I approached the base of the group known as the Akatsuki, and knocked on the door. The leader, Pein, was the first to open the door and look out at me. I looked up at him with rage filled eyes and he silently stepped aside and invited us in. Sasuke looked around the base in curiosity but stayed close by as we entered a room full of the other members. Many looked at me in shock, surely because I had needles and kunai still inside my body in certain places, but when Pein approached me the annoying one known as Tobi ran over to touch my tail. I grabbed him by the neck with my nails extended into claws and tilted my head with a grin as if daring him to continue. Tobi freed himself and ran back over to Deidara.
"What the hell are you?" Hidan, the immortal. He always has such a loud and annoying voice.
"He is a wolf demon. One that has been held in captivity for the last ten years by Konoha, since you're here Soku and covered in blood, I'm assuming they've killed the last of your family. My biggest question is, why have you brought my brother here?" I looked down at the floor as Itachi walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't speak and Sasuke could see this so he stepped forward.
"I needed to know the truth about you. I don't want to be lied to anymore." Itachi sighed. A sense of fatigue took over my body and I swayed a little. Itachi grabbed my arms and helped me stay up.
"Pein it is your decision. Let them stay or make them go."
"I've heard of Soku before. In Kirigakure he was considered the villages most powerful weapon, and this made him a target for every village who dared attack them. He would be most valuable to the Akastuki, Soku can stay. Sasuke can also stay. We could use another sharingan user." I nodded a short thanks to Pein and Itachi helped me to his room. Sasuke stayed behind to get to know the other Akatsuki members but I was exhausted from the battle. Itachi helped me lay on my side so he could start removing the needles and kunai.
"Must you always get so hurt." I smiled sadly.
"I was protecting Sasuke. I couldn't fight my brother but I could protect yours." After each needle Itachi gently bandaged the hole and moved on to the next. This continued for half an hour before everything was finished and I was bandaged up. Itachi handed me an extra Akatsuki cloak he had in his closet and I slipped it on. I looked up at Itachi and caught him staring down at the opening of the cloak where the scar from the spike that pierced through my chest still sat visible. I took his hand and placed it on the scar which responded with a little sting of pain. I grimaced but ignored the pain and looked back at Itachi.
"I'm still here because of you."
"You were also held captive because of me. I'm sure they had their fun with you." I chuckled lightly.
"I killed a couple of their ninja, but still out of self-defense. They only allowed the veteran ninja to attack me after that. Shikaku was the only one who didn't suffer an injury of some sort." Itachi seemed to become upset and I looked up at him confused. Itachi climbed onto the bed beside me and sat down, I rose up with a grimace and looked over at him. I took his hand gently and smiled reassuringly at him.
"I'm okay Itachi. You don't have to be so concerned, besides I should be the one concerned for you. I'm the older one here." Itachi chuckled.
"And why should you be concerned for me?" Itachi appeared to be confused.
"Your eyes are going to kill you." All joking tones had left my voice and I became serious.
"Yeah, but that's the price all sharingan users pay." He acted like it didn't even matter that he would die before it was his actual time. I can't lose Itachi like I did Haku.
"I don't want you to pay that price damn it! I can't lose you as well." My voice cracked and Itachi pulled me over to him, he wrapped his arms protectively around me and held me close to him. He didn't say anything else and it killed me. I needed to know what this frustrating man was thinking about. And as I sat there with him a thought slowly crept its way into my mind. Did I have feelings for Itachi? I couldn't have, but the idea of losing him sent my emotions into chaos which meant I must have. Itachi was the only leaf ninja who had the most compassion towards me. And I could see his pain when he told me he'd have to leave me. I pushed the thought away and sighed. I laid back against Itachi and just hoped that I could ignore those specific thoughts.