Yay finally, chapter 3!

I give my special thanks and cyber cookies to

everyone who replied, I love you all,

you guys are awesomer than me! woo

anyways... BACK to Ashley

Ashley POV:

My heart thumped relentlessly in my chest, not only was I worried about us not getting through, I was practically going to bolt because we were in a new place, just Miah and I, with three very easily spotted Akatsuki who were just walking through the front gates. I vaguely wondered why they hadn't disguised themselves as I moved closer to Kamiah. I glanced back at Deidara to find his hands already reaching back for his clay, his blond hair flopping over one mechanical looking eye, his other blue one scanning the three ninja getting closer. The two at the desk barely seemed to notice us, filing paperwork for the returned one.

I opened my mouth to ask Itachi what our plan was, then thought better of it since we were now close and it would just bring more attention. Kisame and Itachi's backs were ridged, aware as we strode up to the desk, the returning ninja had kept his head titled to the side, towards us, the whole time. He was tall, as all male ninja usually are, with a traditional Hidden Leaf head-band wrapped around his head and tied in his mess of brown spiky hair. A mangled scar crossed the left side of his face, catching my attention for a second as we passed. If my memory served me right he was Namiashi Raidou, a special Jounin, I can't remember when I'd last seen him, I just remembered his hair. (lool totally original, yes I know, and I have to admit I looked him up on the internet, do not kill me for that I needed helpp! there's sooo many characters to remember... 0.o)

I slipped behind Itachi, keeping a couple steps back just in case he had to act quickly, I didn't want to get caught in a cross-fire of him well, shooting fire or getting caught in his Sharingan. My heart-beat raced and Miah looked like she was about to faint as we made our way to the check-in desk thing (I forget what it's called seriously don't ask me i'm tryin here xD) What happened next I have to admit was a bit strange.

First of all, Itachi lifted his straw hat and his face was one of pure seriousness, then I saw the three ninja's faces, they were blank. I mean literally, it looked like a second ago something had just erased all their memories, the two sat there staring up at Itachi with wide eyes, frozen, now, the third was just blank and quiet. Itachi scribbled down something in Japanese I couldn't read (stupid other language -.-) and then we started walking again, as we had turned away, I caught the slightest glimpse of Itachi's eyes, they were pure red with deep onyx black swirled in the middle, he had used his Mangekyo. The ninja didn't even attempt to follow us, actually, they just fell over. I didn't even want to know if they were dead or alive, I was scared enough as it was.

I mean, it was nice to be outside and not inside the cramped living quarters we now lived in (not that I minded staying in Itachi's room or anything..) but coming to a village all of a sudden and facing dangerous people wherever you walked wasn't exactly my chill pill. At all. I stifled a sigh and tugged on Miah's arm once we were out of range-ish and whispered low enough that I thought no one could hear except her,"You alright?"

"No, ash this.... this is crazy, I mean what if they just turn us in or something? Or leave us here! I wouldn't know what to do, we don't even speak there language, what would they do with us?" she whisper-yelled back and I shook my head. "Miah, remember when I told you they govern our lives now?" I asked softly, gently, I knew what she felt like, but still. She was quiet for a few moments and then nodded, sighing as she whispered back,"It's just..." "Alot to take in after only three days, I know what you mean," I finished for her and gave her a side hug. (LOL christian side hug yayness xD)

I looked up at the buildings now cascading around us, many stacked above one another, there were restraunts and flower shops and even a police station we walked past as a while, for a bit we kept with Kamiah and Deidara, but after a while Itachi began to slow down and walk beside me, I could just faintly detect the smallest traces of blood red on the outline of his irises now, and I frowned. I knew very well what the Mangekyo could do to him, it took a lot out on him, especially after activating his Sharingan twice now in the past few hours, I knew he must be wearing his energy out.

I tugged on Itachi's sleeve, and when he looked down at me I gave a sheepish smile up at him, he pulled out his translator slowly and I took it from his hand, giving him an innocent smile when he scowled down at me for taking it. I tapped Kisame's shoulder and he looked back at us, then slowed to a stop. "Kisame-san?" I asked politely, he was one of my good friends in the Akatsuki, one I most trusted. (it's like being friends with a squirrel! only.... more... 'ima eat you if you piss me off'-ish) "Yes, Ashley?" he replied through the translator. "I was wondering if you and Deidara could take Kamiah on ahead, Itachi-kun's tired and needs a rest," I said, ignoring the look Itachi shot me, he was suspicious.

I gave Kisame some puppy eyes and then he sighed and said,"Fine, just don't stray too far, you can't fend a lot of people off yet, especially when Itachi's wearing out." I smiled and said,"Don't worry, we'll be back with you guys soon." With that, Kisame gave a warning glance at Itachi and then followed Kamiah and Deidara off a ways down the road.

Itachi POV:

I eyed Ashley suspiciously as the others went on ahead, and even though my head was telling me to stay back from her, with many why's still swimming throughout my head, my heart couldn't help but thump a little faster when she looked up into my eyes innocently. Too innocently. I was still very against the idea of training her, she just had this atmosphere around her that screamed protection, and not confrontation. I had on more than one occasion contemplated asking Pein to discontinue all of their training, these girls were no-where near ready to join our ranks.

Finally after a few moments of silence my eyes flashed and I started walking down a different road, Ashley was immediately at my side walking with me. "Take it easy Itachi-kun, you're gonna wear yourself out," she spoke through the translator after a bit of fast-paced walking. I gave her a small smile and slowed down for her, then I caught myself. Hell does she control every decision I make? I thought mentally scowling until I looked down at her and caught her eyes. ( OH YEA, shout out tooo uhh Ravenfeather 0.o cuz I can't message u cuz u haven't added my story 0.o anyways, bipolar is like, changing emotions A LOT and quickly and getting mad and stuff xD)

That look, it was so full of concern for me... and it was laced still with that emotion I still couldn't yet put my finger on the name of. An odd sensation ran up my spine as we stopped in the middle of a deserted road and watched each other's eyes. I ached to kiss right then and there, I ached for someone to just take me into their arms, I hadn't been loved or wanted in so long... I forgot what it felt like, and I wanted that feeling back, no matter what it would cost me. Even my life.

I couldn't even swear at myself for thinking different thoughts of kissing Ashley, all I wanted was just... her. It was almost like the feeling I got last night when we were in bed about to sleep, well, her sleep. Ashley's eyes turned away from me and looked up, looking confused for a bit. I couldn't put her through the torture that would come if I gave in and took her, she'd become hunted, even if she wasn't already for being part of the Akatsuki. If she were with me... god I can't even think what would happen.

My arguments from last night surfaced among my other rants in my mind until finally I noticed what Ashley was now staring at. My mouth almost dropped open before I caught myself but I couldn't help the surprised look crossing my face. We were standing in front of the closed off Uchiha estate, the yellow crime scene tape was still strewn across the opened gates, the buildings of my old home looked completely deserted, a ghost town... I felt a small pang in my heart.

My eyes roamed over every once forgotten detail, and memories of that night began to surface. I shut them to hide my feelings from Ashley as I took off my straw hat off my head, my dark hair I'd inherited from my father's side of the family. When I opened my eyes again she was watching me again, quietly, I hadn't noticed her hand grabbing my right arm's cloak sleeve in her hand.

"Can we go look? If you don't want to I would understand," she said gently into the translator, or as gently as it came out to be in my language, I looked back up at my old home and then looked back down at her, forcing all of my thoughts to be blank and quiet as I nodded. Damnit why why does she have to be able to make me follow her, what if something happens and I can't fucking protect her? A thought floated into my head and my eyes flashed, I was already weak from using my Sharingan twice now, I didn't need to get in a fight with anyone.

Especially when I had an untrained girl with me who I'd have to protect also. I vaguely wondered how the others were going, especially Sasori, he had Alice and Catie to keep after on his own. I also wondered if Hidan had sacrificed Mary Ruth to Jashin yet, I tried not to snicker at that thought, poor Hidan. I barely even noticed the deserted buldings as we walked through the Uchiha estate, my thouhts were straying everywhere, most of them centered on the girl still holding my cloak sleeve.

I was actually quite.... grateful for her to lead me around, I liked the way she gently tugged on my sleeve as she lead me around, silently watching everything. Eventually she stopped me, we were at a stream I'd played in when I was little, before Sasuke was born. Ashley sat down at my feet and tugged on my sleeve, indicating she wished my to sit too.

I sat down and scooted next to her, feeling a little relieved to have a bit of a rest now, when I looked at her, she was smiling to herself and shooting shy glances at me. I gave impish smiles back every now and then. The cool breeze trailed around us, and the shade from the towering green-leafed trees helped to relax us both. I leaned back and held my upper-body up with my hands behind my and closed my eyes.

"You can sleep if you want, I can keep watch well enough, it's still closed off here, so it's alright... I hope," Ashley said through the translator, I contemplated for a bit and then decided that if someone showed up I could detect it before anything happened, and with that I laid back and closed my eyes once again. After a while I was encased in a light slumber, my dreams soon turning into one with the very blond sitting next to me in it....

Kamiah's POV: (FINALLY!)

"OH MY GOD IT'S A CHIPMUNK!" I squealed as we passed a training park, luckily no one was using said park. Kisame gave me an odd look and Deidara raised his visible eyebrow and then snorted and smiled at me. "Not so loud, you'll attract attention," he told me and shook his head, I grinned at him before blushing. "Fine fine," I said and giggled, I felt a bit better now, since it was just Kisame, Deidara, and I alone and away from the other people, Deidara had insisted on taking a rest and was now sitting on a rock with his cloak tied around his waist.

When he'd first shed his cloak I had been slightly amazed and a little scared, because under his mesh shirt was the vague outline of a huge mouth on the left side of his chest, even if it looked stitched closed it still frightened me a little, it wasn't every day you got to see that. Deidara had glanced down shyly and then told me through his translator that he knew it was freakish to have that.

I was a bit taken aback, there was nothing wrong with him, and I told him that, and then I had gently reached out and touched the mesh over my new discovery. "It won't hurt you," he said gently through his translator as Kisame observed, standing guard. "I know, you're too nice to let it hurt me," I replied smiling again at him, I couldn't help it, he was just so cute!

Ok I admit, I was still on hyper-aware mode, my senses trying to pick up every tiny detail I could to reassure me nothing bad was coming. Even if I had two well trained S class criminal Akatsuki with me. I softened and relaxed after a while of relaxing in the sun with them both, they weren't all that bad once you got to know them, they were more like... lost souls, misunderstood in the world and criticized because of it, and I thought that was unfair and cruel to them. It was just like Ashley had told me, I realized.

She really did understand them, a lot more than the rest of us did, but that's always been Ashley, she never judges unless she has a reason too. Usually, it has to be a very good reason. I wondered if she was alright as I sat between Deidara's dangling legs in front of the rock, I hoped her and Itachi were alright. I sat quietly, soaking up the sun, as Deidara shifted and started speaking to Kisame in Japanese.

Deidara's POV: (OMG yay!)

I softened as Kamiah sat below me in front of the rock, her dark hair flowing gently in the breeze, she'd finally calmed down.

I couldn't deny the many feelings that coursed through my veins for her now, it was very frightening at first, knowing she'd liked me for quite some time and then feeling so... protective of her, lately. I hated to admit it, but I knew the protectiveness over her was exactly like the protective look Itachi now gave Ashley, it was so clear to see whenever he looked at her.

My right ear twitched as it caught the faintest trace of sound, Kisame shifted his sword over his shoulder and asked in a low voice,"Did you hear that?" "Yeah," I replied and tilted my head to the side, flipping my hair back out of my left eyes view. I turned on my scope and looking about silently, trying not to make Kamiah nervous again.

Kisame tilted his head upwards in another direction, and when I looked I saw a few genins approaching with their instructor, luckily though, they hadn't spotted us yet. "Let's go," Kisame muttered and I nodded, even if I was itching to set a bomb off over this gawd-damned village. I nudged Kamiah's shoulder with my foot and gestured for her to stand. When she did she immediately caught site of the approaching ninjas and quickly hopped up into a tree.

I soon followed and glanced back, slowly reaching back and sliding my hand into my pocket of clay. "Deidara," Kisame cautioned as he let Kamiah go ahead of him so he could stop on a branch a little ways from me, looking back and tightening his grip on his sword. I sighed, defeated, and hopped to the next branch and the next until I was standing next to him quietly. "I know, I know," I said defensively as his eyes bored into me, he knew what I was about to do, and he knew I knew very well Konan had warned us earlier not to, that was a direct order from Pein as well.

I took off after Kamiah and after a few seconds reached her and overtook her, flying through the trees and quickening the pace, I was trying to keep her from seeing me mad, and to keep them away so I wouldn't snap at them. These villagers were controlled. I glared ahead and then eventually calmed down, sighing silently and slowing 'till I was racing next to Kamiah, her glancing at me warily every now and then.

Kisame kept to the rear of us for a while, and soon enough we were back on the ground walking among the villagers. Kamiah looked around curiously and nervously every where we went, the villagers in turn gave us odd looks, suspicious as always. I kept close to her, me flanking her right side and Kisame a little behind her left. "Hn," I muttered quietly when I caught her gaze once, it was a few hours after noon now, and we still needed to find Itachi and Ashley and get back to the hideout.

Eventually we cut down a side alley-way and I grabbed some clay from my pack, my left mouthed hand chewing on it and molding it until a small clay bird appeared. "Doesn't all your artwork explode?" Kamiah asked through my translator, I grinned at her. "Some of it, this one won't, this one's going to find Itachi and Ashley, we can trail it," I replied, she smiled and batter her eyelashes at me innocently, she was pleased. I fought off the urge to do a victory dance.

It was definitely odd, the feelings I had for her, but I had to admit she kept me calm, I don't think I could ever snap at her, at least not now, once we got into training I think I'd be a little more livid with her, but until then I just wanted to make her smile. "Talk about cheesy," I muttered to myself as the white bird flew off in the total opposite direction we'd come. Kisame gave me a look and snorted.

I scowled back as the bird started to slow, we were getting close, finally.

Itachi's POV:

(BTW this like back to im and like an hour after he went to sleep) I was waking slowly, the darkness had been peaceful as it had consumed me, and I was grateful nothing had happened while I rested. I caught Ashley's eye and smiled a small smile and sat up, her eyes sparkled a little up at me and then turned and nodded behind us. When I looked I just caught site of a small white bird coming over the building, it was from Deidara.

Speak of the devil, a moment later there he was, his black cloak tied around his waist and flapping aimlessly as he hopped on the roof-top, Kamiah soon followed and let out a soft squeal when she caught site of Ashley. Kisame came last, his eyes searching around before he hopped to the ground with the other two.

As much as I'd have loved to stay here all day resting in the shade with Ashley (much to my annoyance, causing a few rants and many more Why's to enter my mind) I knew it was getting late and that we had to head on back already. I was a bit sad as I stood and placed my straw hat back on my head, I hadn't gotten to show Ashley around, since she'd let me rest. I was also grateful, she knew she was giving up a tour of the village, but seeing as she apparently knew everything about us, I guessed she probably knew a lot about the village already.

"Itachi-kun," Kisame said, concern evident in his eyes, I bru shed the silent question off with a look at the blond standing next to me. Kisame grinned a toothy grin at her and she smiled in return, blushing a little. I tried not to let jealousy overwhelm me, Jesus what was wrong with me?

"We'd best be heading back, Pein's going to flip if we're not back before sun-up tomorrow with these two," Deidara muttered and watched Kamiah curiously as her and Ashley exchanged small talk. I beckoned Ashley to follow me, and she obeyed quickly, falling into step with me as we headed for the entrance to the village. Kisame flanked her left side and Deidara trailed ahead with Kamiah behind him.

The sun was beginning to set by the time we finally reached the gate, it made everything look fiery. I especially couldn't help but like the way it made Ashley's eyes look, it made them... well, sparkle and shine like the setting sun, it made an electric current flash up my spine every time she looked over at me and caught me looking back, I gave her a few smiles as we headed through the gate and back the way we'd come. I checked with my Sharingan and found no one following us, which relieved me a bit.

As we entered the trees along the path I stopped and took a last look at my old village, so many memories flooded through me, the most clear was that of the night I'd fled the villages, the same night I'd slaughtered all of my clan-mates except my brother... I forced myself not to think it, it always made more Why's enter my head, along with a dull ache in my heart that hadn't surfaced until now.

My evil mind took control for a second and I had a thought that made me both want to cringe and smile at the same time. What I thought was a picture of me and Ashley together... in the Uchiha estate. Living like there was no worries or anything, that everything was alright.

I shoved that thought to the back of my mind and looked towards her, nothing would ever be ok. Not until I explained to Sasuke why I did it, and why I didn't kill him. Or maybe... STOP IT. Stop it now. You don't need to put her through that, even if she likes you and she's cute and sweet and everything... GOD. I need a leash on myself, I'm getting way to caught up, I thought silently as I watched the other up ahead, and I started moving from branch to branch again.

OMG YAY

Finally chapter 3, I stayed up soooo late last night

and tonight working on itt,

I hope you guys like!

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