Through My Skin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Naruto, just a few shirts and keychains.

Note: This is obviously when Deidara is still alive, along with most of the Akatsuki. D:

Chapter One: Amethyst

A touch, a kiss. It was all too powerful. Too much passion. It had been random, and strong. This was something Sakura wasn't prepared for…from someone she wasn't prepared for. After Sasuke had left the village Sakura was nothing short of confused. She felt betrayed, like her only chance at happiness just ripped her heart out and stepped on it. Over the years she took her anger out by improving her skills under Tsunade's tutelage. She grew strong, and learned her way into the highest ranks of Medic Nins in all of Konoha village, only surpassed by her mentor.

She was nineteen when it all happened. She was called in early in the morning to rush to the hospital. Hyuuga's team had just come back from a mission and two were passed out, and Neji himself critically injured. When she arrived she was bustled to the team leader. He had fractured legs and the bones in his arms were almost shattered. Still, his face was stoic. "You should be unconscious with all of this pain."

He just looked at her as she started to work. She hadn't been this close to Neji. He had always been a group away from her own as a child, and he had that unearthly beauty that Saskue had that made girls like her almost uncomfortable to be around. He always had Tenten on his arms too, most girls would just leave that be. But as she was working on his injuries with hoards of helpers swinging in and out of the room she felt his gaze on her and her alone. It was oddly comforting. It was the most emotion she'd ever have out of him…ever.

That was what she thought even as she finally wrapped up the minor injuries. She collapsed in the chair next to his bed and wiped a bead of sweat off of her brow. She sighed and leaned in. It was just her and the Hyuuga at this point.

"You should be completely healed within the next week, I wouldn't recommend moving them more than anyone else would in a normal day. Take a week off. Kami knows you need it." She had her eyes closed, taking in the sweet air conditioned room. She heard a soft chuckle.

"You know what else I need?" Replied his masculine voice. She heard the sheets rustle and she opened her eyes. When they were finally locked on his form he was already over her, his cold lips against hers. She let this happen. Somewhat because of the shock, but also because when the shock wore off there was a heated desire to be touched. Because of Sasuke she wasn't capable to move on. Find someone for herself. Even in this little touch the heat rose in her. It didn't help that the touch was from a very attractive male.

When we broke away from her he had a grin on his face. Her cheeks flushed, clashing with her hair pathetically. "I think I owe you dinner after today. How about tomorrow night? Or is that too much activity for me?" He had a smirk on. She giggled softly, finding a feeling she hasn't felt since her childhood.

"No, dinner is fine. Tomorrow is perfect." She said as he moved back and she stood up. She gave him a finally smile then made her way out of the room. Her day went past her fast. She was excited. A date? With Neji Hyuuga? She had heard rumors of him and Tenten being on the offs because of how often he was gone on missions. Something about him choosing work over her. It was most likely true, but a date is different from a relationship so Sakura was not going to worry too much.

The date was amazing, to say the least. Sakura was nervous, and Neji was the man she had heard all about. This continued a few more nights. The fifth date ended with two slightly intoxicated ninjas returning to her apartment and a passionate night that Sakura forgot existed.

So when this dragged on for almost another two months, of course Sakura would say yes to being exclusive. She was starting to think that maybe she was good with Neji, had moved on from Sasuke and is starting a new life just like everyone else's. The first four months were perfect. Neji healed and went back to working and Sakura continued to be a medic and succeed in her field.

But Neji started to get a temper when he would come back from missions. At first it was easy to fix. Sakura would make a night out of his return. His favorite meals, favorite activities…she would pull most of the stops out. This worked for a few times, but then he started to get harder to appease. He also started to become violent. First it was just rougher sex, nasty bed-talk. She now wishes it stayed that way. She had started to complain, saying it hurt. He said he'd stop. Well he did stop the rough sex, but instead took it out on her physically and mentally during the rest of the day.

This is where we find her. Sitting in her room at the age of twenty one. Almost two years of abuse. She was healing a large foot-sized bruise on her chest. Her face was pale and this was wearing on her. She closed her eyes, the violet mark now a pale red. She pressed her fingers on her temple and pushed the urge back to cry. She was stronger than this. She opened her eyes and stood from the chair and moved towards the closet. She crawled on the ground and popped out a small rectangle that she had cut out of the wall in their apartment. She pulled out a small duffle bag and made sure all her clothing was still in its spot. Her weapons. Her herbs. She was done with him. With this town.

She knew if she just left him he'd find her. The town wasn't that big. He'd get to her. Tsunade…she wanted to tell Tsunade so badly, but did not want to have a whole town on some confused man. She was going to leave. Start over. She had picked out the perfect town. Iwakagure.

The stone village had little to do with their little village, and almost no one moved to the heat and dry from a relatively pleasant climate. She figured she would be safe over there for the moment. Establish herself, maybe even change her name. She just needed to get out of this life she had locked herself into.

Neji was out with Shikamaru. They had a little mission that would have them home the next morning. This was her time. She put the piece of wall back and packed a few extra things. She put the bag on her shoulders and moved to the kitchen. She stuffed a few sandwiches into her bag and one into her mouth, then opened the kitchen window and jumped out into the clear night sky.

The air was chilly with an autumn breeze. She leapt along the roofs and poles until Konoha was far behind her and the only thing beneath her were tree branches. Her heart beat was going crazy. She was worried. She didn't know if he cared enough for her to go after her or if he'd just let her be. She would have to send Tsunade a message after a while, so if she calls anyone on her she can call them back. She was sure once it was noted that she was missing work for the first time in her life tomorrow Tsunade would be aware of her missing.

She wanted to tell Tsunade everything that Neji has been doing, but she knew she wouldn't tell her sensei. She would have to come up with some ridiculous lie. Maybe make it out like she was the bad guy. Say there was another man in Iwa that Sakura just could not live without. She shook those thoughts out of her head and pressed on. She was going to go for at least a few more hours then find a safe place to rest. It took about three days to get to Iwa from Konoha and Sakura did not want to stay still for any of it.

"You think she's actually going to go to Iwa?" A nervous voice said from on top of a nearby cliff. He had a chunk of blonde hair in his hand. He was giving his partner a little hair cut. His partner was none too pleased with this idea.

"If she isn't I'm going to kill leader, un." Deidara grumbled as he looked through the binoculars. "Or all of this hair cutting would be for nothing." He continued.

"Well, Sempai doesn't have to worry! Tobi is good at cutting hair, I used to do it for my siblings all of the time. Sempai will look good with short hair too." Tobi chirped behind him. Deidara rolled his eyes and put the glasses down. He kept quiet the rest of his little hair cut. He and Tobi were scoping out the pink haired girl for their boss. He wanted a medic nin for the members. They were told it was just to have someone to cover the team after Kuzuku passed. Deidara knew better. It was for Itachi. His eyesight was getting worse every day. On top of that if they had the girl they had something to bribe the fire nation with. More money for their plans.

They had caught wind from spies of a failing relationship, and after following her closely for the last month found out she did have plans to leave her crappy boyfriend for a new start…which was in Iwakagure. Of course once this got back to Akatsuki all eyes fell on Deidara. No one else knew the little villages there. No one cared to learn either. Of course, he couldn't go back looking like the day he left. He was going to have to get a make-over. They planned to chop his hair off, maybe dye it and give him some colored lens. He was not to wear his scope and he was going to have a different uniform completely. He was going to go into Iwa and settle himself within the day.

Deidara was no pleased with this. Or his new name. Daisuke Ito. He thought it sounded very boring. The rest of the group didn't care what he thought of the silly name, they just wanted him to go through with it. Finally Tobi dropped the scissors and stood up.

"All done Sempai!"

Deidara ran his hand through what was left of his hair. It went a little bit past his chin. It was very shaggy. He no longer had his bangs either, just a small side-sweep. He grumbled a thank you. He stood up and looked down at himself. He had a tight black turtle neck on and a pair of black ninja pants. He looked down to where he was sitting. Next to the spot sat a black headband, the rock symbol carved perfectly into the metal. He grimaced and reached down. He held it in his sturdy hands which were now covered with fingerless gloves. He closed his eyes and tied it around his forehead.

"Let's get this shit over with, un."

End of Chapter one

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