Eternity.

It's been a solid eternity sitting here in this uncomfortable seat.

Whatever one should feel being recruited by force into the dreaded Akatsuki, she probably wasn't feeling it. All she felt was a stale monochromic wonder. Why her? What was so special about her? Who knows. Right now, all Kiyomi knew, was that the Akatsuki base had something that of a waiting room; it is the very room she sat in right now. Nothing really special sat in the room. There was just this small room. You know what? Scratch that. This room was nothing like a waiting room.

More like an interrogation room.

Yes, that was the word for it. This small room made of stone, a single door, and a window she could not see through. It only reflected herself. How did she know it was a two-way mirror? Simple. For one, after first put in here, her curiosity got the better of her. She knew of an easy trick to know the difference between a two-way and a real mirror. Place your finger on the glass and inspect its reflection of course. There was no gap before her digit's touch as a normal mirror should have. It was a two-way mirror; Secondly, there would be no need for such a large mirror (Or a mirror at all) to be put in here.

Kiyomi remembered shooting a cold, yet blank stare towards the reflective device. Should anyone be on the other side, they would successfully receive her nerving gaze.

Kiyomi also had to admit; it was awfully awkward. What if there really was someone watching? –And of the Akatsuki no less? It wasn't enough to send chills to her skin, nor down her spine, however. The thought hadn't even been enough to shake that emotionless face of hers.

After striding around the boring room at least two laps,(eyeing the mirror with another blank, nerving stare her second loop) she sat in the cold metallic chair seated in the middle of the room, in front of her a rectangular table of the same material, sharing the chair's metallic reflections.

Interrogation room, huh?

It only made Kiyomi wonder what she could have ever done to strike the Akatsuki as worth enough of whatever it is she had or caused to snatch her up. As a matter of fact… 'How the hell did I get here?' The thought lingered long enough for a wave of sudden remembrances to overcome her mind.

The last time she ever let herself get snatched up so quickly, so swiftly that she didn't even get a glimpse of her doer was… Well… Never. This was the actual first. That fact alone was enough to let her know not to press her luck with these people. She was not sure of their capabilities, whether she could handle them, anything. She knew nothing.

This time, Kiyomi would keep herself in check.

Hour's its been. Still nothing. Kiyomi would not be surprised if the day was almost over, already over, or the morning skies were already dawning…

Soon before realization; it was dark. There was nothing but darkness.

Moments later, the dark stillness was interrupted with a subtle poke of her pale cheek. It was enough to begin opening her eyes just a smidge. 'I was asleep..?' Huh. Another poke of her cheek (—But slightly harder) successfully got her to open her eyes more. To sudden realization she was being poked… Cursing herself for opening her eyes so quickly; Allowing that much light into her orange eyes with no warnings, she gave off an involuntary grunt. It was barely audible, but she still made a sound.

"Look, senpai! She's drooling. Ew."

Whoever that voice came from, it was too chipper for her tastes.

"I can see that. Who cares, hm?"

Now that voice was more tolerable.

"Get up already, would you?" The more tolerable voice spoke. Kiyomi figured it was directed at her. Kiyomi took her sweet time letting her vision clear up; to rid itself from the white beam's blur. Once it did, she raised herself from the table, wiping saliva from her skin onto her clothing. Usually she wouldn't ruin her cloths, but who cared right now? It was saliva. Transparent. No show. "Could you be anymore slobish, hm?" The same voice asked. "Excuse me for not harnessing the experience of falling into slumber on a metal table." She shot back with a blank-toned voice. "Being civilized tends to drive my sleeping to take place on something reasonable."

"Hmph."

"If not for your voice, I would have unmistakably mistaken you for a woman." She added; Lying. Clearly that struck something in the blonde haired man. If only he knew she could tell he was indeed a he. Then again, that would ruin her attempts to nerve him.

"Watch your mouth, why don't you? I'm sure you wouldn't like that smug face of yours blow off, yeah?" He asked.

"I assure you my face has not a single hint of smugness, you are invalid." She paused and looked around again.

"Ooh, she sure got you, Deidara." There was that chipper voice again. It came from a taller figure in the same red-clouded cloak. How could anyone tolerate wearing a mask that only provided vision through one eye? Kiyomi shrugged it off; It didn't concern her. "Would you shut it, Tobi?" This 'Tobi' person only laughed and covered his masked face.

"If you would get to stating my business here, we could save us all the pointless quarreling." Kiyomi could surely do without it. The one known as 'Deidara' grumbled. She was right. He wouldn't agree aloud, however. "For some reason I'll never get, you are being recruited into the Akatsuki."

So her assumption was correct.

"Me? Why?"

"As I just said, I couldn't understand any more than you, hm!"

"I see." She couldn't take her eyes off the mirror. "—And now?"

"—Now I'll be taking you to the leader, himself."

Kiyomi felt her chest swell. The Akatsuki's power, strength, abilities, all of that. It all crossed her mind now and again, but nothing ever gave her this intimidating bellowing pit in her chest. Something about the thought of coming face to face with the head mastermind made her chest want to pop. Is this what actual intimidation feels like?

She already knew there was no leaving. No declining. No refusal. This was the Akatsuki, and she didn't protest. For her life's sake, should they really turn out to be formidable opponents. Who's to say they weren't, anyway? Why wouldn't they be? This is the Akatsuki, after all.

Deidara—With the bumbling idiotic Tobi scampering behind him—Led the way without another word. The only sound between the three, was Tobi's obnoxious, goofy humming.

The base was surprisingly large, wherever it hid. It was taking a considerable amount of time to reach the next destination. "Would you bring yourself to inform me how large your base is?" Kiyomi asked. "Big." Deidara responded. 'Wonderful informative information indeed.' She thought to herself. She would keep that to herself. No need for more mindless squabbling.

Not much longer until Deidara finally came to a stop. "Permission to enter." Deidara spoke. Before Kiyomi could ask 'what?' An unbelievably deep voice spoke. "Granted."

Jesus Christ. That voice was just… So deep; So frightening in a way to her pale ears, it punched her square in the face and knocked down her emotionless façade for a few seconds. It was Tobi's shaking of her arm that brought her back into reality.

"The recruit is here. May I bring her in?"

"Of course."

Was it too late to try to leave? Probably. Attempting to leave right now would probably make things turn for the worst. She would remain.

Following the blonde after he told her to follow, Kiyomi felt her stomach tightening. Never has she ever felt this horrible churning feeling in her stomach. Not for a long time, at least.. Not since that one event years and years ago.

Kiyomi was coaxed into the room by Tobi as Deidara continued to lead her in. The room was dark, but it was manageable to see. There were two large hand-like structures it seemed. There seemed to be a figure upon one of the large tips of the structures fingers. "You are dismissed." Spoke the insanely deep voice. Deidara only nodded. Tobi; Goofily saluted. The two departed together off to who knows where.

Forever it seems it's been since the last time her heart has beaten inside her chest as violent as now. Why? That fact… Well, that fact was even beyond Kiyomi herself.

This silence was slaughtering the girl.

"Your name. Kiyomi Kurayami," Somehow his voice resuming to speak hadn't made it any better… "This may come you as a… Surprise." He spoke. He knew her name. How? Was there spying? At some point? Kiyomi assumed her… Assumption… Was correct. It had to have happened at some point, yes? It would explain how she was able to get bagged up like she did earlier without sensing it.

Kiyomi didn't answer. Not yet. She couldn't bring herself to just yet. That, and it would be horrible to accidentally interrupt. This man claims whatever this is to be a surprise. Whatever it would be, it surely would turn out a surprise for she had been brought to the Akatsuki. "As of now, you are one of us."

…What?

Kiyomi felt a thousand painless needles puncture every inch of her being. This was just…

"If you should ever try, or so little to even hope of leaving or escaping… Know that if you should try and cross my command that you remain here, you will be tracked down and slaughtered."

Reluctantly, she allowed her head to nod just a bit.
The deep voice let out a subtle hum in a somewhat intrigued manor.

"So cooperative, are we?" He started. "I can honestly say that you aren't reacting that of what I expected."

"—It isn't like I have a choice. I have a goal. I cannot lose my life in such a meaningless way; To be killed off because she tried to be a mindless rebel." She paused, looking down. The staring she felt down on herself was too much to bear. At least not while staring back at him. His appearance was a mystery, which only made her ability to shoot back emotionless glares weaker. Then again, not entirely… Most likely, is was his voice. With that voice there was no telling what he looked like.

Whatever his appearance, it would most likely not be so great. "My goal. I cannot abandon it. I will leave it at that."

"I assume this goal of yours harbor's no threat to the Akatsuki, nor does it aid you in leaving."

"Of course not." Kiyomi kept her sight locked in front of her; at the base of one of the monstrous hand structure's base. "This goal, then. What is it?" He asked. His voice was almost demanding in the calmest way possible, if he wasn't actually demanding.

"Am I entitled to share that personal bit of information? It associates with my family line. Something I myself must conquer as I live. I do not think it is something you would take interest in very much." Kiyomi explained. "You are probably correct." He responded. Kiyomi didn't know what more there would be to say. She remained quiet, blinking those piercing orange eyes of hers once.

"Very, well then. At your exit, is Zetsu. He will direct you to your quarters."

Upon turning to find what the man meant, or rather who he meant, Kiyomi set eyes on the oddest looking man she had ever discovered. This 'Zetsu' person—If you could call him that—Had seemed to be engulfed in something like that of a Venus Fly Trap. Behind the horrendous plant-like structure over him, was the man himself. Hair the color of freshly dying plants, while his skin divided vertically in color. One side white as snow. The other, black as soot. The white side possessed a normal featured face with yellow iris's, while the other half of his face, harnessed nothing but a perfect small circle as place as his other eye. He lacked a mouth on that side, however. Strange.

"Stick close and don't wonder, okay?"

Huh. Kiyomi could honestly say to herself that, that was definitely not the voice she had in mind. It was… Friendly.