Hey everyone! So, this here is a complete over-haul of a previous story of mine. If you remember it- it was called 'Akatsuki Apprentices' – and at the time I began it (Mid-2009) it was going to be centered around the fact the Akatsuki had apprentices. Well, over the two years I wrote it- it began to take a turn towards a different direction- and then in 2011, I just lost all inspiration. But I couldn't just let it go because I had come to adore the OC's I created for it. So—the past few months I have been slowly tweaking all the OC's- giving them new backstories, identities and just a complete overhaul. It even has a new title- as you can see. The new title ties in much better with the direction it will be going, and to the main OC- Kaori.

So, I hope you all stick around to see the new direction this takes, and I love all you!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I do own the 14 OCs (Kaori, Saki, Tsubaki, Airi, Ran, Haruna, Emi, Ryouichi, Takahiko, Katsuro, Ken'Ichi, Kohaku and Shirou- and any family related to the before-mentioned OC's)

/AN: 10 Kilometers is equal to 6.2 Miles

Warning: Does contain cussing and some violence (due to Ken'Ichi)

Kaori sat on the cold stone floor, partially hidden in the darkness. Several feet from her, two males leaned against the wall, watching the group of 5 men that stood in a circle in the middle of the cave.
"Any idea where Airi, Tsubaki and Katsuro are?" the blue haired guy closest to Kaori asked.
"Dunno," the other shrugged, more focused on something else.
"What about you, Kaori?"
"No clue either, Ryouichi. Probably out doing some scouting for them two." Kaori motioned towards the group standing away from them. The cold cave only seemed to get colder as the sunlight outside disappeared. It didn't help that her green shirt didn't have sleeves- which was probably her own fault. Shivering involuntarily, Kaori kept her eyes ahead of her- one thought continuously running through her mind.
"How much longer do I have here?"
"Good point. What-" Before he could finish, the blue-haired guy ducked down just as a small explosion went off right beside where his head had been.
"Oi! Be quiet over there-un!" A blonde shouted, glaring at the three of them. The four others standing with him also had their eyes on them. As Kaori looked toward one in particular- his onyx eyes flashed red momentarily- then turned back to their normal emotionless state.
"Don't have to bite my head off," Ryouichi grumbled, standing up and wiping his hands on his pants.
"Kaori." The three by the wall all looked to the source of the voice- a bit surprised. Wordlessly- the raven haired teen got up and walked over to the other group.
"Y-yes?"
"About ten kilometers west of here is another cave. Take them with you- and meet up with the others there. We will follow shortly." Kaori nodded wordlessly. She understood that that meant the Akatsuki would have him do something grim. Something he obviously didn't want her to see him do.
"That's Itachi for you though," Kaori thought to herself- motioning the two guys to follow her," Always looks out for others before his own well-being. It's why we're here in the first place." As the three of them made their way towards the opening of the cave- Kaori heard the puppet-master ask,
"Can we trust her?"
"I don't know. Itachi?" Kisame reflected to his partner.
"With my life." Itachi simply answered, filling Kaori's gut with an emotional whirlwind. Oh how she loved the ill-fated Uchiha.

Almost two hours later, the three of them knew they were getting close to the other cave Itachi mentioned. As they weaved between the tall trees, Kaori noted the rocky wall ahead of them.
"I wonder who it is we are meeting up with. Perhaps the twins?" Ryouichi guessed, looking around at the scenery. The only reply he got was a half shrug from Takahiko; Kaori's mind was elsewhere- thinking about home and how it could be vastly different right now.
"We would probably be preparing for our wedding… picking out flowers… looking at kimono's… figuring out who would be invited and who-"
"KYAHH!" The sudden battle cry ripped Kaori out of her wishful thoughts- as the three of them were instantly in fight mode. Kaori dodged over to the left, jumping onto a bare tree branch; Takahiko skittered backwards, crouching down and reaching for the kunai in his back pocket; Ryouichi glanced up and quickly sidestepped their attacker.
"Hah! Pathetic!"
"Oi! What's your problem?" Ryouichi demanded, jumping back continuously as he was pursued by the other.
"No problem- Chicken shit. Just bored," the blue-haired guy laughed, a smug grin plastered across his face. Takahiko and Kaori watched warily as the two sparred- as they were joined by three others.
"Hate to say- but I am glad he is taking it out on someone else." Kaori noticed he had a few bruises on his face- they looked about two days old.
"He's just sour that Shirou isn't around," a pinkett scowled, narrowing her sea-green eyes.
"Where is your cousin, anyway?"
"No clue," she answered, blinking in boredom as Ryouichi went flying across the clearing and slamming into the moss covered wall of the mountain.
"Aren't we going to stop him?" Kaori asked, feeling a bit worried for his well-being. Everyone just looked at her like she was crazy.
"Your funeral," Takahiko shrugged. Her blue eyes scanned the group as she realized they all had one thing in common.

Fear. Fear of Ken'Ichi.

Even the pink-haired Haruna- who just a month ago had killed someone who threatened Shirou- didn't want nothing to do with Ken'Ichi.

"Lightning Release: Dark Missile."

The air buzzed with a high pitch squeal as the energy raced towards Ryouichi. His purple eyes widened- as he narrowly escaped, falling to the ground.
"What the hell Ken'Ichi?! Enough man!" Ryouichi exclaimed, attempting to stand up but only to fall back to the ground. The man in question narrowed his eyes in excitement, his mouth twitching into a smile.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness."

The streak of off-white raced towards the blue-haired shinobi- and due to the physical attack from Ken'Ichi, there was nothing he could do to defend himself. Closing his purple eyes- Ryouichi braced himself for the painful impact.

"Lightning Style: Shield of Light!"

Just as Ken'Ichi's attack was about to tear into Ryouichi- it rebounded off to the left, crashing through the forest and disappearing from sight. Kaori stood protectively in front of Ryouichi, her hands held out in front of her- as a shield of bright white lightning hovered in front of them both.

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise- including Ken'Ichi's green. Kaori narrowed her blue eyes, as she lowered her hands, dispersing the shield.
"Enough, Ken'Ichi. You've taken it too far."
"Excuse me, little girl?" Ken'Ichi asked, his voice low with distaste and hatred in his eyes," Did anyone ask you? Did anyone ask for your opinion of my actions?"
"No- but I am not just going to let you kill a person out of boredom." Ken'Ichi became expressionless, his face unreadable. A few silent seconds passed, as everyone waited on bated breath. Kaori untensed her body, and turned around to face Ryouichi. Kneeling down, she reached out and gently cupped his face- turning it to the right to look at the injuries he had sustained.
"Thanks," Ryouichi murmured," You didn't – Watch-!" Before he could finish- Kaori felt someone grab a handful of her hair, and yank backwards.
"Ye-ah!" Kaori gasped, reaching her hands up and gripping the muscular arm that had a hold of her.
"Ken'Ichi—Enough man! Leave her alone!" Ryouichi interjected.
"SHUT UP!" Ken'Ichi yelled, backhanding him with his free hand.

"Lightning Style: Electric Pul—"

Ken'Ichi roughly kicked Kaori in the middle of her back, causing her body to violently lurch forward- her spine softly cracking from the force.
"I don't think so!" Ken'Ichi snapped, tossing Kaori to the side. He straddled her body and gripped her by her throat- and looking back over his shoulder, he hissed to the younger group,
"Anyone want to interrupt?"

When no one moved or said anything- he smirked, and turned his attention back to Kaori. Cold green eyes stared into resilient blue as Ken'Ichi's grip on her throat tightened. Leaning down, closing the space between their bodies- he whispered in her ear.
"Don't. Ever. Stand. In. My. Way." The longer he gripped her throat, the more difficult it was to breathe- and Kaori began to fight for air. Smiling, Ken'Ichi released her neck- and stood up. Turning his back on her, he began walking away as she leaned up, rubbing her neck.
"They might fear you- but I do not. As long as I am around I will not allow you to unjustly kill someone!" Kaori croaked, her eyes narrowed. That split second- she forgot her place; forgot her mission- and stood for a true belief. This statement stopped Ken'Ichi in his tracks, as his head snapped back towards her. His green eyes glared at her- and before anyone could register his movements, Ken'Ichi was beside Kaori and had held by her neck once more. He slammed her against the rocky mountain wall, and gripped her neck tightly, squeezing until she began to fight for her breath once more. Clawing his arm, she tried to fight back, kicking at him with her knees- but this only made him more pissed off at her. His left fist collided with her face- and then her gut before someone yanked him off of her. Ken'Ichi went flying backwards, until he was able to gain traction with the ground. Looking around for who had interfered this time, he was surprised to see Saki standing about five foot from the others- her right arm held out in front of her with an open scroll dangling from her hand. His eyes narrowed- and he began walking towards the younger girl- until he felt arms wrap around his whole body. Looking for the source- Ken'Ichi realized that it was Saki's doing.

"Let me go you bitch!" Ken'Ichi demanded, struggling against her hold. The brunette merely blinked- completely unfazed by his tone.
"Enough, Ken'Ichi-san," Saki said, her voice flat," You know the others will not appreciate your bullying."
"Tch," Ken'Ichi sneered, averting his eyes. He knew she had a point- but would never admit it. Saki dropped her hand, thus releasing her hold on the blue-haired shinobi- and he instantly walked off, leaving them behind. As she rolled up the scroll, Saki calmly walked over to Kaori and knelt down.
"Are you alright, Kaori-san?"
"I am," Kaori breathed, gritting her teeth to keep from crying out in pain.
"What about you- Ryouichi-san?" As she turned her attention to him, his eyes widened in surprise and his face gained some color.
"I-I'll be okay. This wasn't anything he hasn't done before," Ryouichi answered, rubbing the back of his head.
"We should get back to base before they arrive," Haruna pointed out, and the others nodded in agreement. Kaori attempted to get up, but her mid-section was extremely sore from Ken'Ichi's attack- and the pain was almost unbearable.
"I can't remember the last time I trained in Taijutsu- it's had to have been at least three years…" Kaori thought, squeezing her blue eyes shut in an attempt to keep the tears back.
"Kaori-san, allow me to help you." Saki said, kneeling back down and wrapping one arm around Kaori's back; she gritted her teeth even more to keep from crying out.
"Things like this make me wish I was back home…. But I don't want to leave him… not just yet…"

Night fell, and everyone gathered around the small fire they had built within the belly of the cave. Kaori laid away from the others; a part of her wanted to be alone, but the other wanted just the opposite.
"Times like this… when we were younger…. He'd curl up behind me… and take care of me…" Within the silence, they all heard the approaching footsteps. All of them- except Kaori- prepared to defend themselves.
"Ease up, little shits," Hidan scoffed, rolling his purple orbs. Along with him, traveled Kakuzu, Kisame, and Itachi.
"Where is Ken'Ichi?" Kisame asked, shouldering his Samehada.
"Walked off. He got into it with a few of us when Kaori's group joined- and Saki put him in his place," Kohaku answered. As this news sunk in- Itachi looked around the cave and noticed Kaori was away from the others. Silently, he walked over to her and looked down at her. Silent moments passed- neither moved. Behind him, Itachi heard the others conversing. Kneeling down, Itachi placed a hand on Kaori's upper arm and turned her to face him. When his emotionless black eyes met her tear-filled blue- his eyes widened and he felt his chest contract.
"Kaori… did Ken'Ichi do this to you?" Itachi asked, scanning over her body. He could tell she was in pain, just by the way she was holding her body; how stiff she was. When she averted her eyes, he knew the answer.

Ken'Ichi had done this. He had done this to his woman. Narrowing his eyes, Itachi went to stand up- but Kaori's hand shot out and grabbed one of his sleeves.
"Please…. 'Tachi… Don't…. Don't leave me…." She whispered, a tear rolling down her face. Her blue eyes pleaded with him, before she closed them and let him go. If anyone knew better- she did. Itachi had to fit in with the others. He couldn't care. Not about his family, village, brother. Not about her.
"Sorry…." Kaori whispered, and slowly rolling back over- facing the cold, stone wall. Itachi's eyes softened; he knew she wanted things to be like they used to- but he also knew that she was aware that they could never be that way again. And it was his fault. Reaching up, Itachi took off the red and black cloak- and draped it over Kaori's body. With that- he sat next to her, leaning against the wall- and gently rested a hand on her head. Her body slowly eased up, as she smiled to herself- and finally allowed herself to sleep.

Staring at the ground, Itachi's eyes narrowed with hate- and his onyx orbs turned red as his sharigan came out.

Ken'Ichi would not get away with this. Itachi would be sure of that.

*END*
So, what do you all think?
Much better- yes?

Incase you are wondering- in Akatsuki Apprentices- Ken'Ichi used to be Kai. I don't know if I should make a list of who was who- because I don't want to confuse anyone...
If you are interested- there are pictures and new names/previous names found on my tumblr AND deviantart. Link to both is on my main profile near the top.

I'll update as soon as I can!