Opening Theme: Blue Bird by Ikimono-Gakari

Chapter 10: Fruitless Search, Second Meeting

The next morning, the five Akatsuki members met downstairs to discuss their plans for finding the Opposition Duet. Chinatsu, Ren, Kisame, and Itachi were eating breakfast while Sasori sat in a hunched position, glaring at the door to the inn.

"Chinatsu and I will cover the inner core of the town, where all the housing is, right?" Ren asked.

"Yeah," Kisame confirmed, "Itachi-san, Sasori, and I will be searching the outskirts, where all the markets are."

"Very well," Chinatsu agreed, "Are we going to meet back here once our search is done?"

"Yes," Itachi replied as he finished off his food and stood up, "I will be going now."

"I'm leaving as well," Sasori said, "I'm tired of waiting."

Kisame watched the two shinobi leave with a frown on his face. Chinatsu noticed and asked, "Is there something wrong, Kisame-san?"

"Not with me," the Kiri-nin replied, "But I think there's something bothering Itachi-san."

Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi was currently pushing his way through a massive crowd in the marketplace. On the outside, his face was a calm and stoic mask, but on the inside, he was bubbling with annoyance at the fact that he was forced to bring himself back to this overpopulated place to search for a thieving little beggar boy. It was safe to say that the Uchiha was not pleased.

After several hours of searching, Itachi finally spotted a familiar, turbaned head. He had finally found the little vagabond! Without hesitating, Itachi teleported next to Kyo, grabbed the boy by the arm, and quickly teleported to a quiet alley near the edge of the market. Once they were hidden, Itachi released Kyo, giving the latter some time to recover from the sudden abduction.

Kyo blinked at Itachi and grinned. "You're one of those people from yesterday!"

"Don't pretend," Itachi said coldly and held out one hand, "Return my necklace."

Kyo let out a disappointed sigh before reaching into his pocket and taking out the three-ringed necklace that belonged to the dangerous Akatsuki member. He placed it into Itachi's hand without argument. "That wasn't fun; you're too smart."

Itachi clenched his hand around his necklace. "Is stealing all you can do?"

"Well, no, and it's actually not stealing if I give it back," Kyo retorted cheekily.

"Oh? Then what was that commotion about yesterday?"

"I actually gave some money to the merchant when he wasn't looking, so technically, I paid for that food."

Itachi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why would you give it to him when he wasn't looking? Do you want him to accuse you of stealing?"

"Yep!" Kyo grinned. Itachi stared at the beggar boy for a little longer before turning around and walking away. However, the Akatsuki member did not expect the boy to start following him. Kyo didn't say anything as he walked next to Itachi, although it was unsure of whether or not Itachi minded.

After a long while, Itachi spoke, "Do you not have someplace to be? Home, perhaps?"

"If I had a home, I wouldn't be running around as a beggar," Kyo replied.

"And your parents?"

"Dead. Both of them died before I was ten," Kyo answered casually.

"I see."

Silence fell upon the two once again as Kyo continued to follow Itachi. The Uchiha was beginning to feel baffled and slightly annoyed at why the beggar boy was following him around like a lost puppy.

"Why are you following me?"

Kyo grinned again and quickened his pace slightly so that he and the taller male were walking side by side. "Because you seem like someone who would attract an adequate amount of drama to keep me entertained."

"There will be no drama; I am merely looking for two people," Itachi informed Kyo, hoping that the latter would leave him alone.

"Oh? Who are you looking for?" Kyo inquired excitedly, "Maybe I can help. I know this town pretty well."

Itachi was about to decline when he hesitated. There was no harm in having the boy help him a little. The black-haired Akatsuki member reached into his cloak and pulled out his bingo book. He opened it to a certain page and handed it to the beggar without a word.

Kyo glanced over the two kunoichi in the book. The one on the left had chin-length yellow hair and ice-blue eyes. She looked very mature, and the name 'Hitomi' was written beneath the portrait along with other bits of various information.

"I haven't seen her around," Kyo muttered before turning to the picture on the right.

A woman with long, slightly wavy, black hair stared back at him. The woman's eyes were a deep shade of indigo and there was a mischievous smirk on her face. Kyo smiled before pointing at the name 'Kiyoko' listed under the picture. "I saw her yesterday."

"Where?"

Kyo tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I think it was in the food market. She was buying a lot of food that merchants were practically shoving into her hands. This way!" The beggar took Itachi's sleeve and began to drag Itachi in the direction of the food market.

When the pair arrived in the food market, they were slightly surprised to see Kisame, Sasori, Ren, and Chinatsu in a group in front of the meat shop.

"What's going on?" Itachi questioned as he approached his fellow Akatsuki members.

"Itachi-san!" Kisame greeted his partner, "I've been trying to get into contact with you to tell you that we got a lead. Are you not wearing your ring?"

"No, I intentionally left it back in our room at the inn this morning. What lead did you get?"

Kisame sensed that Itachi had no intention of talking about his deliberate attempt to cut off communication and went on, "Well, Ren and Chinatsu asked around and found out that the kunoichi called Hitomi was seen by several residents a few days ago. However, we're unsure as to whether or not she and Kiyoko had left the village yet."

"They haven't," Itachi reassured, "The beggar boy from yesterday told me that he had seen Kiyoko around here yesterday."

"I'm right here, you know!" Kyo protested from behind the Uchiha.

"Kyo-kun!" Ren blinked in surprise to see the boy she had rescued.

"Good morning, Ren-san!" Kyo saluted the kunoichi cheerfully, "How was your night at the inn?"

"It was very relaxing," Ren replied, "Thank you for taking us to such a good inn."

"No problem! It's the least I could do after you saved me from a death fall," Kyo laughed lightheartedly. Out of nowhere, a small snowflake fell from the sky and floated down in front of Kyo's face. The boy blinked and looked up to see the gray clouds that were covering the sky and the frosty flakes that were gliding down. "Ah, it's snowing. Sorry, but I have to go now. Good luck with finding Hitomi and Kiyoko!"

With that being said, he dashed off through the crowd and snow. In the blink of an eye, Kyo had disappeared, and the only sign that he had been with the Akatsuki was the trail of footprints that was quickly demolished by the shoppers milling around.

To be continued in Chapter 11: Clash with ANBU, Kyo's Identity Revealed…

Ending Theme: Ichirin no Hana by Ikimono-Gakari