~Deidara~

"Well this just sucks! Ack!"

The young girl, whom was now currently wiping her face of the snow she kicked, was in a rotten mood. Or so it would seem.

"How could this happen! Today of all days! The gods must be against me...Yeah! That's gotta be it! Damn You Arkai!"

The purplette cursed under her breath as she threw her hands up in the air. Your probably wondering 'Arkai'? Well...whose that'. Arkai was her own god. Only known by her. She was a creative and rebellious girl, never wanting to follow the other gods, so she made up her own.

In her mind, Arkai was a powerful Fox God! ... Many had stopped questioning her love of foxes. Perhaps because her Best Friend was her fox companion or perhaps it was those fluffy black ears that sat atop of her own head. Bottom line was though, she loved them. Especially Larka.

But now, she was alone. On Christmas Eve none the less. Everyone of importance to her had been sent off on various missions, including her fox companion Larka.

"Guess I was stupid to think the Akatsuki would take a break...and this was supposed to be my first Christmas NOT alone! It was supposed to be perfect..."

Her yells faded to a disappointed whisper as she sank to the ground. One arm wrapped around her knees, bringing them closer to her chest as she balanced on her feet. The other arm reaching down to draw Chibis in the snow. Her breath becoming visible and fading into the cold air with every heavy sigh.

'Oh well...What's one more year being alone, right? I mean...it totally can't hurt. Won't be any different from last ye-' The now angry girls thoughts were interrupted , reminding her just how cold she was as she brought her hands up and started to rub her arms.

"Karu? What the fuck are you doing out here? And dressed like that! Are you fucking crazy! I should sacrifice you to Jashin for making me -"

The foul mouthed man immediately stopped his sentence short of a word. He would have never even thought about being worried, especially not about some girl. Until she joined the Akatsuki. Though he would have to be mentally insane to admit to ANYBODY that he cared for the girl. Because truth be told, though he didn't quite understand it himself, she was the little sister he never had. Not that he wanted one mind you. They could easily be mistaken as siblings... with all the similarities they shared. Both had light colored eyes and hair, not to mention she had a habit of acting just like him at times. If it weren't for the severe age difference and the evident pearl purple tinge in Karu's eyes and hair, they would look almost identical. But it was incredible, they weren't related at all! Hell, they never even knew each other existed until the day she joined the Akatsuki. That was one day he won't forget anytime soon. It was amazing what a few years outside of Solitude can do...

~Flashback~

Everything was normal, well as normal as the Akatsuki can be at least, not one thing was different. Hidan was leaning on the wall examining his scythe, Kisame and Deidara were In front of the TV, Tobi was running down the hallways like an idiot with Zetsu watching him from the doorway, wishing he could just eat him and shut him up. Sasori was cooped up in his room with his puppets, and the rest were in various parts of the hideout. Most likely the kitchen. Yes. Nothing was different.

"This is the Main room...or living room I suppose you call it... give yourself the rest of the tour..I'm sure your fully capable" Pein said with authority as he walked off, leaving the girl in the doorway alone. The girl with Lavender, almost white, hair stood in the door way for a good 3 minutes. During that time, she did nothing more than chew her gum and bounce the large bouncy ball she had with her, occasionally blowing a bubble and creating a rather loud 'pop' sound. But still no one paid much attention to her; they just couldn't care enough to. But by the look she held in her eyes, she didn't trust anybody. The smart thing to do would have been to just leave her be, but Kisame decided otherwise. He turned his head and took a good look at her, noting that she was covered in dirt and held an emotionless yet -your stupid- look. But also gave off a wave of innocence which the bouncy ball and gum empowered. Getting up and making his way over to the girl, he thought carefully about what he was going to say, which he promptly threw away once he arrived.

"Hey kiddo! The names Kisame! You were brought here by Leader-Sama, so I'm assuming you're the new addition, eh?" He asked while patting the poor girl on the head. However, the only response he got was a small tug on his sleeve.

"Eh...what do you want?" After a few seconds of silence she answered him with a question of her own.

"Why? Why did you greet me?" She asked in a whisper, Eyes secretly begging for an answer. Kisame had to look at her in slight disbelief. 'What is she talking about?...wait. She must be the one Pein rescued from the underground prison...makes sense now"

"Well I'm not THAT heartless ya know! Loosen up! Don't have to worry anymore, your one of us!" Kisame outright laughed at her, making a deep crimson blush stain her cheeks. She obviously had never even been spoken to like that before.

"Don't you laugh at me you overgrown guppy!" She yelled before grabbing the ball and spitting her gum out, effectively sticking it to the doorframe. With still red cheeks, she looked at Kisame with angry purple hues, the anger hiding the slight enjoyment that sparked in her eyes.

"Hey! What did you call me!"

Deidara, obviously ignoring the ranting human shark, finally piped up and re-asked the girl her name. Eyes never leaving the TV to look at her once.

"Yeah! You never did tell us who the fuck you were!" Hidan also felt the need to add his 2 cents into the conversation. Kisame becoming completely ignored. Karu turned her head to look at the two, and all within a blink of an eye she had thrown the ball at Deidara's head with amazing accuracy. Considering that after it bounced off of the blondes head, it whipped across the room and promptly bounced off Hidan's head as well and somehow made its way back to her. The boys were none too pleased with what had just occurred. But their yelling ceased shortly after, for two reasons. One became impressed. And the other...Frozen in a blush.

"Hey, un! What the hell was that all about! That hu-" Deidara turned around to yell at her face to face but stopped dead in his tracks upon looking at her, A blush creeping up on his cheeks. Hidan had also started to yell, but after witnessing that scenario he couldn't help but to laugh.

"Don't you know anything? For one. Never fucking interrupt me while im argueing. Two, Don't you know you're never supposed to ask a girl her name unless you give yours first...Fucking Idiot...And just for the record, my name is Karu...if you care to use it" She remarked while retrieving her bouncy ball and pulling out a new stick of gum.

"You're not so bad kid! Shiiit...You and me will get along just fine!" Hidan cackled loudly, giving Karu a good pat on the back and snapping Deidara out of his trance.

~Flashback End~

Hidan couldn't help but notice how much Karu had come out of her shell. From the girl that was almost scared to talk to anyone, to the one in front of him.

"Shut up Hidan! Can't you see I'm trying to brood! Geez...Can't shut that big mouth of his for even a bloody second..."

. . . 3, 2, 1, Realization strikes once again.

"HIDAN! You're back!" The eccentric woman screamed as she buried her face in his chest with a hug. And damn it, if Kakuzu wasn't there, he would have cracked a smile.

"Yeah Yeah, Get the fuck off me!" He protested in mock madness, but she refused to move. Didn't make much difference anyway, considering he wasn't making an effort to move her. This was good, because instead of listening to Hidan, she looked up at him with tears brimming her eyes.

"You're not leaving again...are you?" The fear of being alone was once again evident in her voice as her fragile body shook like a leaf, Something Hidan HATED to hate. So with a pat on the head, he told Karu exactly what she wanted to hear.

"Nah! I'm not gonna leave ya alone! Stop with the fucking worrying, will ya" He meant exactly as he said. He wouldn't leave her alone. This meant, if he wanted to do his sacrificing alone and in peace...He would have to find someone to stay with her. And he knew exactly who he was going to get to do it. That blonde idiot shouldn't have ever let Hidan see that blush.

"This is sweet and all, But we have to return to base" Kakuzu had to get his few cents in, and it just happened to be for a borderline order. By the look Hidan gave Kakuzu, anyone could tell what he was thinking, and it was definitely something along the lines of 'who the fuck does he think he is! Ordering me around like he's my superior...That ugly fuck is the first to go if I ever get the chance!'

"Shut the fuck up! More like you have to go, I don't take orders from shit for brains like you!" Hidan shouted, forgetting about his hand, which was still firmly planted on Karu's head. Until she screamed.

"Ow! Hidan! If you wanted my hair you could have just asked and then lived with the answer of NO!"

"Oh shut it" Was all the Jashinist said as he removed his hand from her head with a smirk. Kakuzu had already taken his leave, deciding it was a good time. The snow started to fall down harder, resembling the confetti Tobi had made earlier that day, Which Karu stealthily left for Itachi to clean up.

"Come on brat! You should be wearing your fucking cloak at least" That was definitely too much to ask for as she replied with the exact answer he had expected.

"Um...I sort of, kind of, maybe lost it..."The purplette giggled nervously, earning her a sigh from Hidan. Not because this had to have been the 6th cloak she's lost, No, because she was going to get sick if she stayed outside wearing well...That! One cannot leave and go outside wearing nothing but an old dress, knee-high socks and fingerless gloves without getting sick. No. That is not how this world worked. Which meant it was time to go; besides, he had praying to do...AFTER finding Karu some company.

"OW! What did I do, un! What did I do!" The man was once again side swiped by a tail. The owner being none too happy.

"Opened your mouth at the wrong time..." The red headed puppet answered in boredom while retracting his tail from the blondes arm. It was true, if Deidara had just shut up and stopped whining, the target wouldn't have heard and got away. 'Great Christmas eve this is starting out to be...' Deidara thought with sarcasm as he wiped the blood off of his arm and started forward.

'At least Hidan isn't threatening me to spend it with Karu' The Jashinist did just that. Every year! Until he found someone to spend it with her. Though he had been unsuccessful every year. But damn was he determined. Deidara sighed in relief. It wasn't that he didn't like her. Oh No! It was quite the opposite. One could say he really liked her, but that would be an understatement. His feelings for the young kitsune only grew over the years she had been there, and continues to grow with each day. It even got to the point where he thought of himself as a love sick puppy. He loved everything about her, everything she did and said...he just...Loved Her.

So why didn't he want to spend Christmas Eve with her? Simple. Because when he was around her his words became mixed and jumbled and stuck in his throat, his actions turn unexplainable. So in other words...He became a total idiot in her presense...Besides...Deidara had already decided that someone as perfect as her, would never fall for someone like him. Even if he could make her smile, like Kisame claims. Deidara let out a sigh as they neared their destination, where he would immediately go and lock himself in his room and work with his clay in attempts to avoid Karu. The last thing he needed was to make her think he was an utter reject of sorts. And all was going as planned and he was successfully nearing the base unnoticed, until...

*THUNK*

He was hit by a Jashinist. Square in the head. Followed by a scream from a certain foxy lady.

"EW! Hidan that's gross! Do your sacrificing elsewhere!" And out from the trees she came. Blood on the bottom of her dress and her leggings and anger in her eyes. The sibling like fight began.

"How many times do I have to tell you! When I'm around...JASHIN CAN WAIT! Especially if...oh i don't know...YOUR STANDING RIGHT BESIDE ME!"

She actually didn't mind the sacrificing, Deidara knew that for sure. It was the fact that every time it occurred around her, there was always unnecessary laundry to be done on her end. And she hated washing laundry, even more then spiders, Porcelain dolls, paperwork and couches...She preferred the floor. And she had much better things to do than Laundry. Like sabotage the ketchup everyone but her uses, stealing all the loose change from around the base, reading books that she took from other people, listening to the music that she loves so much, not to mention coming up with new ways of tormenting Tobi on a daily basis.

'Ah...I should be considered a stalker...or at least borderline stalker...' The blonde thought to himself before doing the stupidest thing he could have possibly done at the given moment. He argued back to himself, only this time...it was outloud.

"No! I'm not a stalker! It's called being observant, un!" The immediate area suddenly went silent and Karu felt the immediate need to answer.

"Um...Im sorry to say Dei...but i dont think you're all that observant, well definatly not the most anyway..." Deidara was yanked out of his thoughts by her comment. Only now becoming aware about what he had done. And without delay a red hue tinged his cheeks in embarrassment. The red instantly becoming darker upon realization that the girl he loved was ALOT closer then she was a mere five seconds ago. Collecting his composure and picking the pieces of his pride off the forest floor, he returned to the comment at hand.

If only Karu knew the half of it. How he memorized almost every insignificant detail about her, how he took note that every day of the week had a different assigned hairstyle and outfit, unless she got something new, which then she spent the day coordinating it into her wardrobe. Oh, But he can't forget the fact that she never wears a matching pair of socks, and she only wears knee-highs, never lower. Yes...The things she didn't know.

'I'll do it...I'll grow a pair of balls, stop acting like a pansy, and tell her!' He turned determined eyes towards Karu's retreating form. Fat too preoccupied to notice gleaming eyes watching him from the above tree accompanied by a matching Cheshire grin.

Karu, dreading having to do her laundry once again, turned and continued making her way to the base entrance. New thoughts filling her mind.

'I'm supposed to be angry with Hidan! But Dei...He always makes me smile...even when i dont want to...If only he felt the same...If only he wanted me as much i want him...' Her thoughts were once again interrupted. Did she just hear him correctly? She's never told anyone besides Hidan when she was born. So how did you know that? Karu stopped in her tracks and turned her head slightly, just enough to see his face.

"E-excuse me...?"

"I said...you're a Leo, and your happy about it because other then foxes, you love Lions, un."

Okay...So she was a little impressed. She didn't give a response, silently urging him to continue.

"You love dragonflies, but hate spiders. You hate couches because it always makes you feel like your sinking. You've never worn matching socks and you only wear strictly knee-highs, un. Let's see...you have certain assigned hairstyles and outfits for each day of the week. you've never really ate one a Kisame's meals, you didn't want to hurt his feelings. You...refuse to let anyone...see you cry. You only cry when you're alone at night, un. And it kills me...to hear you cry like that...because you hate being alone so much..."

Deidara stood his ground and looked at her with a steady gaze.

"I...i dont cry..." was her only response as she felt the need to close into herself. How did he know this...what was she supposed to do...

"In your sleep you do, un" She expected as much... but didn't think anyone else heard. Karu suddenly became more insecure as she brought her clasped hands closer to her chest. Her eyes going downcast at the newly received information.

Hidan's anger started to rise upon seeing Karu's current state.

'I swear there better be a damn good point to what this fuck-wad is doing. Or ill kill him where he stands!' His thoughts were dripping with venom and hate towards the idiotic blonde. What exactly did he think he was doing!

'Just hurt her once more...' His hand went up and gripped his scythe tighter at the thought.

"Okay fine. So you're observant. You proved me wrong. But...Answer me this. Why? Why take the time, why even bother? Just...Why?" Karu's eyes held hope during the question. But was soon replaced with disappointment when Deidara gave no reply. So she turned. Turned back around and started to leave with tears brimming her eyes. Until her hand was caught. With confusion evident in her lavender eyes she looked down at her stolen hand. She had full intentions of re-claiming her hand, but apparently it was in the schedule. Instead, before she could react, she was pulled back into an embrace. Karu's back hit chest while strong arms snaked around her small waist, making her heart race and her cheeks redden. But Deidara really took the cake and surprised her when his fingers touched her jaw and proceeded to lead her cold lips to his own in a soft kiss.

Karu froze, not sure what she should be thinking or even doing at the moment. With a full blush on her cheeks she escaped his embrace and placed her fingertips on her newly kissed lips. Her gaze turned to the ground, brain still catching up with what just occurred. She could feel his eyes on her, but she still didn't look up. Until he spoke.

"Because I love you. I have for awhile now. And I just...couldn't take it anymore, un! I had to tell you...even if it meant losing you and making a fool out of myself!" Deidara exclaimed with determination and purpose. Karu's head darted up at his confession and she watched him. All within the next minute, a smile made itself known and Karu had successfully glomped Deidara to the ground, claiming his lips with her own.

The young girl was simply ecstatic! Even the sight of Larka jumping down from the tree onto Hidan's shoulder hardly fazed her.

"Oh, welcome back Larka! Did you hear everything! Did you?" She asked her fox companion with excitement, gaining a nod in response. She had yet to move from her place on Deidara's waist.

"Well, you made her fucking happy...suppose I won't kill ya...Today at least!" Hidan cackled loudly, making his leave with Larka perched firmly on his shoulder, Tail wrapping around his neck.

"Gee...Thanks, un" Deidara smugly replied, still on the ground with Karu sitting on him. A position he quite liked. There were a few seconds of silence before Karu spoke. She looked him straight on with a rather serious look, and in a childish voice, asked.

"We'll be together forever, right?"

This time he didn't wait to answer his love. "Do I have a choice, un?" He jokingly asked with a smirk. Which immediately earned him a smack to the chest, compliments of Karu.

"I'm joking, un! Joking!" His visible eye softened as he made eye contact with the girl. Reaching his hand up, he moved a piece of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear letting his hand fall and stroke her cheek affectionately

"Yeah...We'll be together till the end, un" The blonde whispered before kissing her again, more slowly this time. Karu's perfect moment was cut short with Deidara's next remark.

"Now come one. I have to get back before Sasori Danna has my head, un! And besides...you've got Laundry to do little lady!" He chuckled as he watched the girls face drop to utter disbelief.

"But...But...I HATE DOING LAUNDRY! You do it." She ordered using puppy dog eyes, yet he still refused.

"Oh yeah, cause I love to do Laundry! Don't think so, un." He would do anything for her...except her laundry.

"Oh you do! You love it! LOVE IT BUNCHES!" She yelled as she got up, grabbed Deidara's hand and yanked him to his feet.

"Nope, good try though"

"Please?"

"Not a chance"

"Awe come on! How many pretties do I have to put before please to get you to say yes and do my Laundry?" Deidara laughed and with a genuine smile he replied, making sure to pretend to think about it first.

"Hmm...Well...No, un"

"Fine! I give...I'll do my own laundry!" He had won, and after a short pause he said the words he wanted to...no needed to say.

"Love you, un"

"Hn?"

"I said...Love you, un" Deidara was a little taken back but quickly recoverd once Karu replied.

"I know. I just wanted to hear you say it again" She smiled before grabbing his hand and dragging him inside. This was going to be her first perfect Christmas after all.