Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto!

WARNING: Mild grusome scenes, but from the next chapter, it'll only become a tad bit, more graphic. You can skip those parts but they will not be seperated from the important story features. I apologise for the difficulties, but I will not let story's plot suffer because of the rating.


"Sayonara... Chocho-kun..."

She let the black butterfly flitter away before he frost. A small smile graced her lips, she didn't know why. She wouldn't be able to see them until next year when they hatch once again...

"Are you really saying goodbye to a butterfly..."

The voice made her heart almost stop, but she liked it... Turning around, she found the owner of those dark eyes.

"Sasuke-San, ohayou!" His expression didn't change, but he just continued to stare. She turned back around to view the last speck of her friends before they completely disappeared. And even after they were no longer in site, she kept still, inert in that spot.

Until he let out a scuff. "They're just going to die anyways. Why waste the effort in letting them go?"

She kept her hands clasped together near her breast. "Is that how you feel?" She wasn't looking at him, but in the distance. There was nothing in side but some dying trees, preparing for the winter frost.

"Is that what you think? That just because they're going to end up dying, doesn't mean that they should be able to feel what it's like to be without bounds? Free...?"

He didn't say a word. Was this the first time she spoke so strongly about something?

"Everyone dies... Yet, some don't receive the gift of freedom... " She turned to him with a sad smile, it didn't fit, it was too much for her face to handle. "...We're born into it..."

The look she held there haunted him that night, and the following nights consistently. She didn't even try to hide it. She was sad... she was scared... She was loosing her hope...

'Does keeping the butterflies with her help her in some way? If so, why does she release them?'

"I keep them, so I will have a friend when it gets dark. I take care of them, and they dance with their wings for me. But in the end, I release them, so that I might have a chance to see them happy; dancing about in the open air, no limits, no darkness... Wouldn't it be nice..."

'Back there, she wasn't talking about the butterflies, but herself...'

---

Silently humming to herself, Tsukiko sat in her room. Currently, she was organizing her dried herbs.

Until she felt someone appear in her room. She took a breath and turned around, but was only met by the darkness of her room.

'Am I crazy?'

No...

Just as she was about to urn back around, someone clamped their hands around her mouth and torso, pulling her up to a standing position. Before she could even attempt to wiggle free or scream, the person spoke.

"It's time for your examination... Tsukiko..."

Without another word, they disappeared in the darkness.

---

There was something about a candle that let off an eerie aurora inside a stone room. But didn't people think candles were romantic? What was romantic about it? If you drop it, it could turn into a raging fire and destroy everything it can... Hot wax could hit your hand and leave a burn...

Now she was restrained to the table of an examination room. The metal was cold, and the smell in the air was far from decent.

Tsukiko felt her pulse in her ears. This... room brought so many gruesome visions to her mind, as well as memories. So many, she couldn't understand which were real or not... past or future...

Kabuto entered the room, but wasn't acknowledged.

"Aww, don't look so excited, Tsukiko-San." She still didn't look up from the ground. He commented again, but there was still no reaction.

He swung his arm, hitting her throat, making her fall onto the metal table, legs still restrained. Kabuto then restrained her arms by the wrists and shoulders.

She was forced to look into the bright light.

"Do you want to be asleep or awake for this. Last time, I rather enjoyed your show while awake..."

She just closed her eyes, but she could still see in red and feel his presence approaching closer before she felt the cold metal.

Screams were commonly heard I the halls. Her screams... were no different...

After an hour Kabutounlocked the door of the room, slowly opening it. He breathed in the damp air, which was better than the tainted air inside. He cleaned his glasses with a cloth before looking back into the room. All his utensils gleamed with fresh blood. Tsukikos limbs hung motionless from the metal table. Before unlocking the door, he unbound her.

She passed out a while ago; like always...

'I'll have to tell Orochimaru-Sama...'

Kabuto left down the hall, leaving the door open for the room to air out. But... he did have the decency to clean redress her before leaving...

---

After training, Sasuke made his way back to his room. Underground, it smelt worse than normal. Or, was it just this section of the hallway?

He stopped at an open door. The lights inside almost hurt his eyes. It was where the smell was coming from.

'What is this...?'

The room had a puddle of blood in the middle, under a metal table. Instruments around the room whether gleamed in contempt or showed their mess delightedly with the red they were covered in.

He couldn't move from the spot near the doorway as he gazed at what was on the table.

'Ts...Tsukiko...?'

Her head was turned to the side, hair tossed over... Blood ran down her ankle, originating from under her clothes somewhere.

Kabuto appeared behind Sasuke, returning from his trip to see Orochimaru with good news.

"Ah, Sasuke-Kun... "

No response...

"Would you mind taking Tsukiko-San to her room. She's quite tired at the moment, I think it's best if she lie down..." There was something smug about his comment.

Without another thought, Sasuke had Kabuto against the door frame by the collar. The medic didn't even fight back, or counter attack him.

"What did you do..." The voice alone could send anyone in a dark hole, but not a boy who spent years with Orochimaru.

"What are you talking about Sasuke-Kun? This happens every month, she's fine. She just needs some rest. But," Kabuto's eyes sharpened, "why so interested?"

He glared at Kabuto. The medic internally smirked, expecting anything from harsh words to a punch, but instead Sasuke tossed him into the room. He tumbled into a rack of metal boxes containing different ingredients and acids. Kabuto didn't move after his tumble.

'Sick...'

He scooped Tsukiko up, as quick and gently as he could, before closing the door on his way out.

But why did it bother Sasuke so much that she was in this state? Pity was a plausible answer, but something in the back of his mind told him otherwise. Had she actually grown on him? She expressed thoughts that many would have already given up.

She was about to, but it seemed more like she didn't want to give up hope. Had he given her hope?

"Don't die...," she whispered; but she was unconscious.

'Another vision?'

He readjusted her position so her head was resting on his right shoulder. Her arms were limp, and so were legs, but he could feel her breathing. Who was she talking to?

Some strands moved out of her face, but she didn't look any better. He made a bee line pathway to her room; drops of red trailed after the pair. Dripping down her dead arm and leg.

---

In the dim room, Orochimaru sat. His right hand man appeared in the doorway, his hair was a tad disheveled, but the snake nin said nothing concerning it.

"Kabuto, move Tsukiko to the downstairs rooms."

He looked at his master with a slight squint. "So soon?"

He received a hard glare, "You told me she was ready, that her body is finally strong enough to bare a child. We need to start as soon as possible. Tell the guards that the night after the full moon, she'll be available to the first man there after nightfall. Make sure she's prepared..."

Kabuto nodded, Orochimaru wasn't in any mood to be disobeyed.

"Tomorrow, first thing, a room will be cleared."

An eerie smile appeared, it was crooked. The mere thought of the new child brought it upon him.

"They won't escape their destiny... ever..."


Thank you for reading! I know it was delayed for a week, but at least it;s up now! I would also like to thank imm0rtal, Rina, Providentia, Princesa de la Luna, and AngeredWriter. I loved reading your reviews and it's really motivated me in updating. I also had a major brainstorm while writing, so I am rather happy with how it is turning out. I hope everyone agrees as well.

Please, I would love to hear your constructive criticism, praise, and/ or any other comments you might want to tell me. Any message to me is great! Thank you for your time once again, and I'll see you again at some point!

-Sin