Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the Akatsuki, sadly. I do own the Sol, adorable Kiko, pain-in-the-ass-Silas, the King, and the minor characters that may appear on and off at random times. The End. =)

The King turned around in his chair and drank in Sol's presence. After, there was a swirl of motion and the King was no longer in his chair. Itachi and Hidan didn't move from there spots as they watched this 'King' almost crush Sol in a huge bone crushing hug that had her feet just barely touching the floor.

The elder man had salt-and-pepper hair that was about Sol's color, only with more salt. His eyes were the strangest feature he had, they were like a Hyuuga's pale white ones only there was electric blue at the base and moved up to a little past the pupil like dancing flames. The two both had a common thought, 'Like Father, like daughter.'

This daughter was feeling a little strange and was losing oxygen. Her Father was hugging her too tightly, it felt like her ribs were about to crack. He kept mumbling thank-you to the Gods as tears ran down his face. Sol could feel her own tears fall, since for the longest time she never knew she had parents and then when she remembered...it wasn't pleasant (Understatement much?).

Kiko watched everything, taking it in as she did so. Was this what it was like to finally find your parents? Would her parents cry if they ever found her? Slowly she began to feel envious of Sol; she had found her family even though she already had one, the Akatsuki.

Itachi's words rang in her head, 'I'm afraid that the answers aren't in those books, I've read through them all many times.' Perhaps there was a library here that would hold the information she was looking for. The sudden thought erased her envy.

After a few more minutes of more sobs echoing through the room the two stopped. The King moved back a little and put his hands on Sol's shoulders and surveyed her. "Goodness, you look just like her. The similarities are remarkable." His smile widened but Sol frowned, "Whom do I resemble, my mother?"

The King's eyes widened as his mouth gaped but he recovered, "No, No Lacrimosa, not her. You resemble 'her'; don't you remember who this town worships?"

"No." Sol then explained what happened, giving the short version, "Orochimaru froze me in ice, those two along with their organization unfroze me"-Gestures to Hidan and Itachi- "I didn't have many memories but over the months that followed I was able to retain them, but some are lost forever."

Her father nodded and glanced at the two Akatsuki members when mentioned before glancing back at his daughter. Once Sol finished he stood there and stared at her quietly. "That's alright, so you forgot a few details, nothing I can't catch you up on."

Silas stood from his earlier kneeling position and Sol frowned in his direction. "Yes, please tell me how he became a part of it."

The King looked between them then sighed before looking at Hidan, Itachi, and Kiko. "Gather round so I may tell you and answer your questions." The two guards ushered forward but the King held up his hand and just plopped himself on the floor, the others followed suit. Only Silas complained, "But Sire, it's not wise to sit on the-"

"Boy, just sit, that chair is uncomfortable. The floor is good enough as anything." The King interrupted. Silas grumbled but took a seat anyway on the marble floor.

"Well any certain questions?" He asked with a slight smile on his face.

Kiko raised her hand, "Why are you called 'King' but in the Hidden Villages they have Kages?"

"A long time ago there was just The Land Hidden among the Heavens, no other territories or villages existed. In that epoch they had one ruler, known as a King. Not long ago immigrants began to come and wanted to settle, to avoid conflict we gave out sections of land but the demand became too much and after the first Ninja war, we saw what they were doing and removed ourselves to keep peace. We are now the Village Hidden among the Heavens but the royal line in our village still leads." The King replied as he gave the girl a smile.

"I got one, why the hell is he here?" Hidan said bluntly as he pointed at Silas who glared at him and was about to retort when the King laughed. "Silas is from a family her-Sol's- mother was close too, she wanted them wed before she was born."

The room got quiet, "They're engaged?" Hidan yelled as Itachi hissed angrily and seethed quietly. The King nodded, almost seeming sad as he did.

"Damn, even when she's not here she's causing problems." Sol hissed angrily as she clenched her fists in anger.

"Yes, so back off you brute." Silas stated, not appearing to have heard Sol. Hidan's eyes set in a glare.

"Wanna say that to my face you mother-"

"Guys, please, I'm not going to marry him." Sol stated then looked at her father, "Why did Mother hate me?"

That shut everyone up rather nicely. The King's face became very disheartened and he sighed. "Well when we first met she was a charming girl, proficient at nursing and was working on becoming a guard. I was just a regular prince, trying to reach Jounin. We fell in love during a mission and after words we kept in touch. Later I had to become the King but she loved me for me, not my power over the Village." He ran a hand through his hair. "After some time she got pregnant, it was a horrible one and several times it seemed both of you weren't going to make it. And then one night she fell down the stairs and went into labor."

The man's eyes held unshed tears as he continued, "You were born but it was a stillborn. I started to pray, I prayed for your life and then you started to cry. Lunasa, she knew you died and when I visited her with you alive and well. She took it badly, claiming you weren't her baby. The Doctors said it was Baby Blues but after I saw her drown you a couple months latter I knew it wasn't." His eyes glossed over, "Lacrimosa, the Goddess Amaterasu is our village's protector. You are her reincarnation, meant for great things. The Goddess told me so the night you were born."

"Then what happened?" Itachi asked.

"When Lunasa found out she seemed like her usual self but then one morning you both were gone. I sent people to look for you but none ever returned. After a few years I just stopped, knowing you were alive but I had this feeling I shouldn't push it."

"But why can't I die?" Sol asked.

"Let me explain this better. You harbor a Goddess' power inside you but God's are also immortal. When the Goddess gave you life she also may have given you a type of immortality. "

"I understand, even if it's not activated the Goddess' essence still exists without Sol consciously knowing about it, kind of like when Naruto taps into the Nine tails' power." Itachi summed up, the King nodded.

"Are there any more questions?"

"Yes, I need to attend a Kage meeting that's taking place within a few weeks."

"Honey, Why get involved with them?"

"I have friends who found me long before I lost my memories. I will not turn my back on them and one is the holder of the Nine Tails, if he's taken it could mean the very end of our free will." She explained Madara's plan to her Father and about the Leaf Village.

"I see…we'll talk it over more at another time. I'm sure you all are tired from your trip here so I'll have the guest wing opened for you all to sleep." The weary travelers nodded before getting up to leave.

"Boy, lead them to the guest rooms." Silas bowed and led the group out, the guards waving at them as they walked down the corridor.

Later on, in the evening, the group went their separate ways. Sol went to learn about running a Village from her father, Hidan went off somewhere, Itachi was somewhere, and Kiko was in the library.

Every single book she took down was very old yet well taken care of. The writing was faded in some books while others were hand written elegantly. Still she had a hard time reading them and tended to rely more on the pictures than anything. The library was huge, bigger than the one she had been too and held more books than she thought possible.

The first few books past without a single resemblance to her or anything that could give her a clue about her past. To say she was frustrated was a true understatement. Throwing another book back on the shelf she pouted silently, this really sucked.

Silas turned the corner and glared at the small girl, "Oh, it's just the little freak I see. Where are those oafs or have they gone off to get drunk and ravage the poor town like the criminals they are?"

"You shouldn't say such mean things!" Kiko yelled, angry at what this guy had just said about her company, "No wonder Mamma doesn't like you-"She stopped realizing what she had just called Sol. Silas took this opportunity, "Listen you stupid, naïve child, Lady Lacrimosa is a Hime, a princess and shouldn't accommodate herself with the likes of those two pieces of garbage or even you, a little bastard's child."

Kiko's eyes widened as she looked up at the Silas and then she began to cry. Her sniffles became sobs, Silas' words stabbed her with a vengeance and it really hurt her. She watched Silas smirk, knowing his point had gotten across and, as a bonus, hit a nerve.

The smirk slid off his face when he felt a sweltering heat behind him. Slowly he turned to look at Sol who was radiating heat in waves as she glared, one that sent chills down his spine. Her voice was caustic and very cold.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't have Hidan sacrifice you or kill you myself?" The boy stuttered for words that wouldn't come to him. "Listen. Do not ever say such outlandish lies to Kiko, ever. Also, do not say such crude things about my friends. If I catch wind that you are…" She trailed off, letting him fill in the blank. Silas quickly moved away and Sol went to Kiko and hugged her.

"Don't you go listening to that lint-licker, he lies." Sol said softly, Kiko gave a small laugh at her name for Silas before rubbing at her teary eyes.

"You'll never marry him, right?" Kiko asked and Sol nodded, "Never ever."

"So then you and Hi-"

"Well, look at how late it is. Threatening arrogant people sure takes a lot of time and energy." Sol changed the subject suddenly, "Let's get something to eat and try back here tomorrow."

Kiko just nodded with a smile on her face, same old Sol, which caused what she'd called her earlier to pop back into her head. Her face reddened at the memory before pushing it aside for the moment.

"'Bought time you showed up!" Hidan yelled as he sat at the large table, Itachi next to the Jashinist quietly. Sol's father sat at the head and smiled when the two girls walked in.

"Yes, yes what took you?" He asked.

"Silas was giving Kiko a hard time." Sol stated as she took a seat across from Hidan and Kiko sat next to her.

"Dear that boy is really starting up. Was it handled?" The King asked in worry.

Sol nodded, hoping to keep it at that. "You should have seen her, sir." Kiko started, "She really scared him for making fun of Hidan and Itachi and calling me a really mean name." Living with S-class criminals will do that to you, Sol thought before inwardly sighing.

Thank fully her father only seemed to worry about if Kiko was alright, Silas was known for being crass and cruel to those he disliked.

After dinner they retreated to their rooms for the night to sleep or do productive things until they did fall asleep. It was a quiet night.

3AM

Sol mumbled as she felt a weight shake her shoulder lightly. She turned around and rubbed her eyes before peering through the dark to see Kiko standing by her bed side, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Kiko, what's wrong?" Sol asked, noticing the little girl tremble slightly.

"Umm…c-can I sleep with you?" Kiko asked timidly, "I had a nightmare a-and-"

Noticing her discomfort Sol moved over and pulled the covers back. Kiko crawled in next to Sol and curled up against her. Her nightmare had been about her discovering her parents but they were killers and when she came back Sol had married Silas and had forgotten her, and then Silas had laughed at her before closing the gates to the village. When she went to the Akatsuki Konan laughed and wouldn't let her in. Itachi tried to murder her in an alley and Hidan had disappeared.

To put it simply the dream had scared the living shit out of the eight year old. She would have gone to Hidan about it but Sol had come to mind first, not an uncommon occurrence. Whenever she was sad or angry she wanted to go to Sol about it.

As she drifted off to sleep Kiko looked up at Sol's sleeping face and gave a sleepy half-smile, 'I could get used to these type of things' was her last thought.

Early that morning Sol woke to warmth besides her and when she sleepily glanced at the source, Sol couldn't quit comprehend it. After blinking a little she took in Kiko whom was curled against her, hands near her own face but also grasping Sol's shirt lightly.

The princess gave a tired smile as she moved away to get ready, after showering she woke Kiko up. The whitish-blonde haired girl blinked, murmured about five more minutes, and then buried herself in the comforter. Sol laughed before ushering Kiko awake. It took ten minutes to finally get the eight-year old up.

"Sol," –Kiko yawned which caused Sol to yawn (Which just caused the author to yawn)-"what are we doing taday?"

"Taday? Well, Taday we can look in the library but I have to attend lessons at 4 in the afternoon until around dinner." Sol said, teasing Kiko about her way of saying 'today'.

"Sol, can you teach me to read?" Kiko asked, "I can read a little but not too much."

Sol nodded and smiled genuinely, "Sure, Hidan and Itachi will also help…if they know what's good for 'em." Kiko smiled and nodded as she got dressed in a sundress, this village was really, really hot! All the time!

Kiko's stomach growled and Sol led her out of the room and they walked through corridors to get to the kitchen. People who were in the hall looked at Sol and stared openly, whispering to others. Kiko heard some phrases like; "That's her, the King's daughter", "That's Lacrimosa, the reincarnation of the Goddess" and "Who is that little girl? Is it hers?"

Sol ignored any and all comments, seeming just not to hear them. Kiko knew better, Sol was a ninja with very acute hearing. It only proved her point when Sol stopped just a few steps from a man and lady who had said, 'Look, that's the Bastard's child and that whore who brought two men with her.

Sol turned around gracefully and briskly, "Excuse me, care to repeat that." It wasn't a question and the two just stared at her, "Listen, call me whatever the hell you want but if you dare insult Kiko, Hidan, or Itachi you may not like what happens." With that she turned, took Kiko's hand and walked off calmly.

"You didn't have to do that." Kiko said. It was the second day in a row that she and the others had been insulted and each time Sol had snapped at the person responsible.

"My father says that the first step in running something is to not let others walk all over you. Besides whoever insults you guys insults me too. You all are just so important to me and…I don't like people saying things about you." Sol looked ahead, not sure how to tell Kiko that she made her maternal instincts kick in.

"Thanks." Kiko said and they walked into the kitchen where Hidan and Itachi were eating in the dining room next door. They thwarted off the chefs, kindly, as they grabbed bowels of cereal and escaped to the dining room to eat.

Conversations were held, more on the light side, but they all knew something. After they finished eating they cut the friendly chit-chat and talked more seriously.

"Our next goal is actually three." Sol said as she laid her chin on her entwined fingers. "The first is to teach Kiko to read. The second one is for you guys, Itachi I need you to teach Hidan all you can about being a guard of any sorts (and some 'fake' manners), and the third is to find anything we can against Madara like weapons or jutsu and learn them."

"Will you be practicing with that sword?" Itachi asked, gesturing to the one on Sol's lower back. The girl nodded, "It could prove most useful if I can learn to use it."

"Why do I gotta fucking learn ta be some mother fucking guard?" Hidan asked not liking the idea in the least.

Sol looked down then back up at Hidan, "I need an escort/bodyguard there. Also, you can learn things from the guards if you pretend to be slightly, if not all, interested in becoming one. Itachi is thought to be dead, its better we keep it that way."

Hidan grumbled but agreed, if sighing and cursing was any distinction.

That morning Sol and Hidan taught Kiko to read as they looked through biographies and reports on families in myriad villages. They got through twenty-one different books but still couldn't find anything. Around noon Hidan went out of character. He went downstairs and when he came back he presented Kiko with a regular children's book. It was a simple tail about a young female giant who climbed down a bean stock and took three children back to her home.

Sol smiled as she leafed through more books. The two sat at a round table just a little furthers away. Hidan was sitting next to Kiko so he could read over her shoulder and help on pronunciation. A few times he had to call Sol over to explain things he couldn't, which he explained as 'being to fucking busy on making sure she said each fucking word correctly'.

At a quarter till four Sol left for lessons and time with her father, in her place Itachi appeared to help look through books. They made it through around ten of the large, leather bound books before Sol appeared to tell them dinner was ready.

"Don't worry kid it's only the second day." Hidan told Kiko as he walked past her and started to argue with Itachi. Sol had hung back in order to talk with the librarian about something. Walking, in a sense, by herself was somewhat unfamiliar. Odd, since in that town she'd always been by herself but these last few weeks (or was it days?) with Sol, Hidan and then Itachi and Konan had become so common she'd almost forgotten what it was like.

"Hey, get a move on ya slow poke!" Hidan called as he and Itachi waited on the curb a little further down the street.

"Coming!" She called and ran towards them.

Sol stared at the librarian with a stoic expression, Konan had taught her the blasé expression, as she took all that in.

"Are you sure? You saw her, right, the little powdered-blonde haired girl with the hazel eyes?"

The librarian nodded, "Yes, I'm positive Ms."

A small smile broke out on Sol's face, it wasn't a happy smile. Her eyes became glassy as she tried her best not to cry. The sad and yet angry smile on her face was slightly twitching as she held back tears.

"Don't tell anyone what you just told me." Sol said seriously before hurriedly walking away from the librarian who just nodded and looked down.

Rain: NOT A CLIFFHANGER…ish. The next chapter will have A LOT going on! I think…anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks to all who review and added this to alerts, faves, and whatnot! I hope I answered some of your questions, feel free to ask anymore!

Also this chapter is about 3,700 words (Not includng these side notes)! One of the longest chapters! Sorry for being two days late, this chapter was giving me a hard time.

blueicefireNINJA4: NO Don't hate me! Please, I give you good chapter right?

Moon Dreamer and Stars: Are the chapters really getting better? Hope I answered your question about the Kage and King thing.

Alpenwolf: The akatsuki making pizza was fun to write out. I think my want for food is what fueled it. My mother was giving me strange looks when i asked her how to make pizza, ah. Silas is Silas, urgh.

GEMfearie: Thank-you!

Lil'cuppyCAKEZ: Thank-you!

Also, Hidan and Sasuke are still tied.

Anyway, please review!