Alright, so here's your new chapter xD I'm sorry the updates are slow o.o It's just that I have a life... and some of you don't D: -hides behind laptop-

Read. Write. Enjoy.

"Hana... what in the world happened to you?"

"... I'm not sure, I really can't remember anything."

"Well... alright, but tell me if anything comes up, alright?"

"Yea, but can I get some more sleep? I'm still tired."

"Alright, but Pein wants to see you in the afternoon." Hana nodded and he kissed the top of her head and left her to sleep.

Dreams were always a bother for Hana. They seem to be more useless than enjoyable, but this night, she slept deeply and soundly. She dreamt of how everything would be now that she was back with Itachi. Sleeping so soundly, she forgot the time, and slept past her meeting with Pein by an hour.

"Hana! Hana! Wake up, Pein's asking for you."

"Hmmmm?" She lazily replied, still not woken up for her sound slumber.

"Hurry and wake up," he pulled her up so she was sitting," You're late by an hour, he's getting impatient!" Her eyes shot open, remembering what she had to do today.

"Oh! Get out of my way, 'tachi! I need to get ready!" He tripped over her nickname while he moved away. He hadn't heard her say that in a very long time. She ran to the connecting bathroom and started to wash up

"Ayaaaaa! I have no clothes!" Itachi smirked to himself.

"Did you plan this, 'tachi-kun?"

"Did you already make up your mind to stay with me, Ana?"

"Yea, of course, where else would I go?" Hana said while walking out.

"Back to Konoha?"

"No way! There's a reason why I ran away, Itachi."

"And what reason is that?" Astonished, he knew of Hana's unending loyalty to Konohagakure.

Hana started quietly, "My father wishes to wed me to Kei Futoshi, I couldn't bear to be with anyone but you." She kept her eyes to the ground, afraid Itachi might see her blush.

"Oh, is that so? He's no better or worse than me," It hurt him to say those words," You should have stayed, and been happy." He knew that he couldn't have gone on without her.

Her head snapped up; she glared at Itachi. "You think I can be happy with a man like him? He's nothing like you. You're giving and care for others, he just wants everything for himself. He's a beast, I wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth."

"You're still as stubborn as you were when we were 7." Hana's face lit up, Itachi still remembered her from way back then.

"Well, I thought," she hesitated," if I changed... you wouldn't love me anymore."

"Hana..." Itachi took time to choose his words," I still love you, more than you will ever know, but I just can't love you. I don't have anything to do with Konoha anymore."

"But I ran away! I don't belong to Konoha anymore, we can be together, no one can stop us." He frowned.

"Love, there's Pein. I'm not sure if he'll let us be together." She frowned.

"We can make it work out." Itachi thought longer.

"Am I really worth all this trouble?" Hana knew the answer without even thinking.

"Yes."

"What if I'm not what you think I am anymore? Time can change someone." A surprised look passed Hana's face.

"Well, I'd continue loving you until something stops me."

"What would 'that something be?"

"It would be death." Itachi blinked, astonished.

"You would love me no matter what, until one of us dies?"

"That's correct," she smiled," But, if you died, I'm not sure what I would live for."

"Well," Itachi cleared his throat," How about you finish getting ready and we go see Pein? We can talk about this later. I have a set of clothes that Konan lent me, you seem her size, you can also wear my robe."

"B-but I'm not in Akatsuki."

"Well, you should wear it anyways." Hana smiled at that, he still cared for her. She took the clothes and went to quickly change. When she came out, Itachi smirked at how tight everything was on her, and was relieved when she slipped into his robe, hiding her body.

He grabbed her hand and lead her out the door and down the hall, to the designated meeting area with Pein and Konan, walking in with her, and lingering behind her.

It was empty, with one big balcony at the other end. There stood Pein, his face hidden in the light, and Konan by his side.

"Why hello there, Hana-chan. We've heard some interesting things about you." They could see the shadows of his smirk through the gleam.

"Well," Hana started," what kind of things have you heard?"

"That you are an exceptional fighter, of course, and one of the Hyuuga, that's also very impressive." He took a step towards them.

"As you should know, we have been missing a spot on the Akatsuki."

"The one of Orochimaru?"

"Yes, yes, that one. Although he still has his ring, would you like to join? On one condition, of course." His smirk grew. Both Hana and Konan looked up at him suspiciously.

"And that condition is?..." Hana kept a careful eye on him.

"To fetch the ring," he paused," and to train by my side until I find you fit to wander off missions alone."

"You don't find me strong enough now?" Hana said surprised.

"Well, compared to some of the other members, you are far too weak."

"I had taken on Kisame with my bare hands, only to be taken down by a--"

Pein cut her off," But that was only Kisame, sweet flower, I will train you to be able to take on 3 of the Akatsuki, I will give you power."

Hana's dilemma slowly uncovered itself. Should she stay with Itachi, but lose herself to gaining more and more power? Or should she walk away, leaving her loved one to go live a normal life in some far away village?

"How do you expect to train me?"

"I have people willing to assist you. Don't worry, Hana-chan, there's only going to be physical training." He smirked.

"Well... give me a day, I'll sleep on this."

And with that, Hana left the room, walking past Itachi and away from Konan and Pein. She went back to Itachi's room, layed down on the bed, and cried for the first time in many years.

She had a decision to make that will change her life.

Hoorah! I finished x) I hope everyone liked this chapter.

I've been so distracted by so many things x.x like my reading :3

Graceling is a good book, it's new, but I forget who it's by D: Be sure to look it up! I read it in 2 days and it was absolutely amazing. :)