"S-sorry?!" Masayu say up in bed and stared at the messenger. "I've only just eaten!"
The ninja looked up, confused. "I'm sorry Ms, but you've been asleep for 2 days now and only just woken. You've not eaten since you got here. So I've been ordered to take you to the hall-"
"2 days!" she rubbed her eyes, the bath, the meal, the feelings, all a dream? No it was too vivid, too tangible, too – real. But then that means there is still a chance to fight it. If she's not given into him yet, there was still a chance. And the first way to make sure she didn't fall for anything was to avoid the place the dream took place. "Bring my food here. I'm not leaving this room, so either I starve to death or I eat in here. That's their choice." She looked at the ninja and waived her hand to show that she had finished. He looked as though he was about to protest but thought against it and closed the door. 'Right' she thought. 'Next step, not to beautify myself' and she wriggled down under the covers, pulled them over her head and closed her eyes.
"Why are you trying to fight me?" the voice echoed in her head. "I'm trying to do this nicely, trying to make this easy on you but I don't need to." Her father's voice. He was reprimanding her for giving food to the villagers again, the children that gathered by the back gate of the palace were so thankful for even a small portion of rice, it wasn't even like they didn't have enough in the palace, the stores were over-flowing. She could hear herself argue back, voice almost muted, head dropped to the floor, but he wouldn't listen. He was mad with power, one of the effects of the crystal. She could feel the guards grab her and pull her to her feet. She knew where she was heading...
"Why are you trying to fight me?" the voice was different this time. Not the one from her usual nightmares. "You know you can't fight it, one way or another I will have my vessel. One way or another"
Her eyes opened sharply as she jumped out of bed. Was he here? She looked around and when she felt sure she was alone she fell back on the bed. What was it with this place, nothing is what it seems. The fake looks real and the real – well she was yet to witness that. She crept over to the door and opened it slightly. About a meter from the door the ninja stood guard, but sitting on a tray in front of the door was the food from her dream. She opened the door quickly, brought the food in and slammed it behind her. She hadn't realised how hungry she was until she started eating, the food filling her cheeks and hands grabbing the next portion before she'd even finished. Washing it all down with the red liquid. It was warming and the more she drank the more relaxed she felt.
On finishing she looked around the room again, the bath still slowly steaming in the corner, the thought now seeming even more appealing. She stood slowly and shed her tattered gown on the way there. Walking over to the tub she sat on the edge and felt the water, still invitingly warm, she allowed her fingers to play in the water briefly before swinging her legs round and slowly sinking into the water. The feeling was heavenly and she felt all the dirt and tears wash away. The feeling of Kabuto against her, the fear, the relief when Sasuke appeared behind him. She allowed her head to fall beneath the surface when a thought took her – she could end all this right now. No more vessel, no more being captive, no more Orochimaru and no more Sasuke.
No more Sasuke... why did that fill her with sadness? He'd kidnapped her, tried to kill her and reduced her to being a pawn in his game yet there was something more. His eyes betrayed him, it was obvious he wanted revenge but the way he looked when he had Kabuto by the throat it was more than just anger at potentially ruining the mission. It was protectiveness. He kept his eyes fixed on her the while time, and from the dream, was it him that out her to sleep? She suddenly realised her lungs were aching from the lack of oxygen, it was time to choose. End it or fight on – she could feel her body convulsing as it begged for air, her head going hazy. She gave in, opened her mouth and felt the warm liquid flow in. For the first time in a while she felt truly happy as she felt the last dregs of life escape her body.