ALD: I'M SO VERY SORRY. I know that my tardiness is getting annoying, but I can't help it. It's in my blood. I sorta lost my will to write- or type, OH WHATEVER!
(Btw, Jewel-chan, please read my message at the very end of this chapter.)

Ami: Yeah, sure whatever! LET'S GET ON WITH THIS! You better make this long, you bum!

ALD: Wakattemasuuuuuuu! Chapter 21: Gravity.

-One day later-

"Jewel-chan, wouldn't it be dangerous?" said the blonde Akatsuki who desperately clinging to his seat, trying his best not to look down.

"Very dangerous, but I've done it like a million times." Jewel smirked as she strapped her parachute on and pulled her goggles over her eyes. "It's really fun~!"

"Th-Then you g-go first. You know what they say right? Ladies first.."

"Oh Deidara, you're such a PUSSY!" Hidan barked. "Damned if he even goes through with this. HEY GUYS! I bet Deidara would chicken out! I bet 20 bucks!"

Right now, Deidara had the urge to push the obnoxious Jashinist out of the plane, especially since Hidan didn't even have his parachute on, but since Hidan was kinda immortal, pushing him off wouldn't kill him. It would only result in mountains of medical bills and Kakuzu would pretty much beat the shit out of them.

"I bet Samehada that he'll cry and call his mama!" Kisame said mockingly, not knowing about Deidara's past.

"I bet 40 bucks." Pein, in a very OOC way, joined in. "I bet 40 bucks that he'll do it."

Deidara buried his face in his hands to hide the fact that he was really scared falling. Yes, that includes falling in love. And somehow, he could feel a little something other that gravity keeping him rooted to this earth. Deidara just couldn't tell what it was at that time.

"Jewel-chan, do you really want to do this?" He shifted his deep blue eyes to look at the girl beside him.

"Deidara-kun.. Sometimes, joy or happiness can be found in places where you least expect it. And sometimes, to find that happiness, you have to leave your comfort zone and risk getting hurt to find it." She reached for Deidara's smooth cheek and she caressed it. "That's what my father always said. And skydiving just proved it."

A rush of courage surged through his veins like electricity from Jewel's touch. Right now, he felt unstoppable, he felt as if he could take on the entire world.

The blonde turned away, trying to hide his embarassment.

"Oh my gosh, this is just too cute!" Konan squealed, and took a shot. In the little snapshot that the Bluenette took, was something that looked like it just came out of a shoujo manga. Deidara was blushing furiously and Jewel was holding his hand, looking like an angel you see only in paintings.

"Pein, our little boy has grown up so much.." Konan started to tear up. "I'M GROWING OLD WAY TOO FAST!"

They laughed, and felt the plane stop. And then the Pilot told them that it was time.

Deidara was moving towards the door when Hidan blocked his way. "Lemme go first, Blondie."

Hidan was about to jump, but Kakuzu sent his strings after him and stopped him. And with another string, he handed Hidan his parachute.

"As much as I love seeing your face scrunched up in agony, I can't let you get injured." Kakuzu smiled. "HOSPITALS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE."

The whitey slipped his parachute on, brushing off the fact that Kakuzu saved him. "BYE-BYE BITCHES!" And then he jumped.

One by one, the other Akatsuki followed suit. Then it was Deidara's turn.

He was weak in the knees and he could feel his eyes water. Where was the sudden courage and adrenaline rush that he had earlier?

"Deidara-kun... You can do it."

And in a flash of lightning, Deidara found it again.

"Thank you.. Jewel-chan." Deidara said as he reached for Jewel's hand. "Shall we?"

"Alright, let's go."

They jumped, holding each other's hand tight. And when they landed, Deidara knew that other than gravity, Jewel was the only one keeping him rooted to this earth.

ALD: Uh yeah... :| That's it. I won't be able to update very often, but I'll try my best!

Ami: Thanks for reading, min`na! ^_^

ALD: Hai, Hai! Arigato~

Dear Jewel-chan,

In order to make up for the wait, I drew something for you! :D I hope you don't find it insufferably hideous.
Please delete the spaces...Here's the link: i54. tinypic .com /2rpczn6. jpg

ALD-chan is sorry. ^^