I didn't know how much time had passed when I awoke next as I felt warm and fuzzy all over. Probably an anesthetic Tobi had given me to dull the pain that would be in my muscles. I did a quick check as I realised just how much damage my sprint for help had caused. My arm muscles were torn to shreds, it would take a week to heal even with chakra speed healing and I'd be virtually useless to pick up or carry anything. My back was mostly healed just a few of the deeper gashes were still scabbed over the rest seemed healed. I healed as much of the muscles in my legs as I could and the shin splints I had received from the running. I was peppered in bruises as I did my best to heal my ribs.

I was glad for the anesthetic as it numbed my body to nearly all of the pain as I pulled the ribs back into place and healed the cracks in them. The bruises could heal in their own time. I lay back as I heard low voices not far from me as I noticed that I was in an infirmary of sorts. It looked more like a spare room equipped with medical tools as I listened to the conversation as best I could.

'- and she's holding steady. Mostly muscle damage from what Tobi tells me. Has Kisame been found yet?' It was Kakuzu's voice as there was a shift of weight and a squeak of floorboards.

'Kisame is still being tracked. The ANBU patrol has been removed. Make sure she is recovered enough to fix up Kisame by the time he gets back. What happened to your hands?' Leader's voice was quiet but like steel as I just lay there. I really shouldn't be listening but I couldn't help it. I wanted to know what had become of Kisame after I had seemingly ditched him.

'Kisame's sword. Turns out spikes protrude from the handle if you try to grab it. It's mystery as to how Kasumi brought it back here with only minimal damage to her body.' Kakuzu's voice was deep and raspy as if he had been up for a long time. I looked for a clock as I noticed it was late afternoon, 4 pm to be exact as I grabbed the glass of water on the table beside me and swallowed the contents in two gulps.

My arms shook dangerously and ached through my drug haze as the glass slipped from my hand and smashed to the floor. The door opened quickly as Kakuzu stepped in as looked at me. There was no sign of leader.

'breaking things already?' Kakuzu asked as he pulled out a broom from a closet. I didn't say anything and tried my best to glare at him. Hard to do with gauze stuck to your cheek and over one eye. He just cleaned up the glass as I lay back on the fluffy pillows. There was no way I was going to be able to get out of bed for nearly a week just to let my muscles heal. They would probably spasm again like they had when Itachi had trained me too hard. I winced, not a feeling I wished to return to.

'Pain?' Kakuzu asked at my flinch as I shook my head. No, I was quite alright for pain medications as Kakuzu dumped the shards into a garbage bin. 'Tobi is around call him if you want something' he muttered before stepping out of the room and sliding the door shut behind him.

I lay back as I heard the distant clacking of the bamboo in the breeze. Soon the sound changed as I noticed it sounded more like rain on a tin roof as I turned to see Samehada leaning against one of the cabinets as the layers of scales shook and clapped together creating the rainy sound.

'what do you want?' I asked as the sound ceased and then resumed again. I stared at the sword, it definetly was an odd design and in need of cleaning as I looked at all of the rust coloured stains on the scales. 'so do you want to be cleaned?' I asked as the rain sound came again. I must've sounded like an idiot talking to a sword as I managed to sit up. My arms ached terribly as I noticed they had been bandaged tightly and well. Samehada rattled again as I leant for the sword. I ached as I managed to get a hand around the handle. Immediately I felt something prick me as I let go. A thin trail of blood ran down my palm from the spikes semi-protruding from Samehada's handle.

I realised something after this, I had no way to pull Samehada to me with no muscle strength. That was frustrating. I lay back as Samehada clacked in an irritated manner.

'well thanks to you I have no strength to pick you up or clean you.' I spat as the sword clacked again and seemed to shake itself in irritation. I glared at the sword as the door squeaked open again. I looked up to see a cheery orange mask as Tobi came in carrying a tray laden with food. He must've seen that I was awake as I saw his one eye curve as if he was grinning.

'Tobi hopes kasumi is hungry!' he chirped as I smiled despite my soreness. No matter what Tobi was like a breath of fresh air or a warm sunny day. He just made you feel good. He seemed to skip in and set the tray in my lap as I saw the array for foods. Pancakes, waffles, toast, eggs, bacon, fruit salad, yogurt, and a cup of orange juice. I smiled and lifted my arms as best I could and started eating. It was difficult seeing as my coordination was poor from the lack of muscle in my arms.

'How are Kasumi's arms and legs?' Tobi asked as I shrugged stuffing another wonderful syrup covered pancake chunk into my mouth. Tobi could cook very well it seemed as he took a seat on the foot of the bed.

'Any word if Kisame was found?' I asked around a mouthful of pancake. Tobi shook his head.

'Itachi and Deidara haven't reported back yet. Tobi doesn't know anything' he said somewhat sadly as Samehada chose that moment to give an irritated rattle. I glared at the sword.

'Shush you. I'll clean you when I can move again' I said as Samehada gave its rain on a roof noise. I could feel Tobi staring at me as I finished off the pancakes and moved onto the waffles. It was weird being in the hideout knowing Kisame wasn't there but running from the now obliterated ANBU patrol. Actually the Akatsuki would probably get a good amount of bounty for the ANBU bodies in stone. I really was becoming evil, or at least seeing the flipside of what life on the outside was like.

We sat in silence as I finished eating, then Tobi checked how my body was healing before helping it along the way a little by healing all of the wounds on my back.

'Don't tire yourself out too much Tobi' I smiled and relaxed back onto the bed as he tucked me in.

'Don't worry Kasumi, Tobi knows what he's doing' he said as picked up the now empty tray. 'Tobi will be back later. Don't move too much okay?' Tobi then bounced from the room as I smiled. Tobi really did look out for me, it was an odd feeling knowing that someone was making sure I was okay. Caring about me.

I stared at the ceiling as I realised how utterly bored I was. I hoped Kisame was okay.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fuck! Kisame ploughed through another tree branch as he ran. Getting away from the bar had been interesting as he had had to detonate the building with water as a distraction. Now he had been running for a solid two days west trying to lead the patrol away from kasumi. They had managed to beat the living shit out of him as his breath came in pants and his left arm dangled uselessly.

The thought of the ANBU group catching her terrified him as he left a more than obvious trail to lead them away. It had worked for a while before he noticed two of them split off and wind back to the northeast. He flicked some blood and hair out of his eyes as his face stung from the deep gash he had received from a shuriken.

Even in his half drunken state he knew he had to try to keep them running toward Sand. It was the best idea he had at the time. They had fallen back a while ago and he was beginning to wonder if they had given up on catching him and headed back to get Kasumi. The trees thinned as he found himself standing on the branch of a stripped tree at the beginning of the sand dunes that marked the start of Sand country.

He did a quick sweet for chakra flares as he came up empty handed. Nothing. This area was empty of ninja as panic began to rise in his chest. They had gone after Kasumi. He knew that against ANBU Kasumi didn't have a chance and now she had four after her. Turning he knew that Kasumi would head back to the hideout as told. He headed north before cutting east across the top of fire country. Hopefully he'd be able to cut them off before they found Kasumi.

He was just about to turn north again when the sound of a battle caught his attention. A loud explosion rocked the area as birds took off from their roosts in trees and flames licked the sky.

That had Deidara written all over it as he headed for the sounds of battle. On instinct he reached for Samehada as he realised with a sinking feeling that he had left it back at the hot spring. Damn him being drunk and being caught off guard as he slid into the battle area.

Turning he saw one of the ANBU launch an attack on Itachi who was standing stoic off to the side of the cratered clearing. In that moment he had never been so glad to see the Uchiha as sharingans fixed on the ANBU ninja and suddenly he dropped dead.

'HAHA DIE FUCKER!' Hidan's shout rang across the area as the smoke settled a little and Deidara landed his giant bird in the clearing. The remaining ANBU member dropped to the ground as Hidan screamed joyously. Bloody masochist.

'Hey is that a large blue shark man I see yea?!' Deidara exclaimed as Kisame laughed despite himself. He was glad to see the trio, it meant that Kasumi had made it back to the hideout without a problem.

'Shit you look like hell' hidan commented his scythe still impaled through his chest as Itachi walked over soundlessly. Kisame glared at him as Itachi stood beside Kisame.

'lets go. Kasumi should be recovered enough to heal you' Itachi said as Deidara shot the Uchiha a dark look. Kisame felt a little sick, kasumi was recovering? Had one of the ANBU caught her?

'it's nothing serious Kisame, yea. Just muscle fatigue, she managed to get back to the hideout in one day with Samehada yea.' Deidara said smiling as Kisame blinked. She had carried Samehada with her all the way back to the hideout in lightning? That was a huge distance to carry that sword in such a short period of time….and kasumi was so small, not to mention Samehada didn't like anyone other than him touching it.

'Really, that bitch is a tank' Hidan grinned his skin still skeletalized as he was now lying on a bloody circle with the scythe sticking out of his chest. Hidan was a weird one that was for sure as Diedara scowled at his limp arm.

'what the fuck happened to you yea? I've never seen you so banged up yea!' he said as Kisame shrugged. He had lost his buzz and the pain he hadn't noticed until Diedara pointed out the fact that his arm was dislocated and broken in several places as was his ribs. Now it was radiating and he wanted to hit the stone nin for pointing it out.

'Happens when you're running from an ANBU squad with a barely trained medic and drunk off your ass' he laughed as Diedara blinked a few times then rolled his eyes.

'You were drunk yea! Kasumi could've died because you were drunk Kisame yea! Honestly does your life suck that much, yea?' the blonde fumed as Kisame's eyes darkened and the effeminate man knew he had stepped on a nerve as he put his hands up as if facing an armed person. 'sorry, yea' he said before turning and running for the safety of his giant clay bird.

Kisame pushed his anger down as Itachi leant his shoulder against Kisame's. Itachi really didn't like contact with anyone other than Kisame it seemed as over the years the duo had come up with a secret kind of sign language because of Itachi's habit for being silent.

Immediately Kisame tried to calm himself down and looked at Itachi's obsidian eyes.

'That was reckless' Itachi muttered as Kisame felt scolded. Itachi may have only been 17 but the boy knew more than most adults ever would and he knew he did. 'But Kasumi is a ninja. She needs to learn to fend for herself. I'm impressed that she managed to fend off the tracker twice…Hm…. Yes, maybe there is hope for her becoming an efficient ninja' Itachi was mumbling to himself again as Kisame pretended not to listen. A small part of him felt a little better now that Itachi even seemed to grudgingly approve of their new puppy of a team mate.

'Lets get the fuck out of here I'm hungry and its Tobi's turn to cook and he promised me grilled cheese the little bastard!' Hidan grinned as he climbed up beside Diedara. Kisame joined along with Itachi as the large clay bird lifted off and angled for the mountains of lightning country.

!!!!!!!!!!!

A fierce storm had blown up randomly in the late evening as Tobi and whomever else was in the house ran around battening down the hatches against the driving wind and rain.

Lightning country, it was named appropriately as massive bolts of lightning flashed almost like strobe lights and the resounding thunder never seemed to end. The wind howled and the bamboo shrieked its protest as I lay there staring at Samehada. It had started its soothing rain on a tin roof sound the minute when I began to feel stressed about the storm. I had never liked them, even as a child the lightning had scared me after that one incident way back in my genin days.

'Kasumi! Hurry up!' Kakashi yelled as I glared at the boy. He really was such a prick as Rin lashed the tent and tarp down as quickly as she could. Sensei still hadn't returned from collecting supper when the storm had blown in more quickly and fierce than had been predicted.

'KAKASHI I CANT HOLD IT!' Rin yelled over the driving wind and ran as he dropped his pack under a crumpled tarp and ran to help Rin. I was packing away a set of metal cooking pans when the first bolt licked through the sky and a growl of thunder followed. Storms had never really bothered me as a child, I had been fascinated by them staring out my windows long into the night to watch the gorgeous display of power as the high volts of electricity danced through the air.

I shoved the last pan into the pack and went to help Kakashi and Rin as they fought with the massive tarp that had come loose and was flailing around in the harsh wind.

'Leave it, we have to seek shelter!' Kakashi roared over the wind as Rin immediately let go. I hadn't heard Kakashi as I managed to secure the tarp's cable around the tree once again.

I turned as I saw Kakashi jump as I felt a sharp tingle run through me before it felt like I was on fire all over my body. It was horrible, I have never felt pain like that as I wanted to scream but no sound came out. Then I was swallowed by blackness as I heard Kakashi and Rin screaming my name over the torrents of wind, rain, and a booming roll of thunder.

Turns out I had been struck by lightning and now, decades later I could still feel the sharp edge of anxiety every time I saw the room light up. God, I hoped everyone who went to find Kisame was alright. They were smart enough to see the storm coming and seek shelter before it managed to get too bad. I hoped.

The storm never seemed to end as Samehada kept up its soothing rattle as I lay there wishing my head was under the pillow. With my arms out of commission I fond it incredibly hard to do anything let alone lift a pillow. It had been hard holding a fork earlier today so a pillow was definitely not going to be happening anytime soon.

There was a creak of floorboards outside of my room as I noticed a warm glow from something like a lamp or flashlight illuminated the hallway as my door slid open quietly. I was on red alert as I saw that it was only Tobi with a flashlight as he stepped into the little room.

'Tobi?' I asked as his head jerked up and he came and sat at the end of the bed.

'Is kasumi all right? Does her arms or legs hurt?' he asked pointing the flashlight at the ceiling and creating a little lamp. I shook my head as another flash of lightning lit up the room temporarily. I flinched involuntarily as the boom from the following thunder resonated in my chest. There wasn't a moment as another flash bounced around the room. The storm was getting worse as all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and hide until it was over.

My distress must've showed as Tobi got up and went over to one of the cabinets. After a few minutes of rooting he returned with some water and a few little pills. I swallowed them as Tobi grabbed the flashlight and cocked his head.

'Would Kasumi like Tobi to stay?' he asked as I looked up at the man. He was so childlike and innocent. Like a brother almost, if I had ever had one, he was what I imagined Tobi would be like. There was another bright flash of lightning as my decision was made for me. I nodded sharply as Tobi climbed into my bed so that I was using his chest as a backrest.

'What makes kasumi so scared of lightning?' he asked as I leant back against him. It was weird being so close to someone who wasn't Kisame. I was accustomed to having Kisame lying beside me, not Tobi. Tobi had a different feel to his presence, warm, bouncy, affectionate. Plus he was softer than Kisame and much thinner and generally smaller than Kisame. It was odd, but I rather liked Tobi as a friend out of all the Akatsuki. Tobi made me feel like I was wanted and loved as he turned off the flashlight and the room was illuminated by the lightning.

'I was hit by a bolt when I was a kid. I nearly died, but I was lucky we were so close to Konoha that I was saved' I said as Tobi shifted and something like a large scarf was draped over my front. Tobi wore a scarf? He was even more like a little kid than I thought as he pulled off a pair of black gloves and set them on the table.

'Kasumi is lucky to have survived so many accidents' he said as I noticed with Tobi here the lightning wasn't as frightening and I was getting quite sleepy.

'yea, I am pretty lucky.' I mused as my brain started to shut down to try to sleep. 'thank you Tobi……. You're like the brother I never had' I wasn't sure if I said the last part or not as I drifted to sleep on Tobi's soft sweater.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Kisame you really don't like flying do you yea?' Deidara asked as Kisame vomited over the side of the bird for the fourth time that trip. Kisame REALLY hated flying for some odd reason he always managed to get motion sick and it just ended badly for everyone.

'he's a fucking fish man of course he doesn't like the air he should be swimming around in a goddamn stream or something' Hidan muttered lying on the bird and keeping a violet eye on his vomiting team mate.

'Shut up Hidan' Kisame muttered as another wave of nausea fought its way forward and he dry heaved over the bird once again. Itachi watched his partner discreetly as he watched Kisame's laboured breathing and still useless arm. None of them were versed in any medical training other than Tobi and he only knew the basics. Itachi knew a few techniques but they were mostly to staunch excessive bleeding and prevent infections in deep wounds. He didn't know what to do with a dislocated shoulder and broken bones.

'That arm isn't helping matters' Itachi mumbled as a distant roll of thunder caught their attention.

'FUCK!'

'Shit!'

'That is a set back'

And Kisame vomited over the side of the bird again as the clay bird halted in mid air. They weren't far off from the lightning border after an entire day and a half of flying but they definitely weren't going to be making it home anytime soon by flying.

A massive lightning storm easily 100 km across blanketed the entire sky in front of them blocking out the mountains only lighting then every once in a while by a bolt of lightning.

'Dammit, now what yea?' Deidara asked sitting down on the now hovering bird. Kisame was thankful for the lack of movement as Itachi stood and seemed to size up the storm. They all knew that a lightning storm in lightning country could easily last a week with its unique geography. Kisame knew he didn't have that long if he wanted his bones set in any semblance of order in his body again.

'we don't have time. We go through the storm' itachi's voice was monotone as hidan shot to his feet.

'ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?!?! We'll get zapped into next goddamn week!' he snapped as Deidara fixed him with a glare.

'what do you care you're immortal yea!' he snapped as hidan seemed to realise this fact and grinned sitting again.

'well, YOU'LL get your asses zapped into next week then' he snickered as Itachi looked at Kisame and Deidara. Within a few moments their problem had been solved as Hidan was tied with non explosive clay to the front of the bird with his scythe above his head as a lightning rod.

'YOU'RE ALL FUCKING DEAD WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE!' Hidan roared as Deidara pointed the bird into the storm. Itachi sat next to Kisame with a very satisfied grin as he listened to Hidan's continual spout of profanity as they entered the storm. Kisame laughed outright at the Uchiha and Hidan's misfortune as there were a few shrieks when the bolts actually struck him.

'He is really going to kill us isn't he, yea' Deidara muttered to Kisame as he gave his best attempt at a shrug. Maybe Kisame didn't care, he just wanted a shower and his arm and bones to be repaired. And to see kasumi the little voice popped up as he squished it instantly. No. he had been over this, he had NO feelings. Period. None for ANYTHING, let alone Kasumi.

The bird swooped around ridges and mudslides as a familiar bamboo forest came into view deep within a very sheltered valley. Kisame felt much better when he saw the bamboo forest as Hidan continued to curse.

'home sweet home yea' Deidara muttered as he took them down.