Once again, I'm sorry for taking so long, but I am working again and thanks to April and those of you who sent me all the encouraging messages I'm back on my feet and my muse is ready to go to work. So look out guys, Ali's real adventure has just begun!!

Also, I am also starting to work on an original story of mine so when I start posting it on I expect all of you to go read it! I'll let you know when the first chapter is up!!!

Words- 2,262

CrossWorlds ~ Part One ~ The Beginning ~ Chapter Twenty-One ~ The Three Together

I would have paid money to see the looks on their faces as April and I raced for the living room and Ultimate Ninja 3. Before I could get all the way there something crashed into me and wrapped arms and legs around me. I nearly fell over but regained my balance in time for the new growth on my side to squeal, "Ali-sempai!!!"

I laughed and reached up to ruffle her hair with one hand while wrapping the other one around Audrey's waste in a hug, "Hiya Kitty-chan." I greeted her with a grin. April must have explained so I was forgiven.

Speaking of April, I have a fight to win…

"So I'm forgiven?" I asked a bit timidly. Well, for me anyway. I'm not really afraid of anyone per say, but I am afraid of losing my two best friends.

"Of course!" She chirped in reply with a grin as she hugged me tightly before letting me go.

"What do I do with this, un?" Deidara asked, holding up his handful of groceries. He looked a little bewildered, probably at April and me calling characters for Ultimate Ninja 3 and Audrey calling me 'sempai' like Tobi did to him.

"Just put them on the kitchen counter, I'll put them away in a minute," I answered with a grin as I released Audrey. Glancing around I blinked, suddenly realizing that none of my houseguests besides Deidara were around.

Well, I did tell them to hide if anyone but me came…

I had stressed that the fewer people that knew about them the better, so even though they had probably seen April come with Audrey they had probably all still hid. Looking back at Deidara I could tell from the way he was looking at me that he'd come to the same conclusion.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my head with a rueful grin as I glanced at April who was hooking up the PlayStation 2. Looking back at Audrey I lowered my voice so April wouldn't hear me, "Any ideas how to explain things to her?"

Audrey giggled, no doubt imaging the scene that was about to take place. April is a redhead and she has a temper. She may be afraid of my temper, but that didn't really help calm my fears at how ticked off she was going to be at me for keeping such a secret…

"This one's all yours Ali-sempai," Audrey told with a slightly sheepish grin. I sighed and grinned back at her before turning to Deidara who looked like he was pretending not to have heard anything. I rolled my eyes at that, I mean he is a ninja after all. He's honed his senses to be able to hear kunai flying through the air, I knew he heard us.

Giving him a grin with a touch of wolfishness to it I happily dumped the role of finding my houseguests on him, "Hey Deidara," I began in a playful whisper with more than a little bit of flirtatious sing-song in my voice, "You're a spiffy S-rank ninja. I bet you know exactly where everyone is, so you should go get them and bring them here to meet April."

The glare I got in reply was only a little scary, but I kept my grin in place and did my best to look coolly superior. I was laughing on the inside and I was pretty sure Deidara would be able to see that. He rolled his eyes and stuck his hands in his pockets before turning to walk up the stairs.

What the crap? Why the heck is he going upstairs?

I mentally shrugged and turned back to my two best friends with a grin. April had things plugged in and was turning the TV and PS2 on as Audrey plopped in the floor to watch our battle. April turned back to me to say something when her mouth dropped open.

Oh crap.

I frowned as I glanced over my shoulder at the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and Sasuke all assembled in the dining room and part of the hallway leading to the stairs. The Akatsuki all had their cloaks on with the collars up so I couldn't read their expressions, but I had no doubt that they were… Less than pleased with me.

Pein was the closest to me at the head of the group. His ringed eyes were narrowed in a fierce glare that I returned with a neutral one of my own by letting my eyes slide half closed. I was really, really getting irked with him trying to boss me around. When would he get it through his skull that I didn't take orders from anyone?

I half turned so I was in profile to them, still only looking at them out of the corner of my eye. I was dancing the dangerous dance of power, attempting to prove to Pein and everyone else watching that I was the Alpha here and since they were in my territory they had better let me have my way.

I wouldn't speak first, that was giving way to someone else. I also wouldn't turn to fully face him as that meant I viewed him as a threat. In truth I was a little bit afraid of what he could do to me, but I couldn't let him know that…

I also didn't break eye contact, which was hard with those stupid ringed eyes of his. They were almost hypnotic in their own way….

I should probably just be glad he doesn't have the Sharingan.

Which made me wonder if Madara was up to anything sneaky. So far I thought I had played the part that I didn't know Tobi was really Madara Uchiha fairly well, but I also knew that he hadn't lived as long as he had because he was stupid.

Which was what scared the crap out of me. He could know I knew who he was and not even drop a hint about it, but from what I'd read in the manga so far Madara seemed like he was fairly straightforward about making threats if someone knew who he was. So the fact that he hadn't threatened me meant that I was safe.

For now anyway…

I could only imagine what he'd do to me or what he'd have the rest of the Akatsuki do to me if he did find out. Knowing what I did about Madara, I figured he'd use Audrey and April against me if he didn't kill me outright…

Steady there Ali. You're getting yourself worked up…

I told myself as I brought myself back to focus on Pein who was still trying to stare me down. I twitched an eyebrow slightly as I turned down the corner of my mouth ever so slightly in a frown. I was trying to convey the message that 'I'm getting annoyed with you and this is a waste of my time.'

From the way Pein's eyes narrowed and the sudden threatening steps he took forward I knew it worked. I tipped my head to the side to regard him with one bored eye and slowly arched an eyebrow.

I really, really wanted to speak then, but I would lose my little dominance contest Pein insisted on having. I toyed with remaining silent, but he was way too close for comfort and I knew a kick to the nuts wouldn't work on him unless I stopped Time.

So I settled for my next defense: Sarcasm.

Sighing with annoyance, I spoke first with annoyance with a hearty ladling of irritation, "Can I help you?"

Aw crap, I just set myself up too…

My mouth operated faster than my brain and this was one of those times I had a feeling my mouth was about to get me in deep trouble if Pein came up with a comeback. His eyes narrowed over the collar of his cloak and I felt the tension thicken enough that I could feel it.

"Who is she?" Pein asked mincingly, setting himself up.

My lips gave an involuntary twitch in an attempt at a smile, which only served to make Pein angrier as I answered, "Who's who?"

Yep, I was playing dumb to purposely tick Pein off and from the way I felt the anger rolling off him I knew it'd worked. No, it wasn't very smart and it might not be very healthy, but it was fun to watch.

"Don't play dumb little girl," Pein answered, intentionally intending to tick me off, "It's obvious you intentionally brought that girl here."

I narrowed my eyes as I tilted my head to regard him with my look that Audrey once told me look like I was getting ready to jump up and rip someone's throat out with my teeth. I was royally pissed since Pein had intentionally tried to tick me off.

"Yes I did," I answered seriously, I wasn't playing right now. April was too important to me for me to play around with her life, "But this is my house, my rules, and if I want to bring someone else here I can."

I was surprised April hadn't said anything, but I suspected that she knew to let me do the talking since it was apparent I already knew the Akatsuki and the others were in my house. April was good like that.

"Yet you were the one who impressed on us the need for secrecy," Pein answered in a low voice that spoke volumes on just how close he was to maybe killing me.

The corner of my mouth twitched in an almost smile as my face relaxed, now I was confident I could win this argument, "Yeah, but don't you ninja trust your teammates more than anyone else? That's what Audrey and April are to me," I sucked in a quick breath, "I doesn't matter that they know because if I need help smuggling you guys away from here if things for some reason go bad, these are the two I call to help."

"If things go bad?" Pein asked, now seemingly more angry than before, "Do you know something you're not telling us Ali?"

I shrugged, "No, I'm paranoid. I hate fighting on unfamiliar territory and since Brittany has already lost once she'll try to save face by coming after me here," My voice dropped to a low whisper, "And this time I'll be ready and waiting…"

"And Ali-sempai will have us for backup!" Audrey cheered, pumping a fist in the air in a gesture that reminded me of Naruto. The tension went down appreciatively at that and I gave a snort of laughter as I turned to face her with a grin, shaking my head.

"I think you should sit this one out Kitty-chan," I answered with the same grin as I arched an eyebrow at her and waited for her to take the bait.

"Wha-Why?!" She demanded with a stomp of her foot as she pouted cutely at me, complete with her bottom lip sticking out.

I grinned at April over her head and winked. April grinned back and stepped forward with her hands shaped into claws. Meeting Audrey's eyes again, I gave my evil chuckle making her frown at me in confusion.

Audrey opened her mouth to say something right as April pounced and poked both of Audrey's sides at the same time in the ribs. Audrey screamed and jumped for me, wrapping arms around my neck and legs around my waste as April and I started laughing at our poor little Kitty.

"Does that answer your question dear?" I asked her as I started peeling her off of me. She pouted at me again as she set her feet on the floor and crossed her arms as she glared at me.

"No…" Audrey answered sulkily, making me grin.

I poked her in the forehead the same way Itachi had done to Sasuke before he killed the clan, although I didn't think of that and the impact it might have on them until after I did it. Audrey batted my hand away as I grinned, "You're too jumpy and you lose your head too easily."

I made a mental note to apologize to Itachi later since poking Audrey like I had probably had brought up some rather painful memories for him. Sasuke would probably be mad at me, but I was still made at him for what happened back at the Wreck.

I still was curious as to why he had pulled my shirt aside as he did. I was pretty sure he had seen the edge of my scar where Brittany and I had parted as friends. Forever. Naruto may be able to forgive Sasuke for trying to kill him, but I'm not that forgiving. If I ever got the chance, I'll probably give Brittany a scar to match mine.

"Remembering?" April asked, making me blink at her. She flicked her eyes from my face to my shoulder and back then twitched her eyebrows meaningfully.

I think April can read my mind sometimes…

I offered my nastiest wolf smile and nodded as I rubbed my hands together, "Yeah," My grin widened, "And if Brittany shows up here tonight it's definitely pay-back time."

At least it's not to bad of a cliff-hanger, right?

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