A/N: Sorry to those who have been waiting for this. I was going to post it tomorrow, but I decided that today was as good as any day to. Therefore...enjoy!

Deidara's Story:

Clay Heart's Molded

Chapter 4: Roadside Excursion

Deidara stood on the top of the slow-moving carriage, contemplating what was happening. In just a matter of moments, he had gone from feeling perfectly fine to feeling as if his heart would stop and his brain would explode. What was this feeling he was having?

Shaking his head to calm himself down, he sighed, sitting on the roof of the carriage and closing his eyes. The journey had been underway for only an hour. They still had nearly three days of travel before they would be at their destination. Of course, three days for him would seem like an eternity. The only reason a mission ever took longer than a day or so would be through the slowness of his comrades that accompanied him, or a mission that took place a great deal away. He remembered blissfully the mission to Sunagakure. His fellows and himself were placed in charge of a small, red-haired brat. Funny, how much misfortune happened along that mission. It took only two days for tragedy to strike. Then, he had called the mission off when the Kazekage had come to his group personally to arrange for an...how did he put it? Accident?

"Hmph. Accident, right. Asshole. That Kazekage, trying to kill his own flesh and blood, un. Asshole..." His team had flown a message back to the Tsuchikage, asking him to disband the mission, which he had. Killing one's ward didn't suit Deidara much. However, the way the kid protected himself. For a seven year old brat, his skills were extraordinary. It was like the sand moved of its own accord...

Deidara shook his head, getting back to the mission at hand. He looked down at the brown, semi-plain top of the carriage, wondering if the person inside was going through the same thing he was. He doubted it, though it never hurt to wonder. "Give it up, Deidara. She's a 'princess', and you're...in a happy relationship, un!" He smiled, lying down and watching the clouds roll by. His eyes began to close as he thought back on Yanoi, sitting at home, waiting for him. He smiled once more, breathing deeply of the crisp, morning air.

"Hey! Deidara-kun! Aren't you supposed to be watching for enemies?" Deidara grimaced. That Yodae. He was sure a pest at times.

"Yes yes. I am on the alert, un! If something happens, I will be able to stop it. Don't worry so much! You're the one who is supposed to be alert." He heard no retort, so he continued to daydream.

About mid-day, the small procession halted to take a break and feed and water the horses. They had been traveling straight for nearly four hours, and the horses had begun to tire, not to mention the men riding them. Deidara stared around at the men, joking and laughing with one another. "Deidara-kun! Come! Take a drink with us!" He gazed down at Yodae, who was smiling up at him. He smiled back.

"Hmm..." He grunted as he hit the ground, getting up and brushing off his clothes. "Ah! A drink would be most good after that ride on the carriage, un. It gets rather dusty with the horses and all." Yodae chuckled slightly, clapping him on the back and walking him to another group of men, who were talking in a hushed group.

"Men! Show some respect to our shinobi friend Deidara-kun here! Pass him the canteen!" One man nodded, handing Deidara a canteen. Deidara gave it an appreciative sniff, then chugged a deal of the fiery liquor. He let go, giving a slight squelch as the drink funneled down into his stomach. He shook slightly, and then handed the canteen back.

"Whew! That is some fiery stuff, un! What is it?" The man who had handed it to him laughed, taking a swig.

"It's home-brewed sake. My mother makes it. This has been in the cellar for nigh on twenty years now! Makes a great drink for the road, though it would be better warm. Ah, nothing like warm, home-made sake to warm the nerves and prevent the chills!" He took another swig, handing it off.

"So, tell us shinobi! Tell us what you do? We would love to know why only one shinobi was chosen to guard us, when we could have hired one hundred!" Another man took a swig, pointing a half-accusing finger at Deidara, who smiled.

"Well, to put it into layman's terms, I am an artist, un." The men glanced at him, and then began to laugh.

"Oh, well. Pardon us for being so rude to you, Mr. Artist! Can you paint me a pretty picture? Will you teach our enemies how to finger paint? Or, maybe you'll draw them a horrifying sketch to make them run away? Hahaha!" The men began to laugh at the half-drunken man's statement, each putting in a jib.

"Yeah! Maybe he'll throw some noodles at them, and tell them to glue together a pretty picture!"

"No! He'll draw a dragon and have it consume them with its fiery, papery gaze! Hahaha!"

"No no no! He'll put some toothpicks together and make a bridge for them to fall off of! Hehehe!" Deidara took it all stoically, then smiled once more.

"May I see that canteen once more?" The man holding it smiled, handing it to him as another made a joke. Imperceptibly, Deidara dropped a small piece of clay into the canteen, pretending to drink from it. Then, he handed it back to another man. "Here...but you may want to lay off the liquor for a while." The man glanced questioningly at him.

"What? Why?" Deidara smiled mockingly at him, placing his hands together in a hand-sign.

"Because...alcohol is flammable! KATSU!" The man dropped the canteen as it shook, and they all dove away as it exploded, sending glass shards flying through the air. Using a kunai to deflect the largest of shards, Deidara smiled once more, placing his weapon back into his pocket. "As I said. I am an artist. My jutsu is my art, and my art...is a blast!" The men still lay huddled on the ground as Yodae got up, brushing down his uniform.

"Err...right. Let's get back on the road then, men! We still have quite a ways to go. We will make the next town by nightfall, and stay in the inn. Until then, we have to march straight on through!" The men began to grumble as they mounted their steeds once more, riding off with the carriage. Deidara hopped back to the top of the carriage, sitting down and meditating for a while. Suddenly, a knock from below made him start. Scratching his head, he bent down to look into the window, seeing two large, brown orbs staring back at him. He got over his momentary shock in an instant.

"Err...yes...er...Shizune-hime?" She twittered slightly, but made no other notice to the added part of her name.

"No no, dear shinobi. Please, call me Shizune. I get enough of being called a princess back at the mansion." He smiled, nodding his head.

"As you wish...Shizune." She smiled, sitting back down.

"Please, attend me here. I wish to speak to you." He got up from his position, scratching his head once more.

"Ok, Deidara. You...you just have to get over this, un. This is just a female. A cute...beautiful...attractive...gorgeous...sensuous...no no no! A female! Just a mission. Come on man, get it together, un!" Slapping himself for good measure, and avoiding the questioning glances from the men at the back of the carriage, he slipped into the carriage from one of the windows as it rolled on, settling himself onto the seat opposite the woman. She smiled again, and his heart melted within his chest. However, his shinobi training allowed him to keep a tight face, and he smiled back, waving at her. "Err...Hello. What is it you wanted to talk to me about, un?" She laughed again, settling back herself.

"You know...Deidara-kun, was it?" He shook his head.

"If you allowed me to drop the formalities, than it is just Deidara, un." Shizune nodded, blushing slightly.

"Very well...Deidara. You...have an interesting attack. Is that...err...is that clay you use?" He smiled, opening his pocket and showing her the clay it contained.

"Yes...yes it is. I transfer my chakra into it, and I can make it explode, depending on the amount that is transferred, un." She seemed pleased by the statement, but kept her silence. Together, they rode in the carriage for about an hour, neither saying a word. Then, Deidara felt that it was his duty to break the silence. "So...this guy you're marrying. Is he...handsome?" She sighed, looking out the window.

"I don't really know. We were set to be married not more than a month ago, yet I don't know who he is or what he looks like. All anyone has said to me is that he is some rich land baron that wants me to be his bride to increase his wealth. My father says that it is for the good of the country." She sighed again, still staring out the window. Deidara nodded to himself. That would be a rough existence.

"But...is this marriage...I mean...not to intrude or anything, un." She turned her head, cocking it slightly in a sign for him to go on. "Well...I mean. Is this marriage...what you want?" It took a moment for his words to register...but then she smiled, though he could tell it was as fake as a shinobi's.

"Of course! It is for the good of the country! Any citizen would do the same. It's...it's for the best!" She sniffed slightly, but held her smile. Deidara smiled back, through sheer pity or willingness to believe, he didn't know.

"That...that is good. I would do anything for my city of Iwa as well, so I guess it could be the same as for the country, un." She nodded, staring out the window once more. Deidara fidgeted slightly, glancing about, then at his fingernail, then back at her, and back at his fingernail again. Long, silent rides weren't his thing. Suddenly, Deidara heard an exclamation from outside, and the wagon lurched forward. Shizune felt herself propelled forward with a slight scream. Deidara instinctively threw out his arms, catching her before any harm would befall her. They sat like that for a moment, Shizune staring up into Deidara's sky blue eyes, until he let her go.

"Shizune-hime...please excuse me." Taking a small jump through the window, he rolled to a stop, looking around. A band of thieves, close to thirty, were holding the carriage hostage. Large, thick spears bristled about, and the guards were making the carriage the main source of protection. Deidara bit his lip grimly. Damn...why is it always me?

"We have you surrounded! Give us your valuables! Give them to us and we will let you go!" A man, burly and tall, stood out from the main group. Deidara smiled to himself. An easy target.

"We have no real valuables. We are transporting the princess Shizune across the land to her husband. Get out of our way!" Yodae was making a desperate attempt to barter their way through. However, knowing thieves, as he had had many encounters with them, Deidara sighed slightly at Yodae's misuse of words.

"Hmm...a princess, eh? Should fetch a nice ransom from this husband. Right! Hand her over, and the rest of you can go." The guards began glancing at one another. They were in it for the money. Being dead meant that money had little to no value.

"Hey! How about this. I will fight you, one-on-one, and if I win, you let us pass. How about that, un?" Deidara stood up, brushing down his clothes and walking past the guards to the front, where the man stood. The man, obviously the leader through his looks, brawn, and muscle, eyed the smaller, leaner man in front of him. He smiled, than chuckled, than outright laughed.

"Hahahaha! You? Fight me? Don't make me laugh harder! You'll die before we have a minute together! Just hand her over and this will go real smooth!" Deidara shook his head, his voice level.

"No, I can't do that. Just fight me." The man again smiled, than turned to his cohorts, handing them his heavy riding jacket and spear. Deidara handed his belt, along with his clay and weapons, to Yodae. "Here, hold these for me, un." Yodae nodded grimly.

"But, Deidara-kun. These weapons...won't you need them?" Deidara smiled once more, shaking his head.

"No. Besides, this will warm me up and give me something to let out my frustration on, un." Yodae didn't really understand, but backed up nonetheless. The thief walked forward, pointing a hand at Deidara, who stood, arms akimbo.

"Alright then. You win, we'll let you pass. You lose, and the princess goes with us. Deal?" Deidara shook a hand in front of him.

"Yeah yeah. Now, let's fight!" With a roar, the giant of a man threw himself forward. Deidara waited until he was almost on top of him, and then ducked down, catching the man in the gut with his shoulder. Stunned for a moment, the man came back with his hands doubled up, striking down on Deidara's back and letting out a loud crunch. With a grunt, Deidara hit the ground, but was back up a moment later, twirling around the man's head as the bandit flung him away without hardly any effort. Deidara flew through the air, hitting a tree. Before he even hit the ground, he was picked up once more, held against the tree, and punched in the stomach. Once...twice...thrice. He grunted through each hit, feeling them rock his person. Then, he was unceremoniously thrown over the man's head, hitting the ground and rolling. There, he lay in the dust as the man stood above him, eying him. Thrusting out an elbow, he rammed it home, and Deidara's lungs collapsed, whooshing the air from him. With a smile, the man stood, again eying the blond on the ground as he turned back to the guards.

"Alright, enough games. Now, hand over the dame, and you won't get hurt!" He snickered as some of the guards paled. The great shinobi they had hired just got beaten by an average thug. How were they, some regular guards, supposed to beat thirty of them? One man turned, preparing to drag Shizune from the carriage and hand her over, before they all heard a grunt. The roadside thief turned, eying Deidara as he back-sprung back to his feet nimbly and shaking himself soundly.

"Well, that was fun. I needed a good warm-up, un. Though, your form could be a little better." The man growled, again throwing himself head-first at the shinobi. Deidara again waited for him, then side-stepped, giving the man a slight push and felling him to the ground. He grunted, picking himself up.

"I'm...I'm going to rip you apart, you blond freak!" Deidara smiled, putting his hands up. All three of his tongues stuck out as he taunted the man. The man screamed in rage, putting his hands out in front of him and running forward. Deidara met his attack, grasping the man's hands with his own. Thus began a game of push-and-pull, each trying to overbalance the other. The thief pushed hard, bringing Deidara backwards and bending him over. "When I'm done with you...you'll be half the man you are now!" The man sneered down at his smaller adversary, who looked to be losing. His head touched the ground, and then a loud pop was heard. The man blinked several times as Deidara smiled up at him.

"Thanks! I was trying to pop my back for ages now, un! Oh...is it my turn?" With a small grunt, his feet left the ground, planting themselves firmly into the man's torso. Then, he flipped the man up and around, placing him on the flat of his back on the ground. With another flip, he planted both feet into the man's face, driving down into the dirt. With a hop, he was at his feet. Grabbing both of the man's ankles, he twirled him, around and around, then flung him with a mighty roar. The bandit sailed through the air, screaming...until he was cut off by the tree trunk, which stopped his forward momentum...almost. "Ouch! Better have that looked at later, un!" The bandit's men ran to their fallen leader, who was now highly unconscious. With a sneer, one turned back.

"We'll get you back for this! Don't worry about that! We'll get you back!" With a yawn, Deidara turned back to Yodae, who handed him his pouch. He stuck a hand into his clay pocket, feeling the mouth take in some of the material. As the bandits took off into the tree line, carrying their fallen leader, Deidara let loose a creation, shaped like a swan. It shot off from his hand, making a beeline for the woods. As the last bandit made it to the relative safety of the old growth, Deidara brought his hands together.

"Art is...a blast! KATSU!" The bird expanded, exploding and sending shards of rock and wood flying through the air. Shouts and curses rent the otherwise still atmosphere, and Deidara smiled to himself. "Serves them right!" Turning back, he hopped onto the carriage once more. "Well, let's not just sit here. Let's get going, un!" Sitting, he resumed his position of meditation as the guards busied themselves with preparing to move once more. No one noticed a pair of soft, brown eyes peering from the carriage window...nor the smile gracing the pretty face.

It was nearly midnight when the carriage rolled into the safety of the small, hillside town. A small dog yipped once, then ran off into the night, the only harbinger for their arrival. Standing and stretching, Deidara gazed about, tense and alert after the long carriage ride. He hadn't felt anyone following, of that he was sure. However, one never knew about towns and villages. It could be safe one instant, and then deadly the next. Hopping down, he surveyed the surrounding buildings, until Yodae pointed one out.

"There! That's a hotel that is run by friends of Lord Pokup's. We will stay there for the night and begin again tomorrow morning." Deidara nodded, hopping off into the night as the guards began to prepare themselves for sleep. Leading Shizune from the carriage, Yodae followed her to the hotel. Her hand lay on the doorknob, about to pull it, when Deidara appeared, hanging down from the rafter.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She gasped, staring up at him as he hung upside down.

"Wh...what do you mean, Deidara-kun?" He smiled at the suffix, but dropped to the ground.

"It seems that we were followed after all...and they knew which hotel we would be staying at." Yodae glanced around, and then pressed an ear to the door. He didn't hear a sound, so he turned back to the shinobi, questioning.

"I don't hear a peep from inside, Deidara-kun. What makes you think that they are waiting for us?" Deidara smiled.

"Of course you don't hear a sound. Though, if I am right, that is because the guests are in their rooms, locked up, and the clerk is probably bound and gagged. Even this late, someone would be up and about, un." He smiled again as he made some hand-signs. "Henge!" A slight puff of smoke appeared, and as it cleared, Shizune again gasped as a perfect likeness of herself stood before her. Deidara smiled once more as he stroked the girl's chin. "Don't worry, Shizune-hime. I will protect you." Then, he turned, motioning them off to the side. "This is one princess they will be sorry to tangle with, un." He opened the door, walking into the hotel and waltzing to the front desk, being sure to strut as much as possible, swishing his hips back and forth in an attempt to look like half a lady. The desk clerk smiled, his mouth tight.

"Erm...what is it I can do for you tonight, milady?" Deidara, made up like Shizune, smiled lavishly, curling a hand underneath the man's chin.

"You are too kind. I need a room for the night. Me and my...err...bodyguards." He nodded, looking down, but glancing at the door to his left every once in a while.

"Er...how many are with you?" Deidara pouted slightly, placing a hand to his chin.

"Let's see...I think about twenty or so. I never was good with numbers." The man nodded once more, still taking anxious glances at the door.

"And...any...er...shinobi with you tonight?" Deidara smiled inwardly. So, they had the desk clerk in on it. Probably against his will.

"Oh heaven's no!" Deidara said it loudly enough to be heard from the other room. "We did have one accompanying us, but we let him go. Too loud, what with his explosions and what not, un." He smiled as small footsteps greeted his hearing from the other room. Then, the clerk smiled back at him, handing him a key and a bottle.

"Your key ma'am. Oh! The bottle is also compliments of the house. A...er...special for the night." Deidara smiled, feigning surprise.

"Why...a bottle? Of wine perhaps? I do like a good wine." He uncorked it as the man behind the desk cast another of his anxious glances towards the door.

"Your bodyguards...er...where are they?" Deidara smiled politely as the bottle rose to his lips.

"Why...they are at the bar across the street. I figured I didn't need them anymore since this town seems so friendly, un." He took a swig, swishing the wine about in his mouth as he tasted it. The taste of the drug was potent enough to make him wince slightly, but he immediately set his chakra into breaking apart the proteins of the substance, rendering it useless. What a pathetic drug as well. Couldn't they have used something a little better then over-the-counter knock out drug? No class, these guys. None whatsoever. He swallowed, feeling the liquor blaze with in him. The wine would have been excellent without the drug in it. Oh well.

"Mmm...delicious! I will just go to my room then." He began to take small, mincing steps towards the stairs on his left, taking him right past the door. All of a sudden, he began to sway, placing a hand to his brow. "Oh...oh dear. I fear I am a mite woozy after that long ride, un. I...I better lie down..." Then, he fell to the ground, being sure not to hit too hard on the wooden floor. The instant the sound of his fall was heard, the door opened, revealing ten, highly armored men. They filed out, looking down at the woman's body.

"Hehehe...fell for the wine trick. Too easy!" One of them picked Deidara up, placing him over his shoulder. The desk clerk fidgeted, glancing around at the armed men.

"I...I did what you asked. Please...please leave..." They sneered at him as one of them placed a small bag on the counter.

"Here, gramps! A little bit for your trouble." He bowed, placing the bag behind the desk.

"Please...don't hurt her..." The bandits smiled, glancing at each other knowingly.

"Oh, don't worry your head over her, grandpa. We'll be sure not to hurt her. She's a princess, right? Sounds to me like we can get a whole lot more for her alive. Of course, if her hubby or her daddy ain't gonna pay, then I guess we can just use her...hehehe..." He smiled evilly, the rest of the men nodding their agreement. Deidara kept feigning unconsciousness, but inwardly, he seethed.

It was about ten minutes later that they arrived at a small, abandoned building on the outskirt of town. Placing Deidara in a chair, they bound him tightly. Laughing to one another, Deidara sat still as more feet sounded out around him.

"So...you did it, huh?" Another man snickered.

"Yeah, sure did, boss. So, when do we ransom her?"

"Tomorrow...first thing." A hand caressed Deidara's lower lip, and he tried not to flinch away from the rough grip.

"She's pretty, ain't she? Almost a shame to have to do it. Oh well...hehehe." Another hand caressed his hair, and he began to quiver with rage inside. Not only were they going to try and ransom him, or him being Shizune, but they were thinking of other things. To top it all off...they were touching his hair!

"She really is pretty. You guys sure she ain't hurt or nothin'?" Another man tried placating him.

"Honest, boss. We didn't do nothin'. She drank the wine, that's all." Another snicker. Then, Deidara felt moist, warm lips press against his. That was all he could stand. His eyes shot open, and he glared at the man who's face was touching his, his own eyes closed. Deidara broke the contact, falling back in his chair and splintering it. Of course, as he did so, he also unbound himself. The fools knew nothing of holding a shinobi. He hopped up to his feet, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"Ew! Gross! You idiot's actually...ew!" They looked around at one another, and then back at the girl who was desperately trying to clean her mouth out with a rag.

"I thought you said she was out!" The man who had just kissed him turned to his cohorts, who shrugged.

"We thought she was!" He shook his head, turning back to Deidara as he sized up the small girl in front of him.

"Oh well. Guess we'll have to do this the hard way!" Together, the bandits threw themselves at her, wrestling her to the ground with the sheer weight of bodies. After she was immobilized, the leader wrenched her up, staring at her large doe eyes. "Hehe...got you anyways, my lovely." The girl smiled, bringing her hands together. A puff of smoke dissipated, and in his hands was Deidara, smiling impishly at him.

"Nope, sorry to disappoint you. You only have me!" The man, at a loss for words, held the blond above the floor still, staring madly at the impudence of him.

"You...you..." Deidara smiled again, shrugging.

"I outwitted you again, un." He brought his hand up, waving. "Bye bye!" Then he brought up both hands, making a hand-sign. "KATSU!" The thief dropped him as he began to expand, writhing on the ground.

"Shizune-hime...are you sure you are comfortable?" Yodae glanced at the girl, who was resting quietly in her large, comfortable bed at the hotel.

"Yes. Thank you Yodae. You may go now. Tell Deidara-kun thank you and goodnight for me." Yodae bowed slightly, closing the door behind him. Marching resolutely down the stairs, he flopped down in a chair, staring across at the blond opposite him. Deidara had taken to reading a magazine that was lying on the small table that was next to him, smiling.

"A new Icha-Icha is coming out in September. That should be good, un." Yodae shook his head, smiling.

"The princess says thank you and goodnight, Deidara. Oh, by the way. Those thieves...are they taken care of?" Deidara glanced up, then shrugged.

"I don't know..." Then, a loud explosion rent the air, and Deidara sighed a little. "A perfect bang..." Not hearing his exclamation, Yodae looked up.

"What on Earth was that?" Deidara smiled, going back to his magazine.

"That? That was the sound of art, my friend...art, un."

Next Chapter: Another long road ahead for Deidara. He learns a few things of his past, of his old village...and of a price on his head! Next time - Deidara's Price: 500K