Miu's POV

I tossed and turned a bit in my sleep, trying to wake up from my disturbing dream. My hand clenched into a fist. "Isuke..." I whispered before gritting my teeth. "As you wish, my Princess."

My eyes snapped opened. "Good morning, Princess." Isuke greeted. "Good morning." I said back as I sat up, taking the blanket off me. "Did you sleep well?" He asked. "Yes. I actually feel refreshed." I said truthfully. I felt well rested thanks to the sleep I had.

I looked at the door when I heard a knock. I got off the couch and answered it. "Asuma-sensei?"

"Hey, Miu. How are you feeling?" He asked me with a smile. "Um, good. What are you doing here?" I asked. "Just came to check on you. I was actually heading out to check on Kakashi and was wondering if you wanted to come with me." He said.

"Uh, sure. Just give me a second. You may come in if you want." I said. I headed to Sasuke's room and got changed in my set of clothing.

After I got changed, I went back to Asuma. "I'm ready." I informed him. Asuma and I headed out the door, walking to where Kakashi was. "How's the whole living arrangement with Sasuke?" Asuma asked.

"It's going okay. But he's in the hospital." I said. "I heard. Sorry to hear that." Asuma said as he petted my head. I flinched slightly. "Are you okay? Was that a flinch?" Asuma asked me. I quickly shook my head. "No." I lied.

I said that a bit too quickly, making Asuma looked at me with a raised brow. "Oi, Freak." I froze in place when I recognized Chi's voice. "Excuse me, Asuma-sensei. I'm afraid I have to take a rain check on visiting Kakashi-sensei." I said, giving a bow.

"I understand. Maybe next time." He said before petting my head again. I made sure I didn't flinch this time. After he left, I made my way over to Chi. "Do you need something, Chi?" I asked her. "Did you really think I was gonna let you get away with it?" She demanded with a frown as her hands were clenched into tight fists.

"Get away with what?" I asked in confusion. "You mean you don't remember? You killed my friends, and I'm going to make you pay for that." Chi said coldly. That's right. I remember killing Hana and Akira. But they deserved it.

They never should've hurt me. "Chi, just walk away. This doesn't have to happen." I said calmly. "And you think I'm gonna listen? Think again." She said, cracking her knuckles. "Just walk away, Chi." I repeated. I didn't see the first attack coming.

Chi kneed me in the stomach, making me fall to my knees. "What happened to all that strength?! Why wuss out not, huh, Miu?! You scared?!" She yelled at me, grabbing a fistful of my hair. I hissed slightly, trying to ignore the pain.

"That hurts." I said in a small voice. "I don't care!" Chi punched my jaw before driving her knee in my face. I fell on my back, then rolled on my hands and knees. Blood dripped from nose, meeting the ground.

I clenched my hand into a fist trying to control my anger. "What's the matter, Miu? Can't fight back?" Chi taunted as she pressed her foot on the back of my head. "I... I don't want to fight you, and I don't want to kill you." I said in a small voice.

"Then, why kill my friends?! You killed them, so why won't you kill me?! Are you scared?! Are you a wuss?! Come on, Shimizu! You had the guts to kill them! So, go ahead and kill me!" She screamed at me as she kicked my back repeatedly.

"That's enough out of you." I heard Chi scream and felt her foot no longer kicking me. "Oi, Miu. What are you doing on the ground?" I turned around and saw Sasori standing over me with his chakra strings attached to Chi.

"Sasori!" I cheered, hugging him. "Took you long enough to get here." Isuke said, unamused. "I'd shut up if I were you, rat." Sasori said with a glare. He turned his attention to Chi, glaring at her. "If I see you picking on this girl again, you'll have me to deal with, got it?" Sasori said.

Chi nodded her head quickly and Sasori released his chakra strings from her. When she was free, she took off. "Tch. Girls like those really irritate me." He muttered with a frown. "Come on. Someone could spot you." I said, tugging him back to the house.

When we got to the house, Isuke immediately starting shooting questions at Sasori. "Where've you been, Sasori? Why'd you disappear like that?" Isuke demanded. "Quiet, rat, and let me explain." Sasori said.

I held Isuke in my lap as I let Sasori explain. "I went back to an organization that I'm affiliated with to talk to my leader. I came back here to see how you were holding up. But it appears you're not on a killing spree yet." Sasori mentioned.

I gazed down at Isuke. "I didn't want to kill Chi because I didn't want to become a murderer." I said. "Actually, that happened when you killed Akira, Hana, those two boys in the alley-"

"Shut up, Isuke!" Sasori said to him. "He's right. I shouldn't have killed them. I'm sorry." I apologized. "You have nothing to apologize for, Miu. You were only defending yourself and getting justice." Sasori explained.

"But I don't want to get justice by killing people. I wish I could go back in time and stop myself from doing it." I said, sighing. "Miu, how would you like to come with me?" Sasori spoke. "Go with you? To where?" I asked.

"To Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki?"

"It's the organization I've been working at. Would you like to come with me this time? It's really bothersome to go back and forth from the base to the Leaf Village to check up on you."

"What's the catch?" Isuke asked bluntly. "Who said anything about a catch?" Sasori asked, returning the question. "Because the way you're describing it, it sounds like there's something Princess needs to do before she goes with you." Isuke answered.

"Why do you always have to get in my way?"

"Because I don't trust you."

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

"I'd take you down right now if I still had a body."

"And I would cook you if you weren't a friend of Miu's."

"How come you guys are always fighting? Can't you learn to get along?" I chimed in, trying to break the argument. "No way!" They said at the same time. I sighed. "I don't understand. What is it about you two that you don't like about each other?" I asked.

"Nothing. I just don't like him and I never will." They answered in sync. "Anyway, what do you say, Miu? Will you come with me?" Sasori asked. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline. I don't feel like going out right now." I said.

"You need to get out of the house, Princess. Get some air." Isuke said as he went to my side and nudged my arm with his small paws. "I don't know." I said unsure. I actually wanted to visit Sasuke to see how he was doing.

But I know without a doubt that Sakura will be there and she'll just yell at me. But I love Sasuke and I would like to check on him. With any hope, maybe she's not there today. "Okay, I'll go with you, but I need to check on someone first." I said to Sasori.

"Fine, but don't keep me waiting for too long." Sassori said. I gave a nod and headed out the door, to the hospital. I went to Sasuke's room number and opened the door slightly to make sure Sakura wasn't there, and she wasn't.

Thank, God. I went over to Sasuke's bed and sat down in a chair. "He seems the same like he was yesterday." Isuke said. I didn't respond as I stared down at him. "I want to know who did this to him." I said quietly.

"Are you going to kill them once you find out?" Isuke asked. "No, I won't kill them. I just want to know why they did it." I said. "Princess, have you ever thought about getting Sasuke out of this state yourself?" He asked.

"Huh?" I looked at him, confused. "I mean, you should use your powers to try and heal Sasuke." He rephrased. "But I've never tried that  and I don't know how to do it. Regardless, if I were to do that on Sasuke, I could damage his brain or worse." I said.

"What could be worse than damaging his brain?"

"I could end up killing him."

"Well, the guy had a good life."

"Isuke!"

"I was only kidding!"

"Whatever. Anyway, I'm not doing it. I don't want to take the risk."

Isuke sighed. "Very well, Princess." He said. "You sound disappointed. Are you still angry with Sasuke because he yelled at me?" I asked. "Yes, Princess. I'm sorry, but him yelling at you like that is unforgiveable." He said.

"It's not unforgiveable, Isuke. It was just a misunderstanding." I said. Isuke stayed a quiet for a moment before speaking. "We should head out. Sasori is waiting."

"Right." I agreed. I kissed Sasuke's forehead, then headed to the front gates. "Took you guys long enough. I was beginning to think Isuke was holding you up." Sasori said. "Watch it, Sasori. Or I'll throw you in a pit of termites." Isuke threatened.

"With the form you're in now? I doubt it." Sasori sneered. I face palmed. "Let's go." Sasori said. I nodded and followed him out of the village.

After a few hours of walking, my feet started to hurt. But I didn't want to become a burden, so I kept my mouth shut. "Princess, are you feeling all right?" Isuke asked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it." I lied.

Sasori glanced back at me before stopping in his tracks. "Come on." Sasori said, extending his hand towards me. I gently grabbed it and with one swift move, Sasori pulled me onto his back. "Sasori...?" I looked at him confused.

"You're hurt, right? You're feet are hurting?" He asked emotionlessly. I blushed out of embarrassment as I shyly nodded my head. Sasori sighed. "Dammit, Miu. Speak once and a while. You just can't always be thinking about yourself." He said, annoyed.

"I... I'm sorry." I said in a low, sad voice, knowing I had upset him. "I'm not mad at you, Miu. I would just like you to speak up every now and then." He said. "Are you a mind reader?" I asked him. "No. Why, is that what you were thinking?" He asked.

"Yes." I admitted. Sasori sighed. "Let's just keep moving." We stayed quiet for the rest of the walk. "Are we there yet?" Isuke asked as he walked by Sasori. "We're almost there." He answered.

"Is that it up there?" I asked, pointing at the huge rock-like entrance. "Good eye." Sasori praised. Sasori walked towards it and almost immediately, the entrance opened. "Whoa..." I stared in awe as small pebbles from the rock started falling.

"Just don't draw any attention to yourself and you'll be fine." Sasori said, walking inside with me still on his back. "There you are, Sasori. Where've you been?" A man with long blonde hair asked.

"I just had to pick up an errand." Sasori answered as he set me down. I shyly hid behind his back when the man looked at me. "Who's the kid, un?" He asked. "None of your business." Sasori said coldly. "What the hell are you doing, bringing a kid here, yeah?" The man demanded.

"It's none of your business."

"What's she doing here anyway? Hold on, I recognize that headband around her neck. She's a Leaf Village ninja. Why the hell did you bring her here?"

"She's not a threat."

"Please stop!" I said. The two of them looked at me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. But please, don't fight." I said. "You know, she's pretty cute for a kid, un." The man said. "You better not be saying what I think you're saying." Sasori said to him with a glare.

"Relax, I'm not like that Orochimaru creep." The man said. "You know Orochimaru?" I asked with wide eyes. "Yeah, of course I know him. Everyone in this place knows him. He used to be a member of Akatsuki, yeah. Why do you ask?" The man questioned. 

"Well, because I know him, too." I said. "Really? Small world, huh?" He said. I shrugged my shoulders. "I guess."

"What's your name, kid?" The man crouched down so he could meet me at eye level, even though he was a few inches away from me. I blushed as I hid myself more behind Sasori. "My name's Miu." I said shyly.

"I'm Deidara. Nice to meet you, un." He said, grinning. "Enough with the introductions. I need to talk with Leader. Isuke, I can trust you to look after her, can I?" Sasori asked him. "Who do you take me for?" Isuke asked with an irk mark.

"A pedophile." He answered bluntly. "Once I get myself a new body, you're gonna wish you never said that to me." Isuke growled. I picked him up and held him to calm him down. "Who are you talking to, Sasori?" Deidara asked.

"No one. Just watch her." Sasori said as he went somewhere else. I heard Isuke growling as he walked off. "Isuke, calm down." I said, smoothing his back. "So, how do you know Sasori? Did he save you or something, un?" Deidara asked as he stood up. 

"As a matter of fact, he did. Sasori's my older cousin." I said. "Cousin? Well, now that I have a closer look at you, you do somewhat resemble him. The short hair and all, un." Deidara said. "Actually, I had it cut. I used to have long hair. It's a long story." I explained.

"What's with all the racket in here?" A man who looked like a human shark walked in the room along with a... Sasuke?

Or an older version of him? "Sasuke?" I murmured. "That's not Sasuke, Princess. That's Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother." Isuke explained. "Sasuke's older brother?!" I accidentally screamed.

The human shark man and Itachi looked at me. I gulped and shyly hid behind Deidara's back. "Nice going, kid." Deidara said with a chuckle. "How do you know who I am?" Itachi demanded as he narrowed his eyes at me.

"I-I-I... uh..." I stuttered, my fingers clutching Deidara's cloak. "I asked you a question. I want an answer. Now." Itachi said coldly. "Take it easy, Itachi. She's just a kid." The shark man said. What do I do? What do I do? 

Should I reveal myself to him? No way! He's an S-rank criminal! Well, so is Sasori. But he's my cousin, so I trust him. Oh, man. Why is this so nerve wrecking? I'm actually feeling light-headed. The room started to spin as my vision started fading to black.

Then, I blacked out.