A loud pop rang through the streets. Sakura gasped, running to Deidara's side. She looked up at him, his eye narrowed in confusion and head tilted slightly to the side. Sakura giggled, pulling her gaze back to the action in the streets. It was the Fall festival, and she totally forgot that it was today. Many colorful people walked through the parade. A large dragon swung gracefully through the streets, held on sticks by the people controlling it. Acrobats twisted and turned in many different ways as they preformed behind the dragon. Fireworks cracked, producing many colorful pictures into the sky.

"C'mon Deidara, let's get this stuff home so we can go to the celebrations tonight."

"Celebrations?"

"Yeah, it's the Fall festival. You know...."

Oh wait, of course he wouldn't know. Sakura stared at his questioning gaze. He was from Iwagakure. Did they even have such celebrations? Then again, his file said that he had abandoned his village at a young age, maybe they did but he never stuck around long enough to find out. Sakura smiled at him, grabbing his wrist and dragging him through the many different people that were trying to get a look at the parade. Deidara grumbled, unfortunately following after the kunoichi. He came to a sudden halt, almost knocking Sakura over in the process as she came to the quick stop in front of her house, unlocking the door and nearly running in. Deidara walked in, setting his bag upon the counter and watching as Sakura disappeared through her bedroom doors with a slam. He mumbled something under his breath before breaking into the pocky sticks. He started to shove them one after another into his mouth, staring out the window at a couple of kids that were wrestling in the streets.

"So, how do I look?"

Sakura came out of her room, presenting herself in front of the male. She had bought this outfit awhile ago, waiting for the perfect time to wear it, and the Fall Festival would be great! Hopefully Ino was there so she could show it off in front of her best friend and rival.

"Hmm?"

Deidara turned his attention to the girl before him, suddenly choking on his pocky stick that was half way down his throat. He would never have admitted it openly, but she was definitely a stunning sight. She wore a white kimino, stopping about mid thigh. Patterns of cherry blossom branches snaked there way down, branching off in all different ways. The top of the kimino cut short though, making it halter like, only a small strip of the kimino, about 3 inches thick went over her left shoulder. On her arms she wore the matching color and texture of her dress as arm pieces, wrapped around her mid bicep and blooming out down to her hands. The very last piece of the kimino was the light pink, the same color as the cherry blossom petals on her dress, sash that wrapped tightly around her mid section. How she got into that by herself, Deidara would never know. Her hair was tied up into a small bun, some pieces falling out and framing her face perfectly and two almond colored chop sticks sticking out crossed in the bun.

"Well?"

Sakura, stood there, giving him a questioning look. He hadn't blinked for a whole two minutes. Was he okay? Sakura waved a hand in front of him, suddenly making him shake his head and come back down to earth. He cleared his throat and gave her a quick nod before continuing on his box of almost empty pocky sticks. Sakura's eyes narrowed. That's all he had to say, or well, respond. Just a shake of his head and a mouthful of pocky sticks. The kunoichi sighed loudly throwing her hands in the air for emphasis before turning and walking back to her room, soon emerging with a pair of light brown sandals. She quickly slipped them on and walked towards the door, turning her head over her shoulder to look at Deidara.

"You coming or what?"

She nearly growled the words at him. His little stunt back there actually seemed to put a huge douse upon her excited mood from before. What did it matter what he thought she looked like anyways? Everyone else would love her outfit, she was sure of it. Soon enough the male was quick to follow after her from her house, still munching on his pocky sticks. Men were never good for anything.

----------

"Oh em gee! Your outfit is soooo adorable!"

Ino gushed, brushing her fingers across the material of Sakura's dress. Oh yes, she was so jealous. Sakura sneered, basking in all the compliments that were sent her way from her girl friends and some of the stares she was getting from other males within the area. Hinata shyly complimented Sakura on her hair also, seeming like she was trying to hide somewhere other than there. Then again, there was an Akatsuki member standing only inches behind her, she would probably be trying to run away from him as quick as possible if she wasn't stuck with him.

"Ohh! I forgot to tell you! Guess who I'm on a date with tonight!"

Ino already flew to another subject, obviously involving her. Sakura decided she had enough atttention for the moment and well... yeah, she wanted in on the gossip. Ino couldn't even wait for Sakura to ask.

"Shikamaru!"

"Oh my god, how did you get him to say yes? You know he hates events, he'd rather be sleeping, or staring at the sky."

"Well... that's a different story, but I was just so glad he said yes! He's going to be meeting me here in a little bit actually."

The girls were all caught in their own little gossip world, totally forgetting he was there. Deidara groaned out in pain. This was just pure torture! He wanted to move towards that delicious smell that was catching his attention from some booth, but everytime he tried to sneak away, Sakura would grasp hold of his wrist and yank him back behind her. He stared down at the girls as they were engrossed in their own little stories. If this went on any longer, he was sure he'd die of starvation. He lowered his face down to Sakura's ear and sighed loudly, making her jump in the process.

"What?! What do you want?! Can't you see I'm busy..."

Sakura quickly snapped, turning on him in an instant. This was the only time she got to see her friends, since she was stuck babysitting the S ranked criminal in her own house. All she wanted was a little bit of time with her friends during the festival, but she wasn't even granted that.

"I want something to eat, yeah."

"You can wait."

"No... I can't."

Deidara's eye narrowed as he stared the kunoichi down. He was sure he won, expecting a huff from the girl, but instead she shrugged her shoulders and with quick twirl upon her heel she was back to gossiping with her friends. Deidara stared at her back, dumbstruck, for several seconds before his face started to flame with anger. Then, slowly, a smirk started to pull at his lips.

"Well, if you won't take me to get food, then I'll just take you, yeah."

"Huh?"

Sakura questioned, hearing the voice of the male interupt whatever it was Ino was going on about, but before Saukura could question Deidara's motives anymore, she was lifted from her feet and placed on a boney shoulder. Her eyes widened in complete shock, as did her friends.

"What the?!"

"I told you, I was hungry."

"Put me down, now! I demand you!"

"You can't demand anything of me with the postion your in at the moment, yeah."

"I HATE you!"

Sakura screamed, pounding on the back of the male as they walked through the crowd of a rather shocked and laughing crowd. This continued the whole way, until Deidara came to a complete stop, placing the girl upon her feet and then taking a step back before she could swing his way. She turned on him quickly, fists balled at her sides and face red from all the screaming.

"That wasn't necessary."

"I already told you-"

"I know..."

Sakura talked calmly now, her face looking to the side in a defeated manner. Deidara's smirk quickly vanished from his face.

"I know that you were hungry, and I was going to get us some food, but I'm so busy with watching you like a child that I don't even have a life anymore."

She finally turned her gaze upon the male, her own showing off a tired and saddened look. She never asked for this. She didn't want to watch him, especially in her own house. Ever since he tried to attack their team, she knew things weren't going to be good for her the rest of the time he spent in Konoha, alive. Yet, she never thought she would have to give up all of her teenage life just to keep track of him. Deidara was the one to turn his face away from her now, he didn't know what to say to that. He didn't really have friends, and well, his life has been a complete screw up that he gave up on trying to have a normal childhood. An awkward silence ensued, both of them staring down at the ground, not knowing where to take the conversation, or the rest of the night for that matter.

"Well you brought me here, I guess we should at least get something to eat."

Sakura finally gave in, not liking just standing there with the smell of something delicious reaching her nose only inches away. Deidara gave her his attention, still seeing the saddened look upon the kunoichi's face, but otherwise nodding and following her as she walked up to the booth. The male behind the counter smiled brightly at the girl, asking what she wanted to order. Sakura ordered two sushi meals, placing down the money upon the table and then grabbing the bag of food from the man. She gave him a fake smile before turning around and handing the bag to Deidara.

"Lets find a place to sit."

She continued past him, walking off into the grass of the park. Children ran to and fro, throwing frisbee's and lighting off sparklers and chasing each other. Sakura found a spot underneath a tree, obviously not needing the shade due to it already being dark out. She sat down carefully, as to not get her dress ruined by dirt and looked up at Deidara who was still standing.

"You going to sit or keep staring at me?"

She questioned, her brow raising, but the corner of her mouth pulling up into a grin. Deidara didn't reply, but just quickly sat down next to her, handing the bag over and watching as she placed one of the boxes of food in front of him and her, and then placing chop sticks on each one. Sakura looked up at Deidara, who was staring at his box of food like it was going to get up and move at any second, and just shook her head. Why was he suddenly being so quite? Was it what she said to him? Did he seriously have a forgiving bone in his body to even care if he ruined her night? Probably not, and that is why she grabbed her food, dug in, and kept her gaze upon the crowds of people that were sitting or playing around in front of her.

"Tell me about your friends."

The sound of his voice breaking into her concious made Sakura jump slightly, but she quickly turned her attention upon him. Shock and confusion read across her face at his request of a bit of information from her personally life, but when he didn't say anything more, like perhaps he was just joking, she swallowed her food and began to tell him.

"Well, there is Ino and Hinata, the two girls you met tonight. Ino is the blonde, she's been my best friend and rival ever since I met her in academy school. She became my best friend when she protected me from the bullies at school who were making fun of my large forehead, and when I found out she also liked Sasuke Uchiha, we became rivals."

Sakura's face saddened heavily at the mention of Sasuke's name, but quickly disappeared as she didn't want Deidara to see how even just his name affected her.

"Hinata was the darker haired girl. She is the Hyuugan heiress. She is VERY shy, and I can definitely tell she likes Naruto, even though Naruto is such a block head that he is obvioulsy to any of the signs. Then there is Naruto."

Sakura smiled at the mention of his name. He had always been there for her, picking her up when she falls, and acting like the big brother she never had. But he's been so obessed with finding where Sasuke is he doesn't even seem like his old self anymore, like some part of him had gone missing the minute Sasuke left Konoha. Deidara had noticed Sakura's change in mood, and cleared his throat to get her attention. Sakura snapped back to life and smiled at him.

"Naruto, the blonde, idiot of a boy has always been with me. He's been on team seven with Sasuke, Kakashi, and I ever since. Sometimes I feel like I don't know what would come of me if he went missing too."

Quickly her mood changed again to sad and depressed. Obviously Sasuke wasn't with her and her team anymore, and it seemed to place a big weight upon with his disappearance.

"What about Sasuke Uchiha?"

As the name left his lips, Deidara quickly regretted ever asking. Sakura flinched at the question, and quickly looked away from him, staring out at nothing before gathering herself back up and slowly turning her attention back to the male.

"I loved Sasuke. I tried to make it obvious to him, but he was so obsessed with finding Itachi and getting revenge that he never even noticed. The night he left... I poured out my heart to him, and he turned me away. I even told him I'd give up my life, and run away with him if that's what he wanted. But I guess I just wasn't worthy enough for Sasuke that he knocked me out cold so that I wouldn't follow him."

Silent tears were steaming down Sakura's cheeks, for the first time in forever she was glad it was dark out so that Deidara couldn't see them, yet she didn't know that he was well too aware of the small wet drops that sounded on the grass. He wasn't too well with the whole comforting thing, but he thought that this was the best time to give it a try. Slowly he reached out towards the girl, hesitating at first, but then softly placing his palm against her cheek. Sakura gasped from the intrusion, quickly backing away from his hand and looking at him like he was crazy. Deidara retreated his hand like he had been slapped, obviously embarassed beyond belief. Sakura quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks, hoping he didn't see.

"Maybe we should head back to my house and get some rest, you know, big day tomorrow."

Sakura quickly got up, and started to make her way back to where her house was, mumbling off a list of what she had to take care of tomorrow, but she was suddenly yanked back by her wrist. She spun around, about to yell at Deidara to please not touch her, before she smacked into a warm chest. Deidara's arm wrapped around her torso in a soft embrace, his head dipping low to where his lips invaded her ear space. Softly he whispered.

"I may be an evil guy in your standards, yeah, but I know when someone has been hurt by another, and they need at least this to make things seem okay."

Sakura wanted to protest and yell out that yes he was evil, and that he should not even think about touching her like this, but the words he spoke to her were just too overwhelming and true that she sagged into his arms, letting the tears break free once more. This is what she needed. She had never cried in front of her friends, because she never wanted to seem weak, but tonight she couldn't help it. She let them run wildly down her cheeks, bluring her vision, and soaking Deidara's shirt. He didn't even call her a cry baby, or anything insulting, but just held her, one arm around her torso to keep her from falling, and the other disappearing into her thick pink hair. Sakura didn't even care about how intimate this looked between the two, she just pressed both her hands upon her chest, and let the sadness, fear, anger, and any other feeling she had kept bottled up for so long pour out into her tears and be soaked by the males shirt. When she finally cried herself dry, she sniffled and took in a deep breath.

"You okay?"

Deidara asked, still holding onto her in case she broke into another fit of tears. She just nodded her head in response, knowing her voice would crack if she tried to speak. She also knew that it would be best to pull away from him now, scolding him that he shouldn't touch her like that ever again, but the way he held her and the softness in his voice made it seem like he wasn't some kind of killer, but instead just some friend who deeply cared for her feelings. She wanted to stay like this forever, in the arms of a comforting friend, but the loud burst from a firework quickly brought her back to sensibility. This male wasn't a friend, he was an S class Akatsuki member, and he was dangerous. What he had done had been nice, but she would make sure she would never become too weak in front of the enemy. She quickly pulled away from him, clearing her throat and looking away from him.

"Lets head back home, like I said, we have a long day tomorrow."

Sakura bent to pick up the garbage of practically untouched food and walked off towards her house. Deidara felt embarassed once again. He had just let his gaurd down, trying to comfort the girl that had just cried over someone else she loved and he didn't even get a thank you. She just pulled from his embrace like she was stung or something and quickly went onto another subject. Then again, it was probably right of her to do so. If they were seen like that, who knows what would have happened if say the kyuubi boy, or perhaps the busty Hokage woman saw. He needed to get a grip of himself. He doesn't have feelings for anyone, especially some girl from Konoha. He would never again let his guard down so easily, especially in enemy territory.

A/N: Haha, hope you guys liked this chapter. Sorry it's taking like... a billions years for me to update, I'm very busy with trying to get college crap ready and this is my senior year of high school, so yeah. Anyways, I finally added some DeiSaku action for you patient waiters, but, it didn't last long. XD I'm so evil!

Read and review lovlies.

Oh and sorry if there are any misspellings, my Microsoft Office Word expired. D: Zomg! So just tell me if you see any big ones and I'll fix them, thanks.