Her head throbbed.

That was the first thing she noticed when she began to open her heavy eyes. Secondly, it was that her entire form seemed to feel groggy, as if she'd stayed up all night then got an hours of sleep, it was that feeling that came when one's body wasn't completely awake, even if their mind was. With a small groan, she shifted around on the bed, pulling herself into a sitting position as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her fists.

It wasn't until that moment that her mind caught up with her. Instantly, she dropped her hands and froze.

The room she was in was simple. In the corner she was settled in was a small cot, covered with simple, white sheets that had fallen away as she'd sat up. In the other corner a simple, empty desk. Then, there was the door. The lighting for the room was built into the ceiling, something that she instantly noted meant she wouldn't be able to break the glass to use as a weapon.

Her eyes darted to her leg and just as she'd expected, her weapon's pouch was gone.

Throat dry, she slid from the cot, shakily making her way to the door. The drug should have been out of her system by now if they'd transported her somewhere else- her body dealt with such things as easily as it dealt with injuries. It and always made it difficult on the doctors in Konoha. Either she'd been drugged more than once or she'd been given an insane dose meant for someone much larger than she was. Either way, it was still there, making movement difficult and slow. By the time she'd made it to the door, her head was spinning and a nauseous feeling sweeping through her frame.

Bracing one hand against the wall, she paused for a moment to let her stomach settle before trying the door handle.

Much to her shock, it turned.

For a moment she simply stared at it, uncertain about what that meant. Had someone been careless? Or... did they not care if she escaped? If they didn't care, what did that mean about what was outside of that door?

Swallowing thickly, she pushed such thoughts from her mind and shoved the door open. One hand against the door, she began walking down the hall, only realizing that she was barefoot when a particular stone cut into her foot, leaving a bloody print behind her. She paused for a moment when she saw that, frowning. A second later she simply held her foot up for a moment for the healing to work. Surprise surged through her as she realized just how low her chakra reserves were.

Getting hurt would be a bad idea.

Eventually, she hit the end of the hall. Once again she paused, eyes widening as she turned and found herself walking into a large open room. Across from here there was a simple chair, settled against the middle of the wall much like a king's throne. As her eyes met the piercing yellow of the man seated there, the little strength she'd mustered seemed to drain from her body, sending her to her knees as she stared ahead of her in shock.

That was the man she'd heard described to her. The one known as Orochimaru.

And standing at his side was Kabuto.

"I hope you found your room to your liking, Kazue-chan."

As Kabuto's voice hit the air, her head spun, her breathing picking up into harsh, gasping breaths.

"You'll be staying with us for awhile."

______________________________________________

Miki stared dumbly out at the village, her arms wrapped around her legs, her head settled atop of them. The wind caught her hair as she watched, whipping it's free strands around her body.

When she'd returned from a short mission given to her after Kakashi had left the hospital, she'd been met with the news of what had happened. Not only had they lost Sasuke to Orochimaru, leaving several genin in the hospital, but her own team was scattered. Kazue was no where to be found, once the news had gotten out, Hisoka had gone out with a tracking team to try and figure out where she'd gone. The trail disappeared shortly after they left the training grounds and no one had been able to find it again.

Jun was unconscious, but stable. The doctors weren't sure why he hadn't woken up yet- their best guess being that his mind wasn't ready to handle what it would have to when he regained consciousness.

Her arms tightened around her legs.

When she'd left, the world had started to righten itself again. She'd been able to breath without thinking about Hayate's death and the matter of Orochimaru's attack on the village. She'd finished the mission, excited to return and see what would come of the new twist in her relationship with Kakashi.

What she'd found was enough to shatter it all.

How was it that every time she seemed to find her footing anymore, something came and changed the world around her. As a familiar, wet feeling pricked the edges of her eyes, she squeezed them shut and buried her head in her legs.

She wouldn't cry. She wasn't a weak girl with no options before her. She'd find Kazue- no matter how long it took- and she'd make sure that Jun recovered. She wouldn't let him be pushed to the side no matter what anyone thought of his mental state when he awoke. Like her, he wasn't weak. Whatever happened in there, he'd be able to handle it, she was certain.

They'd just have to survive the day, then see what changed in the next.

Silently, a hand dropped on her shoulder, squeezing it lightly. Her head raised, eyes locking onto Kakashi's gaze.

"Are the other genin alright?"

He nodded and she relaxed slightly.

"Good. I would have stayed, but..."

His expression told her that he understood as he settled down next to her, his arm tucking over her shoulder. Almost instantly all of the tenseness in her frame seemed to drain away as she curled against him, her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm going to fix this."

"I know," he agreed. "We both will. It won't end like this- not with everything broken. Don't worry."

She nodded, settling her head against the crook of his arm, her eyes flickering over what she could see of the village from their spot once again, taking in everything she could see.

"I'm not," she murmured a moment later. "I know we can do it."

His lips twisted up beneath his mask despite everything. The unspoken words there were obvious.

Together, they'd be able to handle it.

_________________________________________

When he woke up, Jun was given the news. At the surface, he simply took it in, beneath it was only adding the swirling thoughts and emotions running through him. It only faded after he'd been left to rest, told that they'd let him tell his side of the story later when they returned. The moment the door fell shut behind them, that familiar euphoric feeling began to grow. He'd begun to slip from the bed when it registered in his thoughts. As he pushed it from his mind, attempting to sort out his thoughts and shove it away at the same time, a sharp pain cut through his mind. The feeling combined with the assault of his wounds on his frame sent him crumpling to the ground. As his hands cupped his head, he shifted around, settling his back against the wall beside him.

Jin had attacked him.

He'd found her, but she'd attacked him.

The throbbing grew worse. Jun slammed one fist into the wall, his opposing fingers pressing against his throbbing temple. At that same moment, he thought he caught sight of a flash of black-hair across the room from him. He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head and ignoring how it only made the throbbing worse.

"I can't... it's not... it's not..." he mumbled. "A dream. It's not..."

"It's not real?"

He jolted backwards, his back colliding painfully with the corner he'd backed himself into. Almost instantly, his eyes shifted upwards, settling on the small figure standing in front of him. The small boy simply smiled in return, his head cocked to the side, hands clasped behind his back.

"Of course it is," the boy continued. "You can see me, can't you?"

Jun shook his head, pressing his fingers harder against his temple, as if it could block out everything. Things would be so much easier if it could. He couldn't handle this. He needed it to go away, if they returned and saw him like this...

"No... I..."

The boy pouted, leaning down so that his face was only inches from Jun's.

"No fair, you don't see me? That's not fair at all!"

Jun grimaced as pain spiked through his head. It was all he could do to keep himself from simply letting go- letting all of it go. Wouldn't it be better if he just let it happen? Perhaps if he let go for once... everything would be easier to handle. If he let go, he wouldn't have to worry about Jin and about Kazue. About what would happen if he told the truth as it was. That his nine year-old sister had torn him to shreds and smiled when she'd considered making a killing blow.

"We're friends, aren't we? I always help you! It's not fair if you ignore me!"

Caught up in the words for a simple moment, Jun focused on the boy.

"Help?" he wondered. "Could..."

"Could I help you now?" the boy replied thoughtfully- it was only then as the boy's eyes narrowed the slightest bit that Jun realized the only difference between an eight year-old him and the child before him was that this boy's eyes were a deep, crimson red- like the boy from his nightmares. "I suppose... but it'll cost you."

"... cost m-"

Another jolt of pain flashed through his mind, tearing a hiss from Jun's lips as he balled himself up, shoving his fingers against his temple as his opposing fist slammed into the wall again, as if the pain on his hand could distract from his head. It was then that it became obvious who the the figure before him was. The pain, the euphoria...

"Do you want my help? Just say it, if you do. That's all I need... for you to relax and say it."

"Kurai..."

Kurai Jiko smiled, offering his slender hand in Jun's direction.

"You just have to agree. I'll make it all disappear. Your worries, your fears, your pain. You won't have to think about it. If we aren't fighting anymore, imagine how much easier it will be? Instead of butting in to help you, I'll be free to do it as I wish. All you have to do is take my hand. Give me control."

Jun eyed Kurai's hand. The pain in his head faded slightly, as he balled his own into a fist.

Jin had wanted to kill him. She hated him.

The one thing he'd been searching for... hated him.

The one person who'd never viewed him as a monster. The child that had clutched him desperately at night when their parents would fight. The one who'd hummed soothing songs when his nightmares would tear him from his sleep and leaving him shaking in his bed.

That person, hated him.

His hand relaxed at his side, then slowly shifted upwards as the hesitation cleared from his mind.

"I just... have to take your hand?"

"That's all."

His fingers brushed Kurai's and all of the pain seemed to disappear from his mind and body.

"You made the right choice, Jun-kun."