Man, I just realised. All this story is really doing is feeding fangirls isn't it? Haha, oh well. Not saying everyone who reads this is fangirlish, but I think you know what I mean.

This chapter is pretty boring. I believe it is called 'character development'. Next chapter has more action though!

Whoever Konan sama was, did not appear to be around, so we had a make-shift dinner of steamed rice and kibi dango, courtesy of Kisame.

Afterwards, we went out the back door of the complex, entering a hot spring (onsen) area. Now I thought about it, it had been about five days since Sasuke or myself bathed last. I must smell especially.

Surprisingly Sasuke was actually excited about bathing. Usually I'd have to drag him in.

Anyway, behind the plain brown changing screens, Sasuke quickly wriggled out of his clothes. I wrapped a towel which was much too large for him around his waist and he ran down the slight slope towards the onsen. I knew it wouldn't matter what size the towel was. It wouldn't be long before it sank, forgotten, into the depths of the onsen.

On the other hand, the towels were too small for Kisame, who was about twice my size. He quickly made his way towards the water before anyone could see anything.

I myself got undressed quickly, something about being half naked made my paranoia surmount. Still I remembered to take some flannels, no one else had. Sasuke was too excited and Kisame was too embarrassed to stop.

When I reached the edge of the onsen I tossed a flannel to Kisame before getting into the deep water myself.

"Come here Sasu chan." I called, rinsing the flannel.

He paddled over, to his small stature the deepness made it like a swimming pool. Actually, he practically had to stand to keep his head above water level. I got him to sit on my knees so I could wash his back, the one spot you can't reach no matter how you contort yourself. But I soon found that he had given up on the towel already.

"Sasu chan, you're supposed to keep the towel on." I teased.

"It's too big!" he complained, childishly crossing his arms.

"But you never know what creepy men may be hanging around!" Kisame grinned, scrubbing his arm with the flannel I'd offered him earlier.

There was an accusing silence, which was quickly filled with Sasuke's laughter as I washed under his arms.

"S-stop it Niisan! I can d-do it myself!" he squirmed, trying to get out of my grip. I let him go and rinsed the flannel again. I quickly scrubbed his face and reminded him to wash 'down there' before getting out.

"I know!" he said, looking to Kisame embarrassedly. He turned back to me, his glare clearly saying, 'Not in front of people!'

I simply smiled at him briefly and began to wash myself.

Sasuke soon got bored of the onsen and got out, stark naked. I sighed in exasperation. How many times had this happened?

Kisame stared bemusedly at the ceiling and commented, "You better get changed quickly Sasuke chan, before Orochimaru comes!"

Not sure what to make of that statement, Sasuke ran back up to the screens to get changed.

"That... Orochimaru wouldn't do that would he?" I asked, wondering once again if my paranoia was just going to get laughed at.

"I wouldn't put it past him." was the serious reply.

I felt my eyes widen in fear for my brother. I looked to Kisame to ensure he wasn't just joking.

"No need to get so worried Itachi san. Leader sama won't let anything like that happen. Sasuke chan is under his protection after all." he assured.

I tried to finish washing quickly, determined to return to Sasuke's side as soon as possible. I found I was distractedly scrubbing the same part of my shoulder when Kisame pointed it out. "Let me get that for you Itachi san."

I handed him my flannel and turned away. He flopped my hair over my shoulder and washed my back.

'Where is Sasuke?' I wondered.

'In the room you woke in, supposedly asleep.' Leader replied unexpectedly.

'What do you... think of Orochimaru? Would he...?' I wondered absently.

"Do not worry. He and Sasori are leaving for a mission tomorrow. Don't underestimate me, I said I would look after him.'

'Thank you.' I replied sincerely. Once again I felt the connection break.

I washed Kisame's back in return and requested he take me to the room where Sasuke was. I noticed that now he had Sasuke's towel as well, he wasn't so self conscious. I wondered why he acted that way.

Essentially we were all the same.

Culture Note: To my understanding, in single sex bathing situations, they would usually just go in naked. But in anime they wear towels, so I'm using the culture displayed in the anime to... keep this world the way it is I suppose. So please, no complaints about that aspect of the story.