~ Here In This Room 4 Years Ago ~

:: Mine (May It Never Escape) ::

A gasp.

A single desperate breath for air like awakening from a slumber where your mouth was open the whole time. A barren canvas. She knew not the reason why she had an instant thirst, nor did she know where she was. She panicked with flashes of light being the sole memory playing over and over again in her head. The wind on her skin was all to real though only a simulation.

This young woman on a single, dingy mat in a square room where bared windows were the only source of moonlight, re-lived what should of been her demise.

Her bike had a beautiful bright green color and the approaching night did not do it justice.

Then it happened.

Brights lights and bam!

Bright lights and bam!

Over and over, she got that someone had hit her, but who? Why?

'Who even… am I?' She clutched her bare shoulders and curled up in a complete mess. 'Where am- Who… AAH!' The headaches came, bringing dainty fingers through tangles of dark purple strands. Sweat drops had a parade over her half naked body. Considering she was only wearing a bra and shorts, she suffered from the heat less. Staying in her muddled thoughts became much easier than trying to speak. That merely drove her to cough each time.

Help became the next word playing itself out.

She managed to roll over onto her stomach and attempt a push up to possibly stand.

Atrophy was another word she got acquainted with there upon falling back down. 'Move!' She screamed at herself while her will was not in sync. At a loss for this fight and fear ridden, she still didn't give in yet. She bawled up her fist and laid there for a second to get her bearings. Though she had no idea of who she was, quitting was clearly not her forte. She knew she possessed a stern and outgoing vibe. She held a passion that… that… A road block popped up and gave her another pounding there in the frontal lobe.

With one hand to the throbbing spot, the other trembled in a vice grip. Her sight stayed a slight blur but she could make out a door ahead of her. "Hehl-" remained all she could get out before blowing out whatever she had in her lungs left. That just about did it, for she soon had company. Lavender met a darker shade of her irises under a bed ivory locks.

'Huh, it worked.' Hidan gave praise to the mad scientist type of medical genius that he was. That was his analysis however and not a correct one... He took a knee with a canteen of water and began his conditioning to keep things going his way. "Open up, Helian." The name he chose was an inner joke for itself due to where she came from. "You took one hell of a hit girl." He made sure of it.

"Hehl ha-"

"Sshh, drink." He painted a halo for himself in her eyes, cupping under her jaw gently. "Lucky I showed up when I did or you'd be at some trafficking joint by now."

'Is that why my shirt is...?' Helian, or what she accepted was her name for now, guessed that that must be why she was barely clothed. She gave no confirmation that she understood fully because she didn't. For all she knew, this guy could be baiting her and doing the same thing.

Hidan prepared for this. Shortly after he was done helping her drink, he provided her with clothes off his own back. "Here. Figured you'd want to dress yourself when you can that is."

She arched a brow and accepted the gray shirt, folding it into a support for her head temporarily. "T-Thank you."

"I'm not done yet." He got up and left quietly with a smile, closing the door behind him. She'd said two words to him that her old self would have never spoken. He knew personally how she felt about guys like him. They weren't worth her time of day and now… he'd have all the time in the world. He walked on past his fellow gang members outside who shook their head at him in pity.

"Why don't you just fuck her and get it over with?"

"Because, Kakuzu, why do anything one time?"

The more Benjamin driven male, simply shrugged at his annoying cohort who went to the closet right across from him. He flipped through a stack in his greedy palms and recounted. "You know her sister will come looking for her."

"I took care of that already." Hidan pulled out two, barely washed white sheets that couldn't shield breath but it was better than nothing. It was a little see through too so all in all, a win for him.

"And how'd accomplish this?"

He chuckled casually to the tattoo'd mini boss and then said, "Easy… She's dead."

:: I'm Not Always Good At What I Do ::

Tile floors were polished to perfection.

The faintest hint of pine sol in the air gave a clean and comforting aroma.

Each chair in the kitchen was situated nicely at the round table.

And there protruding in the background out of a cutting board, was a chef's knife with a most interesting sheen to it. The owner of such a spotless and welcoming abode, happened to be finishing up his lunch making that he'd enjoy at work. He yanked the blade out with minimal effort and gave it a quick clean and dry. It was placed back with it's brothers soon after, leaving him to unroll his sleeves, fix his cuffs and dawn his tailored sports jacket.

He was trim, pressed, and ready to go.

Lunch was done. His keys were in his pocket. His hair was tied back in it's usual slack ponytail. All the lights were off except for in the main area where he would leave shortly and...

He wasn't happy about any of it.

Silence hurts worse than words.

When he'd get to work he could enjoy all the talk from his temporary partner's new fishing gig. There was also the talk of one of his old training mates joining a special effects team up in Hollywood for puppetry and the other for demolition. Majority of his comrades were leaving to do what they have always wanted just like his little brother's friends had. He himself was perfectly content with his job.

Unlike his kin though, he had no one to come home too and share it with anymore.

He could always make new friends till his brother decided to finally join the bodyguard line of work with him.

For Itachi Uchiha, that wasn't enough.

His watch beeped to let him know that his little free minutes to brood and ponder were over. Twas not because he had work to attend though he did. His alarm was really set because she was coming around soon. What a pleasant sight she was at that, constantly going like her routine wasn't even half of it. In all his prowess, he could only muster up the courage to do an innocent wave and go on about his day. He was sure she had friends to get back to and a fun life to live where as his… was quite basic in his eyes as he looked around. He didn't go out. He didn't drink. He was a quiet and hardworking guy.

He sighed on his way out, knowing that seeing the beauty that radiated energy would get him out of this dump.

So, like clockwork, he'd lock his door, turn around, raise that left arm, and wave. He made it to step three and stalled on four because… she wasn't bell ring from her bike or cuteness of her voice... He waited and doubled checked his watch, positive that he was on time as usual, but the lovely young woman was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he missed her. He gave it some time and for the first time in his life, he was late to work.

The next day he did the same thing, making it a second… and then a third...and a fourth...and a fifth...and a sixth…

He sat on his porch day after day and even walked up the street to look for her.

Because of his little brother's antics, he had a weak heart when it came to watching the news so maybe something had happened to her that he knew nothing of. If she was from here that is, he might be able to find an answer. He went to his parents to ask because he'd definitely missed a few airings already. They looked solemn about something and eventually managed to tell him… 'She's married?'

He questioned it the whole drive home and to his bedroom. He sat there with a sickening feeling that he could only describe as his first dose of jealousy. He found it ridiculous because he didn't know the guy. He didn't know her either. She was just another civilian as he was to her of course. 'As long as she's happy.' A real smile graced his lips at the thought of her own. With a hopeful heart, he reached over and turned off the lamp light.

:: Neither Am I ::

"Helian! What the fuck are you doi- Have you learned nothing?!" Hidan berated, hands on his hips while he watched his girl proceed to get her pretty face kicked. "Aahh, shit. Kakuzu, watch her lips man!"

His ex partner who was more than grateful to be removed from such a position, cleaned off his bloodied knuckles with an already stained rag. "You seem to be the only one that cares." He meant that as a compliment to the trainee who took her beatings well. Respect ended there. He tossed the cloth over the woman busy holding her possibly busted lip. "Better get her cleaned up before Madara gets here. He's expecting her to have shown some improvement or else she goes back under again."

Under, holds a lot of power here in Helian's new home.

It scared her enough to her feet where she tried to clear up any and all cherry liquid from her face. "I'm fine!"

"Your guard is poor and your form is still lacking. The only thing you've improved on is speed," Kakuzu gave her the results of her past few months with a disapproving tone at first, "Your skill in traps and weapons however are… interesting. To spare her the tank, it might be wise to tell him that first."

Hidan grunted and hurried over to help her get cleaned up. "Okay, okay, we'll do that then. You're excused."

"I don't take orders from you."

Helian watched the typical about to happen. Her so called only friend and his old time partner, always butted heads. She stepped out of their way, remembering that the last time she tried to intervene got her beat pretty bad. Order was a priority here, but it was to oneself if the boss wasn't around. She walked off casually to a broken water fountain nearby, for they were in an abandoned warehouse shared with a shipyard. The wide spaces were well needed for things like living quarters for the gang members.

Why everything had to be so dim and a vague ember, she had no clue. The once pristine floors were cursed with a blood spot from every new person broken in. Business was thankfully slow so she had the training area to herself often. This did not sit well with the man she was supposed to aspire to work for. Though she didn't want to and would rather just leave these questionable people, death would be the repercussions.

No one could leave once they're in.

All she heard was, no one could leave… if they're caught.

Thus, her real goal was set. She'd get better, trick them into believing she was sold in and then… she'd break for it.

At the water fountain that was slanted some, she kneed the button to dampen the cloth with the small spew of liquid that came out. She thought to herself, 'Just a little longer.' All she had to do was suffer for just a bit more. Because while she did somewhat appreciate Hidan's help, his story about her did not stick. There was also the things she was told she'd have to do once fully initiated that did not sit well with her morals. Kidnapping children… murdering the innocent… blackmail… She just couldn't stomach it. She questioned a lot of things and was punished for it each time. She learned to shut up and talk less. Keep it to herself and obey for now. Behind the scenes she'd bail at first chance, or at least she hoped she would.

Corruption was a fear of hers because she had nowhere to go outside of this place. Another depressing truth crept in everyday and that was… no one was looking for her.

Hidan told her often that it was her own family who set her up. He tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen. She refused to believe that for somewhere deep down, she felt that someone out there really loved her. They would come find her, rescue her… something.

Day by day nothing changed.

Soon she'd be allowed to go out in public and see for herself if people were looking for her.

She wiped at her neck and bit back any doubt. 'I can… I can hold out.'

The double doors opened and in casually walked the overlord in all his dark cloud glory.

Hidan straightened his act up from nearing a brawl session of his own with Kakuzu. He pretended that nothing of the sort was about to happen. "Look who's here all of a sudden? You run out of beer or someth-"

"Progress report," Madara cut him off with a tire to his tone. He had his hands behind his back with a tight grip on his wrist for his patience was close to breaking. He was just about done with his second in command's side project that was proving to be incredibly useless. He predicted this because he knew where she came from and who she really was. No one who's lived a privileged life could understand his work and dream here. "Has she improved any?"

"No," Kakuzu said flat out, "I downed her in seconds-"

"He's lying!" Hidan liked her a lot. He'd watched her bike by for days with a strange beauty and innocence that he would never find in a women from Burgundy. This was partly love and more so a possessiveness that he's developed for her. And so, he had to protect what he'd acquired during an awfully high day. "She's doing great. Her weapon skills are pheno- fenomi.. Their good!"

Helian had a fear of this man so when he'd entered, she stood at attention and looked everywhere else but at him. Thanks to being somewhat far away, she didn't have to be so close to him. That was short lived.

Madara had his thorny locks in a slack ponytail. His combat boots were hard on the floors during his march over towards her. He was far from a soldier though he wore camo pants of a gray theme. That torn at the sleeves black shirt he wore, competed with floor boards for most blood stains. "Helian, eyes up. Is this true?"

She took a breath and nodded, looking up thereafter to heavy dark orbs. "Yes, sir."

"Then you've not improved your basic combat skills at all?"

"She's trying." Hidan's back seat helping was doing quite the opposite.

Kakuzu saw this and so, dismissed himself with only a shake of his head.

"Trying isn't good enough if there will be no eventual success." Madara's voice only raised when he was truly agitated. "So I ask her again, have you not improved on your basic combat training?"

She shivered in a nervous wreck at his words snapping out by her ear. The second mistake she made was breaking eye contact down. The final straw was that stutter in her claims, "I'm doing b-better."

Weakness is not tolerated in his world. "An hour under it is then."

"Fuck…" Hidan cursed his regret, turning away and shoving his hands in his pockets. He pulled out an mp3 player with black headphones wrapped around. He enjoyed sharing one ear bud with her on occasion. Right now he needed both to block out her screaming. The song he chose was not fitting but it would do. All he heard was her shout and plead that she was sorry before Happy Together by The Turtles, started playing. He waved to her during her drag out of the room in tears. This was all for the better. She had to learn so they could be truly be happy together ... eventually.

:: No One's Coming ::

Helian dealt with the punishments she was told she caused. She fell under the roll she was given and still managed to get in trouble. Those months turned into years and each time she was dragged to the tank, she fought less and less. Her voice died down to barely a whisper. And then… she walked herself to the grand, empty for now aquarium. She took her lashings like every other recruit conditioned whose diet consisted of Madara's words.

His dream was what kept them alive. Nothing more and nothing less.

Here she was fours years in and grumpily walking through the open glass door to a thirty minute session. It was her fault that kid got away. She gave him up to the Uchiha when she should of dropped him. That way the enemies numbers would decrease. She still, after all the strikes, could not bring herself to do such a thing. In that mindset, she saw a 'weakness' that she had to erase somehow to appease her boss… The only other person that her life was required for because once she was allowed outside, she saw not a single indication that someone else was looking for her.

And so, this was her family now.

"You know what you did, Helian. Take off the mask." Madara sat in single chair there in the concrete room, controller in hand to manage the flow.

"Yes, sir." She pulled off the ski-mask to put a lovely face to lavender eyes. Her hair all up and pinned, was let loose. She tossed it outside the glass door and closed it. She then went to the center of the tank and laid down. "It won't happen again," she said with a devoted glance his way and almost admiring.

"I know it won't." He turned on the valves and let the tank slowly fill. He proceeded to cross his arms and maintain eye contact with the strange woman who'd he thought would have bit the dust by now. She continued to surprise him and even master going under. Most people would start freaking out like she did at first and waist their breath. Each one they took, he'd increase the flow and take away the air they wasted. While this was meant to be a punishment, he was also teaching them a lesson about time and fucking up. Never improving will cost them their life and for some it did. Those it didn't, made great members to the group like her. "Why'd you give him to the Uchiha?"

The water was almost warm and welcoming. It flowed all around her and raised slowly, spreading out her locks and soaking in her clothes. "It was my first time meeting Sasuke, sir. You guys usually make me stay out of the fight when it's involving them so… He looked like you at first. I found it funny I guess how much you two favor but your ideals are nothing alike."

Madara's brow twitched and she knew why but didn't apologize. Her boldness was what kept that water from making her float to the ceiling faster. "And?"

"...He thanked me. No one thanks people like that after all that's been done. It shocked me for it made no sense. I kidnapped that boy and he… with your face I guess… I don't know." She looked away and blushed a little to the ceiling at a lost cause. The fatal attraction she developed over the years teetered on Stockholm syndrome. He told them his tragic past so much that she somehow convinced herself that he was right to do all this. She clung to his words like she was supposed to and developed sympathy that added to her reason for living at his side by his command. "Sorry, sir."

Madara huffed, oblivious to all things but his own agenda. He increased the flow for the previous breaths taken steadily, calling that fair. "Never compare my enemy to me again "

"Yes, sir." Helian hid a small smile away from him, eyes to the ceiling she neared ever so faster. She couldn't afford her heart to catch her off guard again .There was no way she'd risk letting that bastard get away again with anything either. He was the thorn in all of her boss's plans, ruining them from day one. One problem remained after all that promising. The woman of whom Madara had taken a liking to recently… had to go.

That was almost probable until she found there were two suspected women now.

~ Present Day ~

:: Why I Hate You ::

Helian could vow hell to one of the targets right here in front of her, deeming Hinata too weak to stand by her leader's side. She hadn't even seen the other woman but she'd heard of Sakura's violent nature that was not stable for him either in her opinion. So when she saw this stunned lady with Sasuke, she saw Madara there instead and it pissed her off. "She's just standing there, Hidan. Are you sure?"

"Positive. Sasuke will lose his shit and that's what Madara wants.."

"...Then you deal with her. I'll get the car." She removed her knife from a stiff throat and turned to leave.

Hinata found her voice then when the longed for image before her started to disappear, for this had to be her sister. That tangled hair and broken lavender eyes hid the true versions well but not enough. "Hana- NGH!"

Oh no, Hidan would not be having any kind of relapse happening here. He might of struck her in the gut a little hard but he had no patience for anyone trying to take what was his.

"She actually said something?" Helian turned back slightly, observing their suspected higher priority actually show some surreal agitation.

"She didn't say anythin-"

Hinata got her payback then. With a grip on his wrist and the other at his shoulder, she slid that palm to the back of his neck swiftly and up to his hair. There she held him tight and drove him hard into her car behind her against his shoulder. She got one good head-bang off by slamming his face to the rim of the roof and causing him a tooth.

"F-Fuck! Helian!"

She was going to greet his face to metal again but her sister got a hold of her. "Hanabi! Wait-Mnf!"

It was too late.

Helian slapped a palm over her prey's mouth and jabbed her in the neck with a syringe that put her out faster than she could have blinked. That name was not forgotten however. She let the woman fall the ground and eyed her suspiciously. "Who the hell is Hah.. nah be?"

"I think she was trying to say, 'Help me', but got tongue tied." Hidan coughed and recovered, blowing out crimson on his shirt end. He kept an eye on his girl regardless just in case. "She does stutter a lot."

"I suppose." Helian shrugged off that weird familiarity that came with hearing Hinata speak. That just wouldn't do for the long car ride ahead of them. "Better gag her then."

:: Though We Aren't Together Yet ::

Itachi went through his routine as usual and left home in the same fashion. He turned, no longer ready to wave, and headed to work by himself. Upon looking up, he saw why that was not so today. There by his car stood his brother busy on the cell and looking impatient. 'The hell?' He had to make sure this wasn't a mirage of sorts. He walked over and poked his kin once on the cheek.

"Itachi… what are you doing?" Sasuke winced and then glared at his brother who had the nerve to gasp. "Seriously?"

"You're here…"

"Yeah."

"So soon?"

"Uhuh."

"At my house-"

"Okay, I get it, but I'm honestly never late. You're just to damn early. I come five minutes before like a normal person, not an hour."

Itachi nodded to the truth and pointed out the evidence before them that supported his kin to not be of the norm either. "It's seven, little brother. You're earl-"

"What is early anyway? Have you eaten breakfast? I have. Let's go get some coffee before we head in anyway. I'm driving."

'Huh?' Big brother followed the youngest at a lost this energy hidden by nonchalant talk and carelessness. "Did something happen this morning?"

"No, why? Does it look like it?" Sasuke slid into the driver's side, still looking at a video on his cell. "She's amazing. You have to see this."

"See what?" Itachi let the rambling go, taking up the passenger side. Just when he was about to shown the very thing that made his brother's life spike, he received a call himself. "Hold on a second. It's Tsunade."

"She can get up in the morning?" The raven continued to watch the video more for himself temporarily, so he let his snide remark be his final word for now.

Itachi shook his head and answered the call. "Good morning, Mrs. Hatake, how are yo- Ah, no we're on our way for coffe-... Well it can wait… To the station? You want us to come there now- I… Yes, ma'am. We'll be there as fast as we can…. Mhm… Sasuke is here too…. I will make sure he gets there. No he is not flipping you off. He's grown up a lot since you've last seen hi- He's …. Mrs. Hatake, please don't bring that up." He chuckled and looked to his brother who groaned and rolled those onxy eyes.

This conversation was going to last longer than the youngest could stand. He thus started up the car and put his cell away for later. "We going downtown or further downtown?"

"Further to our station- Ah, no. I was telling Sasuke where you requested our attention…. Yes, he is in uniform."

"Is she really treating me like I just joined the damn unit?" Sasuke backed up out of the drive away, quite pissed while the oldest found it all funny. "Tell her not to judge me. I saw what Kakashi got her for Christmas last year."

"I am not-... She hung up?" Itachi arched a brow at the beeping noise going off at his ear. "Hm… What did he get her?"

"Grown up stuff. You just stay over there and buckle up." He teased with a smirk to his already annoyed brother. "To early?"

:: Put On Your Best ::

Sakura sat on a lavish king size bed where decor silk sheets were near perfection. The returning gown she wore was the very same one gifted to her. This time she was forced to wear it and given the chance to dress in private. Here she waited in disturbance for her admirers return. She wrapped her arms around herself as emeralds drifted around the aesthetically confused room. The floorboards were a scratched wooden surface unlike the brick walls. There in one of the square corners was a dresser and in the other by the door, a giant fish tank covered by a tarp. The chandelier above added no modesty or sense to this area. She was at a lost and only wished to be discovered.

At the creek of the door, she bolted up and around the bedpost, hiding there as the man who kidnapped her, returned in the same get up he wore before. No class despite his eye for fine things. She understood now why that was.

"Are you ready to see you're welcoming party, dear?"

He was insane. She played it safe and let her thoughts remain as such. "Welcoming party?"

"Why yes. You deserve to meet our new army." He held out a palm, other hand behind his back in a mock gentlemen's pose. "That is, unless you need time under to think?"

Sakura hesitated, disturbed by that ominous question. "Heh, okay… Madara. Um, can I ask you a question about this army and stuff?"

"No."

'Rude.' Sakura sighed in defeat and stepped around from her hiding place, approaching sullenly. For now, she had to go along with his orders. "Alright then..."

"You may find me distasteful now. That will not last however. I assure you." Madara showed a gentleness when she placed her hand in his. "As radiant as you are, that is far from your only quality."

She rolled her eyes mentally and forced a smile outside. 'Who the fuck does he think he is?! My husband will… my husband… Sasuke…' Her high shot down at the memory of her man's departure from her life. Surely he wouldn't hate her this much to not come rescue her... or so she hoped.

:: You're Right Here! Why Can't I Reach You?! ::

Hinata's full lashes fluttered opened quick. She could only groan and grimace from the cloth tied around her mouth. Both her hands and ankles were bound behind her. She slid around a bit in that dark space, two beams of moving light coming in from the bullet holes in the trunk. 'Damn it!' She cursed the situation and started to squirm, putting a strain on her wrist and bruising for sure. 'Hanabi!' screaming that name internally was no good. Trying to do so outside through tears was worse because it came out all muffled.

"Hey, shut it back there, princess. We've only hit one speed bump because my girl is an amazing driver."

"I'm not your girl." Helian felt like a broken record sometimes. Usually she'd be so worn out that she'd not comment at all. Since they had that lady she despised in the back, she felt a need to self assert herself. "And you're not my guy. We serve the boss and that's it."

"Awww, don't worry babe. I'm not going to ask him for her. No one can replace you." Hidan took a hit off a well rolled blunt and passed it to the left. "You're my life's work."

"Fuck off." She gave him that chuckle he loved and leaned over, embracing that helping hand to get one good intake.

Hinata's heart broke at the vile nature, language, and tone she didn't remember her sister having. She struggled in the back more to get free and right this terrible, terrible wrong.

A/N: Flashbacks I've been waiting to share for a while so you know where they're coming from these next few chapters. I apologize for the errors. I wanted to do a lot in one chapter and give you guys a dose of her state without having to stretch it for longer.

~ I bow and thank you all for the favs, follows, and reviews no matter the context. Voice your concerns, spite, theories, advice, frustration, and ect to your heart's content at your will. Have a lovely day and hopefully satisfying read. XoXoXo ~