The last chapter was really rushed and I'm sorry if this disappointed you but I have to tell you guys that this is not an impulsive ending. This is the exact ending I wanted... Only I imagined it longer. But I have a lot of schoolworks so I can't really work on it that much anymore. No beta for this so pardon the errors.


Six years passed by since that sudden run-in with a certain blonde explosives master. Six whole years and only she, her shishou, her former-sensei and Sai knew of Deidara's existence. But that was just within the borders of Konoha. Outside of the gates, she wondered if there was someone else besides Kisame who acknowledged Deidara's presence in this world.

Six whole years and not a day passed without her worrying about Deidara. Not a day passed without her wanting to meet him again just to see how he was doing. Was he still alive? She sure hoped so. Six whole years and she wished she could have learned to love him. Or even if she did, everyday, she wished she told him before she left.

She sure was glad when Kakashi and Sai understood why they had to keep it under wraps and was thankful when Tsunade agreed to keep it a secret as well. Though her shishou was reluctant, the Godaime did it out of respect towards her student. Sakura never really did reveal one of Tsunade's secrets so why should she? But if all this managed to mess up and affect Konoha, it was all on Sakura's head. And so, for six years, Sakura hoped everyday that Deidara never set foot back into Akatsuki.

So far, nothing else happened except for the fact that Akatsuki's goals are now in vain because they are long past the due date of their sole mission. Deidara never showed up in the picture so she was safe. So far.

Now, here she was, somewhere near the border of the country where Hidden Rain was located, hoping that finally, after six years, she would get to see Deidara again. She was in Akatsuki territory again, on the fourth quarter of their mission.

"Sakura," Kakashi's voice snapped her out of her daze, suddenly realizing that her thigh was cramping because she'd been crouching long enough. "Did you check the perimeter already?"

She nodded at the leader of the team. "Yes. No trespassers whatsoever just yet. We can cross the border and not have any problems." She stood straight and stretched her legs. "This would be so much easier if I took Neji with me and you took Shino with you. Pairing the two of them is just so unfair when they can easily detect intruders."

"My bugs are not meant for wide-ranged detection, Sakura," a low voice rang through their earpieces. "They are meant for battle and spying, not search and rescues."

She rolled her eyes at that and tried to ignore his know-it-all comment. "How's your search going?"

"Not good," Neji spoke quickly, probably too annoyed by the Aburame's arrogance. "Hold on… There's…" Sakura held her earpiece against her ear and adjusted it while she listened to the sound of sandals stepping rapidly on branches and rustling of leaves on the other end. "No, it was just a deer. That's the last kilometer of this area. We'll have to retreat before some Rain nins find us. Is it safe to cross the border back to the other country?"

"Yes, it's safe," Sakura sighed, feeling defeated. "At least for the next four hours so you better hurry up and get your asses over here." Since she got back in Konoha six years ago, they'd been looking for clues and traces that led to Kabuto and yet so far, they were as lucky as a leprechaun in a blue suit with a black cloud hanging over his head. Sakura removed her earpiece, turned it off and kept it in her pocket. "Nothing, still," she groaned, slumping on the dusty forest floor. "Are you sure he's not dead yet?"

"His face is still in the books so he's most likely alive yet good at keeping people in doubt," Kakashi answered. "They better get here soon or we'll have to camp in this country for one more night."

After an hour, Neji and Shino arrived at the rendezvous point and leaped through the trees, ready to cross the border. However, just as soon as they were to leave the country, all four of them detected a powerful source of chakra heading towards them—one that Sakura recognized a little too well. Whoever it was, it wasn't evading them. In fact, it was trying to run into them. And they realized it not too soon.

They all descended from the trees and got into their fighting stances—all except for Sakura who was anticipating it very calmly. The Copy Nin recognized a faint smile across her features. He didn't know if the other two didn't see it or they did and they just didn't understand what it was all about. Sakura told him about Kisame and how they would bicker at each other and how he seemed almost harmless when not on a mission.

Well, now, the shark must be on a mission so he wouldn't be as harmless as Sakura claimed him to be.

And then, he was there in all his blue and aquatic glory. Kisame flickered in sight, a toothy grin on his face as he scanned the four, his eyes lingering the most on the smallest of them all. This time, Kakashi knew their companions noticed it, the faint smile that grew into a knowing smirk as the cloaked man and the petite kunoichi stared at one another. Kisame gave her the same knowing look with an eyebrow raised.

"What do you need?" Shino said, breaking the silence and the silent communication between Sakura and the shark. "You knew we were coming and did not conceal your chakra. Nor did you try to avoid our path."

Kisame scowled at the interruption. "Well, don't get your sunglasses in a twist," he snickered darkly. "I purposely did not avoid you not to pick a fight but to meet some old acquaintances, eh Kakashi?" Kisame then looked at Kakashi but immediately back to Sakura. "I wanted to see how much has changed over the years."

"Of course," Kakashi answered straightly, his eyes narrowing down on Kisame and Sakura.

"Missing a kunai, Sakura?" Sakura's smile faded and her eyes widened. The first time she opened her kunai pouch was when she finally reached home to polish all her weapons. She was one custom-made kunai short. She gave him a faint nod and he returned it. "You never really gave us a chance to give it back, did you?"

"No, I guess not…" She trailed off. Then silence enveloped them once more. She opened her mouth to speak. She wanted to ask about Deidara but shut her lips closed when she realized that here and now was not the place to ask about him.

Kisame could see it. Hundreds of questions just waiting to come out of her yet she has to keep them all locked in because of her comrades. Hundreds of questions and yet there was only one answer that would settle the mystery down. "We're all alive here, aren't we?" he said. "Still continuing the lives we led before we parted ways before. Nothing changed over the years. That's good to hear, isn't it?"

Sakura looked to the ground, trying to fight back her smile. She was glad to hear it. Such an innuendo coming from the foul-mouthed shark. It was such a paradox as to how he could look so mean and brute when he really was wise deep inside. Way deep inside. "Yes," she whispered. "It is good to hear."

"I'll be on my way then," he said, loosening the straps of Samehada and walking around them, dragging his sword and leaving a trail behind him. "If you have the guts, you can always try and find him. But then again, he never travels without me these days. Sayonara, pinky," he waved at her but didn't look back.

She and Kakashi looked at each other for a moment. The leader nodded and led the way. A silent understanding between the two of them.

They both knew Kisame wanted her to follow him and Kakashi was going to allow it. It's been six years and Kisame has done no damage against Konoha so he was going to allow it.

After crossing to the next country, they all set a camp two kilometers away from the border. Kakashi tried to cover for Sakura and Sakura would help him a little but let him do most of the talking. Shino was too curious for his own good and if he managed to get on Sakura's nerves one of these days, she'd have to put him into coma for about three years or so.

It was late into the night when the campfire Kakashi had built began to falter.

"Sakura, kindly look for some fire wood. The wood a few kilometers back would be nice," Kakashi said in a knowing tone. "They don't burn easily and are perfect for keeping a whole night's fire burning."

Sakura complied and flickered out of sight, leaping into the night and going back to the site where Kisame and her team ran into each other. The trail he left was still there and she followed it as fast as her feet could take her. If she was gone for too long, Shino would raise another batch of questions for her. She had to do this real quick.

The trail ended in a hollow spot in the woods. There was nothing there. Nothing. Not even a hint of any chakra signatures. Maybe she was an hour too late, she thought. No. She knew someone was here and she just had to wait for it. Whatever it was, she would have to find out soon.

And there it was—a kunai was thrown from behind her—flying an inch from her cheek—stuck on the tree in front of her. She approached the tree and pulled back the weapon, smiling at its design. It was hers. She pocketed it quickly and was ready to turn around to meet the attacker when he spoke.

"What took you so long, hm?" An achingly familiar voice said. It was too familiar in her ears that it wrenched her heart.

After six years, he was here again.

Slowly, she turned around. The corner of her eye caught sight of golden hair that gleamed under the moonlight. It was enough to send tears into her eyes but she had to control her emotions. And then there he was, standing before her in a pair of black slacks and a gray shirt. Reluctantly, she walked towards him and when she was several inches from him, she reached out a hand and collected several strands of hair in her fingers just to justify his existence.

"Gomen," she said, finally letting the strands fall on his shoulders. He kept his hair the way it was a few years ago though his features we more mature when she last saw him. He looked like he hadn't been able to sleep for months and he was less masculine now but there were still traces of his previously toned body. He was real. "I don't know what to say right now but…"

"I do," Deidara whispered, letting his hands play on her hair this time. "I hate you. I hate you for leaving me like that. Without so much as a goodbye, Sakura. I wondered if you were ever coming back to check up on me," he smirked.

Her eyes widened at that. "You were hoping I—" She looked up at him, finally seeing the dull in his eyes that expressed so much loneliness and so much exhaustion. He'd been waiting for her to come back all this time.

"Every single day," he smiled at her, cupping her face gently in his scarred palm. Her eyes began to water once more and now, she couldn't help but weep against his hand. But she suddenly stopped when she felt the lips on his palm kiss the tear that seeped between their skins. "I always remembered every significant detail of yours. The coral pink hair that no paint could ever do justice. Skin so fair it seemed like snow under water," Sakura had to laugh at that to fight her blush as she recalled that day in paradise with him. "And eyes so radiant and meaningful that no gem could ever replace it."

He wiped the corner of her eye with his thumb and continued to look at her, finally noticing the evidences of her lonely years. "Looks like you've had your fair share of sleepless nights," he chuckled. She couldn't answer him. She was too busy trying to control her tears. "Hey, it's alright now. We got to meet again, didn't we?" She nodded. "What's the matter?"

"I just can't believe it," she smiled, raising her hands to rest on his biceps. Long ago, she would have hesitated to do this but now, this may be the last time she would see him. And in the past few years, she'd done her share of wrong deeds to protect the ones she loved. Why should Deidara differ? "And to think we had to meet on this very day."

"Yeah," he leaned in closer to Sakura slowly, giving her a chance to turn away. She didn't. And that was all Deidara needed tonight. "Happy birthday to me," his other hand found her back and pulled her as close as he dared and kissed her demandingly. After six years of locking up his feelings because it was the least he could do to keep himself from going to Konoha to do this, he finally had her in his arms and claimed her lips.

Sakura's hands fisted into his shirt, trying to fight her feelings but they were too much. She let the moment take over and gave into his kiss. Acknowledging her surrender, Deidara groaned and begged for entry into her mouth, licking and nibbling on her bottom lip. It wasn't hard for her to let him in.

He took a step forward, signaling her to step back. He led her until she was pressed up against a tree, her hands gliding up into his hair and tugging lightly. He growled again and let his hands travel to her waist, pinning her to the tree. His kisses trailed away from her lips until his lips found her neck. Her head tilted to the side, allowing him access to the skin above her collar. She moaned at the new sensation and Deidara's lips met hers once more to keep her quiet.

Minutes later, they stopped, knowing that they couldn't cross the line just yet. No, they could never cross that line. This was enough for the two of them. And it was definitely more than enough for Sakura when she realized he was a damn good kisser.

She let go of his hair and entwined her fingers at the back of his neck. "I cared for you," she whispered, her lips brushing against his. "I still do. And I wish I could have told you before."

"I wish I could have told you that I loved you before I even met you, yeah," he chuckled, kissing her lightly again. She pulled away this time, looking at him with a serious face, like she didn't want to believe it. "I loved you," he said, finally pulling her into a hug—one that she easily gave in to. "I love you, Sakura. I really do and you have no idea how long I've wanted to hold you like this."

"Deidara, I—" There were no exact words to express exactly how she felt right now. All she could do was hug him tightly in return. "I wish I told you sooner too."

The moment between the two was ruined when a particular fish out of the pond, as Deidara once put it, entered the clearing. "What a nice reunion. You finally told her, huh?"

"Fuck off, fish face," Deidara said, letting go off Sakura and throwing a rock that he had picked up at Kisame. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Here to spoil the moment and tell you that Neji just activated his byakugan and he might get a hold of you two making out in the moonlight," He leaned against the nearest tree and crossed his arms. "It's time to say goodbye, kid."

Sakura chuckled and faced Deidara properly, reaching out a hand. "We never really got to bid each other goodbye properly, did we?"

Deidara shook her tiny hand and smirked, "No, I don't believe we ever did. But let's not hope this is goodbye. Goodbye means forever."

"Farewell then?"

"Farewell." He tightened his grip on her and she expected him to do what he did—he pulled her roughly into another kiss before letting her go back to her team. "Until we meet again, Sakura."

"Until we meet again," she whispered as she made her way into the forest.

()

Everything they had been hiding and denying for so long overwhelmed the two of them. After six years of pushing aside what they thought was unwanted, that night changed everything inside the two of them.

And after a year, since their meeting under the moonlight, here Sakura was, in front of a very familiar clay house that was moved from the border of the Rain Village to the border of the country—right where Kisame said it would be.

She looked at her bags, a bit sad that she had to leave home after Naruto was announced Hokage. But she had to take advantage of it. Naruto would let her do anything, she knew and so she asked to leave the village to take care of a patient that whose treatment was long overdue.

She heard footsteps from inside and so she carried her bags in both hands and greeted the long-haired blonde with a smile when he opened the door for her.

"Welcome to my home," he said.

She entered, dropping her bags by the doorstep and flung her arms around him. "Correction," she said with a sweet smile, "our home." She then kissed him briefly and let him go.

"So, what made you change your mind?" He asked, assisting her with her luggage. "Kisame told me that you distinctly said that nothing in the world would make you leave Konoha."

"No, I'm not leaving Konoha for anything," she said. "But I sure will leave Konoha for a certain someone."

Deidara pulled her into his arms and hugged her as tight as he could. "It's a good thing I'm good looking, huh?"

"Don't flatter yourself. Good looks won't washt the dishes or do the laundry now, will they?"

He merely chuckled, pulling her into a passionate kiss. One that they haven't shared in a year. After the brief kiss, they both smiled sweetly knowing that they'll be able to get enough of those for the rest of their lives.