I'm sooooooo sorry for the long wait! I really am with the deepest apologies. Thanks so much for the reviews, story alerts, favorites, etc. You readers really mean a lot to me. So I'll cut the small talk and continue on with the story.

After a surprisingly short talk with the Pumpkin man, it was decided that a celebration was in need. Kisame, Hidan, Deidara, Tobi, Itachi, and me were in the kitchen with empty sake bottles littering the floor.

"NOOOOO! WHY, JASHIN? WHY ME?" The sounds of Hidan screeching echoed through the kitchen, and hallways, and bathrooms. Hell, I'd be surprised if Mars didn'd hear that.

"Wha's wrong *hiccup* Hidaannn?" Kisame slurred.

"No... mor' sake," he managed right before he fell to the ground with a loud thump. Sakura, being the badass medic that she is, took this as a sign to end for the night.

"Hey Dei'dra, where am I gon' sleep?" I turned to Deidara. At this point I was heavily leaning on him, but I don't think he minded.

"You gotta bunk wit' someone. Your room won't be ready for a coupl' months, un."

"Anyone?" I questioned.

"Yeah, un. Kisame will prob'ly eat ya. Same with Zetsu. 'Tachi is socially r'tarded, un. Hidan will give ya nightmares with his *hiccup* weird r'ituals. Pein scares me. You should sleep in my *hiccup* room, un," he finished with a grin.

"Sure, why not?" So we walked- more like hobbled* over to his room, which he shared with Tobi, who was already sleeping after one bottle.

The door closed with a silent "click." I was going to go get a pillow and blanket from the closet when I felt two strong arms blocking any escape. I looked up, right before Deidara slammed his lips into mine. It was slow at first but got more passionate. He pulled away, gasping for breathe, smirking.

"Goodnight, un."

I just stood there, surprised out of my mind.

He just kissed us! Chaa!

Innerrrr... I warned, but was secretly just as excited.

Yea, yea whatever. See ya soon.

After about 3.46 minutes later, I finally grabbed the pillow and blanket and threw it to the floor, falling asleep the second my head hit the floor.

I woke up, with a throbbing in my head and the feeling that someone was breathing down my neck. Sure enough, when I opened my eyes, there stood Tobi. He was leaning down to my face level, staring at me through the one eyehole in his bright orange mask.

"Morning, Blossom-chan! Tobi hopes you had a good nights sleep!" he said cheerfully... and loud.

"Shut up, Tobi, un," a voice from across the room echoed.

"Tobi's a good boy! Tobi's a good boy!" he yelled and ran out the door.

I used chakra to heal my terrible hangover before heading out the door myself.

The way into the kitchen was easy enough. The whole gang was there, minus Deidara, Kakuzu, and Hidan.

I heard the day before, that they were going to be on a mission.

I searched for the cereal and found it in a cabinet and grabbed a bowl and some milk. By the time I took my first bite, Deidara walked in.

An automatic blush painted my cheeks as I tried not to make direct eye contact with him.

A glare was directed at this scene from across the table. Little did they know that their whole encounter was seen by someone else. And that someone was by no means happy.

As breakfast was finished, a blue-haired woman with a flower on her head, by the name of Konan, walked up to me.

This was soon followed by a big bear hug. "Another girl in the Akatsuki! Oh boy! We totally need to go out shopping! Girls day out! Let's go!"

With that I was dragged out the door by a vice like grip.

"Wow, this place is always raining, isn't it?" I thought aloud.

"Yup, sure is! It's Leader-sama's doing," Konan, my new best friend, replied.

Next thing I know, I'm dragged into a store by my new friend.

"What is it?" I asked, worried.

"ISN'T THIS THE CUTEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN? I'LL BUY IT!" she shouted, pointing to a kimono. It was dark blue with soft white lilies traveling upward. The obi was a soft rust color with a black trim.

"Is that Pein's credit card?" I asked, spotting the small plastic card in Konan's hand. The answer was already given when she began sweating and laughing nervously. I joined her in laughter soon after.

Several stores and several hours later, we were finally finished. Konan sported a kimono, some perfume, a cute shirt, and some jewelry. I had a yutaka, black slacks, a short ninja skirt, and a couple other little things.

"I hope Pein wasn't planning on using that credit card anytime soon," Konan whispered as we walked back into the Akatsuki base.

"What was that Konan?" a deep voice echoed from within. Konan screamed at the top of her lungs and ran away as fast as she could, leaving me alone with Pein. Good friend, she was.

"Umm," I started nervously, "it was code red. The money was well spent." I quickly tried to walk away, but stopped as he moved right in front of me so that I could not move.

"Very well," he whispered hotly against me neck, and I was about to shriek when his lips captured mine.

Although I help back the shriek, I could not hold back the gasp that escaped my lips. Quickly, his hands were around my waist, and mine were tangled in his pumpkin colored hair.

It was short, though, as we both had to breath.

Wow, he ki-

Shut up Inner! Go away, now! I growled inwardly.

Okay, okay kid. Geez. Get that stick outta yo ass.

I was about to retort when I noticed that Pein started walking away. But, I didn't fail to notice the contented smirk he had and the proud achiever walk he used. He was like an Itachi clone.

So for the second time within twenty four hours, I stood there staring stupidly like a total idiot.

This is going to be a long week...

Soooo? I know this took forever to upload. What can I say, I'm getting ready for high school and I'm really nervous. If you guys review, I'll try to make the upload times shorter.

Thanks so much to my awesome story alert, author alert, favorites, and reviewers! On to the list!

ProBowler, RoseCallisto, Yuti-Chan, TenshaiSayuki, little firework, SkylaZ, 909, Isella of the wolf tribe, angle897, .Girl, Echo Uchiha, pure epicness1

Ja ne,
Bowmangirl123