AN: Sorry for not updating for four months! Here's an extra-long chapter as my apology!

Konan sighed and looked over at Kisame. "Are we really going to do this?"

He grinned. "Of course we are. He's been sent out right?"

The blue-haired woman nodded once slowly. "Yes. He was sent out on a solo mission today."

Kisame chuckled, recalling the waves of irritation rolling off of Orochimaru. The Snake Sannin had been glaring at the entire world until he left for the mission. "He needs to get that stick out of his behind."

"I doubt this will help," Konan replied skeptically. Her golden eyes looked at the door they were in front of. It may have looked harmless, but she could feel the potent chakra. Orochimaru was very protective. Maybe bordering on overprotectiveness. She took a small step forward and the chakra swirling over the door aimed at her.

Yep, definitely overprotective.

Kisame shrugged and pulled out Samehada, aiming it at the door.

Konan watched him carefully. "He may have prepared for this Kisame. A clone or summon may be taking care of Keiko."

The tall shark-like man paused and retorted, "That's why you're here right? Orochimaru's a fool to keep Keiko all locked up; it'll be a rescue mission."

The violet-haired woman stared at him and sighed once more. "Why do I play these games?" she muttered under her breath.

"Because there's nothing else to do," a new voice replied.

The two looked over and saw the hunched figure of Sasori. They stiffened in shock, why was the puppet user here?

The man's eyes looked over at his partner's door. "Are you planning on breaking in?"

"Keiko needs fresh air," Kisame replied, a challenge tinting his tone.

"Sealed food isn't as good as freshly made food," Konan added defensively.

Sasori gave them an even stare then turned to look at the door which was the only barricade in the way. "This child is going to be Orochimaru's vessel; you'd still treat it like a precious gem?"

"'It' has a name," Kisame growled under his breath. He wasn't too sure why he was getting defensive, maybe it was because of the innocent stares she gave him that no one else noticed, or maybe it was her golden colored eyes. They weren't full of lies like adults, or tainted in corruption. She laughed when she was happy, cried when she was sad, gurgled when she wanted to point something out, and she always put effort into whatever she did. It was admirable really. Not many shinobi, including himself, could be so straightforward with their emotions, it was dangerous to show emotion after all.

In a world full of lies, she was one of the few in it that was true to herself and to everyone. It was refreshing to Kisame.

Sasori merely blinked at the fierceness from his fellow Akatsuki member. That was unexpected to him. What could've made such a man so protective of a being with no future? Humans weren't eternally beautiful like true art was.

The puppet user sighed and turned to the door. "Orochimaru has many seals that prevent anyone uninvited to enter," his gaze fell over to Samehada and he added, "A forceful entry will also cause another pair of seals to activate, electrocuting and paralyzing whoever was foolish enough to break the door open."

The two other Akatsuki members had their mouths open slightly in shock. How did Sasori know all of that?

Nonetheless, Kisame scoffed and gestured at his large sword that was now swung over his shoulder. "That's nothing to me Sasori. Samehada and I can take it."

Konan nodded, somewhat aware of the sword's power to absorb chakra. "The problem is after we get in. He is a careful man and most likely has a clone watching over Keiko-chan. We can't be found out, that would go against everything we have trained for."

Sasori blinked once. Then he blinked twice. "Did you both not make plans for how to deal with it?"

The only woman in Akatsuki glared a bit at the hunched over man. "Authority should be enough."

Sasori sighed but didn't move away. He had to admit it, he was kind of interested in what would happen. It really was boring without any missions to do. He had already secured his position as the best puppeteer, and he had already seen to his own favorite puppets.

Kisame aimed Samehada at Orochimaru's door, then lifted it and swung at the door.

"You will put that sword down now Kisame."

The shark-like man sighed simultaneously with Konan, anther interruption? At this point, the Snake Sannin would be back before the plan was even carried out. Then the three members' eyes grew wide at who it was speaking. "What do you want Kakuzu?" Kisame growled out.

"That door costs money, and I'm not wasting the money on fixing it," the shinobi with five hearts replied with a glare. Money was precious to him after all, and the thought of wasting money on a door, it was deemed irrational and irritating to him.

"No one asked you to pay for it," Kisame shot back in annoyance.

"Oh? Then you'd be willing to take more missions to replace the money wasted? I'll be sure to tell Leader-sama that."

Konan quickly stepped in to prevent bloodshed, she didn't want it happening in front of the room Keiko was in. "Is Orochimaru's face not priceless enough?" she suggested, "What's more, the door repairs can be taken from the mission he's doing right now since it's his door."

That got both men to pause while Sasori quickly got to rethinking about Konan's talents in manipulation.

Kakuzu grumbled but didn't press the issue. He was the treasurer of Akatsuki and the repairs wouldn't be coming out from the treasury. The thought of using Orochimaru's pay from his current mission was nice as well. Money was still money.

Kisame smirked and turned to face the door once more.

It was there that Sasori decided women truly were scary. (In Konoha, the Haruno couple sneezed at the same time.)

In three seconds, Orochimaru's door was smashed down and the seals were drained of all their chakra, courtesy of Samehada.

Konan entered first, ready to tell the clone the perfect lie she had prepared for weeks. Then she stopped when all she saw was a wide-eyed Keiko sitting on the floor, playing with her baby blocks.

"He's not here?" she asked in surprise.

Keiko gurgled a few sounds out, almost as though she was asking, "Did you need something?"

Then Konan turned around to glare fiercely at Kisame. "You almost hit her with the wood shrapnel!" she hissed out dangerously.

Kisame glared back and put Samehada back on his back. "I can't tell where she is if I'm on the other side Konan."

Sasori looked over at Kakuzu who was still there. "You're staying to watch?"

"It's not your business if I am," Kakuzu curtly replied.

The puppet user controlled the itch in his fingers and focused on the small girl. Walking in front of a glaring contest between Konan and Kisame, he picked her up, supporting her neck, and studied her. What made this girl make two strong members of Akatsuki trespass into another member's room?

Then she babbled at him and did something that froze him. She smiled at him.

It wasn't just your average smile, no, to call it that was a disgrace.

Time had frozen to Sasori. In that moment, he decided that he had been graced with the eternal image of innocence and acceptance.

The little girl in his arms had her pink lips tilted upwards, framed with chubby, rosy cheeks. Her golden eyes looked straight into his, and he felt something akin to awe and shock. It was as though she accepted him despite every mistake he made.

Her eyes were like the eyes he always craved for. They were the eyes he wished his parents showered him with more. They were the eyes he failed to create with his puppets.

Then she did something even more amazing, she laughed.

It wasn't mocking or snide, it brought warmth to the only living part of him, and when her small hand reached towards him, he couldn't move as she patted his head three times. He felt like that little boy once more, leaning into the touch of his father's hand ruffling his red hair and trying to snuggle deeper into his mother's comforting embrace.

Sasori felt unjudged, accepted, and even loved, all from a little girl who was going to be the vessel of a criminal (he ignored the fact he was a criminal as well). It was strange how a new feeling bubbled from his only living organ. It was warm, but fierce, ready to lash out at any danger.

"Oi, Sasori, you okay there?" Kisame finally asked cautiously. The other man did have a bit of a short fuse. The blue-skinned man felt bitter about his tie with Konan but as of now, he had been curiously watching the famous Sasori of the Red Sand carrying Keiko. He wondered if Sasori had previous experience with children before, Konan had given him a death glare when he tried to show just how he qualified to watch over Keiko. Apparently, lifting young babies under their arms was a big mistake. Then again, how was he supposed know? They don't teach child care in Kirigakure.

Sasori didn't give him an answer and did something that surprised him; the hunched over man brought Keiko closer to him and turned around. The man ignored Kisame and Konan, simply walking out of the room with Keiko.

Konan blinked in confusion but didn't protest; at least someone knew how to correctly carry a child.

Kisame, however, protested with a loud, "Hey! Where do you think you're taking her?!"

Sasori didn't stop but replied with, "Today's her birthday."

Kisame and Konan's eyes grew wide. "How did you know?" Konan asked curiously as she followed after Sasori.

The Suna missing-nin scoffed. "I am Orochimaru's partner, I've noticed how pensive he's become, always muttering ideas under his breath. My hearing picked up that he has been trying to decide a present for her but has yet to find one."

Kisame grumbled under his breath. He had been sure he was the only one who knew about Keiko's birthday. Calendars were usually pretty useless to him, but he had kept on eye the date Orochimaru joined Akatsuki. After his partner, whatever his name was, told him how old Keiko was, he was able to find her birthday. Kisame had always thought his partner's ability to tell the age of anyone was useless until that day (it was considered useless after that day though).

Konan felt miffed that someone else had found out as well. That cake recipe she had been trying out was specifically for Keiko after she overheard Orochimaru talking about how he needed to learn how to make more simple meals before Keiko's first birthday.

Kakuzu let the information sink in but didn't do much otherwise. It wasn't like he was going to waste his money on the blonde.

"Wait, where are you taking her?!" Kisame shouted out after Sasori continued walking.

The hunched over man spoke over his shoulder. "Isn't it obvious? She's going to be my apprentice."

"What?!" Kisame and Konan shouted out at the same time. Kakuzu stared at Sasori, wondering what on earth happened to the missing-nin's head.

"She's young, she'll learn fast. The skills she learns from me suffices as a present for her," Sasori explained calmly. Keiko gurgled and laughed, unaware of what was happening.

"Wait a sec, Keiko can't be your apprentice! She's Orochimaru's vessel," Kisame growled out. He didn't like the last sentence, but he'd say whatever he thought of as long as Keiko wasn't taken away. Although, the idea of making Keiko his apprentice was tempting as well... Just the image of a blonde with golden eyes wielding one of the swords from his old group and challenging him was tempting him to take Keiko away from Sasori.

"Not a problem," Sasori replied. "I'll just have to make sure he doesn't come back for her."

Konan and Kisame could only stare, dumbfounded at Sasori's statement. Was the man really willing to go that far?!

Konan frowned and took a step closer to Sasori. "That is not wise, Sasori. Keiko-chan is smart and Orochimaru is like her surrogate father or uncle. His sudden disappearance will come back to haunt you later on."

Sasori sighed in irritation. How annoying. His gaze fell on Keiko who had been babbling to herself, and he tsked his tongue. "Then what do you suggest? You don't want Keiko as his vessel, why not just kill him?"

"Because we can just limit his time with her and when she's older, we'll separate them," Konan answered. Then her stoic face almost brightened up with her next answer. "We share. As the only woman here, she'll come to me once she grows older more than she will with you men."

Kisame scowled at the smug tone she had. He also didn't like sharing, what kind of ninja shared? They weren't children anymore, sharing sounded like a foolish idea.

"Why not let the child choose?" A new voice suggested.

The men and woman turned around and became silent in shock. "Pein?!" Konan exclaimed softly in surprise. When did he arrive? Surely she would've been able to sense him.

The orange-haired man with multiple piercings slowly walked into the hallway. His face was like stone, unmoving, yet power rippled around him. His gaze fell over to Keiko who stared back at him innocently. "Is she the cause for this uproar?"

Konan hesitated, unsure of his reaction. Nagato used to have such a kind heart, but with Yahiko's death, all she could do was watch him fall into despair as his kindness disappeared somewhere.

"It appears that today is the vessel's birthday," Kakuzu answered, breaking the silence.

Pein walked closer to Keiko, ignoring Sasori's hold on her.

Akatsuki was not an organization where the members could fool around. No, as the leader, he'd make sure to follow the Plan. It was the only way for peace to grace this forsaken world.

His right hand reached out and chakra rushed to his fingers.

Everyone's eyes widened.

Konan rushed forward, wanting to protect that small life that really did no harm. She wished to protect one small life with her bloody hands.

Kisame swore and clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in frustration. He reached for Samehada as his feet moved on its own.

Kakuzu retreated, not wanting to risk losing a heart.

Sasori glared at the other man, pulling Keiko closer as he prepared to bring out the Sandaime Kazekage.

Keiko watched as the strange man's palm faced her. Why was he making such a face? Her eyes began watering as her small chest hurt. Whimpers began growing from her throat.

Orochimaru had been wiping off the sweat off his brow (it wasn't from the fighting, that was easy). Why did Pein have to bring him to the east side of Suna for a mission?! It was in the opposite direction of the hideout! And the heat was unbearable!

The Sannin sighed in frustration before he froze as memories entered his mind. What on earth...?

Then he growled as he digested the memories. His room was about to be destroyed! And his clone dispelled itself?! What about Keiko-chan?!

He clenched his teeth and looked around him. Dang it! It wasn't enough sacrifices to make Manda satisfied.

His eyes narrowed. Fine, he'd do it the old-fashioned way.

Pumping chakra into his legs he pushed off the sand with enough force to create a mini sandstorm.

He didn't know how much time he had left to get to Keiko. For all he knew, she could be dead, killed by someone's recklessness or sold in exchange for money!

Orochimaru swore; he needed to be faster!

He arrived at the hideout with his chest heaving, yet he didn't take a break. If Keiko was no longer there, he'd abandon Akatsuki and give all of its secrets to Konoha!

No one messed with his Keiko, no one.

"Keiko-chan!" he yelled out frantically, half of his mind running in loops while the other was furiously trying to calm down and make logically sound decisions. Obviously, the first was winning.

His eyes grew wide as he came to his bedroom. The door really was gone, destroyed into wood chips. But more importantly, Keiko wasn't there.

He swore again as his feet brought him to the main room of the hideout. It was annoying how skilled the other members of Akatsuki were. Even he couldn't sense their chakra signatures.

"Keiko!" His chest was pounding, his mind running with possibilities that were too inhumane, yet entirely possible with Akatsuki. He felt tired, his trip back exerting almost all of his chakra. But his body kept moving, kept searching for that innocent life he created with his own hands.

"Keiko!"

He had to find her. Once he did, he'd disappear and hide at one of his labs. He'd stay there until Keiko was capable of protecting herself. He'd stay there until he was sure she could deal with the cruel world. He'd stay there until he was sure he could forgive himself for being such a careless idiot.

How could he have let down his guard?! Would the gods really take away the last and most precious treasure of his?

"Kei-"

"Oi! Shut up already!"

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed at Kisame's outburst. "No," he hissed out, his Killing Intent filling the main room, "I will not until I find where you have put her!"

Kisame growled at the other man, moving from his spot against the sandstone walls. Kami he hated Suna with all the sand everywhere, the heat just made him more irritable. "Keiko is in a good place," he replied in a challenging tone, his own Killing Intent leaking out.

"I'll enjoy feeding you to Manda."

Kisame scoffed and pointed Samehada at Orochimaru. "Why don't you feed Samehada first?"

"Stop it right now."

The two men turned to face Konan, the woman wearing a thunderous frown. She didn't shout, didn't exaggerate, there was no need for that. Her even gaze on the other occupants was enough to stop them, even if it was momentarily.

Momentarily because Orochimaru saw what she was carrying, or to be more precise, who she was carrying.

"Keiko-chan..." A little giggle and gurgle met his soft call. That was all it took for the burdened missing-nin to feel relieved and at peace.

She was alright, she wasn't hurt. In fact, his little surrogate daughter/niece had a little party hat on and a new dress that he definitely didn't remember buying.

Sasori came behind Konan, a round cake in his hands. "I take it he has finally calmed down?" Orochimaru just watched silently dumbfounded as Sasori placed the cake on a stone table.

Kakuzu followed, his eyes narrowed on Orochimaru. "The money required for fixing your door will be taken from your mission pay." The Sannin felt the words roll off of him, for now they had no impact, however, later he'd growl and glare at Kisame who he knew, was the culprit.

The last to enter the room was Pein who calmly set down a stack of plates and utensils. He made no comment, his own mind off on its own as he recalled the earlier events.

He had been about to blow the vessel and Sasori away, annoyed at Konan and Kisame trying to interrupt him. His ringed eyes could clearly see how the little girl had tears swelling up at the corner of her eyes, his ears picking up her whimpers.

What he wasn't prepared for, was her to truly cry.

Yes, he knew she was going to cry, in fact, he had seen plenty of grown men and women bawl as they pleaded for mercy.

But what he wasn't prepared for was the sudden lost and powerless feeling she projected. As the tears fell down her face, he was reminded of a time when he first killed, not as Pein, but as Uzumaki Nagato. He had felt lost after his parents were killed, so very lost and unsure now that he had no parental guidance.

It was a strange sensation. He felt emotions he thought he no longer had, but there was another sensation, there was chakra being transferred to him.

His ringed eyes could only widen as he pinpointed the source of this chakra. The baby?!

Pein had made a new discovery that day. Keiko was valuable. Not because of her tie to Orochimaru, but because of her ability. If she was trained properly, her chakra reserves could grow and if used correctly, she could change morale easily.

Yet, that was only what Leader-sama thought.

What Nagato, the person that watched everything from an iron rod throne, thought was that perhaps this world may have a small chance of peace.

Perhaps a genjutsu wasn't really needed to create world peace after all.

Maybe all that was needed was someone who could show everyone that people were still similar. The girl didn't force people to feel emotions; she gave them a guide using herself as an example. She didn't make him remember how it was to feel powerless and lost, those were his own memories.

To put it in a metaphoric way, she was like the hand signs used to guide raw chakra which would become a jutsu. For now, he'd watch the girl grow with abated breath. He wondered how long it had been since he felt that little light flicker inside of him.

A little light called hope.

Orochimaru watched as Keiko was set on the table and a silence fell. It seemed either no one knew the lyrics to the birthday song, or no one wanted their pride to be damaged. He was betting on the latter.

Kisame growled. "Well? Come on. We don't have all day."

"Then you may start us off," Sasori challenged in irritation.

The shark-like man narrowed his eyes. "Fine! I'll start!"

Orochimaru mentally rolled his eyes as everyone began singing and as he stood next to Keiko, he fondly thought, Happy birthday, Keiko-chan. May you have many more to come. And hopefully I'll be there for as many as possible... If he had been alone with the birthday girl, he would've spoken aloud, but here, in front of some of the strongest shinobi, he stayed silent. He leaned away as the song ended, yet was near enough to catch her if she tumbled over.

"Happy birthday! Make a wish, Keiko!" Kisame shouted with a large grin, setting a box of kunai on the table. He had even wrapped the box with a blue ribbon. Of course Orochimaru wouldn't let her go near the actual kunai that gleamed dangerously, but Kisame didn't need to know that.

Konan smiled and readied to cut the strawberry cake. "I think you'll like this cake, it's a new recipe." She actually went all the way to Mitsu no Kuni to buy the best ingredients just for this occasion. The country really did have the best ingredients for desserts.

Sasori set a wooden puppet of a dog on the table. The gift was half of Keiko's height and the man preened as the girl's eyes twinkled at his emergency gift. Good thing he was a master at creating puppets in less than thirty minutes.

Kakuzu grumbled as he was given expectant gazes from everyone. "Che, why would I waste my money on stupid gifts?" The gazes slowly became glares. The man itched to kill but reached into his cloak. "Here," he threw a small notebook at Keiko, "A book of wanted criminals. Get your own money."

Pein set down a small and thin wooden block on the table. On the block was her smiling face in a rabbit suit with her name on the top. Above her name was a small hole where the name tag would be hung. She giggled in delight as she recognized rabbit ears. She didn't really recognize who was making that happy face though.

Konan hid a small smile as she realized what Pein made. She didn't know he could draw. Her chest warmed at the memories when she was younger, a time where she and Nagato both had wooden name tags that hung next to Yahiko's. Even if she felt sad at the bittersweetness of those memories, she was happy her old friend hadn't completely died.

Orochimaru ignored their expectant looks. "Kufufu, she's my vessel, that's a gift in itself."

He ignored their Killing Intent. He had almost forgotten he needed to act like a cruel, crazy, heartless madman. Obviously he wasn't going to tell them that he was going to be taking her out for a little bit.

After all, summer was the perfect time to visit cities celebrating summer. He was sure Keiko would love the fireworks and the various sights and smells. Maybe he'd even take her to a hot spring or a tea house.

Who knows, maybe he'll even run into a familiar face?

Keiko looked up at Orochimaru and clapped her hands together, laughing brightly.

That was all he needed to know that she agreed.

"Bwa! Oro!" Keiko gurgled out happily, oblivious to the fact she just spoke her first word and caused Orochimaru to briefly short circuit from happiness and pride.

As everyone lost their attention on him and Keiko, too engrossed on arguing what she'd say next, his eyes softened for her and his lips curled up. "Happy birthday, Keiko-chan."

xXx

It is done! (And it's almost the end of summer as well OTL)

Phew, I'm so happy I got this chapter out! I was worried my muse had abandoned me! Thank goodness she's back!

Honestly, I didn't even plan on showing Kakuzu or Pein, they just kinda showed up on their own...

Oh, I'd like to apologize for the angst as well! I can't help it, angst just follows me!

Can I also just say how irritated I am at the new Naruto game coming this year? Gah! Way to ruin my headcanon! Meh, oh well, this is an AU story... *sigh* Oh well, at least I'll see some nice opportunities for me to use...

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I had a really hard time figuring out what to do with their gifts for Keiko! Kakuzu and Pein's gifts are my fave just 'cause the first was funny and the second was touching. I'll briefly show Orochimaru's gift in the next chapter!

Thank you for being so patient with me! I apologize for my sporadic updates, but I can promise that I will continue this story until the end! After all, who doesn't like a Good!OOC!Orochimaru with OOC Akatuki members?!

To answer some questions from you lovely reviewers:

JigokuShoujosRevenge: Honestly, I have no clue except that they are edible. I think that some people would enjoy the taste of cherry blossoms, but seeing as I've actually never seen cherry blossoms in real life, I've got no idea, sorry! Haha, she is adorable isn't she?

Gunslayer12: Fluff is great isn't it? And as for Tsunade finding out… *grins* We'll see about that…

Thanks again for the all the support!

See ya!