When Fate and Destiny Collide
By: maliciousfate

Chapter: Sixteen
"The Deadliest of Games"

I stood there, unable to move. This man, the one who calls himself Deidara, his name was echoing familiarity after each passing moment. Why did he look so damn familiar yet so mysteriously new at the same time? Where had I seen him before? Or was my mind playing tricks on me again? I honestly, did not understand.

The sun was beginning to set, it's orange and red rays scattering across the forest floor. The birds were giving off their final calls before retiring to their nests and families for the long, cold night to come. Oh, how clueless they were to events that were about to unravel right before their little eyes. Such naive creatures. Such lucky creatures.

"Deidara..." Yuuhi said finally breaking the silence, anger spilling from each word he spoke. Hate was radiating in his eyes as he stood firmly glaring at the man before him. Deidara only smirked wider, ignoring the hate being sent his way. He even seemed to be bathing in the anger, lavishing in it, loving it.

"Did you need something my dear Yuuhi?" He remarked maliciously, while licking his bottom lip.

"How does he know Yuuhi's name?" I thought wide eyed. Did Yuuhi know this man? Or was Deidara just playing tricks on all of us?

"Where is Hinata?" Yuuhi demanded gritting his teeth. At that moment I felt like backing away. The hate that was pulsating from these two men was enough to scare even one of the Legendary Sannin. What could have happened between these two to create so much hidden hate?

"Oh I think you know the answer to that one my dear Yuuhi." Deidara decided to provoke Yuuhi's anger by inspecting his darkly painted nails. He even put his back to us, laughing as he did so.

"Don't play games with me Deidara!" Yuuhi boomed, scaring a few birds from nearby nests. "-Tell me where she is!"

"I am not playing games my dear Yuuhi." He said glancing to the sky and dropped his arm to his side. "-But do you want to play a game, un?" As his last vowel hung in the air a huge, stunningly, white eagle flew down from the sky, flapping its' beautiful white wings almost mesmerizing me into a trance. It swooped down and perched itself onto Deidara's right shoulder.

"-Because you know how much I love games." He stroked the eagle's wing still keeping his gaze on Yuuhi. I couldn't help myself, I leaned forward as I gawked at the creature only a few feet away. I had never seen an eagle this huge in my entire life. Deidara noticed my gaze and his eyes glistened.

"You may not like my games Yuuhi, but maybe your cute comrade might, un?" He said as both his and his bird's eyes shifted towards me. I felt Neji place a hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. I didn't protest, their intimating eyes were already creeping me out.

"Tsuki! Stand back. He's the master of cl-" Yuuhi was quickly cut off.

"Would you like to play a game with me, un?" Deidara asked me, ignoring Yuuhi completely as he took a few steps towards where I was standing. I stared into Deidara's eyes, trying to figure out what kind of game he was hinting at.

"Tsuki there is ano-" Yuuhi tried again, but his voice was silenced. However, this time no one was there to cut him off; he just went silent. I took no mind to this.

Deidara, with his eyes never leaving my own, nodded once to no one in particular. If It hadn't been for Neji's tightened grip on my shoulder, I would never of noticed the eagle taking flight. Deidara seemed satisfied by the distraction he was caused for me. I broke the gaze I held with him, and watched as the creature flapped its' wings as itb glided its way over towards me. My eyes widened as it got closer, it was a lot larger then I had thought. Only, as I watched the creature gild through the air, something caught my eye.

Then I saw it.

At first I thought I was just seeing things, but I knew deep down it was really there. While I watched the bird glide closer and closer I glanced briefly at Deidara in the background. He had his hands open wide, pointed towards me, but what was in the center of them made me cringe.

A mouth.

Deidara locked his eyes with mine and smirked. A bright light emitted from the mouth in his palm as the bird neared only a few feet away.

"An explosion?!" He has been creating explosions from his hand!

But there was something else, from the corner of my eye I saw it glisten. As the light emitting from Deidara's hand got brighter, I saw something wrapped tightly around Yuuhi's mouth. Deidara gave out a horrendous laugh, letting it sink deep into my eardrums. My eyes widened as I soon realized Neji's hand was missing from my shoulder.

Neji was missing.

Getting to my scenes I jumped instantly from the path the bird had been inches from. I rolled away, then quickly brought myself to my knees just as the bird exploded into a massive light bomb. I would have certainly been killed if I had not moved.

Deidara was laughing again, this time directing it solely at me. I tried my best to ignore him as I dashed towards Yuuhi who was struggling with the restraint around his mouth. But before I could even try to get near Yuuhi Deidara interfered. He began to furiously perform hand signs to a jutsu that was completely foreign to me.

If it hadn't been for my quick reflexes, I would have been caught in the streaming line of explosions he sent my way. I dived to the ground, shielding my face from the debris. I had avoided the explosions, but I had succeeded in slamming into a tree, causing me to be short of breath.

I coughed loudly as I tried to brush away the thick pieces of bark that had embedded themselves into my flesh. I needed to get up, I needed to get to Yuuhi.

"Now Now, this game isn't fun when you run away, un." I couldn't see where Deidara was, but the volume of his voice told me he was close enough to send a fatal explosion my way. Ignoring the throbbing in my chest I crawled to where Yuuhi was.

When I had finally reached Yuuhi he was trying to say something, but the thing covering his mouth kept me from understanding it. Knowing that I had to remove it, I used one of the kunai I had to slice near his cheek. The electric shock that pulsated through my arm took me by surprise. I dropped the kunai and rubbing my hand, they were chakra strings binding around his mouth. Yuuhi's eyes widened as he tried harder to tell me something, but I already knew what he was going to say.

There was someone else here...

[Hinata's POV

It was dark, extremely dark. And it was quiet, really quiet.

I was lying in something that resembled a carriage only it was more of a prison for me. My wrists and legs were bound and my mouth was gagged. But the worst part about all this was I had no clue where I was, and that was terrifying me. The only thing keeping me company in this dark place, were my soft cries.

"Who was that man who had taken me? What did he want? Where is Yuuhi, Neji, and Tsuki?" I found myself repeatability asking these questions as I sat in the dark, cold, unknown for what seemed like hours upon hours...

But then suddenly, I could hear faint muffled sounds coming from outside to my left. People were talking- two males. I scooting my body closer to the sound and came face to face with a cold wall. Placing my ear close to it I could make out a bit of what they were saying.

"So what does the boss want us to do with the brat?" A deep voice asked.

"Lets just wait for the rest to get back, they should be coming soon. That group of people we found can't be any trouble for those two. And that chick with the dark hair, he said he knew her, how that happened I haven't a clue." The second man answered. "-But after he gets the information we need out of her, I bet he will do away her." Viciouse laughter filled the carriage around me as my heart sank.

"Tsuki..." A few tears cascaded down my paled face.

[Normal POV

"Tsuki behind you!" Yuuhi boomed as I finally got the chakra string off of his face.

But I was too late.

I was flung from my spot into the hard ground, sliding onto my face and stomach, no doubt the rocks were ripping my flesh apart. I spit blood as I finally came to a stop in front of a tree. Who had done that?

"Damn it!" I cried out, shakily lifting myself to my knees. I squinted through the pain as I looked back to see what had hit me. I almost had to steady my vision as I glanced at the large form behind me.

"A puppet...?" I almost didn't believe it. But the proof was already walking close towards me. As it got closer I began to take in it's eerie form. The puppet was nothing less then huge, with black hair that entwined into its' neck, a mask over its' mouth, and a shell like thing on its back. It also had two spiky arm protectors and what looked like a spine for a tail. All in all, something I wish wasn't coming toward me.

My eyes grew as the puppet began to grin, showing a black hollow inside. Then without warning it sprung at me with immense speeds. Still being on the ground I was unable to defend myself or run from it, getting struck down once again. I could hear Yuuhi yelling as it collided with me.

Pain. That was all I could think at the moment as the puppet had thrown me into a tree, breaking it in half with the force. I was lying on the ground, blood spilling from my mouth and the many cuts that had reopened around my body. Why couldn't I defend myself?

Deidara was laughing as he casually found his way closer to me.

That gave me the anger and determination I needed to get off the ground. There was only one thing wrong when I stood up, many of my ribs were broken...

Taking in a breath, pain shot through my whole body with an electric jolt. Trying my best to ignore the consistent pain I steadied my stance and began to focus on the puppet a few feet away. What could destroy a puppet?

Fire.

"D'uh..." I quietly said aloud while mentally punching myself for not realizing that simple fact in the first please. Taking a quick glace around me, I saw that there was still many small fires burning from Deidara's numerous explosive assaults. That was perfect for what I needed to take the puppet down.

Taking in the best deep breath I could, I began to focus on my chakra flow. My chakra was low, but there was enough to do what I wanted. I quickly began to perform hand signs in a blur, this had to work.

"O-hitsuji. Inu. Hebi. Ryu. Tora." I spoke the seals in my head, making sure to never take my eyes from the puppet who was still smirking his way closer to me.

"Flame Whip no jutsu!" I yelled finishing the hand signs.

The quiet crackling that was head continuously before, suddenly stopped, and the flames rose. Soon the once small, almost extinguished, flames were now risen to an abnormal straight line in the air, wobbling slightly at the small gusts. I grinned as I slowly lifted the flames I had now complete control over.

I didn't waste anytime when the puppet found its way inches from me, I tore the flames towards it in a tsunami wave. I made sure the puppet was completely engulfed in flames before I allowed my exhausted body to fall to my knees.

It wasn't much longer that the flames surrounding the pupped exploded in every direction. I dropped my face th ground as I felt the heat burn my clothing.

"What just happened?" I glanced from under my arm to see the puppet wasn't hurt in the least bit. It was now making its way back toward me.

I scrambled to my feet getting control of the flames once again, I sent a stream of scorching flames towards it face. The puppet dodged it easily and just quickened its pace towards me.

"Die damnit!" I screamed as I sent another whip of flames towards the irritating hollow shell. He dodged this blow just as it had to the others. Finally getting beyond pissed, I let the flames drop and I ran full force at the puppet.

Just before contact a sudden force interfered. It wrapped itself around my wrists and pulled me back viciously, I heard a loud crack from my neck as pain pulsated through my spine.

"AHH!" I screamed as loud as I could, as the force began to pull my arms in separate directions. My joints and bones screamed with me as it felt like they were about to be ripped out.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" The pain was becoming unbearable. My only reply was the laughter that erupted from Deidara.

"Poor little Tsuki, I thought you were trained better. This would make your father and your clan very, very angry." He said as he found his way in front of my face.

"H-how do you know my n-name?" I cringed as the force pulled slightly again.

"I am hurt Miss Desutinii, truly hurt, un." He said as he began to walk around my limp body.

The pain was starting to become too much, and Deidara's mocking comments weren't helping much either. So in a last attempt to free myself I used the last bit of chakra in my body to fling a stream of flames at the puppet. This time, he was the one caught off guard and didn't have time to defend. The flames struck his chest and soon set his core on fire.

It wasn't long for the fire to crack its wooden interior and split the puppet in two. The pieces fell to the ground, but instead of slowly burning they instantly turned to ash and was quickly taken into the air and vanished.

"Mistake of your life Tsuki!" Deidara yelled as he elbowed me in my broken ribs, making me erupt in screams of agony. The force around my wrists pulled extremely hard making my screams only increase. Just before the force stopped, a sickening pop was heard from my shoulder. I let another agonizing scream slip my lips and the force lessened.

"You can drop her now Sasori, I need to speak with her." Deidara called out as he began to circle me once again. After his demand the force vanished and I dropped to the ground were I bit my lip in pain. Groaning loudly, I rolled to my back trying to get off my broken ribs and mostly certainly dislocated shoulder.

Deidara leaned over me, making sure he was the only thing in my direct sight.

"W-what do you want?" I tried to make my voice sound strong, but at this point it was impossible. Deidara didn't answer, just smirked down at my limp body.

A sudden rustling sound came from behind me, then a slight groan. I craned my neck to see who was there.

A man stood at the base of the forest, wearing the same attire as Deidara. He had dark, crimson red hair that was shielding his eyes slightly. His expression was completely blank and unreadable, but anger was in his eyes. His right hand was raise and his fingers were outstretched. Lying on his knees, with his eyes wide; was Yuuhi.

So this was the guy controlling the chakra strings that were around Yuuhi's mouth and were around my wrists? I spit at the thought.

"You destroyed one of my best puppets." He said plainly, walking closer to me and Deidara; dragging Yuuhi as he walked. I bit down on my bottom lip, I wanted to rip his head off for treating Yuuhi like a rag doll.

"What d-do you want?" I repeated to no on in particular, just wanting to get an answer this time.

"Answers." Sasori answered in the same bored tone as before.

"To w-what questions?" It was beginning to become hard to speak.

"The ones I will ask in die time." He answered as he made his way next to Deidara.

"Asshole..." I thought bitterly as I waited for one of these two men to start asking questions.

I pulled my gaze from the two men and placed it on Yuuhi, who was silently sitting at the feet of Sasori. He looked like he was desperately trying to speak. When he noticed I was watching him, his eyes got wide and he kept shifting his eyes to the tree tops.

I looked up to the trees and held in a gasp.

Sitting in two of the giant trees were two more men dressed in Deidara and Sasori's clothing, patiently waiting for something. That something unknown to me.

"I think it's time we ask those questions." Sasori said kneeling down to my eye level, placing two chakra strings back onto my wrists. I knew he was going to pull if I denied him what he wanted.

"Neji, I need you..."