More Than This: A Deidara Fanfic

Part 2: Inching Closer Chapter 9

Deidara laughs as he tickles me. I giggle and swat his hands away. "Deidara! Stop!"

"Why? You don't like it?" He whispers, tickling the tiny hairs on my ear.

"No, I hate being tickled!" I say and squirm as he continues to tickle me. "Deidara!"

He releases me and looks to us, also considering we were the only ones there, and grins. "Who wants to feel my body, this masterpiece of mine?" He gestures to his body.

Tukiko and Haruki step into the water and wade towards him, rubbing their hands over his chest.

"Nioki, you know you want to." He says smirking.

I shake my head. "No, no. I'm good, thanks anyway."

They look at me. "You should Nioki! He is very muscular."

I laugh. "You guys enjoy!"

I walk out of the water while they continue to swim. I lie on my towel, looking up at the sky with its twinkling stars that dot the sky and its full moon that gleamed and reflected off the water. It was so calming and relaxing. A shadowy figure walks into view and I pull a kunai on them.

Deidara holds up his hands as he chuckles. "Woah now! You bring a kunai with you to the hot springs?"

I nod. "Um...yeah. Its always good to have protection."

"I could be your protection."

I laugh. "Yeah, says the guy who throws things at me when I don't expect it."

He stands me up and I groan. "Oh cheer up!"

I smile. "Neh." I realized that he hadn't let go of my hands yet and I liked the fact that he hadn't. "So...when do I get to go to the hideout?"

Haruki runs up to me and Deidara. "Nioki,I don't know where Tukiko is!"

I stare at her in shock. "What!"

"Yeah, we were walking around and then I don't know. She wasn't by me anymore."

I run towards the hot springs, frantically looking for Tukiko. "Tukiko! Where are you?"

Silence...eerie silence. I look over the edge for any sign of her when somebody comes up behind me and pushes me in. I look up to see Tukiko and Haruki laughing while Deidara is holding back a laugh. Anger boils inside of me and I curl my hands into fists.

"What the hell! I was so worried about you and you pulled a stunt like that?" Deidara leans down, offering me a hand. I slap it away furiously. "No, I don't want your help! Get away from me!"

I jump out of the water and wrap a towel around myself. "I'm sorry, Nioki, we thought it would be funny." Tukiko claims.

"Funny! How is that funny, your friend being worried sick about you and you scare the hell out of them! Is that funny to you!" Deidara attempts to console me but I storm off. How could they do that to me! I hurriedly head back to the room and change before leaving again. I wander around aimlessly, not going where I was going, just that I was going somewhere away from them. I find myself walking around the town square and sitting by the fountain. The multicolored lights flash making the water look like it was dancing. I cross my legs as I sit on the fountains edge and begin my calming meditation. I sigh. "What Tobi?"

He sits next to me. "Where's Deidara, why aren't you with him?"

I look at him agitatedly. "Does it matter?"

He nods. "Yes, it does. Are you guys fighting?"

I shake my head unsurely. I honestly didn't know what this was, I just know that I wasn't too happy with him at this moment. "No, we are not fighting. I don't think anyway."

He puts an arm around my shoulder. "Then why are you here by yourself, shivering and your hair is soaked."

I shrug. "Honestly Tobi, I don't really know. I just need time alone. Away from Deidara and Tukiko and Haruki for now."

"Well your welcome to stay at the Akatsuki hideout if you want to."

I laugh. "How, when I don't even know where it is?"

He stands. "I'll take you to it."

I smile. "Thanks Tobi. I never knew you could be such a good friend."

He just laughs his very high pitched laugh and walks away, me following behind him.