Wow. I... It's been awhile.. Hasn't it? I never once forgot about you guys though, or any of the summonings, or even ShikaKisha love ^-^'

I'd like to quickly thank all of those who voted for KOBEP in the NarutoWattyAwards! As it won Third place in the Other category and Akisha X Shikamaru won best ship!! ;w; I nearly cried when I found out~ Thank you all!! So onto the chapter stuff. Bit of a strange chapter title huh? Wonder what's gonna happen? '3' Well during the chapter you'll probably guess it ._. It's not that hard actually.

Joka's Ghost: You should be getting to the story e-e People want to read.

Me: O-Oh, hey there Joka.... o_o Y-You still upset at me?... *nervous laugh*

JG: You've got five seconds to run for your life.

Me: "Run"? For my life? I think I'd rather die >->

JG: So be it e___e * jumps after*

Me: UWAH! I WAS JOKING!! IT WAS A JOKE! QAQ *takes off running*

Keio: *chuckles from a tree branch* Amusing indeed.. Now then,

~Enjoy the chapter, my darlings~

***Akisha's POV***

I glanced over at Shiho who was staring with a blush at Shikamaru. I never found myself to be the jealous type, but my glances kept narrowing into glares of hatred. I imagined throwing kunais at the woman with the swirly glasses, hitting her right in the middle of her head: bullseye. Naruto walked into the Cryptography unit, making my feelings disappear and come back into feelings of worry. Shikamaru assured me he was fine after mourning for a couple days.

Jiraiya's death... 

It was rather unexpected. I remembered crying when I found out. It was another dreadful death that has seemed to plague our lives of late... 

...Asuma ...Chiyo ...Joka ...Jiraiya.

Behind Naruto followed an older looking frog, inscriptions on his back. I was told that Shiho and Shikamaru were trying to figure it out before when Shikamaru offered for me to come along, Naruto also being called in now that he was done mourning for his loss. The frog hopped on the table infront of us. "Alright, everyone take a look, if you have anything in mind then say it." Naruto stared down at the frog's back after nodding a hello to me. "Hrrrmmmmm..." He mumbled, rubbing his chin in thought. Shikamaru scratched his neck in some frustration. "Come on Naruto, anything? I've tried the Fifth, Kakashi-Sensei, and they had nothing. I've got a strong feeling this message is for you. Actually, I'm positive it's for you." Shiho jumped forward a little, closer to Shikamaru. "If you have even the littlest thought, tell me! I'll do whatever to help!" Yeah, I bet you would, you whor-

"Well, how come everything's a number except that first katakana character?" Naruto asked, pointing at what looked like a nine on the frog's back. I stopped my thought, leaning in with everyone else. "What do you mean? Isn't that a nine?" I said, staring at the number, or katakana. Naruto shook his head. "I thought so too but it's a katakana 'ta'." Shikamaru stared at it. "I think I can see that." I looked from the katakana to Naruto. "Why would it be that though?" Naruto grinned at a memory, rubbing his head. "Well you know him Kish, Pervy Sage always made me read his hand written drafts. And I always got confused because his 'ta's looked like nines." I nodded, smiling. Yeah, that sounded like Jiraiya, forcing Naruto to read his books. "Then... Perhaps it has to do with the book?" I voice aloud. Shiho nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! In which case there could be a message left within the pages!" Shikamaru smiled. "Good thinking, so that means we have to get our hands on one of the books." 

Shikamaru continued, "Who do we know that knows these books inside and out?" Naruto and I shared a quick glance before leaping from our seats. Shikamaru and Shiho looked puzzled. "Where are you two headed?" Naruto laughed, almost surprised by their lack of knowledge, regardless he grinned, "I think it's time to call Kakashi-Sensei, eh?"

 *****

Kakashi looked around going through the pages. "We're done then..?" He mumbled, still scarlet red as Shikamaru's face. Hell, I'm sure my face was priceless too. Having a Sensei you've known, maybe not the closest, but known for long enough to make any type of conversation like that.. Let's describe it as awkward and leave it there. Shiho looked down at the paper, seemingly unaffected, not unlike Naruto, by all of the writings Kakashi shared. "Now, let's read the first words in order." Her finger moved down each recorded sentence. "The.. Real.. One.. Isn't.. With.. Them.."

A moment of silence passed, everyone thinking hard about this message, until, "Uh. What the hell does that mean?" Naruto's bewildered expressed almost as strange as Shikamaru's had been a few seconds ago. 

Shikamaru stood up straight, glancing over to the toad that had come with Naruto. The frog seemed understanding of this message more than everyone here. "We should see Tsunade before diving into this heavily." He croaked. Shiho hopped up, closer to Shikamaru. "M-May I come?" He shook his head up and down. "Please do." Trying to hide my frown I turned away. "I uh- I actually need t-to do this thing. With um- I promised someone I'd help them out!" I had paused several times during the sentence, unable to totally figure out what it was I wanted to say till it poured from my mouth anyway. I fulfilled the quick urge to peck Shikamaru's cheek goodbye before hurrying away from the room, this time trying to hide my smirk at the faltering smile on Shiho's face. 

Reaching the outside, I headed away from the Hokage's building, making sure I wouldn't accidentally run into them. "Kitten, I never did take you to be the protective type, nonetheless I am highly amused." I turned, ready to speak back to the sassy cat that appears as he pleases, though words didn't leave my mouth when my eyes laid upon Tano with him. "T-Tano!? It hasn't even been-" I never finished explaining when Tano, seemingly doubled in size, pounced on me. "KI!! I'M FINALLY HERE! I WAS AT THE CRYSTAL AND KEIO LET ME COME WITH WHEN HE SAID HE WAS COMING HERE, ACTUALLY DAD MADE HIM TAKE ME, AND NOW I'M FINALLY HERE!!" His voice, still sounding young like an adolscent, yet no longer a small child's. The guilt I felt when I first seen him was gone. Tano was happy to be here, not angry with me for never following through with his request. 

Despite knowing he was simply happy being here, I pulled him off of my slowly, stroking his head. "Tano, I'm sorry about-" He yanked onto my hoodie, pulling me back to my feet forcibly, after he shook his head vividly. "It's okay! Dad and mom explained how missions kept you busy!" I looked away, scratching the back of my head. "Eheh.. Right, I had a lot of missions lately.." Tano didn't hear my hesitant voice and bounced up and down, his wide eyes gleaming in expectancy.

"So! So! What're we going to do first!? Meet the Hokage here? Hey, is the Kazekage here!? Oh, I wanna see Gaara agai-" A loud hiss erupted from Keio. "SHUT. UP." His head had lowered down in between his shoulders. Each time Tano had said something, it moved father downwards. His eyes were narrowed in annoyance. "But Keioooo, I'm finally here.." Whined Tano, not affected by Keio's harshness. "You're here because of me! And I happen to be wanting to stick around, so while I'm here, I'm not listening to that." He finished with his paw pushing on Tano's snout. 

"Affectionate like ever?" I voiced out, almost smirking. Keio caused trouble, so seeing him deal with his own is quite a show. He turned back, frowning his furry lips upon me. "Oh of couse.. The happiest cat around, Kitten." I ignored his sarcasm, beckoning Tano to follow behind Keio and me as I walked around the village, choosing spots with less people, avoiding people meant less stares at the growing lion behind. "Keio, how will you get ladies with that kind of tune?" I teased, laughing at his eye roll. "Ladies aren't my cup of tea honestly." I raised an eyebrow in question at that. "Meaning?" Keio mocked an offended look, happy to have a new ''game'' to play. "Take a guess?" "You're bad at flirting?" His shook his head. "Two more, Kitten." "Girls don't like you!!" Tano yelled, wanting in. Keio spun around, glaring at Tano until Tano's gaze dropped away. Keio turned back. "Give up?" I nodded. "I suppose.. You shouldn't be so mean to-"

"I prefer men." I tripped over my feet. "Wh-what?" I patted off dust making it seem I never did trip, all the while keeping my eyes on the sleek feline.  "I find them more attractive is all. Females are okay, but men are my kind of mates." Acting my best to seem not totally shocked, I looked back at Tano, who seemed to be caught in his own world as his eyes drifted house to house. "A-ah.. So.. I didn't know.. Cats could, uh, be gay.." The nonchalant I attempted in my voice dribbled out like water from a hole in a bucket. "Not gay, women are fine I said. I like my men more though." Keio's tone was undoubtedly the most amused I've ever heard it been, even more than the morning he woke Shikamaru and I up in my bed. "...You know? I don't think I would have guessed it actually." I said, shock finally evaporating in the air. Keio titled his head back and forth. "Surprisingly most don't. Except within Neko clan.. I made sure they know." 

A laugh left my mouth at the image of Keio hunting down the other male felines to let them know he was available. "Are we going yet?" Tano nudged my leg with his head. "Huh? Oh right." We continued walking, sadly leaving the interesting topic Keio's past mates for a new one I didn't rather like. "Jealous types are common, Kitten." Keio said loudly when we passed another couple, the woman had been looking upset at her boyfriend who was ignoring her for another.

Avoiding their gazes, I stared down to Keio who walked along side of me. "Although, seems like she had reason to be angry with him." Keio snickered. "Indeed, I wonder if I made it worse?" I sighed, checking on Tano who was happily trotting behind, his head whipping back and forth at different things. "Probably. Tano, you want some food?" Tano jumped up, forcing Keio to leap to the safety of my shoulders. "Yeah!!" A vibrating feeling came from Keio to my shoulders, yet the actual growl remain unheard. "He's more tedious here than home." Keio murmured, only to himself. 

I patted Keio's head, knowing that an irk mark would appear in his anger. "We have been walking for awhile now, lighten up." Tano had his eyes closed, bouncing up and down with every step. "O! Found something!" His eyes opened and raced ahead, causing me to chase after and Keio to sigh dramatically. "Whoa! Hey! T-" I tripped over Tano's frozen body. Tripping over him still hadn't made the drool stop dripping from his mouth, his eyes staring up at a restaurant Choji was fond of, not his barbecue restaurant, but a well liked one. "Ah, that's what you smelled.. I'm not sure if they'll let animals in.." I said, picking myself up and acting like I wasn't annoyed I tripped for the second time today.

Keio smirked. "Too bad for you little one, looks like I'll be eating some of this delightful food without you." Tano's mouth dropped. "But, y-you're an animal too!" Keio hopped down from my shoulders, engulfed in smoke before it had cleared, showing the male from who was ignoring his girlfriend or wife a little bit ago. Seeing more clearly now, the man had shaggy brown hair, brown eyes, and a rather larger nose. However, Keio's normal smirk gave the man a look of some type of an attractive air. 

"I'm surprised you didn't pick someone more.. Different." I worded well enough. Keio sent me a wink. "Ah, I'd like to, but Kitten, I'm trying to fit in, not stick out." I casted a look down to Tano who seemed nervous. "Tano do you how to use that jutsu?" Tano nodded shakily. "S-sort of.. If I can't do it, does that mean no food?" Before I could answer Keio did, "Yes it does." Tano let out a wail of grief before pulling himself together. "Al-alright! I can try!" Few seconds later smoke appeared, then left, revealing only a small girl with pigtails. Her teeth poked out showing fangs and tiny, round little ears poked up from his/her head. It wasn't perfect, but good enough. "I did it!! Hehe, look, we're like a family!" Came the girly voice from Tano, happy he had completed this challenge. We walked in and Keio brought out a hand around me. "I guess that means we're the couple, mm?" Quickly pushing him away and using Tano to be the middle person, I scoffed loudly. "Yeah, no. Big no." Keio shrugged. "So be it. I mean, I do have male organs right now, so if Nara boy can't seem to-" "PLEASE STOP KEIO." 

Everyone turned, eyeing us strangely. "Oh God." I mumbled, looking down and rushing to a table, tugging Tano along. Keio joined us, sitting with me rather than on Tano's side of the booth. My glare didn't affect him. "I hate you so much." Keio picked up one of the menus already here. "Please darling, I cannot help you're too easy to mess with." "WOW! CAN I HAVE ANYTHING!?" Tano was squirming in his seat, rummaging through his menu. "Yes Tano, pick out what you'd like." As soon as I finished speaking a young girl, perhaps only older than myself by a year or two walked over. "Hi, welcome! What would you all like to dri-" "I WANT THIS!!" Tano slammed down the menu, grinning as he pointed at a medium rare steak. 

She giggled. "Your sister?" I nodded. "She's very cute! I love the ear headband." I chuckled, "She wouldn't leave home without it." Not like those are Tano's real ears or anything... Our waitress giggled again. "Are all of you ready to order now?" Keio laid out his own menu. "I'll have... This please, and tea to drink." He pointed to cooked fish, making her scribble down the choice. He handed her his menu and yanked away Tano's menu to her as well. "This is an odd question, but do you have strawberries?" My eyes closed into a nervous smile. "I think so.. Would that be all?" "Strawberries, and some water for me and my sister, please." She smiled and took off to the kitchen within the place. "Strawberries? Didn't you only eat those to cheer you up?" Keio asked, showing little interest, only trying to keep conversation alive.

"I use to.. Now, I just like them that much to eat whenever." Keio opened his mouth when he snapped it shut again, eyes narrowing past my head. "Keio, what's..?" I trailed off, following his gaze out of the window. Several little plots of smoke rose high into the air. "What is that?" I asked, inching closer to the window, concentrating chakra to my eyes, making out a cloaked figure. It took me for what felt like hours to put it together. "Akatsuki!" I hopped up from my seat along with Keio. Tano looked confused. "..What's happening?" "Tano leave. Go home." I ordered, making him cross his girly arms. "No, I'm not technically your summoning!  You can't order me away when I haven't even been here for more than two hours!" 

Keio hissed at him. "Go home. This battle won't be for children." Tano stood up. "Battle? What battle?" Keio moved out of the booth when I gave him a little push. Straightening my Konoha headband as I maneuvered out of the restaurant, the mission to be was the only thing in my mind. "Akisha!" Keio called, racing next to me in his familiar cat form. Tano followed suit, also back to normal when we reached the outside. Loud crashing and gusts of air came from the right. Terrified screams and shouting reached me from everywhere, people pointing towards what looked like a giant centipede. "What the hell is that!?" I yelled, not expecting an informative answer. More crashing came, other giant animals appearing. I rushed forward, grabbing Tano out of the way. "WAH!"

Keio was already ahead of us, hopping on top of the building across the street, avoiding the attack that came from the Centipede. I let go of Tano when we reached the roof next to Keio. "That thing moves pretty fast.." Villagers ran away, leaving one girl behind who had tripped. I never moved, knowing it be useless.

"CHAAAAAA!"

I smiled. Sensing Sakura's chakra a mile away left me confident I wouldn't have needed to help the girl, or even attack the Centipede that appeared to have been killed by Sakura's punch. "Sakura!! What's going on!?" I yelled down to her, the smile gone from my face. This was serious... An attack on Konoha. Sakura looked up to me, done healing the child's skinned knee. "I'm not sure! Do what you can to help the village!!" I saluted to her, showing I heard. I turned, spotting to massive animals in the distance. "Keio... I know you're not a fighter-" "Save it. I'm not leaving no matter how much you plead for my safety." The mockingly cockiness in his face was also apparent on his face. "Tano-" "I still stand by what I said earlier!" His cheerfulness, like Keio's emotions, were happily etched into his face. 

"We won't abandon you either." I turned to the side, seeing the determine face of Hana and wise face Ryu. "Dad!" Tano walked over to him. Ryu lowered his head to his son. "Tano, are you sure you don't wish to leave?" Tano grinned. "Of course not!" Worry passed through Ryu's eyes. "Alright then... Your mother is going to kill me." He mumbled the last part. Hana walked by me, also looking bigger since we last met. "Akisha-sama.. Are we really facing those things?" She asked, looking at the monstrous beings. Keio cut what I was going to say off with a laugh, "Hana, scared? What a sight to see." Hana shook her head, smirking at him. "No, I just was making sure, I like challenges." I gazed around, seeing more destruction begin to take place.

"And a challenge it's going to be.."

*****

Yep. Pein's invasion time. 

Oh and do I have some things planned for next chapter e3e

So once again, I've missed you guys.. And I'm sorry about lacks of updates, though don't be too surprised if I still take a while! ^-^"

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!! c: