The silence didn't diminish the monster raging on in her mind, demanding one thing: death.

Her job led her to scour lands and villages, towns and taverns, to collect information about him.

Granted, she didn't cross the world, just a few places - three years were not long enough to advance in training, bounty hunting and traveling all together - but her travels did point her in the right direction: Konoha.

There, bits and pieces of information arranged themselves in her mind, but still, she lacked plenty more to complete the puzzle, especially since her search was cut short and she met him face to face.

Sasuke Uchiha.

The Sasuke Uchiha. Prodigy. Survivor. Rogue.

Murderer.

He was everything her mind painted him to be.

Wicked, merciless, insane!

The only difference is his looks that had grown up with his age. Yes, it was a mere three years, but the first time she saw him, he looked barely a teenager - around 13, 14 years? - but with an old evil buried deep down. Now, he's still as evil as he was - if not more - but his body had grown up to accommodate his age making his evil show true.

It was a shock to her system. Her tormenter standing a few feet from her. She trained hard, but deep down she knew that her earned skills were no match for someone like him and yet, she had no choice but to engage in a battle against him. Her lust for revenge more powerful than her logic...leading to this moment.

Her stupid decision flipped everything off of its axis. Trapping her.

If she didn't reveal her identity to him, kept herself hidden, stayed in the leaf and gathered more information about him and trained harder, then she would've been able to kill him from the first try.

Damn her impatience and impetuousness!

She robbed herself of that opportunity. Instead, she revealed her bounty hunting identity - now, the rumors will circle far and wide and she'll have people coming after her and challenging her, trying to make a name for themselves by defeating the black beast. She doesn't care, she'll fight all those who intend her harm, but she hates vain killing. And killing in the name of becoming popular and feared is a vain goal in her opinion.

Her life hardened her, stripping away the girl she used to be - Emiko - and giving birth to a new girl, who lacks sympathy and is much more knowledgable about the cruelty of the world. Yet, some things are hard to change.

Like her ingrained morals.

Her first kill had poured every single emotion out of her; stripping her of her old skin. She cried and wailed to the silent night and from then she hated the life of a ninja, where shedding blood is a must. Facade becoming the norm.

After that, the guilt eased away a little bit. Its nagging, vicious voice diminishing little by little as she mastered the power of blocking her consciousness. However, the struggle between right and wrong commenced. it relented sometimes giving her a few moments of peace but other times, it ate at her heart and mind, driving her insane.

What would her mother think of her now?

Well, she's dead, she can't think or speak. She would retort.

Her sister?

She urged me to avenge her, so she's okay with it.

Her father?

I barely know him and he barely knows me...I don't care.

Her home village?

Which one? I never belonged anywhere.

Every question her consciousness fired her way, she fired back just as brutally, until these questions stopped and another more pressing one emerged:

Who are you? What have you become?

Till now she doesn't have an answer to that.

Is she the same girl she was? The black beast who rid people of pitiful murderers? Or the girl with vengeance in her heart?

Who is she?

Is she Eve, the black beast or Emiko?

The answer is: she has no clue.

And with every new kill, she adds to her list; every sin she commits, every single hateful thought, she drifts away, no longer caring to answer that question.

And then came the moment he offered her to join him. It was bizarre, to say the least. To comprehend the thought of being near him, aiding him, defending him was laughable.

To not hurt the person she has sworn to see killed and at the same time put herself at his mercy... near her family's murderer...laughable didn't even cut it! Nonetheless, she accepted. She wanted to keep him in her sight, not lose him and go back to searching for him. She wanted to know more about his routines, to observe him closely, to try and find a weak link. That was what made her accept, that, his threat and the knowledge that she's now just as much wanted as he...a rogue.

That moment of level-headedness was the reason she didn't slit his throat in his sleep. She learned from her first battle loss.

However, it's been a month, maybe more with him - he has lost the sense of time - with no results and her body and mind have become a burden...a nuisance. Her mind started playing tricks on her, showing her visions, flashbacks...hallucinations! And her body kept fainting and losing strength. It's like the world is working against her!

Every time she moves a step forward, it'd throw her ten steps back!

Then, just when she discovers little bits about him, he goes and flips everything upside down, showing her a new baleful side!

She doesn't know how much time she spent pondering his old and latest actions.

Why did he form a team?

Why did he want her on the team?

Who are his enemies and allies?

What motive did he have for kissing her during her sleep?

Was he after something? A reaction? Anything?

Why kissing?

She came out blank. The only answer she was able to draw was that he's eviler than she thought. His motives are well hidden.

Then came the question: How can she stay on his team when he can easily hurt her so?!

She wouldn't be harmed, not after everything she went through! Not now and especially not by him.

That was the last straw!

She's tired of figuring him out: his intentions, weaknesses, and strength; his power, his past...whatever could provide useful to her, especially that those she spoke to were simple peasants who get scared out of their wits when she uttered his name and plead ignorance. It irked her. Frustrated her. And now she can't even question the people on his team in fear of appearing suspicious.

Every door is getting shut in her face. Every window of opportunity vanished and now that she's this close to him, her mission has never been harder!

But she can't delay it any longer. Her mind won't allow it. Her thirst for justice and retribution won't quell until it is quenched.

That's how she found herself at this moment.

Enough is enough!

No more waiting.

The night was as dark as her mood. Dark and silent. Their footstep echoing like a whisper of a promise: steady and full of confidence.

They slowed their pace when they came out of the inn.

"Why did you bring me out here?"

"Don't you think its funny?" She asked instead of answering him.

"What is?"

"That I want to kill you so much it hurts," she said and looked at him with a steady, unwavering gaze.

Sasuke contemplated a second then turned his head and locked eyes with her. "Not really, you are not the first one."

"Really?"

"Hmm..."

"Like who?"

"Everyone I've hurt before and will continue to hurt,"

Eve nodded and stopped walking.

They were several steps apart, Eve lifted her head and looked at him, his back was still turned to her but he stopped walking.

"Does the name Naomi ring a bell?"

"Not really. No."

"Mayuri then, this name must refresh your memory!"

Sasuke fully turned to her and tilted his head curiously. With a bored tone, he questioned. "What do you want Eve?"

His nonchalant stance and uncaring, detached voice flared her temper.

With anger controlling her movement, she pushed him. "Stop messing with me!"

His unresponsiveness added wood to her fire, nurturing it until it exploded. "Why won't you tell me! Why didn't you recognize me the first day you saw me? Why don't you acknowledge me now? Or are you such a monster you can't even remember your victims!"

That got a reaction out of him. His eyes darkened and his tone abrasive. "I remember every single one of them. Every innocent soul I extinguished that stood in my path, for those who deserved the death I served, I don't. So maybe these girls you speak off were one of those bītches I killed for betraying Orochimaru or sent to kill me!"

Eve's body buzzed with coiled tension, anger and hurt. She was ready to burst. "They weren't evil! They were my mother and sister and you killed them in cold blood right in front of my eyes!"

He frowned, "I've never met you before the day you stepped into my room in the hideout."

What? No, he must be lying?

"Stop lying to me," her voice cracked, her eyes moistened. "You are such a monster!" Her hands squeezed into fists.

"Don't mistake my aloofness as a weakness. And don't you ever assume I'll grant you mercy after you try to kill me either! Now, what is this nonsense you are sprouting?" He glared, not appreciating her tone.

"Emiko...Eiko, don't you remember?" Her voice turned thick with emotions.

His stance stiffened and his stare turned cold. "I know of Eiko, don't you dare let her name pass your lips. As for Emiko, I don't know who that is?"

She couldn't take any more of this, her emotions simmered and took a hold of her mind and body, making her discard all that she has learned about emotion control and calm facade.

She shouted, "liar! Stop playing ignorant! You killed them and then tried to kill me almost three years ago. You called me Eiko even though my name was Emiko and told me to remember your name... that when I become stronger you'll come for me!"

At her words, his frown deepened and his anger surfaced. How dare she say her name!

"I'm not lying bītch, get that through your thick head. I only know of Eiko and she's dead! Dead! So she's not the same person you are talking about since it is officially you! What, so you have three names and I'm the liar?!" He shook her shoulders, his grip bruising.

A humorless laugh filled with pain and disbelief left her lips.

The closeness of their bodies registered in her tormented mind, her face turned blank and her eyes void of life.

He won't speak the truth! She thought resigned.

"Die you son of a bītch!" She muttered before lifting herself to reach his height and planted her lips firmly upon his, she meshed them with inexperience brutality her cold eyes open, staring at his shocked ones.

She clashed her tongue messily in his mouth, penetrating his lips with expert inexperience, forcing her tongue in, licking and biting but not to seek pleasure...no, to push something in.

It took a minute or two for his mind to register what occurred. He shoved her away from him. She stumbled back a little but gained her footing.

What is she doing? Had the beast resurfaced again?

Her lips abandoned his, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. He lifted his fingers and touched his lips to find that she has drawn blood!

She spat something and glared at him.

No, no!

He felt it, his body heavy like his bones are made of steel. His mind was clouded and unable to think past the fog.

"I'll kill you as you killed them. Like you killed me!" She balled her fists and hit him repeatedly until both of them sagged to the floor.

She held him to her wanting to savor his expression. "Why don't you just admit it! I remember your face, full of youth but the same as yours," she caressed his face in trance, "your voice sinister and void of emotion except for the sicking bloodlust," she grasped his chin firmly. "And your eyes, oh, your eyes- they were the most expressive. They shone evil and malice!"

He looked at her with all the venom he could muster. He, the powerful Sasuke, killed by poison, impossible!

"After that day we first met I knew I couldn't defeat you. My years of training were nothing compared to yours and our second encounter only affirmed this. So when you took me, I decided that if my jutsus and fighting technique cant kill you, then deception would! And after you showed me your true colors today when you took advantage of my slumber, the last straw snapped and I decided it was now or never,"

"H-how? Why?"

"Before I went to you, I took a visit to Karin's room and snatched a concoction I found in her bag. I was confident it was poison - a criminal like her doesn't carry medication in a bottle, all the antidotes' recipes are stored in her head otherwise she'll be at a disadvantage - and I was right!"

"All that was left was for you to tell me why you did it? Tell me and I'll give you the antidote, just...just ease my agony so I ease yours!"

"Foolish girl," he coughed, and grasped her face, bringing her close to look directly in her tearful eyes. "I have no use for lying. I've never met you before. Ever!"

At the hardness in his eyes, she hesitated.

No, b-but he said his name and he looks the same as he did only a little older? He must be lying! He must!

She watched him struggle for breath with cold, dead eyes.

His mouth dribbled blood. He shouted feebly, his energy waning. "Karin, g-get Karin!"

She just gazed at him unresponsive and upon seeing that, he shouted weakly. "Karin, Karin!" He wheezed and tried to get to his feet unsuccessfully.

Eve kept sitting on the ground beside him, pondering the truthfulness of his words.

Is he lying?

What if he isn't? A voice in her mind piqued.

No, it is him! It had to be! I'm not blind nor deaf or have a memory issue. It is him! she asserted.

It must be!

"Well, well, well...two birds, one stone, my favorite kind of hunting!" A malicious voice rang in the darkness.

Eve's head snapped toward the voice, her eyes trying to discern the face of the threat. Before she could catch a glimpse of the voice's face, powder was thrown at her, dulling her senses and freezing her body.

Not a moment later, she felt her self swimming in darkness.

¤¤¤¤¤¤

Hi! *jump out of nowhere*

So I managed to get a chapter done (yay!) But it is crappy (grammar wise of course ;)

So, I know a lot of things need to be fixed (again, grammar wise XD) but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to get at least one chapter published because you guys waited for so long for an update (which I thank you for with all my heart. XOXO) but I couldn't also proofread and double-check it since I don't have a lot of time. So, I hope you bear with me :D

So, what do you think about this chapter?

Any ideas? what do you think will happen next?

Share your thoughts through comments and don't forget to give this chapter a star and me a follow. Why? cause I'm awesome ;)

Anyway, thank you for your patience and support.

Sending loads of love,

Eva x