Absolved.

Answers.

[Song: In The Air Tonight - In This Moment]

The next few days were disappointing at best, everytime I'd gone to the hospital to visit, Kakashi had practically begged me to take Naruto out of the room for a while so he could get some rest.

I had wanted to talk to Kakashi about what happened, but I also didn't mind spending time with Naruto.

"Why don't you come stay at the apartment with me?" I asked him, hoping to rescue his Sensei.

Naruto thought about it for a moment as he shoveled ramen into his mouth but shook his head. "You didn't see Sasuke.. I need to train and get stronger."

I sighed, sipping at the broth that was left in my bowl. I was glad Kakashi was paying for this because I had only taken one mission since I got back and Naruto was on his third bowl.. I would have to get Gaara to send me some of my savings.

I wrote to him every night now, and usually received my answer the next afternoon. He was having trouble getting the answers I wanted from Granny Chiyo's brother, and once he'd brought up my idea to Kankuro.. Well.. I'd gotten a three page note from Kro that morning chewing me out for even thinking about it.

"Naruto! Kairi!" Sakura's voice greeted us as she lifted the curtains that formed Ichiraku Ramen's walls.

I could have almost jumped up and hugged her, it had been that long since I'd spent time with her. "Sakura, what are you--"

Riku followed her in.

Sakura saw my smile deflate and laughed a little. "Me too, Lady Kairi... But Captain Yamato wants us to bond as a team."

We both rolled our eyes..

"Here, Sakura.. Get you and Sai a bowl on Kakashi.. I would like to speak with Sai for a moment."

The robot followed me outside, and neither of us spoke to each other until we were several blocks away, in the empty schoolyard.

"Alright Riku, what the hell are you up to?" I asked, spinning around on him.

He surprised me by holding his hands up defensively the way Kakashi did, and then giving me his creepy smile. "Please Kairi.. I am Sai now, let's be friends."

I actually felt my eye twitch.

He sighed, sounding more human than I had ever heard him. "I am a part of Team Kakashi now."

"Is Danzo making a move against Naruto?" I almost growled it, even knowing he wouldn't be able to tell me if he wanted to.

Sai shook his head no, but it wasn't very convincing. "I do not want to hurt our friends."

"Fine.." I gave up, I wasn't going to get answers out of him.. But he also hadn't attacked me, and if Danzo had ordered my death..

"I have missed you, weakling." He smiled again.

"Weakling? What the hell?"

"Sorry, I am not good at nicknames."

"Ri- Sai.. Where is Hex?" I bit my lip, waiting for his answer.

"I thought she was with you." He stated, unbothered.

"What do you mean?"

"Our last mission together.. When you didn't respond to her, she went looking for you and neither of you came back."

She'd gone looking for me.. So the Akatsuki must have her.. If she hadn't actually joined them. "You didn't look for us?"

"That was not part of my mission objective."

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I'd gone home without bothering to go back to Ichiraku Ramen. In my attempt to avoid thinking about the fate of my best friend, I'd decided to clean the apartment. Naruto had been staying here still, and the kid was a pig.

I was cleaning the mirror in the bathroom when I thought I saw a flash of something in my reflection, a flash of red eyes.. I turned around, ready to fight but nobody was there. I sighed, shaking my head 'you're just on edge.'

"Hello Kairi." That velvet voice drifted to me from the other end of the hallway. "It's been a while."

As I turned to face Itachi, everything around us faded into black. He'd caught me in the trap as soon as I'd seen him in the mirror, and I'd learned a while ago that there was no use fighting his Genjutsu. "What do you want?"

"You're nervous... I hear your heart." He tilted his head slightly. "Are you afraid of me now?"

I wasn't, but I was afraid of what Itachi being in the village meant... His friends couldn't be far, and I hadn't found out the secret to the jutsu yet.. Naruto was in danger, and I was helpless.

"I hear Gaara survived."

The sound that came from me was animalistic. "Don't you dare say his name."

"I'm sorry Kairi, he was one of the keys.." He crossed the distance between us and put his hand on my cheek. "It is for the greater good."

I slapped his hand away from me and stepped back. "Yeah yeah, I don't understand right? Now you're going to take Naruto."

"I'm not here for him."

"Then what do you want, Itachi?" I growled.

He sighed, the area around us changed to the living room in my apartment and he sat down on my couch. I hated seeing him relaxing in my house like that, in Naruto's house. He gestured for me to sit down in one of the chairs, and I shook my head.

"I wanted to see you." He said finally, quietly.

"I never want to see you again." I narrowed my gaze at him. "I hate you."

"Good." He laughed, standing up again. "Hate me, hate us all.. Get angry Kairi.. You will need it."

I couldn't keep the memory of the nightmare my mother gave me out of my mind.. "Is she with you?"

Itachi nodded slightly, looking confused. "How did you remember?"

It was my turn to be confused. "Remember?"

"I wanted you to forget that night.." He admitted, turning away from me. "I didn't want her betrayal to hurt you."

"It wasn't a dream.." I stated in disbelief. "She.. she left me here."

He only nodded. "Goodbye Kairi, for now."