Lauren's POV

After a few minutes the three male band members on stage set their instruments down and exited the stage while the crowd clapped and cheered. My eyes rolled as the lead guitarist winked at me as he passed.

"Hey, you ready?" Tess asked nudging my shoulder. I nodded and pushed through the crowd heading for the stage.

The crowd hushed as the three of us entered the stage and I smirked, winking at them. That earning hoots from a few guys. I rolled my eyes again even though a smile was still lined my mouth. I guess that playing music and being myself again was just making me feel happy.

Taylor walked to the back of the stage and took her rightful seat behind the drums, picking up the two wooden sticks and preparing to kick ass. Tess headed over to six stringed black bass and slung the thick leather strap over her shoulder. I smiled, reminiscing all the old memories of the times like this, and turned back towards the crowd, picking up the red electric guitar and slinging the strap over my shoulder.

"Do you guys wanna rock!" I shouted into the microphone, just for shits and giggles. They responded with a loud uproar and I laughed lightly.

Looking back to Tess and Taylor I saw them nod and smile, showing they were ready. I gave a small smile and turned back to the crowd, picking the black pick from in between the guitar strings.

I counted the beat as Taylor hit her drums sticks together and after two measures of count we started. My fingers started flying across the neck of the guitar hitting all the correct notes and soon enough both my foot and head were tapping and banging along with the beat.

From beside me I could hear Tess playing the bass part and I glanced out of the corner of my eye for a split second to see a bright smile illuminating her face. She had missed our band playing too.

In the far back of the crowd I could see the club owner and his band gaping at us and suddenly I felt like laughing at them. Didn't think little teens like us could kick ass, did they? Well sucks for them 'cause we were leaving with that scroll, winners or not.

Once we got to the bridge of the song I ended up getting into it a little too much and started to lose track of my surroundings.

That was the biggest mistake I ever made because the next thing I knew Tess was screaming my name telling me to run. I didn't even have time to react as a familiar black haired being appeared in front of me, bending down and sinking his teeth into the hollow of my neck.

He pulled back after a few seconds and smirked at me, disappearing as quick as he had come.

I stood there completely shocked, my brain finally processing what had just happened as a searing pain shot throughout my body.

Orochimaru had just given me the curse mark.

Tess's POV

I could tell as we got farther and farther into the song that Lauren was beginning to lose sight in what our actual purpose for being her was. However, right now I didn't really care. It was just nice that all of were happy for once.

But since Lauren and Taylor were both caught up in the song I knew it was now my job to keep track of what was going on.

The crowd was cheering and hopping up and down when the song changed back to the rock genre.

Some couples in the back towards the bar were making out.

The owner and band were gapping at us.

And a creepy looking guy who looked vaguely similar to Orochi-teme was walking towards the stage smirking at Lauren…

I'm sorry, WHAT!

He suddenly was right in front of her and I screamed, "LAUREN, RUN!" But she wasn't quick enough to react as the snake sannin sunk his teeth right into her neck.

Almost a split second later he was gone and Lauren hunched over gripping her shoulder in pain. I hurriedly set the bass down and ran up next to her.

"Are you okay?" I asked, already knowing that she wasn't. Her face was red and her hair stuck to her face from sweat.

And to make the situation even screwier, I could sense the chakra's of five sound ninja's from outside.

I grabbed Lauren as she started to hunch over more.

"Taylor," I called, already starting to form a plan.

Taylor ran up and slung Lauren's arm across her shoulders supporting the weight Lauren couldn't handle as I instructed her to.

If Lauren was anything like Sasuke, she would soon pass out, so we had to get out of here. Now.

"Taylor, listen to me. We are going to run out that door and I'm going to pound in the ground. Got it?"

She nodded and I turned to her continuing. "Do you still have the active seal on Tobi back at base?" She nodded again, realization dawning in her eyes as she finally started to realize the plan. "Good, now let's go."

We both ran to the door, past the crowd who was wondering why we have stopped in the middle of the song. The club owner and his lackeys stared at us in surprise as well, and I mentally flipped them off, not even caring about that stupid scroll anymore.

The light momentarily blinded me as we exited through the doors, but as soon as my full sight was back I punched the ground, momentarily stunning the sound-nin as it cracked into a million pieces. We sprinted past them into the forest, Taylor making sure she had a good grip on Lauren before grabbing my hand.

Her chakra spiked for a split second and the next thing I knew we were standing in the living room of the Akatsuki base. The ten members all looked shocked to see us standing but otherwise everything was fine.

I sighed with relief, but that didn't last long because just then I remembered Lauren's condition as a blood curdling scream ripped from her throat.

Lauren's POV

It hurt.

It hurt so badly.

I should have been more careful. If I had I wouldn't be in so much pain.

I was stupid and ignorant, and now I was paying the price.

I was doing my best to contain the pain but I knew I wouldn't hold up much longer. Biting it back wasn't going to help.

The curse mark was becoming too much to handle and suddenly I couldn't contain the pain anymore, so I screamed. I knelt onto the floor and screamed long and hard, letting all of my bottled up emotions flow out. But after another few seconds it all just stopped.

I blacked out.

Normal POV

Lauren's head bumped the floor as she finally blacked out from the effects of the curse mark, and the Akatsuki all stared in shock. Itachi rushed up to his sister's side, kneeling beside her and cradling her in his arms. He looked up to the two girls, worry clearly showing in his Sharingan eyes.

"What happened?"

Tess shook her head and explained. "Orochimaru somehow knew we were in Oto and found Lauren."

The Akatsuki's eyes all widened. Orochimaru? These girls had a run in with their old member?

"What else happened?" Pein questioned. Tess sighed as Lauren started to shake in Itachi's arms.

"Orochimaru gave Lauren the curse mark."

"WHAT?!" the ten yelled.

"Itachi, take Lauren to the infirmary. Sasori and Tess, you go with him to see if there's anything you can do to help her condition," Pein commanded. Itachi nodded and set off down the hall, the two red heads right on his tail.

"Zetsu, go to Oto and see if you can find any information on Orochimaru and his plans."

The plant man nodded and morphed into the floor disappearing from the base.

Pein sighed and headed towards his office. "Konan and Tobi, come with me. The rest of you feel free to do whatever you want."

Tobi and Konan followed Pein into his office and once they were in complete privacy he spoke.

"Madara, who is she?"

The masked man sighed behind his mask and replied, "That is Niji Uchiha. Itachi's sister."

So, the internet was screwed up, I apologize for not updating later in the day yesterday.

You get kicked off every five minutes too so Imma make this fast.

I've revised a shit load of chapter for, like, the 3rd time today since I had nothing better to do at some points.

I'm probably gonna start updating in the morning and the evening :)

But you all gotta keep the reviews comin' :P

Please Review!