Stage 11 A Different Path

Deidara and Tsuki left the building in silence. Her mind surged as they walked, trying to anticipate what the next few days would bring to her. Deidara had been right, there wasn't anyone left that would be available to oversee her. Hidan and Kakuzu were gone, Itachi and Kisame had followed them, and she had just been told that in the morning she was leaving Deidara.

The anxiety was overbearing. Itachi and Deidara were the only two members she remotely got along with, and even that was strained at best. There were three days left on Deidara's shift with her that someone else would have to pick up. She rubbed her temples. It was barely noon.

She couldn't even survive a morning with this man without getting into deeper trouble. The irony of breaking rules set down by a criminal mastermind made her chuckle with despair. How high had she climbed, just to fall back down to associating with these scoundrels? It was as though she would never be able to get away from them.

Reviving the knowledge she had skipped breakfast to get away from Deidara, her stomach growled. It was time to break their sombre silence. "Let's get something to eat," she suggested.

He stopped walking. Looking over at her, he responded, "Home is that way." He pointed off in the to his left. Apparently they'd just been wandering to pass the time.

She followed his gesture, but didn't feel like cooking. "We're already in trouble," she sighed. "How bad do you think it would be if we got lunch somewhere?"

"Hn, he'd kill one of us," Deidara speculated. "More than likely, it would be me. Not even twenty minutes ago, you were frozen in fear by that man, and now you want to piss him off even more?" He continued walking, adjusting their course to the direction he had indicated. "I think not." Rebellion would be the death of her, he thought to himself. She was a wild animal, stuck in a cage. He wondered how Tsunade kept her under control, and to a lesser extent, how Neji had made it so long with her without dying, or trying to kill her himself. What kind of person could he be to tame this volatile tigress? In a matter of two weeks, she had begun to regress from a mild mannered, indifferent woman back to the persona Deidara had gotten used to: fiery, temperamental, and thriving on confrontation.

She glared at the ground as she kept pace. "He can't expect me to stay in a cage," she hissed. "I don't do well in cages." She looked up at the clouds, knowing he was still listening. "If you're trying to drive me crazy, you're doing a damned good job at it."

Deidara could just see their leader chuckling in his office at that remark. "You're too hard on him," he sighed. "He has a job to do, and as much as he underplays it, you're crucial to our dreams."

She shook his chastising off, refusing to sympathize with her captor. She was his prisoner, and he did everything in his power to remind her of that fact. Redemption was beyond him, and had been for the last four years. "You're wasting your breath."

Headstrong and proud were the only two words he could think to describe her. It wasn't his place to convert her to their goals. She wouldn't tolerate it, no matter what he said. He could have offered her the entire world, and everything in it, and she would refuse just because it was the Akatsuki that made the offer. "You're wasting your hatred," he sighed, softly.

They walked together in silence, as she had decided to ignore his remark. Reaching his apartment, they retreated from the rain into its warm confines. The stripped down their outerwear and shoes. Simultaneously, they walked into the kitchen.

As she was a guest in his home, he addressed her. "What are you hungry for?"

A shrug was his answer, along with, "What ever is fast, easy, and good." She knew he was a healthy eater, refusing to put anything into his body that would deliver less than efficient energy. Nothing in his kitchen was fried, canned, saturated, or bought frozen. As it was, he ate sweets sparingly.

Together, they prepared an array of vegetables, from onions, leeks, peppers, and radishes to carrots, bamboo shoots, celery, and mushrooms as they waited for the soba noodles to boil. He thin sliced pork as she seared the melody of veggies until they caramelized. The pork went into a base of vinegar and fermented soy sauce.

It wasn't long before they sat down to dine, muttering their chorus of, "Itadakimasu." They engaged in idle chatter, but avoided any serious discussion to avoid offending each other. The meal set the tone for the rest of the day, which they spent avoiding each other's nerves.

Their motions around the apartment, if time-lapsed, would have painted the picture of a dance. Revolving around each other, they swirled to maintain a respectful distance, yet stay in each other's vicinity.

When dusk fell, Tsuki found herself on his couch with a book she found in the bedroom. So lost in the pages was she, her guard had dropped completely. Deidara had sat himself beside her, and working on an elaborate sculpture, had set the impression in her mind that she was in her own world, and so was he.

It was far from the truth. They had been there for hours, and by now, he could openly stare at her, watch her, without her caring to look up at him. He'd never seen her relaxed and tranquil like this. Three years ago, this side of her didn't exist. It was mesmerizing, watching the emotions play through her as she progressed through her novel.

When night fell, they departed to sleep. He left her in her bedroom, deploying the same clay sculptures to awaken him should she rise. Dreading the morning, he walked into his bedroom. There was nothing he could do to change what was going to happen, so he decided to try and accept it. He crawled into his bed, sprawling out under his blankets. Morning would come all too soon.

XxX

Tsuki woke long before the sun rose. By the time she had dressed herself and stepped into the hallway, Deidara was already waiting for her. He was rubbing his eye of the last remnants of sleep. Though he had forgotten to don a shirt, he had at least put pants on this time. His long hair flowed down his back and chest, free of its bonds.

"You're up early, ne?" he complained. His voice lacked irritation, which was odd for the early hour.

"I couldn't sleep," she responded. She walked to the kitchen with him on her heels. She went through the motions of making their coffee as he leaned against a counter and watched her. Her eyes would meet his periodically. Soon, the sounds and smells of brewing coffee filled the kitchen, easing their exhausted minds.

Taking from her the offering of fresh coffee, Deidara finally broke their silence. "Are you nervous?"

"Not particularly," she answered, turning to lean against the counter next to him. "There's no sense in worrying." She sipped her scalding coffee.

They drank their brew together. Out of senseless exhaustion, she ended up leaning against him. He glanced down at her, and when she didn't move away, he put an arm around her waist. Allowing the contact, she edged closer. Resting her head on his shoulder, she brought the mug to her lips again.

When it was time to depart, they gathered their things and progressed out the door, grabbing their cloaks and hats. She had taken to wearing their attire to keep herself dry, and because Pein's building was right on the edge of the public domain, it helped to hide her identity. Regardless, people stopped to stare at them as they passed on the street. Deidara assured her that it was normal for them to look at the members in such a manor. Though all the local shinobi served Pein, to be an Akatsuki member was something of an elite privilege in the city. She shook her head in disgust; how could so many people be fooled so easily?

They entered the building, bowing their heads to remove their hats. All that could be seen from the street was a flash of blonde and red. It was telling enough, but they were safe within Pein's domain. They ascended to his office, where he was waiting for them.

On his desk was a scroll and a folder. He sat, as stoic as ever, watching them as they entered. They removed their straw hats upon entering, and crossed to the desk. Deidara sat beside the window, and Tsuki to his right. Deidara sat with his ankle crossed over his knee.

Pein assessed the two of them. It was the first time he had seen with his own eyes Tsuki wearing the Akatsuki garb. He surrendered a smirk of satisfaction. The outfit suited her well. They had managed to not destroy each other, which, after the arguing the day prior , surprised him. In fact, they both seemed to resent his decision to separate them. It amused him, but he was not going to go back on his word.

He first addressed Deidara. "I've decided to deploy you and your partner sooner than originally planned. Hidan and Kakuzu are ahead of schedule, thus we all need to move a few things forward." Shifting his gaze to Tsuki momentarily, he handed the scroll to Deidara. He further explained, "I'm sorry, I cannot verbally give you details at this time. Take the scroll to Tobi, and review it. Your orders are written there."

Deidara nodded with a grunt.

Pein waited a brief moment before declaring, "Deidara, you are dismissed."

Deidara rose to his feet. He faced Tsuki, leaned down, and left a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back," he whispered.

Watching him leave her with their Leader, she nodded subtly. Reaching the door, he looked back at her with genuine worry in his eyes. He slipped through, and she returned her attentions to the pierced man before her.

"As for you," he sighed. He was interrupted before he could continue his threat.

A panel behind his desk slid, revealing a door she did not know about. Through the door, a man walked through, entering the study to stand behind Pein. The first thing she noticed was the striking resemblance the two men bore to each other, though their features were completely different. They both had excessive facial piercings, and the same bright orange hue to their hair, though this new man's hair was easily long enough for him to sit on, drawn back into a high pony tail. He looked straight at Tsuki, and his eyes bore the violet Rinnegan rings.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he stated. Their voices were nearly identical, though his was softer, much less intimidating. The disturbance in the air current shifted his scent her way, which took her off guard. It was a musky, woods-y smell that she had never encountered before. Itachi said she had met everyone in the Akatsuki, yet here stood a stranger wearing their iconic garb.

Her defences rose, and she could feel her features arranging into a scowl.

Pein spoke, his own scowl set in place. "Your hostility is unnecessary, child."

The strange man kept a serene look on his face, unphased by her rudeness. His eyes never left her as he observed her very nature. She felt vulnerable under his gaze, as though he could see straight through to her very core. It was unnerving. She shifted, cautious about their intentions.

"Would you please explain what is going on?" she requested.

Pein chuckled. "He is going to assume the role of guarding you while we are otherwise occupied." Her confusion amused him to no extent.

"Who is he?" she asked.

"He is Pein," he answered. "We are both Pein. We both cause pain. It is an alias that suits us both, and our vision."

Analysing them both momentarily, she took in every detail about this man she could. "Are you trying to tell me you're both the same person?" The concept of multiple Peins was dizzying to her. Nothing escaped her observation; his every piercing, the rise and fall of his breath, and the very way he held himself told her things about him.

"Yes, and no," the short haired Pein answered. "We are joined by the same vision, the same dream, and the same beliefs. We are, however, two very different people." To emphasize the point, the new man offered her a warm smile.

"At least one of you is capable of expressing emotion," she casually observed with sarcasm. The gesture made her stomach turn with disgust. If she hated this Pein so much, what would the new one be like.

"As am I, child. You would do well to remember that." Pein's voice shook with anger and offence. He watched her stare at his counterpart with no mind for rudeness. She was sizing him up, he could tell.

The entire situation took Tsuki off guard. Her mind tried to associate the two men before her as the same sentient being. She knew that there had never been record of two Rinnegan users existing simultaneously. They were obviously different in their natures, however, which is where her challenge lay. This new form of Pein would require her to formulate a new strategy just to deal with him. She was starting all over. They were both gazing at her silently, watching her every move. She felt uneasy under their observations. She had no idea what it was the Rinnegan users could see.

The man behind the Pein she was familiar with shifted while the Pein she knew made to stand up. He walked toward the door, and her new babysitter took the now vacated seat. Before taking his leave, Pein looked back at her. "You are to behave yourself in my absence, and treat him as you would me."

She shifted to address him, arching an eyebrow with contempt. "You want me to piss him off beyond reason?" She watched him seethe with anger, and was rewarded with heavy silence.

The long haired man chuckled from across the desk. "If you want to try, be my guest." His tone was warm and pleasant, amused. The words were a challenge, but the way he said it made her feel like he wouldn't allow her under his skin, no matter what she did.

The short haired Pein addressed them bitterly. "I'm sure the two of you will find many ways to pass the time." Tsuki could feel the surge of resentment coursing off his body.

Once again, the long haired Pein chortled. "Don't be so serious," he urged. "You can cut the tension between the two of you with a kunai." He leaned back, casually relaxing. His body language was a stark contrast to the man she was accustomed to.

The first Pein left without another word, though he slammed the shoji door in its track behind him irritably. This caused the man before her to chuckle again.

She eyed him cautiously. "So you're the one who drew the short stick." She folded her arms in front of her chest, tucking her arms inside the cloak's sleeves. She was closing off her body to him, tense, as though she was poised for an attack.

Leaning back even further in his chair, he smiled at her. "I was the one chosen to entertain you, yes. There was no one else involved, or considered," he explained. He kicked his feet up on the desk. When he looked upon her, his eyes were oddly chatoyant.

"How many Peins are there?" she asked, shifting away from him with unease.

His smile touched his eyes, something she had never seen in his counterpart. "There are six Paths of Pain," he answered. "I am the Animal Path, and the man who left is the Deva Path. There's the Preta Path, the Human Path, the Asura Path, and the Nakara Path."

She chuckled sarcastically. "They sent the Animal Path to keep me caged," she sighed. "How fitting." She seethed in silence at the Deva Path. She could feel him watching her.

"Don't think of me as a cage," he suggested. "I'm here as your guard and guide, to keep you safe."

She grunted in distaste. She had kept herself as far away from him as possible. He watched her every move, noting the smallest of twitches, fidgets, and shiftings; they exposed her true nature. Observing her, Pein shrugged her cold façade off easily. She wasn't upset with him; he knew that. "Our resemblance bothers you, does it not?" he inquired.

"I'm sure it would bother most people," she answered, a hint of annoyance in her words, "But as for me, nothing you guys do comes as a terrible shock." That was, for the more part, true. She was expecting their voices to be similar, but they were completely different. She was more annoyed at having to observe and react to a new person than she was at their shared traits.

For a while, he seemed to stare off into space, focused on something that wasn't even in the room. He would shift his gaze periodically, yet stay completely unfocused. His thoughts absorbed him. When he didn't say a word or move for ten minutes, Tsuki rose to her feet to take her leave, the cloak falling around her calves.

In a flash, he moved to stand in her way, his own cloak billowing. "You're not leaving me already, are you, Princess?" Even for her sharp eyesight, she could barely see his movement.

She stood shocked, more at what he called her than at his incredible speed. "You checked out," she stated flatly. Her weight shifted from one foot to the other. "I was going to leave you to your thoughts."

A playful smirk graced his features. "How can I entertain you, if you aren't here? You're mine to keep safe, don't forget that."

The softness in his voice bothered her immensely. There was no hint of dominance, yet he would not allow her to upstage him. He had no interest in going to war, as the Deva Path did. "I can entertain myself," she sighed, exasperated. Their violet eyes met. She shifted the straw hat from one side to the other.

"You could," he agreed, leaning against the door frame, "Or I could do what I promised an d keep you company." She attempted to pass by him, but her attempt was thwarted. He caught her with one arm outstretched. "I can't allow you to leave," he sighed, softer than ever.

His scent overwhelmed her, and her guard rose to a whole new level. "Release me, please." The soft scent of pine needles, dew drops, and cold nights was enough to ease her mind and mellow her mood; anyone who could cause that reaction was a threat. She was cautious enough to catch herself before she dropped her guard in a fatal mistake.

Obliging her request, he let her go, but remained in the door frame. "I will not allow you to wander the streets unescorted. It's too dangerous. You're far more valuable to us alive than you would be dead." He smiled softly.

She sighed, taking another step back. "I didn't want to wander, I just want to get out of this office. I wasn't going to go anywhere in the public's eye."

His eyes showed his empathy. "I can imagine how frustrated you are. I hate confinement." He took a single step forward. She stepped back with no hesitation.

"Confinement?" she reiterated. "I'm backed into a corner. I can't rid myself of your constant supervision, even though you're monitoring this entire village with the rain. You would know if I tried to leave, and doing so would risk my comrade's safety. What else can I do?" She sulked back over to the chair she had occupied and crumpled into its seat.

Pein's eyes narrowed as he walked over to the desk, following her. "I know you feel caged." Instead of sitting across the desk, he sat next to her, first adjusting the chair to face her a little more.

Her eyes flicked to him briefly, a look of exasperation on her features. "I don't even know why I'm locked up here. It's obvious you don't need me yet. So why make me suffer?" She shifted away from him, pushing herself into the far edge of her seat. It was uncomfortable, but she felt safer.

His eyes closed briefly as he let the silence hang. When he opened them, he answered her. "If I told you, would it make a difference? Is there anything we could say to allow you enjoyment in being here?"

Shaking her head, she stated boldly, "No, there isn't." She despised the truth in his words. It would not make a difference; not at all. She would fight for her freedom. It was in her nature, the very core of who she was. She had battled oppression all her life, and would continue to do so until she died.

A soft smile was given to her, and his voice became as quiet as a breeze. "When the time comes, you will understand everything. You will have your chance to fight against us, as you see fit. For us, this is what is right. Every man here had to choose if he wanted to pursue this dream. We all have reached the same conclusion. This is what the world needs."

The mere thought of his dream made her roll her eyes in disgust. "You're leading an organization of the world's rejected scum, all of whom have committed perverse and terrible crimes against humanity. Forgive me, but I don't think you're in any place to know what this world needs, as you say."

He chuckled softly; of course she didn't understand. "If anyone could tell you about the evils of this world, it is us." There was a tone of finality in his voice, and justice in his eyes. "We, the rejected scum, as you colourfully described us, have seen what is wrong with this world, and set out to change it. Our very rebellion has marked us as evil. Yes, our methods are unorthodox. Yes, we have a total disregard for the safety of our enemies. Yes, we aren't afraid of causing ripples. Those very ripples will turn into a tsunami of reform."

She put up a hand, to stop him; already she knew too much about their cause. Any more information and Inoichi would think she were sympathetic to them when he interrogated her upon her return. "I don't want to know why you're doing what ever it is you set out to do." There was venom in her voice, enhancing her exasperation. She knew he was trying to persuade her, and she wasn't going to have it. She gazed beyond him, out the window into the murky downpour. That man could convince a mountain to move from its base, she thought to herself.

Pein watched her intently, analysing her response to him. He was attempting to understand her mental process a bit better. She was making an effort to remain calm and collected around him. From what he already knew, this was unlike her, and it caused him to worry. The phrase, 'Calm before the storm,' came to mind. It had been unpredicted, yes; altogether he was expecting the same defiance that she showed the Deva Path. He had been chosen for his ability to charm others, hoping that his charisma would win her over, yet she seemed entirely bored with him. Leaving him alone with her was a gamble. He didn't have the chakra necessary to pursue her should she try to run, but due to the extraction, they had no choice. They had to rely on her ignorance to keep her within their confines. If she ever guessed that he was incapable of restraining her, they would lose her, and who would know if they could muster the strength to defy Konohagakure once more to get her back?

It was virtually impossible to hide anything from the Peins, yet his mind questioned if she was already loyal to another. There was evidence that pointed in that direction, and there was evidence that countered. She had done it before, certainly, but she rarely deployed the same tactic twice, if the past was any indication. All the while, it would be interesting to hear what she had to say on the matter, thus he decided to pursue some answers. "If it isn't too bold to ask, how are your affairs with Deidara?"

Adjusting her gaze, she once more credited the strange man with her attention. "I suppose they're neutral." Her body remained in its previous position, her arms folded into her sleeves, her thighs crossed, and a stern look in her eyes.

There was a casual tone to her voice, he noted. He could not see any physical indication she was lying. He had to delve further. Perhaps a change of tactic would prove rewarding. "He was once very proud of your," he paused for effect, "Emotional attachment toward him."

A huffed laugh could be heard from her as she looked away from him. "Sheer boredom; there was no emotional investment on my behalf."

His eyes narrowed. She was deliberately attempting to avoid directly answering him. "You and Uchiha seem close," he suggested. Perhaps she refrained from Deidara because of Itachi.

A flicker of annoyance could be seen in her eyes. "I suppose one could say that."

"Why is this?" he asked, turning toward her. "You have made a point to keep everyone at arm's length but him."

She uncrossed her arms, and gripped the arms of the chair in annoyance. "Itachi and I have a personal history that dates almost a decade," she explained. "If that's not enough for you, I suggest you ask him." That was all he needed to know about her past. It wouldn't serve her well for him to know that Itachi was the one who found her wandering Konoha after her parents were slaughtered, and took her in, and taught her the ways of the Uchiha fire control. He was lucky she humoured him at all. To her it seemed like a decent survival plan.

As her eyes returned to the window, he couldn't help but think there was more. It was almost as though she were doing anything in her power to avoid the confrontation he was trying to ignite. Where was the heat, the fire, the passion she was so well known for?

"What about the boy you're risking everything for?" he asked. He rested his chin on his knuckles, leaning even closer to her. He tried to express a genuine interest in her life story, to make her feel comfortable with him, but he could see her retracting back into her shell.

She sighed, returning her stare back to him. The ire was evident in both her eyes and her voice. "There's nothing to tell you. He's a comrade. I would die for him, and with that being said, it is my only motive." Her glare was fuelled by contempt. "Your questions seem to be pointed. If you have something to say, then say it. Stop beating around the bush like a coward."

Effectively, she had turned the tables. Pein sighed, looking into her eyes with a blank expression. "I'm just trying to understand you a little better." The answer was true enough. The more he knew about her, the better his chances of persuading her. It was a puzzle he was determined to solve, a riddle he had to find the answer to.

"You're wasting your time," she stated flatly. "There's nothing this information can do for you."

Once more, he chuckled lightly. "I only wish, for your sake, you were right. However, Princess, you couldn't be more misled." He leaned back in his chair, brought one hand to his chin, and looked at her. "I find your motives to be fascinating."

Turning away from him once more, she sighed. "Oddly enough, fascinating others absolutely bores me."

He continued to look at her with interest. Every woman wanted to be adored, an object of curiosity to their admirers; or so he had thought. "You're a strange creature," he stated after a moment of internal reflection. "Though I'm guessing you already knew that."

She chuckled maliciously. "Of course I know," she hissed with venom. "All my life I've been the object of study and experimentation due to the curiosity of vile men like yourself."

The insult didn't go without notice. Her animosity still boiled within her, and she was ready to destroy anything that reminded her of those experimentations. Her rage would be her destruction. He decided to save face, and attempt another tactic. "Why shouldn't I be curious about your motives?" he asked. "To not be interested would be arrogant; I refuse to overlook the potential threat you pose. You think my fascination is admiration, when it isn't." If flattery wouldn't cut the cloth, perhaps strategic analysis would.

Shock recoiled through her eyes as she flushed at the cheeks, obviously embarrassed at her assumption. He had shot through her vanity, wounding her pride. She had always been the object of study, though never for the purpose of psychological warfare. It had always been for the express purpose of making a weapon out of her, or worse. This man was dangerous, and she wanted nothing more to run her sword through his throat out of self preservation.

He laughed softly, breaking the silence. He rose to his feet. "Do not feel so embarrassed," he advised. "Your conclusion is understandable. You are remarkably different from your peers. To some, that brings wonder; to others, fear. To the Deva Path, you are a necessary blight he must endure. To me, you are a piece of the puzzle, and the puzzle is without instructions; only your effects are unforeseen to me. It is as though the puzzle will remain blank until everything is put together. Will you help us, and make the world a beautiful place, or will you set out to destroy us?"

The pretentious assumption insulted her, not because it was outlandish, but because it hit home. She was so arrogant as to believe he was fascinated with her for reasons that were not quite wholesome. Such shame it was, to be put down. It was, for her, the closest she had come to rejection, and the realization left a bitter residue in her mouth. She slid lower in her chair.

He had watched her internally berate herself with pity. He knew it wasn't easy for her to battle herself. He turned to the desk and gathered the files his predecessor had left behind. "You and I are finished here. You expressed a desire to be free of this office, and I feel it is time to get you settled in. I want you to feel as comfortable as possible while you are with me."

Rising to her feet, she stood beside him, though not as tall as he knew she could stand. "Even disguised as a home, this place is a prison. You can try all you like to make it inviting. A bird will never willingly fly into a cage."

A humble sigh preluded his response as he led her to disembark. "Truthfully, you don't have to see this place as a prison. All this time you've fought us, done your best to escape and evade us. You don't understand; you're safe here. You're surrounded by people who can appreciate your talents and experiences. We can protect you from your past, and help you make a future."

Her eyes flashed an unrecognised emotion, whether it be hope or fear, he was not sure. She nodded, showing she understood. It was a short and formal motion, without answer. She was absorbing his words, processing his meaning.

"We don't want to harm you," he assured her. "If we did, you wouldn't be walking beside me." They walked over to the window, and he opened it. She looked confused. "I'm not a fan of stairs," he explained. He held his hand out for her to take as she climbed up to the sill. Her fingers trembled against his palm, and she stood, facing the sheer drop that the window presented. She donned her hat to ward off the rain.

Pein stood beside her, still clutching her hand. "I would let go of you, Princess, but I can't risk you running off."

Through the paper fringe of the hat, her glare pierced him. "I'm not going to run." He released her, though caution was still evident in his eyes.

"I would hate to have to hunt you, Princess." He turned to the rain and leaped out into the storm. She followed, feeling the humid air rush around her. He led her to a pipeline about fifty feet below them, where he turned and ran up its length. It led into an opening in a building, where he ducked inside. It was a twenty feet jump above the pipe, but they easily managed.

She had often seen these openings, but never had the chance to explore them. It had been alluded to them being out of bounds for her, and now she understood that it was because Pein couldn't see or hear her while she was in them. Following this man, she ran along the tunnel, which branched off in many places. Glancing back at her, he could see the curiosity in her eyes as she looked down one of the corridors.

"Perhaps sometime, if you would like, we can explore the city this way," he offered, smiling again. He stopped in front of another opening briefly before jetting through it. She followed, hot on his tail, still considering his offer. Why would he want to do anything that would interest her? She had wanted to explore these forgotten corridors; he was obviously familiar with them. It had to be a trap, she decided.

They came to a ledge where the building opened up to the down pour. She eyed the rain with distaste. Turning to her, he asked, "Are you ready?" When she nodded, he took off into the onslaught of rain.

She shifted her weight before jumping after him. They descended an entire story before their feet hit the next ledge. Immediately they pelted down the corridor, not waiting for the shock of the jump to wear off. It felt so good for her to run again. Waiting around had taken its toll on her nerves. Physical exertion brought a joy to her that neither Pein had ever seen before. She was wild and free, a goddess of war.

The vision of her ignited a fire within himself. He surged forward, pushing himself harder, daring her to keep the pace. She fired off behind him, maintaining her distance. They wound their way through the darkness at a break neck speed. They slid on water when they rounded the corners, the puddles were too small and sparse for them to use their chakra to run. For ten minutes she chased him throughout Amegakure, no longer sure of where she was. There were moments she was so close to him, she could have ran her fingers through his flowing hair.

They came to another break in the corridor. He didn't even stop; he plunged into the empty air and through the entrance to another opening. She followed him, maneuvering through the air with acrobatic precision. She brought herself into a flip, sticking the landing and continuing through to follow him. Her heart was pounding in her ears, threatening to burst from her chest. It was exhilarating.

All too soon he stopped her, then jumped to the ground several hundred feet below. She followed, free falling through the air at dizzying speeds. She landed, allowing her knees to buckle, bringing her body as low to the ground as she could to absorb the shock. She looked up at him. He was holding his hand out to her with a smile. "We're here, Princess."