"A phoenix?" I scoffed, "How cheesy."

Yuru smirked, "I guess I was being too theatrical," he sighed as he drew his blades. "I guess I'll just go on and show you why you shouldn't be making small talk." His blades became engulfed in his burning chakra, almost seeming as if there was no blade left.

He charged me head on, his blazing red wings scorching the nearby trees and brush. I sent up a thick ice barrier and ran away as fast as I could. I glanced behind me; the barrier melted away without Yuru even breaking his stride.

I swore under my breath. If my barrier couldn't make it in that kind of heat, none of my other attacks could touch him. I was completely defenseless! "Bushin no Jutsu," I muttered, summoning a clone to my side. "We need help, fast," I told my clone. She nodded, and dashed away.

I whipped myself around and threw a shureiken at Yuru, only for him to block it effortlessly with his sword. I swore again; could anything get past him?

And then the idea hit me. I drew some kunai, throwing them in his direction. Again, he blocked easily. He shook his head in disappointment, "Really now, I expected more from you. You're nothing without your precious bloodline!"

"Don't ever underestimate the Akatsuki, Yuru!" I shouted, throwing a lone kunai at him. He readied his sword to block, but it passed through one of his wings and into a nearby tree.

He looked confused for a moment, and laughed, "How sad! You're so scared of me you can't even aim straight!"

I smiled and put up a barrier around myself. Yuru turned back at the kunai, eyes wide with shock at the detail he failed to notice.

The kunai had a paper bomb wrapped around its handle.

He attempted to run, but the bomb ignited before he could do a thing. The blast sent him flying, bits of wood and leaves spraying the area. He slammed back first into a tree, knocking the breath out of him.

I put down the barrier, and turned in Yuru's direction. He was on his knees, gasping for breath. I smiled, "What was that about my aim, Yuru?" He glared at me, unable to catch his breath to speak. I took my last kunai from my pouch, and held it to his throat. "Goodbye, Yuru."

He gasped out a few words, but I had no idea what he was saying. "Speak up, these are your last words," I said forcefully.

He smirked, "I said… You're a complete idiot, Tsubaki." His wings shrunk down to around the size of my hand. "Nensho Fenikkusu-Shin!" The wings expanded, immediately swallowing everything around us in its white-hot flame.

All I could see is fire. I couldn't scream or breath, or my insides would turn to ash. I couldn't move, as my skin might crumble away. I couldn't do anything to help myself. All I could do to numb the pain was think about him… How gently he talked to me, and me alone… How he wrapped his arms around me that night…

Then I remembered… our gifts to each other; those little doves…

I smiled, "He's been right here with me… this entire time."

My entire body ached, but for some reason… I didn't care. I didn't care about that the flames had left, or about the three figures looking down on me. All that mattered was Deidara was there for me, no matter what. I felt one of the figures lift me off the ground, making every nerve in my body scream in protest.

My head felt heavy… and everything was so fuzzy… I could hear people shouting at each other. I couldn't make out anything they were saying… and the world around me slowly faded into darkness.