Chapter 3

What the hell happened? Where was she?

Grimacing as sharp pains shot throughout her body, she glanced downwards, only to blanch at the bloodied stumps where her legs had once been. Steam surrounded the savagely cut limbs, but the sight did little to ease her sudden nausea.

They'd crippled her.

Dried blood coated her thighs all the way up to her hips, she realised belatedly, though not the ends of her stumps–

Bile cut off her gasp with a strangled gurgle when she found it wasn't only her legs missing – her right arm was gone. Completely.

"Oh? Looks like she's waking up."

Don't get your hopes up, she thought wearily as the world started to spin.

The next time she awoke, she was fastened securely to some form of wooden carrier, its jostling causing a great discomfort that she fought against sounding.

All she could see was the reddening sky as the sun set above her and despite it being obscured in places due to the placement of branches and leaves, the brief glimpses of its colour was enough to bring the memories of her injuries to the forefront of her mind. Well, that and the steam that continued to cover her.

What had happened? How had she received such brutal wounds? Why couldn't she remember anything? And how was she back in her normal body again?

Even though the world continued to spin sickeningly as she lifted her head slightly, she fought through it, stomach churning when she caught snippets of the two men's conversation.

"You used too much chakra."

"She's strong, yeah."

"That is no reason to be reckless," he was chastised, and it took her a moment to realise it was the redhead who was speaking. The only reason she figured it out was because of the annoying add-on to the other man's sentences. "We are technically still on our mission."

There was an aggravated sigh, one that was almost covered by the sound of scraping. Was that the carrier she was on? Or was the blond on one too for using too much energy?

"Think she'll be secure there?"

"Concerned?"

He barked out a harsh laugh that instinctively had her recoiling. "In all honesty, I hope she falls off and dies, yeah." A pause, then a quiet admittance of, "I just don't want her turning into that monster again."

"Because you used too much chakra," Sasori muttered.

"…Yeah."

She was agitated by the sudden silence that befell the pair, for she wanted more information to try and formulate a plan of sorts to get the hell away from them. Already, she knew Deidara had no energy and from the sounds surrounding them, she was guessing he was being carried similarly to her (though more than likely sat up, since he sounded proud). What she needed to know was whether they were injured, and whether she could use said injuries to her advantage.

Calm was key, she told herself while steeling her nerves to look down at her body once more. She had to swallow the bile at the sight of her severed limbs, forcing herself to continue looking and when she found they were different from before, she narrowed her gaze.

While still covered in blood from her thighs upwards, the stumps were longer, in a sense. Like they were growing. One of her hands was back too, despite the fact she knew she'd cut them both off in her escape attempt. Honestly, at that point, she was done trying to figure out what the hell was even happening to her, because it felt like a vicious cycle of never-ending questions that stressed her out. As soon as she thought she pinned down one answer, some kind of predicament happened, causing a devastating number of questions being added to the list.

"What is she?" Deidara demanded harshly, like he too was as lost as she was. "You sure this isn't some kind of tailed beast?"

"Did you see any tails?"

What in the hell was a tailed beast? Clearly, given that he asked if she was one, it was some form of gigantic monster and since the clue was in the name, she kind of got they had tails. But why were they spoken about with mixed emotions? Why did Deidara sound equally curious as he was frustrated?

"Why was she naked?" he asked in a hiss, perhaps pretending he hadn't even heard the condescending question. "I get there was nothing there, yeah. But why?"

"Does a woman's body make you uncomfortable?"

"Are you-" Deidara cut himself off with a gurgled sounding gasp. "There was nothing there to get uncomfortable over!"

Pervert, she inwardly growled.

"You don't sound so sure."

"What would you know?" he demanded with a growing anger that made her uncomfortable. "You're not even a living person."

What the hell did that mean?

Fear had her shuddering delicately and her head fell back against her wooden carrier, eyes shutting to block out the red sky.

From listening to snippets of their current conversation and previous ones during the altercation, she knew that they were taking her to someone who could apparently give them answers. To Uchiha – whatever the hell that was.

No, not whatever.

Something about the way Deidara had uttered his name set her on edge, especially when comparing it to the way he spoke of the tailed beast. Was he equal amounts of dangerous? Was he to be trusted? Evidently not, considering he would somehow be able to extract information from her.

But…

Maybe that wasn't so bad? What if the Uchiha person was capable of seeing her memories, or opening them up to her? Was it worth going along with their plan of capturing her?

Biting her lip, she reopened her eyes, watching the darkening sky with a frown. There was every chance she would dislike what was discovered – higher chance of them disliking it, also. That would mean another fight to escape and she'd already struggled immensely against two of them. Going against three would be out of the question. What could she even do when she was so pitifully weakened? Could she even transform while missing limbs? While so spent on energy?

"Oi, Sasori-no-Danna." A hum of acknowledgement was all Deidara had to go on to continue. He did so quietly, muttering, "Do you think there's more like her?"

The question caused her heart to leap into her throat, because more than anything, she wanted to know she wasn't alone. She wanted reassurance that she wasn't some kind of freak of nature. That her huge ass self was completely fucking normal.

"Uchiha-san will find out once we reach Ame," he answered at length. She wondered if he was against theories that could potentially make him sound like an idiot. "There is no use in speculating or dabbling in what ifs."

"At least we know they're weak against explosions," Deidara said after a few moments of silence. "If there are more out there, yeah."

She was weak against explosions? Then again, considering how freaking powerful they were, surely everyone was weak against them? Or was that not the case in the strange world she'd woken up in? Were there possibly freakishly overpowered opponents out there that could crush her in an instant? Like the tailed beast Deidara had mentioned? How powerful were they and did she even stand a chance, should she cross paths with one?

There were too many questions. Way, way too many. And while she knew they were certainly overwhelming, she never would have imagined that it would be to the point of going on autopilot, acting almost like their puppet as they controlled where she was going entirely and at what pace. Eyes glued to the now-dark sky as they escaped the cover of the trees, she was awoken from her trance by the rain that splashed against her body, first slowly, then harder, faster, the further they walked from the forest.

"They're still going," muttered Deidara, alerting her to the fact that it wasn't the first time he'd mentioned it. "Have you ever met a human who regenerates?"

"Regenerates? No. Rebirths, in a sense? Yes."

"You mean Orochimaru?" he questioned curiously. "Doesn't he shed his skin like a snake?"

"I suppose that is one way of putting it."

"I always thought he was creepy, yeah."

"I am sure he would be wounded to hear that."

"Really?"

A sigh.

They seemed so… normal that it disgusted her. How could two guys who'd brought down an entire village and chased her down for the hell of it, literally blowing her limbs off to subdue her, sound so ordinary? Like they were just like anyone else? They weren't human – they were monsters through and through. Cold-hearted murderers. She needed them to keep acting like it.

"What do we do when we figure out what she is?"

Was Deidara always so talkative? She found herself staring up at the rain in exasperation, so damned tempted to tell him to shut the hell up already – well, if she could talk, she would.

What was up with that, considering she could say the odd word here and there? Had she merely forgotten how to speak due to being alone for so long? Was she a mute? Had whatever wiped her memories also taken away her ability to talk? If so, then why? What was the point in that other than to make her life ten times harder?

"We're here," Sasori informed his partner rather than answering his question, much to her annoyance.

She wanted to know what he had planned too and whether it had anything to do with her becoming an addition to his collection, like he'd boasted during their battle.

What did that even mean?

It didn't matter what it meant. All she knew was that her survival instincts were telling her to get the hell out of there while she still could. Something was off about the rain – she could tell now that she was all but drowning in the heavy downpour. It was laced in something – was it chakra? It certainly wasn't natural.

"Guess they know we're here, yeah."

Yes, it most definitely wasn't natural.

Stealing a glance down at her regenerating limbs, she took a deep breath and strained against the black sand restraints wrapped around her – a feat that proved to be useless after mere moments, for they were far too tight and immediately reddened against her sensitive, still-healing flesh.

Wincing, she stilled and returned to looking at the sky, only to flinch when she met curious blue eyes peering down on her. How hadn't she noticed her face being shielded from the rain? Or the sudden shadow materialising over her?

"You're awake, yeah."

No shit.

But she frustratingly couldn't talk, instead nodding meekly.

"Do you have a name?"

Why did he want to know? Did he get off on knowing his victims before brutally murdering them for merely living?

"You still can't talk, yeah." The smirk directed down at her would have been handsome, had it not been so sinister. "Don't worry. We know a guy who can get it out of you."

She really didn't like the sound of the Uchiha guy.

"Stop tormenting her."

Grateful when Deidara's attention was diverted, she breathed out a weighty sigh, eyes shutting again in a show of ignorance, despite the scenery having changed and part of her feeling intrigued about the tall buildings that loomed over them. It was a wondrous sight, without a doubt, but she had to remain firm and uncaring, didn't she?

"Why should I? She tried to eat me, yeah. This is the least she deserves."

She tuned them out.

He was a hothead, from what she'd seen of him so far, whereas the redhead was more composed and harder to rile up. That could potentially work to her advantage – the former, she meant. If worst came to worst, maybe she could rile Deidara up enough to kill her before the Uchiha got his hands on her.

But…

But she needed to know the truth and her heart screamed that he held the key to unlocking her memories, somehow. Whether he could be trusted or not wasn't–

What the hell was she thinking? Her captors couldn't be trusted and anybody who worked alongside them couldn't be trusted either. They were most likely just as evil, if not more so and she wanted nothing to do with any of them. Somehow, she would escape and find her own damn way to unlocking her memories, even if it took her a lifetime to do so. It was far better than consorting with murderers. For all she knew, they could all be heinous convicts with a number of unjustifiable crimes each.

What's worse: nobody seemed to question the pair of men who had a badly injured woman strapped to a carrier. The area was packed with people going about their day, the numerous conversations, and shouts to attract customers to stalls overwhelming her senses easily. Weakly, she opened her eyes and found that Deidara was still kneeling above her head, though his gaze was focused on the bustling streets surrounding them, like he was watching closely for an enemy of some kind.

Was it a good thing that she hadn't made it to the village in time? She wondered pitifully what she would have been like. Unable to talk, overwhelmed by busy streets, using only actions that had apparently been aggressive enough to warrant her two captors to attack. Would she have made any sense to them? Could they have attacked just like Deidara and Sasori?

Swallowing hard, she stared up at the blond hovering over her, focusing intently on his features to try and distract herself from the epic meltdown threatening to consume her.

He was a pretty man with long blond hair that had fallen over his shoulder, dangling between them and becoming soaked from the rain. Every so often, a droplet of rain would drip from his hair and splash on her cheek, although she barely felt it in that moment.

"What is it?" he demanded upon noticing her staring. "What are you looking at?"

She could only stare, jaw setting with the fierceness of her battle to remain strong.

Something flashed in his eyes too fast for her to pinpoint and he guessed, "You haven't been around this many people before, have you?"

In a quick, jerky motion, she shook her head.

"I don't get why they're all out," he muttered with a huff, going back to surveying the crowds that barely even parted to allow them through.

"They have no choice," responded Sasori blandly. "It is always raining here."

Meaning nothing would get done if they remained indoors and cursed the weather. Most, if not all, probably had jobs that required their attention or families that needed providing for. She–

Nope. She couldn't focus on them to distract herself. It was making her feel worse.

All she could do was continue to stare up at Deidara with a lip that was trying desperately to quiver, her emotions crashing into her unbearably and almost drowning her.

"Big change for you, right, Sasori-no-Danna?" he questioned casually, arm slung over his thigh, hand catching the droplets of rain that fell from his hair and sparing her cheek. "You grew up in the desert-"

"Enough, Deidara. You're irritating me."

No, keep talking and distracting me, she wanted to beg of her captors, all the while damning herself for such pitiful weakness. How the hell could she expect a single ounce of kindness from the man who'd blown her freaking arm and legs off? Sure, they were growing back but that was hardly the point!

It wasn't soon enough when they were completely shielded from the rain and she shut her eyes with a sigh when the noises from the busy streets were shut out firmly. Not even Deidara suddenly jumping from her carrier brought her out of that sweet, sweet relief, for the sudden respite of pressure in her chest was just… magnificent and she could feel the aftereffects of it rushing through her body.

"You're back," greeted a person she could not see. It didn't sound intimidating in the least, leading her to assume they were not–

"That is not a jinchūriki."

Her eyes snapped open, wide and fearful.

There were two of them?

What happened to their visiting Uchiha? Was one of the two voices she'd just heard him? Gods, she hoped not. At least, she hoped it wasn't the scary, gravelly voice that sent shivers of fear and disgust down her spine. The aura coming from the guy who'd spoken last was downright disgusting, though admittedly she only noticed that after hearing him speak. She'd stupidly assumed there was only one person in the room with them.

"Blame Sasori-no-Danna," muttered Deidara with a sigh. "He's-"

"Enough, Deidara," Sasori warned, not for the first time.

Grimacing, she fought against her restraints, but even after recuperating for as long as she had, she was no match for them. If anything, the more she struggled, the more unusually tired she became – kind of like they were literally draining the life from her. Was such a feat possible?

"Is Leader-sama aware of your slacking?"

Leader? Leader? Holy shit, how many of them were there and did she even stand a chance of escape at that point? So far, she counted five potential enemies – six, if that Uchiha guy wasn't one of the most recent three.

"Are you going to tell on us, Zetsu?" Deidara asked bitingly.

One of them had to be Uchiha. There couldn't be more. She swallowed her nerves and clenched her fist.

They were wise enough to make it difficult for her to bite her hand – she'd foolishly allowed them to witness how she transformed and while she was doubting the blond's intelligence, Sasori seemed fairly clued-up. Out of the two of them, he was indisputably the brains in their partnership, she concluded.

What could she do?

Nothing, she realised, the dread feeling like a lump of lead in her stomach.

There was nothing she could do.

Already, she was defying the odds by going against Sasori and Deidara – they'd defeated her once before, after all and now they knew her abilities. She wasn't sure if there were ways to intercept the transformation or make it stop, but she had an inkling that if there was, the redhead would know how to. She simply couldn't… It was as though his lifeless brown eyes bore straight into her soul, seeing nothing but knowing everything.

The Zetsu guy – whichever of the two voices he was – was a risk in battling, for there was every chance he could be twice as strong as the other two. Or maybe even the type to linger in the background and strike when the person's attention was diverted. The same went for the second voice.

Then, there was the Uchiha guy. From earlier information, she knew he was staying somewhere in the building. The likelihood of their leader hanging around was too high also.

She was outnumbered and outclassed.

She was trapped.

"We're looking for Uchiha-san. Is he here?" enquired Sasori before an argument could ensue – if one would.

"Yes," the higher pitched voice – the first one – replied simply. "He is in his room."

"Kisame?" came Deidara's flippant question.

Kisame?

Another one?

No, she was done. She was so fucking screwed. Forget escape. Merely imagining escaping was futile.

"Attending others matters."

"What do you need Uchiha Itachi for?"

She found herself moving before either man had answered the second, terrifying voice's question and as she slowly passed them – it – she quickly discovered they had no intentions of sharing their plans as they outright ignored him.

What the hell was that plant looking thing? Yes, she knew she could hardly throw around judgement considering she turned into a monster at the bite of her hand, but that was… The whole situation was insane. What was it? It was two people – the two voices belonged to that one being living inside a plant and from the perfect line down the centre of their body, she guessed that they were two people shoved into one. Gods, she… She couldn't process any of it. She'd officially entered the land of insanity.

The never-ending halls were bleak and damp with no decorations (though she was simply glad that there was no more rain lashing down on her), and try as she might to keep up with all the twists and turns they made, it was impossible to keep track of everything. By the seventh set of stairs, she'd forgotten the first two turns. She decided that she would have more luck in bulldozing her way through a wall and hoping for the best, than trying to navigate her way out of the building.

She was at risk of being breathless or lightheaded when they finally came to a stop – and she wasn't even the one climbing all the stairs – in a narrow hallway that consisted of four doors. Like everywhere else up until that point, it was grim and boring and somewhere, there was a maddening leak that she could hear but not see. What made it worse was that her two captors didn't even seem to notice it, instead knocking on the door without hesitation.

They waited all of four seconds before the door was opening with a cringe-worthy creak.

Painfully tilting her head to get a look at the guy, her brows furrowed. He certainly didn't look all that intimidating – if anything, he looked–

"Sasori-san. Deidara-san."

Nope. Scratch that. Although he didn't look menacing, his aura and flat voice set her on edge immediately. That and the fact that he didn't even glance in her direction, like bloodied captives strapped down was a sight he saw often.

"You'll be a fine addition."

She shuddered, the depressing thought that it undoubtedly was a sight he saw often shutting out all other thoughts, refusing to let her imagine any other outcome.

"We require your assistance-"

"You require it," interrupted Deidara with a huff of annoyance.

Sasori looked in his partner's direction, though she was confused by the lack of emotion behind the stare. Was he annoyed? Amused? Upset? She doubted they would ever know, for the redhead didn't have the chance to respond verbally. He was interrupted by the Uchiha.

"I have no reason to assist you in your interrogation," he answered blandly. "This woman is not one of the Akatsuki's targets, rendering her useless to our goal and to me. If you will excuse me–"

Before he had the chance to shut his door, Sasori intervened by stepping forward and she was no longer able to see his blank face, for his back was to her. Believing him to be a waste of time, she looked to Deidara, the annoyance in his expression confusing her further.

"Need I remind you of the debt you owe me?"

Debt? She narrowed her eyes. Was it normal for comrades to owe one another or hold debts against each other? And what kind of debt was it? It had to have been something unsavoury, for the other man's features smoothed out after the briefest of narrowing of his eyes.

She got the feeling that, although they worked together, they did not trust one another. Did they even like each other? It seemed impossible, given the intense stare down that ensued following Sasori's statement.

They were not invited in. Uchiha didn't even verbally agree to the demand.

Sighing, he acknowledged her presence for the first time by meeting her eyes, causing her to flinch at the blood red orbs staring down at her coldly, sucking her mind away from her without permission. She could have sworn his eyes were black only a moment ago.

"Her name is Shizuku," he murmured almost instantaneously.