"I can feel the heat rising,
Everything is on fire,
Today is a painful reminder of why,
We can only get brighter,
The further you put it behind ya,
But right now I'm on the inside,
Lookin' out, cause,

I'm standing in the flames,
It's a beautiful kind of pain,
Setting fire to yesterday,
Find the light, find the light, find the light."

-Beautiful Pain, Eminem feat. Sia

Chapter Four

The constant rainfall almost lulled Sakura back to sleep when she began to stir.

As much as she wished to doze off into oblivion, Sakura remained in the in-between state of sleep and consciousness. Finally, after annoyance set in at her inability to ignore her surroundings any longer, Sakura's eyes fluttered open.

The room she was met with was strikingly different than she had been expecting. Gasping, she sat up straight and immediately regretted the action. She clutched her head and groaned, grasping at her pink hair. She really had pushed it to far this time. But…

Amaya.

Her eyes scanned the room, and the space was bare save for the matching furniture scattered here and there and the lone, closed door across from her bed.

Where am I? Sakura thought. How…?

The last thing the kunoichi remembered was watching the men in front of her be slaughtered by her daughter, then… nothing.

Thoroughly confused, and trying to suppress the onslaught of emotion that she couldn't seem to sense her daughter's chakra signature anywhere nearby, Sakura pushed the thick covers off of her and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

Anything could have happened after she passed out. There had still been one enemy shinobi alive that Ookami had been trying to bring down, and Sakura hadn't been awake to contain her daughter's sudden rush of anger and chakra, regrettably.

Sakura pushed herself to feel further for her daughter's chakra signature, but came up with nothing. Where was she?

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sakura braced one hand on the side table and the other on the bed. She pushed herself up to her feet, grunting at the effort, and, taking a few breaths, stood straight. She could walk, after she stood for a moment, but Sakura pushed some chakra throughout her body to give herself an extra energy boost. For the time being, that was.

The room was bland. Nothing more than furniture, and, after a little exploring, a bathroom through a door to the right of the bed. Sakura found no clues as to where she was, which was frustrating as hell.

She ran her hands over the dark red tank top and black capris' she had woken up in, finally coming to stand in front of the door at the foot of her bed.

Twisting the knob, Sakura's stomach knotted when the door pulled open with ease. The industrial metal shouldn't have been unlocked, but it was. Which put Sakura on edge. She was, after all, near Amegakure. And nothing good ever came from the Rain Country.

The industrial hallway was cold, and the stone against Sakura's bare feet froze her feet like ice. Glancing up and down the corridor, Sakura moved to grab a kunai from her back pouch—

And realized she didn't have any weapons. She had none of her gear. Mentally she cursed herself, pursing her lips. How idiotic did she have to be to not have searched for her weapons before leaving the room? Glancing around once more, she started forward again.

She swallowed, and told herself she didn't need weapons to avoid and take down an enemy.

Slipping out of her room and down the hallway, Sakura made sure to tread lightly and remain hyper vigilant.

The hallway was bare, and the fact that she had made it this far from her room without some kind of conflict left a small flicker of hope that she would escape unscathed.

Sakura knew she shouldn't entertain hope in a situation like this, but it was a habit she couldn't shake from childhood. Hope always kept her going, whether she knew she was going to be hurt or not. And Sakura was hurt by hope more times than one.

The silence stretched out around her, her footsteps quieted by the small amount of chakra she pushed to her feet.

The silent, bare halls were unnerving to say the least.

The longer Sakura was in the open, the more on edge she became. She should have come across someone by now, no matter where she was. Not that she was wishing for an encounter, but still. Where was she?

Passing through a few intersections of corridors, Sakura finally came to a halt just across the hall from a cracked door. Flickering light shone through the crack, and splayed across the cement floor.

Sakura glanced left and right down the corridor, and crossed to the only open door she'd come across.

Cocking her head, the kunoichi peered inside and laid eyes on a large fire that was blazing in an even larger fire place. Glancing around the room through the small crack, Sakura lightly pushed the door open, gradually, when her eyes didn't immediately land on a figure.

Stepping into the room, Sakura shivered involuntarily at the temperature change. Somehow the large fire managed to heat the room to a comfortable temperature, and Sakura wasn't about to complain.

Relaxing slightly, Sakura looked around her and found herself in a room much more furnished than the one she awoke in.

A four poster bed sat against the far right wall, which looked like it had never been slept in. A few dressers were against the wall to her left, and a couch sat before the fireplace. A large mirror hung above the fireplace, and books lined the shelf just underneath.

The room was large. Much larger than Sakura expected in the hallway. A large area rug covered the middle of the floor, and large bookshelves lined the far wall on either side of a balcony.

Stepping further into the room, Sakura strode towards the fire while glancing around her surroundings. The room was comfortable, but wasn't personalized much. She had been hoping to draw some kind of clues from the décor of the room, but there wasn't much to go on.

Coming to stand just behind the black couch, Sakura's eyes landed on a small figure curled up among the cushions.

The small figure was covered with a black cloak with red clouds, and Sakura momentarily panicked internally. But then she finally focused on the small figures snow white hair, and she couldn't help the sharp intake of breath.

"Amaya," she whispered, and practically ran around the couch to kneel next to her daughter.

Bringing a gentle hand up to push the stray locks of white hair from Amaya's face, Sakura smiled softly in relief. Amaya was breathing, she was unharmed, and she was safe.

But then reality began to sink in, and Sakura's hand moved to run over the cloak covering her daughter.

'Akatsuki,' Sakura thought, eyes widening as she slowly began to glance around the room. Every detail she ran through a fine tooth comb.

"She is safe," said a deep voice to her left, and Sakura's head snapped towards the balcony. No one stood there, but, akin to a rush a water, his chakra signature rammed itself into her.

He was strong, but she had to be stronger. If Sakura wanted to get her and her daughter out alive, she had to be.

Sakura, with one last lingering look at her daughter, slowly rose and came around the far edge of the couch. "It depends on your definition of safe."

"Hm," he replied in his deep, smooth voice.

As she walked towards the balcony, she knew she should have felt more….

What?

Fear, anger, on edge?

But Sakura only felt curious. Curious as to why this man hadn't harmed her or her daughter, and why she wasn't locked up in a room somewhere. First and foremost, why were they both here, safe in a building, when they should have been dead in a field at the edge of the Rain Country?

Finally broaching the opening of the balcony, Sakura stepped out into the chilly weather. The rain poured over the city before her, and Sakura could only look on in amazement at the tall, industrial buildings surrounding the balcony. There was a cover over the balcony which kept Sakura dry, but as she came closer to the railing small drops of water hit her arms.

"I'm in the Village Hidden by Rain, aren't I?" Sakura asked, finally glancing to her left and taking in the mysterious voice's form.

He sat on the railing, one leg arched while the other hung over the side. His cloak was together, hiding most of his features. But his face was distinguishable just behind the semi-high collar of the fabric.

His dark orange hair stood up in spikes, while his ringed eyes remained focused on the rain pouring down across the city. Sakura's eyes took in the piercings covering his face and ears, and she had to keep herself from reaching up to touch her own ears.

Sakura should have been afraid of him. She should have felt the warning in his strong demeanor. His presence was so palpable in the air, and his chakra seethed off of him. Sakura felt she could have cut it with a butter knife.

When his gaze turned to her, she felt the full weight of his authority and she had to resist the urge to take a step back.

Swallowing the sudden lump in her throat, she met his gaze and then hurriedly looked away. She was unfamiliar with his eyes, but she knew that he had to hold some sort of Kekkei Genkai. Hoping that she hadn't screwed herself by meeting his gaze, she stood strong in front of him.

"You are," he stated, and Sakura could feel his gaze running over her. "Wishing that you were somewhere else?"

Sakura couldn't help that lackluster laugh that escaped her lips. The laugh was small, and humorless. She looked out over the city once more. "I thought I was dead. I wasn't expecting to wake at all."

Feeling no genjutsu surrounding her, Sakura chanced a glance at his face one more. She met his eyes, and held his gaze. "Why am I here?"

After a moment came his reply. "I found you at the edge of the city. Your daughter had just finished slaughtering the men who could have landed your killing blow. When you passed out, I stepped in," he replied, coming to stand before Sakura. "I do not allow unnecessary violence to plague my city."

He was tall, much taller than Sakura, and his height added to his intimidating aura.

Images of Amaya's amber eyes shining through the light mist as she clenched her fists assaulted Sakura's mind, and she looked away from the man before her.

Sakura unwillingly flinched when he took a step towards her, and she automatically took a step back.

"You're Akatsuki," Sakura stated, and clenched her fists at her sides. "Why did you step in at all?"

"I am," he said, suddenly standing just before her. He lifted his hand to take her chin into his grasp, and he forced her to look at him. Ignoring her question for the moment, he caught her gaze and held it.

Sakura began to involuntarily shiver, and he took notice of this. Letting her chin go, he strode past her and into the bedroom.

Heartbeat sprinting, Sakura took in a sharp breath and allowed her gaze to follow his. Staring into his eyes… She hadn't felt any danger to herself or Amaya when she knew she should.

Staring into his eyes… He wouldn't hurt them.

But he was Akatsuki, and Sakura had to trust that he was a dangerous criminal ready to attack she and Amaya at any moment.

Following him as he came to stand in front of the fire, Sakura pursed her lips.

"You're Akatsuki."

"You said that already."

Narrowing her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips.

"You could have killed us. You could have killed me. Why am I here? And who are you?"

His right hand grasped at the shelf above the fireplace and he leaned against it, staring into the fire.

"Are you so sure I'm not going to kill you now?" he asked, throwing a look over his shoulder. "Or as soon as you walk out that door?"

Sakura's body went rigid, and she bit her lip. No, she wasn't sure. She entertained hope, but knew that she was easily let down.

"Like you said," she said slowly, unsure of his next move now. "You don't allow unnecessary violence."

Silence follow, and he turned his gaze back to the fire. "Killing you would be unnecessary."

Sakura was unsure of whether his statement was a question or a declaration. Either way, Sakura's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.

"What do you want from us?" Sakura asked slowly, eyes narrowing.

Silence, and then, "I want you to leave and never return here. I want you to forget that you ever were ever here, but I know that isn't possible. You are a leaf shinobi, and always feel the need to stick your nose where you shouldn't."

His hand fell to his side, and as he turned he landed Sakura with a cold stare. "Your village disgusts me. I would love nothing more to kill you for being who you are, but I do hold myself to certain morals."

He was in front of Sakura in an instant. She gasped and raised her fist to strike out, but he caught her wrist before it had a chance to venture near him.

His grip was tight, and Sakura flinched in pain.

Grabbing her chin with his other hand, he gently lifted her gaze to him once more. Sakura's bright green eyes fell on his ringed gaze, and suddenly Sakura couldn't move. Whether from fear of this strong presence before her, or from determination to defend her daughter a little ways away from them, Sakura couldn't discern her emotions.

"I cannot trust that you will return on your own. And besides, I haven't yet decided whether I could use your daughters talents or not."

Eyes widening, Sakura sucked in a sharp breath. She spat into his face, and wrenched her chin from his grasp. She felt rewarded when he flinched and pushed her forcefully backward.

"You will do no such thing," she snarled, eyes suddenly hostile and body ready for an attack.

Sakura caught sight of his narrowed eyes just before she felt the cool press of sharp metal at her neck.

"You would do well to learn your place here," came his voice just behind her. Sakura felt the press of his body against her back, and her eyes narrowed.

"I don't have a place in the Akatsuki," she sneered, throwing her head backward. She was rewarded when her thrust hit his chin, and she followed up by pushing chakra into her right elbow and jamming it backward into his chest.

He had become too cocky, and it got the best of him.

Sakura whipped her head to the side to avoid her throat being slashed by the kunai. When she turned, he crashed into the bed which broke upon impact.

When he stood his eyes were blazing with heat and calculation.

"If you want my daughter you'll have walk over my cold, dead body to get her."

When he tossed the kunai in her direction, she pushed chakra to her feet to avoid it. She failed to realize that the kunai had been a distraction, and suddenly a force threw her back into the wall.

Gasping for air, Sakura fell forward and threw herself towards the fireplace. Her aim had been for the fire poker, but before she could scramble any closer another wave of force threw into the hearth of the fireplace. Her legs landed partially in the fire, and she scrambled backward with a shout of pain.

Sakura quickly patted her legs, which were an angry red. Her hands stung as she quickly took to her feet, but the Akatsuki man was already there. His hand wound around her throat and he lifted her off of her feet, clenching his hand tightly. Her hands grabbed at his, and before he could realize the chakra strength she pushed into her hands his wrist was already broken.

Dropping Sakura, whirled her leg around to knock him off of his feet. When he hit the ground, she was already in position with her fists aiming for his head. He quickly rolled to the right, avoiding her hit. Her fist made a large crater in the floor. Before he could move any further, though, Sakura crouched and threw herself into her enemy. He was pushed back onto the balcony, but just as Sakura had finished making the hand signs for a genjutsu—

"Almighty Push," Pain murmured, and Sakura, once again, was thrown back into the wall adjacent to the balcony. Hitting her head rather hard, Sakura blacked out for only a moment.

When she opened her eyes she had to blink a few times to register the scene before her. The man's hands were cocked back, ready to throw the six kunai aimed for Sakura, but Amaya had stepped between she and the Akatsuki member.

"Stop," she said, her small hands clutched at her side. Sakura couldn't see her daughter's face, but she was sure if Amaya turned around she would see the familiar, stubborn expression there.

"Amaya, move!" Sakura shouted, images of the six kunai hitting her child wracking her brain. "Now!"

Shaking her head wildly, Amaya hugged her arms around herself. "Please, stop! Pain, she's all I have! Please!"

Silence.

Sakura could have heard a pin drop.

Eyes wide, Sakura knew who stood before her. The file had never had a photo, but she had studied what they did know of him.

Pain. A Hidden Rain shinobi gone rogue. Leader of the Akatsuki. He had killed Master Jiraiya, and lead the attack on the Tailed Beasts.

God, this was the man she had been in the same building with for God only knew how many days? She had found Amaya sleeping on his couch, for goodness sake.

When Sakura focused again, Pain was in the process of lowering his hands and relaxing his stance.

"You helped me. Please help my Mom," Amaya whispered, and Pain froze. Eyes focused on the small child, Sakura couldn't help but worry for her daughter.

"Amaya, come here. Get behind me," Sakura commanded, but she was met with defiance.

"No, Momma," she said louder, shaking her head. She spun towards Sakura, and threw out her hand. "He helped us, and then you hurt him. You always tell me that you're at the hospital healing people. He was healing us. Don't hurt him. He was helping us."

Sakura's mouth dropped open as Amaya's raised voice registered. Sakura's eyebrows knitted together in anger, because how dare Amaya speak to her like that. But as Pain shifted to drop the kunai into the pouch at his hip, Sakura focused on the real enemy.

Pain wasn't looking at either of them anymore as he strode forward, and Amaya looked over her shoulder as he approached her.

"Don't you dare touch her," Sakura finally spoke, eyes narrowed to slits as she delivered her threat.

Pausing, his gaze seem to turn contemplative. Suddenly, he turned his back to the pair and made his way to the balcony. "You are free to wander around the building. But I will know if you try to escape." Pausing as he came to the railing, he gazed over his shoulder. His eyes caught Sakura's stare, and he held her gaze. "Do not test me. I was not trying to hurt you permanently. Next time, I will not hesitate to kill you."

Amaya strode over to her mother, arms snaking around her neck. Sakura winced, but pulled her daughter close. Her eyes remained on Pain.

Standing with Amaya in her arms, Sakura backed through the open doorway and into the hallway.

Had her daughter really stayed the hand of the infamous Akatsuki leader? As she gazed down at Amaya, Sakura decided that she couldn't have. At only seven, her daughter held no sway over the man.

The Akatsuki leader wanted her daughter, and Sakura was determined, one way or the other, to convince him otherwise. Whatever it took, she would protect Amaya with her heart, mind, body, and soul. No questions asked.

But as Sakura found herself venturing back to the room that she woke up in, she finally took in the reality of the situation. Amaya and she were trapped here, with the leader of the Akatsuki a few minutes down the hall with who knows who else in the building.

Sakura would have no choice but to do as Pain said. Amaya's future and life rested in the decisions Sakura made, and Sakura was not about to let her daughter's fate be ruled by the Akatsuki.

She would play Pain's game, she would follow his rules, but as soon as an opportunity arose she would make sure he never laid a hand on her daughter for as long as she lived.

Sorry about the lateness in this post. I just started school again, and college classes aren't the most forgiving when it comes to having a social life. Haha.

I hope you enjoyed. Please REVIEW if you liked it, or even if you hated it! I'm going to try and crank out the chapters from here.

Thanks guys!

~Adoration.