Raccoon: Okay, since I get easily bored of doing a simple disclaimer, I'm going to start doing those 'thank-you-for-the-review' things that people seem to like doing.

Hidan: Attention whore!

Raccoon: W-wha-?

Itachi: The fact that you're thanking people is basically just encouragement for reviews.

Raccoon: Actually, I'm just bored.

Deidara: Raccoon does not own Naruto, un. And why do I get the most screen time in this one, hmm?

Raccoon: Because you're awesome like that.

Deidara: Can't disagree with you there.

Raccoon: Okay, thanks to Suki-chan, Yuti-chan, and AkatsukiTomboyKid for the reviews on the last chapter. And thanks OkamiKazeKage, DestinyDragon65, Chillybean, Lost-in-shadows1, and Dust Bunnies Anonymous for all the previous reviews on earlier chapters that I haven't mentioned yet.

That is all, now read.

"It seems that we have a new problem on our hands, something we have to keep in control," started Pein, glaring round at certain members of the group. His frown deepened and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I am sure that many of you know the risks that ninjas take. We cannot have…distractions on our hands."

Hidan sniggered.

"Shit's going down."

"Silence!"

Pein glared at Hidan, and then turned to face his other members, before returning back to him.

"You are excused from this meeting."

"No fucking way! I'm going to stay and see how this shit turns out!"

"That wasn't a request."

After flinching at Pein's ominous stare, the albino scoffed and then sauntered away from the group. Pein then turned towards Kakuzu.

"Go and keep an eye on him."

Kakuzu obediently left the group, joining his partner. To this effect, Zetsu and Konan made eye contact, decided that their presence was not needed, and fled the scene. This left Pein with a select few.

"You know full well as I do that Akatsuki is a criminal organization. We are ninjas. Criminals. We do not bond, nor feel. And I suggest you do the same."

He glared around at the three perpetrators. Sasori scowled.

"What are y-"

"Don't try to deny it, Sasori," interrupted Pein, his voice booming dangerously. "It is obvious that you three are attracted to the girl, whether it be…"

He paced in front of the three, firstly standing in front of Itachi.

"…affection…"

Grey rinnegan eyes stared down at the monotonous Uchiha.

"…jealousy…"

The leader made his way in front of the puppeteer, ignoring the red head's scowl.

"…or desire."

He finished by breathing down on Deidara; the blonde seething angrily to one side.

"You are mistaken."

The orange haired leader twisted his head up towards Itachi.

"Why? What's your excuse?"

It was then that the forgotten occupant of the room decided to speak.

"He does have a valid excuse, leader-sama, for doing what he does. He-"

Kisame was swiftly interrupted by the Uchiha.

"I'm gaining the trust of the woman to find out more information. I intend to let her guard down, sir."

Pein nodded.

"You better be telling the truth, Itachi."

The leader then faced the two artists.

"Well?"

"She'd make a good puppet," replied Sasori, honestly.

"The girl has no powers. She could not be used as a weapon."

"But she has beauty. Her and her sister could make the perfect decorations…"

Deidara scoffed.

"That doesn't explain the jealousy, Sasori-no-danna, un."

"Tch, she is my puppet. I don't see why anyone else should own her."

Pein nodded at Sasori.

"Very well, I trust your reasoning. However, I must insist that you do not kill the girl until after we have found our way back."

"That is of my intentions, leader-sama."

Finally, the leader flickered his gaze at the blonde.

"And your excuse?"

Deidara reddened, turning his face to the side, as he attempted to hide the truth from his malevolent leader. A slight murmur erupted from his lips, a few words that none in the room could hear. Pein towered over him.

"What was that?"

Deidara sighed, and reluctantly admitted the truth.

"Well…it's been a while…and we don't meet many women often…being in the Akatsuki, un…so…I just wanted to…use her for a bit."

The other occupants of the room blinked.

"Use her?"

Deidara reddened, as the other members got his meaning. Kisame whistled.

"Damn…"

"So much for gaining her trust."

"Like hell, brat! You're not tainting my puppet!"

"SILENCE!" boomed the leader. The members quickly listened to their superior, quieting down.

"As much as everyone has an excuse, I'll give out a final warning."

The leader's grey ringed eyes presented suspicions, and dubiousness to their answers. Searching in his cloak, he lifted out a metal kunai and pressed it against the sleeping girl's neck.

"If anyone of you feels anything more than lust for this girl, I will destroy the problem from the source. Understand?"

The men nodded, as Pein adjourned the meeting for the night. He was irritated, and tired, so decided to relax from the searching of jutsus. Kisame glanced curiously at the dark haired man, before following the leader out of the room.

An awkward silence filtered into the atmosphere.

That was until a sneeze broke it.

"ACHOO!"

Sasori smirked.

"That's what you get for following the pretty girl outside, brat."

Deidara rubbed his nose, glaring slightly at his superior.

"Yeah, whatever, Sasori-no-danna, un."

And with this amazing comeback, the blonde wandered upstairs to find a warm shower. Sasori turned to Itachi.

"You really think he'll achieve his goal?"

Itachi was silent for a moment, blinking at the impatient red head, before turning away.

"No."

Half-an-hour had past since the Akatsuki had returned into their human forms, and half-an-hour remained to this effect. The majority of the members remained in the lounge; relaxing, talking, or observing the environment.

The calmness of the scene suddenly turned frantic.

A moaning cry escaped my lips, as a familiar dream overcame me. The aged man, the smoked demon, the red cloud; all the same as it was once before. And, just like the last time I had experienced the dream, I woke from my nightmare in shock.

Just as I rubbed my still blurry eyes, I swore I saw dark figures moving about in my presence. This must have been my imagination. After blinking my eyes again, I saw nothing.

No one was there.

I wandered towards the kitchen, and pulled out another beer bottle from the fridge. A creak resonated behind from where I stood, so I quickly span around. Nothing was there.

Sighing, whilst opening the bottle with an opener, I took a swig, making my way back into the living room. I sat on the couch whilst drinking. After pulling out a novel, I attempting to take in the words on the pages; turning sheet after sheet without picking up a single detail.

Something was wrong.

Snapping my book shut, whispers crept into my ears as I glanced around the area. No one was there. All was silent.

And there was the problem.

Where were the kittens?

It was at that point, that a loud bump came from upstairs. Steadily clambering to my feet, I crept up to solve the mystery. As I slowly made my way up the stairs, I heard the pattering sound of the shower being on.

"Miyu?"

I questioned myself at that point.

'Both Miyu and Aiko had showers before bed, and it couldn't be Moriko. So who-?'

My feet had finally reached their destination. I was stood directly in front of the bathroom door, directly in front of the cause of the sound. The shower was definitely on. The familiar sound of fast-paced rain, and creaking shower chains were well-known to me.

I placed a shaking hand onto the cold door handle. I made my decision.

Quickly slamming the door open, I bounded in to apprehend the intruder. Unfortunately, the visitor hastily managed to turn off the shower and cover my eyes and mouth; all in a split second.

"Calm down, hmm"

The voice was deep, slightly exasperated, yet somewhat familiar. A turn of a speech impediment attempted to trigger an image of this person in my mind.

But that did not change the facts.

"Mmmph mmmph mm mmmppphhh mmmpphhh-"

"If you promise not to scream, I'll take my hand off your mouth."

I nodded, slightly shakily.

"How am I supposed to calm down, when there's an intruder in the bathroom who's currently covering my eyes?" I asked, oddly calm. I should have been more scared about this, shouldn't I?

The man let out a grunt in agreement.

"I only needed to use your shower."

A sweat-drop formed from my head.

"Don't you have your own shower?"

"No."

I sighed; this man seemed to be a lot less threatening than first suspected.

"Why did you have to break in to use this shower? There are communal showers a few blocks over."

The man hesitated, either trying to find an excuse, or giving himself the boost to say the truth behind his shower stealing antics. Both sounded pretty ominous.

"Well…I did not really have much time to find one, hmm…"

"Oh, c'mon! You can come up with a better ex-"

As my hands moved as I spoke, they brushed up against the man's bare chest. As much as the average girl should be nose bleeding at the concept, I was too busy taking into account the strange coldness of his skin.

"You're freezing."

"And that's why I had to take a shower, hmm."

My mouth flickered into a slight frown.

'Okay, so he's in desperate need of a shower, and stole ours. But he probably has hypothermia or something. And that apparently makes everything better…'

While caught in my thoughts, the man grunted and gave out an audible shiver. The shiver then repeated itself, multiple times, each being more pronounced. Quickly grabbing the man by his shoulders, he slumped forward and lost his balance.

"Maybe you should get back in the shower again. I'll help you, just let me see..."

The man voiced back a reply, though shivers were audible in his word.

"N-n-no, un."

"Well, how are you going to heat up then?"

His shoulders hunched upwards into a shrug just as a large shiver grew on his chest. I moved slightly closer to him, to make sure he did not fall onto the floor.

"Y-you're warm, hmm."

His breath breathed onto the side of my neck, and I unconsciously shivered. Before I had a chance to react, the man had pulled me around from his shoulders and pressed his body into mine; into the warmth. For one sickening moment, I thought this to be his plan all along, to trap me against his naked torso, but the man simply placed his head in the crook of my neck and inhaled my body heat.

"We should get a doctor."

The man merely let out a murmur in reply, his lips vibrating on my skin. A slight blush flushed my face, which was a bit unusual, seeing as how blushing was an extremely rare thing for me.

'Okay, Hitomi, stop thinking those thoughts. I am hugging an ill guy, and all I can think about is- oh, man.'

"What's the time, hmm?"

That same voice pressed against the nape of my neck, and it took all my concentration not to stutter.

"Almost one."

This seemed to have some sort of effect on the man, as he swiftly clambered up and made his way out of the room. Only at the very last minute did he unclamp his hand from my eyes. However, I did not bother turning around, as I was still too busy trying to get over myself; the feel of his body against mine left a tingling sensation against my skin.

I quickly shook my head, and raced out of the room to try spot the guy. Albeit, he would still be naked. My plan failed as soon as I exited the bathroom, as I could only spy the darkness below. And my nine sleeping kittens were safe again in the living room, from where I peered down from the landing.

There was one kitten out of place, and I noticed it slumped shivering against the corridor wall. It was a tiny dot of blonde fur, barely visible in the darkness, but I managed to spot it and gather it up.

The tiny kitten moved towards my body for heat, as it's blue eyes stared up from out of the fur. It was strange. The kitten was cold and shivering. Just like the man in my bathroom.

Realising that the kitten needed warmth, I brought it into my bedroom and began gathering blankets and coverings, before propping myself in them and placing the kitten on my lap. The kitten stared up at me, and if kittens could have such emotions, I would say that a string of confusion and fixation were apparent on it's face.

"Shouldn't have followed me outside, should you?"

And as I leaned into the warmth of my bed, and as the kitten leaned into the warmth of me, a flickering desire lingered. It flowed through the cracks of reality, and straight into my dreams.

I desired to see the man again.