Hey guys, I just wanted to apologize for how long it took to update! For the next 3 or 4 days, this story will be updated like crazy. Also, I'm sorry if any of the characters, particularly Deidera, come off as OOC in this chapter.

Love you guys and enjoy!

Chapter 9: Connections

"Keep your head up, Hinata!"

I was in a middle of a sword fight with Kisame-sensei. It has been a little over three months since I joined the Akatsuki, and in those months a lot in my life has changed. My sword skills have improved immensely due to the training by Kisame-sensei and Bara-sensei. At first, there was a very large learning curve when I first started to train with Kisame-sensei to say the least. His skills with Samehada were superb, and I would usually end the day near death. However, he was a surprisingly great teacher.

I saw the massive blade try to attack me, which I deflected with one of my blades and then used my twin blade to try and attack Kisame-sensei. He jumped back just in time and used a jutsu to squirt a strong burst of water out of his mouth. I was able to jump out of the way just in time and ran behind a nearby tree.

"You're getting faster, Hime! But you can't keep running forever," I then heard Kisame's laugh when the tree I was hiding behind was sliced in half.

"Don't worry Kisame-sensei, I wasn't planning on it!" The bisected tree I was hiding behind then grows arms and proceeds to put Kisame in a strong hold. I then put both of my swords at his neck when I hear a familiar laugh.

"Oh my gosh, Kisame-kum! Little Busty-hime totally kicked your ass," I heard Bara-sensei scream from the branches from a nearby tree.

My blush, which had become much less frequent since joining the Akatsuki, turned back up when I heard Bara-sensei. I then saw that Kisame-sensei was basically steaming in anger at Bara-sensei's comment.

"That is totally not fair, you used those stupid eyes of yours to make a genjutsu that I couldn't break out of!"

"I'm sorry, Kisame-sensei. But after you used that water gun technique, I thought that nothing was off limits." I say this in a faux innocent voice and then follow with a smile.

Kisame-sensei can't stay upset for long and begins to laugh loudly.

"I must say, Hime you really have grown." I smile at his praise.

"Arigato, Kisame-sensei. If it weren't for your training, I wouldn't be anywhere near the level I have reached. That goes for the Itachi, Deidera and you too Bara-sensei!"

I then see Bara-sensei jump down from the branch that she originally was on right next to Kisame-sensei.

"No problem, Princess. Sorry to break up this party, but Leader just ordered Kisame and I for some assassination mission on some crime boss near Suna. For some reason, Itachi's lazy ass doesn't feel like going, so I have to go with Kisame. He also said that you have a mission with Deidera for a few days." I see Bara-sensei wink when she says "Deidera's" name.

"What's the wink for? Are princess over here and Bomber Boy banging?"

"Probably."

With this statement, I'm pretty sure that my face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

"Wait, what no! Deidera-sama and I are not an item and we are not doing that!"

"We are not doing what?"

I nearly pass out when I look behind me to find Deidera-sama flying down to our location on one of his clay creations. He then stands next to me and sees Bara-sensei and Kisame laughing at my red face.

"Woah, did I just miss something?"

I quickly shake my head "no", and luckily Bara and Kisame-sensei prove that they aren't truly creatures from hell by refraining to tell Deidera-sama the "conversation" that we all just had.

"Alright, well I just came hear to get you, Hinata. I'm not sure if you heard, but we have some infiltration mission near Iwagakure. All he wants is for us to fly by and for you to use your Byakugan to finds some scrolls to find some Jinchuriki or some shit like that. I personally am not interested in anything that distracts me from my art."

"Oh, Arigato Deidera-sama. I apologize that you are forced to escort me on this mission."

"Well, for anyone else it would totally suck. But at least I get to hang out with you!"

I look up and see him give a large smile. I blush and once again thank him. In the last three months, I have grown incredibly close to Deidera-sama (he always ask me to call him –kun, but I'm too used to being respectful). I was incredibly surprised when I saw his obsession with explosions and violence. At first, I was disgusted at how someone could enjoy destruction and death so much; however, the better I got to know Deidera-sama, the more I got to learn there was much more to it. I still remember the conversation:

Deidera and I had just finished what was supposed to be a run of a mill infiltration mission. Basically, the plan was that we would swoop into a fortress, get a few scrolls and get back to base in order to complete a mission for a rival village.

However, things did not end up going nearly as smoothly, as Pain-sama "forgot" to inform us that there would be a small army of guards basically waiting at all entrances of the fortress. It was much too difficult to put them down without killing, so both Deidera and I were forced to kill over 400 ninja that day. While I was near traumatized by the incident, with the faces of the dying men etched into my skull, Deidera seemed to have the time of his life blowing up ninja to oblivion.

Following completing the mission, we decided to camp out for the night, as we were away from any immediate harm. Deidera kept on going on and on about his "art" and how beautiful the battle was. I couldn't take it anymore and screamed:

"I'm sorry, Deidera-sama, but how can you be so happy! We just killed hundreds of ninja. For all we know, they have families and people that depend on them. How can you be s-so sadistic!"

Deidera then turns his head in surprise for my uncharacteristic outburst. He then sees the tears stream down my face and run towards me. Before I can do anything, he pulls me into a bear hug. I blush when I hear him whisper into my ear:

"I'm sorry that I unsettled you, Hinata. It's not the act of killing enjoy, but the beauty of the explosion."

I look at him through my thick eyelashes, and sniffle slightly following my tears. "I d-don't understand."

"Art is explosive. The immediate beauty that disappears as fast as it appeared is extraordinary. In the same way that a shooting star can illuminate the sky and then leave, just like that. Instead of letting the end of the beauty upset me, I celebrate what once was."

I look up in complete shock. What he said actually did make sense; he wasn't a complete sociopath who blindly killed for the hell of it. He killed when needed, and reveled in the beauty of his explosions.

"I guess in some ways that makes sense. I-I think I'm going to sleep Deidera-sama."

I then go down on my pillow and pretend to sleep when I hear Deidera say:

"Hinata, you may be even more beautiful then any explosion and best thing is, you last way longer."

I then smile at this, and drift into a dreamless slumber next to Bomber Boy.

Deidera-sama still does not know that I heard what he said that night. I have a feeling that he has some feeling towards me, but I just can't find the courage to act on my mutual feelings. In some ways, I feel that I would betraying my fr…former friends if I were to go into a relationship with him. Even though I'm pretty sure joining a criminal organization is betrayal enough.

"Come on, Hina-chan! We should get going now," I hear Deidera-sama scream.

I quickly say goodbye to Kisame and Bara-sensei to join Deidera-sama on the flying clay creation. We then look at each other, and he gives me that huge grin again. At that second, I know that we have something special; a connection.