A/N: Hello! Sorry about any spelling mistakes or typos in the last chapter. Well time for declaimer, (since I forgot in the last chapter, sorry!) Kaori, why don't you do it first.

K: Okay, but when do I get to go to Konoha again?

Me: I donno, we'll see…

K: -Pouts- this baka does not own Naruto, hurray for us! And Itachi hates her.

I: Don't bring me into this.

Me: Hey!

Opiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepiepie

Dream:

I feel like I was forgetting something… something important. Kaori thought sleepily. What was she forgetting? Something was making her sway gently, almost like the rocking of a boat. Looking down at her feet she only saw stone, cold, hard, and tinged green from algae. Am I in a cave? Looking up she saw the same stone all the way around. The cave extended into the darkness. Peering deeper, she saw a form appear. As the figure walked closer, she recognized him as the ninja from the bar. Gasping, she took a step back, he wore no hat and his eyes glowed red. His smile was cruel as her reached out to her. Walking back her felt the stone coldness of the wall. Looking for another escape, she found none. Walls were on either side and he was coming closer. Kaori now recognized the red glow was from his Sharingan. Shuddering, she pressed to the wall as far as she could, wishing she would just be swallowed by it, anything but be anywhere near Itachi Uchiha.

Kaori woke, but found she couldn't move. What was even odder what that the ground was moving. It took her a moment to realize that she was being carried. Repeatedly she tried to move. She sighed, and blew her flaming red, and black hair out of her eyes.

"You finally awake?" A cold voice asked. She yelped. Then grimaced as she felt the man carrying her tense. Looking at the back of her captor she noticed he was wearing a telltale black cloak with red clouds. Her eyes widened in fear, he belonged to Akatsuki! She yelped again and tried harder to move, this time she managed wiggle a little. Her captor sighed and slid her down from his shoulder. Carrying her in his arms, Itachi glared at her. Feeling the grogginess fade, she cowered away from him. Raising an eyebrow, he stared into her forest green eyes.

"W…what d-do you w-want?" she stuttered, ducking her head when he glared at her again. Closing her eyes she tried not to shudder, or shiver, or move at all. Suddenly he stopped, and her curiosity got the better of her. She opened her eyes to find him intently looking ahead. Following his gaze, she gasped, a man who looked more like a shark was only a few feet in front of them. Closing her eyes she drew a breath to scream, but the arm that was holding her legs dropped and covered her mouth. Falling to her feet, she bit his fingers and tried to run. She only got a few feet before Itachi stood in front of her glowering. Behind her she heard the other… person, snicker. Spinning on her heel she tried to run the other direction before an arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her up. Yelling she wiggled and threw herself about like a mad doll. Trying anything to get away. She kicked, bit, and punched, till she felt a blade at her throat. It felt almost as if something was being sucked from her. Gasping, she froze, and closed her eyes. Feeling tears form in her eyes she forced them down, it would not do for her to cry. They would only see her as weak.

"What a pain, this will take far too long. Are you sure we can't kill her Itachi?"

"No Kisame." The one called Kisame sighed. Itachi sighed as well. "Do you think you could remove your sword from her neck? I need to be able to see her without cutting her." slowly she felt the blade leave her skin. But she kept her eyes closed and stayed as still as possible. "Kaori, you will listen to me now. I will no longer stand your antics, so the next time you try this I will unleash the Mangekyo Sharingan, understand?" weakly she nodded. Since when were we on a first name basis? And how does he know my name?! Feeling herself being lifted again she tensed, then relaxed and let herself go limp. Why not make it harder for them?

XxX

They traveled for another day before Itachi announced they were almost to headquarters. Kaori flinched and moved farther away from them. Feeling their eyes on her as she pulled out the blanket she used as a bedroll, she lied down. Facing away she heard them faintly murmuring about something. Deciding it didn't concern her, she tried without much success to fall asleep.

The next morning someone was shaking her. Not sleeping well last night or the night before she decided to be a pain and sleep as late as possible. Someone sighed and shook her again, but harder. "Kaori. Get up." Recognizing the voice she popped up. Itachi glared at her, upset about having to waste time to wake her. He used my first name again… but I don't think I want to confront him about it. Standing, she quickly rolled up her bed and stuffed it in her pack. Keeping her head down she walked over to where Itachi and Kisame were standing. Waiting for them to leave, she gasped in surprise as an arm wrapped around her waist. Clamping her eyes shut, she tensed. Air rushed by her and she felt as if she was flying. Once again, her curiosity won over her better judgment and she opened her eyes. They were running through the trees. Kaori huffed; did they think she was too weak to run treetops? Looking up, she wished she hadn't. Kisame was carrying her, holding back a shudder, she closed her eyes again. She decided to forget about the danger she was in, how scared she was, everything, but the feeling of flying. But, all too soon, they stopped and Kaori was snapped back into reality, and fear. Scared out of her wits she faked sleep and once again hung limp.

"Itachi! She's heavy, you carry her."

Please say no please say no, no, no!

"No, why don't you just wake her?" Itachi sounded agitated.

"Eh? Good point, I don't think straight when I'm hungry." right on cue, Kisame's stomach growled. Twitching she wondered what they were going to do next…

"Kyyyya!! Ow! That hurt!" Kaori had been suddenly dropped on her side. Bringing her out of her "sleep" harshly. Glaring at Kisame, who was smiling in return and showing his pointed teeth, she stood and brushed herself off.

"Kisame try not to break her, Leader might need her for something." Kaori jumped, Itachi was right behind her, and she hadn't sensed him. I must have been too fixated on Kisame, or… maybe… I'm getting used to the aura of his chakra… Kaori mentally shook her head, she refused to believe that. Suddenly something was put over her eyes, and on her head. She was being blindfolded!

"What the hell do you need a blindfold for??" she imagined Itachi glaring at her. Pushing her forward, she nearly fell, cursing low under her breath. After several near stumbles and more cursing, she rammed into something hard.

"Ow! Damn that hurt!" she heard one of them (probably Kisame) chuckle. Itachi didn't have a sense of humor… that she knew of. Sensing someone behind her, she reflexively spun, about to strike. That someone stopped her, holding her wrist, hard. It felt like skin so she had a guess of who it was.

"Ita-Itachi!" she gasped out. It hurt. It was defiantly her unlucky day. Still holding onto her wrist. He moved behind her, and fumbled with the knot on her blindfold. Once done, he let go of her wrist. Sighing with relief, she cradled her hand across her chest and tried to take off the hat, which looked the same as when she had met Itachi, to give him one of her famous glares. Guaranteed to frighten most children and animals. someone pushed the hat back down on her head, she gasped. "Hey what's the big ide…"

"Shut up and keep the hat on." Itachi growled. Kaori's anger flared. She growled back but it to was cut short by one of his menacing "I'll kill you without a thought" and he probably would, glares. Shrinking back she tried to get control over her shuddering body. Noticing that Kisame hadn't chuckled at them butting heads she looked back towards the forest but he wasn't there. Puzzled, she quickly turned around again as the sound of large rocks scraping against each other started in front of her. For the umpteenth time to day she gasped. The stone wall in front of her was moving, creating a large hole into a cave.

"Get in, and keep your head down." Kaori looked down, but squared her shoulders and kept her back straight. She may have to keep her head down but she was going to walk proudly.

"Che." Kaori twitched, but kept her temper under control. Itachi placed a hand on her shoulder and nudged her forward. He's going to lead me? Rolling her eyes, she went along. No need to cause trouble in the HQ of Akatsuki… well maybe a little, once I get to know my around, and hiding places. If I last that long… Looking around as much as she was able, she noticed it looked familiar. But she couldn't pinpoint where.

"Keep your head down!" Itachi suddenly snarled.

"Jeez sorry, bastard." she muttered, before she saw stars, and excruciating pain laced through her head. "You will speak to me with respect." he glared down at the girl sprawled across the stone floor, looking expectantly for an answer. Looking away she nodded weakly. Standing again, she picked up the hat and saw Itachi stand in front of her.

"Follow me." his voice was sharp and deathly cold. Keeping her head down, she sighed… defiantly not a good day.

XxX

Soon Itachi and his captive reached the Leader's office. After shoving her in, the door behind her closed leaving her in a dark, cold room. Out of nowhere shivers repeatedly ran down her spine, making her hug herself for warmth. Goosebumps covered her like a second skin. What is this? It's like something very evil is nearby. Through the shivers, she could sense a very strong chakra presence, even stronger than Itachi's.

"So you have finally arrived." a dark voice echoed through the room, making her jump.

"Who are you? Where are you?" Kaori asked weakly, trying to banish the fear from her voice. Quietly clearing her throat, she spoke louder. "What do you want with me?" she managed to sound somewhat more confident but her knees felt like pudding.

"Hmm right to the point, aren't you? Well the fact of the matter is that I need you for ransom. Your parents hold an antidote and I need it, for their precious daughter I'm sure they'll give it to me." by his voice, it sounded like he was smiling. Kaori gulped, then decided to push her luck.

"And if I don't comply? What will you do?"

"Are you really that stupid? I'll have to kill you of course." he said flippantly. Anger boiled in Kaori.

"You bastard! Where are you!? I'll send you to hell!" she scanned the room looking for anything that would identify him. Finally, finding a small glimmer, she smiled. The sense of his power felt very strong from there, she charged at him. Reaching for her kunai, she realized she didn't have them anymore. She had never been to the academy, she often got sick when she was younger, and occasionally she would now as well. She realized she didn't know how to fight him. I'll just have to try…

"Ugh!" she fell onto the floor doubled over in pain. Someone had rammed their fist into her stomach, or rather she had run into their fist. "Ow… shit!" furiously she tried to keep her tears from showing and her sobs quiet.

"Ah, Itachi, thank you. I didn't think she would be stupid enough to attack the leader of Akatsuki." Kaori felt her anger rising again but the pain won over her. She had to have to broken two ribs at least.

"Itachi, please take her back with you, and once she heals… train her. I like her."

"What?!" Kaori and Itachi chorused. Kaori gasped and fell to the floor again, she had tried to sit up at the news. When she didn't try again, they figured that she had fainted. Itachi watched with grim eyes, then bent down and picked her up.

"Interesting Itachi, do you care for this girl? Normally you would have put a knife to her throat."

"You have a use for her. Why do you want me to train her?"

"She has a special ability, it would only suit for you train her. And… I want her to join us. She knows you, and will come to trust you. I counting on that." Puzzled as ever, though he didn't show it, he walked out and into the dark halls of the cave.

XxX