• 1-Grounded
• 2-Confusion
• 3-hurt
• 4-Turn
• 5-Death
• 6-Restored
• 7-Memory
• 8-Truth
• 9-Time
• 10-Desire

A/N: Revised a little

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Deidara jumped slightly at the sound of the familiar voice.

Sakura...?

He looked back over his shoulder, slowly.

"...So I'm 'Akatsuki' again, un?"

She was standing a short distance from him; "You're under arrest!" Sakura shouted with conviction, as he turned around. "I'm taking you back to Kono-" she paused.

They stared at each other.

She was alone; the other leaf-nin were not in sight. Gai, Lee, did she get separated from them? She sounded determined enough...but looked unsure.

Not so confident without her team behind her. He could handle this...

She didn't know about him and Kakashi, what happened with them. She'd seen him weak but hadn't seen and heard him spill everything out like that. He could still stand to look a little proud, in front of her.

Sakura stood there, studying him for a moment. As if trying to figure out something- it was then that she noticed. Looked amazed.

"How did-"

Deidara looked down at his arms.

"Yeah..." I have them back. Top secret Akatsuki shit. "Not saying how, un..." He stopped, he was noticing something about her now...

She was still wearing his clay pouch.

His heart leapt. He had to get it. Had to. He needed it...

"Where are they?" She asked, glancing around at the trees, without turning away from him. She meant Kakuzu and Hidan.

"There's just me, those other two aren't here." He took a cautious step forward, to see what she would do.

"Stay back!" Sakura looked distrustful. She hadn't bargained on him having his arms back. She didn't know what he might be capable of now. She took up fighting stance-

Sakura had killed Master Sasori, with the help of that old Lady. She had used Taijutsu to do it; she wasn't just a medic. Her arms looked strong, her fighting stance firm...

Fuck, was he scared of losing to this girl? Actually doubting his strength against hers? Just how pathetic had he become, to doubt himself this much?

If he could just get his clay pouch, it would solve fucking everything, give him his power again.

"I'm not gonna hurt you un, how could I?" He held out his hands, he had no weapons, no clay...a long range fighter, about to give up even his range...

Then he thought of something. Remembered something.

"Is Lee alright?"

Sakura looked taken aback. Her expression changed completely. "Y-yes, he should be alright. Tsunade-sama, our Hokage is looking after him now."

Tsunade? He'd heard of her. She was one of those 'Sannin', her healing skill was said to be otherworldy. So Lee would be ok then?

"I was going back with him to Konoha. I was with Tenten and another from our village. But a team of medical nin came and met us; then they continued on to Konoha." She looked worried, "I came back here...my team might need me, my healing, but I can't find Naruto and Kakashi, or anyone..."

She was lost?

Deidara could have told her kakashi was. Not that she'd like it.

Just how close were they to Konoha? It couldn't be far, two hours at most? It was risky, for him; being here. He was lost too, didn't know where the fuck they were exactly.

She was starting to trust him. Starting to look at him the way she did when he'd been captive, like he was something that couldn't hurt her. She was going to be very surprised.

"Hey...I'm glad, un. About Lee. What about the others?" It was working, so he kept it up. He kept heading towards her.

"They were all OK."

"Are you sure, I heard that Naruto or Neji might be..." It wasn't that he really wanted to know. Just getting her to trust him. Maybe a little curiosity was involved.

"No, they were fine, Neji hurt his arm, I healed it..." She was supposed to some kind of taijutsu expert but all he'd ever seen her do was heal other people. Didn't she care about displaying her fighting skill, showing it off, even a little? The thought was strange.

"Don't get too close - What do you want..."

"You said you wanted to arrest me right? Here I am...."

"Stay right there!"

He laughed. "How will you arrest me then? Change of heart un, or scared?"

Sakura blushed furiously. Looked mad. Damn, he needed to stick with his well-meaning tactic.

"Thanks for helping me before, healing me...I feel bad for kicking you in the face, un."

Sakura actually smiled a little, despite herself. "It was my job," She brought a hand to her cheek, the bruise was still there. He used to think that she was vain, but she wasn't vain enough to waste her energy on healing such a minor mark, reserving it instead for her team. Wasn't vain enough to briefly stop and change the clothes that were still stained in his blood.

The clay, he reminded himself.

He judged that he would be able to reach it without notice now. He concentrated on her face, making sure not to stare at the bag too much, to give away his intention. Their eyes were locked.

He knew from how she blushed the other times, that she liked him. This was a power in itself, almost. What he was doing to her, just by looking at her.

"I feel different about you Leaf guys now un, your team. They aren't so bad ...especially you."

They were right by each other now. She was a little shorter than him; It was a change for once to be the one looking down at someone.

She trusted him, from the the moment that he'd asked about Lee - he knew he had her.

Very, very carefully he lifted the flap of his clay bag.

"Me?"

Bandages. Syringes. Useless shit, she'd mixed all her own crap in with his! Where was the clay? He searched for it.

"Yeah, un. I think different about you than before."

Her face hardened, suddenly suspicious. "Hey ...how did you know about Neji?" He'd been with her, Gai and Lee the last time they'd seen each other. "Did you see Kakashi and Naruto again?"

"Uh..."

She grabbed a firm hold of his arm with one hand, suddenly aware of what he doing. Fuck she was strong! She delivered a fist to his face that made him dizzy.

But it was ok, he already had what he needed.

His hand consumed it right away. Finally, finally. The familiar feeling, taking in the clay, it was beautiful. He threw the result at her feet, it buried itself in the ground and then burst out of it, ten times the size. It was one of his favourites; a centipede-like clay creation. It coiled up around her, pinning her to a tree. She struggled immeadiately.

"Careful, that's explosive, un." He said as he approached again, happy. He'd felt a rush, being able to use his art again. The centipede was a little shoddy looking, it was amazing what just a week out of practice could do to his skill. He needed to start practicing again right away...

She flinched as he reached out unbuckled his bag from around her waist, took it back. He put it on, starting to feel more like himself already.

Thinking, he took a small handful of clay and shoved it down the hem of his shoe; after his bag was taken away before, he must have wished a thousand times that he had thought of doing that-

"W-what are you going to do?"

He looked up, remembering that she was there. She had stopped struggling; fearful of unintentionally making it explode.

And she looked so hurt. Betrayed. She'd trusted him. Stupid girl, liking him like that; when he didn't feel the same about her...

Did she feel as stupid as he did for liking Kakashi? But it wasn't like he could help how he felt...

It was kind of wrong that he had played with her like that. And then just turned on her...It fucking hurt when Kakashi was kind to him, and then reminding him he had to be fucking executed, and then kind again...

What was he going to do with her? His creation would automatically explode in five minutes - well, four and a half minutes now. He should get away from here...

"LET ME GO!" She shouted. As if he would. Did she think he would?

Stupid girl, stupid girl who just thought that just because she healed him, washed him, soothed him like no one had done since his fucking mother- he felt a pang. Remembered all the stuff that...

Shit.

He stared at her.

Shit.

He could...always just deactivate it. Get the maximum range away, and then deactivate it. He should get far enough that she wouldn't be able to follow him.

"Deidara, let me go, please, undo this-" She pleaded so easily. Was it just easier for some people?

"Ahh, trying the same trick I did? 'Loosen my ties a little', un?" he grinned.

"I'm not, I'm not!" She didn't find it funny at all.

He would have to hurry, if he wanted to get a good distance away, too make sure she'd lose track of him...

"Where are you going!" She shouted, seeing that he was leaving. There was panic in her voice now."You're just going to leave me like this?"

"Well, I have to get a good distance away, I'm gonna blow it up un." He smiled, evily. She'd know the truth in a few minutes anyway. He didn't tell her the truth, he didn't want her to look at him again like he was...

"But, what about, everything? Please, I know you're not really like this! I can tell..."

She trusted way too easily. She shouldn't be seeing good in some evil guy who was trying to kill her. Seriously it was weird. One of these days a guy really was going to hurt her.

Maybe he should take his own fucking advice.

"Bye, Sakura."

There were tears in her eyes.

Ugh, that made two of them that day.

He'd thought that as long as he could get his clay pouch back; it would have just solved everything...

"Hey, un." She looked so scared. They'd never meet again anyway, this was the last time. "It'll be quick, Sakura-chan. So quick that you won't even notice it."

He meant to dash away. But he couldn't.

Because he was rooted to the spot. What the shit?

He couldn't even move so much as a finger.

"Speaking of things that are too quick to even notice..." A voice from some distance behind him. One that he didn't even recognise.

"What...what the hell's this, un?" Deidara found that he could speak; but that was all. He couldn't even turn his head around!

"You probably haven't seen this jutsu before. Well, have a look behind you - I'll let you."

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"I hate the sight of you, un." Deidara stood.

He stepped over to Kakashi, knelt down beside him again. Stone-faced.

Kakashi flinched as Deidara raised the kunai, expecting to be struck. The deep cut across his chest burned enough already. But, reaching around him, Deidara brought the kunai out of Kakashi's sight, behind him. He grazed the kunai lightly down Kakashi's back, stopping when he reached his hands.

A dim flare of blue from behind Kakashi reflected off the walls...and then the ties binding his hands together, and to the tree roots behind; were cut through.

Kakashi wanted to say something, but that was when Kakuzu came back.

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Deidara found he was able to turn his head around. He craned back to look-

"Hey, Sakura-chan! Are you alright?"

"Naruto, Shikamaru!" shouted Sakura, she sounded glad.

It was Naruto and a guy with a weird haircut. Konoha haircuts, seriously. The other one, Sakura had called Shikamaru-

"What the hell is this un?, Why can't I move?"

"Shadow possession jutsu." Said Shikamaru. "Anything that I do, you will mirror exactly." He idly scratched his neck and Deidara found himself doing the same, it was unnerving.

He looked glanced down...his shadow and the new guy's shadow, they were extended; connected togther, that was how he was doing it...

"Look, you've got to let me go un, this thing'll explode if I don't deactivate it!"

"No. If we let you go then you will activate it."

"I'm telling the truth, un!" He shouldn't have delayed, he should have just done it quick...

"That's exactly what you'd say if you wanted to trick us into letting you go... The only thing you could say to make us let you go."

"Don't be fucking stupid, un! It has a wide range, it'll blow up everything in a fifty metre radius, all of us -"

"Couldn't we break it off of her?" Asked Naruto.

"Bad idea, we might set it off..."

"Look there's only about two minutes left on it, un!" Shouted Deidara.

Shit. Fuck. Shit.

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Kakashi's hands were free, he could escape...

He was fast. Kakuzu was fast as well; they could have almost matched each other for speed before, when they fought. But, he had nearly died, and that was even when he had the help of Naruto and Neji...

Why had Deidara freed him? He'd been so hostile towards him just the moment before he cut Kakash's ties. Did Deidara feel a connection between them because they had spoken so deeply? He'd trusted Kakashi enough to tell him about his painful experience; but to trust him enough to let him go? He knew that Kakashi's mission was still to capture him. But he hadn't meant to manipulate Deidara back there, it was because he was really concerned, right?

It was almost like Deidara wanted Kakashi to chase him...but that was crazy.

Kakuzu opened his briefcase. For a moment Kakashi worried what he might pull out of it, a concealed weapon maybe; but the man just ignored him and began sorting through papers...

So even Akatsuki had paperwork to do. The amount of paperwork Kakashi would have to do when this mission was over, he didn't even want to think about.

He decided to bide his time for now, his ANBU training and way of thinking taking over again. This was a perfect opportunity to gain information on the enemy...

"That paperwork interesting?"

"None of your buisiness."

"What are your plans with me?"

"I suppose that is your buisiness as it involves you. But shut up, I'm irritated."

"I don't mean to annoy..."

Kakuzu's display of rage toward Deidara had been frightening. He thought for a moment that Kakuzu might even try to kill him...

How did the tier system work in Akatsuki? Usually one of the two in each partnership seemed to lead. Itachi would make decisions over Kisame, Deidara called Sasori Master, Kakuzu often told Hidan what to do. They had a 'Leader'. But he hadn't seen them being so violent, forceful with each other, until just now. Did they get forced into doing things? Why did they join, how much choice and freedom did they have...

"Has Deidara always been that way-?" These guys would know what he was normally like. What he used to be like? Kakashi had only ever known him fighting, captive, or shaken up.

Kakuzu snapped his briefcase shut and walked over to Kakashi.

Shit.

"Why are you interested in him?"

Was Kakuzu jumping to the wrong conclusion?

"I..."

"Hey Kaku-chan-bastard, I'm back!" Hidan strode back into the cave. "I did what you wanted...what the hell, started without me?" Hidan scowled at the sight of Kakashi's bloodied chest.

"Him and Deidara...I think that he was one of the ones..." Kakuzu still stood there, staring down at him. Still judging him, still deciding. There should be no reason to suspect Kakashi of doing it, he was known for his honour, stuck to his code. His reputation was perfect.

"I didn't touch him." Please let them believe him... "The Sand Village took over custody, we tried to get him back-"

"Eww! You know, I had suspicions Kakuzu. Before you joined us the other time, he was sat on Dei-chan in the forest; had him in a genjutsu."

It was getting worse.

"It was just a genjutsu, to keep him captive-"

"With the way that you were looking at him? Haha, don't make me laugh, Bastard! And you carry around those perverted books-"

It was awful, being suspected - accused of this. He remembered how helpless Deidara could look, the idea of hurting him made him sick; These two, if they believed it they would murder him. He probably would.

"Do you know that there is one thing that Akatsuki won't sink to..." Kakuzu's voice took on a tone that was terrifying.

"Let's just kill him right now! Let me sacrifice him, I'll make it extra painful. Fuck what the Leader says, the Jinchuriki's gonna have to show up at the corner border place anywa-"

"RAIKIRI!"

Kakashi made his move.

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TBC

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No one guessed correctly who it was because I deliberately made it that way! *evil* Anyway,

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Suffer! Suffer not knowing what will happen for an unspecified amount of time (just the usual) bwahahaha! *rolls around in delicious delicious evil*

....I apologise, that was Inner-Sera again, she's a little evil...you might have noticed. We write about half of the fic each :D

(Totally blaming any evilness on a fictitious evil persona lol)

UgghH, so much to keep track of, very confusing lol!! What people know about eachother and what they don't, no one knows Dei has arms back except a few ppl, only some characters know about the whereabouts of certain other characters arrrgh.

Next Chapter: in progress~

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Feedback:

Travellyr: wahhh *eyes wobble* I'm so glad you enjoyed! Omg, you read it all in one sitting? *Looks at fic* I didn't realise how long this thing was getting, woah. That's a lot! I'M SORRY I MADE YOU STAY UP!! I hope you did ok at work lol ^^ I loved reading your review, I just jumped around and squeed like yay. I hope you like the new chapter and that the rest of the fic doesn't disappoint :D