Author's note: So Ringo… he's part OC, but u can also /canon, which will be explained later. I really like him… gives Akina a run for her money and the relationship between them, well, I'd say I coulda got it from Byakuya and Yoruichi. So if ur a Bleach fan you'll understand what I mean. Anyway, in the end, Ringo is another fave of my OCs. And if ur asking if I got his name from Ringo Starr of the Beatles… no, but I'm sure it had influence. XD Ringo is also a Japanese name and it means, "Peace be with you" and that will be all.

Chapter's song: "Here with me" by Anberlin (I gotta expand my music knowledge, yet it's pretty BIG, I'm such a fanatic, but I only seem to use key bands and songs I like. So, don't mind moi, I'm just trying to find stuff to blab about.)

Chapter 14
Flowerbed

Meeting room
Ringo entered the meeting room, to see all the black roses in their positions— Ringo was first greeted by Chiyome. "Welcome… your name?"

"Ringo… Mochizuki Ringo."

Chiyome's smile curved sinister. "I'm Chiyome… First Black Rose." That started the dominos falling.

"Zetsu, the Second Black Rose."

"I am Miki… the Third Black Rose."

"I'm Hanako, Fourth Black Rose."

"I'm Botan… the Sixth Black Rose."

"Akina… Seventh Black Rose."

"And you're the Eighth Black Rose… aren't you?" Chiyome mew/hiss.

"No I'm not! Ya have the wrong Mochizuki!" Ringo expressed with a rebellious temper.

Chiyome smirked. "Well… he knows not to lie…" she looked to Akina, that was looking down with her eyes closed calmly set. Chiyome would waste time, so she eyed all her Black Roses, but looking back to Ringo when scolding them didn't work. "Where's your sister?"

"I was about to find out… but you people got in my way! I was going to save her from Orochimaru!"

"Yeah, and who was going to save you… I believe that was us, so you're welcome." Akina coldly correct.

"Akina… and those eyes? You're Akina-hime… the daughter of Lord Yasuo of our clan." Ringo pointed, to have Akina's eyes glare at that pointing finger— she hated pointing, because people always whispered and talked and told lies about what she was, always pointing. But she closed her eyes, keeping her composer and ignoring the boy.

Botan crossed his arms. "So what's the plan?"

"Well, we need to track down Orochimaru again… but for now, we agreed we'd help Akatsuki with their goals, so we do so and wait and see. But as for this, Ringo… who will escort him out from my castle?"

Silence.

"It's either that or we kill him… he's not a Black Rose and he's not welcome!" Chiyome chew, sucking in on her pipe to relieve stress. Akina rolled her eyes, but when she was about to speak— "I don't need you wenches as an escort… I'm going after my sister so are you missing ninja gonna help me or not?"

Chiyome shockingly smile. "The question is, will you help us find our Black Rose? The Akatsuki men could house you… but not us, it's against the deal I made." Chiyome looked to Akina, said person opening her eyes to keen that green gaze. "I know you served over time… but you could return him to the village with much more ease."

"Think so… but what about after we pick up the search again?"

"Oh you'll bring him back… you're going back to the village to get this boy's things. Then in five days you'll leave for the Rain Village and the Akatsuki's main hideout. There, Ringo will receive training." Chiyome paused and looked back to said boy. "If you want your sister… you have to be able to find and protect her. Is this fine by you?" She mewed, to get a curt nod from Ringo. Chiyome smiled. "That'll be all… you'll be gone by morning."

Next morning (Akina's bedroom)
Akina and Itachi lay in her bed, to close their eyes as the sun snuck through the windowpane. Akina was cuddled to Itachi's bare chest, resting a soft hand on his muscles, drawing images lazily with the point of her nail. Itachi smirked to these actions, before asking, "It's almost time for you to go…"

"Almost…" Akina mentioned, to cuddle closer, laying a kiss to his chest and then sneakily reaching to nibble on his neck.

Itachi moaned. "It won't be for long." He said almost sounding to try and convince himself.

She stopped her nibbling, to send her cold minty breath across Itachi's neck, saying, "A second away from you is too long…"

He smiled softly. "I know…" to subtly role Akina to her back, kissing her silk lips and also rolling his tongue across her lower one, asking for entrance. Akina welcomed him in of course— to produce a moan in the process, while Itachi gently explored her luscious mouth.

"Mmm, uh-uh." Akina moaned, sounding to say no.

Itachi parted from her lips, looking down into her green eyes. She smiled, she wanted to make love right now too, but— Akina intertwined her legs in Itachi's to force him to roll back to his back. She started kissing him passionately, not even asking for entrance into his mouth. Itachi just settled his hands on her lower back as she straddled him, he loved when she got dominate, to have a devilish smirk grace his face as their tongue's circled one another's. Akina stopped herself, rolling back to her side, to raise a hand to pet Itachi's bangs from his face and eyes as he gazed into her own— trying to figure out what she was going to say, before she said it. "Please don't worry… we've gone five years without each other, we can go five days." Akina came also trying to reassure herself.

His façade graced a sad smile. "Are you sure about that?"

Akina shook her head with a naughty smile. "I'm not sure of anything… except for my love for you."

Itachi gently pressed his lips to hers, to then part and add, "I am worried for you."

She nodded, to put on a brave face. "I'll be all right." Itachi now also smiled, that was his line.

Downstairs
Akina walked down the stairs, to see Ringo trying to open the front door. "C'mon!"

The Black Rose shook her head with dismay. "What are you doing?"

Ringo jumped out of his skin in fear to the smooth voice— he then looked, catching his breath. "Oh… Akina?"

"Lady Akina." She corrected.

Ringo frowned. "Hmph… you passed leadership to Lord Benjiro. You no longer hold that title." He said spitefully.

"That isn't your place." Ringo stayed quiet, watching as Akina approached, she snapped her fingers to have the doors swing open. "Call me what you wish… I don't care."

Ringo watched Akina walk out the doors, leaving him behind. His pouty annoyed lip then unfolded. "Well, I think you do care…"

Akina stayed quiet to his comment, and then having him catch up to her side. "Princess!"

"…Hmph." Akina kept a cold look, closing her eyes to Ringo's annoyance. This kid is going to be a thorn in my side… go figure.

3 days later (Leaf Gate)
Akina stopped dead in her tracks, standing on a hill overlooking the Main Leaf gate. She then leaned her back to a tree, Ringo just watching un-amused and annoyed to have Akina do this. She doesn't say a word to me the whole trip and now she stops walking too? "Whatcha stop for?"

Akina gazed her eyes opening. "This is as far as I go."

"Well duh, I figured that!"

She re-closed her eyes. "Then why did you ask the stupid question?"

Ringo stomped his foot in anger. "That's not the point, I—"

"Get going…" her grave dark tone came as an order. Ringo flinched in fear, raising his hands in a stiff pose. Akina then sighed. "I'll meet you back here in five days."

Ringo saddened his eyes, and then smiled. "Hmph…" he then proceeded into the village, alone. Akina watched him, until he was totally out of sight. "What to do…?" She breathed to herself.

Five days later
Akina waited against the same tree, for Ringo, to look as he came— with Benjiro. "Green-eyed girl!"

She wanted to run, but held her ground, closing her eyes. I'm gonna get it… here comes the lecture. She thought when Benjiro stood in front of her, tapping his foot in a scolding way. Akina just watched him, only hearing gibberish go through her ear and right out the other. "Are you listening to me?"

The green-eyed girl at this point had entered a daydream, and looked to Benjiro with an "are you done with me?" glance. Benjiro snarled in dismay. "All I ask is for you to come home once and a while."

Akina rolled her eyes, and then shut them. "I've got to get go, Benjiro."

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't know, Benjiro?" Akina was becoming tired, to have Ringo watch the two arguing cousins bicker. It was amusing in a way; he was more like a nagging dad than a cousin.

"Akina, come on… I can even help fight to get you to Jonin rank. And then you could work at the hospital like you've always wanted."

"I don't want that." She'd scoff, walls up.

"Sis!"

"Listen… I'll come back soon." Akina then pulled Ringo over and behind her, to start slowly backing away from Benjiro. "I'll even donate all the blood in my body, if it'll make you happy… but, I. Gotta. Go…."

Benjiro shook his head to the ground, and then smiled. "Go… but come back."

"You can't get rid of me." With that said, the wind blew— both Ringo and Akina away in petals.

Akatsuki hideout
Akina reformed in petals in the rain, with Ringo as well as he exclaimed, "That was so cool!"

She looked un-amused at the excited young man, to then keep walking, entering the village. Ringo looked around, and then ran to catch up to her— her eyes fixed on the high tower overlooking the town. That's the Akatsuki hideout… Itachi.

"Hey, did you hear me?" Ringo shouted.

Akina glanced, to have an expression of literally looking down on the boy, with a slack bottom lip. "Huh…?"

Ringo shrugged his shoulders back in a pout. "You didn't hear me!"

"Hear what, Bingo?" Akina asked expressionless and not really caring for an answer.

"IT'S RINGO… NOW LISTEN YOU—"

"Princess…" Akina corrected snottily and cold, to then add, "I'm not good with names, love."

Ringo shrugged in his deep sigh. "Whatever… as I was saying…" he stopped to look down to the raindrops splashing in puddle at his feet. Akina watched him, and then when he re-raised his head— "Now that Sasuke has left for Orochimaru… do you think the snake will give up my sister?"

Akina was taken back, not showing it, to seriously ask, "Sasuke left?"

"Yeah… you'd pick up this information if you didn't abandon your home."

The Black Rose kept walking, coldly turning her back. She didn't wish to speak with this young man any longer. Ringo once again caught up. "Did you know him?"

"Hm?"

"Sasuke?"

"…I know a lot of strangers." Akina profoundly put.

"I personally didn't know him… I mean, the only encounter I had was when I accidently knocked Naruto into him, making them kiss." Ringo babbled, scratching the back of his head.

Akina gazed in amazement how this boy could talk, him knowing she really wasn't listening. He must have been an academy classmate. Akina was going to ask where his headband was, but she disregarded it to come upon the Akatsuki's hideout.

She looked up as the rain fell down upon them— dripping down the skyscraper's walls. It had many power-lines and cords running around it. But Akina just moved on, pushing through the doors. They entered a square, cold, bleak room, being dark and to Ringo's discouragement. Akina looked around, walking further in. "They all must be in a meeting." Akina stated smoothly to herself, disregarding the boy.

"Just getting done with one actually." A woman's voice said from the shadows. She marched out from them slowly, revealing herself— she had a paper rose in her hair, that caught Akina's full attention. "I'm Konan… you must be from the Black Roses?"

"Indeed… Akina."

"And I'm Ringo." He stated dully, just to humor himself.

"None of the other Black Roses have arrived?" Akina asked.

"No… I'm afraid not. But you're welcome to make yourselves at home… would you like me to see you to your rooms?"

The green-eyed woman shook her head. "I'm fine… but he could use the help. It was nice meeting you, Konan." Akina added, waving a hand as the two others watched her walk away.

Akina climbed the stairs— they were spiral as they led up the center of the building. To bring her to floors with many rooms, surrounding the square halls. She would quickly find Itachi's room— a simple iron door with his ring symbol bolted on the outside. She creaked open the door, quickly and quietly shutting it behind her, to lean back on the closed door, scanning over Itachi's room— him missing from it. But then she glanced to another door, the bathroom she assumed, to hear the shower water running. Akina would wait hankering in the bedroom quarters. A bedroom with red sheets and black trimming— Akatsuki's colors of course. He also had candles that sat on the nightstand, waiting to be lit for the first time. Akina also glanced to the small tea table, two set pillows on the floor, ready to sit.

She knew he prepared this for her— preparing himself in the shower. Akina then walked to open the bathroom door, being quiet enough not to be heard by the Uchiha under the water. Akina glanced to the towel hanging right outside the shower curtain on a rack. She smirked to shift her lightweight over and slip the white towel away. The mean woman would swing it around in her hand as she backed up to lean against the counter, waiting for Itachi to reach out for the towel.

And when Akina heard the water turn off, and a strong-arm proceeded out of the curtain, searching for the towel. Akina made her footsteps be heard to then walk over to the man's hand with purple nail polish, to lay a kiss down to it. "Looking for something?" That smooth voice mewed.

"Akina." Itachi smiled behind the curtain. "You're early…?"

"Lucky me."

"You're not going to give me my towel back… are you, my love?"

Akina pondered that for a second, before slipping the towel in his hand, but still holding onto it to seductively threat, "Only if you'll take it off once I give it to you."

Itachi took it, wrapping it around his waist, and then pulling back the shower curtain to step out. He went directly to Akina, wrapping his hands around her hips and his wet partially nude body pressed to hers. He reached down to softly peck her lips and part to murmur, "That's a given."

Oh how she giggled, to have his gentle kisses keep playing at her lips. "…Itachi?"

"Hmm?" he mewed to stop his kissing and hang his lips next to hers, waiting for her question.

"Never mind… it can wait until after."

"After?" Itachi smirked, devilishly chewing on his bottom lip.

"First we light those candles, you romantic… and then we set the bed on fire." Akina seduced, placing her arms loosely around the nape of Itachi's neck, leaning in closer until their bodies couldn't get any more near, the woman standing on her tiptoes to kiss her lover's lips.