So, this was a ridiculously fast post. I should have been sleeping. Oh well. I'm sorry that this story is so depressing, but that's the only way I can think of writing it. It's not going to get any better. But I might just throw in a bonus lemon in another chapter just to make up for the depressing, tragedy nature of this story.

Still don't own Naruto...

She gently touched the face of the blonde man beside her. The last two weeks of her life had been amazing. Deidara was amazing. He woke up at her touch, looking at her vaguely curious. "What?"

"I have to go home soon. I said that I'd be back in a month. It's been three weeks already," Ino answered solemnly. Deidara stared at her. She couldn't leave him. His life would go back to feeling purposeless when she left. She looked away from him, holding in her tears. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think I could fall in love with someone so quickly. I'd never have done this if I thought I'd actually feel something this strong for you."

Deidara nodded in agreement. Their relationship had, in the beginning, been primarily about banging each other. She was doing it to prove that she didn't need Sasuke. He was doing it because well, why shouldn't he? He didn't get away from Akatsuki enough to take care of those particular needs. But of course, what had started as simply performing the act for self gratification, had quickly become so much more. Neither one had expected to fall in love with the other, but that's what happened.

From the beginning Deidara had found something different about Ino. He still couldn't put his finger on exactly what that quality about her was. But whatever it was wouldn't allow him to just break away from her and move on with his life. He was stuck, fixated on her. She was the perfect piece of art. Every night when he looked over her bare flesh, as she moaned in pleasure from under him, he saw her beauty increase. He wanted to see how beautiful he could make her.

"Deidara…" Ino said quietly. "Is everything alright? You look a little distant right now."

"I'm fine, yeah." He looked down. He didn't think he could handle it, the separation. "Ino?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"Could you stay with me? Forever, I mean?"

She gasped and looked at him in shock, a smile eventually adorning her face. "Of course I would Deidara. But I can't, at least, not right now."

He sighed. "I figured you'd say that, un."

"You know full well I have to go back. Besides I'm still too young to be getting married. In two years, I'll turn eighteen. Then I'll leave the village and stay with you forever."

"You mean it, un?"

Ino nodded. "Of course I do. I want to be with you. But I can't just disappear." She looked at Deidara speculatively. "You know, you could come to Konoha as a civilian, and then we could have a normal relationship."

Deidara shook his head. "I can't leave the organization. Besides, people in Konoha would probably recognize me as a missing nin, yeah. These hands kind of make it difficult to hide my identity, un," he answered, holding his hands out so the mouths were revealed.

"You're right," she answered, admitting her defeat. "You know, I think for now we should drop the subject."

"If you want, yeah," he answered. Ino stared into his eyes. She really had fallen in love with him. And suddenly Sasuke didn't seem like the amazing person he'd seemed like before. She wouldn't trade what she had for what she wanted in the past. Her present seemed like a better deal too. He was attractive, powerful, and mysterious. All the qualities that had drawn Ino to Sasuke in the first place. Of course, Deidara was also outgoing and artistic, traits that Ino herself possessed and could connect with. Yes Deidara was a much better match for her on many levels.

She gave Deidara a cunning smile. "We should probably enjoy the time we have together before I have to leave." He agreed to this, but before he could say anything, Ino was straddling his waist. "Let's go."

Deidara smirked. "You got it, yeah!"

Deidara and Ino's last week together pretty much proceeded in the same fashion. They barely managed to make it out of the bedroom. They didn't know when the next opportunity would be, and they were dedicated to making the most of the one they had. On the morning that Ino had to leave, she was lying on the bed on her stomach crying, her head buried in the pillow to muffle her sobs. Deidara noticed and went to comfort her as best as he could.

"Ino, what's the matter, yeah?" he asked, rubbing a hand along her back comfortingly.

"I…I have to leave. Today," she choked out.

"It's okay. We both knew that this day was approaching, un." He could see the movement of her head, indicating a nod. He smiled as he got an idea. "How about I walk you to the outskirts of Konoha? Would you like that, yeah?"

Ino lifted herself up so that she could gaze at him adoringly through bleary eyes. "You're the best. I'd love it if you'd go with me." A smile adorned her face, and she jumped off the bed to wrap Deidara in an affectionate embrace. A smile also spread across his face as he moved his hands to hold her.

After the two had eaten breakfast, they departed. They made good time through fire country. As the day started to wane, they neared the border of Konoha. This was where they would say goodbye. Ino started to tear up. "Deidara…I don't want you to leave me," Ino said while fighting the urge to cry.

"I know," he answered. "But we don't have a choice in this matter. Neither of us can leave our current lives, and at the moment that's what we'd have to do, yeah."

Ino hugged his lithe masculine form. "I'm going to miss you. You're mean more to me than anyone." A single tear rolled down her cheek. He used his thumb to brush it away.

"Ino, I promise I will come back. Then we can be together, forever." He rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I have something for you."

She moved back so that she could look up at him. He held out a closed hand to her. She put two of hers under his and he turned his hand over, dropping something into it. "I made it for you, yeah." She held the artwork gingerly. "As long as you carry it with you, I'll be able to find you, un. Since the clay is infused with my chakra, it will be very easy for me to track it down. If you have it, I can find you, yeah," he said bashfully. Ino looked at the clay bird on the string he'd given her. He'd made her a necklace. "I wanted to give you something that only I could give you because I love you, un. More than I know how to express," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she whispered back as she wrapped him into her arms.

He lifted her chin to kiss her. She melted into his lips. If he hadn't vowed to leave before sunset, he would have spent one last night with her before an undetermined amount of time of separation, of time without her presence. But he would leave. The whole process was already difficult enough, and he didn't feel like leaving her in the middle of the night in the forest asleep and undressed.

When he pulled back, she smiled up at him, tears streaming down her face. "I promise that I'll be waiting for you."

He nodded. "Goodbye Ino, un…" he said before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. With tears rolling down her face Ino turned to go home.

Sorry that it's short. I don't like writing sad stuff. And I'm also sorry for grammatical errors. 3 am is not a good time to use your brain for grammar mistakes. It's just not. I hope you enjoyed, or at least appreciated. Please leave reviews. They make me feel good.