Day 3
"Lady Tsunade, are you sure you can't send out a team today?" Shizune asked her.
"I have no say in the matter, Shizune, you know that."
"I know, it's just..."
"They look really pathetic just standing around outside, waiting for the time to pass."
The door opened, and in came Kakashi with his usual bored stride, "Yo." He stopped in front of her and put his book in his pocket, "You do know that Gai, Lee, and Tenten are standing outside the tower right? They seem to be waiting for something or other."
"Yes, well, they'll just have to be patient."
"Gai? Patient? I think you're asking too much from him."
"It isn't my choice! What can't you people understand? I'm assuming Gai told you, or else you wouldn't be harassing me right now."
"I'm not harassing you." Kakashi muttered indignantly, "But yes, he did tell me. Of course he did. He had to whine to somebody. The kid's hardly been missing twenty-four hours, and he's already a mess. I'm sure Neji'll be found, so he really has nothing to worry about."
"That's what I keep telling him, but he's so emotional and stubborn. Nothing's getting through to him. And of course his fears are mirrored by his students which just makes it worse." She sighed heavily, "But, they'll have to wait. You aren't here to talk about that anyways. Now where did I put that mission scroll..."
OoOoO
His nails toyed with the threads on the wall padding, tearing them in several places. There was nothing else to do. He thought that maybe if he tore off the padding around the metal pallet that he would be able to get it out of the wall and maybe get another chance at freedom. But with no food or liquids in him whatsoever, his energy was low and he could hardly keep his eyes open. Let alone tear off some heavily glued padding.
He'd never been so hungry in his life. Shinobi needed food to function. It was essential for them to get their nutriments. Without them they couldn't fight. Neji had always maintained a healthy diet to keep himself fit, but there was nothing he wanted more than a glass of water.
Light.
He bent his head down, his eyes burning, and listened as footsteps grew nearer to him. The key was inserted into the lock and the chains were removed from the metal pallet. A tug on the chains forced him to stand. Slowly he opened his eyes and took in the other's face.
It was Matsu.
He glared at him, but allowed himself to be led down the hall. He chose not to struggle. Perhaps it would be wise on his part to be obedient and meeting Ryo, who he presumed was the leader of whatever it was that was going on, might not be a bad thing. At least he would maybe be able to know why he'd been kidnapped.
Their footsteps echoed off the walls, making Neji realize just how empty it was. It creeped him out a little bit. Surely there had to be other people. They wouldn't waste such a big space for such few people. There was something he was missing, he was certain of it.
"Don't speak unless spoken to, and any foul language or insults will earn you two more nights in the room of seclusion."
Room of seclusion. So that's what they liked to call that place. He hated it.
"Got it?"
Neji didn't answer.
He took note of every turn, trying to map out the area in his mind as best as he could. It would help him later on. Without him realizing it, they ended up in front of the door that he'd been near the day before. The one where he'd heard Ryo and Matsu discussing something.
Matsu opened the door and pushed Neji inside.
It looked like an interrogation room. It looked like the interrogation room they had in Konoha. It was dimly lit, with one chair in the middle of the room. Loose chains were laying innocently around the chair, and they were the only ones there. Matsu had Neji sit on the chair and tied the chains around his wrists and ankles, keeping him firmly in place.
"Be good now." Matsu gave him a cold smirk before exiting the room, leaving him alone.
His eyes went to the chains and saw that, like the ones in the room of seclusion, they would not be coming out any time soon. The chair was screwed to the floor and wouldn't move, no matter how much he tried. There was only one door, and it was the one they had come through to enter. It was ordinary looking.
There was nothing particularly menacing about the room in itself, but he couldn't push back the sense of dread that rose inside of him. There was something off about being there. It just didn't feel right.
"Well, it's about time you were obedient enough to speak with me." Ryo remarked, entering the room.
Neji held his chin up and glared at the man, not saying a word.
"What's your name, brat?" He asked, approaching the chair and its occupent.
Silence.
"Ah, the silent treatment. That won't last long though."
Oh, how you underestimate me.
"As you wish. For now. You are surely asking yourself why you're here. The answer is simple. Revenge." Ryo put his foot on the tip of the chair, between Neji's legs, and leaned in far closer than he considered comfortable. "Against who? Be good and you'll find out."
Neji was tired of revenge. Tired of it guiding people's lives and decisions. He was familiar with the feeling. Had witnessed it push somebody into darkness. Had seen how it hurt the one obsessed with revenge more than the one that that person wanted to hurt. But he was curious to know who on earth the man wanted revenge against, and how he had anything to do with the whole situation.
"Tell me kid, do you have any idea where you are?"
Silence.
"I wouldn't think so. It's a good hideout. Nobody will ever find us here. I suggest you make yourself comfortable. You won't be getting out of here anytime soon." Ryo was pacing in front of him, then suddenly stopped. He turned to Neji, "Oh, yes, I wanted to get rid of this pesky thing." Ryo flicked Neji's hitai-ate.
His glare was more threatening than it had ever been, and it dared him to try.
A shinobi never, never, removed his hitai-ate in the presence of an enemy. It showed weakness and helplessness.
Ryo ignored it though. He pulled out a kunai from his weapon pouch and leaned forward again, "Or would you prefer just one big scratch across it? It doesn't matter, does it? You won't be needing it anymore."
Neji's reply was to spit on him.
He calmly wiped the saliva off his cheek and didn't bother to keep the anger off his face. "Have it your way then. Keep your stupid forehead protector. But I suggest you get well acquainted with the room of seclusion. You'll be spending a lot of time in there." Ryo took Neji's chin in his hand and kept it firmly in place. Instead of scratching the metal surface of his hitai-ate, he swung the kunai down and made a cut along the side of his cheek all the way down to his neck.
Neji didn't flinch at the sudden stinging on the left side of his face. It was a minor injury compared to what he'd already been through.
"Matsu!" Ryo called out and the short man hurriedly came into the room.
"Yes?"
"The brat has two more days in the room of seclusion. Bring him to me afterwards."
"Alright."
Once Ryo left the room, Matsu turned to grin at him, "Shinobi are so stubborn. You'll learn soon enough that it's best to avoid the room of seclusion."
And Matsu brought him back to said room and put the chains back in their place.
Time for another long night.
AN: I would like to thank AUehara for reviewing! This was a short chappie, but I am in a hurry. Weekend was busier than expected! Anywho, I hope you liked it!
Thank you for reading,
-MewMew
