Aw, and here you were thinking that I was going to take a long time again, weren't you? Why is it that every time I say I'm going to do something, like update at least once every week, I then go and not do that? Yes, I'm contrary, I know that. *sigh*
On another note, in a review about Itachi's twin's name; yeah, I think the reason why I came up with him having such a lame name was to separate him from the rest of his family, like that was his motive for killing them or something. I know it wasn't very Japanese-y sounding, it was supposed to be that way. That being said, he'll pretty much never be referred to again.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not Naruto, not X-Box 360, not helicopters, not anything. And I'm okay with that.
Rating: I'm not really sure if there's anything that really needs to be warned about in this one, except for Zetsu. So, maybe a T?
Creeping along the passageway to the designated air-duct that would take everyone to freedom, the group of patients (along with Kurenai and Asuma, and with the Akatsuki leading the way) kept an eye out for anyone suspicious; other than themselves, that is, as was pointed out by Sasuke in a sardonic tone of voice. After having explained as briefly as possible what was happening, the counselors and the patients split up, with Kurenai and Asuma staying with the patients to look after them, and the rest of the counselors heading to their vehicles so that they may escape.
However, when they finally reached the air duct and lifted the lid off of the vent, Sakura refused to go in.
"No, I'm not going in there!" Sakura protested, standing as far away from the opening as she could in the small, crowded hallway.
"Why ever not?" Sasori asked angrily, upset that they were wasting time over such a thing.
"I don't know why," Sakura began, looking at the opening as if it would eat her, "but I feel like I'll die if I go in there; there's a drop off, right? And we're on the fifth floor, right? That's too high up!"
"Are you saying that now, all of a sudden, you're afraid of heights?" Kiba asked sarcastically, on edge along with everyone else over their escape attempt.
"Yeah, maybe," Sakura said cautiously, sneaking another look at the empty cavernous space that was the vent.
"Then why did you go to the roof to try and kill yourself?" Gaara asked, in his usual calm manner but with a hint of tense undertones in his voice.
"I don't know how I ever was able to get up to the roof before…" Sakura trailed off uncertainly.
"That's because before, you weren't on your medication," a smooth voice came from behind. Everyone turned around quickly to see Kabuto standing there, watching as everyone tried to escape from the asylum. "But you see, now that you are, you have developed a fear of heights. Rather ingenious if I do say so myself, making a drug so that suicidal patients develop a phobia so that they can't kill themselves. You see, Orochimaru and I really do have your best interests in mind, and it makes us feel bad whenever you try to leave like this."
Facing off for a moment, the Akatsuki motioned for the two counselors to take the other patients with them and run—or, climb down, as the case may be. Sakura protested a bit more, but Asuma untied the cloth that he always wears around his waist and tied it into a blind fold for Sakura to use. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai dragged Sakura over to the vent and pretty much carried her down the vent, shortly followed by the other patients.
As this was going on, the Akatsuki and Kabuto were getting ready for a showdown.
"So, Sasori, I see your doing well," Kabuto said tauntingly, taking hidden medicine needles and syringes filled with what could only be guessed at as some sort of 'medicine' from behind his back.
"Fine, as long as I get to repay you for what you've done to us," Sasori said, a smirk starting to make its way onto his face as he pulled out his own syringes, though this time filled with what was most likely poison. "You see, I've analyzed the medication that you've been giving us, and, well, I've made something better…"
"I'll leave this to you, Sasori," Pein said, motioning to the others with a nod of his head that they should also follow the rest down the shaft. Everyone turned to go, except for Deidara.
"Hey, we're partners here, un," Deidara said, drawing out some of his explosive clay. "I can't just leave this here with you all by yourself."
"Stupid brat, you just want to join in on the fun," Sasori replied, his smirk and gaze at Kabuto never leaving his face.
"Fine, you can stay, but I don't want this to get too messy," Pein ordered, letting Konan enter the shaft before him. "Don't cause too much property damage; we don't want this whole building to fall down on us while we're still here."
"Hai, Leader-sama," both Akatsuki members said obediently, before launching into battle with the mad doctor.
"Hurry, hurry," Anko muttered to herself, though loud enough that Kakashi could hear her from where he was standing next to her. She, Kakashi, and Gai were waiting next to the cars, waiting for everyone to get out quickly. They didn't want to be there longer than they already were, and everyone felt that at any moment Orochimaru himself could waltz right out of the building to try and stop them.
"Oh? And what are three, hardworking counselors doing here after your shifts have ended?" came the voice from none other than Orochimaru himself. "You're not planning on breaking anymore laws than what you've done already to try and kidnap patients from my asylum, now are you?"
Damn you, irony, Kakashi thought to himself furtively, preparing to square off against his boss.
"What laws?" Anko asked in a venomous voice, her anger being conveyed clearly. "Compared to what you've done to those poor kids, you have no right to talk about if we save them or not!"
"Now, now, Anko-chan," Orochimaru said in a placating voice. "What is it that I'm supposed to have done, to have earned this harsh treatment all of a sudden?"
"How about poisoning your own patients and using them as guinea pigs to test out your new concoctions!" Gai put in heatedly.
Kakashi, however, noticed that while this banter was going on, the patients along with Asuma and Kurenai had arrived and were hiding in the shadows. Kakashi signaled silently for them to go ahead and move to the back of the vehicles to load up.
Orochimaru, being as sharp as he is, noticed what was going on, and said "Ah, just so you know, I've already contacted the proper authorities about what has happened here. They should be on their way to arrest you for kidnapping, extortion, illegal substance abuse and testing, and if I figure correctly, assault on one of my most trusted workers."
"Oh, I could give you 'assault'," Zetsu said to Orochimaru, but was stopped by himself. "No, he doesn't mean that he has salt to season him with. And I think Kisame already wants to take a bite out of him, and you know he doesn't share…"
"Enough," Pein said in a tense voice, physically pulling Zetsu along. "We're out of here, and once we step behind the wheel it won't matter who's after us, we'll escape. And that means no trying to attack Orochimaru, Kisame; you can do that later." Kisame sulked a bit at this, before getting into the swing of things, i.e. escaping.
"Yeah, let us drive, seriously," Hidan said, shoving different kids into different vehicles. "We've been practicing on X-Box 360, so we'll be able to lose the coppers." He said this with a rather pleased look on his face, Kakashi noticed.
"I'm not so sure if I want you unlicensed minors driving our cars through a car chase with the police, with everyone inside said car," Asuma said, already heading for his car. "But if you say you can get us to the World Government offices, then go ahead."
Itachi, Pein, Hidan and Kisame took the wheel of all four cars, everyone loaded up, and hightailed it out of the parking lot, just as the first sirens from the police were starting to be heard, and the flashing lights be seen.
"Out of curiosity," Gai said to Kakuzu who was driving his car, "what happened to the other two members of your group who aren't here?"
"Oh, they'll catch up eventually," Kakuzu said in a noncommittal manner. "We'll meet them at the Government building in the meantime."
Kakashi could only think, as Pein, who was driving his car, drove through a red light and carefully loosing the police cruisers who were on their trail, I'm so glad now that none of us decided to carpool…
Kakashi's concentration on the matter, however, went away as a spot light from an overhead police helicopter found its way to the car they were in. Kakashi could already here Pein mumble, "Fast reaction time; now how was it again that I lost them?"
Be happy for me, my final paper's turned in, this week is the week before finals so I don't have much going on, and now I can concentrate (as well as I can; I've mentioned this to a reviewer once before, but I think I'm turning ADD…) on this story some more! ^_^
Just so that everyone knows, the current vote for the end of this story is three votes for high-school-type story after this one, and zero votes for just finishing this thing. Of course, one of those votes came from my sister, so I'm not sure if it should count… XP But it will, just to keep everything fair. The voting for the ending is still open (though it's not on my profile; just send me a PM or a review with your vote, even if you've voted already [imooto-chan, this doesn't mean you can vote again; I already know your feelings on this]) so feel free to give me your opinion on the matter, you won't hurt my feelings. That being said, please review! ^__^