Every day, I felt horrible. Every day, I was forced to push my pain and depression into the back of my mind, even the horrible anticipation of having to go home, the idea of fighting my friends, even my family here, makes me sick.
Family? I scoffed. What family?
I didn't really want to consider Neji, or even Hinata family. Even though, we might of really been related.
I eventually stopped eating, I don't even know why. All the stress must have gotten to me.
Neji seemed to have noticed how much weaker I was getting. But he didn't say anything to me about it. Did Shika tell him what happened? I'd kill him.
I walked to my room, exhausted after a long day of training, and gasped, seeing Shikamaru standing there. He held a picture in his hand. At first I didn't realize what it was. But then I saw the open drawer, and realized exactally which picture it was.
"Sh-Shikamaru!" I yelled, tearing it out of his hands. "What the fuck are you doing?" I shrieked. He gave me a very serious look.
"Kori, what is this?" He asked, referring to the picture in my hands.
I was panicking on the inside. "A picture someone gave me…for reference." I said deffensevily. "I didn't know what the Akatsuki looked like." I said.
"Kori, where are you from? You know, don't you?"
Technically…no…I don't.
"I don't know!" I said. "What the hell are you doing looking through my damn stuff anyways?"
"I've seen the picture before." He said.
"Where?"
"I've seen you with it before."
Realization hit me. He was there when I first received it. He saw me open it, and smile.
"How much you panicked when I said Sunagakure was attacked by the Akatsuki…the look on your face when he said the attacker was Itachi…the picture…" He paused, speaking softly. "They raised you…didn't they?" He asked voice gentle.
I could only stare, I felt myself starting to tremble, I felt everything falling apart. Stress, exhaustion, everything getting to me. I put my head down, trying to hide the oncoming tears. I couldn't lie to him anymore…
"Y-Yes…" My voice barely above a whisper. "I really don't know where I'm from…" I said. "They found me…and they raised me…"
I couldn't hold it back any longer, I broke down, crying. I felt so stupid.
Shikamaru then hugged me, shushing me, and telling me it would be okay. I couldn't believe him.
"You c-can't tell anyone." I whispered, I still trembled slightly.
Shikamaru nodded, and let me go. "I won't."
Little did I know, how useless that promise would be. I wasn't aware of what was to go on the next morning...
"Kori! Kori! Get up!" Someone hissed, shaking me.
"What?" I whined, I recognized Neji's voice.
"Were under attack, get your ass up." There was panic in his voice, and regret…why?
I shot up. "Who?" I said, getting ready as quickly as possible.
"Akatsuki." Neji answered just as quick. I froze, feeling sick.
"W-What?"
"Come on." Neji hissed at me. He ran out my door, I followed close behind.
It was eerily silent for a battle to be raging. We arrived at the gates, there was a small crowd…it seemed. I looked at Neji confused. "Attack?" I said. Then I saw what was beyond the crowd.
Shikamaru was on the ground, unmoving, blood pooled around him.
Deidara, himself, stood over him, he was angry. I gasped, feeling even sicker; it took everything I had not to throw up.
Suddenly, anger surged through me. I ran through the crowd, even pushing people down, away, whatever it took to get to him. When I made it to the front of the crowd, I stopped short, seeing Shikamaru's pale face. It was chalk white. He was gone…
"W-What…d-did you do?" I said, voice barely above a whisper.
I collapsed on my knees next to Shikamaru's body.
"Kori…I-" Deidara looked just as surprised to see me.
"I thought…I thought…" My voice shook, looking down at Shikamaru's lifeless body. "..You were my father…" I looked up at him, eyes full of fury.
"I'll kill you!" I screamed, trying to attack him. But my efforts were stopped. Neji had grabbed my arms, pulling me back.
Deidra stared. "Kori…come back." He said. "Come back to the Akatsuki…I came to ask you this."
Come back to the Akatsuki...
I was frozen, I wanted to say yes…but what I had just seen, what laid in front of me…I couldn't.
"C-Come…back?" I said, slowly. "So, What? I can kill of my own friends?"
"You don't have to fight, Kori." Deidara said, gently. "We just want you to come back."
His offer wasn't even tempting. "So that I can watch you kill my friends? No!" I said. "If you wanted me to come back, you should have thought twice about killing anyone here. So leave." I said, I didn't want to see him again. I didn't want to see any of the Akatsuki again.
I was surprised when Deidara did leave, he disappeared.
Neji let me go, and I collapsed on my knees next to Shikamaru's body, again. This time, I let the tears flow, They hit the ground endlessly. Mixing in with the rain that was beginning to fall.
I completely ignored the crowd, the adults gathering. Everyone was there, Gai, Kakashi, Asuma and Kurenai, Tsunade herself had shown up.
I stood, standing as they took the body away. Asuma looked in as much pain as I was. I stood next to Neji, trying not to cry anymore. I was drenched in rain, soaking wet. I was getting dizzy, feeling faint.
Come back to the Akatsuki…
Those words rung in my head, over, and over, until I could no longer take it. The world in front of me began to swim. I fell backwards, my back slamming into the cold concrete below me.
"Kori!" Neji's voice sounded distant, only the sound of rain hitting the concrete around me was clear.
I blacked out for a couple of minutes, and came back into consciousness; I was being carried by Kakashi. I yet again went unconscious, that was the only thing I can remember beyond collapsing.
The next days went by fast, I was always asleep. I faintly remembered Hinata taking care of me, as well as Sakura. I don't know what happened…Was I sick? In shock, maybe?
Once I could stay conscious, I was forced to eat again, which bothered me. I wasn't very fond of it anymore.
"Why weren't you eating? That's stupid." Sakura said, she was in a awfully bad mood today.
"S-Sorry, Sakura." I replied weakly.
"Eat from now on, yeah?" She asked, in annoyed tone.
I didn't reply, I stared out the window. She let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Kori." Sakura apologized.
I shook my head. "Don't be." I coughed into my hand, still looking out the window. I couldn't help but wonder what The Akatsuki were planning now? How was Deidara taking this? I doubt he was taking it well. I doubt any of them were.
Tsunade walked into the room. "Sakrua." She said. "Can I talk to Kori alone?" She asked.
"Yes, Tsunade-Sama." Sakura finished what she was doing, and walked out.
I stared at her, waiting for her to start. I wasn't as respectful as the others.
"You were once part of the Akatsuki?" She started.
I nodded. "Yes…"
"At this age?" She looked confused.
"I was raised by them, I had no choice." I replied.
"We can use the information you have, Kori." Tsunade said.
"I don't want to give any…" I said, I expected to be pressured into it, but I was wrong.
Tsunade nodded. "I expected as much, I understand." She stood.
I stared at her, confused. "What?" She asked, staring right back.
"I figured you guys would, pressure me for the info…or something." I admitted, tired of lying.
Tsunade shook her head. "We wouldn't…I know it must be painful." She smiled a little. "I'll let you rest." She left me alone.
Longest, chapter, yet…I think.
Review please!
~Kuro-Kan and Shika