XDD Second to last chapter. Auuugh, I am so bad at writing fight scenes XDD me and Rin (who now has an account! "General Rins" check it out, she's a really good writer!) were discussing how there probably would be some sort of test, which is where this chapter came from. I really have no idea if it actually works like that XDD so yeah, Rin's OC Ryuu is mentioned some more XDD There'll be alot more about her in the next (and final!) chapter XDD I may write another story that actually goes into the RP time, though XDD So yeah. That you so much to anybody reading this!

Naruto: Masashi Kishimoto

Tsume Ryuu: Rin (General Rins)

This time, Gin was awake before me, un, making some of the food we had over the fire. "Good morning, Deidara San!" She said cheerfully. It made me feel like a jerk, seeing her so happy. But it had to be done...

We finished eating, packed up and continued on our way. It was a beautiful day, un, and Gin was smiling warmly, and chatting with me all the while about nothing and everything. I wished she hadn't un, I felt bad ruining her good mood.

It was about four hours away from out destination, my hand munching on some clay uneasily that I did what I was obligated to do. Slowing down, I let her get a bit ahead of me, un, crept up behind her, and kicked her in the back.

I'm not much at Taijutsu, un, or any close range combat for that matter. It was just to get her attention, un. Not having been expecting anything, she stumbled forward, catching herself as I had hoped she'd be able to, and spinning to face me. "Deidara San?" She asked slowly and cautiously. "What... what was that about?"

I didn't have to answer, un. Gin, of all people, would know when she was being attacked.

I simply lobbed the clay spider I had been forming at her, watching with fake nonchalance as it attached itself to her leg. "Defend yourself, un." I warned her, trying to sound serious, as I formed a clay bird.

Before I go on, perhaps I should explain. Akatsuki initiation, un. You have to defeat an existing member in a fight. We can't let just anybody join, un. We have a standard, you know? Heh... Usually though, the other person knows what's going on. Somehow, I got the feeling that Gin would hold back if she knew. Or think I was, which would be just as bad. No one would ever give her any respect if they thought I had gone easy on her. It makes me giggle thinking about when I sent flying Kisame into a wall, un. The look on his face! Exploding birds. No one ever expects it.

Then there was watching Ryuu take down Kukazu. There are only two words to describe that fight. Holy crap, un.

For anyone who's never seen Ryuu fight, which I assume is most, if not all of you... Scary, un. Really, really scary.

Well anyways, from my clay bird in the air, I saw she was able to kick off the spider before it detonated. I was relieved, un... It would probably have taken off her leg.

She dodged the next few I threw at her, but the fourth was just a bit too close, and I lost sight of her in the explosion and dust. I had expected to see her dart out of the rubble, ready for another attack. She didn't.

Panic took hold for a moment, un. Had I killed her? That shouldn't matter, that was the point of this, after all. To make sure she was strong enough. But still... Damn. I really should have done this before I got to know to her at all, un.

I barley felt the bird shift, or the light thud of someone landing behind me, or even the rattling of a chain. But in a moment, I felt a hand clasp tightly around my wrist, and cold metal pressed to my throat. That's one of the down sides of being at S-ranked level, un. You rarely expect people to be able to keep up with you. So when they do, it's a surprise.

Heh. This was the second of many times that she would surprise me.

"Wait!" I gasped, feeling the blade bite into my neck, drawing blood. She paused. "Good job, un!"

"What are you talking about?" Her voice was hard, un. Serious.

I explained what I was doing briefly, and she withdrew her weapon. When I turned to look at her, rubbing my throat sorely, she was still standing defensively, un, shoulders tensed, weapon at the ready, eyes narrowed. I could understand her being angry or hurt.

I took the bird down, and continued walking. She followed after me after a moment's hesitation, staying a fair distance behind, eyeing me suspiciously. That gap grew smaller as we walked, until she was right behind me, un. Glancing over my shoulder, I could see that she had relaxed, weapon put away, shoulders slackened. Her clothes and hair were dusty and singed from the explosions, and she was bleeding where pieces of debris had hit her. So it had been a challenge for her, un.

Thinking that she was ready to talk to me, un, I explained in full why I had attacked her. She gave me a strange look when I finished, but didn't seem upset anymore, un. "Your throat..." She started, after a while, placing one hand over the shallow gash she had caused only a short while earlier.

I felt the same cool chakra flow from her hand, healing the wound. Heh... Most people would have thought twice about letting a girl who had just tried to kill you anywhere near their throat, un. She removed her hand, only to be relaced by my own as I rubbed the now repaired skin gingerly.

She began to continue walking, but I stopped her, indicating that she take a seat at the side of the road. I sat next to her. There was one last thing I had to do to make this official.

"Gin San... Please remove your Hitai Ate, un."

She did as I'd asked, as I pulled out a kunai. I was surprised when I looked back, to see her staring at it intently. I handed her the kunai. "Scratch a line through the rain symbol, un." I instructed, brushing my hair back and pointing to my own forehead-protector.

She took a deep breath, and began to run the kunai over the metal surface forcefully, but stopped, the blade a millimetre away. She sighed, eyes still locked on the cloth and metal. "I'm... I'm sorry, I just..."

I watched for a moment, smiling, before moving closer, and placing my had over her's. "Here, un. I'll help you." This time, with a little help from me, she left a deep scratch in the metal, through the symbol she had once been faithful to.

After a moment, she tied it back on, and we continued on our way.

Thank you so much for reading this! XD next chapter should be the last one. bye! and please review