Omg, im typing this on my new laptop I got for Christmas! It is so pretty and shiny ~

Akira=11

Itachi-16

Sasuke=12

It has been eleven months since Itachi brought Akira into his home. She has gotten use to her time surrounded by the infamous family and has found her place. Following the crimson eyed teenager has become a usual occurrence in the home. Itachi didn't seem to mind, in fact most of the time it was the stoic adolescent making sure the curious girl was always by his side. Makoto, the Uchiha mother, seemed to enjoy watching her oldest son worry over the girl like a mother hen.

It was several weeks after this ritual was made clear that Makoto started to take Akira on many shopping trips. The excitement of finally having a cute little girl to call daughter to spoil made the older woman's stay-home-life all the more fun.

Now as a result half of Itachi's dresser drawers were emptied to make room for clothing his mother always wanted to buy if she had a baby girl. It was because of this that the blank faced teenager had the misfortune of catching a glimpse of the new bunny print underwear for his new roommate. And Akira was mentally scared for watching her new mother empty out the drawer with Itachi's black, red, and that one pair of fishy boxers a friend of his gave him for Christmas that one year…he doesn't like to talk about it…

At the moment the brown haired girl was out in town, for once without her emotionless shadow. Making her way to the fruit stand that Makoto told her about she just about jumped at the threatening voice that made its way to her ears.

"What the fuck do you mean ten gold?" The voice of an extremely tall man with dark skin and black hair that reminded her of something…but what? The girl watched him lean over the stall to pick up the apple vender by the collar. She watched the muscles ripple in his tank top. He was defiantly someone she wanted to meet in a dark alley…Who was she kidding Itachi wouldn't even let her go outside for the longest time!

"This crummy fruit doesn't even look like it's worth five gold." The nightmarish man continued on his rampage. This had to stop, Akira wanted her apples. Makoto was going to bake her an apple pie to celebrate her turning eleven-years-old today, much to the displeasure of her husband who just wanted to feed her to the dogs…No really, Itachi showed her the guard dogs that guarded the pirate ship the Uchiha family was so proud of, it made Akira grip her caretakers waist like no tomorrow.

"Kakuzu, Itachi won't be very pleased if we cause uproar in his hometown, yeah." Another voice came between the vender and the man named after the girls long lost rag doll. Hearing the name of her favorite fifteen-year-old Akira shuffled a little closer, hiding behind a wooden post. After she listened to the three men…well two men and a pretty looking boy…she thinks it's a boy. The one called Kakuzu seemed to finally calm down and, grudgingly, hand other ten gold coins for an apple he immediately started to devour.

Gaining enough courage she decided to buy her apples now then attempt to make small talk. Akira sighed as she walked up to the stall that was just slightly lower than her chin, she was never a sociable child, maybe that's why she was always picked on back home.

"Can I have five apples please?" She spoke up, yet as usual the man could barely hear it.

"Ah, Akira, it is so nice to see you here. Is the older Uchiha boy not with you today?" Akira shook her head.

"No Makoto let me run this errand all by myself." She was no fully aware of the two sets of eyes listening in on her every shy mumble. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, despite how her long tresses covered them.

Carefully the man handed her the basket full of his reddest apples. She smiled sweetly, but due to her clumsy fingers she dropped the basket. Brown eyes watched them role away in dismay.

"Noo, apples don't run!" She cried and got to her knees to pick them up. When four were successfully retrieved she went to pick up the final one. Looking on the dirty cobble road she did not spot it until a tan, masculine hand was brought to her face. Akira looked up and saw the pretty boy-girl. He-She…Um, It had long blond hair that covered his right or left eye (depends on your perspective) and had one blue eye that twinkled with mischievous-ness(this word is pissing me off). He wore a cloak with red clouds on it.

The gears in her eleven-year-old mind were turning; the cloak was very familiar to her.

"Um, thank you." She said.

"No problem, yeah." It said in a boyish voice, yup, it was a guy.

"Um…Do you know Itachi? You mentioned him a minute ago." The boy's lone eye seemed to sparkle.

"As a matter of fact, we are looking for the fish loving weasel!" He laughed, but she didn't find it funny, Itachi told her he hated to eat fish, said something about giving him nightmares.

"I could take you to him?" She said tilting her head as she tried to remember where she saw the cloaks the two males were wearing.

"That would be good." The tall man finally said. Akira nodded and went to pay for her fruit.

"Aww, for you Akira just five coins!" Kakuzu twitched.

"You-" Before he could speak anymore the girl threw an apple at his head.

"So, how do you know Itachi?" Asked the blond walking beside Akira.

"That's rude. Shouldn't we exchange names before this?" She said remembering her manors.

"Er, oh yeah, my name is Deidara."Said the blond.

"Kakuzu." Said the tall one studying her from the back.

"I am Akira; it's nice to meet you." She said quietly. Walking past several houses the group came to the front of the Uchiha district. They stayed together until the large old fashioned home came into view with its looming gate. Deidara whistled in amazement.

"As usual the Uchiha's never ceased to amaze me right, Mr. Stitches?" Kakuzu sighed.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop that?" The tall man growled. For the next two minutes the men bickered as Akira watched blankly.

"Stitches?" She asked as she walked inside the gates, the two males following her.

"Heh, yeah, he is reeeeally ugly under that mask of his Akira, yeah." Deidara snickered. The other rolled his eyes. She tilted her head in her habitual way to show she was confused. Kakuzu stared at her; it was only then that she noticed the cloth that covered his nose and lips to his chin. They continued to stare as she made her way down the familiar hall to Itachi's bedroom. Finally he got the hint and shook his head at her curiosity. A brown hand pulled down the black cloth to reveal stitches around his neck and lips, to anyone it would be enough to cringe at. But the girl stared and the gears in her head came to life in realization.

"You look like my favorite ragdoll!" She said with a smile and latched onto his waist in blissfulness. Deidara laughed at the unusual look his traveling partner gave and almost bumped into someone opening the door to the wanted weasel.

"Is there any reason why you are hugging a man twice your age Akira." Itachi silently snarled from behind the still snickering blond.

"Itachi, its Kakuzu, but bigger!" The girl exclaimed.

"Yes I do realize you are hugging an over sized man named Kakuzu. But he is not your doll." He pointed to the man in question who was tensed ever since the girl put her arms around him. "Release her." The weasel said hiding his secret jealousy.

"Itachi, long time no see." Said Deidara, the weasel nodded. Then he looked towards the girl who now let go of Kakuzu, "Hey thanks for showing us the way."

"You're welcome; I'll be back with some tea." Akira said politely.

"Eh-"Itachi interrupted the question the blond was about to ask.

"Akira lives here you moron."

Having Itachi open the bedroom door for her she walked in with a tray of tea. The two guests sat by the windows and looked up when she entered. After receiving the hot beverage the living ragdoll spoke up.

"So have you taken into consideration Captain Pein's offer?"

"Yes and I except." He said. Akira listened as the conversation went on.

"Wait…y-you mean the Captain Pein of the pirate ship Akatsuki…?" She asked

"Yeah, we are both crew." Deidara pointed to him and his buddy. Brown eyes sparkled.

"N=no wonder your name was so familiar."

"Akira what are you going on about?" Itachi asked.

"I use to have a book given to me by a traveler, this book listed in great detail different famous pirates and sea monsters. I was too young so I couldn't read it, but I got daddy to read it for me. M-my favorite to hear about was Akatsuki…I use to day dream about becoming a member of the crew. I always dreamed about traveling." She exclaimed surprised at how happily she spoke of the subject.

"Wow, admirers…that's a first." The blue eyed teenager said appalled. Flushing at his insight she shrunk back into her introverted mind.

"I'm sorry…was that weird?" She asked and Itachi glared at the dumb blond. It was the first time Akira had ever spoken without uneasiness, even around him, he was pleased. But the stupid clay Dodo bird just had to say something.

Flustered, said stupid clay Dodo bird waved his arms about frantically.

"Wah, sorry, sorry, no I didn't…shit."

"I would shut up now; you'll just make the kid feel worse." Kakuzu mumbled.

Once the eleven-year-old was calmed down she decided to ask:

"What kind of offer did the Akatsuki want with you Itachi?"

"Captain Pein has asked for my acceptance as a crew member."

"But…weren't you supposed to succeed your father?" She asked. Itachi glowered at nothing in particular at the mention of his damnable old man.

"He hurt you last month and you expect me to ensue what he thinks is best for me?" He said as the shadow behind him seemed to grow darker with flames…Akira shrunk back.

"S-sorry…"

"Awww, don't worry Akira. Weasel-face here is just angry daddy wants to get rid of his Lolita complex!" Deidara whispered behind her. Confused she turned to the older boy about to ask what he meant when a foot came in contact with the blonde's tan face.

"Who has the Lolita complex?" He said as he ground his foot into the other boy's face, "I'm not the one getting all cozy with a little kid."

"You sure about that?" Kakuzu said lightly as his attention was now drawn to the girl he pat on the head when she asked him to save her new friend. He stared at the crimson eyed boy with a smirk, mocking him that Akira's attention was now on the rag doll.

"And you, stop being a child molester." He said aggravated. The two glared at each other, poor Akira stuck in the middle thoroughly confused at why they were so angry.

"H-hey…its' getting late, yeah." The blond recovered at last.

It was late evening as the two roommates walked their guests to the front of the manor. They bid each other fairwell, it included two hugs good-bye from the girl and two solid glares from the Uchiha when it was evident that the older boy's enjoyed it a bit to much than he approved of.

"Bye Akira, I'll tell Captain about your praise. He's sure to be surprised!"