A/N: Hi all! Thank you so much for the reviews! You guys are so awesome! I am seriously so happy to know that you're all enjoying my story. Anyway, no worries about the story ending for now. I was just kidding about that. Anyway, hope you enjoy the next chapter! Not to be a beggar or anything, but reviews seriously help motivate me so...the more the better! Luv, ~rose.

Artist's Alley

Chapter 14

It seemed like my mind was going to explode as I followed Deidara through Sasori's spacious, richly furnished, but somehow lifeless house. So many things had happened, and somehow I wasn't able to make sense of anything. I clung to the one clear thought that gleamed like a ray of sunlight: Deidara. He was alive. I stared at his back as he walked ahead of me. His loose blond hair shimmered brilliantly and his whole body seemed to glow. He was like a being from heaven. No, he wasn't just like a being from heaven. He was a being from heaven. How else could anyone be so perfect, so beautiful, so wonderful? He couldn't be anything less than an angel.

At some point I must have stopped walking, because Deidara was suddenly several feet ahead of me and he turned around with a questioning look on his face. "Kaya, are you alright, un?" he asked as he walked back toward me and bent down to peer into my face.

I stared into his eyes, captivated by their blueness. Gazing into them, I seemed to be floating in a brilliant, pale blue sky. There was no need for the ground. My feet didn't need to stand because I could fly. I reached up and gently touched his face where the blood had dried. "Your beautiful face is hurt because of me," I said. "I'm so sorry." I leaned forward and kissed him, and then I was falling through the sky, back toward the earth, and a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and shoulders, catching me as night fell across my vision.

When I opened my eyes once again, I was lying in a king sized bed in a strange room that I didn't recognize. Things like this seemed to be happening so much recently that I was barely even phased by the fact that I had no idea where I was. I sat up and looked around. It looked like a hotel room, and not a cheap one either. It also seemed like I was alone, and then I heard a door open on the other side of the room and saw Deidara come through it. His hair was damp, as if he had just taken a shower, and even more noticeable was the fact that he had no shirt on, completely exposing his toned chest and abs. My face went red immediately.

His eyes fell on me. "You're finally awake, un," he said. "How are you feeling?" He came up to the bed and sat down right beside me. He was so close that I could smell the slight musky aroma of his cologne. It made my head spin a little.

I tried to edge away from him inauspiciously and kept my eyes focused on the gold design of the blue comforter covering my legs. "Um, I-I'm okay. H-how are you?"

Deidara raised his eyebrows and leaned forward. I instinctively leaned away, but the bed frame behind me kept me from escaping. "I'm doing well," he said. He moved closer so that our faces were only a few inches apart and I could feel his breath tickling my chain. "I wouldn't mind if we continued what you started yesterday."

I suddenly remembered with a rush of embarrassment what had happened before I passed out. I had kissed him! And as if that wasn't bad enough, I had said something so humiliating. Oh my god, I wanted to die. "Th-that was..." I started.

Deidara leaned forward again, so close that I thought his lips might actually touch mine. My heart pounded and I was all too aware of his bare chest that nearly pressed against my body. He touched my cheek. "I've gone through so much trouble for you," he murmured in a deep voice. "It's time you made it up to me, un."

Oh my god, this was actually happening! I managed to produce some sort of unintelligible squeak, and then Deidara backed away, laughing. I stared at him blankly for a moment, flustered and confused, and then realized he had just been teasing me. I let out a cry of frustration and grabbed the nearest pillow, which I proceeded to fling at him. He grabbed it easily, still laughing. "You're horrible!" I cried. "Go away!"

My body was shaking now from the rush of excitement I had just felt. I was embarrassed and miserable. But at least Deidara didn't seem to be angry with me. He certainly had good reason to be angry, after the way I had behaved. Why hadn't I just asked him about everything in the beginning? I had been such an idiot.

"I should probably get you home soon. Your parents must be worried, un," Deidara said, moving to a chair where a long-sleeved white button-up shirt was hung. As he put it on, I noticed there was a bandage around his right shoulder, and also around his head, as well as several cuts and bruises on both arms and chest. How badly had he been injured? He seemed to be alright, but maybe he was just good at hiding it.

"Are you really okay?" I asked.

He offered his usual smirk as a response. "Well, my poor beautiful face has been injured, but I'm sure it's nothing another kiss wouldn't cure, un," he said with a wink.

I blushed again. Oh great, he was never going to let that go, was he? "I'm serious!" I said.

His face softened then and he gave me a surprisingly gentle smile. "Don't worry, I'm really fine, un," he said.

I wasn't completely convinced, but he did seem to be well enough since he had been teasing me like this. So I nodded and glanced down. I wanted to apologize to him and I fumbled around in my head for several moments, trying to figure out the best way to word the apology, but before I could figure something out, Deidara broke into my thoughts.

"Kaya!"

I blinked and looked up to find him standing beside me again, now, thankfully, completely clothed, his hair returned to its usual style. Although even with his shirt on, just his nearness was enough to make my heart start racing. "W-what?" I stammered out. Curse this stupid nervousness! It was no wonder he had such an easy time teasing me, even though I had known him for awhile now and should be used to him. What was wrong with me?

He glared at me. "Are you sure you're alright, un?" he said.

"I'm fine!" I said. I threw the covers off of me and stood up to prove my point.

"Good, then let's get going, un."

I followed him out of the room and to the elevator. We were on the eleventh floor, so it was a little while before the elevator came and took us down to the lobby. While we were waiting, there was no conversation between us, leaving me with plenty of time to think. Surprisingly enough, I had pretty much come to terms with everything that had happened so far. What I was really worried about was...what now? Deidara had said he was taking me back to my parents. They probably were worried sick. I would need to think of a pretty good excuse for my sudden disappearance of I wasn't even sure how many days. Telling them I had been kidnapped probably wasn't the best idea, even though it was true. I didn't want to risk getting the police involved, or having my parents find out that the man I had originally run away to live with was an ex-gang member. Considering how well I had taken that news, I figured that was the last thing my parents needed to know. So how was I going to explain my disappearance and avoid getting grounded for life? Yep. It was impossible.

But there was something that bothered me even more: What was going to happen with Deidara?

I glanced at him as we walked to the front desk and he turned in the room key and handed the man his credit card. Was he going to just leave me with my parents and that would be the end of it? Was I never going to see him again? That scared me, and as we walked outside to his car, I found myself imagining that he wouldn't go to my parents' house, that instead we would drive to his house and things would go back to the way they used to be. I knew that was impossible though. I had probably ruined any chance of that ever happening, and I doubted he would be too bothered by my absence. I knew now that he must care for me at least a little bit, otherwise he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of saving me and taking care of me, but that didn't mean his feelings were even close to matching mine. What he felt toward me might be nothing more than the result of not being completely cold hearted.

I really wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him how sorry I was for everything, hoping that somehow we might be able to repair things, but I knew I was just being selfish. I was sorry though, and I wanted him to know that before we parted ways, but I still couldn't seem to find the right words.

It was a long drive back to my home. Almost three hours passed before we entered my hometown, and the entire way we didn't speak a word, with the only the radio to fill the silence. Occasionally I stole a glance at Deidara, but every time I did so, his eyes were fixed on the road, so after awhile I gave up any hopes that we might be able to talk things over. He didn't seem to be the slightest bit concerned that we would say our final goodbyes soon. I leaned against the back of my seat and watched the scenery pass by with unseeing eyes.

Even though it was a three hour drive, it seemed to end in barely anytime at all. I guess that's just how things are in those sort of situations. Just when you want to cherish every moment you have, they seem to simply slip through your fingers. I didn't feel happy as Deidara came to a stop in front of my house. I didn't even feel dread about having to make up an explanation for my parents. All I wanted was to stay inside that car and tell Deidara to take me home with him, but instead my body robotically opened the door and climbed out. This was it. I would never see him again. I turned around to say goodbye, and as I saw his face, the reality sudden hit me and tears began to slip from the corners of my eyes.

I saw the shock on Deidara's face at my sudden tears, but I spoke before he could say anything. "Deidara-sensei," I said. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm so sorry for all the trouble I've caused you." I couldn't bear to hear his response. I was too scared to hear what he had to say. So instead of waiting, I closed the door and ran into my house. As I closed the door behind me, I heard the sound of an engine starting and a car driving away.

And that was it. He was gone again, and this time, I really would never see him again.

A/N: Ok, two things! 1) Sorry it's so depressing! 2) Ok...if I woke up alone in a hotel with Deidara, my first thought would be... What the hell did he do to me? ...And why the hell wasn't I awake for it?