-Skye-

I hissed as the hot water hit my injuries. I could tell from how tight the stitches were tied that Konan had been the one to stitch me up. It wasn't the first time she'd had to patch me up, and it wouldn't be the last. She'd operated so much on me and the guys that by the time she finally decided to go to school for medicine she was practically a pro.

I gingerly passed the washcloth over my body, applying more pressure in some spots to get dried blood off. I noticed most of it was already gone and I mentally smiled at the fact Konan had cleaned me up too. I rinsed my body, then my hair before just standing beneath the water and letting it wash over me. I laid my head against the black and white tile of the shower and sighed.

"Why did I come back here? I shouldn't bring my problems to them, they don't need this."

I whispered to myself as I closed my eyes and fought back tears as I remembered what had happened between Shinta and I. I hadn't meant to hurt him at first, but after what he did I couldn't help it. I had no choice, it was either that or let him kill me.

Skye glared up at the sky as it poured down rain. It was suppose to rain on and off all day. She had just gotten inside the lobby of her apartment building when a flash of lightning lit up the sky. She shivered as her black shirt was soaked through and she had forgotten her jacket when she'd left earlier that morning.

Wanting nothing more than to take a hot shower, she ran up the three floors to her flat before digging her keys out and opening the door to her and her boyfriend's apartment. She tossed her keys in the bowel by the door before kicking off her shoes.

"Babe? You home?"

She called to the dark apartment as she stepped up onto the landing, when she got no response she walked down the hall towards the bathroom, cutting on lights as she went. She paused inside their room long enough to get some clean clothes before going into the bathroom and stepping inside the shower after having stripped out of her wet clothes.

Halfway through her shower Skye heard the apartment door open. Wanting to tell her boyfriend the good news she'd found out earlier today, she hurried with the rest of her shower before stepping out, drying off, and getting dressed in record time.

"Babe?"

She called out as she walked down the hall and into the livingroom of their shared apartment.

"You'll never guess what I found out today. You'll be so happy."

She said with a smile as she turned the corner, but she froze when she saw her boyfriend. His shaggy red hair was sticking up in places while sticking to his head in others. His green eyes were bloodshot and out of focus, he couldn't stand still without swaying, and she noticed he smelled strongly of alcohol.

"Well! What is it!?"

He snapped at her and she flinched at the tone of his voice, but swallowed back her fear and decided to answer him. He had to know, it was his too.

"Babe, I'm-"

"Skye?"

I jumped at the sound of my name from the other side of the bathroom door. It took me a few minutes of having the now cold water hitting my face to realize where I was.

"Skye?"

Someone called my name again, this time sounding a little more concerned.

"I'm fine!"

I called back as I shut the water off and stepped out of the shower, drapping a towel around my body.

"You sure? I could always go get Konan."

I looked at the door when I realized it was Pein on the other side. I made sure the towel warpped around me was secure before going over to the door and opening it.

"Like I said, I'm fine."

I said with a forced smile, hoping he didn't press the matter. He seemed to look at me for a while before nodding just slightly.

"Alright."

He said and I mentally sighed in relief.

"You can borrow some of my clothes before heading out with Itachi, unless you want to stay here tonight. Konan and I can always go back to our pla-"

He started, but I cut him off.

"Thanks, but I'm good. I'll just get changed, then Itachi can take me to his place."

I said and saw him stare at me before nodding.

I pushed past him and padded down the hall to the third door on the right, then slipped inside. I shut the door behind me and flipped the lightswitch only to be blinded by the surprisingly bright bulb. When my eyes readjusted I couldn't help but smile at the fact Pein's room hadn't changed all that much except for the fact that some of Konan's stuff was in here too. I walked over to the closet and pulled out a pair of ripped skinny jeans that were a little too long for me and a purple Skillet t-shirt with the words 'I'm a Monster' written in white over a teddy bear with chains and piercings all over and fangs showing from the corner of its mouth. It was obviously Konan's shirt, but I didn't care, it fit me so that's all that mattered.

I walked back out of the room and stopped in the entrance of the livingroom. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall as soon as I realized none of them had realized I had walked in. Itachi was standing beside my cousin by the band's instruments while Sasori was sitting on one end of the couch with Pein on the other end with Konan in his lap.

"Are you sure it's really okay for her to stay with you Itachi?"

Pein asked and I looked up at the Uchiha that was like my big brother.

"Yes. She can't stay here 'cuz Sasori and Deidara share the place, and she can't stay with Konan because she moved in with you."

He said and I saw all of them frown, as if deep in thought. This was why I hadn't wanted to come here, I didn't want to cause any issues for them, but I had nowhere else to go.

"Besides.."

Itachi said and I looked up at him, wondering what else he had to say.

"She's practically my sister, as she is to all of you. There's no way I'd let her be on her own, even if she screamed and shouted at me to leave her alone. Isn't that right, Skye."

My eyes widened when he said my name and looked at me, but then smiled just slightly. He always did notice me when no one else did. He and Deidara seemed to be the only ones who could easily read me before I spent some time with Konan, Pein, and Sasori, but even after all this time I guess only Itachi could still read me.

"I guess, ya big oaf."

I said with a smile as I pushed off from the wall and saw him return my smile.

"Come on midget, let's get going before it gets too late."

He said and I rolled my eyes at him as I followed him out the door.

"Tachi, it's past four o'clock."

I said and saw him tense as we walked down the stairs towards the parking lot with Konan and the others following. I heard them snicker at my comment and found myself smiling again.

"She got you there."

Konan said and she laughed when Itachi glared at her as he unlocked his car and stood on the other side.

"Yeah yeah. Keep it up lil sis, and I won't let you have any of your favorite icecream once we get to the house."

He said with a smirk and I gasped in horror at his comment.

"You wouldn't dare."

I said with narrowed eyes and his smirk just widened.

"Wouldn't I?"

He asked in a challenging tone and I knew he would, that was just how he was. So I did the only logical choice, slid inside the passenger side of his car without another word. I heard him laugh before saying goodbye to the others and getting in himself, then starting up the car. It wasn't long before we were speeding down the street towards the Uchiha manor.

-Deidara-

I was glad that Itachi was going to look after Skye, he was right when he'd said she couldn't stay with me or Konan. I was afraid that she would have already retreated within herself, but her playfulness with Itachi before and after getting to the parking lot set my mind at ease. She was still the same goofy little girl I remembered, she was still Skye. I just wondered how long it would be before something happened and she tried to hide from us. Whenever that happened, I just hoped we'd be able to get her back. I couldn't lose Skye, not when she was the only person I had left.