Disclaimer: I still DON'T own Naruto, damn it!

11: Sasori

I was distracted all day in school after Tobi told us what he knew about The Protectors. He said that Deidara actually knew more than he did. What he did know pissed me off. The gang was way stronger than us – I knew it and Leader knew it. And I wasn't happy about it.

Deidara seemed to be just as distracted for awhile. It seemed that he'd finally heard about Tobi joining the Akatsuki and wasn't particularly happy about it. He didn't look like he was ready to end their friendship over it, but it really looked like it ticked him off.

I felt like I'd been wandering the halls all day and I seriously didn't know what I learned in each class or if I learned anything at all. At lunch, I was snapped back to reality when Deidara pulled me aside to talk to me. I didn't know what to expect, Deidara was always doing weird things – especially in the past five days since "Kurinai" came.

He dragged me out of the school and over the fence, into the trees behind the school. We crouched down under the protection of the wood and just sat there for a minute, trying to catch our breath.

"Now what?" I asked him when I could breathe again.

Deidara smiled and said, "I want to ask you out, yeah."

I felt my heart stop and then pick back up, pounding hard against my chest. My mind spun, trying to find something to say and fast. "Okay…" was the best I could come up with.

He laughed quietly, staring at me intently with his visible purple eye. "Come hang out with me at my place after school today, yeah?" He pulled out a piece of paper and slipped it into my hand.

I looked down at it. It was an address; his no doubt. My heart was pounding so hard, I felt like I might stop breathing. In fear of that, all I did was nod. Deidara smiled brightly and leaned toward me. My heart stopped again as his lips pressed up against mine. The bell rang and my heart jumpstarted again, thrumming loudly. We looked back at the school, got up, jumped the fence and raced toward the school. I was happy.

I ended up walking home with Deidara. I called my dad and he told me I could go. Deidara's house was one that I knew. My dad had taken me through it when it went up for sale because he's a realtor and I'd always wanted to see the house.

We ended up in his living room watching TV. Or we were supposed to be. His parents were out and his sister was at a friend's house. We sat on the couch gazing at the TV with no intention of watching it. After awhile, Deidara started the conversation.

"How long have you and Zetsu known each other, yeah?" He asked, looking at me.

The question sounded vaguely familiar; maybe Tobi had asked it, I didn't know. "We've known each other since preschool." I glanced at him and looked surprised.

"That's longer than Tobi and I have known each other, yeah. Are you two close?"

"I guess. I mean, we're best friends…" He cut me off by kissing me. It caught me off guard. I hadn't expected it when just a moment ago we had been talking about my friend.

He pulled back, smiling and blushing. "Sorry. You're tempting, yeah."

I felt my face flush and I smiled weakly, at loss for words. We started talking again and eventually, I ended up leaning on Deidara while we tried to watch TV – with little success. I found myself thinking about how messed up I was going to be when Leader found out – if Deidara and I were going to get anywhere with this – that I was dating the blonde. I tried not to imagine the damage that I would have.

At around six, his sister got home and Deidara and I planned to go out again "sometime soon." We kissed before I left. I decided I'd take whatever Leader had for me. But for now, I was content.

At school the next day, Tobi jumped me with questions.

"Tobi saw you and Deidara-senpai walk out of school together. But he wouldn't tell Tobi what happened. Will you? Please?! Tobi wants to know what happened last night!" He went on and on until I couldn't take it and told him. He was quiet for a minute and then he cried, "You are so lucky!"

I was surprised. Why would Tobi of all people say that? "What do you mean?"

"Tobi's happy for you, that's all." I could hear his discomfort in his voice as he turned away from me and listened to the teacher again.

I sighed and tried to listen, but I couldn't concentrate. Was Tobi jealous of me? Or was he really just happy for me? I couldn't tell, I knew that he wasn't going to tell me anything and I wasn't about to ask Deidara.

3 weeks later ('cause I'm just that lazy.)

Deidara and I were dating. It wasn't anything too serious. We had fun anyway, though. I was enjoying my time with the blonde. But it was time to face up to Leader.

"You're dating him?!" Leader cried, slamming his hands onto the desk.

I flinched and nodded. I didn't feel guilty about spending time with Deidara, but I did feel bad that I didn't tell Leader earlier. When you get into the gang that I was in, you promised that you'd be loyal to him – tell him anything you know and if you're doing something he thinks could be crucial. I'd never been very good at following rules.

"You didn't even pinch him. I know; Kakuzu's been telling me what he sees, and all you've been doing is flirting!" Leader shouted.

I hung my head. At least I knew who my friends were now – not Kakuzu. "I'm getting there," I told him.

Leader leaned back in his chair. "Oh? And what are you going to do? I highly doubt you'd be able to hit him if you're in love with him." He sounded calmer, but I didn't trust it.

"I don't want to tell you yet." I was afraid he'd make fun of me, tell me I couldn't do it. I could…It was just going to take some time and effort. But don't most things?

"Whatever. I don't even care anymore. What I really need right now, is Deidara in this gang. If Tobi's right about him knowing more, we'd be more prepared. I need us to be ready," Leader said, sounding frustrated. "And since you're so close to him, why don't you ask him?"

I gawked at him. "Me? Me ask him?" I'd never asked anyone to do anything for me. I wasn't so sure about his request, but I gathered my wits and said, "I guess I can."

"That's good. Because you don't really have much of a choice. You owe it to me at this point," Leader said, his lip piercings glinted up like he was smiling.

I swallowed and whispered, "I know."

I know that I can't do this.

A/N: I have noticed two things about my story thus far, and I think I'll point them out before I get harassing reviews about them. So, the things are:

-I have this new habit of making Sasori's chapters really short. I can't figure out why that is. There's just never enough to say when it comes to his chapter…

-These people don't like to watch TV. This has to be, like, the third chapter where they just sit and stare at the TV without watching it. I wonder what they have against TV…

Well, I can't figure out why I keep doing those two things, but I'll try to break the habit. (Totally lying) Um…Alright. I still have to think a bit more on Zetsu's and Sasori's pasts, but they will be revealed too. I swear!

Oh yeah. I decided to mass update it. I will give you, my reviewers, time to breathe, but I am going to finish uploading all the chapters today and am going to update as many times as I can this weekend. Then you can look forward to Staying Strong. Ha-ha!

Okay, I'm done. Please review.