Disclaimer: The same thing it's been for the past 17 chapters
Notes: Okay, I'm really really really sorry in advance. From now until the last day of school I have loads of tests starting with this week, first I have state exams (HSAs) in Geometry and Biology and then I have End of Course Exams (yes, up until the very last day of school). So if I don't update for a long long time that tis be why. I'll try my hardest though, okay?
Chapter Eighteen
"All right let's work on some Super-human strength today, shall we?" Tsunade-sama said.
"Super-human strength…?" I asked slowly, "What exactly do you mean?"
Tsunade nodded, and punched the ground in great force, creating a huge crevasse. I stared at it awed. The power was amazing.
"So how do you think I did that?" she asked, turning to me.
Sakura opened her mouth to say something, but Tsunade raised her hand to her, "I know you already know the answer, no hints."
I closed my eyes, and replayed what had just happened in my head. Tsunade-sama had seemed to concentrate for a split second, and then he used all her force to attack.
I laughed slightly, it all fit, "You used chakra, concentrated it to your hand, and expelled it when you hit the ground, which it what caused the crevasse to appear."
She nodded and a smirk appeared on her face, "Exactly, but can you do it?"
I grinned, and concentrated chakra to my foot, lots of it, I turned into a spinning kick, and boosted the chakra from my foot when it came in contact with the tree--sending it into splintering pieces. It seemed so natural, this ability.
Tsunade looked less surprised then I had expected her to, but I didn't ask why because for some reason I knew she wouldn't give me an answer. Nobody seemed to give me answers.
So we stayed there and practiced, Sakura, Tsunade-sama, and me. Yet, just being that made me so happy, I felt like I had been in a similar situation before, but of course I couldn't remember it.
> >
"Kirei! You're so amazing!" Sakura said, dancing around me, "I can't believe you figured out the super-human strength all by yourself, and you even did it perfect in the first try!"
I replied with a shake of my head, "No…for some reason," I looked up into the sky and smiled, "It seems like I already knew the answer."
Sakura smiled faintly, "I better get going, I'll see you later, okay?"
I nodded as I watched her walk off down the street…and was left alone.
There's nothing to do when you're all alone in a place you hardly even know.
I sighed and walked to where I remembered the market to be, I might as well cook something for dinner, I wasn't sure what I was going to cook…or even if I was any good at it, but it was something to do, and I was completely up for that.
I walked into a small market and glanced up and down a few aisles in silence, I picked the first aisle I saw and walked down in, it turned out to be a noodle aisle, just my luck. I noticed a boy standing in the middle of the aisle holding a large amount of instant ramen. His blonde hair and bright orange outfit made me wonder how he could possibly be a ninja, and the only reason I knew he was was because he had a headband.
I watched as he stumbled down the aisle dropping a few packs of his ramen. "Uh…do you need some help…?" I asked him slowly.
His vivid blue eyes stared at me for a moment, surveying me. "Nah, I'm a ninja! I can do it all on my own!" he grinned, pointing to himself, thus dropping more of his packs.
I bent over and picked them up, he laughed nervously, "Yeah, a little help would be great." He stared at me for a moment again, "I haven't seen you before…" he said slowly, "Who are you?"
I laughed, "That's a good question, I don't really even know myself…"
Grabbing a few more packs of instant ramen, I followed him up to the counter, the man seemed to recognize him instantly, "Going on another trip, Naruto?"
He nodded, "Yeah! I'm gonna get some intense training in and then become the Hokage after this!"
"I'm glad you're getting your supply of ramen."
"Yeah, I dunno what I would do without it!"
The man stared at me, he didn't know me either obviously, "Is this a new friend, Naruto?"
He shook his head, "No, I just met her in the aisle, she was just helping me carry my ramen over."
"So, what's your name, Young Lady?" the man turned and asked me.
"Moeru Kirei, at least that's what I'm told my name is…"
The man nodded, "I see…so you're her," his eyes narrowed.
"I've never heard of you!" Naruto laughed, the man hit him upside the head and continued to stare at me, I saw not only anger in his eyes but sorrow.
I took that as my cue to leave.
Naruto followed me out.
"That's weird," he said, "You have the same name as Keiji-san, Moeru, I wonder why…"
"I wouldn't know," I said, sitting on a bench, "I don't remember anything before coming to this village, and I can't get anyone to tell me either."
Naruto nodded slowly, "Hey, hey! Do you remember a guy named Uchiha Sasuke?"
I rolled my eyes at him and laughed, "Didn't I just tell you I didn't remember anything. That's exactly what I meant. I remember absolutely nothing."
He frowned, "I have to get stronger so I can bring him back, he went with Orochimaru. I'll bring him back no matter how much I get hurt! I'll bring him back!"
"So many determined people here in Konoha…Sakura said something really similar, now that I think about it, I believe she was talking about this Sasuke guy too."
"You know Sakura-chan!"
"Yes, I've been trained with Tsunade-sama ever since I came here, and Sakura trains with her as well."
Naruto stared up at the sky, "Do you know who Orochimaru is?"
"Of course."
"How about Jiraiya?"
"Yes, Naruto, I know who the Three Legendary Ninjas are, just because I've lost my memories doesn't mean I'm stupid," I laughed, my laughter seized as soon as I was Moeru Keiji walk out of the store. "W-who exactly is he…?" I asked quietly.
"Keiji-san? Well…he owns that shop…and he lives in the Moeru Clan district in a big house…uh…he has a few kids…one of them is really cute! Her name is Kikyo-chan!"
"Kikyo's father, huh?" I said, slowly. "So I really am related to him, I wonder why he didn't say anything…"
Naruto shrugged, "Beats me, well, I have to get going! I'm going to train and get strong! Just watch! I'll bring back Sasuke and then I'll become Hokage!"
I found myself smiling at him, "I'll be waiting…"
He grinned back and then took off in a sprint. Maybe today wasn't a total waste of time…thanks to Naruto's information…maybe I could finally find something out about myself.
Standing up, a found myself sprinting in the direction I had saw Keiji-san go, I was going to catch up to him and find out where he lived. I was going to find out about myself. About the memories no one would explain to me. I was going to figure out this.
As I turned a corner, I saw him grab a newspaper from the stand, I quickly spun back around the corner, unseen, unheard. I listened carefully, and listening to his footsteps, which way were they going? My eyes widened, he was coming toward me!
Instantly I looked up, and saw a tarp for a cover of a store, I jumped up onto it, just as he turned the corner. My heart beat fast, and I felt a bead of sweat leak down my face, and sighed in relief.
He looked around suspiciously, but seemed to shrug it off as he turned around and began to walk once more. I jumped down from the tarp slowly, not wanting to be caught, and sneaked off to follow him once more.
Keiji seemed a little more relaxed now that he thought no one was following him, so I followed him silently and inconspicuously, but when he turned the corner to a large house I couldn't help but gasp in awe.
This house. I'd seen it before, yet I couldn't remember it. The steps, the windows, the color, everything. It beaconed me to remember, and I couldn't. I watched Keiji pull the door open, and look out of it once more before he shut it.
> >
A window, and inside was the dinning room, two adults, one was Keiji and four children, one was Kikyo.
Laughter, happiness.
A knock at the door, an answer.
It was me, though I didn't look it.
Keiji opening the door, yelling about a "betrayal"
The same door slamming in my face.
> >
The door of the house I remembered so well yet couldn't remember at all.
Was that what you call a faded memory…?
I leaned against the wall to support myself, I felt like I was falling, I was halfway between remembering and not. I was there but I felt myself slipping away…whether it was my former self or the person I am now I didn't know…
> >
"Kisame, please do me a favor and stop talking to your stupid fish."
Kisame gave his partner a pouting face, "But…they need attention!"
Itachi rolled his eyes and stood up, "Whatever," he said, leaving the room.
Kisame sighed and turned to one his fish, "He's in for a big surprise, isn't he, Goju-chan?"
Itachi left the room and walked into the kitchen to get some food only to see Sasori and Deidara arguing like usual, yet this time it was a little different, a girl was sitting on the couch behind them. For a moment, he had almost thought it had been Kirei. She had always just sat on the couch and laughed at what was going on around her.
This girl was different though, her hair was a bright pinkish-red, and her eyes gleamed a brilliant dark green. She wore a short blue skirt over her long black pants. A dark green tank top was pulled over a short sleeve white shirt. To top that off, a Konoha headband rested on her head. When she noticed Itachi looking at her, she grinned.
She stood up, and Deidara and Sasori quit arguing and watched her walk toward Itachi, he stared at her, unmoving.
"So," she said, flicking the collar of Itachi's jacket, "You're Uchiha Itachi. You're from my village, so I know all about your sad little story."
Itachi raised an eyebrow at her, "Is that so?" he asked her sarcastically. "Yeah, and I happen to know a few more things then you yourself know. Things about where your girlfriend is and how she's doing." Itachi opened his mouth to say something, but she put a finger to his lips, "Only, I'm not allowed to say anything about it," she added winking.
Itachi grabbed her wrist, and put it back her side and took a step backwards, "Who exactly would you be?"
She put a finger to her forehead and laughed, "God, where are my manners?" She looked up again, "I'm Mai," she smiled, offering him her hand. "Nice to meet you."
He left her hand hanging in the air, and she just smiled, "As expected from Uchiha Itachi."
Sasori suddenly spoke up, "You never told us exactly why you were let in here."
"Ah, yes, well your upper group and I are discussing some matters, they just told me I was to stay in here."
"I'm guessing it was more along the lines as you annoyed them to death, hmm?" Deidara whispered.
She sighed, "You guys are so rude, insulting me in whispers, and not shaking my hand. And this place is a mess! Look at all this dust!" she said, wiping her finger across the table. "Since I'm here and everything, how about I clean this place up for you!"
"I swear," Zetsu said, coming out of his room, "You touch anything in this place and I'll eat you."
Kisame appeared behind her, and nudged her slightly, "Trust me, he's not kidding either…"
Mai froze up for a moment. "Zetsu and Hoshigaki Kisame," she said quietly.
"I'm glad you know who I am," Kisame grinned. Zetsu on the other hand just stalked back into his room.
Mai sat back down on the couch again, "Okay, so maybe I won't clean…but what else can I do…?" She paused in thought, "Hey! Itachi, show me around!"
"Around where…?"
"Anywhere."
He shook his head, "Get Kisame to show you around or something, I have other things I would rather do."
"Yeah, yeah!" Kisame said suddenly, "Get Kisame to show you around!"
Sasori hit him on the back of his head, "Don't talk about yourself in third person!"
"Sasoriii…" Kisame cried, rubbing his head in pain. "That wasn't very nice."
He shrugged and went back to his room as well, Deidara and Kisame following him.
"So we're alone," Mai grinned, "Now you are the only one left out here, so you have show me around. Let's go!" She smiled, pulling Itachi out of the living quarters for the lower members of Akatsuki.
"Tada…you have the hallway. Now your tour is over, I'm going back inside."
"You are so lame. Can't you tell when a girl is bored to death?" Mai asked, hugging Itachi arm. "Please show me around…I don't want to be left alone wandering this place. I could get raped or something."
"I'm not sure if anyone in here would want to rape you…" Itachi said slowly.
"Still," Mai said, glancing up and down the entrance hallway, "This place is so dark and creepy, how can you stand it?"
Itachi shrugged, "I've been living here since I left Konoha…what can I say, it's home."
Mai gave him a cordial smile, "I miss home right about now. Konoha is so bright and warm, loving. Do you miss it there?"
"Not really, there's nothing there anyways, now that I think about it, there isn't anything here either," he said, leaning against the wall.
"What do you mean?" she asked stunned. "You just said this place was like home."
"That's the thing," Itachi replied, "It was like home…until Kirei left…"
Mai frowned, "You think about that girl way too much, you need to let loose once in a while and just enjoy life!"
Itachi turned away from her, frowning, he refused to think that way. "Nah, I think I'll just wait until she comes back…then I can enjoy life a bit more."
The girl started to laugh, "Wait for her to come back! Are you crazy! I doubt that you'll see her again anytime soon!"
"Then I guess I'll be waiting a while then, won't I?"
Once again, I'm uber sorry in advance...
And...I hope you liked the change to Akatsuki for a while.
Oh yes...and review please?