Chapter 1: The Man Under the Mask

"No! Just ten more minutes please!" Kisa protested as her elder brother shook her in her sleep.

"You said than forty-five minutes ago! Now come on!"

Sighing, she gave into her brother's constant attempts to awake her and sat up. Doing her daily routine and getting changed into her new Akatsuki outfit. 'Wonder what's for breakfast!' she thought to herself, but coming to find out she didn't know the place at all. She stopped and turned around, ending up bumping into someone and falling right on her butt.

"Oh, Tobi is sorry! Tobi bumped into the new girl! Is new girl alright?" he asked worried, and helping her up.

"I-I'm fine. I'm Hoshigake, Kisa, by the way. I'm guessing you're Tobi?" Tobi gasped in amazement.

"How did Kisa-chan know?"
"Y-You speak in 3rd person, like a kid." she giggled and swished her tail happily.

He led her to the kitchen and talked up a storm. He made her laugh so much and gave her her first real smile in a long time. They seemed to like the same things. He was playful, and childlike just like herself. It seemed she found herself clinging onto him with every word he spoke. Every breath he took drew her in more and more. Her stomach began to grow a feeling she never felt before. It was as if there were butterflies flying around. Her heart skipped a beat when she was around him.

Him, he felt drawn to her as well. But with his secret, he wasn't sure she'd feel the same way once she found out. He loved her laugh, her smile, her voice, everything about this girl. His mask controlling his true feelings, hiding them to keep her safe.

It was too quick to be falling, and she's so young, but he couldn't help but fall in love with her. He let her talk about the things on her mind. What she liked, her hobbies, and random things like that. They began to know each other and seemed to grow closely. But he couldn't tell her the truth, all he could speak were fables and tales.

"Tobi-kun, nya~? You alright? You're kind of quiet." Kisa asked, twitching her ears in a worried fashion.

"Tobi is fine! Tobi just started daydreaming about candy! Does Kisa-chan want some candy?

"I want some! You have chocolate, nya~?"

"Tobi has tons of chocolate! Chocolate is Tobi's favorite;" he bent down to whisper, "Tobi will show you his secret stash of candy, and Kisa-chan can get some whenever she wants!" he smiled underneath his mask as she jumped up and down, excited for being the only one to know of his candy stash.

He led her to his room and pushed a brick in the wall, leading to a secret passage.

"This way!" Tobi motioned Kisa to follow him.

Kisa clung onto his Akatsuki robe. She felt scared of the cave like place, not knowing what could be around here. The hall was only lit by candles here and there. It surprised her that they could even stay alive with the density of the air.

Once he reached a certain door, he unlocked it revealing tons of toys and candy.

"KYA~!" she was in awe of the room.

Her big green eyes searching the room on what to do first. When she couldn't think of a sure answer, she went back to what they were there for first . . . The candy! Kisa found her favorite chocolate and ate it happily. The man with the lollipop mask watched her intently. Both with curiosity and awe. He sat down next to her.

"Kisa-chan like the chocolate Tobi made?"

"You made this, nya~?" Kisa's young, bright emerald green eyes widened more in awe of this man.

Tobi nodded and did a weird pose in triumph, causing her to giggle. She was happy. He was happy. They both completed each other as if their fate was written in the stars. Young, eleven year old Kisa wouldn't know about this feeling until she learns to understand the meaning of real, non-fairytale love; But until then, The Man Under the Mask will try his best to compose his identity as Tobi . . . Who he gave his heart to today.