I do not own Naruto, only the plot! And if there's any grammatical errors, please forgive me. I didn't double check because I wanted to update as soon as possible, enjoy! – VZ
They were already past their village's boundaries when Naruto simply couldn't take it anymore.
"Will you stop burying your face in my teammate's panties?!"
Yes, the statement sounded absolutely ridiculous, however it wasn't any less true.
Both canines turned their heads to the blonde who looked about ready to go into three tails mode.
"But Naruto, We need to do this." His dog barked happily, his tail wagging side to side.
His eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"I get that, but do you have to inhale the damn thing every five minutes?!"
That same wolfish grin appeared on the brunette's tanned face.
"I don't have to…"
He sighed in relief-
"…I want to."
-only to choke on the breath he was letting out.
But before he could come close to pummeling the dog, Shikamaru came out of nowhere and flicked his forehead.
"Youch!"
"Quiet. Let Kiba do his business." The Nara heir drawled, his hands buried within his pockets.
He wondered how the hell could anyone possibly look lazy when running and jumping across treetops at break neck speed.
His blue eyes were drilling holes into the back of the canine's head, fuming at him for sniffing his best friend's underwear as if it was the sweetest drug imaginable. But then again, maybe it was.
And it wasn't like he was upset because he only got to sniff it a few times while Kiba actually brought the damn thing with them.
…right?...
"But-" he was abruptly cut off by his usual calm voice.
"Naruto." The cold and stren voice of Neji halted his protests before it even left his mouth.
"Besides…I'd imagine Sakura-chan would be curious to how we found her."
In the corner of his eye, he could see Kiba stiffen and Neji….smirk?
Naruto shook his head, thinking that he was imagining things. He tried his best to focus on the task at hand. Which was finding Sakura and bringing her home.
Yet he couldn't help but wonder.
He knew the pink haired medic was incredibly strong and smart. She should be able to escape any situation if she put her mind into it.
By the time they had reached a humongous crater with a strand of long pink hair and an odd tree with a hole right smack in the middle of it, he came up with two conclusions why she was missing.
One, the scenario was much worse than she had ever encountered before and she simply couldn't escape, something he highly doubted.
Two, something or someone, was convincing her to stay.
The only question now was, who?
"Where the hell is my bitch?! Like seriously?!" Hidan yelled at no one in particular near the food stands. Luckily, the people were either deaf or too focused on the festivities, that they failed to notice a certain silver haired nin shouting at the frying squid.
"Shut up Hidan, you're not helping yeah!" Deidara said, his glare was fierce and his stance was tense.
The taller man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms moodily.
"And you are? I bet you don't care that she's missing! Just fuck off and let me find my bitch!"
He remained quiet, trying reign in his anger.
"Tch…at least I'm doing something for her."
The blonde's hands clenched into fists, so hard that his knuckles turned white.
"Trust me Hidan, I sure as hell do more for her than just care."
And with that, he turned sharply on his heel and weaved through the crowds. His blue eyes scanning the mass of moving people in hopes of finding a familiar head of pink hair.
Deidara was not just concerned.
He was worried beyond belief.
It was obvious that they had no idea where the pinkette had run off. One second she was a few yards before them (Since they couldn't decide who would escort her, in the end they all ended up going) then she as suddenly gone. As if she had vanished into thin air.
He felt like an absolute idiot for letting his mind wander and drop his guard for only the briefest of moments. However he justified it was because he felt stiff. He knew it sounded ridiculous yet it was more than true. His whole body stilled and his thoughts were racing. But as soon as the sensation of being motionless or paralyzed had come, it disappeared. It was disconcerting to say the least. Not to mention odd. Because right after that, when he looked up to check on the blossom, she wasn't there.
Deidara searched the horde of people desperately, relentlessly.
Once he ran around the entire village like an idiot, he ended up right where he started. What surprised him was that he found his fellow Akatsuki members already there looking tired and quite ragged.
The blonde didn't need to ask; he could immediately tell that they didn't have any luck finding the medic-nin either.
"Where could our angel possibly be?" Kisame ground out, his teeth grinding together.
At first, he thought it was rather strange that the mist-nin had begun calling Sakura 'angel', however he realized that it was a perfect nickname for her.
"The hell should I know?!"
Even though Hidan was acting more of a bastard than usual, Deidara knew it was because he was worried as well.
"Hold the fuck up….where's that damn Uchiha?"
The three of them turned and searched, finding nothing.
The bomber felt a pound of lead being dropped into the pit of his belly.
Sasori wasn't here either.
And he had a feeling that his danna was with her.
With the woman that he felt deep feelings for.
Hell no.
And with that, Deidara too, vanished. Swearing to find his partner, the Uchiha, and his Sakura-chan.
Sakura felt the wind whip across her cheeks and she knew that the warm glow of the village lights will soon fade away. Wherever this person was taking her, he was taking her there fast. It was so sudden, and so peculiar. This wasn't a normal kidnapping or (Kami forbid) rape. No, he would most likely be rough with her. Yet the man holding her tightly but with obvious care was not the slightest bit violent towards her. The fact that he didn't even bother to gag her of knock her unconscious was proof of how much he trusted her not to scream her head off.
Sakura also remembered him whispering something into her ear.
He said it so softly…
….my doll…
Wait…didn't a certain red head prefer calling her that?
….
Oh Kami.
….
He didn't.
...
"Sasori?" She questioned, her green eyes focused on him.
He had changed her position, now she was being cradled like baby. Instead of his arms encircling her waist, he had one arm supporting her back and the other was curled around the back of her knees, holding up her legs with ease.
"My doll." He smirked.
It was the kind of smirk that was smug and self-assured. Much like his demeanor to her when they first met in that dark and wet cave.
The pinkette would never admit it out loud, especially now, but she found her enemy quite attractive.
His striking hair and slightly droopy eyes were his most distinctive traits.
Suddenly the wind stopped and the warm light was gone. In it's place was the quiet night and the moon shining eerily above them. They had stopped right below a cherry blossom tree; she almost smiled at the coincidence. But then again, was it?
"Why?"
Sasori didn't put her down, he merely held her tighter.
"Because I am obsessed."
The medic-nin's eyes widened in shock of his words, which didn't make sense to her at all.
"I don't understand Sasori. Please explain." Sakura muttered, exasperated with the man carrying her with no trouble at all.
A characteristic that she liked about Sasori was how blunt he was. Yes, he can be calculating and incisive. However, he can be brutality honest as well. There was no hiding behind bushes, or twisting of words. Only truth, respect and art when it came to him. Something that she can admire.
He narrowed those droopy eyes on her before speaking.
"Give and take, that is my offer. I will speak, but only if you do."
She hesitated before nodding slowly. Gesturing for him to start and that she would follow.
Besides, what did she have to lose?
Her green eyes observed every movement he made, even the tiniest ones.
Like the way he shook his head lightly whenever there were locks of red hair near his eyes.
The way he would look at you and only you.
The way tilted his head to the side and his lips would turn up slowly, curling into a crooked grin.
Yes, she didn't support his part in Akatsuki. However she could respect the man he is here before her. Not the puppet that had traded his body for power and immortality. Instead, the boy who seemed lost and only wanted the warmth of his parent's embrace.
Sasori tilted her chin upwards so that she could look nowhere else but him.
"I am haunted by your very presence my dear doll. Everything about you is perfection to me."
Once again, his statement had frightened her. Yet for some reason, it excited her as well.
Sakura then realized that it was her turn to speak. And she had a feeling that he wanted her to talk about him since he was complementing her.
"Your words frighten and...and excite me."
Well, what better thing to say than the truth? But then again, those words simply flew out of her mouth. Her brain had no time or power to stop them.
"Your beauty bewitched me."
Sakura watched with a racing heart as he leaned close and brushed a pink lock of hair away from her cheek.
"You aren't so bad…for a block of wood."
Just because she was nervous and her heart was palpitating, didn't mean she would turn into the puddle of goo that her Inner had already become.
Nope.
She wouldn't let him get the better of her.
He chuckled lightly at her bold statement.
"Your mind is sharp."
Sasori caressed her cheek lightly, hardly touching her skin.
"I think you're very clever as well. It did take a while to make an antidote for that poison you made."
"Ah, that is also proof of your exceptionally high skills in medical herbs and the like."
She felt the warm glow of pride bloom in her chest.
All of a sudden, the ground beneath them vanished.
A second later, they had landed on a thick branch of the cherry blossom tree. Which was in full bloom. Its flowers were alive and full of vitality. Blooming beautifully under the light of the silvery moon.
But her attention was quickly turned to the man who gently put her down…on his lap.
He didn't seem bothered with her weight or the kimono she was wearing as they sat down on the tree branch. If anything, he appeared almost…content. He looked younger with his eyes less hooded and dark.
Sakura found that she liked it. A lot.
After a beat of silence, he opened his mouth and spoke.
"Your strength surpasses mine."
He pressed his forehead against hers.
"I have been taught by the Hokage herself." She replied, trying her absolute best to ignore the heat that bloomed on either side of her cheeks, much like the flowers did around them.
"I heard." The red head's lips quirked up into a crooked grin.
"...Well, it took all of my strength to defeat you the first time.
He brought up a wooden hand to brush her blushing skin once more. This time he did it slower.
And she could feel his wooden fingers pressing into her skin. It was a foreign feeling. An odd sensation. Yet she found it captivating all the same.
"If only they had not intervened the last time we battled."
Now she was sure her face was flaming.
Their last spar was intense. In every sense of the word.
Not only had he thrown blades, knifes and so much more. Sasori had also kissed her. He had taken her first kiss on the battlefield. With his fellow Akatsuki members there, watching every minute of it.
"I'm glad they did." Her tone was acidic and toxic, much like his poisons.
The arms around her tightened.
"Why would you say such a thing to me my doll? Was I not satisfactory enough for you?"
Memories of that chaste and gentle yet hot and scorching kiss raced through her mind, causing it to go blank, replying clearly wasn't an option for her at the moment.
He heard him tsk and felt his breath on her lips.
"I asked you a question."
Sakura looked up at him defiantly, not willing to let him have the upper hand here.
"I don't have to answer it."
"Tsk...Tsk. Give and take remember? Or have you forgotten?"
She mentally sighed. Hating herself for agreeing to such a thing in the first place.
The pinkette really didn't want to make the situation any worse, yet he wasn't giving her much of a choice.
Well, she said she would answer but that didn't mean she couldn't lie right?
"No."
"No? Did you really forget?" He almost sounded incredulous.
Sakura was very tempted to smirk at him right then.
"I have a great memory Sasori, so no I didn't forget our agreement. The kiss on the other hand, was hardly worth remembering."
The raise of his eyebrows and the tensing of his shoulders was simply too much. So, she smirked wickedly at her captor.
"This is not good."
"Too bad."
"Then I have no choice." Sasori nodded to himself before leaning close, much too close.
"S-sasori? What do you think you're doing?"
"Correcting a mistake."
She put her fingers on his chin and applied pressure while her other hand pressed on his chest, in hopes of preventing him from his advances.
"Which is what exactly?"
He moved close, ignoring the small amounts of chakra in her hands to keep him in place.
It seemed he was much stronger than she previously thought.
"I wanted to imprint our kiss in your heart, mind and body for the rest of eternity. Clearly, I didn't do a good job. So I intend to try again."
Her green eyes widened after catching his meaning.
"You can't-"
"Oh, I will. And there's no one here to stop me."
As he lowered his head and prepared to crush his lips against hers, a voice called their attention. It was dripping with malice and rage.
"You're mistaken."
Her heart skipped a beat after hearing that familiar and deep voice, which was quivering in anger.
"Get away from what is mine and Don't you touch her. Or you will regret it, boy."
The arms around her didn't let go. But the man holding her didn't bother looking up and neither did she.
Sakura knew that the one who had come for her was none other than Itachi Uchiha.
"She does not belong to you." He replied easily.
"No, but she will."
"She is right here!" The pinkette said quite irritably, not liking the fact that they were speaking about her as if she were some object and as if she wasn't present.
Those impossibly red eyes looked straight at her, clashing with her own green ones.
And in that moment, she saw the very last emotions she expected to see in his usual cold and detached gaze.
Hurt.
Betrayal.
Pain.
Her stomach churned as she bit her bottom lip nervously.
Why would he feel cheated on? They obviously weren't together. And how come she felt like she did this to him? Like she was the one to inspire these horrid feelings inside the man who was standing menacingly on the tree branch above them.
As he looked down on the two of them, she couldn't help but feel the slightest bit of fear. A sliver of dread that was spreading throughout her body.
"Deidara!" He barked.
She inwardly winced. A cold and emotionless Itachi was one thing, yet an angry and volatile one? She had no idea how to deal with such a man.
"I know you're up there in the sky, come down and get the blossom while I deal with this foolish boy."
Out of the blue (literally) a big white bird swooped down from the sky. Heading straight for the cherry blossom tree.
And if she wasn't surprised with the blonde's sudden appearance, then the hands that carried her bridal style did.
"Sasori?"
He smiled that lovely lopsided grin before kissing her briefly on the forehead.
"I hope you will remember that one."
Sakura knew she would. That short yet kind act of intimacy was strangely endearing.
Something she didn't expect from the wooden man holding her.
"I think I will."
He grinned before flinging her out of his arms, out of the tree and into the arms of another artist.
"Are you alright yeah?" Deidara inquired, the expression of his face was one of anxiety.
"I'm good. Just a bit worried for Sasori and Itachi."
Yes, saying that you were concerned for two most wanted criminals in the entire shinobi world was ludicrous. However, what she said was the truth.
In that short span of time, she had grown attached to the infamous group of Akatsuki.
She didn't know why or how. It just seemed like she wanted and needed to be around them. A headache was forming at the base of her skull and both her temples the more she thought about it, so she decided to think less now and more later.
"Don't worry yeah. They can't kill each other because leader will be pissed."
"And if they get hurt?"
"Then it's a good thing we have an amazing medic."
She laughed at his wink and the grins that both his hands gave her.
"I guess so."
The flapping of the bird's wings were the only sounds in the sky until Deidara broke the quiet stillness that had enveloped them.
"So you'd really do it?"
"Do what?"
Sakura laid down on the slick white surface of the bird as they soared throughout the inky black sky.
"Heal them. I just thought that you'd hate us, all of us. After kidnapping you and all."
After a moment of silence, she spoke.
Her voice was clear and strong, much like her personality.
"I would. I actually healed Itachi once. He had taken a hit for me so it's only fair that I make sure he lives. And if those two idiots really fight and get hurt doing so…I have no choice but to heal them. I have a feeling that I started this whole mess."
Deidara desperately wanted to nod and say 'Yeah! You're the reason why almost all the Akatsuki members and practically in love with you!' But of course, he couldn't.
"You do have a choice you know."
Another moment of silence before she replied.
"No, I have to. I'm Akatsuki's personal medic right?" She chuckled lightly.
It was meant to be a joke yet Deidara clearly didn't find it funny. Her laughter slowly died down when he didn't laugh with her.
"It must be horrible for you yeah. To be around criminals that could kill you any second if leader ordered it."
Sakura didn't hesitate this time.
"Not really. At first I was scared. But now…."
The blonde lay down next to her, unafraid to let the bird fly on it's own since there were no enemies tailing them.
"But now?..." he prompted, eager for her answer.
"Can I tell you something Dei?"
His heart immediately warmed at the new nickname. Yes, he liked it whenever she said '-kun' yet this one seemed so much more intimate.
"Anything."
"…When I was losing consciousness and I fell to the ground in the woods, where Sasuke had found me, I was thinking of home and how much I missed it."
He was saddened by her words, not liking where this was going.
"And the weird thing was, when I was imagining home, I saw the underground base."
Scratch that, he loved where this was going.
"I saw you and everyone else."
Although he would have preferred him alone, he was still overjoyed by her words.
"So…trust me when I say that I don't hate you guys."
A blush coated her cheeks while he grinned like the lovesick fool that he was.
Sakura had no idea why she was being so honest with Deidara and being so close to him. All she knew right now was how comfortable she felt with him lying next to her, under the sky and glittering stars.
But the moment didn't last because Deidara had begun shoving his hands into his clay pouches and stood up abruptly.
"Don't get up, I want to show you something. Think of it as a thank you, for being open with me."
The blonde lifted his hands up into the air, throwing out white birds that flew up into the clouds of the dark night.
"Like…give and take?"
He grinned at her.
"Exactly."
After he resumed his earlier position next to her, the sky was suddenly filled with waves of sound and bursts of light.
She watched with wide eyes as the birds exploded one by one, as sad as that was, it was extremely beautiful as well.
It was bright and loud but she didn't care.
She was too busy admiring the light show before her, failing to notice a certain bomber staring at her with adoring blue eyes.
"It was spectacular Deidara-kun! You're absolutely right...Art is a bang." Sakura smiled at him, her green eyes were clear, beautiful and bright. Filling him with a warmth that he never wanted to leave.
He brought his hands up and cupped her face, making sure to be gentle in every possible way. His art can be brutal, loud and explosive. However, when it came to Sakura, who might as well be the very personification of his art, it was different. He was different when he was with her. He was better.
"Forgive me Sakura-chan...but I'm going to break a promise I made to you so long ago."
And with that, he leaned down and...
Sakura was astounded.
For some insane reason, she could feel herself responding.
Leaning close and wanting to meet him halfway.
Deidara was sweet and so very kind to her. And the way he respected her limits and boundaries was so unlike most men that she found it so adorable.
But just as she was about to tilt her head and kiss him, he did the most unimaginable thing possible.
…He stopped.
The pinkette looked up at him and was surprised at what she saw.
His blue eyes were staring straight into hers. The eyes that were usually so bright and mischievous appeared so...so sad and conflicted.
He was biting his lips hard, so hard that he was drawing blood.
It beaded on his lip like a red pearl, his teeth still digging deeper.
"Stop it Dei!"
Her medic-mode turned on and the tip of her index finger glowed green.
He watched as she brushed over his bottom lip briefly and healed the tiny cut. Which only angered him. The pain helped him. As odd as it sounded, he welcomed the pain. He needed it desperately. Because without it, he would feel guilty.
Guilty for almost breaking his promise and acting like some desperate fool, but he knew deep down that he already was.
Guilty for wanting someone that he obviously couldn't have.
Guilty for feeling something for someone who might not even feel the same.
Guilty for craving someone who was simply too good for him, who deserved better than him.
"I can't." He said, his voice was hoarse and raspy.
"Dei?"
This time it was Sakura who cupped both his tanned cheeks and made him look directly into her eyes. Not the sky, the ground or even the bird, only her.
"I can't Sakura-chan."
"Can't what?"
"I can't kiss you."
The unexpected feeling of hurt and rejection filled her at her very core. It must have been on her face as well because he noticed it instantly.
"Sakura-chan, I want to kiss you, desperately...but…I can't."
The hurt left, but confusion took its place.
"I don't understand."
He sighed, appearing like he wanted to make something explode.
Her green eyes glanced down at the bird they were on anxiously.
"I can't do it Sakura-chan. I'm sure that once I do kiss you, that'll be it for me yeah." His blonde eyebrows furrowed as she tried to understand where this was going. What the man before her was trying to convey with choked words.
This time, she bit her lip nervously.
"What I'm trying to say is…that once I have a taste, I won't be able to get enough."
Deidara hoped she would catch on to his meaning, his heart was beating so fast that he felt like it would burst right out of his chest.
He saw realization shine in her lovely green eyes.
"Dei….are you saying…"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
He nodded, placing his larger hands over hers, which were still cupping the sides of his face.
"But how?...and why?"
"Because…you're...everything Sakura-chan. The very personification of my art. The one person who I worry for. The one person in my life that I'm actually afraid to lose yeah."
Sakura had never felt so scared or excited in her entire life. It was maddening to say the least. It was like her vocal cords were severed because she couldn't speak anymore. Her body was stiff and her palms warm from the heat emanating from his cheeks. His hands were on top of hers and she felt safe, protected.
"I don't know how I came to care so deeply for you yeah."
The mouths on both his palms pressed tiny butterfly kisses over her hands.
"But I really don't care, not as long as you're here with me."
Deidara couldn't stop.
He couldn't rein in the torrent of emotions that he had kept bottled in his chest the moment he had seen her wear his shirt.
What started out as curiosity that turned into mild infatuation has blossomed into something so deep and different that he was afraid of how this would turn out.
He couldn't halt or take back his words now.
"Dei…"
He shut his eyes, not ready for her rejection.
It would be harsh and painful and he could only hope that she would end it quickly.
"I-"
She was cut off, by a tall dark and angry Uchiha.
"Deidara, You're partner is in need of your assistance. I suggest you hurry." He said coldly, Blood red eyes pierced his very soul.
And with that, he grabbed Sakura and jumped off the clay bird, leaving the blonde to fume and wonder to himself.
What was she about to say?
Unfortunately, Now was not the time for that, right now, he had to find his partner.
He narrowed his eyes as he directed his creation to fly over to the cherry blossom tree, where he would find his danna, broken and beaten into a useless amount of wood.
Ta-da! Hope you all liked it ! Wow, two chapters in two days, I'm on a roll here guys! it's even getting longer, yey! Anyways, lots of love and thanks to my reviewers and readers! I hope i can make it to 600 reviews! woo! hehe, forgive my many exclamation points, I'm just so happy that lots of people like my story. Till' next time! - VZ