Durrr... I think I have writer's block right here, I hadn't really planned any farther than this so it's going to take some thinking... looks like I'll be doing filler chapters until I can really think through what's going to happen in the next portion of the story.

The stillness of the woods was interrupted by kunai slicing through the air. Whooshing was followed by the pain filled squawking of birds as they dropped to the ground in a bloody frenzy. Before another cry could be heard from the pitiful creatures their throats were quickly crushed by little feet. Kumiko looked over her work triumphantly, then, taking her hands off her hips, she began to pile the dead crows. Once a clean pile had been made of all the crows, she lit them on fire.

"The evidence is disposed of; mission complete!" she smiled.

"Kumi-chan, dinner!" Kumiko could hear faint voice of her father in the distance.

"Just in time, too." she exclaimed happily.

It took no time at all for Kumiko to get back home; the woods just flew right by her. She arrived at the edge of the woods and skipped across the yard.

Kumiko slid open the door calling out, "I'm home!"

"Welcome home, Kumi-chan. Did you have fun playing ninja?" he welcomed her with a gentle smile.

"Da-aad! I already told you I'm not 'playing' ninja; I'm training!" Kumiko protested.

"You didn't tell me anything about this, Kumiko." Kumiko could hear the anger ebbing in her mother's voice.

"Oh, Mother, I didn't realize you were here." Kumiko mood immediately died upon the realization of her mother's presence.

"I don't much like your tone, Kumiko, and I definitely don't think that you need supper tonight. Go to your room." she ordered.

Kumiko obediently marched to her room, upon her arrival she fitfully threw herself down on her bed. She tossed a couple punches at her pillow before settling down.

"It's not fair, is it?" Madara said from his perch on Kumiko's window sill.

"Don't worry," he spoke softly, stroking her hair, "We'll get rid of her someday."

"Is-is that okay?" Kumiko stuttered through tears, "I mean, is it... right?"

Madara's eyes flashed from behind the mask. "That's something that only you can decide. Do you think it's 'right' how she treats you?"

He grabbed her arm almost painfully. "Do think that these bruises she gave you are 'okay'?"

"I-I don't know..." Kumiko replied, taking her arm back from Madara and rubbing it soothingly.

"What about your father," Madara suddenly had Kumiko's full attention, "Does he know about your mother's little boyfriend? Do you think that he deserves the treatment he receives? Wouldn't he be better off if she were dead?"

"Your right... she's not doing anything good for this world, so why is she even here?"

"That's right, Kumiko, that's right." and a grin formed in behind Madara's mask.


Kumiko opened her eyes to darkness. She waved her hand in front of her face, but it was completely visible. It was as if a shadow had fallen over the world around her and she was the sole remaining light, shining on.

"What's going on?" she asked herself, "Shouldn't I have woken up?"

"You are awake." a clone of Kumiko stepped out of the darkness, smiling, no; grinning.

"I think it's pretty obvious that I'm still dreaming." Kumiko furrowed her brows in frustration.

"Well, what gives you that idea?" the other Kumiko's grin dissolved.

"The fact that there's another me?" she suggested sarcastically.

The clone burst into laughter. "I'd almost forgotten how innocent you were... you don't even know who I am."

"You're me, aren't you?" this was probably the most confusing conversation Kumiko had ever had.

"I'm nothing like you." she spat.

"What's the difference?" Kumiko asked.

"We're two completely different people, my dear little sister. Oops looks like I slipped!" she smiled at the confused look on Kumiko's face.

"What do you mean? I don't have a sister." she shook her head.

"The only reason you don't know is because of that damn woman! I think you know who I'm referring to." her 'sister' said coldly.

"I know."

"Then you also know that she would have kept this from you."

"I know." Kumiko repeated.

"Now you know another of that bitch's sins," she frowned, reaching out to Kumiko, "She kept us apart, Kumiko! That's why we had to bring her down."

"We? But I was the one-" Kumiko began.

"No, Kumiko, I did it."

"So that's why I couldn't stop myself, couldn't control anything I did, no matter how hard I tried... I-I thought that I had killed all of those people but it was really... you?"

"Not 'you', it's Himeko," Himeko brought Kumiko into a hug, "I know its a lot to take in but-"

Suddenly the darkness dissipated and Kumiko found herself on a bed with stone walls surrounding her and Deidara's lips were locked onto hers.

While writing the first half of this chapter I was practically seething... I HATE that Madara-bastard! Reviews make me happy, so leave me some! Thank-you!