Sasuke ran into the village, going as fast as possible to find someone- anyone- to tell. He ran into Kakashi. Losing his cool, he just started sputtering out a whole bunch of words. What is going on? This has never happened to me before. Well- Aimi isn't here and she never will be so you can leave me alone forever now. Kakashi put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Its ok. Now tell me what is going on." Sasuke took a deep breath and said, "The Akatsuki are spying on the village. And they have a new member. A girl. I don't know who she is. She had a hood over her face. Now tell me what to do." Kakashi didn't skip a beat. "This is usual. They're probably just trying to scare us to make a huge confusion. Ignore it, and they'll probably go away."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"OK."

"But, tell me about the new member. Female? A hood over her face? Give me every detail, it could be useful in the future."

()()()()

Aimi ran back to the hideout. "I was spotted," she busted out to Itachi as soon as she saw him. "I blew my cover." Itachi sighed. "Ah. I see we have something knew to work on in your studies," he said. Aimi sighed now. She hated her studies. "I'm good enough, I don't need those anymore," she said. "Mmm-hmm. You proved that by getting seen," he replied. "Listen, I hit my head against a tree because Sasuke distracted me and-" Itachi stopped her. "Sasuke?" he asked. Aimi nodded. "Was he the one who saw you?" Aimi nodded. "Did you or he take off your hood?" Aimi shook her head. "I didn't, he tried but I stopped him," she said. "Ah. Ok. If this happens again, you'll be in big trouble, missy," he said. Aimi smiled. "Yes, father," she said. Itachi then got very serious. "Don't ever call me that again. I'm not your father and I'll never add up to what he was," he said. Aimi stared at him. "OK. But what-" Itachi stopped her. "Don't ask any questions." Aimi nodded, bowed her head and walked away.

The last thing Itachi had needed was that to come up. Now all the memories were coming back. Like the day she was taken away. That was the most haunting one.

--FLASHBACK-- (did you guess?)

Aimi, Chika, and Sasuke are playing outside, Itachi watching over them. A figure is coming toward the house, and Itachi is watching it intently; it could be some child stealing creep. As the figure gets close, Aimi and Chika freeze in what looks like pure terror. "What's wrong?" Sasuke asks. Itachi looks over at them and sees they're faces. "Its her," they say together. They run behind Itachi and hide. "Do you know this woman?" Itachi asks. "Yes. Its our aunt. She's scary," Chika says. Chika speaks for her and her sister. Surprisingly, Aimi speaks up. "She beats us. And hurts us." Itachi looks over at the woman. "Get Sasuke and go into the house. Now," Itachi says. The girls nod and run to get Sasuke. They drag him into the house. Itachi follows to get his parents to face the woman, whatever she wants. His parents come out with him and the children hide and stare out the window. "Hello," the woman says in a raspy-sweet-bitter voice. Itachi glares but nods. So this was the aunt who hurt those sweet girls. His parents give him a sideways look and say hello back. "My nieces are here, I have heard. Aimi and Chika. I have come to claim them, to take them home," she gets to the point. Itachi's father speaks first. "Can we be sure to trust you?" The woman looks at him with surprise. "Of course. I'm their aunt. I love them to death," she says. "We do, too," Itachi says, "and they deserve a guardian who won't beat them." His parents look at him then her. "You beat them?" his mother asks, horrified. "Of course not! Now boy, where did you hear that?" the woman asks. "Aimi. And I believe her," Itachi says. "Children! They invent such interesting stories!" the woman says. "Excuse us, ma'am. We need to talk it over. It wont be long," Itachi's father says. They take Itachi into the family room where no one can hear them. "We should," his parents say together. Itachi shakes his head. "No. if you had seen the look of fear that was on their faces and the truth in their eyes you'd agree. We don't even know who she is! She even looks abusive!" he says. Itachi's father shakes his head. "Itachi! We aren't their family. You aren't their father-" "DON'T compare me to that great man! And I do know he'd say no in a heartbeat!" "We're doing it. They are rightfully hers to take." Itachi flared up. "WE CANT!" His parents shake their heads. "We have to." Itachi realizes he is beaten. He goes to get the girls as his parents ordered. "Aimi? Chika?" they don't come out. He goes to their hiding place. It breaks his heart when he sees the two girls sitting up, snuggling with Sasuke as he has his arms protectively around them. They all look up. "Hey you three. You can come out now." They come out. He kneels to their height. "Aimi? Chika? You have to come outside with me. Sasuke, you should stay in here." The girls go to Itachi's side and Sasuke follows. "I promised to protect them and I will, so I'm coming," Sasuke insists. Itachi sighs. "Ohk." They all walk outside where the aunt is waiting. Itachi bows his head. And his parents come over. "We will if you can't," his mother says apologetically. He nods and hands the girls to them. "Itachi?" Aimi asks. He avoids the girls' gazes. "I'm sorry," he whispers. "Itachi!" Chika squeals as the aunt takes them and throws them over her shoulder. "SASUKE! ITACHI!" the girls yell. "Shuttup, brats." Itachi hears the aunt hiss. Sasuke realizes what is going on and bolts after them. "I'm coming!" he yells. He chases after them. They reach their hands out to him and cry. The aunt speeds up a bit. "SASUKE!" they yell. Itachi moves his eyes away but looks again. Sasuke chases after the girls running as fast as his little legs can carry him. Itachi's mother and father come up behind Sasuke and hold him back each holding an arm out to the side. He struggles but they hold fast. "CHIKA!! AIMI!!" he yells. They cry back to him, still reaching out as they disappear beyond the road. He looks over at Itachi, fear and pain in his eyes. "Why didn't you go after them?" he asks, beginning to cry himself. Itachi looks away. He wonders, too, why he didn't go after them.

-END FLASHBACK-

Itachi shook his head. He shouldn't think about that. He began to practice some more. Then he remembered a fond memory. He was such a mean big brother… in a nice way. He couldn't say he didn't enjoy seeing that. It was very funny. In a mean way. But still, it was very funny. And he couldn't say they hadn't enjoyed it either. He smiled to himself. Nothing like a good, romantic party.

--ANOTHER FLASHBACK-- (you'll probably like this one)

It was one of the best parties ever. Itachi and his friends drank their punch and watched the commotion going on around them. The parents were all in a group talking and the kids were chasing each other. The group of friends were laughing. "Hey," one of them said, "lets see. Future couples of the little ones!" They all laughed. "So who would be paired with that rascal Naruto?" They all thought. "Miko. Definitely Miko. They're perfect for each other!" They all agreed and laughed. "And that dog kid. Kiba. He'd SO be with Hinata. Hinata with a capital H." Another said. Itachi sighed. "It has to have a capital H, dimwit, but yes, that would work." They all laughed and stared at the two for a minute. Kiba stopped. "Whatcha looking at?!" he asked. "Nothing," they all said and continued with the conversation. On it went. Shikamaru and Chika. Ino and Shino. Sakura and Lee. Etc. etc. etc. "What about Sasuke?" one asked. Itachi smiled a little. It was bound to come up. "Aimi. You should see how he brags about her and swears his protection and friendship to her and endlessly makes a fool out of himself when it comes to her," he said. "Same with Chika," one said. "Yes, but its different," Itachi replied. "Oh, we understand," one replied. Itachi grinned. "I have an idea." he gathered them into a huddle and told them the plan. They laughed themselves to death and agreed, they're eyes sparkling. They took the kids to the other yard. "Now we're going to play a game, ok? We are also gonna give Sasuke and Aimi a little… gift out of this game. Everyone close their eyes, we have to arrange you," Itachi said. The kids did so and he and his friends positioned all the kids in a circle except for Aimi and Sasuke, who they put in the center of the circle, facing each other, very close to each other. Itachi went around the circle telling them to open their eyes in a whisper except for Aimi and Sasuke who kept their eyes closed since they weren't told to open them. Itachi said, "This will be a funny gift, you all. You're gonna love it!" One of his friends went behind Aimi and he went behind Sasuke. Everyone watched in the circle, wondering what they were up to. "On the count of three, you open your eyes," Itachi said. "One, two, THREE!" Aimi and Sasuke opened their eyes just as they were pushed from behind into a kiss. They stayed like that, too shocked to do anything, for about 5 seconds. Everyone was cheering and whooping and laughing. When they pulled away, they were blushing like heck. The nodded at each other and went opposite directions but were caught by the older boys, And turned back to face each other. "Now tell her you like her, Sasuke," Itachi said. Sasuke began to blush and shook his head. "Aw, come on, don't be shy! You know you like her," Itachi's friend said. Sasuke shut his eyes and blurted out, "Ilikeyou!" to Aimi who also had her eyes shut. Everyone clapped. "Come on, ain't that cute?" Itachi asked the other kids. They nodded, but some girls scowled, they liked Sasuke-kun!! "Ok, your torture is over," Itachi said as they let go of the kids. The guys high fived and the kids wouldn't stop talking about it. Ah, it was a GREAT party!

--END FLASHBACK-- (heehee)

()()()

"Hey Deidara," Aimi said walking over to him. "Hey Aimi," he said, working on his latest piece of art. "What is it?" she asked. "It is a mouse, hmm," he said. Aimi nodded. "Art is a blast," she quoted. "Yes, hmm," he said, smiling. "I have taught you well, hmm." Aimi smiled, too. She just sat there for awhile, watching him create his sculpture. After about 20 minutes, Deidara looked up at Aimi. "Do you want to talk, hmm? You never just come to see my marvelous art skills, hmm," he said. "Well… Itachi snapped at me because I called him 'father' sarcastically. He started to freak out about him not adding up to that great man or something," Aimi replied. Deidara was still vaguely preoccupied, so he let his words slip: "Yes, he really looked up to your father, hmm." Aimi looked up at Deidara and stared at him. "What?" Deidara realized what he did. "Uh…" Aimi went on. "He knew my father?" Deidara replied with another "Uh…" Aimi punched Deidara in the gut. "OW. Aimi-"

"Why didn't you tell me?! Don't you think that's kind of… important for me to know?! I have to talk to Itachi right now!" She ran off, leaving Deidara to stand there clutching his stomach, hoping he wouldn't get killed later for letting his words slip.

()()()

"You confronted an Akatsuki member?! Wow, Sasuke, wow." Naruto was ranting on and on about this. It was really starting to get on Sasuke's nerves. "Yes. And regretting it," Sasuke replied. "Oh come on! That reminds me, only 3 more months, buddy! 3 more months and we get to save-"

"Don't say her name, please. And she's dead. Get it through your thick skull. The member even told me." Sasuke bowed his head. Naruto almost looked fazed, but then he said, "No. they lied. You see, they probably know we want to save her, and they said she's dead so we don't get her. Easy, Sasuke, amazing you didn't think of that before." Sasuke felt that small glimmer of hope. Maybe. Maybe she was okay. Maybe, for once, Naruto was onto something. Sasuke didn't respond. He couldn't admit that Naruto was possibly right, but he also didn't want to think about the possible truth.

"Ok. 3 months, then."

()()()

"ITACHI!!" Aimi ran to the place she left him, a crazed look in her eye. He turned. "Aimi? Are you alright?" Aimi just stared at him angrily. "You lied to me," she growled. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You know what I mean! You knew my parents!" she yelled back to him. "What? How did you-" Itachi began. "Tell me the truth!" Aimi demanded. Itachi just stood there, as if he was looking for the right words. "Yes, I knew your family quite well. Remember when you told me that you remember the day your parents died? I remember it, too. Vividly. That's how I found out you were the Tigress, and that's how I found out it was you," he said. Aimi was confused. "What?" Itachi laid his hand on her shoulder. "The boy who your parents gave you to? Do you remember anything about him?" he asked. Aimi shook her head. "He was gentle and kind….but I don't remember how he looked or anything," she said. "…That boy was me, Aimi." Aimi's head shot up and she stared at him. Her eyes changed color, something she had trained them not to do. It showed too much emotion, it gave her away. Her eyes changed to a cloudy, smoky blackish grayish color. "It was you?" she asked quietly. Itachi nodded. Aimi ran to Itachi and hugged him tightly. She was crying. "Thank you," she whispered. Itachi was startled by her action; he wasn't someone people usually hugged and,or thanked. He just stood there. Aimi pulled away. "But if that was you, then that little boy-"

"-was Sasuke."

Aimi just stood there, shocked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know. Your safety, I guess."

"This is more than I can handle."

"Then you need more training."

()()()

Aimi was asleep in her bed, dreaming, or remembering while she was asleep. She had been training hard, and the past few nights, her memories of being there were all coming back. They were painful and wonderful at the same time.

She was tossing and turning. She was sweating and it was hot in her bed. Her restless sleep and dreaming was tearing her apart.

Deidara peeked into her bedroom and saw her this way. He entered quietly and kneeled by her bed. He laid his hands on her side, holding her down some. Then he did something that always calmed Aimi down: he petted her hair. She slowly was calming down as he stroked it over and over. Seeing she had stopped tossing, he slowly and quietly got up and left the room.

5 minutes later, she was at it again.

--AIMI'S DREAM-- (didn't you guess I was gonna do this?)

"WE'RE GONNA GET YOU, SASUKE!!" Chika was yelling, chasing after the poor boy with her sister quietly running along with her. "NO YOU'RE NOT!! MEN ARE STRONGER, THEREFORE MAKING US RUN FASTER!!" Sasuke yelled back at them. Aimi had never been a fan of racist behavior, especially when it was girls and boys. She got that extra kick and ran up to him and leaped onto his back. "Ak!!" Sasuke fell over and Aimi went down with him. Chika tripped over them and they all landed into a heap, laughing hysterically. "Men are stronger, eh?" Aimi asked. Sasuke whacked her playfully. They got up and walked around the garden talking. Itachi ran out. "SASUKE! AIMI! CHIKA! ARE YOU IN HERE?!" They ran over to him. "Yeah. What's wrong?" Chika asked. "Some very, very bad men are in town. Last heard they were coming in this direction. Come on, lets get you home," Itachi said. They stay by his side and walked home quickly. On the way, a voice said, "what's the rush, kids?" Itachi turned to see who it was. Two men, dressed in all black, were smiling evilly at them. "Sasuke, take the girls and run. I'll handle this. Go!" Itachi said urgently. Sasuke takes their hands and begins to run for it but Aimi wont move. "Aimi! Come on!" Sasuke says, tugging on her hand. Aimi is glaring up at the two men who are smirking down at her. "I'm not leaving Itachi behind," she says. Itachi looks down at her lovingly but urgently. "Aimi, go. I'll be ok." Aimi still wont move. He dodges a punch, just barely. Sasuke scoops Aimi up into his arms and runs as fast as he can while carrying her. Aimi is crying into his shoulder. "He's going to die," she whispers. Sasuke shakes his head. "Nah, he wont. He can do ANYTHING." They run inside the home. He turns off all the lights in the house (his parents understand what he's doing and don't object) and runs into his room, dragging the girls with him. He closes the blinds on the window. It's pitch black. "Sasuke, where the heck are you?" Chika's voice sounds. "Behind Aimi," he sounds back. "Behind me?!" WHACK. "Owch! Don't turn so fast, you hit my stomach. Gosh, you knew it was just ME," he says. Chika giggles. "This isn't funny. Itachi's out there," Aimi says. "He'll be fine!" Sasuke sounds. "Sasuke?" Aimi asks. "Yah?" he asks back. "Are you sure you're not a little nervous?" "NAH! Why?" "Well, you're hugging me tight and I'm running out of air…" "Oh sorry." He lets go and Aimi takes a deep breath. Chika giggles again. "True love," she sings. "Chika, where are you? I gotta find you and kill you," Sasuke says. "Eek!" Chika scurries away. Aimi laughs. Then they all hear some yelling outside. "IT'S ITACHI!! GET HIM TO A HOSPITAL!!" "CATCH THOSE MEN!!" "HURRY! HE'S LOSING BLOOD!" Aimi stopped dead. "Sasuke, did you hear…?" "Yes." "Where are you?" "Over here with Chika." Aimi shuffled over to them and sat down next to him. She snuggled her head into his neck and hid. "Its gonna be ok. Like I said… he survives anything." She hugged him tightly, still hiding in his neck. Chika sounded up. "We love you, Sasuke." Aimi said also: "Yes, we love you a lot. We love him, too." Sasuke was quiet. "Er. Uh… I, he, we love you, too."

"HES LOSING MORE BLOOD!!"

()()()

Aimi shot up from her sleep with a gasp. It was morning, and Itachi was standing above her, looking down at her worriedly. "Itachi! You're ok!" she said, leaping up and hugging him. "Uh, yes, I'm fine. You were dreaming again, weren't you? What happened?" Aimi took a deep breath and told him every detail.