I did it. I watched the volleyball anime. Haikyu!

You know when the radio plays the same song over and over? Or people talk about that one movie all the time and act like it's the best movie ever? And so you just don't want to listen to that song or watch that movie because everyone likes it so much?

Well that's why I never watched Haikyu. And also I know nothing about volleyball so I thought it would be dumb. And I honestly thought it was just fan service for girls who wanted to see sweaty volleyball guys.

But it's actually so fucking funny. Like, I die laughing with how funny it is. Tsukki is my favorite. He's so sassy. Suga is also great. He's like the mother of their team but also a huge troll. I have so many ships it's hard to keep track.

All the characters are hilarious and you should watch it and not avoid it out of pride like me.

Utakata glared at her. "You wouldn't."

"You think so?" Sakura gave a warning punch at his face, just to prove her point. Blood instantly gushed from his nose, and fear was clear in his eyes.

"Let me go. I'll release you," Utakata promised.

"You killed Lady Chiyo. Negotiations are over." Sakura pulled back her fist again, all her force and all her anger put behind it.

The Rokubi ducked down. Her fist broke through the thick wall, huge pieces of plaster and wood crumbling down.

He slid under her arm, heading for the door.

"You've not getting away!"

In two long steps, Sakura reached him as he flung the door open. She would've had him, if a swarm of bodies hadn't rushed in.

The medical staff and guards swarmed her, putting a barrier between Sakura and their boss.

"Sedate her," Utakata demanded. "Capture her! Kill her! I don't care. Just keep her away from me!"

Sakura stared at the group of people and decided they were all her enemy. They kept her prisoner here, the let Utakata do terrible things, they were just as responsible for Lady Chiyo's death as Utakata was.

"Give the Jinchuriki to me now, or I will hurt you," Sakura warned. It wasn't a threat. It was a promise.

They ignored her. They underestimated her. They were going to regret it.

The first person who came close got a fist straight to the face. The second person got a hard punch to the gut, sending them clear off the ground. Sakura grabbed the third person, who really was an idiot considering he hadn't taken the first two guys she knocked out as a warning. She grabbed him and used him as a weapon to body slam the next person who dared to get in her way.

After that, Sakura lost count of how many people she faced. It didn't matter how big they were, or how fast. Sakura had a goal in mind. Even as she dodged, attacked and defended herself, Sakura kept an eye on the Jinchuriki.

It quickly became apparent that Sakura would tear through anyone and everyone who stood in her way. As such, Utakata made a quick exit.

"Don't run from me!" From the hole her fist had made, Sakura tore out a long wooden beam that kept the wall up. She swung the wood at the last few people who were stupid enough to appose her, swatting them away like flies.

With the pests either knocked out or too smart to face her, Sakura ran after Utakata.

Blood from his broken nose lead a train through the hallway. She followed the red spots, ignoring everything else around her. She turned a corner and came to a hard stop.

A giant blue Bubble was hovering just in front of her. Sakura slid under it, skidding across the tile floor.

"Let me go and I'll leave the Akatsuki be. This is your last chance," Utakata warned her.

"The more you talk, the worse it's going to be," Sakura snapped.

They were in a waiting room area. It was a wide room, with rows of chairs and only one set of double doors leading to the outside world. Utakata was halfway between Sakura and the exit, and she wasn't going to let him go any further.

"Have it your way." The Jinchuriki blew a string of bubbles around the room, forming a barrier between Sakura and himself.

She couldn't let the Bubbles touch her again. Chiyo gave Sakura the last shot of antidote and she was too weak to fight the drugs off a second time. If the Bubbles got her this time, the Rokubi would definitely get away.

With the Bubbles between them, Utakata ran for the exit.

Sakura grabbed the closest chair and threw it with all her strength, aiming for the Jinchuriki's back.

Utakata dodged over to the front desk, ducking behind it as Sakura threw another chair in his direction.

She dipped and slid around the giant Bubbles, avoiding them easily. The Bubbles were large and awkward to get around, but at least they were slow and drifting in one direction. Ducking around them, Sakura rushed towards the front desk.

Utakata stood from behind the counter and poised to blow another set of Bubbles her way. Sakura was too close to dodge now. At this range, the Bubbles would get her before she reached him.

So Sakura did the only logical option. She flipped the table.

Sometimes, Sakura's monstrous strength was even surprising to herself.

She grabbed the closest end of the front desk, lifted it straight up and shoved it in front of her like a shield. Utakata blew the Bubbles out but the pasty liquid splattered across the desk's surface. Sakura turned the desk even more, toppling it over onto the Jinchuriki.

Utakata was caught under the large wooden desk, struggling to get out, but he was thoroughly pinned.

"What are you?" he gasped.

"I don't have to answer you anymore. You can't control me." Sakura grabbed the container and blower from Utakata's hands. She threw the bottle against the wall, where it popped and broke apart. Liquid splattered across the wall and to the floor. Sakura snapped the bubble blowing tube in her fist.

"You don't have to do this," Utakata said.

That pissed Sakura off even more. She grabbed his arms and, with one hard pull, dragged Utakata out from under the desk. His legs caught under the wood, and he cried out in pain, but Sakura ignored it. She only focused on his words.

Keeping a hard hold of him, Sakura shook the Rokubi like a ragdoll and yelled, "You didn't have to do this to me! You chose to hurt me! All of this is your fault!"

Holding him with one hand, Sakura punched his with the other. The hit was so hard, so sharp, he fell from her grasp and onto the floor, spread out like a sacrifice.

Sakura straddled him, keeping each of his arms pinned beneath her knees.

"You're a murderer!" Sakura punched his face. His head knocked to the side with an awful crack.

She punched him over and over. His head twisted into every angle, repeatedly smacking against the ground from the force of her blows. Sakura was panting like an animal. Her arms were aching painfully. She was crying so much she couldn't even see the Jinchuriki's body beneath her. All she could see was the red spreading out like a blurry puddle around them.

She was truly having an out-of-body experience. Even as she hit him over and over, it felt like Sakura was watching someone else do it. She was like a ghost, hovering just beside herself, watching herself kill this person.

Maybe she just wanted to see him suffer by her hands, as she had by his. Maybe it was therapeutic to get revenge for Chiyo, and for herself. But honestly, the anger and pain and suffering had built up in Sakura for months. All the violence and worrying and struggling she was surrounded with on her day to day was finally catching up with her.

Because yes, Sakura did like her life. She loved Itachi, and cared for Akatsuki, and she was happy most days.

But in the back of her mind there was always that little voice saying this was wrong. The Akatsuki were killers. Itachi was a killer. They were her people and they killed. Naruto was her people too, and so was Sasuke. Would Akatsuki kill Naruto and Sasuke? If it came down to it, who would Sakura side with.

There was just too much of a gray area. Yes, what the Akatsuki did was wrong. But they were also kind to her. They protected her. How could they be so caring but also so evil? It was so confusing.

Sakura was tired of being confused, and scared, and feeling like she was doing something wrong when it felt so right. It was all too much. Hitting the cold body beneath her over and over unwound the tension inside, and for just a moment Sakura wasn't confused or scared or worried.

Her fists were bleeding. They could've been there for five minutes or five hours, but Sakura wasn't going to stop on her own.

Someone else had to stop her. Two arms wrapped around her, lifting her off the Jinchuruki.

Sakura screamed like an emotionally disturbed child. "Let me go! Leave me alone!"

She reached for the Rokubi's body, swinging her fists as if she could reach him, but she was not released.

Sakura turned to swing at whoever was holding her.

"Sakura it's me!" Itachi caught her fist in one hand, keeping a firm hold on her with the other.

There was a moment where she seriously had to debate if he was real or not. She'd spent the last however many days imagining him.

Sakura touched his cheek with her bloody fingers. "Are you real?"

There was a deep sadness in his eyes, and regret. Itachi held her against him like a child, wrapping her up in his arms without a care for how dirty she was. This was why Akatsuki wore red. Her bloody body matched the silk of his shirt, so she didn't feel guilty for pressing her face into his neck and breathing him in. He had to be real. Even if he wasn't, Sakura clung to Itachi like a vice, to keep him from disappearing.

"Is she ok? Is she hurt?" Kisame towered over them.

"Let me look at her," Sasori said.

He came close, but Itachi would not let Sakura go. He glared at Sasori with deep red eyes, daring him to separate them.

Pein came up behind the redhead and said, "Besides Sakura, Sasori is the most medically inclined. Let him check her vitals."

Itachi allowed Sasori to see Sakura. Itachi adjusted until Sakura was laying her back against his chest, and he could see everything Sasori was doing. Everyone knew Itachi was fiercely protective, and usually he help back those instincts, but not now. His red eyes were trained on Sasori, watching his every move.

Meanwhile, Sakura looked around the room in a daze.

All the Akatsuki were there, even Tobi and Zetsu. Each of them looked down at Sakura, quietly waiting for Sasori's assessment.

"Do you know your name?" Sasori asked her.

She blinked at him. "Sakura Haruno."

"Your age?"

"Twenty-one."

"Do you know what day it is?"

Sakura had to focus. "Tuesday?" she guessed.

Sasori flashed a small light in each of her eyes, and counted her heartbeat. With Itachi's help, they stretched her arms, and Sakura flinched.

"Broken fingers. Muscle strain. Her eyes won't dilate," Sasori announced. "She's been drugged heavily."

"Anything long lasting?" Pein asked.

"Hard to tell. I can run tests in my lab, but she's stable for now," Sasori answered. "If I had to guess, she'll go through serious withdrawals."

"How can we help her?" Konan asked. She appeared like an angel at Pein's side. "Will she need medication?"

The group began to discuss Sakura's medical state, spitting ideas back and forth. Sakura watched them talk about her as if she wasn't there. She sunk back into Itachi, and he held her like she was very fragile. But Sakura didn't feel broken or sick or hurt, like they were all saying. More than anything, she was confused.

"What are you guys doing here?" she asked them.

All eyes looked down at her.

"You were kidnapped," Sasori said.

"Again," Deidara said.

"By a Jinchuriki. He tired to use you to get to Akatsuki," Sasori said.

"Again," Deidara repeated.

"Yes, I get that. But why are you all here?" Sakura looked at each of them. The Akatsuki were hardly ever in the same place at once. Even back at headquarters, they broke off into their little pairs and went about their business. Why would they come together like this?

"We came to save you," Itachi said.

Sakura leaned away from him, studying each of the Akatsuki. They were all looking at her like she was broken. But she wasn't.

"I don't need saving. Not anymore," she told them.

"Oh? You're a tough girl now?" Tobi mocked.

He was trying to push her buttons, as always, and Deidara smacked him for it. Clearly, it was decided they should be gentle with her, and Tobi wasn't falling in line. But for once, Tobi's taunts didn't upset Sakura. They reminded her of who she was.

"I am. I'm strong," she said this like it was a fact.

Then Sakura pointed at Utakata's body, laying limp on the ground. Blood pooled around him.

"I did that," Sakura announced.

Zetsu leaned over the body, nudging it with his foot. Utakata didn't move.

"I saved myself," Sakura told them. This was also a fact.

She looked at each of them, waiting for someone to contradict her, but no one did. Just the opposite. They each showed their approval in their own way.

"Well, no shit, of course you did. You've a badass bitch," Hidan laughed. He grinned like a madman, filled with smug pride.

"You better not piss her off, idiot," Kakuzu said to his partner. "She'll kill you."

"If anyone could, it's Sakura," Hidan agreed.

Konan crouched down beside Sakura, so they were on equal ground. She said, "I never doubted you."

"Its true," Pein said. He stood behind Konan. "Every day, Konan told us not to worry. She knew you were alive."

"Every day?" Sakura looked up at him. Her eyesight was still blurry.

"It's been almost a week since you were captured," Sasori explained.

"It was a long kidnapping, even for you," Deidara joked.

"Dei was worried to death the whole time," Sasori said.

"So were you!" Deidara frowned.

"Lies," Sasori scoffed.

"Oh yeah? If you weren't worried, why'd you build all those puppets? You were ready to take on a whole army just to save her!" Deidara smirked.

Sasori turned away, annoyed. "I was only worried because I haven't finished my Sakura-puppet yet. I need the original to make the puppet as accurate as possible."

"Whatever you say Danna." Deidara winked at Sakura playfully.

Sakura was still focusing on the part of the conversation where she was captured for a week. She asked, "Was I really gone that long?"

"Yes, you were," Itachi said. Sakura was surprised by how incredibly sad he looked. Itachi always kept his emotions under wraps, but now he was bursting at the seams. He looked at Sakura as if he was mourning her, even though she was very much alive.

Sakura touched his cheek with her red stained fingers. "Hey, I'm alright."

"I know." Then Itachi kissed her forehead, shocking everyone in the room. To be sad in front of others was one thing, but for Itachi to be loving in front of them was unheard of. An awkward tension filled the room. Everyone looked away from the couple. Everyone, except one, who stared openly at them from behind his swirling mask.

"Well, isn't this sweet? Itachi does have a heart after all," Tobi announced. He clapped his hands slowly, sarcastically, and circled the couple like a shark.

Itachi's red eyes followed Tobi, calculating and analyzing his movements. Sakura was too dazed to follow along, but even in her drugged-up state she could tell something was off.

"You have something to say?" Itachi asked.

Tobi stopped in front of them, within arm's reach of Sakura. Itachi pulled her close to him, half leaning over her like a wolf protecting his pack. Sakura looked between Itachi and Tobi, like a wounded animal caught between two predators. The rest of Akatsuki watched and waiting. It was clear each of them wanted to say something, to stop what was happening, but no one did.

For some reason, even though he was an annoying idiot, Tobi had this kind of power over them all. Maybe because Pein never spoke out against him, or because even Konan looked disturbed by his presence half the time. And for all that Deidara bitched and complained about his new partner, the blonde eyed Tobi as if waiting for the loud mouth to suddenly attack.

There was an unspoken agreement in Akatsuki to keep on your toes when Tobi was around.

"I actually do have something to say. Thanks for asking. While we're all celebrating the fact that Sakura's a big girl now, can we also acknowledge her giant screw up?" Tobi asked. He looked around at the rest of Akatsuki for the answer.

"What did I do?" Sakura asked innocently. She was very confused from the drugs mixing in her system.

"Nothing. You didn't do anything," Itachi insisted.

"Oh she did do something. She killed out the Rokubi before we could get what we need out of him," Tobi explained.

"Jinchuruki have died on missions before," Itachi countered.

"But not like this. We need the drug the Rokubi was working on. She killed him before he could finish it," Tobi snapped. Everyone tensed up. Tobi was annoying, and loud, and stupid, and many things, but never angry. He never snapped or shouted with fury, until now. There was so much venom in his tone, it was like poison in Sakura's ears.

Tobi walked over to the dead Jinchuriki, and kicked the body over. The body was already stiffening.

"He's dead. The Bubble drug is gone. We have nothing." Tobi turned back to Sakura and Itachi, towering over them. Tobi's face was hidden, but Sakura could imagine the rage twisted behind that mask. "And it's all her fault."

Then Tobi was reaching for Sakura, actually going to grab her, and everyone moved at once.

Itachi twisted, pushing Sakura behind him, poised in front of her like a shield.

Kisame came up behind Sakura, taking his place as Itachi's partner. Kisame kept Sakura between himself and Itachi. Together, they formed a barrier around her broken body.

Deidara and Sasori closed in to cover Sakura's left. Hidan moved in on her right and, because Hidan was his idiot partner, Kakuzu also came into the circle. Sakura sat in the middle of them all, like a princess guarded by her terrifying guards.

But no one moved to attack Tobi, not even Itachi, because neither Pein nor Konan moved. Pein was their Leader, and to go against him was to go against Akatsuki itself. So they waited to see what Pein would do, what he would allow, but their Leader did not move.

Even Tobi tilted to look at Pein, to see which side Pein would fall on.

Tensions were high. The smell of the Rokubi's dead body was thick. The silence was deafening.

Sakura held up a hand like she was in school. "Um, I can make the Bubble drug."

They all looked down at her. Clearly, in this little standoff, they each forgot Sakura was there. As if she wasn't the entire reason for this show down.

"You can?" Konan asked.

"Yes. I watched Utakata make the Bubbles over and over. I even made an anecdote after I watched him," Sakura explained.

"And you remember everything?" Konan asked.

Sakura tried to shrug but it came off as a flinch. Her arms were so sore. "I have to memorize medications and chemicals for college every day. I'm good at remembering medical things."

"Sakura can make the drug then," Pein decided. "Sasori will help her. With his poison knowledge, I'm sure they can do it."

Their Leader had spoken. All eyes turned to Tobi, on edge. Waiting for what he would do now.

"Wow, you really are amazing Sakura!" Tobi cheered. He stepped away. The hand that was previously going to grab Sakura moved to scratch the back of Tobi's head, while he laughed like a child. Just like that, Tobi was back to being an annoying idiot.

"Can we please get the fuck out of here? This road trip sucks," Hidan said.

They all broke off casually. Hidan and Kakuzu collected the dead Jinchuriki, making plans on what to do with the body. Of course, Hidan wanted to sacrifice it and Kakuzu wanted to sell it. Very loud and very stupid arguments ensued.

Sasori and Deidara decided to search the medical facility and bring back anything useful. They walked back through the halls Sakura had escaped from, and marveled at all the damage she caused.

Kisame kept close to Itachi, in case his partner needed him. He not-so-subtly kept his body between Sakura and Tobi, who was dancing around the room, pointing at random things and saying stupid comments. Zetsu followed Tobi like a puppy, and Sakura watched them. Until now, she never noticed how Zetsu kept weirdly close to Tobi. It was like Tobi had an invisible leash tied to Zetsu.

Konan managed everyone. She stepped into her usual role of second in command. Keeping everyone on track. Making decisions in Pein's stead. With her directing everyone, their Leader broke away from the group and came to Sakura.

Of course, Itachi edged closer to her when Pein came over. Just because he was their Leader didn't mean Itachi was any less protective over her.

"How do you feel?" Pein kneeled down beside her.

"Tired. Sore. Confused," she answered.

"I wanted to apologize," he told her.

Sakura blinked up at him. "For what?"

"For a lot of things. For letting you get in harm's way. For asking so much of you. I hired you as our assistant, but you're so much more than that," Pein explained.

"You could give me a raise?" Sakura joked, to lighten the mood.

Kakuzu's head snapped to look at them. "What did you say?"

Hidan smacked his partner. "Give a rest, grandpa. She fucking deserves it."

Kakuzu grunted and turned back to his work, which was as much agreement as anyone would ever get from him.

"More than anything, I'm sorry you had to kill the Rokubi. I was the one assigned to this Jinchuriki, but you had to do my job for me," Pein said. "I'm sorry."

In Sakura's mind, Pein was like a father figure. Yes, he gave her orders, but Pein also took care of her and provided for her. It was awkward to have him apologizing to her when she looked up to him so much.

"Please stop apologizing. You're embarrassing me," Sakura whined, as if she was his teenage daughter.

Pein smirked, and he must've known exactly how she felt, because he said, "I'm very proud of you, Sakura."

"Stop it," Sakura huffed. Her face was red and she rolled her eyes dramatically, but a pleasant pit of pride blossomed in her chest too.

"Leave her alone. She's exhausted," Konan said.

She came over to wave Pein away and get him back to work. Pein relented, and stepped back into being the Leader. He went over to discuss the Jinchuriki corpse with Hidan and Kakuzu.

Konan took his place, kneeling next to Sakura. She put a hand on Sakura's forehead and said, "You have a fever."

"I'll be ok," Sakura assured.

"You have to take some time off to get better," Konan said, in a very motherly fashion.

"Please don't fuss over me," Sakura said.

"I'll make sure it's paid time off," Konan promised.

This time Kakuzu stomped his foot and yelled, "Do you want to buy her a car too? Or should we just give her a million-dollar check?"

Sakura was dizzy, dead tired and a little traumatized, but she still had enough energy to laugh.

(End)

Also the music in Haikyu is so good. I listen to the opening songs every day.

If you don't listen to anime music during the day, you're not living to your full potential! I love listening to opening songs on my way to work, or just walking around. It makes me feel like a main character!

Do you ever try to listen/watch all the Naruto openings/endings? It takes all day! My favorite ending is the one where Team Gai and Konahamaru do taijutsu fighting with Naruto. The song is very catchy.

The opening song to Tokyo Ghoul makes me feel like running and kicking ass. Anime music is sooo good. American cartoons need to get on their level with soundtracks.