While she was asleep, Deidara sneaked in to watch her, and sat there for hours, just watching her. To keep himself busy, he pulled out some clay from his pouch, the non-explosive kind (So there, Danna, he thought sadly, I can plan...) and just worked it until he came up with an idea.
In the morning, when Hinata woke up, disoriented and sleepy, she half-noticed him asleep next to her bed. As it sank in, she blushed, just a tiny bit, and sat up silently.
Next to the mattress, on the stone floor, stood the most delicate figurine she had seen in her life. Hinata carefully activated her byakugan, dulling the chakra spike so as not to wake the sleeping artist, and inspected it.
The figure was that of a young man, about fifteen, kneeling on the ground, staring at his hands. It was about seven inches tall, and delicate-looking, a soft white color. Upon further scrutiny, she realized it was Deidara himself, without his headband, wearing a shirt, the left sleeve of which had been torn right off where a short-sleeved shirt would have ended.
It made her wonder why he had left his village. Was he chased out? Did he leave because he wanted to? From what she had heard, Itachi had recruited him by force, so it was entirely possible he still had something else he needed to get done.
Hinata rolled onto her back, folding her hands and placing them over her stomach. She had no idea why she was even still there, let alone why they wanted her and not someone more interesting. Like Naruto, for instance, she thought. Wonder what they wanted him for the first time. It probably had to do with the Kyuubi, like what happened to Gaara-sama…
Thinking of Suna's kage made her remember Kankuro. With a guilty lurch, the indigo-haired kunoichi knew she hadn't thought of him in a long, long time. Maybe… maybe she didn't want to go home after all.
She shifted onto her side, facing Deidara again, arms wrapped around herself for comfort. Konoha was all right, but she wasn't really liked all that much there. She was bored out of her mind, for one, and had no idea where her career as a Leaf nin was going. Hinata had no inclination to try for a higher rank, nor to work particularly hard; even if she did, her father still wouldn't acknowledge it.
Hinata heaved a heavy sigh, rolling the idea of leaving, staying with the Akatsuki, over in her mind. Perhaps it might be interesting. And anyway, it didn't seem like Pein-sama was going to let her leave, even if she wanted, so she might as well enjoy it.
Who knew how long she would last back in her home village, trying to fit in, to get better, not really doing her best, not really caring.
She may as well have died or something, for all the good it would do anyone.
theendcomesearly
Yes, well… this is basically what happened: my friend (who I was writing this with) decided to insert two of her OCs into the story right after this part, and so I gave up. Since it seems to be getting a lot of attention, I think I'll revive the storyline, but it'll take some work.
If you want to help me get it done faster, convince her to rewrite the next part without her OCs.
She's vampireizzy, on fanfiction. Her id is 1360935.
Sic 'em, guys!
Love,
The Head Baka