Please review so I know how I'm doing. I know I haven't asked, but I'm starting to get nervous about people not liking my story…

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………After three days of travel the small group finally made it to the city that had turned Deidara and Ayame's lives into hell, properly named Naraku. It was a slum and a refuge for all of the criminals of the area, a place where bounty hunters were plentiful and police and other law makers were scarce. There was however one police district, but all of its overseers were corrupt, and it was this very place that three of the five undesirables were being kept.

After setting up camp Deidara explained the situation.

"The last time I saw, or heard of the others, they were not much better off than myself." He stated. "Ren is being used as a military test subject, and Rycoo was being held on 24-7 watch for attempted suicide." At this Ayame sighed; Rycoo had never been right in the head. "Kazuki is being was being tried for theft and battery, and Leia and Dorchet are either being sold or were already sold off at the underground slave auctions. So our first step seems to be to get into the cops HQ." he concluded.

"Leave that to me." Ayame said monotone placing a gold bracelet on her wrist and putting on the mask and twin swords. Both of the items, excluding the swords, had been given to her by the head of the police district and guaranteed her access to all of the places facilities, but it was not a pleasant time in her past and just wearing the two meager accessories reopened painful wounds. "Who am I going for first?"

"Go for Ren." Kiba stated, obviously catching on to the members of her old group exceedingly quickly. "Who knows what kinds of experiments are being done to him."

"Okay, I'll go in and one of you guys wait outside for me to bring him to you, you are to take him straight here and do not undo his bonds." She said before dashing off.

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The Police district wasn't very impressive and Ayame had no problem getting in, the issue was that over the years she had forgotten all of the buildings halls and rooms. Eventually finding her way to the research department she showed the guard her bracelet and she was allowed in without opposition. This part of the facility was the one that she had always tried to stay away from when she was younger. Looking through the iron barred doors to the people cuffed to tables and attached to what seemed like hundreds of machines always made her heart ache, but today she was here on a mission and she just had to find Ren.

Walking the narrow halls she came upon number 78. The red heads shaggy hair fell in his face and his body structure was on the small side. This had to be the older version of Ren that she was looking for. Opening the door, she saw the petite body shake as she walked over. The small boy had wires coming from everywhere and it took her a while before she finally found her way through the knot of colored wrapping. Finally getting a good look at the strapped down teen she saw the familiar wolf pendent that hung around his neck. She smiled knowing she had the right boy, but it couldn't be seen through the mask she still wore. Looking around she located the keys and quickly undid the boys bonds, before doing them back up behind his back. As Ren sat on the edge of the table Ayame examined the boy for any major injuries, but luckily found none. She ushered the frightened boy out the way she had came, but was stopped by the guard who had let her in.

"Where are you taking 78?" he asked.

"You mean word hasn't gotten this far?" she said almost as if she had rehearsed. "I was told to transfer three male prisoners to another facility; names are Ren, Kazuki, and Rycoo."

At the sound of his companions' names, Ren's eyes lit up at the thought of seeing his old friends again.

"Ah yes." The guard replied. "The thief and the psychopath; I wish whoever gets those two luck, they're going to need it."

Ayame smiled and nodded before making her way out of the facility to an awaiting Kiba. She handed Ren off before going off in search of Kazuki now.

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Ayame found Kazuki still on trial for theft and battery, but what surprised her was that he was represented by himself. Sitting in the audience after taking her mask off, she listened to a few commenting crowd members she found out that he had really stepped up his game in the legal department. Even though the trial was active and still openly reviewed, it had been going on for 3 months! After listening to her previous friend make his closing statement, she found that he had a definite way with words, one thing about him that had never changed; he could get himself out of anything when they were younger. Now all she could do was hope that he would be let off of the charges and he could come with her.

After 15 minutes of debating, the jury and judge walked out of the conference room and took their seats.

"After careful review of the trial, we the jury finds the accused… " Ayame held her breath and crossed her fingers. "… not guilty."

She let out her breath and relaxed, while the audience debated about the decision. Ayame looked at her friend and gave him a smile. The blonde boy turned and met her gaze, and for an instant she thought she saw him tense, but he looked away before she could figure it out. As she and the crowd got up to leave she looked over to see Kazuki looking at her as he got glimpses through the crowd. She rushed out of the room and headed outside to wait for him to leave; she didn't have to wait long. The boy walked right out of the door and over to her. She had been leaning on the wall of the building across the street in plain sight, and the boy came over and joined her.

"Can I help you?" she asked not looking over as she spoke.

"Drop the act Ayame, I'm not an idiot." He mumbled. She smiled; good old Kazuki. "What are you doing back here; I thought you were long gone."

"Keeping my promise." She replied simply.

"After all these years?" he asked. "I figured you just left and forgot about us."

"I deserved that." She smirked. "But if you want a family reunion, look around about 2 miles nort of this place. I've got friends waiting." She said before putting her mask back on and heading back to the Police HQ.

Kazuki smiled, he might just go take a look.

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Last was Rycoo, and she knew exactly where to find him. She headed to the mental unit of the facility and sure enough, 3 halls and 4 doors later, there he was.

She walked in and the boy made no move. He was in standard hospital scrubs and was cuffed to the bed using soft restraints. As she walked over she noticed 2 large scars running the width of his wrists.

"A Painful and slow way to die Rycoo…" she thought as he stirred.

"Leave me alone." He said turning his head to the other side, but when he didn't hear any sounds of the person leaving he turned back and opened his dark blue eyes.

"Has your life really been bad enough to commit suicide over?" she asked.

"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME OR MY LIFE!!!" he yelled and Ayame could tell she hit a nerve. "My best friends are gone and the one person that I trusted to spare me of my pathetic existence hasn't shown her face in years! But why am I telling you this, I don't need a shrink."

Ayame sighed and walked over to his bed side. Hundreds of remarks ran through her head, along with a few accusations.

"I never said when I'd be back." she said flashing him her face. The raven haired boy started at her wide eyed. "I know what you're thinking, but don't judge me." She continued undoing his restraints and tying his wrists loosely with rope. "I've made some choices I'm not proud of and there have been time where I've just wanted to end everything too, but I would never go through with it."

"Why…" Rycoo asked.

"I would always think back to you guys and my old life." She said staring off into space. "Me living, might mean that you guys are finally free of your pain and suffering."

She walked him out of the building and back to the clearing that she and the others had set up before, Raiden, Kiba, Nala, Ren, and even Kazuki were waiting, but Deidara wasn't there.

"Where'd Dei go?" she asked undoing Rycoo's bonds.

"He ran off toward town before Kiba came back with Ren." Raiden replied.

"You go find him, we'll watch these three." Kiba told her motioning for her to go. She nodded and took off having a pretty good idea of where he would be.