I've been listening to Weird Al all day...I think that my brain is melting. Okay, uhm...for those of you who don't know, there's now a picture of Tsuke up on my DA account. I'm working on a lot of pictures right now for TDOS....like character designs, scenes from the chapters and stuff like that...anyone have any requests? I'm willing to draw for more reviews...-jingles cup-

Gaara: MORE Reviews? You're almost at 200!

But POTBS had over 1,000....-tear-

Gaara: Think about it...that one had 101 chapters...this is only chapter twenty eight. You're doing pretty good so far, I must say.

.....mmm....yeah....I LOVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT REVIEWS MORE THEN ANYTHING AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T REVIEW I STILL LOVE YOU FOR READING THE STORY, NYAAAAAA!!!!! *passes out*


"I'll ask you again...who are you?" Michiru murmured, resting his chin on his fist and staring at this girl, Shuro. They were sitting in the interrogation room, completely alone. Michiru didn't want any ANBU in here, because they might scare her, but she still refused to talk. He sighed. "Listen, Shuro-san...I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. Could you just please tell me who you are, and why you're in Suna?"

Shuro shook her head fiercely, her whole body quivering. This man is Aki's older brother! The Kazekage is Aki's father! The heiress of the Hyugga clan is Aki's mother!!!! These same words circled her mind relentlessly, not allowing her to think straight.

"Are you hungry?" Michiru inquired. "I could get you some dango, if you like."

"...." Shuro stared at him. "A-answer my questions...a-and I'll answer yours..." She whispered.

Michiru looked slightly taken aback, but, with a barely stifled smile, he nodded. "Ask away," He said coolly.

"...I-Is your sister really a girl named Aki?" Shuro inquired.

Michiru nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo. "Here," He held out to her.

Shuro hesitated before taking it. In the photo was a tall, red headed man with pale green eyes. Beside him was a beautiful woman with long, violet hair and silver eyes. In the middle was Michiru, only younger, and in his arms was a tiny baby with short, ruffled violet hair and bright green eyes.

"Aki's the baby I'm holding," He murmured. "It broke my mother's heart when we lost her. It was not only our loss, but the world's. She was one of those Four Jewel things, you see."

She looked up. "Which one?"

"Not sure."

"...." Shuro's eyes narrowed slightly as she thought over what she should do next. "Ah-" She bit her lip. "Are...are you SURE that she's dead?"

"The Otokage, a friend of mine, had his shinobi search all through the labyrinth's rubble, and there was no sign of her," Michiru's eyes clouded with grief. "We all miss her so much. Especially my parents...it's driven them mad these past twelve years."

"What would you do if she were alive?" Shuro whispered.

"That's impossible."

"It's just a question."

"Hmmm..." Michiru smiled slightly. "I'd be overcome with joy, but...but it's a fools dream." He looked away.

Shuro took a deep breath. "Michiru-san..." She murmured in a very low voice. "I don't want to get your hopes up by saying this, but all the pieces seem to fit into the puzzle. For the last few weeks I've been traveling with a friend. She grew up as a member of Tenkataihei and is an orphan. She never knew her family. She...she's the Jewel of Seiyru, and is trying to find all of the other Jewels and then go to the Land of Ages..."

Michiru was staring at her, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"She...she never talks about what her life would be like if she had a family, but she did say that she thinks about it sometimes..." Shuro fiddled with her clothes, keeping her eyes down, away from Michiru's intense silver gaze. "She...she has violet hair...and green eyes-...a-and...and her name is Aki."

"..."

Silence.

Shuro hesitated before looking up slowly.

Michiru was sitting there, in the same position he had been, only his eyes were stretched so wide, they looked like they might fall out. He was completely frozen, as if he was a statue. He even seemed to have stopped breathing. His wide eyes latched onto hers, searching for a lie, but when he saw none, he took a sharp intake of breath, remembering to breath.

After a moment of gasping for breath, he slowly looked back up at her. "Wh...what did you...say...?"

"Aki," Shuro frowned. "She is the Jewel of Seiyru and my friend. She's the one who wanted me to come here to Suna to find out more about the other baby Jewel in the labyrinth besides the Jewel of Suzaku, which was apparently her..."

"A...Aki?" MIchiru looked down at his hands, which were shaking. "B-but...that's impossible. She's dead..." he looked up at Shuro quickly, making her jump. "Where is she right now!?" He demanded.

"Uh-" Shuro swallowed hard. "She and our other friends are heading for Amegakure, looking for the Jewel of Genbu."

"Then I'm going to Amegakure."

Shuro blinked, watching as Michiru got to his feet. "Y-you're not going to tell your parents?"

"I don't know if it's really her," he whispered, standing still and clenching his fists by his sides. "If I told them that she might be alive, and then it turned out not to be her...well...I don't think their hearts could handle it." He looked around at Shuro, tears swelling in his silver eyes. "Those two have faced too much pain in their lifetime to be hurt anymore!"

Shuro felt her jeart jerk. "T-then..." She nodded and smiled up at him. "Then I'm going with you! Aki-chan and the others are my friends after all!"

Michiru smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"What are you going to do if it really is her?" Shuro asked as they left the room and prepared to leave the village.

"I'm not sure," Michiru whispered. Though, he knew exactly what he would do if it was really Aki. If it was really his precious little sister who had left a hole in his heart these past twelve years.

He would break down crying.

Obviously.


"ACHOO!"

"Are you okay, Aki-chan?" Inami asked, looking at her as the violet haired girl sneezed.

"Fine," Aki mumbled, sniffing and rubbing her nose. "It's just the moisture in the air."

"Amegakure does have a wet feel to it," Kishun mumbled. They weren't that far from the village now, but they were taking a break in a clearing. It was late afternoon and they had already set up their tents and made a fire. Kishun had caught some fish in the small river nearby, which they were cooking for dinner.

"I wonder if Shuro will be back soon," Kishun said quietly, turning over his fish in the fire.

"I'm sure she's fine," Aki said.

"I wonder when we'll see Nodoka-san again.." Inami said, without realizing it.

"HAH!?" Kishun looked at her, his eyes wide. "You've gotta be kidding me, Inami! You actually wanna see him again?"

Her face turned red and she looked down.

Aki blinked and smiled. "I actually wanna see him again soon as well!" Both of her friends looked at her with shock. "I have a few things I wanna ask that git, so we'd better run into him again soon." She winked at Inami, who blushed.

That night, Aki didn't feel like sleeping. She peeked out of her and Inami's tent and herd light snoring from Kishun's tent. She smirked and poked Inami. "Oi, you awake?" She whispered, brushing her violet bangs out of her eyes.

"Yup," Inami sat up, her blue eyes sparkling even in the darkness.

"Good," Aki pushed herself up as well and smiled at her. "So."

"So?"

"You have a crush on Nodoka, don't yah?" Aki aksed, grinning.

"W-WHAT!?" Inami turned pink and shook her head wildly. "N-n-no! T-that's ridiculous, Aki-chan! H-how can you even suggest something like-"

"You're denying it while blushing. That means I'm right," Aki said snidely.

Inami's eyes fell to her lap and she blushed again.

Aki giggled. "Don't worry. I won't tell him...or Kishin, for that matter. Besides," She laid down on her back, resting her hands beneath her head. "I can't blame you. He is pretty good looking."

Inami glanced at her. "You like him to?"

"PFFT, hell no!" Aki whispered, laughing quietly. "Serious and scary isn't my type. He's all yours."

Blush crept over Inami's cheeks again, but she smiled. She had been scared that Aki liked him to... "So...what is your type, Aki-chan?" She asked, lying down beside her friend and looking at her.

"Hmmm...not sure," Aki scratched her chin.

"Kishun?"

"No idea," Aki shrugged. "Kishun's more like a brother, because I've known him for so long...but I'm not really taking an interest in boys right now."

Inami looked surprised. "Why not? Being as pretty as you are, you could get any guy you wanted!"

"Ina-chan," Aki sat up, calling the pink haired girl by a nickname she had come up with on the spot. "Listen...I'm the Jewel of Seiyru, supposed to help the other three Jewels save the world. One of the Jewels wants to kill me, and we haven't even found the fourth. You think I have time to worry about boys? Hm?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Ah..." Inami couldn't suppress a giggle. "I guess you're right!"

Aki laughed.

Their fun was put on hold however when they both herd a rustling from outside. Aki put a finger to her lips and Inami nodded. It might've just been Kishun, but they couldn't be too careful. Aki placed her head close to the ground and peered beneath the flap of the tent. Outside she saw three sets of feet moving around silently.

Her eyes narrowed and she sat up very slowly, without making a sound. She looked at Inami and spoke with her hands. On the count of three... She counted off her fingers until she reached three. Jump out and attack, and I'll summon Seiyru! She pointed to the tent and imitated punching someone, then placed a hand over her heart.

Inami nodded and turned to the entrance of the tent.

One...Aki lifted her pointer finger. Two...Her middle finger...THREE!

"SEIYRU!"

In a flash of blue the two girls leaped out of the tent and attacked the invaders. Aki instinctively went for the tallest, swinging out with a wild kick and feeling her foot make contact with the person's stomach. She turned and then attacked the next closest person, ramming her elbow into their stomach and then kicking their feet out from beneath them. She herd a satisfying grunt as the person landed. Hard.

"Inami-" Aki called, but someone grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back, forcing her to the ground. "UGH!" Her face was shoved into the dirt as her attacker placed their knee on her back, holding her arms, preventing her from moving.

"I've got the little brat," Panted the person holding her.

"I've got two," Another voice said, and Aki could hear Inami squeaking in terror and Kishun cussing out whomever had dragged him out of his tent. "And this thing," She herd Seiyru's panicked squealing.

"Let us go!" Aki ordered, squirming beneath her captor.

"Misago...let her go."

She herd a reluctant, 'tsk' before her arms were released and the person lifted his knee. She crawled away, leaping to her feet and turning to face whoever had invaded their camp. In the moonlight, she could make them out clearly.

The one standing closest to her, the one who had grabbed her, was a young man with long, dark brown almost black hair and crimson eyes that were narrowed angrily against his tan skin. Standing a few feet away was a beautiful man with long, silvery-blond hair and blue eyes. He was the one who was tightly holding Inami, Kishun, and Seiyru.

The third person gave Aki such a fight that she leaped back a step. He was a very tall man, wearing an battered and torn black cloak with faded red clouds. His skin was a grayish blue color, accompanied by his spiky, dark blue hair and bright yellow eyes. Aki examined the three curious figures before her mind clicked back into gear.

"Release my friends!" She demanded, her eyes burning.

The blue man nodded at the blond, who released them.

Inami hurried over to Aki, hiding behind her. Kishun stood at Aki's side, panting and nursing a small cut on his forehead, while Seiyru landed on her shoulder, growling at the three strangers.

"We didn't mean to frighten you," The blond man said silkily, smiling at them. "You just startled us, attacking out of nowhere like that."

"You shouldn't of snuck into our camp then," Aki puffed, scanning them with her sharp eyes. "Who are you guys?"

"My name's Kisame," Said the blue man. "This is Tsuki and Misago," He pointed at the two younger men. "WE came here to find you...you're the Jewel of Seiyru, right?"

"Yeah," Aki said, still watching them cautiously. "What do you want with me?"

"WE want you to join our rebellion," Tsuki said, smiling.

Kisame made a disapproving sound.

"Your rebellion?" Kishun said, locking his eyes on Tsuki.

He nodded. "You kids have herd of Akatsuki, right?" When they nodded, he continued. "We are the reformed version of Akatsuki...Akatokiyami. We're being led by a young man named Okojo, who asked us to come and request your assistance."

"What's this rebellion against?" Inami asked.

"Kabuto," Kisame said quietly, "And the Land of Ages."

"The Land of Ages?" Aki glanced at Inami, whose eyes were wide. "Why them? We are heading their, actually...once we find the last Jewel."

"In the Land of Ages there is a tower called the Dream tower," Kisame explained. "I don't know the full details, but I do know that there is a person in there who wishes to take over the world."

"Allied with Kabuto?" Kishun asked.

"No."

"Hmmm..." Aki rubbed her chin, thinking. "Why do you want me to join?"

"The Jewels are a powerful asset," Misago said darkly, speaking for the first time face to face with them. "Like the Jinchurikki, only more powerful."

Aki narrowed her eyes. "The Jewels are NOT tools to be used! Besides, one of the Jewels is an ally of Kabuto's!"

"Huh!?" Tsuki blinked. "Oh dear...that's not good."

"You bet your sweet ass it's not," Aki grumbled, placing her hands on her hips. She walked forward, glaring at the three of them. "Your leader is this Okojo guy...right? If you want my help, have him talk to me personally, because I don't correspond with underlings."

"Why you arrogant little-" Misago took a threatening step towards her.

Kisame put his hand out, holding back Misago. "He's currently heading to Konoha," he told her.

"I am NOT going there again," She growled.

"Oh, so you've already been there?"

"Duh."

"This conversation is getting no where!" Tsuki said calmly, stepping forward and restraining Misago by clutching his arm. "Jewel of Seiyru-san-"

"The name's Aki, fruitcake."

He ignored her insult. "Aki-san...we simply want your assistance in bringing down Kabuto and the Land of Ages. Do not tell me you actually think that one person ruling the world is a good thing?"

"No," Aki glared at him. "Kabuto is evil, I have no problem agreeing with you there...and I want him to be killed, no doubt, but he hasn't pulled anything that looks like world domination yet."

"But what about when he actually acts?" Kisame pursued. "What will you do then?"

"I don't like to follow things...I like to lead them," Aki smiled. "I'm just weird like that, but when the time comes, I might start my own rebellion," She motioned at Kishun and Inami. "All I need is a plausible reason for doing things, and friends to back me up, and I can take out anyone."

Kisame stared at her. "Aki-san...you and Okojo have very similar ideals. If you joined up with us-"

"I told you..." Aki narrowed her eyes dangerously. "I'm not working with anyone except my friends! Especially not someone who won't come to meet with me in person. If this guy Okojo wants my help, tell him to get an appointment. He can discuss it with my secretary, Kishun."

"H-hey!"

"....You were a member of Tenkataihei, right?" Kisame ashed.

"Yup," Aki looked at him.

"They want to bend the world to what they believe is right...are you with them?"

"I'm not on anyone's side but my own," Aki told him darkly. "The only people in this world I trust are my foster father and other friends from Tenkataihei, and my friends here. Anyone else is under the title of enemy...shinboi and taoists...and rebels alike."

"But aren't you a rebel?"

"Nope, because I'm not fighting to stop anyone," She smiled. "I'm fighting because I feel that I NEED to."

"Very well," Kisame nodded. "I will find Okojo and tell him, and he'll come to talk with you personally. That, or you could come with us to Konoha."

"I've got my mind set on Amegakure."

"I see..." Kisame smiled. "You're an interesting kid.

Aki raised her eyebrows. "And you're an interesting man...fish...thing."

"Heh."

"...." Misago frowned, his eyes narrowed. He looked at Kisame. "What now?"

"Now?" Kisame blinked. "Well...Zetsu was supposed to meet us here, but-"

"I'm here."

Aki and Inami screamed as the previous Akatsuki member rose up from the ground. He glanced at the two girls and the petrified Kishun before looking at Kisame. "How'd it go?" He asked.

"No go." Kisame said, shrugging.

"What!?"

"I-I'm not joining your rebellion," Aki said, staring at Zetsu.

The man took on a frustrated look.

"It's fine, Zetsu," Kisame said. "She said she might consider if she speaks with Okojo in person. I'll explain it all later."

"Is the girl coming with us?" Zetsu asked.

"No," Aki answered for him.

Zetsu glared at her and she felt a chill go up her spine.

"I guess there's only one more matter to attend to," Tsuki said sighing. He beamed at Aki and placed his hands together. "Mind if we camp here for the night?"


"A rebellion, huh...?" Nodoka took a deep breath, sucking in the smoke from his cigarette, before blowing out gently, causing the smoke to drift up through the sky. He palce the stick in between his lips and watched the smoke mix with the clouds.

"..." His eyes narrowed and he sighed, blowing out some more smoke.



-Does the wierd dance from Super Gals-

Shuro told Michi, Shuro told Michi, Shuro told Michi, Shuro told Michi-.....SHURO TOLD MICHI!!!!! And now Michi's gonna go after Aki to see if it's really her...fufufufu, let the fun commense. Aki and Inami have some girl talk some and its confirmed that Ina-chan likes Broody ((LOL KING HAWKE)) and Aki says that he's not her type, but she doesn't really know what her type is...hmm...Kisame and the boys try to convince Aki to join them but she puts up a good argument, and refuses to join...but don't worry. This subject isn;t over yet. And the chapter ends with Broody, still thinking about the rebellion and taking a smoke on his way to Oto.....I swear. He's sixteen and he smokes a lot....he's gonna have cancer by the end of the story, I bet. ((If Aki ever wanted to get with Nodo-chan she'd have to ask daddy...))

Aki: He smokes sometimes, and he's really quiet, with black hair that covers part of his eye, and he's conflicted with evil-

Gaara: DADDY REFUSES!!! NO EMOS!!!! I WON'T HAVE A MINI SASUKE IN THE FAMILY.

Aki: ?