The song used in this chapter, Blue Bird, is not mine and is the Naruto Shippuden Opening 3
"Do you think Mikoya is right for the job you had asked her to do?" Shizune questioned Tsunade, who was looking out the window in the Hokage's office.
Tsunade brought her nail to her mouth and bit down, not enough to break it. She wasn't sure if Mikoya could do this job. Sure she was one of the top ANBU, and only sixteen at that, but Mikoya had also lost her memories of before she was thirteen, only remembering how to fight.
"I believe she could be," Tsunade replied to Shizune.
"But we don't know her past, what if she is connected to someone within Akatsuki?" Shizune questioned.
"And who do you think she would be connected to?" Tsunade asked her honey coloured eyes locking with Shizune's black ones.
"You know who she fights like, what if she is connected to him? What if she is connected to That Night?"
"I know what, and who, you mean Shizune, and if she is connected to him, then she is of even more use on this mission," Tsunade stated.
"But what if there was a reason why he erased her memories? What if Mikoya knows how to defeat him?"
"We don't even know if she has anything to do with him, we're just guessing."
"You say if you could fly, you would never come back,
You aimed for that blue, blue sky."
"What are you doing, Mikoya?"
"Singing Blue Bird, it's one of my favourite songs."
"It sounds very pretty, come on, keep singing."
"Hai… You've yet to remember 'sadness',
Just now began to grasp 'pain'
Even the feelings I held onto for you,
Are just now changing into words."
"As you awaken from the dream of an unknown world
Spread your wings and take off," Mikoya sung as she washed her hair.
It's been awhile since she sung, being the first time in a long time. She can't believe she only just remembered the song; she had used to sing it all the time when she first arrived in Konoha.
Mikoya quickly rinsed off and started drying off and getting dressed, still singing the song.
"You say if you could fly, you would never come back
You aimed for those white, white clouds
If you break through, you know you'll find it
So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky."
She finished getting dressed and went into her room, only to find Tobi sitting on her bed. She stood staring at him; he stared back, and then jumped off the bed.
"Yay! Mikoya-chan is out of the shower! Want to go and get ice-cream with Tobi?" Tobi questioned.
"Not right now Tobi, why not go and ask someone else?"
"Because, we already told Tobi no," Sasori said walking into the room. "Mikoya, Pein-sama has a mission for you. Tobi, your favourite show is about to start."
Tobi gave a happy squeal before running out of Mikoya's room. She sighed, already used to Tobi after only a week at the Akatsuki. She hasn't talked to Itachi since that night, though it was mostly because she tried to avoid him.
"Mikoya-san?" Sasori questioned.
"Ah, sorry Sasori-san," Mikoya said jumping out of her thoughts, "Just let me get my shoes on."
Once that was done, she left the room with Sasori, who led her to Pein's office. He left, and Mikoya knocked and then walked in after Pein gave his ok to go in. Inside, she saw Itachi, but no Kisame. She was confused, but hid it as she shut the door.
"Now that you are here, I shall be giving you your mission," Pein said, and Mikoya realised she was doing a mission with Itachi. "Now, it's a simple assassination mission, which is why I have asked you two to do it. Itachi-san, while you do the actual killing of any guards, it shall be up to Tsukiko-san to get the target alone."
"What is there to know about the target?" Itachi questioned Pein.
"His male, early forties, he looks like this." Pein held up a picture of a man with black hair and green eyes. He looked older than he was, and had the fatness of someone who has enough money to not care. "His name is Yūta. He owns a club in a small town off the south coast. You've done missions there before Itachi-san, so I expect you to know which town."
Itachi nodded.
"Pack and leave before noon."
Itachi and Mikoya left the room, and planned to meet up at the front of the hideout. Mikoya quickly went back to her room, and started packing; Blue Bird was once again in her head.
"With a sound like all civility was gone
The rusted, old window broke
Look, you're so sick of looking at that cage that you're throwing it away
Without ever looking back again
That throbbing beat takes your breath away
And you kick open that window and take off."
Once she was fully packed, she left her room, locking it behind her. She walked to the front of the hideout and saw Itachi waiting, he's own bag packed. Mikoya and Itachi said nothing and the headed off, Itachi leading the way, and Mikoya humming the song softly.
"Blue Bird," Itachi stated and Mikoya looked at him shocked.
"H-hai, how did you know?" Mikoya questioned.
"You hear things when you move around a lot," Itachi replied. "How do you know it?"
Mikoya was surprised by how much Itachi was speaking, but decided to answer. "I've always known it."
Itachi nodded but said nothing, and they continued walking in silence.
When night started to fall, they set up camp in a small clearing. While Itachi searched the surrounding area for any threats, Mikoya started up the fire, knowing that they will only be able to keep it for a couple of hours.
While she set up camp, she sung.
"You said if you could run, you would obtain it
You're tempted by that distant, distant voice
It grasps your far too dazzling hand
Until you pursue that blue, blue sky
I understand that you are falling
But still, continue to follow the light."
There was a rustling in the nearby bushes, and Mikoya pulled out a kunai, as a masked ANBU stepped into the clearing.
"Where is Itachi?" the ANBU questioned as he showed Mikoya who he was.
"Searching the area," Mikoya replied and relaxed slightly.
"Any news?"
"Nothing that we don't already know."
The ANBU nodded and left.
Mikoya sighed and finished the fire. She sat on the dry grass and looked up at the sky, which was coloured with red, pinks and purples from the setting sun.
"You say if you could fly, you would never come back
You searched for those white, white clouds
If you break through, you know you'll find it
So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky."
She finished the song, just as the sun fully set and the sky turned to a plain blue again. She felt a tear slid out of her eye and quickly wiped it away, stopping the others from following.
"Everything is clear," Itachi said returning, he noticed the faint tear trail on Mikoya's cheek, but said nothing as he sat down across from her.
"That's good," Mikoya replied and searched through her bag for the food pills she had. She threw them in her mouth and swallowed, Itachi watching her.
It was silent, and once the sky was fully dark, only the moon and stars out, they put the fire out and fell asleep.