TO NEVER LOSE
By Reverse

Chapter 5 -Out of Options
There were more footsteps down to wherever I was being kept. I fought with myself to stand up. The water Deidara had given me had helped greatly. I stood against the wall beside the door. Although there were iron bars, there was a wall to contain the chakra sealing. And those walls were opaque.

The handle turned and I saw a foot step down on the floor. It almost rendered myself sick from the required effort, but I hit whoever was coming in as hard as I could in the face or neck. They were surprised. I scampered down the hall from them, as fast as I could. I wasn't planning on escaping. Just shaking them up a little.

I opened the door to another room to see three Akatsuki members staring at me. One looked impressed, Deidara. The second, whom I had been informed by the hokage and the ANBU bingo book, was called Zetsu. He didn't appear concerned. Itachi was livid even if his expression didn't show it. I had spent enough time with Sasuke to recognize that expression.

I sat down against the wall, I was dizzy and my voice and actions a little hazy. Deidara watched in what I considered amusement as Itachi stood. I half-heartedly waved a dismissal hand at them. I didn't even bother to look up at Itachi. My strength was used up. There wasn't any left.

I spoke a little breathlessly, but my words were understandable. "You can kill me if you want. I don't mind."

He stopped, almost as if he had finally realized my attempt to manipulate him. His face remained with the barest of expressions as he bent his knees to face my level. The cord around my neck pulled as he examined the ring I had stolen from them earlier.

"Deidara, your partner is useless." I gave a snort or amusement to hide my pain as he ripped the cord from my neck. I wasn't too concerned about the ring; it had probably annoyed Itachi to think that those he was supposedly equal to were weak enough to have their only important proof of membership, stolen. … And by a 'little red ANBU' with cropped pink hair.

"Can I get a new one then?" He asked. As I shook my head and gave Itachi a look that said; 'you don't know the half of it.'

I chuckled, a dark little sound that drew attention. "He was a Konoha spy until he was accepted in. How do you think I found this place?"

Deidara gave a look of surprise and resignation. Itachi nodded to him and I assumed he was going to go kill the spy or eliminate him somehow. I wasn't all that concerned.

"And you wouldn't give Konoha information." I smirked at the man who had entered the doorway and made this sarcastic staement. He had a shark-like smirk and instantly recognizable features; Hoshigaki, Kisame. He was Itachi's partner, so it only made sense he would be here too.

I shrugged. "They sent me here in hopes you would kill me. But they appreciated my skills as long as they thought they had leverage. It ran out when I burned that scroll. I can go back if I want. But why bother?"

"So what would you do if you got out of here alive?" He asked with genuine curiosity. Being out here was enabling my stored chakra to heal my body and my headache was already dissipated. My voice was clearer. "The Hokage wants to kill me and there's no way I'm not in the bingo book my now." I considered my circumstances. "There's nobody I trust, and nobody trusts me. I'd probably take on a student and leave my memory behind. The way I live isn't gonna keep me around for very long. I'm worse off than you."

He looked a little confused and I hugged my knees to my chest. Deidara walked back into the room, his feet making little to no noise on the hard floor. The plain white of the walls cast his shadow on the opposite side of Itachi's.

"If you blood swear to us; you can keep the ring you stole earlier. I do need a partner." The "un" sounded more anxious at the end.

Itachi glared over his shoulder at him. His gaze drifted back to me, expressing disinterest rest and possible distaste. The ring dropped to my feet; a token for me to accept or check out of life. Offer of life, nay, rather more like a bargain or deal.

There would be ties; but no bonds. I would once again sell my services for a small grant of life. My only motive was to annoy Itachi; and since my reasons for living had dissipated with the Hokage's betrayal, I made my decision.

"Leader will deal with Tobi." Deidara said. Zetsu got up and left the room, as if he had finally realized what was going on. Or he had finally decided to care.

Itachi threw a scroll at my feet with the seal of a red cloud. I bit my thumb and smeared my blood across it in a straight line. I had just sold myself up and asked for the apocalypse.

Like cool refreshing rain I let my smirk mask the inside frozen sensation, it was the thrill of adrenaline. I had a purpose again, and it was complicated and challenging.

"Won't your leader be concerned?" I asked; a little smugness was colored in my tone.

Kisame grinned. "He's only the leader when it comes to the demons and war. Most of the stuff we do is personal. Besides, he's only like a messenger, he answers to somebody, how else could he have got the information he has? And why else would we follow him?"

"We are individuals. We benefit each other as an organization. But if your ring has got its Jinchuriki –yours does- you can do whatever you want as long as you report when summoned and stick with your partner."

"Which beast is from this one?" I asked, curious as I slipped the ring onto my left thumb. It was the only place it would fit, and it's where I took it from the former spy. The kanji was one such for jewel.

Deidara smirked dismally. "The three tails. I did all the work, my artistic talents were the only reason it has it."

"Uchiha still needs his." He noted, likely this was the reason for his smirk brightening to smugness. Said Uchiha gave him a glare that spoke the words for him. 'You couldn't do better.'

"But I burned the scroll." I spoke clearly, almost calculative and mocking in my tone.

Itachi finally had his turn to smirk. "And you will be punished."

I shrugged. "And you shall give up the information."

Then I really did smile. "Can't I didn't read it. I checked to make sure it was the right one; but I didn't read its contents enough to understand them."

As I left walking down the hall I laughed clearly; though a little morbidly. "And that's the real and only reason you considered me in the first place."

I stopped in my movement. "Besides, why open old bonds and old debts when they have finally been laid six feet under; and if not… they have been burnt to ashes."

"But like art…." Deidara started, pausing for his nasal sound, "un." "All things leave a trace, even after they are gone."

"No they don't. Some things truly disappear. All that's left is a memory and those are fragile and dangerous and possible to kill. You can't prove anything on a memory." I began walking again.

I stopped and leaned against the wall and called out to Deidara. "So where am I staying?"

He didn't call back and I looked back unworried and definitely not rushed.

Itachi was directly in front of my face; those three familiar pinwheels turning. I wasn't afraid. There were no more attachments here than anywhere; other that my obligation of boredom and spite.

"You still need to be punished for your actions." Was stated, addressed obviously to me. I wasn't sure who said it but I stared directly into the ever-changing pinwheels of Uchiha Itachi…

I stared with acceptance and an embracing of yet another torturous ploy.

Then… it all went dark.

I'm going on holidays soon and thought you'd like a short update instead of none at all. I might not be able to do another for a while. Sorry.

Review...Oh...if not I'll...uhm... send Deidara and Itachi to find you!

...not that some of you will consider that a bad thing...