Cindra thought that with the girls somewhat appeased, she wouldn't have to call upon the training at all.

Little did she know just how wrong she was.

I don't own the Akatsuki, and I wish that I had said Toni Morrison's quote "If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it," first.

… … … … … … … … … … …

Cin felt sore for days before she became accustomed to the training. However, with nothing happening, she had more ammunition for her "this-is-all-just-a-waste-of-time" argument, yet she didn't feel like protesting anymore.

It was easier just to deal with the Akatsuki's demands.

Little did she know that the stamina she earned from the lessons would soon become extremely useful to her.

When the safe haven she called school was invaded yet again.

And this time, there would be no one who would stand up for her to protect her.

… … … … … … … … … … …

It happened in Art, when the teacher Akatsuki members (except Kisame) were out of town on a mission with Tobi, and Deidara was chaffing under the bit the substitute forced upon him.

He refused to admit it, but Cin knew that he was missing Sasori.

But there was nothing she could do.

She knew that it would be a horrible day, but even Cin had no clue how horrible it would actually be.

At least, not until the alarm blared through the school while Hidan, Deidara, and her were taking the laptops back to the library at the rear of the school.

… … … … … … … … … … …

"What's that?" Hidan asked, as Cin's eyes opened wide in shock.

"Leave the laptops," she spoke quietly.

"Why, un?"

"Intruder alert," she pulled them into the closest room, the unlocked janitor's room, "Don't worry, it's probably a drill, only…"

She trailed off as she curled up into a ball in the back corner of the room.

"Only…?" Hidan prompted.

"The teachers usually warn us ahead of time," she mumbled to herself, "And normally wouldn't send us out of the classroom when it's about to go off."

"It's a sub, remember, un?" but Deidara also started to get an uneasy feeling. And one part of being a shinobi that he'd never forget was to pay attention to instincts unless you wanted to end up dead.

"Even subs are told," she whispered, "It's important that all the teachers know."

The boys could tell by her voice that the truth of the situation was coming to the forefront of her mind, especially when she began to shiver.

Not with cold, but with fear.

Deidara shook her shoulder, "Come on, Cin, we've got to get out of here."

"No," she whispered, "The teachers quite specifically said not to come out of hiding, or else they'll find you."

Hidan let out an exasperated sigh, "Cin, this will be the first place they look! What, was the plan to pretend like no one was here?"

"Yes."

Now it was Deidara's turn to sigh, "Cin, that would never work, un. Do you really think these guys would be fooled by locked and dark classrooms? I certainly wouldn't be fooled by that, un."

"Well, not all of us are top shinobis."

But he knew that she was listening, and maybe even agreed with him. But she was reluctant to abandon her safe little world.

Ah, innocence was so sweet. Deidara could barely remember the time when the he believed that good guys always won while the evil were always punished. Now the lines between good and evil were blurred for him and he knew that the only way to keep on living was to do what felt right at the time and live true to himself.

Wow, that was actually pretty deep...Stupid Uchiha!

Suddenly, Cin groaned loudly, causing the boys to ask if she was alright.

"No, I'm not fine," she growled, "I just lost The Game."

All she got was a couple of blank stares.

"Come on," she giggled softly, "Don't tell me that shinobis don't play The Game."

"How about we talk about this later, un. In case you've forgotten, there are intruders in the school at the moment, un."

He wished he could take the words back the moment he said them.

He realized that the…joke was a coping mechanism to deal with the fear, and that he had just brought it rushing back into her mind.

Tactless

Completely tactless

And he could hear rough voices coming from the hall.