Heaven's Regulations {Rewrite}

Chapter 15 ~ A New Name

Here goes our second chapter of the day! And yes, I used my old chapter's name. ^~^

Enjoy!

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The atmosphere was full of tension and memories. Rin could feel the carefully hidden fear rolling off some members, resentment rolling off others, and the uneasiness from some more. She felt pressured by the anger that rolled off every member in waves. At last, someone spoke up.

"I'll go." Everyone turned.

"Sasori?" Deidara asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes were wide and horrified. "Y-You can't." But controversially, Sasori's eyes were icy. They dared anyone to challenge him in his quest for something that Rin was positive that even he didn't know was.

And seeing that expression, she knew that he would die if he went by himself.

"I'll go," she volunteered. Everyone turned to her and immediately objected. Sasori was first of all of them.

"No!" he yelled. "You can't! That place... You can't..." He looked utterly horrified.

"Sasori's right, Rin," Konan said. "We need you here. Plus, it's dangerous. We can't send you there. It's a job for us."

"I know you guys have some history with them - I don't know what it is, and I don't need to know - but you guys need to let me go. I'm a ninja too. My life is not your responsibility. They asked for a healer, so a healer we will send. You guys risk your lives every day. As a part of this, I can only do the same."

"Rin..." Itachi began quietly. "I know you want to... you know... but I don't know if it's the best thing right now."

"Trust me, 'Tachi-nii. I'll come back alive." They looked each other in the eyes, and Itachi saw the conviction in his best friend's eyes. He backed down, knowing that he had lost.

"Rin can hold her own. Let her go," Itachi said. Rin shot him a grateful glance - one he returned with a worried but loving smile.

"I have all of your training to aid me, guys. Don't worry." She smiled softly. This time, Hikaru approached the medic. The pup gazed up at her worriedly.

"Rin-chan, don't you think it might be a bit too soon for this?"

"It's a risk I'll take," Rin replied. "Look, I'm not just going to ignore a plea for help. Since I'm not connected to anywhere as of right now, I am a neutral shinobi. It'll be okay." She gave a reassuring smile.

"No, un," Deidara said. "Even if they let you, I won't. Sasori can hold his own too, un. And I don't think it's good for Sasori to go either. You know what I think, un? I think we should ignore it!"

Pein sat down heavily onto the sofa, dropping his head into his hands.

"I don't know," he admitted, voice tinged with defeat. "Can we ignore it, after everything?"

"This is Iwa we're talking about," Konan reminded him gently. "Iwa."

"Don't prompt me to ignore them please, Konan," he grumbled. The blue-haired teen looked away, ashamed.

"Look." Sasori spoke up. "It doesn't matter anymore. We can't ignore them. In the end, they're still one of us. Let's just get this over with. If it gets too hard, we'll high tail out of there and not look back. If they threaten us, we'll kill them. As simple as that. This goes our way, or we're not helping at all."

No one made a sound. Thus, it was decided.

"Fine. Go, you two." He looked up, desperation glinting in his eyes. "But please, do be careful. I can't lose you two... to them..."

"Iwagakure..." Deidara muttered. "How many more times, you cursed village?!"

"Our worst enemy." Pein sighed. "Just go. Rin, take your birthday gifts. Most of them will come in handy." She nodded.

Five minutes later, the two shinobi were all packed and ready to leave. Hidan could not help it. He sidled up to Rin.

"You look good in that, Rin." The medic gave him a small punch in the shoulder.

"Just because you have a good sense of fashion. Thanks again, Hidan."

"Don't forget what I taught you, Rin!" Kisame called.

"Yeah. Remember what we did in training," Konan said.

"Don't forget, Rin," Pein said. "Balance and peace of mind are key."

"Yeah. Don't let their little mind tricks best you," Itachi said. "Remember what I taught you during the spars and the Genjutsu repellent training." Rin smiled.

"Leave it to me, guys. I'll get the job done," she vowed.

Pein stopped her as she was about to walk out the door. He thrust something at her.

"Take this," he said. She looked down.

"The Akatsuki cloak...?"

"I know you haven't been wearing it, Rin. I know you don't feel utmost loyalty to us so I especially appreciate your help, since you do it despite that fact. But wear this, okay? We don't want to raise suspicions or anything. Please. This one time." She hesitated; then, the kunoichi nodded.

"I'm sorry if I let you down, Pein. I'll wear it." She flung it on.

"You have never let us down, Rin, and you won't ever. Take this," Itachi said. He placed a mask in her hands - his ANBU mask. "I know you want to keep your identity a secret." She smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, 'Tachi-nii."

"Stay safe." For the first time since their childhood years, Itachi stepped forward and embraced her. She felt the warmth roll off of him and gave her love in return. "You have to come back. You have to."

"I will." Rin turned to the big group, addressing them as one. "Akatsuki!"

"Yes!" Over the while they had known the chestnut-haired teen, they had come to react firsthand to her sharp command. Now, the whole organization - one that used to be wild and heartless killers - watched her. In their eyes, they held respect and expectation; love and worry. Rin flashed a confident grin at them.

"You guys know fully well - as much as I do - that you're not 'cold-blooded killers'. Not anymore. When we come back, we're going to make a new name for ourselves. Akatsuki, what do you say?"

"Yes," Itachi said. The entire red cloud organization echoed his word.

In the midst of night, fists were raised into the air.

And a promise was made.

The promise of a change.

The promise of a new name.

"Good. Now, I can leave in peace. Thank you, Akatsuki. Love you guys." She smiled and turned to the redhead, who was watching her once more with an unreadable expression. She returned it with a cold gaze. I'm not ready. "Ready, Sasori?" The puppeteer shrugged, looking away.

"Not that I'll ever be, but sure." Puppet-Sasori's voice was rough and cruel. I miss the old Sasori.

"Off we go." Rin shut the door. "You know, that's the longest sentence you've spoken to me since your birthday." Sasori spared her only a glance. She found the pain in there nonetheless. Sighing, she slipped Itachi's old ANBU mask on and began to walk, leaving her beloved friends behind.

Friends?

...Or family...?

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Well, that's that. I hope you guys liked it. I gotta admit, this version is going way slower than expected. However, I plan to make up for it! Thanks again for bearing with me :)

~NarutoKura