Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters except the characters I invent. This story is purely for amusement purposes.

Note: Okasan means mother and Otosan means father.

Prologue

The cell was damp, cold, and above all, dark.

I sat against the wall, resting my head against the cool cement.

Why hadn't they killed me on the spot?

It would have been better that way. Of all the people to be captured by, why did it have to be them?

I shifted my position a little, but my muscles refused to respond as they should and I found myself slumping sideways to the ground.

I let myself fall, not caring anymore.

I had no strength left. My arms and legs were bound together so tightly that my bonds cut into my flesh each time I tried to move. There was no way I could escape.

The darkness was calling me.

I longed to give in to its call, to give up and drift away in a sea of never ending black. I didn't want to face him like this, not when I was so weak.

I had fought too hard to become stronger.

My eyes involuntarily closed and I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into oblivion.

Finally, the peace I so desperately sought was within my grasp.

I was vaguely aware of the sound of approaching footsteps. The sound cracked through my conscience and echoed in my head. It was a signal that the time had come.

My moment of death was here.

The wooden door opened and swung inward, revealing a tall, dark silhouette that loomed over me. I allowed my eyes to flutter closed again, not caring what happened now. The figure remained rooted to the spot for the longest time until I began suspecting I had been dreaming.

But then he moved and I realized my dream was a reality. I sensed rather than saw him approach and crouch down next to my bruised and battered form.

"Was it necessary to go so far?"

His voice was smooth and calm, giving away nothing of what he felt, if he even felt at all.

"We couldn't risk her escaping until we had interrogated her. She put up quite a fight you know." Another voice answered, but this voice was nothing like the first. This voice was cruel and harsh sounding, and the sound of it made me shiver slightly.

"She is weak. It shouldn't have taken this much to subdue her. See to it that she is given some nourishment, otherwise we might not get what we want out of her."

"Wouldn't you rather see to her, Itachi-san?"

I opened my eyes just enough so I could peer up at him through my lashes. He was staring down at me, his ruby red eyes baring nothing of his soul. The mere sight of them caused a wave of fear to spread over my body. I felt a scream trying to push its way up my throat, but I pressed my lips firmly together to stop myself.

I couldn't show anymore weakness in front of him.

"Don't be foolish, Kisame. I have more important things to do than take care of this pathetic wretch."

Not once did the pitch of his voice change. It always remained the same, level tone. It would have been better if I could hear what he was feeling, but this was Itachi we were talking about; the genius Uchiha.

I saw a flash of black and watched as Itachi and Kisame marched out of the cell, their black and red coats flapping behind them, showing off their Akatsuki colors.

As I listened to their retreating steps, I couldn't help feeling that there was yet more pain to come.