Disclaimer : I do not own Naruto...
I managed to get this chapter written a bit faster so i'm in a good mood.
Thanks to my reviewers (you guys make my day!) and to everyone who read.
Chapter 5
Amaya continued to take nervous steps down into the darkness. They seemed to go on forever and she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Steadying her self on the cold stone walls she let out a squeak of surprise as she bumped into something. The thing jumped and screamed.
"AHH!! There's something down here! Lemme out, lemme out, lemme -," Hana blinked as Kisame lit a torch, sitting in its bracket on the wall, "Oh, it's just you, Amaya-chan."
"Yes, it's me," Amaya replied, feeling rather stupid for being scared of the dark and rubbing absently at her still aching foot.
In the flickering light she could see part of a long, narrow, stone corridor. It was a bit disappointing really – both Amaya and Hana had been expecting something just a little more elaborate.
As they continued walking down the corridor Kisame lit more torches so they could see where they were going. They passed doors and Amaya couldn't help but wonder what was behind them, the adventurous side of her itching to run and pull them open.
Kisame stopped finally and pulled one of the doors open.
"This is the kitchen," he stated simply.
They peered inside. It was quite large, with a long, wooden table in the middle which would probably seat about eight or ten people. Cupboards lined the walls and there was a fruit bowl on the side which looked to be empty. The floor was wooden – which Amaya thought was quite dangerous considering the whole place was lit with torches and candles – and that was it.
Kisame started to walk again and they followed obediently. After taking a left and a right, and a dozen other turns, they went through a door which led on to another corridor. This one had doors all the way down, on both sides. Each door on the left had one opposite it on the right, almost as though they were in pairs.
Stopping at the doors second from the end of the corridor Kisame pushed one open.
"This is my room. You, in," he pointed at Hana.
"Huh? Me? In your room?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"We don't have anywhere else to keep you at the moment."
"No, I meant, why do I get your room?"
"Itachi-san prefers quiet. Now, in," He said, pushing her inside and closing the door in her face, but that did nothing to block out the sounds of her complaints.
Amaya watched. I guess I'm the quiet one… So that means…that I'm going to be…
The door behind her opened. Turning she glanced up at red eyes before stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind her and she was plunged into complete darkness.
"Hey!! Are you even listening to me? It's dark in here! I can't see a damn thing!" Hana continued to shout from behind her own door.
"She's right. I can't see a thing, either…"
Apparently they had been listening, as the door opened again and Itachi entered. He moved around the room, lighting candles without sparing a glance for her before leaving again.
Well, at least I can see now…
The room was quite large. There was a double bed in the centre with black sheets. The floor was covered in a soft carpet, which was also black. The walls were painted black, too, and Amaya began to get the distinct impression that Itachi liked the colour.
There was a desk with some papers and books lying on it, and more books on a shelf above it. On the other side of the room there was a wardrobe and a chest of draws for his clothes.
Spotting a door on the far side of the room Amaya moved to it and pulled it open, revealing a bathroom. Picking up one of the candles carefully she found that, surprisingly, the tub was white, as were the floor and walls. The towels hanging on the towel rack beside the shower were black though.
She stared longingly at the bath for a moment before moving back into the bedroom.
"Amaya-chan!" Hana called.
Amaya opened the door a little and seeing that the two men were gone she pulled it open all the way.
"They're– Itai!" She jumped back as a sharp pain shot through her already injured foot.
"They put up some kind of invisible barrier thing to stop us getting out," Hana supplied.
"Nice of you to tell me before I got hurt," Amaya growled.
"You're welcome!"
Amaya sighed, "Is that why you were calling?"
"Partly because of that, partly because I don't like it in here…"
"Does it smell?"
"No, I thought it would, but it doesn't. It's actually quite nice, to be honest… It's all blue and there are waves and stuff painted on the walls, like the sea, but it's his room."
"Huh, at least you got some colour. This room is all black."
Hana laughed and rubbed her stomach as it rumbled, "Oh that reminds me. They'll let us out for food every now and then. Each time the barrier will be down for exactly an hour and we have to be back by then or we're in trouble."
"If it's just 'every now and then', then how will we know?"
"I asked that. Sharky just laughed and walked away."
"Well, there must be some way to tell…"
"I have an idea!" Hana said brightly. Turning into the room she appeared at the door again with a book in her hand, "Maybe if we can't pass through, then neither can anything else," and she threw the book.
Thump. It landed in the middle of the corridor.
"Oh, it went through, so we must be able to as well!" She took a large step and got a shock up her leg. "Okay, I'm guessing it doesn't work like that."
Amaya nodded and then stopped.
The doorway shimmered blue for a moment. Staring, she tried to decide weather that had been her imagination or weather that was the barrier really disappearing. Slowly she stretched out her hand and waved it in the door way.
"It's gone!" She announced happily.
"Good," Hana replied, stepping through her own door, "ITAI!! And why isn't mine gone?!" She shouted angrily. In reply she heard a low laugh come from the other end of the corridor as her door way flashed blue for a moment.
"SHARKY!!"
Amaya followed her friend as she chased down the corridor after the blue man, retracing her steps to the kitchen, trying to memorize the numerous turns. When she got there Hana was already inside, drinking a glass of water.
While getting herself a glass of water too, she watched Hana.
"There's hardly any food here!" She cried throwing open cupboards and finding most of them empty.
"What happened to Hoshigaki-san?" Amaya asked, also starting to look through the cupboards.
"He came in here and disappeared in a puff of smoke," Hana muttered angrily, "Stupid fish-face."
He disappeared…in a puff of smoke?
They continued to look through the kitchen for food but found very little.
"Damn it! Why give us time to eat when there's nothing to eat anyway?!"
"Well, you can have the apple, I'll have the grapes, the mouldy banana can stay where it is and so can the squishy plums, ne?" Amaya handed the apple to her friend, "It's not much but it's better than nothing."
Taking the apple Hana nodded, "I love plums… I'll have to complain until they buy some fresh ones…"
"We should probably get back. We spent a long time looking for something to eat and we have no way of knowing how much time we have left."
Nodding again as she took a bite of her apple Hana left the kitchen behind her friend. They talked quietly as they made their way back. Amaya wasn't too sure of the way, but Hana had a good sense of direction and they found their way back quite easily.
Hana yawned as she stepped into Kisame's room, "Oyasumi," she murmured as she closed the door, glad to find that they were back in time.
"Oyasumi," Amaya smiled back.
As she turned, the doorway flashed the same pale blue colour as earlier and she froze.
Did it just…? Will I be able to get back in?
She reached her hand out towards the door. Her fingers brushed the wood and she thought she would be okay, but as she pushed the door open pain shot up her arm. Cursing colourfully she glared at the door.
Damn it! Now what do I do?
She sat beside the door, leaning against the wall and waited. Hana had said that they would 'be in trouble' if they didn't get back in time. Amaya wasn't quite sure what that meant exactly, but she had expected someone to come running to tell her off or something; but no one came.
Popping the last grape into her mouth she got to her feet with a sigh. She'd been sitting there for ages, the ground was uncomfortable and she was worried that if she didn't move she would be frozen there forever. Shivering again she wondered what she should do.
Don't these people ever sleep? If it's his room he would sleep there, so where is he?
Finally she decided that she would check the kitchen. It was the only other room she knew and she had nothing better to do, so she wandered slowly down the corridors.
It was a left and then here it was right, and then another right and then…Uh…Left? No… Right again… No, it wasn't a right either…
She looked around in the dim light.
Great, She thought sarcastically, I'm lost. Now what do I do? I should have just stayed where I was!
"Baka!" She mumbled angrily at herself as she continued down the corridors, now without the slightest clue as to where she was.
After a while she started to hum quietly to herself.
This place must be quite big; these corridors go on forever. It's like a maze. Don't they say that if you keep your hand on the right wall then you'll find the way out? Maybe I should try it…
She began to run her hand along the wall until she came to a flight of stairs. At first she walked past them, but then she stopped and took a few steps back. She stared at them for a moment before shrugging and climbing them slowly.
Going by how long it took her to get to the door at the top she guessed that she was probably back on ground level. She'd love to escape, but she wouldn't leave Hana behind.
She pushed the door gently and it swung open with a low creak. Gasping she couldn't believe her eyes. It was… beautiful.
A cold breeze whipped through her hair as she stepped out into a small, moonlit garden which had walls all around it. Everything was coated in silver and rippled gently; small statues stood here and there – they looked so lifelike; there was a trickling sound which she soon found came from a small steam; the water sparkled and reflected the moon; there was even a small bridge which she stood on, listening to the water and the rustling of the plants.
How could this be possible? Such a beautiful place, with a stream and everything, surrounded by large walls and dark corridors, seemed a little out of place. Where did the stream come from, anyway, and where did it go?
Despite the oddity of it all she began to sing quietly, caught in the beauty of the small garden around her.
I'm standing on the bridge,
I'm waiting in the dark,
I thought that you'd be here, by now.
There's nothing but the rain,
No footsteps on the ground,
I'm listening but there's, no sound.
Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
It was so peaceful, but she really had thought that someone would have come looking for her by now.
It's a damn cold night,
Trying to figure out this life,
Won't you take me by the hand,
Take me somewhere new,
I don't know who you are but I,
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
The wind whistled through the trees as all the questions about everything whirled around in her mind again.
I'm looking for a place,
I'm searching for a face,
Is anybody here, I know.
'Cause nothing's going right,
And everything's a mess,
And no one likes to be, alone.
Why hadn't they come? Maybe they were busy? Perhaps they hadn't realized that she wasn't back yet? It didn't matter, it was nice out here.
Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
It's a damn cold night,
Trying to figure out this life,
Won't you take me by the hand,
Take me somewhere new,
I don't know who you are but I,
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
Why is every thing so confusing?
Maybe I'm just out of my mind?
Sighing softly, she once again wondered why she was here at all.
It's a damn cold night,
Trying to figure out this life,
Won't you take me by the hand,
Take me somewhere new,
I don't know who you are but I,
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
She sang quietly, her soft voice floating on the wind and getting louder until it echoed off the walls surrounding the garden.
Take me by the hand,
Take me somewhere new,
I don't know who you are but I,
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
Take me by the hand,
Take me somewhere new,
I don't know who you are but I,
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
Finishing quietly she breathed in the crisp night air and felt quite relaxed. Singing always had that effect on her. Once she'd let all her emotions out she always felt calm. Now, she just had to find her way back.
Before she could move, though, another problem arose. She froze and her calmness was shattered as a deep voice spoke behind her. It was a voice she didn't know.
"I don't know who you are either, un."
Guess who!
Sorry that nothing much really happened in this chapter, but i'm planning on a bit more action in the next one...
The song is called 'I'm With You' by Avril Lavigne (you can hear it on her site if you want to)... I wasn't sure about it as first, but it fitted the mood i was going for... I considered cutting it down rather than posting the whole thing, but in the end i just decided to leave it as it was... What do you guys think? I'll probably be including some more songs later in the story, as singing is very important to Amaya-chan, so i'm wondering how i should do it...
(Oh, and if you don't like the song or Avil Lavigne then, you know, everyone's entitled to their own opinion so please don't complain about it.)
Also, 'un' or 'yeah'? I know most people use 'yeah' but i thought i might be different and go with 'un'...
Let me know what you think!