In Your Hands

SeraphimLullaby

Full Summary:

Fired from yet another job & on the run, Deidara hardly expected the solution to his problems to come from an absolute stranger, a blind violinist at that[AU

Disclaimer:

I do not own Naruto. Never will. Only the plot!

Deidara grimaced as his backside collided with the cold concrete pavement. Listening to his former boss scream his head off for a moment before deciding to tune him out, the blonde haired artist pushed himself up slowly and carefully got to his feet.

"You're fired you bastard! Don't even think about showing your face around here again! You hear me?"

Said bastard frowned as he dusted himself off. That was the 3rd time this month. He couldn't help the fact that some people just didn't know about art as much as he did. With a sigh, Deidara unceremoniously shoved his slender yet skilled hands into his pant pockets and shuffled on forward.

To hell with them. The pay wasn't even good… he thought and nodded his head as if reassuring himself of this. Around an hour later, unemployed, the blonde wandered the streets of Konoha Town until he reached the Fisherman's Wharf, simply enjoying everything within the shabby yet cheerful town.

To him, the place could be considered art itself, like a bud yet to blossom, slowly yet surely transforming into something more beautiful as each day passed.

He listened to the various sounds of the place, from the bustling of town people to the barks of vendors advertising their goods. The wharf happened to be rimmed with restaurants and crammed with stores.

If anything, he thought ruefully, I acquired some new techniques. If it hadn't been for his stupid boss's lips, he'd still have his job. Annoyed with the topic running through his mind, he pulled the hair tie holding up unruly locks off and brushed it back with one hand.

Redoing his hair again so that it looked better than before, he released another sigh although this was one of relief. Doing that had calmed him down considerably.

Depression threatened him as he slowed down, an onslaught of new thoughts pervading his mind. He began to mentally account his finances. The rent was surely due the following week and he needed more paint as well as paper.

If his calculations were correct, both of those necessities could be met if he skipped out on a couple of meals and didn't put too much emphasis on food for awhile.

Well, at least I won't be the first or last artist to go without food. Deidara thought as a ghost of a smile came to him. He was usually optimistic but this time around, he wondered if that would even be a possibility in the coming future if things kept on going the way they did.

Hell if there will be a future for me…the man sulked and continued to walk along until he reached the docks of the wharf. It was usually quiet here, except for the occasional slapping of wavelets against the wood of the boats.

Perking his head up after hearing a dog bark followed by the frantic cries of a girl, Deidara found himself shifting his gaze towards the source and was met with a strange sight.

A frail looking girl with roseate colored tresses was being pulled, no, scratch that, dragged by a redbone hound. What was even more strange was that a small instrument case was clutched tightly to her chest, as if the object was the most precious thing to her. It probably was, he finally concluded.

Watching her every move carefully, he decided that he would mind his own business for now and see what would happen. As the pinkette leaned over slightly when the dog ceased it's actions, she panted heavily and released her grip on the metal bar attached to what appeared to be a harness. Hugging the wooden case with both of her arms, she managed to catch her breath as she slowly sank to her knees.

"It'll be okay Nocturne…just you wait and see…Tsunade-san will come looking for us soon…" hearing her soft voice for the first time, Deidara smiled. She had the voice of an angel, delicate but gentle.

He suddenly decided that maybe talking to her wouldn't be so bad, until he noticed a group of people coming out of nowhere, their presence giving off malicious intent towards the youth. Their aura reminded him of his past and the sudden reminder was very unpleasant

"Pinky! Nice to know you waited for us to catch up." A lady, most likely a slut, called out to her as they neared her now trembling form. The blonde merely watched, weighing his options carefully.

Should he get involved or not? Shaking his head mentally, he decided not to. The last time he got involved nearly cost him his hide. No, he would wait this out; see what would happen before he made any actions.

So that's what he did, acting as if he were unaware and was just there, minding his own business.

"How nice of you to carry around your violin for us. It makes it so much more easy to get." One of the bigger guys said. He looked awfully arrogant and very cocky. Well, anyone in control of a situation tended to be. The blonde came to another conclusion that he was their leader, his posture and attitude giving it away.

With a frown, Deidara wondered why the girl continued to stare at the floor, a blank expression sported on her angelic features. What in the hell was she doing? He couldn't help but wonder. If he were in her position, he would be glaring daggers at those people, as if looks could kill.

As if…

Then, the lady who had called her "Pinky" stepped forward and bent over slightly, roughly grabbing the girl's arm and pulling her to her feet. As soon as this was done though, a slap resounded throughout the once peaceful dock followed by a muffled thump. The pinkette had been knocked off of her feet and was caught by someone else within the little group.

"P-Please…stop…what do you want from me?!" she pleaded softly, but to no avail. The man's arms she happened to be in began to slowly lift the hem of her dirtied white summer dress.

"Well girly, didn't Boss make it clear enough that ya have to fork over your violin? Heh, it's also dangerous for little blind pink haired bitches to be roaming around. Didn't you know that sweetheart?" So that explained why she didn't make eye contact. The poor girl couldn't see. Now Deidara knew he would have to intervene. It wasn't right and if he didn't, it would take a great toll on his conscience later.

Despite that she had been in a man's arms, she continued to clutch her violin. Perhaps it was as if it were her lifeline, her source of protection as she shut her eyes tightly. When her dress had been lifted, a pair of plain white panties with the exception of a little pink ribbon on the front near the top was revealed. The girl blushed, probably from embarrassment and frustration. Deidara knew he would be if he were in her situation.

As the leader decided now would be the best time to retrieve the violin from the girl's possession, he was met with some resistance. With a yelp of pain, the man pulled back and growled many obscenities under his breath. The girl had dug her teeth in his skin.

"Bitch…"

Nocturne, as Deidara had remember the girl calling it, had at one point tried to lunge at its masters attackers but ended up pinned down roughly by some other idiot lackey.

As the big guy pulled out a knife, Deidara made his way forward and in the blink of an eye, took the knife from his hand and plunged it right into it! The man cried out in shock and staggered back as he removed the blade none-too-gently.

"Four on one? Especially with a blind girl, yeah? That's rather unfair now, don't ya think?"

"What the hell?!"

"Where'd he come from?!"

"I don't know but he's dead!" with a murderous growl, the man lunged for the blonde artist. Said blonde merely sidestepped and smirked as his assailant flew past him. When this happened, the guy who attempted to ravish the pink-haired beauty stood up after harshly shoving her aside and cracked his knuckles.

"You're dead buddy."

His new opponent threatened as he readied himself to attack. Deidara had completely forgotten about the leader (sadly) and felt a sharp pain in his side. The bastard stabbed him! Throwing him off his back, the blonde quickly ran his fingertips over his wound to assess the damage. It wasn't too serious but he decided that he should get it looked at later.

Hearing the leader shuffle around behind him this time, Deidara grinned when he sidestepped again, though this time, the two idiots who lunged for him slammed into one another. Unluckily for the unarmed guy though seeing as his boss's knife went cleanly into his midsection.

Suddenly, the artist winced when his ears picked up a familiar voice.

"There you are. Idiot. Leader has been looking for you. It's not nice to keep the Akatsuki waiting Deidara. You of all people should know that."

Everyone paused when they heard the words being spoken.

"Oh shit…"

"He's in the Akatsuki?! What the hell?!"

"Are you serious?! Ah! Please don't kill us!"

Deidara smirked when they ran off, leaving the injured one to stagger after them pathetically. Turning to the owner of the voice, his expression became grim.

"Sasori." The blonde nodded his head in his direction before approaching the girl.

Seeing the youth sit up, he slowly lowered himself and inspected her entire being for any injuries.

"Are you alright?" he questioned softly so as not to startle her.

As she quickly bobbed her head up and down, the viselike grip on the violin was loosened somewhat.

"Y-Yes…thank you…"

With a smile, Deidara helped her up and was met with a vicious bark from Nocturne.

"It's okay Nocturne…I don't think he'll hurt us…it's alright…" she said in such a placating tone that the dog sat on its rear and wagged its tail rapidly. With a smile of her own, she turned her attention back toward Deidara's location and spoke once more.

"How…can I ever repay you?" About to shake his head when he suddenly remembered that she couldn't see, the male smiled.

"How about a kiss, yeah?" Hearing a throat clear itself, Deidara blinked his eyes and allowed his gaze to stray to the forgotten person. Missing the light blush that had dusted her porcelain cheeks, the artist gave his former partner attention.

"Deidara…"

"No. I'm not coming back Sasori. I'm happy the way things are now and I'd rather not be back there again. I'm sorry."

With a nod, the redhead's eyes filled with the unmistakable look of remorse. The moment the emotion surfaced it vanished as quickly as it came.

"I see."

As the pinkette placed her hand around the metal bar attached to the harness once more, Deidara thought it better if he went along with her for now just until he was sure she reached safety. With that, they left the redhead behind.

When they vanished from sight, said redhead trailed after the young girl's assailants, catching up to them rather easily. Using his amazing ability with strings to sow each one of their eyes shut tightly so that they wouldn't be able to see, he told them coldly to see how they would like that and to reconsider their actions next time they chose to pick on helpless people.

Sasori usually wouldn't bother with people but he wasn't cruel. He too was defenseless at least once in his life and despite that he was a gang member now didn't mean he couldn't care every once in awhile.

Walking along the sidewalk next to the pink-haired girl and her dog, Deidara discovered that her name was Sakura, which he personally thought fit her personality and appearance quite well. She was beautiful and fair like one as well. He only hoped that she wouldn't wilt like the actual deal. It would be such a shame if that were to happen.

"Deidara-san…" Sakura piped up, breaking the comfortable silence that had developed between them.

"Hm?"

"You…you saved me…why?"

Why did he save her? Surely it was because she was blind and helpless but Deidara felt that there was more to it than that. He just couldn't put his finger on it yet.

"To be quite honest…I'm not too sure myself. Look at it this way though. Who wouldn't save a pink-haired beauty? That's not something you see every day, besides, it's not right…to let someone who's already suffering, suffer more than they have to. Sounds cheesy but it's what I think."

Realizing that his companion had stopped, he turned around and gave her an annoyed look. Suddenly, the youth stepped forward to him and reluctantly set down her violin.

Pulling her hand away from the metal bar that she was so fond of clutching, Sakura raised petite yet calloused digits up and rested them on each side of his face.

Freaking out a bit at first seeing as he was unsure as to what she intended, he relaxed the moment she began to trace each feature.

From his well-defined chin, to slightly chapped yet full lips, to his nose, up to his eyelids, to his eyebrows, to his forehead, and finally through his hair and back down to cup his cheeks. With a soft smile, Sakura began to giggle. Snapping out of whatever she had put him in, he gave her a strange look.

"What?"

Shaking her head in response, the youth continued to smile, her hands dropping back to her sides save for her right one which dipped down and plucked the violin from the ground.

"Deidara-san, pardon me for what I just did but…I needed to feel…to see…By doing that, I know you are a good person, deep down."

As frown graced him, the man shook his head.

"I'm far from what you just said Sakura-san. There's no possible way I'm a good person, not with what I've gone through and done. I'm terrible, perhaps far worse than that. And besides, for all you know I can be a really old and ugly guy trying to get in your pants."

It was Sakura's turn to frown.

"That's not necessarily true, Deidara-san. If you are what you say you are, you wouldn't have even bothered to help now, would you? By saying what you just said, most people would think of you as modest. Especially after what you did.

If you truly are terrible, you would've left me there to be beaten and even…raped. You are good Deidara-san. And besides, if you really were some old and ugly guy trying to get in my pants you would've done so already as well."

Slowly processing what had been said, the blonde found himself at a loss for words. He hated that more than anything. He wanted to say something but just couldn't. Silence enveloped them as they followed Nocturne's lead.

Soon enough, Deidara found himself standing outside the gate of a mansion. Maybe Nocturne led them to the wrong place?

"Hey Sakur-"

"Sakura-chan!!"

He heard a feminine voice cry out. Sakura turned her head in Deidara's direction and smiled sheepishly. She certainly left out a few details when he tried to help her locate her house.

He didn't think she was that rich! Suddenly feeling the urge to collapse wash over him, he remembered his wound. Before he succumbed entirely to the darkness, he heard Sakura's panicked cry as well as seeing a blonde woman rushing up to his side.

That's it for chapter one! Review and let me know what you think!

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