The first thing I noticed was green eyes then the unmistakable glower of a penny-pincher. Kakuzu lives in a fucking shack in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, I really shouldn't have expected much from such a guy. "Here's your cloak, this is all I have for you this week." He said with a soft smile. His eyes looking bright as he stared down at my black t-shirt and black khakis. The black sneakers are also a nice touch. Apparently Itachi wanted me to be able to fight off whoever I get next and not look too cute. Granted, with the food he gave me he shouldn't worry about that. I'm sure I'm starting to get fat...

"I'm not wearing a fucking cloak all week. I need decent clothes and if you don't already have them then we're going shopping. At least a couple t-shirts and pants so that I can last the week... along with some underwear. I don't need much. I can even stick to the same shoes and socks, just at least give me the essentials." I glowered, crossing my arms as I waited for him to protest. He's about two heads taller than me but with the sad eyes he's giving me now... I might as well be his mother, scolding him for tracking mud in the house.

He led me into the ten foot tall house, it's just twenty feet by twenty feet with a bathroom, small kitchen, and living room. It's not... fit for human survival. Not in the slightest. But knowing Kakuzu, he's got a billion dollars hidden in this place. Freaking money hoarder. Clenching my fists, I did my best to hold back from unleashing all of my unrestrained anger on him, but to be honest... I'm just done. I haven't been home in a long time... I just want to go back. That's all I want. If I can sleep in my own bed and eat my own damn food... I think I'd prefer that to picking out some dick to spend the rest of my life with. Granted, if I chose Konan then it wouldn't be a dick really...

"Sakura? Are you okay?" The words were hollow and a bit far away and soon... everything became darkness.

The darkness is warm and comforting. I'm home again and the living room is bright from the large windows off to the side. Naruto and Sasuke are arguing again in the kitchen and I'm just sitting on the couch playing video games. There's soda on the coffee table, soda and popcorn, we were supposed to be watching a movie but they have to fight again and then... everything will be fine, we'll be able to watch the movie together and then tomorrow we'll be together again. We just have to be together forever. But... they aren't coming out... they're still in the kitchen and the bright windows are being covered with faces. Oh... it's them. The Akatsuki are here. Are they going to watch the movie with us? No... they just want me to go with them. Well... Sasuke and Naruto will be fighting for a while longer so maybe I can play with them for a little while. But I will be able to go home, right? This won't take forever will it? Because... I promised to be with them always and I can't do that if I'm with the Akatsuki. So please don't keep me for too long. That would make me... sad.

"Sakura?" The voice is soft, almost kind as I wake up from my strange dream and stare at him. Huh... the room is white. Very white. Crap... he took me to a hospital. "Oh God... you're awake... that's good. I thought you were dead." He said quickly and began to run his hands up and down my arms as if trying to warm me up. His dark skin seemed almost translucent under the bright lighting as he continued to stare with a worried expression.

"This must be a terrible first day for you." I smiled and watched him turn away and talk to the nurse who just walked in. My dream... what was it about again? I don't remember... but I know it wasn't very nice. More twisted... oh well. Doesn't really matter to me.

"Six hundred dollars? She just slept here for ten hours! It's not like you people even did anything!" Kakuzu shouted in the hallway. I grinned and ran my fingers through my hair.

"Idiot." The word was said softly but somehow he managed to hear it. In a matter of seconds he was back in the room and forcing me to my feet.

"We're leaving." He growled and tossed my clothes as he crossed his arms and waited. There's no way in hell I'm changing in front of this bastard. But his eyes weren't on me, instead he was looking out the window at the courtyard, watching one young man in particular as he pushed an old woman in a wheel chair. While he's distracted, I quickly changed clothes then grabbed his arm.

"So... how do you want me to make up the money?" I asked with a flirtatious smile. Yeah, I feel guilty. He's a money grubber and I made him spend six hundred on me! Running a hand through my short hair, I noticed how clean the hospital is as nurses ran back and forth to attend to their patients. Ten hours... seemed like I'd been asleep for only five minutes but just realizing that made my movements become more sluggish which is never a good thing. That's mostly because it's a guy and I'm stuck with him for a while so... showing weakness and vulnerability? Then again I did just pass out for ten hours.

"Make it up... You will have to do odd jobs around town with me to earn money and then once you earn enough to pay for how much you cost me... I'll let you go." He smirked making me pause. So does that mean I'm stuck here living in his shack until I make up the money? Can he do that?

Looking at his smiling face I came to the grim realization that he probably can.