I accidently started the next chapter... For the first time I got into typing this and stopped checking page numbers... Scary stuff!

Seizure

The night had passed disturbingly similarly to their first, and now they were moving out. Sasuke was in the lead with Suigetsu and Juugo trailing. Karin kept pace up front, trying to force conversation the mute Uchiha. Kira on his opposite side, squirmed as Sasuke turned to look her direction, completely ignorant of Karin. A vicious scowl from the other was noted and feared behind his attention.

"There is a village just beyond the edge of the forest," He gestured with the arm on Karin's side, closing himself off from her in and in on Kira. Kira slowed her pace only slightly, growing more and more frightened of the flashing eyes over Sasuke's shoulder. "We will stop there and gather information."

She took heed of the way he omitted any option of failure. "Alright…" Kira nodded.

"I'm sure we will find something important," Karin smiled at him, trying draw his focus from Kira. "Someone in this village is undoubtedly associated with Akatsuki… Right Sasuke?"

For the first time since they had set out, he turned towards her. "I have no idea." The words were harsh and she fell silent. "I plan to comb any and every place possible… One way or another I will track him down."

"Oh…" She appeared momentarily abashed, lowering her chin to look at him above her glasses. "Then you only heard rumors?"

Sasuke seemed more irritated than usual abruptly and on a whim, granted her another tongue-lashing. "I didn't hear anything. This is the first village we've passed." Karin's eyes widened and she nodded slightly, desperate to gain his favor rather than his temper. Kira shrank away from them, glancing back in hopes of finding Juugo. The idea was shot down immediately. "Kira," His voice made the gesture of his arm an order and she obeyed.

A sigh escaped her as they reached the village's entrance. Kira looked up, reading the sign. Tanzaku…? It was an odd name, and something interesting to ponder besides Suigetsu's whining and Sasuke's menacing focus on her. Fingers wrapped around her arm and she was ripped from her musings.

Irritation flashed in Sasuke's eyes, but he pulled her into Hebi's huddle nonetheless. Once again, Karin didn't fail to notice the attention she was paid and Kira was given another glower. Wondering if she was losing her mind, she sidled up to Sasuke, using him as a shield from Karin. I can't take this…!

"Suigetsu, Karin, Juugo," The Uchiha began by addressing each of his initiates. "I want the three of you to scour the village. Find anything you can, and report back to me. I will be in the hotel." The others nodded and Kira wondered how they would know which hotel was mentioned. Apparently, the answer was not hers to have as they disappeared. Now he turned to her. "You will stay with me."

His tone left no room for argument, but Kira persisted anyway. "C-can't I go with them?"

Sasuke shook his head dismissively. "I don't trust you."

That should have been the end of it, but the idea of being trapped with him and no hope of reprieve was more than she could take lying down. "I'll stay with Karin," she offered, cringing as she realized what she had said.

This time he glared at her. "She'll eat you alive," he scoffed. "Stop arguing with me."

They walked through the busy avenues briskly, and he made it hard to keep up. Kira shot him a look of venom behind his back. He orders me to stay with him, and then tries to ditch me…! As she surveyed the crowds, she wondered if she could slip away. Maybe agreeing to travel with them was a mistake. As if he had heard her thoughts, Sasuke came up from her back, latching onto her arm once again.

"Don't." He hissed, and that was all she needed to hear.

The check in passed quickly, and she felt as though she was walking in a daze. Regret was growing in her stomach and her eyes frantically searched for some escape. Suddenly her gaze fell back to him. Sasuke pulled open the door, waiting for Kira to enter. She stared for a moment, dread filling her. Impatience colored his manner and she scuttled into the room, praying that his temper would pass.

Karin entered one of the shadier shops off the side of a hectic street. It was a local strip club with busty waitresses and drunk men. She smirked, undoing a few of the buttons on her shirt. They make this too easy… Picking up a tray of shots, she set out, following the rounds of other flirtatious employees.

Sasuke pulled the key from the door and noticed a look of complete terror cover Kira. She was now thoroughly trapped in the rented room, and he had the only means of escape in his hand. He frowned, giving her a warning glance before he set off into the bathroom. Displeasure twisted her face as he disappeared behind the restroom's door and locked that as well.

The shower handle made a horrendous creak as he turned it, undressing to allow the water to warm. He set his clothes on one part of the counter as was careful with the large set of scrolls he had been concealing. Preferably, he wouldn't have taken everything into the cramped bathroom, but it was enough to have a girl sitting in the next room with questionable integrity.

Steam was building, and he tested the water with his hand. A decent shower once in a while was more of a blessing than anyone back in Konoha knew. As he stepped in, he pushed away the brief remembrance of his former life and set his mind to the task of sorting out Kira and the problems she represented.

She contorted her fingers and pulled at her hands in her lap. Damn him! Kira fought the urge to pound on the floor boards. They were on the second story, and the last thing she needed was extra attention from the management. What the hell is he thinking? What was I thinking when I agreed to this?Her eyes flashed towards the door that emanated the sounds of running water. With her frustration it had become debatable whether she could smash the door and steal the key from Sasuke. Dammit, why even waste the time? I'll just crack down the front door! Clenching her fists, Kira jumped up, ready to give the door a thorough beating.

The bathroom door opened up behind her and she froze, halfway to her feet. What the-?! Does he read minds or just shower that fast?!Sasuke narrowed his eyes and Kira slumped back down to the floor, diverting her gaze. She could feel him staring, and sweat trickled down her back. Only then did she realize it was high noon and she was sitting in front of a window. The sound of his footsteps temporarily distracted her and she picked up the stare he'd dropped.

Kira bit her lip. He was carrying his shirt, rather than wearing it, but that wasn't what held her attention. Showing from the crisp white folds were several large scrolls. "Did you have those this whole time?" she blurted sharply.

"Yes," Sasuke hissed back, not about to let her whip him with words.

She grimaced. "How did you conceal those?" As he settled across from her, he dropped the mass of cloth he was carrying. The purple sarong and its rope tie tumbled into a small heap with the coat-like shirt and arm warmers. Taking a good look at him finally, he appeared half the size he had before, and only equally as menacing. "Oh."

Ignoring her, Sasuke opened one of the scrolls, laying them in front of his lap. Again, Kira gawked at him. Suddenly self-conscious of her actions, she pulled back and moved to a cooler corner. She fidgeted into place, aware of her sweat again. …Gross…Arms wrapped around her knees, her gaze fell back to Sasuke, who was leaning intently over an obnoxiously sized scroll. She glared at him, cursing her lack of the y chromosome. Damn… It's hot… I wish I was a boy… Boredom and silence nagged her and her glower fell from her face. Curiosity rose as subconscious distraction. "Sasuke," she called to him across the room slowly, testing his name in her mouth. He glanced up. "What's in those scrolls?"

The Uchiha gave her a solid once over. "You don't remember anything?"

Her eyes went wide and she turned white. "…no… nothing… at all…"

"Do you understand who Uchiha Itachi is?"

She blinked. "He…" Kira stumbled over her words. She could recall everything back to when she had come across Hebi, but behind that was black. Memories had become unending darkness, and the face that supposedly belonged to Uchiha Itachi was hazy and faded, as though repeatedly erased. The answer she had for his question would not suffice. "He… He is your elder brother…" Sasuke tensed, but he remained attentive, knowing she would break under his stare. Once more she raked her brain for answers, none were to be found. "I…I can't remember anything… I don't know where I came from, I don't know what I like, what I hate… I don't even know my own name…" Frustration sent her to successful recollections of her time traveling with him. An abrupt realization fell over her. "Karin mentioned 'Akatsuki'…?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yes." The question he was expecting had begun to form on her lips, and he answered. "He is an affiliate of Akatsuki. If we track them, we will find him."

"Oh." Silence fell between them once again. Kira frowned into her lap. Uchiha Itachi… She tried to conjure his face on the back of her eyelids. The picture of his face was slow in coming. Where are you? The face she recalled was indifferent, distant, and irrevocably beautiful. Almost desperate, she reached deeper into her consciousness for him.

Pain exploded in her back and she crumbled to her knees with a howl. Sasuke was at her side in an instant, trying to still her sudden thrashing. Kira kicked out her legs, trying to push his hands off her, but hitting air. She could feel Sasuke's fingers and the warmth of his body, but now her sight was gone and her body refused to listen to her. The memory slipped away and she collapsed over him.

"Are you alright?" It was the closest he had come away from anger or indifference. "What happened?"

She ordered her limp body to recoil from his lap, but only trembling resulted. "I… I dunno…" Her tongue slipped over the syllables. Did I have a seizure? The thought stilled her. "I… I-I w-wass…thry…" The attempt at speech failed, and she wriggled in his grip. At least I can still accomplish uncoordinated movement. The idea gave little comfort.

"Calm down." He propped her up, keeping her close in case of another fit. Sasuke frowned. She was indeed tiny and she fit neatly in his lap under his arm. He watched her attempt to nod and cupped her face. Using only a moment's hesitation, he turned her face to his. Her eyes flashed pure rage and humiliation, but her muscles denied her the ability to glare at him. Satisfied with what he saw there he rested her head against his shoulder. He could feel her blood thrumming through and the hammer of her heart. An ominous aura radiated from her, but he would not be frightened into submission.

Sasuke leaned against the wall, sure that she would rip from his grip when she had the strength. Unafraid, he let his mind wander. I never told her Itachi was older… It was a piece of evidence that she was a spy or double-agent of sorts, his worst conclusion. But then he thought ahead to the moments after. They had fallen silent and then she'd launched into a seizure of sorts. It appeared ironic that they should speak of her past and then she should have a fit. Her memories aren't erased… They're sealed…

New possibilities erupted in his head. If she still carried her past somewhere, all they had to do was unlock it. With certainty, he knew she would have a sealing mark on her body. All that was left was to find it.

This was a rather odd piece of the story. The next chapter will take it in a different direction... Something more PG, rather than my usual PG 13... lol PlEaSe ReViEw