Interesting review below. Hurhur.

Guest: Okaaaay. So Sakura has her godlike chakra control, a doujutsu, multiple Kekkai genkai like Hyouton and Mokuton, and she still is a little bitch running away and getting captured by (what I assume will be ) her future male harem?

Talk about both under and overpowered at the same time.

Seriously, I can tolerate critiques that are forward and direct. But your review went a little overboard with the "little bitch" part, which is, in my opinion, wholly unnecessary. (Seriously, if you hate Sakura and hate harem fics, why are you reading a Sakura x Akatsuki fic? Mindblown. Ba-dum-tss.) It even made me falter in my writing a little, because it was my first flame. And in response to your non-question, no it's not a harem, it's a love triangle between Sakura, Deidara and Pein (though Neji is in the picture now and I'm still trying to fit the pieces to his puzzle). And Sakura got captured because yes, despite her kekkei genkai and doujutsu and her "godlike" chakra control, she has very little chakra reserves, which I guess you missed reading earlier. So yeah, she's not going to use the Kyuubi's chakra when she runs out of hers unless she wants to die an early death in the Akatsuki's hands (Pein is a sensor, he can sense chakra from very very far FYI), hence she exhausted her own personal reserve and collapsed, and was in a chakra binding seal the rest of the time. So yeah… it's difficult not to get captured, if you actually read that part.

So anyway, I hope you finally get it now! And thank you for your review which could have been helpful if it wasn't laced with sarcasm and Hidan-like words.

Jjangqueen: Nononooo, I should end up with Kakashi XD

KiraTokyRIckiSalvatore: You sound like a true writer when you said that! :D Wise words my friend!

organizationkhII: No problem, though I think it didn't work much D: I'm so sorry! And ooo, I've never read a Kisame X Hinata fanfic before. Sounds cool!

Anonymous: Thank you so much! And yeah I agree… I shall just hope for the best :D

Sarah: Well… I'll try to make it both, see what I can do : D

Katara-Hatake: Thank you! And I knew you were going to pick the dramatic one! :D And yeah I mean that scene was totally priceless. Super funny Gai vs super pissed off Neji XD

Guest: Thank you! Enjoy this one!

DiamondForest: thank you :D I looked back and the chapter and I realised you were right! I included a lot of colours and lighting inside for some odd reason. And a dramatically happy ending! I'll see what I can do, and you're right… it will satisfy both sides. Enjoy this one! :D

Maiikaulitz: An ending that fits the story! :D Somehow it sounds flattering to my ears! Thank you and enjoy this one! :D

VenezuelaHills: Thank you so much! Enjoy this one yeah! :D

Scarlett Winds: (gushes) If only we could have Pein in another life… XD And thank you for your faith in my choosing the ending! I really am thankful for your support. :')

Shadow Wolf: Thank you many berries! :D Yay! Enjoy this one!

DontWaitUpForMe: Bring it on XD I see, I see (strokes chin) And chyeah you made my day when you said a simple ending won't do DTA justice XD Thank you and enjoy this one!

KurayamiEra: Thank you so much :D HEHE. And I shall choose an ending! XD Enjoy this one!

Akatsukigirl1223: Thank you! Enjoy this one! :D I will try my best!

Femi: hehe well I'm glad you liked it!:D

DeidaraGaaraGirls: thank you! You are awesome for reviewing!:D

Angel897: thank youuuu:)

Shadow Owner: ah, the hood (pauses) Err. Mistake there ehehe. Well I realised having interactions are difficult. Sigh. Thanks for pointing things out! I pondered over them and tried to (?) rectify it by this chapter that hopefully explains why Pein is like that toward Sakura. shouldn't have gone too fast! Thanks a lot!:D

So… apart from the interesting review above, I am really thankful and encouraged by your continual support. It drives me on even when I'm feeling down, and so, thank you thank you thank you. (smiles widely)

Without further ado, Chapter 15.

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The day she was captured.

The orange-haired enigma's Rinnegan eyes were focused on the chained figure in the other room, his gaze piercing and unmoving. Beside him stood an equally unreadable man, his gaze impassive as he looked through the see-through window that, to a non-doujutsu individual, would show only darkness. The panel was also designed in a way that no one in the room would be able to see who was on the other side of the glass.

The tomoe in one of the men's crimson eyes spinned lazily as he scanned the room.

They watched as an Akatsuki member briskly exit the room afterwards, a grim and rather furious frown marring his features. He spared the Uchiha a glare that could shoot daggers, before turning his slightly cold eyes to the Leader.

"She is chained, yeah. Please don't hurt her…" he spoke in an odd tone devoid of his usual warmth, his voice revealing fury underneath as he chose to leave the rest of his sentence unspoken. Or else.

"I do not plan to hurt her, Deidara. You may calm down. I need her services, her medical proficiencies, and killing will be unnecessary. And you should remember who you serve before you retaliate," Pein informed him, his eyes hardening as his voice took a steely tone.

Before Deidara could respond, a masked man came into view from the corridor, exclaiming happily. "Deidara-sempai, don't worry! We are just using her as bait for the jinchuuriki!"

Azure eyes hardened as they settled on his partner, the reason behind all the mess. "And… what? You expect her to just say okay to joining us after saying that fact, yeah?"

It was then that Itachi pitched in, his voice taking its usual clinical tone. "She does not have to know about it." It was typical of him to say just a simple statement, yet it was enough to diffuse the tension as Deidara gave Pein a stiff nod as he walked away from the corridor.

When they had ascertained Deidara's presence was long gone, the duo resumed their conversation, with Tobi peeking excitedly through the see-through window like a small boy.

"She will know of our plan," Itachi informed Pein, still staring at the unconscious figure through the glass.

"Aa, that I am aware," the man mused, his expression pensive. After a while, he spoke again. "She will not be able to refuse joining, anyway. Not unless she has a death wish."

"Hn."

"Regardless, I will still be nice to her. She will be one of us, and it is my duty as Leader to welcome her," Pein continued, his voice calm and his tone final.

The Uchiha gave the orange-haired man a slightly curious glance, but kept his thoughts to himself.

It was a well-known fact in Akatsuki that Pein had not been cordial to most of them when he recruited them.

"Excuse me," he murmured, and with an acknowledging nod from Pein, he walked out of the corridor, leaving the man and Tobi behind. His eyes flashed with an indecipherable emotion as his mind swirled with thoughts, and his gaze turned calculating as he decided on his next course of action.

It was time to inform his contact of this... update.

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It was a minute later when Itachi had left, that Tobi reverted to his other self, his voice taking a frighteningly deep and cold tone as he spoke while facing Pein.

"You do not have to be so… cordial with the girl," the masked man said coldly, tilting his head stiffly as he studied the Rinnegan user.

Violet eyes surveyed him coolly, unperturbed. "She is an Akatsuki member, and will be treated as such."

A deep, chilling laugh escaped the masked man, and his tone sounded amused. "Why, Pein, I see you are getting soft. You have never been nice to the rest when they entered this organization. Pray tell… is it because she's a girl?" His tone took an uncharacteristically biting edge at his last sentence.

"Or is it because… she reminds you of Konan?"

Pein's blood ran cold at that statement. His eyes shone with unadulterated fury as his hands instinctively shot out to grab the masked man's neck to pin him to the wall. However, the man dodged his move easily, his reflexes quick as lightning. He chuckled, drawing a kunai from his sleeve.

"Too slow."

"Do not even speak of her," the Rinnegan user hissed, his eyes hardened. "It was your fault she got killed! We could have done the extraction when we were all in this base, but you wanted to do it immediately!"

"Ah, well. How was I supposed to know the base she was at would be ambushed?" He drawled, twirling the kunai idly on his finger. "Anyway, it was over a year ago, no? All we need now is the Kyuubi… and you will achieve your long-awaited goal. Wouldn't that be a nice day…" With that, the mysterious masked man reverted back to his old self, skipping happily down the corridor and leaving the still heavily breathing man to his thoughts.

Closing his eyes and calming himself, he raked his hand through his hair and exhaled. Violet eyes snapped open, and he looked at the figure in the room, huddled on the ground and almost devoid of chakra.

With a jolt, he realized she was awake, and seemed to be staring at him through the panel. For a moment, he saw a flash of light blue hair and amber eyes, but it was soon gone as the pink-haired girl's gaze moved away from him, her panicked jade eyes scanning the darkness blindly.

He still remembered one of his last conversations with his late lover. They had arrived at the base in Iwagakure, and had taken refuge there for three, long days because of an impending snowstorm.

They had sat down on the tatami mat in the hall, sipping tea and watching the snow outside whip precariously at the windows.

The cerulean-haired girl studied him with a small smile on her face, occasionally sipping on her tea. After a moment, her smile faltered, and she placed her teacup on the floor with a clink, causing her partner to snap out of his musings.

"…What is it?" He asked gently, as he noticed a growing frown on her features.

The frown deepened and for a brief moment, she had an anguished look, before schooling her features once more, giving him a shaky smile. "Ne, promise me something, will you?"

"Anything," he responded automatically, his hand moving to clasp hers and stroke her palm comfortingly.

The girl took a deep breath, and gave him a small, sad smile. Then she murmured, her voice almost too soft for him to hear with her head bowed. But he'd heard.

"Promise me that no matter what, you'll always try to find happiness. Even if I'm not around anymore."

Fingers tipped her chin slightly, and he gazed at his long-time partner with a fond look in his eyes, as though memorizing her features.

"Just promise me," she whispered, her breath tickling his face and he inhaled the scent of jasmine.

"I promise," he responded, his eyes never straying from hers.

Her fingers grasped his even more tightly.

With a forlorn sigh, he turned away from the glass panel and started walking away.

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Present day.

Sakura sighed as she idly jumped from branch to branch, her feet deftly picking up speed as her two new partners did the same. Her Akatsuki cloak ruffled almost violently against the wind caused by her movement, but she kept her pace, unperturbed. She had tried on the Akatsuki cloak earlier, and found -to her pleasure- that it was not loose and large, but tailor-made to suit her figure, and, as a result, still gave her a feminine look while she wore it. Hence, it wasn't too bulky for her to don while travelling, and she was thankful for that, for it could have hindered her movements.

Her chakra levels were nowhere near Kisame's and Itachi's, so she was relieved when they slowed their pace through the night, and when the moon had fully risen, they made a motion to stop travelling, jumping down from the trees once Itachi had scouted the area to set up camp.

She watched as Itachi set up a small fire after declaring that there was no one within ten miles. For a moment, she marvelled at his efficiency, her eyes growing wide with admiration as she watched him sitting across the fire. Then she realized who she was admiring.

Disgust roiled in her stomach as she looked away.

"Not going to eat, kunoichi?" Kisame spoke between mouthfuls, gulping down his ration in his usual manner while beady eyes watched her almost worriedly.

Sakura poked at her ration in distaste, a disgusting, brown soup concoction, but proceeded to chug it with her eyes closed. After managing not to gag, she took a few sips of her water and noticed Kisame giving her a thumbs up and a wide grin.

"And that is how a kunoichi should eat, if you ask me."

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Tomorrow marks the beginning of the second month since my story was posted. A big thank you to all reviewers, you guys are awesome! You guys are a great support!

I'm sorry I have to end it here… I was reaaaaalllly busy. Seriously.

And thank you for telling me your views. I have decided. :D

I included a flashback here to show why Pein acts the way he is when it comes to Sakura. Hope you guys get it... (quite unsure about this one) If anything is missing, do tell me! Thank you guys for reading. : )

Question: What do you like most about Kisame?