[Natsume's Point of View]

I was in the middle of eating breakfast when suddenly I was seized upon by two security guards. As they led me away they informed me that I'm accused of espionage. Are they serious? What have I done to make them draw that outrageous conclusion? I did what Itachi and Kisame had instructed; keep a low profile. Apparently it hadn't worked very well. Their grip on my arms was tight and I squirmed uncomfortably. But I wasn't sure if outright resistance was a good idea. It might give credit to their claims so I opted for a more diplomatic approach. "There has to be some mistake. I'm not-"

"Shut it," one of the men said in a tone that commanded silence.

I grudgingly obeyed. Hopefully whoever leveled these charges at me would be more understanding. Surely they weren't just going to kill me…right? I swallowed nervously. Who am I kidding? Of course they could! I can't expect a society of S-Ranked Criminals to be all about fair trials.

Then I was shoved into a room and the door locked behind me. There was a solitary light overhead, shrouding the rest of the room in darkness. In the center stood two men, only one of them I recognized. Tobi stood strangely silent and still. The other was a man with red-orange hair and had an incredible amount of piercings. His expression was impassive as he gestured towards a chair in-between them. "Sit down."

I stood up. "Excuse me, but about these charges-"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I said sit down."

I felt a tugging sensation in the pit of my stomach as I was suddenly yanked forward. I flew into the chair and gripped it with white knuckles as it rocked back and forth. I can't believe it. What just happened? He rested a hand on the back of the chair and bent down to whisper in my ear. "I don't want to hear your excuses. What I am interested in…is inside your head." I flinched as his hand rested on top of my head, his fingertips squeezed tightly. "The truth will either free you or kill you. But either way, you will never see Deidara-san again."

That startled me so much that I gasped audibly. What did Deidara have to do with any of this? I started to tremble as he withdrew his hand. "Proceed Tobi," he said authoritatively.

Tobi stood before me and lifted my chin up. "Relax Pretty Girl-chan," he said comfortingly. "This won't hurt a bit."

I was frightened but soon found my terror slipping away. I felt light-headed as I fell into some kind of trance. It was just like the time Itachi nearly over-whelmed my consciousness. Does Tobi also possess the Sharingan? He probed my memories especially all the secret moments I spent with Deidara. I wonder why Akatsuki is so interested in those memories. Despite the trance, my temper started to flare up. I don't like this intrusion on my privacy! They're my memories! My private thoughts! What gives them the right to invade it? It reminded me of what Itachi said once, just because they have the power to doesn't make it right. But I was powerless to stop him as he flipped through my memories as easily as one does pages in a book. I felt so violated. Curse them! Then I felt the power start to wane as my mind returned to the present. Tobi let go and looked at his superior. "No Pein-sama, she doesn't know anything about Akatsuki."

I leaned back in the chair and pressed a hand against my aching head. The repercussion of that Sharingan always left me feeling sick.

"Good," Pein said satisfactorily. "Escort her out then." He said as he walked out of the room.

Tobi offered me his hand. "Sorry about that Pretty Girl-chan. Just standard procedure, that's all." I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet. "Tobi will take you home now okey-dokey?"

"I have to talk to Deidara first."

He slowly shook his head. "Pein-sama would not like that."

I don't care what Pein would like, but I could hardly say that aloud. What worries me is being forcibly separated from Deidara. "But this is important-"

"It's just best that you forget about him," he said as he led me towards the door and opened it. "After all Senpai is part of Akatsuki now. He doesn't need distractions."

I hated the implication that I was considered a distraction but there was nothing to be done about it. I'll have to find another way to get in touch with Deidara so he could know what happened. Tobi kept hold of my hand as we walked down the corridor towards the entrance, his grip was firm. I was half-hoping we'd run into Deidara along the way. Surely then I could explain if we were face to face. But he was no where to be seen and I felt a deep sense of dread wash over me. This was too sudden and it's obvious that we're being separated on purpose. I resisted as we crossed the threshold to the outside. "Wait!" I protested. "I have to talk to him!"

"Hey check this out!" Tobi said excitedly as he pulled me into his arms. "Ninja Art: Flying Style!"

He went from standard shinobi running speed to super sonic. I felt like my stomach had been left behind at the base. I screamed as I held onto him tightly. He just laughed. "Isn't this fun?"

"No!" I screamed. "Stop it!"

"Ok," he said cheerfully as we suddenly did.

Feeling dizzy, I leaned on his arm as I tried to regain my balance. Then I realized that we were inside my apartment. How can that be? We left the base only five or six seconds ago!

"Pretty Girl-chan didn't like Tobi's new jutsu?" He asked disappointedly.

"Not really no," I said as I sank onto the couch.

"Let Tobi get you a drink," he offered kindly. "The kitchen is over there right?" He guessed and I nodded.

He left and I rested back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling. I frowned. What's going on around here? There was no problem with me staying at the base before. What changed all of that? Why are they trying to keep Deidara and me apart? Distractions…how am I distracting? So many thoughts ran through my mind: confusion, worry, and heartbreak. Was this meant to be our end? Was Akatsuki going to force us apart?

"Here," Tobi held out a glass.

"Thanks," I said as I sat up and took it from him. He sat beside me with a glass of his own.

"Are you alright?" He asked with concern.

I sighed as I looked at him sadly. I like Tobi, he's funny and makes me laugh, but I'm not sure if I want to confide in him. Not about something like this. I lowered my gaze and shook my head.

"What's wrong?" He pressed. "You can tell Tobi. He can keep a secret."

"Don't worry about it." I said as I took a sip of strawberry juice. I enjoyed the taste and smiled. "Ah that really hits the spot."

"Then let's have a toast," he offered as he held up his cup. "To Senpai."

"To Deidara," I said as I clinked my glass against his. We both finished our glasses and set them aside.

He rested back with his hands behind his head and whistled. "Tobi likes this apartment. It's so homey and roomy besides!"

I cracked a side smile. "Yeah it is. I really like it."

"Tobi can see why," he said happily. "Its so much better than those tiny closets of a bedroom back at the base."

I winced as I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head but it left as quickly as it came. I blinked in confusion. What was that? Tobi didn't notice and continued talking about nonsense. Then the pain returned, even stronger this time. I hissed and pressed a hand against my forehead.

"Is Pretty Girl-chan feeling alright?" Tobi asked as he rested a hand on my shoulder.

"I-I'm fine," I said but my head started to pound so hard that I started seeing stars before my eyes.

"You sure?" He asked worriedly.

I nodded and forced myself to stand up. "It's only a headache. I just need an aspirin that's all."

As I walked the pain…the pain was so intense. What's wrong with me? I closed my eyes as I struggled to catch my breath. I trembled all over as I found no relief. What is going on? This is more than just a migraine. Something is wrong…I felt terribly weak and my legs wobbled unsteadily. I reached out to lean against a side table to regain my balance. But my coordination was even worse than usual and I accidentally knocked over a glass vase full of flowers as I collapsed. It shattered as I hit the floor hard, racking my entire body with excoriating pain. "Tobi!" I choked out. "Help me!"

The room was filled with ominous silence.

"No Natsume-san," a deep voice chuckled. "You'll get no help from me."

"W-what?" I asked in surprise as I looked over my shoulder. Tobi sat casually on the couch, perfectly at ease.

"You've interfered long enough," he said. The voice was deeper and full of scorn. So that is what his voice really sounds like? "I'll see that it ends here."

I groaned as my head dropped down again. I was too exhausted to support it any longer. I'm rapidly losing energy and feeling out of breath. "So it was you…the…the assassin..."

"Correct," he said smugly. "I don't know how you avoided all those other attempts but fell for the old poisoned glass trick. But I guess Tobi does have a way of making people lower their guard."

I frowned at that. "That's not…your real name?"

"It's one of them," he admitted. "But my real name is of no significance so don't concern yourself with that."

My heart ached painfully as it beat erratically. "But why? Why would you…want to kill me?"

"It's simple," he said as he stood up and approached me. His shadow fell over me as he towered above me. "You're in my way."

"How?" I asked in surprise.

"You're interfering with Deidara-san's progress. He won't achieve his true potential if you're around distracting him with your feminine ways."

I coughed, racking my entire body with pain. "You're just…using him?" I asked contemptuously as I glared at him.

"I created him," he said proudly.

Then I remembered what Deidara said about Uchida, Ryo's advisor. The man who forced him to open the scroll, making the kinjutsu activate. So this was the man who had been pulling the strings…even now. I doubt that Deidara recognized this man for who he was. His mask and childish mannerism cleverly disguised that. "You jerk!" I growled but coughed again, this time blood trickled from the corners of my mouth. The poison's effect was getting worse. How much longer do I have?

He crouched down and patted my head patronizingly. "There, there, don't worry. I'll take good care of him. Toodles!" He finished in Tobi's sing-song voice as he stood up to leave.

My hands curled into fists. I can't let him go! I won't let him manipulate and corrupt Deidara! My shaking hand grabbed a shard of glass from the broken vase. I lashed out and stabbed him in the ankle. It didn't go through him like Deidara's attacks generally do. It pierced his skin and grated against the bone. He didn't cry out in pain though but stiffened in surprise.

My hand slipped away as I gasped for air. It's getting harder to breathe now. "I…I w-won't let you…hurt him…"

He turned and kicked me hard. I flew back into the couch and my head reeled as my vision spin. He straddled my waist as he held me down. "Deidara-san isn't the person you should be worried about right now," he purred threateningly.

"I'm…n-not dead yet!" I struggled underneath him. He grunted as he had a hard time keeping me under control. My movements were becoming erratic, more muscle spasms than planned attacks on my part. But I won't let it end like this! Surely Itachi and Kisame will come to my rescue like they always have in the past. I just had to buy them time. I had to survive until then!

"Your resistance is impressive given the amount of poison I gave you," he conceded. "But I have no time for you; you've wasted enough of it." His hands closed around my throat. I tried to pry his fingers off my neck with trembling fingers but I was growing weaker with every passing second. "I have the power of life and death over you," he said with sadistic pride. "I can do with you whatever I please."

I spat in his face. "Then do your worst! I'm not afraid of you!"

"I can fix that!" He said as he squeezed tighter. I gasped and coughed as I struggled to breathe. My fists beat against his chest but he just pressed me further into the couch. My chest heaved as my lungs burned, desperate for any trickle of air. The pressure he exerted threatened to snap my neck in two. My vision blurred as my racing heart pounded in my ears. I'm going to die. I'm really going to die here; either by strangulation or by the poison he gave me. This isn't how I envisioned my death would be. Not that I've ever thought about it before now.

Just as I was on the verge of passing out, he suddenly let go. I felt light-headed, my throat raw as I took in great lungfuls of air. I lay still, savoring the delicious taste of air once again. But the pain inside increased as the poison flowed freely through my veins, spreading its destruction throughout my entire body. He chuckled in amusement as his hands slid up to tenderly cup my face. "You forget that I've seen inside your mind…I know what it is that you fear most of all…" His hand came to rest on my breast. "Rape."

My breath caught in my throat as my eyes widened in horror. He knew my secret! Of course he would, he was aware of everything that happened between Deidara and I.

"The humiliation and shame of being forced upon by a man bigger and stronger than you. To be subservient to his passion as he takes away that virtue which is most precious." His fingers slipped down my collar as he ran his hand over my breasts. "You are beautiful…though not really my type. But then again you don't have to be. You're just a woman…equipped with everything that can satisfy a man…"

"Don't!" I pleaded as I tried to push him back. "Please don't!"

"That's not for you to decide," he said firmly as he grabbed me by the chin. "Like I said before, I'll do whatever I please with you."

My limbs started to seize up and within a matter of seconds I couldn't move at all. My hands fell limply by my sides. My vision blurred again as I felt my heartbeat start to slow…each beat grew fainter and fainter. This was truly the end…and still no rescue in sight. It doesn't matter anymore. It's too late for me to be saved now.

He chuckled with sadistic pleasure as he too realized that my end was near. "Finally!" He said triumphantly. My eyelids grew too heavy to keep open and my head felt fuzzy, numb to the pain that seized my body. I felt his lips against my mouth. "Goodbye Natsume-san," He whispered eerily. "And good riddance."