XXXXVI: Pain
I was not expecting to see purple rippled eyes right in front of me as soon as I slammed Sasuke's door shut.
Pain watched me with his emotionless expression as always, as he just stood there examining me like I was his subject.
Not wanting Sasuke to hear us, I grabbed Pain by the arm, dragging him down the hallway with me until we were a good distance in which Sasuke wouldn't hear us.
"Are you stalking me now?"
"I felt your panic. I couldn't feel your chakra for a second."
I rose an eyebrow up at him, crossing my arms as a smirk formed on my lips.
"So you are stalking me then."
"Were bonded."
I rolled my eyes at his comment.
"When you kissed me. I left a sliver of my chakra inside you, as you did in me."
I frowned. "How-?"
"Thats how I was able to sense your panic. And then your chakra disappeared for a mere second, replaced by the dragon inside you."
"Okay.. well, thanks for worrying about me." I said as I started walking away, but felt his presence following close behind me.
"Why are you following me?"
"I was instructed by Madara Uchiha to watch Sasuke closely."
"Then why are you following me?"
"Did he hurt you."
I froze in my steps, feeling him stop just
mere inches behind me.
It wasn't more of a question than a demand.
But I ignored him as I continued back to who knows where. I didn't even have an official room in this secluded cave system. Perhaps I should find Jugo. He was the only one I actually liked anyway.
I gasped when Pain appeared in front of me as I ran straight into his chest.
I shoved him from me in irritation, only to have him grab my wrists.
"I lied." He spoke in his same monotone tone.
"What?"
"I heard Madara Uchiha tried to kill you."
I snatched my wrists from his hold.
"So what? You came to take pity on me?"
"I heard you had woken up. I needed to see for myself."
I tried to give him a pleasant smile. "How thoughtful of you. But if you would please now. I need to go find Jugo."
"So this is the reason you left me?!"
I turned around to see a shirtless Sasuke standing a far distance away from us. I instantly stepped away from Pain, only for him to grab my wrist again.
"You tried to force yourself on her." Pain pointed out in his same tone.
"Pain, you should leave." I warned him.
"No."
"Please don't make this situation worse than it is."
His eyes trailed down to meet mine, his harshened gaze softening as he stared at me.
"I will leave... only with you."
"She is not going anywhere with you."
I jumped when Sasuke's voice appeared right behind me.
I sighed, turning to meet his tense and raged expression.
"That is for her to decide."
I turned, pressing my palm against Sasuke's chest as I could feel Pain's eyes burning through my back.
I wouldn't have gone with any of them. Both of them were so similar, even if Pain was less aggressive and more patient. And they both annoyed the crap out of me.
I walked first back into Sasuke's room, as I heard him come behind me and shut the door.
"Look, I'm tired of fighting with you and the almost never ending problems we have with each other. Can we just forget it for now? Please?" I said as I sat on his bed, watching his eyes narrow at me.
"I'm leaving." He said, ignoring my proposal.
I blinked. "What?"
"I'm being sent on a mission."
"You're not leaving me." I said. It was more of a command than a request.
"I'm not taking you with me."
"You can't just leave me here!" I snapped at him.
"I can't take the chance of you betraying me again."
"Are you doing that because you want to or because Madara Uchiha said so?"
"It doesn't matter. You'll only be a distraction to me anyway."
He approached me, his eyes holding my gaze steady.
"You told me you'd protect me. You can't do that by abandoning me."
"I'm protecting you by not bringing you with me."
I sighed in frustration, holding my head in my hands as I rested my elbows on my thighs.
"I won't put up with this."
"I'll leave Jugo with you." I felt his hand sneak under my chin, his other hand pulling my hands apart as he lifted up my head to look at him.
"He won't be enough."
"Of course he won't. No one is ever enough for you." He spoke softly as he cupped my face in his hand.
"You know I'm the only one capable of protecting you if you happen to come across a challenging enemy." I pointed out to him.
"You mean Naruto?"
"No." I snapped at him, pushing his hand away. "Do you remember what happened the last time you tried to leave me like this?!"
He narrowed his eyes at me, refusing to answer my question since he clearly remembered it all.
"Father isn't here this time to stop me. The Akatsuki, even Jugo, can't stop me. They don't have a hold over me like Father did."
"Shiroryuu will stop you if need be."
"Shiroryuu would not want you to leave me."
Sasuke took a step closer to me, before grabbing my shoulders and pulling me against him, forcing me up onto my feet.
"Trust me. Please." He whispered in my ear, his breath fanning my skin.
I wrapped my arm around his torso in response, as we held each other like that for a few more silent moments.
And then he tore himself from me, lifting my chin up with his hand as he pressed his lips to mine.
Before I had time to register what was happening he pulled away, a certain glint of emotion in his eyes as he turned and walked away.
I don't know what got into him, why he was finally showing his true colors. And to me, most of all. Not too long ago we loathed each other and could barely stand to be in each other's presence. He saw me as a challenge to his succession, and I saw him as a challenge to gain my Father's attention.
-
It wasn't even a minute after Sasuke left that Jugo walked in. I'm surprised Sasuke didn't bring him with him, completing the gang. But I guess he worried about me too much that he had to leave Jugo behind. But hey, at least it wasn't that obsessive bitch or that slimy water idiot.
A few hours later of me just sitting like a prisoner in Sasuke's room while Jugo kept watch over me and brought me anything I needed, I finally spoke to Jugo instead of sitting around pissed off and annoyed.
"Can we get some fresh air please?"
"No."
"Come on. I even said please."
"Sasuke would not-"
"-screw him. I don't give two shits what he would not do. Please, Jugo. I feel like I'm suffocating in this hell hole."
We stayed like that for a few more silent seconds, his eyes glared down at me as I gave him the most innocent look I could muster.
He sighed and shook his head after a few moments, as I grinned and squealed in excitement.
"We will only be going outside for fresh air, nothing more." Jugo said.
"Of course, of course."
"And no wandering off." He said as I started out of the room, as Jugo followed closely on my heels.
"No wandering off. Gotcha."
"And you have to keep your chakra hidden at all cost."
"Yeah yeah. Anything else?"
"If we sense trouble, we will not go to it. Understand?"
"Yes, Jugo. Fine."
"Good. If something happened to you, Sasuke would never forgive me."
"Nothing will happen to me. I'm tougher than I look."
I could feel Jugo's smile. "I know."