When Darkness Turns to Light

Real Emotion

Recappy From the Last Chappy: She hovered over him a few moments, quieting the violent rush of dark chakra as it rioted through her network. She did not want to savor the forbidden fruit; neither did she wish to indulge in the explicitly succulent center. The impulse to kill was a strong one, the lust for this boy's blood rather tantalizing.

But she could handle their desires. Primal though they were, a seal had been set upon her by the Third Hokage that helped suppress the otherwise frenzied state brought on by the curse. It was what stopped it from activating every single time she utilized chakra, gave her control.

Nevertheless, she trembled a little. She was on all fours with her head down and her hair covering her face. She placed her weight in either arm, pressing into his broken one in the process. Whether she was in love with Sora or not . . . this boy had almost taken someone important from her. No seal could suppress that rage.

Menacingly, she leaned down to his ear and whispered, "You will tell me everything. Understand?"

Chapter Twenty-seven: Real Emotion

"Your emotions. When I think of how other people's faces look and how I make expressions-in comparison to you, you're near the middle. Almost like they're . . . oh, what's the term?" He smiled. "Half-hearted?"

I thought he was just a weird guy at the end of our first encounter. Well, maybe not "weird" per se, but he wasn't normal-he said so himself. I should've listened to caution. He was curious about emotions, and I knew his were fake, but for some reason I let my guard down.

Sai is a young yet seasoned ninja of the Konoha ANBU. He's the perfect pawn for Hades-adept and hardened. Who knows how many assassination missions he's taken part in? Cloud refrained from killing Sora because he's a kid. Sai's about my age-I think-so maybe only a year older, he wouldn't care. And when you can't really feel emotions, your conscience fades. . . .

Hikari sighed and ran her fingertips through her hair, pushing her bangs back. Krystal . . . she was fooled, too. I got her in trouble, then, so I should. . . .

I have to know.

I know Hades hired him to do it, but I have to know why he accepted. He's interested in emotions, so why did he accept a mission that would further deaden what feeling he has left? In ANBU I bet there was little room for choosing your own missions, but to be that open to suggestion. . . .

She frowned. How can I be thinking like this? It's true-the real enemy is Hades, but we can't go after him in the Underworld. We'll have to wait until the next tournament to go after him. Bottom line . . . , she lowered her head and fisted, . . . this tool tried to kill my friend.

She stood at the window of Sai's second-story hotel room with her back to the very subject of her thoughts. She glanced to her left through the door adjoining the room to Krystal's. The kunoichi sat cross-legged in her bed with multiple food items before her and a bowl of her favorite, odango, in her hand. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Yuffie were engaging her in conversation unheard.

Leon propped against the wall separating the rooms. He faced the profile of Sai, who was seated on the bed with his arm in a splint and the other tied to the bed post. All of his holsters, packs-any weapon or holder-were removed from him, set in the chair at Hikari's right hand.

The kunoichi about-faced and regarded the stone floor with a solemn visage as she buried her speculative thoughts. She concentrated on the ground, cleared her thoughts, and closed her hands as though she were deliberately holding onto some anger. Sure, she knew that one was supposed to be calm when playing the interrogator, exhibit control, but she needed something. She had no experience.