Chapter 9: With or Against me
[My inspiration is that I am now officially out of middle school… Boy, time flies. I remember in fifth grade when I was normal…HAH yeah right! Happy Summer everyone! Enjoy!]
"Sasuke if I could love, do you think I could love you?" I whispered more to myself than to Sasuke as we lay down. I had not a clue that he was still fully awake even; I just assumed his silence indicated slumber.
"Do whatever," Sasuke instructed without moving an inch but his lips. Even his calmly closed eyes never fluttered as he spoke to me.
I felt that that was not the time to talk, and that I should have let it be at that, but for the first time in my life it was as though I could not keep my mouth shut, "…Sasuke?"
"What?"
"…Am I worth your time?"
A light sigh could be heard emitting from the Uchiha as though he were truly annoyed with such a question, "Hn. Go to sleep."
In response I sighed one similar to that of Sasuke's however mine was more disappointed.
Disappointment….Was that not one of the emotions that a natural human heart should be able to feel? Was disappointment and desperation part of what I should have been able to feel, or was that simply what I wanted to have? If I truly felt this loneliness and sorrow from time to time did that really mean I was as empty of a shell as I thought myself to be? Maybe not…
Even so, this was merely a dream. Oh yes I could easily tell that this was not reality for there was no way I would honestly question Sasuke on anything as preposterous as love. Honestly, if there was no such thing as love how could I question him on it. This was one thing I constantly reminded myself, therefore scarcely ever spoke of.
"Wake up…" I told myself repeatedly, allowing the misty backdrop of nothing to fade into a blurred mist, "Wake up…."
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When I awoke there was no doubt that I was not where I had fallen asleep. Even though my eyes had not yet opened from their paralyzed state I could tell by the drop dead silence that surrounded me that I was not in the woods anymore. My nose could pick up none of the scents that would reside within a forest; none of the sweet pine or the feeling of cold air being sucked up through my sensitive nose were there. It was cold in wherever I was, no doubt, but the smells of iron and rock were overpowering.
Behind me, when I attempted to move my hands to rub my eyes open, I realized instantly that my hands were stuck behind my back. There was a rough item binding them together which could be identified as a rope, easily. It was not the most comfortable thing that has ever been attached to my wrists as it was very tight and it felt as though it were shredding my wrists apart with the prickliness of the material.
I sighed in agitation as I opened my eyes, keeping them half lidded as I stared around the room in disappointment of what was happening. Turns out I was in a room that was absent of any sort of window, almost completely thrust into the darkness albeit I shall recognize the small lamp that was lit in the corner of the room. This room may have been twenty degrees below freezing for all I knew, but there must have been a reason for me not being able to feel my toes or fingers. That was not because the ropes on both limbs were almost cutting circulation.
It occurred to me that I, obviously, was taken under custody by somebody who had it out for me, but when I remembered where I had fallen asleep my ice coated heart felt cracked. I had fallen asleep pleasantly curled up beside Sasuke Uchiha after being separated with him for so long. I had been by his side all night long…It would have been highly improbable for somebody to steal me while I was next to such an elite…Or maybe it was Sasuke himself?
I sighed once more as I shook my head at myself, finding that to be too farfetched to be tangible. The Sasuke I knew would not betray me in such a way…could he have?
As I sat there lost in my illiterate thoughts, a shrill creak filled my ears that sounded much like a heavy metal door against stone grounds. The high pitched sound hurt, albeit I made no expression to emphasize pain.
White light flooded into the room momentarily before the door slammed shut once more and I was cut from the connection. Though now, more clear than ever, there was a person within the walls with me.
"You are quite evasive," A deep voice noted from somewhere within the shadows.
That deep voice struck me as familiar for I was positive I had heard that voice somewhere before.
I stayed silent, refusing to have to be what one would call "hospitable" towards somebody who kept me tied up like a pet. Ironic really, seeing as I was more human than cat, but that was beside the point.
"Funny really, how only the two tails could keep running away from me… Of course without Sasuke you would never have survived so long…" The voice mused. As it spoke I felt a sharp pain running through my chest…What was that? "It's too bad you're out of his protection-"
"Whoever you are I suggest silencing yourself," I interrupted sharply, cold blue eyes piercing into the darkness as I sought out to see the one who vexed me so.
There was a slight chuckle that was heard moments before my captor shown himself in the light. As stunning as it was, I showed no sign of profound interest at the orange wooden mask that made its way into sight of the slight fire lit in the corner. That orange mask I had seen time and time again before having had him take me captive twice in the past, but I still could not find a way to feel fear towards him.
"I'm sure your little friend has mentioned me before," the man I remembered to be Tobi said.
"…If you mean to tell me that you are Madara Uchiha…" I trailed off once I realized how ridiculous I sounded at mentioning such a name as though it were real.
"You don't believe that?" Tobi questioned slyly, a smirk probably crossing across his mouth as we spoke. For some odd reason I seemed to come across with an image of Sasuke's all-knowing smirk, and then I found myself mentally locking myself away again as I figured out how preposterous that was.
"No," I deadpanned, glaring at the masked man.
Tobi chuckled as though something were actually comical. I could locate nothing comical about the situation as I was the one tied up and being told to believe such lies that one named Madara Uchiha was standing before me when he should have been deceased. Even so, if he had not passed when he should have, then I was stuck with one rather complicated problem-No, that was wrong, Madara was dead.
"Why is it you laugh?" I asked dully.
"It appears Sasuke has not done his work with you," Tobi sighed as he crossed his arms in disappointment, shaking his masked head, "but I suppose it doesn't matter if you believe I am Madara or not. You see, the Akatsuki finally has you."
If I felt the need I would have rolled my eyes, "I would never have guessed."
"In the event you haven't heard past your smart tone," The masked one threatened, "I shall tell you this much. Our Jinchuuriki must be delivered to the statue unconscious…"
"Could you not have knocked me out while I was asleep?" I asked, sighing at the sheer stupidity of the people I had to endure.
Tobi chuckled once more, "I could have. But Sasuke had other ideas."
I tilted my head curiously…Unfortunately I must pull out the most common saying of all "curiosity killed the cat." Usually I was not one to ponder, but… "What Ideas?"
"You shall see," Tobi exclaimed before he grabbed onto the back of my shirt and hauled me up off the ground. As my hands and feet were both bound together, and I was too lazy to fight, I was dragged out of the dark room.
As it would turn out, the bright light I had witnessed flowing into the room when the door was first opened was merely but lit lamps. It just appeared much lighter than it was since my eyes were in the dark, and when I was brought out my eyes dilated quickly to adjust. It never even crossed my mind to wonder about why Tobi would be in contact with Sasuke…It hardly came up as an ideal that it was Sasuke who brought me here. I would never have believed it.
I made no attempt to struggle against the bonds that held me, nor any against this Tobi who was still dragging me about the multitude of hallways and past the many rooms of the base. It would seem this was a rather extensive place, proving to be a rather tedious task to escape.
After long minutes of silence the masked man decided it was best to start up a conversation, for whatever reason that may have been, "If it was only this easy I would have sent Sasuke to retrieve you sooner," Tobi mumbled, maybe it was more to himself than it was to me.
Either way, I heard it, and was not pleased by it, "You have changed him in ways I cannot describe…Whether you are Madara Uchiha or not, I can find no reason to justify your actions…"
"Was I asking for justification, cat?" The masked man barked, shaking me hostilely as he continued to drag me about like some kind of doll, "You would not have survived as long as you did without him. It was easy to say the moment you fell out of his favor you were done for."
"I am no weakling," I sighed, knowing that though this was the truth, my actions currently were not helping with the statement.
Tobi seemed to find amusement in this, "You are only holding the two tails. Don't get ahead of yourself."
I would have growled at the orange masked one had he not tossed me into another all rock room. This time however, the room was well lit and was bigger than the room prior by about ten times. The scorch marks on the ground seemed to be from fire, and the multitude of scratches and filled in holes seemed to assure me that this must have been the Akatsuki training grounds…Not that they particularly needed training.
Standing in the center of the rocky grounds was the one person I would recognize from a mile away. His scent was familiar in my sensitive nose either way, "Sasuke…?"
The Uchiha gave me a cold glare that made me do a double take. I was not used to him displaying me such coldness…Was that real?
"Have your fun Sasuke, but make it quick, I'm tired of waiting for this one," Tobi growled before he spun on his heel and exited the room, prominently slamming the door shut behind him, leaving me and the Uchiha in the training grounds.
I stared forward curiously at the stance Sasuke had taken. His hand was resting tensely on the katana strapped to his side, which was also the moment when I realized I was disarmed… of course that was to have been expected of somebody who was captured. I could see that there was also one more weapon alongside his usual one which was oddly familiar…
"Sasuke, what is this?" I asked slowly, "What is going on…Where is Kana…?"
"Hn," Sasuke huffed, frowning on mention of Kana's name, "I told you the day we parted that you had to keep your distance from me. I also told you I was alongside Madara Uchiha who is seeking out the Jinchuuriki…It's your fault for not listening to me."
"What are you talking about…?"
"You're here to get your Nekomata extracted," Sasuke informed darkly before he shuffled around on his feet and appeared in front of me, sword drawn and so close to taking my head off had I not taken quick action and moved myself to the side. I was able to duck underneath his arm and come up from behind him, in shock that he had just tried to assault me.
"What are you doing?" I nearly yelped, almost showing those signs of shock before I thought better of it and remained with my apathetic stare and tone.
"You must be unconscious for the extraction to take place," The raven haired man explained dully while maneuvering back around and shot large balls of fire at me.
I must have looked ridiculous trying to dodge those attacks at suck a close distance, but it mattered not so long as I did not feel the burns on my skin. What was becoming quite a nuisance to me, however, was the fact that Sasuke was actually attacking me head on to get his hands on my demon. I had not the ability to return the assaults for harming Sasuke was one thing I refused to do; though the look in his eyes told me that he did not feel mutual.
Why was that?
"Why are you doing this?" I inquired, using precise taijutsu to keep myself at Sasuke's pace and behind his back at all times now that I realized he was intent on harming me.
Then, all so quickly, I heard Sasuke's softer voice mumbling in my ear though we were still moving about each other, "It was my job to get you here, but Madara can only blame himself if you went missing from under his nose."
"I do not know what you speak of, Sasuke…" I replied indifferently though in the same hushed tone as he was utilizing. I flipped over his head to avoid a shredding from his blade and was met with his strong arm, grasping onto mine as though he were there to twist it, but I was able to slip my way out of it with another flip.
"I guess I kind of decided a little too late…" Sasuke murmured in admittance, "But Yasha, listen to me. No matter where we go Madara has eyes on the two of us being together. Now is the only time I'll be able to talk to you, but make it appear as though we are in a real fight…" as if on cue Sasuke dropped to the floor and kicked out a leg behind him to knock me back, but I hopped over the kick and landed beside the receding leg.
"Then spit it out," I sighed, holding my forearms up as a block against his hit to my face.
"Madara is soon planning to extract your demon…But when you gave birth to that kid some of the two tails chakra was trapped inside of it…He will have to take it out of her as well…Which will dispose of her as well as you," Sasuke coldly exclaimed as he made more of these false advances against me. I found it odd that we should do this even as the masked man was not present from the room, but apparently Sasuke knew something that I did not which involved being thoroughly watched.
I continued to duck and block, "and?"
"You could die here," The Uchiha pointed out harshly, still using that same unmoved tone however the look in his eyes told me that he was on my side now. Why was that so intent on changing so often?
"And whose fault would that be?" I asked in a dull whisper, squinting at the black haired shinobi while I dropped to the hard rock floor in order to avoid a chidori strike. Bits of pebble duck their way into my palms as I hit the ground to avoid the abrupt jutsu, my legs spread in a low sideways lunge. The blue and white lightning crackled just over the tips of my neko ears, dangerously close to disintegrating them off of my being. At least I knew that Sasuke was not truly planning on hitting me with that jutsu, but still the fact that he had brought it out was somewhat frightening.
"Hn," Sasuke avoided the question since we both knew the answer, and instead tossed me the second katana that was on his hip, "Escape."
"You brought me here and are now telling me to escape?" I growled irritably as I grabbed onto the sheath of the stolen weapon and placed it on my waist, "You have become sloppy with your planning, Sasuke."
"Tch, I'm not telling you to escape now. If you can transfer the rest of your demonic chakra into that baby of yours then Madara would let you go…If you survived that. We will both benefit—"
"You are asking me to, by default, murder my own child to escape?" I questioned bitterly, "I would much rather escape with—"
Before I could finish my sentence the door to the training grounds flew open, banging against the back of the wall with a chilling crash. Sasuke and I ceased conversation and fighting all so quickly as we both turned to see who was at the door. Without a doubt it was the orange masked one, arms crossed and seemingly disappointed.
"There will be no escaping for either of them, Sasuke," Tobi informed, "I thought you would have known better."
Sasuke stared at him with a blank gaze, as did I.
I guess Sasuke was caught in an act that would surely get him into trouble with the masked man for when an arm hooked around my waist I could not think of anybody else it could be, and then I was pulled away. White fabric and black hair was all that was in my line of vision as I was held tightly to Sasuke's body, moving swiftly for the door as though he were there to break me out…But…I could not understand why.
And by the unsteady beating of his heart, neither could he.
[OK so I believe it's on the near-horrible side…But I'm sick and wanted to get something out…Please show me some mercy T.T There's stuff coming up soon I swear!]
