Chapter 5

Takane no hana

Soraya stared in amazement when she finally entered the gates of Amegakure. While the land of rice and fields was Sunny and full of agriculture, Amegakure was full of buildings and well-rain. A stark contrast.

"What's that on their face?, asked Soraya to Konan.

"It's a special type of rebreather", Konan answered.

"So why are they wearing it, I can breathe just fine", stated Soraya.

"Ame ninja tend to be assassins-for hire so those rebreathers help assimilate to any needed condition", Nagato replied.

"Are you an assassin Nagato-sama", asked Soraya naturally. Nagato glanced carefully at the question. Was that a normal question for a child? Was it simply a follow up question? Or was it something more.

"I do not kill for hire", stated Nagato.

"But you do kill", asked Soraya nonchalantly.

"Soraya we talked about this-", Konan stated.

Nagato silenced Konan with a gesture of his hand.

"Nagato-sama I didn't mean it like that-"

"Why don't I make a promise to you?", suggested Nagato at eye level and smiled.

Soraya still shocked at the sudden kindness nodded her head. Soraya could care less about the answer Nagato just was not talkative. It was in her nature to talk to the quietest people because she never liked anyone feeling alone. Maybe it was her facial expressions. Her mother always told her that she could never cloke even the most subconscious of thoughts.

Soraya exhaled in defeat. "I'm sorry if the question offended you, I just-"

"Why don't you hear me out", Nagato suggested. Soraya nodded already creating tension in her body out of nervousness.

"Great Soraya you and your big mouth", she thought. She was terrified that he may throw out her and her brother.

"I will not kill or harm you with malicious intent", Soraya puffed her cheeks.

"Why the qualifier", asked Soraya suspiciously.

"Well I am going to help with your training, dontcha know" Nagato patted her as he was smiling. "Soraya-chan"

Soraya relaxed a little bit. This feeling of affection caused her to remember her parents. Soraya couldn't remember her dad or mother ever patting her head. They weren't really big huggers either. The only affection, was usually through words of encouragement or constructive criticism. In essence, the feeling was foreign to her, but Soraya knew she liked it. That made her feel really guilty.

Soraya grabbed Nagato's hand and patted it. Konan was observing the whole thing in anticipation. Nagato rarely showed affection to anyone other than her and Yahiko. Additionally, he wasn't too fond of the idea of bonding with Soraya and Masaru. Meaning, this pact with her was a form of acceptance.

"Can I touch your hair", Soraya asked. Nagato seemed puzzled by that question especially with the oath that he just made. "I like your hair", Soraya stated noticing the puzzlement. "Red is my favorite hair color", talking even more softer and putting her hands behind her back out of embarrassment."

Konan seemed to relax at the question remembering a previous conversation they had when they had to stop at an inn.

It was decided pretty easily that Konan and Soraya would share a room at the inn. The most obvious reason is that two teenagers of the opposite sex (Soraya and Itachi) should not be together alone. The second reason being that Konan believed that bonding with Soraya would be very beneficial if they were going to adopt both her and Masaru.

Right now it looked that Soraya was having difficulty with her hair in the mirror.

"Can I help", asked Konan.

"No, I got it", stated Soraya. Soraya noticed the disappointed feeling of Konan. She sighed. She seemed to be doing a lot these days. "It's not as easy as your hair, plus where I'm from females of my race are very particular about touching hair"

"Really? Why?", Konan did notice the texture was more coarse texture and curly (if that was the right word).

Soraya did not know how to explain about African hair at all without coming off harsh and historical, so she decided to focus on the more Scientific part of the explanation.

"Well my type of hair is dryer than most and has to be combed a certain way to avoid breakage" . Konan nodded at the explanation.

"That's why you bought that oil and rubbing it in as you brush it." Soraya nodded.

"Females in my culture tend to value their hair spiritually, I don't know if it's an ancestral superstition or not, but even my grandmother warned me about being careful about others touching my hair." Soraya looked at her comb and brush and was reminded of her grandmother. She brought it to her chest.

"You miss your grandmother, don't you" Soraya nodded. "Would you like to talk about it." Soraya shook her head in the negative. However, she walked towards Konan and placed the comb and oil in her lap.

"You seem nice enough", she stated and sat on the floor. "Just start from the bottom to the top, and please be gentle".

Happy tears started coming from Konan, but she quickly blinked them away. "Don't worry, I was watching the whole time, and I'm a quick learner."

Soraya nodded. "Can you make a flower for me to", she asked.

Konan smiled. "Of course, any color you like." Konan started combing her hair in glee. Soraya was right it wasn't easy but, Konan wasn't a ninja for nothing. "You know Soraya I miss my family to". Soraya raised her head in turned around to see Konan's eyes. Soraya could tell that Konan knew the feeling that she was going through. Soraya could feel the sadness, longing and anger associated with grief. Soraya couldn't do anything but give Konan a hug to keep from crying.

"Did they die," Soraya asked.

"They were killed right in front of me", Soraya stared at her in disbelief. Soraya did not tell anyone what happened on her and Masaru's birthday but she knew she did not want to admit it now.

"Please never die in front of me", Soraya asked.

"How about this, I promise to help bring peace where family members don't have to die in front of each other" Soraya nodded at this and sat back down. Konan brushed her hair, put it in a neat bun and placed a pink paper rose in her hair. "There all done"

Soraya nodded in approval and smiled.

Konan smiled. Nagato didn't realize the passive magnitude of the gesture which was all the more sweet. "Maybe we can ask her sooner than we thought"

"I agree to your terms Nagato-sama", Soraya stated in delight.

"Just call me Nagato or Sensei for now"

"Look Sensei, I never call an adult by first name basis, it's completely unSouthern." Soraya then held her fist. Nagato looked perplexed at the gesture. "Pound it", Soraya stated.

"..." Nagato poked her fist out of confusion.

"NOOOOO, thats not how you do it", Soraya grabbed Nagato's hand balled it into a fist and and touched it with her own. "Try again". Nagato was better at the fist bump the second time around.

"Does that mean we have a deal", asked Nagato.

"YES!", Soraya said excitedly. Soraya looked up at the clearing skies as the Sun started to peak above the gloomy clouds. "It stopped raining", she stated.

"It did, dontcha know", Nagato smiled knowingly.

"Just waiting for Kisame and Masaru", stated Itachi. Soraya glanced at Itachi when she heard Masaru's name. "Nagato must really be happy for this rain to stop"

"They left a day early than us, why aren't they here yet", Soraya asked.

"Don't worry hime, knowing Kisame he is probably at a Bar with a hangover", Itachi avoided the real truth of they were purposely delayed because of training with Masaru. Knowing Kisame he probably didn't want any evidence of the roughness of his training regime.

"Let's go to the base", Nagato commanded.

Soraya failed at containing her amazement. This was bigger than house she has seen. Soraya walked through the maze of the mansion.

"This is the Akatsuki compound" Konan said in mild delightment.

"The Akatsuki, is that your family name", Soraya asked looking at Itachi.

"No", said Itachi. "But it means Dawn", his stoic posture remained.

"You see Kisame, Itachi, Nagato and I have an agenda of peace"

"Kisame-san and peace just sound like they just go great together", Soraya said sarcastically. "And do you even trust Orochimaru"

"Yosh, I like her!", yelled another voice. A man with orange hair suddenly appeared in front of her. "Hey little girl, what your name?"

"HEY I'M NOT A LITTLE GIRL, I'M 12", Soraya angrly pointed at the man.

"WOO LOOKS LIKE YOU PICKED UP A FIESTY LITTLE MUNCHKIN,"

"STOP CALLING ME LITTLE", she yelled. Soraya charged at the man. Itachi grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up from the ground.

"Her name is Soraya, and she doesn't like when you refer to her height or young appearance", Itachi ignored her pleas to let her pulverize Yahiko.

"Wait your Yahiko", Soraya suddenly switched demeanors and bowed respectfully. "Its nice to meet you Konan and Nagato speak very highly of you" Itachi raised his eyebrow in surprise. But quickly went back to his usual stoic face. He placed her down gently and let her go. Soraya turned around and smirked. Anytime the numbness cold feeling left Itachi it made Soraya happy. Especially when she knew the feeling left because of her.

"Yeah Orochimaru, gives me the creeps to"

"But the rest of the gang you'll warm up to, we are totally gaining popularity", Yahiko yelled in excitement.

"Other members?" So there more. "How is the Akatsuki going to obtain this peace?" Soraya asked in disbelief.

"You should not concern yourself with Akatsuki matters just yet" Konan stated with a firm warning. Soraya clearly got the message and changed the subject.

Kisame and Masaru's trip was uneventful. The brat didn't say anything, the only noises he made was when the two of them were training.

"Yo brat no training today", said Kisame as he noticed Masaru unsheathing his sword. Masaru gave him annoyed look and put his sword back. "Gotta keep you lookin clean, if you want to keep training in secret"

Masaru growled in frustration. "Hey your sister made the rules not me"

"So when you going to start talking", asked Kisame. Masaru just glanced out of the corner and his eye and kept walking.

Another reason why he decided not to train because he noticed how quick Masaru caught on to techniques and he had to regroup on the best way to teach Masaru. The way Masaru was going it would be within a year when he can surpass any chunin level shinobi.

"Well we are here runt"

"MASARU", Soraya ran to her brother in excitement. "This place is waaaaaay bigger then our home", she whispered in his ear. "We actually have separate rooms" Masaru glanced up in disbelief. "Don't worry you can still sleep with me if you get scared."

Soraya grabbed Masaru by the hand and led him to kitchen. Konan was reading a recipe book and started to getting all the ingredients out. Nagato and Yahiko looked slightly amused. Soraya felt that Konan was uncertain and had slight anxiety.

"I'm pretty sure anything you cook would be swell", encouraged Soraya.

Soraya regretted the words an hour later. Konan stared at her with a distressed look. Soraya bit into the black blob.

"It has flavor", Soraya squeaked out. Masaru just stared at the glob refusing to touch it.

"You're not that domesticated are you", asked Soraya politely as possible.

"Let's just say she doesn't have an ounce of cooking skills in her body", stated Yahiko. Nagato nodded in agreement. Soraya guessed that's why all the Akatsuki was here to watch the spectacle and to see Konan's impending failure.

"Why don't we try again, you read the directions and I follow." Konan perked up and nodded in approval.

Soraya seemed to be in her element in the kitchen. Soraya remembered all her mother taught her and it made her feel closer to her. Itachi noticed the change instantly. Soraya no longer had a the look of mistrust. Every time Konan read the direction she smiled and hurried to get the next ingredient. When Konan started laughing at mistake, Soraya laughed with her. Itachi suddenly remembered his own mother. At that moment glanced Soraya glanced at Itachi. Nostalgia and sadness radiated off of him in a big wave.

"Yo Itachi, do you think we she add anything", asked Soraya. "It's Udon so you can basically add anything."

"Carrots", he stated simply forgetting about his pain.

"And You Masaru?", asked Soraya.

"I hate Soup especially Udon you know that, baka", Soraya eyes widened with panic.

"Your having soup today", responded Soraya. Soraya stopped stirring. "Wait", she thought. "His Lips did not move", and she noticed that there was no stuttering as well. She glanced back at Itachi seeing if she could hear his thoughts. Nope.

"Why are you staring at me, and of course my lips didn't move baka",

"Can you read my mind", Soraya blinked going back to cooking trying to act like nothing is happening.

"You mean those are your thoughts", asked Masaru silently. "Good, I'm not schizophrenic."

"YOU MEAN YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING VOICES AND DIDN'T TELL ME", Soraya smiled pretending nothing was happening on the inside. Masaru grabbed his head in pain. She couldn't believe that he would hide this from her. How was she supposed to protect him without this vital information.

"You okay runt", asked Kisame.

"He's fine, he usually gets headaches especially when he keeps things to himself", Soraya responded in high pitch. Masaru winced at Soraya's erie tone. In essence she was pissed. A tone that he recognized. Itachi noticed the change in demeanor in both of them. Something was happening and he only seemed to have noticed. But Itachi was more observant than most.

"Well usually when people go through Trauma they go crazy...so I thought this was my crazy", stated Masaru. The blank look on his face almost sent Soraya over the edge. "And I don't need your protection"

"Can you read other's thoughts"

Masaru glanced around. "Most of them, except Itachi and Nagato"

"Why aren't you talking"

"...", Soraya frowned. So he was choosing not to talk.

"We will talk about this later", Soraya hissed in her head.

"Dinner looks great", Yahiko said excitedly. "I'm so ready for this". Soraya had a sad smile and Itachi noticed it right away.

Soraya was in her pajamas and sitting on her bed as Konan started brushing her hair again. It had become their daily ritual since the inn.

"Konan when your parents were killed, how did you react", asked Soraya.

Konan pursed her lips together and her throat dried. "What makes you ask that question."

"I had a friend back home, and he was never the same after his parents died", stated Soraya. She wasn't exactly lying about that statement, she did have a friend who's parents died in a car accident. But she was more asking for herself.

Konan paused and stopped brushing. "I felt fear and loneliness. Of course sadness. I didn't really talk until I meet Yahiko. Then Nagato came along and that loneliness went away." Konan resumed brushing Soraya's hair. "They became my family"

"Do you miss them", asked Soraya hugging her knees. Konan stopped and started putting pieces together.

"Her family must have died", thought Konan. Konan knew if she mentioned it now it would just scare Soraya away. She tilted Soraya's head back and kissed her forehead. This gave Soraya a sense of comfort. "Everyday", stated Konan. Konan was soon finished with her hair and tied her hair back with a pink ribbon.

"Goodnight", said Konan. Konan opened the door to Soraya's new room to exit.

"Wait", Soraya whispered. Konan turned back at Soraya with Sympathy in his eyes. "If you check on Masaru, he likes a kiss on the forehead before he goes to sleep", Soraya smiled and put her hands behind her back out of slight embarrassment.

"I know", said Konan and gave her a wink.

Soraya turned the lights off and went to her bed. She closed her eyes and silent tears started to stain her pillows. She exhaled trying to keep from sobbing. But her shoulders still silently shook.

Itachi appeared in her room silently. Not wanting not to be detected by anyone. He stood there for ten minutes waiting for something to happen. He knew that something conspired between the two siblings, but he didn't know what. A kunai came from Soraya's bed. He dodged it easily. Mainly because she threw it so sloppily.

"I know you are there Itachi" Soraya raised on her stomach and turned groggily to Itachi. "Dude what do you want from me"

"The Truth"

Soraya looked at him with annoyance. "The truth is, you can fuck yourself" Soraya turned to her side and closed her eyes. Hoping Itachi wouldn't see her face. Itachi was puzzled yet unfazed by the hostility. "Itachi I'm tired"

"Tell me, what happened between you and your brother", Soraya sat up quickly out of shock, but recovered with smile. "Apparently silence". Soraya noticed the annoyed look on his face.

Itachi walked menacingly to her bed and activated his Sharingan. "You are hiding something", stated Itachi. That wasn't a question. It was a simple fact and he knew it.

"So let me get this straight you are trying to interrogate me", Soraya asked. Soraya patted Itachi's shoulder.

"Not if you tell me what is your hiding, starting with the forest", Soraya sat up clearly annoyed. The look of defiance and malice would have shaken anybody but Itachi was a fully trained ninja and she was not. However, that look hit him to his core.

"You think just because your a strong shinobi that you can intimidate me, well let me tell you something Uchiwa, I'm not afraid of death, because I'm already dead, the only reason I have to live is because of my brother"

That's when Itachi saw her tear stained face. There were no tears now, just left over tracks. "Its Uchiha." Itachi paused and pondered at her words. It was then he noticed that she had the same devotion that he had to his younger brother.

"Why are you staring at me", Soraya asked.

"If you loved your brother you would let him train" stated Itachi.

"Its because I love him that I don't want him to be a ninja." Itachi and Soraya had a staredown before she closed her eyes in tiredness.

"If I lose him-". Itachi tapped two fingers on her forehead.

"I know", Itachi placed her under a genjutsu to make her fall asleep. It was then that a tear slipped on his face.