Chapter 6 Rings and Numbers

The room wasn't small. I guess you could say it was cozy and simple. It consisted of nothing but a single bed, a table, a closet and a small bathroom. I found it nice that this was a room I could call my own. With Akatsuki I constantly traveled. I entered the room cautiously.

"It's not much but it will do." Kabuto said.

I turned towards him as he started to close the door. He held up a key.

"Sorry, but I have to lock you in for now."

For now?

The door closed and there was a sharp click as the lock snapped in place. I sighed and dropped on the bed. I have nothing to do, I told myself. I looked over at the door handle. It wasn't made out of a strong metal and I could melt it down easily. But, I had no escape plan or any idea about the layout of this place. Even if I did get out of the room, what would I do? Where would I go? The only thing I would do is give them a better reason to lock me up and keep me under surveillance. It would be best to wait and gather more information.

I stood up and walked over to the closet. I opened the door to see my bag lying in the corner. I smiled and pulled it out. I dumped out all the contents onto the bed. I was surprised to see all my weapons still there.

"Confident aren't there." I mumbled.

I replaced everything in the bag but kept out my sketchbook and a pencil. I had realized , after a while of traveling, that it helped to have something to do when there was nothing else.

I sat there for hours in the corner of my bed, just drawing whatever came to mind. When I pulled my watch from my bag after awhile, I learned it was only 4 o'clock. I groaned. I never liked having free time. If I ever did I usually trained but that wasn't an option at the moment.

Now bored with drawing, I tucked away my sketch book. As I began to pull my hand out, my fingers brushed against a cold, flat surface. I pulled out a book that I always packed. The book had never sold, that's what the clerk at the store had said. I smiled and closed my eyes.

I noticed the small bookstore out of the corner of my eye. I reached up and pulled on Itachi's sleeve. He looked down at me, that's how he showed he was listening.

"I want to go get some books." I said, pointing at the store.

He glanced up at the store.

"Do you have money?" He asked as he looked back down at me.

I nodded and held up my money pouch.

"Where did you get that?"

I smiled. "I always take the money of those I take out."

Take out was my way of saying killed.

His face remained blank but there was something I couldn't read hiding in Itachi's eyes.

"Okay, but hurry up." He said.

My smile widened and I bounded off towards the book store. The store wasn't small but it wasn't big either. I ran through the aisles, the book cases towering over me. I gathered about three books that looked interesting before heading off to the New Releases. There I stocked up on some more books. A small pile of books caught my eye before I headed off to the purchasing counter. I grabbed one and flipped through it. I shrugged and added in to my pile. I heaved my books onto a counter that was almost taller than me. The clerk looked at my collection before peering down at me. He was a tall man with kind eyes and short black hair.

"Are you sure you want all these books?" He asked. "Most of these are at adult level.

I nodded. "I'm sure I've read bigger."

"How old are you?" He asked curiously.

"I just turned 10 last week!" I said cheerfully.

He smiled back at me. "Well, happy birthday! As a present I'll give you a discount."

"Thank you, mister!!" I beamed.

The clerk began to scan and bag the books. When he came to the last book, he stopped to stare at it.

"This book…it's never sold well."

"Really?" I asked.

"This author's other book sell great, though."

"What are his other books?"

The clerk laughed. "Sorry kid, there adult books only."

"Oh, I see."

The clerk bagged up my books and smiled at me. "Have a nice day."

"Thank you!" I said again as I accepted the bag.

I ran out the door. The poor clerk probably had now idea that he had been talking with a young assassin that worked for a dangerous organization.

Itachi was waiting for me outside on a nearby bench. He stood up as I held up my bag of knowledge. He picked through and, like the clerk, stopped to look at the book that couldn't sell. He tossed it back after a while. He pulled a chocolate bar out of his sleeve and handed it to me. I accepted it with a thank you. Itachi gave me one of his rare smiles as he put his hand on my head. Itachi treated me like this on very rare occasions. I often wondered if it had something to do with the little brother that he mentioned from time to time.

I woke with a start. I looked around frantically only to remember where I was. I relaxed and looked down. I held the book tightly to my chest. I must have fallen asleep while I was reading it last night. Although, the clerk had claimed it had never sold, I really liked it. It wasn't until now, though, that I realized the main character shared the name with the nine-tails. I wondered if there was some connection.

I put the book on the bed and stood up. I walked over to the bathroom and realized it was even smaller than I had expected. I splashed the cold sink water onto my face. It felt refreshing and washed the lingering sleep away. After drying my face with a towel that had been laid out for me, I brushed my hair. Feeling more prepared and awake, I left the bathroom.

I opened the door but then wanted to slam it shut again. I stared across the room at the last thing I wanted to see in the morning. Orochimaru stood by my bed with his back turned to me. He was holding my book and staring at the cover, unseeing.

"Good morning, Karasu-hime." He said turning to me.

"Morning." I responded for the sake of being polite but purposely leaving out the "good."

Orochimaru returned his attention to the book. He chuckled and held the book out to me.

"I grew up with the person who wrote this." He said.

"Really? This is my favorite book…" I said, fondling staring down at it.

"The author was untalented and had the mind of a small child, I don't expect his books to be much better." He sneered.

"Have you just come here to mock me?! Haven't you got other things to waste your time on?!"

Orochimaru smiled. "Do you find me that cruel?"

I glared up at him, but said nothing. He of all people should know what fueled my deep hate for him.

"I need you to come with me." He said and turned to leave.

"You don't need me to do anything!" I growled as I began to tuck the book away.

"Did you know," Orochimaru began. "The the nine-tails was named after the protagonist in that book?"

I looked over at him. He smiled and disappeared from the doorway. I took a deep breath and followed him out the door.

--

I sat down slowly in the chair. I looked over at Kabuto who was standing by a nearby table. He glanced at me but that was all. I turned my attention back to Orochimaru, who had walked over to the far end of the table. I shifted nervously in my chair as Orochimaru back towards me. In his hands he held a rather flat shaped box, which he set down on the table edge near to me. He removed the lid to reveal what looked like a metal ring that could fit around someone's head. Orochimaru removed it gently from the box. He held it up for me to better see.

"Do you know what this is?" He asked.

Unable to come up with a sarcastic remark, I shook my head.

"Pull your arm out of your yukata sleeve and hold it out." He instructed.

I didn't move.

"It won't hurt you." He said plainly.

I hesitated, then did as he had told me and held out my arm. Orochimaru slipped the ring over my hand and up to my upper arm. He let it linger there until an oval light on the ring's flat surface lit up. Orochimaru let go and the device hung there, slowly rotating. I stared at it with child like wonder. Suddenly, the device shrunk to the point that it fit around my upper arm. I gasped and instinctively pulled at the ring, in an attempt to get it off. It didn't fit my arm tightly but securely enough that I couldn't even slide a finger between the ring and the skin of my arm. I glared up at Orochimaru.

"Well, it won't hurt you yet, at least." He said casually.

"What the hell is this thing?!" I demanded.

"It doesn't have a name but the others gave it the nickname, The Rai Ring."

"Others?" I asked.

"The other experiments." He stated.

"What does it do? What is it for?"

Orochimaru replaced the lid back in the box. He handed the it to Kabuto, who took it off to a cupboard.

"It's a tracking device. It allows me to know where the wearer is at all times. Not only that but say I notice that your trying to leave the hideout. The device allows me to send and electric current through your body, the voltage is of my decision." Orochimaru held up what looked like a small touch screen.

" I'm sure you're aware that I can melt straight through this, right?"

"Not without risking yourself."

I stared up, confused.

"That ring is made out of orichalcum, the strongest metal in the world. I'm sure you could melt it at 100 but," Orochimaru smiled. " We both know the outcome of that decision."

"So, does this mean I am allowed to wander freely?" I asked, changing the subject.

"If that is what you want."

I stood up. "Then, if were all done here, I'll take my leave." I headed out towards the door.

"Oh, and one more thing, Karasu-hime."

I turned, impatiently.

"I wouldn't attempt trying to memorize the layout of this place. We have a tendency to move to change hideouts from week to week."

I grunted, turned away and left.

I stared at the ring around my arm. Out of curiosity, I bit my thumb, raised the toxicity to 30 and pressed the pad of my thumb to the metal surface. I held it there for a good minute, watching my blood bubble and sizzle. A couple drops fell to the floor, burning bead size holes into the stone. I pulled my thumb away and saw, to my dismay, that I hadn't even scratched it.

"What a pain in the ass." I mumbled and I pulled my sleeve back on.

I began to suck the blood from my finger. The blood hissed on my tongue but it didn't affect me directly.

"Oh! So, you're the new girl?"

I spun around but there was no one there. Then a face swung into view. I stumbled back, caught off guard. A girl about my age smiled back at me, her whole body turned upside down, with her feet attached to the ceiling.

She walked towards me and extended a hand. "Name's Shirasaki Mizuko."

I studied her appearance. Mizuko had dark brown hair and tan brown eyes with slit like pupils. Her smile was wide with fang like incisors. She wore baggy pants, along with a loosely worn belt. Under her high collared vest, she had a black belly shirt. As I reached towards her extended had, I noticed and black tattoo that curled around her upper arm.

"Uchiha Karasu." I said as I shook her hand.

Mizuko's smile widened and she jumped to the ground. She put her arm around my shoulder.

" You're that girl that I've heard so much about! The Akatsuki spy, right?"

I nodded slowly, surprised by her openness and carefree attitude. I noticed, now that she was upright, that her hair was shoulder length and that one side of her bangs were longer than the other.

She laughed. "That means you got to see Kisame-sensei, eh? He still sadistic and hot-blooded?"

I nodded again. "Y-you know Kisame-san?"

"Know him?! I grew up with the guy! Ah, just his name brings back memories."

Just then, a loud, gurgling sound erupted from my stomach and rang through out the hallway. We were both silent. I felt my face go red but Mizuko just smiled.

"When was the last time ya ate?"

"I don't remember."

She patted my shoulder. "I'll take you to the dojo to meet the other two, then I'll get you some food."

Mizuko ran ahead towards an traditional sliding door and grabbed the handle before flinging it open.

"This is the dojo!" She announced, spinning in a graceful circle. "It's pretty big and almost everyone uses it. On good days, you can have the whole thing to yourself!"

"What are you doing here, Mizuko?" A voice said.

At first I couldn't see who had spoke but then a girl walked out from behind a wooden dummy. The girl was tiny, 4' 5'' at the most. Her hair was black with her bangs dyed dark red and it was barley shoulder length. Her face had a very beautiful and mature appearance, especially with her oval shaped glasses over her dark blue eyes.. She wore a long sleeved, Chinese styled dress, with a pair of caprees underneath. She realized I was staring.

"Who the hell are you?!" She snapped.

"Relax short-round, she's the new girl." Mizuko said.

I smiled the best I could. "My name is Uchiha Karasu, nice to meet you."

"U-Uchiha?! The A-Akatsuki girl?!" The girl stuttered looking at Mizuko.

Mizuko nodded. The girl's eyes became distant as she stared back at me and for a brief second she looked sad. She quickly returned to her original expression.

"Tsukeru Hiko, age: 17, No. 118." She adjusted her glasses.

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Mizuko asked.

I thought she had been talking to me but when I turned to respond, she was looking in another direction. I followed her gaze back to the wooden dummy, only this time another girl I had failed to notice earlier was seated on top. The girl blushed and stared down at her feet.

" I-Inoue Ekima, age: 13, No. 73."

Ekima was a tall, strawberry bond with pale blue eyes. Her hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and the right side of her bangs were pulled to the side with a hair clip. I couldn't really see her outfit because of a black trench coat she wore.

"What are the numbers for?" I asked.

"Every test subject is put in a certain group or category, and then we're given a number. I'm No. 106, for example. The higher the number, the newer the subject. You're the newest in your category, No.130." Mizuko explained.

"But Ekima-san, your number is 73-"

"Ekima has live here as long as she can remember, she doesn't even know her home village." Hiko cut it.

I looked over at Ekima, who was still staring at her feet.

"I see." I mumbled.

Ekima slid down from the log, now I was able to determine she must have been around 5' 6''. She walked over to me and bowed deeply. I was taken aback by this gesture.

"Forgive me, Uchiha-sama, for not being able to answer such questions." She smiled at me. "I am not very useful."

I shook my head and took a hold of her shoulders, forcing her to look me in the eye.

"First of all no "sama" and don't ever call me by my last name! Second, and most importantly, don't ever say your not useful! Ever!"

"B-but…Orochimaru-sama-"

"I don't give a damn what Orochimaru told you! Ekima-san, you are who you are, don't let anyone tell you any differently!!" I softened my voice. "You are no less than anyone."

Ekima stared back at me wide eyed. She smiled slowly and nodded. From the corner of my eye I noticed Hiko smiling. Something she had deprived me of since our meeting. They hadn't been my words. It was my mother who had said that to me…so long ago. I quickly pushed my mother from my mind. Mizuko studied the scene with and awkward look.

"Well, uh, I'm gonna go get us some food." She said after awhile.

"Ah, do you need help?" Ekima asked.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." Mizuko responded as she turned to leave.

I was left with an eerie silence between Hiko and myself. I scratched my leg with my foot before sitting on the ground. Hiko soon followed, sitting across from me. I looked around the dojo. It was nothing special. It looked like and average room, walls painted with cloud patterns. On the far wall a large snake was painted among the clouds, I didn't find this too surprising. Wooden dummies were scattered at random around the room, moveable to the user's whim. Towards the back, on the two side wall, were weapon racks. Some of the weapons I didn't even recognize. I found the room surprisingly clean and tidy.

"Thank you." Hiko said suddenly.

"What?"

"Ekima has never had self-confidence. She lets Orochimaru get to her too often." She paused. " Ekima has always been like a sister to me. Ever since I first came here she has always helped me and we protect each other."

"Yeah, I know what that's like." I said. "Someone back in Akatsuki was like that to me."

"Someone?"

"Itachi-san." I said, suddenly struck by nostalgia at thought of him.

"Itachi-kun?!" Hiko gasped.

Her reaction struck me as questionable.

"Are you familiar with him?" I asked.

Hiko's face hardened. "My personal life and who I associate with are none of your business!" She snapped.

I was about to say something else, when the door opened with a crash. I turned to see Mizuko and Ekima enter with trays of food in their hands, Ekima obviously carrying most of the load.

"There is no better way for girls to get to know one another than during an awesome meal!" Mizuko announced, rather flamboyantly.

"I think that saying is actually meant for men, Mizuko-chan." Ekima pointed out.

"Well, girls got to eat too!!" Mizuko said as she began to lay out the food between Hiko and myself.

Ekima sat down next to Hiko slowly and carefully, Mizuko just dropped down next to me like a sack of rice.

"Karasu, just hang with us and you should be fine." Mizuko said. "Us girls gotta stick together in a place like this, keep each other safe."

I was confused but the other two nodded in agreement.

"Just watch out when your wandering around alone and don't get stupidly curious, that always leads to trouble." Mizuko continued. "Now, let's eat!"

I hadn't expected there to be so much food and it made realize how hungry I was. There was instant ramen, rice, onigiri, fruit, taiyaki, dango, natto, pocky and other easy or instant food. I looked at my new companions uneasily. They had already begun to eat. Ekima ate neatly and proper, blowing on her ramen noodles gently before eating them. Hiko ate at a normal pace but in a certain pattern, like she would eat some ramen, then take a bite of onigiri before drinking some ramune, then repeat the pattern. Mizuko didn't eat fast but she didn't eat at a normal pace either, she would eat practically a who taiyaki in one bite, not even pausing to chew before taking a swig of water. I wasn't used to being around other girls, especially ones my age. I had grown up around men my entire life. Sitting here was almost alien to me.

"Aren't you going to eat, Karasu-chan?" Ekima asked.

"Yeah, it's not poised, or anything." Mizuko said through a mouth full of rice.

I reached forward, grabbed a cup of instant ramen, and bit into it timidly. The ramen was spicy and tasted delicious. Hunger overcame me and I began to stuff the noodles into my mouth, not minding the broth that burned the back of my throat. I reached for the other food and began shoving it into my mouth as fast as possible. I stopped in mid bite of my onigiri and realized the other three were watching me. I looked back at them, my face flushing from embarrassment. Mizuko was the first to lose it. She burst into a plate shattering laugh, practically rolling on the ground. Ekima got the case of giggles, covering her mouth as she laughed. Hiko only smirked but it was obvious she was as entertained as the others. I soon found myself laughing. It was the hardest I had laughed in a long time and I felt like something heavy was lifted from my heart.