[Deidara's Point of View]

This was one of those times when breaking curfew was worth it.

This morning I was still pretty upset so I needed a distraction. I wasted the day at my friend Hitoshi's house. He's lucky enough to have a mom who lets him play video games. So we hung out eating junk food and playing game after game. It didn't work as well as I would have liked. The memory of the kiss was seared in my mind…the kiss that should have been mine. It's so not fair. I'm much cooler than Ryo.

"Hey man…you ok?" Hitoshi drawled as he looked at me funny.

"Yeah why?" I asked indifferently.

"It's just that…you seem…you know…distracted." He shrugged. Apart from his crazy thumbs skills he was pretty slow, taking the term "laid back" to a whole new level.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I frowned.

"You know it's cool…if you want to talk about it…"

I bristled as I glared at him. "Don't go there dude. Talking about problems is something only girls do."

He arched an eyebrow. "So you admit…that there's a problem?"

I scowled. "No I didn't so shut up and play, hm."

He grunted with a shrug and didn't press the issue further. Eventually it got late enough that I had to leave so I walked through the park on my way home. Head bowed and hands in my pockets, my thoughts returned to Natsume.

Just then a piercing scream cut through the air and I jumped and looked around. There it was again, a shrill female voice. "Help me! Anybody!" I didn't recognize the voice but I could sense the fear and terror behind it. My feet moved before my brain had time to process it. I didn't know what I'd do when I find out who's screaming and over what but that didn't matter. Someone needed help. As I got closer I heard more.

"Don't do this Ryo! You can't-"

That's when I saw them. Natsume was pinned down to the ground with Ryo straddling her waist. She struggled against him but he held her arms down as he kissed her. She was frightened and trembled from head to foot.

"I do whatever I want," he smirked as he looked deep into her eye. "You'd do well to remember that."

The way he looked at her sickened me, like she was his to do with as he pleased. Something instead me snapped and I rushed over to stop him. In the heat of the moment I grabbed a hold of him and threw him. Instinctively I stood between them, determined to protect her.

As he stood up I remembered how much bigger and older he was than me. Perhaps I was a little foolhardy in being so impulsive. But I wasn't about to back down now. I glared at him. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Then you asked for it!" Ryo snarled as he drew back his fist and charged. His stance was too far forward and unbalanced. He was no shinobi. I activated partial Rock Armor, a classic earth technique. It covered my arms, hardening them into weapons. I easily dodged and struck him hard in the middle of his back. He grunted in pain and collapsed to the ground. Natsume scurried backward as he nearly landed on her. With a sadistic sneer he grabbed her ankle and tried to pull her towards him again. "You're mine!" He said triumphantly.

She kicked him in the face just before I kicked him in the side, which sent him rolling. He struggled to sit up, pressing a hand against his bruised side. A guttural growl sounded deep in his throat as he glared murderously at me. "I'll kill you for that!"

I smirked. "Just try it punk."

There were so many jutsu's I could have used to instantly take him out. Obviously I wouldn't kill him…no matter how tempted I was. But also that didn't mean that I was going to go easy on him either. I had a score to settle so I stood my guard as he charged again. Did he really think that was going to work a second time? What an idiot. Just as his fist swung towards my face, I quickly slipped through the ground and disappeared out of sight. Then I reappeared behind him and smacked the back of his head. He whirled around to strike but I disappeared once again and reappeared elsewhere. I did this over and over, getting in one good hit before disappearing under the ground again. Completely frustrated, he was worked into a frenzy that borderlined on hysteria which was just what I wanted. Now was the time to shut him down for good. I reappeared and struck him over and over with powerful punches that bruised on contact.

It felt strangely satisfying too, serves him right for making moves on my girl. Well…hopefully my girl one day. I bet she's watching me and is so impressed with my heroism that I'll get a kiss. That's what happens in the movies right? Ryo weaved unsteadily on his feet and collapsed. Then suddenly I was restrained from behind with cuffs slapped on my wrists. I looked over my shoulder to see two police officers frowning back at me. A third helped Ryo to his feet. "What happened here?"

"He attacked me!" Ryo growled as he spat blood onto the ground. "For no reason!"

"Liar!" I snapped at him as I struggled. "That's not what happened and you know it!"

"We'll get to the bottom of this," the police officer assured Ryo and then gestured for his comrades to take me away. Ryo smirked satisfactorily as they led me away.

"You coward!" I snarled as I struggled against their tight grip on me.

"I wish to press charges against her as well," he pointed at Natsume. "For her attack yesterday."

"Very well Watanabe-san," The officer bowed respectfully. He reached out to cuff Natsume but she shook her head.

"I'll come willingly," she assured him and approached me. "Easy kid," she whispered as she rested a hand on my shoulder. "We've lost this fight so give it up already."

I scowled. What the crap? I swoop in and save the day and instead of being grateful she scolds me? She didn't speak again and I was too angry to talk either. It just wasn't fair. Still it had felt great to beat the crap out of Ryo; it had been worth it just for that. At the station we were questioned and required to give a written statement. Then we were locked in a holding cell with solid concrete walls on all three sides with a barred side facing the hallway.

She took a seat on the floor and sighed wearily as she rested her head back against the wall. "I'm sorry," she said sadly.

I frowned. "For what?"

"For getting you involved."

"You didn't force me to," I reminded her as I sat cross-legged facing her.

She considered me thoughtfully for a moment. "Why did you do it?"

I gave her a funny look. "What kind of question is that? You needed help."

She sighed again and lowered her gaze. She was so melancholy and quiet, sitting there so terribly still. It didn't make any sense. Was she sad that we were stuck here? That I failed somehow as her hero? What was it?

"What happened back there?" I blurted out.

She glared at me. "That's an impertinent question."

"I think I've earned the right to ask," I said firmly. Ok maybe that did come off a little insensitive but I was curious. Why was she so happy to be with him yesterday only to be scared of him twenty-four hours later? It didn't make any sense at all.

Her pink lips curved into a delicate side-smile. "Yes, I suppose you have. Ryo-san and I have been together for a few months and today he got married to another girl. I only found out by accident that he's been betrothed to her since childhood."

I frowned. "Well if he's married then what was he doing with you?"

"He didn't find his virgin bride satisfying enough so he thought he could blackmail me into sleeping with him again."

I flinched. It hurt to think of them being that intimate. "Blackmail? How?"

Her delicate smile curled into a wicked one. "I beat him up yesterday when I found out that he'd been cheating on me. In front of his friends too."

"That's awesome!" I laughed. "I wish I could have seen it!"

She laughed too. "It was pretty awesome." Then she quickly sobered; her expression sorrowful once again. "I am sorry."

"What for this time?" I huffed.

"For getting you in trouble," she said softly. "This doesn't have anything to do with you."

"Don't worry about," I smirked. "Besides having a criminal record is going to make me look even more attractive to the ladies."

"It'll compensate for your terrible pick-up lines," she laughed.

I scowled as I reddened. "They're not that bad, hm!"

"Yes they are," she teased as she tweaked my nose. "They're perfectly awful but sweet in their own way."

I glared fiercely. "They're not supposed to be!"

She laughed again, what a beautiful sound. "By the way thanks for coming to my rescue."

I grinned. "Anytime."

"There shouldn't be a next time. I certainly don't mean to make a habit out of it," She said as she stretched, elongating her beautiful body. How I wanted to hold it close to mine. I still remember how incredible it felt to be close to her in the studio. Her scent surrounding me as her lips were so temptingly close. Then just when I thought I had won her over, she comes out with that line: So in the end, you're no better than the rest. "What did you mean when you said that I'm not better than the rest?"

"You're still thinking about that?" She asked in mild surprise as she stood up and sat on one of the cots. There was one on each side of the holding cell.

I stood before her, looking down. "Well…yeah."

She wore a sly side smile. "I should have thought it was obvious."

"Well it wasn't."

Grabbing a hold of my shirt she pulled me even closer. She wrapped my arms around her waist then cradled my face in her hands as she whispered against my lips. "Fill in the blanks kid. Guys say those stupid little pick-lines for a reason."

She felt incredible in my arms, her lips soft and full against mine even if it wasn't really a kiss. It took every inch of resolve to hold still. If I gave in and kissed her, I'd only be proving her right.

"Guys just chat girls up for however long it takes to get their clothes off. It's all about getting laid. So you turn on the charm to trick us into believing your pretty little lies." Her tone sounded calm as she held completely still. "Do you deny that?"

"Some guys are like that, hm." I confessed. "But I'm not one of them."

"Are you sure about that?" She giggled as she slipped a hand up my shirt. Her delicate fingertips traveled along my smooth skin.

I moaned softly as my eyes rolled back into my head. I felt weak and light-headed, that's never happened before. Usually I'm the one in control though granted I've never been this intimate with a girl. This was an entirely new experience for me. Then she gently pushed me away, stood up and folded her arms across her chest. "That is what I meant when I said you were like the rest and I still think that."

"Now hold up," I protested as I struggled to regain composure. I felt dizzy after being so close to her. "You've got it all wrong, hm!"

"Do I?" She asked with an arched eye brow. "You're interested in me but on what grounds? You don't know me at all. You don't know my past and my hopes for the future. You don't know my fears, my dreams, my true self." She shook her head sadly. "No, you settle for what you see on the surface, ignoring the depths within my soul. You guys are all alike, all for what you can get."

"Then why do you give it?" I blurted out. She glared and swung her hand to slap me. I caught her wrist and narrowed my eyes coolly. "You're right about some things but that still doesn't explain why you gave in to a guy like Ryo-san. You dare compare me to him? I'm nothing like that scumbag! Did you ever stop to consider that?"

She blinked in surprise, completely speechless. Just then keys rattled in the lock and the door swung open. An officer entered with a respectful bow. "Security footage at the park confirms your story so you are free to go. Your parents are waiting for you in the lobby."

She wrenched her hand free and stormed out of the room. I followed after her, a little disappointed to be freed so quickly. What's the point of bragging about jail time when it had lasted less than an hour? Mom pulled me into her arms as she wept over me. "Oh Deidara! I was so worried! Are you safe? Are you alright?"

"Chill mom I'm fine, hm" I grumbled, embarrassed beyond belief. So much for my tough guy image.

Thankfully Natsume didn't seem to notice. She spoke quietly with her father, her expression was apologetic. I couldn't hear what they were whispering about over my mom's hysteria. He looked very serious and nodded firmly. Then he pulled her into a hug which she welcomed with a smile. Then Masanori clapped a hand on my dad's shoulder. "You've got one stellar young man there."

Dad smiled proudly at me. "That we do."

"Well we'd best be heading off. Keep in touch."

"I will," Dad assured him. "Safe travels, my friend."

My eyes widened at this. They left without a backward glance, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. I looked back at dad. "Travel? Where are they going?"

Dad sighed; his eyes were full of sorrow. "Masanori-san worries that when the story spreads his daughter might be in danger."

"Danger?" I asked with a frown. "From Ryo-san?"

"From his bride's family. They're a proud noble clan and won't look kindly on their son-in-law's indiscretion. To save face they may say she tried to seduce him." His gaze adverted modestly. "She does have a certain…questionable reputation."

Somehow that didn't surprise me at all. "But they'll come back right?"

He nodded. "When the gossip dies down."

"And how long will that take?" I asked. I didn't like the idea of her being away, even if it was for her protection.

He shrugged. "A few months probably. Come, the hour is late and we all need our rest."

I followed my parents silently as I thought about what she'd said. You're interested in me but on what grounds? You don't know me at all. It hurt to admit that she was spot on about that. All this time I've wanted another kiss, to hold her close. That was pretty shallow and made me no better than Ryo in that regard. But it also didn't help that she would excite me with her closeness. It's like teasing a kid with candy, of course I'm gonna be tempted to taste her. But there was more to the conversation than her critical view of guys. There was devastation in her eyes, unspoken pain in that golden gaze. It made me sad in retrospect, what exactly has she been through?