'COME ON LEGS!' FASTER'

Dead leaves made a painful crunch as pounding feet made them echo through the dead wood forest. A woman was running, running for her life. She pushed her legs to the maximum.

'COME ON!'

In the distance, bombs were going off shaking the earth's core. It was difficult to run and keep balance as the ground vibrated beneath her feet.

Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest as it hit her rib cage faster and faster. Her lungs stung as if the very air was poison itself.

"KOTORA!" A menacing laughter followed her name as it was screamed through the air.

'NO!' She felt his presence closing in on her as she felt the hot air from the bombs going off getting closer and closer.

'I…have to…keep running! I mus…!'… "AHHH!"

Kotora tumbled down a hill as the earth ground scratched her face and skin on the fall. Her back hit a tree knocking the wind out of her as she collapsed on the ground to regain consciousness.

She gasped for air as she fisted the ground, holding onto it as if her life depended on it, after a few moments she slowly sat up wincing the whole time while doing so. As her back was against the dead tree she looked down at her leg and saw a kunai embedded deeply in her thigh. A nice tag was attached indicating it was a bomb kunai.

She went down to remove it as she felt her hot blood spilling down and around her leg then a menacing voice stopped her.

He clicked his tongue multiple time " No No Kotora, it makes you look…so much more ARTISTIC"

Hissing she said "If you're going to kill me do it and get it over with Deidara!"…'Oh no'…She felt her vision becoming blurry. She shook her head to snap out of it. 'damn it this hurts!' Not only did her legs ache from her failed run, but now her left leg was practically screaming at her in pain. Even just a tiny ounce of movement shot fires of pain all the way to the back of her eyes. That's when her legs started shaking. 'no damn it! don't give him that pleasure!'

Deidara smirked as he watched her face twist in pain and how she hated herself for shaking under his very presence. He walked over and slowly bent down so his breath burned her skin. "How convenient for me that the leaf village sent such a wonderful blank canvas for me. I'm so excited to make such a wonderful explosion out of you."

He touched the inside of her thigh where blood was now pooling on the ground. "Such a fantastic color on you"

"Stop it!" Kotora reached out to slap him but he caught her mid way.

"Oh…you prefer a much…" Deidara squeezed her thigh where the kunai was imbedded in her leg, forcing more and more blood to fall on the ground."…HARDER touch!"

"Ahaahaaaahaha…ahhh" She started screaming out and pain and this time tears flowed. She started bawling. It was too much. The pain. Him. It was all to much. She just wanted it to end.

Deidara stepped back and quickly brought his hands up to his face to begin his explosion jitsu. "Ninja Art…ah…what?"

He stopped mid sentence as a gust of harsh wind blew past him. He shielded the dirt from his eyes until the wind calmed down and what he say made him angry. " Gaara. Kazagage of the Village hidden in the Sand"

"Deidara…get away from her." Gaara's voice was deep and calm but it held a powerful warning of death if it wasn't obliged.

Kotora winced as her vision was now blurred. She started to pull away from the bombing monster. She didn't even realize that Gaara's presence was very near her.

"Next time little canvas…you'll be MINE." Suddenly Deidara exploded into air as Gaara stepped in between her and him…expecting he would disappear and try to take her with him. Gaaras sand shield protected them both and didn't take it down until the smoke cleared.

Kotora tried to look up but she couldn't see anything…her head was spinning…and she was getting tired.

"Kotora" His gentle voice soothed her somehow.

Carefully picking her up, he clung her to his chest as he swept her away into the air towards his village to save her life.

Dun Dun Duuuun….what will happen next? Stayed tuned until next chapter rolls out!