Ugh, good ol' summer break. It likes to go "Hey now that you have time to write, I'm going to give you're brain the worst case of writer's block it's ever seen!" Yep, lovely summer break. This always happens too, I don't have time to write that all I want to do, I do have time to write and I either get writer's block or I'm not in the mood. Screw my brain.

Anyways, enough of my pointless ramblings. I'm sorry this is so late, I haven't updated since my finals two weeks ago. I really will try to speed things up, but I'm taking my next year's English class online so that's taking up a ton of my time as well.

I don't own Naruto.

Enjoy.

(By the way somehow the actual content of this chapter wound up at 1500 words on the dot. Just thought that was cool.)

Michi awoke the next morning with an odd feeling that something was going to happen. However, she still went about her daily routine of waking Saria up, feeding her, and then going down stairs to open her shop for the day. As she passed through the back room she sighed seeing Katerina's old work place. It had been nearly a year since she left and Michi hadn't heard a word from her. She was worried about her friend. Shaking those thoughts away she moved on to unlock the doors. Saria sat in a corner playing with one of the wood carvings Katerina had left behind. The day seemed to go about as usual with nothing out of the ordinary happening.

Katerina had woken late again. She groaned sitting up and putting a hand on her forehead. 'I never used to have this problem waking up.' She thought annoyed. Kuroki meowed pawing at her knee and she looked at him. "Hungry boy?" She asked and he meowed again. She opened her bag and located his food. After feeding him and herself she sealed everything back in her scroll and moved on with her travels. If she hurried she could make it to the village by nightfall. However she was uneasy, she had this unnerving feeling that she was being watched.

The dark half of Zetsu watched the girl move out. "She's planning something. Knowing what she has to do I doubt she'd be so eager to get to the village." He told his lighter half. "She could just want to get it over with." "That could be, but knowing her, it's probably not the case." With that he sunk back into the ground to report to Madara.

Itachi had been quiet since Katerina left more so than usual and Kisame found it rather unnerving. "Okay that's it. Talk to me Itachi, you're more quiet than you normally are." He told his partner when he entered their room later in the day.

"I don't want to discuss it Kisame." He said tiredly. Kisame had a feeling he hadn't slept.

"I know it has to do with Katerina Itachi. You started acting like this right after she left. What is it?" Kisame asked again. "I'm not going to drop it until you tell me what's wrong."

Itachi sighed annoyed. "You're aware I'm sick correct Kisame?" Itachi asked his partner.

"That's a stupid question Itachi, you know I am." He said.

"Back during the time I was still in Konoha, Katerina was at one point taken hostage by enemy ninja." Itachi's eyes showed a slightly pained emotion as he recalled the memory. "When we found her she was nearly dead. My cousin healed her wounds as best he could, but she needed a blood transfusion." Itachi sighed again. "I was the only one who had a compatible blood type, and when I gave her my blood, I gave her this disease as well."

Kisame was silent for a moment. "So you blame yourself then." He said finally.

"She can tell me not to all she wants. I'm still going to believe it's my fault."

"Itachi, you saved her, and she knows that. You should listen to what she says." Kisame said understanding the situation.

"Kisame, you're beginning to cross limits." Itachi said without looking at his partner.

Kisame sighed. "Fine, but don't keep doing this to yourself Itachi. You need to sleep or you'll just become weaker. Neither she nor I want to see that." Kisame said before leaving the room again.

Two figures stood over the KIA stone in Konoha. Both stared at a newly carved name. "I don't even understand how this could have happened." One said. "He wasn't even supposed to be on active duty anymore."

"The team he was with said he refused to take no as an answer. They tried everything and he still went along anyway." The second said.

"I'm sick of everyone close to us dying!" The first spoke again clenching his fist.

"Calm down." The second told him. "Come on, we have a meeting soon."

Two brothers walked away from the stone. The name of one of the few people left close to them newly engraved.

Daisuke Shurui.

Katerina looked up at the setting sun. She knew she only had a little ways left to go, and figured that she'd be okay traveling a little ways after dark. She started her day late anyway. Kuroki on the other hand had other plans. He got tired and just lied down beside the road. "Come on you lazy cat, there's only a little ways left." She said nudging him with her foot. He just stared at her stubbornly. "Kuroki…" She said annoyed. Still he didn't move. "Oh you're way more trouble than you're worth." She muttered picking him up and continuing on. He fell asleep in her arms.

She made it to the village two or three hours after nightfall. Some of the villagers were still roaming the streets, but none that Katerina recognized. She made her way to Michi's house by memory, and when she got there she debated what to do. She could hope Michi was up and try knocking, or she could get the spare key from where she knew it was and risk Michi trying to stab her. Not really wanting her life put at risk Katerina decided on option one.

She knocked and it took a minute but she heard her friend stumbling about on the other side of the door. When Michi opened it she had a very annoyed expression, but that quickly turned to shock when she saw Katerina. "Well are you going to stand there with your mouth on the floor or let me in?" She asked smirking when Michi scowled.

Katerina walked inside and put Kuroki down in the corner. Not even three seconds after that Michi smacked the back of her head. "What the hell was that for?!" She asked rubbing the sore spot.

"A year Katerina, you were gone for a year and I never heard anything damn it!" Michi told her angrily. "I thought you died or something."

"Well I came close." Katerina mumbled but Michi heard her.

"What?" She asked staring at Katerina wide eyed.

Katerina sighed. "Let's go sit down somewhere and I'll tell you everything." Katerina said afraid Michi would fall if she wasn't seated.

"Okay, but…where's Kitai?" She asked looking at Katerina worriedly.

"Relax Michi, he's save and well for the most part." Katerina said not quite sure a criminal organization could be called completely safe. "I'll explain it with the rest."

A good hour later Katerina had gotten through the entire story. She told her everything from Itachi and Kisame finding her in the woods to the reason she was back in the village. Of course she left out a few choice names. "I see, so you never made it to Konoha then." Michi said.

Katerina shook her head. "No, I didn't."

"Are you sure he can be trusted, you know…Itachi?" Michi asked Katerina afraid she was walking on thin ice.

Katerina smiled slightly. "Yeah, I'm sure. I found something that proved it, but I'm not going to say what. He wouldn't want me to."

Michi nodded in understanding. "So what are you going to do?"

Katerina sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that night. "I don't know. I want you, Saria, Kanade, Kara, and everyone else to keep your memories of me, but I know if I do he'll just kill all of you. That would be so much worse to suffer through." Katerina thought for a moment. "I could just erase your memories temporarily."

"You can do that?" Michi asked surprised.

"Yeah, it's like suppressing them. The only downside is I can't control how long it lasts, and if it wears off too early then all of us are dead." She said looking at the ground. "I just don't know what to do."

Michi put a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever you choose Katerina, even if you do wipe our memories, you'll always be my best friend. Hell scratch that, you're my sister. I don't care if I can't remember you; that bond will always remain." Michi told Katerina smiling.

Michi suddenly reminded her of Shisui and she felt her eyes tear up. She had never realized the similarities in their personalities. "Thank you Michi." She said rubbing her eyes.

"I mean that Katerina, I really do. Come on, we both need some sleep." Michi said helping her friend up. "I never really messed with your room, so it should all be the same."

Katerina laughed slightly. "Scared of what you'll find in there?" She asked.

"Now I am." They both laughed.

Madara paced his room furious at the information Zetsu had brought back to him. Clearly his warnings weren't enough. Well, this time he'd break her once and for all. "It's time you learned Katerina," He said lowly. "Those who play with fire will always get burned."

And there it is. If you couldn't tell this was just a broken chapter with many parts and set ups for later events. Still entertaining though I hope.

I really love reviews.

See ya.