A/N: You guys have no idea how amused I am right now. We have a mouse crawling around in our house as of right now (Our house is clean and such – it just found a spot to get in) and apparently last night it went through the pipes of a vent in the living room, and fell downstairs to the basement where one of my sister's sleep. She more or less has to deal with it now, and I am quite pleased since I have the slightest fear of mice – haha!

I know a lot of you guys wanted Anna awake last chapter, but I had to keep it semi-realistic. After you come out of a major surgery like that, sometimes the body just needs to sleep. However, do not fret! Anna is waking up this chapter – and boy oh boy oh boy... This one is going to be interesting.

Anyways! Thank you guys for your continued support with the story! I don't know if you guys can tell but I am attempting to kick up the upload pace again – because you guys are all amazing and deserve it! Thank you for all the follows, favorites and reviews! You guys are far too kind x.x

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and I'll see you at the bottom! Chao!

If you weren't born with it
You can buy a couple ornaments
Just be sure to read the warning, kids
'Cause pretty soon you'll be bored of it
Sexual, hey girl if you wanna feel sexual
You can always call up a professional
They stick pins in you like a vegetable

Kids forever, kids forever
Baby soft skin turns into leather
Don't be dramatic it's only some plastic
No one will love you if you're unattractive

Melanie Martinez – Mrs. Potato Head

(Shush, I'm really into Melanie Martinez lately...)

First Person

Everything... Hurt.

The sounds of beeping and the rustling of fabric is what woke me. I gave the lightest of a moan as I attempted to shift around in my slumber, but pain hit me like a speeding truck.

I opened my eyes to the bright rays of sunlight filling the room, however – that is not what was on my mind. I attempted to sit up and examine what was going on only to feel a hand rest itself on my arm, keeping me down.

"Moving around in your current condition would be unwise." A voice spoke to me on my side. I turned my eyes to look in their direction only to see Itachi.

"What happened." I mumbled, listing to my voice waver from being unused. My mouth was dry, and my throat felt raw, it only had me thinking something had happened.

"Do you remember what happened before you got here?" He asked calmly, and I paused. Had I remembered what had happened before waking up here?

Ah, yes. I did remember.

"I was... Sick. To put it mildly..." I continued, ignoring the vibrations my voice was causing my throat. A cough threatened to spike, but I held it back. "Then I passed out.."

"Correct." He removed his hand from my arm and placed it back on his lap, adjusting himself in his seat. "You've been in the hospital for two days. They ended up performing emergency exploratory surgery, removing your appendix, as well as some of your stomach." He continued. "You also had a heart attack."

"I know..." I said straight away, but I quickly caught myself. I can't tell him about what I saw... I thought to myself, watching him raise an eyebrow. "..My heart feels tender."

"Aa." He nodded softly. The room turned quiet as we sat there in silence. It was neither comfortable, or uncomfortable. "Would you like a drink or anything?" He soon asked.

"Some water would be nice." I stated, and he nodded – walking towards the bathroom to grab me a drink.

I sat there waiting for him, my eyes fixated on the bathroom door as I heard the tap running. I had many questions that had yet been answered, and I couldn't help but ponder them. Where was Jackie? Why out of everyone, was he the one there when I woke up? Also, to top things off, why did I still feel so off?

He soon exited the room and handed me the glass of water before sitting back down. "Thank you.." I whispered, taking a sip of the water before placing the glass down on my lap. I savored the moment where my throat started to relax after finally taking a drink after a few days. "Where is Jackie?" I asked, finally able to speak normally.

"She left to return Deidara and pick up another member of the Akatsuki." He stated and I nodded. That made sense, they probably forced her to switch it up. Deidara was too in love with her to give an accurate report to their leader.

"How long have you been here?" I asked again, only this time he looked at the clock, a look of thought on his face.

"Fifty-eight hours and counting." He said after a moment, and my mouth dropped.

"Why are you heading home then?" I asked? I was rather shocked that he had been here that long for no apparent reason. I was just some disposable girl he was baby sitting for his leader, right: "You could be enjoying the free time away from me and Jackie."

He didn't answer straight away, almost looking as if he was considering his words before he spoke. This had me curious. "Why does it seem like you do not want me here?" He soon asked, deflecting the question.

My cheeks began to tint pink as my neck started to heat up. "It's not that at all, I enjoy your company very much..." I mumbled, and this earned a smirk from the Uchiha. "However, that still doesn't answer my question."

He hummed lightly, crossing his arms over his chest as he raised a leg over the other, crossing them. "Why would I want to subject myself to hours of continuous idiocy in a tightly cramped house?" His smirk then turned into a gentle smile. "I enjoy the calm."

"Ah." I nodded at that, though his answer wasn't the one I was waiting for. Then again, what was I waiting for? "That is completely understandable." I let out a small laugh, even though my gut felt like it was on fire. "One can only handle Hidan's, Tobi's and Kisame's shenanigans before wanting to end their own life." Itachi let his smile grow the tiniest as his eyes lingered on my face, and I couldn't help but feel my blush creep back, however this was quickly disturbed by the door of my room opening up – relieving Jackie's father.

"Glad to see you have decided to return to the world of the living, Anna." John said with a smile, eyes scanning a clip board as he continued to enter the room. He only allowed to let his gaze slip for a moment to look at me before returning them back to the paper he was reading. "How are you feeling today?"

"I hurt." I commented after a while, placing a hand on my stomach, massaging it lightly. "A lot, on the topic of this matter."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'll make sure the nurse comes up here shortly to give you some morphine to help with that. You did have a major surgery, so that's only to be expected." He flipped through a couple of pages before walking towards the bed.

"Thank you very much." I thanked him, but to my surprise his eyes never left the clip board. "Is... Is there something wrong Dad?" I asked after a moment, and he seemed to pause as his eyes scanned a line. Itachi picked this up to, and his eyes sat on Jackie's father, waiting for him to continue.

"..." His eyes finally fell off the paper, returning the other sheets on top of each other before slipping the clipboard into it's spot near the front of the bed. "Before I go into the results of some of the tests we did, has Itachi here explained to you what has happened while you were asleep?"

"He said I had my appendix removed, some sections of stomach – and, that I had a heart attack." I repeated what he had told me. "Nothing else."

"Alright." He sent his eyes over to Itachi's and caught the Uchiha's gaze. "What he didn't mention was that we took various blood, urine, and organ samples and set it to the lab for analyses to figure out what was happening within your body." He brought a hand over to rest on my stomach, feeling around on top of the covers to see if anything felt off. "That is why your stomach is tender. You had various bloody ulcer's lining your stomach, so we removed a few for sampling, along with an oddly textured piece of your stomach lining."

"That explains why I feel like I have been socked in the stomach several times over." I mumbled, and I could see a the smallest of a smile creep onto his face, however – his eyes seemed odd. "What did those results say?" I asked.

Oh how I wish now that I hadn't asked.

"Anna." He said seriously, dropping the smile. "Would you like me to talk with you privately on the matter, or are you alright with Itachi being in here?" My stomach dropped, and I instantly felt the need to swallow a lump in my throat.

I looked towards Itachi, who had a passive look on his face. Many thoughts ran through my head as I attempted to process what could happen if he was here while Jackie's father was going through what he had found. Ofcourse he knows I was using heroin. I thought, scratching my arm nervously. It's only a matter of time before he tells Jackie... Hell, at this point – I wouldn't be surprised if half the Akatsuki knows... To think I have been hiding this for almost a year now – silly silly Anna... I gave a deep sigh, before turning my eyes back to Jackie's father.

"He can stay." I mumbled, then turning to avoid both of their eyes. John cleared his throat, looking around the room for an empty seat before pulling it towards the bed.

"Anna." He started, sitting himself down and pulling the clip board so that it could rest on his lap. His tone had that of a finality, and a serious note it. "I'm going to ask you this now, and I want a serious answer – both as your doctor, and as a father figure." He let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "For the love of god, why have you been doing heroin?"

The room went quiet, as I felt their eyes on my form. It took everything in my to advert their eyes, anxiety bubbling in my stomach as I attempted to form words. "..." I bit my lip and tightened my hands on the bed sheets below. "...I don't know."

"Anna." He continued, only this time the sound of him shuffling in his eat was brought to her attention. "We did a physical examination in before we performed surgery and found scars upon scars of injection sites. It took us a good minute to find a vein available to use an IV in." He ran a hand through his hair as he attempted to hold himself from freaking out on her. "Your veins are collapsing, you are at serious risk of blood clots, and that isn't including the other possible symptoms of your drug use."

I continued to stay quiet. My secret was out. The cat was out of the bag.

"Anna, sweetheart." He placed a hand on my foot over the blanket, squeezing it lightly as he attempted to shake his words into me. " Depression, Insomnia, Loss of appetite, Loss of memory, breathing illnesses, the list goes on and on." He gave a light sigh. "Why has it only come to light now? Why haven't you told any of us?"

"How you look at me after you found out that I was a drug addict." I mumbled, finally turning my eyes to look at the two of them. The expression I had was that of loneliness, anxiety, depression. "I've been using for almost a year. You can blame my ex on that one. At first it was a thrill, but soon it helped me dealing with all the shit I have been put through over the past year." I gave a sharp breath through my nose. "Again, how would you look at me, knowing that the 'daughter' you loved was tainted with a toxic drug that was running her life? The look you are giving me now?"

His eyes were worrying, and they held a desperation to them. Almost as if he was watching a puppy being drowned and there was nothing he could do about it. "Anna..." He closed his eyes, attempting to process his words. "We love you. We are all worried for you. Knowing this now, all I want to do is help you get through this."

"I can't believe it." A voice spoke, and we all turned to face the door way. There stood Jackie, with a very awkward looking Hidan. I bit my lip, the anxiety that I had been feeling returning full force. "The fuck do you mean Anna has been using heroin."

"Jackie.." I whispered, but her ears heard it. She threw her jacket to the ground and stomped towards my bed's direction.

"You never thought to speak to me about this?" Jackie pestered, a look of anger coating her face as I turned myself to look at her. "Is this what you have been doing in the bathroom all this time? Shooting up, passing out and not giving a fuck? Is that what you have been fucking doing?"

"Jackie, please calm down." John attempted to calm down his daughter, but it was no use.

"Anna, I thought we were suppose to tell each other everything! Now I'm stuck here finding out like this!" My heart began beating wildly as she drew closer and closer, and the sound of one of the monitors starting going off.

"Jackie, please calm down!" Her father continued, standing up to hold her back if needing.

"No dad! I'm angry, I feel betrayed, I'm hurt. Why Anna? Why keep this from me?"

"Stop it right now young lady or else you are going to send Anna to an early grave!" My body went numb as the sound of the monitors beeping filled the room, earning everyone's attention. "Anna, sweetheart – calm down, or else you are risking another heart attack."

I felt a hand on my arm again, and I looked up to see Itachi holding it again. I closed my eyes and nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in the throat as I attempted to calm myself down. After a minute, the monitor returned the normal, the soft beeping of the machine steadily returning. "I'm sorry..." I whispered, my eyes starting to burn.

"You better have a good fucking explanation." Jackie proceeded to sit herself on the floor, not caring that there was no spare chair to sit on. Hidan raised his hands in the air in defense as he walked towards the couch, trying his best not to get involved.

"Look, I'm sorry Jackie." I stated, attempting to keep my composure as I held tears back. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you knowing and judging me based off this. We were already stressed enough as it is, this was just a stupid excuse for me to use a stupid drug." I bit my lip lightly, opening my eyes, allowing some of the tears to fall. "I don't have any excuses. I don't have anything to say. It was stupid and I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I stopped using about a week ago. Sasori and Hidan have been making sure I live up to my word."

"So they knew, but not me?" Jackie huffed, sending a glare in Hidan's direction. He raised his hands again, in defense.

"I told the bitch she had the fuck off with the drugs or else I would tell everyone." He then shrugged his shoulders. "Puppet bitch was helping manage her symptoms while she fought back withdrawal."

"Still, I wish someone would have fucking told me." Jackie grumbled, playing with a few loose strands of hair. "I love you like a sister Anna. Hearing it this way fucking hurts."

"I know..." I whispered, finally allowing tears to fall. "I'm sorry."

"Anna..." Jackie's father continued, returning his hand on top of my foot. It was comforting, and allowed me to calm down a bit. "There is more that we need to talk about. That wasn't the only thing that we found."

"What is it?" I asked, wiping the tears away. "I don't care if they are in the room at this point. Just tell me what I need to know?"

"Are you sure?" He asked softly, and I nodded. Giving a deep nose sigh, he pressed his lips. "Alright... We did a biopsy of some of the tissue we pulled from your stomach. At first we all assumed most of it was either scar tissue from ulcer's that we found, or developing ones... However, once we actually tested some of it, we found out something else..."

Suddenly the temperature of the room dropped. I felt the lump return to my throat. "What do you mean... 'Found something else?" Jackie's father looked away from me.

"Anna, are you sure you want the others to hear what I am about to say?" Jackie stood up at this, and raised a fist up.

"No way in fucking hell dad. I'm already pissed off about not hearing one thing, you aren't secluding me from this now. Just tell her, please." Jackie's father signed, before looking in my direction for confirmation. I just nodded.

"Alright." He ran a hand down his face as he propped himself up with his elbows on his knee's. A look of pain and worry crossed his face, barely noticeable as he attempted to apply a mask. He grunted once, twice before he finally spoke, and when he did – we didn't know how to respond.

"Anna, you have cancer."

I wanted to throw up.

"Deidara." Pein asked from the kitchen, pouring himself a coffee.

He was not pleased. Not pleased in the slightest. Not only had one of the main girls in their plans become ill to the point of almost dying, but now he was being pestered by a very ticked off Madara. They both knew this was something that couldn't be helped, but the information that they were getting off Deidara seemed off.

"What do you want, un?" The blonde asked, scratching his head as he walked into the kitchen, a sway to his step.

"How many times have we told you not to speak to our leader like that, brat." Sasori commanded from the living room, but his remarks were mostly ignored by the blonde bomber, who raised a dismissive hand.

"Whatever whatever, un..." Deidara raised a yellow eyebrow as he leaned himself against one of the counters in the tiny kitchen. "Anyways, what's up?"

"How is it that your report contains little to no information regarding Annabelle?" Pein asked, a ticked off note to his tone. "You speak much about Jacklyn, but little about Anna."

"Un..." Deidara felt a blush crawl onto his face as he brought a hand up to scratch his nose. "I told you what I remembered. Anna had her stomach cleaned up, her appendix removed, and then she was revived from a heart attack." He gave a shrug. "She couldn't really respond while I was there because she was still sleeping, un... So I don't know how she is doing aside from what Jackie's father has told us."

"That still doesn't answer part of my question." Pein continued, raising the cup of coffee to his mouth. One thing he had learned during his time here, was that he couldn't function without the bitter liquid. Wither it be the stress of being cramped in a small house with eleven other people, or the constant information gathering in their attempts of getting home – all he knew was, he was stressed. It didn't help that the one person he enjoyed being around was mad at him. "Why is it that most of your report contains bits to Jackie."

"It's because the idiot is 'in love'" Kakuzu commented from the living room, flipping through television stations, attempting to find something new to watch. "The way he looks at her, the way he talks, just about everything point's to it. He's a teenager in love."

"Oy!" Deidara spat towards the money miser, who just shrugged in response. "Keep your nose out of my god damn business, un!"

"Enough, Deidara." Pein stated, and Deidara snapped his blue eyes towards his leader. Though he was irritated, if he were to speak up against the 'fearless leader', he would only regret it later. With that said, he just pressed his lips together. "Is this true? Do you have feelings towards Jacklyn?"

"Tsk..." He looked away. There was no way her could get out of this now. He sent a glance over towards Sasori who watched from the living room, only this time he had no words of offer. Instead, he gave him the cold shoulder. He was on his own for this one. "What of it, un?"

"It's quite foolish to develop feelings for a girl we will most likely be leaving in the foreseeable future, Deidara." He took another sip of his coffee, watching Konan enter the living room from the corner of his eye and sit down on the couch. "It would be cruel to get yours, or even her hopes up in this matter. Having her love you, and then you leaving with no chance of ever coming back."

Deidara said nothing as he lowered his gaze to the ground. What he was saying was true – it was cruel. It was very very cruel for that matter. However... His feelings. He couldn't help them in the slightest. He couldn't help the beating in his heart every time he looked at Jacklyn, just as he couldn't help how much he wanted to show his love off to her. It truly was cruel to fall in love in a situation like this.

"Now you see it in the same light as I do." Pein finished off his coffee and placed the mug in the kitchen sink, turning on the water to wash it. Since the girls weren't there, they were in charge of keeping the place spotless, which only a few members attempted to keep up. "Your views are foolish on this matter Deidara. Love is foolish all on it's own. Don't get your hopes up for a mere civilian girl we won't be bringing with us."

"Pein." Konan's voice rang from the other room. She didn't say anything else, but the tone was cold and uninviting. Nagato gave a sigh, using everything in his power not to bring his hand up and pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Deidara." Pein continued, fighting back a sigh that threatened to spill from his lips. "If you feel the need and the want to continue this... romance, please do so knowing that there is a high chance that we will not be bringing the girls back with us." He walked away from the blonde, who still had his eyes glued to the floor. "You need to look at this in a realistic light. You are young, you are vulnerable to these emotions. If you wish to continue tempting yourself with them, know the risks you are getting yourself into."

With that, Pein walked away – returning to his solidarity within Jacklyn's old room. Some of the stuff had been put away in boxes for their upcoming move, and space was readily becoming available. Once he was alone, he shut the door and locked it, so that no one else could come in and bother him.

"Love..." He mumbled, sitting himself down on a chair as he proceeded to look out the lone window their room provided. It was only when his foot brushed against something that he lowered his gaze.

A paper flower.

He paused for a moment, lowering his hand to pick up the paper origami flower. The faintest of a smile crossed his lips as he inspected it. It was clear that being in this new world, that Konan had never lost her touch. The folds were crisp, the bends were perfect, and there wasn't a smudge on the paper. He played with the edges, only to stop when he drew his finger against the sharp tip of the paper, watching blood poor from his wound.

"Love." He asked himself again, ignoring his bleeding finger and looking out the window, lost in thought.

Oh how this world had changed them. Even he wasn't immune.

Love...

A/N: BET YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT NOW, HUH? I know, many of you guys are not going to like what I did with Anna, but I tried to make it up with the scene with Pein at the end. In the end of this all, they are all human – and even being the hardened criminals that they are can be subject to love. However, his worlds hold some truth to them. Even though he is under the order's of Madara, it is rather cruel to fall in love with a girl who has a chance of not being involved in his life for very long.

Do not fret! I have many plans for this point of the plot, however, more so now that we are still at the half way point. I know it seems like a lot to take in, but I promise – the result will be pleasant!

Now! Lets take some time to answer your reviews!

Caityyy: Before I answer your review, I need to say – I'm pissed off at fanfic. I have to actually go into my reviews and check them manually in order to see yours. There are a few others who has this happen with their reviews, and its starting to tick me off because yours just make me tingly with my heart. However, to answer your review – ouch! That reminds me of my mother – only she broke her toe because she entered my room to grab a plate while my dad was changing a light bolb, and she turned and snapped her toe x.x Ouchie!

AmbertheCat: You are just a walking disaster xD That is okay though – because you are my walking disaster! I relate to this so much you have no idea lol! SHE WOKE UP SO BE HAPPY DAMN IT

Mimosa Evans: Wow! That is pretty amazing of that doctor to actually stand out from the rest and be able to save your hand. That accident sounds terrifying though – I would have flipped shit x.x You be strong!

Kiki's Stories of Awesomeness: Still, thank you for answering the questions! A lot of people don't, so for the few who do – I love you! At least they were able to get you eating! That must have been terrifying for your parents x.x Thank you for your support! I know I sound like broken record, BUT GAWD DAMN IT – ACCEPT MY LOVE!

Anyways – thank you to everyone who has reviewed last chapter, as well as the story as a whole!

Also, I would like to make a comment. I have contacted both winners, and one of the has contacted me back – while the other hasn't. If by December tenth the person does not respond, I will re-pick a winner!

The Question Last Chapter: What is the most serious injury you have ever had?

Answer: I have had quite a few, however one stands out the most. I had a couple of friends over back in grade six when I lived in a smaller town, so a few of them were ranging in age. Me and a friend who was in my grade was on the computer while the others were running around the house, being complete fuck nuggets, and as I went to extend my arm out to do something, one of the little bastards jumps up and lands on my thumb, hyper extending it to the point where half way up my arm, cracks and fractures happened. Needless to say, I'm happy I'm not friends with that little wet sock any more.

Question of the Chapter: What is your favourite piece of fiction on this site? Please let me know! (I need reading material damn it!)

Anyways! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as you could, and I will see you guys the next one! Chao~!