So I decided to give this more than three parts. But I think the next one will be the end. I'm actually surprised at how fast I've been updating. It's probably because I'm forfeiting sleep to do this. Oh well, at least I have to use my brain to write, which is something I wouldn't be doing if I was just surfing the net.

Ino trudged into her house. It had been a day like any other. She'd just gotten back to Konoha from a mission with her team. They'd been escorting some high lord back to his home village. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened so it hadn't been too exciting. She greeted her parents and continued up to her bedroom. She was exhausted even though the events of the day hadn't been too taxing. She guessed it was the sadness and loneliness that tightly gripped her heart.

When she'd returned from her little vacation over a year ago, she was an emotional wreck. She would start crying for no reason obvious to anyone else. Everyone had been very concerned for her. Actually a lot of people still were. She wasn't the normal, loud, bossy Ino. She moped. She cried. She hung her head as she went around the village consumed in grief. Fortunately people believed that she was grieving over Sasuke's abandonment. Sakura had noticed her behavior and had tried to support her. After all Sakura had felt the same too.

Well at least Sakura thought that they'd been feeling the same thing. Sakura had been very upset when Sasuke left. Ino had been as well, but this was different. The pain Sakura had felt when her friendship with Sasuke had shattered was nothing compared to the intimate bond Ino possessed with Deidara that had been put on hold. She guessed the separation wouldn't have been so bad, if she'd known when she'd see him again. But she didn't and everyday she woke up wondering when he'd come back for her.

She sighed as she slid open her bedroom door. She decided to take a shower, since she did in fact still have road grime on her. She stripped, wrapping a towel around herself, and walked to the bathroom. Soon the water was the correct temperature and she stepped in. The water was heavenly against her sore muscles. She stood rigid, desperately fighting the memories that threatened to overwhelm her. Eventually she lost her battle and thoughts of the blonde missing nin overwhelmed her. She stared into space, not focusing on anything as water hit her skin. Her tears started and Ino cried in the shower, falling to her knees and burying her head into her hands.

Eventually her tears stopped coming and she was left with red, puffy eyes, and she was certainly not feeling any cleaner. She turned off the water, and grabbed her towel, drying herself. She paused to look at her reflection in the mirror. She looked terrible. Her eyes were swollen and glazed over. Her skin was unnaturally pale. She had lost a lot of weight. Apparently her emotional health was affecting her physical health. She looked away from the mirror in horror. Would Deidara still find her beautiful if he came back and found her like this? She didn't think so.

She walked into her room and pulled on pajamas. She brushed through her hair, reminiscing of the days she'd spent with him. She turned to her bed and was about to lay down on it when she noticed an envelope on her pillow. Curiously, she picked it up. She quickly opened it, and gasped when she read it.

Dear Ino,

Come visit me before I have to leave for my mission. I'll be at the flower shop.

D.

She didn't even think. Still in her pajamas, she jumped out of her window, landing softly on the ground below. She quickly ran in the direction of the flower shop. Deidara had been vague in case someone other than Ino found the note. She arrived shortly after her departure and scanned the area carefully, trying to find any trace of him. It was then that an arm wrapped around her waist from behind. She tensed up at first, but then realized who it was. "Deidara," she whispered, all of the pain and sadness that had built up inside of her disappearing in that instant.

He put his chin on her shoulder, breathing in her scent. "You're as lovely as ever Ino," he whispered, his breath tickling her neck. She smiled, turned around to be wrapped in his arms warmly, and in turn wrap her own arms around him.

They stood that way for several minutes. She looked up at him. "Not that I'm complaining, but why are you here?" Her tone was gentle and very alluring.

He sighed. "I wanted to see you again, yeah. I'm about to go out on the mission I've been waiting for. I don't know when I'll be done with it, un."

She gazed up at him. "I know you really don't want to answer, but what do you have to do?"

He frowned. "I have to capture a certain person who harbors a tailed demon."

Ino looked at him shocked. "You're not after Naruto are you?" As much as the blonde pest got on her nerves she certainly didn't want to see him harmed. Not that it mattered too much. He was with Jiraiya right now, and the sannin was sure to protect him from harm.

He shook his head. "I'm not after the Kyuubi kid. The one who I have to capture is Gaara, yeah."

Ino nodded. She didn't care one bit about the fate of Suna's scary Kazekage. He was weird and homicidal (I love Gaara just so you know; I just don't think that Ino would).

Deidara certainly had missed her. As soon as he caught his Jinchuuriki, he'd come back for her. He'd take her away from everything, and it would be just the two of them, together forever. He pulled her against his body, and nibbled at her neck. "I don't have much time, yeah. Only tonight, un," he whispered. He grabbed her hand and started leading her towards his hotel. Ino complied without a second thought.

As the sun rose, Ino gazed at the man sleeping beside her. In one night her sadness had evaporated. He'd come back for sure. He'd capture Gaara, finish his mission, and then he'd be back for her. He loved her. Last night had answered any questions she'd had regarding that subject. It seemed that distance and separation had only enforced their relationship, made them truly realize their true feelings.

Ino twined her fingers in his hair. He moaned softly in his sleep, moving so that his arm was draped her stomach. Ino smiled. "I love you," she whispered. She gently massaged the back of his skull as he slept, eliciting blissful murmurs from him. She sighed.

She heard a chuckle. The cheater. He hadn't actually been sleeping. "I know you're awake," she told him.

He sat up smiling at her. "The head rub was just too good that I couldn't pass up the opportunity, yeah."

She smiled back. "Oh fine," she said cheerily.

He leaned over and kissed her. When he pulled back, he told her, "You should probably go home before your parents notice that you're missing, un."

She nodded. She stood up, and after finding the pajamas that had been strewn across the floor, she pulled them back on. Deidara got up with her and reclothed himself as well. The two of them left the hotel room, heading towards Ino's house. They all too quickly arrived. Ino gave Deidara a sad smile. "I'll be waiting for you," she said.

He pulled her against his body tightly, kissing her passionately. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I won't keep you waiting any longer than you have to, yeah."

She ran her hand along his face, gave him and peck on the cheek, and then gracefully jumped back up into her room. When she looked down Deidara was already gone.

It was obvious to everyone she came in contact with that day that Ino was finally over her depression. She was her normal self. She met up with her teammates. Shikamaru and Chouji both smiled at her. "It's good to have you back, Ino," Shikamaru told her after their training for the day.

She returned his smile. "It's good to be back," she answered simply. And inside she knew that Deidara had brought her back with his visit. He had given her renewed hope and she was very excited for the day when she could finally stay with him forever.

As I have previously stated, I think the next one will be the last. Unless you give me more ideas for chapters in reviews, it will be finished in the next one. And it will be extremely sad and emotional (at least I hope I can write it that way). So leave me reviews if you want some more or I don't know, just a general review. Oh, and if you can spot the obscure Little Mermaid qoute, I will treat really nice, give you gifts and love you everyday.