Sasuke was given a few minutes of silence in the bath tub. A bathroom was a bad place to hold a meeting from, but Sasuke needed to be in cold water right now. Karin had already figured this fact out: he mainly baths so much to resolve this fact. Suigetsu however just thought Sasuke was becoming a Kappa like he was. It was a lot simpler than observing his friend having problems with his libido.

Sasuke lay there immersed in the frozen water trying to rid his mind of the dirty thought about the blond so he could actually hold the meeting without any pull towards one side. He knew it was going to be a hard decision for him, but an even tougher one for Suigetsu to get. How was Sasuke supposed to come out and say "he's like us plus I think he's cute" to a friend who wouldn't accept that as a viable reason?

For a great surprise, Karin wanted him in the Black Birds, it didn't make any sense without having a dirty thought. However it was Karin and he knew she was into those types of things. Sasuke sat up, sighed heavily and pushed himself out of the tub.

The sounds of Sasuke's movements were heard through the slightly open door, however they were ignored by a conversation that Karin and Suigetsu were holding. The main question posed from Suigetsu was "Why are you getting dolled up, Karin?"

"I'm going out tonight, I'm out of money. I figure I get one good guy who can pay well and I'm set for the week." Karin said emotionlessly to the mirror where she fixed her lipstick. Suigetsu stood up and walked over to her. Suigetsu shook his head and looked at her. "What?

"You're sixteen, what are you doing on the streets? You can get a job; you don't need to go out there." Suigetsu said quietly knowing Sasuke would be out in a minute. "Talk to Kisame, or Hell talk to Madara, they can get you a part time down at the college doing something where you're not in danger."

"Maybe I like the street, maybe I like doing that? Anyway, it's not like I'm getting money to stay in here and study." Karin said and finished her make-up. Suigetsu was quick on pulling his wallet out. The bleach blond opened it and began going through the money Kisame had just given him. "What are you doing?"

Suigetsu didn't reply right away, instead he counted out all his bills and came up with a little over one hundred dollars. Suigetsu just pulled all of it out and shoved it at her. "I'm buying you out for the night, stay in."

At that moment Sasuke had his pants back on and had opened the door. Unsure of what to make of the scene he stood quietly and watched. Karin pushed the money back at him. "That's all your money; you won't be able to eat."

"You want to be such a little whore, take the money." Suigetsu said stepping forward and shoving it in her hand. Karin tried to push it back but found that Suigetsu was a lot stronger then her. By the time she could react to anything Suigetsu had a hand around her neck pinning her to a wall. "Do you know how many prostitutes die out there every year? There was one killed just last week and you want to go out on the street! Take the money and stay in tonight!"

"Suigetsu! Enough!" Sasuke said finally interrupting. Suigetsu pulled his arm off and went around the room to sulk by the door. Sasuke then turned his attention to Karin. She stood up against the wall rubbing her neck. "Suigetsu's money is as good as any of those deadbeats out there. He's paying you to do something good for your health, take it and stay in."

"Right…" Was all she muttered and looked down at the fist full of cash. Sasuke pulled the chair out from Karin's desk and sat down glaring at the two. Sasuke was about to do something when Karin excused herself to the bathroom and closed the door loudly behind her. Turning to Suigetsu, Sasuke rolled his eyes. "It was a little violent."

"I thought it was necessary." Suigetsu pulled out a knife and began twirling the open blade against a finger tip. "Maybe we should talk to Jugo about her, she shouldn't be going out there. She's just a kid."

"You sound like you've grown up, what the Hell happened?" Sasuke asked him in a friendly manner. "You've been trying to run her out of the house for three years and now you're making her stay in it."

Suigetsu shrugged and put the knife away. "Priorities change, I still want her out of the house but not if she's going to be doing that. Not when there are people like me out there." He said and waited for a second to look at the expression on Sasuke's face. He could read it easily and threw his empty wallet at him. "Before you say anything, shut up Sasuke. And that's pre-emptive, for everything on that subject. Just think of something else whenever it floats into your mind."

"Fine, but this is a shitty cash bribe." Sasuke said opening the wallet to display how empty it was. He tossed it back and they heard the door open. Karin didn't come out but the door was open. "You going to stay in there?"

"Yes." Came meekly from the opening and Sasuke decided not to press the issue.

"So, Karin wants to make Naruto a full Black Bird, is there any discussion on this?" Sasuke asked very formally.

"Where's Jugo, Itachi and Kisame?" Suigetsu asked them. "Half of the people is still only half, I think we at least need one more person."

"It's fine, Jugo's in favor. He likes Naruto, said he was very peaceful." Karin said then muttered something else that was in audible. Sasuke turned to Suigetsu to see his thoughts on the matter. Suigetsu just stared back until Karin interrupted them. "He just lost all of his friends."

"Just dumped…" Suigetsu corrected.

"His house was set on fire." Karin yelled back at him.

"Because he has a big mouth." Suigetsu was excellent at being the negative in any situation. He could argue that oxygen was poisonous, and the sad part is, he would find a way to win. It was part of Suigetsu character he had adapted from Sasuke. Sasuke could probably argue better then he could, but he was reserving himself until the end if needed.

"If he hadn't been in that stupid movement, his house would be fine, he would be happy with his recently dumped friends. He's been all emo, no offense Sasuke." Suigetsu said trying to wave it off, "not that your super emo, but you are mostly emo."

"Yea, point taken." He said and scratched his head wishing he had shampooed. He waited for anything to be said but took it that it was his turn. "Naruto's friends spoke badly of us, and when he tried to interfere, they made fun of him. I believe it's not his fault he's doing the right thing, but everyone else's that they're doing the wrong thing."

"Nicely spoken." Karin said loudly.

"Thanks. Now, I am for Naruto becoming a Black Bird. We all came here by need and coincidence, he was no difference. We all argued when we came here, and we did it when he came. I'm just saying he's a Black Bird, official or not." Sasuke ended his speech with a little gesture that bugged everyone. It was that common sense gesture where you shrug a little and do something with your facial expression. Even though Suigetsu was the only one who could see it, Sasuke noticed the intended effect from Suigetsu expression.

"I'm in favor along with Jugo. We win." Karin said, "Itachi doesn't care and neither would Kisame."

"Neither do I… I vote we don't tell him you get tattooed!" Suigetsu yelled happily and sat up straight with his hand raised.

"That's evil, I like it. We'll do it…" Sasuke looked at the time. "How's three AM, I'll go 'round and get everybody?"

"Don't wake me up for that, just tell me about it in the morning." Karin blew her nose. "Hey Sasuke, since you have a car now, are you going to run and get us all Burger King in the morning?"

"No, I have to save my money for gas now." Sasuke was actually happy about that. He got up and leaned against the door frame. "I'm going downstairs; do you need anything brought up?"

"No, I'm good." Sasuke nodded and began out looking at Suigetsu. Suigetsu didn't move expect to put a finger to his mouth without his normal devious smile. Sasuke just shrugged and left closing the door behind him. Suigetsu waited a moment or two before getting up silently and sitting down next to the bathroom door. "You're really bad at hiding when you're crying."

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Karin fumed and was about to slam the door closed but Suigetsu grabbed it. "Close the door."

"I'm not going to come in there, I just want to know why you want to go to the streets. Sure there's a thrill to it, but that doesn't mean I go around killing everything in sight." Suigetsu argued from personal experience. He turned to face the door. "I just don't get why you'd want to do something so dangerous."

"It's money and it's fun…" She tried to argue.

"Fun? No, fun is fooling around with someone you know, not a complete stranger in their car without any control. Do you get what I'm trying to say?" Suigetsu asked and saw as his money was thrown out the door. He grabbed it and went against his word entering the bathroom to find her in her nightgown. He stopped, "You're not going out?"

Karin shook her head, she had began to wipe off the makeup but some of it had ran before she could get to it. Suigetsu held out the money to her again. "If you need it, take it. I have a home I can go to, when the plumbing is fixed, where everything's given to me. You don't have that option. This is your only home."

Karin didn't mean to but she started crying again. Suigetsu set the money down on the edge of the sink and wrapped an arm around her head. "If you want, I'll go beat someone up and you can watch." Karin did laugh a bit and shook her head knowing it was a serious offer.

---------( ---------- )---------

Sasuke navigated down to the second floor landing and looked down the hall. His brother's door was open, Itachi was in there. His head shifted across the hall, Naruto's door was closed, there was no light coming from under the doorway. He was asleep as he said he was going to do. Sasuke sighed and continued down the flight to the kitchen, deserted. He wandered more and down the stairs to the basement and found Jugo sitting with Kisame arm wrestling.

Being both men were absolutely huge, in muscles and size, and they commonly liked to contest each other. In their bout right now they were evenly matched. Sasuke hung back on the bottom of the stairs waiting for something to happen in the match for it too end. Sasuke's nerves were driving him up the wall, he wanted a cigarette. He saw it then, on a couch, his sweater with everything in it.

Sasuke ditched his first intent of watching; he was going to watch and smoke. He got down quickly and grabbed his sweater and dumped the pouch contents onto the couch. Relived he grabbed the box of cigarettes and the light. Sasuke wandered next to the door and opened it slightly so he could light his cigarette.

The first inhale for him was like a relief. "You know…" Came a strained voice from Kisame, "you're brother really hates the idea of you smoking."

"I could find something worse to do." Sasuke offered and took another long drag. "Anyway, this is my first since…" He stopped and began recalling everything. "Yesterday."

"Oh you poor baby…" Kisame teased him. Jugo saw an opening and took it slamming Kisame's hand down with a quick flash of anger. "Damn it."

"So…" Jugo said finally talking. He released Kisame's hand and looked passed the moved couch to where Sasuke lingered. "What was decided in the meeting?"

"Naruto's becoming a Black Bird." Sasuke said and put the cigarette back in his mouth for a quick second. "We all said we wanted him here, however, the tattooing he'll find out about right before it happens."

"That Suigetsu's Idea?" Sasuke nodded and kept huffing away at the cigarette. Jugo got up and walked over to his large steel brief case. He opened it up and checked the equipment he had inside. "I have enough ink for it. Hopefully he won't hate you for it."

"I don't think he will." Sasuke said and heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Suigetsu jumped down the last few steps and landed on the couch next to Kisame. "Women are so emotional…"

"It's why I avoid them." Kisame said put his feet up on the table. "My mother was so horrible with her mood swings…"

"You lived with your parents growing up?"

"No, she killed my father and went to penn. But I swear to god, they all need to be on something." Kisame laughed and pulled out his Blackberry to check his email. "Oh, e-mail from Madara." Kisame opened it and began reading through, "Shit, I'm supposed to meet the plumber then."

"Hey, there's a meeting…" Itachi said coming downstairs nearly silently holding up his phone. "Isn't that when the plumber's coming?"

"Yeah, that's why I reiterate: shit." Kisame huffed and moved on to the next message.

"I'll be there then, I'm excused from the meeting."

"Does your excusal come with a permission slip?" Kisame asked and went through other things, "Sasori thinks Deidara's cracking under pressure. He could be a liability."

"I've known Deidara for a while, he probably just needs space. He has to fit his ego into a room with him, after all. Tell Sasori just to buy him some fireworks, or better yet let him blow something up." Kisame laughed slightly and began messaging back. Itachi walked over next to Sasuke and looked at him, "So, what's up?"

"We're making Naruto a Black Bird, however on Suigetsu's request…" Sasuke was yelled over.

"We're going to kidnap him at 3 and not tell him shit until the needle hits his skin!" Suigetsu said happily. Suigetsu was quickly frapped on the head and told not to swear until he's eighteen. This instigated a shouting match between Kisame and his ward. No one stayed around to hear it; the argument always ended the same. Jugo headed up stairs to the side room to disappear to where he usually goes.

Sasuke and Itachi however headed up into the side house and out the back door so his smoke would disperse quicker. "It's really not healthy for you, Sasuke."

Sasuke just shrugged and looked up at the calming black sky. There were plenty of stars dotting the sky, a welcome sight when on the other side of the building the street lamps blocked them out. Sasuke just stared up into them and calmly pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and dropped it to the ground. "Happy?"

"No, because you'll pick one up later." Itachi said and wrapped an arm around his neck. Sasuke rolled his eyes expecting the big 'smoking is bad' speech. "Cigarettes are expensive, you should get a cheaper hobby."

"Cheaper hobby? Madara's paying for these," Sasuke laughed sarcastically. 'Like the money would actually run out.' "Anyway, what would I do in the times I'm not smoking?"

Itachi just shrugged. "I don't know, get a boyfriend, just become addicted to something else. Maybe if you became addicted to sowing, you could repair all those pants I've torn out."

"Why don't you just learn how to sow?"

"Because I don't have an addiction to forget about." Itachi said as his final words and released his brother into the world. Sasuke looked down at the still burning cigarette and was about to reach down and pick it up. He stopped short of it and stood back up without the stick. His big brother had given him some guilt that was working to bother him. Sasuke gave up the idea of smoking for the night and went back inside.

As he walked by Itachi was intervening in Suigetsu and Kisame's fight. He continued on ignoring the yelling and went upstairs to the second floor and walked to his door. For the sake of thought Sasuke turned to Naruto's door, there was a light coming from underneath the door way.

It was instinct and want that moved his legs down the hall. Sasuke didn't have a thing to say to Naruto, not a single thing that he could say anyway. Sasuke's hand hit Naruto's door a few times and the voice called from the other side. Sasuke opened the door and walked in to find Naruto gazing intently at his laptop screen. It was the story he had helped write. "You're not worrying about the story are you?"

"Worried, no. Somewhat… I, it doesn't feel right." Naruto said and turned the screen towards Sasuke and circle a paragraph with his finger. "It just doesn't seem right."

Sasuke walked over next to the bed, knelt down and began reviewing the material. Sasuke found it instantly. "You don't need this sentence; it's adding to content but taking away from the story."

Without permission Sasuke quickly deleted it and turned the computer back at Naruto. Naruto read through the story and was amazed, "it was that. How'd you do that, I've been staring at this thing for ten minutes."

"I told you already, I am a Sith Lord." Sasuke said with pride, "The cookies however are in my room."

They both laughed a bit until Naruto asked him: "So, what is it?"

Sasuke shrugged, "just saw your light on and needed a distraction from smoking. Everyone's trying to get me to quit. Figured everyone in the world can't be wrong. I'm not keeping you awake, am I?"

Naruto shook his head and closed up the laptop setting it down on its case. "I can't sleep anyway, too many things going on up there. I'm considering picking up smoking."

"Don't. I'll beat you stupid if you do. It's a waste of money and I'm just going to keep telling myself that until I agree." Sasuke said stiffly and somewhat talking to himself. "What's fun is getting a tattoo… If I can beg Jugo enough I'll be getting a sleeve on this arm."

Sasuke showed off the arm with the giant eagle on top. Naruto looked at it, "didn't it hurt?" Sasuke shrugged, he had been half asleep for most of it. Naruto fell back onto his bed and sighed.

"If you focus on one thing, you should be able to clear your mind pretty well." Sasuke said standing up, "you should get some sleep."

"Probably..." Naruto muttered. For the second time that night they said goodnight to one another and Sasuke left Naruto's room's turning off the light. Sasuke closed the door quietly and walked down to his room pulling out his iPhone and setting the alarm for 2:55 AM.