[Deidara's Point of View]

This is going to be my most daring escape ever. No place is strong enough to contain the likes of me. Despite the threat of death looming overhead I managed to escape from my room and carefully made my way down the hall. My heart skipped a beat when I heard ominous footsteps nearby. I crouched down and peeked my head cautiously around the corner. Sweat trickled down the back of my neck when I saw a dark shadow against the far wall. Now it was too dangerous to go this way and I mentally cursed my bad luck.

I'd have to find another way out. The footsteps drew closer so I made a hasty retreat back to my room and quietly closed the door behind me. Pacing back and forth I considered my options. I could always try the window instead. It would leave me exposed but it was worth the risk at this point. I had to get out of here!

Forcing the creaky window up took great effort but at last I managed to pry it open. I leaned out the window and swept a critical gaze over the street. Strangers went about their business but no one noticed me. It was a good fifteen foot drop, enough to make me wary of just jumping to my freedom. Maybe I could tie a few sheets together. It worked in the movies anyway, why not give it a try?

I clumsily tied the sheets and blankets together, double and triple knotting it. Checking to see if the coast was still clear, I tied my make-shift rope around my bed post and threw the rest out the window. I carefully climbed out and clung to my feeble rope. Suddenly I wasn't so sure about this but it was too late to back out now. I painstakingly made my way down but the fabric strained and started to fray. I was about halfway down when the rope broke altogether. I fell hard, cracking my head on the concrete. I involuntarily cried out in pain as stars exploded from behind my eyes. I sat up and groaned as I held my aching head in my hands.

Then I froze as a shadow loomed overhead. I was caught.

I cringed and looked up sheepishly. "Hey mom…"

She glared down at me. "You are grounded remember?"

I scowled and lowered my gaze. "How can I forget?"

She picked up part of the rope and looked at my window to see the rest fluttering gently in the breeze. Her eyes widened. "And you've ruined your sheets too? You are impossible Deidara!"

"You can fix them though right?" I ventured cautiously.

She frowned as she shook the ruined end of the rope in my face. "Not when they're ripped to sheds! You'll just have to go without until your father's next commission."

I groaned. "But that could take weeks!"

She shrugged indifferently. "That's just the way it goes."

I rolled my eyes and stormed back towards the house when she called for me to stop. "If you're that desperate to go outside, then you can pick up your father's shipment of clay from Nadeshiko's shop."

My shoulders slumped. What good was freedom when it had a chore attached to it? Still it was better than being cooped up inside the house.

"And don't go wandering around," she warned me as I walked away. "Be back within half an hour or you'll be grounded for another week!"

"Whatever," I grumbled under my breath, my mood was decidedly sour. As I turned down the main street in Iwagakure, I was surrounded by merchants who cried out their wares. I ignored them all as I passed by and turned down a much quieter street. Most of the people living in this section of town were foreigners. Why did Dad insist on getting his clay from some dinky little shop in this part of town? There are other shops closer to home and more well known than this out-of-the-way one.

When I asked him why, he said that Masanori Nadeshiko had a special way of making the clay 'come to life.' That's crazy talk; his creations looked just as lifeless now as they did then. Then Dad shook his head at me (my parents do that a lot) and clapped a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. "Son, true art is not in the end result, but in its creation. The process of taking crude materials and its transformation into a flawless piece of art is a journey worth respecting. Masanori is the only businessman in Iwagakure, and perhaps in the entire Land of Earth, who understands that. That is why his materials are of the finest quality."

While I've never met the man personally, he sounds just as kooky as my Dad. Don't get me wrong, my Dad's considered one of the greatest artists in Iwagakure. His work is very impressive and I'm proud of him. I even make a few things from time to time. But I don't get hung up on the "creative process" like he does.

The store looked more respectable than I had imagined it would, given the part of town it was in. Well kept but not pretentious; it had more of a homey feeling to it. The shelves were lined with all sorts of supplies with a main table and cash register towards the back. No one seemed to be around though. "Hey!" I called out impatiently. "Is anyone here?"

"Just a minute!" A feminine voice called from the back. "I'll be right there!"

I lazily scanned the products on the shelves to kill time. If they kept all of their customers waiting like this, it's a miracle they get any business at all. Finally a girl a little older than me came out wiping her dusty fingertips on an equally filthy rag. Her hands were caked with dried clay, its earthy color nearly blended into her dark skin. I couldn't help but stare at her. I have never seen such an exotic-looking girl. The every atmosphere around her seemed to crackle with energy. She had golden eyes, pink glossy lips, and long blonde hair with black dreadlocks pulled back into a high ponytail. The bandaged right side of her face was covered by her long bangs. She looked so bizarre that she was her own definition of beauty.

She smirked at me. "Can I help you?"

I smirked back at her, it was obvious she was into me. I can't help it if I'm sexy. I rested one elbow on the table and leaned in close to her. She blinked in surprise at my forwardness, but that's how I win the hearts of the ladies. I'm not afraid to approach them. From this distance I could see her figure better. She had a small chest but wide hips and thighs. I ran my hand through my hair all macho-like as she continued to stare at me. "Do you have a map?"

"What?" She blurted out, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Because I just got lost looking in your eyes," I said smoothly as I flashed her a dashing smile.

She was quiet for a few tense seconds and then burst out laughing.

My face fell as she laughed so hard that she held her sides. "That's cute but you'll have to come up with better pick-up lines than that if you ever hope to win a girl over," she said as she wiped tears from her eyes after she settled down. "That won't work on anyone over the age of ten."

I glared at her, my pride was severely wounded. "It's worked before."

"Then you must like little girls," she teased with a friendly smile.

"No I don't!" I snapped at her as I slammed my fist on the countertop. "I'd like to see you do better!"

"I can and I have," she said in a casual tone. "Here, lemme show you one of my best ones." She leaned over the counter, her face now just inches from mine. She fixed me with a mysteriously alluring look; the gold flecks in her eye were truly mesmerizing. "I bet you twenty ryo I can kiss you without using my lips."

I frowned at her. "What kind of bet is that?"

"Bear with me kid," she chided with a flirtatious smile. "So what do you say?"

I smirked. There was no way I could lose. "You're on."

She leaned even closer and kissed me. I stiffened in surprise but I couldn't bring myself to pull away. This was unlike any kiss I've ever had. It was sweet and gentle but with a hint of lingering passion. She carefully cradled my face in her incredibly soft hands. My breath caught in my throat as she deepened the kiss and brushed her tongue against mine. I couldn't help but whimper. It felt incredible as it over-whelmed my senses.

I gasped when she slipped her hand into my pants pocket. What was she doing? "It's your reward," she whispered in the corner of my mouth. "I lost the bet remember?"

I have never been happier to win in my life.

She pulled away with a slightly devious smile. "So that's how it's done."

I was speechless.

"Anyway back to business," she said casually. "What can I help you with?"

I still couldn't speak. My entire body tingled with pleasure.

Just then a tall man entered the room from behind her. It was obviously her father; he had the same dark skin, yellow hair and golden eyes. He was a muscular man with broad shoulders, large biceps, a weathered face, and a square jaw. Despite his intimidating appearance his eyes gleamed mischievously. He barked a laugh. "Well, if it isn't Tamotsu-san's boy! What brings you here?"

I forced myself to look up at him and I'm sure that my face was still red.

"You're here for your father's usual order right?" He prompted.

"Uh yeah that's right, hm," I stuttered nervously.

He rested a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Grab it for me, will ya? It's in the storage room, third shelf on the right." She nodded and left. I stared after her. How could she act so normal when she just changed my world?

I snapped to attention when Masanori spoke. "I've never seen you come here before. Are you finally following in your father's footsteps?

I forced myself to pay attention. "I don't know sir. I haven't thought much about it."

She returned with a large package which she hefted with ease and set it on the table. I felt awkward once again when I realized that I didn't have my wallet on me.

Masanori shook his head. "Don't worry about payment. It's already been billed to your Father's account."

"Thanks for coming," she smiled at me, the very picture of innocence. "We appreciate your business."

I suddenly remembered the time limit mom had set for me so I said my goodbyes and hurried back home. Dad was just removing his shoes when I closed the front door behind me.

"Hi Deidara," he said with a warm smile. "What'cha got there?"

"Your package from Nadeshiko's shop," I said as I held out the package. "You didn't tell me that Masanori-san had a daughter."

"Didn't I?" He said absent-mindedly as he opened the box and examined its contents. "I guess it slipped my mind. Why, did you meet her?"

I did more than that, I thought smugly but was content to keep that a secret. "Yeah, she seems…uh…nice, hm. I didn't catch her name though."

"I believe its Natsume," my dad said as he took the package to his workshop and I followed after him. "She's a nice girl and helps her Father out with his shop. She's about eighteen I think."

So she's older than me by four years; that's not too bad of an age gap. By now Dad was engrossed in his work and I was effectively ignored. No matter, I'd found out all I needed to know. As I walked back to my bedroom, I touched my mouth thoughtfully. I could still taste her salty sweet lips and I grinned from ear to ear. I knew one thing for sure: I was going to get another one of those kisses.