Sorry about the delay guys. I've been sick as hell all weekend.
My brother got pneumonia and decided to give it to me too.
But, I'm slowly getting better.
I don't own Naruto.
Enjoy
The days went by quickly, and soon, a few weeks passed.
Every time they got a chance, the Akatsuki would go outside and train. And during those training sessions someone would train me while Deidara trained Kathryn.
Now, I say someone because it wasn't always Itachi. There were a few times over the course of the couple of weeks that passed where I pissed off Sasori enough to where he wanted to "train" me. However, he mostly just kicked my ass and watched me wear myself out trying to fight him and insult him at the same time.
Hidan trained me once, but after he almost landed a really powerful punch on me, he was forbidden. Kisame flipped a shit when he thought Hidan hurt me. It was so sweet. I freaking love that shark. Once Hidan's turn was over, it was just Itachi and Sasori. Sasori only fought me when I was being particularly sarcastic and vicious.
And Konan was officially an angel in my book. She healed my shoulder. It took her a few goes, but in the end, she fixed the damn thing. I will never be able to thank that woman enough. She fixed me and didn't expect anything in return. There was no way I could ever make it up to her. Words can't express my gratitude.
At this point I was wrestling with Hidan in the living room because he stole my iPod and wouldn't give it back. Tobi was bouncing around us, cheering us both on.
Kathryn had tuned us out in favor of talking with Sasori, Konan, white Zetsu and Pein. Itachi and Kisame watched us with Deidara and dark Zetsu.
I don't know how Zetsu was doing it either…
Anyways, once I had wrestled my iPod from Hidan with Tobi's help, Kathryn and I left the Akatsuki downstairs to go and take showers. I trained with Sasori today so I was especially gross and tired. He's such a meaner.
Third Person!
Pein's ringed orbs followed the two girls upstairs as they went to shower. He waited until he heard the water start before addressing his members.
"Did you guys talk to Alice and Kathryn?" Pein wondered.
Itachi and Deidara both nodded.
"And?" Pein inquired.
Itachi sighed. "Alice confessed that if the choice was hers to make, she would come with us without hesitation." He closed his eyes for a moment. "When we discussed it further, she admitted that she would rather Kathryn come with her, but she'd still choose a life with all of us in our world than a life here in hers."
Pein nodded. He noticed that some of the Akatsuki looked pleased with that response. "And Kathryn?" He looked to Deidara.
"Kathryn said she wanted to, but if it came down to it, she'd probably only go if Alice went with her, un." Deidara stated.
"So that's good. They want to come back with us." Konan smiled. "We won't have to worry about that aspect now.
"How is their training going?" Pein asked. "Still no chakra?"
Itachi shook his head. "None." Deidara nodded in confirmation.
Their pierced leader sighed. "If they do not develop chakra by the time we go, they stay. I'm not going to risk killing them."
"How much time do we have?" Itachi wondered. He felt his chest constrict at Pein's words. He didn't want to leave Alice behind.
"We are getting close to finding a way home." Pein announced. "It won't be much longer before we can return to our world."
The others merely nodded in response. All of them were thinking different things.
Huh. Alice thought silently, leaning against the wall on the top of the stairs. She had been about to go down stairs to ask and of the Akatsuki if they wanted to shower first, but paused when she heard Pein addressing his members.
First Person Alice!
So that's what was going on?
Thoughts were racing through my head as I took a shower and got dressed. How much longer did I have with them? How could I get chakra so I could go back with them? Would they really leave me here?
I brushed my hair, wondering if I should bring it up with Kisame and Itachi. I'm certain I wasn't supposed to hear any of that, so it'd probably be better if I didn't say anything.
Damn.
I wanted to go out there right now and just hug the shit out of all of them. I wanted to duct tape Itachi and Kisame to me so they couldn't leave me. I want to immobilize Deidara and Sasori so they could stay here with Kathryn and me.
I wanted to chain Hidan and Kakuzu up so they had to stay with us. I wanted to force Zetsu, Tobi, Pein, and Konan to just stay here with me.
If they returned back to their world, odds are, they would die just like in the manga and anime. The thought of that propelled me into a state of depression. I didn't want them to leave me. Though they've only been here for a few months, I'd grown deeply attached to all of them.
I slid to the floor in the corner of the bathroom and wrapped my arms around my knees which I had brought to my chest. My chest hurt. I wanted it to stop, but I couldn't think of how to make it quit.
Okay, now I sound emo.
Quick Alice! Into the emotionless box!
I shrank back into my emotionless box and got to my feet, muttering to myself about goodness knows what. If I looked at something, I instantly started talking to myself about it. I left my bathroom, and my bedroom to go down stairs and occupy myself with something.
I was completely oblivious to everyone else as I bustled around the living room and kitchen, muttering under my breath about anything and everything that didn't have to do with the Akatsuki.
I could feel them staring at me, and I could hear them talking, but none of it registered.
Third Person!
"What is she doing?" Itachi asked Kathryn in the doorway to the kitchen, watching Alice talk to herself and clean with concern in his voice and face.
Kathryn just shrugged as she leaned on Deidara. "Just leave her alone. She's in one of her moods." Kathryn told him. "She'll snap out of it in a little bit."
"Does this happen often?" Konan wondered.
Kathryn looked at her. "It only happens when she goes into her box."
"Her box?" Konan repeated.
"Her emotionless box." Kathryn nodded. "She's upset about something, and this is her way of burying her feelings to get over it. It's not exactly healthy, but it's how she copes."
Itachi looked at Alice. "What is she upset about?" He asked himself more than anyone else. Alice passed by him to throw something away, muttering something about how tables only get in the way of things.
Kathryn shrugged. "I dunno. Did someone say something to her?"
All of the Akatsuki shook their heads.
"Then you don't have to worry about it." Kathryn admitted. "Just let her deal with it on her own. She'll crack if you bother her while she's coping. And it isn't pretty."
Itachi sorely wished to do the opposite of what Kathryn said, but he didn't want to cause Alice any unnecessary pain. He wanted to do nothing more than just hold her. And it wasn't just because he wanted to console her. He needed her embrace as well. He too was distraught about possibly leaving her.
Itachi sighed after a time and went to the couch to sit between Kathryn and Kisame. The eleven coherent occupants of the house watched Alice pace and clean her already clean house.
Fifteen minutes passed before Alice suddenly stopped in the middle of walking to the kitchen for the twentieth time in the past ten minutes. She stopped in mid-step before her gaze dropped to the floor and her muttering stopped.
She had frozen.
"She's either gonna go right back to being normal, or she's going to kill someone." Kathryn commentated. "If she starts shaking, someone needs to knock her out."
Alice didn't start shaking. Her eyes narrowed and she looked up at Kathryn. "You're an idiot Kathryn. Don't talk about me as if I'm not here."
"And she's back!" Kathryn said happily, throwing her hands into the air.
Alice smiled halfheartedly at Kathryn. Kathryn was only half right. Alice had returned as much as she could. She didn't think she would ever be fully back for a very long time.
First Person Alice!
I sighed and my eyes fell on Itachi who was watching me carefully. I gave him the best smile I could before sitting on the computer chair. I rubbed the back of my neck until my eyes fell on the calendar beside the computer.
"Kathryn, what day is it today?" I asked.
"A Friday." She informed me.
I sighed again. "Shit. I'm late."
Kathryn's eyes instantly widened and she was on her feet staring Itachi down in seconds. "YOU!" She growled, jabbing a finger in his direction.
Itachi looked thoroughly confused. "Me?"
She wheeled around to me. "You! I dun wanna be an aunt yet!" She shouted.
I smacked my forehead. "You're a fucking dumbass. Don't jump to such conclusions."
She looked confused. "So wait… you're not…"
"No Kathryn." I growled. "Now apologize to Itachi for yelling at him. That was rude."
Kathryn looked really sorry as she turned to Itachi. She threw a hug on my weasel. "I'm very sorry for yelling at you Itachi!"
Itachi raised an eyebrow at her, still confused as hell. "It's quite alright, Kathryn."
"What the hell was that about, un?" Deidara wondered.
I sighed. "I missed my woman time this month. Kathryn jumped to conclusions, thinking that it was Itachi's fault."
"Wait… What?" Hidan asked with a hint of disgust on his face.
I smacked my forehead again. "I missed my menstrual cycle. And since the most common reason for that is pregnancy, Kathryn assumed that Itachi was the cause. However, I can assure you that Itachi and I have not had sexual intercourse."
I internally begged for Tobi's forgiveness.
Disgusted faces ruled the emotions of the more emotional members. Itachi, Kakuzu, Pein, Konan, Sasori, and surprisingly Kisame all looked concerned. Zetsu didn't seem to care either way. I didn't blame him. It wasn't that big of a deal.
Konan looked at me with concern. "What do you think the cause is?"
"Stress." I told her with a shrug. "It's happened to me before so don't worry about it."
"What the hell are you so stressed about?" Hidan questioned. Either he's being an ass, or he's just as stupid as Kakuzu claims he is.
I frowned at him. "Well it certainly isn't because I have ten criminals in my house. It definitely isn't caused by the fact that I have a lot of shit going on in my life." I shrugged. "It must be because I missed the latest episode of Bleach this week."
"I do know what sarcasm is you know." Hidan frowned. "You're being bitchy. Are you sure you're not on it right now?"
"Hidan, I will decapitate your ass." I growled. I paused before I went on a temper tantrum and took a deep breath. "Sorry Hidan. That was mean."
"No it wasn't." Sasori told me.
Hidan waved off my apology. "Don't sweat it Alice. It doesn't bother me."
Conversation flowed after that, and I was absorbed in the love of my cat-people. I found myself being in the lovable embrace of Itachi for the rest of the night. He constantly told me he loved me in a quiet whisper, breathing his confessions into my ear.
How could I live the rest of my life without that?
In time I was in so much pain I excused myself to go and sleep my issues away. Itachi went up with me. He was obviously extremely concerned. Damn him for being so easy to love. But I thank everything for him too.
I easily fell asleep in between him and Kisame that night. It wasn't the best night of my life though.
I woke up the next morning to a loud crack. I shot straight up in my bed with Itachi and Kisame who both instantly went into ninja mode.
My jaw positively hit the floor when I saw what the cause of the crack was.
Louis had kicked my door down.
Ah, suspense!
The good thing about me being sick is that my sarcasm gets better because I'm too sick to care.
Alas, my creativity dies.
