A DETONATING DANCE
Chapter XI: Return to Konohagakure
"Unless you face the past once and for all, there can be no future."
-Anonymous
Aiko awoke the next morning to a horrible voice yelling in her room.
"Oh Hime-chan! It's time to wake up! Come on! Get out of bed!" Kisame shouted as he banged the door open. Aiko flinched at the sound of his booming voice as she tumbled out of bed and onto the floor. She rubbed her head.
What the heck? Aiko drowsily reached up to the bedpost and dragged herself onto her feet. Kisame stood expectantly inside her room with Itachi waiting in the hallway. "What are you doing in here?" Aiko demanded. "Go away!" She crawled back under the sheets and pulled them over her head. Kisame took one step over and ripped the blankets off. "Hey!"
Tapping his foot impatiently, Kisame said, "We've got to be at Konohagakure soon; today we're going to get the Kyubi." Aiko tried to sit up, swaying. The…Kyubi? Oh, he must mean the nine-tailed fox…Uzumaki Naruto…
Yawning, Aiko muttered, "But I don't want to. I'm not even dressed yet…I just want to sleep."
"Yeah, we all do," Kisame replied, "but it sucks to be you I suppose, because we have a mission like it or not. And you're coming." He reached over and snatched Aiko's wrist and proceeded to drag Aiko out of her bed. She heaved out an exhausted sigh.
"Fine, fine! I'm up!" Aiko surrendered, wrenching her wrist out of his grasp. "Just get out so I can get dressed, all right?"
Obliging, Kisame bowed and sneered, "As you wish, your royal highness!" Aiko rolled her eyes as he left, snickering at her. She was happy to see him go as she fished out a tank top and skirt and then her Akatsuki cloak. She dressed quickly and was out minutes after Kisame had left. She poked her blue head out of the room. No one was there.
Frowning, Aiko called, "Itachi! Kisame! This better not be some kind of joke!" She meandered out of her room and went searching for them down the hall. Where were they? Did they already leave? Probably, knowing Kisame. Aiko glanced around.
"Hey, it's nice to see you out of bed, hmm?"
Gasping and turning around, Aiko exclaimed, "Deidara!"
The blond smirked. "Oh? Now you'll talk to me?" Aiko didn't answer and she averted her eyes. Deidara's lower lip sank into a scowl. "What? Hmm?"
"Um, Deidara?" Aiko looked up at him, green eyes beseeching. "About last night…with Hidan…I…"
"Don't worry about it, I talked to Leader-sama last night and he said that he'll keep Hidan away from you. He's out on a mission with Kakuzu right now," Deidara added coolly. Aiko clenched her fist and nodded, hoping that Hidan would forget about the previous night.
"Oh Hime! Where'd you go?"
Hearing Kisame's voice ringing throughout the hallway, Aiko turned and dashed down the hallway, giving Deidara a little wave. He hollered after her, "When you get back here, I want to see you Aiko, got it? Hmm?" She stopped and glanced back at him.
Deidara?
"Hime!"
Reluctantly, Aiko whirled back around to find Kisame and Itachi. When she was gone, Deidara sighed and leaned in her doorway. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and stood in silence until he heard a distinct shuffling behind him.
The ex-Iwagakure nin smirked. "I see you finally got Hiruko fixed, Sasori no danna…"
"I'm here!" Aiko announced, breathless, upon locating Itachi and Kisame outside.
The shark nin snorted. "Well it's about time Hime. You ready to go or what?" Aiko nodded, flushing, as Kisame asked about why she had been so slow to come. She replied with a simple, 'I couldn't find my clothes'. Kisame muttered something and Aiko laughed.
"Aiko, you seem happier today," Itachi murmured calmly, eyeing her with his calculating Sharingan. Aiko pursed her lips, face reddening even more.
"Y-yeah, I guess so," she muttered.
"Hidan didn't seem too happy this morning," Kisame noted. "Actually, he was in a fouler mood than normal." He grinned a toothy grin. "You didn't have anything to do with that, did you Hime?" Aiko ignored him and glanced over her purple fingernails.
"No," Aiko lied with a sweet smile, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"How are you doing, Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto asked, walking into a dark bedroom. He shuddered at the sight of his lord, dead bodies strewn across the floor in a sea of crimson blood while Orochimaru writhed in his bed, purple arms outstretched.
"How much longer must I wait to get my arms healed?!" Orochimaru rasped. "Damn the Third Lord! He was more powerful than I expected! Damn him! Damn him! Damn him!"
"Please calm down my lord," Kabuto murmured, cautiously approaching him.
"Don't patronize me!" Orochimaru spat, his tone venomous.
Glaring up at Kabuto with deadly golden eyes, Orochimaru hissed like a snake beneath his ragged breath, causing Kabuto to shirk away. The fearful medic shifted his glasses around and apologized, "I am indeed sorry my lord, for upsetting you, but there is nothing I can do."
Orochimaru hissed again. "Well, then find some way to fix it!" A thought passed through the fatigued snake nin's mind as he rested his head against the hard pillows behind him. He scoffed. "You know, if Aiko were still with us she would be healing me right now."
Kabuto twitched, jealous. "My lord, she is out of our reach now."
"Fool!" Orochimaru whispered sharply, so sharply that Kabuto cringed in fear. "If Aiko were here she may have been able to heal Kimimaro and we wouldn't be in this mess right now! If Kimimaro had come with us then we would've been fine! The assassination would've gone perfectly!" To Kabuto, it sounded as if Orochimaru was placing the blame on him.
Pausing, Kabuto evenly replied, "Then I'll go see if I can find some way to heal you."
Orochimaru chuckled, plan working. "Good, good…and while you're doing that check up on Kimimaro and see how he's doing. Last time you said the poor boy wasn't going to make it much longer. Ah well, at least I still have Sasuke. But still…" Kabuto nodded.
"Yeah, I know…Kimimaro was, and still would be, the perfect vessel," Kabuto murmured in agreement, remembering the incident from a few weeks ago when he and Orochimaru had killed the Kazekage after seeing Aiko again…
"Was that really Aiko my lord?" Kabuto repeated again in disbelief. "I thought she was dead!"
"As did I," Orochimaru mused. "Tis a pity that she escaped indeed."
Then, Orochimaru and Kabuto looked up to see Kimimaro appear where Aiko, and the two other Akatsuki members escorting her, had come from. Orochimaru narrowed his golden orbs, peering at the pale boy before him. Why did something feel wrong?
"Kimimaro!" Kabuto exclaimed. "Did you get the scrolls?"
Green eyes flashed as Kimimaro hesitantly replied, "…yes." His voice was choked as he said this, white hair matching his complexion. Kimimaro closed his eyes and then began to cough into his hand. Both Kabuto and Orochimaru frowned.
In an instant, Kimimaro's coughing worsened into hacking, until he coughed up blood. He went wide-eyed and collapsed on the ground, convulsing. Orochimaru twitched. Today was certainly not his lucky day. If anything, this was the worst day of his life.
"What is it boy?" Orochimaru demanded in that sickening, melodic tone.
"Please, forgive me my lord," Kimimaro uttered, coughing loudly.
"Kimimaro! Whatever is the matter?!" Kabuto knelt beside him to help, but Kimimaro was on the verge of passing out. The medic nin had no idea what to do, but he lifted Kimimaro up, steadying him, and then proceeded to return to Otogakure.
Upon returning, Kabuto ran a diagnosis to find out what was wrong with Kimimaro, hooking him up to all sorts of medical equipment, but could find nothing. He searched for possible illnesses and such, but nothing matched exactly what Kabuto was looking for. He could find neither a cause nor a cure, but one possibility struck him as perfect.
Perhaps seeing Aiko had done something to Kimimaro.
"Do you know if he saw Aiko?" Kabuto asked testily. "Maybe that triggered something?"
"I doubt it," Orochimaru serenely replied from his bed. "In any event, I want this sorted out immediately. So please, go."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto bowed and departed.
I will do whatever is necessary to help you recover quickly.
The day passed rapidly, showing no signs of anything of importance. Aiko traveled with Kisame and Itachi to Konohagakure and they expected to be at the gates by dawn, just in time to penetrate through the morning mists and be inside the village before anyone else knew their identities. Aiko pondered about what would happen if she saw Kakashi or Tenzo.
I really hope that we don't run into them. But still, I'm only coming to check out what Orochimaru did to Konohagakure and to see if I can find any leads on him. Oh God, what if Kimimaro came too? He would've decimated the village! But what if he got hurt? I don't even want to know! How can I concentrate on this mission?!
"Hey, try to keep up Hime!" Kisame muttered as they entered a thicket of trees.
Ducking beneath branches and hurrying behind the two Akatsuki members guiding her through the forest, Aiko couldn't keep her mind from revolving around Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and Konoha. She tripped over a root, but regained her balance before crashing into anyone.
"Watch out Hime," Kisame snickered, "this is a forest not a ballroom."
"Ha, ha, ha," Aiko dryly muttered. "Color me not impressed."
Sheesh! I've got to pay attention! I'm usually not this out of it. I feel so dumb right now.
Continuing to paw through the trees, Aiko found her mind beginning to drain of all thought. She reached into the pouch at her lower back, searching for food pills to keep her going. A moment later, she withdrew a round pellet and plopped it into her mouth. The effects took a few minutes to kick in, but when they did they served as a wonderful energy boost.
"Decide to catch up?" Kisame teased as Aiko joined him and Itachi.
Frowning, Aiko rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah; you know, that coma took a toll on me." Her eyes darted around the everlasting wall of trees and then to the sky above her. She blinked.
Wait! I know those constellations!
Eyeing the scenery around her, Aiko felt a cold chill run up her spine; she knew exactly where they were. She began to recognize everything; each tree, each rock, each blade of grass; everything was a sight for her to behold. They were passing through the border of Konoha.
Looking just ahead of her, Aiko then recognized a tree on a ledge; her favorite lookout position when she was working on border patrol. It was the same setting where she had last seen Izumo, Kotetsu and Genma; her dear, dear friends. A nostalgic feeling swept through her and she felt light-headed as they passed the tree. Why was she reminiscing now?
Then, she stopped cold.
Both Itachi and Kisame also came to an abrupt halt.
"W-what is this?!" Aiko's eyes filled with horror as she gazed at a poignant sight.
The pathway to Konohagakure through the forest had been carved out and destroyed completely. Stones lay flattened against the earth, blood speckled fallen trees, branches were scattered and forgotten across the destroyed landscape, burn marks scorched the terrain, and Aiko couldn't clean her nostrils of the lingering scent of death.
"Did Orochimaru do this?!" Aiko demanded, eyes flashing with anger.
Feeling almost sorry for the unsettled kunoichi, Kisame murmured, "Hey, it could've been worse Hime. Don't be so uptight!" He laughed, trying to put Aiko in better spirits, but she would not be caught laughing. No, the time for laughter was over.
Kneeling onto the ground, Aiko touched the soil. Footprints, almost a week old, were engrained in the ground. Aiko swept her light fingers over the surface and drew in a sharp intake of breath. The sandal tread was that of ninja from Sunagakure, not Konohagakure. She growled, "There were Suna nin too?! Damn it! I can't believe this!"
"Wait, how did you…" Kisame trailed off, fearful of the trembling kunoichi who was quivering with uncontrolled anger as she slammed her fist into the ground. Kisame staggered back to avoid flying bits of rock, but Itachi fearlessly stepped forward.
"We need to keep moving," Itachi murmured, unafraid. "Aiko, I'm sorry, but we have to."
Nodding and given no choice, Aiko muttered, "Fine." The three took off again. Aiko moved faster this time, her feet barely touching the ground as she flew through the air. She was determined to get to Konohagakure to check on it if it was the last thing she did.
"Looks like our little Hime's a warrior princess too," Kisame chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood. Itachi shook his head.
"Kisame, don't anger her any more than she already is," Itachi warned.
"Yeah, it doesn't seem like a good idea to get her too worked up," Kisame admitted. "Truth be told, she's starting to scare me. Kind of like you do sometimes!" He laughed and Itachi closed his eyes. There was probably no point in telling Kisame to quiet himself now.
Moving as quickly as she could, Aiko felt her hair flying behind her as she pulled it into the ponytail that she used to constantly wear while in Konohagakure. Her green orbs flared. The next time we meet, Orochimaru, I will not be held back by anyone…
I will strike to kill.
Journeying for another hour or two, Aiko, Itachi and Kisame soon reached the blessed gates to Konoha, although everything was not quite as Aiko remembered it. The front gate had been smashed in, the usual number of guards lacking. Aiko pulled on her bamboo hat.
Dawn broke across the horizon.
Bells chiming in the breeze, Aiko, Itachi, and Kisame adjusted their bamboo hats upon meeting up with the two guards, both of which looked weary from watching the gates for an endless night. Aiko lowered her hat over her eyes, hoping to not be recognized.
"Who goes there?!" the first guard demanded. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of the outfits worn by the approaching strangers. Black cloaks with red clouds? Who are these people?
"Itachi," Kisame looked to his partner, who nodded.
Tipping his hat up just enough to reveal his Sharingan eyes, Itachi placed both the guards under a genjutsu in an instant and each thudded lifelessly to the ground. Aiko, Itachi and Kisame stepped over them and proceeded to infiltrate the village.
Hatake Kakashi awoke that morning with a strange feeling about him; why did he feel like something bad was going to happen?
Sighing and getting out of bed, Kakashi got dressed and made himself a cup of coffee. He wandered around his house, bored, waiting for a mission of some sort to arrive. Soon, a beak tapped against his window and he turned to find a small wren waiting with a letter.
"Ah, what do we have here?" Kakashi murmured, adjusting his mask. He took the letter from the wren after opening his window and the little bird kicked off, flapping its wings and soaring away. Kakashi placed his coffee on the windowsill and flipped open the letter.
A mission with Kurenai, Asuma and Guy, eh? Looks like village patrol to me.
Then, a loud knock rattled on his door.
"Mmm? Oh, come on in, Sasuke," Kakashi said knowingly, eye crinkling.
A boy, who looked almost identical to Itachi, stepped into the house with a frown. "How did you know it was me? I wasn't supposed to even be coming Kakashi-sensei." The silver-haired man chuckled and walked over to the young Uchiha, ruffling his hair.
"Call it 'intuition'," Kakashi replied. "Here, why don't we go out for a minute?"
Planning on meeting Kurenai and Asuma near the teahouse, Kakashi departed with Sasuke. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. He dismissed the thought, however, upon seeing the calmness of the village.
Everyone was working peacefully on repairs, laughing, joking as if they hadn't just fought a battle. Children were playing on the streets, people were strolling in and out of stores, and the local restaurants were exhuming delicious, mouthwatering smells.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei, you awake?" Sasuke muttered, trying to regain his mentor's attention.
"Oh, sorry," Kakashi apologized. "Guess I'm not all here today."
"Well then you'd better wake up and smell the coffee."
Kakashi and Sasuke both glanced up to see Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai approaching them. Kakashi grinned beneath his mask, a cool tone accommodating his voice.
"It looks like you two are on a date," he teased.
"Oh please," Kurenai rolled her gorgeous crimson eyes, flicking her tumbles of curled, black hair over her shoulder. Kakashi didn't miss the exchange of flirtatious glances between her and Asuma as they averted their eyes right after doing so.
Then, the Copy Cat ninja's eyes flashed as he felt someone eyeing him.
Sitting in the shaded area of the teahouse, were three Shinobi harboring extensive amounts of chakra. Kakashi's eyes hardened slightly upon distinguishing a red cloud pattern on the cloaks. The Akatsuki? He made eye contact with one of the three who quickly looked away.
"Anyway Sasuke," Kakashi murmured, suspicious, "I have patrol duty with these two today, so I'll have to catch up with you later." The Uchiha looked upon his sensei with disdain.
"Huh?" Sasuke grimaced. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Nodding to Kurenai and Asuma, who quickly got the message that something was wrong, Kakashi said, "Anyway Sasuke, we'd really better get going. I'm probably late enough for patrol duty as it is." Asuma snorted and Kurenai smirked.
"Just don't keep us waiting," Asuma chuckled.
"Don't worry," Kakashi reassured them as the ninja he saw earlier vanished from the teahouse. "I'll try to be on time…"
Three figures wrapped in cloaks of black with scarlet clouds wandered aimlessly around a deserted park, strolling past the glistening lake. They knew that they were being followed and stopped. Footsteps rustled behind them.
"And where do you think you're going?"
The trio turned around to see Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai pursuing them. Upon seeing her opponents' faces, Kurenai could name two of them, one of which she was shocked to see. Asuma stepped protectively in front of her and readily faced the said Akatsuki nin.
"Well, well, if it isn't Uchiha Itachi," Asuma boldly declared as Itachi took off his bamboo hat and allowed it to fall to the ground. The Uchiha narrowed his Sharingan eyes, unbuttoning his cloak to rest his arm. "It's been a while since you've seen the village, hasn't it?"
"Asuma, Kurenai," Itachi evenly acknowledged with empty eyes. "I haven't seen you two in a long time." Kisame shuffled around next to him, blood boiling, and the third, shortest figure, Aiko, pulled her hat over her eyes, biting on her lip.
Asuma and Kurenai are here…and Kakashi said that he would be back soon too…
I'm so scared…what if they find out it's me?
"Aiko; that is you isn't it?"
The kunoichi gasped and looked up. Asuma was speaking to her.
"Hmph," Aiko removed her hat, much to Itachi and Kisame's surprise. She smiled sadly at her old friends. "I have to ask, Asuma, how did you recognize me so quickly?" Her eyes hardened as Asuma scoffed and shook his head. Kurenai balled up her fists beside him.
Pulling out a cigarette, Asuma lit it and stuck it in his mouth. Kurenai watched him in silence. "Your eyes gave you away," Asuma replied, "I caught a glimpse of them. You're the only being in this world that I know of that possesses green eyes with blue pupils with a blue lining around your iris. I suppose you could say that my eyesight is sharper than most."
Crossing her arms, Aiko emotionlessly answered with a brief pause, "I'm not the kunoichi I used to be. I've changed. Don't think that I won't kill you; unfortunately my allegiances are no longer with Konohagakure. I'm here on business with the Akatsuki and that is that."
"What a shame," Kurenai forlornly murmured. "Aiko, you were always such a kind girl."
"Either way, we won't back down," Asuma asserted himself, stepping towards the Akatsuki trio. "We'll show you to infiltrate our village."
Aiko's eyes flickered, feeling a genjutsu being played against her from Kurenai, but Itachi was already taking care of it. Kisame sneered as he leapt forward to handle Asuma, brandishing Samehada and attacking him without hesitation. Aiko stood still.
What was she supposed to do? Fight against her former comrades?
Clamping her eyes shut for a moment, Aiko disregarded the thought and asked herself why she should care in the first place. After all, she was a member of the Akatsuki organization, right? A sigh escaped her lips. Akatsuki or not, this was Asuma and Kurenai.
What should I do?
"Hime! Move!"
Shielding herself from an incoming wall of water, Aiko shut her eyes and ducked. The sound of clashing metal rang throughout her ears. She peeked out from under her arm to see that Itachi and Kisame had retreated across the lake, while Asuma stood in shock, watching Kurenai and a man who had just saved her neck from Itachi. Aiko's blood ran cold.
She gasped as she recognized the man facing off against Kisame and protecting Kurenai.
It was Kakashi.
"Uchiha Itachi," Kakashi murmured, "this is a pleasant surprise." He frowned beneath his mask. I know that I saw someone else with these Akatsuki members before. There were three of them. Three. And I'm pretty sure that I knew who the third was.
Kakashi's third Akatsuki member darted to Itachi and Kisame, joining them gracefully on the surface of the water. Kakashi stifled a gasp upon recognizing the cobalt blue-haired female donning an Akatsuki jacket. She flicked her head up and stared at Kakashi with vivid green eyes. He held himself back, knowing better than to charge in there.
"Aiko," Kakashi whispered. Finally; here you are at long last.
"Hello Kakashi," Aiko was impassive, "I haven't seen you in a while."
She couldn't betray any sign of the heartache tormenting her, because Aiko knew that if she did Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma would take her back in a heartbeat. She tried to keep her eyes out of their reach, she tried not to show any emotion, but when Kakashi spoke her name, tenderly as he always had, she flinched outwardly.
"Aiko, is there any chance that you'll give yourself up without a fight?" Kakashi's question was a plea. Aiko clenched her fists and shook her head slowly. Kisame took that as a sign that she had completely severed all attachments to Konoha and was going to assist the Akatsuki.
Only the latter was correct.
"Hey Itachi, will you let me slice and dice this guy up?" Kisame begged. "This is Hatake Kakashi, the famed Copy Cat Ninja, right? I want to kill him." He chuckled coldly, gripping Samehada tightly. Aiko jerked her gaze over to the shark nin in horror, her jaw tightening.
You'd better not touch him…otherwise, I will find a way to stop you.
"No, I'll handle Hatake Kakashi," Itachi murmured, glowering at Kakashi. "Let me show you the true power of the Sharingan when it is wielded by an heir of the Uchiha clan." Kakashi gasped, looking back to Asuma and Kurenai, alarmed, his Sharingan eye contracting.
"Don't look at his eyes!" Kakashi ordered. "Quickly, close yours before he ensnares you in his genjutsu!" Aiko felt a pang of fear course through her as Kurenai and Asuma snapped their eyes shut, squeezing their eyelids together. She looked at Itachi and then at Kakashi.
Oh no!
Before Aiko could stop him, Itachi chanted, "Tsukyomi!"
Kisame's lip curled into a horrible grin. He knew what was coming for the Copy Cat Ninja.
Three seconds later, Kakashi collapsed on the ground.
Aiko's eyes went wide. What happened?! For a while, Kakashi lay on the ground as if he was dead. Aiko couldn't breathe. She prayed that he would get up, move; do something. She breathed out a sigh of relief as Kakashi eventually twitched.
The Copy Cat Ninja began to sit back up, kneeling on one knee.
Wheezing and panting, Kakashi struggled to stay conscious. He was swaying from side to side and looked although he might pass out from Itachi's genjutsu. Aiko could feel her stomach coiling and knotting like it never had before. What was she supposed to do?!
"Kakashi?! What's going on?!" Asuma demanded, eyes still closed. "One minute that guy was talking and the next you've hit the ground!"
"Keep your eyes closed!" Kakashi commanded. "Don't open them!"
Snorting, Kisame muttered, 'You know what Itachi? I think that we may as well destroy these three and leave it at that. I mean, come on, I've been itching to fight lately." Aiko glanced over at Kisame's bristling Samehada and then to her former teammates.
"What?" Aiko exclaimed, putting on a false calmness. "Won't that just cause more conflict?"
Kisame snorted. "Hime, you know that we may as well just fight them and kill them now. The sooner we get rid of them, the sooner we won't have to deal with them in the future. Either way, we're going to have to fight them someday!" He placed Samehada in front of himself.
Itachi held out a hand, stopping Kisame. "Kisame, Aiko's correct."
"Huh?" Kisame scowled, looking down at Aiko. She cast him a threatening glare.
"She's right; we didn't come here to start a war," Itachi continued. "That's enough."
Kakashi weakly watched the Akatsuki with a fatigued gaze. Great, he was too weak to stop Aiko; again. But he had to know why they were there in the first place. He parted his lips beneath his mask. "And then what, may I ask, did you come here for?" All of the Akatsuki nin turned to look at him, Kakashi's gaze hardening. "Did you come for Sasuke?"
Aiko pursed her lips; Sasuke? That's right, Itachi's younger brother. She watched Kakashi with forlorn eyes, yearning to help him as he wobbled again, nearly falling over. She clutched her chest. Why does it hurt so badly? Ugh. I feel so sick…
Shaking his head calmly, Itachi answered, "No, we did not come for my little brother." His crimson Sharingan eyes flashed. "We came for the legacy of the fourth Hokage." Kakashi choked back his gasp of anger and disbelief. He panted out the words:
"You mean Uzumaki Naruto? His Kyubi?"
"Yes."
Kakashi gritted his teeth, eyesight dizzy. He bellowed, "And you're alright with this Aiko?!"
Aiko recoiled, eyes watering. She looked away.
Kakashi's nose crinkled. How could she be doing this to him?! "Aiko, answer me!"
She clamped her eyes shut, forcing back the tears.
No, she wasn't alright with this. No, she didn't want to be here. No, she didn't want to be fighting him. No, she couldn't bear to watch him suffer a moment longer. No, she didn't want to get Naruto and the Kyubi. No, she didn't want to continue betraying her comrades like this.
"Have you forgotten about Tenzo and I?! Aiko, don't you want to come back?!"
Yes, she wanted him to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything would be alright.
Yes, she did want to go back.
But she couldn't.
"Damn it," Aiko cursed, bowing her head. Why does this keep happening to me?!
Spinning around on her heel, the dejected, confused kunoichi took off. She just wanted to get out of there. She couldn't bear to see Kakashi being hurt right in front of her eyes a moment longer. She couldn't stand to have him stare at her with those accusing eyes.
It hurt too much.
"Hime!" Kisame hollered as Aiko disappeared into the forest. "Get back here!"
"Don't even bother," Itachi sighed. "She'll find her way back, I'm sure." He turned his stony gaze upon Itachi, Kurenai, and Asuma. Now, to deal with you three once and for all now that Aiko is gone…" His Sharingan eyes flashed.
Shoving past the tree branches and tripping over roots, Aiko fled from the scene, her heart ripping itself into pieces. Why did that have to happen?! Why?! I hate myself! I should've never gone! I don't even care anymore! I just want to die! I'm so horrible! I'm a traitor!
I'm just like Orochimaru!
Tripping, Aiko collapsed upon reaching the forest. Tears were running down her cheeks.
Damn it! I have to get out of here before someone sees me! No, let them find me! Then I can die! Then Kakashi and Tenzo won't have to worry anymore! Nnn! But I don't want to die yet. I'm afraid of dying. No, I want to get away from here! Far, far away!
She got back up and continued running, sobs choking her as her breath became ragged.
I'm so confused now! I don't know what to do! I want to be somewhere safe! I want to be with someone! I want to talk to someone! I don't want to be alone anymore! Oh god, I'm scared, I'm scared; I'm so scared! I just want it to all be over!
Aiko passed by the tree that she used to sit in, mind screaming.
Everyone will know that I'm a traitor and I they'll all hate me! Konohagakure will never take me back! Neither will Orochimaru now that I've joined the Akatsuki! When they came for me, I should've fought harder! I should've refused to give up until they killed me!
The tears flowed harder.
What do I do?! What do I do?! What do I do?! Where do I go?! I have to go back! I can't stay out here forever! Maybe Leader-sama will do away with me for disobeying Itachi and Kisame. Maybe he'll kick me out of the Akatsuki. Then I can die.
She tripped again, but got back up, cuts bleeding like crazy. She was lost now.
If I ever find my way back, what will I do?! Oh god, I'm scared. I don't want to die. What do I do?! If I tried leaving would anybody care? Leader-sama will have lost his medic nin and then they'd have to find a new one, and Deidara--!
Her thoughts stopped.
Deidara?
Suddenly, Aiko knew exactly who she wanted to see.
Training outside, a little ways away from the Akatsuki base, was Deidara. He began molding his clay bird again, mashing it together in his hands and adding the chakra to it. He tossed it away from himself and listened to it detonate. Such a beautiful sound.
"Now there's art, hmm?" Deidara murmured to himself.
It was sunset now, and Deidara figured that he ought to get back to the house he was staying at with Sasori. He cracked his neck, checking on his remaining clay.
Damn it! I have to get more clay soon, hmm? I'll make some later…
Then, he heard a faint rustling in the trees.
"Hmm? Is that you Sasori?" Deidara said outwardly, walking over to explore.
Suddenly, Aiko popped out of the bushes, her blue hair in tangles and her body marred with cuts, scratches and bruises. Deidara gasped.
"Aiko?" Deidara ran over to her, just in time for her to fall into his arms.
"D-Deidara?" Aiko whispered, peering up at the blond. "I…finally found you…" She reached up, hands shaking to touch his face. More tears spilled over. He was real, right? She stroked his cheek as Deidara held her. His ice-blue eyes narrowed in concern.
Hesitating, Deidara asked, "What happened to you Aiko, hmm?" She shut her eyes and began coughing. Those food pills were coming to take their toll on her body. Aiko shakily tried to speak, but her voice had faded to a mere whisper.
"Deidara…please, will you hold me?" Aiko whispered. "I'm cold."
"Yeah, sure but we need to get you back to the hospital right away," Deidara determined, standing up and lifting Aiko with him. She nodded weakly, smiling.
I love you.
Author's Note: Okay, was that sweet or what? Aiko is finally beginning to move on! That part with her meeting back up with Kakashi was hard to write though; I was so sad…and I have a sick friend who I was reading this aloud to and I read the part where Aiko says, "Yeah, yeah; you know, that coma took a toll on me", and I read it so quickly that I couldn't say it correctly.
Was it just me or is that a bit of a tongue twister? I don't know… T_T
Anyhow, look forward to Aiko and Deidara getting all lovey-dovey in the next chapter; now that Aiko knows how she feels, what will she tell him? Gasp!
-Aiko of the Akatsuki
