D: Winter break is here! YES!

K: Yes! Finally! We both have free time to write!

A: Yay for free time! Also, Darcy owns nothing.

D: A few sides notes. Since I highly doubt that I'll write a Christmas chapter this year (I don't really have time to write a decent one, and as of now, it simply won't fit in the plot) Merry Christmas! Or Happy Holiday's if you don't celebrate Christmas. But I think I might write a New Years chapter. Which also might end the story. I'm not sure yet, it all depends on what happens in this chapter. I kind of make up the story as I go. Well, it writes it self, basically. If that makes sense. Also, Naruto has NOT gone through his Shippuden training with Kakashi and Yamato. So, basically, if no one comes to help us, we're screwed. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-One:

Final Fight part 1:

"Okay, so we know for sure that Kye, Ino, Hinata, and Shino are captured," I said. "That's four people."

"Akito is probably captured, too," Naruto said. I could hear the worry in his voice.

"We'll save her," said, throwing a smile back at him. Then I turned my head forward again, saying, "We'll save all them."

We ran down the hallway, unsure of where we were going, until we entered a large, circular room. On the far end of the room Kye, Ino, Hinata, Shino, Akito, Sakura, and Kiba were hanging, cuffed and unconscious to the wall, and Akamaru lie sedated on the ground. In front of them stood all nine member of Akatsuki. And Kelsey.

Since they were too far away to single in on one person, I glared at all of them, taking a fighting stance, and sensing Lee and Naruto do the same thing.

None of them moved.

"You're terribly outnumbered," Pein said emotionlessly. "Hand over the Kyuubi and I'll let all of you go, unharmed any further, your friends behind me included.

I let a humorless, staccato laugh escape my mouth. "No chance in hell."

"Have it your way," he said. And wit that said, Hidan, Kisame, and Konan charged at us. Well, Hidan and Kisame did, Konan disappeared and reappeared behind Lee.

"Lee, can you handle her?" I asked.

"Well, I would rather not fight a woman, but if I must…" he trailed off as he and Konan faced off.

"You must!" I shouted. I didn't wait for a response before I started giving Naruto orders. "Naruto, I'd rather have you not fight, but I know you'd just disobey that order."

"Yeah, you're right," he said. Getting ready. They were almost on top of us.

Damn it! I thought. I don't have time to tell Naruto to go and warn Etsu. To send her for reinforcements.

With that thought, there was only one thing to do. "Good luck, Naruto. Dibs on Hidan." And I was off.

I closed the remaining few meters between me and Hidan by round house kicking his head.

Target hit. I grinned, as he stumbled to the side, but he definitely wasn't down for the count.

He quickly caught his balance and charged at me, swinging a low kick at my legs, and knocking me down. I used the momentum to roll away from him and stand back up in a fighting stance.

"We both know how this is going to end, bitch, so just give up!" Hidan shouted, running at me and swinging his scythe.

"Funny," I said, ducking under the scythe and jumping back. "I was about to say the same thing. The 'bitch' comment included." I gave him a smirk.

He glared at me and started swinging harder. That put me on the defensive. I ducked, and dodged, all the while trying to figure out just how to stop him.

I squinted my eyes in concentration as I dodged, looking for an opening, a weakness, a fautlt, anything at all.

It took a few close shots, but Hidan was finally slipping.

There! I thought, sending a side kick straight past his scythe and into his stomach. He stumbled back a bit, and I took that as an opportunity to crescent kick in to his head, sending him to the ground. I did a few back hand springs, and then tossed some shuriken at him when I was done. I knew it wouldn't do anything, it was mostly just to distract him and buy me time.

Buy me time for what, though? There's no way we're getting out of here alive with out help. Reinforcements is beyond the question. So my only other choice is to free Kye and the others. But Akito probably won't be much help. She'll still be exhausted from her fight with Konan. I froze, realizing something. None of them will be able to help. Even if I can get them conscious, which isn't happening with Hidan fighting me, they'll all still be weak.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly alone and helpless.

"Darcy, look out!" Naruto shouted, snapping me back to reality just in time to dodge what would have been a fatal strike from Hidan's scythe.

He stopped swinging suddenly. "Come on, bitch, this won't be fun if you don't fight."

I just stared at him. I was going to lose. We all were. It. Was. Over.

I fell to my knees, staring at the floor.

"Darcy, get up!" Naruto called.

"Darcy, you must not give up! You must keep fighting!" Lee shouted encouragingly.

I ignored them.

"Fine, I'll just put you out of your misery," Hidan growled. I heard him running towards me. I closed my eyes. This was it.

I braced myself for the moment his scythe would hit. But it never came.

I opened my eyes to see I was surrounded by sand.

It couldn't be…

D: Cliffy! HAHAHAHA!

K: Are you SURE you're on our side?

D:… um, yeah, why?

A: It's just, that laugh is kind of evil sounding…

D: Oh, well, sorry… Anywho, tomorrow (today, actually), well, Christmas Eve is going to be a Me Day (unless I get called into work) so I should have the next chapter up soon. No Christmas themed chapter this time around, though. Possibly a New Years themed one, though? What do you guys think?

K: Sounds cool.

A: Yeah, totally. Go for it!

D: Not you guys! My readers!

K&A: -glare-

D: Um.. Well… looks like they want to kill me… TATTA FOR NOW! Review please! -runs away-

Marry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy your time with your family, no matter what you celebrate. Remember, you only get one natal family. Treat them well, even if you think you aren't treated fairly. They could do so much worse. They could kick you out, they could not feed you, they could physically/sexually/emotionally abuse you. The list goes on. So many people can't celebrate Christmas/the holidays with their family. So treat yours well. They really do care about you, even if it doesn't seem that way. For the most part, I mean, I don't know what everyone's life is like and all, but yeah. You get my drift.

Happy Holidays! The next chapter or the one after will have what I got for Christmas!

Please review! Thanks!