Disconnected

Why doesn't she see?
I will have to stand by her side.
It doesn't matter.
No one will hurt her.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find there and lead it back home

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into and make me real
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you are the life among the dead

All of this time, I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

"Hyuuga Hinata please"

The greeter of the door gave the stranger a suspicious look. How would he trust such a man talking to the Hyuuga heiress? He looked too old to be friends with her, too lanky to be healthy, and too woman like, save his deep voice. His blond hair could rival the length of Hinata's, and it was tied in a half ponytail. He was wearing raddy black pants and a too tight black shirt to look descent. Plus, the man was shaking so violently! The way he continuously kept looking behind him made Neji Hyuuga believe he was running from the police nins.

Neji raised an eyebrow, not satisfied with the man in front of him. "Sorry, she's not here" he lied quickly. The blond went to protest, but Neji quickly shut the door without another look. Deidara wasn't about to be defeated. He didn't run around for a year and a half to travel all the way to Konoha by himself to be denied like that, especially by such a girly looking man. (ah ha girlfight? XD)

Desperate for some way to get to the Princess that has haunted his nightmares, he searched around the familiar manor. It still looked like a castle to him as it was the largest place he has ever lived in. Much more home like then the Akatsuki lair.

He cringed to himself at the thought of what they'd do to him. He had left unannounced, and with a surprise clay clone "gift" he left behind in his place. He has been so scared he hasn't stopped shaking the whole trip to Konoha. His nerves haven't rested and he has been on constant alert. It was one thing to leave your village, but to leave a criminal organization...

He shook his head to dispel those vile thoughts, and attempted to focus on his purpose of leaving in the first place.

He remembered exactly which room belonged to her, believing that they haven't moved anything around, and headed to that part of the mansion. He attached his camera to his left eye, a useful tool he earned from his former job. He scoped the mansion, checking for every last Hyuuga that wandered the household.

That priss he met a few minutes ago was speaking to an elderly male of the house. Deidara had to wonder why he has never seen that boy during his stay at the house. Continuing his search, he found Hiashi Hyuuga napping on one of the many couches and an older looking Hanabi preparing dinner in the company of two elder woman.

He lost hope when he scanned the upper level of the home and found no one there. Where could she be? If only he would have bothered to check behind him first off, he would have picked up the chakra signature of the young chuunin hiding behind a nearby bush. Startled at the sight of her, he felt his heart flipped a few times before feeling like it completely shut down.

She wasn't starring at Deidara, but that only gave Deidara the advantage to observe her. He couldn't believe how much she has aged in his absence. Her cobalt colour hair extended to her mid back now and her white eyes were just as stunning as ever. Crouching, he couldn't make out her height, but he could still see an outline of her developed body from under her heavy sweater. Her skin had a healthy white mature glow to it that Deidara admired. She was the same Princess he awed over again and again. She was his reason.

But she was starring at something...or someone else. Her small mouth was left open, panting unevenly. He forehead was lined several tiny beads of sweat that indicated she must have been training hard. She gasped out of nowhere, blushing and hiding herself deeper into the shrubbery as a blond boy of her age came passing by. He was loud, lively, energetic, blond...he was... just like Deidara.

Deidara felt a tugging sensation in his heart. He recognized that innocent embarrassed look on her face. She loved that boy. She loved that boy who was alike Deidara in too many ways that possible. Was it a coincedence? Did that mean she forgot about him? Perhaps she was just looking for a replacement? Maybe she doesn't care at all. Either way, it was driving the long haired blond mad. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Hinata-Hime...?" he called out calmly, trying to not pose at a threat, which was difficult to do being in the Akatsuki now. That's why he chose to not wear the cloak, he was too new to the group to be recognized as one of them. Yet, the second the young Hyuuga made eye contact with him, she retaliated negatively, frightened beyond belief.

Deidara frowned, but kept his face gentle. He was a dragon, he was a rogue. He shouldn't be around a princess like her. That look she gave him took a stab to his heart a thousand times, but he persisted.

"Hinata...Hime..." he whispered, wanting to embrace her with every nerved fiber of his being. She looked like she has seen a ghost rather then an old friend. Confused, Deidara slowly inched closer, only to have the girl back away.

"H-h-how d-do you know m-my name?" she stuttered. Deidara raised an eyebrow. Where did she pick up that awful stutter? And what in the world is she talking about? How could she possibly forget him just like that? Deidara could barely stand the pain anymore. "You don't remember?" he asked. She looked away from him, not sure how to respond.

"Hinata-Hime, what happened to you?" he asked, upset. "W-what d-d-do you mean?" she asked, obviously unaware of what he spoke of. She was frightened by his sudden presence, he could tell by her backing away cautiously. She had her guard up, she didn't recognize him. Why? How?

Deidara stood up, throwing his arms in the air with rage. "How could this be happening to me!?" he yelled, pacing back and forth. He could feel the girl's stare bore a hole through his side and calmed down, not wanting to scare her any further. "Look I'm sorry if I scared you princess" he stopped at that last sentence. The girl gave him a strange look to the nickname. He mentally slapped himself for still calling her a "princess".

"I'll leave you alone, just pretend you never saw me. It will be for the best" he said. Before he turned to leave, he kneeled down again beside her, reaching for something in his bag. The young Hyuuga flinched as he pulled something from the bag, holding up her hand to guard herself. It wasn't until he saw what the object was that she left he guard down.

It was a clay flower, magnificently sculpted. The flower was an exact replica of the lilacs he used to give her, but he assumed she wouldn't remember that either. "You look more beautiful then ever...by that way, yeah" he said, disappearing instantly before Hiashi would intrude quietly, starring down at the girl in the backyard of the manor.

"Hanabi has prepared dinner" the father announced sternly. Hinata only nodded absently, half heartily even paying attention to what he said as she read the one simple note that was left along with the flower.

'Your hopeful knight -Deidara'

He laid on her rooftop, too hopeless to leave or act on anything else. The Akatsuki was bound to be looking for him anyways, they'd probably just kill him if they found him, so why do anything else? He hoped he wouldn't be noticed, but at that point he wouldn't care as long as it wasn't anyone he couldn't handle himself.

Unconsciously, he started singing softly to himself. It was an old habit of his during all those years he was absent from the Hyuuga household. The singing calmed his nerves, almost eventually lolling himself to sleep. That is, until he realized he wasn't alone.

Swiftly, he sat up, urgent and alert to all around him. "Ano" he heard a soft whimper from behind. He turned to his fantastic utter relief to see Hinata before his own blue eyes. "I-I d-didn't mean t-to d-disturb you...s-sorry" she apologized timidly. Deidara blinked several times in silence before snapping out of his trance.

"How did you find me up here?" he asked. Hinata starred at her feet. "I-I-I suddenly r-recognized your c-chakra s-signature" she reported quietly. "A-and I-I also h-heard your s-singing from m-my room" she admitted as well. Suddenly she looked in the direction of the blond, swallowing a lump in her throat before summoning enough courage to continue.

"W-who a-are you?" she asked.

Deidara placed a pathetic smile on his face, ashamed that she truly did forget, but happy that she cared to remember. "Deidara" he replied, smirking now. The girl stood there frozen in position for several moments. Her face was blank, but Deidara was well aware she was concentrating. Finally, she frowned. "That flower" she whispered. "I remember the flower"

Confused, Deidara's eyebrows furrowing together. He didn't understand. Hinata walked forward only slightly, but enough for Deidara to detect. "I-I remember f-flowers, alot of t-them. I-I r-recall liking the p-person w-who g-gave them t-to m-me" she explained a little louder. "I-I'm p-pretty sure you w-were t-that p-person, b-but I-I don't know w-who you are"

Deidara sighed, slightly defeated. "Amnesia" he muttered. "Did your father ever say anything about that?" he asked. "No" Hinata replied immediately. This only further enraged Deidara. What else could it be? Unless her father simply didn't tell her. Surely no one would like memories of being kidnapped, but what about their memories? They have vanished.

"Y-you are a g-good...a-at s-singing" she said shyly. Deidara suppressed a chuckle at her tomato red face. "I suppose I'm okay, but sculpting is my main passion" he explained...again. "I was originally named Sang by my first "owner's" wife because I used to sing I was really young" he explained. Hinata nodded, moving in closer. She felt comfortable around the young blond, and knowing that she trusted him in the past must have meant she could at least let her guard down.

'You look more beautiful then ever...by the way, yeah'

Hinata caught herself looking at her in the reflection on a window. If he really knew what she was like...weak with no backbone, he surely wouldn't think so highly for her. What did he see in her? She couldn't figure it out. This Deidara obviously knew more about her then even she did. Hinata stiffened.

"Something wrong Hinata-Hime?" he asked calmly. Suddenly, he felt the presence of another- the king. Hinata turned to warn him, but he was already gone. It was so silent in the night that she could even hear the soft constant breathing of her father who looked into the stillness of the night from outside her bedroom window, apparently searching for his eldest daughter. Hinata allowed herself to remain calm. She would simply tell her father that the reason for her absence was to train.

She heard the window shut, she allowed herself to breathe evenly again. That's when she realized she was alone, sitting on her roof. She wanted the blond man to return. She wanted him to be with her, to spend the whole night telling her things she never knew about herself. She wanted answers.

"Deidara?" she whispered hesitantly. Silence.

"Deidara?" she cried, a little louder. Still no response to the girl's dismay.

"Deidara!" she shouted. She touched her cheek that was now wet with her tears. She often cried easily, but this time she didn't know why.

Out of nowhere, she heard a massive swooping sound. Her hair blew behind her as the flaps continued. A large bird landed on the roof beside her. "Yes?" came the reply of the rider of the clay bird. Hinata's face lit up at the sight of her past friend in front of her. She was too busy awing over the brilliance of the large bird to notice Deidara offering her a hand.

Hinata starred innocently at the hand on his mouth, feeling strange overwhelming familiarness of it too be freaked out. "I won't bite, promise" he said with a smile. "Y-you want m-me t-t ride t-that?" she asked, scared slightly of flying. "Yeah, hm" he nodded eagerly. Hinata fumbled over her thoughts whether or not to join him, but with a quick grasp of her small hand, she gasped loudly before noticing she was already sitting behind him aboard the majestic winged creature.

"Are you ready, yeah?" he asked. Hinata pressed her lips together and nodded. Without knowing what to anticipate, Hinata yelped highly when the bird took off. She wrapped her arms tightly around the thin boy's waist as they reached a higher altitude. Deidara smiled at the sight of the girl pressing her face onto his back, not wanting to look down. He laughed heartily.

"It's okay, yeah. I promise when you are on my watch I will not let anything hurt you. You won't fall" he pledged sincerely. Hinata slowly looked around her, amazed by what she saw. The village looked beautiful when you were free, or so Hinata concluded as she looked down. She allowed herself to relax, feeling safer.

"H-have I-I-I ever d-done this b-before?" she asked, still gazing about the town as they flew. "Nope" Deidara replied. "I didn't know how to make such a large bird the last time I've seen you, yeah" he said. Hinata nodded, mouth slightly parted in surprise. So when was the last time they've seen each other? Hinata couldn't muster a single thought about it.

"When w-was t-the last t-time I've s-seen you?" she asked, not even sure if he was making this up or not. Deidara pondered over it for a bit. "I believe it has been almost six years by now" he replied, frowning at the thought of being away from her so long. "I haven't seen you since your ninth birthday" he added. Hinata's eyes widened slightly. It seems like a missing piece came into play.

"T-that makes s-sense t-to m-me now" she said. Deidara looked behind him, a few locks of his blond hair tickled her face. "Hm?" he asked, confused. "I-I d-don't remember anything b-before m-my t-tenth b-birthday" she said, shaking at the thought of all those lost memories.

"So you're fourteen now...amazing, hm. I remember you when you were just eight years old. Come to think of it, isn't your birthday soon?" he asked. Hinata looked taken aback from all the information the artist knew about her, but she simply nodded wordlessly. "A-and h-how old are you?" she asked curiously. "Me? I'm eighteen now" he said carelessly, like he had almost forgotten to keep track.

"Ano...s-sorry f-for all the questions" she muttered. Deidara gleamed at her, his blue eye visible from his hair sparkled in the moonlight. "Don't worry about it Hinata-Hime, I'd have alot of questions too, please ask away, yeah" he said with a confident smile. Hinata smiled back weakly, unable to hold it in.

"W-why d-o you c-call m-me Hinata-Hime?" she asked, so quietly that is was near inaudible. Hinata could feel Deidara's calm shrug from her grip on him. "I picked it up when we were younger" he said with a small laugh. "Ano...I-I see" she mumbled forlornly. "Is there something wrong? Do you not like it? I don't have to...say it..." he said jittery at unease.

"Ano...it's j-just t-that alot of t-the Hyuuga family c-calls m-me t-that" she replied. Deidara's eyes widened. "Really? How come?" he asked. All the silly thoughts he had when he was younger about her being a princess suddenly rushed back into his head. "I-I'm the heiress" she claimed with a frown. Deidara almost pouted childishly.

"Wow" he mouthed. "So you get to be charge of all of that wealth and power of your family?" he assumed, amusement hidden in his voice. "Hai" The white eyed girl answered. "You don't want to be the heiress" he said. It wasn't a question, but it was a statement. Hinata was impressed by how he could read her feelings so easily. "H-Hai" she responded again.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I never knew that. I only call you Hinata-Hime because I really thought you were a princess" he said coolly. Hinata's face illuminated to a deep shade of red. Her mind began racing. What kind of relationship did they truly have? Hinata was positive she could trust him, and she never felt that bond with another person. But they were only children right? There surely wasn't any kind of deeper or serious meaning to it, right?

Too embarrassed to say anything, she simply enjoyed the ride in silence, finding joy in the wind caressing her face and watching each strand of Deidara's hair flow smoothly through the sky. It was peaceful, it was different, and it was enjoyable. Hinata felt the sensation that she knew this man forever- which is some cases she has- but she still couldn't remember him.

"So is that why you picked up that stutter?" Deidara asked suddenly, breaking the silence. Hinata shot him a confused look. "Your family, they must have placed alot of pressure upon you" he clarified. "Ano..." Hinata began. "I-I-I" she stuttered. Taking a deep breath she continued. "Yes, it's a heavy burden" she admitted. "They think I-I-I'm...weak, and it hurts...that I'm not good enough" she said. Suddenly, she began to cry, it was hardly noticeable at first, but Deidara looked appalled when he saw the tears drain from her flawless eyes.

"Was I that weak when I was younger?" she asked, louder with more gusto then usual. Deidara, not knowing how to handle a situation with a crying girl simply tried to sooth her. "You were eight years old, I had only began to help train you when you were that young, and now look at you, yeah" he said, choking on his words. He slapped his forehead. "Of course you wouldn't know your progress...stupid me..." he cursed mentally.

"In other words, you are just unaware of your growth" he simply put it. The Hyuuga heiress wiped her eyes. "You trained me?" she asked. Deidara nodded. "Very little, and only the basics, but it was your father's request, hm" he explained. "My father? S-so w-what were you t-to us...me?" she asked. Deidara sighed. This was a story too long to tell for the night. "I resided with your family for around a year after my second foster father was assassinated" he said calmly. Hinata looked troubled as he spoke. "Ano...I'm so sorry I brought i-it up" she said, sniffing.

"It's in the past, yeah" Deidara waved it off, dismissing the thoughts. Hinata sighed. "I'm sorry you had t-to live with m-my father as well. I-I can't imagine what he must have put you through" she said, disturbed. Deidara smirked. "It's okay. It was worth it when I got to spend time with you" he said, smiling. Hinata blushed. "I-I wonder why oto-san d-didn't tell m-me anything about you" she thought out loud. "Hm" Deidara thought to this point as well, he wouldn't deny his disappointment to the decision.

"What d-did you d-do after you left?" she asked. Deidara gestured to the bird they flew on. "Art, I focused eternally on my art" he replied proudly. "Art was my passion, the sole thing that has kept my drive up" he claimed. Hinata frowned. "T-thats it?" she asked. Deidara frowned. "For the most part" he said, not wanting to go into detail.

"Deidara..." Hinata said. Deidara "hmed" to signal his attention. "Why d-did you leave?" she asked, sadness hinted in her tone. Deidara frowned. "You were kidnapped" he revealed. The duo remained silent. "I was kidnapped?" she whispered. A rapid cold feeling snaked down her spine. Suddenly she could feel those dormant forgotten thoughts flood through her brain. Everything just came through. Thoughts mixed in with others and she couldn't make out everything all at once like that. Some things were blurry, like the image of her mother, and some things came in clearly, like a young eleven year old Deidara and his kind foster father.

Then there was the sight of her kidnappers, threatening, rugged, and merciless. All the thoughts stewed up together in the empty pot that was her mind, and when she could not longer take it, she emitted a long high pitched scream.

That boy...that flower...that bird...her birthday...the kidnapping...it all triggered in one blur.

"Hinata-Hime!" Deidara shouted, attempting to snap the Hyuuga out of her spaz. She screamed again, guarding herself by whacking away Deidara from her arms. "Get away!" she yelled, so enraged on her rampage that she lost her balance from the safe bird's flight. As the ground was nearing, her mind cleared to one single promise. 'It's okay, yeah. I promise when you are on my watch I will not let anything hurt you'

She opened her eyes weakly to a familiar scene. Her hair was tossed behind her in the wind, but that's what made her chilly. She shivered as the cold wind hit her face, but she could feel warmth coming off from the body she was placed on. She was on a lap, the musky smell of rain ran through her senses. She yawned lazily, obviously alerting her company as she felt him adjust.

Her short calm was destroyed then, and she yelped in a panic. She felt a firm grip on her shoulder and with a sudden jerk, she met with a pair of blue eyes soaked with turmoil. The wind seized as she noticed their landing in a forest clearing. "Calm down please, hm!" the familiar voice cried. The Hyuuga eased herself at the sound of his voice. His voice, the one she now recognized the drastic change in pitch too. The voice that brought her endless amounts of smiles in her grey moody home.

"Deidara" she whimpered. Cautiously, he pulled her into a tight embrace. He wrapped his arm around her waist as the other one held her head against his chest. For so long he waited to hold her like this, but he still wasn't the knight he wanted to be for her. Several minutes passed by before either of the two decided to move. "Deidara, oh Deidara I'm so sorry" she apologized. The artist shushed her.

"I remember. I remember everything" she said. "I'm sorry, all my thoughts were jumbled together and I thought you were kidnapping me" she said, her words so quick Deidara could hardly separate them. "It's not your fault, don't worry about it. I do not blame you for thinking like that, I couldn't imagine" he assured.

Hinata sighed. How could she have forgotten her greatest friend? How could she forget someone like Deidara? It hurt her to think about moving on in life without him. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The feeling at that time sounded mutual, being so young, but now it scared her, it was fascinating how strongly she felt about him.

"What?" Deidara asked, starting to feel strange with Hinata staring at him obviously. She snapped out of her stare, blushing. "I'm sorry, I-I just haven't truly realized how much you have changed" she admitted shyly. Despite his long hair, he grown to be a much better looking man then she could have ever imagined at the time. Her own thoughts made a blush appear across her already rosy cheeks.

"What have you done all these years?" she asked, switching her thoughts to a different topic. Deidara opened and closed his mouth a few times, not confident in what to say. He was trying to avoid this. "It's complicated" he replied, still speechless to some extent. She nodded uneasily. "I see"

The artist heaved an exhale. She deserved to know, but he was still afraid of her acceptance after he tells her what he has become. "I'm a jounin now...or so you can say" he began. Hinata leaned in closer, carefully paying attention. Deidara gulped. "I've sort of been wandering, it's pretty hard to stay in one place when you're in my position" he explained. The Hyuuga nodded in understanding. "How long are you staying here" she interrupted.

Lines creased on the blonds angry face now. "I'm afraid it won't be long...I-" he stopped. The girl looked petrified. "What?" she mouthed. "Not long? Why? No..." she whispered in a flustered manner, holding back her tears. Deidara encircled his arms around the girls waist, easing her to rest the back of her head on his chest as they sat. Hesitantly, she placed her hands on top of his. She closed her eyes, enjoying every second of the peaceful moment. She didn't care how long he was staying, but he was there now...for her.

"Isn't that sweet Itachi?"

Hinata jumped in Deidara's arms, but only grabbed tighter to him around his waist. "What was that?" she whispered.

"Hmph"

The Hyuuga shook violently, but set herself to concentrate her chakra into her eyes. "Byakugan" she whispered as her white eyes bulged and activated. She scanned the area and picked up three shinobi watching them from about fifty meters away, one was familiar, one had enormous amounts of chakra, and the last was the hardly life like or noticeable.

She pointed in their direction. Deidara followed her finger to the sight of which they were hiding. "Damn" he hissed fiercely. He cursed to himself possibly dozens of times before realizing the danger he was putting the Hyuuga heiress in. In one swift motion, he picked her up bridal style and carried her over to the clay bird. "Don't say anything, don't look at any of them, and don't run after me, you'll be okay" he demanded. Hinata's tears now freely soaked her eyes. The bird then lifted into the air, high enough for Deidara to pray she remained safe.

It was dark. All he could see was black. He could hear the downpour of rain surround him. He could feel every individual droplet of water hit his exposed flesh and wounds. He was in too much pain to bother to move, until, that is, he remembered the girl. He kept his right eye closed, only to find if easier to search the area with his camera on his left.

He didn't know where he was. The deserted area was unrecognizable. How long as he been lying here? Carefully, he extended his hand to his side pouch across his hip. Empty. He had no clay, no food, and no way to heal himself. He must have been left here... to die. So where did that leave Hinata? Well his heart wouldn't be able to take it if anything happened to her.

He was going to live on. He wasn't going to let the Akatsuki defeat him like that. He wasn't going to give up. Angrily, he summoned all his strength to aid him in sitting up. He was sure his ribs were broken, and the fact that his left arm felt lifeless wasn't going to help in any, but the fight was nothing but a massive blur to him now. His only goal was to find his Princess, just to know that he didn't fail her.

As he went to stand, he heard a loud snap. He screamed in pain at the crunch of his leg, and knocked himself out yet again, the dripping rain from the treetops left a stinging sensation upon his cuts. Suddenly, he could see a shadow of a familiar figure near him.

"Hinata" his voice raspy, called for her.

He thought he had been hallucinating, but there she was, arriving via his clay bird. "Deidara!" she cried. She stumbled as she ran. She cried frantically, examining the numerous wounds the artist contained.

"I thought you were gone" they both said simultaneously.

Without another word, Hinata began performing every last medical ninjutsu procedure she has learned. Deidara began protesting, but lost the energy. Fully concentrated, the Hyuuga drained every last ounce of chakra inside of her. "There...you...go" she said in between pants. "You'll be okay...you'll be okay" she repeated breathlessly. She looked at the resting blond. "Stay awake...Deidara..." she said, lowering herself to the ground.

She felt her eyes get heavy, unconsciousness slipping closer. "Stay...awake" she whispered. Just that instant, she collapsed next to the boy, one of her arms rested on his abdominal as they both slept in the settling rainstorm.

The next morning...

Deidara awaken to the smell of smoke. Alertly he opened his eyes, slightly blinded by the bright glare from the bonfire set up. Advently, he searched the forest from the same spot he had collapsed. There had to be somewhere here who started the campfire, but there was no one around in a few miles radius, he was sure of it.

Groaning from his stiff muscles, he sat up. To his surprise, the intensifying sharp pain that he had yesterday was gone. He slowly moved his arms and feet muscle by muscle until he felt it was safe enough to stand. He slowly lifted his shirt over his head and tossed it carelessly aside on the forest floor. He examined himself in amazement to discover he was only left with cuts and bruises. He concentrated hard as he tried to remember what happened to him, but his head hurt too much to put any thoughts together. Now he understood how Hinata felt.

Suddenly he remembered his true reason for his headache: Hinata. If anything, his head hurt the most at that moment. Forget his scars, the only thing that mattered to him was the safe arrival of the young Hyuuga heiress.

There was a sudden snap coming from a nearby distance. Stiffening, Deidara took fighting stance. There was no way he was in condition to brawl with anyone, but he wasn't about to show his weakness. The tussling behind the bushes came nearer and Deidara was beginning to think this wasn't as threatening as he would have prepared for. No shinobi, especially at Akatsuki level, would dare to just pop out of the bushes so expectedly like that.

Then the tussling seized just as quickly as it started. Puzzled, Deidara eased his position to find just the person he so longingly desired to see reveal herself from the clearing. Her face was a deep set red at the sight of a shirtless Deidara, but the blond didn't seem to notice that factor at the moment. A wave of relief shook over his body, calming his nerves and mind.

"Hinata-Hime" he whispered. She blinked a few times innocently, trailing her eyes to the ground. "Hinata-Hime" he repeated, smiling brightly this time. "I'm so...overwhelmed, and now you're here...you're okay, and that's all that matters to me" he said, not able to make eye contact.

"I'm okay Deidara, but you're not. Please, you shouldn't be moving around yet" she said softly. "I didn't realize you woke up, I went to find some fire wood" she reported. "Hm" Deidara simply said with a nod, wincing in pain as he sat down. "What happened to me? My head is all fuzzy, yeah" he asked. Hinata twitched.

"You battled the three for quite a long time...too long...I was so scared..." she explained hesitantly. She replayed the scene in her head vigorously. To watch Deidara with such a wicked, cokcy, and power hungry expression carved on his normal light and friendly face frightened her no doubt. She wasn't aware of how powerful he truly was. She had to stand further away just simply to escape the deafening sounds of the explosions that he created. What she remembered as his "art" seemed to be alot more then the models.

Sadly, he was up against three, and he was only one. "I had to do something, anything. They were either going to kill you or let you get yourself killed. It was so dangerous, and I felt so useless" she whispered. Deidara's eyes widened, still too relieved to be angry with her. "What happened?" he asked, desiring for her to continue. Was he that crazy? Was she afraid of him now?

"I-I managed to injure one of them, the large blue one" Deidara twitched, feeling Samehada's wound practically reopen at the thought of Kisame. "Well he wasn't very happy...and he started chasing me. So the other two left before they could finish you off to chase after the blue one" she explained. "After a long trailing flight I knew I lost them, and they haven't showed up yet"

Deidara felt like crying, he let his head fall against the tree trunk he leaned against. "Looks like you saved me again, Hinata-Hime" he sighed.

Hinata smiled weakly in sympathy. "Let's just get some rest, we'll try to move tomorrow and we can both explain everything"

"Hm, Hinata? Serious question...are you...afraid of me now?" he asked.

"Smile for me" she said. Deidara raised an eyebrow, but it was the cute way she demanded it that did end up making him smile at her. He laughed nervously during the silence. She smiled in return warmly. "No, I am not" she replied. "Goodnight"

"Hinata-Hime!"

The cobalt hair girl rose from her sleep, but not by the person she had expected. There standing in front of her were the three people she would put last on her desire to see list. She looked back at the stern eyes of her father, cousin, and younger sister timidly. What was she going to do now?

"May I require what you have been doing here in the forest for the past two nights? I am not allowing the Hyuuga heiress to take habit of such irresponsible actions" Hiashi proclaimed.

Hinata stammered. "Father, I-I-"

"Hiashi-Sama" Deidara interrupted with a bow.

Hiashi starred in utter shock. Deidara was not pleased with the grotesque look on the Hyuuga's face. It was as if he was surprised he wasn't dead instead of a warm welcome. The blond sighed, he'd never understand this man. "Good to see you again, hm" he continued.

"Deidara" Hiashi acknowledged with an absent nod. "W-what on earth are you doing here?" he asked.

Deidara smirked. "I was in town, and I thought I'd check up with Hinata-Hime, to see how she is doing and all" he said with confidence over watching the full grown male stumble over his words. Hinata frowned forlornly. Hiashi however, did not seem satisfied with them being in the presence of each other.

"What have you been doing here with him Hinata?" he yelled. Hinata flinched slightly under his scream, but steadied herself. "Father" she started. A hint of fierce confidence flicked in her eyes. "Why haven't you told me?" she asked quietly. Her father looked away. "Why did you keep everything from me?" she was yelling this time. Her face was strong, but tears were falling in groups now.

"I remember everything father, you cannot hide it from me any longer. When did you plan on sharing my past? Did you ever plan on it?" she interrogated.

"Hinata..." Hiashi muttered, taken aback by the sudden shift in his daughter's attitude. He hasn't seen such a surge of confidence in her in so long, in fact...since she lost her memory about him.

Deidara, giving a smug smile the entire time, casually cleared his throat, earning the attention from the flustered Hyuuga elder. "Hiashi-Sama, if you do not mind my intrusion..." he started courteously. He waited for the man's full approved attention before continuing. "I have a proposal, and I'm inclined to hear your opinion on it..."

"Just get to the point please" Hiashi interrupted.

Deidara felt one of his veins pop in annoyance. "I would like to take Hinata upon myself as my student" he announced proudly, earning a small gasp from Hinata and suspicious glares from the other Hyuugas.

Hiashi silently circled around Deidara for reasons the blond didn't care to know. He grumbled to himself. Deidara had him on a hook, and he was confident he would have the ability to reel him in. "Please Hyuuga-San, I am sure I am able to aid her in gaining strength better then anyone else can offer" he said. At this remark, he heard a gruff from Neji in protest. Hinata looked back at her blond companion, impressed with his sudden seriousness.

"Well, I'm not sure about that. In reality, I'm sure there are plenty of other perfect occupants to tutor Hinata in the improvement of her shinobi skills" he claimed. Deidara suppressed a growl, attempting to remain diplomatic. "Please Hyuuga-San, I'm sure you are not aware of my improvement, but I assure you I am quite the capable teacher" he persisted.

Hiashi mumbled. "Hinata" he called, not even looking at her.

"Hai" Hinata said attentively.

"Come, I need to speak with you before I allow you to pursue training with Deidara-San" he said. Hinata, taking this as a positive sign, followed her father, looking back a few times to eye Deidara as she walked.

"So" Deidara began at the arrival of Hinata. He took it that the bag in her hand was a good sign, but she still looked on the edge. Deidara stretched, rising from the tree trunk he rested on while she was absent. He yawned. "What's the analysis?" he asked lazily.

The Hyuuga shuffled her feet oddly, walking towards him. "Let's go" she said with a weak smile. Deidara gave her a funny look. She was shaking, a nervous wreck.

"Is anything wrong? Are you sure you want to do this, yeah?" he asked.

"Yes, I am sure" she replied. Something obviously still occupied her mind as she fiddled with her fingers. "It's just...it seems like my f-father knows something about you that I don't, and for that reason he didn't seem t-to trust you completely" she said. She stared at Deidara's hurt look his face and she instantly went to defend herself.

"I don't have a problem with you Deidara, I am just worried as to why my father would allow me to go with you when he directly told me he didn't trust you..." she said. "I guess it just shows...that he doesn't care what happens to me" she said.

Deidara was about to interrupt in protest, but Hinata continued. "I know he wants me to get stronger, but if anything were to happen to me, he'd shrug it off. They have my sister, the better suited heiress..." she said. Choking back a tear, she suddenly had a strange glint in her eye. "I'm going to get stronger for me, not for my father or any other Hyuuga" she proclaimed.

"Can we leave Deidara, please?" she asked as sweetly as possible. Deidara blinked a few times, hiding an admirable smile, eyes narrowing. "Hai" he said, nodding. He grabbed her bag for her as they headed deeper into the forest.

"So how much does your father know about me, yeah?"

"Oh" Hinata gasped. "I honestly wouldn't know, he never said...but..."

"You'd like to know?" Deidara finished her sentence. Hinata nodded. "We need some catching up to do"

"Agreed" Deidara smiled. "From this day on, we will tell each other everything, yeah"

Hinata nodded. "No more secrets?" she asked.

"Hai, no more secrets" he replied.

Hinata awkwardly nodded. "Starting...with you..."

"I was somewhat forced to join the Akatsuki"

Hinata beamed at his forwardness. "You...forced?" The Akatsuki? Deidara? The criminal organization?

"Well before that I was somewhat of a terrorist bomber, if you'd call it that. I just call it working with my art. Upon hearing this, they seemed to have taken a high interest in my..er...talents. I never wanted to...but that Uchiha and his eyes...he said that if he deafeated me, I would have to join, and the next thing you know it I'm trapped in a lair with a black cloak and red clouds."

Hinata wasn't sure if she was comprehending everything he said. She starred off in space aimlessly, feeling dizzy.

Deidara frowned. "That's why I'm a threat to you. I'm dangerous, I won't deny it. I ran away from the Akatsuki in hopes of being free and finding you, and that's why I didn't plan on sticking around. I had to be on the run because I knew they would come back to find me, and possibly kill me. Those three who ambushed us were all part of the Akatsuki" he explained, blue eyes pointed down.

"I don't want to put you in danger. I don't know when they'll come back or if they ever will, but just know I'll be ready to save you, next time we'll be stronger, next time I will put everything at risk" he said sternly.

Hinata shuttered. "I am scared, but there is no way I'm giving up what we have...I want to be strong with you"

He looked up now, meeting the glance of gleaming crystal white eyes. He cupped his hand around her cheek. She shivered from the contact of his cold hand against her hot cheeks. "Hinata, as long as you're with me we can both be strong. I need you, and I hope I can make you stronger as well"

Hinata, still filled with fear, felt a sense of certainty in his voice that calmed her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, a singled tear slivered down the opposite cheek bone. His lips pressed to hers lightly, but it didn't take long for her to react to the warmth that surged through her body as he tenderly sucked on her bottom lip. They both worked over the awkward nose bump, adjusting to the concept of kissing. He lowered his head to her height to ease into the kiss, deepening it. He wrapped an arm around her tightly as she shivered. Hinata ran her slender fingers through the long strands of his hair.

They parted their lips slowly, still staying a few inches away from each other. Deidara pressed his forehead against hers, smiling. The sensation made him feel like he was completely free, as free as one of his clay birds bursting to life in flight, it was greater then art.

She smiled innocently as well, feeling as if she no longer had to search for her feelings, memories, or past experiences. Everything was right there in front of her. He was ultimately right...with him, she was strong. Worries eased their dominance, and hope proceeded again. She found her hope and that was the end of the beginning and a start of something new.

Two years later.
Hinata: 17
Deidara: 20

"Here Deidara-Kun, you need to eat"

Deidara smiled gratefully, yet apathetically. "Thank you" he replied, slurping his prepared ramen quietly. Hinata was watching the snow fall outside, washing some dishes and enjoying the peace of the moment. It was only a matter of moments until she heard the bowl clank on the table, empty. Wow.

Hinata eyed the empty boy peculiarly. "Ano...that was very fast" she commented. Deidara shrugged indifferently. He wrapped his arms around Hinata's waist, smiling now. "I guess I forgot how great your cooking is" he said, planting a small kiss on her temple. Hinata giggled, watching Deidara clean the bowl.

Deidara fixed the fireplace to his liking, sitting down next to it in nothing but his black pants. Hinata joined him, wrapping both of them in a blanket as they lied next to each other. "So we left off with you telling me about the Byakugan?" he asked. Hinata nodded. "That's right, now where did we leave off last night?..." she thought out loud.

"I think it was about your cousin" Deidara said emotionlessly, obviously not too interested in the elder cousin.

"Ah, Neji-Kun...he's from the side branch"

"So what is the difference? Why don't I remember him?" the blond asked.

"Well Neji is apart of the cursed part of the family, according to the Hyuuga family, he is nothing more then a protector to us main branchers and the secret of the Byakugan" she stated.

"Protector? So what's the curse?"

"Well each member is marked with a cursed seal on their foreheads by someone from the main branch. They usually live in the other house in the manor" she explained. "The seal give the main branch control over them...it's really a horrible thing in my opinion. Neji-Kun hasn't done anything wrong, he doesn't deserve such treatment..."

Deidara scoffed, but it went unnoticed. Hinata went on. "Luckily, he proved himself to be an extremely talented shinobi and loyal member to the Hyuuga family...which is the main reason why they selected him to marry me..." she drifted off.

Just as she expected, Deidara's mouth was gaped wide open, eyes practically bulging out of his sockets. "What!?" she yelled, jumping up instantly. Hinata tried to calm him, understanding why he would be so jumpy. "Please Deidara-Kun, it's nothing now. We said we'd tell each other everything, remember? I don't want to be part of all of that now. I was suppose to marry him once I turned eighteen, where I would assume duties as the heiress" she explained.

"But why him? Why your cousin?" he asked, still enraged with the picture implanted in his mind.

"Well the elders felt it would be propor...if I married someone of Hyuuga blood, and they went on and on about Neji being such a noble and wise choice. I didn't know what to think at the time, but it made me miserable, if that makes you feel any better" she pouted.

"Alright" he said reluctantly, lying back down besides the girl, wrapping an arm protectively around her. "I still don't see why he got to watch over you that time" he mumbled.

Hinata sighed. "There's something I haven't mentioned to you yet either..." she said. Deidara inched closer, curiosity provoked. "Before Neji came along, there was someone else" she began, earning a perplexed look from the blond. "I was so young, but my father was thinking ahead of time, and for my sake..."

Deidara blinked, anticipating the next words to come from her mouth. "It was you" she whispered in his ear.

Some old memories flooded back into his brain, but none that would lead him to believe that Hiashi was conspiring a wedding the entire time. He was shocked to say the least, but it explained alot. "No way..." he whispered. "So I'm guessing that's why he didn't tell you about me" he mumbled.

"What?" Hinata asked.

"He didn't want you to know about me, because he knew in the long run I was...no good. I was a crazed artist without you. Neji was the better man, Neji was a Hyuuga, he would have saved you from those kidnappers" he said, eyes still visibly widened even from behind the depths of his bangs.

"Deidara, I don't think you get it" Hinata said, smiling. She placed her small hand on his chest, where his heart is located. Deidara placed a sturdy hand on top of hers, squeezing it lightly.

"I know it was in the past, and I know I can leave it behind, because you're here with me today. You have saved me Deidara, maybe not from intimate heroic battle danger...but from my fate, my family, and my worries. You have set me free and have brought back my hope, and therefore, you are my knight"

Deidara smiled. "Hinata-Chan...I love you"

Gahhhh mushy love fluffy goodness fest 2008?
I hope you like it, I thought I got kind of lazy in the middle...I don't know.
This was mainly focused on Deidara and Hinata obviously as opposed to his whole life story.
I'll probably write an epilouge of some sort. It just seems like too many questions are left unanswered.
I hope you enjoyed it :)

-megzx