~KAX9N~

~Thump thump~

The only noise that filled my ears...

~Thump thump~

The calm rhythmic beat of my heart...

~Thump thump~

"Is he ready?"

"No,"

~Thump thump~

"How much longer?"

"A week, at best,"

~Thump thump~

"We're running out of time,"

"I'm working as fast as I can. He was extremely difficult to engineer."

~Thump thump~

"We only have a few months left before we need to show him something, I don't plan on turning up empty-handed."

"Neither do I but it's your choice, a properly matured, fully functional weapon, or an underdeveloped, weak human boy."

~Thump thump~

"Fine, just make sure he's ready."

"He will be,"

~Thump thump~

My eyes remain shut as I listen to the conversation being held outside. My body was stiff and cold, and every time I jerked or jolted, I felt as if I was floating. I took a breath, feeling the oxygen expand the limited space in my lungs, and feeling my mind respond. I exhaled, hearing bubbling noises around me as I tried to uncurl myself from my balled position.

~Thump thump~

I paused my movements, hearing footsteps before a light tap, the noise made when someone puts their hand to a tank full of water. I waited and listened, hearing breathing and a heartbeat other than my own.

"You are going to be a game-changer," One of the voices from before sounded.

"You are going to help us bring order to this chaotic world, help us end these foolish Shinobi." He rambled on.

I tried to open my eyes, but that order only resulted in a jerk of my head, making the rest of my body tense slightly before everything relaxed again.

"Don't worry, you'll be ready soon enough, and when that time comes, shinobi beware," He then gave a very dark chuckle before he walked away.

I took another breath, feeling my body float up slightly before dropping back down and hovering in its position.

________________________________________________________________________________

Time is kind of a blur for me, being in the position of not being able to see or move, the only thing I can do is listen. Listen to the men enter and exit the room, listen to the machines working around me, and listen to the conversations happening around me. Well, that and the fact that the male that comes in every morning happens to tell me the time when he logs my vitals.

~Thump thump~

My ears caught the new heartbeat, it was calm but accelerated, like the feeling when you know you're getting something but don't know what it is.

"Any day now." His voice sounded and he once again touched the glass, allowing his heartbeat to vibrate through the water around me.

I took a sharp breath, my eyes snapping open and my body tensing. I shut my eyes quickly afterward, the glowing green liquid around me stinging my eyes. I opted for opening them more slowly, readjusting them as everything around me was now extremely blurry.

"Yes. YES! Torune! Get in here!" The male's voice rang through my ears as he screamed.

"What?" The second voice sounded.

"He's ready,"

I stared down at the two shadowed figures, my eyes darting between them as they talked.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Let him out?" The second male asked.

"Initiating draining sequence!" The first male answered before various beeps were heard and a light above me began to flash.

I felt a strange sensation vibrate through the liquid around me as I began to lower. The warm liquid disappearing quickly and I felt my body lower to lay on a cold surface, in turn, my limbs contracted into themselves and I shivered, breathing harshly as I shook. I lifted my head to look up at the two men in front of me as one approached and pulled something off my head and face. I scanned his face and took another breath. The new, tainted and impure oxygen burnt my throat and lungs as I breathed. I coughed, turning, so my gaze was floorward before my head fell to the metal slab under me and my eyes shut.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing is 'wrong' with him, he is just tired. This process is similar to that of a baby bird hatching, it takes a lot out of the young creature, having to move on their own and breathe with their own lungs for the first time."

"Then why's he turning blue?"

"He's cold, let's go, we need to get him to the infirmary before he freezes."

And with that, I felt warm hands grab my arms and legs and I was lifted before I felt a rough surface meet my face and chest. My head was moved so it was more comfortable for me and my ear was placed against the older male's chest, allowing me to hear his elevated heartbeat clearly. I felt our bodies jolt as the male carrying me moved quickly, holding me securely in his arms.

"Can't have you dying on us after all the work we put into you now can we,"

I was placed on a soft surface, it sunk a little under me and another soft object placed on top of me instantly warming my cold body.