Chapter Two: Enter Uzumaki Hikari

Deidara gave Itachi a grin as the two ninja headed for Itachi's apartment, arms ladened with groceries. "Man, you and Daisuke cook a lot, un."

Itachi rolled his eyes. "Deidara, I don't eat ramen twenty-four-seven. And I most certainly don't go out to eat all the time, either."

"You can call me Dei-san, Ita-kun," Deidara pouted.

Itachi ignored the blond, concentrating on getting home. Focusing on his path, he didn't notice the shadow coming into his path. He came to an abrupt halt as a ninja stepped in front of him.

"What, un?!" Deidara exclaimed after bumping into Itachi. He looked around the Uchiha, staring at the ninja in front of them.

"Uzumaki?" Itachi's calm voice masked his inner surprise.

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Daisuke glared into Orochimaru's eyes which were inches from his own. His hands rested on the armrests of the chair as he leaned over the ex-sannin. The red tint to his eyes became more distinct. His voice came out nearly strained with anger. "I don't kill Akatsuki members."

Orochimaru stared wide-eyed as Daisuke straightened himself and turned his back on him. The snake ninja felt fury build up in him as he watched the assassin's back. He stood and grabbed hold of the half-breed's scarf. "I've hired you, so you do as I say."

Daisuke growled. "Let go of my scarf."

Orochimaru wasn't fazed. "No. If you won't do this assignment, I want to know what you look like. Just in case I need to kill you."

Daisuke's mouth twitched as he held back a snarl. He felt his scarf loosen and fall on his shoulders. He kept his back to Orochimaru, wondering what the snake ninja's motives were. Doesn't matter. Once he sees my face, I can kill him. This won't be my problem any longer. He waited patiently as Orochimaru slowly stepped around him.

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Deidara kept staring at the kunoichi, wondering how she could see if her headband was covering her eyes. Her burnt orange hair looped at the nape of her neck in a fold so that the ends were toward the top of her head. Her black Konoha headband held it in place, letting the ends arc over the knot. One loose strand hung at her right cheek, held by a black clip, ending just below her jaw. Her clothing consisted of a white tank covered by a black vest that hung open and was only clipped at the corners of the collar. Her pants were black, matching her ninja footwear. Black gloves covered her hands, only to be cut off at the knuckles creating a large hole for her fingers. Small metal plates were attached on the backs of the gloves.

Itachi noticed the ninja's mouth was set in a frown and kept himself from flinching. He stared at her headband, her bangs nearly covering it.

"Uchiha!" the female yelled, socking him in the jaw. "I've been looking for you for four frickin' years!!"

Itachi glared, touching his jaw. "What do you mean four years, Uzumaki?"

"Uzumaki, un?" Deidara questioned. "Like Uzumaki Naruto?"

Itachi's eyes were deadly as he kept his voice low. "Exactly. Deidara, meet Uzumaki Hikari."

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Daisuke reached for his holster, but felt a hand covering his lower face. He stared straight into Orochimaru's yellow eyes as his hand stopped midway for his kunai.

Orochimaru smirked. "I figure that seeing your face would only end my life. You kill anyone who sees it, am I right?"

Daisuke kept himself calm, feeling Orochimaru's fingers gently touching his face. He tried to ignore the snake's soft, seducing voice. The gentle touch pushed on Daisuke's mouth, causing the startled assassin to fall backwards into Orochimaru's chair.

Orochimaru licked his lips as he smiled down at the sprawled out Mist-ninja. As Daisuke was trying to reposition his wide-spread legs, Orochimaru straddled him. He looked up at Orochimaru, eyes slightly widening at how close the snake ninja's face was.

Orochimaru began slowly pulling his hand down Daisuke's face, his fingers barely touching the half-breed's skin. His fingertips lingered at the assassin's mouth, touching his lips lustfully. Daisuke's mind was reeling as he tried to get his body to act. As Orochimaru's fingers brushed down his chin and to his throat, the assassin finally put his hands on the ex-sannin's chest. He tried to push the snake ninja off, failing miserably for his position gave him no leverage to do so.

Daisuke realized Orochimaru's face was barely inches from his own. He tried to look away but the elder caught his jaw and held his head in place. The assassin tried to push the snake ninja off, but his arms weren't responding. Shit, this dude is making a move on me and I'm in no position to fight back. Daisuke's thoughts were interrupted as he felt Orochimaru's tongue slide against his lips. At the same time, the snake ninja's knee pressed gently into the assassin's groin.

As a gasp passed through his victim's lips, Orochimaru slid his tongue into Daisuke's mouth. His lips gently touched the assassin's as he rubbed his tongue against Daisuke's. His eyes slowly closed in pleasure, while the half-breed's were already shut tight in discomfort.

Why didn't Itachi just come instead of me? Daisuke thought to himself. If he had just done this in the first place, I wouldn't be in this mess. He bit down on Orochimaru's tongue instinctively. Instead of the snake ninja pulling away, he just smiled through the kiss. Can't anything get this guy off me? Wait, I'm of a line of seducers for crying out loud! I guess it's time to bring it out.

Orochimaru seemed a bit surprised as Daisuke's arms wrapped around his waist. Needing a breath of air, he pulled away with a smirk playing on his lips. "Now that I have your attention, will you do the job I gave you? There'll be quite the reward, if you get my drift."

Daisuke played along, his voice soft. "Anything for you, Orochimaru."

"Good," the snake ninja purred.

Daisuke leaned forward, finishing the hand signs he was making behind Orochimaru's back. He whispered into the snake ninja's ear as he held the last sign. "Seduction Jutsu."

Orochimaru felt himself go limp as Daisuke sat up, removing himself from under him. The ex-sannin's body wouldn't listen as he tried to get it to move. He watched Daisuke fix his scarf and walk out of the room without saying another word. What the hell did he just do?

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Hikari crossed her arms as she leaned back, seated against the back of Itachi's couch. She kept facing his direction, knowing exactly where was, along with everything else in the room.

"Are you sure she's never been here, un?" Deidara asked Itachi for the hundredth time. (A/N Okay, not the hundredth, but you get what I mean)

"Yes," Itachi growled. "She focuses her chakra to figure where she's going and what obstacles are in her way. Don't ask me again, Deidara."

Deidara shut his mouth and sat on a chair across form the couch. He stared at Hikari, a frown playing on his lips.

"Stop staring at me," the female ANBU spoke.

The Rock-ninja's eyes widened. "H-How'd you know?"

"My Chakra," came the short reply.

Deidara shifted his scowl to the floor. I don't like this girl, un.

Hikari waited for Itachi to sit down with a cup of tea before she spoke. "Four years of searching and I find you as a member of Akatsuki. What happened Uchiha? Why'd you kill your clan?"

Itachi didn't answer. Instead, he smacked Deidara's hand which had wandered to his tea. He gave the blond a glare, grabbing his cup and holding it.

"Answer me, Uchiha." Hikari nearly growled.

"I don't have to, Uzumaki."

"We both were on the same ANBU team at age thirteen. You were my captain, and I made it my mission to bring you back to Konoha."

Itachi set down his tea, grabbed the kunoichi's arm and stood her up. He roughly led her to the door and opened it. Pushing her out, he gave one last remark. "I won't go back. I couldn't, even if I wanted to."

Hikari spun on her heel as the door shut. "I won't give up until I've completed this mission, Uchiha. You can count on it."

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So, what do you guys think? I know, it's weird having Itachi's past come up on him like this, but that's what's so fun.

Itachi: why?

Deidara: So, why do you call eacother by your last names?

Itachi: I'm not answering.

Uzumaki-Hikari: I'll tell you, Dei-kun. Ita-kun and Hikari were ninja at thesmae age, so they were always competetive. Therefore, they never showed the other respect and used last names instead of first.

Deidara: I see...hey! since when were we Dei-kun and Ita-kun?!

Uzumaki-Hikari: Since I said so.

Itachi: I can't wait for this thing to end. I seriously want to kill this author.

Deidara: Things are getting interesting. snickers Ita-kun.

Itachi: gives death-glare to Deiara shut up, Dei-kun.