Disclaimer: Yet again, I do not own Naruto. Seriously, how many times do I have to say it?
A/N: These chapters are taking so long, it's killing me. I'm really trying to update quickly, I promise. I'm really getting into writing this, I must continue!
Sakura and Deidara's newfound relationship progressed quickly, but with difficulty. Sakura tried to open herself to loving that boy, but every so often, that familiar hurt left over from Sasuke would find it's way back to her. Deidara tried to be patient; it wasn't easy for either of them. Deidara hated having to watch her lost in thought, teary-eyed, thinking of someone other than him; he couldn't even kiss her with his own mouth. But he would endure this, he would do it for Sakura.
This love thing was making him do things he thought he never would.
"Sakura?" he asked one evening, after Itachi had fallen asleep. She was sitting with her feet curled under her, looking down at Itachi, and a single tear was making its way down her face. Moments like this made Deidara want to hunt down and murder the Uchiha brat himself.
"Hnn?" she replied, trying to hide her tears. She knew Deidara was doing the best he could, and she was growing fonder of him daily, but there was still that shock of letting go of Sasuke. She hadn't quite grasped it yet; she needed more time. Her biggest worry was that she would make Deidara think she didn't care.
"It's okay." he promised, scooting over to her side. He didn't bother saying Sasuke's name out loud. Instead, he hesitantly wrapped his hands around Sakura's waist, and pulled her closer to rest her head against his shoulder. She allowed this, simply lay there, cradled in Deidara's arms, flooded with memories of Sasuke. Deidara smiled into her hair; they were becoming closer, even if it was not him she was thinking of.
From that moment on, each milestone, each event brought them closer and closer. When Itachi walked around the clearing by himself, the two celebrated with an embrace. Deidara hailed the complete healing of the wound in Itachi's side by planting a swift kiss on Sakura's forehead. And when Itachi was able to bathe himself in the nearby stream, Sakura timidly kissed Deidara on the cheek, to his delight. Slowly but surely, they were moving forward.
In spite of this, they didn't really seal their relationship until Sakura had sat back, exhausted but pleased, after healing the last of Itachi's head wound. It was only then that Deidara had felt confident enough to do the one thing he had been wanting. Gently, as though handling a delicate porcelain doll, he grasped Sakura's shoulders and turned her to face him. She did not struggle. Keeping his extra mouths still, he slid his hands up her neck, cupping her face.
And then, finally, his lips met hers.
Sakura's would have gasped had her mouth not been firmly planted on Deidara's. This was unexpected. Unexpected, but not unwelcome. A shudder passed through her, and she could almost feel the remnants of her feelings for Sasuke melt away. Sasuke had abandoned her, and Deidara was here. For the first time ever, she truly understood that. And she knew how she felt about Deidara. With that thought, she pressed deeper into the kiss. Deidara did not complain.
After that moment, their relationship progressed more normally. Sakura stopped crying for Sasuke, and Itachi's wounds had healed. All that remained was training; he was hardly the same calibre of ninja that he had been. Of course, he preferred to train alone, and this left Deidara and Sakura time for taking long walks together, frolicking in the creek, watching the stars, made sculptures together (Deidara had to help), all the things that Sakura had always wanted to do. They cuddled and kissed, oblivious to the time passing by. Sakura had no idea about what was going on in Konoha, and Deidara did no know what had become of Kisame or any of the Akatsuki.
However, they both knew that they could not continue as they were forever.
"I wish this would never end." Sakura said sadly one night. Itachi was becoming stronger, tonight, he had decided to stay out training all night. For the first time, Deidara and Sakura were left alone in the tent.
"It doesn't have to, un." Deidara declared. Sakura couldn't help but smile at his childish promise. Then she sighed.
"Think about it, Dei." Deidara considered this use of a nickname "When we met, you wanted nothing moor than to kill me, and I hated your entire organization. If it wasn't for Itachi, one of us would have killed the other!"
"But we didn't." Deidara reminded her. Sakura shook her head in frustration.
"Think about what I'm saying! You're an S-ranked criminal, a rouge ninja, and I'm a renowned Konoha medic, apprentice to the Hokage. I'm surprised I Haven't been found already. We're not supposed to be together, Deidara. We're not allowed to fall in love."
"On, so you're better than me, are you? You're too good for this, un?" Deidara growled. He loved the girl, but she could not completely banish his hot temper.
"No, you know I don't think things like that. But would your organization approve of us? Our love is forbidden by everyone."
Deidara looked at her for a moment. Then he replied "I'm not my organization, and I don't care what they think."
To prove his point, he pulled his regular black cloak off over his head. Underneath he wore a tight black shirt, with only a type of netting to cover his stomach. He then untied his defaced forehead protector and cast it aside. Last, he carefully pried the metal eye scope from his face and laid it on the floor. His blonde hair flopped back over his newly-revealed eye.
Then he turned to Sakura "You are not Konoha, un."
Deidara reached behind her neck, and untied her leaf village forehead protector. It slid to the floor with a clatter, next to where Deidara's had landed. Sakura took advantage of the moment to gently kiss her outlaw love. Then she pulled back and flashed a devious grin.
"Let's just…be together. Not as criminal and captor, or as two enemy ninjas. Let's just be two regular people. Just for tonight." she pleaded. A blonde eyebrow arced, then a grin met green eyes. Sakura took this as consent and timidly reached out for Deidara's waist. After a bit of fumbling, there was a clink and the leather pouches containing his clay dropped onto the floor where they kneeled.
Deidara could barely process what was happening. It didn't seem to long ago that he thought only of the death of this girl, and now she had just removed his only weapon. And he was enjoying it. Well, now it was only fair that he disarm her. Gently, her weapons pouch was prised from her belt. Then he slipped off her gloves for good measure. And those boots could be dangerous.
It didn't take Sakura long to figure out what he was doing. And it took her even less time to join in. Metal buckles clinked, buttons popped, and the clothing strewn around the tent piled up.
Suddenly, before either of them had truly grasped what was going on, they were just ordinary people. Or rather, they were just ordinary lovers. No weapons or gear to keep them apart. And they liked it. And after that realization, they went ahead with what they had both been wanting to do.
Sakura and Deidara were finally as together as they could ever dream of being.
Later in the night, when they lay beside each other panting, sweat still clinging to their bodies, the earlier conversation was completely forgotten. In that one moment, christened with the loss of their innocence, each believed that they would always be there, with each other and in love. The world felt right, and a smile hung on their mouths as they drifted off to sleep.
They could never have imagined what lay ahead.
A/N: Ha! I left a cliff-hanger!
And on another note, I must say that, with regards to the obvious sexual implication, I did my best to keep it "T" rated. If I've offended anyone, just let me know, and I'm very sorry. I wasn't thrilled at having to put that in, but I had to show the extent of their relationship.
Just another note here, the "angst" category on this fic is about to come in. Just be forewarned.
One last thing. I've gotten a lots of "Story Alert" notices for this, but not so many reviews. Really, just tell me anything, what you liked or didn't like, what I could improve, etc. I love getting reviews! Please?
