Chapter Eleven

When I awoke the next morning I decided to get right to memorizing the scrolls.

I hoped I could learn fast enough for them.

I went over the information again and again, glancing at the clock every now and then as I did.

As time went by found I was indeed hungry, I looked up to the clock again.

I must not have an internal clock because it was already two-thirty and I hadn't even eaten breakfast.

I put down my work and went to the door expecting it to be locked, but it wasn't.

I pushed it open, walked down the hall till I got to the kitchen.

I decided to go with some leftovers, why guys had leftovers I'll never know. It's not like they need to diet or anything.

I had enough trouble gaining weight as it was, I was sure to eat all I could.

I grabbed something that looked cheesy, why not.

I heated it in the microwave and found a plate and fork.

I ate slowly, biding my time till returning to the problems that were floating around in my head.

The more I thought about it the more a protruding headache reared its ugly head.

I finished eating and washed my plate and fork, dried them off and returned them to their homes.

I looked around, it's so quiet.

They don't have any unnecessary items anywhere, not even pictures. My flute must seem like an accommodation to them, but I couldn't leave it behind no matter what.

I have the sudden urge to see how it is outside.

They wouldn't mind if I just took a minute would they? Where am I going to go anyways? I'll just take a few minutes to get some fresh air. A walk around the base might do me some good.

I went up the stairs to the main doors we came, on my walk I would see if there are other ways in and out in case of an emergency.

I got to the doors. Even though they were large they were fairly easy to open.

I pushed one open with one hand.

I stepped into the light. It was warm, but very cool breeze was there as well.

I didn't mind the cool, in fact I preferred it. I loved sitting around when it was cool outside, take a walk maybe.

The cold was comforting.

I pushed the door almost closed behind me.

I decided to walk clockwise the first time around and counter clockwise the second time.

As I walked I heard no people, no animals. I saw more than I heard, were they afraid to make noise?

I continued to walk. I passed three doors on my first round, getting acquainted to my surroundings. I turned around and started walking the other direction, stopping to open the doors and see where they led, I hadn't noticed that the kitchen even had a door, but it was near the sink.

Another of the doors led to a long hallway I would find where it led later, I was curious since there weren't doors in this hallway like the other halls had.

The third door was near the stairs, must be in case of emergencies, very smart.

I closed the door and started walking towards the main doors, and then I thought 'why not just go in here, I know how to get to my room from this point.

I opened the door back up and almost jumped out of my pants because there was someone there that wasn't there just a few moments before, he wasn't just there, he was right in front of the door as if he was going to open it.

"I-I-I…I'm sorry!!" I jumped out of the way tripping over my own foot making me turn in place as I fell.

I inevitably fell right on my butt, something about me always made my butt find the earth first.

I felt a hand on my back as I started to stand up "Tobi is sorry! Tobi didn't see Kyuubi-chan!"

"It's alright To-chan. I fell on my own, not your fault."

He finished helping me up and I looked up to him "Tobi thinks you look tired. Did Kyuubi-chan not sleep?"

"I have been studying really hard, but no matter how much I study I can't seem to catch on, it just slips through my grasp like water."

I was looking down at my hand thinking of how hard I had been practicing to the point I gave myself a headache.

"Can Tobi help? Tobi likes to help Kyuubi-chan!"

I looked up at him "You would really help me? Don't you have a job? Everyone seems so busy that I haven't even seen them since yesterday. It's kinda lonely."

I didn't even notice until there was a hand on my cheek wiping away a tear that had fallen "Did Tobi make you sad? Tobi is sorry."

"N-No! It's not you Tobi. I am just really exhausted from all the practice, that's why I'm out here, getting some fresh air."

Tobi looked around. His mask with the funny swirls that disappeared into his eye hole was looking here and there searching for something.

"What's wrong To-chan?"

He stopped looking around to face me "Tobi doesn't think there is fresh air here." He raised his hands shaking them showing that there wasn't anything there "Tobi knows where there is a lot of air that's fresh! Tobi will take you there!"

"I don't know if they want me to leave the building To-chan"

Again he looked around "Tobi doesn't think anyone is there that will care if you get fresh air. Tobi won't tell them anyway"

"Thanks Tobi but I don't want you to get in trouble"

"Tobi is always in trouble, and Tobi wants to help!"

He grabs me and flips me onto his back heaving when he walked the first few steps "Am I too heavy To-chan? I didn't expect you to carry me. I can walk on my own you know."

"Tobi will get you there! Tobi is just getting used to you! You haven't learned how to scale yet have you?"

"Scale?"

He starts running full speed without any more panting. We were running at the cliff wall. I closed my eyes expecting an impact then suddenly my weight shifted. My eyes shot open.

We were running up the cliff. Not going straight, but dodging everything and sometimes randomly going left and right. I was amazed. I looked at the cliff above us and it looked like a large field that he was easily walking along in.

I started laughing, I was so excited. I clung to To-chan tightly as he ran farther and farther up the hill.

When we finally reached the end he walked around the ledge as if he was going down instead of up.

It was very windy and I felt the cold breeze coming from the mountains. He set my down beside him and walked back to the edge.

"Tobi thinks this is best place for fresh air!"

I looked out on the valley that lied in front of us, it was beautiful.

The way the sun showed everything in the valley, sparkling on the water and making shadows dance. I slowly walked to the edge and sat so I wouldn't fall, To-chan stood there to my right just watching the valley, it made it easier to not have to fake a smile.

I wanted to smile, the largest happiest smile. But I didn't know why I couldn't. I tried but somehow I couldn't. I looked at the beautiful sight and I was pushed off my own ledge, my head dropped into my lap with my hand and I started crying, I couldn't stop, they just kept coming.

I didn't know why things came to mind but I saw Tenten and the boy at Ichiraku ramen, and my family smiling at me waiting for me.

Waiting for me? They needed me to follow them? How? What should I do?! They died. I couldn't do anything. I wished I was stronger, but all I could think was 'Jump'.

'Jump. Take the dive. No one will care.' Then I heard another voice, a strange deep voice somewhere deep inside me. ~They are the only ones who even looked at you and they had planned to kill you~

'What?' I was suddenly standing inside what looked like an underground chamber, there was water dripping from spouts above me and there was a pair of large doors with bars as thick as me. There was a piece of paper between them.

The voice came from inside the cage-like doors.

~They want to kill you, you heard them~

'What are you talking about, who are you?'

~For the moment, I am you. They just want to kill you, train you till you are strong enough to not die from taking something of yours away~

'What do they want to take? I don't have anything. They don't want my flute do they?'

~You silly child, you forgot me already? I used to talk with you as a child, humans memory is so fleeting~

'You used to talk to me as a child? Are you like my invisible friend? Heheh'

~Laugh all you want child, but they still plan to kill you either way~

'You must be mistaken, they don't want me dead. They are even helping me become stronger'

~So when something of yours is stolen from you, you will survive long enough for it not to kill what's taken, that's all~

"Why?! Why would they want to kill me?!" I was suddenly outside again and standing at the edge of the cliff over the valley, I don't know how for when I realized I was there I started to fall backwards.

I turned and saw Tobi reaching for my hand "Oh no! Grab Tobi's hand!"

I started to reach for it then stopped and pulled my hand into my chest as I began to fly towards the valley below.