A/N: Well, sorry it's been a while. My second semester here at Western started beginning of January. Well, three weeks ago, but it's already been way more stressful than I thought it would be. Mostly thanks to my knee injury from quidditch practice. I now need an MRI and possibly surgery if what they find isn't fixable by physical therapy. But enough of my sad life. Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and all OC's belong to their respective creators.

Chapter Eighteen

Return

Darcy's POV

Soreness encased my muscles – my whole body, actually – as consciousness returned. My eyes fluttered open, and I saw tree branches above me. I pushed myself into a sitting position, ignoring the cry of pain that shot through every inch of me. Admittedly, it didn't take much to ignore the pain, since it disappeared as soon as it appeared.

"Darcy! You're awake!" I looked over to see my cousin hurrying over to me.

"Yeah, Kye, I'm up," I said with a smile. "What'd I miss?"

"Four days of sitting around doing nothing," she sighed. "It. Was. Boring."

I laughed. That was just like her. "Quit whining."

"Glad to see you're better." She rolled her eyes, sounding annoyed.

I glanced to my right to see Akito laying there. "Has she woken up yet?"

Kye's face got serious, and she looked down at the ground. That was all the answer I needed. I stood, and went to my friend's side, kneeling beside her. I leaned down, listening to her heartbeat, and grabbed her wrist to feel her pulse. Everything was normal, which was a relief. I checked her side next, which was completely healed.

"Her fight was difficult," a voice said above me. I looked up to see Itachi there. "You expended all your chakra, and proceeded to travel much longer than you should have. She nearly died. She needs time. She'll be fine."

"I know, I am a medic," I grumbled. "I just hope she wakes up soon. I'm sure Gaara is worried about why we haven't returned."

"I sent a message to him," Kankuro said. "He knows we'll be moving as soon as we can."

I nodded, and stood by a tree, taking everything in. I glanced over at Itachi, and said, "So, do I get the rest of the story?"

"When we see Gaara," he replied. "I'm sure it's clear you can trust us, since your friends seem to; however, one of us wish to explain this five hundred times. The story will come in due time."

I sighed. I hated to sound like Kye, but this was boring.

The group had set up quite the camp while I was out. There was a fire in the middle, and it smelled like they were brewing tea.

A couple minutes later, Konan confirmed my suspicions when she approached me with a cup. "This should help you give some strength back."

"I feel fine," I replied, but to the cup none the less. "What changed your mind about Akatsuki?"

"It's a long story," she replied. "One I intend to tell Gaara. You'll hear in due time."

"I want to know now, though," I said. "Kye knows. Doesn't she?"

"She does. Only because we had to convince her to trust us," Konan explained. "An alliance with us was not something she or Kankuro could easily accept."

"Makes sense," I said. "I suppose Akito and I weren't really in a position to demand information."

She laughed softly. "Itachi told me what you two did. You've really grown. To be able to fight Orochimaru, and bring your friend back from near death… well, it's impressive, to say the least."

"Heh, thanks, I guess. But I still have a lot of work to do."

"Everyone will always have a lot of work to do," Konan said. "If I've learned anything as a shinobi, it's that there will always be training, but you can't let that consume you, or you might end up like Orochimaru. Hungry for power, for more of… well, everything."

"I won't become Orochimaru. Not ever. Wanna know why?" I asked her. She gave me a curious look, and I said, "Because I have friends. Friends that care about me."

"So did he," she pointed out.

"I have friends that I care about, just as much as they care about me," I elaborated. "That's something he didn't have. His lust for power was far greater than any bond he may have had with someone. I want to train to protect the people I care about, he wanted to gain power greater than anyone had ever had. That's only one of many ways that we differ."

Konan smiled. "I look forward to getting to know you as a comrade, Darcy."

"Likewise." I returned her smile, and sipped the tea. Truth be told, I never liked tea much, it always tasted like hot water, and this cup was no exception; however, hot water was just what I needed, it seemed. The hot water warmed my body, and made me feel comfortable and happy. As I drank the liquid, I heard a groan come from near the campfire. I nearly dropped my cup in my haste to Akito's side. The second her eyes fluttered open, I asked, "How are you?"

"Sore," she mumbled. "But otherwise fine."

"How does your side feel?" I asked.

"Fine, fine," she said, and glanced up at me smiling. "I promise, I'm really fine."

"I believe you," I said with a smile. "When do you think you'll be ready to move out?"

"As soon as everyone else is ready," she replied, sitting up. As she got up, her face scrunched up in pain.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

"My body's just stuff from lying still for so long," she said. "I promise I'll be fine to move as soon as everyone else is ready."

I looked her up and down, eyes scrunched up in concentration. "Well, you look fine, but we should take it easy."

She nodded, and Konan appeared out of nowhere with a cup of tea. "This should help."

"Thanks," Akito said, giving her a wary glance.

"It's okay, she's on our side," I said. "They all are, now."

She glanced around, noticing the Akatsuki members for the first time. "When do we get the story as to why we're trusting them?"

"Apparently when we meet with Gaara," I grumbled. "Maybe Kye will tell us something."

"Yeah, maybe," Akito agreed.

We tried to help pack up the camp, but no one let us do much. They claimed that because we didn't help set it up, we shouldn't help clean it up, and there were plenty of people to help, but Akito and I knew. We knew they just didn't want us pushing ourselves too much.

In less than an hour, we were standing in a circle, Kankuro addressing the whole group.

"We need to split up and travel in groups of three or less, it'll draw less attention to us," he said. "So, Akito, you'll pair up with Itachi and Kisame. Kye, you'll pair up with Kakuzu and Hidan. Darcy, you'll be with Deidara and Konan. I will be going ahead alone."

"Maybe I should be with Itachi and Kisame," I said after glancing at the map and noticing that there wasn't much water on the way to the desert. "Or, at least Kisame. My jutsu are useless without water, and Kisame can create all the water he needs."

Kankuro was shaking his head. "I understand you need water to use your jutsu, but you really shouldn't be fighting much. Not only are you still a little weak from your last fight, but you're our only medic. If someone else gets hurt, we need you at the top of your game to heal them."

I sighed, knowing he was right, and nodded.

He pulled out a map and flattened it for all of us to see. "Here's the path we'll take back to Sunagakure. I'll be going straight for it, as will Akito, Kisame, and Itachi, but you three, as well as the rest of you, will be leaving slightly after me. Darcy, Konan, and Deidara, you three will be coming in from the left, and Kye, Kakuzu, and Hidan, you three will be coming from the right." As he spoke, he pointed out the paths we would be taking on the map. "Understood?"

"Okay, good. We'll be meeting Gaara, Temari, and Baki here," he indicated a spot on the outskirts of the desert. "We need to make sure Gaara can trust you before we bring you into a village with easy access to Naruto."

"We understand," Konan said with a nod.

"Good. This will take about three days, but I'm going to try and get there sooner, so I can prepare Gaara, Temari, and Baki." He stood, rolling up the map and putting it in his pack. "Wait an hour before leaving, maybe two."

We nodded, and he shouldered his pack as he jumped into the trees, hurrying to meet his brother, sister, and old sensei.

Kye decided to go into the nearby village for food and extra supplies, and Kakuzu went with her, but masking their chakra and discussing themselves.

"Oh, speaking of supplies, I bought these for you, Darcy," Akito said, reaching into her pouch. "They're pretty basic herbs, but I'm sure you'll find a use for them. Plus, it helped keep my cover."

"Thanks," I said, taking the herbs from her hands, examining them. "They'll definitely be useful, thank you." I put them with my other medical supplies. I killed time by organizing and reorganizing my supplies. I wondered if I should be getting to know Konan and Deidara better, specifically their fighting styles. I know Kankuro wanted me to stay out of any potential fights, but it was important to know how my fighting style would work with my teammates. Without my jutsu, I was definitely a close-ranged fighter, and Deidara was definitely a long-ranged fighter. I glanced over at Konan, trying to decide if she would be classified as a mid-ranged or long-ranged fighter. After a moment, I decided mid-ranged. I glanced between the two of them, trying to figure out how best to make our very different styles work together.

Deidara caught me looking at him, and said, "What do you want, hm?"

"Just thinking," I said.

"About what?" He sounded slightly curious about what I had to say.

"Well, if we were to get into a fight, how would our different styles work best together," I said.

"You shouldn't be fighting regardless," Konan said, appearing out of nowhere.

"I know, but sometimes it's unavoidable," I said. "Part of my medical training was learning to quickly read an opponent, and how to dodge their attacks. I know how to keep myself alive, without expending chakra unless I have to. Especially if we're fighting Orochimaru."

"And if it's Madara?" Konan asked.

"Then we're all screwed," I said. "With a sharingan, there's not much that anyone except Itachi or Sasuke could do."

"What do we do if Madara does stop us?" Deidara asked.

"We do whatever we can to let Konan get ahead," I said. "She's the one with the story, and she's the leader, so if anyone gets there, it's her."

"Let's all try to get there, okay?" Konan put a hand on my shoulder, and gave me a look, as if to say I appreciate it, but we don't need martyrs to complete this mission.

"I'm just thinking of all possibilities," I said.

"Which is good, but you're our only medic. It's important for you to stay alive," she said. "Oh, look, there's Kye and Kakuzu."

Sure enough, they were walking into camp just then.

"We got enough rations for the trip back," Kye announced. "Akito, here are the kunai you requested, and the senbon you requested, Darcy."

"Thanks, Kye," I said, placing the needles in my weapons pouch as she passed out the rest of the supplies.

"Yeah, thanks," Akito said.

"Don't be so quick to thank," Kakuzu said. "Those kunai? They're going to cost you fifty dollars. Those senbon are going to cost you sixty."

"Oh, stop it," Kye said, giggling. "Don't listen to him, I paid for them."

"You don't want us to pay you back?" Akito asked.

"Not at all," Kye replied. "We're teammates. My only request is that you use those weapons to save my ass one day."

"Like your ass needs saving," I said with a grin.

"We should get going," Konan interrupted with a glance at the sky.

We split up into our separate groups, and followed Kankuro's designated paths for each of us.

"We're about a mile from our destinations," Konan's voice said through the radio. "We should converge now."

"Copy that," I heard Kye say through her radio.

"Got it," Akito said.

It wasn't long until we were all together, and I was suddenly nervous. Something that didn't slip Kye's eye.

"Hey, it'll be okay," she said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I know, but… we were on such bad terms when we left," I said.

"You said it yourself, he was in Kazekage mode," she replied. "He'll be happy to see you, I promise."

I just smiled. I didn't know she was right or not, but arguing about it with her wouldn't change anything. All I had to do was face him.

We walked out of the forest and met the edge of the desert, where we found Kankuro, Temari, Baki, and Gaara.

I tried to meet Gaara's eyes, but he wasn't looking my way. Unsure what I should be doing, I stood back with my team, listening, ready to act if need be. Although, I didn't think there would be a need unless Gaara ordered us to attack.

"Lord Kazekage," Konan stepped forward. "I wish to plead my case to you, and, if you'll have it, offer my assistance, as well as the assistance of my comrades here with me."

"I'm listening," was Gaara's only response. His face was kept neutral. Kankuro must have said something to make him want to give her a chance, but I could tell he was still hesitant.

Konan delved into her story about what Akatsuki was originally meant to be, and what it had become, and what Itachi had discovered about Tobi. Most of it I knew, from watching the show and reading wiki pages, but some of it I didn't know.

"With that said, Lord Kazekage, I want nothing more than to correct the mistakes my friends and I made," Konan concluded. "Starting here, and moving out to the other villages."

"You killed me. As well as countless other jinchuuriki, that is something you can never give back," Gaara said.

"I understand, and words cannot show how truly sorry I am," Konan replied. "I understand I can never take back my actions, but I will do what I must to repent."

"And what of your comrades? Do they feel the way you do?" As he asked this, he looked at each former member of Akatsuki.

"I cannot speak for their feelings, but I can say they will, without a doubt, follow my command," Konan replied, without missing a beat. "As well as your command, if that is what you want."

Gaara closed his eyes in thought, then, without opening them, said, "Darcy, Kye, and Akito, what are your opinions?"

"I see no reason not to trust them," Kye said. "Konan personally told me her story, and they've followed through so far. They had plenty of chances to kill us, or otherwise bend us to their will, and they didn't."

"Yeah, Itachi and Kisame saved mine and Darcy's lives," Akito said.

"Akito!" I whispered under my breath.

"Saved you from what?" Sure, now Gaara choose to look at me, and he looked pissed.

I sighed. "From Orochimaru. But let me just say, we had it under control. I would have figured something out if they hadn't come along."

I could tell he wanted to say a number of things, but instead, he changed the subject. "Do you trust them?"

I paused for a moment. I knew Gaara would take my word into more consideration than Akito's and Kye's opinions, so I had to make sure I worded it right. "I trust Konan, Itachi, and Kisame. As for the others, well, I don't distrust them, but they've done nothing to earn my trust; however, I don't think they pose a threat to us."

Gaara nodded, then looked between Kankuro, Temari, and Baki. "We agree, then?"

They all nodded, but Baki added, "If I may, Lord Kazekage, I don't think they should be without guards until we see their actions proven. Until you see their actions proven."

Gaara nodded. "We should get moving. It's a long trip across the desert."

"You should go talk to him," Kye whispered.

"Why? He's pissed as hell at me," I grumbled.

"Ignoring him won't make it better," Akito said. "Sorry I brought up Orochimaru, by the way. It kind of just slipped out."

"It's okay, he would have found out eventually," I said.

"Go up there and talk to him," Akito said. "He might be mad, but I know he missed you. He'll be happy if you go talk to him."

I looked at the ground, and knew she was right. Without another word, I sped up, weaving my way through the group to the front. When Temari, Kankuro, and Baki saw me, they stepped back a bit, giving us a little bit of privacy.

"I'm sorry I made you worry, but don't be mad at me," I said, glancing at him sideways.

"I'm not made at you," he said, looking straight ahead "I'm just… frustrated. I'm never going to be able to be out on missions with you."

"You don't need to keep me safe," I said.

"I know, but I want to fight alongside you," he said. "So we can keep each other safe."

"So you don't hate me?" I asked, giving him a small smile.

"I could never hate you," he said, finally looking at me, returning my smile. "I just want you to be safe. You'll have to tell me what happened with Orochimaru when we get back."

"Oh, I will," I said with a grin. "I kicked major ass."

"I bet you did."

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed! Let me know what you thought! I'll try to update as much as I can, so stay tuned!