A/N: Almost done! Just one more chapter before this story is complete! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, added this to their alert list and favorited. Thanks also to everyone who has stuck with it til the end. Please remember to REVIEW, even after the story is completed.

C H A P T E R F O U R T E E N

From their throat erupted,

Feelings deep within.

From their eyes streamed,

Pleas to .

From their heart cried,

Wishes to keep them here.

Don't go.

Don't go.

Please, don't…

When Sayuri woke the next day, she felt like she was floating on a cloud or maybe she felt like she was surrounded by clouds? She rolled over in the bed, successfully burying her face in her pillow. Where was that light buzzing noise coming from? Moaning into the pillow, she tried inching her way towards more warmth, but alas the warmth was not there. Sayuri sprung up from her pillow, her blue head looking left and right. Where was Kakuzu now? The spot beside her was empty and it didn't sound like the shower was on. Did she sleep in late? No, Kakuzu would have dragged her out of bed if that were the case. Then…did something happen with the rest of the organization? Kicking her legs over the side of the bed, her feet touched the cold floor. Slowly she walked up to the room's door and put her ear up against it. She heard nothing, but then again knowing that fact told her nothing. It was usually quiet in the halls of the Akatsuki base. Her hand reached for the door knob. She knew it probably wasn't best to leave Kakuzu's room without his permission, not after what happened the day before last, but Sayuri was curious to know what was going on. Where was he? So, she turned the door knob and stepped out into the hall.

As she thought, the hall was completely empty and with that she went to the kitchen. Maybe someone was there making themselves some breakfast, but she couldn't smell anything cooking so… "Fucking hell, shut the fuck up Tobi, un!"

Sayuri recognized the voice in the kitchen. It was Deidara and if Deidara was back at base that meant that he completed his mission already. Without a second thought, she rushed to the kitchen and practically threw herself into the room. "Is Masahiko back yet! Did he do it! Did he complete his mission!" She asked the upset blond man, who sat at the table along with Tobi.

"That's it!" Deidara slammed his hand against the table. "If someone mentions that god-forsaken noble's name to me one more time, then I'll…"

"What happened?" Sayuri demanded, disregarding Deidara's request.

"That bastard thinks he can order me around is what happened! I don't care if he's older than me, but I'm an actual member of the Akatsuki, un!"

Sayuri couldn't believe that this was why Deidara was so upset. "Where's Masahiko then? Is he safe or did he…?"

"Deidara-senpai says that Masahiko killed the Daimyou first and then took out the Head of Tanigakure after, Sayuri-chan!" Tobi chimed in.

"Freakin' bastard," Deidara muttered. "It's because of me he was able to sneak in and kill the two of them in the first place. My explosions distracted most of the Tanigakure shinobi so that he could go in for the kill, and you know what? The damn Leader puts Masahiko in charge of not only Tanigakure, but River Country as well. He wasn't the only one to work his butt off out there! I want some kind of reward too, damn it! My art isn't nearly as appreciated as it should be!"

"H-He did it then? He killed…"Sayuri wasn't sure if she could breath and sunk into one of the kitchen chairs.

Tobi noticed Sayuri's mood. "Oh yeah," Tobi started, tapping his finger on his chin. "Your brother killed your father then right? Since you're the daughter of the Daimyou and all…"

Sayuri buried her face in her hands. Tobi just had to rub it in. "Where is he?" She whispered.

"Hmm? What did ya say?" Tobi asked her to repeat herself.

"I said…where…is….Masahiko?"

"Oh…Deidara-senpai, didn't you say he's still in Tanigakure smoothing things out?"

"Tch," Deidara scoffed. "Yeah, he and some of Sasori's subordinates are making him the leader now as we speak, since he's the 'Last Direct Descendent of the Shintaro Sosen'. Tanigakure has got to be full of the biggest batch of dumbasses if they let him be the leader based on that fact alone." Sayuri shut her eyes and stood to her feet. "Oi, where are you going? Sit back down, un."

"I need to go to Masahiko."

"What for? Just let him do whatever he wants. I, personally, don't want to see his face around here any time soon." Deidara grumbled.

Sayuri shook her head. "I need to go." She ran out of the kitchen, before she could hear Tobi say, "Sayuri is going to be in so much trouble."

She ran down the halls towards the exit. She thanked God about a million times in her head that Tobi had taken her out yesterday, otherwise she wouldn't know where the exit was. Her yutaka was beginning to loosen, and even ripped in a few places, to adjust to her running form, but she didn't care. She didn't have time to care. She had to go to Masahiko. She had to. She had to. When she opened the exit, she was greeted by the sound heavy rain and thunder. This only disheartened her a bit; however, she already made up her mind. She was going to see Masahiko. She had to make him take responsibility for what he had done. Did he even realize what he had done?

The rain pelted her from above, soaking her to the bone instantly. She ran on. She ran strong. First she'd go to the nearest town, and get directions to Tanigakure from there. She had to hurry. She needed to talk to her brother. She had to. She had to. Her eyes were all squinty and the rain made it hard to see what was in front of her. The usually dry ground beneath her was now goopy mud that squished beneath her feet as she ran. She slipped and fell flat on her face. Her heavy breathing was drowned out by the sound of the rain. Slowly she stood to her feet again. She set off again, but didn't make it more than a few steps only to find she couldn't move at all. Around her wrist a hand held her back. She recognized whose hand it was. "Kakuzu! Let me go!"

"You're not going anywhere." The masked man managed to speak over the rain. "You are foolish for running and you'll be punished when we return."

"No! I have to see Masahiko. I need to…"

"You don't need to do anything." He pulled her closer to him. Her heels dug into the mud as he did so.

She struggled against him. "I should have been able to stop him or talk him out of it, before he did any of this."

"There's nothing you can do about it now, so shut up and come with me."

"I can't I have to…"

"You're pushing my patience!"

She only continued to shake her head. "No, I…" She couldn't complete her sentence, not with the blood curling shriek that came from her throat. Tears swelled up in her dark eyes and soon mixed with the cold rain water that fell upon her cheeks. Kakuzu had broken her wrist in his grip. As she cried, Kakuzu stood with a stern look on his face. He didn't release her wrist after he broke it, instead he griped it even tighter, causing Sayuri to fall to her knees. The fingers of her left hand were trying to pry his fingers off her right wrist. "Pl-please….I…." She struggled to speak and now she was starting to see stars.

Kakuzu held it for a few more moments before releasing it. Another cry came from Sayuri's mouth as she cradled the injured wrist with her other hand. "You'll be in more pain if don't listen to me." He said darkly.

Still she shook her head. "You don't understand," She said weakly. "I need to stop him, before he does anything else. I…"

"Your brother knows what he's done. Nothing you do now will change anything. So just accept it."

"I won't accept it. I don't think I could ever accept it."

"Why must you be so stubborn!"He shouted.

"Because he's my brother and I'll always love him!" She shouted back and the rain continued to fall. Kakuzu was furious. She was not stupid enough to not notice his anger. She knew probably wouldn't be able to make it to Tanigakure with him here; there was no way she could defeat him, even if her wrist wasn't broken. "I can't turn my back on Masahiko."

Kakuzu's hand made a tight fist. "I will kill you if you continue to be difficult."

Sayuri scooted away from him a bit. "Y-you wouldn't do that. You can't do that. Leader would…"

"Leader has given me permission to do so."

Sayuri continued to shake her head. "You wouldn't do that Kakuzu."

"And what would you know what I can and cannot do! I've killed many before, and one more wouldn't change anything."

"If you wanted to kill me than you would have done so already! Haven't I been difficult for you up to this point!"

"Stop being frustrating and…"

"If I'm so frustrating than kill me then!" Sayuri yelled, her throat feeling sore. He simply stood before her, wreathing with anger. "See?" She whispered.

"I killed her."

"W-what?"

"I killed her." Kakuzu repeated only more loudly this time.

"Who?" She asked.

"Namori and I can kill you to."

His answer only made her want to draw back even more, but she couldn't. She couldn't bring herself to move. The rain continued to pour. She stared up at him and he stared down at her. Red and green, she remembered when she first saw Kakuzu and his eyes. They had sent chills down her spine, but now they almost seemed sullen even though he was very angry. Her shock left more slowly than it came and she found herself getting to her feet. "Sayuri…"

"We're going back." She mumbled.

"What?"

"I said…!" She shouted, but lowered the volume of her voice. "We're going back…to base."

Kakuzu silently thanked heaven that she was finally cooperating. He let her walk in front of him. This way he could keep an eye on her. As she passed in front of him, he noticed that rain did not hide the tears falling down her face.

Masahiko,

Congratulations with the success of your mission involving the Head of Tanigakure and the Daimyou of River Country. Unfortunately, you can't tell that my tone is that of malice simply by reading this note.

Your sister has fallen ill. She had heard of your victory and felt the need to see you immediately. So out she ran into the pouring rain determined to see you. Luckily, I was able to stop her before she got too far. She has a fever of 39.4 degrees Celsius (About 103 degrees Fahrenheit). Her weak immune system doesn't help the situation at all. She has severe coughing, unexplainable aches, and seems to be suffering from mild fatigue.

I write this note, because Sayuri requested I do. She wishes to tell you to cease your ambitions at once and that no good can come from it.

Kakuzu

Masahiko placed the note on the desk before him. Sayuri, why must she do things like this? Why must this happen to her? He'd finally achieved what he'd worked so hard for and she was messing things up, but how he loved her. Masahiko groaned and put his face in his hands. "Shintaro-sama."

"What!" He barked at the shinobi who walked into the room. The shinobi was one of the subordinates of Sasori that resided here in Tanigakure. He had aided in the overthrow of the previous Village Head, but at the moment Masahiko didn't wish to speak with anyone.

The said shinobi flinched. "The orders have been given that River Country is now safe ground for the members of Akatsuki. The Tanigakure shinobi had been ordered not to attack an Akatsuki member on site unless in form of defense."

The shinobi wasn't sure if his leader was listening. Masahiko seemed to be lost in thought. Yes, he had accomplished what seemed to be impossible, taking control of River Country, but for what cause? "Kimura," Masahiko finally addressed the shinobi after about five minutes of silence. "Gather a team together to deliver a message to the Hokage."

"The Hokage?"

"Yes. I'll have the message ready by morning. Also send to me Shintaro Akio. I must speak to the old man now."

"Hai, Shintaro-sama." Kimura left the room quickly to fetch Shintaro Akio.

Thirty minutes later, Shintaro Akio stood before Masahiko. Akio was man in his upper forties. He would have been next in line to become Head of the Shintaro family if not for Masahiko's existence. "Shintaro-sama, you called for me?" Akio asked as he bowed to Tanigakure's new leader. Akio wondered what more the dictator would want.

"Yes, I must speak to you about my sister, Sayuri…"