A/N: Again, my computer is freaking out on me and so i don't risk losing my chapters i'm posting them then gonna work on them on the site from now on. Enjoy the updates and review!

-Sasuke-

I watched my brother from the doorway. I had never seen him act this way before. When we had heard a scream from upstairs, I swear I'd never seen my brother move that fast. I'd barely been able to keep up with him as we both raced up the stairs. When we entered the room and Itachi saw Skye rocking herself back and forth on the bed, the look on his face was undescribable. It looked like he wanted to kill someone, but at the same time it looked like he wanted to cry, sigh, and curse all at the same time.

I looked up when I heard the springs of the bed creak and saw Itachi laying Skye back against the pillows and pulling the comforter up to her chin before brushing some of her hair back before turning to look at me. He looked drained as he walked past me and out into the hallway. I glanced back at the now, calmly sleeping girl before following after my brother.

When I made it downstairs, I found Itachi sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.

"Big brother...?"

I asked uncertainly. Itachi wasn't really one for emotions, or at least not showing them like he was now, so for him to be showing so many so easily worried me slightly.

"I'm fine Sasuke."

He said and I frowned at him as I sat in the chair across the table from him.

"Just what happened to that girl?"

I asked, thinking that maybe if I knew something of what happened to her that I'd be able to have something to go off of as to why my brother was acting so strange.

"We're not a hundred percent sure, but from what Konan said she saw she thinks Skye has been abused for the past three years."

He said and I stared at him in shock before glancing back up towards the stairs. Now that I thought about it, she was covered in bruises and stitches.

"When she had showed up, it was Deidara that answered the door. She'd just collapsed in his arms and he had to have help carrying her inside the apartment."

Itachi continued to say and I looked back at my brother to see him run a hand through his hair with a sigh before looking up at me.

"She looked horrid. She was covered in blood and dirt and was soaked to the bone. She'd been living in Kiri up until then, Pein and I think she walked the whole way."

He said and my eyes widened. For her to be wounded like she was and still walk all the way from Kiri to Konoha like she did in such a short amount of time was just...unbelievable.

"Skye's not like most people. She'll hide behind smiles and a facade of being fine when in reality she's hurting inside. She won't want to burden others with her problems, which is why I want her to stay here. If she's here, then maybe she'll be able to make friends with you and the others. Maybe you guys can bring her out of her protective shell. Maybe you guys can change her."

Itachi said and I just stared at him in silent awe. I could understand he wanted to help that girl, but she was practically a stranger and he just expected me to be okay with her staying with us?

I was about to tell him just what I thought until I remembered one Christmas when Itachi had invited Pein and the rest of the members of the Akatsuki over when I was nine. I remembered Deidara arriving late and when he finally came inside I saw a black and blue haired girl practically attached to his legs while his sister went over to Konan and started talking. Itachi had said hello to Deidara and the girl, but I hadn't caught her name until Itachi beckoned me to come closer. He then put his hand on my shoulder and smiled down at the girl before introducing us. As soon as the girl heard my name and she looked at me with those ice blue eyes I knew this wouldn't be the only time I saw her.

I frowned as the memory faded and my attention was focused back in the present. For some reason after having been introduced, Skye stopped clinging to Deidara and clung to me. Konana and Deidara's sister thought it was cute. I thought it was annoying, and my brother and his friends found it amusing.

"It's the same girl, isn't it?"

I asked after some time and Itachi turned away from the stairs to look at me before slowly nodding.

"You remember."

He said and I nodded.

"A lot of time has passed and a lot has changed, but she's still the same girl."

He said and I just glanced back in the direction of the stairs. How I hadn't managed to put two and two together until now bothered me. Before she had left with Deidara and his sister, Skye and I had actually gotten rather close. She was the only other person, other than Itachi, that I let close.

"I won't let anything happen to her."

I said, turning back to look at my brother and wanted to smile at the look of surprise in his eyes.

"...Sasuke..."

He said and, this time, I did smile.

"She's practically family after all right?"

I asked and he shook his head at my comment before smiling at me.

"Right."

He said and I nodded before getting to my feet.

"Family protects family, no matter what."

I said before grabbing a couple slices of pizza from the box on the counter, then heading up the stairs. I wasn't sure when Skye was going to wake up, but she'd probably be hungry when she did. It was strange having Skye back, and would probably only get worse from here on out. But like Itachi said, she was practically family and I'd-no, we'd protect her.