"Hey, Kisa-kun!" The 4-years-old girl yelled, dragging an axe 3 times taller than herself. For most people, it must be a pretty strange sight, even though it was an everyday routine for the Akatsuki. Just imagine a small girl with white hair, glaring at a half-shark in anger while holding a giant double-bladed axe. If looks can kill, the Hoshigaki might already be in comma.

"W-what is it, kiddo?" The blue-skinned man asked nervously, while Orochimaru just enjoyed the scene, trying to hold back his laughter.

"You eat my dangos again, don't you?!" She demanded. Before the ex-Mist nin can reply, there was a soft chuckle. It was Konan, Karasu's godmother (even when she respect her as a big sister).

"Let's just make some new ones, sweetie. Kisame can wash the dishes." The Amegakure's angel stated, bringing a smile to the girl's face.

"Okay, Nee-chan!"

Orochimaru is right. Such a poor girl. Ever since 4 years ago, when she first came to the hideout, and also a week after her mother's death; Kakuzu had been acting weird. He ignored his daughter, and treated her as if she was merely just another Akatsuki member.

Even when everyone has taken a liking on her.

Pein and Konan became her godparents. Technically, she was raised by the Akatsuki. Or, to be exact: Sasori, Kisame, and Konan.

It doesn't seem right, does it? But sadly, it's the truth.

She was still so young, but that doesn't mean she's weak. She can handle her axe pretty well for a shinobi's standard. She's much smarter than any ordinary girl. True, her physical strength is far from suffice, but her intelligence is amazing.

Even though most of her skills are in puppetry (Sasori has an ambition to make her became a perfect puppeteer), she is great at wielding any kind of weapons (thanks to Kisame, who always spar with her almost every weekend), and handling poisonous plants or animals, mainly snakes (credit goes to Zetsu and Orochimaru).

She's a special girl. Everyone knows that, except her father.

"Now clean the mess please, Kisa-kun!" Karasu said with a giggle as she trotted away from the kitchen, holding a plate of dangos in her hands. "When you're done, I'll give you the dangos!" She cheered.

Kisame sighed. He hates sweet. But somehow, he likes hers. He likes all the snacks she made. Whether it's dango, cookies, cakes, and so on. That cute ball of energy... She sure is making me soft, he told himself.

After she shared the sweet snack to everyone in the living room (Orochimaru and Zetsu), she left to find Sasori.

"Saso-kun? May I come in?" She asked slowly, not wanting to disturb her 'brother'.

"Of course." The puppet stated, watching in amusement as he saw the girl stumbled, almost falling. She tried to open the door with her feet, while holding the snacks in her hand.

"H-Help, please!" She said in panic, looking at Sasori with pleading eyes. Sasori let out a small chuckle, as he walked towards the door, and opened it, letting the little girl entered the room.

"I made this for you!" She told him, handing him a dango. She knew he doesn't eat often, so she never give him too many.

Sasori, on the other hand, doesn't need to eat at all actually, due to the fact that he's a puppet. But like everyone else, he can't resist Karasu's puppy dog eyes.

"Thanks, Ara." He said, ruffling her hair. He was grateful to be reminded everyday that puppets have emotions.

Pein was reading through his paperwork's, when the door opened slightly. Of course, he ignored it, he knows who was it already. He heard something being put on his desk, and he put down his papers, to meet a small plate of dangos in front of him.

His lips curled up into a smile. Seems like he didn't make a mistake when he allowed her to stay. Now, he adored her as if she was his own daughter.

She truly is an angel. An angel sent to the Akatsuki to remind them that they, killers, still have hearts.

*/*\*/*\*

Kakuzu let out a heavy sigh as he exited Pein's office, and walked towards his room. He was scolded again by that Akatsuki leader. 'Don't you care about your daughter?', 'Money isn't everything', and such things were what everyone complains about. Trying to avoid those talks, he always went on long bounty-hunting missions. Of course, everyone noticed this, and now Pein forbid him to leave the hideout for at least 2 weeks.

The result is a very-pissed-off Kakuzu.

He had just killed another partner last month, and that's not enough to let out all his anger. Everyone is aware of this, and they don't want to get on his bad side. They tried to avoid him, and he's fine with it. It's not like they have any business with him, either.

"Good evening, Otou-sama." said his daughter, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Kakuzu nodded in response, trying his best to ignore the girl. She resembled her mother so much, that it hurts him just to look at her.

"Pein-sama said you won't have any missions for a few days." She stated, and received another nod.

"So... uhh... I was wondering if you can take me to the festival tomorrow... I just want to look around and buy some popsicles..." She muttered nervously. She wanted to make sure that her father doesn't think of her as a burden. Thus, she tried to pick her words as careful as possible.

Kakuzu looked up from his newspaper, glaring at his daughter. She gulped. This is definitely not good, that's what her instincts say. However, she stayed frozen in her place.

"No. I will never waste my time or money on you." He said. "Is that all? Can you just get out of my sight now?" He grunted, and continued reading.

A few tears escaped from her eyes. "I-I'm sorry..." She replied with her shaking voice, trying to hold back her sobs. She burst out of the room, before her father can say anything else.

Hearing this, Kakuzu froze.

Is that a sob?
She's crying?
Did I say something wrong?

Those questions keep ringing in his mind.

Then realization hit him.

He did said something wrong.

"I will never waste my time or money on you."
"Can you just get out of my sight now?"

Yeah. Those are wrong.

Kakuzu shook his head lightly. Everything will be alright, he told himself. In the morning Karasu will be running around the hideout, chasing Kisame and yelling at Zetsu.

Oh, how wrong he is.

*/*\*/*\*

"I have a bad feeling about this." Orochimaru commented as Karasu ran past the living room, entered her own room and slammed the door shut.

"Should we go check on her?" Sasori offered. Hearing this, Kisame stood up, and walked away.

The shark knocked on the girl's door. Receiving no answer, he entered nevertheless.

"K-Kisa-kun?" She asked softly. She was sitting on her bed, hugging her knees, resting her chin on them.

"You're crying, aren't you?" He asked back as he take a seat next to her. She shook her head, causing him to frown.

"Don't lie, Ara-chan. I just want to help you. Now tell me, what's bothering you?"

"... Nothing. Otou-sama's mad at me, that's all."

Kisame flinched a little. He never have any parents. Thus, he doesn't know how to deal with family conflicts.

"What did he say?"

Karasu pouted. She threw herself onto the end of the bed, and buried her face in the pillow. There's a few grunt, before she finally gave her reply.

"I'd prefer not talking about it."

Kisame sighed. He ruffled her hair, and left the room.

After all, what can he do?

*/*\*/*\*

Slowly, Karasu raised from her bed.

It was already midnight. Most of the members were already asleep. After making sure that no one is watching her, she locked her door. She doesn't want anyone to enter.

She grabbed an empty scroll, and began to pack her things in it. Clothes, basic weapons, a few antidotes, a bingo book, and some bandages. She also bring her axe, Kirā.

She put on a white eye patch, making sure that it had covered her left eye, which right now is currently blue.

Being the softhearted girl she is, she decided to leave the Akatsuki. She never wants to be a burden to anyone.

And her father had just confirmed that she's just a waste of time. A waste of money.

She's mature enough for her age. Of course after living for 4 years with the Akatsuki, she must have understand that life is rough, especially if she's alone.

But she won't stay. She might suffer, but it won't stop her departure.

Hiding her chakra, she exited the hideout without anyone noticing. Her grip on her axe tightened as she took one last look at her old 'home'.

"Goodbye, everyone. We will meet again, I promise. See you in a few years."

With that, she let out a heavy breath, and walked away.

*/*\*/*\*

-edited