Ohemgee.
Updates are ftw. :]
I've fixed up chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 so far. Please re-read if you like. :)
Check back to Chapter 33 daily if you would like to read the rewritten chapters. Normally, at least one will be fixed everyweek.
Anywhoooo, enjoy my darlings. :)
When I wake from this dream,
Will your smile still open my heart
And leave me transparent?
As I Lay Dying - Forever
...
Koneko pulled herself away from him, wrenching his arms off of her. Every step she recoiled back, he advanced forward. She felt her back come in contact with a tree. Madara had her pinned.
"What do you mean, Tobi...?" She said in a demure, soft tone.
He towered over her, leaning down, "Have you missed me?"
"I...I..." Koneko stumbled over her words. She had no idea what to say or do in a situation such as this one.
Uchiha Madara truly gave intimidating a whole other meaning. She was absolutely terrified, begging for someone to step in.
"Well?" His voice was a low husk.
"Uhm..."
"...Just kidding with you, Koneko-chan!" He flung his arms high in the air as he laughed freely.
Koneko could barely breathe. He was kidding?
"Tobi..." She felt like all weight and tension had been lifted from the atmosphere, "Please never do that again..."
He straightened, surprise in his tone, "I truly had you scared, Koneko-chan?"
"Yes..." Koneko's flustered gaze turned away from him. She found herself being held in his arms.
Tobi had her tightly against him, "I'm sorry! I will try not to do it again!"
A smirk formed on his lips as she gradually returned his embrace.
"Okay..." Without a doubt in her mind, she liked the Tobi side of Madara better.
The man released her, "So, so! How has your time been in Konoha?"
He hated that worthless village and everyone in it. Madara could barely wait have every tailed beast so he could obliterate it's existence with the juubi.
"Fine, I suppose..."
"Just fine?" Tobi inquired, a gloved finger tapping against his mask where his chin would be.
She glanced over at the lush stems of grass, "Well... It's certainly n-nothing that I'm used to."
"Ohhh! I understand now!" He nodded rapidly.
She smiled, "But... The shinobi there a-are very nice."
That outta tick him off.
Behind his orange mask, Madara sneered angrily.
"Ah! But, Koneko-chan! Your father told you not to become friends with our enemies, didn't he?"
A sad frown descended upon her lips, "Yes... I know..."
Tobi had her in another hug, "But you still have me and the rest of Akatsuki!"
She slowly nodded with a brightened mood.
"Yay!" He held her hands, rocking them back and forth. Koneko laughed timidly at his behavior.
"Ah! I think we should head back now!" Tobi a hold on her hand as he lead her back.
Koneko mentally sighed. She hadn't even gotten to take her walk yet.
"So that's the plan, un?"
Pain crossed his arms, "Yes. We leave once Koneko has collected her things."
Everyone nodded and vanished away, leaving behind Pain, Konan, Tobi and Koneko.
"Return to the village then find us again here." The auburn haired man said, "Konan, Tobi or I would come along, but the risks are too great."
The girl smiled a bit, "It's alright... I'll be b-back soon." She ran off to the forest exit.
Rinnegan eyes swept over to the masked man.
"When did you arrive? You were a hologram before I dismissed everyone." Pain spoke, his question aimed at Madara.
He leant against the trunk of a tree, crossing his arms over his chest, "Just moments after."
Konan kept a straight face as she watched Madara. The man was so confident that Pain would follow his every word, and the woman hated it. Her long time friend had a strong mind of his own.
"Something troubling you?" His sharingan eyed her sharply through the piece in his mask.
An unnoticeable frown creased her mouth, "No."
"Hn." He straightened from the tree.
"I'll be back once she returns."
She stuffed her belongings back into her bag. Koneko didn't want to keep them waiting, as it was already getting quite late.
The girl left her room at the inn, returning the key back to the registration desk. While exiting the village, she passed Sasuke as he was out for one of his long walks.
"Where are you going?" His eyes swept to the backpack on her shoulders.
She needed a hasty, clever response.
"...A few of my relatives have come from Yukigakure to see me." Koneko forced a smile on her petal lips.
He sulked. She assumed the reason was mentioned family members.
"I am going to be away u-until the day after tomorrow. I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun..."
The Uchiha boy arched an inky eyebrow. Koneko clarified,
"I'm going to be away for your match in the exam..." She had a fleeting look.
Sasuke felt his stomach plunge into a chillingly cold pool. He advised himself that he scarcely knew her; that her absent presence won't affect his battle whatsoever.
But his pitch of voice gave him away.
"Whatever," His eyes slanted away.
She held him a brief hug before pulling back, "You better win..."
Koneko realized that he couldn't because of Sunagakure, Orochimaru and his gang of misfits who planned to interrupt the tournament.
Sasuke smirked, "Hn. Obviously."
"I will be back in just t-two days to make sure that you do." The brunette smiled radiantly.
He said nothing as he surveyed her.
"Well, I must leave... See y-you, Sasuke-kun. And good luck!" She took off.
Sasuke dug his hands in his pockets and kept walking, a smirk still evident on his face.
"Good. You're back," Konan said, hinting a smile. "Did you have any difficulty?"
"A little..." The young girl weaved her fingers together.
Tobi came latching onto her, "I thought they were going to keep you!"
She held the flat of her hand over her mouth to prevent laughing, shaking her head, "No, Tobi."
The man with dark hair then danced around the forest happily at her words.
Images of an unmasked Madara doing such things flooded her mind. She restrained herself carefully.
"Come, we have a bit to walk." Pain took her hand, completely ignoring Tobi's existence.
"Ah! Wait for me!"
The grass waved in the wind was they moved along. The four were coming up on the outskirts of the Fire Country.
"Haa! We're almost there!" Tobi squealed happily as he jolted ahead. His childish laughter echoing behind him.
An exasperated sigh was heard from her father. She smiled a bit,
"This is it." Konan muttered. It was an old abandoned house, falling apart in certain areas.
The kitten pursed her lips as she took in the condition of the building, "Another Akatsuki base...?"
"Yes." Pain answered.
The home looked eerie, to say the least.
Koneko was the first to enter the home. Webs from spiders and streams of dust were coated from ceiling to floor. She swallowed tensely.
She moved through the front hall slowly. The old floorboards beneath her creaked under pressure.
"Boo!"
She held a hand over her mouth to prevent from releasing a scream. Her eyes shifted over and she saw it was just Tobi.
Tobi realized his mistake when he noticed her slow breaths.
He jerked her into his arms, "Uwah! I forgot, Koneko-chan! I'm sorry!"
Koneko wished Deidara were there to blow the masked fool up.
"I'm fine." She whispered uneasily.
"Tobi. Stop scaring my daughter." Pain ordered as he and Konan moved further into the house.
The black haired man saluted, "Okay!"
"I'll protect you from now on, Koneko-chan! You can count on Tobi!" He said, taking her hand into his gloved one.
She was a little cautious about his proposal, but agreed nonetheless.
"Koneko, come." Her father called from up the stairs.
Of course, Tobi practically dragged her there.
Pain motioned his head over to a door, "This is going to be your room for the night."
He gestured to the room beside hers, "Konan's. The room beside hers is where I will be." Pain returned to Koneko's door. "And the room on your right is Tobi's." He finished.
The masked man threw his arms into the air, "Yahoo! Mine's next to Koneko-chan's!"
She forced a smile. She just didn't want to wake and find Madara sleeping beside her. Or staring down at her while she slept.
"Do what you wish for now. Konan and I will be on the first level." Pain descended down the stairs with the bluenette following.
Her eyes glanced down. Tobi still had his hold on her hand.
Koneko ignored it, "Tobi?"
"Yes?" He replied happily.
"Do you know if the others are coming...?"
Shrugging, he laughed a bit.
Her eyes fell to the dusty floor, "I'm g-going to sleep, Tobi."
"Ah? But you haven't had dinner?" He let go of her hand,
"I'm not too hungry." She smiled, shuffling her steps into her chamber. It wasn't too different from the rest of the house.
Discontent filled his tone, "Aw... Okay, Koneko-chan. Sweet dreams! If you need anything, Tobi will get it!"
Koneko bobbed her head languidly, "Thank you, Tobi..." She shut the door.
There was one westernized bed on the wall to her left. An old, chipping dresser was on the opposite wall of the door and a ratty desk laid in the corner. One small, dirty window barely lit the room.
She slid into the bed and ran her fingers over the worn, rough sheets then outwardly sighed. Her head fell back to the pillow.
Koneko recalled her afternoon with the Akatsuki. She saw Itachi again after five days of being apart. Remembering how her heart swelled when his eyes pierced hers.
Although; as she much as she wanted to hold onto him, even if it was the only thing she desired, she simply cannot embrace a projected image.
Her heart was breaking with every day that passed. She loved him, yet she knew that he would never feel the same for her.
Uchiha Itachi was far too detached. And of course, he had a death date.
Singular, crystal tears fell from her eyes as she drifted off soundlessly.
Almost hoping never to wake again.