Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Umm, Hi! I realise it has been a really really really long time since I last posted a chapter, but a few more recent reviews made me kick my lazy butt into gear and write another chapter. I've been meaning to do it forever, but there were a few things about the story that I really wasn't happy with (but that'll teach me to make a plan if I ever decide to write something again), but this is how the last chapter finally came out. It's much shorter than I'd like, considering how long everyone has waited, but I hope it's okay.

Oh and I realise that people have probably forgotten about the story (haha, even I had to read over it all again to remember how to write the characters properly) and I don't expect any reviews (I don't deserve them) but I hope this ties up the story suitably enough for all the wonderful people who read and reviewed in the past.

Thanks everyone!

Chapter 23 (at long last…)

In Amaya's mind that same song played softly, flowing around her in the pure white expanse surrounding her. She gazed around calmly.

Where am I? Her thoughts seemed to echo slightly, as though she were stood in a large, empty room. Am I dead?

Something appeared, a dark blur against the white. It came into focus slowly and Amaya smiled, "Hana-chan! You're here. Did you find out how to save me? Where are we?" But there was no reply. Her friend simply smiled at her and pointed behind her. Turning, though not aware of moving her feet, Amaya's smile widened. "Itachi." But he, too, said nothing.

"What's going on?" Amaya's asked, looking from one to the other. Her smiled disappeared as Hana's figure started to fade. She tried to jump forwards, reaching out to her friend, "Wait!" but she was gone. Amaya turned, reaching out to Itachi, trying to run towards him, but she didn't seem to get any closer, and soon he was gone too.

Suddenly she felt scared and alone, and the music had stopped.

Why?

What's happening?

Why do I suddenly…feel so tired?

Finally the jutsu ended. As soon as it was over and Amaya began to fall towards the ground, no longer suspended in midair by the chakra, Itachi jumped from his position and caught her. No one said anything, except Kisame who mumbled quietly to himself, "I wonder if Midget is here yet?"

Itachi, Kisame, Deidara and Sasori found them selves alone in the cave and waited by the large entrance. The weather matched the heavy mood that hung around Itachi. Dark clouds hung above them, rain lashed down heavily and lightning cracked the sky, illuminating everything in eyrie blue light for a few seconds, before the grey returned.

"You're done?!" A call came from above them. Jumping down to the river, Hana moved inside the large cave quickly. Her usual cheerful smile was replaced by a grim determination.

"Firstly, some light would help. Itachi-san, if you please," she said. A quick fire jutsu soon had a large flame throwing long, dancing shadows against the walls.

"I don't know if this will definitely work for sure and no one really knows how to use the jutsu, but I think I might be able to make it work. I'll need help from all of you, though, if you don't mind?" Itachi would help, of course, and Kisame wouldn't dare to say no under the dangerous stares of his partner and the young girl. Deidara smiled, "Of course, un," and Sasori nodded.

Hana rummaged in her pocket and handed them each a small pill. "Soldier pills - you've all been doing a jutsu for three days straight," she explained, and then added, "even you need one Sharky. Take it." Kisame saw the dangerous look in her eye and did as he was told.

"Now, you all need to be touching me somehow." Kisame sniggered. "Not like that, Kisame. This isn't the time for perverted thoughts," she snapped. The use of his name showed just how on edge she was and silenced him immediately. "Itachi-san, if you sit opposite and put your hands on top of mine, Kisame, Sasori-san, if you can each put a hand on my shoulder, and uh…Deidara…Um…"

Ah, I've run out of body parts!? She thought stupidly, starting to feel nervous and a little frantic.

"How's this?" He asked, with a small, warm smile, placing a hand lightly on top of her head. She almost blushed but stopped herself before she did so: this is not the time, or the place.

Satisfied that everyone was ready, Hana took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then she began.

At first it was difficult, drawing chakra from four people at the same time, but she soon got the hang of it. There was more to the jutsu than simply needing chakra, though, and she was sure they all knew it. But they had agreed, and for that she was grateful.

Hana wasn't quite sure how to go about transferring her life energy, as well as chakra, into her friend. She'd never heard anything like it, but that wouldn't stop her from trying her best.

She focused hard and continued the large flow of chakra, but it seemed to be having no effect. How do I do this? How can I give her my life? Why can't I do this? I promised! I promised!

Anger at herself, disappointment and desperation rose up inside of her. Tears pricked at her closed eyes and trickled down her cheeks. And then something changed.

Her eyes flicked open in surprise and she barely managed to hold on to the unusual feeling. I… I've done it. It was then that she met her next hurdle. How do I get them to do the same? To her relief, she didn't have to worry for long. Clearly they had all sensed something change, and Itachi was the first to copy her. Once she knew how it felt for him she was able to draw the same sort of energy from the others. They all stirred slightly, but none of them moved or said a word.

Hana allowed herself to feel a little hopeful. This can work. It can work, Amaya-chan. It will work!

Amaya's eyes began to close slowly, but a strange sensation made her open them again. It was like a tug from a rope tied around her chest, pulling at her. Pulling and pulling, but it felt as though it was tightening too. It hurt and she couldn't breathe.

Wait, she thought, was I breathing? Have I been breathing all the time that I've been in this place? If I was dead, I wouldn't need to breathe…

She hadn't even realised, but now that she wanted to breathe, she couldn't, and the pulling continued, until she experienced another strange feeling. It was like breaking the surface of water when you've been struggling to swim upwards for ages.

The first thing that returned to her was her delicate hearing. Heavy breathing and the beginning of sobs reached her first. Hana-chan! I knew you could do it! Then there were voices.

"Let go of me! Let go, it's not done yet!"

"Hana, she asked me to stop you before you killed yourself. That was her wish, and you should respect it." Kisame? He's here too? Probably because of Itachi…

"Kisame is right, Hana-san. There is nothing more you can do." Sasori?

"Sasori-danna is right, Hana-chan. You tried you're best, and I'm sure she knows it, wherever she is now." Deidara, too!

Amaya hadn't really been listening to what they were saying, too caught up in the fact that they had all been willing to help in order to save her, but Hana's next words reached her loud and clear.

"But it was going so well, I was sure we almost had her! Her heart was beating, if I could just carry on a little…If I could just get her to breathe, too…"

Shock hit Amaya like a brick and she suddenly gasped and sat bolt upright, I'm still not breathing?! How can that be? How can I be awake, and not be breathing?! This is terrible, what should I do? What do I…

"Amaya," someone said softly. She turned her head to find Itachi right beside her.

"Oh, she's breathing now," Kisame said, standing to one side holding tightly onto Hana, with the help of Deidara, all three of them looking surprised.

"Huh?" Amaya asked, turning to look at him. She then realised how stupid she had just been. "Oh…I…I could hear…and then the shock…I didn't even realise I wasn't…" She paused for a moment and then threw her head back and laughed, the light sound resounding around the cave and bouncing off the walls.

Hana broke away from the two men holding her and threw her arms around Amaya's neck, the sounds of her crying mixing with the sounds of laughter. "Amaya-chan! Amaya-chan! Amaya-chan!" She cried, "Amaya-chan!"

"It's okay, Hana-chan. You did it. You really did it." She smiled softly at her friend. "Thank you."

Hana sniffed and was silent for a moment before starting a new round of hearty sobbing, "Amaya-chan!!". Patting her back Amaya gently pulled her self free and got to her feet with a little help from Itachi.

"Sasori-san," she said, moving to him first and then leaned forwards, planting a kiss lightly on his cheek, "thank you." He blinked but then gave her a small smiled and nodded. She did the same to Deidara, who blushed, and then laughed at Kisame who was looking hopeful, "No chance. But thank you, too."

She then turned to Itachi who was still stood silently waiting, his dark eyes fixed on her smiling face.

Amaya moved to him. "And thank you, Itachi." They simply looked at one another for a moment and then suddenly they were holding each other tightly.

Aah, Amaya thought, being alive is worth it… for just this moment.

Mou ichido tsuyoku dakishimete...
Please hold me tight just once more...

Thanks again everyone!