Assassin of the Rose.

An Itachi-Ino Story.

Itachi Uchiha is a deadly ninja who slaughtered his clan. Ino Yamanaka was a girly, girl with only one thought on her mind-Sasuke. What has happened to dramatically change Ino's life and bring these two closer together? And what is Deidara's part in all of this?

-x-x-x-x-

Loneliness is …..
The empty feeling that comes from within

Loneliness is ……
The longing to share your thoughts and feelings with someone who'll listen

Loneliness is ……
Reaching out for open arms to find none there

Loneliness is …..
Standing in a crowded room but feeling alone

Loneliness is …...
Picking up the phone but having no one to call

Loneliness is …...
Knowing there is no one thinking of you

Depression is …..
Feeling alone

Depression is …..
Knowing this will never change

Depression is …..
Knowing your best isn't good enough

Depression is …..
Knowing nothing you do matters

Depression is …..
Realizing your best days have gone

Depression is …..
Looking forward to the end

Depression is …..
Knowing no one really cares that you are looking forward to the end

L.. Pierson

-x-x-x-x-

I looked at the gigantic black hole that gaped open in front of me. I raised an eyebrow and threw a glance at Itachi and Kisame. The latter gave me a sneer whilst Itachi merely inclined his head.

Go on, do it! My inner whispered. Show them you're not a wimp!

I swallowed and walked forward into the cave. I could feel Itachi and Kisame following me. For a second I wondered if this whole thing was a trap. They were going to kill me, right here in this dark hole. How could I be so naïve!?

I stopped and put a hand to my kunai holster, which was nestled against the purple fabric of my clothes. I stood breathing deeply, waiting for it to come.

"May I ask why we have stopped?" Itachi asked.

"We're not far from the base" Kisame snapped "So get moving!"

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in. I relaxed and set off again. The tunnel was pitch black, the only light that was available came from the dimming light of the world outside.

Then out of nowhere Itachi and Kisame put out a hand each to stop me. I froze in my tracks and looked questioningly at them. Kisame merely looked angry whilst Itachi gestured with his free hand to the solid rock wall that loomed in front of us.

I frowned. S-Rank criminals they may be, but magicians? That was pushing it.

Itachi and Kisame put their hands against the wall. I saw the blue flames of chakra consume their hands and then the wall was fading, fading and gone. A valley lay before me, lush and green. In the center a huge house loomed, black and foreboding.

"Zetsu's idea. Trust me, I hate all this" Kisame growled and stepped forward into the valley.

"It's not permanent we'll be moving on after we get that five tailed demon" Itachi murmured.

"I like it. Flowers sort of call to me, why do you think I left a rose behind after I killed?" I asked and followed Kisame inside.

We walked towards the house in silence, well not really. Kisame was muttering under his breath.

"Lousy weak blonde girl" he muttered.

I looked at the floor, trying to control my anger. Itachi must have noticed because he stopped and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Kisame go inside and inform Hatafuri-san about Ino. I will give her some information" he instructed.

Kisame growled under his breath and stalked into the house. Itachi sighed and led me a little way away from the house.

"First of all, do not make direct eye contact with anyone. They will not like another female in the house, Konan is enough for many. Secondly, when you meet Hatafuri-san speak only when spoken too." Itachi told me.

I nodded. "Anything I should know about the members?" I asked.

"Hidan and Kakazu keep to themselves, but don't anger them. Konan should be fine; she'll be pleased to have another female. Deidara and Tobi aren't here, so you don't have to worry about them. As for Zetsu well just don't stare at him too much" Itachi whispered.

I nodded and swallowed. Itachi stiffened, and I looked at him warily. He turned towards the house.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be" I replied and tried to keep the nerves out of my voice.

-x-x-x-x-

Hatafuri-san sat at a long, wooden table. He was shrouded in darkness and the remaining Akatsuki members were standing around the room. I looked around the room. I spotted Kisame and Itachi quickly. Kisame was muttering to Itachi and Itachi was watching me.

A female shadow was standing next to Hatafuri-san. Konan, I presumed. A white haired man, Hidan, and his masked partner, Kakazu were half hidden by the shadows. The weird guy, Zetsu, was nowhere to be seen so I assumed he was hiding in the shadows.

"Yamanka Ino" Hatafuri-san commanded.

"Hai?" I asked, trying not to express my anger at being called a Yamanaka.

"Forgive me Hatafuri-san but she no longer hails from the Yamanka clan" Itachi explained smoothly.

"Ah I see. There is a reason I assume?" It was directed at me.

"Yes sir but I do not wish to discuss this in the open" I stated.

"I see. You hailed from Konoha, correct?"

"Hai"

"And you specialize in mind techniques?"

"I do but I also deal with poisons and healing. I make my own poison" I said, earning an impressed sound from Konan.

"Hmm I see. Well I'll need to see you spar with one of the members before I decide" Hatafuri-san said.

I nodded.

"Itachi show her to a spare room. She'll need a place to sleep. No actually Konan can take her; she'll be itching to change her into something better"

Konan stepped out of the shadows and beckoned to me. I was led out of the room and down a long hall.

-x-x-x-x-

"Itachi" Hatafuri-san said as Ino left with Konan.

"Hai" said Uchiha replied.

"Pull everything you can on Ino's history. I want to see if there is a connection between her and Deidara at all"

-x-x-x-x-

"My, my, my you really do like purple" Konan told me.

"Yeah I wanted to be different; everyone wore drab colours, so I wear bright colours" I shrugged.

"Yes I did that too, when I was your age" Konan mused.

I stared at her as she rifled through a huge black bag of her clothes. She had purple hair with a blue tinge to it. She was tall and willowy, with a pleasant smile. Her eyes were dark and brooding.

"Konan-sama, can I ask you something?" I asked timidly.

"Sure" she smiled "Go ahead"

"Well . . . who will I have to fight?"

Konan stopped rummaging through the bag and looked me full in the face. Her expression was unreadable for a moment and then she grimaced.

"Unfortunately I have a feeling it will be Kisame" she told me.

I choked. "K . . . Kisame? Why?"

"Because he has a score to settle with you" she spat bitterly.

I took a step back instinctively. I seriously did not want to piss off the only other female in the Akatsuki. Konan noticed and gave me a weak smile.

"I'm sorry Ino-chan, Kisame really pisses me off. He's just a sexist dickhead!" she explained.

"Oh ok"

"Here we are. Much nicer colours; red and black. That is until you get your Akatsuki clothes"

"How do you know I'm going to be accepted?" I asked, taking the black shorts and red tank from Konan.

"Because I am going to train you! I won't let you loose to Kisame!" she said and grinned.

-x-x-x-x-

I sat on the window sill, looking out over the grounds of the Akatsuki base. Night had fallen and the grounds were shrouded in darkness, making the flowers loom like large shadows in the garden. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

I had been only metres away from Shikamaru, Sakura and Kiba this morning. Did they miss me? I wonder what Konoha is like now. Probably the same old boring shit hole that didn't give a shit about me.

We trusted you!

You were our friend!

You could have killed us all!

Why Ino?

I laid my head in my hands and groaned. It wasn't my fault. I didn't do anything wrong. My shoulders shook as I let the tears fall.

"I don't know what to do" I whispered.

-x-x-x-x-

"Well this is interesting" Pein murmured as he read through Itachi's findings.

"Yes sir, she has no idea though" Itachi added.

"Really? Well then we must not tell her"

"Forgive me for asking but why?"

"Because it is Deidara's job to do so" Konan spat as she entered the room.

Pein chuckled as he slipped an arm around Konan's slim waist.

"She's been taught well" Itachi muttered.

"Have you informed Deidara?" Konan asked.

"No I will do so when he returns" Pein answered.

"When is that?"

"Two days from now"

Itachi nodded and excused himself. He walked down the dimly lit hall to his room, hands in his pockets. He passed the door to Ino's room and paused, should he see how she was?

His brain snapped into action. Why did he care about that blonde chick! She was a good ninja and a great addition to the Akatsuki, nothing more nothing less!

He was about to walk away when he heard a voice, probably hers, coming from inside the room.

"I don't know what to do"

Itachi froze, she was crying. He sighed and put a hand against the cold stone wall. He stayed there for about ten minutes, listening to Ino cry herself to sleep. Something had definitely happened in Konoha, of that Itachi was sure.

-x-x-x-x-

Author Note:

Finished! YAY! Good? Bad? I have no way of knowing unless you review!

Kidding! But please do let me know what you think!