Under the Heartwood Arch ~
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Deidara stepped forward, playful, and caught Kurotsuchi’s wrist, cutting off any possibility of escape. With a firm grip, he held her fast, while his other hand toyed with the turquoise ribbon that decorated the young woman’s chignon. His skilled fingers turned the colorful silk as if appreciating every detail of the adornment she had chosen. His lips stretched into a mischievous smile, and his gaze shone with an eager, almost predatory glint. He leaned in closer and closer, until Kurotsuchi could feel his breath brushing her skin, a nearness that sent her into turmoil.
The dark-haired kunoichi stood stiffly, torn between embarrassment and irritation. Her cheeks flushed against her will, the warmth spreading through her entire body under Deidara’s intense stare. To avoid meeting his piercing blue eyes, she turned hers slightly away, focusing on some distant, imaginary point in an attempt to compose herself. But his grip kept her tethered, pulling her inevitably closer to him.
Resolute in her effort to create some distance, Kurotsuchi extended her index finger from the hand he still held captive, pressing it gently but firmly beneath Deidara’s chin—a subtle push to fend off this dizzying closeness. In her other hand, she clutched a fan, still but poised to intervene if needed.
“Why are you staring at me like that, idiot?” she murmured, her voice colored with a mix of defiance and unease.
Deidara arched a brow, clearly entertained by her attempt to resist.
“I’m not used to seeing you in this kind of outfit, hm,” he retorted, his tone mocking, his words punctuated by a sly wink. “I’m just admiring the effort.”
He gave the turquoise ribbon a small tug, letting it fall momentarily before picking it back up again. His fingers played with the fabric like a curious cat, toying with it with teasing grace. Kurotsuchi felt her heart race at his almost provocative gestures, his infuriating closeness, and that maddening smile that refused to waver even in the face of her discomfort. She tightened her hold on the fan’s handle, making an effort to appear calm, though every fiber of her being screamed her to escape his intoxicating grasp.
“If you don’t stop, I’ll push you into the water,” she warned, her tone sharp, though her eyes remained averted as she tried to conceal her unease behind a show of irritation.
Deidara’s laughter burst forth, ringing out brightly in the stillness of the night. Though he eventually let go of the ribbon, he kept her wrist in his grasp, loosening his hold just enough to allow her a glimpse of freedom without truly granting it. His gaze, though still alight with amusement, softened into something more genuine as he regarded her.
“You’re so cute when you blush, Kurotsuchi, hm,” he murmured softly.
She finally looked up, attempting to mask her embarrassment with a glare that aimed to be fierce but was undercut by the red flush on her cheeks.
"Stop talking nonsense, you idiot! Are the fireflies making you lose your mind by hitting you on the head or what?!"
Deidara chuckled again, this time more softly, and finally released her wrist. Yet before she could move back, he leaned even closer, his face just inches from hers.
“Maybe,” he whispered, his tone lower and more intimate, “or maybe it’s your fault I’m losing my head, hmm?”
Kurotsuchi instinctively leaned back, though a faint, amused smile tugged at her lips. Raising her fan, she gave him a light push against his chest, her tone caught between scolding and playfulness.
“I swear, Deidara... One of these days, it’ll be you who ends up blushing.”
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Art commissioned from @marii-pily <3 This artist is a source of inspiration for me.
I really love this composition; I visualized it quite easily, but I think the wooden door must have given Marii-Pily a lot of work.
Kurotsuchi's outfit wasn't easy to design. I had planned a completely different design, but it was quite complicated to explain. I also wanted to change up the color palette a bit, but in the end, I always end up using the same color palette for Kurotsuchi’s outfits, haha.
Thanks again to Marii-Pily for this amazing work. I love it with all my heart.
The fanfic texts I associate with the illustrations are fairly simple (because I normally love writing descriptions) but they're complicated to translate into English (although I help myself a lot and check with the translator), but I hope I've done well.
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The alternate version:
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Reupload, use, and edit are prohibited!
