As you could probably tell, the rock that hit me did indeed knock me out. I can also tell you that this may have been the least pleasant Sleep I've ever had. Not fun, wouldn't recommend, as I now have a large welt on my head. It appears medical treatment is not offered to someone who's been mistaken for a jinchuriki and might die from it.
Ohoho, here's another life update, I ended up waking up just in time to start seeing whatever ritual they usually did! Gotta give Pein some credit, he can lift that statue with gravity alone. Then again, his entire ability system relies on pressure and the like. It's definitely interesting, to say the least.
As much as I'm laying down and can't see all too well, I do attempt to take a peek at what the ten-finger things look like.
Konan is scowling, probably bored (maybe sympathetic or worried?).
Sasori's rolling his eyes.
Deidara is still coming off the high of destroying suna.
Itachi looks like he's been coughing because his breathing is really shallow.
Kisame looks like he needs either a nap or some food.
Pein looks excited and determined.
Zetsu looks like he just ate someone. Very disconcerting.
Hidan looks bored out of his mind. Personally, I see him as very ADD. However he manages to keep still this whole time, I'll never know.
Kakuzu looks like a mix of the others, minus Itachi.
And Tobimadara, (that's his new name), hasn't come into existence yet.
God, why does this have to take three days? Can't they just, I don't know, kill me if they're gonna already?
Fuck you, black Zetsu and Kaguya for fucking with whatever it is you did in those last episodes...
I breathe, wiggling my hands a bit, stretching as much as I could inconspicuously.
"C'mon Caden... you'll be fine. Who knows... maybe you'll end up back home. Maybe this was all a dream."
Maybe. Just maybe.
"Sealing: Nine Phantom Dragons!"
There we go. That's Pein, from what I remember.
For the thing that will kill me, the dragons are quite beautiful. Blueish, pretty detailed for a non-solid form. Almost looks like the hydra in Greek mythology.
I feel myself rising underneath one of them.
Almost time isn't it. I start humming the song "used to the darkness"
Now would you pray before you twist the knife?
Yeah, would you take my hand and take a life?
God, I'm depressing.
I'm used to the darkness, I'm used to the darkness
For death, this is pretty comfy.
Sweet smell of roses have come at last
One fist of Earth fights, to come join the resT
The first dragon hits me in the stomach, where a seal usually would be.
The second follows, then the third, then the fourth, until there's nine of them, tethered to nonexistent poles, trying to pull something out of me.
It hurts, I won't lie. It's like one's very soul being pulled out, all at once. It's not as bad as my first brush with this world, because it isn't a physical injury, but oh how this hurts.
How long before those damn dragons learn to give up and notice that I'm not their guy? I don't want them to find the real "guy", but this is ridiculous. Surely they can tell the difference?
I can't see much anymore through the blue light that's trying its absolute best to blind me, but I can see the faces of the members, even if just barely.
Konan is the only one who worries me. She's shifted from her usual scowl or neutral face to one of worry.
Not characteristic of her. That's why I'm scared.
Can she tell I'm not him, or am I crazy?
The dragons decided to try a different method. Repeatedly lunging at my stomach and my chest, to get a nonexistent tailed beast out. They don't look like they're close to stopping, either.
I prefer what they were doing earlier to this.
It's a strange sensation, but my best idea of it would be getting stabbed with electricity. I have a feeling none of you have done that or felt it, however.
This whole time, I've been trying not to scream in pain. I'm not usually the type to do that. I'd consider myself more of a crier. (And yes, I have been crying this whole time).
It finally happens.
I roar.
Pein's eyes widen, Zetsu does the same.
The dragons finally repeal as Pein releases the tiger seal.
I cough up blood. Just how close was I to dying? How long did I have left, even if the dragons did lay off of me?
"Konan, carry the man." He orders.
Good thing is, he assumes I'm male. Another good thing, I speak enough Japanese to understand that now.
The bad thing is this is the Akatsuki, and considering mental torture methods don't work on me, odds are I'll be scarred six ways to Sunday if they try and interrogate me.
Sheets of paper carry me to the floor of the base. Pein dismisses the other members.
Sasori walks up to me. "You really weren't the jinchuriki."
I nod.
Pein looks me up and down.
"Sasori, take him to your barracks. I need to think this over."
Sasori's barracks look like what you'd expect. Entrance marked with a red Scorpion, puppets hanging on the walls, a bed, and some wood polisher. There was another door that I assume led to his workshop.
"I'd say I'm sorry, but I don't feel things."
"It's fine. Thanks for at least letting me stay here and not killing me on sight."
"I'm not who you should thank. That'd be our leader."
"Right. You're Akasuna no Sasori (Sasori of the red sand), aren't you?"
"Correct."
"They say a lot about you over in Suna."
"They always have. My grandmother still lives there."
This dude has no clue how to make conversation, does he? I mean, he's an emotionless puppet. He's supposed to be cold, but not this fuckin cold.
"Is it true... you know."
"That I'm a living puppet or that I got my name from staining the sand with my enemies' blood? Because they're both true."
"That's... incredible. My friend is obsessed with puppetry. He talks all about it. Says he wants to teach me when he can. He mentions you quite a bit. The scorpion Mark and all."
"He's interested in the art. I haven't seen many youth puppeteers."
"Yeah, I can't say I know many."
"How old are you?"
"19."
Shit, he's gonna be a bit suspicious, isn't he?
"19, yet you didn't even try and fight me."
"In my defense, you're a poisons expert. You could have killed me. And for your knowledge, I can't fight. Wasn't taught until recently."
"You've dug your own grave. Our leader loves the impressionable."
"You see me as impressionable?"
"I'm emotionless, not an idiot. You've yet to experience the horrors of this world, as they say. You probably couldn't pass the academy exams."
"You're right. I just learned to make clones."
"I usually am. You're far too weak for the business of shinobihood. It will kill you."
"I've been told it before. It's not like I've got such a choice. I was on death's door earlier. And I'd do it again."
"You're friends with the jinchuriki, aren't you?"
I nod.
"Protecting a friend... It's trivial. Only the eternal shall live. Eternity is true art."
Here he goes on his emotionless art tangent...
Pein calls for us.
"I hope you're doing alright. My apologies for the mistake on our behalf. We may be criminals, but the path to peace does not require the deaths of the innocent."
He's talking about Yahiko, isn't he...
"I see you as a valuable ally. You will work and train with us to help achieve this goal."
Shit. If he's doing what I think he's doing-
"State your name."
"Kai."
He hands me a kunai.
"You know what to do."
Hesitantly, I take off my headband, take the kunai, and slash it through the sunagakure symbol.
He hands me a ring.
"Welcome to the Akatsuki, Kai."