate's chest, he suddenly felt fingers gliding across his own pectorals, meeting in the middle to lock together around him.

"Hey kid… you awake?"

Deidara sighed, shoving his troubling thoughts into the back of his mind before looking over his shoulder at the other man, just barely able to make out the hanyou's outline in the darkness.

"Yeah … did you want to talk un?"

"You're not mad at me… are you? Earlier… I didn't mean to get like that." Although his lover couldn't see, Inuyasha's ear had shamefully folded back, sensing the blonde stirring and assuming it was his doing.

Flashing back to the argument they had that morning, Deidara pursed his lips and forced his shoulders to relax, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly as if letting go of all the harsh things that had been said. It was one of those things that he could feel like poison in his mind and if he clung to their disagreement, he would only be worse for it.

"No… I'm… I'm okay now un. You are how you are, and things will be a lot more difficult if I can't learn to accept your quirks. So no, I can't stay angry with you, not now at least un."

Nuzzling into the man's right shoulder, the hanyou hummed apologetically.

"I know you want everything to be all good, but some things… some things like that are too tough to get over. But I promise not to let it change the way I feel about you." With that the mutt stuck out his lips and rested them on the flesh, humming louder to show his unchanged affection.

Letting himself relax slightly, the shinobi let his stresses slip away a little more, a smile creeping across his lips as another kiss found its way to his neck.

"I suppose I spent so much time without a moral compass that I've forgotten how to make bad things a big deal un… You always did feel more strongly about Itachi than I did un."

"I can't help but hate people who hurt others... especially others I care about. He went out of his way to – no, I don't want to… can we not talk about him anymore? I'm just gonna end up angry again. I just wanna think about you kid." The elder's fingers retracted from each other and began dancing over Deidara's skin.

"Why can't you be like that all the time un?" the blonde smiled as he rolled over in his mate's arms to face Inuyasha, tracing his thumb over the other man's cheek thoughtfully. "You know, that's all I've been trying to get you to do. Don't give that bastard the benefit of your thoughts so you can focus on what's important: your friends, you loved ones… your family un…" Chuckling to himself, Deidara leaned in to kiss the half demon chastely on the lips before humming into his jaw happily. "Itachi's not important un."

Inuyasha's eyes closed lazily and he smiled into the kiss.

"Only when he's after you. You're everything to me, Dei. I want you forever and ever." He gently brushed his mate's hair from his face, granting him the second view of the day of his entire face. Even in the absence of light he could make out the glimmer in Deidara's eyes, and oh how they pulled him in.

"And forever I am yours un," the ninja replied smoothly, rubbing his nose affectionately against Inuyasha's in an Eskimo kiss. The action brought a grin to the half demon's face and Deidara chuckled when his lover tilted his head and began to kiss the blonde man's chin and jaw.

As their limbs became entangled, Inuyasha again felt the still new feeling of intimacy wash over him. With all the time in the world and no cares, he indulged every moment he could into creating this feeling, drowning himself in the want, the need to be loved and to love. Before, matters of importance seemed to underline his romances, never truly allowing him to explore his basic wants of affection. But with his mate alongside him and with no needs but their health and wellbeing, he greedily took advantage of every moment he could to consume his lovers attention.

After what felt like ages of closeness and shared pleasure, the pair separated, content with their physically romantic needs met for the time. With a look of satisfied tiredness on his face, Deidara rested his head against Inuyasha's chest and hummed affectionately into the freshly warmed skin. While his lover was still awake, the artist thought to take a moment and reaffirm their devotion through words, an act which always left him feeling more in love with Inuyasha than ever.

"Mmmm I love you so much. I don't ever want to leave your side un."

Still holding a devious nature from their romp, the hanyou took Deidara's hands by the wrists and nibbled them ferociously.

"I will never let you. I hope you like it here, cause you are mine forever."

The younger man couldn't help but laugh at his lover's tickling little nips, taking his own opportunity to lean in and give the same treatment to one of the hanyou's pointed ears.

"Well I hope you can live with me forever un, cause you're stuck with me. There isn't a thing you could do that would drive me away un." Letting his laughter die away a little to show he was feeling tired, the shinobi abandoned Inuyasha's ear and pecked the other man on the forehead lovingly. "Hm, what a paradise un… to be with you like this forever." Deidara paused, letting himself lay down comfortably by his lover's side. "Do you think, we'll always be like this un? I mean just you and me, nothing official, just lovers? Nothing… more un?"

"Well what else is there? All I need I you with me, and I'm set for life."

Realizing that the hanyou hadn't ever considered the complexity of a relationship, Deidara parted his lips to say something, but something stopped him. What was he expecting? What else was there? Sure, if he asked he could probably convince Inuyasha to marry him, but in this time, what did it matter? There was no significant authority that they had to prove their love to, so why bother with the expenses? They loved each other. Deidara knew that. But… was it enough?

"I guess you're right un. Just you and me hm."

"Yup; just you and me. You know, no matter what might happen, nothing will ever change between you and me, kid. I love you and I always will and having you is all I need to survive."

Deidara sighed and let it go; after all there was no sense in pining over something so trivial. He could live without marital union, he loved Inuyasha and the hanyou reciprocated and that's all he needed. With that the blonde hummed and curled up to his lover's side, his tired body falling asleep rather easily with the sound of his lover beside him.