It hurt. The way her arms bled with the many cuts he was drawing on her skin. It hurt, the fact that half of the blood in her body was already a pool of red around her. But she wasn't the only one that was hurting. The man who was cutting her, hurting her, had a look of strong regret before dealing the final blow…

-:-

I'm sorry… Deidara looked down at the body on the floor. It was Hinata Hyuga, the one girl he actually came to like. He never thought that he would receive a mission to kill her. What kind of person could ever want someone like Hinata dead?

He saw something float up to the sky. It was as if it were the spirit of Hinata floating up to heaven. She waved slightly to him before disappearing into the sky.

-:-

Hinata waved to him until she couldn't see him anymore. She didn't hate him for what he did. Deidara was one of her closest friends. They could've told each other everything. Maybe she wasn't a good enough friend. Maybe she wasn't so close to him that he would be comfortable saying that he was a mass murderer from the Akatsuki Organization. Maybe they weren't as good a pair of friends as she thought they were.

She shook her head. I mustn't think like that… She saw his face before she died –he looked like he didn't like what he was doing. Maybe his organization wanted him to kill her. He didn't have a choice.

As she entered heaven, she was surprised to see that there was no one at the gates. Staring up at the tall golden gates, she placed a small hand on one of the bars. Then a strong voice began to speak.

Hinata.

Hinata jumped slightly. "Uh… Y-Yes?" she looked around, trying to find the person who was talking to her.

Welcome. I am God. How are you?

Hinata felt deeply confused by this, but answered anyway. "Good… H-How are you?" God chuckled a little. I'm fine, thank you for asking.

There was a short silence. Hinata felt awkward, God was very comfortable. He was used to reactions like these.

Before you enter the Holy Gates, would you like to see what's going on with your family? God asked. Hinata nodded. Okay. You have two hours, and then you have to come back, alright? Hinata nodded again.

Soon, she found herself in the middle of the street towards her house. There were lights behind her, and when she turned around, a truck was heading towards her. She braced herself, holding her arms out in front of her, but nothing hit her. The truck drove right past her.

Oh, did I forget to tell you that you cannot be hit by solid objects? Silly me, if you're as old as I am, you tend to forget small things like that. Haha…

Hinata found it weird that he actually forgot something. But it made sense. He had so much to remember, so it was understandable that he'd forget something like that. Busy, Busy, God.

Shrugging, she began walking down the street towards her house. Slowly walking through the door, she noticed that her father was sitting stressfully on the couch. He had his head in his hands and he seemed to be slightly angry.

"Where is that girl? She should've been home hours ago! It's almost 11!!" his voice was almost panicked, mom at his side the whole time.

Suddenly, Neji burst through the door. "I can't find her. She's not at a friend's house, not at her usual places… nowhere." He panted. "Oh no…" Mom said worriedly.

Hinata moved out of the way as Neji walked to the living room. "We should call the police! Hinata's missing!" he said, plopping down on the couch. "She should've been home by now!" Neji's voice was equally troubled as Hiashi's.

"God…?" Hinata whispered, thinking that if she spoke too loud they'd hear her.

Yes, Hinata?

"…Is there some way that I can tell them where my body is?" Hinata almost cried at the sight of her family being so troubled over her. I'm afraid not. Hinata frowned, but walked up the stairs to her room. "Can I take some of my things back with me?" Hinata asked. She smiled when God said yes. But only three things.

Hinata entered her room. She scanned the shelves, the posters on the walls, and even the floor. She picked up a small doll that she always loved. It was a stuffed dog… deer… bear… they could never really tell. But it was brown, so she called it 'Brownie.' She'd put it beside her when she slept and always took it with her when the family went on vacation.

Her second item was her iPod. She'd take it everywhere, school, walks, even if the trip would only last about ten minutes at the most, and she'd be so busy that she wouldn't even have the time to use it, she'd have her iPod in her pocket.

Her last and final item was a no-brainer. Her small sketchbook. She'd always take that on long trips and to school in case she got an idea to draw something.

She heard a soft crying sound coming from the other room. Baby Hanabi… Hinata hurriedly walked to Hanabi's room, calmly walking through the door. She leaned over the crib and immediately Hanabi's crying stopped. Hanabi looked straight into Hinata's eyes, which surprised her a bit.

"Hi, Hanabi. How've you been?" Hinata gently caressed Hanabi's cheek. She laughed. "I have to go soon, but I'll be back." I hope… Hinata heard the door open. Neji walked in, checking up on Hanabi. "Hey… what's up with you, huh?" he asked, picking Hanabi up and cradling her in his arms. She giggled and tugged at Neji's hair.

Hinata smiled. Neji began to carry Hanabi out of the room, but she began to cry again, reaching out towards Hinata. "Hey, what's all this about?" Neji turned around. He briefly made eye contact with Hinata, but turned around again. "Hanabi, nothing's there." He said, continuing to carry Hanabi down the stairs and to the living room.

So Hanabi wouldn't cause trouble, Hinata followed right behind him. She sat beside Hanabi as Neji sat her down on a small blanket on the floor.

"What are we gonna do? We have to call the police." Hiashi said. Mom nodded. "Okay, I'll go call right now…"

Suddenly, Hanabi began to write something on her blanket with a crayon. Neji was about to grab her off the floor, but Hiashi stopped him.

Hinata guided Hanabi's hand over the blanket. She wrote down the address of the building beside the alley she was murdered in. "I have to go now, Hanabi. But, if you can talk, tell them this is where I was killed, okay?" Hinata got up, making Hanabi start to cry, but she gave her a small peck on the cheek before leaving through the door.

"God, was that against some rule you had about dead people?" Hinata asked. No. You're a pretty smart girl, using Hanabi to tell your parents where you were, actually. Hinata giggled. "That's cool." She said.

Where do you plan on going now?

"I… want to see where my killer –no, my best friend is." Hinata said. She closed her eyes for a minute, and when she opened her eyes, she was standing in a dim-lit room. It looked like someone's bedroom, because there was a bed and a side desk and everything. Only the walls were nothing but cold cement, and the door was metal.

There was another door to the side, probably the bathroom. It opened, and a topless, boxer-wearing blonde walked out, a towel over his head. He took it off and let it hang sloppily over the side of the bed. Hinata turned red when she saw him and quickly turned away.

Someone tapped her shoulder. Hinata turned around. No one should be able to tap her shoulder.

"Hey. Who're you and what are you doing here?" Deidara asked angrily, a kunai in his other hand. Hinata backed away a little. "Y-You're not gonna… k-kill me again, are you?" she asked, scared. Deidara looked confused. "Who are you?" he asked again. "H-Hinata… Hyuga. Nice to meet you…?" Hinata was seriously confused. He shouldn't be able to see her.

Deidara reached out to touch her face. It was all bandaged up. "Who took you here?" he asked, walking a little bit closer. Hinata backed away as he did. "Uh… Um… M-Me, in a sense… I did. Kinda… I think… wait…" she stuttered, looking down to the floor. Deidara laughed a little. "You're sill the same as before… when…"

As realization hit him, Hinata backed away a little more. "You're a ghost." Deidara whispered. Hinata nodded. "I was surprised when you tapped my shoulder. You shouldn't be able to do that." It was her turn to laugh a little.

There was a short silence between them, an awkward one at that.

Hinata, time to come back.

Hinata nodded. "Deidara… you were my closest friend at school." Deidara looked up to her. "I forgive you for killing me." Hinata smiled, backing out through the wall. On reflex, Deidara followed her, but slammed against the wall instead. He quickly ran to open the door, but she was already gone.

-:-

"God, will I be able to come back to visit sometime?" Hinata asked. Sure. Just close your eyes and concentrate on where you want to go. But not now, though. After your funeral on earth.

Hinata looked back at Deidara as she floated up to the air. He was still in his boxers, she realized. He looked so confused, somewhat angry, yet it felt like he was happy. Hinata smiled. She'll be able to see him again, just not now.

As Hinata waited in line (she was about 4th or 5th) she thought about how her room might look. Was heaven all she heard about from teachers, adults, and priests? When her turn came up, she immediately tensed up.

"Please calm down, Hinata. This won't take very long." A person sitting at a podium said. Hinata looked up. "St. Peter…" she whispered. "Yes. Hinata, you've been a very good person thus far in your life. You were a good child till the very end. Your parents are very proud of you, and even though your brother never showed it, he loved you very much." St. Peter paused, glanced at Hinata, then continued. "Congratulations, welcome to heaven. May you rest in peace."

Hinata smiled. "Th-Thank…you..." She said, walking slowly through the gates. When she entered, she found herself in a room with two beds, a table, and a shelf with every manga Hinata had ever heard of. In a corner, she saw someone with red hair sitting on a bean bag chair, reading. He looked up and stared at her.

"Hi." He said, turning back to the book. "Hello… I-I'm Hinata Hyuga." Hinata walked over and sat in front of him, staring at him top to bottom. The red-head closed the book and smiled at her. "I'm Sasori. How're you?" Hinata turned a bit red. He had a great smile…

"I-I'm… fine. I guess. You?" Sasori's smile grew wider. "Great. Nice to meetcha."

Now that you mention it (which I didn't), Hinata thought that Sasori looked a little familiar. She continued to stare at Sasori, who just continued to smile. Then sudden realization caused her to draw back a little.

"You're that Akatsuki that was killed yesterday!" Hinata gasped. "What are you doing here!?" She asked. Sasori looked hurt for a second. "Hinata, I don't kill anymore. I asked for forgiveness, and I was let in." he said. Hinata calmed down a bit. "Okay… I-I'm sorry." She said.

There was an awkward silence between them.

Sasori stood up and returned the book to the shelf. "So, what brings you here to heaven, huh?" he asked, turning to Hinata. She turned red for a second. "U-Um…! I-I was… killed… by a friend of mine…" She had a sad look on her face. "What friend kills a friend as pretty as you are?" Sasori asked. Hinata looked down to the floor. "His name was Deidara. He was my best friend at school…"

Sasori stared at her with an unreadable look. "I know Deidara." He said. Hinata looked up at him. "You do?" she asked. "I was his partner before I died. Good guy. I bet he hates himself for killing you like he did." Sasori pulled Hinata to her feet. "Hm…" he pulled her into a hug. "Let's be friends, okay?"

Hinata started to cry. "Why are you crying?" Sasori laughed a little. "i-It's just that… I-I'm so… so confused on how to feel right now. I feel happy, sad, mad, and…" her words were mixed up in her constant sobbing. Sasori smiled. "Okay." They stayed like that for a few minutes before she stopped.

"Thanks." She said, wiping her face. "No problem."

-:-

Neji was a total wreck. He had heard that Hinata was killed, and that the killer was Deidara. He was angry, too. Angry that Deidara would do such a thing. Angry that he ran away afterwards. Angry that he got away with it.

Angry that he let him get away with it.

He was writing a paper for school. It wasn't like he was getting anywhere. The prompt was 'The happiest moment of your life'. What perfect timing. Maybe he'd just quit for today. It was getting late, and everyone else in the house was asleep already.

"Ah…" Neji moved his hand away from the papers on his desk. There was a small cut on his finger, a paper cut. But there was something strange. It felt… good. The cut felt good. He picked at the cut and more blood came out. More. He poked it with a compass, more blood coming out.

He quickly stopped himself. He was making the cut worse, he realized. Looking down at the wound, he decided to put a bandaid on it. He quickly came back after patching up the cut. He sat on the edge of his bed and put his head in his hands. "I'm depressed." He said to himself.

Technically speaking, he just cut himself. The signs were clear. He enjoyed the pain he was feeling. He was depressed. No point denying it. Neji took a pair of scissors and ran the blades over his wrist. Blood seeped through the cut. He crossed the blade over that one. Then another. Then another. Then another.

No.

Neji stopped himself again. Hinata wouldn't want him to cut himself. Just one more… Yeah. One more couldn't hurt, right? The other five didn't, so what would one more do? Neji slid the blade over one lonely slit in his wrist, giving him three X's on his wrist. How organized.

"Okay, that's it." Neji went to the bathroom, took out a handful of bandages, and carefully placed them over the cuts. "Done. No more." When he got back to the room, he saw the scissors on his desk. They seemed to be taunting him. He threw the pair across the room and lied down on the bed. No more.

-:-

Cutting yourself is a serious problem. If you're depressed, tell someone you truly trust, and if they're worth trusting in the first place, they'll know what to do.

Hey, I'll be working on this laptop-born story until my desktop computer is up an' running. Yeah...