Author's Note: Thank you friends for the reviews. They really mean a lot and you can't imagine how happy I get when I read them *always stays glued to her phone waiting to get an email for a new review*

Far Beyond The Truth

Chapter 6

Ino's POV:

I pushed the dark fabric away a bit and sat up rubbing my eyes. By the time I had them fully open, I took another glance around the place. Fading smoke came out of where the fire was replaced by plain gray ash. Having our once-our-source-of-light vanished, it was a lot harder to make out anything. Nothing was heard except for the incessant sound of the crickets, with occasional "oo"s coming out of an owl that seemed to be, judging by the sound, on a branch close to our camp. I've never thought I would be the kind of person to get scared easily but damn it was freaky. I can swear I looked around myself more than twenty times just to make sure that nothing intimidating was sneaking up behind me. Where are the guys when you need them? Like seriously, how dare they leave such a cute innocent young lady sit here all by herself?

I mentally flicked my hair at the thought, which I bet was really awful-looking and desperately needed a shower. I lifted my hands up and jerked my hair tie and –no need to say that took me about five minutes just to pull that thing off my hair, I was really planning on grabbing a kunai and cutting it along with few blond locks- let my messy hair fall down brushing it a little with my fingers.

I wonder if Deidara, with his remarkably long hair, has a shampoo or a conditioner on him. I thought to myself. There was no way any person could have such hair without having to take care of it. He must truly have some free time between the time he spends on his art and the time he spends in battles as a shinobi. For an artist he was undoubtedly an extremely nice piece of art himself. Although he might have some feminine looks on him, ahem the first time we met ahem, but he wasn't bad at all. He was quite handsome actually, with his silky flashy hair and his blue blue ey—Okay Ino, move on before you fill what's about a page long with his hotness. Yes, he's hot. You don't believe me? Well, talk to me when you go heal his well-built frame and muscular torso. I lost my concentration several times when staring at that! Apft.

Anyways, thinking about him actually made me realize something I should've noticed a while now, where was he? Didn't he say he wanted to stay for lookout?

I tied my hair back up again –I hate it when it's dangling on my back- and stood up looking around for probably the twenty fifth time. He was nowhere to be found.

That's strange…

I grabbed his cloak and walked farther to where Tobi had said he was sleeping. I tripped a few times on the way of course. Narrowing my eyes trying to look further, I was capable of seeing a corpse lying right underneath an enormous tree. It would really make a good shelter against the rain. For a stupid silly fellow such as Tobi, he was quite smart. That made me doubt him even more.

I got closer; making sure it was really him before I go. Seeing his swirly mask and ensuring he was indeed, Tobi, I turned around and attempted to leave before something took hold of my foot. My heart was pounding so hard I was almost certain it was getting out of my chest. My hand was covering my mouth shutting it up before it lets out a loud yelp and I turned around to face what kind of vicious monstrosity was trapping me.

Sigh.

It was none other than Tobi.

He had his hands around my right foot. I saw his regular slow breathing and took it he was just moving in his sleep. He took in a sudden deep inhale, however, but he still carried on normally with his slumber.

I deliberately pulled my leg from his grip letting myself free and sighed in relief at my major accomplishment.

I walked away from him leaving him be, not before hearing him murmur "Senpai, pink looks good on you".

I chuckled calmly at that.

"Deidaraaa, Deidara are you theeeree?"

Usually when people are lost or trying to look for someone they keep yelling their name. I normally would, I guess, but nope, not this time, for I kept whispering his name all the way. I didn't really think it would make a difference, but even I knew if I yelled I would be attracting unwanted attention and thus, we would be in a big trouble. We were trying to go as low on the radar as we could. There are evil shinobis out there who would kill you for anything, even if it were a lame reason. We wouldn't want to meet those. Well, that's what Deidara told me for the least. He may be an utter jerk but hey, he's a nice guy after all. I think. Not to mention I was incredibly bored. Although I felt I was talking to myself, as long as it was making the atmosphere less calming and spooky I was fine with it.

I kept walking and walking and walking to no specific direction. Wherever I found a way that looked reasonable enough for him to follow, I walked it. Don't ask me how reasonable, I don't know; they just looked like, the ones.

I hummed silently while the wind played with my hair.

Ara…

I noticed something familiar on the ground. Folding the cloak and placing it on my shoulder to keep it out of the way, I bent down and grabbed the little red rubber band from the ground.

What's Deidara's hair-tie doing here? I thought to myself.

Could it be that he was kidnapped? What if they killed him? Who's gonna take me back to my village? Tobi? No way!

Uhh..I mean…he's too young and hot to die! He doesn't deserve it! I must help!

There. Selfish free!

I pocketed the hair-tie and ran, looking at my left and right in search of the boy. I was really worried to be honest. Even though I barely knew the blond and he was obnoxiously obnoxious, I just felt safe with him. I know what you're thinking, "little Ino has fallen in looove".

No. Absolutely not. But every girl feels safe when she's around a sturdy man. Even if he did look like a woman. Hehe…That's funny…

I took a halt bending down and catching my breath. How far was I planning to go? Maybe I should just get back and get help from Tobi, he must have at least something that might help us.

I stood up frowning.

I hope he's okay…

Just as I was turning around in my track, my ears perked up at the sound of something not so far away. Deciding it was best to check it out since I was already there, I headed towards the origin of the sound that appeared to be making itself visible every time I took a step forward.

Oh my…

I was completely speechless when I saw what was in front of me.

A waterfall. A huuuge waterfall took place in the middle of a deep blue colored lake. I could clearly see the stars of the sky shining in the water. And I thought Deidara's eyes were gleaming. That made them look so crappy. No I'm not being mean. But the way the water fell in that sea, making little wrinkles come and go, the way Deidara sat right underneath the cascade…Wait what?

I walked closer, trying to look deeper into the water flow.

That was unambiguously Deidara.

There was no mistake in his long blond hair and his weird marks on his chest. He just sat there, feeling the freshness of the water that absorbed him. I stood still in my place as well. That one scene seemed to last an eternity. I could honestly stay all night just watching that. He looked so…calm…and innocent at that moment, as if he were alone in this world. I watched as he lifted his head up making the water wash his face and his blond locks that once covered half of it. I was too fascinated by this panorama to even notice I let a smile outline itself on my face.

I rested my cheek on my right palm and held my elbow with the other that wrapped itself around my stomach. I seemed to enjoy the view. No kidding. He looked so adorable I just wanted to jump on him and pinch his cheeks!

Deidara seemed to move in a way that showed he was getting up. Was it possible he heard me saying that? Wait, what saying, I didn't say that out loud did I? No way…or did I?

I took few steps back. I even tripped over something when I saw what I had just seen. I didn't have to look down to distinguish what had tripped me. They were the blond's clothes.

It took me seconds to realize it but Deidara was indeed, uncovered.

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD LOOK AWAY. C'MON LOOK AWAY. WHY AREN'T YOU LOOKING AWAY.

I immediately felt the heat rising to my face. Suddenly the temperature augmented about fifty degrees. I tried to look away, I really really did. I swear I'm not a pervert! I just…couldn't. I was too shocked to turn my head or even close my eyes. It took me complete ten seconds –that seemed like perpetuity- to blink and actually make a movement. However, I was such a dork and totally off that when I stood up, I tripped again with his same pants, shirt and towel and made a loud thud.

I heard a splash of water then looked up. Deidara wasn't there anymore.

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD WHERE DID HE GO. OH I'M SO BUSTED. C'MON. GET UP AND RUN.

I stood up at once, fumbling with the cloak. All I wanted at that moment was to run away and avoid looking at him in the eye next time I see him. Ugh why did I have to "check the source of the sound" in the first place! That was really a lame move; a bear could've jumped on me and eaten me instantly.

All my thoughts went blank as I felt someone's warm breath on my neck. I was completely startled that I dropped the black cover from my hands and stood still, waiting for my punishment.

Minutes seemed to take longer to pass than usual. I was afraid to make any motion at all. I wouldn't breathe as fast as that even if I were running fifty kilometers without a break. His breath however was slow and balanced, as if nothing had happened at all.

As soon as I decided to turn around I felt a strong burly hand fix itself on my waist, on the tip of my skirt to be more precise. My eyes widened and my mouth was slightly open when I realized what he was doing.

NO. NO. NO. Not in a billion years. If those girls didn't mind that it doesn't mean I don't too!

He tugged at the side of my skirt. I was so terrified.

C'mon! Do something!

Before I was about to do anything –not that I was really gonna do anything, every mean of 'movement' just evaporated from my brain out of the blue- he whispered in my ear.

"I was looking for that, un."

I didn't really follow him with that. However, feeling him bending down behind me and extending his arm to grab his cloak, he took it tranquilly and vanished.

It took me a while to comprehend what had just happened. My eyes flickered several times before I noticed his clothes had disappeared too.

I looked down to where he had touched me. God I was such a dimwit. How could I think he was about to abuse me, he just wanted his hair-tie back! Idiot idiot idiot! It's all because of Tobi, he implanted that idea in my brains. Damn him.

I took a very deep breath, and took my time to calm myself down.

After about thirty minutes of that incident, Ino walked back to their camp. She took her time all the way however. She wanted to stall as much time as she could, even though she knew she had to get back there eventually.

She arrived at the camp at dawn. And what she saw first was Deidara. He wasn't facing her, however. His back was turned towards her. He was sitting on the tree trunk shirtless with a towel around his neck. He seemed he had made another fire too. Ino hesitated before stepping closer, but then decided that that was all just childish and walked past him to where she had slept earlier. Repositioning her bag and patting it a bit, she sat down and laid her head on her sack and went back to sleep calmly. She wondered what he was thinking at that very moment.

"C'mon! Wake up Ino-chan!" Tobi yelled shaking the little blonde to wake her up.

Ino quickly sat up rubbing her eyes. She turned around taking a glance of what was surrounding her. "You sure are a heavy sleeper!" He cheered before jumping his way farther.

"You sure are a heavy sleeper, un."

She looked around again in search of a certain blond. She saw him there, yelling at Tobi and smacking him on his head. Taking notice she was staring at him, he said something that Ino couldn't hear quite well and motioned her to come along.

If he's acting so normally then I should too. She thought to herself. She sat up and dusted herself, even when she knew doing that wouldn't make the stained skirt any cleaner. She followed them quietly behind, and both of the guys were aware that she didn't want to talk.

"Ino-chan isn't a morning person." Tobi stated looking back at her. Although she had heard him, she made no comment at all. The rest of the thirty-minute-long walk went by complete silence. Tobi made silly remarks every now and then of course, but there wasn't really an actual conversation or action that took place.

That was until Deidara made a sudden stop that awoke Ino from her chain of thoughts just in time to prevent herself from bumping into him. He lifted his right index and middle finger next to his face, wearing that same smirk that usually takes its place on his face.

"Yes, target located, un."

KATSU.