Insanity rise: Hiya! This chapter finally starts bringing the main idea of the story in! Thanks to all you readers and I just wanted to say that this story is going to pretty much be my main priority for a while so if you read my other stories then be patient. Anyway, I think Tayuya and Kabuto seem a bit out of character here but with the current situation, I hope it's believable! Please read and tell me what you think! Thanks a bunch! This story should actually start getting exciting soon so if you're bored just please bear on! I'll try to keep it interesting but sometimes I write you much description and too little action…sorry bout that.

Chapter 3

Our Only Chance…

Lost, that was all Kimimaru was. His thoughts, his feelings, all stolen from him as he lay floating in a world of darkness, and all he could do was let the shadows engulf him. He was alone, alone in a nightmare even he couldn't overcome. There was nothing but darkness, clouded over with a single feeling, a single word that he would have been better without. Pain, that was all this dark world was made of, that was all it had in store for him. Nevertheless, he couldn't fight it, he felt weak and helpless, or at least he would have, if not everything had been so numb and cold. Then, something reached him, as though something from the darkness was calling him, telling him to enter some place he could never reach. He could hear the gentle whispers of voices, sounding so distant and far away that he was sure it was only the darkness playing with his mind. Yet, somewhere words were being said, and he was sure it had something to do with him. Somehow, those silent voices were ones he recognized, and he struggled to put a picture to the sounds. That was when the shadows began to clear, and a bright overcoming pierced through, calling Kimimaru back from this terrible black void, calling him to somewhere he was sure was the place he wanted to be…

"Kimimaru," Kabuto said softly, setting an empty inoculation down on a table nearby and giving the drowsy boy a soft shake. Kimimaru's eyes opened slowly, the light above him causing them to close again in alarm. He knew where he was, a place he'd been to many times before. He was in Kabuto's medical lab.

"Kabuto," he coughed his voice weak and exhausted. Kabuto gave him a sad glance, turning to fill another injection.

"Don' try to talk just yet," he informed, carefully watching the immunization as it filled with a clear liquid, "just rest."

"What…happened," Kimimaru ignored the warning, wanting too desperately to clear his muddled thoughts. Kabuto shook his head, sighing and turning back to his trembling patient, the light reflecting of the dark rims of his glasses.

"You're in my medical lab," Kabuto muttered, his voice filled with remorse, "I found you in your room, Kimimaru, you've been struck by the early stages of the sickness, if I hadn't found you when I did…"

Kabuto shook his head, hating to be the person to give the boy the bad news. He shook his head again and jabbed the needle's sharp point into Kimimaru's wrist, sighing as he did so. These immunizations couldn't keep the boy alive forever; sooner or later, he was bound to fall, from the seal's disease or that of his own. Discarding the empty inoculation, Kabuto wiped the sweat from his brow, looking down at Kimimaru with concerned eyes.

"Kimimaru," Kabuto sighed, "please just try and get some rest, I need to go speak with Orochimaru."

Kabuto shook his head and gave the ailing boy one last glance before stepping out of the room, leaving Kimimaru with nothing but the soft beeping of his medical equipment. He closed the door behind him as quietly as he could and proceeded to locate his master. Walking down the hallway, he heard voices ahead of him and looked up to see Sakon and Tayuya, both looking what he could only describe as afraid. He hated the look on their faces, for he knew it was because of what had just happened, they knew all too well that they were doomed.

"Kabuto," Sakon growled, his fear-filled eyes suddenly burning with anger, "this is all your fault!"

"What-" Kabuto whimpered as Sakon grabbed his shirt collar and slammed him up against the wall, his grip tight and rough, born with intent to cause pain.

"You knew all about this," Sakon's grip became even tighter as he hoisted Kabuto above the ground, "but you didn't do anything, you're supposed to be our medical service, but now we're dying and you're dozing off in your little fantasies!"

"Sakon don't," Tayuya whispered from behind him, her voice suddenly losing its rude tone. Kabuto gave her a funny look. For once, she didn't sound like all she wanted to do was kill him, she sounded scared, like she was literally afraid for herself when it was usually other people who were afraid of her.

"Shut up Tayuya," Sakon snapped, Ukon snickering rudely, "this coward betrayed us same as if he'd killed us."

"Please Sakon," Tayuya pleaded, but Sakon was oblivious to her cries, Ukon drowning them out with his cruel laughter.

"That's it!" Tayuya's harsh edge suddenly returned, she lashed out and smack Sakon on the head with her flute.

"What was that for," Sakon grumbled, rubbing his head and tossing Kabuto the floor. Kabuto stifled a cry, telling himself he would never show weakness in front of these two.

"Yes Sakon," Kabuto stood up, smoothing the wrinkles in her shirt, "what was that all about?"

"This is your fault," Sakon growled again, "this wouldn't have happened if-"

"I didn't create the disease Sakon," Kabuto spat, angry he would be blamed for such a thing, "I just discovered it."

"Well excuse me for not giving you a gold medal," Sakon said sarcastically, "But we came to find you for an important reason."

"What," Kabuto asked, wondering why he would deliberately attack him then speak to him so calmly.

"We think we should…," Tayuya's voice trailed off, as if she as afraid to say what was on her mind, "we think we should try and find help!"

"How," Kabuto asked blankly, wondering who in the world could do anything to save them, "that would mean someone have to remove the cursed seal…I can't imagine anyone who could do anything close to that."

"I thought," Tayuya, sighed, looking down at the floor as though she were ashamed, "we could go and see that Konoha lady, Tsunade…"

"Tsunade!" Kabuto threw his hands above his head, at a loss to see how someone he'd always thought to be rather intelligent had thought of something so stupid, "that's crazy!"

"But it might work," Sakon came to Tayuya's defense, "they say she has incredible healing powers, if we could only convince her to help us…"

"But that would be impossible! She'd much sooner kill us," Kabuto pointed out, his voice growing louder.

"Please Kabuto," Tayuya sobbed, "it's our only chance, I don't want to die so pathetically!"

"Would you just listen to someone besides your stupid master for one blasted moment," Ukon growled his voice cold and angry.

"But Orochimaru would never let you go," Kabuto informed them, "You're his bodyguards!"

"But," Tayuya sighed, her voice growing quiet, "he might…listen to you."
"Me…," Kabuto eyes grew wide, he knew what they were asking him to do. He was about to just walk away, but then he looked down at Tayuya, her eyes pleading for help and all his anger and reason melted away.

"Please Kabuto," Tayuya said again, "you're the only person who can help us now…"

"But," Kabuto shook his head, "I wouldn't know what to say, how to ask him-"

"Then don't ask him," Ukon snapped, cutting him off, "tell him! Tell him we're leaving with or without his consent!"

"But…but."

"Do it," Ukon growled, "or else you'll be blamed for our deaths!"

"Alright," Kabuto looked away, "I'll do it."

"Thank you," Tayuya gave him a quick hug.

"I still think this is a terrible idea," Kabuto shook his head, "but it's the only chance you've got…"