Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong, what is against it.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Misfortunate Circumstances

When one is asked to differentiate between an angel and a demon, what does one say?

They look the same, don't they? Wasn't Lucifer an angel? Wasn't he banished to hell for trying to usurp God? So is the difference your reverence to leaders? Should you suppress defiance as opposed to displaying subservience?

But aren't we all told to think for ourselves, to not follow the crowd? Doesn't that take defiance? Doesn't that take leadership? Aren't we supposed to be question our leaders? To ensure that they have thought their own plants through? Shouldn't we be allowed to question our leaders? To question God?

So, is the difference between an angel and a demon merely where they hail from? Is it truly just the misfortune of where you are born? Children can't control whom their parents are anymore than a tree can control when it will rain. So, is it all centered around birth? Around something you can't control?

Then can an angel descend into hell and become a demon…can a demon ascend to heaven and become an angel? The angel, Lucifer fell to hell to become a demon…so isn't it only fair that a demon be allowed to rise to heaven as an angel? But who said that it was fair? Who said God was fair?

But, then again, who said that demons were the bad guys, maybe the angel's in their arrogance are unable to see right from wrong? Perhaps, the angels have misled us all? Maybe the labels of 'angel' and 'demon' are nothing more than meaningless labels…maybe, the nothing more than what people attach to them. Maybe there is no difference, and people are all nothing more than fools. Fools that mindlessly look for a differentiation between an intangible 'good' and 'evil.'

Plip. Plip. Plip.

Such an incessant sound. One that was practically guaranteed to drive a person insane.

Sakura stared mutinously at the slow leak from the pipe that ran the length of the ceiling. It was beginning to greatly annoy her, but she didn't think that Tsunade-shishou would be willing to waste funds to fix it anytime soon. After all, it was an interrogation unit. One that few shinobi were aware of.

It had been specially designed…and no one had ever escaped. It was one of the best kept secrets in Konoha, and Sakura was thoroughly disgusted by its existence. Being built underground afforded much privacy. The wails of its occupants went unnoticed, and the reviling means utilized to collect said wails were nothing short of tragically enrapturing. The methods, while destructive and bloody, had their own artistic flare to them, created a work that was beautiful if only in its effectiveness…a work that Sakura severely doubted even the most talented artist could compose on paper.

But it wasn't the destructive 'artwork' that she despised. No. That was necessary. That was useful.

What she despised was something that stood within the building. In fact, it was a prisoner. One that stood, a few mere yards away, and was concealed behind a two-inch concrete door. And, unfortunately, it was the one she was currently in charge of keeping alive until Ibiki had wringed every secret from the bastard's mind.

"Damn Uchiha," Sakura grumbled before turning the deadbolt and pushing the door open with a loud grating sound that resonated through the cell.

His lean body hung pitifully from the iron chains in the ceiling, his knees nearly touched the floor as his chin rested on his chest, for all appearances, seeming to be sleeping. Sakura looked disdainfully at the prisoner, her disgust at him evident in the cruel contortion of her face.

The atrophy of his muscles was obvious. His skin was pale and clammy, with dirt and grime covering his body like a second skin. Sakura could easily see the dried blood that had run down his arms from his abused wrists, evidencing the man's struggle to be free of the manacles. She watched as his fingers twitched at irregular intervals from above his head and she absently wondered if he was having a bad dream. His knotted hair hung in clumps, hiding his face. With a sigh, Sakura covered the short distance to his side. Carelessly, her hand grasped a chunk of his hair and ruthlessly pulled it back, lifting his head up and, in the process, revealing his haggard face.

Dark orbs narrowed at her, challenging her, but she brushed it off. She knew this look, she was used to it.

"You look like shit Uchiha," she commented lightly before placing a hand on his neck and pushing her chakra into his body.

He didn't respond as Sakura's chakra circulated his body, searching for any life-threatening injuries or infections. The contact only lasted for a few seconds, but Sakura felt diseased for simply breathing the same air as the man before her. As soon as she determined him to be at least out of reach of Hell's gates for the time being, she released her grip on his hair and let his head fall back.

Without pause, she wiped her hands on the small dark rag that hung from her belt, trying to get off any invisible remnants that she had touched the man. She refused to look at him, but she could feel his eyes glaring daggers at her.

"Good. You're new best friend can come in and finish your interrogation. He'll be delighted to be able to…play with you again," Sakura remarked with a forced sense of mock cheer before turning on her heel and walking towards the exit.

"Why do you hate me?" His voiced rasped quietly, strained from disuse, but it was enough to cause Sakura to pause.

"Oh, are you feeling talkative? I think that's the first time you've spoken since you were dragged down here. Maybe I should get Ibiki now, ne?"

He didn't respond, but Sakura hadn't really expected him to either. Without another word, Sakura passed the doorway and resealed the cell. Without pause, she swept through the hallways, leaving Sasuke to his fate.

What's up mis amigos? I hope that you enjoyed it, its my first story and I'm kind of excited. This is more or less of a prologue, so I know its super short, but the next chapter will be at least twice the length, so don't despair too much.

If you liked it, please leave some feedback. I can't improve without advice (also, I'm a shameless feedback whore, so don't deprive me)! Oh, and if I messed up anywhere, please let me know that too. Outside of that, I hope that you read the next chapter also Thanks for taking the time to read my story!

Ja ne!

~Accident Waiting to Happen~