Hinata has known heartbreak since the moment she died in her first life. She thought that because she has been through so much at a mere 21, nothing but the death of her closest people could break her. She thought the knowledge of each of her people being alive was enough. It's not.

"I'm sorry." Dediara cups Hinata's cheek, a tongue poking out to lap up a tear.

"I know."

"You know I can't stay, yeah." Staying in Konoha was fun while it lasted but Deidara can feel himself, who he is, slipping away the longer he allows himself to be trapped by the very system that made him go rogue. He's itching to blow things up on his terms, not the Hokages.

"Take me with you." Hinata's voice breaks as she whimpers a "please." She grips tightly to the fabric of his top like she could hold him to her forever.

"You love this village and the people in it, hmm. I can't take you away from everyone who loves you."

"That doesn't matter. I'll have Naruto put a seal on me so I can visit whenever I want. I'll be happy anywhere if I'm with you.

"We both know your heart is too good to be with someone like me, hmm."

"That's not true Dei. I love you; I always will."

"Our love will forever be my most beautiful work of art: fleeting, an explosion of passion before it inevitably has to fade, yeah."

"I just wish this could last longer but I understand. I want you to be happy and if this is what will do that, I'll let you go." Hinata knew Diedara's need for freedom and constant change would be a problem, but for a moment she truly let herself believe her love would conquer all. She let herself believe he would take her with him. But that's not who he is, it's one of the things she loves about him. How could she say she loves him if she is making him stray from his truth.

"You've always understood me, my muse. The world will know our passion."

" Wreak havoc, Dei." Maybe he's right. True love, true passion, is nothing but a wildfire: warm and all consuming until there is nothing left but ash. There is no way she can love another the way she loves him; the way he loves her.

"Always." Deidara presses his lips against hers. It was perfectly him, hot and passionate but over too soon. "Goodbye my love." With that, Deidara hops onto one of his clay birds, leaving a colorful array of reds and pinks in his wake. He can't bear to look back at the woman he's leaving behind. The sight of her tearful face might be enough to sway him to return. He never planned on falling in love, but how could he not.

Hinata is bright and all consuming. She is a supernova, a storm at sea that threatens to capsize him over and over. The longer he lets himself burn in her presence the harder it gets to leave. True art is fleeting and true love has to be as well.

Something being able to sway him from his desire to live loud and die young scares him. The fact that he can imagine living a long life with Hinata directly contradicts everything he has ever believed and wanted since the time he gained consciousness. However, the idea of leaving his life path, his art, behind even due to love scares him even more.

He loves Hinata. He was completely and utterly wrecked by Hinata the moment he wanted to see his explosions through the reflection in her eyes. She never sneered at his art. In fact she only encouraged him to develop, to expand the gravitas of his life's work. How was he not to love her when she fully loved and accepted him and everything that accompanied that.

To be fully understood is something he never believed could happen for him. That makes leaving that much harder. But his muse, his Hinata is too good. She can love and accept every aspect of him but he still is choosing to leave. She deserves someone who can stay. Someone who can provide her with stability and comfort and a family. Someone like Itachi.

The moment Deidara is out of her range of vision Hinata lets herself fall to the ground. A broken sob turns to a wail as heartbreak rips its way through her chest. She can feel a piece of her heart, her soul, leaving with Deidara. His love is like fire, all consuming and there is nobody who can ever hope to fuel her like he did. She knows she will never love another like him, so she resigns herself to settling for whomever her clan chooses. Without deidara, her heart will forever lack a certain spark.

Hinata picks herself up broken piece by piece and makes her way home. Hanabi is waiting in her room and Hinata doesn't waste a second. She curls herself into her baby sister's arms and cries again. Hanabi whispers something Hinata cannot understand, her fingers strengthened by years of training pressing into Hinata's scalp. The methodic strokes send her into a dreamless sleep.

Hinata wakes up the next morning still entangled in Hanabi's hold. Instead of the day clothes she fell asleep in, she's cradled by silk pajamas. She experiences a blissful few seconds before the reminder of her breakup comes flooding back and the pain begins all over again.

Hinata spends the next few weeks in a state of detachment. Luckily no global catastrophe is happening so she gets to take real time off. Getting out of bed each day is a task. The days she does manage to get up and wash is an achievement often spurred by Naruto and Ino dragging her from her room to go somewhere

. ..

She misses Deidara every second of every day. She misses watching him create new bombs and sculptures, the passion and intensity. The way his other mouths are equally as expressive as his face.

Looking at her shitty chipped nails makes her miss how he always paints her nails first before going ahead and painting hers. Or when he will be a fussy little shit all day if his hair doesn't fall just so. Its the way he smiles with too much mischief when he is about to fuck up soneones day. She misses every second of the ride that was being with Deidara.

It's sasuke, surprisingly enough, who gets her out of her stupor. Hinata awakens with a squeal when a bucket of icy water soaks through her sheets. Bleary eyes open to see Sasuke's lanky ass standing over her looking like he was enjoying this a bit too much.

"Get up. You have 10 minutes to meet me at the lake."

"What the actual fuck is wrong with you," Hinata says, still reeling.

"Hn."

Hinata gets ready, grumbling all the while. She meets Sasuke at the lake nearest the Uchiha compound, hair still dripping with water and rage exuding from her pores. Those coal eyes give her a once over.

"You look like shit," he says.

"And that affects you how?" Sasuke doesn't respond. Instead he spits a small-scale fireball point blank into her face. Hinata immediately retaliates, barely missing his perfect face with a hit that would be deadly. "Now is not the time to piss me off duckass."

"Every day is a good day to piss you off." Sasuke grins as he traps Hinata in a Genjutsu just long enough to put a deep gash into her upper thigh. Before he could land another attack, a tendril of water wraps around his neck and throws him through a tree. Hinata descends upon him, ready to close off his chakra flow when sasuke sets the area alight with the ominous glow of lightning.

They dance in perfect tune, one that only lifelong teammates could manage. By the end, they are both more beat up than they should be. Hinata's impaled through the appendix, Sasuke has two broken ribs and a shattered femur but it's the first time Hinata has smiled in weeks. Lying next to her lifelong friend, she begins healing them both with what chakra she has left. When the last of the intense wounds stitches itself back together, she pulls the Uchiha into the tightest hug.

"Thank you." If shinobi do one thing, it's dealing with their feelings by punching them out. The pain is still there, but for the first time in a while Hinata can feel her spark for life returning. Shisui then decides it's time for lunch so he makes an appearance to throw his misbehaving little monsters over his shoulders and take them home so itachi doesn't have to.

It is two months later Hinata finally feels like she's back in tune to her life. Her heart still hurts each time she hears a brief mention of some sort of bombing, but she is moving forward. In fact, she's just happy to hear he is still alive and kicking. She kneels before the elders and clan leader Neji, resigned to the future they are planning for her.

"As per our original agreement, we have chosen a husband for you to wed."

"Yes, I understand."

"Itachi Uchiha has agreed to forsake the Uchiha name and wed into our clan in hopes that you will produce offspring who may yield the Rinnegan. In doing so, we will retain our noble status." Hinata nods, understanding the choice. However, Itachi is an unexpected choice. She expected to marry some branch member she hasn't talked to much, not the Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi makes his way to her side with effortless grace. He kneels beside Hinata and leans over, breath cascading over her ear.

"Are you alright?" He asks. She gives him a nod.

"There are worse people to marry," Hinata whispers back. She bumps her shoulder into his. The tension thrumming in his chakra is immediately lessened when he knows she doesn't despise him yet.

"I see you are not displeased with our choice."

"Yes, Itachi will make a fine husband," she responds. If anyone notices the glazed look in her eyes, they wisely decide against mentioning it. They go over all of the necessary details. Itachi will be moving into the compound to get comfortable with what will be his new home. He will stay with HInata until they have their own wing built for their future family. Their wedding date is set for 4 months from the day giving enough time to send out invitations and have their wedding attire custom made and embroidered with the finest of silks.

Itachi and Hinata sit in her...their room. Backs to the wall, Hinata rests her head on his shoulder as he traces the lines in her palm. Itachi is steady and smooth; his presence is always a comfort.

Itachi was not surprised when Deidara left. He knew the blonde could not be tied down. There was a moment before Hinata and Deidara realized their feelings for one another that he believed the blonde might make an exception, but the minute Deidara fell too hard, he saw the fear creep in. The two had never once gotten along, but Itachi still holds out hope that the blonde will be back for Hinata. A love like that is hard to ignore, no matter how hard-headed the bomber might be. So, he will help them. It is what Hinata deserves.

"I'm sorry," Hinata is the first to break the silence.

"I know this is not the future you were hoping for. I am not him, nor will I ever be; but I promise you this," Itachi holds her gaze, eyes blazing with such intense understanding and longing it only makes her feel guilty all over again. "I will do everything in my power to make you happy every single day."

Hinata tilts her head back hoping to keep her tears from shedding. "I know you will, 'tachi. You're perfect, you always have been." She laces their fingers together, squeezing tightly. A sense of duty fills her. "I will try, I really will try to love you in the way you love me," she promises.

Itachi squeezes back. "Your happiness is enough for me." It hurts her with how much he means every word.

"You deserve real love, more than anyone." Hinata isn't sure who she is pleading with: herself or Itachi.

"I have known my path since the day we met," he says. There is not an ounce of negativity in his words. Itachi brings the back of Hinata's hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to her skin. Charged with the overwhelm of feelings in her body, Hinata does something she might regret. She kisses Itachi.

Itachi kisses her back, long and slow. She can feel the love he pours out with each movement and she does her best to match. If he is to be her future, maybe he can help her leave Deidara in the past. However, the more she kisses Itachi the more she wishes it was Deidara. In all the ways itachi is soft, smooth, and sweet, Deidara is intense, wild, and exciting.

Hinata misses how he always kissed her like it was their last, like he couldn't get enough. Hinata misses how his mouths nip at her skin when they are equally revved up. She misses how kissing him overwhelmed her senses until she could experience nothing but Deidara. She misses his too soft hair tickling her cheeks and how disheveled it looked when they were done.

She can't help but pull away and apologize again. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair of me. I don't want to hurt you more than I already have," she says.

"You could never hurt me," Itachi says. Even if he means it, Hinata can't help but feel like her unrequited love is causing him pain. Itachi pokes her in the forehead, hard. She immediately goes to rub at the spot. "Stop worrying so much princess. Everything will be fine."

Something about the glint in his eyes makes Hinata believe him. She is ready to relax into his side when her senses are overwhelmed with a burst of chakra right before Naruto makes an appearance.

"YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED?" He screeches loud enough she's surprised the shudders don't fall off the hinges. She is about to respond when she pauses, cocking her head to the side.

"How did you-"

"Shisui has a big mouth. But more importantly, what the hell. I thought, well I mean, itachi? What about Deidara, isn't it too soon? Are you being forced, I can help. I'll...."

"Naru, take a breath," Hinata interrupts his rapid fire questioning. Naruto takes a dramatic inhale, giving Hinata time to explain the situation better. Naruto scoops her into a big hug, trapping her in his embrace.

"And you," he glares at Itachi, "If you so much as make her cry then Deidara isn't the only one on my list." The threat is all too real when he flares some of his Kuruma chakra. Itachi holds up his hands in a placating gesture, promising to do no such thing. When Naruto is satisfied with the response, he releases Hinata. She has a big dopey grin on her face and gives Naruto one last hug. She really loves the goofball.

Deidara doesn't do regret. He never has, so this feeling that something is wrong that he is missing something irks him greatly. Normally he would ask Sasori or Hinata about it, but he can't even do that. He hopes that once he creates a masterful explosion, everything will fall into place.

The earth shakes beneath him. The surrounding area glows with blues and greens as the mountain that once stood is reduced to nothing but a crater. The blonde finds himself bragging, "did you see how-" before he remembers Hinata is not there with him. He has been doing this since their breakup. Each time he looks for her approval or enjoyment of his explosions only to be met with nothingness.

Deidara loves his art, it is truly the most important thing in his life. However, his art seems to be lacking the flare it used to have. He thought it was due to his stint as a Konoha shinobi, but he's starting to think the lack of Hinata there to witness his art is making it much more dull.

He takes the time to ground himself, letting his thoughts wander to what is next. There are a few bounties in his book he could go after since he's strapping for cash a bit. When he is deciding on who to go after, a crow swoops down and pecks at him before flying just out of reach. When the crow swoops back to bother him again, he catches a glimpse of the blazing red eye and immediately sets out to bomb the winged messenger. Even now, the fucking Uchiha manages to piss him off. After another failed bombing, the bird dive bombs him, tangling something in his golden locs. The bird disappears a second later, just managing to not explode.

Deidara didn't think Itachi could make his mood any worse, that is until he opens the gift left for him. The first thing he gets is a picture of Hinata looking completely and utterly wrecked. Her normally clear eyes are so swollen and red it could pass for some sort of disease. She had clearly been crying, a lot. He flips the picture over and sees a date which places it two days after he had left. He shouldn't feel guilty but he does. He thought he was a mess when he left, but she looked even worse than he could have ever imagined. All because of him. His throat gets a bit sore at the thought of hurting her so horribly so; yet, he can't deny the peace he feels seeing her face again after so many months.

The next picture is entirely different, marked much more recent. It's a cute shot of her in the morning. Her hair is a tangled mess sticking up in messy spikes all around her head. Even messy he can tell Hinata must've cut a foot off of her hair. He liked it short on her. Her mouth curves into the cutest pout as she glares right at the camera. The way the picture is structured can only have been taken from someone in her bed with her which immediately sends a pang of hurt through his body. He misses waking up to see her in such a state, and how dare someone else be able to see her like that.

Already having a short fuse, the final piece of paper in his little gift from the Uchiha makes him quite literally blow a gasket. Dexterous fingers clench tightly to a wedding invitation set 2 days from now. You're Invited to celebrate the joining of love between Hinata Hyuga and Itachi Uchiha. In Itachi's trademark perfect script a small I win is etched into the bottom of the invitation. Deidara reads the line over and over, quiet laughter pouring from his mouth. They turn into cackles which shift quickly into screaming.

The only thing he can do is scream. He uses every swear in the book to curse the Uchiha name. He sets off bomb after bomb imagining blowing up the stupid raven haired asshole. He's not sure when he started crying, but the angry, hurt tears can't seem to stop. Sure, he knew leaving HInata would mean she would move on and marry someone else, but he didn't think it would be so soon. Nor with Itachi of all people. And now the shit head is rubbing it in his face.

Oh, deidara will surely be attending the wedding. He was invited after all.

Hinata plasters on a smile that never looks quite right as some of her cousins gush over her complete wedding appearance. She looks every bit the picture perfect bride, yes, but she feels...sad. The normally shiny lavender of her eyes looks pale and dull.. She should be happy on her wedding day. She's marrying her best friend, but he's not the love of her life.

Hanabi comes up from behind and places her hands on either shoulder, grounding Hinata. Looking at both of them in the mirror, Hanabi smiles. Her smile is pure love, adoration, and a bit of sorrow. Hanabi more than anyone else wants her sister to marry someone she is in love with, but she knows the weight of duty.

"You look beautiful big sis," Hanabi says. She smooths one of Hinata's stray hairs, and nods in satisfaction. Hinata leans back, resting against her most precious person.

"Don't I always?" Hinata teases. The sisters giggle a bit, only to sober up when a knock echoes throughout the room. "It's time." She takes a deep breath, holds it for a four count, and exhales. "Let's rock."

The door opens. Hiashi is waiting for her. His graying hair is pinned back in that effortless Hygua way. He looks over his daughters and nods. He presses a kiss to the top of Hanabi's head before offering a hand out to Hinata. She loops her arm through her father's, resting her head on his shoulder. He's got the sheen of pre-tears in his good eye and she can't help but tease him about it.

The music starts and after a gentle nudge of encouragement, she makes her entrance. Shoulders back, head high, let's do this thing.

The audience is filled with familiar, safe faces. Sasuke, Naruto, Shisui, Obito, Fu, Kisame, and the remaining former Akatsuki sit on Itachi's side. Ino, Hanabi, Neji, Lee, TenTen, Temari, Gaara, Hizashi, Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino, Zabuza and his babies, and all of her cousins are also in attendance. Being surrounded by most of her favorite people for something other than a war makes everything feel a bit less daunting.

Kakashi is the officiant, so he stands front and center in the nicest clothing she has ever seen him in. She'll have to tell him how hot he looks later. The last person she rests her eyes on is itachi. Normally, he dresses in Uchiha colors but for their wedding he is wearing neutrals and navy, his long hair pinned back in a similar fashion to how Neji wears his. He looks so good it's actually unfair. Based on the many drooling faces, other people agree.

His eyes haven't moved from her since she stepped outside. Something in his expression is entirely unreadable and it makes her stomach churn with uncertainty. He holds her gaze as she makes it down the aisle. As soon as Hiashi is gone, she stands beside Itachi

"It'll be ok," he whispers to her. Someone in the crowd awes at them, exclaiming how sweet young love is. Even if he's not Deidara, he is Itachi and he will always do his best to make her happy.

Kakashi clears his throat, gaining all the attention and begins. Itachi is supposed to begin his vows when he stops, saying he wants her to go first. The little shit. But, being a good wife she does. Hinata begins her promises, before she trails off and stops speaking all together.

Every inch of her body is screaming as the explosive thrum of Deidara's chakra floods her system for the first time in half a year. Pale eyes shoot to the sky where a small white blip descends quickly, coming into view. Hinata can't take her eyes off the clay bird.

Deidara swoops down, free falling the last few feet to land a sucker punch on Itachi. Hinata knows Itachi could have dodged, but he doesn't. "You fucker, how dare you. Uchiha bastard," Deidara screams. He swings again, but Kakashi catches the blow.

"Maa maa, I'm sure you're not here just to fight the groom."

At that, deidara turns towards Hinata. She is frozen; the only thing moving is her eyes which dart between Itachi and Deidara and back at the sky. When they lock eyes, Dediara takes a step forward but Hinata takes a step back. She still holds so much love for him, but seeing him physically hurts. He frowns.

"Dei, why are you here?" Hinata's voice breaks. Kakashi places a steady hand on her shoulder. Neji stands up, moving to block Hinata's view of Deidara.

"You're not welcome here anymore. Leave before I make you," Neji says. Deidara sneers, already heated and ready to open his big mouth when Itachi grabs his arm. A single shake of his head has Neji stepping down.

"I invited him," Itachi says. Almost everyone looks in his direction. One look says it all. Itachi is usually unreadable, but the longing and resignation he wears is entirely obvious.

"Why are you here," Hinata repeats, never once looking away from the blond. Whether he was invited or not, she needs to know why he's come.

"You can't...You can't marry him. I thought leaving you would be better for both of us but I was wrong. I'll destroy everything here before I let you marry anyone else but me." By the time Deidara is done, he's crying and so is Hinata. Kisame would argue Deidara was actually throwing a hissy fit, but that matters little to Hinata.

"I won't." With two simple words, there is a collective, audible reaction. There are many surprised gasps and oohss. Zabuza finds this to be entirely amusing. Quite a few people are cheering as well. Some of her clan members are getting up ready to reprimand her and demand she follows through with her duty. Hiashi and Hizashi are the ones to stop them from moving forward. Ino and Lee are very loudly chanting 'kiss him kiss him' which seems to drown out the rest. Hinata does just that, rushing into Deidara's arms and pulling him down for a kiss.

Kissing Deidara again feels like a piece of her soul is returned, everything sliding into place at once. Kissing Deidara again feels like home. Not wanting an audience, they pull away, but only barely. His hands cup her jaw, nipping all the while. Hers tangle in his hair.

"I've missed you, yeah."

"Yeah," she whispers. For a second they bask in one another's presence, completely in their own bubble. Kakashi announces the wedding to be over, breaking their little spell. All the movement grounds her and she finally looks back. Back towards Itachi.

He smiles at her and immediately she knows. This is perhaps his greatest act of love to her. She turns back to Deidara. He lifts her into his arms, hopping onto a clay bird and taking them both deep into the forest to talk. She sits in his lap, a lock of his golden hair twirling around her index finger.

"I'm happy you're here Dei. I really am. but if you're not here to take me with you this time, I need you to go. I can't handle you leaving me like that again, I was finally moving forward. I can't go back there no matter how much I love you."

"I thought it would be better for both of us, yeah. I don't regret leaving, but I couldn't stop thinking about coming back to get you. Nothing shines quite like you do, my muse." Deidara peppers feathery kisses along her neck, enjoying the chimes of her laughter.

"You promise to take me with you this time?"

"I promise, hmm."

"Then kiss me like you mean it."

"Always."

Hinata ended up doing a lot of negotiation to be allowed the same freedom to longterm travel outside the village and still be considered a konoha shinobi like Tsunade.

There are so many goodbyes, it takes her two weeks to even be able to leave so that she can talk to everyone she adores.

Saying goodbye to Naruto and Sasuke was equally as hard to saying bye to Hanabi and Neji. They're her brothers, her closest friends, and her most trusted allies. She promises that if they ever need her, all they have to do is ask through ugly tears and snot bubbles. Her boys dont fare much better, but they know they'll see one another again. They are team 7 now and forever.

It's itachi who she says bye to last. They've been avoiding one another. But, its time and she finally finds his sneaky ass.

Hinata marches up to Itachi, pounding a bit on his chest. "You asshole," she cries. He just smiles at her with adoration.

"I promised I'd do anything to make you happy."

"You big fat stupid idiot, how could you do this for me. How can I ever make this up to you? I just....thank you Itachi. Truly." She hugs him tightly.

"Enjoy everything he has to offer. You will always have a place here shall you ever desire to return."

"You make it sound as if I'm never gonna visit. I love all you idiots too much to not come back. Besides, I'm hoping next time I come back you'll be marrying someone else... Kisame maybe? Ino and choji also just broke up...you'd be hot together." She winks. Itachi doesn't react. Like at all. She places a hand on his arm, squeezing lightly. "It's time you live your life for you, nobody else. Please. Just be open to anything."

"Hn." His middle and index fingers poke her forehead. It's not a no. She'll take it. It makes it a bit easier to leave.

Its surprising. Hinata never pictured herself not living in the village, but she will go wherever Deidara goes. It will be worth it to see the world unencumbered by the looming threat of needing to change the future. In fact, Hinata has never felt more free. Deidara is the love of her life and one of the many reasons she adores him is how much he values freedom. Being with him freed her and she is so excited to experience her life from this point forward as someone who is free.

A joyous laugh falls from her mouth. Her arms extend out wide, feeling the wind whip against her face. Deidara isnt sure why but he laughs too. She sounds too happy, too humored to not join in. They're free, together.

Deidara and Hinata have one child. Hisora. He's got all the felinity of his parents. His moms eyes and hair but Deidaras artist mindset. He's perfect and all theirs. They never marry, what is the point if they know they love one another. Hinata visits the village time after time and helps stop another global catastrophe. Deidara dies young, but older than anyone could have predicted. He dies about 10 years after their son is born and Hinata returns to the village to run the hospital and teach future shinobi medical ninjutsu. They live a happy, fulfilled life never lacking in chaos.

​​​​​​​A/N: Another day another not itachi or Sasuke ending lol. I bet some of you were hoping for something more specific to them falling in love but I couldn't think of a way to keep it in character and in my world without deidara leaving. So here comes a jealous, heartbroken chapter that I think fits with their love very well.

Thank you for taking the time to read this far and I hope to keep writing for you all even if it is sporadic. I so appreciate the support. I'm really trying to get a good job so I can pay rent lol. Hopefully I'll be going to esthetician school starting in January because I got a degree and still would rather do peoples makeup and tattoos. Wish me luck.