One Of Us (Akatsuki Fan-fiction)

Chapter 40

You looked around. Okay, the coast is clear. Quietly and steadily, you and Itachi made your way into the hideout. Luck must have been on your side, it hadn't been raining when you returned to the Hidden Rain village and even now there were no rain clouds in sight. Yet, you wondered why. It always rained here, it was how Pein kept the village safe. You made it past the first five flights of stairs until you bumped into Kakuzu.

"Kid," he said and looked from you to Itachi. You both stared back at him, like deer caught in headlights. "What's going on here?"

"Sh!" you put a finger to your mouth and looked around. You grabbed the sleeve of Kakuzu's cloak and pulled him along with you while holding Itachi with your other hand. Kakuzu got the message and followed you to the infirmary. He opened the door and you slipped inside. You took a look around. Good, Deidara wasn't awake... yet, so that meant you had more time before he began to yell his off at you. "Guess you're on neutral huh?" you teased Itachi as you set him down on another one of the beds.

He sat on the edge and chuckled lightly. "I guess so."

"No crazy ideas, right?" you asked.

"No," he shook his head.

"What's going on kid?" Kakuzu asked once more as he looked from you to Itachi and back again.

"Itachi got himself killed," you spoke slowly and quietly. Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. "He's fine now 'cause I brought him back."

"I see," Kakuzu said thoughtfully. "Does Leader know about this?"

You shook your head. "I don't think so." Kakuzu's mask tilted up on a corner and you raised an eyebrow. "What are you smirking for?"

Kakuzu shrugged as innocently as he could manage. "Nothing much, just that Konan, Sasori and I were covering for you while you were out."

Your eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Yup," Kakuzu nodded. "You need to stop running off like that though, you'll get all of us killed one day. You for jumping in front of attacks to save others, and us for covering your escapes."

You laughed nervously. "Sorry about that grandpa, I'll try not to do it anymore. But if someone's in danger," you pulled on a serious expression and stared right into Kakuzu's eyes. "I will continue to do it to save them."

Kakuzu sighed. "I know you will."

"I know you guys tell me not to over and over again, but it's something that I just can't help," you explained. "It's an impulse I get, I act and I don't think much about. At least, I don't give it a second thought. I just act on it, I... I can't help it."

"It's alright kid, I understand what you mean," Kakuzu said quietly.

"You do?" you asked with an arched eyebrow.

Kakuzu nodded. "Yeah, that's kinda... never mind."

"What? That's kinda like what?" you asked as Itachi laid down in bed. He placed his head on the soft pillows and closed his eyes.

"Say, Kakuzu," you began cautiously.

"What is it?" he answered as he sat on a chair beside Deidara's bed.

"Where is Leader?" you asked. "It's not raining, and that only happens when he has to go somewhere far away or something like that."

"He and Konan are getting ready to go."

"Go where?"

"To the Hidden Leaf village."

"Oh... what for?"