XXXXIII: Punishment
"Who the hell does she think she is, betraying us like that?!" Karin snapped in annoyance, pacing back and forth in front of the other three Taka.
"Gah.. You're so annoying." Suigetsu sighed as he scratched the back of his neck, leaning against the stone wall.
"Shut up! She deserves to be punished, right, Sasu-"
"Quiet." Sasuke warned.
Jugo stayed silent as he watched them interact, a sadness in his heart for Miyako.
Sasuke pushed off the wall when the sound of footsteps could be heard down the hall.
Madara appeared from the shadows, stopping a few feet in front of them.
"Miyako's betrayal cannot go unseen." He started.
"But she didn't betray us. She gave us the Eight Tailed Jinchuriki in the end." Jugo stepped forth.
"Jugo." Karin warned with a harsh whisper.
"You are correct on that last part. But her loyalty was never with you now, Sasuke, am I correct?"
"Her loyalty lies with no one. I could care less what she chooses to do." Sasuke spoke in his emotionless tone. He spoke false words, knowing her loyalty lied in Naruto, as much as it pained and irritated him. And he did care, so much in fact, about her actions.
Madara smirked in amusement under his mask. He could tell beyond his lies, even through Sasuke's stoic face, how much he cared for the princess.
"Then you won't care the punishment I choose for her?" Madara questioned.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"If you hurt her, you'll regret it." Sasuke warned.
Madara grinned. "See? All Miyako will be is trouble to you, she's even caused a dent in this alliance already. For everyone's safety, I will have her locked up and under strict watch. She'll never be able to escape unless I allow it."
Sasuke gritted his teeth together in annoyance. He didn't feel comfortable at all handing her over to the Akatsuki like that. Maybe this was a part of Madara's plan, but this is not what Sasuke had imagined would happen.
"No harm will come to her, I promise." Madara added.
Sasuke was silent still as his team members watched him with nervous eyes.
"You should be thanking me. I'm doing you a favor." Madara said in amusement as he turned in his heel.
"Wait." Sasuke called out.
Madara looked over his shoulder as he grinned underneath his mask.
"Take me to her."
-
Miyako
The first thing that went through my mind as I slowly woke up to pure darkness and the musky smell of an enclosed cell was you definitely screwed up this time, idiot.
I knew Sasuke was one to not put me in a tight space of a cell, so I instantly assumed that this was the Akatsuki's doing.
And I didn't even bother to act surprised as my eyes focused to a set of purple rippled eyes a few feet ahead of me.
I tried to stand up on my feet but I found my arms and legs bound together by heavy chakra limiting chains.
"You're awake." Pain spoke, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Of course you'd be the one to lock me up." I said.
"I wasn't. Madara Uchiha decided it."
I rolled my eyes. Of course he did.
But that worried me even more. For all I know, I'm right where that nasty Uchiha wanted me.
"Don't worry. I haven't told Madara Uchiha the truth about you."
I frowned in the pitch darkness, watching Pain's eyes closely.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, feeling my stomach churn in anxiety.
"Orochimaru's closest henchman, Kabuto, appeared before Zetsu and told him the reason why Orochimaru went so far to keep you in complete isolation."
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. Of course Kabuto would do that. That son of a bitch.
"And you don't think Zetsu already told Madara?"
"I am the only person Zetsu has told, and his loyalty lies in me, not Madara Uchiha."
"Then why haven't you told the big boss?"
His purple eyes came closer.
"Why would I tell you when I can use you myself?" There was almost a slight hint of amusement in his deep tone.
I narrowed my eyes at his. For some reason I feared what Pain would use me for than what Madara would.
"I'll kill you." I threatened.
I didn't bother to react in anyway when I felt his body heat inches from mine as he stopped in a crouch directly in front of me.
"If you do as I say, I won't hurt your precious Sasuke."
I nearly spat in his face.
"Madara Uchiha would kill you."
"No, Madara Uchiha can't kill me."
I clenched my teeth in anger.
"What the hell do you want from me?"
But he said nothing, standing up on his feet instead as the door on the far side of the cell was pushed open, revealing the dark outline of Sasuke.
I looked away from his form.
"What are you doing in here?" Sasuke directed at Pain. The light that flooded into the room caused me to wince at its bright light, as I pushed back further into the wall, clenching my eyes shut.
"I was assigned to watch over her closely."
"There's no need for that. I want to speak with her." Sasuke said.
"Nonsense."
"Excuse me?" I could hear the irritation in Sasuke's voice.
"There's no need for you to speak to her."
I moved my gaze to Pain who had moved in front of me, blocking the blinding light and Sasuke.
"I won't say it again. I will speak to her. Alone." Sasuke warned.
"That's too bad, since she doesn't wish to speak to you."
I could hear a mental snap through the tense atmosphere.
And the funny thing was, Pain was actually right.
"Move." Sasuke spoke in a low and dangerous tone.
"No."
"I won't repeat myself again. Move."
To prevent an ugly fight, mainly for Sasuke's sake since I had no idea of Pain's powers yet, I decided to step in.
"Its alright, Pain. Leave us." I spoke up, sensing the shock from the both of them.
Without saying anything, as expected, I felt Pain's presence leave the room.
Sasuke's footsteps echoed off the walls as he came closer, before he stopped in front of me.
I felt him move downwards as he knelt before me, our bodies in close proximity.
I opened my eyelids slightly, meeting his dark expression.
"You okay?" I asked him.
"I should be the one asking that."
I nearly laughed.
"I got what I deserved."
"Why did you betray me?" He suddenly asked.
"I have my reasons." I stated simply.
"But in the end you gave me the Eight Tails. Why?"
I averted my eyes from his, looking down at the cold and hard ground.
"You know why."
Sasuke didn't say anything in response as I felt his eyes watch me closely.
And then he grabbed my chin, tilting it up so I could meet his intense gaze.
I remembered the time when I didn't even like Sasuke laying a hand on me; I remembered when I saw him as an enemy; the barrier that distanced me and Father.
But now..
"You gave up the Eight Tails to me because of what you saw." He stated softly, while still holding my chin up gently.
I didn't say anything in response.
"You must see me differently now."
"What do you want me to say?" I snapped.
"I want you to trust me. Is that too hard to ask?" He snapped back in annoyance.
"No. You never even asked me to!"
"I saved your life! I killed Orochimaru for you! That should have been reason enough!" He whispered harshly, as his face grew closer and closer to mine.
"I know you, and I know you do certain things to benefit yourself only! You killed my Father because you wanted his power, and how dare you say you saved my life when you left me to die!!"
"You know that's not true."
My eyes widened at the sincerity and gentleness held in his voice at that moment.
"You saw what I feared the most." He continued on.
"How could you care for such a burden?"
"If I don't, then who will?" He asked as a sly smirk formed on his face.
I tore away from Sasuke's intense gaze, instead looking just past his head.
"You're supposed to be an emotionless brat who cares for nothing but himself."
"Are you saying I can't care about you?"
"Yes." I snapped.
He chuckled slightly in response, as I felt him shuffle closer to me.
My eyes widened when his lips landed on my cheek, his hand keeping my face in place.
A shocking jolt was sent from his lips as I shook slightly.
"Why are you doing this." I demanded as he pulled his lips away.
Stop denying your feelings for him.
Shut up.
"The way you react to me is amusing." The annoying idiot replied as he stood on his feet.
"Tch."
"By the way... I won't allow that Akatsuki to see you anymore."
"Pain?" I asked with a smirk.
"He looks dangerous. I don't want him around you."
"Unlike you, Pain wouldn't hurt me." I told him in an amused tone, meeting his furious eyes.
"Shut up." Sasuke warned.
I rolled my eyes. "Its the truth." I lied. That bastard freaked me out.
Sasuke said nothing as he stood there and watched me with an "intimidating" glare.
I sighed. "If it makes you feel better, I prefer you over him."
That only caused his glare to deepen.
"What?" I snapped.
He only shut his eyes in response, before turning on his heel.
"I will try to negotiate with Madara Uchiha to keep you locked in my chambers." He said.
"So you can-"
"Shut up. My decision is final. Your opinion is irrelevant."