A couple of months had passed since Fukuko's first mission with Akatsuki. Since then, she had gone on several more in her red haired ninja disguise. The missions were becoming harder and harder each time, mainly because she was now listed in the Bingo book as a member of Akatsuki. She didn't know this, Akatsuki kept it hidden from her, as they continued to use her as their puppet to cover up their real crimes.

"Fu! Can I come in?" came the deep voice of Kisame's.

"Go away!" I cried. "I'm sick and if you enter, I'll throw up all over you!"

Kisame sighed and gave up. I knew what he wanted. It was he who had grown fond my Alix and every time I went off on a mission, he would feed the wolf tons amount of food causing him to grow much larger than before.

I had refused to leave the room until I could completely remember everything that had happened, must to the annoyance of several Akatsuki members mainly Deidara, Sasori and Pein.

There was so much I was trying to understand at once. My memories, my feelings, my past, my future. It made me feel more confused the harder I tried to think.

I couldn't understand what I was feeling. It was like a whole bunch of emotions thrown into one single box and forced to try and get along.

I hit my head on the pillow as I tried to separate those emotions. Fear… for being killed. Depression… for not being able to remember anything that could have linked me to why I was here. Anger… I knew where my missing brother now was… and yet unable to do anything in this current state. Happiness… I was safe and alive for the moment… as long as I didn't try anything stupid. And a new one… a single emotion I can't remember ever feeling before. It drowned out the others as though they were pointless, meaningless, unimportant, unnecessary. It was as though… I only needed that single emotion to feel all the others. I couldn't understand it.

I giggled and rolled on to my side as Alix started licking my stomach. Alix was bigger than last time, so much bigger that I struggled to pick him up. He was on his way of becoming a strong adult wolf.

I pulled Alix closer to me and cuddled him. All those flashbacks were slowly pasting themselves together. There was just one thing I couldn't get my head around.

That Orochimaru person… Who was he? Why did he have my brother locked up? Why was I sent to spy on him? I tried to remove him from my mind. Every time I pictured him, I had goosebumps along my arms and a shiver down my spine.

I sat up in fright as I heard the door handle turn.

"It's just me un,"

I sighed in relief and laid back down upon the bed. I was behaving like that ever since I got back from my first mission. Jumpy, nervous and edgy. As though someone was about to jump out and attack me.

"Are you alright?"

I jumped again as I felt his cold hand against my forehead.

"I'm fine…" I muttered as I felt my cheeks heat up. There was that emotion again. Getting stronger each time.

"You sure un? You look really red."

I nodded silently and stroked Alix trying to calm down. If I was to stay here any longer, I would have a nervous breakdown. I could feel it coming already. But where else did I have to go?

"Deidara…" I said slowly turning my head to the direction on where I last heard his voice. "What do you know about Orochimaru?"

"Orochimaru un? Not a lot, Sasori knows more about him than I do."

"Who is he?"

He knew something. He was hiding it from me. I could tell.

Deidara didn't answer my question, "What do you know about him un?"

I glared behind my headband. "I asked you first."

"I don't care un,"

I growled and turned my back on him. If I could pick him up, I would have thrown Alix at him for that. I mentally made a note to throw Alix at Kisame first.

I needed to get the truth out of Deidara somehow. I could try flirting again, but I was growing impatient so thought of another approach.

"Let's play a game." I said sitting up on the bed. "Just you and me."

"What's game is that un?"

I felt the bed sink slightly in front of me as Deidara sat down.

"Truth or Dare."

"Alright then, me first."

"But I thought of the game!" I whined. "It's my turn first!"

"Fine," Deidara muttered. "I pick dare."

"Damn it!"

I ran my fingers across Alix's furry back as I tried thinking of a challenge. If he wasn't going to play along and tell the truth, I suppose I could try and beat it out of him.

"I dare you…" I smirked, "I dare you to break into Hidan's room and steal something from it."

"Easy un," Deidara said, "I'll be back in a few seconds."

I smirked with confidence as I laid back on the bed, listening out for any cries of pain and thuds of anger.

Silence.

I pouted as I heard Deidara walked back into the room and toss something down at my hands.

"Simple un."

"What happened to the fits of temper?" I moaned rolling up the object in my hands. It felt like some kind of book. "And the cries of suffering?"

"Hidan's on mission."

He flicked my headband and took the object away from me. "I want to look at this un!"

"What is it?" I asked tilting my head slightly.

"It's a big boy's magazine, so no peeking un."

"Ha-ha." I stuck out my tongue. "I pick dare!"

"I dare you to… Kiss Itachi un!"

I choked on nothing and moved my head in Deidara's direction, disbelief across my face. "NANI?!"

"A dare's a dare." Deidara said in his cocky voice. "Hurry up now."

I gulped. I was so going to die, but I wasn't going to break easily. I was determined to continue with this game until he picked truth.

So I stood up and used my hands to guide me out of the door and along the corridor. I didn't know which one was Itachi's room, but sooner or later I would walk into him, literally. He was silent like a shadow. It scared me… But I found his presence more protecting than fearful. It was the same for Kisame. They were the only two I could get along with, except for Sasori and Deidara of course.

"Got you un!"

I screamed as I felt someone's hands knock me over and catch me within his arms. I hit against their chest but quickly stopped as I recognised the familiar chuckle.

"Deidara!" I cried out hitting him once more. "Don't sneak up on me again!"

"Sorry un," He said still chuckling. "But that was really simple and you still fell for it."

"Fell for what?" I asked blankly crossing my arms over my stomach as he carried me along.

"You're out of the room aren't you? And just in time for your newest mission un!"

I groaned. Another mission? I was still recovering from the affects of the first one!

"Where are we going this time?" I asked.

"To a small village un, in the Fire Country."

"Fire Country?" I paused in thought. Fire Country… That was were Konoha was. My old hometown. The very village that may know what happened to me, and why this Orochimaru person was haunting all my thoughts.

"Okay then," I said grinning, "To the Fire Country!"