"EMI! I NEED YOUR FURRY KITTY CAT WISDOM! NOW!!" Aimi yelled when she got inside her house. Emi ran down the stairs and screeched to a halt in front of Aimi. Her emerald eyes were round and huge. "Are you alright? What can I do to help?" she asked. "I'm OK. But I need help. I have been thinking for a few days. Ya see, I had a strange encounter. With… Itachi," Aimi said. "ITACHI!? Don't you know he's EVIL?! Don't you know he's DANGEROUS?! Don't you know he's from the AKATSUKI?!" "Yes, yes, and yes. Anyway, I was saying, I had an encounter with him, and he told me some weird things about Sasuke that sent me thinking. And I was wondering… should I leave here?" "What?!" "Should I leave. Konoha. Forever." "But… I think you know the answer to that!" "Emi, don't think about it that way. Think about it another way." "Well… isn't that what Sasuke did? didn't he run away for 4 months? Didn't you hate him for it?" "Exactly, but I didn't know what he was doing while he was gone. Maybe he WAS doing it for our own good." "But he came back. Your talking forever." "Well, yeah, but-" "From the way you are talking, I think you have already made up your mind." "Uh." "You're leaving no matter what I say, aren't you?" Aimi sighed and nodded. "Chika? What about Chika?" "I'll leave a note for her." "Miko?" "I'll tell her at school." "Naruto?" "I cant tell him. He'd tie me to a chair for the rest of my life." "Ichirou?" "He'll find out. "…Sasuke?" "He wont know, either." "What?!" "I cant tell him either." "But-" "If he doesn't understand, he never will, and I don't care. Its what he did to me." "But he came back!" "Yes. He came back. But he still didn't tell me anything. And he knew what he was doing. I trust him. Now he should trust me. Also, He cant know because its worse to tell him. its better if he doesn't know the truth at least. If anyone asks, I was either killed by Itachi, or being held hostage by Itachi. Whichever you want." "Hostage. I aint gonna kill you." "Tell Akio. I have to pack." "What? Youre going already?" "Yes. I have one week, but I want this to get over with as fast as possible." "Aimi-" "I'm sorry, Emi. This is for the best."

She ran upstairs to pack.

She had her things all ready by the end of the day. She told Miko. She wrote a note to Chika. She kissed Akio goodbye, and did the same with Emi. She prayed they'd all understand. She cried. She walked up through the village. As she reached the village gate, she glanced back at the town. She whispered the names of everyone there, and bowed her head in a goodbye.

And left.

()()()()()()

She had walked for a few days until she reached it. The Akatsuki hideout. She looked around, kind of scared of what she would see. She didn't know what was waiting for her inside that gate, why she had chosen this. They could kill her the second she reached them. She walked in.

She saw eyes staring at her. She heard whispers. "Is that-" "Itachi, did you have anything to do with this?" "Who is that?" "She's pretty brave to come here." "Should we kill her now?" "Aimi." She stared into Itachi's face, he gave her an odd look. A small grin came onto him. She turned and continued to walk through the place. "You have decided well." she heard behind her. She saw some guy who looked like he was part fish. She jumped back. "Eek." she squeaked. "Is something wrong?" he snarled. She shook her head and continued on her way. She saw someone with longish blonde hair styled fancily. "Hey, you! Girl!" she called. When the person didn't turn, she yelled again. "Blonde girl!" She heard snickers come from around her. The person was very stiff now. "What?" she asked. "Aimi, that… is not a girl, Itachi whispered. "OH MY GOSH! I'M SO SORRY!" she yelled. "Hmm. Right." the guy said, continuing on his way. "Hey, wait up!" she yelled running after him. "I called you for a reason," she said when she caught up to him. "I'm sorry, I don't respond to blonde girl, hmm?" he said, glaring at her with one eye (the other was covered by his hair). "I'm sorry, I only saw you from behind. I-" Aimi began. He held up a hand. "Yeah yeah. What'd you want?" he asked. "Er. Where's your boss?" she asked. He pointed the direction. "Thanks! Uh- what's your name?"

"Deidara."

"OK, bye!"

Aimi rushed in that direction, him staring after her.

And, of course, she bumped into someone else. "Are you blind? Watch where you're going." The person said. "Mmmm sorry bye," Aimi said, rushing off. He caught her by the collar. "You people arent very hospitable, are you?" she asked, brushing herself off. "Mmm. No we arent. We arent used to visitors." Aimi nodded and tried to scurry off again. She was caught again. "I'm sorry I bumped into you, OK?!" she said, looking up at him. He looked like a more innocent, calmer version of Gaara. Innocent? No, but he looked it. "Mmm." Aimi wracked her brain. This was that guy… she'd heard of him before… the guy with the puppets… Siso? No… Sas… Saso…

"Sasori!" she said, finally getting it. "Yah, that's me," he said, dropping her. "What, is your name the password?" she asked. He rolled his eyes at her and walked away.

She looked where she was going this time and spoke to the boss in his private quarters.

"I would like to join the Akatsuki."

()()()()()BACK IN KONOHA…()()()()()

Chika was home… and she got the news. She had locked herself in her room, not coming out. She had told all the people she and Aimi were close to except Naruto & Sasuke. Emi had told her what Aimi said. And she respected her sister's opinions. She knew Miko would tell Naruto, well, the lie she had to tell. And Sasuke would find out somehow. Somehow…Emi & Akio were curled up on the couch talking. "She made the wrong choice," Emi sighed. "I know, but there was no changing her mind," Akio replied. "But I had so many things I wanted to tell her about him. And we had plans, too. Remember!?" Emi mrowed. "Yes, I remember. But we have to face it. She's gone, and there's nothing we can do," Akio said. "But HIM… she didn't even tell him! That's wrong! Also, she's gonna break his heart! AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT! Because we have to lie about it! We all do! And some people are going to be crushed about this! People like HIM!" Emi whined. "HE will hide it from other people." Akio suggested. "Just because he looks alive, doesn't mean he isn't dying." Emi sighed. "What?" Akio asked. "He may look fine, but he wont be." Emi said. "Oh." Akio said. "What are we gonna do?!" Emi asked, staring at the rain outside.

MEANWHILE…

Miko rushed to Naruto's house. She knew the truth, but she had to lie. She pounded on the door. "NARUTO!" He opened it. "What?! You OK?!" Miko ran in. "Its Aimi! She's being held hostage by the Akatsuki! They might even… Kill her later!" she said, out of breath. "WHAT?! Those RATS!" Naruto yelled. Then he ran to get his things. "What are you doing?" Miko asked. "What do you think? I'm gonna go rescue her! You seriously think I'm gonna sit back and let this happen?!" Naruto asked. This wasn't the plan… "No, Naruto! We cant!" she said. "Why not?" he asked. Uh. Um. Well, he is right… maybe we should "rescue" her… from herself. But… she didn't want… "Well?" Naruto asked. "Give it a year," Miko said, compromising between what she and everyone else wanted… or needed… and what Aimi wanted. "Why? If she needs it NOW-" Naruto cut off in mid sentence for no apparent reason. He had made his point. "Uh. Old tradition. Give the enemy time," Miko replied, thinking quick. "But a WHOLE YEAR?" Naruto asked. "Good point. Six months," Miko replied. Naruto didn't do anything for a moment, then put his belongings down. "Fine. But this feels very, very wrong."

(((((NEXY DAY)))))

Sasuke scanned the class for Aimi. She wasn't there. Something was up. "Naruto," he said. Naruto looked over at him. "Yah?" he asked. "Do you know where Aimi is?" Sasuke asked. Naruto's eyes went wide, as if Sasuke had gone into territory Naruto didn't want to talk about, and as if it was amazing Sasuke didn't know something already. "No one… told you?" Naruto asked in a small voice. "Told me what?" Sasuke asked. Something was wrong. Dead wrong. Naruto hesitated. "Tell me what?" Sasuke asked worriedly. "She… was taken by the Akatsuki," Naruto said quietly. Sasuke stood up quickly, knocking his desk over. "WHAT?!" he yelled. "Why is no one going to help her?! What are we all doing here?!" he asked, his anger steaming inside of him, coming up. "We have to wait six months," Naruto said, with a lot of courage. "That is stupid," Sasuke said directly. "I don't care. I'm going to get Aimi back," he added, turning. His arm was grabbed. "You cant" were the simple words from Miko. He turned to face her. "You are her best friend! Does this feel right to you?!" Miko looked down. "You just said it. I'm her best friend. And I know that friends do what that other friend wants, or would've wanted. You aren't going anywhere," Miko said, pulling him gently back to his seat.

((((((((((TO AIMI))))))))))))

Aimi had to prove she was good enough for the Akatsuki. She struggled a little, but was excepted. "We will give you the knowledge you need. Once we're through with you, you will be strong and unbeatable," the leader said. "Now, of course you need tutors and people to watch you. Any volunteers to watch our new lady member?" It was silent for a moment, but then, Itachi, and surprisingly, Deidara, stepped forward at once and said, "I will." They glared at one another. The leader, seeing the glare, rolled his eyes. "No one said we could only have ONE volunteer. Step aside and figure it out," he said. Aimi sighed as she watched them. She could tell they weren't friends. "Well, well, well. shouldn't this be interesting," she said.

Itachi and Deidara attempted to talk it through. "Why do you want her, hmmm?" Deidara asked, first off. Itachi rolled his eyes. "Shouldn't it be obvious? We have connections to my brother and I know her more. The question is why YOU would want her, of all people," he replied. "Because I want to, hmmm," Deidara replied with a shrug. "Mmm. She called you a girl," Itachi said, trying not to laugh. "Your point?" Deidara shot back. "She insulted you and now you want to look after her. It doesn't make sense," Itachi replied. "So? She's beaten your backside about four times in battle, hmm. That puts you in the same position I am in, hmm," Deidara replied. "Yes, yes… We should be figuring something out. How about I get her one day, you get her the next? Deal?" Itachi said quickly. Deidara crossed his arms. "HALF a day every day, hmm?" Deidara replied. Itachi glared. "You just want to argue with everything I say." Deidara nodded. "You bet I do, hmm." Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Fine, but something weird is going on and I'm gonna find out what." Deidara turned. "You do that, hmm."

They turned and explained their decision to the leader. "Wonderful, now who starts?" the leader asked. Again, they both chorused, "I do." The leader shook his head. "I see we haven't truly made the decision. Figure it out." Again, they turned.

When they came back, Deidara looked defeated. Aimi walked over to Itachi.

"Ahem, aren't we forgetting something?" the leader asked, handing Aimi a cloak. "Heh heh. Yah. Sorry," Aimi said, turning. She slipped the cloak on. "Ah, it befits you well," Itachi said. Aimi rolled her eyes. She still had issues with him.

The leader grinned, bowing along with everyone else.

"Welcome to the Akatsuki, Aimi."