Itachi rarely left his new bedroom for the next few days. He was often reminded that he was free to come and go as he pleased, but he didn't want to leave without Deidara. Deidara was a prisoner and so he was going to act like one too. At least, he tried to. Kisame was extremely persistent and worked diligently to make Itachi leave the room, not letting him be the hermit he wanted. The blue haired Shadow Hunter stopped bringing him food after a few days, so he had to follow him to the dining area and join the other Shadow Hunters for their meals. He tried to sit in the corner, but Kisame was skilled at forcing him into a chair with himself and the Shadow Hunters he had made quick friends with. During these times, he discovered that there were thirty Shadow Hunters in total, including Vivitsu's partner who appeared on their second day in. A woman with long dark hair, sharp eyes, and an even sharper tongue when she spoke. She surveyed him from across the room, but didn't approach him.

Kisame's offer of training was also forced upon him. He didn't exactly want to, but it was less of a headache to join him than listen to him trying to convince him. The big man commented that while he didn't look fit for fight, Itachi had impressive balance and dodging abilities. Itachi chose not to correct him when his companion praised the human teacher from his martial arts classes. Various forms of tag – more like cat and mouse – was one of Deidara's favorite games. Dodging out of harm's way was a quickly learned skill to avoid sudden disturbances. Playing sports with the wolf pack also helped quite a bit with keeping his balance when moving quickly in different directions. Kisame also taught him how to throw a knife and gave pointers on Itachi's defensive skills with hand to hand defense when dealing with paranormal creatures. The only thing Itachi refused to handle were the long silver blade that was standard among the Shadow Hunters. Kisame explained how every Shadow Hunter, regardless of their occupation, learned to wield it. The silver in the blade had magic laced in it that was effective against most paranormal. They were the same blades that held Deidara prisoner and he would not touch them.

"Why do some Shadow Hunters wear different colors?" Itachi asked Vivitsu during an evening conversation on their eight day. His exhaustion had carried on each day, growing heavier and heavier, but he wasn't tired. Or perhaps he was too tired to feel tired enough to sleep, because he wasn't doing a good job of that either. The Shadow Hunter's food was refreshing and gave him enough energy to continue getting up every day, to make it through the training sessions, but once he had a chance to sit down, it all washed over him again and yet he could not fall asleep. Vivitsu didn't seem to mind his presence in his study, which was the only place he could be left alone. The two of them spoke irregularly; Vivitsu often poured over books, maps, and old papers rather than ask him questions – though he did so if Itachi initiated conversation, but watching him was relaxing on his own brain.

Vivitsu looked up with another welcoming smile. Itachi had been silent since he had answered his questions about the vampire council – though he had withheld a lot of details – thirty minutes ago. "The colors represent the colors of their work," he answered. "Dark blue is a Scholar, someone who handles books, wisdom, and planning. Black is worn by our Warriors, those who train for battle and strength. Red," he paused and smiled at his partner who had stepped into the room without knocking, closing the door behind herself, "red is for our magical Mages."

"I know about Mages," Itachi said softly.

"Do you? Where did you hear of them?"

"From a friend of mine. She said that they are trained in magic, but it runs against the Natural Ord—"

"Ridículo."

"Sophia," Vivitsu murmured softly. He turned back to Itachi. "Who told you that?"

"A witch. A very kind witch," Itachi told them.

Sophia drew a breath, possibly to rebuke him again in what he had learned was Spanish, but Vivitsu made a gesture with his hand and she remained silent. Itachi watched the exchange then decided to continue speaking. "Kisame is a Warrior," he asked for clarification and Vivitsu nodded. "What am I?"

"I don't know," Vivitsu gave a shrug. "You were lost to us before you were officially categorized. Usually your placement is chosen around age twelve, when childhood starts its end and adulthood begins. You were lost—"

"When I was six," he murmured to himself.

"Yes," Vivitsu nodded gravely. "The Elders watch children grow and decide what course of learning they would be best to focus on."

They sat in silence for a moment, a few pages turning from the large, old book the Shadow Hunter was reading before Itachi broke it with an assured decision. "I am a Scholar, like you."

"Are you?" Vivitsu asked, looking delighted. "Kisame has taken a liking to you, but from what my partner tells me from her observations, you two have an unfinished connection."

"Unfinished connection?"

"Yes, he was supposed to be your partner. The connection between two Shadow Hunter partners is a magical connection, though it is mainly a balance of abilities and personalities… Sophia?" he inquired.

"The Elders watch children grow and decide what course of learning would be best to focus on. There isn't ever two Warriors, two Mages, or two Scholars in a partnership. No balance," she waved her hand a little. "Two children are chosen who interact well together. Balance, support, strengthen weaknesses. They are connected by a bond tightened by magic. Partners can be chosen as young as five but no older than fifteen."

"Kisame was supposed to be my partner."

"I'm sure you've noticed an inclination to him," Vivitsu commented. "He naturally fell into his role, since he was raised to do so, but you were raised differently. Even though you don't remember him, you still feel comfortable around him, though you barely know him, and you have a difficult time trusting the rest of us."

Itachi thought quietly as he turned the book in his hand over and over. Sixteen days he had been alone in his head. Sixteen days since he had been with Kisame. It was not the same as being around Deidara. He did trust Kisame to an extent, much more than he felt he could the other Shadow Hunters. Why that was, he couldn't easily pinpoint, but what he said made perfect sense. Something about himself had been recognized by Kisame so many months ago through the shop window. He had known him despite the distance of time. It made him feel guilty because he couldn't do the same.

"Is that why Kisame said he was a 'Linkless'?" he asked suddenly. "He didn't tell me what that is, but… does that mean he doesn't have a partner?"

"Yes," Vivitsu replied with a nod. "Those whose partners dies, or couldn't be placed with a partner becomes a Linkless. They're a bit like freelance workers, they don't have partners so they're not at full capacity – though many, Kisame included, are extremely capable." He hesitated, exchanging glances with Sophia as though he were bracing himself to say something unpleasant. "Though that magic that binds you could be completed… if you were to sever your current connection with the—"

"No," Itachi interrupted in stone faced seriousness.

"I know you are resolute," Vivitsu replied. "I just want to give you information." He carefully adjusted the books on his desk, looking distraught in his thoughts. "The Elders," he began finally, "will not allow the connection to stand. There are many who believe it is an abomination that goes against much of our livelihood. But they will not allow you to just depart from us. You are one of our own, even if you do not wish to be. The Elder Council will try to persuade you … by any means."

"So I don't have any choice at all," Itachi commented dully. "What will happen to Deidara?"

"I don't know," Vivitsu murmured.

"They'll kill him," Itachi stated.

"Possibly…"

"No, probably," interrupted the brunette again, sitting up straighter as he let his mind predict the most likely course of action so that he could explain it to Vivitsu, his tiredness departing briefly. "If the connection is broken between us, the Shadow Hunters have no use for Deidara. Common courtesy would be to release him, you have no use for him, but you are all terrified of him and he's someone who has just been kidnapped and held violently for weeks. On top of that, he's a very possessive vampire, whose favorite human – that would be me – has been taken away, whose soulmate has been violently ripped from him. Shadow Hunters are terrified of him, of child vampires because of their unpredictability. That is far too dangerous a creature to release into the world. You would be safer just letting us both go now when I can try and convince Deidara to let you all go alive. Because if you hurt me, he won't let you live and if you kill him, I'll happily return the action twice over."

"Are you threatening us?" Sophia demanded, rising to her feet with her hand slipping towards her pocket.

"Yes," Itachi responded, remaining in his seat.

"Please calm down," Vivitsu said to both of them, holding his hands up. "Sophia, you know we feel the same way about our partners. Itachi, I understand your feelings but there is nothing I can do. We are under orders and we cannot disobey them. When we arrive, you may try pleading your case then."

Sophia and Itachi continued to glare at each other until Vivitsu turned to his partner and began speaking to her in rapid Spanish. She replied in a snapping manner but when Vivitsu simply frowned at her and shook his head she sat back down with her arms tightly folded and glared out the window. Itachi watched her curiously and then looked over at Vivitsu who sighed quietly and picked up his pen to write something. He wondered if he could find someone to teach him Spanish next, then remembered sadly that Belle had offered him French so long ago. He had never put much store into learning languages before, but their importance had revealed themselves this trip. Vivitsu noticed him looking and smiled at him.

"Simply because we are partners does not mean we get along," he told him. "We balance each other where it is needed and both seek for success on our missions." He didn't say anything more, wouldn't speak poorly of his partner, but the expression that crossed his face with Sophia not looking at him spoke the words for him. "I'm sure you've had disagreements with your vampire as well, regardless of your connection."

Itachi considered this, then chose to reveal a bit of their secrets to him. "We aren't connected by magic like that," he told him. "We shared our souls, so a bit of us is living in each of us. We have our own mind spaces, but there's also a space we share where we're basically the same person. We can't really argue there because we know how the other is thinking and it'd be arguing with ourselves. We discuss things there."

"How interesting," Vivitsu commented, leaning forward with professional curiosity. "What is this 'mind space' you speak of?"

"It's just…" Itachi paused, wondering how to describe it. "It's a place you create in your mind that is where all your thoughts are stored, like visualizing your own mind so you can also visualize any connections you have. Deidara, for example, has three doors out of his mind as well. One is to me, one to his Maker, and one to the space we share. I only have two – one to Deidara and one to the spa—"

"You have been communicating with that creature this whole time?" Sophia suddenly spoke angrily again, making a sudden motion as if she couldn't decide whether to leap at him, leap to her feet, or simply move to the edge of her chair. It made Itachi flinch before he could stop himself, thoroughly expecting an attack.

"No, I ha—"

"You've been letting him wander around free," she snapped at Vivitsu. Itachi wondered if she was using English on purpose this time. "I told you not to trust such a blood traitor—"

"I haven't been communicating with Deidara because I can't," Itachi insisted loudly before they started arguing. "Part of sharing our souls means we can both feel whatever pain each of us is feeling."

"Ah," Vivitsu breathed before Sophia could respond. "He has barricaded himself from you so you won't feel the blades holding him down."

"What a lie," Sophia snapped as Itachi nodded cheerlessly. "Why would such a creature do that for their blood bank?"

"I am not a blood bank," Itachi said angrily. "Your prejudice—"

"He's a monster," Sophia interrupted. "¿Eres ton—"

"Sophia," Vivitsu interrupted her, rising to his feet and moving between them.

"You will come with us and stand before the Elder Council who will determine how badly you have betrayed us," Sophia snarled. "And I hope I will be chosen to help remove your precious vampire."

"Sophia, enough," Vivitsu said firmly.

She glared at him, then turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut with unnecessary force. Vivitsu clenched and unclenched his fists then turned to face Itachi, who felt himself shaking in rage at his partner and the whole lot of them. "I am sorry," he said to Itachi and there was sincerity in his voice.

Itachi couldn't bring himself to say anything polite, so he set the man's book back down on the desk and turned to walk out of the room.

The room repulsed him. It was old and poorly cared for, left to decay in its own repugnant insides, hiding its vile secrets from the rest of the building. All buildings had rooms like this. Forgotten rooms, left to die. He was not the first to enter this room, not the first nor the last who to entertain the secrets hidden here, to add to them. Generally, he found rooms like this fascinating, the smells that lingered here intrigued his senses, for not only did it hold secrets, it reeked with the scent of fear and pain from it's previous forgotten occupants. Forgotten things terrified humans. Now he was in the room. Fear seeped out of the door cracks from the outside. These Shadow Hunters were terrified of him and that fear had been sustaining him until he saw him.

A wave of anxiety thrust itself through his broken body.

"Itachi," he breathed, allowing the stale air in his lungs to escape.

Deidara had been perfectly content to wait out the Hunters, to hear something slip about the situation in Germany to know when the right moment to retaliate would be. He had been held longer than this before. But now Itachi was here and he had to reassess the circumstances. Itachi was here, in the Hunters' hands. He looked so tired. So distressed. So downtrodden. He had to help his human. Because he was his human and he was his. Itachi was perfectly healthy, he could tell by his smell, but Deidara was not. He hadn't fed in weeks and his movements were restricted to nothing so that he could not even shift to turn his head away from the painful blinding sunlight that streamed through the windows during the day time. Itachi was diminished and it was because of him. He wanted to be close to Itachi, to make sure he was alright, but did not want to open the connection between them. Pain was something he could handle, but he didn't believe Itachi could do the same. Unnecessary pain was not something he would subject him to and he did not trust himself to not lose himself to his scent and break out to feed on him.

A door opened, sending a gust of air and smells his way. It was that man. That Hunter that attacked them the night he took Itachi out to walk the city together. The one that had touched Itachi's arm while he was away. Itachi's would-be partner.

"Kisame Hoshigaki," he breathed out, tasting the air. "I'd get up, but I'm a little pinned down at the moment, un."

The man didn't reply and Deidara strained himself to lift his head, the blade in his back slicing a little deeper. He smirked at the Hunter as he approached slowly. Unlike the others, this one didn't stink of fear. He smelled of curiosity, caution, food, sweat, and Itachi. Not closely Itachi, but they must be sharing the same living space together. The Hunter knelt so that they were nearly at eye level and he placed a black blade laced with silver between them. A flag of peace perhaps?

"What do you want?" he whispered.

"I want to speak with you," Kisame told him.

"Oh? I thought you were coming to braid my hair, un," he sneered.

"Shut up," Kisame retorted, shifting his weight to become more comfortable, but still capable of moving quickly when necessary.

"What do you want?" Deidara growled.

"I want to know why you closed that connection you have with Itachi."

He stared at the man unblinking for several moments before giving him a haughty expression. That had not been what he expected to be talked about, but, he reconsidered, perhaps it made sense. "What does that matter to you?" he questioned darkly.

"Because it's … it's bothering him."

What a poor choice of words. Too light, ignorance of reality. Or maybe he was attempting to keep information from him – as if Deidara wouldn't know how Itachi felt despite blocking him out. "I know."

"Then why are you doing it? Just to be a dick?"

"Isn't that what us blood suckers do?" Deidara smirked. "We're selfish, hungry monsters who love to put our humans in such uncomfortable situations." His sarcasm left his voice. If Kisame knew enough of Itachi's status as a Human Servant, Itachi must have trusted him enough to give him certain information. "This is not a relationship like your Shadow Hunter partners, Hunter," he continued. "He has a piece of my soul and I have a piece of his. You don't have to tell me how he is, I know what he is feeling."

"And?"

"Are you stupid?" Deidara shouted into the din, his voice echoing against the blackened, moldy walls. "That feeling goes both ways." He shifted purposefully, the blades slicing deeper cuts into his body. Kisame watched the blood sliding down the blades without a wince, then looked back at his face. "Do you want Itachi to feel this?"

The man's jaw clenched and he seemed to be chewing on that information, unfazed by his shouting. He was very good at keeping his face unreadable, but the slight crease of his brows tightened slightly as he began to understand. Itachi couldn't handle this. He remembered the terror and pain that Itachi had woken up to. How he had called out to him in panic. Pain was something he was used to. Itachi was too innocent.

"He's getting weaker," Kisame finally stated, his voice softer than it had been. "He barely eats or sleeps, but sometimes sleeps too much and isn't rested. He can barely stand on his feet, but he isn't feverish or sick. "It's because you're growing weaker, isn't it?"

"Why are you talking to me?" Deidara questioned, growing tired of these games.

"Because you're… He's…"

"Because you were supposed to be his partner?" Deidara offered, his lower lip jutting out in a mockery pout. "Cause you're concerned for him?"

Kisame gave him a dark expression, but didn't answer him. Shadow Hunters were especially weak minded when it came to their partners. One of those cultural things they had and were made to feel incomplete without. Deidara didn't know much about Shadow Hunter culture, but he was pretty certain only one partner was allotted in a Hunter's lifetime. Learning that his supposed partner was alive was like kneeling in front of a starving vampire with a small nick from an earlier accident in a training exercise. Deidara eyed the small wound on the man's arm where the blood had clotted and tried to keep itself from becoming infected. He licked his lips.

"I just don't like seeing him like this. I want to help him feel better," Kisame finally replied. "How?"

"There is something in my pocket," Deidara finally told him. "Grab it for me."

The Hunter shot him a warning glance before reaching to check his pockets, then became irritated when he had to run his hands over the front and back pockets of his jeans while the blond smirked at him. From the inside pocket of his jacket, he finally pulled out a small package with two small vials inside. They both fit easily in the palm of Kisame's hand and he raised them up to examine. The wax that held the corks in wax wasn't broken, the bottles empty.

"What are these?"

"Bottles," Deidara replied with a smirk. "Our relationship is strengthened by blood. Mine to him, his to me. You take my blood, give it to Itachi. Take the other to Itachi too, tell him to put some of his blood in it and bring it back to me. The exchange will make him feel better."

"Give you blood?" Kisame scoffed angrily. "I am not stupid."

"You sure about that?" Deidara snickered evilly. "That little bottle? It'll only hold a mouthful. Barely enough to do anything for me, but it will strengthen the bond with Itachi and let him relax and not feel my pain. It won't set your boss's progress back. I'll be stuck here and Itachi will be able to relax."

Kisame stared at him for several of his own heartbeats. This one did not rely solely on his muscles, but was also clever and smart. He was assessing him before coming to his own conclusions. "And you can't help him without it?"

"Not in my current state, un."

"So it does make you stronger," Kisame countered with a frown.

"State of being," Deidara clarified, rolling his eyes. "It's not like I can get up and go over to him, can I?"

The Shadow Hunter's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but remained silent.

"It will be Itachi's blood, un," Deidara clarified with sarcastic slowness. "Do you really know so little about the creatures you like to hunt?" He gave a great huff of air that hurt quite a bit, but he felt it gave the right impression as he blew his grimy hair from his face. "Just drinking my blood won't help him. Do your damn research."

An irritated expression crossed Kisame's face, but he took a slow breath and opened one of the bottles and held it against the blade where his blood was sliding down towards the floor. The bottle filled quickly and he corked it again and slipped it in the packet with its twin and put both into one of his pockets as he stood. "I'll think about it," he said, turning to stride back to the door he had disappeared into with Itachi ages ago. Deidara watched him curiously, wondering if that door was being guarded and how much precaution had been taken by the man to get in here. "Question," he stopped, turning on his heels to face Deidara again, holding a finger up. "Why didn't that bullet affect you at all?"

"The wolf bullet?" Deidara questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"It had the same silver that's in those blades," Kisame gestured to him to indicate his entrapment.

Deidara cast his eyes down to the ground, thinking back tot hat night. What had happened that night? It had been Rose's first night of her Change. He had taken Itachi to the city to get him his new cellphone and laptop. They had been walking and Itachi had felt something wrong. "The bullet was small," he began, looking up at him again. "And I had recently fed and was well rested in my home city. It was made for a baby wolf, not a vampire. Not for me."

Kisame gave a soft hum of thought that was both neutral and interested, then reversed his turn and left Deidara alone in the dim cesspool of forgotten torture.

Angry at everyone around him, Itachi began a deliberate journey through the building the Shadow Hunters occupied, carefully avoiding places where they gathered. There weren't many people around, but when someone did pass by him, they gave him a wide berth with a distinct air of caution. That gave him a clue as to how angry he actually was. He couldn't remember ever feeling rage like this before. What had they done? Nothing. He and Deidara had done nothing wrong. Nothing at all. It was beyond any selfishness he had ever seen that they would want him back. Just because his family had been Shadow Hunters, he had no choice in the matter? They were going to kill Deidara no matter what he did. Backed into a corner, he felt like punching a wall to relieve his stress, but logic held him back. A broken hand would not benefit him in any way. Perhaps it was because he was so tired that Vivitsu's partner's attitude was affecting him so. Perhaps it was that small part of Deidara in him that gave this tendency to overreact to things. This wasn't overreacting though. This was infuriating.

Storming down a flight of stairs, he stepped into a basement of corridors lit by the same little baubles that Vivitsu had in his study, filled with gentle, white magical flames. He stopped to look at them, slightly marveled at the way they illuminated his path, their light reflecting peacefully off of the many mirrors that hung on the walls. Taking a step, he began walking around the baubles, passed the mirrors. If he did get Deidara out, they still wouldn't be safe. The Shadow Hunters would come after them again and again. They'd never be safe.

Stopping in one of the hallways where there was a blank space between two mirrors with a grand looking one across from it, old and bordered with metal details. He ran his hands through his hair and gave a heavy sigh. The only option he could think of was toe convince the Shadow Hunters to leave them alone, that they were not a danger to the Shadow Hunters, and not to take him back. And then of course he would need to convince Deidara not to kill them all for trying in the first place. How exactly he was going to manage all that was beyond his ability to think and he was too tired to try formulating a plan. Leaning back against the wall, he sighed and thought about Tal, wondering if this was how Tal felt all the time and wondered how he managed it… though, he reasoned, Kali wasn't being held as a prisoner. He looked at his reflection and wondered if he should just go back to the room he shared with Kisame and try to sleep. In the mirror, his reflection shifted.

Jumping slightly, suddenly wide awake, Itachi leaned forward and stared at his reflection. Yet the more he stared, the less he was able to see himself. And behind him wasn't a wall, but a room. A tiny square stone room that had no windows or doors. Perhaps the mirror itself was the window, but he had seen his reflection first, that he was sure. Taking a step closer, he frowned and glanced behind him – just to make sure there wasn't a room behind him – and then back to explore the room with his eyes. It seemed entirely bare, no furniture or oddities decorated it, but he realized when something shifted that the room was not empty.

The creature in there had its back to him, but he knew it was aware of his presence beyond the glass of the mirror. It was horrific, yet beautiful at the same time. Dark and menacing. It seemed to be made of smoke, yet solidified as it gathered in one place. Fear grabbed at the edges of Itachi's being, but he felt as though he had no reason to fear this thing… yet there was something that made his legs shake slightly. Was this a cage? It looked like a jail cell now that he saw the creature. What was it? He wanted it to speak because the longer it stood in silence the closer the fear got to him. It knew he was there. He knew it knew, so why wasn't it speaking? Why didn't it turn around? It wouldn't speak, it just grew darker, more frightening. He would have to speak to engage it in conversation.

"What are you?" he asked, wincing slightly as it came out. He had meant to ask 'who are you', but that had come out instead.

It had the desired effect though. The creature turned and Itachi suddenly wished he had its back still. The face was a grotesque mix of beast and human, large horns slid out from its temples and curved angrily. Its mouth was split almost to the horns, thick, yellowed teeth slid from its gums almost horizontally instead of vertically. It stood on two legs that had an extra joint as an animal would and he now saw that the shifting smoke was actually wings that wrapped around its shoulders like a cloak. It looked at him and crouched in a non-threatening position though it didn't help much. "What a strange question for a Silluetu to ask me," it commented, the voice was deeper than he expected and distorted by the shape of its mouth. "Let me ask you the same thing, little Silluetu."

"I'm not a … whatever that is…" Itachi swallowed, staring at it.

"You are a Soul Sharer," it murmured in a low rumble. "A Silluetu."

"I'm a Human Servant."

"That is a degrading name for what you are," it rumbled at him. "I am a demon, Silluetu."

"A… A real demon?" Itachi asked, before realizing how stupid that sounded.

"Yes," it replied, eyeing him curiously with its large black eyes. "I know your eyes, but not your face…"

"Why are you in there?" Itachi asked, glancing around the room again.

"Because I am an evil demon, of course," it crooned, taking a few steps closer.

Itachi fought the urge to take a few steps back. "I don't know, I've only just met you," Itachi replied.

The creature, the demon, hummed quietly at him, its head turning one way or another to get a better look at him. Something about his gaze stripped down his very being and laid it out to examine before it. "I am here because I know things that people with power do not want to be brought to light," the demon told him, coming right up to the mirror's inner glass, its breath creating condensation. "And because I have a peckish delight for the tender, fatty meat of human babies."

Itachi swallowed thickly. "Why are you in the mirror?"

"You are… a Shadow Hunter, are you not?" the demon rumbled, packing up so it could pace to and fro in front of the mirror, or perhaps it was turning its head to give each of his eyes a full look at him.

"No," Itachi said firmly, wishing it would blink or turn around. "I am a Human Servant."

"Silluetu," it corrected, then paused, one eye staring transfixed on him before it snorted like a disgruntled beast. "That is how you trap a demon," it explained. "Demons cannot pass through mirrors."

Itachi blinked, curiosity catching. "Why not?"

The mirror became foggy again as the demon breathed on it. "Because I have no soul as you do."

"Mirrors don't reflect souls," Itachi countered with a frown. "They reflect light and the light that bounces off bodies at specific angles."

Somehow, despite the monstrous features of its face, the demon looked rather annoyed. "Yes, boy. Science explains it all, doesn't it," it growled. "Like the sun going around the earth, the earth being flat, the earth being only six thousand years old and a god making mankind in his image. Science, boy, is an ever-changing matter. Can your science explain how part of your soul is inside another body? Not only another body, but a vampire body? Science doesn't yet have all the answers. One day it may, but not yet. Every time you look in the mirror, something is different," it gnashed its teeth, but not in a threatening way. "Nothing exceptionally drastic has changed about the physical features of the body, but it is different. Sometimes you see something you like. Sometimes you see something you don't. Sometimes you cannot recognize the thing you see in your mirror. That is because it reflects the soul and the world the soul dwells. And, of course, light."

There were so many things he didn't understand about the world since he met Deidara. He had thought he had understood a lot of it, but apparently everything seemed to be wrong now. Swallowing another mouthful of saliva, he wet his lips and spoke calmly. "And they trapped you in there?" he prompted.

"I was forced into here purposefully, but it is easy for a demon to become trapped in a mirror on our own," it replied. "We can travel ethereal, but if we accidentally go through a mirror we cannot get out again."

"That's inconvenient," Itachi commented.

"Humans are stupid creatures, it's not so difficult to get out again," it made a sound like a laugh and shifted into a crouch again. "Have you heard of the folklore game Bloody Mary?"

"No."

It chuckled again. "You stand in front of the mirror with the light off and say 'Bloody Mary' three times and then you turn on the light, and Bloody Mary will be behind you in the mirror and she kills you."

"And it works?" Itachi asked, wondering why in the world anyone would play that kind of game.

"It doesn't matter," it crooned. "It invites evil in. invites anything trapped in the mirror out into the space with you. You break a mirror, you may have released something to torment you for seven years, or perhaps until something gets bored."

Itachi stood back on his heels, thinking about these things. He had heard of the seven years of bad luck and he supposed it made sense, but it was still strange to think about. "You said you were in here because you knew things… why would they put you in here then? Where you can tell people what you know?"

"Because there is no Shadow Hunter who would listen to a demon," the creature asked, grinning maliciously. "I know a secret the Mages want to remain a secret, but demons are not so easily killed."

"The Mages?"

The demon moved closer so its horns touched the glass of the mirror again. The metal of the frame cracked as though breaking, but the cracks sealed again. "You are a vampire's Silluetu, but you are also a Shadow Hunter. You do not know the Mages?" he stared with narrowed eyes.

"I know of them," Itachi said, a little defensively. "I know they use magic that runs against nature, but that's really all I know."

The demon stepped away from the mirror and crouched against the wall, still facing him. "What is your station? Have you been told?"

"No," Itachi responded, wondering what he meant. "I… I grew up away from the Shadow Hunters."

The demon continued to stare at him, sizing him up and making deductions as it did so. "You… You are an Uchiha," it finally said, leaning forward slightly. "One of the great Shadow Hunter family… the most Noble Clan of Uchiha."

Then Itachi did take a step back and stared, eyes wide at the demon. "What?" he stammered out. "How did you know?"

"You look like your mother. And all Uchihas have those bloody eyes," the demon gnashed its teeth again and tilted his head to the side as if remembering something.

"And… you knew my mother?"

"I killed your mother," it grinned devilishly.