Things had been great in the Suna from that day. A lot of houses had been rebuilt, Kankuro was a labeled playboy of the year, Temari started her own business, Hinata and Gaara's relationship went to a new level; talk of children, marriage, and future were heard, and Matsuri and Hinata's relationship blossomed. All was fine, there was no word from the Akatsuki, no sign of them attacking. It was an age of peace, of prosperity, of joy. Surely nothing could darken their sunny day or rain on their parade. If only it were so. One day Matsuri wasn't around, she was missing, and everyone was looking for her. Hinata was worried, Hanabi had said to keep an eye on her and Hinata did, but it seemed Matsuri really liked Hinata as a friend, as a best friend, as a sister even. Now she was off without word or trace. Hinata hadn't told Gaara or the others about Hanabi's warning and now she was regretting it.

"Hinata, do you have any idea where she could have gone?"

Hinata looked up at Temari, who looked as worried as Hinata did. Even though the Akatsuki hadn't been heard of since that time they attacked Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, and Hinata knew they would be attacking soon. Matsuri couldn't be out there, she was perfect bait. Hopefully they wouldn't want her or hurt her. Hinata shook her head 'no'.

"I have no clue. I hope she's alright."

"Maybe she just went for a walk," Kankuro suggested.

"Without telling us?"

Kankuro looked at Temari and shrugged. "Maybe she wanted to be alone. We can't assume the worst, you know. Matsuri is pretty tough. She is a Suna girl, after all. Look, if she doesn't return in about 15 minutes, give or take, then we'll keep looking, okay? I think she's fine."

Hinata nodded. Matsuri probably wanted to be alone, but she was always like that….alone. Didn't she know she had people to love her? Matsuri was in trouble. Big trouble. She was in danger, but she knew it, and embraced it. Coming here was a bad idea and getting here was easier said than done. She had been frightened, it was dark, and she was alone. She remembered standing on the brink of the abyss, crying out for her mother, crying out for her father, her sisters, her brothers, before THEY took her. After she escaped them she fled to the Sunagakure where she trained hard and tough, telling herself she'd get vengeance on those who kidnapped her and killed her beloved family. Revenge…that Hanabi girl wanted revenge too…that searing, boiling hatred in her eyes made her one ugly beast, it made her a villainous vixen of death, blinded by fury, jealousy, and that taste for vengeance, she would kill her own sister to get what she wanted. Would Matsuri kill somebody she liked or cared for in order to get Gaara? Surely she had no feelings for Hinata…right? But Temari and Kankuro were kind to her, they let her stay with them.

Would she kill them to get Gaara? She looked down at her hands and saw them trembling, she saw blood, Temari's blood, Kankuro's blood, Hinata's blood. Gaara would never forgive her, he'd hate her, and he'd kill her. He couldn't find out about her plan, and she would not let herself become that fierce animal that lurked in Hanabi's eyes but oh….that look of utter peace in her face, all her worries, anger, and hared fluttered away like the mid-afternoon tide of butterflies in a valley of flowers. Matsuri looked at herself and feared that horrible, ugly beast that threatened to control her. She wanted the lovely look of peace Hanabi had but she could only have it by letting go. She stepped back….maybe this was a bad idea….maybe she should turn back.

"Enter," a slightly deep, rugged, yet sickeningly sweet, calm voice ushered.

Too late. She hated Hinata…right? So what if she was nice to her, treated her good, protected her….? Matsuri knew her game. Hinata wasn't going to win over her that easy. No way, not with Gaara so deep in love with her. How could he? He wouldn't anymore. She'd spread poison with her devil's tongue into his ear for him to realize the woman he loved may not be what he thought. If that didn't work then she'd get rid of Hinata then replace her, physically and literally. Her enchantment, her ultimate jutsu, was ready to go, she just needed to use it at the right time. She entered the place, discovered the darkness was unbearable but wasn't it always? She could see the glow of some eyes, all different shapes, colors, and sizes.

"Welcome back…Matsuri."

She looked up to greet those eyes. The place suddenly became lighter as those eyes became forms, about 12 of them, and those forms became silhouettes and those became people. The one speaking, looked calmly down upon Matsuri.

"Why is it you've returned? I thought you hated us," said one, he was blonde, and he looked utterly pissed but still wore a smile.

The man, who was originally speaking, silenced the blonde man with a single look then turned his attention to Matsuri. His eyes were black, as was his hair, he also had fair skin, and wore a black coat with red swirls that looked like clouds. Itachi.

"I have a job for you."

"Heh. Little brat. I think you forgot you betrayed us. My hand still hurts where you cut it."

Again, Itachi silenced him. Kisame, a sharky-looking man with blue skin, gills, silver eyes, sharp teeth, and dark blue spiked hair kneeled next to Itachi and whispered into his ear. Itachi shook his head then dismissed the man.

"Kisame…tell her what you told me."

Kisame nodded and focused on the girl. She had grown since he last saw her, even before the battle, she was just a pup then.

"We were responsible for the death of-"

"I know."

'Still arrogant, as she once was,' Kisame thought wistfully.

"Don't interrupt our second in command! I'll rip your tongue out you wench! With your attitude we'll never help you out."

"You were always so talkative Deidera…listen, what I have to say may be of some interest to you. I am well aware of what you have done and I will still never forgive you…but I need you for this job and you won't deny it."

"Why is that?" Itachi mused, sounding slightly interested.

"It involves that young Hyuga girl."

There, a spark in those usually soulless black eyes. Anyone else wouldn't have noticed it but when you spend a lot of time around these people you get to know them.

"Why should we help?" a voice inquired in almost a whisper, his name was Sasori, and he looked quite a bit like Gaara.

"You want her, for her power. I want her, for dead. Get rid of her, do what you wish, I don't care. She's the bane of my existence."

Itachi's eyes smiled. "Very well then."

Matsuri nodded. "I want it done as soon as possible. By sundown tomorrow."

"You rude, two-timing, snotty-nosed little-" Deidera started.

"Deal."

Matsuri firmly bowed to Itachi, no matter how much she hated it, and left before hearing a conversation between Kisame, Deidera and Itachi.

"Are you sure we can trust that little prick? I mean, she did attack us…she could be leading us on."

"We can handle it. Besides, you have no right to question Itachi's word. Itachi's our number one, he's like the admiral, chosen to be the next leader."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mr. High and mighty. I still think she'll double-cross us…Is this Hinata girl that important?"

"Yes," Itachi said bluntly.

"Alright…this is your cross to bear Itachi."

"She doesn't want to stain her pretty hands so she uses us…huh. Reminds me of somebody else."

"You mean that snake-guy, Orochimaru?"

"Hmmm," Itachi mused.

"What are you thinking, Itachi-san?"

"I knew…I knew she would turn out to be one of us," Was his icy remark.

Matsuri could feel his cold words slide down her back like a block of slightly wet ice. She shivered. Yes it was that thick, venom filled voice that she heard, yes it was those cold, black eyes she saw, yes it was him, with his ghostly appearance, like a phantom he was. He, the grim reaper with his 11 disciples, a living, breathing Satan, the fallen angel of death. She swore she'd never return…yet there she was. How could she return and ask for help…after all….they did snatch her away like the beasts in a twisted fairytale, and left her with the gruesome image of them slaughtering her family right in front of her. Matsuri returned to the Suna, still thinking of Itachi's words when she was bombarded by hugging people. Temari, Kankuro, and a few other people she saw here and there, were hugging her.

"Hey, kid, we thought you were a goner for sure. Don't ever run away again!"

Matsuri looked up at Kankuro and Temari. She looked forward and saw Hinata run for her. 'Oh Kami, help me.' Hinata landed on top of Matsuri, sweeping her up in a hug. 'What's this? Hinata's…crying?'

"Oh thank Kami your safe, I was so worried about you."

"You…you were?"

"Of course I was! You're like my little sister…I love you. You're so dear to me…you're like a part of me."

Hinata squeezed tighter until Matsuri turned blue, gasping for air, and asked to be let go. Gaara was there too, to give Matsuri a hug as well, which made her blush. He was touching her!

"Don't run off like that, kay? You saved my butt once and I know I owe you but did you have to go out like that and scare us all to death? Hinata was worried sick about you…she really was."

"If you wanted time alone, just tell me, but know that you're never truly alone. We're all here for you, we all care about you. You'll never be alone again."

Hinata gingerly touched Matsuri's shoulder. They cared, they all cared. They had worried about her, even her Gaara-senpai. Hinata was genuinely concerned and this made Matsuri feel warm. 'Never alone?' But what did Hinata know about loneliness? She knew nothing about not having a family…but she just lost hers, right? Still, she had Temari and the others…but so did Matsuri. Was Gaara the only reason she hated Hinata? That, and Hinata's lovely face seemed to be it. She'd never have Gaara, unless she was Hinata. It could happen, she knew that but he'd still love Hinata, not Matsuri so she'd be living a lie. Hinata gave her something, it was a silver chain with a glossy white amulet with silver and little blue sapphires, the same one Hinata had saw. It was also a locket, as Matsuri figured out. It had two pictures inside, one of Hinata and one of Matsuri, assumedly taken from one of her pictures. At first, she was mad that Hinata went inside her personal stuff and cut out a picture and then it was touching.

Somebody cared. Somebody loved her. No, Hinata was just trying to sweeten her up with gifts, gifts don't buy friendship. The amulet turned green with a mix of black and red. Jealousy, hate, and anger. She covered the amulet quickly and thanked Hinata. Hinata saw it though, the amulet changed color, but she forgot what they meant. Red meant love right? Green meant prosperity, right? And black…black wasn't good, she knew that. The old lady had warned her of the amulet turning that solid black. White was neutral, benevolence, or somebody wasn't wearing it but this shade of glossy darkness was malicious. Why was it turning this color? Hanabi's warning! Was Matsuri truly evil? Hinata frowned. No, she looked so…innocent but looks can be deceiving.

Later that night Hinata snuck into Matsuri's room, of course she was dead asleep, and found the amulet. It wasn't on her neck it was laying open on the table. Maybe it was broken? Hinata had to test it out. She put it on and thought of Gaara. Suddenly it turned pink and yellow. She found a card with the colors and their meanings. Yellow was happiness and pink was love/passion. That was right…Hinata saw that green was jealousy, red was anger, and black, at least the black she was warned about, was hatred and there was some skulls next to it and a caution sign. It was supposed to be dangerous and that somebody with a black heart would taint the amulet black forever. This was serious. It also said that somebody with a pure, benevolent heart could turn the stone white again. Hinata took it off and when she did she noticed something on the table.

Was that…a lock of her hair? No wonder she felt a bald spot somewhere. Gaara said her hair was full and lush as always but she was a woman, she knew of these things. Why did Matsuri have a lock of her hair? There were scrolls too, scrolls with fables, hand signs, potion ingredients, things were circled and underlined. Such things as: Transformation jutsu. Permanent. Needs lock of hair. Needs these ingredients-hair, pictures, death, etc. What was this? Hinata's heart pound in her chest louder with each thing she found. A checklist? Hair-check, blood-check, potion-check, hand signs-check, Akatsuki-check, pictures- a fresh, new, just written and rather large check with a smiley face.

'Oh Kami!' Hinata's stomach did a flip, her heart was beating so fast she swore Matsuri would wake up from the sound of it. She pieced it together. Matsuri was planning to kill Hinata using the Akatsuki then take on her appearance and replace her. But why? Did she hate her that much? What did she do? There were love poems, pictures, newspaper clippings, stories all of and for Gaara. Of course. Matsuri was in love with Gaara! The shocking revelation was enough for Hinata to bolt out of the room as fast as she could. Everything swirled in her mind. Hadn't one of those papers said TOMMOROW IT HAPPENS? Did that mean tomorrow the Akatsuki would come? She had to prepare for this, she had to get Gaara, the army, her cousin…everyone and anyone to help! Hinata was scared, for the first time in a long time, she was morbidly frightened. She also felt a depression. Matsuri had lied. Matsuri had betrayed her and hated her all just to get Gaara. Was it worth it? Was Matsuri so sullied with hatred and jealousy that she would kill? Matsuri was pondering these things in her sleep as she felt another ice sickle slither down her back when Itachi's words rebounded in her head.

"I knew…I knew she would turn out to be one of us."

"No…no…no," groaned Matsuri in her restless sleep.

On her counter lay the locket, open, with the amulet pulsating, glowing, and the amulet was starting to turn solid black.