A/N: This is a rewrite of my story "What's Behind My Mask". I didn't like the way the last one was written. That version of it was going nowhere, and Midori was becoming out of character. It bothered me. I was a lot younger when I was writing that, though. I'm fixing it now! Yay! Hopefully this will make it better. I really want to finish that story. I'm still rather proud of it. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Tsubasa or Naruto characters! I only own Midori.

Chapter 1

"Hey Deidara, what's up?" I asked as I walked into the very gloomy kitchen. This place really needed some new decorations. The walls were stone and had no decorations. It was dark in here too.

"Hmmm... Nothing much, yeah. What about you?" he asked me.

I sighed quite dramatically, "Same. I haven't had a mission in weeks! It's getting kind of boring..."

"Yeah, same here. I heard that Leader-sama isn't giving missions to anyone until Shark-face and Itachi come back from their mission, un," he replied.

"Huh? Why not?" I crossed my arms and stomped my foot. Not having a mission for that long is unacceptable. Well, to me it is.

"I'm not sure, un," he nodded, smiling at my childish behavior.

I don't know why, but me and Tobi were always the babies of the Akatsuki. I guess it was because we were the youngest, obviously, and we really tended to act like it too. It kept things entertaining around our hideout.

"Hey, Midori! Leader-sama wants to see you in his office!" I heard Hidan yell from the doorway.

"All right!" I called back, and I then turned to face Deidara, "See you later Dei-chan."

"Be careful!" Deidara replied, smirking.

Deidara and Sasori always swore that Leader had a 'thing' for me, so they liked to tease me about it. I didn't believe them at all. He was a lot older then me...so why would he? I do tend to get quite argumentative at times, so maybe my reactions to both of them teasing me about it is why they swear he does.

"Knock knock," I said while I knocked his door.

"Come in, Midori," I heard Leader say.

"So what did you need me for, Leader?" I asked him while walking in.

I noticed that Kisame and Itachi were standing there in the middle of the room. Yes! That means I can go on a mission soon! I looked over at Itachi, and he was glaring at me. Maybe it's because I'm smiling? He doesn't seem to like happy people.

They were still talking while I walked in here, but I didn't pay attention to what was said. Leader-sama cleared his throat, catching my attention. He must have been talking to me without me noticing. Oops.

"Yes, sir?" I looked up at him, and his expression was, not to anybody's surprise, rather emotionless.

"Kisame and Itachi have came and told me that the next Jinchuuriki is another world. Therefore, I'm sending you to look for it."

"In another world? How am I going to get there?" I was obviously puzzled, if he didn't notice.

"I'm sending you to the Time Witch. She has the power to send you to other worlds," he said.

I nodded, slightly freaked out, "How are you going to send me there?"

"I have a jutsu that can send you there. Now, if you two, Kisame and Itachi, could please exit the room, I am going to send her on her way. I don't want you two accompanying her," he ordered the other two.

"Hey! Wait," I called after them. They both turned around.

"Tell everyone I said bye for me, if you would," I asked them.

They nodded.

"Okay, good luck, Kiddo!" Kisame ruffled my hair. I smirked up at him.

"Thanks, Kisame," I told him.

He smiled at me, and they both left.

Well, this wasn't the mission I was exactly planning on, but as long as I don't die, I think I will be all right. I took a deep breath, and looked up at Leader-sama, who was now standing in front of me.

"Are you ready?" he asked me.

I nodded, "Yeah. I'm pretty sure. I have all my weapons with me any way."

"All right. Good luck, Midori. You'll need it. Also, I expect good results out of this mission," he said sternly.

I saluted, "Yes, sir!"

He did all the hand signs, and I felt weightless all of a sudden. My eyes grew wide with the sudden feeling of death being all around me, and I looked right at the man who was causing it. He was smirking. I imagined he was having a fantasy of some kind. This gave me a cold chill, and it wasn't the good kind.

I finally felt my ability to speak come back to me, and I almost felt like hyperventilating. "What's happening?!" I screamed.

"Just stay calm," he ordered while still smirking.

All around me was a bright, white light. My whole body was glowing, and I decided that I should just shut my eyes. It became too bright to keep them open.

Maybe this is all just a dream. I thought to myself, hoping I was right.

"Good luck!" I heard him shout again. I really didn't like him right now.

His voice seemed to echo in my head, and I started to freak out. This was really scaring the crap out of me. I felt like my life was being sucked out of me and put somewhere else.

When I opened my eyes again, I noticed I was standing in a place with many modernized buildings. In front of me was a black haired, red eyed, tall, pale lady.

"And who do we have here?" she asked me.

"Huh?" I finally came back to reality, I think. "Where am I? Who are you?"

"How many times am I going to have to say this?" I heard her whisper, "State who you are first."

"Midori," I paused, "Saitou Midori."

"I see," she said, "I am the Time Witch."

I gasped and pointed, "You're that lady that Leader-sama was talking about!"

She scowled, "It's not nice to point."

I pulled my finger away quickly and blushed a little by her scolding. I wasn't used to being scolded… Well, if you count getting yelled at out of annoyance, then I guess that's scolding.

No one cared when I did it back home… I guess their manners are different here? I thought.

"Where are you from?" she asked me.

"Like my world...or country?" I asked her.

"Just where you came from in general," she stated, sighing at my denseness, I imagine.

"Well, I came from the Village Hidden in the Sand in my world. My world didn't really have a name...so..." I paused, thinking, "Well, if it did, I didn't know it anyway."

"I see," she nodded, "And who are you?"

She turned to the guy, who I didn't notice, that was next to me. He was smiling and seemed to be giggling. I imagined it was because of me. There's no surprise there. Everyone seemed to laugh at me at home. I think that's part of the reason Leader-sama got annoyed with me so often. That's what Sasori says, anyway. He could just be teasing me because he swears that Leader-sama gets annoyed because he 'likes' me. Pffft...whatever.

He bowed, "My name is Fai D. Flourite. I am a wizard from the world of Celes. You can call me Fai for short."

I took a look around my surroundings, completely ignoring what she was saying for awhile. Next to me was a dark-skinned man with a red helmet, black cloak, and a long sword. His hair was black and his eyes were red. He had a big scowl plastered on his face.

Huh...same hair and eye color as the Time Witch Lady, I thought, Though, he seems rather unhappy. I guess something happened. If you look in his eyes you can see that he is worth trusting though.

I looked sort of diagonal from me at this boy who was holding a girl. He had a green cloak and goggles around his neck. His hair was a light brown, and the girl's hair was almost the same color. His eyes were brown, but you can't tell what her eye color is. Her eyes are closed, and she seems to be unconscious.

"Hey, you!" the Time Witch yelled.

"Huh?! What?" I asked all of a sudden.

"I've been trying to get your attention for awhile now," she sighed, "What's your wish?"

"Oh," I sighed.

I guess I'll just have to say that I wish to travel to other worlds in order complete the mission I was sent to accomplish, I thought.

"I wish to go to other worlds in order to complete this mission that I was sent on. After I finish it, I want to go home to my own world," I told her.

"I see," she smiled, "You are just here on business. Well, I guess the price you'll have to pay is your locket."

I froze.

Locket? I thought.

"What? Why not something else?" I whined.

She scowled, "You're just like a child. It's either your locket or you're stuck here forever."

I looked at her in shock, "Fine. Take it. I will be back for it though."

I scowled at her, and I gave her a very sinister look. She didn't seem at all phased, but I could tell she was shocked for a moment. I don't normally act like this, but occasionally, much to my disappointment, I tend to be short-tempered.

She took the locket with some kind of magic, and it went over to two little girls that were behind her.

That locket...I'm sorry Mom. I had to give it to them. I swear I'll get it back. That or it shall always be embedded in my memory. I'm sorry...I sighed. I was a little depressed now.

I brought my hand up where the star-shaped locket used to be, and I let out a moan of annoyance.

"This here is Mokona Modoki," she stated, holding a rabbit looking thing. It was cute, actually. I wanted to touch its ears.

So C-Cute! I exclaimed mentally.

"Mokona here will guide you all to the other worlds. Whether you guys return home or not is practically inevitable. I wish you luck on your journey," she stated, "Now be gone!"

Mokona jumped from her hand into the air, and wings grew from his back. He swallowed us all with this rainbow substance, and when Mokona did so, I had fainted because of the sudden shock.

-Midori's Dream-

"Hello!" A large fairy-type creature swooped down in front of me.

"My name is Ariel, and I'm your Kudan. I'm the highest rank of a Kudan that there can be. I'm at your service," she bowed.

"Kudan?" I asked, obviously puzzled, "What's that?"

"It's the power of your heart, in a way," she said, "I'm your Kudan because of the way your heart is. Your heart is clouded with confusion and vengeance, right? You cover up all of your bad emotions with good ones that are just as strong. Deep down you want to call out and destroy the person who caused all of these emotions and pushed them on to you. I'm right, right?"

I looked at her, "You... How do you know?!"

"I'm your Kudan. I'm practically your heart," she paused, smiling gently. "I'm you."

I felt a tear fall down my cheek. I wanted to say something, but nothing would come out of my mouth. I smiled at her.

"You're me?" I finally managed to ask.

She nodded.

"I'm sorry," I paused. "I'm so sorry!"

She started freaking out. "What's wrong?! Calm down!"

"You have to feel all of these feelings because of me! I'm sorry." I sniffed and looked up at her.

She smiled, "Yet, you don't want to burden anyone with your emotions or make them worry."

I nodded, "Exactly. That's why I don't let anyone see those emotions."

"You're going wake up now, so I'm going to leave for the moment," she smiled at me, "I will be released very soon. Therefore, let's meet in person at that time, okay?"

"Wait! Ariel, wait! What do you mean released?!" I called out.

"See you soon!" she waved and giggled as she faded.