>>The Next Day>>

We were approaching the waterfalls slowly. I was silent the whole way there. Deidara tried talking to me a couple of times, but I kept my mouth shut. Just letting out small grunts, nods, and shakes of my head. I just want to be left alone. The gushing waterfall split in two. "Buru." Deidara spun me around by my shoulders sternly. Holding them there. "I know you are upset but you need to speak to me...please." His voice was shaky and withdrawn but very serious. I looked up at him with lazy eyes. We fell silent. It almost looked like he was about to cry. "BURU-THAN!" Tobi came screaming out towards us on the lake's surface. His hands slipped away down the length of my arm. Tobi came to a slow halt in front of us. Deidara turned his head and wakled. Walked away from me. From us... "Buru." Tobi's waving hand snapped me back into reality. Just a glimpse of his face reminded me of something.

//Flashback//

Listen, Buru," I turned my direction towards the male. "S-sasori?" I questioned. He nodded and continued with, "Are you with Deidara?" I nodded as he sighed in relief. "Good. Ok, now you need to listen to me." He took a firm grasp at my shoulders. "You can't trust Tobi, got it? He's bad news." My head tilted to the side. "What do you mean? What's going on?" I asked. They looked at each other then back to me. "Buru, you need to listen to us. We don't have a lot of time. I'm ok. I'm with Sasori." My heads slowly nodded to their words. Sasori let go and looked up to the sky. "You can't trust Tobi. Stick with Deidara as much as you can. We'll explain more later." Slowly, my vision started to become fuzzy and unfocused. "Wh-whait! Aka!"I cried. Then...darkness.

//Now//

Our shoulders brushed past each other as I turned and walked away myself. I was too tired. I had no energy of any kind, and even if I did, I wouldn't waste it by talking. My body slumped into my bedroom and locked the door. Just to be safe, the dresser was pulled in front of it. My body fell backwards on my bed with a small thump. I stared blankly at the ceiling with my arms stretched out wide. I didn't even know what I was supposed to feel. Happy? Sad? Angry? My head started to throb at the bitter confusion. I circled my arms around the pillow as a sudden sleepiness took over me. My eyes falling closed to a gentle slumber.

~Deidara's POV~

I leaned my forehead against the door inside my room. My finger tips brushed over the door handle in a motion. I had no clue what to do just then. Do I go after her...or do I stay put for awhile? My back pressed against the door as I slid down it. "I think we need...a little break, hm." I whispered under my breath. My eyes drooped closed in slight pain from the lack of sleep over the past few weeks of the mission. I was so exhausted, but my body just wouldn't let me fall asleep. I needed...something. The heal of my palm rubbed against my eyelid. Slowly, I relaxed against the door; my mind slipping into the darkness if slumber. But, of course, someone just had to knock on my door. A low growl leaked through my lips. Standing up and swinging open the door, I narrowed my eyes at who ever disturbed me. "L-Leader-sama." I gulped standing up strait. "Deidara, I have to inform you that Tobi will be your new partner from now on." He instructed. And yes, of course, my life just seemed to be getting worse. "What!? Why can't Buru be my partner, hm!?" I snapped parshly retreated but parshly annoyed. "Buru sill has not completed her training, yet even though her mission has completed and she is qualified to become a member, she cannot be trusted with the higher ranked missions that are on your lower level standers." Anothe heavy growl leaked through my lips. "Fine, whatever." I whispered. "I also wish to inform you that a sudden mission has popped up and needs to be taken care of quickly." I nodded and rubbed my eye again. "When do I leave with my...partner." I hissed the word 'partner'. "As soon as possible." Without another word; he left me standing alone in my doorway. "DEIDARA-SEMPAI!" Tobi apeared in front of me in a flash. "Deidara-sempai and Tobi are partners now! Isn't that great!" He cheered. A vein popped on my tempel. Instead of speaking, I just slammed the door in his face and locked it. 'Idiot.' I thought packing my things for the mission ahead.

>>3 Days Later>>

The large boulder that blocked the cave entrance slowly lifted above the ground. "I can't believe we completed the mission so fast! It was like whosh! Then we're done! Righ Deidara-sempai?" I gave off a nasally grunt in response. I swear, is there an off switch on him or something? The boulder slammed behind us. A low, bubbly growl leaked through Tobi's stomech. "Tobi is hungy!" He blurted out rushing into the kitchin. A heavy sigh leaked through my lips. Sleep has still not been an option for me in these past couple days. My chakra levels have been so low and my body was so weak I could barely make one of my small, clay spiders. 'Stupid Pein, making me spend three days with that...thing.' I thought walking swiftly towards my room. "Buru you had better open this door right now." I looked ahead to see Konan and Pein crowded around Buru's door. "Buru come on!" Konan cried pounding against the door. "What's going on, hm?" I asked approaching them. "Buru won't open up and Mr. Noble here won't bust down the door." Pein rolled his eyes. "Do something." He ordered me. Another sigh leaked through my lips. "Buru, open up, hm." I called. Silence was my answer. "Come on out, Buru...please!" I groaned in exhaustion. Again, nothing but bitter silence. Snap. I kneaded some of my chakra into a bit of my clay and pressed it against the door knob. We all took a step back with a small bang of the bomb. As the dust cleared I rammed the door. "What the he-ow!" I tripped over the dresser that lied fallen over on the floor in front of me with a hard thump. "Buru!" Konan and Pein stepped over me and rushed to her bedside. My body swayed to my feet but froze in place. "Buru?" She looked so dead. Her limbs sprawled out over the sheets. Konan shook her lifeless body violently. I leaped to my feet and slumped her body into my arms as I sat criss-cross on her bed. Her breath was shallow, but not gone and her heart beat still thumped slowly against her ribs. "She still has a pulse. Get me some water, hm." They just stood there, frozen at my sudden charge of attitude. "Now!" Konan snapped out of her dizzy trance and leaped over the dresser; down the hallway with Pein not too far behind. My eyes never left her cold face. In this state, I could see more of death than of slumber. Her skin was a sickly pale as the new drawn snow. Cheeks and eyes were sunken into her skull. And she had to weigh less than 100 pounds. Though, she still looked as pure as a rain drop. Konan rushed back with a cold glass of water. "What's going on?" In the door way stood Kisame and Itachi with Kakuzu and Hidan right behind him. I ignored everyone and focused on trying to bring Buru back to life. The cool water trickled down her chin as I pressed the glass to her lips. "Drink, please drink, hm." I whispered so silently; I was mouthing the words to myself. My frustration levels were through the roof by this point. With a large lump slipping down my throat; I took a large gulp of the water and pressed my lips against her dry flesh that served as . The water forced its way from my mouth into her's. Her eyes popped open suddenly with arms circling around my neck. At that moment. At that single moment, I thought the whole world had crumbled to dust around me and we were the only ones left. Sparks erupted from every nerve in my body just as before. I didn't want to pull away, but I had to. The only thing connecting us was a line of watery saliva as I wiped it away. "Dei...dar..a..." She croaked out in a dry voice that my ears didn't recognize. Our eyes never leaving contact. I was suddenly jerked backwards as Kakuzu and Itachi, the only ones in Akatsuki with medical training, tended to the rest of her body. There I stood frozen in place. Our eyes still never leaving their connection even with everyone crowded around her bed. Crap. I fled as fast as I could, racing down the hallway and knocking into Tobi's shoulder before slamming the door shut behind me. "What have I done?" I whispered under my breath, sliding my back down the door.

(Chibi: *Gasp!* Did Deidara just kiss Buru!? YES! *Double gasps!* Am I going crazy!? YES! >:D)