A/N: You have no idea how sorry I am this chapter took so long! I've been extremely busy, and to be honest, I was supposed to be doing Algebra 2 homework (that's due first period tomorrow morning!) when I was really writing this. It has a nice apology lemon in it :) and on a completely unrelated topic, I sprained my ankle.

Chapter Twelve: Salt

I sighed. I was sitting in the room by myself. I'd worked it out with both Kakashi and Itachi that there would be no fighting.

Naruto still wouldn't talk to me, and because of his behavior towards be, most everyone one else acted that way too. I couldn't blame them though

I wondered why it was that he just couldn't give up on Sasuke after all these years, but could give up on me right away. That really hurt.

Sasuke had always been somewhat cold with Naruto, stuck up even. And when he ran away, he did it for his own sake. And the things he'd done. And he didn't regret one bit of it. If he had to make the choice again, he wouldn't hesitate.

I had done nothing. I'd fallen in love. What was so wrong with that? I still cared about Konoha and everyone in it.

Apparently, I was really just that worthless.

Tears began to fill my eyes. I fought them uselessly. They spilled over.

Deidara was off with Kakashi, making negotiations for me since I was too chicken to do it myself.

Messenger birds had been flying back and forth rapidly. I took that as a good sign: it meant they hadn't said a plain N-O.

I knew Tsunade was probably sticking her neck out on the line for me. I would owe her big time.

I knew that I couldn't sit here all day so I stood up.

There really wasn't anything that I needed to do—or even anything productive to do at all—so I ended up in the kitchen scrambling eggs for myself. I hadn't eaten anything yet today.

Half way through my plate, Deidara came in. He sat down next to me and scooted his chair right up next to mine.

"I love you." I heard him murmur under his breath.

"I love you too. Too much." I'd have kissed him, but my mouth was probably all disgusting from the eggs.

He chuckled at that. "I know you do." He turned to grin at me. "I'm really no good for you, you know."

"Says who?" I stuck my tongue out at him. "I think you're perfect for me."

"Your little friends disagree." Deidara chuckled. He pulled me from his chair into his lap.

I rolled my eyes. "Since when do they matter? Since when do you care?" I laughed, adding something about him being a conceited bastard under my breath.

He laughed. "I never said I cared, I was just pointing out fact."

"Whatever." I teased. Then I got serious. "You know I don't want to be without you, right? That's why I'm doing all of this." I smiled sadly.

"I know." He touched his lips to mine despite the protest I made about the eggs. "God, its fine Sakura." As if he just wanted to rub it in my face, when he was done kissing me he grinned and said 'eggy'.

I scowled at him. "Whatever." I mumbled.

Deidara grinned at me. "I was only kidding, Love." He chuckled.

"I know but it still pisses me off."

He laughed and tapped my nose. He moved me off his lap and stood up.

"Where're you going?" I asked.

"To finish things up with Kakashi."

"Oh?" I asked. "How is that going?"

"Surprisingly well." A large grin spread across his face.

"And?" I stretched.

"It's a surprise, baby." He kissed my forehead before turning and striding out the door.

I pouted and sat down in one of the chairs. I felt myself start to drift to sleep but was startled to awareness when I heard yelling.

I jumped up and hurried outside to find the origin of the sound.

It was Naruto.

"I refuse to allow them into Konoha!" He was screaming. He was glowing orange.

I bit back the tears and seconds later, everything went black.

I woke up in Deidara's arms. My eyes were too moist and I didn't like it.

He pulled me closer when he felt me stir. "You okay?" he asked softly.

"Yeah." I mumbled. I couldn't hold back the water works anymore and the tears started streaming down my face. "I'm sorry." I sniffed, ashamed of the tears.

"It's okay. You can cry if you want to."

I sniffed again and buried my face in his chest. I didn't like feeling this weak and vulnerable.

I noticed that Deidara was rubbing soothing circles on my back. God, I loved him. I didn't deserve him.

Most men shied away from tears, yet here Deidara was comforting me.

We probably sat there for well over two hours while I cried my eyes out before I felt it slow to a stop.

He noticed it too. "Better?" he asked softly.

I just nodded into his chest. I was tired. "I love you." I whispered.

Deidara kissed the top of my head. "I love you too."

I fell asleep with a content smile on my face, happy to be in his arms.

When I woke up again, it was dark. It must have been light out when I fell asleep.

As soon as I shifted, Deidara rolled up to a sitting position. He gestured to me to sit in his lap.

I took it gladly, taking the liberty to straddle him, wrap my arms behind his neck, and kiss him deeply.

He smiled and pulled away after a minute. "Save it for a bit. Everyone is worried about you. We should go see them so they're convinced you're still alive."

I nodded but didn't say anything as I stood. I didn't want to talk and don't think I could have managed it even if I wanted to.

He took my hand and we started dowm the hall to the living room.

Itachi, Kisame, and Kakashi were there along with several of my Konoha friends who had been sent on this mission.

I was enveloped in hugs, but I missed the secure feeling of one Kyuubi's hug.

I said nothing as I was passed around.

"It's all going to work out." Kakashi said. "Tsunade is working on it now."

I smiled gratefully at him.

"Why does Naruto hate me?" I choked out suddenly, a moment later.

Kakashi frowned. "He feels like he's lost you because you've fallen in love. Even though he hasn't."

"Why?" I bit my lip, afraid of the answer.

He hesitated. "He always liked you more than he should have." Kakashi said carefully.

A few tears ran down my face before I could stop them.

Kakashi guided me into Deidara's arms.

I bit back the sobs and forced the tears away.

I could clearly see now why Naruto was so upset. He really had lost me.

"Do you want to change your mind?" Deidara, my husband whispered in my ear as he pulled me into a hug. "I only want you to be happy."

"Of course I'm not changing my mind." I growled angrily. "How dare you even suggest that?"

"I just want to make sure." He murmured in apology

I frowned. I didn't want him to question my happiness. I tugged on his arm. "Let's go back to the room."

He frowned but nodded and said his goodbyes and thanks to all my friends.

I pulled him down the hall, into our room, and straight towards the bed. My clothes started coming off as soon as the door was shut behind us.

"Sakura." Deidara said softly, restraining me from removing any more clothes.

"What?" I hissed as I attempted to close the distance between out faces in a futile effort.

"Please don't." he begged.

I stopped and my arms went limp. Tears streamed silently down my face. "Please, Deidara?" I cried. "Don't you love me? I need this. I need you. I want you. Only you."

He hesitated a long moment. "Okay." he murmured after a painstakingly long silence. "But no more playing the guilt trip on me."

"Thank you," I whispered and crashed my lips onto his.

Deidara chuckled softly against my lips. "Relax," he breathed. "I'll take care of this."

I shivered in delight and the next thing I knew, I'd been swept up in his arms—bridal style—but his lips never left mine.

I could feel him slowly directing us towards the lovely, lovely bed.

I threw my arms around his neck.

"Ah, ah." He scolded. "I'm in charge." He freed his neck of my arms and threw me down on the bed.

I bit back a moan.

"Now, don't do that." He nipped at my neck and began to trail kisses down my collar bone.

I let it out, partially to please him and partially because I couldn't hold it back anymore. I reached for his shirt, desperate to have it off.

"Oh, Sakura." He chuckled. "You just don't get it, do you? When I said I was in charge, that meant of everything."

I could feel his smirk against my skin. I wasn't sure how long I could with stand his teasing. I moaned softly.

Finally, he turned his attention to my shirt, which—honestly—was in the way of my… assets.

He inched it far too slowly. It was killing me. A spasm of need ran through my body. I groaned out his name which quickened up his pace slightly.

I felt like such a damn horndog.

I was free; I hadn't worn anything under my tight shirt today. My nipples tightened at the cool air. Not that they hadn't already been hard, though,

"Please?" I murmured sheepishly. I didn't like being so... inferior. It was kind of hot at the same time though. I made a mental note to remember to dominate Deidara next time.

He obliged. I couldn't hold back another moan when I felt his flesh against my breasts. Oh God, his hands.

They were licking and nipping at my nipples softly. It was overwhelming.

And then he was kissing me with his real mouth and I knew I wasn't going to outlast the white-hot sensation inside of me. It burst, and I with it. I screamed his name into his mouth.

Well, these pants were officially ruined. I could feel my feminine juices seeping through.

Damn him. He's still fully clothed, and I still have my pants on and he can still make me orgasm. It wasn't fair.

I was trying my best to be a nice and unaggressive, only receiving what he gave me, but it was difficult.

I felt him chuckled conceitedly against my lips. I bit.

He pulled back and glared at me before diving back in. "You're gonna regret that." he teased.

I felt my pants being whisked off. Oh dear lord his tongues were driving me mad. He was busy lapping away at my juices while his two palm-mouths were torturing my breasts. I whimpered softly.

I felt another orgasm on the horizon.

Of course, I didn't last long. Maybe a minute. Deidara popped back up to kiss my lips. I could taste myself fresh on his lips. "Sorry for biting me yet?" he smirked.

"Yes!" I cried. I attempted to stretch my neck up to kiss him, but he held me down.

"Good." He murmured. His grin was pushing the limit. He nearly looked like Kakuzu now. "Stay still."

Deidara pinned me to the bed, kissed me hastily once more and then straddled me to keep me down. He peeled off his shirt slowly, and I resisted the urge to reach up and trace the contours of his chest.

I whimpered softly. I need him now.

I bit my lip while he peeled off his pants, still pinning me down somehow.

"Now… what do you want, my dear Sakura?"

"I want you inside of me." I moaned. "Now."

He slid a finger in, only torturing me more. "Like this?" he asked with an innocent look on his face. Well, as innocent as Deidara could ever look.

"No," I whined. "All of you. I want all of you inside me."

"Oh?" He slid in another two fingers. He wiggled them slightly, nearly sending me over the edge again.

"Not your fingers." I whimpered.

"What do you want inside of you, Sakura?"

"I want your penis inside of me, Deidara!" I shouted at him. I couldn't take this anymore.

I heard his malicious chuckle. "Of course."

He shuffled slightly to poise over my entrance.

I exploded as soon as he slid in. He chuckled.

He started off with slow pumps, and then sped up.

He was a pretty average lover, but his foreplay was something else.

He'd of came sooner, but I wasn't allowed to do anything other than lay there, moan, and orgasm.

At last, he collapsed on top of me and we curled up, tired.

"Next time…" I panted. "I'm in charge."

I only heard his laughing before I fell asleep.