Nerine

"Concentrate," Itachi's voice echoed through my mind.

It had been four months since I had asked him to take me under his wing. I had closed my eyes, and imprinted the image of my surroundings into my mind. I was in a dark and damp room; a training area in the large tower of the Akatsuki. It was located underground, so that if any damage were done, it wouldn't have so much effect on the higher levels.

I focused intently on the sounds and smells around me, heightening my senses. Suddenly, I heard air being pushed in a rapid motion; something was being thrown toward me. I grabbed two two-feet-long tanto that were crossed behind my back, and blocked the kunai's offence. Still keeping my eyes closed, I listened.

Running footsteps.

Opening my eyes, I fought with Itachi. It was getting easy. Punches and kicks were thrown and blocked; weapons after weapons were being used. I jumped back, distancing myself from him.

"You're making it too easy, Itachi," I growled.

Gripping onto my tanto, I released lightning into my palms, letting it flow through my double weapons.

"I'll give it to you difficult, then," Itachi replied. His already activated sharingan was forming into something else – Mangekyou.

I quickly looked at his feet, and ran towards him. As soon as I was right in front of him, he moved to the side to dodge. He was stabbed anyway.

"I thought you'd be smart enough to dodge a clone," I muttered to him, seeing the electricity pass through his body.

His body went up into a smoke, leaving nothing behind.

"You've done well enough to fight against my clone," Itachi murmured in the darkness, taking slow steps toward me.

I nodded as my clone disappeared. I withdrew my weapons and said, "You helped me. I know I can do much better next time..."

"You've had a good progression within the past four months, I can't say you'd have been a master at everything by now," He replied. "Being trained in the Akatsuki makes you strong, and makes you have no heart for things that are not worth your time."

"Is that what you think of Sasuke?" I raised an eyebrow.

Itachi almost flinched, giving me a dead look. "I said no such thing."

I assumed I hit a nerve there. I sighed, "I must thank you for the effort you've put into all of this for me. I appreciate it." Then, I bowed in a slightly awkward manner. I learned to respect Itachi a little more as he was my kind of mentor.

Itachi stepped closer to me. "You're not as feisty as you used to be. Could you have some sort of loyalty towards me now?"

I scoffed, "Itachi, I'm simply glad that you've trained me. Nothing more."

"Then," He touched my chin as he looked down from his elevated stature. He gently raised my head to face him directly. "If someone were to attack me right now, you would leave me in danger?"

Itachi was slightly taller than Sasuke. He was mature and intriguing, and had this dark aura of mystery behind him. I did not know much about him, as I'd grown up only being close to Sasuke. When I was young I saw him always busy with missions. I felt pity for him, even if he was my superior. Nonetheless, he did have a personality that contradicted itself. He gave a very subtle sense of security and reason, but at the same time, he's a criminal that murdered his entire clan. Why? How can someone who was willing to look after a hopeless soul such as myself, be known as such a notorious man? It didn't make sense to me.

I stared into his eyes, knowing that he wouldn't send me into his torturous illusion world. Itachi was hypnotising. I was quiet for God knows how long. My lips parted, and I mumbled an automatic response: "No."

His lips turned up slightly. He let go of my face and began walking towards the exit. "I think it's time you began making dinner for everyone."

"Oh..." I blinked. I quickly walked behind him and left the training room.

I ran up to my shared room and threw my weapons on my bed. Originally the room belonged to Sasori and Deidara, as well as a man named Tobi. I suppose it was (as bad as it sounds) a bit of a convenience because of Sasori's death, because there wouldn't be the trouble of where I'd be sleeping. Deidara was already in the bedroom, napping until I accidentally woke him up when my weapons hit the bed.

"Uh, what?" He mumbled groggily.

He returned to the hideout almost a month after we all encountered the Leaf ninja. He was very beat up, but Kakuzu repaired his damaged arms for him. Not too long ago, both Kakuzu and Hidan were killed by my old comrades from my old village. I was disappointed – Hidan's loud and outrageous behaviour always made the place less morbid, and Kakuzu was always there to annoy me about money debts he needed from people. I guess Tobi was the only little hyperactive one in the group now, as decreased as the numbers have gone.

"Oh, sorry, Deidara," I apologised.

He shook his head, rubbing his eyes. "Whatever, yeah. What are you doing?"

"I'm about to start dinner," I was about to walk out of the room but Deidara quickly followed me.

I walked into the kitchen and swiftly grabbed the apron. Deidara turned on the sink, rinsed his mouth and washed his face to wake him up from the brief sleep he had.

"What you gonna cook?" Deidara sat on a stool nearby as he asked this.

"Some more hiyayakko; we're running out of ingredients again," I answered.

"Eh," He groaned. "There's no variety in this place, yeah. Seems like all we've been eating is tofu lately."

"Go out there and get some groceries, then," I retorted back at his complaining.

He snorted, "Do it yourself, princess."

Someone walked into the kitchen. "Nerine," He said.

"Itachi?" I questioned his presence. Normally he spent time in his room or something. I hardly knew where he went after he trained me.

"Leader wants to speak to you. Come with me," He told me.

I quickly put down my ingredients and took off my apron, brushing myself off to look 'presentable' for my leader. Deidara huffed as I said to him, "Prepare the dinner for me, Deidara. You know well enough how to make it."

I silently followed Itachi and as we walked down the hallways of the building, he spoke, "Your attitude has changed in the past few months. Have you realised?"

I glanced at the back of his head. "I don't know."

"You've become more relaxed here; more steadfast towards the organisation," Itachi explained calmly.

I did feel like I wasn't fighting back with Itachi as often as I wanted to, and I seemed to give Leader all my respect. "Isn't that what you want?" I exhaled.

"So long as you're satisfied with what you've gained here," He replied, referring to my training.

We reached the leader's room, and before Itachi bothered knocking, a voice inside called and said, "Come in."

Both of us entered quietly. The room was dark, only lighted by a poor running lamp that handed the room a dim atmosphere.

"Itachi, thank you for bringing her," Leader said upon his chair. Konan stood beside him, always keeping a committed bond. She was of course, the closest to our Leader between anyone in the Akatsuki. The fiery haired man looked over at me. "Nerine, I'm sure you of all people have noticed that we don't spend enough money on our food."

I nodded, "Yes, sir."

"The funds from the people of this village have only been supporting the needed materials for the Akatsuki's... weapon techniques, so to say," He explained, "And what I'm going to do is send you on your first mission."

"Anything, leader," I bowed.

"You're going to go to each of the villages, accompanied with two members, and collect money," He ordered.

"If..." I began, "If it's alright to ask; how will I accomplish that?"

"Go to feudal lords, higher authorities, perhaps even some townspeople. Deceive them into business, and I suggest you not to earn the money with the truth, unless you want to jeopardise the Akatsuki's whereabouts and your position here amongst us."

"Understood, leader."

"The two most suited in accompanying you will be Deidara and Itachi. Kisame, although Itachi's main comrade, will rest here after completing his previous missions for us."

I bowed along with Itachi, and as we exited, our leader said, "You leave tonight."

I fell silent as I thought of showing the Akatsuki that I was not just a little girl who was brought in by a member. I was willing to show them that I could be a part of the organisation. I don't know why I was so willing to, though. As soon as I touched the door handle to my room, another thought passed my mind.

"Wait," I whispered. "Every village? Even... the Hidden Leaf?"

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