Oh. Wow. It's been a really long time since I have updated this story. One year, one month, three weeks and one day. Wow. Ah well. I'm back now and I have more chapters for you guys. I'm going to continue using the same method that is did for the last set of chapters as people seemed to like it. And for everyone who asked, yes, Kiko is an OC; and Tina: It's part of the story. Now for the dumb disclaimer that I really need to put in the summary so I don't have to keep typing it. I do not, and probably never will, own Naruto. If I owned it, I would be very happy. Sadly, that shall never happen. On with the story.

CHAPTER 11

Kiko watched as the girl on the bed stirred. She got out of the chair and went into the other room. She found Itachi lying down next to their daughter. She walked to his side and shook him awake.

"Itachi." He opened his eyes and looked up at his beloved.

"What is it?"

"She's waking up." Itachi got up carefully as to not wake his daughter and went into the other room.

The girl's head had moved and it had become clear very quickly that she was trying to wake up. He sat down beside her on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her forehead. She wasn't feverish, but her forehead was covered with a sheen of sweat. He removed his hand and called her.

"Wake up, young one. Open your eyes." The girl whimpered and Itachi placed his hand on her cheek. "Come on now. Wake up." The girl stirred once more and began to open her eyes.

CHAPTER 12

Karin's POV

I opened my eyes and blinked several times. I did not recognize where I was. Actually, I don't even remember falling asleep. Scratch that. I don't remember anything.

Normal POV

Itachi watched the girl's behavior as she woke up. At first, she seemed confused and unsure of what was going on. And then a blank expression came over her face. Then curiosity. She sat up and looked around and then looked directly at him.

"Who are you?" The question surprised Itachi. The last time he checked she knew who he was. Then it came to him, blood loss and lack of oxygen had probably caused temporary memory loss.

"My name's Itachi." The he decided to test how bad her memory was. "What's your name?"

She bit her lower lip and looked down. She was searching her memory. Then, she looked back up at him.

"I-I don't remember." Itachi knew for certain then that her memory was gone. Her memory was completely gone.

"You don't remember, Onee-chan?" The teenage girl hung her head.

"I'm sorry, but no, I don't." Itachi placed his hand on top of her head.

"It's alright, Onee-chan. I'll help you remember." He took his hand off of her head and she looked up at him.

"You will?"

Itachi smiled. "Of course. You're my little sister. Why wouldn't I help you?" She smiled as he said that.

"Arigatō, Nii-san."

"Dōitashimashite, Onee-chan."

CHAPTER 13

Suigetsu, Jugo, and Sasuke sat around a warm fire. Sasuke was intently studying a map, completely unaware of the worry that had overtaken his other two team mates.

It had been a week since Karin's disappearance and there was still no message from the bird. Suigetsu and Jugo figured it would take some time for the bird to find her, but with a week gone, they were beginning to lose hope.

"Jugo," Sasuke's voice interrupted their thoughts and left them with mixed feelings. Part of them wanted to continue brooding, but another part of them was grateful for the distraction. "How long will it be before that bird comes back?" Sasuke made his irritation with having to wait clear.

Jugo looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'd make a guess as to say about a day or two. It still has to find us."

"Hn." Sasuke got up and walked into his tent.

Suigetsu got up and moved closer to Jugo.

"Two days? That's it?" Jugo glanced over at him.

"Like I said, it's a guess. I asked the bird to report back in about a week; and it will need to find us."

Suigetsu looked thoughtful. "So, I need to learn patience, and teach Sasuke to have patience."

Jugo gave him a small smile. "That, and you could teach him to have a little mercy for his teammates."

Suigetsu chuckled. "Mercy? What is this mercy you speak of?"

Both boys laughed softly.

"Well, I guess we'd better get some rest. Sasuke'll want to keep moving." Jugo nodded.

"It's probably a good idea." The two boys got up and started walking back to their respective tents, when the bird flew onto Jugo's shoulder. Jugo immediately listened to the bird and let it fly into the sky. The bird began circling overhead.

Suigetsu watched the bird fly into the air before asking the one question the bird could answer.

"Did it find Karin?" Jugo looked at him sympathetically.

"No." Suigetsu turned around and stamped his foot.

"Damnit."

"Suigetsu, calm down." Suigetsu turned to him.

"Calm down? You want me to calm down? One of our friends, our teammates, is out there somewhere, badly hurt, and you want me to calm down?!"

Jugo put a finger to his lips and looked toward Sasuke's tent. Suigetsu followed his gaze and watched as the tent flap moved and Sasuke emerged from his tent.

For one, seemingly long moment, though he didn't show it, Suigetsu feared that Sasuke had heard his rant. That fear, as soon as Sasuke spoke, was mostly proved wrong. Though whether or not he heard any or all of Suigetsu's rant was still in some minor doubt.

"Will you two shut up and go to sleep." As soon as the words left Sasuke's mouth, he spotted the bird which had landed on Jugo's shoulder for the second time in all of the commotion. "Ah. The bird's back. Did it find Itachi?"

'Of course, I forgot. He was going to send it after Itachi too.'

"No." Suigetsu looked at Jugo curiously. If the bird didn't find Itachi, and it didn't find Karin, what did it find?

Apparently Sasuke was thinking the same thing. "Well did the bird find anything?"

Jugo was surprisingly calm. "She knows the way they went. She was still following their trail, but came back so she could let us know."

Sasuke blinked at him. "You said 'they'. Whose 'they'?"

Jugo's expression held a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Itachi and Kisame. Who else would I be talking about?"

'I know who you're really talking about.' Suigetsu thought.

"Fine." Sasuke walked over to the nearest tree and sat down. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Pack everything up and then we can get the bird to lead the way. We'll stop when the bird loses the trail."

Suigetsu and Jugo sighed, but obeyed the order. They packed the tents and food and doused the remains of their fire and set off into the night.

CHAPTER 14

Karin's POV

I sat at the table with my nii-san Itachi, his wife Kiko, and my niece Yuki. Yuki is four, almost five, and is the sweetest girl in the world. Kiko is very nice to me and has helped me get around and get comfortable. I really like her too. Nii-san has been very nice to me and very loving; even if I don't remember who he is. He's been telling me little facts about myself to try and help me remember.

He told me my name was Aiko, and that I was a sensor ninja. HE told me that I was born in a small village outside of Kusagakure and that I was really stubborn, fiery, and headstrong. Personally, I don't feel that way, maybe after I figure out who I am, I'll know what he means. I don't know though. I might decide to change.

Normal POV

Itachi watched Karin from across the table. She has been on a very strict diet lately because she got hurt somehow. (He was pretty sure he knew most of what happened.) HE knew she had been longing to eat something different, but he had told her she was not well enough yet.

"Aiko-chan." She looked up at him. "Are you alright? You've hardly eaten." She smiled at him.

"I'm fine, nii-san. I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"I was trying to remember something, but I don't. It might have just been something my mind made up." Itachi reached over and patted her hand comfortingly.

"It's alright, Aiko-chan. I'm sure you'll remember soon."

She smiled and the four finished dinner in silence.

After they ate, Yuki pulled her into her room so they could play. Yuki took her dolls out of her toy chest and the two played house with them.

Kiko knocked on the door nearly two hours later.

"Yuki, it's time for you to go to bed." The small girl pouted.

"But, I want to stay up and play with oba-san. We're having fun." Aiko patted the girl on the head.

"It's okay, Yuki-chan. You can go on to bed. We can have more fun tomorrow." The small girl instantly brightened up.

"Ok." The girl put away her toys and went to her oba-san for a hug. Aiko hugged her, and she climbed into bed. "Goodnight, oba-san."

"Goodnight, Yuki-chan." Aiko left her niece's room and went to her own. Kiko walked in a few moments later.

"She really likes you, Aiko-san." Aiko looked at her confused.

"She does? But I barely know her." Kiko smiled.

"She doesn't need to know you to like you. Besides, you're family." Aiko looked down.

"Oh. I hadn't thought of that." Then she yawned.

"You better get some sleep. Goodnight, Aiko-san."

"Goodnight, Kiko-san." Kiko left and Aiko went to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas. She changed clothes and put her clothes into the laundry basket. She climbed into her bed and snuggled into the covers. As soon as she did, she fell into a light sleep.

CHAPTER 15

The moment she opened her eyes, Aiko knew she was in a dream. She was not in her bed and she was not anywhere she remembered.

Then, it hit her. Maybe, just maybe, this could be a memory; to help her remember something from her past. The room was large with many machines. It looked like a hospital room. But, unlike a hospital, there were a great many specimen jars and only one patient.

Aiko quickly found she was only here to watch, as she had no control over her body.

Aiko walked over to the patient, although she had no idea why. When she reached him, she gasped in surprise.

There was a man with a pale face and snow white hair. He was beautiful. She went to stand next to him and he opened his eyes.

"Hey beautiful." He smiled at her and she found herself smiling back and replying.

"Hey yourself."

Aiko found herself running her hand through his hair. The man took her other hand and was holding onto it tightly. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

Suddenly, the door started opening. The man looked to the door.

"Hurry," he said.

Aiko's hand left both his hand and his hair in a millisecond and she hurried to a nearby closet. She opened the door and…

I will leave off there for now. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. Please remember to review. I really really enjoy reviews. They give me the pleasure of knowing someone enjoys my stories. I'll try to update more often too. But, I make no promises. See you soon.