AN: I'm so sorry I couldn't get this up before Easter. I tried but I can't tell you how terrible Easter was this year. My sister ended up in the ER with A UTI and kidney problems and they still have no idea what's actually wrong with her. Not only that but my long time boyfriends sister just found out that her intended fiance was in love also with her younger sister and his family is completley devestated and doesn't know what to think or do at the moment. So Easter was hectic. It still is, but I needed to keep myself busy so I don't think to much so I put all my effort into busting out a couple new chapters for you guys! Yay!

Haha, is it bad that I can't remember completely what happens in this chapter since I'm posting another one right after this? Probably. Lol, eh whatever. If I give anything away you'll have found out about it soon anyways, though I'll still try to be vauge just in case. I can't stand when people give away things for me.

Zestu and Amaya's relationship is going to start changing a lot more now that I've set them up a bit more and developed them. You'll have to just wait and see how they're going to change ;)

Thank you so much for the reviews and favorites I've gotten over the past week! I can't tell you how happy that made me to see those messages in my email. It really made me smile and with the past couple of days, I can't tell you how much a smile helped.

Chapter 10

Revealing Secrets

My life followed a daily schedule here. Every day I would wake up before dawn, which I judged by a similar crystal I placed in my room to study the ancient scrolls of my clan, and then I would be led by Konan to the training room where I would attempt to control the strange powers I had. After training, Konan would come again and lead me to a small room where I would eat in silence and then be taken back to the training room to spar with Tobi while Zetsu would watch. It was the only time I saw the strange plant man now. It was odd after seeing him constantly for the few days it took to travel here, and I couldn't shake the feeling he never once looked away from me. It gave me the oddest feeling, one I couldn't' place. Nevertheless, I never saw him again in my room, at least, not that I was aware of at least.

Then when Tobi had officially annihilated me, which the odd person did every single time we ever had to fight, I would be given a short break to eat and then put up targets and practice my aim with everything from a shuriken to a dagger. Surprisingly the goofy man was quite nimble. It was hard to hit him. It took me nearly a week before I could even hit him. Every sparring match he would win. Then again, I had never been too good at hand-to-hand combat or taijutsu. For the first couple of days I could only manage to spar for an hour or two. By then I would covered in scrapes and bruises from head to toe. Neither Tobi, nor Zetsu would ever give me any advice, any criticism or tips to help improve myself. Instead, they expected me to be hard enough on myself to discover my own weaknesses and learn to exploit them to my advantage. It didn't take me long to figure out, but when I did I began taking in as much information as I possibly could. By the fourth day I even noticed I could slowly start to last longer with him. Not by much, but it was a start.

Target practice was much more suited for me. My father taught me to throw weapons perfectly as a child. After seeing my horrid taijutsu Zetsu seemed surprised when I hit every target dead on, even when I had to execute the most bizarre and counterproductive movements they threw at me to try and shake my aim. It became a favorite pastime of mine to try to shock Zetsu, seeing how I could never really tell when Tobi was actually impressed or just faking it. Target practice quickly became my favorite part of the day.

Then, when the day was over, I would be sent back to my room, escorted by Zetsu himself. There I would secretly study Sarnik, planning my escape with Katsu until I passed out only to start the process over again.

No matter what I seemed to do now Zetsu would always be there, watching me, even when I knew there was no way he could possibly be there. At times, I could swear I felt him in my room or days when the earthy smell of his chakra seemed to be everywhere I would go. His bright golden eyes penetrated through the darkness, eating into my soul. Now that I was back to my senses, I wanted to kick myself for being so open and vulnerable around him. Each time I saw him now I felt like he could see past the show I put on to make myself seem like I cared less and that I didn't feel anything. He knew though. He knew.

Never once did I see Katsu the entire time. It had been almost two weeks. Whenever I was in the hallways, he never seemed to be around and slowly my paranoia began to eat away at me. In my mind, I kept picturing him dead in his room. The only thing that kept me sane was the fact each night, his name always appeared over his room. There hadn't been a single chance to attempt to sneak out to see him though, no matter how hard I tried. Each night my door was always locked and chakra sealed shut, and during the days Konan, Tobi, or Zetsu always seemed to be by my side. Pein appeared to have vanished. Three was no one that seemed to leave to give him food or to make sure he was still alive from what I could tell. They only seemed to care about my training and me. I couldn't focus not seeing him for so long. I had gotten so used to seeing him every day when I was back at the house, back home where I didn't have to hide and we could be open. Now, it was as if he didn't exist.

Training lasted longer than normal tonight; every muscle in my body seemed to be burning and trembling. I let out a frustrated groan as I shut my door and flopped on my bed. It was no wonder I couldn't beat Zetsu when we had fought. If he had been going through this intense training for years then there was no way I could even be considered on the same level with him.

I wonder how much more of this I'm going to have to take before I could just go and take care of this Hayato guy.

Once I was sure I couldn't hear Zetsu's retreating footsteps anymore, I eagerly peeled myself off the bed and reached eagerly for my necklace. Eagerly I opened it, quickly focusing my chakra and picturing Katsu's face. I had never tried to see anyone before. "Eih mitsu-torae." When I released the chakra, I was halfway expecting to get an image of his room with his name printed nearly underneath to taunt me. I gasped as the ink flooded the page and I saw a black and white version of his face appear on the paper. Tears welled in my eyes.

His eyes were hollow, his cheeks sunk in slightly, but there was no doubt at all he was at least getting some sort of nutrition. The angles of his face were sharper without the slight baby fat curving his cheeks the way I loved. He turned, looking towards me. In his eyes, I could see he knew someone was there, somehow and I couldn't help but smile softly. The ink moved with him, capturing his emotions flawlessly. I reached out, stroking the paper. I couldn't help but wish he could see me, even if I knew it would be impossible.

"I'm coming Katsu," I whispered feeling the anger inside me grow at his obviously neglected face. "Don't worry. I'll find a way."

Off to the side of his face a small list slowly rose to the surface of the paper. Curiously I turned, looking at it closer to find that it was facts about him. It listed when he was born along with both of his parent's deaths. Everything from his chakra type to his favorite food slowly listed out on the side. I stared at it curiously, watching as the list continued to grow as I read it, the one I read disappearing to make room for another fact.

The door burst open revealing Zetsu, a menacing glare on his face. "I told you she up to something," his black side sneered, staring hard at the scroll in my hands.

For a second he looked up, the white half of his face smothered in a cruel smirk with an indescribable look in his eye. "How was I supposed to know she what she was doing, eh?" the white half defended. "Looks like we'll have to tell Leader-sama she's been spying on people."

No! I gasped, jerking up in alarm. He couldn't tell Pein! Pein would take Sarnik away. Then I'd have failed my father and lost my only way to see Katsu all at once.

Immediately I covered the scroll, barely remembering not to release the jutsu in front of him. Heaven forbid he would actually see the ink sinking back into the scroll. Zetsu snarled in my direction, his anger and disgust overriding his face. Just as he turned to slam the door shut, I pulled back my chakra letting the ink fall back into the page again, leaving it blank. He quickly strode across the room in two long steps, ripping Sarnik from my hands and I couldn't help but cringe away, expecting a slap or punch.

Instead, there was only silence for a second, so thick I could barely breathe. Growling he looked back at me, showing me the blank scroll.

"What's this?" he snapped.

"Wait—!" I cried, reaching towards him, but he pulled away.

He stared at me for a moment, again debating with himself in his head. I had learned that look well throughout my training sessions. That was him arguing with his other personality to come to an agreeable conclusion between his more observant black side and more emotional white half. All of the sudden, with a start, he turned away, heading back towards the door, Sarnik tightly in his hand and not even a glance back in my direction.

Panicking, I quickly raised my hand. Bubbling energy shot through me, coming faster than it had before and I swung desperately, wind shooting by me. The door shut with a slam. He turned back, his molten golden eyes cutting deep into me. I cringed, but I didn't look away. I couldn't. Not when he was going to ruin everything by telling Pein.

"Just wait. Please," I begged, slowly lowering my arm. Forcing back the plentiful chakra, I tried to force back the sudden knowledge I could be strong enough to kill him now. Only if I needed to though. Not now.

"What?" he growled obviously displeased.

I became all too aware of the feeling of his chakra gathering at his feet. Gasping I sprung off my bed, leaping towards him before I could think about what I was doing. I crashed into him with a thump, both of us falling back against the door, my hands clinging around his shoulder and tangling into his cloak. I froze as our eyes locked with our faces inches apart, but my panic overrode any common sense of fear. His surprise and shock quickly melted back into burning anger and I quickly started sputtering out intelligent things to make him stop.

"W-W-Whoa! Wait! Wait! Ju-Just a second," I squeaked as his arms came up to rip me off him so he could melt down into the floor, one hand reaching up for my throat. My grip tightened and I did the only thing I could think of; I bit his hand.

He jerked back, finally loosening my grip enough for me to stumble onto the floor as he finally straightened back up. Before I could register the words coming out of my mouth, I shouted, "I'll tell you!"

That was enough to catch his attention. I cringed at my own stupidity, but knew I couldn't take the words back now. Sucking up my pride, I hurried to my feet, ready to grab him again if he attempted to run away. His golden eyes were watching me carefully. "I-I'll tell you about the scroll, just please wait. Just, just take me to him." Zetsu frowned, gathering his chakra and in desperation I clung to his cloak again, eyes wide. "Just wait! I'll tell you everything! Anything! I promise I won't try anything! I just want to see him. Just wait for one second!"

Zetsu stopped, staring down in my eyes .For the first time I realized how tall he really was. I just barely came above his chin and it gave me a strangely satisfying bubble in my chest, but I quickly shoved away those types of thoughts for now. From the look on his face, I could tell he was thinking about my offer, contemplating if it was worth letting me see Katsu. I'd gotten more accustom to his facial expressions over the weeks and I was using everything in my memory to pull something out of his face now. It didn't even bother me I was nearly pressing myself up against his hard, toned body, begging the man I was supposed to hate.

"Just this once." I bit my lip. This could be my only chance to see him though before something happened. I had to. "Please. I need to see him. I'll tell you anything you want, just please let me see him."

My offer hung loosely in the air. It felt so long waiting for his answer. If he said yes, I would have more time to think, more time to try to find a way out of telling him all of my Clan's secrets. I'd have to find a way to get that scroll back from him somehow. At best, I would see Katsu and get the scroll back, but I needed more time.

"Fine," he agreed reluctantly. I let out a sigh, my knees nearly giving out under me and my grip on his cloak became more demanding as I sunk a little into him. "But you will tell me what I want to know."

I was going to be able to see him. After all this time. Finally. I couldn't help but grin uncontrollably at him, too overjoyed to think about anything else as the reality of it dawned on me. Smiling, I said, "Okay, whatever you want to know. I promise."

With a satisfied smirk, he stared down at me, basking in his victory, and reluctantly I released him, stepping back enough for him to get out of the door. All of the sudden I felt the flushing embarrassment for nearly throwing myself at him. By the smug look in his eyes, I knew he didn't miss my burning blush as I stared off to the side.

"This way," he stated, not waiting for me to follow him. Gasping, I darted out of the room after him. My stomach was twisting too much for me to concentrate as I tried pictured Katsu's face again, despite not being able to help but think about my embarrassing moment.

It didn't take as long as I thought to make it to Katsu's cell. Part of it may have been to watching only the way Zetsu's cloak kicked up as he walked and the new gratefulness I felt towards him, or maybe because my body was buzzing too nervously that it seemed only like seconds had passed since we left my room. Either way when Zetsu stopped, motioning towards a solid oak door with a metal slot near the ground they could shove food through I didn't particularly care. All I cared about was the boy behind that door.

Suddenly hesitant, I paused by the door, glancing back at Zetsu before testing the door. To my surprise, the door opened without any effort, no lock or chakra seals or anything. I swallowed anxiously before walking in.

"What do you want now?" Katsu croaked from a back corner of the room. It sounded as if he hadn't had water for a couple of days, his voice like sandpaper grating on my ears. His face was turned away from me as he leaned against the base of his bed. "Leave me alone."

I stole a glance back at Zetsu tears starting to form in my eyes, wondering what exactly they had done to him, but he stared blankly back at me. Turning back towards Katsu, I smiled weakly.

He turned slightly. "I said go away," he repeated louder.

"To mighty to see a friend?" I joked with a weak laugh.

Jolting upright, he spun his eyes wide. A large grin spread across his face and he slammed into me before I could react, his arms crushing me in a bone-crushing hug. Holding him closer I let my feelings take over. Waves of sadness and pure joy radiated through me. The entire room faded back into nothing around the two of us.

"Oh God it's really y-you!" he cried ecstatically. "You got away."

Pulling back slightly I grabbed his hand, kissing his palm before placing it against my cheek. He smiled radiantly despite the hunger lines streaking his face. I stroked his hand lovingly, enjoying the feel of his rough hands against my face.

"No," I murmured softly. His face twisted in confusion but I gave him a reassuring smile. "I didn't get away. I convinced Zetsu to take me here, but it's ok. Everything will be ok. I promise. I'll find a way to get you out of here."

"But—Zetsu! That freak!" he screeched, then remembering to keep his voice lowered glanced around us. "Why the hell are you trusting him? He's one of them!"

Laughing softly, I pulled Katsu into my bosom before he lost his temper. Instantly he relaxed, instead wrapping his arms around my waist, nestling his face into my shirt and taking a deep breathe. I glanced back to where Zetsu was staring at the both of us, his eyes narrowed. Quickly seeing my gaze, he looked away, checking the hallways to see if anyone was coming with a scowl on his face.

"We can trust him this time," I assured. When Katsu glanced up in question, I smiled, brushing the hair out of his eyes. "I gave him an offer he couldn't refuse."

"What!" he gasped stepping back instantly. "Amaya-chan! What do you mean 'an offer he couldn't refuse'?"

I blushed faintly, catching the hidden innuendo of my words, but refused to acknowledge it. It gave me the creeps even thinking of giving Zetsu that kind of offer. "In exchange for seeing you I'll tell him anything he wants to know," I answered simply. Seeing his eyes flash dark green in anger, I quickly decided to elaborate. "He came in and saw me using Sarnik, the scroll I was telling you about earlier and I told him that if he took me to you I would tell him whatever he wanted to know." Before he could protest, I placed my finger on his lips silencing him. "Don't worry about it. Leave it to me. I can get out of this."

Frowning he held out his arms for another hug. The joy of seeing Katsu was beginning to wear off slightly into worry. I was starting to notice how abused he appeared to be. Without even asking I took him into my arms, inserting my chakra into him and healing him, feeling around for the extent of his injuries and soothing all of the tension away from him. We both glowed blue. With his head pressed into my chest, he didn't seem to notice his eyes beginning to droop. The poor boy probably hadn't slept in days.

Pulling back again, I moved over to sit on the bed, dragging Katsu with me in my arms. It was comforting to know that they had at least given him something soft to sleep on, even if it didn't look like he had been able to sleep much anyways. Katsu followed blankly, sitting next to me.

I hesitantly stopped easing the tension from his body, debating on whether or not I should ask. Finally, I decided.

"What have they done to you?"

He looked down, shame written all over his face. "Nothing."

"Katsu," I warned, sitting up straighter. He turned his head away. My heart skipped a beat. My mind was starting to flash over all of the things they could have done to make him feel this way, showing me all of the horrors they could possibly have inflicted upon him. My body gave an involuntary shutter. In a softer voice I murmured, "Please tell me."

"They asked me everything I knew," he answered after a pause. "I didn't say anything at first and then they stopped giving me food so I eventually told them. I couldn't hold out any longer."

Sighing, I thought about what he said as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him in close to me. It was hard not to be angry with Zetsu, knowing he had been a part of it. All of them were guilty.

"What did they ask?"

He looked back up at me, stealing a look towards the door where Zetsu still stood, keeping an eye out for anyone coming down the hallways No doubt Zetsu was listening to everything we said, but it was still worth it. "Mostly questions about you: how long I had known you; if I had ever seen you fight and things like that. Most of them I didn't know, but they didn't seem to believe me."

"What did you tell them?" I asked, closing my eyes.

He was quiet for a moment. The bed shifted slightly as I squirmed. "I told them that you were part of the Hirokosai Clan," he answered quietly. Quickly he added, "I didn't mean to. It just sort of came out. I was so confused and I-I don't know. It just sort of … slipped."

Damn it.

"Katsu," I hushed, rubbing his back soothingly. "Don't worry about it. I would have had to tell them anyways. Most people don't even remember the Hirokosai Clan. And if they were going to starve you I'm glad you told them." He looked up, rubbing a single tear from his eyes. I knew how he felt now. He felt weak. Useless. I smiled, wanting nothing more than to see him okay again, quickly easing more of my chakra in him, hoping to relieve him of some of the pain. "I don't want anything to hurt you. I'm glad you told them."

"But I—"

"I don't care," I teased, laughing slightly. "You did the right thing."

He looked down determined, the effects of my chakra slowly starting to take effect again as he yawned. I could feel his determination radiating off him as he stared hard at the floor despite his exhaustion. Just as he was about to say something Zetsu stepped in the doorway. Katsu glared sleepily up at him; brushing against my fears, Zetsu had physically abused him. The temperature in the room dropped dramatically.

"We need to leave. Someone will notice if you stay any longer," he stated.

His yellow eyes moved from Katsu, watching him leave heavier and heavier on my shoulder as I started to lull him asleep and slowly over to me as if expecting me to bend to the simple statement. I realized I had no choice but to. I had given him a colossal upper hand. I'd have to do anything he wanted me to now.

"I'll see you again, okay?" I grinned at Katsu as I gently laid him back on the bed and stood up.

Katsu glanced silently up at me trying to fight sleep, but I didn't let him as I gave one more little nudge to my push him over the edge. He nodded blankly making me frown. I realized a bit too late he was still feeling guilty for bending under them.

"Hey." He looked up and I pulled him into another hug, kissing his forehead. I couldn't care less if Zetsu was here. I couldn't care if the world saw. I smiled. "I love you."

Blushing slightly, a grin stole onto his lips as is eyes began to drift down. "Love you too…"

"Take care of yourself. I'll be back soon." I gave him another kiss on the forehead before forcing myself to pull away. By the time I stood up, he was already fast asleep. "I promise," I murmured, brushing his hair back one last time.

Staring down at him for a moment, I smiled, drinking in his face before letting out a weary sigh. Seeing him like this was harder than I thought it would be.

Slowly, I turned back towards Zetsu, nodding t him to lead the way before I lost my nerve to leave at all. Despite him being asleep I still turned back to give Katsu one last smile.

Zetsu closed the door, making me jump slightly. I frowned, wanting bad to glare at him but I knew I was indebted to him. Every time I seemed to think I had him figured out, he'd do something bogus like this to throw me. So rather than yell as I wanted to I forced a blank look, enjoying the new look in Zetsu's eyes. He looked frustrated. It made me strangely happy.

"Come on," he snapped, turning away from me. I couldn't hide the grin on my face. Something definitely had bothered him. "And wipe that annoying grin off your face before I rip it off myself," his black half muttered darkly.

My smile only grew knowing I had unknowingly found something that dug under his skin. Then like lightning, it dawned on me. Zetsu couldn't stand seeing me so close to Katsu. It really got to him. I bit my lip, trying hard not to tease him about it. What type of man was bothered by showing affection to a child? The thought nearly made me laugh. For now though, I would have to be nice. Later, when he didn't have anything hanging over my head, I would make sure Zetsu knew how idiotic he was being. When I beat him, I would make sure I'd make him furious, using his own frustration of affection against him.

My eyes shot open as two new chakras exploded over everything. It mixed, leaking and running over everything, coating everything in an eerie feeling, something murderous and brutal. Burning ash. Moss and salt. Strong, potent, as if they weren't even trying to hide it from anyone. The very presence of their chakra sent me crashing back to when I first felt Zetsu's chakra, how suffocating and unbearable it was, but this was different. Freezing in place, I clutched at my throat, trying to block my senses from picking it up.

Zetsu stopped, ready to snap at me again when his visibly tensed. "Z-Zetsu?" I asked, unsure what to do.

His head snapped in my direction with a blank face. I cringed. We both glanced down the hallway the sounds of footsteps echoed down the hallway. I didn't have time to react as he suddenly grabbed me by the arm and roughly pulling me into his strong toned chest, my eyes once again locked with the two burning golden orbs only inches from my own. Suddenly I couldn't breathe, the breath forced clean out of me, that strange warm sensation swirling back in my stomach.

Before I could even open my mouth to ask what they hell he was doing, I found us sinking backward. Panicking I realized this is what he had done before when he went to get my cloak. When I struggled, pulling from his grasp he only held me closer until there wasn't a hairs-breath between our bodies, silently sinking into the wall.

The very bases of my molecules started to pull apart, straining and stretching around the basic structures that made up the rock. Someone was plucking me apart piece by piece, merging the very fabrics of my DNA with the wall until there wasn't a trace of me left at all. I opened my mouth to scream, but no noise came out. Everything started to spin as I was sucked into the wall, becoming part of it. I could feel myself merge partly with Zetsu, overpowered by his cruel chakra.

The last thing I could see were two men turning down the hallway.

Then everything was still.

I hit the ground with a hard thump gasping for breath. The room started to spin around me and my stomach flipped awkwardly. Gagging, I quickly rolled over onto my stomach, hoping the movement would calm it down, but if anything, things started to spin faster, the floor rolling and twisting under my hands. Again, my stomach dry heaved, threatening to throw out all its contents.

"Damn it!" Zetsu cursed, giving me something to focus. Anything to make the dizziness go away. "What the hell are they doing back so early? They must have received Pein's message and aborted their mission. That was too close. Then maybe you shouldn't have agreed in the first place!"

Their bickering sent shivers racing all over my skin, covering me in tiny goosebumps. Either way it helped ease my stomach. A distraction. "W-Who's here?"

"Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki."

The man who stole my chakra… I recalled with a gasp of horror.

Sitting up I tuned out what Zetsu was saying, unable to focus. His angry voices bickering back and forth faded into the background along with the strange sound of his Venus flytrap snapping open and shut as he fought to do something. My world was hazing in and out of focus as I slowly regained my bearings. As I looked around, I noticed we were back in my room. Everything was how we left it earlier. Even Sarnik was still lying on the bed. But how? I thought weakly. It seemed like only seconds, being sucked into the wall and then falling out here. Confused, I turned back to Zetsu to see that he had finally managed to agree upon something with himself.

My hands still trembled as I shoved myself to my feet. The second I stood up my legs started to shake. Crying out I collapsed, falling back onto the bed. That seemed to be all Zetsu needed to make up him mind. The Venus flytrap peeled open, his eyes flashing.

"Tell me about the scroll," he demanded.

Frowning, I rubbed my forehead trying to focus. Scroll. Scroll. My thoughts felt so distant, so far away as I tried to call on them. It felt like someone had bashed against my head against the wall. To buy time to recover I asked, "W-What was th-that?"

He shifted. "Tell me about the scroll," his other half repeated, softer, almost concerned.

Not able to take the throbbing anymore I focused my chakra to my head, mending whatever had happened to me. It felt as if all of my particles had been rearranged and thrown back together in a heap. Healing myself at least made the trembling go away. Eventually, I could focus well enough. I sat up.

"First tell me whatever that was."

"You're not in any position to make requests, onna."

"If you don't tell me then I'll just look it up myself," I warned. "And I don't think you would want me to do that because I would find out a lot more about you than just that little fact."

I held his icy glare as he stared me down, judging to see if I was telling the truth or not. I could read it in his eyes. I may not be good at it, but I was starting to catch onto his habits. Soon I'd find a flaw. The idea brought a small smirk to my face. It didn't matter if I hid it or not now. We were both going to have to share our little secrets now.

The Venus flytrap on his shoulders shifted as he walked over to the desk chair and sat down, his tall form looking odd besides something so normal and plain. "It's a special technique I'm able to use that allows me to merge with my surroundings and travel fast."

"Ah," I murmured, letting the remaining tension in my shoulders go. At least when he escaped he took me with him. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't criticize him for that.

"Now, tell me about the scroll."

I shrugged my shoulders, lying down on the bed to stare at the ceiling. I had a feeling this conversation was going to take a while. "What do you want to know about it?"

"What is it?"

"It's called Sarnik. I've been entrusted to protect it for the sake of my clan."

"What does it allow you to do?"

I fidgeted, not wanting to answer the question. It was too late not to say anything now, but revealing so much felt wrong. All of my life my father had brought me up telling me to protect Hirokosai's three sacred scrolls with my life and here I was just telling everything about one of them to a murderer. There was no way that I could tell Zetsu all of this knowing that he would only go and tell Pein everything I said. There had to be a way out of this.

"Answer," his dark half demanded impatiently. I vaguely noticed only his black half seemed to be speaking now. I looked curiously at him to find his white half frowning, eyebrow wrinkled down in either frustration or thought. It was unnerving when his black half was staring so hard at me, almost angrily.

I answered slowly, careful to keep my words ambiguous. "It lets me see whatever I want about whatever I want."

"Why wasn't the image still there when I grabbed the scroll?"

"I had released the jutsu by then. And besides, it won't work for anyone outside of the Hirokosai bloodline."

"How does it work?"

"I don't really know."

He stood abruptly, grabbing Sarnik from off of the bed next to me and unrolled it out across the desk. Promptly standing back, he turned his head towards me and with a simple nod beckoned me to stand and come over to him. Reluctantly I did, too aware of how close it seemed to be standing next to him now. "Now"—his breath washed over my neck sending nerve-tingling chills down my spine, instantly causing my skin to break out in goosebumps. He stepped even closer—"show me how it works," the white half murmured in my ear. Instantly, my knees quivered and my head fogged. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling his voice gave me.

Shifting away from him slightly, I stared down at my hands. Curse myself and my inability to break my promises. I should have never agreed to tell him anything he wanted to know. "What do you want to see?" I asked my voice strangely horse.

"Show me all of the current jinjurican along with their locations."

Confused, I hesitated, not sure what I should try to picture in my head. "The what?"

"Jinjurican," he repeated as if he was talking to an annoying five-year-old. His golden eyes cut into me as I dug for anything I knew about something called a jinjurican, and seeing my confusion explained angrily, "A jinjurican is a host of one of the tailed demons."

The tailed demons were familiar to me. There wasn't a single person who didn't know the tales about the nine different tailed beasts terrorizing all of the nations. Each beast had a different number of tails. The more tails a demon had the more of a threat it posed, the tails representing the amount of control and rational thinking the demon had In order to stop the onslaught the demons were causing, and using the opportunity to gain more potential power for their nations, the demons must have been sealed inside of people. It all made sense once I put it together, but I had never needed a reason ever to think about any of it before.

Frowning, I took a deep breath trying to picture anything related to the beasts. Whenever I had used Sarnik I always had a picture in my head, but now the only thing I had to think about was what Zetsu had told me. I made sure to block out everything else.

Releasing my chakra, I waited for a moment. Zetsu's golden eyes watched too intently, memorizing every detail. I could feel my chakra seep into the scroll, but nothing happened. Frowning I tried again.

Nothing appeared.

"Lying?" he scoffed, laughing sickly to himself. "You should have known better than that!"

I stepped away from him, still not taking my eyes off the scroll. What's going on? Curiously, I tried again, but the same thing happened. Nothing.

"I don't understand," I murmured running my fingers through my hair. "It should be working."

A sharp pain shot through my face, tearing my head to the side. Gasping in pain, I grasped my cheek. Blood rushed up to the handprint. Wide-eyed, I turned quickly towards Zetsu to see his black hand falling back to his side. "Stupid girl," he growled.

"No!" I defended holding my cheek. "I swear I'm not lying! I'll try something else."

He was about to say something but I pushed him back and quickly pictured their Katsu's face again. When the image was clear in my mind, I released my chakra. This time the results were immediate. Ink instantly started bubbling up to the surface of the scroll creating the perfect replica of Katsu's face again, still fast asleep from when we left him earlier. It made me even angrier seeing the scroll work now. Why couldn't I see the jinjurican?

"I told you I wasn't lying!"

Zetsu stepped closer, again sending waves of chills and shivers racing down my spine as the heat from his chest seeped through the back of my shirt. Standing this close to him sent a dark cloud shooting through my body like lava, consuming everything it touched. I could feel the very essence of his black soul.

Abruptly he turned, turning his gaze away from me and walked towards the door. Hand on the knob, he paused, turning and giving me one last glance before he disappeared.

His voice echoed back into my room. "Training starts early tomorrow. Be ready."