Summary: She had a haunting past that made her wary of men. He was determined to show her the true art of love. Past and future collide between the two opposites.


Deidara-21
Yumiko-21
Naruto- 14
Hinata- 15
Sakura- 15
Kiba- 15
Misaki- 14
Kakashi- 36


Scarlet Memories

Pairing: DeidaraYumiko(OC)
Rating: M for all kinds of mature content
Hints of NaruHina, SasuSaku, GaaMats, and MisakiKiba

Chapter Eight: Earning Trust?


Yumiko and Deidara stayed with Naruto's group for a few months, her opening up to Sakura, Misaki, and Hinata about her past, letting them understand why she was acting the way she was. The four girls often would chat about how their jutsus were all unique to how they learned them. She soon saw the three younger girls as close friends and she fought a few times with herself about having that, but they were strong enough to watch over themselves like she was.

Misaki grinned at her the night before she and Deidara announced they were parting ways with the group. They were in a hot spring to rest up. "I hope one day there will be a better life for you. You do have a kind heart, it just needed to find a place to grow..."

Yumiko raised an eyebrow. "You sound wise, Misaki..." She shook her head a little as she rested her head against a rock, feeling very odd for being without something covering her body. The first night they bathed, she was very, very timid for doing that, but it was Hinata that helped her overcome her fear.

Hinata giggled lightly. "She's been around Kakashi-sensei for a long time."

Sakura nodded before blinking. "Say... Yumi... Can I ask something?"

Yumiko tilted her head. "Sure... What's up?"

"That scar on your back... Was it from..." She trailed off, knowing the truth of her past, but not where the marks came from.

Yumiko froze in her spot, resting her arms on the rock with her back facing them. Inhaling she nodded. "Yeah... It happened a few nights afterward. I had started to become 'cocky' in certain terms and my father took a whip and hit the spot a few times until he saw blood, reminding me that I had no place to grow airs. It continued until what you see were all that remained." She bit her inner lip. "Fucking bastard is the reason I never let any man that close to me."

Misaki made her way to sit next to her and placed a hand on one of her shoulders, feeling her flinch a little. "Well, now you can let go of the past, Yumi..."

"Can I? It's always going to haunt me. It's why I rarely sleep." She stated, facing back away and looking up at the sky. Stretching, she melted into the water as she stared at the stars. "One day... I hope that my next life is much better than this one... I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone..."

Hinata frowned and went over to her to hug her softly. "Just live one day at a time..."

Nodding she smiled at her friends as they went to bed that night, her mind accepting the fact she now had friends. She also finally stopped having nightmares and had a good night.


Yumiko and Deidara waved the group off before heading their own way. The time with Naruto Uzumaki had changed both of them and they had a feeling he was going to do great things. Yumiko brushed her hair to the side, having had Hinata cut it to be easier to manage. "I think I like having this haircut." She said mystically, trying to remember the last time she had her hair short.

"Yeah? I didn't recognize ya right away. It looks cute on ya." He said, grinning. "Plus, can't hide when ya blush."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "I have other ways to hide embarrassment." When he raised an eyebrow, she shrugged a little before looking at the sky. "I believe that Naruto can change the world... He has that... thing.."

Deidara nodded. "Yeah. He's unique for what he is. How Sasuke Uchiha isn't affected by that, I have no idea."

"Perhaps he's too far gone in that 'Curse of Hatred' the Uchiha clan is known for..." She turned thoughtful as she smiled gently. "He's the opposite of my sister, that's for sure..." Her fists tightened as she replayed how Madara had senselessly killed her, the cry burned into her memory for all time before she felt Deidara put a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll make him pay, Yumi... Don't worry." He said, smirking confidently at her and making her relax and nod. Deidara had to admit it was nice to finally be able to joke around with her without having to worry about her going backward. "Suppose we should go apologise to the Kages, eh?"

Yumiko deflated and sighed. "That'll be difficult, especially with the Mizukage..." She cracked her neck a little before nodding. "Might as well, where to first?"

"Why not the Leaf? We're pretty close to it and, if Naruto actually sent word ahead, they might be expecting us..." He pointed out.

"Sure." She nodded as they took the time to walk there, her eyes taking the time to admire the view. The last time she took time to do this was back when she was three. Since then, she had always been rushing or hiding or even running away from something. With Deidara beside her, she could now afford to take a breath and enjoy life.

Her mind wandered towards her partner and found herself admitting to herself he was a really good guy underneath and truly deserved her trust. She wouldn't have been able to say that back when she had first joined the group, but now had no limits to admit it. He was a good-looking guy, too, and she knew that it was a matter of time before an equally good-looking girl would scoop him up. By then, she and he might be best friends and she'd actually see him off with a true smile, something she was now learning how to do again. She knew her place and that Deidara deserved better than someone like her.

She glanced up to see the entrance and gulped before noticing that Kiba, Misaki, and Hinata had returned sometime and tilted her head. "Did Naruto just up and leave ya again?"

The three turned and both Hinata and Misaki smiled brightly and walked over to them, Kiba in tow. "Welcome. This time, you're a friend." Misaki said.

"Lady Tsunade's been waiting for you two, actually," Hinata said. "Kakashi-sensei sent word."

Kiba smirked. "Word of advice: don't piss her off."

Yumiko rolled her eyes. "I've heard of Tsunade... She is a Sannin for a reason." She looked around, seeing the glares from those that had stopped to see and knew it would be a long time before anyone looked upon her or Deidara with kindness again. The two followed Hinata and the other two to the building where Tsunade was, her looking at the ground to avoid eye-contact, having seen all the looks before and knew the best thing is to ignore them.

"Enter." A rather... calm voice called from behind the door.

The two walked in to see a brown-eyed woman with straight, shoulder-length blonde hair tied in two loose ponytails. There was a purple rhombus on her forehead and Yumiko immediately noticed she had large breasts, guessing her to be at least 105 centimeters, give or take. She wore a grass-green haori with the kanji for "gamble" written on the back, inside a red circle. Underneath she wore a grey, kimono-style blouse with no sleeves, held closed by a broad, dark bluish-grey obi that matches her pants. Her blouse is closed quite low, revealing her sizeable cleavage. She wore open-toed, strappy black sandals with high heels. She had red nail polish on both her fingernails and toenails and used a soft pink lipstick.

"I'm the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade," Tsunade stated, not giving a hint to her state of mind. "Shizune, leave us to talk."

"But, Lady Tsu-" The fair-skinned woman started. She was of average height and slender build with onyx eyes and jet-black hair; her hair is straight and shoulder-length with bangs that cover her ears and frame her face. She wore a long bluish-black kimono with white trimmings, held closed by a white obi, and open-toed sandals with low heels.

"Leave." She repeated, making the younger woman nod frantically and rush out. "So. You two are members of the Akatsuki, correct?" She looked at Yumiko first. "You are Tsukino Yumiko, known for massacring your entire clan and then leaving your village to do what, exactly?"

Yumiko almost snorted but inhaled a little. "Escape from the memories... I guess. I... Wanted to escape the life I.. had there." She shuddered slightly as memories rushed at her as she spoke, shaking to keep them back and down. "Anyway... I know there's no way to apologize enough... But... Sorry... For all the stuff that happened." She tapped her toe in nervousness.

Tsunade stared at her and looked to Deidara, who gulped and blinked. "And Deidara... I know you from what the Tsuchikage told me. Tell me something, why not talk to him?"

"Have you met him? Not exactly one who wants to chat, hm." He shrugged slightly.

She blinked before sighing. "Both of you have so much on your hands... Blood, deceit, name it, it's on your hands... However, from what I heard from not only Naruto, but Kakashi, you two are trying to find some good in the world still, correct?"

Yumiko flinched at that and nodded. "All we wanted... Well, what Konan and Pain wanted, was peace... We had no idea how to do that without bringing it up..." She looked out the window behind Tsunade. "However, we understand that we can never be forgiven for what we did to the Five Nations... But... Naruto said it's a good step to apologize."

Tsunade shook her head before nodding. "It's because of Naruto that I'm actually the Hokage... I put everything on him and it's paid off... Yumiko, I noticed you were on edge when I asked why you killed your clan... As a medic, I can tell that there are wounds there... And I'm sorry for making you relive that."

"It's... okay. I have to relive it if I have any chance of getting past it." Yumiko said as she looked at the Sannin.

"Alright then... I believe you. If you try to talk to the other Kage like you did me... It's going to be an uphill battle... Therefore, I'll accompany you to help ease the tension." She said, smiling a little. "Normally, a Kage's not supposed to leave their village unmanned... Shizune, get Shikamaru in here."

A few moments later a man with narrow brown eyes and a typical expression suggesting he was either bored or irritated entered. He had shoulder length black hair tied in a spiky ponytail. He wore a standard Konoha-nin outfit, the only customization being green-lined mesh armor on his wrists and ankles and the plate of his forehead protector sewn into his left sleeve. He also wore stud earrings. "Yeah?" He sounded bored as he spoke.

"I need you to get Kakashi back here to handle affairs here while I go with these two to ease them into the world again. Since Naruto just got back, I figured Kakashi would be, too." She stated.

"Man, what a drag. I'll go do that... Wait... Aren't these two in the Akatsuki?" His gaze hardened as he stared.

"They are. Shikamaru, you got revenge for Asuma on the one who killed him, right?" She asked, getting a stiff nod. "He wouldn't want you to take it out on those that had nothing to do with his death, right?" Another nod. "Then, try and understand they want to make things right somehow."

"Right. Sorry. If Naruto vouches for them, I guess I trust 'em..." He shrugged and left.

"Wow..." Yumiko raised an eyebrow at that.

"As you can see, Naruto's affected everyone's lives, even those he had known since he was a child. Shikamaru Nara has known him since childhood and is the brightest ninja in his generation, yet, he's quite... lazy." Tsunade stood up and went over to them, extending a hand. "It takes guts to come and apologize, and I thank you."

Blinking a little, Yumiko took the hand and shook it, feeling like Kotone was guiding her hand for a moment to meet the woman's hand. She watched as Deidara also was seemingly guided to shake her hand before the three headed out to the other nations, her mind going through the idea that perhaps, there could be a sliver of hope for even those that were once misguided. And that sliver of hope happened to be an energetic blonde idiot.


Phew... Well, I actually have a huuuuuge story getting written up at the moment... It's gonna be very interesting to see how ya react to it~ =D
~~Kiwi~~