Whisper: A Deidara Love Story

[FINALE] ♣️ Chapter XXXVIII: A Home

The return to the new hideout went seamlessly. As it turned out, it had been weeks and weeks since they'd last seen me. When I had seen Emiko's heart crystal, it felt no longer than a mere few minutes, but it seemed that from beyond, it was an entirely different story.

When Kisame, Itachi, and Deidara had returned to the team after their clash against Emiko, all operations ceased. At first, they tried to carry on with their normal duties, but it everyone had been so worried that they couldn't focus. And when Tobi suddenly appeared on their doorstep bearing the news that I was alive and still in battle, it seemed to ease at least some of the worries they had.

But when weeks had gone by without any word from me, they set out search parties. I was grateful to hear that they had been so worried, but I still felt guilty for having had stalled so many of their operations. It felt... strange to be back, but the nostalgia was warming.

Thanks to my warning, the Akatsuki was able to relocate and shake Konoha from their trail. The new headquarters was stationed in a hidden cave by the mountain right outside of Getsukagure, the village hidden under the moon. Because it was so small and isolated, it was unlikely that we would be found there.

When I initially returned, Pein noticed something was off almost immediately.

"There's something different about you," he'd said once everyone rendezvoused at the new hideout. They were cooking the very first meal together since my disappearance. Our reunion called for celebration, apparently—even more so because I was so battered and bruised. My victory in such an impossible battle was commendable.

I made sure to spare the details.

"Ah... you've noticed?" I tried to say with a light smile, but my voice was trembling. Everyone's stares turned toward me, and above all, I could feel Deidara's peer straight through me.

"What?" Hidan cried obnoxiously, his eyes widening. With his jaw dropped, he jabbed a finger at me, bewildered. "Hey, hey... you—your chakra signature is, like... gone?"

"He's right," Kisame mumbled, his jaw dropping. "It's different from before. It's like... it's like—"

"Like all of my power is gone?" I finished for him, giving up the act. "That's because it is."

Everyone exchanged looks of astonishment. How such a thing could be possible, was what they were wondering. And if I were in their shoes, I would've been thinking the same thing... or, rather, I would've been pitying me. But the thought of that made me shudder, and so I moved it away.

"How is such a thing possible?" Konan asked in disbelief.

"I took away my sister's ability to use her chakra," I replied as nonchalantly as I could, but it was hard. It was hard lto give up my magic when I had just received the gift of it. "But in doing so, I sealed away my own abilities as well. I am nothing but a normal human being now. Sorry to disappoint... since, you know, I won't be able to participate in any more operations. If you thought I was useless before, I guess I'll really be useless now."

Everyone's eyes were practically bugging; I tried to laugh it off, but I couldn't help but feel the bubbling disappointment.

A regular human being.

The words resonated in my chest as the reality sunk into me. I could've been one of the most powerful individuals to have graced the earth, and I gave that up. But when I remembered that I'd done it because it was the only way to truly stop Emiko for good, I didn't regret what I'd done to myself for even a single moment. I would've made the same choice twice, or a million times again, if I needed to.

"So, what?" a voice piped up, jolting everyone. It was, of course, Deidara. "She came back alive, yeah. She sacrificed her ninjutsu to stop that crazy whatever-she-is. Uchiha, Kisame—you both know how fuckin' destructive Aoi's sister was. If it was the only way to stop her, then so be it, un. Shouldn't we be grateful that Aoi is with us right now?"