A/N: I FOUND IT! It took me a bit of effort, but I found the documents. They were tucked away in a funny place. SORRY SORRY SORRY for the long wait. For future reference, I'm lazy and get distracted easily. I started reading.. and then the Twilight movie came out.. and then I started to draw stuff again… and yeah. And now, a moment of silence for my still-lost documents. RIP: about 200 songs on itunes. I found everything else though :)

Disclaimer: if I owned Naruto, a number of characters would not be FUCKING DEAD D:

Chapter Eight: Sunset

We stayed in the cave for another hour or two before we started back. We didn't talk much, but we enjoyed each others company nonetheless.

"Itachi's a little mad." He said softly and took my hand as we approached the straight away to the little forest house.

"Why?" I asked, perplexed. Why Itachi would care, I would never guess.

"As much as he'd hate to admit it, he likes you. And me." Deidara chuckled softly. "He was worried that you might get hurt. Physically or emotionally."

I smiled. It was good to know that behind Itachi's mask, there was a being with feelings. I hadn't known that it still existed since I'd been with them this time around.

"Do you think I'll survive if I hug him?" I laughed gently.

"Who knows." My love smiled.

I reached over to take his hand and slowed to a walk; I wasn't in any hurry to go test Itachi's limits.

Deidara smiled the crooked smirk, like the one the pig man had worn earlier. I shuddered.

"What's wrong?" He asked immediately.

"It's just… that man. Earlier." I choked out. "The one who nearly killed me."

I grit my teeth in anger. The little piece of shit had resorted to a cheap trick to even stand a chance against me. I hope that he died painfully.

Deidara tensed. "The fucker."

"What did you do to him?" I asked softly, stopping to embrace Deidara.

"Let's just say he won't be walking anytime soon."

I smiled softly. "Translation?"

"I blew his legs off." He grinned. "Unless he had a band of more weaklings, he slowly bled to death."

My grin was almost as wide as his. I'd never been a sadist, but that man truly deserved to suffer. I shuddered at the thought of any other women he'd encountered before me.

"Looks like I'm rubbing off on you." He chuckled.

"You know it." I grinned. "Plus, it's hard to avoid it, considering how loud and conceded you are."

I shoved him playfully.

He rolled his eyes. "You wanna start that?"

He tackled me to the ground. I rolled over so I was on top. "I win." I grinned and pressed my lips to his neck.

I stood up and offered a hand to him. He snorted and took it. As soon as he was up, he pinned me to the nearest tree. "Correction, Shorty."

"I'm not that short." I whined mockingly.

"Ah, but I have to look down to look you in the eyes. And bend down to do this."

Deidara bent his head down to kiss me. It was a playful kiss, much like our play fighting.

His tongue traced along my bottom lip.

I sighed into his mouth.

And it didn't matter that I'd nearly died, or that we were filthy, or even that I knew this couldn't last, because we were together.

I was the one who had to pull back, gasping for air.

He smirked. "Let's go."

I trailed along, clinging to Deidara's hand. The little house was already in sight.

We both reached for each other's hands as we strolled towards it.

I sighed, knowing I'd have to bring up the subject of time eventually. It was sure to be hard and it was sure to be unpleasant, but it was necessary. Compromise was needed.

I let it slide for the moment, enjoying the company of love.

"Got her back, eh?" the fish man called as soon as we crossed the threshold of the house.

"Of course." Itachi sighed, saving Deidara from an embarrassing response, "Love isn't lost so easily."

That reminded me…

"Love you too, Itachi!" I bit back a giggle, giving him a hug. He'd really become a good friend to me over these incidents.

A small part of me feared this would be he last hug I ever gave, but to my relief, he chuckled.

"Of course, Sakura." He squeezed me gently before wiggling free, his uncomfortableness with the situation obvious.

"Keep your hands to yourself." Kisame muttered, probably out of jealousy.

"And of course you as well, Kisame." I jumped on him, attacking him with my hugs.

He wormed out of it. "Go shower. You reek."

I grinned and towed Deidara with me to the bathroom.

A slight pink rose on his cheeks.

"In… the shower… with you…?" he stuttered.

I smirked at his hesitance. "Why not? You're… you're not embarrassed, are you?" I teased, elbowing him lightly in the ribs.

"No." he said a little too fast.

"Come on." I said, "We're both filthy and it saves water and time."

He finally sighed and gave in with a nod.

I didn't understand why he was so timid. I mean, it wasn't like he had never seen me naked before…

I stripped quickly and hopped in. Deidara was already there, standing under the hot stream.

I hugged him gently, and rested my head on his chest.

He brought his head down to mine to kiss me.

We stayed like that the majority of the time, only remembering to scrub the grime off occasionally.

We stepped out squeaky clean and hurried back to our room in towels.

We sat on the bed, just the other's company to enjoy.

That's how close we were; we didn't feel the need to fill silence with meaningless words to feel comfortable.

"Let's go out… on a picnic or something." I said suddenly. "It's a nice day."

He grinned. "Okay, sure."

"I'll get the food and crap." I smiled as I pulled on some clothes. If I left Deidara to get food, we'd end up with the disgusting astronaut-esque food.

"See you outside?" he didn't wait for me to answer his question, just pecked me on the lips while throwing on his clothes. He left his hair down, void of his usual top knot.

I tip toed, hoping to raid the kitchen unnoticed.

"Where're you going?" Kisame questioned, eyeing my armful of food. It made me jump.

"Picnic." I said quickly. "You and Itachi should go on one."

"We'll have a picnic here." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Deidara and I will take our time." I promised, not wanting to… walk in on them.

"Good."

Itachi rolled his eyes from the kitchen table where he was still sitting.

I hurried out the front to Deidara. "Let's go before the noises start." I hissed, grabbing his hand and dragging him behind me.

"And let's hurry." He snickered, allowing himself to be towed by me. "So where exactly are we going?"

"Dunno." I answered with a grin. "I was hoping you'd have an idea."

"Leaving all the work to me as usual," he teased.

"Hey. I got the food. And you don't have to deal with Kisame's innuendos. They're not pretty."

"True, true."

"So it's really nice today, considering how crappy the weather was yesterday, huh?"

"Yeah." He agreed a grin on his face.

I swung our still-interlaced hands lazily between us. "Mind carrying some of this food?"

"Just set it down, I think this spot is good enough." He sighed. We were at the top of a surprisingly green hill. "I don't want to carry that crap." He laughed.

I snorted. "Lazy."

"And proud."

I sunk to the ground, cross-legged.

"No blanket?" he teased me gently.

I rolled my eyes. "You can go back and get one if you want." I bit back a laugh, thinking of the noises Kisame and Itachi would be making by now.

"Thanks, but no thanks."

I picked up a bag of—what was it?—bagels. Not my first choice of picnic food, but beggars can't be choosers. I shrugged and pulled one out.

Deidara smirked at me.

I threw my bagel at him.

"Thanks." He grinned, taking a bite.

I rolled my eyes again. "Where is all this laziness coming from?"

He shrugged.

I sighed and scarfed down two bagels.

Deidara shoved down another three, finishing off the bag.

He held his arms open, and I crawled over to him. He picked me up and put me in his lap.

I smiled softly and let my head rest against his chest, soaking in the warm sun.

"Love you." I whispered.

"I know. I love you, too." I could hear the smile in his voice without looking at his face.

I strained my neck around to kiss him.

He chuckled and spun me in his lap, so I was facing him.

"'S easier this way." He murmured against my lips.

My lips ghosted down his throat, settling on his collarbone.

A soft moan sounded from the back of his throat.

I nibbled softly.

"Mmm. Not now, Sakura."

"Why not?" I whined.

"One, we're in the middle of and open field. On top of a hill, for that matter. Two, we don't have a blanket or anything. Three," I cut him off then.

"That's an unusually long list." My eyes narrowed. "We've hardly kissed the part few days. Let's have some fun."

"It's only been two days. And later."

"Fine." I glowered.

"Later," he repeated.

"I know, I know. I heard you." I grumbled.

"Sorry," he mumbled against my cheek.

"It's fine." I sighed. "I understand."

He grinned.

I felt my eyes drooping. The drifted slowly shut.

--

They were all in a panic.

Tsunade was the worst.

Actually, that may have been Naruto.

Kakashi was pretty bad too, though.

The three of them spent long hours discussing retrieval plans every day.

Now, as several ninja has seen themselves, Sakura had been knocked out and then taken by the Akatsuki. So that saved her those accusations, at least. Of course, the elders had had the nerve to suggest that perhaps she'd let them knock her out. After all, she'd had a relationship with Akatsuki member Deidara before.

For the most part though, Tsunade was worried Sakura would have a lapse in behavior.

Naruto was more worried about the physical relationship though. Of course, he had suggested immediate retrieval.

Now, the teams were nearly assembled, the strategies well on their way.

Even though there were supposedly only four Akatsuki, there would be a need for great force.

Uchiha Itachi. Hoshigake Kisame. Two of the more notorious Akatsuki. And then of course there was Deidara the pyromaniac, and the masked ninja Tobi. The level of his skill was still unknown.

Naruto paced worriedly in the Hokage's office. "How much longer, Baa-Chan?"

Tsunade sighed. "A few more days. I'll let you know as soon as everything is finished up. Go home and sleep. You've been here for days."

Naruto nodded, but from the look in his eyes, Tsunade could tell he wouldn't sleep for a while yet.

"Kakashi?" She called gently when Naruto was gone.

"Yes?" He was leaning inconspicuously against the wall in his usual corner. "Do you think Sakura will want to come back?"

"I don't know."

She nodded her head.

"Do you?"

"Not unless we make a compromise."

Kakashi tilted his head slightly to the side, questioning.

"Last time… when she had to put away, it was because of him. I don't think she'll want to leave him again."

"Are you saying you think she'd go rogue?"

"No. No, not that… just… it's a woman thing, Kakashi."

"I think I can follow," he pressed.

"Love." Tsunade sighed. "She's in love with him."

The copy-nin's one visible eye widened. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"That… complicates things."

--

When I opened my eyes, it was darker.

The sun was already setting.

"Awake?" I heard Deidara chuckle.

I was laying on my side, and Deidara was behind me, hugging me, to keep me warm.

"How long have I been asleep?" I mumbled, still drowsy.

"Awhile."

"Sorry," I sighed.

"No, it's okay. You're actually really adorable when you're asleep."

I blushed. "Why is that?"

"You mumble a lot. Mostly nonsense, but once and a while, coherent words come through."

"Like…?" I prompted.

"My name."

My blush deepened. "Well, you know I love you." I rolled over to face him.

He pressed his lips gently to mine.

"I already knew that."

"I know."

We both stopped for a moment, taking in the brilliant sunset.

"So I was thinking while you were asleep."

"Oh? That's a first." I teased.

He chuckled.

"What about?" I asked when he didn't go any further.

"I think we should get married."

All of my thoughts were ripped away. My tongue was tied. "W-what?" I managed to stutter after a minute.

"We should get married."

A/N: Pretty opposite from the last chappie, huh? It's because of all the manga I've been reading Dx Specifically Nagatachou Strawberry. It's too upbeat and cute for its own good. Well… sorry again for the wait. And sorry for the happyful cliffie-type thing. It may take me a bit to update because I have to finish a ton of german stuff this week, but my goal is to have it out by the end of the week. You can slap me with a fish if I don't. This chapter made me sad. If you aren't up-to-date with the Japanese manga.. don't read this. SPOILER: Kakashi! D: I cried when he died. All my favorite characters are officially dead. Not to mention all my Sakura pairing fantasies (DeiSaku, ItaSaku, and KakaSaku).