Hi guys, long time no...read? Anyways, this chapter is dedicated to the fantastic reviewers who encouraged me, Breyannia (Who gave me the actual push to keep going) and my awesome Beta Mon Esprit Libre!

Thanks for reading, and as always I don't own anything. Really.

It was a heavy darkness. Ed could feel it sinking into his lungs, squeezing his heart and forcing his eyes open.

The sight before him made Ed suck in an apprehensive breath, filled with nerves and denial. His eyes wouldn't shut, and Ed stood frozen, watching history repeat itself, over, and over, again.

There were thoughts of not real, and Itachi, and Obito, and Akatsuki, but nothing lasted longer than a second before Ed was facing the reality of his memory.

Now, Ed was wishing for the darkness to descend again. A fueling torment of pain and agony was welling up inside his chest.

Wasn't it enough that he dreamed of it, that he had lived it? Why make him watch it, over and over?

His worst mistake. Ed was sure that he would burn in whatever hell there was in this world for it.

There was a thrumming in Ed's head, a certain noise that kept increasing by the second until the voice broke through, murmuring, "Edward?"

Ed made a strangled vibration at Itachi's voice, his mind screaming out why, why, why?

"Edward, listen to me," Itachi urged. His voice echoed within the depths of Ed's mind, coaxing, and liberating him from the memories.

"You need to focus on me, only on me. My Tsukuyomi can't be stopped for a while, Pein is watching." Ed focused on Itachi's voice, his eyes still glued to the scene before him, but now the agony and torment was muffled.

It was now all static, his mind buzzing between agony and relief. There was nowhere to turn to and make the pain stop, nor could he run from it.

Itachi kept murmuring in his head, until it became an incandescent voice that Ed could focus on.

But Ed barely could make sense of what Itachi was saying, the static coming in bursts and a tired ache filling inside him. Was there no end to this?

Ed felt himself becoming lighter, almost as if he was becoming a wisp of a memory himself. Itachi kept on talking, explaining himself, his actions, his life in forbearing tones and shades of black. Then, soon, there was nothing more but a peaceful silence, and Ed dreamt of his little brother crying out, "Come back, brother, please, come back!"

The dull ache from his wrist was what had awoken Ed. The shackles clinked against the chains as he moved them in an attempt to release his hands. Ed's eyes fluttered open, golden orbs zeroing in on the damp, cold, lightly lit room. Empty, as of now, except for him.

Alchemy couldn't be of any help either, Ed noticed, as his hands were an arm length apart. The supposed "chakra" that Ed had was gone or restrained by some sort of seal. The door stood opposite of him, foreboding and tantalizing at the same time.

Ed stood on his toes, as the chains didn't allow his feet to touch the ground, and there was no thought of his height in the observation of such a thing, except Ed did huff a little as the strain on his legs increased.

The door creaked open and Ed stood silent, waiting.

"Edward?"

Ed released his breath in relief. "Konan…"

Konan, the woman who had cared for Ed in his feverish state, closed the door silently behind her, advancing in hurried steps towards Ed.

Her amber eyes flashed with worry, her hand reaching up to smooth Ed's disarrayed bangs. Ed let her fuss, the movements of the woman reminding Ed keenly of his own mother. "I don't think you're supposed to be in here," Ed murmured as Konan tilted his head, raising the glass of water she had held in her hand to his dry, chapped lips.

She didn't say anything to Ed's statement, just waited patiently for Ed to finish before reaching into her pocket to fetch a wrapped up piece of bread. Ed devoured the food and water eagerly, knowing that he might not be able to eat for a while, if the state he was in said anything.

After Ed was finished, his golden eyes met Konan's amber ones, and he murmured a soft "Thank you."

This time, the blue haired woman gave a small smile, whispering, "I've always wanted a son…" Then her eyes darkened at the thought. "…but this world is too dangerous a place to bring a child into." Her amber eyes glowed fiercely as she strangled out, "No child should be subjugated to such a violent world."

Ed didn't say anything, couldn't say anything, as he currently barely knew what had been going on in this world, but he did give a small nod to Konan, understanding her sentiment. Konan left as quietly as she had come, but not before warning, "You have drawn the attention of many. Even Pain-sama is likely to question you, but remember this, Edward: everyone here has their own motives; even me." There was a sad look in her eyes, as if it had hurt her to say it. "Don't place your trust into the wrong person's hands."

It wasn't long before Pain entered the impromptu dungeon himself, silver piercings glinting and a curious fleck of interest in his eyes. Ed waited in the silence, as Pain took a stand in front of him, eyes connecting directly with Ed's.

"I did warn you of the repercussions, Edward," Pain said, breaking the silence. Ed narrowed his eyes at the man as he continued, "I thought Itachi could handle you—as at the time, you had only an ounce of chakra that couldn't even hurt a fly."

The shackles clanged ominously as Ed clenched his fists at the thought of being small in any way.

Pain stepped to the side, observing Ed's hand, almost reaching out to touch it before Ed pulled at the shackles once more. Pain retreated his hand, his tone inquisitive as he stared into Ed's eyes again. "You're chakra is immense, swirling with power in a golden color—now, why would that be? How could something like that happen in just a couple days?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Pain narrowed his eyes, something dangerous moving within them.

"Really?"

Ed's acting had always been mediocre at best, but with the way Pain was looking at him as if looking through glass and straight into his soul was unnerving.

"Why don't you go ask your henchmen?" Ed snarked at the man, unwilling to give anything away. If someone found out that he was from another world, the consequences would be grave—for him, that was.

Pain shook his head, coat flaring out as he turned on the spot and headed for the door. Ed nearly breathed a sigh of relief but the tension in him rose again as Pain gave a nod to the person waiting by the door. Pain moved out of the way, allowing the man to enter the room and the door slammed shut. Ed's pulse raced as his eyes met a Sharingan red one, behind an orange swirled mask.

"Obito," Ed strangled out, and he could swear the man was smirking behind the mask as he said chillingly, "Edward, we have some unfinished business, don't we?"