Krissy sat against her bed, petting her cat, and quietly humming the happy birthday song. She was turning 7 today, and not a soul in the akatsuki knew. She thought she saw a blue glow from her necklace and wondered if Kuuo remembered. She heard someone behind her yell "BOO!" and Krissy gave out a small scream and looked on her bed behind her. And sitting on her bed was Kuuo. "Don't do that!" Her necklace had a piece of his gravestone on it so he could go anywhere she was, so she should've expected this.

He grinned at her and said "Happy Birthday kiddo!"

Krissy smiled and laughed a little. But then she frowned and looked towards her door. She looked back at him and said quietly "Be quiet! I don't even know if you can be here!"

Kuuo shook his head slightly. "I don't think they'll really care. I mean, think about it kiddo, I'm a ghost, what harm can I do?" he said, still grinning. "I haven't seen anyone talk to you today really, does anyone know it's your birthday?"

Krissy looked down sadly. "No, not really."

Kuuo ruffled her hair a little. "Agh, don't worry about it." He slid down the bed and sat next to her. "Hey, I got you something, I know you've been looking for one of these for Kinso."

Krissy looked at him a little confused. "Kinso?"

"Don't you remember, that's what you named the cat when you first got it."

Krissy smiled. "Oh yeah!"

Kuuo pulled out a small red collar and handed it to Krissy. "Happy Birthday kiddo," he said smiling.

Krissy grinned and hugged Kuuo. "Thanks! I'll put it on him right now!" Krissy put it on him and smiled, then frowned when she heard someone knock at the door. "Who is it?" she said harshly. (the day that the bet with eve was made is long passed)

Itachi didn't care about Krissy's harsh tone. He was used to it by now. It caully never really bothered him. He just looked at it as though it was her personality and that was one of the many things you couldn't change in life. "It's me Itachi," he said.

Krissy blinked. I..tachi? she thought slowly. She wouldn't've expected him of all people to come by. "Uh, the door's open, you can come in," she said, forgetting completely that Kuuo was still there and solid.

Itachi pushed open the door. "I've heard it' your birthday today," he said. He chose not to walk in, he'd rather stay outside the door for he had other things to do after this.

Krissy frowned a little and looked at him a couple seconds before saying "W-where'd you hear that?" How'd he know....?

Itachi's gaze never faultered. "I know alot about the Akatsuki here, me and Deidara both," he said. He was starting to believe that there was someone else here, she seemed a little catious though she was working awfully hard to hide it. It was too bad nothing could fool his Sharingan.

Krissy gave a small laugh. "Yeah, I should've figured that," she said. She knew Kuuo was watching silently, and she was determined to keep it that way. She didn't want to get in trouble beacuse her ghost brother was there.

Itachi gave a small smile. "Yes, I find it quite disturbing. Deidara knows things I don't and I belive that some things are left unseen." He said. His eyes became shadowed. "For certain reasons."

Un...seen....? Krissy thought a little nervously. Oh man...he knows! Krissy gave a small nervous laugh. "L-like what?" She was busted and she knew it. She gave a small sigh. "You know, don't you..?" She wasn't gonna deny it longer than that, it would've only gotten her into more trouble.

Itachi looked at Krissy a bit curious of what she was talking about. "If I told you it wouldn't be so private now would it," he said with a small shift of his weight. "And what do you mean I know," he asked. Now he knew she was hiding something.

Krissy looked at him a bit shocked. She'd just blown her own cover! "Uhh...I meant...uhm...." she fell silent for a few moments. Now she was definitely busted. "Nevermind," she said, trying to regain the harshness that usually slipped into her voice so easily. She wondered why it was so difficult to regain now of all times.

Itachi just watched as she tried to speak. He knew she'd just told on herself but he didn't really care. It was Deidara's job to find out problems, not his. He was more of a background guy. He let alot of people slid. He looked waved downwards. "Calm down Krissy, it doesn't really matter. It's none of my business and trying to figure it out is toom much work." He said. "Besides, like I said, some things are better left unspoken."

Krissy frowned a little as Itachi told her to clam down. She couldn't help but smile when he said figuring it out was too much work. If he wasn't the second in command, Krissy would've assumed him lazy, but she knew better. She gave a light smile. "Thanks Itachi." He had to be the one person in the entire akatsuki she felt she didn't have to defend herself around. She wondered sometimes if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Itachi looked at her for a second and then smiled. "Well, I've got assignments to complete, so I'll be going," he said turning around. "Happy Birthday Krissy," he said as he started down the hall waving a small goodbye.

"Okay," she said a little quietly. She smiled. "Thanks Itachi." she said as he walked out of the room. Kuuo reappeared and looked at Krissy.

"Well kiddo, at least you have one friend in this group, huh?" he said with a small smile.

Krissy looked at him and frowned a little. Friend? She gave a light smile and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so."