Humans are odd creatures. Full of emotions, dreams, and desires. We alone have the ability to express such a wide rainbow of emotions. We cry when we are hurt or betrayed, our blood feels like its boiling when we become angered, our bodies become electrified when we find someone who fills our lives up with love and happiness.

At least that's what I've read before in books. I've witness so many of these raw emotions from the villagers on this small island. I've jotted down notes about people I took interest in. I have a whole journal on Chika since I met her. The happiness and excitement she felt when she opened her first bakery. To over flowing love she felt when she met her husband. To the soul crushing sorrow from her first heart break when he died. I've seen Chika cry countless times before we even became friends. She was one of the first human subjects I took on. Her expression of these emotions was so free and powerful that it was hard to ignore.

I took great care in observing the ocean and its many children. I loved the colors, and different shapes they took on. I would smile and giggle as the live ones would wiggle in my hand and look up at me with those hopeful eyes. Eyes that were begging me to return them to their home, which I always did of course. Something was missing though. Sea life had emotion solely based on their instinct and will to keep living. They didn't tell a story though. They didn't share their thoughts about life, or how they viewed my world from their blue waves. Their life was stuck on the present, and always had thoughts consisting of what they could do in that moment to live another day. That's why Chika was so alluring with her emotions. I couldn't get enough of her story, and how she reacted to the world around her.

Ninja were trained to throw away those emotions though. They were human, yes, but something so much less than that. To me Ninja were like insects. They had no thoughts, no feelings, and no desires other than what their leader told them to feel or do. Observing them became an eyesore as we marched through the halls of their base. They scattered about with papers and tools, like ants. Each one had a purpose, and if they slipped away from that post, they were punished.

"Take her to the questioning room, don't want to risk info slipping. Any mention of an Akatsuki member to the public could cause panic."

Kano nodded his head sharply as an understanding, and guided me toward an elevator that as tucked away in a small hallway. I tried my best to keep my face void of the panic I was feeling inside. Like insects they reacted to certain things. If I showed fear they would swarm me in seconds. The wet dress that clung to my body was itchy and uncomfortable. The salt water irritated my skin, and the cold air from the building made my arms break out in goosebumps. My calculations must have gone wrong somewhere along the line of 'was this all worth it?' I suppose at the time I wasn't really concerned with that small insignificant fact. When I first met Kisame all I could think was 'wow, a shark with emotions, and thoughts!' for me those conclusions were very immature. I was letting my human desires get worked up, and now I was being punished for it.

"I got it from here, go help the recon squad with tracking."

The two that had been mindlessly following us looked to each other like their worlds had just shifted under their feet. I guess that's how insects react when given a new order. Process, find fellow workers, confirm orders, then march. I couldn't help but laugh as they did just that. Simple minds were easy to predict.

Kano pressed the button closest to the bottom. It lit up, followed by a soft ding. I didn't like technology much. Not many villages had access to such things as elevators or televisions. Only the ninja, and military factions had easy access to such luxuries. Chika had managed to save up for a small TV once. Said she enjoyed watching the dramas that aired. I'd watch some with her early in the mornings. The small screen was fuzzy and flickered, but it proved to be great research material.

The warmth from Kano's hand on my arm disappeared, then replaced upon my head.

"Listen closely Moe…They are going to ask you questions about that man and what you were doing with him."

He paused and looked down at me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of ease under his soft gaze. He was the warmth I needed in this cold place. Kano was my beach in this static emotionless world of insects. His hand trailed down from my head, passed my neck, and then rested lightly in the middle of my shoulder blades. His touch was foreign to me. I couldn't understand the way he was looking at me. He looked sad for some reason.

"No matter what, just answer any questions they have…If you don't they will hurt you."

For a trained ninja his emotions were raw like Chika's. An insect with thoughts of its own. I nodded slowly in reply, his hand on my back becoming unwelcome. Since I met Kano he was very personal and close to me. Why did he care so much about one village girl? Surly he has killed many in his line of work from missions and orders, right? I didn't like the touch of other people. I only tolerated my mother and father, and Chika's embraces were like the warm sun. Kano's hand was like a sun burn. It felt wrong that he had his hand upon me. Like I'd dirty him in some way, and I felt ashamed that I was causing so much trouble. I had made it my goal to stay out of every one's way, and here I was stirring up the hornets' nest. If I was a turtle, I'd of curled up into my shell already.

'Ding!'

The elevator stuttered to a stop, and the metallic doors clanked open. The room was dim and dark, much like how I'd imagine a dungeon being. Kano's burning hand was now a cattle prod as he steered me deeper into the darkness. His presence was both reassuring, and ominous.

"Sit here, and try to relax. I'll be right here the whole time."

His lopsided grin made my stomach knot up. Was I getting sick? Must be from my wet cloths. How did he know I was nervous? The chair his free hand gestured to was simple. Along with the table in front of it and the wall around us, it too was metal. Ninja didn't care about comfort either it seemed. The light touch on my back vanished once again as Kano stepped back a few steps and stood in attention. I guess this was him returning to his insect instincts. I sat down, the cool metal immediately chilling the wet dress. I began to shiver. I wasn't use to the cold weather, I was a beach bum!

"So there she is…the Sea Witch."

The older male ninja from before entered the room with a stack of papers. His eyes never left them as they darted back and forth between words. My hands clutched my wet dress and twirled out of nervous habit. Why was I being plagued with every possible thing that unnerved me lately?

"Quite a rap sheet you have here young miss. People around here know you well."

He licked his finger tips and flipped another page.

"Several complaints have flooded our mission box with your name on it. Seems many of the residents here blame you for a lot things. Mind telling me why they would?"

"Ho-how should I know? They are ju-just rumors…"

"Are they?"

I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around nervously. I didn't want to look at the man standing before me. He grunted and shifted through more papers before plucking out three and slamming them onto the metal table. The boom echoed through the dark room, and rattled my nerves even more.

"A child nearly drowned, angry fishermen complaining about the lack of fish, even a missing sailor!"

He spread them out so I could see the words. I didn't need to see them though. Many of the family member from each of these situations have confronted me already. Each demanding compensation for their lose cause it was all my fault.

"Those w-were just terrible Coincidences…"

I wanted to run, to hide in the safety of my cave once more. It was a mistake to ever break from my routine. I should have been a good girl for once and just did as my mother said. Now here I was being forced to face the facts, and hear those horrible people in my mind.

"Of course they are, how a weak, frail girl such as you could possibly be the cause of these instances"

His voice was sweet with sarcasm and laced with anger. His eyes murky with age took a moment to stare at me in thought. I could feel his eyes trying to rip the answers from my very soul. I was tempted to look behind me at Kano for support, but I'm sure that would just get him into trouble.

"-which brings me to my next question Miss Moe…that man Kano healed earlier today…"

"I told you, he swam- ah!"

The veteran ninja moved like a flash of light. His strong hands tangled themselves in my short damp hair, and yanked downward. My cheek connected to the cold surface of the table causing another bang to ring out. This time my head was rattled with the contact. I could feel his warm breath breathing down my neck as his lips moved inches from my ear.

"I know what you said. I know what you are and that you are lying!"

His voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear it as if he were shouting at me. A constant hiss in my ear like a snake.

"Who was that man, was he a part of the Akatsuki!?"

"I don't know what that is! I swear! P-please just let me go!"

His grip tightened, and I could feel my cheek being pressed down further into the table. The pressure on my head was painful. I was forced to look away from the older man, and could see Kano watching me just to the side of my limited view. His face was blank, void of emotion, just how ninjas were taught to be. I suppose Kano was no different from the rest after all.

"Ah, got a soft spot for him eh? Is that it? I guess only a murderous monster could appeal to a witch."

My eyes burned as I felt tears well up in my eyes. Perhaps he was right. Only a monster would ever look my way. That didn't make Kisame a monster though.

"All I did was help the man, I don't know anything about him! He was dying!"

"So you decided to play hero for once?"

"I've never done those things!"

He lifted my head a few inches and then promptly smashed it back down. I yelped in pain as my head was once again crushed under his surprising strength. A throat being cleared broke the tension and the man looked up to Kano.

"Is there a problem Kano?"

I couldn't see my attackers face, but I assumed he was scowling at his fellow Shinobi. I could see Kano with his blank face however.

"I suggest we question that young couple again sir, I don't think she knows anything."

"Are you a fool? She was there with the man! Of course she knows!"

"The cave was dark, and he might of used a genjutsu on her…There is no telling what she really saw. Beating her to a pulp isn't going to help her memory, sir."

The veteran growled and released my aching head, but I didn't dare move from my spot on the table. I didn't want him to see the mess he made me into. Tears dripped freely and pooled onto the table, my dark black eyes rippled behind my own ocean of fresh tears.

"Fine, we'll stop here for today. I'll gather up some intel squads to…delve deeper…"

He left the room quickly, probably still fuming about being interrupted. Once the man was gone Kano came to my side. His Static face no longer empty, but no full of concern.

"You okay Moe? Captain can get a bit carried away…"

"…Y-yeah…C-can I go ho-home now?"

I wiped the waterworks from my face onto the back of my arm and stood to my feet. My head ached from the abuse it took. Kano looked like I had just punched him with my words. How I looked probably didn't look either. In a way in made me feel better to see that he felt guilty about what just happened.

"Come on, I'll walk you there."