AN: Just so you all know, this story will include more of the characters and stay a fanfic. This story is going to be very long, so all that's happened is really only the beginning for what I have planned. Furthermore, Itachi and Artemis will not end up together, so don't be a perv (Although I do like some itasasu stories, I just don't like writing them).

Chapter 8: Just A Little Pinprick

"When do I leave?" Artemis asked hollowly, her head in her mother's lap, barely feeling her mother's stroking.

"Three days. We were able to get out of that punk Razuli that Orochimaru is currently residing in Sand, so the message won't get to him for a few days. You'll be taking Razuli with you so he can identify Orochimaru and give you any information you might need. You have control of him, so he'll be your servant." Sakura explained tearfully. Oh God, if Artemis started to cry...that would be too much.

"Razuli?"

"Yes, That's his name, Ameel Razuli."

"My friend Jeille's last name is Razuli. He'll be pretty sorry I left."

"I have a few things I have to do before I leave."

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White. Light. Sore. Huh?

The boy sat up. He was in a hospital room. Why? How did he get here? What happened? He looked down. The bandages on his arms answered his question. Who did this to him? Wait, who was he?

He concentrated, trying to remember. Nothing. He focussed his chakra, trying to concentrate. But that isn't possible when your wondering how it is you can't remember your own name, but you can remember what chakra is.

Further distractions came in the form of a pretty woman with blue hair and white eyes. The boy looked up and smiled at her, but the look quickly faded. She looked at him with disdain.

"Y-you have v-visitors."

"Who?"

"Who d-do you think?"

Five people came into the room. They were not bearing gifts.

Instead, they looked at him with the same disdain the prettywoman had. But now there were three more pretty women; not to mention two angry-looking men with black hair who stood behind the women protectively.

One of the women, well not really a woman, she was younger than he was, spoke.

"Okay Razuli, I want to make it very clear what is going to happen."

"Razuli? Is that my name? What is going on? And for that matter, what did go on? I don't remember anything."

One of the man's eyes turned redcausing startled cries of "Sasuke!" But he looked at Razuli with those red eyes nonetheless. Raz felt dazed suddenly. But his brain settled and the man's eyes turned back to black.

Sasuke looked at the others. "It's true. He can't remember a thing."

"Well then, let's kill him. He's of no use to us," said the other man, pulling a kunai from his robes. Raz recoiled.

"No." All three women insisted on this immediately. Raz sighed with relief.

"He can still be of use to us as a spy and a servant. Besides, we may still be able to jog his memory and rehabilitate him. He'd be a valuable asset. When we fought, it was only do to his anger blinding him that I beat him so easily." The girl said, looking at him now with interest.

"Did we fight? I'm sorry, I didn't hurt you, did I?"

The woman with the pink hair laughed and turned to the man with the kunai. "Itachi, listen to him. He's a kitten. He won't be threat."

"Yeah, but how long will he be a kitten if we let him live? Once his memories back, he'll be his old self again."

The woman with the blonde hair finally spoke. "No. If ad when that happens, he still won't be a threat. He's under Arty's control, and besides, we might be able to rehabilitate him by that time."

The man called Itachi sighed and put his kunai back. "Alright, but he only gets one chance." He left.

The blonde woman looked at the blue-haired woman. "Hinata, have him ready tomorrow night. He won't be in his bed the next morning," she looked at Raz, "Don't panic when we come get you."

"Don't hold us up, talk to people, or run away," said the black-haired girl before grabbing Sasuke's arm and leaving with him. The other women followed them, leaving him alone.

No threats, no questions, no need for response. She just told him and left. This must be Artemis. Raz smiled. He couldn't think of a worse person to have control over him. This would be a long trip, wherever they were going.

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Artemis glanced over her shoulder at Matty and Meisha. The smiled at her sadly.

"Guys, I have something to tell you."

"What, you hae a frog in your throat? You could at least have not waited ten minutes before we go on to tell us," Meisha joked.

"No, this has nothing to with that, I wouldn't miss this show for anything."

"Yeah, especially since that's John Lennon's guitar," Matty joked. Artemis looked down, biting her lower lip.

"Matty, shut up, what is it, Artemis?" Meisha said.

"You have to find another singer."

"WHAT!"

A tear fell from the tip of Artemis's nose. "I have to leave tomorrow, and I don't know how long it will be until I can return."

"Why?" Matty asked incredulously.

"I can't tell you why."

"But..." Meisha said, shocked. "Oh God... Arty!"

Arty burst inro tears. "I'm sorry. I have no choice, I have to leave."

Matty pulled her into a hug. "Arty..."

"I just wanted you to know that you guys are the best band a girl can have. Debbie Harry could not have asked for better. I would have done anything to stay. Playing with you guys is something I will miss most. And most of all, you are the best friends a person can have. If we never see each other again, just know that."

Meisha joined in on the hug. "Don't worry Artemis, we will play again, I promise."

"Even if we have to play our instruments when we're sixty, like The Rolling Stones,maybe even with wheelchairs,and people buying more of our t-shirts than records," Matty added.

Arty laughed among her tears and broke away. She wiped her tears and looked up at her band with a smile. "Now, let's go make Pink Floyd look bad!" She yelled, in her usual pre-show battle cheers as she hoisted her guitar over shoulder.

"Aye Aye!"

They went out on stage and got into their positions. Arty stepped up to the microphone, holding her electric guitar she had had since she was eight.

Arty looked back at the crowd. "Tonight is kind of a special night, so we're going to only be able to one song. And I thought this one was perfect considering how some things have been going on and how I've been feeling about them."

She caught Sasuke's eyes. He looked at her quizically as to why she wasn't playing the guitar he gave her. But she just winked.

"Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
Come on, now.
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again."

Arty looked at Itachi with a smile, he smiled back and winked.

"Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts,
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I can't explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb."

Sakura beamed at her as Arty played out the solo. But asArtemis began to sing again, she locked eyes with her father, staring at him blankly. He nodded in understanding.

"Ok.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more ...Aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working. Good.
That'll keep you going for the show.
Come on it's time to go.
There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb..."

Matty and Meisha sang along to the last line, and for this, Arty played the rest of the song just for them.

And as the song came to an end, Artemis collasped. She felt Matty and Meisha pick her up, carrying her off the stage with th guitar still strapped to her body. She opened her eyes and glanced at them. They smiled down at her. They carried her all the way back to Matty's garage. They collaspe on to the couch and looked at her.

Arty sighed. "I want to stay right here in this spot for the rest of the night."

They nodded. "Us too."

"But when you wake up,I won't be here, I'll be gone."

"We know," Matty said sadly. "But let's just celebrate and try to be happy."

Meisha pushed some buttons on the stereo and they fell asleep to the songs of Nirvana, muttering to each other.

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As was promised, Arty was gone by the time Matty and Meisha woke up. All that was there was her trusty Fendor Stratocaster, on the back was a picture of the three playing together as little kids, written in sharpie on the picture was Meisha's once-childish handwriting, "Love-love, THE BESTEST BAND EVER!" Below the picture, Artemis added, "Sober Love, the bestestestestestest band ever, and my best friends. Don't forget to make suremy wheelchair has purple seats--If it comes to that. I love you.

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AN: Another short chapter, however, I had to leave it there. Sorry.. And yes, I know that's the second reference to that song I made. But whatever.