Chapter 41: ...Riiight...

It didn't take long before I heard a few light taps at the door. I opened it to see Sasuke. It still surprised me to see him, especially now because he was actually a little taller than me. Internal sad face.

"Sasu-kun...you're quick." He held the ring out to me, I took it with a smile. "Thank you."

"You have to leave...if you're caught there's nothing I can do."

I gave him a hug which shocked the young Uchiha but I didn't care. I've waited so long to see him again. When I released him to go, I saw a light blush over his face and grinned. "I'll see you around, Sasu-kun!" I said, hurrying down the hallway.

"You owe me!" He called back and I chuckled as I waived to him and exited through the main doors.

There weren't any burnt up bodies as I went. The guys must have hidden them while I waited for Sasuke. I dashed my way further into the forest and headed straight towards the direction of the Akatsuki hideout. It didn't take long for the others to find me and I was bombed with questions from everyone.

"Did you get the ring?" I heard Itachi as he joined me at my right side. I held it up as a response with a glint in my eyes.

"I can't believe you actually had someone get it for you! You're pretty scary. Hn?" Said Deidara as he came up on my left.

I made a face. It's not like I had to threaten Sasuke to get it for me... "You have no idea..." was my outwards response.

"Isn't that the truth." Kisame stated.

"What about Orochimaru?" Came the frustrated tone of Sasori.

I stopped moving and slowly turned to him. "As you've probably been informed...Orochimaru was not there. The main mission was to retrieve the ring and I have no intention to lose it before it's been returned. I will help you kill the Sannin, however now is not the right time."

He glared at me. "I hate when my time is waisted."

I gave a nod. "I understand your frustration... the time will come and I'll gladly help you... and do what I do best." I added. I couldn't help but to grin after saying that. Itachi had an obvious frown as he stared at me.

"You do realize that the ring will only be given to you, right?" Deidara said plainly.

My eyebrows creased and I looked at the ring. "It's for me to keep?"

"Once you've returned it, you will be made an official member." Kisame informed.

I blinked and placed it on my left pinky finger. "That's where it goes, right?"

"That's the one, hn." Deidara said with a grin.

I took it back off and placed it in my zipper pocket. "I've better not lose it..." I looked to the red head's knarly disguise. I'm sorry we couldn't complete your side of the bargain right now, Sasori..."

He gazed at me for a moment before replying. "...We have another mission to complete, anyway..." he started to make his way in the same direction that I was heading in the first place.

"You're going back with us?"

Sasori seemed to become a little impatient. "No...Deidara and I must make our way to the Sand..."

Deidara had excitement all over his face. "We have a tailed beast to catch, yeah." He then glared at Itachi. "Plus, it's better than being teamed up with you."

I blinked in confusion. "Oh... good luck, then." I wasn't sure what his problem was with Itachi...but I wasn't going to ask, either. I felt that it would only put salt in whatever wound he had.

"No luck needed." Deidara replied, confident in himself and they disappeared together into the thick forest.

I turned to Itachi with a slight smirk. "He seems to like you."

Kisame gave a snort.

Itachi's eyes narrowed at me before proceeding forwards again. "Let's go."

The smirk became a full-blown grin on my face and I winked at Kisame. "Seriously, they must be besties." Kisame just shook his head, grinning as well before following Itachi's lead.

These fearsome Akatsuki guys are so much fun.

...

Shikara kept taking the ring out of her pocket and staring at it before putting it away again. She had done this the whole trip without saying much the entire two days back. It was nice that she hadn't been too excited either way of the spectrum but she was hiding something again. Itachi kept assessing her status until they reached the hideout. By then she was barely reacting to anything and appeared to become as emotionless as himself.

...

Pain had received the news that we had completed our mission and was waiting for us at the hideout. "You three managed to confiscate the ring?"

I stepped forward and gave him a nod, taking the ring from my pocket and holding it out to him. "Orochimaru wasn't there, however there was one who knew where to find it."

Pain approached me, taking the ring. Konan, the only female of this group stayed at his side and observed the ring in his fingers, then gave Pain a nod. "The ring is authentic."

"You were able to retrieve it without causing disruption?" Pain asked.

I blinked. "If you're asking if the encounter was completely peaceful, then that would be a negative." When Pain stared at me after my statement I couldn't help but to ask, "was I supposed to complete the mission peacefully?"

Konan had a very slight smile after I asked this. Pain then finally responded, "no, you did well to retrieve this ring, whichever way you chose to do it..."

"Oh, good, I was starting to worry that this organization was actually filled with really good, misunderstood people." I smirked, "okay, so if that's it, we can be on our way, right?" I looked to Itachi and Kisame who were now staring at me in disbelief. My eyebrows creased. "What?"

"Are you trying to die?" Kisame asked.

My eyes narrowed. "Maybe it doesn't matter if I live or die?" I turned back to Pain. "Were we not finished here?"

Pain observed me for a moment of contemplation, then held the ring back towards me to take. "You've earned your way as an Akatsuki member."

I gazed at the ring longingly. This was the first time in a long time that I've felt that I had a purpose...and I awkwardly found that I liked most of these crazy criminals. The truth was... I wasn't going to last long and couldn't take a spot possibly better meant for someone else.

"No thank you."

The shocked looks from everyone aside from Pain's told me that I said something wrong. Pain lowered the hand that was holding the ring. "You don't want to be a member of the Akatsuki?"

I tilted my head with no expression at all. "I would love to join. It's been very amusing and the most fun I've had in a long time...and I like everyone so far... aside from Hidan..."

"What's the issue?"

I thought for a moment. "I may not be around much longer. The ring should go to someone more...long-term..."

...

The words Shikara spoke with such lack of expression caused Itachi to flinch internally. He eyed her as she longingly stared at the ring which was now at Pain's side.

"Explain, Shikara." The leader said plainly.

Shikara blinked a few times before raising her gaze to look Pain in the eyes. "I have something that I must face alone, less than a year from now. No matter what... death will be inevitable, however I am capable of controlling how it results."

Pain and Konan exchanged glances and she gave him a nod. Pain looked to Shikara and held the ring out to her again. "Your mission is to live and serve the Akatsuki."

Shikara stalled before taking the ring again, placing it on her pinky finger and looking to the leader. "I'll do my best." She said this without emotion. "I must return home for preparations, if you'll allow."

Pain gave a slight nod. "Do what you must. You're all dismissed."

Shikara was the first to turn and head out. Itachi and Kisame followed. When they were outside Shikara turned back to them with an absent expression. "I need to go separate ways for a few days."

"You will need to know where we will be going." Kisame said and she nodded in agreement.

"I'll meet with you, wherever that may be." She replied.

Itachi stepped forward and randomly pulled out a map and pointed to a spot that was nearly a day's travel, past the Sand Village. "Its another hideout of ours..."

I blinked. "Okay. I'll see you in five days, then. Six at most." She looked up to see Itachi leering at her. She smirked. "Don't miss me too much." She winked, then turned away from them to take her leave.

If she thinks that she's off the hook after saying what she had to the leader...she's wrong. Itachi looked to Kisame when Shikara disappeared. "I will meet you in the Wind Country." He then peered into the direction Shikara went.

"You plan to follow her?" Kisame asked with a curious expression.

"Yes. She is acting strange for a new recruit... I will verify that she isn't a spy..."

Kisame shook his head before heading off in the direction of the Land of Wind. "Right...a spy." His tone was full of sarcasm.