So, its on the shorter side... But I felt so awful for leaving it off another week again and if I continued past the stopping point here I might not have been able to finish it in the next couple days cause it would've been so much longer! I'm so sorry guys, I had promised less than a week and I gave you exactly a week...

Well this time I will promise it will be no longer than a week. How's that? This way I'll be sure not to disappoint.

And... I didn't spend as much time editing as I usually do, so don't be shy and point out mistakes so I can fix them! lol. Otherwise they'll go unchecked for ages...! Thanks!

Love you all! read, enjoy & review~

(really... i love the feedback!)

"Tell me why the fuck they're looking for me!" the long haired shinobi roared, so close to her face that the volume had her ears ringing. She clawed at his hand with her only good one, trying to get him to release the pressure on her throat. He only sneered and gripped harder. The green haired man rolled his eyes and stepped back so he could be out of his friend's way. She was released, but not before he shoved her back, hard, into the wall. Sachi toppled sideways and took a few short, ragged breaths before coughing uncontrollably.

Sora glared down at her harshly, waiting for her hacks to cease. "Well…?"

She scowled up at him, propping herself up as best she could. Dark fingerprints were already forming along her tender neck. He made a noise. I'm waiting… Sachi took a long, shuddering breath and held his menacing gaze for only a second before looking away. She chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"Answer him, little kunoichi… Sora-san hates waiting-"

"Hoshi-kun, hush."

"Tch."

Sachi swallowed, and it hurt her throat. Hoshi winked to let her know that he'd caught her grimace. Sora's gaze, however, remained the same intimidating, cold stare. He lashed out suddenly and she squeaked- giving him the opportunity he needed. He pinched her tongue roughly, "Answer me fast, kunoichi… otherwise I may begin to think you have no need of this."

He let go and she covered her mouth with her good hand instinctively. Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded frantically. He smirked, seemingly pleased.

They stayed like that for a moment…

"Now, kunoichi." He snapped.

"Not you." She answered quickly from behind her hand. His brow furrowed and she continued before he could get angry again, "I wasn't sent to find you… I was meant to find-" she pointed, exposing her lips, "him."

His hand wrapped around her finger and wrenched forcefully. A sharp crack filled the room. Sachi cried out softly. The green haired shinobi grinned viciously from his new post by the door.

"Now that doesn't make any sense, kunoichi." His hold shifted to her middle finger and she shook violently as her eyes took in her mangled index finger. He continued, "Was that because they knew he was meeting me? Or… was that because they only know about him?"

Her lips parted as she met his gaze. Tears swam in her eyes and spilled over onto her cheeks.

"No hands kunoichi-chan!" Hoshi smiled from his end of the room, "No hands you'll have left if you keep up this!"

Sora squeezed threateningly, his expression unfazed.

"They told me it was about a poster?" she spoke so softly that even with the heightened senses of a ninja he couldn't make out her words. He narrowed his eyes and made to yank. She shouted this time, desperate to stop him, "HE TOLD ME IT WAS ABOUT A BOUNTY!"

An interesting expression crossed his face, but her finger remained unharmed for the moment and she couldn't be bothered figuring out what it had meant. He dropped her hand and she cradled them to her chest, whimpering.

"Sending a scout ahead for a mere bounty?" his tone was low and menacing. "I don't believe it."

He took a step toward her and she sobbed.

"It's all I know… please don't-"

"Hoshi-kun… do me a favor and make yourself useful. Kakuzu of the Akatsuki must be nearby awaiting this woman's report. I will ask him myself. Do call his attention."

The green haired man giggled, disappearing out the door and whispering something to himself.

"Kunoichi…"

"What does that even mean?" she cried out, her brow tight with pain. A bead of sweat slid down the side of her face.

He froze and cocked his head to the side. He opened his mouth to say something when-

"Kakuzu- your dumb pet's probably gotten herself killed or somethin'… You seriously asking about how she bought some dinks?

The older shinobi shot him a look, unwavering.

"She had her own money, sir," Kai eyed the bulky figure suspiciously. "But who cares? Money's money…" He cut off as he sensed the reaction to his words. Kakuzu seethed.

"Ah… step back, heathen guy," Hidan cackled, a mischievous glint in his eye, "He's got a murderously sharp temper, ya know?"

Kai listened for once, warily stepping back just enough. But Kakuzu seemed to have recovered, exhaling with a hiss. "Alright… I will put off this issue of her capricious money spending for the moment. But Hidan- what do you mean she's off getting herself killed?" Kakuzu's electric gaze narrowed in on his partner.

The white-haired man rolled his eyes, "Man… I should not be fucking running around trying to look after your pet like this."

"Pet?" Kai glanced back and forth between them.

"She is not my pet!" A growl.

Hidan shrugged, "Whatthefuckever. The point is that you need to keep better track of your own shit, old man."

"I'm warning you."

Hidan's lips cracked into a wicked grin, "What- ya gonna kill me?"

"I bet your head is worth some money…"

"Oh yeah?"

"It'd be so easy to remove it from your neck-"

"Alright, can ya stop bickering? We need to find Sachi-chan!"

"Find her? You mean you don't know where she is?"

"That's what I've been sayin, ya godless bastard!"

"Hidan… you really are worthless."

"Fuck you!"

"OY!"

The two shinobi turned to face the irritable bartender. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was tapping his foot on the hard floor. "Both of you… idiots" he spat, "Are wasting time. If she's really in so much 'danger', why are you bickering about nothing when we should be running to her rescue? Or at least trying to figure out whether or not she's even in trouble?"

Kakuzu glowered and Hidan quirked his eyebrow. But no one moved.

Suddenly, a loud blast interrupted their stalemate. The apartment floor rattled under their feet and several glasses shattered to the ground in the bar below. Kai started, all the hairs on the back of his neck had risen. But the two shinobi exchanged looks and simply disappeared.

Kai blinked at the empty room in front of him.

Sachi shrieked as half the room was torn from view. Half the building, even. Debris shot everywhere, some of it caught her in the blast- but most of the worst bits were whipped above her in a terrifying torrent of wind. Her hair flew around her, straining to join the chaos. She tucked her face into her knees to prevent anything from hitting her eyes or getting into her lungs. There was laughter and slowly, she squinted through the blasting wind to see the shinobi, Hoshi, standing in the eye of the storm. His green hair lifted up above his face from the force of it all, twisting with the breeze. His clothing flapped around him and cast her a look over his shoulder.

He winked.

Her breath caught in her throat. What kind of power is this?

The gusts gathered around him in a tight coil before surging outward, screaming past her and spreading through and across the town. She protected her face with her broken hands and did not lower them until the winds had stilled to a playful, unnatural breeze.

She gaped at him. But he wasn't looking at her. His gaze was fixated on something somewhere further- hidden within the town. His green locks drifted easily in the breeze she was sure he'd conjured, never quite settling.

"What's happening?" she shouted over the noise, fresh tears stinging in her eyes from the wind.

He glanced over his shoulder at his casually and held a finger to his lips.

"Hush now, little kunoichi, they're almost here."

"He gives his position away first? How strange." Kakuzu mused as he and Hidan zipped through the streets towards the source of the immense chakra they were sensing.

"Fucking lucky if you ask me."

"Think about it, Hidan… Why would he give up his only advantage?"

"I don't know, old man, why does it matter?"

Kakuzu sighed inwardly, "It's probably a trap."

Almost out of nowhere, their bodies were enveloped in a roaring wind. It pulled and tore at their heavy cloaks. But just as suddenly, it disappears. They looked at each other before they propelled forward with a newfound vigor. Hidan smirked,

"So…? It's not like it fucking matters for us, right?"

Kakuzu made to respond, but they rounded a corner and found their target. He stood in the center of a small crater. Behind him was there debtor, curled in a seated position, looking a little worse for wear. She didn't appear to be dripping in blood though, which was a good sign. Sachi's mouth was moving like she was yelling to them, but the wind seemed to rip her words right out of the air. Raw chakra swirling around the green haired ninja, manipulating the very air they breathed. It licked at their faces, pulling at their clothes. Not unlike a serpant, tasting the air.

"Kakuzu…" Hidan grabbed for his scythe, "It's been too fucking long. May I?"

The older shinobi took a step back and rolled his eyes, "As you wish."

Hidan's lips curled into something that could never be mistaken as a smile.

"But," Kakuzu warned with a growl, "I plan to keep my promise about the consequences you will face should you kill her."

"Yeah, yeah, don't fucking worry about it. I'm not that sloppy."