A/N: I thought about updating like every Monday, but I'm not sure how I'm going to actually do this. I don't want to leave everyone hanging up a certain day, but at the same time I don't want like 2 weeks to go by before I've actually updated. We'll see how the train of inspiration treats me. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

With a confused gaze, Ino eyed the dimly-lit cell she was now confined to, exploring all angles and corners. The woman groaned, her body alerting her to the waves of pain from the wounds she suffered from the brief skirmish. Finely arched eyebrows struggled to meet as she began to recall the last couple of hours.

Deidara of Iwagakure? Well, formerly, of Iwagakure. He had been listed in Konoha's Bingo book as a missing-nin, abandoning the country for the criminal organization known as the Akatsuki. What the hell had he been doing in Konoha?

Get up. She needed to figure a way out of here. Wherever the hell she was, actually. It took all of her being to not dwell on the foul smell of rotted food and urine. Just swell, Yamanaka. What a lovely situation to have gotten into. The utterance of a groan left her mouth once more. Not only was her back killing her, it seemed as though she had been drained of her chakra prior to regaining consciousness.

Nevertheless, Ino managed to make it up off of the scratchy material separating her from laying directly onto the mattress. The floors and walls of the cell were made of cement. She assumed the cell were underground, as the walls seemed indefinitely wet. There was a slight draft, causing the woman to shudder, the lack of clothing not providing the necessary warmth. Based on the obvious circumstances, she knew she was not escaping anytime soon.

Ino could detect two chakra signatures above her, and two more a bit father away in the compound. How had her day gone from simply picking up herbs to becoming a POW. Currently, the situation looked grim; however, she knew her new-found missing status would become quickly noticed.

Either Shikamaru or Choji would realize she were missing. She knew she could count on them. She just had to stay alive until then. The calloused digits went to work, roaming their way all over the kunoichi's physique. She was checking herself for injuries other than the soreness to her back. Should the opportunity arise to escape, she did not need a sprained ankle slowing her down.

Ino's impromptu bodily exam was interrupted by the opening and slamming of a door. Footsteps began descending down, what sounded like wooden stairs. The sound of their approach echoed throughout the hallway, allowing Ino to assume her captors were coming to check in with her.

She went rigid, muscles tensing as she did not know what to expect.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"...We can't let her go."

"For fuck's sake. It's not like we fucking need her."

"She's medical ninja, Hidan."

"Well, I don't fucking need her, Kakuzu! It's not my fault these assholes need medical attention. Now, if you heathens would just pledge your lives to Jashin-sama, you wouldn't need a damn kunoichi."

Deidara merely rolled his eyes in annoyance. He was not even going to entertain this argument, especially not with Hidan being involved. There was no reasoning with that man.

He released a breath, blowing the blonde fringe out of his way. He had only wanted to relax on the couch, after making their way back from Konoha. The only reason why they even knew about her existence, was the fact they walked in on him locking her in the basement. Which somehow cued Hidan to believe that Deidara and Kakuzu were entitled to hearing his complaints about an extra presence within the hideout.

Cyan irises watched darker-skinned man, Kakuzu, huff with annoyance, making his leave. If he had thought he was going to get peace, he was mistaken. "If you ask me, she should be a fucking sacrifice. Jashin-sama would be very pleased with that one." Of course, Hidan proceeded to follow him around the corner.

"Deidara." He turned towards the voice of his partner, who had managed to catch his attention. Removing himself from the couch, he made his way over the to the red-head. Sasori was a couple of heads shorter than he, forcing Deidara to lower his gaze. "Hm?"

"We must assess her. She needs to be ready." He had a low voice; deeper than one would assume, based on his teen-like appearance. Deidara nodded, already on his way to the basement where he stowed her away. His footsteps echoed in the hallway, after he had made his way down the stairs.

1...2...Door number 3. Here we go.

He unlocked the cell, pushing the wooden door opened. Reflexively, his eyes scanned the room until his gaze landed on the kunoichi. She stared right back at him. She looked worse for the wear, dirt smudges canvasing her fair skin.

How was she even a kunoichi? She looked so dainty.

"What's your name, hm?" He had finally addressed her since their run-in this morning. The door shut behind him as he entered the room, stopping in the center of the cell. His stance was lax, though he was still guarded. Dainty or not, she was still a kunoichi. He waited for her answer, an eyebrow raising when it had yet to come. "Hello? Answer my question, hm." He watched her bite her lip, hesitating. "I know you're a Yamanaka. I just don't know which one."

"Ino.. Yamanaka Ino." Comes her reply. He originally gave her only a cursory glance, this time now taking the moment to let his eyes wander her body, taking in the details. She had clearly seen better days than today. "Why am I here?" To be honest, her question caught Deidara off-guard. He hadn't really expected her to be ready to request answers from him.

"Is the answer not obvious, hm? You're a medical ninja." With his response, he stood up, already beginning to exit the cell. "But, why me? What if I refuse to heal?!" She shouted. Blonde tendrils of hair, framing her face, moved on their own accord, as if showing Deidara their wrath.

"You will, hm." The wooden door creaked loudly in response to his touch, the bright light from the hallway shedding more light into the cell, giving Ino a brief glimpse of her surroundings. "Dinner will be served, shortly, hm."

Perhaps she wasn't as dainty as she seemed. Things were going to be interesting. Quiet interesting, indeed.

. . . . . . . . . .

The BBQ house was lively, table after table seated with cheerful patrons. The dark-haired man drummed his fingers idly on the wooden surface of the table. She still hasn't made it. Of course, he was concerned.

Even though they had all gotten older with different sets of responsibilities, Team Asuma always managed to meet at least once a week. After the death of Sarutobi Asuma, they pulled through everything, stronger than ever. "She'll make it, Shika. She probably got caught up in something in the shop. We might as well begin without her."

The brunette tried his best to pull his best friend's mind away from the sole woman of their team. They couldn't keep trying to smother Ino; sometimes she just needed her space. Besides, if they had gone looking for her or cancelled, she'd have their heads. He chuckled, bringing a small smile to Shikamaru's face.

"Most likely." The sizzle of the meat was intoxicating, doing it's job to distract him. Choji was right, the blonde often lost herself in the different vegetation decorating the family shop.

"She'd better hurry up before I eat her share!" This brought a laugh from Shikamaru. Even after all this time, Choji was still the same person he grew up with.

"You know she'd kill you."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

It took all her being not to shudder in disgust. She had her knees drawn to her chest, her back pressed against the cool wall; she was right in believing it to be faintly wet. The ends of the blonde tresses tickled at her skin, as if to keep her from falling too asleep in this unfamiliar hideout.

"Dinner is ready." The creaking of the door, alerted her to the presence now entering her cell. She didn't glance up. Ino wasn't hungry, but she would need to eat to regain her energy. She would never leave this place if she were malnourished.

It was not Deidara at the door, this time. He was shorter, with a very young appearance. The bright light from the hallway emphasized those fire-red locks of his. He appeared to either be in a hurry or naturally impatient.

"If you don't eat, I will have to force you to." With a jerk, Ino scrambled from the bed. It were as if he were inside of her mind, telling her body what to do. But, she was the mind-walker here; he was only in control of her body. If they were the ones in need of her assistance, she didn't believe she'd be poisoned. It would be safe to trust the food, for now. "I will." Her voice was low, throat scratchy from the lack of fluids she had consumed within the the day of being held captive. Water ran freely from her chin, as she drank from the cup, thirstly.

All the while, he watched her.

Ino was too thirsty and starved to feel self-conscious under his scrutiny.

"Konoha doesn't care about you." She choked. "!?" The cell is assaulted with coughs and the sounds of her lungs trying to recover. What did he know about her? What did he even know about Konoha truly? He was just a missing-nin!

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Her raised voice didn't faze him, however. Sasori continued to study the woman. She had more spirit than he assumed; he had clearly struck a nerve with her.

"Oh, but I do. Konoha won't come for you. You're not a priority to them. . You're only second best, Yamanaka." He persisted with his assault. "If that." He wanted to push her. What were her triggers? How soon would she break? She was fuming with his assumption.

"They Will come for me!" Almost as soon as she became expressive, she shut down. The wild, angry expression disappeared from her face. "And when they do, you will regret kidnapping me." Though her voice was faint with the threat, her words laced with contempt.

"Your best bet would be to align yourself with us. We can give you what you truly want. Think about that. Goodnight." Satisfied with her reaction, Sasori left her. Perhaps he gave her the push she needed. Perhaps he gave himself a death wish.

Only time would tell.

The wooden door's creaking gave her the much need peace of mind that he had left her to be. To be the medical ninja for the Akatsuki. They might as well, kill her. Why would they ever believe she would do that for them?

Her allegiance was to Konoha.

Ino was mentally kicking herself for allowing herself to be worked up over his words. He had no idea what he was talking about. Her stomach rumbled, breaking her train of thought, bringing her attention to the plate of food he had left behind. The plastic plate was lukewarm against her skin. At least they were courteous enough to have warmed her food up. What he had said nagged at her over dinner.

Deep down, she knew he was didn't truly care for her out of choice; they were obligated to, as she was a Konoha kunoichi.

As long as she was second-best to Sakura, she didn't matter.

A/N: What did you think? The plot is actually coming along a bit easier to me, it's just working out the details now that's getting me, lol. Happy Thursday!