I have wandered for about an hour. I'm completely exhausted. Looking for these people... It's impossible!

-'Correction. Finding them is impossible.'-

Shut up.

Anyways, these people are ghosts. It's a miracle that I even came across Hidan and Kakuzu. I look up at the sky, taking a deep breath, it's a nice clear blue. When am I going to find these guy-?

"Ow..." I ran into someone's back, fell to the ground and hit my head. Wait. I hadn't even felt their presence. I sit up and look. It was a blue man. Yes a blue man with shark like features in an Akatsuki cloak. "Thats one." Then I remembered, there are two in each team. Who was the othe-

"It's you..." A familiar voice spoke up. My body stiffened, I could only looked at the person with a wide eyed expression.

Itachi... It's Itachi... I... I found him! I finally found him!

"Ah-.. Um.." I could not from proper words.

"Itachi, you know this kid?" The blue man spoke up. I then remembered my task, that got my brain functioning again.

"Right. Leader sent me with this." I took the scroll out of my backpack and handed it to them.

"Leader?" The blue man questioned. "You mean.. You're the new member? A kid? What are you? Ten?"

"Yes... I'm twelve." I rubbed the back of my head. My hand was wet. I look at the red liquid on my hand.

I'm bleeding?

"Ichigo." Itachi spoke up. "What are you doing? You should be in the village... with Sasuke. Why are you here?"

Should I start the act?

-'I think he knows, but you might have some fun.'-

I have nothing better to do at the moment, why not?

"My name is Chiharu."

"What?"

"My name is Chiharu. I don't know who this Ichigo is, but this is getting on my nerves. Everyone who encounters me, it's always Ichigo, Ichigo." I make my eyes water.

"Itachi, you devil." The blue man says. "You're making her cry."

"Shut up Kisame." Itachi turns back to me. "I don't know what game your playing, but stop it. Answer me, Ichigo." I never could deceive him.

-'He's no fun.'-

"You're no fun." I sigh, rubbing the back of my head. It was wet. Oh right, I'm bleeding. "Hey..."

"What?" Kisame answers, a confused look on his face. He must have believed my act earlier.

"Do you have a bandage?" I show them the blood on my hand. Itachi's eyes widened and he took a roll out of his kunai pouch. "Thank you-" I was about to take it, but he started doing it himself.

After he finished, my brother spoke again. "Answer my questions." He said sternly.

I huff. " I joined the Akatsuki not too long ago. I am fulfilling my task. Sasuke grew a hatred for me after I left the village. I am here to give you that scroll Kisame is holding."

"It's our next mission." Kisame was already reading it.

"How did you get into the Akatsuki?" He continued to interrogate me.

"Can't tell you."

"Why?"

I went a bit crazy. Made a deal. Got a way inside the base. Almost died, but was saved by Konan.

-'Why can't you tell him?'-

I just don't want to.

"You won't like the answer, foolish brother." My expression went dull.

"I see." He looked at me questionably.

"Wait.. Who is she Itachi?"

"My sister." Itachi looked at me. "How did you make Sasuke hate you?"

"Your sister?" We both ignored him.

"I may have overpowered him... Twice."

-'May?'-

Well, I did.

"Twice?" My brother thinks aloud.

"Maybe." I look at the sky, the sun was setting. "Well, I have to go."

"You're not leaving." Itachi ordered.

"Oh? Why not?" I raise a brow.

"Your a mess." He said matter-of-factly.

"I'll be fine. I'm not five, Itachi." I turn around and start walking. "See ya around." I waved him off.

I'm getting sleepy...

-'Then stay with your brother.'-

But then he'll think he was right.

-'Your logic amazes me.'-

Your sarcasm is so original.

-'Brat.'-

Old creeper.

-'Old creeper?'-

Yea-

I felt to arms pick me up. "Itachi, put me down."

"No."

"Now."

"No." I aim a kick for his gut, (sadly) he caught my foot.

"Let me go! Before I kick your ass!"

"You? Kick my ass?" He laughed mockingly. "I doubt you could."

"I'm not some weakling anymore. I can take care of myself." I quickly kick him in the gut hard enough to cause him to drop me. He muttered something. "I need to go now. See ya." I start sprinting away, before I got emotional.

Whether he truly meant it or not, I will never forget those words he spoke:

"Ichigo, you have grown."