We had finally made it to Amegakure and we were currently walking through the rain as it poured heavily down on us. I was relieved that both our travel here and our original mission had been completed but I was uncertain about coming here.

Leader-sama hadn't told us to meet here and so I was unsure how he'd react when he saw us.

Leader-sama was a no-nonsense type of person. He didn't play around when it came to missions or the Akatsuki's goals.

Despite this, Sana looked relaxed and unbothered so I decided to emulate her and treat the situation as if it wasn't a big deal.

Looking back at Sana I watched as her blue eyes looked around fascinated at the area, her eyes devouring the scenery. The tall crooked towers extended up into the sky and the puddles around us only grew with time.

I watched as she turned into a dark alley and I followed her, "If I remember correctly, the last time I saw him he was around here."

Suddenly, I felt something approaching me at a shocking speed so I turned around.

There was nothing there.

I narrowed my eyes at the sight of nothing and Sana looked back as well.

"What was that?" she asked.

She suddenly rolled her eyes, "Is he playing those games again?"

I turned around to face her but my attention was drawn to the man standing behind her. I grinned. His orange hair and purple ringed eyes looked down on her small stature emotionlessly.

Leader-sama was standing directly behind Sana and she didn't even know.

He spoke, "If you knew I was going to play games, then why isn't your guard up?"

Sana jumped startled as she turned around to meet his gaze.

"Don't do that!" she said putting her hand on her chest.

Immediately he looked straight at me, "I don't recall telling you two to come here."

Sana spoke taking his attention off of me, "I came here by myself."

"I never told you to do that," he said flatly.

"I didn't think you'd have to," she said looking up at him, "she smiled a bit, "And since when do I ever follow orders?"

The orange-haired man gave a nod, "You're right."

...

"Come along then. Both of you."

He turned around at once and I stood there shocked. He let her have her way just like that?

I shrugged.

As long as I wasn't in trouble.

Pein's hideout in Amegakure was well made. It was a huge tower with multiple rooms and crooked staircases.

He had led us up to a corridor that had doors on both sides of the hallway.

He turned around, "You can settle in a room for now. I'll have your next mission prepared soon."

Kisame nodded and wasted no time entering one of the rooms while I just stood there.

"What?" his deep voice said looking down at me.

"I want to see you. Can I see you? Why can't I see you?"

He didn't respond at first and he rested his eyes for a second before they opened again.

"Very well," he said.

He began to walk and I took the hint following him immediately.

He walked up the tower and through a maze of staircases and hallways his eyes not bothering to look back at me.

I was surprised the hideout was so big. Everything was so complicated.

Finally, he stopped at a door and pointed at it.

"Go inside," he said.

I grabbed the doorknob before twisting it slowly and I closed the door gently behind me.

It was pitch black around me but I could tell that this room was on the larger side just by stepping in. My footsteps echoed as I walked in the darkness trying to sense things around me. There was light in here, but it was very dim. It was taking my eyes a while to adjust to it.

Where was he?

I couldn't sense him.

"I'm over here," a calm voice said.

I looked to my left and I smiled a bit, "Why are you here all alone in the dark? I can't even see you Nagato."

"You don't need to be able to see me, Sana."

...

My eyes continued to adjust as I walked closer to where I had heard the voice.

"Nagato?"

"What?"

His purple eyes snapped open, glowing in the dark.

"I'm happy you're still alive."

He looked down at me, "I figured you'd say something like that. But did you really think I would die? That someone would actually be able to kill me?"

"I didn't know anything except that you were involving yourself in dangerous stuff, " I thought for a moment, "On top of that, you never visited me."

"I don't have time for leisurely business, Sana."

My eyes looked up at the red-headed man as my eyes adjusted to the light. My eyes could finally see and he was skinnier than ever. His collar bone, his ribs, his arms.

I felt a bitter feeling sink in and I bit my lip. My hand reached out to touch his arm as the bitter feeling continued.

He must've seen the look on my face because he spoke, "Sana, I'm okay."

I shook my head, "It doesn't look like it. You should take better care of yourself."

"I'm not in need of your lecture. Konan does that enough already."

He looked down at me, "The way you rejoined the Akatsuki so quickly for me... it surprised me a bit."

"You didn't assume I would come back?"

"No. Not with the way you were shaking... when you first left the Akatsuki years ago."

I closed my eyes tightly as memories I didn't want to remember came flashing back. A hand. A warm hand. Growing cold.

I snapped my eyes back open and forced a smile on my face.

"Let's not reminisce. We're much too old for that."

"You're right."

My head turned at once to see an orange mask. The person was wearing an Akatsuki cloak and my eyes widened. It was him. He was the man who had dropped the letter in front of my cottage a while ago.

He came closer and I couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. His aura reeked of confidence as he stepped forward and I felt myself becoming small.

"You should be preparing to leave for Konoha, not just talking," he said, "we need to collect the nine-tails jinchuriki."

His mask turned to face me, "And you...what are you doing here? I don't recall Nagato telling you to travel to Amegakure."

I got quiet all of a sudden. This masked man, whoever he was, had quite the presence.

"Yes, I'm quite aware of what I need to do," Nagato spoke, "I'll begin preparations at once."

Nodding, the masked man turned around and walked out the door but not before staring me down with his glowing sharingan eye.

Once I heard the door shut Nagato spoke.

"I'm going to start getting preparations done, so our talk is over."

I watched as he began to build up chakra but I grabbed onto his arm.

"Didn't you hear what I just said, Sana? I need to-"

"Shh," I said, "Just let me hold you for a moment."

His eyes widened and I smiled.

"It must've been a long time since someone made you stop talking. No one shushes you the way I do, right?"

I winked and he rolled his eyes.

For a second I saw his lip curve upwards slightly but as quickly as it did it returned to a straight line.

"Fine, you can hold me," he said," but just for a moment and then I have to get back to work."