Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I wish I did though sometimes. Or Dane Cook for that matter.

Sorry it took so long to update but here's a nice long chapter to make up for it.

Kairi POV.

*Sigh* One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi… *Sigh* Three days, I've been in this rank dungeon for three days! At least I think it's been three. I'm going insane here, I don't even know what time or day it is! Grrrr, what the heck are those loonies thinking?! I was currently banging my head on the floor as if that would keep me from boredom or insanity, perhaps both. C'mon I have needs! I'm a girl, I need to shower! And I'm pretty sure I'm nearing my time of the month…

I sat up slowly and again calculated my chances of escape through the tiny window ten feet above my head. I frowned the chances were slim, no matter how many times I went over it in my head. Be sides I don't think that window leads outside. I guess it's just there for false hope or something sick like that. That's why I couldn't tell the time, no light, instead of sunshine and starlight it was always pitch black except for the few candles that were lit. But it was nothing compared to unending silence, not even the sound of insects was heard in this place. The only sounds I heard were the sounds I made or when one of my captors came for a visit.

Getting to my feet I thought to heck with it I'll try the window again. You see this wasn't the first time I've tried to get to the window. I've tried many times in fact, it's just, well… I've only ever gotten two feet off the ground. Now that sounds kinda lame, I know but they really put some thought into this whole no escaping thing. See what I originally thought were stone walls were not. The walls were carved out of solid rock so there were no blocks of stone to push out if one happened to get loose. And they weren't smooth they were rough and bumpy. I was happy that they were like that easier to find a footing. But I then found out that the texture of the wall hid the rocks jaggedness. They must've smoothed it out just enough so you couldn't grab on to something but left it rocky enough that even if you did manage to climb the surface of the wall it would cut and scrape your hands since you had to hold your body's weight.

I was about to start climbing when I heard"Get off the wall." Crap.

I crossed my arms and faced him. "What do you want now?"

"What aren't you happy to see me, princess?" he chuckled.

"I can hardly call this the royal treatment. Now if you excuse me I have some escaping to do."

"Try all you want kid, but you won't get far."

"Nyah, Nyah, ny, nyah, nyah, nah." I mocked. *sigh* I sat down with back towards him.

" Why so quiet, your usually making all sorts of noises." He said annoyed.

I didn't answer, what did he have to be annoyed for. I thought I was pretty well behaved compared to what I wanted to do. I mean I hardly complained, I made as little noise as possible and even though they weren't feeding me except for water, I got no showers and I had to pee with someone in the same room as me, I think I deserved a little space away from these freaks. I was stroking my hands absentmindedly while I mulled over what I've been putting up with. Without having to look down at them I knew they were dirty, bloody and throbbing with pain. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. No! No crying! I promised myself I wouldn't cry! I started to cry.

I didn't know what to do. I had been holding in my tears ever since I woke up three days ago and I was doing fine. But now… I don't know, I just wanna go back to the leaf village, I wanna see Mina. I pulled my legs up to my chest and hid my face in my knees. It didn't matter how many escape attempts I came up with, they'd stop me before I could put it into action. Though it didn't help I was tired, hungry and injured. I wish I could sleep. I got about 2 hours before I woke up terrified, my body was screaming for a nice nap, but I was scared of what else could happen while I was sleeping. But then again what more could they do to me?

*CRASH* I twisted around at the loud sound, " What happened ?" I sniffed out trying to contain my crying.

"Dozed off for a second…" he said groggily.

"How nice for you." I mumbled.

This man I realized, I've never seen his face. The only people's faces I've seen were the blonde, the hunchback , and the women. Come to think of it I didn't even know their names. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. Picking up a small rock next to me I threw it at him I was much too tired to summon up some real strength.

"What the hell!" he was startled awake.

I wiped my eyes and slowly walked over to the bar door. "What's your name?" I asked trying to sound casual as if his reply didn't matter either way. I examined my fingernails.

"…."

I glanced up from my "Examination" To look at him. Which was probably a wasted effort since it was so freakin' dark but what I did make out was that he was tall and he sat like most men do, so he wasn't gay…

"You don't have to answer." I leaned against the bars.

"Kisame, my name is Kisame Hoshigaki." He said.

"Key-sa-may…Kisame." I sounded it out, weird name.

"Oh uh that's a errr nice uh name."

"Heh, yours ain't much better.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I couldn't find enough energy to sound annoyed.

"Well when I think of the sea, I would describe it as serene, beautiful, and enormous. None of which describe you squirt."

Is that what my name meant here? Shaking my head to gather my thoughts I said," well I can't say anything against that." I knew I was none of those things. "but then again when you insult someone's looks doesn't that mean you're either very conceited or your butt ugly." I rubbed my forehead, I was starting to get a headache.

"…"

Did I hit the nail on the head or what? Maybe he's sensitive about his looks? What criminal could possibly care about what he looks like? I mean didn't most look like dweebs that can't get a girlfriend and hang out at comic stores? Or at least from what I saw on most movies and t.v. shows. Geeky yet creepy all at once. But then again the people I have seen that were criminals didn't match that description. I probably shouldn't do this but…

*Sigh* "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"You… didn't upset me."

"Oh really? Then why were you so quiet? Look, we all wish we were better looking but you get what you get and you can't change it… unless you get plastic surgery. So, why don't you move into some light where I can see you? It feels like I'm talking to a shadow, unless you're worried I will escape and I'll identify you later."

"Even if you did escape one of us would just catch you and drag you back, if we were feeling generous, otherwise you'd be dead before you realized it happened."

I Paled, "Good to know."

His voice sounded serious all of a sudden, "Do, uh is erm…"

"Huh?"

He took a breath, "Do you really need to see me?"

I thought about it. Perhaps this kisame person was insecure about his looks like I was and how most teens were, was he a teenager? His voice gave me no clues, since it was a deep baritone and kinda rough. Most of my male friends voices were smoother and a tiny bit higher in pitch. I concluded it was a man's voice not a young adults.

*Sigh* "Not if you don't want to." I heard a shuffling sound and then "I'll warn you now, I'm not the prettiest guy you'll meet." He said slowly it like some grave warning. Like, preparation for some bad news.

"…" I didn't know how to answer to that.

He stepped into the little available light there was which happened to be a few candles on a small stool near the barred door. He looked… he looked like a big blue shark slash human thing. Maybe I really have gone insane? But my imagination isn't that creative with or without sleep deprivation. When I was a little kid I saw "Jaws" and I couldn't take a bath for like 5 years. I thought that shark was gonna come out of the drain... I had to lather one side at a time, so I switched to showers but still... that movie was SCARY. That movie affected my brain for like ever. My mouth was in a tight line. I didn't know how to react to this type of situation. What the heck was I supposed to say or do? I felt really uncomfortable. So, I settled for this, "I've seen worse?"

"Heh, really? Worse than me?" he sounded sarcastic.

"Errr, yeah there are plenty of worse things people could look like… not that you look bad or anything." I said nervously. I scuffed my feet before moving to the back of my cell intent on forgetting I ever saw his face or tried to be civil and have a conversation with him. I wanted to forget this ever happened. I can't make friends here, I had to remind myself of that and I just had to do it in an uncomfortable way!

"It's okay to be disgusted by me, even afraid. I get that a lot." He said proudly.

How could someone be happy that they disgust and scare people? I sat down against the wall and leaned my head back with my eyes closed. I hated the pitch blackness in here but now… maybe the dark was a blessing in disguise. I heard him quietly laughing to himself before I drifted off in to a restless nap.

Mina POV.

It's been Three and a half days since I've seen Kairi! She could be dead and I wouldn't know! I ran through the lady hokage's office door for the sixth time today.

"Have you found kairi yet?!" I gasped out.

Lady Tsunade glared at me form her spot at the window. "How many times are you going to run in here uninvited? I already said that I would send for you if any news of her came to me."

I rolled my eyes," Yes I'm sure you would, but I'd like to stay near you til we find her."

She growled," Where's Shizune?!"

"How should I know?"

"Because Shizune is the one who stays outside my office and I specifically told her not to let you in without permission. And you have somehow been evading her and getting in to my office. So I want to know what she's so preoccupied with she can't find the time to stop you!"

"Again, how should I know? She's probably running an errand you gave her, sides last I checked I had to sneak in through an open window and a few air vents while she was here. And believe me when I say it wasn't easy getting around her."

Tsunade-sama just glared at me harder.

"Soooo, is there anything…" I was starting to get scared, Tsunade-sama had a vein throbbing on her forehead now. "Maybe, you should take it easy, Tsunade-sama I mean you might be hokage, the strongest ninja in the village and all but stress is a killer too and I don't think even you are strong enough to…" trailed off. She looked ready to throw me out a window.

"… I think I'll come back later…" I booked it out of there.

Phew, dodged that bullet. I wiped the small amount of sweat off my forehead. Man, it was winter and I was sweating, great. This is the time of year where me and kairi are supposed to be hanging around and drinking a caramel macchiato or in Kairi's case a hot chocolate, Christmas shopping or go somewhere hot and sunny with our families for winter break. I smiled; we would be complaining how it never snows back home and that we wish we could have a real snow ball fight. And here we are in konoha not home, sure but it was snowing… and she's not here with me to have our snow ball fight. A few tears ran down my cheeks. I sighed and wiped them away.

I stopped walking towards our apartment and turned around towards the hospital. Maybe Sakura would be able to give me some advice on how to deal with lady Tsunade and maybe I wouldn't feel so lonely.

Since Tsunade-sama took an intrest in me and kairi we would have to give her weekly progress reports from our ninja instructors. And since Sakura was her apprentice we would run in to her often. At first I was uber excited that I was meeting the Sakura of Naruto, but then as I got to know her just like everyone else here, I started seeing her as a real person not some made up manga character then even as a friend. Though I still looked up to her, she was one of my idols. I walked through the hospital doors and walked up to the front desk. I asked the nurse where I could find Sakura. She said that she was helping a patient and I could wait for her out here but I told her it was important. So she told me the room number so I could wait outside the door.

It didn't take long for Sakura to finish up whatever she was doing because we were now walking to the cafeteria together.

"Why are you here today, Mina?"

"Oh, I was hoping you could give me some advice on Tsunade-sama. She's been really... well you know." I made a evil looking face at her to give her an example. She started laughing.

"That's Tsunade-sama for you. I'm sure she's just a little cranky what with kai-" She cut off her sentence but I already knew what she was going to say.

"I'm sorry, I know you miss her."

"It's okay, she'll be home in no time."

"Yeah, you're right. She'll be back soon, Tsunade-sama will make sure of it."

I smiled at her, she was hoping just like me. She suddenly stopped and said " Hey do you wanna come with me to ino's?"

"Uhhhh…"

"C'mon Ino-Pig knows all the gossip and she's dying to play with your hair again."

" I don't know last time she made me her dress up doll and it's snowing and-"

"Look I don't wanna be stuck with pig all by myself today, and you distract us from arguing. Be sides I think it would be good for you to get out. So your coming, that's final." She smiled and grabbed my hand to lead me out of the hospital. Jeez, she sounded just like Tsunade-sama. Well, I did say I didn't want to be lonely. But the Tsunade-sama issue was still a little iffy. No one can help me with her

Walking back outside the hospital, I followed Sakura to ino's families flower shop. It was a plain flower shop, ordinary really, two stories tall and refrigerated. Like every other one.

"Hey Ino, look who I brought with me." Sakura pointed to me.

"Hi Sakura, Mina. What are you guys doing here?" She waved to us. I met Ino a little while after I met Sakura. They were always fighting with each other. They were so alike but different too and it was fun to watch them argue with each other. Ino knew everything about everyone and everything in the village, she reminded me of a preppy school girl with an afterschool job. Sakura was more like the brainy school girl that wanted to be a doctor when she grew up.

"We just came to spend some free time we had with you, is there something wrong with that Pig?"

"Listen Forehead, if you think for one second-"

"I thought you two weren't going to argue, Sakura?" I interrupted Ino.

"uhhhh…" they said.

"That's what I thought." I smiled.

So I spent the rest of the day at the Yamanaka flower shop listening to all the latest gossip, getting my hair brushed and pinned up and just spending some nice girl time with them. I watched Sakura and Ino playfully insult each otherback and forth, they were best friends I thought. Laughing and teasing each other, it made me sad and happy to see them like that. It was a nice visit but... it would have been even better if my best friend was there to share it with me.

Kairi POV.

I woke up to the sound of scraping metal. Snapping my eyes open, I pushed my dream to the back of my mind and focused on the person who opened my cell door.

"Time to get up."

"Why?" it was the guy with the face mask again.

"Leader-sama thinks you've had enough recovery time, and wants to continue where he left off."

Recovery time? So a few days in a stinky dungeon with a criminal and no privileges for personal hygiene allowed was a vacation?! I might as well have rammed my head in to the walls, at least then someone would have to clean up all the blood. Maybe the place would be cleaner afterwards!

"Don't make me drag you." He threatened.

*Sigh* "I'm comin', best not keep your leader waiting." I said bitingly. He sighed back.

I followed him back up the stairs and the many hallways again, but instead of going into the room with the big metal door we walked right passed it and continued down a few more hallways and up a flight of stairs. This time it was a nice wooden door we faced. It looked like something someone used for a front door. Thick, glossy and detailed with some panels and a big intricate circle in the middle of it. Every other door we passed before was wooden but nowhere near as nice.

"What's through there?" I was afraid, for all I knew it was just a nice looking door hiding some torture chamber with my luck.

"Leader-sama's office." He grunted.

He then unlocked the door and pushed me into a new… hallway? Unlike the smooth rock walls below, these walls were white and completely smooth. Regular everyday walls, made of plaster and wood. Now I was really wondering just where I was. The floors were light colored hard wood floors and the walls were bare, it had no furnishings or anything not even pictures. We walked down similar hallways with a few similar doors except each design was different or completely plain. How big was this place?

By the time we got to our destination I was confused on how I got there, I was to busy trying to remember each door we passed so I could sorta, kinda know my way around, just in case I ever escaped. The door was nice, a deep brown almost black with subtle designs framing it. I wondered why so much consideration in to some doors when the…house?...was lacking so much personality. I doubted only a handful of people lived here.

The man knocked on the door. "Enter." Said a muffled voice from behind the door.

He opened the door and pushed me inside before shutting it behind me. I turned around slowly, to another man. Well it looked like a man but he was standing so still. his face was covered with piercings. I moved a little closer to look at him , he had orange hair and the weirdest freakin' eyes I've ever seen. They were grayish purple with circles… weird.

"Are you done staring?"

Holy crap!!! I forgot for a second this was a human being. "Uhhh, Sure?"

He sighed, "You fainted."

"Huh?"

"Last time you fainted, I don't need you to do so again. Sit." He indicated to a chair near him. I stood completely still, and quickly took in my surroundings. The room was big, softly lit and very homely looking. With dark red walls and dark wooden floors. A book case on one side of the room almost entirely filled and a large desk in the middle covered with papers and books in front of heavily black draped windows. Messy and warm, very different from the outside where it was cold, orderly and lacked an overall lived in feel.

"I'd rather stand if you don't mind." I said calmly even though I was the exact opposite on the inside.

"I would prefer if you would sit down." He stated. I could see this was going to go nowhere so I warily made my way over to the cushioned chair and sat down in it. He then walked around the desk to sit in the other chair behind it. I felt like I was in a principal's office for some odd reason.

"I want to ask you again your name." the way it came out didn't sound like a question.

I inhaled slowly, "My name is Kairi, my last is Nolan and my middle is Aven." I probably gave more information than needed.

"…" he just stared.

"They're family names." I explained. They probably didn't have names like that here.

"I see. You're age."

"Errr, my age? Uhhh… I'm sixteen."

"When."

"When what?" I was getting annoyed with the orders.

"I want to know when you were born."

"In October."

"I assume you were born in the leaf village."

I let him assume away, if he ever found out I wasn't from the leaf village I could always feed him the same lie I gave Tsunade. I nodded so he thought I agreed with him.

"You became a kunoichi at what age."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him, "Why do you need to know all this?"

"…" he said nothing.

I didn't know what to say. He obviously didn't know much about me. When did people become ninjas here? Tsunade said they had an academy so I guess at a young age, but when did they usually start learning?

"I was ten?" I guessed.

"Rather late for someone like you." Okay, what's that supposed to mean?

He stood up from his seat and walked around the desk to move to the door. My heart suddenly began to beat faster, was he going to lock us both in here? Was I going to be tortured or something?

"You may come in Konan." Ehhhh?! He moved to the side of the door as it swung open. The beautiful blue haired women I saw before gracefully walked in to the room and shut the door behind herself.

"You said to come around this time, am I early?" She asked my interrogator.

"No we were about finished here."

He turned back to me and said "This is Konan. You will address her as she sees fit. And you will be staying with her from now on."

CREEPY GUY SAY WHAT!?! I think my I might've had a minor stroke. "No, no, no, no, no, no way am I staying anywhere near any of you guys!" I pointed between the two of them," I'll stay in my cell thank you!"

"You'd rather stay in some small gross cell than with me?" she asked. She looked puzzled.

"It's probably safer if I did."

"We…" She looked to the man who had moved back to sit at his desk during this… disagreement then back to me, "I wouldn't hurt you."

"Who said it was for my safety?" I glared at her trying to look tough. The man glared up at me as soon as the words left my mouth.

She just smiled to me, "I'm sure I could handle whatever you throw at me."

*sigh* She might be bluffing, I mean she's only a couple inches taller than me, but on the off chance she's not," Is this necessary?"

"Absolutely." He answered.

"Come on, I'll take you to our room."

I shook my head in disagreement. I wasn't about to blindly follow someone I didn't know and was keeping me prisoner. "I don't think so lady."

Her answer was to grab my wrist and pull me out of the room behind her. She may have been barely bigger than me but dang was she strong. Her hand felt like when your hand gets stuck in between a small place you managed to fit it in to but then you find out you somehow can't get it back out. The feel of her skin was warm and slightly rough, a bit calloused. She pulled me down a few halls then stopped in front of a white door decorated with a few cherry blossom petals painted on to it and some detailed carvings of vines around the doors frame.

She turned the brass handle and pulled me into the room with her.

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