Shoutouts-
Xxyangxx2006: Still the best reviews every…no offense to anyone else. Now to the better question. Maybe you can ask Kisame if he'd be happy if I let him kiss Soph or let Soph get drunk like Dea and have her kiss him…hmm? Hidan would probably trick Soph into drinking it. Don't tell him drunk though.
XSweetXSourXSoulX: Yeah…It's a secret though. We are starting to find out how really twisted Alex's family is. I think I explained them in an earlier chapter but if I haven't, they will be explained later on when they attack.
Fraz hopper: You shall find out.
Chapter 10: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Fears
-Day 10, night-
Sophronia stumbled into her room and fumbled for the light switch. It was still early enough that Tobi wouldn't be in bed yet and it give her enough time to shower. And from the training, or lack thereof, she received from Itachi, she needed it. It mainly involved him pounding her into the dirt.
The long shower felt good, and the sun had set an hour ago, making it ample time for everyone to return to their rooms but Sophronia usually lost track of the time when she washed up. She liked to enjoy her showers whether they were long or short. The warm water had relaxed her aching muscles loosening them up, even though a cold shower would have been better.
Walking out with only a towel wrapped around her hair, Sophronia froze as well as the unmasked Tobi. She turned around and slammed the bathroom door shut before giving either a chance to see the other better. "Um, can you just bring me my pajamas and if you feel up to it a clean pair of underwear."
There was a quick knock on the door and she opened it only a crack. She quickly grabbed the outfit before slamming the door shut. She dressed quickly and shut the light off before exiting the bathroom to a dark bedroom.
"Tobi?" she called out. "Why are the lights out?"
Sophronia reached back for the bathroom light switch and felt the closed door behind her. "Tobi?"
She had felt something move in front of her and her hand moved to reach out and feel what was in front of her. Her hand hit a chest and she followed it up to an unmasked face. "Tobi? Is that you? Why are the…"
-Alex and Zetsu-
The two came out of shower with Alex in Zetsu's arms. They shared a kiss and he placed her on the bed. It was time for some real fun instead of the shower foreplay. He laid on top of her, kissing her harder, bruising her lips, and she kissed back just as ferociously.
She nipped at his lip before trailing small bites from his jaw line to his neck. Zetsu entered her slowly and she moaned.
And then their was a knock on the door. "Alex, I'm sorry for interrupting you two but Tobi's acting weird."
Alex groaned, "Give me a couple of minutes Zetsu and I'll be right back."
She kissed him on the lips, got up, and quickly dressed. "Follow me Sophronia, and tell me."
They started heading towards Kakuzu's room while Sophronia fidgeted. "I walked out of the shower, not thinking that he'd be in there, naked. He didn't have his mask on but I didn't see anything. He gave me my clothes and I came out but the lights were off."
"You're beating around the bush, Soph," Alex grumbled, annoyed that she was interrupted.
"I'm sorry, but he blocked me against the door with all the lights off and then he kissed me," Soph muttered and Alex tripped over her own feet in shock.
"What?"
"Tobi doesn't act like Tobi at night when we are alone. It scares me," she whispered so quietly that Alex had to strain her ears to catch the last statement.
Alex sighed, "Come on. Kakuzu might allow you to crash in his room for awhile until Tobi stops acting weird. Do you know when he started acting differently?"
"After I tried to take his mask off a couple of days ago," Soph replied. "It's how I got the bruises on my wrists."
"He hurt you," Alex hissed.
"Accidentally," Sophronia mumbled. "I did try to remove his mask. It's why I've been sleeping on the floor but I don't think I can return to that room."
They reached Hidan and Kakuzu's room, and Alex's knocked. She waited for the okay to entered the room and dragged Soph in. "Kakuzu, can Soph stay with you for the night?"
"May I stay?" Soph whispered the correction.
Alex glared at Sophronia before continuing, while the other chose to be quiet, "Tobi's been acting weird."
Kakuzu grumbled and sat up. "She can have my bed. I'll go sleep on the couch."
"Y-you don't…don't have to do that," Sophronia said. "I can go sleep on the couch instead."
"Shut up and get in the bed," he growled and Soph ran over to the bed. "Hidan, if I find out you touched her, I will kill you."
"Shut the fuck up and let me fucking sleep you fucking bastard," he hollered. "I'd rather fuck a fucking corpse than that little bitch."
Sophronia flinched and started picking at her nails. She was wondering if it would better if she went back to Tobi's room, at least he wouldn't insult her. But Alex wouldn't be happy about her doing that. She must have been taking too long because she felt someone pick her up and drop her into the bed.
She squealed while Kakuzu threw the covers over her. "Go to sleep."
-Day 11, morning-
Sophronia sat at the table and twirled the pen between her fingers. The top and bottom clicking against the table with each turn. Tobi was getting a stern talking to by Alex, Kakuzu, and Zetsu. It was so she could go back to sleeping in the bedroom with Tobi without the fear of being raped at night.
Tap. Twirl. Tap. Twirl. "Will you fucking stop that?"
"I would have done it just as gladly if you would have asked nicely Hidan," Sophronia hummed. "Hello, Kakuzu. Thank you for the use of your bed last night."
Sophronia reached into her pack and pulled out a pack of smokes and shortly afterwards a light. She lit the cigarette and took a drag before she started her spin. Twirl. Tap. Twirl. Tap. Her eyes ran over the cursive words engraved on to both sides but not really reading them. She knew what they said and their translation. Her father had made her remember them by repeating them over and over again until she could recite them in her sleep. She was forced to memorize what she already could say the first time she read them. Tap. Twirl. Tap. Twirl.
"I thought I fucking told you to knock it the fuck off bitch," Hidan cursed.
Sophronia looked at him. "Of course you did but I didn't listen. I'm thinking and I have a nasty habit of tapping my pen when I do."
Hidan's hand flew across the table and snatched her hand, holding the pen fast. "Hidan let Sophronia go and Sophronia stop annoying him."
"Ever since Alex and I came here, you've been forced to play the mediator," Sophronia remarked and removing her hand from Hidan's.
"I've realized," he replied.
Sophronia chuckled, "It doesn't seem like you to be the peacekeeper. You're more of the type to beat the thing of annoyance until it complies with whatever it is that you desire."
"She fucking read you like a fucking book damn money monger," Hidan said with Sophronia's pen in hand, poised to write.
"I wouldn't use my pen unless you are willing to pay the price," she said, calmly. "How long do you think Tobi will be getting vociferated."
Kakuzu watched her snatch the pen out of Hidan's hand and replied. "If you mean yelled at then probably for awhile."
"And why is Tobi being yelled at?" The three looked up at the leader of the Akatsuki.
"He's been acting weird is all," Sophronia answered. "And stop stealing my pen and trying to use it Hidan."
"I fucking need to take a fucking not down c…" Hidan was cut off by Alex's hand.
"I wouldn't finish that four letter expletive if I was you, Hidan," she whispered in his ear. "If you thought I was vicious when you called me that," Alex chuckled ruthlessly, "she'll fucking brutally murder you. Ghost your Jashin worshipping ass. You'll be screaming for mercy in the end."
"That was a very verbose way of saying that I would torture him to death, Alex," Sophronia hummed.
"I fucking preferred her way," Hidan cursed. "And why the fuck can't I use your fucking pen?"
"Can't you read?" Sophronia asked. "It says why on the side of the pen."
"I can't fucking read that," he growled.
Sophronia snatched the pen as the rest of the Akatsuki filtered in. "Well, isn't it dandy that the rest decide to meander in just as I'm about to say why. There are two different sentences and two different meanings. One is a warning and one is true for us silvertongues and liquidreaders. Stylus fortior gladio. Translating to, the pen is mightier than the sword. The second is, 'pretium animata utendum' which means 'the price of a soul to be used.'"
"So someone has to die for you to use it," Konan said shortly.
Sophronia smiled at her, "Yes."
"Why would you need something like that?" Pein asked.
"People think we silvertongues are all powerful but we are not," Sophronia remarked. "There things that no matter how hard I tried, I would not be able to do. The pen is to circumnavigate those weaknesses."
"What are those weakness?" the leader inquired.
Sophronia stared at her intertwined fingers. She looked up at Pein and replied, "I cannot bring the dead back to life. I can bring things in existence but I can not speak organic material out of existence. I also cannot stop time. Make it seem like it is slowing down, yes, but it is impossible for me to stop it."
"Yet the pen requires a soul and puts you off from using it?" he questioned, unbelieving.
"Yes, I don't know how it came to be or who made it but if we could change what is unchangeable without some major repercussion then we would truly be unstoppable. What if I got angry at you and decided to write or speak you out of existence? On a normal day, I would regret it."
"It is an adherent for anyone like her," Konan said to Pein. She turned and said to Sophronia, "It is something that would be used in extreme emergencies."
She nodded and grabbed another cigarette, dropping the old one in a cup that she was using as an ashtray. "Alex."
"Your lighter is right there, Soph," Alex stated.
"I know but I prefer it when you light 'em."
-night-
Sophronia walked back into her room and stared at Tobi. He was abnormally quiet and she froze. She didn't know what he would do and she feared him silent more than him talking in that other voice.
"Tobi," Sophronia whispered.
He turned and looked at her. "Hello, Sophronia."
She stayed at the door, her body taunt and ready to run from the room. Yet, she knew she needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow, Sophronia would be meeting with Itachi and Kisame for some more training.
"You're not going to do anything weird tonight, Tobi?" she asked, still refusing to move from her spot.
"Tobi won't," he replied and laid down on the bed. "It will be like Tobi isn't here."
Sophronia stood still, reluctant to believe his words from past experience. He got up from his bed and walked over to her. "Although I want to kiss you."
"Now you're asking?" Sophronia asked.
Tobi chuckled, "Lesson learned from the knee yesterday."
She smirked, "And the firm scolding after getting cornered by three people." He nodded and reached behind her to turn the light off. "And what if I don't want to kiss you, Tobi?"
His hands froze on the switch. He flicked the light when Sophronia didn't move.
-Day 12-
Sophronia was working on breakfast with Tobi right behind her, helping with whatever she needed. Alex was off on a mission with Deidara and Sasori. It seemed to be a mission to Sunagakure before something big happened. It was a reconnaissance and she wouldn't be back for at least a week which ment that Pein was also finding a long mission to keep their cannibal busy. Thankfully that also would mean that Tobi would be gone for awhile too. He wouldn't be putting Sophronia on edge.
"Hello, Pein-sama," Sophronia whispered to the man who just walked in, not turning her back. "Breakfast will be done shortly."
"How long is Itachi going to be blue?" he inquired.
"Don't know," she said. "It won't wash off though; it has to wear off. Probably will wear off in a 4 to 7 days."
"I'm going to be blue for four days," Itachi stated. He may have sounded nonchalant but Sophronia caught the barely hidden rage.
"Sorry," she replied, grabbing the pancakes to place on the table. "We weren't really thinking about all of the consequences."
"Obviously," Kisame replied, grabbing six pancakes instantly.
"I apologized," she murmured. "Besides, I was an innocent bystander in your prank against Alex."
"In other words, you want to call a truce," Kisame replied.
"Yes." She grabbed two pancakes and poured some syrup on them. "When are we going to our training session?"
Itachi answered, cutting a chunk from the pancakes, "Right after breakfast."
She nodded and finished her meal quickly and waited for the other two. Kisame only going to make sure that Itachi wouldn't kill her and the training stayed on task. Itachi was still trying to get her greatest fear out of her and she was adamantly refusing to give him his answer.
In their training grounds, Itachi had his sharingan activated and was pulling her into his nightmare realm. Sophronia yawned and looked at the red sky. "When are you going to actually teach me chakra control over trying to find something out that isn't really your business."
"Just tell me then," he commanded.
She blinked at him before replying, "Then I'm going to go take a nap during this session."
He smirked. There was going to be a chance for sleeping if he had his way. "You're planning on torturing me again. You are not going to get anywhere. The Chop Shop failed and you will too."
-outside-
Kisame watched her collapse, gasping for air. He grinned. It wasn't often someone could go for three rounds of Itachi's sharingan. She stood up very carefully on wobbly legs and stared at the worn out Itachi.
"Your going to fall down before you defeat me from exhaustion," she said, breathlessly.
The Kiri-nin chuckled, "That's if he doesn't kill you first." He pointed over to Itachi. "He's ready to hit you again."
"I though twice damn near closed to knock you out," she murmured as she reentered the world of nightmares. "I'm getting sick of this."
Sophronia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes and said, "Itachi stepped back as the world around them turned back to normal. His realm of nightmares no longer working on the silvertongue before him."
He glowered at her, her look intense and refusing to back down. "Undo what you have done."
"No," she hissed. "I chose the risk of dying over just being ushered into the Akatsuki. Teach me better chakra control. I can manipulate it but I lose it under stress."
"This session is done," he stated and headed for the door.
"But only three minutes have passed," Sophronia stressed.
Itachi didn't reply and snapped the door shut behind him. Sighing heavily, Sophronia plopped on the ground. She didn't find this funny and down right ridiculous. Itachi was acting more like a child than his age.
"Why did you use that ability of yours against The Shop?" Kisame asked, joined her on the ground.
"Leeches," she answered. He looked at her funny and she expanded her explanation. "They are people that eat your energy. They devour your energy and can do the same with your life."
He nodded and gave the answer to the unasked questioned. "Itachi isn't going to teach you."
"Will you?" She gave a small pout to convince him to comply.
"Get up," he ordered and Sophronia struggled to her feet. "I'll give you credit for being able to survive four times in Tsukiyomi. Not many people can."
He stood across from her while she mumbled a soft thank you. "What is it that you fear after all?"
"Sensory deprivation," she remarked and prepared herself for some real training. "And your's?"
Kisame smirked, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Word of the day-
Unctuous meaning: 1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy. 2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals. 3. Insincerely or excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness.
Gravitas meaning: High seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject).
I got the translation of Stylus fortior gladio and pretuim animata utendum off of google translate. If someone knows a better translation please tell me and I can go back and put the other translation on their. Originally I wanted the 'the price of a soul to be used' to be 'Pay the toll, give a soul.' but it wouldn't let me do so. If anyone of you know how to translate that that would be nice.