Itachi's POV

I panted as Kisame and I raced towards the base. It's been three days since Emiko was taken from us. Usually the whole trip would take six days but because this was Emiko we were talking about, we used a transportation jutsu that cut the distance in half. We only used this jutsu to avoid people who were tailing us or when we needed to escape a battle (which happened rarely) because the jutsu took up a lot of chakra.

We came to a halt in front of the entrance of the base. Making the hand signs, the barrier surrounding the entrance, weakened allowing us to enter. We both ran inside towards Leader-sama's office ignoring the fact that our clothes were soaked from the time running through the rain surrounding Amegakure. Instead of knocking on the door of Leader-sama's office like we usually do, Kisame and I just slammed the door open almost causing it to fall off it's hinges.

"Itachi! Kisame! What is the meaning of this?"

We both looked up and saw Leader-sama staring at us with an angered expression, but from our panting forms his eyes soon held confusion. He looked over Kisame and I once more until he noticed something or someone was missing.

"Itachi... I'll ask you once. Where is Emiko?" Leader-sama said in a deadly tone.

I heard Kisame gulp beside me. I couldn't blame him though. Even though Leader-sama was usually calm and wouldn't punish us too bad if anything went wrong, he was deadly when it came to Emiko. Everyone in the Akatsuki had a soft spot for her and would protect her from anything. That's why she was so strong. Everyone in the Akatsuki trained her in some way so she would be able to protect herself if we weren't there with her.

"Emiko... Emiko was kidnapped by the Konoha nin." I explained.

"Emiko was kidnapped?! How could that happen? Where were you when this happened? Itachi explain now." Leader-sama demanded.

"After we stole the scroll, Emiko sensed sixteen chakra signatures coming from behind and the side. Eight were Chūnin, four were Jōnin, and four were ANBU level shinobi. We made sure that Emiko was safely hidden in the foliage of the trees. After she was safely hidden we engaged in a battle with the Konoha nin, which we won," I said with a pointed look," After a while they all retreated. From what we know, we think that while we were fighting off the Chūnin and Jōnin, the four ANBU level shinobi sneaked off and captured Emiko."

The room became silent. I looked down at the ground in shame. When I returned to the spot where Emiko was my heart clenched when I saw that she wasn't there. I would have spent an entire day searching the forest surrounding Konoha if Kisame hadn't convinced me that it was no use.

Both Kisame and I jumped when a sudden crash interrupted the silence in the room. I looked up and saw that Leader-sama had punched a hole in his desk. His orange hair shadowed over his eyes and his whole body was tensed.

"Get. Out."

Those two words were enough for both Kisame and I to run out of there and towards the main room of the base. It was out of character for either if us to run in fear of what Leader-sama would do but when it came to Emiko being missing or in danger Leader-sama was the scariest being in the universe. Leader-sama usually had a calm and collected persona and when he was angry he was angry. It was a rare sight and was last seen when Orochimaru decided to "experiment" on Emiko.

When Kisame and I made it into the main room everyone stared at us in confusion.

"So you guys are back, yeah. I thought you'd be back in another three days, un?" Deidara questioned while making a bird from his explosive clay.

"We used the transportation jutsu." Kisame muttered.

This caught everyone's attention. We all knew that the transportation jutsu was to be used for emergencies only.

"Don't tell me you guys fucking ran from a fight," Hidan exclaimed, "HA! You guys are fucking pussies."

"We didn't run. We had to come back to report something to Leader-sama." I retorted with my usual monotone voice.

"Hey Itachi, I was just wondering but I needed to ask. Where is Miko-chan? I promised her that I'd take her shopping when you guys got back." Konan -another member of the Akatsuki- asked from the shadows.

Konan was a relatively tall woman that had blue hair, amber eyes with lavender eye shadow, and a piercing. Konan wore a large light blue paper flower in her hair. Her facial expression was usually neutral. She wore the Akatsuki cloak and her Akatsuki ring on her right middle finger, the kanji on it meaning "white". She also wore orange nail polish.

Konan was Leader-sama's partner and because of that she was off limits since everyone thinks they're are going out, which is probably true.

At Konan's question everyone noticed that Emiko was missing.

"Where is the brat Itachi. She told me that she would help me develope another poison for my weapons and I don't like to be kept waiting." Sasori said.

Ever since Emiko joined, Sasori began calling her brat. He only ever called Deidara or Emiko brat. All the members of the Akatsuki think it's how he shows who he had grown fond of in his strange way.

I looked down at the ground and clenched my fists.

"Emiko was kidnapped."

Silence followed after my short explanation. I heard the sound of running steps and knew that Konan was the one who ran out of the main room. She probably left to ask Leader-sama if what I said was true.

Hidan was the one to break the silence.

"What do you fucking mean that the little bitch was kidnapped?"

Pein's POV

I grunted as I punched the wall in my office knowing that I won't be able to see my little Emiko's smiling face anytime soon. Those idiots just had to get her kidnapped by those Konoha nin. We are the fucking Akatsuki. We do not let our light get kidnapped by shinobi of a puny village.

I felt light, feminine arms wrap around my waist and I almost immediately relaxed into the embrace.

"Nagato, is it true? Was Miko-chan kidnapped?" I heard Konan ask with a trembling voice.

I stayed silent for a while until I finally answered her.

"It's true. Our little princess was kidnapped." I answered with a quiet voice.

I felt Konan tremble and knew that she was crying. Konan wasn't one to cry but Emiko was like a daughter to her... And she was a niece to me.

Emiko had a way of brightening everyone's day. The moment she entered the base when she was four, I knew that our lives would be a bit brighter, and I was right. Soon our lives were filled with laughter and happiness despite being cold-blooded murderers. Emiko's smile was the highlight of everyone's day.

Even though Emiko knew who were are and what we do but she didn't care. She knew we had a reason for our crimes. She didn't care that we were tainted. Emiko cared for us for who we are. Even though most would not admit it, we all loved Emiko with all out heart.

I almost smiled when I remembered all the times when Emiko would brighten our days but then remembered that we wouldn't be seeing her soon. We wouldn't be hearing the sound of laughter echoing through the halls of the base. We wouldn't be seeing the little ball of light dancing around and brightening our days with her smile.

We lost our little princess. We lost our only light in our world of darkness. We lost our little Emiko.

I turned around and hugged Konan closer and buried my head into the crook of her neck. I felt the tears that I've been trying to hold in finally give way. I stayed silent as the tears flowed down onto my face.

I felt Konan's arms wrap around my back and her hands grab fistfuls of my Akatsuki cloak as she cried her heart out.

We shouldn't be crying. I am the leader of the most wanted criminal organization in the shinobi world and Kanon is my right hand girl. We shouldn't be crying. We are cold-blooded murderers. We have never showed mercy or regret to our opponents. But Emiko was out little princess. The only thing that kept us from going insane.... And now she's gone.

"I miss her so much." I heard Konan whisper.

"I miss her too." I said hoarsely.

"This must be so hard for Itachi. His only daughter is gone now. I know we all have a strong bond with Ko-chan, but her relationship with Itachi is almost indescribable. If her being gone in our position hurts this much... I can't imagine what Itachi is going through."

I stayed silent and thought about what Konan said.

Konan is right. Konan and I aren't even blood related to Emiko. I ever couldn't imagine myself being in Itachi's position.

Third Person's POV

All the members of the Akatsuki who were currently sitting in the main room, were all dealing with the news in their own way.

Deidara was throwing explosives everywhere, Sasori was silently fuming on the couch, Kakazu was counting money while swearing in between each number, Tobi was in the corner crying about his little sister being gone, White Zetsu was crying, while Black Zetsu was yelling at him to be a man and that he shouldn't be crying over their missing meal, and Hidan was yelling at the two men who were with Emiko last.

"THE BITCH WAS FUCKING KIDNAPPED! WHAT IN THE NAME OF JASHIN WERE YOU TWO DOING, HUH?! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN FUCKING WATCHING HER! SHE COULD BE FUCKING TORTURED RIGHT NOW FOR SOME FUCKING INFO ON THE AKATSUKI AND IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT!!! SHE'S ONLY 8 YOU ASSHOLES! WHAT IF SHE'S FUCKING DE-"

"HIDAN SHUT UP!"

Everyone in the room froze. It wasn't possible. He never lost his cool. If he did he usually just glared or went out to blow some steam. He never ever yelled.

Everyone turned to the voice you yelled at Hidan to shut up and was even more shocked to what they saw.

Itachi was..... crying.

This was something unheard of. Itachi has never cried. He never even showed any emotion if Emiko wasn't around. But here he was, the cold-blooded murderer of the Uchiha clan, Itachi Uchiha, crying.

"I know I should have been watching her. I know I should have been there to save her. You don't know how much it hurts me to know that the enemy kidnapped my own daughter. It hurts Hidan. It hurts knowing that my only loving family could currently be tortured or dead. You might be hurt... but you aren't feeling the pain I'm having right now. You couldn't even imagine the pain I'm going through. I promised to protect her. I promised. And I couldn't do that one simple task. I failed. I broke my promise. And now... my little hime.... could be gone forever." Itachi whispered with tears streaming down his face.

Everyone was silent. No one even stopped Itachi when he turned and walked down the corridor to his room. Hidan looked down in shame. He knew that Itachi was going through this a lot harder than the rest of the members of the Akatsuki. After all, Emiko is his only daughter, not to mention his only family that still loves him.

Soon all the members departed into their own rooms and quietly sulked remembering that fact that their little princess won't be around anytime soon.

Itachi's POV

I walked through the corridor towards the room that I shared with Emiko with tears streaming down my face. My bangs shadowed over my eyes preventing others from seeing the pain and sadness they held.

I stopped and punched the wall with all my strength. I dented the wall, as I didn't add any chakra to the punch. I felt the blood on my knuckles begin the drip into the cold stone floor of the hall.

If only I was more careful. If I just disagreed to Leader-sama's request, maybe Emiko would be here. She would be dancing around in a new Kimono that she bought with Kanon. She would have made a new poison and antidote with Sasori. She would be laughing as she watched Tobi annoy Deidara for the millionth time of the day. She would scream for help as Hidan tried to sacrifice her again. She would be helping Kakuzu count all his money. She would be practicing her new Jutsus with Leader-sama. She would be by my side as I cuddle with her as she took a nap, teaches her how to use the Sharingan, and watched as she drew different things in her sketchbook.

But instead I'm stuck with this. I'm stuck with having her kidnapped by the enemy, not knowing if she's even alive. I'm stuck without my little hime.

I opened the door to my room and plopped down into the bed I shared with Emiko. I sighed and turned my head to the side. I stared at the three picture frames that lay on my nightstand.

The first picture was of Kyoko and I, a few months after we found out she was pregnant. It was the day when my family had invited her to go in a picnic with us. Mother had decided to take a picture of us since we looked so peaceful.

In the photo, we were both sitting in the shade of a tree. Kyoko had her back against my chest and was leaning against me. I was resting my chin on her shoulder and had my face buried in the crook of her neck. If you looked closely you could see the smile I had on my face. My arms were wrapped around Kyoko's waist and one of her own was holding my arms in place. Her other hand was on her stomach, rubbing it gently as if to lull her unborn child to sleep. Her eyes were filled with love, much like my own, and her lips held a soft, blissful smile.

Kyoko.... My dear Kyoko, I failed you. I promised to protect our daughter but I couldn't. She was kidnapped and now I don't even know if she's alive. I'm sorry I failed. I'm sorry I lost our daughter. I'm so sorry.

The second picture frame was empty. It was supposed I be a picture of Kyoko, Emiko and I together but because Kyoko died, it never happened. Kyoko made the frame herself. It was a simple white frame with a bit of sparkle on the corners, but it was beautiful in my eyes. In one of the corners was the symbol of the Uchiha clan. On the back of the frame was a small quote inscribed in the wood.

Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.

It was one of Kyoko's favourite quotes about family. In her eyes it was a quote about her life. Even though she is an orphan she believes that she had a family. That family being my own. My family accepted her even though she had no family and did everything to see her smile. They loved her for who she was, and I can't say it wasn't true.

I turned to the last picture.

The last picture was of Emiko and I on her 5th birthday when I gave her a katana. She was ecstatic to have the katana and immediately asked me to teach her. I was proud that she chose me to teach her to be her teacher but I told her to learn from Kisame, as he was a master swordsman. Emiko was reluctant but agreed anyway. In the picture, Emiko was sitting on my shoulders with a big smile on her face as she held up a peace sign at the camera. I, of course, held a smirk and was holding Emiko steady by her calves.

I was wearing a regular black yukata with the Uchiha symbol on the back.

Emiko was wearing a white training kimono with a navy blue obi around her waist. The ends of her sleeves and the bottom of the kimono had navy blue petals dancing across. Emiko wore navy blue short shorts underneath and had her hair pulled up into a ponytail. She had her katana strapped onto her waist just below her obi.

The katana was sheathed in a beautiful black case that had two wolves on it. On one side was a white wolf that was running with a black jewel for and eye and on the other side was a black wolf, which was running up the sheathe with a white jewel for an eye. On the hilt of the katana was the symbol for Yin and Yang. It was a true masterpiece created by one of the best craftsmen in the shinobi world. It was also a great artifact passed down in the Uchiha clan.

I stared sadly and placed my hand on top of Emiko's smiling form.

I promise Emiko. I'll come and bring you back.... Back home to your family.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

SURPRISE! Yup that's right. I updated early. I wanted to make this chapter in the view of the Akatsuki to show you how they're handling the situation of Emiko being kidnapped. Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to xforever_and_a_dayx for commenting the quote in the last chapter. If you want a dedication for chapter 9 please comment "Family isn't always blood." Till next time,

🌸Saku/Cherry-chan🌸