A/N: Woohoo, chapter 10! Pretty short this time, sorry! The next chapter should be longer. Also, the story's a bit angsty right now. Sorry about that. She is going through a breakup, after all (sort of). It shouldn't last too long, promise! :D

Artist's Alley

Chapter 10

Going home was about what I expected. At first my parents were over joyed to see me. Then once they got over the fact that I was actually home and safe, I got the scolding of a lifetime. They informed that I was grounded for a month and that I wasn't allowed to go anywhere alone except for school. Of course, I had figured that would be the case. Seeing them so happy to see me (my mom even cried and wouldn't stop hugging me for about twenty minutes), I realized how selfish I had been. My parents had already lost one daughter, and then their remaining daughter just ran away without even bothering to say goodbye or leave a note. I made a silent promise to myself that the next time I decided to leave, I would do it probably.

When I went to school the next day, Mitsuki and Keito were equally surprised to see me. Well, Keito was considerably less surprised. I was still bitter with him and found it difficult to look him in the eye or even talk to him. I knew I was being unreasonable, but I just couldn't help it.

As for Mitsuki, she shrieked with joy and nearly strangled me. "Kaya, you're back!" she cried.

"Yeah!" I said, trying to sound cheerful. It sounded fake to me, but I guess she either didn't notice or was trying to keep me from feeling worse by not saying anything.

"You have to tell me everything!" she went on. "What happened? Were you really living with the Iwato Deidara?"

I smiled sadly, and told her a little bit of what had happened, although I left out the details of my relationship with Deidara. I just didn't feel like talking about it. She chattered for awhile about how amazing it was and how lucky I was to have been trained by such a master, even if it was only for a few weeks. She wondered half-jokingly if he had kicked me out because I sucked too much and if that's why I had come back. I mostly just smiled and let her think what she wanted. I just couldn't make myself care enough to correct her. Then she demanded to see my new and improved painting skills. I tried to show her, but when I picked up a paintbrush, all I could do was stare at the empty canvas. It was as if I had completely lost any inspiration, like losing Deidara had meant losing some vital part of my soul, and try as I might I was unable to draw or paint anything, not even in my old five year old style.

Two weeks passed slowly. I mostly kept to myself during that time. Mitsuki and Keito tried to cheer me up, but I was too depressed. All I could think about was Deidara and how empty my life seemed without him. I should be happy to see my parents and friends again, but instead I just felt alone. I knew it was unhealthy to be pining over him like that, but I really couldn't help it. My heart felt so heavy, and even my sleep was filled with dreams of Deidara. More than once I woke up crying. Seeing cheerful Mitsuki and Keito whom I was still bitter towards seemed to make me feel worse, and I was glad my parents wouldn't let me leave the house, because it meant I was free to lock myself in my room everyday and not have to see anyone. Then one day, Keito confronted me.

It was during lunch time, and I had gone to the trash cans to throw away my nearly untouched food. Keito followed me. "Kaya," he said.

I suppressed a sigh when I heard his voice. "Yeah?" I said, not turning around.

Keito sighed for me. "Kaya, look at me."

I turned to face him, but I still couldn't look him in the eye. "What is it?" I asked. Even I could hear the bitterness in my voice.

"Kaya, ever since you came back you haven't been acting like yourself."

"Please, Keito. I don't really need to hear this right now."

"Yes you do. Mitsuki and I are worried about you. You hardly talk, you don't eat, and when you aren't at school you shut yourself up in your house."

"You know my parents said I can't go out."

"Have you even asked them?"

I turned around to go back to our table. "Keito I'm not in the mood right now, okay?" I started to walk away.

"This is about him, isn't it?" I paused. Keito continued talking. "Kaya, you can't keep obsessing over him like this, especially someone like him. There are people who really care about you, right here. They're the ones who should be getting your attention."

I started to say something smart in response, but I stopped myself because I knew he was right. "I'm sorry, Keito," I said instead. "A lot happened. I can't just forget everything like that, it isn't that easy. I don't expect you to understand." Then I walked away, and this time he didn't try to stop me.

It was a few days after this confrontation that it happened.

I came home from school and was surprised to find both my parents gone. Instead I found a note saying they had gone out for a couple of hours and asking me to have dinner ready when they got back. I was less than thrilled about that because I hate cooking, but since they hadn't left me much choice I opened the fridge, wondering what we had that I could make. And then I heard the noise. I wasn't sure what it was. It was just the sound of a brief movement coming from the other room and then it was gone. I froze and quickly scanned the kitchen, but of course I was the only one there.

"Hello?" I called. There was no response. Feeling a little paranoid, I grabbed a knife and creeped down the hallway to the living room, ready for someone to jump out at any second. I peered into the living room and saw...no one. I let out the breath I had been holding and, feeling a little silly, made my way back to the kitchen. I replaced the knife and grabbed some vegtables out of the fridge to start sauteeing.

It had been a long time since I had cooked anything, and surprisingly I was sort of enjoying myself. I grabbed some spices, deciding I may as well have some fun and experiment around, and started seasoning the vegetables. Then I tasted some. It wasn't bad, but I realized that I had forgotten one of the most important things: salt. We kept salt and pepper on the table, so I grabbed it, added some salt and tasted it again. Not to brag on muself, but it was pretty damn good. I giggled, wondering if Deidara would like my cooking. And immediately my good mood sank.

I would never find out if Deidara liked my cooking or not. Sighing, I turned the stove top off so the vegetables wouldn't burn and sat down at the kitchen table, leaning my head in my hands. For one brief moment, I had forgotten about Deidara and I had actually felt happy, but it hadn't lasted. It was as if every thought and action was somehow linked to him, so no matter what I did, I could never escape him. Would it always be like this? I had never been in love before. I didn't know how long I was supposed to be miserable before I was finally able to start healing. I thought about Keito and what he had said. He was right. I couldn't keep thinking about Deidara like this. He was gone. That thought made my heart wrench with pain, but I shook my head. I couldn't keep acting like this, or I would end up losing the people who did care about me. It was time for me to stop moping and start trying to get over it. I stood up, feeling a slight sense of determination, although in reality I still felt that I would never be able to really forget about Deidara, and started back to the stove to finish making dinner.

Behind me stood a familiar man dressed in a long black cloak decorated with red clouds. I shrieked in surprise, but before I had time to register anything, I felt a sharp prick in my neck and everything went dark.