I split the chapters up but there is one new chapter. Chapter 5: Control ^_^ *Update*

Down a long dark hallway she ran. Fear rose within her making her push herself further even though her legs burned from the effort. Escape. Freedom. The sounds of her pursuers echoed behind her. Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she couldn't stop. Couldn't stop.

"She's running for the exit!"

"Stop her!"

Kurai saw the door they spoke of and the light that poured in from it gave her an extra push as she propelled herself out of it. Being blinded by the sun she pushed on heedless of where she ran. She only knew she had to get away. She tried to breathe but even the air seemed heavier outside. Tumbling over something she fell to the ground hard. Trying to look hurt her eyes so she rolled until her side brushed against something and remained very still hoping that they couldn't see her.

"She ran this way!"

"No, I saw her go this way!"

Silently she prayed to whatever being there was that they went a different direction.

"Lord Danzo is not going to be happy about this."

"If we find her then he won't have to know will he? Get moving."

Kurai kept her eyes squeezed shut tight and felt a tear escape. When she heard a soft voice whisper her heart sunk.

"So, you must be who they are looking for."

Kurai couldn't move as hopelessness shrouded her and the fear of being returned to the dark rooms suddenly became all too real.

"Why didn't you run further away than this? It seems to me if you wanted to escape you would have kept running."

She tried to withdraw into herself as the man laid a hand softly on her shoulder.

"You know, I can't help you if you don't say anything."

At that her eyes popped open and she cried out in dismay squeezing her eyes shut once again.

"I heard something over here! Come on."

Kurai heard a sigh before she was lifted, "Now I know what they mean by women in distress. Come on, Princess."

Kurai was thoroughly confused, "What's a princess?"

They stopped suddenly as the boy answered, "In the books I have read a princess is a girl who waits to be rescued by a prince or knight in shining armor. Though having shining armor would make things a little more difficult if you ask me."

"If you're helping me does that mean you are a prince or a knight?"

"Hmm, I hadn't really thought about it. Normally at the end of the book the princess marries the prince or knight."

"What?!"

"Don't worry, Princess. I'm sure that is not always the case. How about you just call me Sai?"

"Sai... Why are you helping me?"

If she had opened her eyes at that moment she would have seen him smile.

"Not too long ago, I was saved from the same way of life."

He remained quiet after that and continued to move. She didn't know where he was taking her or even if she was being returned to the same dark room she had run from but he was kind in his regard for her.

"Sai?" she asked as she closed one hand on the front of his jacket.

"Yes?"

"If you were saved, does that make you a princess like me?"

Pausing only a moment, "I suppose it does."

She thought about this and him. The smells weren't familiar to her so she had to assume he was indeed taking her away from that place.

"Kurai."

"The sun is still up."

"My name is Kurai," she said into his jacket.

"Oh."

"But you can still call me princess if you like."

"I will keep that in mind. Now it is my turn to ask a question. How come you can't open your eyes?"

"It's too bright. The light blinds me."

Sai understood not because it was something he would do but rather he knew that Danzo would keep someone in a dark room for days without even thinking about it.

"Do you know where you're from, Princess?"

"Lord Danzo told me I was born there. He said he named me Kurai because I carry darkness within me. Do you think that people are born with darkness, Sai?"

"I think all people carry darkness within them but I don't think they are born with it. I feel darkness is taught. I don't think the name suits you. Perhaps we can give you a new name."

"Can that be done?"

"Of course. Let's see, perhaps Yoko?

Kurai stuck her tongue out and grimaced.

"No? What about Mai?"

She shook her head.

"I know. We should call you Kohana?"

"Kohana..." she said trying it out, "Why did you pick that one?"

"You were among flowers when I found you. So,when I picked you up, I was picking a little flower."

She smiled, "I like that. Kohana. It will take some getting used to."

"I have a feeling, Princess, that you will soon be answering to that name."

Kohana smiled and slowly tried to open her eyes to get a look at her rescuer.

"I wouldn't do that little one. It's still very bright out here. Wait a few moments more and we will have arrived at our first destination."

She nodded and hid her face back in his jacket to help keep the light out a while longer.

"Where did Sai run off to?"

"He said there was something he had to do before we left for Suna."

Exaggerating a huge sigh, "Man, he better hurry up or he might actually be later than Kakashi-sensei for once."

Sakura laughed and did her best impression of him, "Sorry guys, I got lost on the road of life."

Naruto snickered, "More like, "Sorry guys, I was reading dirty books again."

"That definitely sounds like Sensei."

"Sorry I'm late guys-"

Naruto and Sakura fell over laughing as Kakashi appeared beside them, "What's so funny?"

The two were rolling on the ground holding themselves as Sai appeared.

"Why are you two rolling on the ground? We have a mission to undertake."

"You're one to talk. You and Kakashi-sensei are late."

"My apologies," Sai said and tilted his head to the side with a smile.

"Is everyone ready?"

Sai looked around, "We're going to Suna, correct?"

"Yes. We're going to see Gaara!"

"Aren't we supposed to be transporting a merchant?"

Naruto grinned and Sakura blushed as Kakashi shrugged.

"I kind of forgot about that part," Naruto admitted and looked around, "So, where is the merchant anyway?"

"Where did Lady Tsunade say we were supposed to meet up with the merchant?"

Sai shook his head and smiled, "I had forgotten I was in a team with idiots."

Naruto looked like he was ready to launch a full scale assault on Sai but Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder. Following Kakashi's gaze they looked over to see a traveling merchant with a girl following close behind. She wore a cloth over her eyes. She managed to trip over nothing as they made their way to the waiting shinobi.

Kakashi narrowed his visible eye as he recalled that only one person was supposed to be escorted. He glanced sideways at Sai but the pale ninja only smiled at him. He looked back to the merchant approaching them.

"Thank you for waiting for me. I hope you don't mind but my daughter will be joining me on my trip to Suna today. That's not a problem is it? Her eyesight has been troubling her and I would hate to leave her at home by herself."

Kakashi sized up the man and the girl quickly before smiling, "Not at all. We're happy to assist you and your daughter."

Sai heard the inflection of Kakashi's tone that the others couldn't. He knew something was amiss. Sai wondered briefly if he should have spoken with him about what he was doing but knew that the fewer people who knew about her leaving Konoha the better for her at least until they had left the village. If Danzo got his hands back on her she would be locked down even further than before. Before Sai met Naruto he had been a product of Danzo's twisted mind and it wasn't a fate he would wish on anybody.

"I'm Sage and this is my daughter Kohana. Come say hello dear."

Kakashi watched carefully as she moved beside the merchant, "Pleased to meet you. Thank you for protecting us on our journey."

"You can count on us," Naruto boasted.

"It's nice to meet you Sage, and you as well Kohana," Sakura smiled.

"If all of us are ready, then I suggest we begin," Sai said as he turned, giving Kakashi a look before heading out the gates.

"Alright, Sakura and Naruto I would like you to watch the back. Sai and I will take point."

"Okay, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi moved to catch up with Sai and gave him a side-long glance.

"Yes, Kakashi?"

"Is there something I should know about?"

Sai smiled at him, "Whatever do you mean?"

"I have a feeling you know exactly what I mean, Sai."

"My apologies if I gave you the impression I was hiding something. It was not my intention."

Kakashi looked at him before looking ahead again, "Regardless of whether it was your intention or not I know you know something more about this mission than you are letting on."

Sai glanced behind them to check on their charges, "If I said secrecy was of the utmost importance on this mission would you leave it alone?"

"Probably not."

"Then, I guess I shouldn't say it then. I will scout ahead," Sai said and jumped ahead. Kakashi watched him go then looked back to the merchant and the girl. Slowing his pace he walked beside the merchant.

"I'm glad you were willing to do this," Kakashi whispered and his suspicions were confirmed when the man stumbled before looking up at him in shock.

"A- a trip to Suna for supplies is no big deal. I usually stock up there a few times a year."

"Of course that's important too," Kakashi said and looked to the girl for any sign that would give her away.

"How long ago has your daughter's eyes been giving her problems?"

The man began to visibly sweat, "Just recently, poor dear. Her mother passed away and she has only me to look after her these days."

"Interesting. Perhaps I should take a look when we stop to rest for the night."

"Ah no, I don't think that would be a good idea. Kohana is very shy and gets upset easily. She's not used to strangers."

"I see," Kakashi said and seemed to drop the issue causing the man to sigh in relief.

"Well," he said in an upbeat tone, "I'll just introduce myself to her then I won't be a stranger anymore."

The merchant stuttered as Kakashi moved in front of him to walk beside the red head on the other side of the wagon.

"Hello there," Kakashi said.

Kohana tilted her head towards the voice.

"You are... Kakashi, correct?" she asked.

"Yes, I am. You are Kohana," the way he said it making it sound more like a question than a statement.

She laughed, "Yes. It was given to me by a very kind man," she said and turned her face towards her "father".

"It is a very pretty name," he said and was about to ask his next question when she spoke up.

"Thank you very much for taking care of us. I really didn't want to be left there by myself. It was very gracious of you guys to accept another burden on this trip."

Kakashi suddenly felt a little guilty questioning her after all this could be the truth and they were paying customers, "We hope to make it a quick and pleasant trip, Kohana. For you and your father."

"Thank you," she smiled shyly.

Shortly after that Sai returned and Kakashi resumed his position beside him. They traveled until near dark before making camp. Sai volunteered to show Kohana where she could wash up and Kakashi was instantly suspicious again. Her father had said she was shy around strangers though so far she had not shown she was all that shy especially now with Sai when the two of them walked off together. Secondly, her "father" didn't seem all that concerned when Sai volunteered to show her. After ordering Sakura and Naruto to finish setting up camp and keep an eye on the old man he followed after them.

"It took you longer than I thought to follow us, Kakashi," Sai said as he stood beside Kohana. She was clutching onto Sai's arm.

"Well, you know, I'm hardly ever on time anyway. So, why don't the two of you fill me in on the details."

Sai patted Kohana's arm in reassurance, "It's alright, Kohana.," to Kakashi he said, "You were correct in the assumption that she was not the merchant's daughter. Kohana was in need of assistance when I first met her. I didn't have time to explain the situation to you or the rest of the team without raising a whole lot of questions so I simply paid the merchant to claim her as his own."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "What kind of trouble are you in, Kohana?"

"She was being held by Lord Danzo. She escaped the facility where he had been keeping her and I found her. Leaving the city is her only option for survival because if Lord Danzo found her in town he would have found a way to take her back."

Kakashi scratched his head,"How do you know she was telling the truth?"

"Her escape was pitiful at best. She had managed to escape the building but due to her imprisonment Kohana can't see very well during the day. She had made it twenty feet into the woods surrounding the compound before she fell over."

Sai reached over to her and removed the cloth.

Kakashi watched her open her eyes slowly. Startled at first his gaze was drawn to her face, particularly her eyes. There was something about them. He stared trying to figure out what it was that bothered him about her eyes. They looked like a very familiar blue.

Author's Note: *ahem* Announcing the return of a story I started back in October I believe...Though I um, may have posted it under a Pseudonym. *pokes fingers together* I had a perfectly good reason. This is the first story I've posted with an OC character and I was a little nervous. While it did receive mixed reviews I really like this story, but had forgotten about it until recently so I have moved it to this one and I hope you guys will forgive me for straying under another pen name. (For those who are wondering what the name was... It was QueenHinata, but I have removed this story, the only story, that was posted under that name... I had a feeling though that some of my readers suspected there was a pervy sage involved. Sly Ninjas... They will do well in their training. *pauses* On the other hand they could also become powerful adversaries...

Hinata: Y-yo-you used-used my name? *squeaks*

I knew you wouldn't mind. Of course I had to put Queen in front it because you are so beautiful and deserve to rule those around you my Queen. *lecherous grin*

*Hinata passes out*

Naruto: What did you do?!

I merely flexed my way with words and showered her with praise... You would do well to take notes.

*Shakes finger at Jiraiya* Naruto: Look here, Super Pervert! You don't go showering anyone anymore! Got it?

*Shakes head and begins to talk to self* There's no hope. I've tried. I've tried really hard but this is what I get. All those times I spied in the bath house or down by the river... this must be my punishment. Think I'd rather have Tsunade pulverize me than this. At least then it would done and over with.