Disclaymore:Nope. Don't own Naruto...[yet xD

me:...hehe. Well, here's a nice likkle edit. Decided to put a spotlight on Akakumo :D

hidan:...interesting...

ita-sama:..why on EARTH does he have to look like me?

shika:Zzz...(me:...d:)

ita-sama:And why the hell doesn't shikamaru have any say in this right now?

me:...you COULD explain why you switched to italics on ME!!!

ita-sama:Oh, it's on, Sistah!!!!-dramatically strips self of cape and readies Sharingan-

me:Hell yeah it is!!!-dramatically whips out pen, paper, keyboard, and computer, puts on jedi robe- BUahahahahaha


Reiki looked at her surroundings: two large beds, a few tapestries, and several doors.

The bed she was currently sitting on had sot, rich, bloodred sheets. The tapestries she was looking at depicted a strange symbol as a background to hideous showings of gore and frighteningly grotesque creatures. She nervously edged away from them.

She had considered exploring the rest of Hidan and Kakuzu's quarters further, but decided it would be better not to know what lay behind those several doors.

She flopped back on the bed--she presumed Hidan's--and stared at the ceiling, eyes half-lidded. Daydreaming.

Steam billowed out of one of the doors. Hidan stepped into the main area of the apartment-esque space, towel wrapped around his waist. He glanced up at the ceiling for a moment, then went about his business--dressing. He took notice of her curious gaze.

"What the hell are you staring at?"

Reiki blinked. He looked odd without his hair slicked back against his scalp. It was limp with wetness, and a slightly darker shade of gold than usual, but definitely not slicked back. He looks...weird... She didn't want to call him pretty. Pretty was for girls. But handsome didn't fit either. So weird did the trick.

"It's fucking creepy when people stare, and damn impolite too," He muttered.

She caught every word, and glanced away, cheeks tinged with pink. Aniki had said something close to the same...

-.-.-.-.-.-

"So, Itachi, what are your conclusions?" Pein laced his fingers together and rested his chin upon his hands, slightly intrigued.

"She was, possibly, born a mute. Based on mostly assumption, mind you, she may have been neglected as a child to some degree; she can understand words, but most likely cannot read." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "And, she has a brother. Who is a shinobi, powerful, possibly."

"Enlighten me," the Leader drawled.

"She hugged me. This leads me to presume that her brother looks--and possibly acts--like me to some degree. I propose that we do a search for powerful Kumo-nin that have an appearance similar to mine."

"Ah. This is a very intriguing idea. She could possibly have a great deal of information. Do you have any idea of the rank of this powerful Kumo-nin?"

"Only that he is powerful. At least Jounin."

"Very well. You may go now."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"I'm not sure this would be one of your best ideas, Pein." A blue-haired woman commented.

"You always say that. And what do I always say, Koran?" He closed his grey eyes.

"'Trust me.'"

Pein was currently working out what exactly to do with this 'Reiki.' If Itachi's assumptions were correct, then he would have to find somebody to teach her how to read and write. There were only two people that could possibly teach her: Itachi, and Hidan. The former was preferable, of course, but that would involve a complicated process of introducing them officially and getting her resettled in Itachi and Kisame's quarters. The latter would probably outright refuse. But then he would have to teach her how.

It was quite obvious who the prime choice was.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The Rokudaime Raikage paced back and forth in front of his desk, agitated.

His little sister was missing.

"...Find the ANBU captain, Kira." His icy tone disguised his nervousness.

"Hai, sir."

Kira teleported out of the room with a 'poof' of smoke, leaving his superior behind.

"Damn!" Akakumo slammed his fist on the old wooden desk. It splintered satisfyingly well. "I should have kept her within sight, or perhaps even in my quarters..." He trailed off.

"Sir."

"Oh...You may go, Kira." He waved a hand.

"Hai."

Kira strode out of the room to file some papers, leaving a masked ANBU in his wake. "Raikage-sama?"

"Ah. Yes. What do you know of the surrounding area; please, refresh my memory."

"Hm. It is believed that there is a large forest surrounding a large cave system a few kilometers southward."

"'Believed.'" The agitated Raikage repeated, obviously not convinced this person was an ANBU.

"Yes. Remember, this village is short on cartographers and surveyers. We could have a crew from Konoha in a few--"

"Leave. And see me tomorrow morning."

"...Uh...H-Hai, Raikage-sama!" The ANBU saluted and teleported away.

The now-alone leader of the Kumogakure massaged his temples after sitting at his splintered desk, thinking. If I hire a crew from Konoha, that would drain my resources. But if I leave this village to search for Reiki, then the council would literally tear apart every amendment I've made, and then somehow find a new Raikage. And then where would I be? "God, I need sake..." He muttered, stalking out of his office and into the cityscape.

He slowly walked through the winding, almost organic-feeling streets. Many of the buildings were spherical and/or tall and thin--sometimes flexible, to reduce the effects of the severe wind storms that ravaged the landscape. Even more of them were a polished white that looked alien, especially on a blustery, rainy day like today. He glanced at the sky, ignoring the way the wind whipped his long, black hair into his face. Rain drops fell, blown about by the wind.

He closed his eyes, recalling how morbidly beautiful the sky could be, with the clouds swirling around the edges of the low valley the village was centered in, and the whispy cirrus clouds below the cumulus clouds, all shades of purple and blue and green. A small, small smile tugged at the edge of his lips. It looks even better when it's hailing and raining. So, so much better.

He stopped at the only real food shop in Kumogakure.Meaning, that it was the only place the Raikage could go without being hounded by the media, fans, and haters alike, all asking what his next act would be. He slid open the convex surface of the door, quickly shutting it behind him, then removing his shoes and shuffling into simple black slippers.

"Ah, Akakumo-sama. What would you like today...?" The humble owner of the establishment led him to his seat, as always, at the top floor, with the largest window in Kumo giving him a beautiful view of the village.

"Information. And sake," He quietly replied, already lost in the vision the panoramic window gave.

"That will do! ...wait. What kind of information?"

"On the surrounding area, of a forest."

"To the..."

"South."

"Ah. Just a moment. How would you like your sake?"

"Colder than the winter frost."

"He-he. You never could stand it warm..."

"Shut up. I'm trying to think..." He muttered.

Akakumo's gaze settled on the Raikage tower. It was really several tall, thin towers that were interconnected by equally thin tunnelways at different floors. The shade of jet-black, with several intricate silver patterns on the central tower containing his office, reflected the sky and other surrounding buildings. Even a great deal of the taller buildings connected, mostly to allow easy travel out of the ruthless elements.

The shorter buildings--less than three or four stories--sometimes had interconnecting tunnelways, but not usually. Merely the closer-together apartment complexes, or small businesses. And, of course, the only building to reach more than fifty stories is the Raikage tower. The second tallest building was thirty stories high--the sake place he was currently in.

"Here's your sake, per orders. About that information?" The shop owner sat down across from Akakumo, temporarily obstructing his view.

"Thank you. Yes. I was wondering how large that forest down there was, and if there are any caves in that very forest."

"Ah...would you care to hear a story?"

"Not particularly."

"Oh. I'll give you the relatively accurate map of it...here. No charge this time, Akakumo-sama."

"What about the sake?" He asked, slightly confused.

"That's on the house. It's tough, missing a family member."

"You speak as if she's dead..." Akakumo's voice was on the edge of blind rage.

"That's not what I meant." The owner of the establishment replied. "Not at all."