(A/N) This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Naruto world, which is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. I do not claim any ownership over any of his characters or the world of Naruto. This story is my own invention and is for entertainment only. This is rated M for a few reasons: language, violence, themes of abuse, sex and more. Thank you for reading, please enjoy!

3 Years Prior

"Yatsu!" His voice seemed little more than a whisper, frenzied, yet still, so hushed Yatsuko merely brushed it off as a dream and continued to sleep. A few more loud taps followed before Deidara lost his patience. "Yatsu-chan, get your lazy ass up already this is important. I need you, hmm." Undoubtedly this had to be some sort of odd dream. There was no way Deidara would ever claim to need help from anyone, save himself. Her whole life he had always been the one to help her, not the other way around. Her eyes fluttered shut for another moment before a small pebble shattered a glass pane in her window.

Suddenly she shot up from her slumber in a blind panic, her breath caught in her throat. Yatsuko quickly jumped to her feet bolting to the window, minding the shattered glass the best she could. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Deidara waving frantically at her from the window adjacent to her. It wasn't like him to seem so flustered.

"Oy!" His face was still sporting his signature grin, so whatever his issue was it couldn't be that serious. Though this was odd, he hadn't called on her in months, not since she had been promoted to Jonin. Yatsuko subconsciously covered her chest with crossed arms feeling suddenly very naked in just a thin cotton top and tiny black shorts. He watched her with distinct amusement, his smirk widening at her discomfort.

"Wh-What do you want? " She stuttered, embarrassed and exhausted. "I was sleeping it was a good dream too. " Yatsuko said tightly. "I'm supposed to go on a mission early tomorrow morning what could be so important that we have to talk about it right now ?"

"Forget about that! I have it all figured out Yatsuko. I've finally realized what I have to do." He said frantically, his eyes and mannerisms were unsettling. Deidara laughed to himself, Yatsuko merely blinked at him unable to find a response. "Don't just stand there gaping, get dressed and meet me outside make sure you hurry it up, hmm. " Before Yatsuko could object Deidara had already slammed his window shut. Sighing she looked back towards her bed longingly before quickly pulling her blinds closed. The brisk nights' air kissed her flesh as she shed her sleepwear, tossing it carelessly on top of her bed.

Whatever it was he wanted to talk about Yatsuko knew it must've been important. It wasn't normal the way he was acting, something was definitely wrong. She couldn't remember the last time he seemed so worked up over something. She knit her brow before stumbling towards her dresser through the densely dark room. The thought of leaving him to his own devices when he was in such a state was sickening to her.

Squinting she pulled out a burgundy sleeveless work shirt, slipping into that and her brown flax Jonin vest before stepping into a pair of fishnet tights and brown shorts. Tying her Iwagakure headband around her neck, she knawed her bottom lips before and slipping into a worn pair of dark brown boots. She held her breath while creeping through the house. The last thing she needed was her brother to catch her sneaking out to see Deidara in the middle of the night.

Since her promotion, the atmosphere in her once happy vibrant home had taken a turn for the worse. Barely even a month after her becoming a Jonin her parents were killed in action. It was an honorable thing to die for Iwagakure, but honor didn't help pay the bills. She was given a small monthly stipend, though she was a Jonin Yatsuko was still only 15 years old. Tetsu, on the other hand, was 19 and no longer considered a ward of the state, he received no money and made very little on his own. He was however very good at spending money.

For years Tetsu remained a Genin hardly even making an effort on the most straightforward D-Rank mission. To make things worse, he seemed to fall into a slight depression after their mother and father had died. Most days Tetsu just lay on the couch drinking beer, smoking, sleeping, eating, generally just wasting time, space and Ryo. Yatsuko wondered how he hadn't already fused with that god damn sofa.

Her heart stopped as she placed her weight on a creaky floorboard, beside the couch. She fixated her eyes on Tetsus' still sleeping form. Yatsuko exhaled and slowly, silently as she continued to tiptoe towards the front door. She had barely even managed to close the door before Deidara gave her an impatient huff. He raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms with another sharp exhale.

"About time you got here, I thought I told you to hurry. Come on this is important, hmm." Deidara grabbed her hand and tugged her cumbrously behind him. Even in this cold, damp darkness, even with the foul mood he was in his hair still glistened like rays of sunlight. A shy smile crept upon her lips as she tightened her grasp on his hand. He was the only bright thing she had left. "I can't stand it anymore, I hate it here Yatsu. I'm sick of feeling stifled and unappreciated. I know you are too." It hadn't escaped her notice that mention of her seemed little more than an afterthought. "They mock me and treat me as though I'm some commonplace hack! None of these fools understand my art they can never fully grasp the true beauty of transience that I crave. Your useless brother has you work yourself to the bone so he can sit back and laugh while he drinks you out of house and home. You let him mock you, and you let that old fool Onoki send you on countless missions not worthy of your time or effort. I know a way I can fix it Yatsu, I'm going to fix everything for both of us, hmm."

"What?" Was all she managed to slip from her lips. Yatsuko tried to rack her brain desperately trying to think of what had made him so angry. This was much more than his usual 'tortured artist' schtick. Sure she wished her brother would chip in more, and she wanted the Tsuchikage to give her a little bit of a break, but she never felt as though they were mocking her.

"There's a lot of things you don't know... This place is nothing more than a disgusting eyesore, filled with ignorant fools. I'm sure you've noticed that old codger Onoki has had me working closely with him for a while now. It thankfully hasn't been a complete waste of time. I noticed something not too long ago, something incredible, simply life changing hmm." His tone was frantic once more. Yatsuko studied his face not daring to make so much as a sound, it was the first time she ever felt this way while being with him... He was terrifying her. "I've finally done it Yatsu, I've found a way to perfect my art, hmm."

"I don't know what you mean. " Yatsuko wanted to say that it was already perfect, that he was perfect. Why should he even care what the others thought? Of course, Yatsuko knew his one real passion was his sculptures. She had sat up with him many a night watching him in his sculpt away in his studio until sunup.

She even owned a few pieces of his, and she wasn't the only one. A good number of places in Iwa proudly displayed pieces they commissioned Deidara to fill. He was undoubtedly the most celebrated artist in the village, what more could he want?

"What are you talking about Deidara? Everyone loves your work. I love it. I love.." Her voice whimpered, Yatsuko hadn't even noticed that her legs had stopped moving. She began trembling like a delicate leaf in the crisp spring wind. He stopped beside her, his eye locked with hers, those eyes that ordinarily made her swoon only filled her with more dread. His mouth was upturned halfway in an almost deranged snarl. It was a look of madness that almost made her question everything about him.

She knew she should just cut run, but it was as though something glued her to that spot. It was an odd mix of terror, love, loyalty and maybe a slight tinge of pity. There was nothing to be scared of, he had only ever tried to help her...Right? There was no other option, she needed to be there for him.

Yatsuko still couldn't stop herself from flinching when Deidara brought his hand up to delicately cup her cheek in his hand. She leaned hesitantly into his touch shutting her eyes. Longing for more, but not wanting to see that awful look spread across his face any longer. She couldn't bear to see him wear that maddened grin for one more second. When he traced his thumb lightly along her bottom lip, she couldn't help but push her concerns to the back of her mind. He had never touched her so intimately before, her breath faltered as he moved his rough hand to caress her neck and collarbone. Yatsuko leaned up towards him almost getting the nerve to kiss him.

"Do you trust me Yatsuko, hm?" Her stomach filled with butterflies at his question. She laughed nervously, softly before turning her face towards the ground timidly. Quicky he jerked his hand back to his side, withdrawing his affection as quickly as he had given it. "It's not meant as a joke, do you trust me or no, hmm?" His voice had taken a stern note. Yatsuko fixated on him somewhat offended he'd even ask that.

"What kind of a dumb question is that. I can't believe you even have to ask, dummy." Yatsuko squeezed his hand tightly in hers a small stifled sob escaping her lips. She quickly faced away from him and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Despite his recently strange behavior, he was still the one person she completely trusted. All she had to do was help him whatever it was he needed of her she would do it. You were supposed to do anything for the one you love... Right?

"Of course I trust you, you moron. You're the only person who's never let me down. I know that I can always rely on you... I wish you knew that you could always rely on me too..."

"Good, good." He half whispered to himself. Abruptly he took a step back, distancing himself from her. "I need you to help me Yatsuko. I know you would never let me down. I need to get something from the Tsuchikages office." As the pieces began to click together, she shot him an uneasy look. " Just listen, don't speak yet. If you help me do this, I will be able to achieve my lifelong dream, hmm." His voice trailed off. "My art will be the pinnacle of transience. I will make them curse the day they ever doubted me and my work."

She clenched her fists wanting so badly to knock some of that offputting egotism out of him but thought better of it. Now wasn't the time to hit him. Something was wrong, and he needed her help if he believed that this was what would make him happy then so be it. Yatsuko took a deep, steady breath, her face began to soften at him. If she refused his request, things would never be the same between them. He would lose his trust in her completely, he would never see her the way she saw him. That was something she just couldn't live with.

"What do you need from me?' She asked reluctantly "I don't understand what you'd need me to do..." Yatsuko stared up at him doe-eyed and confused. "I want to help you, I really do, but I don't know how!" He let out a satisfied laugh, softening his half smile at her.

"All I need you to do is help me get the kinjutsu scroll from that old fools office," Yatsuko shook her head at him, there was no way they could ever get away with that. "You have nothing to be scared of, I'll be with you the whole time. We'll protect each other." Yatsuko chewed the inside of her cheek anxiously.

If they were caught, which was likely, they could very well be killed. Even if they could manage to steal it, the kinjutsu itself was extremely dangerous. Seeming to sense Yatsukos unease he grasped her shoulders in his hands, tighter than he probably realized. Yatsuko winced slightly. He didn't seem to notice or care.

"With it, I'll finally be able to create the artwork I've always dreamed of. I want the art I shape to be truly fleeting only then will it be a thing of pure beauty," His grip finally softened, "like you. WIll you help me?" Her cheeks flushed at his remark. Was that how he saw her? A 'thing of pure beauty'?

A shiver ran up her spine, of course, she wanted to help him, but there were so many reasons to say no. Kinjutsu were extremely dangerous that was why they were forbidden. Despite her better judgment, she gave him a small nod.

"I want to do it tonight. I already have a bag packed for us both, I've set it up at a rendezvous point. I've made up my mind about leaving, and I don't intend to go anywhere without you." It didn't matter what he wanted from her, she would've done anything for him. It was illogical, but she just couldn't say no to him. Though he didn't say it outright, he loved her too... Right? He wanted to take her away from her misery... Even if it wasn't real love, it was good enough.

"Anything, I'd do anything to leave this place with you." Nothing else mattered at that moment. Not her dickhead brother, not the Tsuchikage working her to the bone, not Iwagakure only him. Deidara smiled before folding her gently into his arms. She pressed her body into his weakly, he squeezed her so tightly she thought she might snap. After this, there would be no turning back. "I love you." She whispered into his chest. He said nothing in return, only held her tighter against his chest pressing her face into her silky brown hair.

She had made up her mind, she would follow him to the end, whatever that end may be.

(A/N)

Hope you are all enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it! Special thanks to hinatayvone, BeingCapricious, and caamy for writing reviews. As well as those who decided to favorite/follow! I write because I love it, but it's nice to hear other people enjoy my work as well. Don't worry I won't be abandoning this I already have up to chapter nine written. This chapter is just a bit of important backstory, originally I had this chapter and the next one combined, but it turned out ridiculously long so I decided to break it up. If you're all dying to know what happens next let me know and I might post chapter five earlier than next Friday. Thanks again, please leave a review and let me know what you think! I also respond to all private messages. Have a great day!