"What the.. There's still no solid ground! What an inconvenience! Who created this place?" Mitsuki complained, as she tried to hide away her awkwardness.

"Nah, I think no shinobi will find this to be inconvenient at all," Kisame retorted with a grin. "It's fine, just stay there carried like an obedient princess while the talk goes, it won't affect the outcome. The only thing that I'm worried about is Itachi-san's image, hahaha."

"..That won't do.." Mitsuki said in a mumble.

"What? Itachi-san's image?" Kisame responded, surprised at the lack of retort from the feisty girl.

".. I can't present myself properly like this," she continued as she dwelled deep in her thought, ignoring Kisame's question.

"Itachi-kun, can you lower me down a bit? Just enough for my hand to touch the water?"

Surprised at her request, Itachi questioned her, while silently following her request and gently squatted down, "What are you going to do?"

".. it's ok, I'll take everything you told me into consideration. It's a bit complex but.. I think I can manage."

Curious, Itachi decided to trust her. During her training and experimentation, he knew that the girl is a lot smarter than she let off, if not for her occasional emotional outburst.

".. Just a tiny bit." Mitsuki said as she laid both her hands on the water. On her right hand, the water surface start to freeze. The frozen layer started to expand, just wide enough for 1 person to stand. As Itachi started to wonder what she is trying to do, the water surrounding the ice layer started to fold upwards and quickly freeze, then fold inward, covering the top of the ice, leaving a hollow space inside.

Curious, Itachi touched the water, slightly away from the box of ice. "It's warm?" He thought to himself. Itachi slightly turned his head towards the girl and observe, wondering what she's up to.

Noticing the gaze, Mitsuki answered without turning, still with a focused look on her face. "You taught me, temperature and the state of thing is all about energy. I'm thinking by creating a balance between energy absorption required to create the ice and also returning the energy in a concentrated space in certain distance of the ice, I can make sure the freezing of the water won't affect the temperature of the surrounding area, more than needed." As Itachi considered the complexity that is needed to make this possible, Mitsuki continued, "..but I need to make sure this transfer continues constantly, else the balance is going to be broken. I've also made the inside of the box hollow and sealed to minimize the amount of ice needed to keep me afloat, just like floating a sealed box in water."

"Do you think this will work?" Mitsuki turned her face slightly to meet Itachi's gaze, worry shows up in her eyes as she looked for Itachi's approval.

Slightly smiling as his heart filled with sense of pride over the result of their training and exchange, Itachi gave her his words of approval. "I think it will," he said as he gently lowered her down towards the platform.

Mitsuki stood on the platform with a serious look on her face, as Itachi stood behind her.

"Darn girl, you are smarter than I thought," said Kisame with a slight grin. His brain could barely comprehend the details of her complex construct and the theory behind it. "Itachi must have taught her a lot," he thought to himself.

"Be quite, Sharky-chan. I don't have any focus to spare for retorts. Can we start with the meeting now?"

Itachi and Kisame looked at each other, and Kisame shrugged in response as Itachi lifted his hand and pointed toward one of the stalagmite and shot his chakra towards it.

Some kind of mechanism activated, and a hazy figure appeared in front of the three.

"So," a voice came from the hazy figure standing with his purple spiral eye aimed towards the odd addition in front of his crew, "I see you brought someone. Who is this?" he asked, coldly.

Before either Itachi and Kisame could answer, Mitsuki bowed politely, with serious look on her face.

"I'm sorry to intrude. My name is Mitsuki, I tagged along from the Village of Morning Dew. Nice to meet you," she said in calm and firm voice, looking surprisingly mature as she lifted her head and met Pain's questioning gaze.

Pain glanced at the duo, silently demanding for explanation. Kisame, still stunned by Mitsuki's surprising change in attitude, left Itachi to answer Pain's question. After taking a deep breath, Itachi started to convey the detail of the situation in the mission and what has transpired so far as well as Mitsuki's unique ability and condition.

"So you deduced that she would be of help to Akatsuki?"

Did he? Itachi is not sure about the answer of that question. Why did he bring her along in the first place, she would probably live a better life even in hiding somewhere compared to be an agent of Akatsuki, or worse even, being treated as an experiment if their leader decided that she won't be of use. Before he could find an answer to that question, Mitsuki interrupted.

"I choose to come here by my own will," she said with serious look on her face. "For the past 10 years, I don't know who I am. All I know is trying to survive, manipulating and deceiving people for my survival. A meaningless transaction with superficial, empty, motives." Mitsuki scoffed and look downwards as she said that.

"But Itachi-kun is the first one who ever see me for who I am, and not run in fear or treat me like a monster that I am," said Mitsuki. As she looked up to meet Pain's gaze, she continued, "I want to understand why is it, and I want to find out more about who am I and why am I the way I am. I want to see the world in the eye of the one who broke into my world, and I'm willing to do anything for that." Mitsuki continued with a determined look on her face.

"Anything?" Pain asked.

"Use me, you guys are a group of criminal right? It must not be easy for you guys to find information and move freely. As for me, no one knows about me, and my looks deceives. I can be your spy, your negotiator, your hidden weapon, as long as I'm allowed to stay beside Itachi-kun and observe him. I don't need to be a part of your group, just think of me as his familiar."

Her answer surprised the 3 man. Pain shifted his gaze towards Itachi to read his expression. He looked surprised, but Pain can't read what's going on his mind beyond that, as usual. Sighing, pain shifted his gaze back towards the girl, "And how do I know I can trust you instead of capturing you or ending you right here, right now."

"If you ever find me to be untrustworthy or a liability, you can end my life anytime. I know Itachi-kun can do it anytime he wanted to. But Old Man Bocchon told me, some things can only be learnt when the specimen is alive and challenged in an open environment, and not when it's lying helpless in confinement or deathbed. I believe I will provide more value if Itachi-kun is observing me as we journeyed together, and experiment more with my power in various situation and application." Mitsuki answered quickly, still trying to maintain her calm façade as she tried her best to maintain her construct without slipping as well.

"I'll put my life in his hands, this I can promise, and I will never object when the time comes, as he's the one who break me out from my own confinement," said Mitsuki, in slightly lower tone.

Pain didn't say a single word. He looked at the girl, and the pair of his crew, waiting for any kind of sign. He was impressed in the girl's maturity and resourcefulness as well as he calm demeanor that doesn't suit her stature. However, he would need to know what the related party think about this situation. In response to the silence, Mitsuki glanced back towards the two, eyes pleading with worry.

"Oh well, maybe she can be of use. This girl is surprisingly smart, and wouldn't it be a good change of mood for once, travelling to uncover secrets, like a treasure hunt?" said Kisame, surprisingly. Mitsuki almost couldn't believe what she heard, she thought he will try to get rid of her for sure. Biting her lips, she turned her head back towards Pain.

"No objection then?" Pain stared at Itachi's face to gauge expression. He was somehow more quiet than usual, even though he is the person of interest in this conversation, Pain thought to himself. Oh well, they have only just started gathering the bijuu as they are now anyway, having a secret weapon against the monsters that are jinchuuriki could never hurt, especially when the strength exist outside of shinobi's logic.

Itachi stood in silence, and Pain took it as a sign of non-objection. The pair has never failed any mission before, and he doubt whatever happen will be more than what they can handle anyway, knowing what both of them are capable of. Especially judging from the attachment the girl has to Itachi, he doubt she will cause them any problem.

"That's it then. You three should head to fire nation's border and wait for further instruction on the nearest base. Do report to me on any discovery as well," Pain said to them, implying his approval towards the girl's proposition. "Meeting dismissed," said Pain, as his figure turned and disperse in the darkness.

After Pain's figure left the meeting point, Itachi still stood in silence. He couldn't gave Pain a definite answer. For once, he felt like he couldn't understand himself. Had he made a mistake? Before he can finish his thought, a thud dragged him out of his trance. In front of him, Mitsuki had fallen down to her platform, arms trembling.

"Ahaha, finally, it's over. This is harder than I thought.. My leg just gave in on its own," she chuckled lightly with a sense of relief. "Harder than she thought" is putting it lightly. She has been struggling to keep her façade while keeping her focus in maintaining the platform system during the whole conversation. Thankfully, her training and experimentation with Itachi during her journey proved to be of help. She couldn't imagine herself few days ago, being able to handle it this well, even if it sapped away all of her strength.

" Oi, you OK kid?" said Kisame with genuine concern as he stepped closer towards Mitsuki.

"Hahaha…"the girl chuckled. As tears of relief start to drop from the corner of her eyes, she couldn't help but let out a genuine smile. "I.. can still travel with you guys.." she said happily as she turned her face toward the pair with a happy smile, tears still lodged on the edge of her eyes. She was anxious, and nervous, more than she let the two others to realize. She don't want the journey to end prematurely, and she was afraid she messed her chance by losing Kisame's favor as she was especially mean towards him. Itachi has also been very quiet during the whole thing, and it made her worry if she has been more of a burden to him than he let on. Especially with her incapability, shortcomings, as well as her emotional outburst and childish behavior, and also the fact the she took so much just to do a thing that normal shinobi are able to do with ease.

Kisame snickered at the sight, while Itachi was caught off-guard by her tears and genuine happiness reflected on her face. How can she be so happy, knowing the path ahead of her will be riddled still with isolation, deceit, and possibly death? However, seeing her bright demeanor, he felt like he wanted to believe that this outcome is for the best, despite being something that is outside of his own comprehension or logic. With that, he tried to push his worry aside, in respect of Mitsuki's will and maturity in handling the previous conversation on her own. "Not a kid to be protected, huh?" Itachi hid his smile as he thought to himself. As he shifted his gaze towards Mitsuki's face, his eyes accidentally met hers. In response, the girl grinned widely and opened her arm wide and said, "Itachi-kun, please carry me!" Itachi met her request with a surprised look that he couldn't hide as her sudden shift towards her usual playful childlike attitude surprised him even more.

As she said that, Kisame lifted her grovelling figure by her waist with ease and carried her on his sword-less side.

"Good job, kiddo, you impressed me there," he say, "I'll carry you this time to congratulate your good work!"

"! I'm not a kid! Don't carry me this way, let go of me!"Mitsuki flailed around to no effect against Kisame's strong grip.

"Ah that's right, you said you're older than you look. So how old are you actually?" ask Kisame, grinning and keep walking, ignoring her pointless struggle.

".. I don't know, but my look didn't change since 10 years back. How old is Itachi-kun?"

"If I'm not wrong, he should be 17?" Kisame answered unsurely regarding the prodigy that's far too smart and experienced for his age.

".. Then I'll take 17 too," said Mitsuki

"What the hell was that, it doesn't work like that, kiddo. Maybe you're actually older than him?" Kisame chuckled playfully.

"Then stop calling me kiddo! You called Itachi as Itachi-san!" Mitsuki flailed again in frustration.

"I'll stop calling you kiddo once you grow to look like an adult," Kisame teases as he glanced at her.

Mitsuki pouted as he looked up towards him and stopped her struggle. "Kisame," she called, surprising the shark-looking guy which carried her.

".. Thank you though.." she said in soft voice.

"What's that kid?" Kisame couldn't believe his ear.

".. Thanks for speaking up for me.. and letting me to continue this journey with you guys. You're also a good guy after all." Mitsuki added, still in low tone, swallowing her pride and embarrassment.

Kisame grinned at the ridiculous notion. He is a wanted criminal after all.

"Heh, don't speak too fast kid. We shall see," he replied as the three of them left the hideout in silence.

Itachi took what transpired deep inside his mind. The girl's determination and cunning surprised him again and again thorough their short journey together, but nothing had surprised him more than the genuine happy smile that she showed after realizing that she would be able to stay with them, whatever the notion or the consequences was. He felt as if she brought a bit of light in the darkness that is his fate, and wondered if this could be a small atonement of his grave, unforgivable, sin. Whatever it means, he would like to pretend that the happiness was prove enough that he is doing the right thing, instead of dwelling on the outcome and questioning his decision. The thought surprised even himself. "It seems like I still have something to learn about myself, after all," he thought to himself, surprised finding that he is not hating the lack of sure answer and the uncertainty ahead as much as he thought he would.

Omake:

"Erm, by the way, you guys.." said Kisame

"Wouldn't you think there won't be no fish inside the hideout since it's blocked with chakra in case some outsider tries to enter?"

"….."

"…."

"And I thought the hideout is designed to conceal any sign of jutsu usage as we need it for the extraction ritual that lasted long time?

"….."

"?"

"W..WHATT!? WHY DID I EVEN! WHY DID YOU GUYS NEVER TOLD ME?" Mitsuki flailed as her displeasure and frustration exploded.

"Sorry, I just noticed," Kisame laughed

"ITACHI-KUN!?"

Itachi stayed in silence. He also genuinely forgot, as he was lost in his track of thoughts the whole time, and when he isn't, his curiosity on what the girl will be able to do to solve the issue took over his mind. However, to get it pointed out first by Kisame, was a first, as well as an embarrassing situation, even if he wouldn't like to admit his prideful side.

"Let's pick up our pace. It's a long journey to our destination," Itachi said as he picked up his pace towards the dry land.

"?" Mitsuki couldn't believe what just happened. Maybe this big brother had more hidden side to him, after all?

Author's Note:

Light SPEEDDDDD! Hehehe the story came rolling after I started writing again, not sure how long will this waterfall of inspiration keep pouring tho. I've slowly tried to replenish my knowledge and fact checks for future story points where the story doesn't interrupt with the canon yet! I hope there will still be people who read this and enjoy it despite how long it has been! Also I haven't proofread this yet so pardon as I fix the grammar over time!