[A/N: Do you know what happens when I take an English class? I procrastinate! And do you know what that means? More fanfiction!]
Chapter 4:
A month went by without Deidara having the slightest contact from Ino. Sometimes he would try the method she had told him to create the mental link, but there was never a response. By this point, Deidara was fairly sure that Ino had never existed at all, that she had been nothing more than a construct of his imagination, conjured up since he hadn't had anyone else to confide in.
The leader had assigned Deidara a new partner, some freaky kid named Tobi. He wasn't as experienced as Sasori or even Deidara himself, so Deidara was stuck in charge. This wasn't something he was used to, and he didn't like the added responsibility.
Some days, when he just couldn't see the point of all he was doing, Deidara just wanted to end everything in one glorious explosion. While he spent some time planning, he never went through with it. He wasn't sure why; maybe he just didn't want to have Sasori say 'I told you so' from the grave.
One afternoon, he finally managed to ditch Tobi for a bit, and headed off to get some time by himself in a nearby town. Disguising his appearance and Akatsuki cloak with a henge, he spent a while wandering the streets and poking around market stalls. Eventually, he ended up in a quiet, out-of-the-way restaurant drinking green tea.
Now if I could only find some fireworks, I could have some real fun, Deidara thought as he surveyed the menu. But there's enough time for that after lunch.
It had been some time since Deidara had managed to have a meal without Tobi badgering him, so he took his time ordering. The pretty waitress had just headed back to the kitchen after taking down his choices when a stabbing pain in his head shook Deidara out of his good mood.
What the…why now? he thought, closing his eyes and resting his head in his hands in an attempt to relieve the pain.
Deidara? It's me.
"Ino!" Deidara gasped aloud, sitting bolt upright. Don't go! he thought back quickly. I'm sorry, about last time, I shouldn't have—
That can wait! Ino cut him off. Her thought-voice sounded wavery and a little frantic, and the connection was fuzzier than it usually was, making Ino's voice shift wildly in volume. I don't know whether this will do any good, or if you're even real—
I am so real! Deidara thought, but he felt a bit relieved. He knew he was real, so if Ino was as confused about him as he was about her that made her likelihood of being real that much higher.
—fine then. I don't know whether I should be doing this, but Chouji's hurt awful bad and Shikamaru can't hold them off much longer and my chakra's all gone and we need HELP! Ino's voice had been rising to a shriek all through her speech and now trailed off with a choky, tearful gasp. So please…
Deidara was already standing, ignoring the throbbing pain in his head and the confused waitress staring at him as he rushed out the door. Where are you? he asked, dropping his henge in order to put more towards his speed as he bounded across the rooftops towards where he had left his bird.