Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto...

Hey all! Thanks for the reviews! Woot! Five that time! And it's great to see i'm still getting new reviewers 10 chapters in! Thank you!

I know, I know, this chapter took me forever to write, but it's really long to make up for it...Just hope its not too long now...

Chapter 11

Hana now found herself stood outside an office, waiting to speak to the Hokage and took time to gaze out a window at the village. She hadn't seen Konoha in a long time, but it was exactly how she remembered it. Clear blue skies, leafy green trees, the streets full of lively people going about their daily lives and the wonderful smell of that gorgeous ramen floating through the air. She made a mental note to go there later, if she got the chance.

However, the thing that caught her eye was the new face that had been carved into the mountain, along side the previous Hokages. She had been surprised at first to hear that Tsunade – the Tsunade, of the three legendary sannin! – was the new Hokage, and a little saddened to hear of the Third's death, but she guessed it was a good choice. After all, she was said to be an amazing medic-nin.

But didn't she have a gambling problem…and wasn't she an alcoholic?

Just then the door opened and a young woman with black hair and dark eyes told her to come in. With another glance out the window Hana nodded and stepped into the room.

Books and files were piled up on the desk, with many more stacked up all around the room and the shelves lining the walls were packed. It wasn't the mess that held her attention though, nor was it the sake bottles lying around confirming the fact that the Godaime was an alcoholic. It was the woman herself, sat behind the desk, blonde hair shining in the sun coming through the large window behind her, her brown eyes drilling into Hana.

"Shizune, tell Sakura I want to see her in half an hour," Tsunade said to the other woman.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama," Shizune replied, and left the two alone.

Since she had been 'rescued' by Naruto, Hana had made quite good friends with him and Sakura, even though they had only travelled together for a day or so. When she had left the building with Naruto, they'd met up with the rest of his team. She soon found out that it was Sasuke who they had wanted to get back, but they hadn't been able to find him.

She supposed that was why they got on so well. Currently separated from her best friend who was in the hands of the enemy, and not knowing when she would see her again. Even though her situation was a little different, she understood how they were feeling.

Thinking about Amaya she hadn't noticed the woman get out of her chair to stand in front of her. Looking up into those piercing brown eyes she had to stop herself from moving out of arms reach. She'd heard the stories of what this woman was capable of.

"What were you doing with Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked bluntly.

"We were attacked and he kidnapped me," Hana explained.

"Why?"

"He wanted me to spy on Akatsuki."

"You're with Akatsuki?" Brown eyes narrowed slightly.

"No, no, I was kidnapped by them."

"You were kidnapped by Akatsuki and Orochimaru?"

"Yup, Orochimaru kidnapped me from Akatsuki who kidnapped me when I was…walking…" She trailed off. Tsunade arched an eyebrow; she didn't seem to believe her.

"And what do Akatsuki want with you?"

"I don't know."

"What village do you belong to?"

Hana blinked, "Eh?" She hadn't been expecting that one, "What do you mean?" She answered, buying herself a moment of time.

Answer truthfully, and avoid awkward questions later, but risk giving myself away completely, or lie and be safe, but deal with the questions and maybe end up getting found out anyway…

"Your ninja village – and don't try to deny that you're a kunoichi. Naruto and everyone all made their reports and you kept up with them without breaking a sweat, easily using chakra. So, what village are you from?"

"Kumogakure," Hana replied after a moment, deciding to go with the truth.

Tsunade nodded and sat back down at her desk, seemingly satisfied that Hana wasn't an enemy; for the moment, anyway, "You'll fight against Sakura so I can get some idea of your abilities and decide what to do with you."

"A-ano, I…I have to save my friend from Akatsuki."

"Your friend? You didn't mention her before," Tsunade gave her a hard stare, thinking over the information that she currently had.

Hana, from Kumogakure, kidnapped along with her friend. Both wanted by Akatsuki and Orochimaru. They can't just be two normal girls.

"How old are you?" She asked finally.

"What does that have to do with my friend?" Hana asked back. This didn't seem to be going so well.

"Eighteen?" Tsunade pressed. Surely they couldn't be…They disappeared, so why would they have shown themselves again now?

"Nineteen, actually," corrected Hana.

"And your friend, how old is she?" If I'm right, she's a year younger…

"Eighteen."

Kuso, I am right…"Her name?"

Hana gave her a dark look and said angrily, almost shouting, "Why bother asking when you already know!"

Baka! She screamed at herself, just give your self away why don't you?!

Tsunade sighed, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't hand you over to be questioned and locked up right this instant. And get rid of that jutsu, you can show your real face now."

Sighing Hana did as she was told. Blonde hair changed to golden-brown, the waves changing to neat, bouncy ringlets; silver-grey eyes turned to soft hazel with a hint of green and she was actually a good two inches taller.

As she released the jutsu she thought carefully over her answer.

"I need to get Amaya-chan back, but then you can do whatever you want with me, so long as you don't touch her."

Tsunade gave her a questioning look, "I assume that you're asking for help in rescuing her?"

Hana nodded.

"Then, naturally, after we had done that, she would be treated the same way you will be."

"But-but you can't."

"Oh no? And why is that?"

"It's not fair!" Hana sounded almost desperate.

"Why?" Tsunade snapped back.

"Because the past is the past, and it's been forgotten, literally. You can't punish someone for something they can't remember. Especially if all they wanted was to forget in the first place…"

Tsunade was silent for a moment, and when she spoke her voice was a little softer, "You're talking about Amaya?"

Nodding, Hana sighed.

"Tell me what happened," Tsunade said, leaning back in her chair and opening a new bottle of sake.

Sitting herself down in a seat across from the Hokage, Hana took a deep breath and thought about where to begin.

"I expect that there's a lot you already know but…" She wasn't really sure where it had all started, "When we were younger…"

"Amaya!"

Again Amaya woke with a start, sweat running down her face. She'd had that same dream four nights in a row now, and she didn't seem to get any further. It always stopped when the second person called her name, and she still didn't know who it was.

Slipping out of bed she padded into the bathroom and splashed her face with cool water, peering at herself in the mirror. She was looking a lot better after a few days of decent meals and sleep; although, she still wasn't getting as much sleep as she would have liked.

Damn dream. No, nightmare, more like…

She could walk without getting dizzy now and her wound was much better. It was still a little sore, but she could move it again and it didn't need the bandage anymore. She had Sasori to thank for that. He seemed to be the only one in Akatsuki who knew any kind of medical jutsu, and she had found out that it was him who had healed her when Itachi first brought her there.

As to where 'there' actually was, she had no idea, nor did she have any idea where Itachi had disappeared to after she had woken up the first time. When she had come out of the bathroom he had been gone, leaving her to stumble back to the bed on her own and she hadn't seen him since. Not that she particularly wanted to, of course, she just thought it would be nice to have some company every now and again.

Sasori had come every day to check on her, but now that she was mostly healed he didn't need to come anymore. He only ever stayed for a couple of minutes, anyway. Occasionally Deidara would appear in her room to bring her some food – which was always terrible but she ate it anyway - or simply because he was bored and had nothing better to do. He hadn't come so far today though, due to the embarrassing situation the day before.

She'd just gotten out of the shower and was wearing nothing but a towel and Deidara had entered without knocking. In fact, he had 'poofed' into her room without any kind of warning at all, and almost frightened her out of her skin. As it was she almost dropped her towel, barely managing to hold onto half her dignity when she caught it around her waist.

He apologised quickly and disappeared again, his cheeks slightly pink. She, however, continued to shout at him whether he could hear her or not, until she decided that she ought to dress herself in case he decided to come back to shut her up.

As to why she had come out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel instead of dressing whilst in there, was because she had turned around to put her clothes on a found that they were gone. She had made sure before she got into the shower that the door was well and truly locked, yet she found it open. Although she hadn't seen him she was sure it had been Itachi, and just for the fun of it he had left her a change of clothes…on the bed.

Why does he have to be so difficult?!

At least she had clean clothes now, though, even if they were a little big.

They're probably his…

She wasn't sure how to feel about that, so she ignored it.

Sitting in one of the chairs by the window, she gazed outside. She wished she could get out of the stuffy room, or open a window, but the 'barrier thing' was around her room again and she couldn't even touch the window without getting a shock. So she sat there and let her mind wander.

Kisame wasn't back yet, and she wondered what was taking him so long. Was Hana okay? Where did the man take her? Amaya still wanted to go out and try and find her friend but knew it would be useless.

Useless…I'm useless…I don't even know where I am, let alone where Hana-chan is…There must be something I can do other than sit here and wait…

She spent a while trying to think of something she could do, but found it hard to come up with ideas that didn't involve her being outside of the room.

Three hours later she was still sat there, but she had got bored and decided to poke around in the room a bit. There were some draws which she pulled open to have a peek into. She avoided the top draw, as that was generally where people put their underwear and she did not want any more embarrassing situations.

In the others there were just clothes. They seemed to be his 'casual' clothes, as there was a wardrobe filled with all his Akatsuki attire, from the blue sandals to the straw hats. She couldn't resist making the small bell ring.

There was a desk with a few books piled on it, some scrolls with various pieces of information and some empty scrolls, but nothing particularly interesting.

Moving to the bookshelf she read the name of each book, occasionally pulling one out to take a closer look before putting it back after discovering that it was about something completely uninteresting.

He's so boring!

Then she stopped as she saw a thin book with nothing written on its spine. Naturally, it caught her attention. She pulled it out, turning it over in hands. The cover was pitch black, and there wasn't even a title printed on the front. Opening it she found the first page blank too. The next one had writing on it though.

'The Nine Tailed Beasts.'

She turned to the next page; this could be interesting.

'Ichibi - Shukaku,' it was titled, 'Element: Wind,' then followed some more information about it, but her eye was drawn to the last piece, 'Jinchuuriki: Sabaku no Garra.'

'Jinchuuriki'? What does it mean by that? Who is 'Sabaku no Garra'? Is he real?

She flicked to the next page. It was pretty much the same, except the jinchuuriki was unknown, as were the jinchuuriki for most of the other bijuu. The last one had a name though, 'Uzumaki Naruto'.

So they only know two of them?

Each of the beasts was in the form of a different creature. She read down the Rokubi's page when she saw that it was a weasel.

Itachi means weasel…

'Rokubi – Raijuu; Element: Lightning; In the form of a weasel, four legs, sharp claws and it's cry sounds like thunder; Jinchuuriki: unknown.'

Even though Itachi means weasel he doesn't seem to have anything else in common with it…I'm sure his cries wouldn't sound like thunder…

That wasn't the only bijuu that seemed to have a connection with a member of Akatsuki. Though she didn't really know any of them, and there were still a few of them she hadn't met, she couldn't help but think how the Sanbi, especially, seemed to share some qualities with Kisame, and the Shichibi's use of clay seemed to suggest Deidara.

Replacing the book on the shelf she returned to her chair, deep in thought.

They can't be the jinchuuriki themselves, though, or they would have filled in all the names. Maybe they're just interested in them, or use them to represent themselves?

What's to say that they have anything to do with these bijuu anyway? It's a book. It could just be something he's interested in…

Her thoughts trailed off as she felt eyes on her back.

How long has he been there? Did he watch me go through his room? And his wardrobe?! Would he care that I read that book? If he did wouldn't he have said something? Maybe he only just came in? If I just ignore him maybe he'll go away again...

Sadly, he didn't go away. Instead he crossed the room and settled himself in the other chair beside her. Turning her head slowly she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He was staring at her again.

That's. So. Annoying!

"You need to breathe," he said casually.

She looked at him blankly. Breathe? Then she realised that she had been holding her breath since she'd noticed he was in the room. Letting it go she turned back to the window and tucked her hair behind her ear angrily.

Why does he always make me feel stupid? And I'm going to have to chop this damn hair off, before I end up pulling it out!

Then she had an idea. He probably had some of those kunai things on him. Perhaps he'd let her borrow one?

…doubt it…

Turning to ask him anyway, she found that he was gone. Turning in her chair she saw him standing by the draws. Taking something out, he moved back towards her. She watched him warily.

He came to stand behind her. She looked up at him, waiting to see what he was planning on doing. His hand came up and he caught her chin, turning her face away. She was a little unhappy about him being directly behind her where she couldn't see, but that was soon replaced by surprise as he gathered up her hair and she felt him tie it with something.

Retaking his seat he stared out of the window, as though he hadn't just done something that, to Amaya, seemed a little out of character. Raising her hand she felt the ribbon he had tied her hair with. It was silky. She'd been expecting something the same as what his hair was tied with, but she simply couldn't picture him using a silky ribbon.

So why would he have one? Maybe it was a gift…? Who'd give a guy like him a silk ribbon?

He really was a mystery and she felt a strange desire to find out what lay behind that emotionless mask, to find out the meaning behind all of his actions. To find out what was going on in his mind.

"When did the nightmares start?" He asked suddenly, the sound of his low voice in the silence making her jump.

She looked at him. He'd asked the same question four days ago, but she hadn't answered.

"When I got hurt," she answered, touching her shoulder lightly.

"Is it the same every night?"

"Yeah…Wait, how do you know I have it every night? You're never here."

He didn't answer.

"Do you watch me when I sleep or something?" That's creepy…Now I won't be able to sleep at all!

"Don't flatter your self," he replied.

Does he mean that I'm not worth watching?

"This is my room," he continued.

I already knew that. What's his point?

"I need to sleep, too."

His room and he need to sleep. So he sleeps in here and knows that I have nightmares. I hope he sleeps on the floor…

"It's my bed."

Damn, I thought I'd got out of the habit of speaking my thoughts aloud…Hang on. His bed…?

"You can't mean…You don't sleep on the floor?" She asked.

"No."

"So you…"

"Yes."

She jumped to her feet and glared down at him. His lips creased in the hint of a smile. When she was angry her eyes glittered and were even prettier. And she was quite amusing when she was angry.

"You sleep…in that bed…where I sleep?"

"Yes. It's quite simple yet you seem to have trouble understanding it. Perhaps you're stupider than I thought?"

Her eyes narrowed, "I'll have you know that I'm actually quite bright. At least I don't climb into bed with someone else, without them even knowing!"

"You're 'quite bright'? It's a shame you haven't shown any sign of it yet."

She took a deep calming breath to stop her self shouting, "Well, it's a shame that you haven't noticed it."

"It's a shame you don't realise that it wasn't there to notice."

"It's a shame that you don't realise that it was!"

"It's a shame it's impossible to hold a conversation with you, without you getting angry."

"And it's a bloody shame you don't have the personality to match your face!" She stopped. Damn. That means I admit he's good looking.

He didn't reply that time. Instead he left her standing there looking as though she had just been slapped in the face, her mouth hanging open as a soft, low chuckle rang in her ears. He laughed. He had a small smile on his face and he had laughed. She supposed it was a rare moment, and she wouldn't forget how much more handsome that smile made him look.

"Oh, very clever indeed," he said getting to his feet, and his hand came to her chin again, closing her mouth.

"What do you mean?"

He turned and headed for the door.

"Wait, are you making fun of me again? I'm not stupid! And what was that, anyway?"

"Hn?"

"You, smiling, and you laughed. So far, from what I've seen, you never show any kind of emotion at all…"

"When you're angry, you're…amusing."

I hope Itachi wasn't too out of character there... A nice little moment between him and Amaya, though. Nothing really big and gripping in this chapter, even though it was so long, but i thought a break from all the action would be nice.

Okay, just a few notes... I don't really know if any of the Akatsuki are medic-nins but, in my personal opinion, if anyone is going to have some medic jutsu then it would be Sasori, for a number of reasons (but i won't say them because of spoilerness).
I'm sure you all know what 'bijuu' are, but in case you don't its just the tailed beasts... Ichibi - One tail, Sanbi - Three tails, Rokubi - six tails, Shichibi - Seven tails.
Kumogakure - 'Village Hidden in the Clouds'.

I think thats about it, so please leave me a review!