A/N: Hey there everybody, sorry it took so long for me to update-I couldn't figure out what to put in the next chapter! Well, I've finally got it all typed out and posted. Thanks to all of you who reviewed, and thanks to all of you who read (I do check my stats every time I log in you know). Well, sit back and enjoy the chapter.

screamingcrazyproctorlady

Chapter Seven: Loosing sanity and hope

Kurenai was worried about Kakashi-very worried. She had dropped by his apartment to check up on him (on Tsunade's orders), and had found him lying on his couch, muttering to himself. She had seen the empty sake bottles on the floor, had seen the blank expression on his face as he talked to "Anko."

"I love you Anko, I'll wait for you to come back," Kakashi said over and over again. He truly believed that she would return.

"Kakashi…I think you should come with me," Kurenai said tentatively.

"I can't," Kakashi said in a dazed voice, "I have to wait for Anko, she said she'd meet me here."

"Kakashi, Anko's gone," Kurenai said carefully. "She's not coming back."

"She will come back!" Kakashi screamed at her. He needed to believe she was coming back. Kurenai had to get him to Tsunade; maybe she could do something about the broken shinobi in front of her.

"She…she's at the hospital," Kurenai lied, how much could it hurt?

"Well, then let's go to the hospital," Kakashi said standing up. "I hope she's not hurt."

"Me too," said Kurenai to Kakashi. She could only hope that Tsunade would be able to help him. Otherwise, she didn't know what would happen to him.

"Hello again Anko," said a snake like voice from the door way. Anko hadn't even bothered to look up as her former sensei entered the room. She gasped as pain seared through the part of her neck that was the curse mark.

"What do you want?" said Anko. There had been no emotion in her voice. Pain consumed her mind- she could think of nothing else.

"You know the answer to that- I want to play," said Orochimaru, the grin that she knew so well stole over his face. She hated that grin.

"Of course, I've forgotten how you use others' pain as a form of entertainment," said Anko, she couldn't even force any sarcasm into her voice. The pain in her neck increased until it was almost unbearable.

"Go on, beg for the pain to stop," said Orochimaru silkily. He could see the tears she was holding back. He'd been stepping closer and closer to her, until he was standing right next to her.

"I won't beg for you," said Anko standing up and gritting her teeth. "I'm not as weak as I was last time." He was still taller than her, she noticed. His face was still as pale as death, and his eyes had no mercy in them- they never had.

"Oh but you are," said Orochimaru, stroking the curse mark he had left on her as a reminder that she would always, in a way, belong to him. "I can see it in your eyes."

"Stay away from me," Anko said quietly. He was right; she was just as weak as she was last time. All Orochimaru did was laugh his snake-like laugh-oh how she hated that laugh!

Then, the door opened again, and Itachi walked into the cell. Now she was surrounded by the two people she hated most in the world (and she hated a lot of people).

"That's enough Orochimaru," said Itachi. Then, Orochimaru left the cell; he didn't say a word, he just left.

"How wonderful, you've got Orochimaru at your beck and call," said Anko, again unable to force any sarcasm into her voice.

"Yes it really is, isn't it?" asked Itachi, his eyes shining with triumph. "Do you still believe your team will come for you?"

"Yes, even if Sakura and Naruto don't come, Kakashi will!" Anko said, determination creeping back into her voice.

"It's a lost cause, you know," said Itachi.

"No it's-" Anko started angrily. Suddenly, Itachi was standing right behind her.

"Oh, but it is a lost cause," Itachi whispered into her ear. Anko shivered. "Because the great copy-cat that you believe in so much is on his way back to Konoha."

"That's a lie!" Anko yelled, her voice choking over the words. He promised her-and Kakashi always kept his promises.

"Is it?" Itachi asked, stoking her shoulder. "He believes you're dead."

"NO! Kakashi would never give up on me-never!" Anko screamed.

"He would if some one showed him that you were dead," Itachi said quietly.

"You didn't, you didn't!" Anko yelled incredulously at him.

"I did," Itachi said, his voice telling her that he was very amused about this. She started to sob. She would never get out of here now-never.

"Shhh," Itachi soothed. "It's all right, onegai, it's all right."

"Just kill me, why won't you just kill me?" Anko asked, giving up all hope.

"Believe me, I am killing you. There are more ways than one to kill a person." Itachi explained. "I am definitely killing you."

A/N: Itachi is evil, isn't he? I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you will review…please? Thanks again to all of you who reviewed- I really appreciate it. I'll have the next chapter up soon, I promise. Until we meet again.

screamingcrazyproctorlady