Comments: Haha! They reach their destination in this chappie. Now, the plot can really start taking off. I have big things planned for this...wish me luck! And not just me, poor Sadako, too. She has big problems coming in the future...

We didn't leave that day because of the horrendous rain. So he and I were shut up in that little hotel room all day, with no way of entertaining myself. He wouldn't let me watch T.V., so I had nothing to do than lie on my back and try to make out shape in the cracks of the roof. He left momentarily to check with the front desk about the weather and such, and occasionally to fetch something from the vending machine down the hallway. (I had to beg him to get me something, because I get hungry naturally, but my hunger tends to get magnified when I'm bored.)

Most of the time, he just sort of sat there, in front of the window, looking out at the rain. It was kind of creepy, but I was more worried about him not lying down on account of him having a fever. He took the medicine, yeah, but he refused to shut his eyes in my company. Because apparently he didn't believe me when I said I wouldn't run off. But, then again, who could blame him? I'm not exactly the most honest person in the world, and, well, in my situation…

Towards the afternoon, the storm got really bad. Pitch black outside, thunder, lighting, the whole shebang. I'll admit, I stayed away from the window (…I'm a little scared of lighting). What I was mostly worried about was the fact that with all this rain, for sure all of the tracks I had been so careful to leave behind our travels would for surely be washed away. As in, they probably would have no idea where to look for me. If…if they were looking for me, that is.

Well, believe it or not, we stayed the whole day in that little room, and didn't drive each other crazy. I was too interested in watching the rain fall down the window and the ceiling cracks to bother with him. However, hours passed, and sooner or later it became night again. He took another cold pill silently and lied on the top of the bed. I sat on mine in silence. I wanted to say something, anything, to break the day-long quietness, but for some…incredibly odd reason, I was feeling a tad…sheepish.

I lied down instead and began contemplating about my imaginary rescue team and what they were going to do when they found me. Probably scold me for being stupid enough to become a hostage, and then take Kisame and…

…and…I don't know.

Chop off his head?

Hang him?

My face turned blue. Oh, dear. I couldn't place why, but that idea did not seem as appealing to me as it used to have. What would they do to Kisame?

But as I got to thinking, I realized how inhumane it would be to hang someone. They would probably give him a fair trial, or something. Prison. Nothing violent and senseless would become of him. They wouldn't to something so unjustly cruel. Even to a criminal.

Not in this day and age, anyway.

---

I awoke early in the morning, a cold sweat on my back from an unusual dream (One of which involved flying onigiri and everyone in konoha wearing snail costumes. No, I don't get it, either,). Sitting up, I eyed the room. I decided to blame it on not eating well. Shrugging it off, I slid out of bed and looked out the window. It was a little strange, but I was actually hoping that the rain had stopped, because I really wanted to get out of this godforsaken hotel room.

Well, luck was on my side for once. It was still raining, but just barely. Only sporadic drops fell gently and landed in the damp soil. It was humid, so I knew my hair was going to poof up like crazy, but for once I didn't really care. I turned, and spoke, sounding like an excited little kid.

"Kisame! No more rain today!"

He, somehow, had gotten up and dressed in the last twelve seconds that I had been using to admire the weather. He slung his giant manpon over his shoulder and turned to the door.

"Hurry up," he said. "We need to make up for lost time. Deidara is probably waiting for us already." I cocked my head.

"Dei…dara?" He tensed up like he said something he should not have. He shook his head.

"Just get dressed already…"

I complied quickly. He was turned with his back to me while I got dressed. I was a little disappointed I wouldn't have time to take a shower before we leave, but I didn't really care too much to protest. I finished, and grabbed the scroll before following him out of the door.

While we walked, down the dirt path out of the town, I tried to start speaking to him again. He didn't feel much like talking, as usual, but he did grant me the liberty of knowing that by the end of the day, we would probably reach our final destination. I was relieved at first, but terrified to think of what would happen once we arrived at…wherever we were going.

It was wet, and sprinkling a little bit. The air wasn't as humid as I thought it would be, but my hair decided to frizz up anyway. Good thing I was too worried about what was to become of me to care much. In fact, It was as if reality hit me like a large brick in the fact at that moment. I had been so occupied with other things (like counting the cracks in the ceiling of the hotel room,) I had neglected to come up with that escape plan I keep promising myself I would formulate.

I swallowed. Perhaps if I got Kisame talking to me, I could get him comfortable enough so as I could make a run for it? No, that wouldn't work. For a shark, he's amazingly fast on land. Maybe I could seduce him with my feminine charms? Pfffttt…okay, seriously, I need to stop joking around. I cleared my throat.

"Eh, Kisame?" I ventured hesitantly.

"Hm," he grunted.

"When we get to where we're going…" I said, trailing off slightly. He waited for me to go on. I bit my lower lip and thought a moment before continuing. "Are…are you going to kill me?"

Well, I put it a little more bluntly than I had thought it would sound. He sort of just, tensed really slightly and hesitated. It was silent for several moments. It was eerie, that silence. Sort of tantalizing, and very awkward. It seemed like forever before he looked as if he was still conscious on account of him not moving. And, just when I thought he was about to reply, there was a small pressure of something pelting me in the head.

I looked up, and it started raining heavily again within seconds. I didn't move, though, and when I looked down again I could see he wasn't either. He started walking again, in the same pace as if the rain hadn't started at all. I was quiet, but followed him. I was getting incredibly wet, but I didn't really care.

In a way, his silence was all the response I needed.

---

The rain turned on and off randomly through the walk, but around noon it seemed to cease. We didn't speak much for the rest of the trip. The scenery had slowly become more barren, and all the trees were dead. The air was cold and wet, and the gray sky reflected gloomily against the rain puddles lying on the dirt path.

We eventually came to a large wall made of dark, clayish ,stone. He stopped suddenly, and I jumped a little before halting. I really wanted to ask him what was up, but I had a horrible feeling in my gut that I should keep quiet. Something felt odd. I…I couldn't be sure, but…

We aren't the only two here?

Well, I was right.

In a flash of black, white, and yellow, a stranger descended from an unknown crevice of the rock wall. I was surprised, but did my best to hide it.

A large, white bird had perched itself on the wet earth. A man, clothed similarly to Kisame, stood atop it. At first I thought it was a woman, he had long blonde hair and a set of rich blue eyes, but when he spoke his gender was confirmed. I grew extremely uneasy and fearful of what happened next. This was in doubt of my mind, our final destination.

The man eyed Kisame, before glancing at me. His gaze made my back straighten and my palms sweat. He looked very unhappy to see me.

"Kisame," he said. "Who is this, un?"

Quietly, I tried to stop my knees from shaking so bad.

Say your prayers, little Sadako. It was nice knowing you.

-to be continued in the next installment-