37. A Graveyard Of Colour

"The time to revive Madara Uchiha has come." A strange feeling filled my insides as the cold reality of his words passed through me.

"Come, let us go to the training room," Leader said, I nodded and watched as he opened up his desk draw and pulled out the sample of Flesh then stood up.

I followed behind him silently as we both walked down the hallway. The training room was empty as we both walked in, as we reached the centre of the room Leader stopped and turned to face me.

"Leader-Sama, I'll need a Kunai, the flesh and a scroll for this," I told him feeling slightly uncomfortable, he raised a brow then reached into his cloak and passed the requested items to me.

I took the items from him, placed the scroll onto the floor and unravelled it then dropped the sample of Madara's DNA onto the scroll. I stood up and held the Kunai between my legs as I started to form signs.

"Forbidden Technique, Reanimation Jutsu."

The black writing upon the scroll started to stretch out off the paper and across the floor. Leader and I watched intently as a coffin started to rise from the ground, completely immersed and then opened up to reveal a man in red armour with long dark raven hair.

The sight of the Uchiha corpse sent shivers down my spine but I guess it was too late to take it back now. I pulled out the Kunai from between my legs and started to whisper different enchantments as I encrypted a Jutsu formula into the Kunai.

When it was done a blue tag appeared onto the Kunai, I walked up to the open coffin and pushed the Kunai into the corpse of the Uchiha's neck. As soon as it was engulfed the corpse of Madara began to move. He raised his head and his eyes locked onto mine.

So this is where these Uchiha get that icy cold entrancing stare.

"Pain, where is Tobi?" Madara asked as he looked over to Leader who had a dark look on his face.

"He's around, I'll get him to meet us in my office for your briefing" Leader explained. Why did this Madara person not refer to Pain as Leader? And why was he so concerned with Tobi of all people?

"So this is the girl you used to revive me?" Madara's voice asked coldly, I looked back over to him and realised that his eyes were searching my body up and down.

"Yeah, I revived you" I shot back, now wishing that I hadn't.

"The girl looks weak Pain, was it the wisest choice bringing her into the Akatsuki" Madara mused mockingly. I looked between the two of them.

"My name is Tila, and I'd watch it if I were you" I retorted nastily. Who did this guy think he was???

I'd brought him back from the dead and I didn't even get a thanks?

"Hm, Tila" Madara said as he gave me one last cold look.

"This way" Leader said, I watched as they walked out of the training room leaving me standing alone. I felt my stomach give a small grumble so I put my annoyance aside and headed for the kitchen.

I silently sat and ate some ramen on the kitchen bench, I slowly sipped away at the soup before realising that something was appearing from the ground.

"Zetsu" I exclaimed as his body fully emerged and his flytrap opens. I put down my bowl and looked at the sad expression on his face.

"Tila, Hidan and Kakuzu have been killed on their mission" Zetsu's white side said hesitantly. I felt the same deep cavity ache at his words. Right then and there I completely blanked, it's as if my mind would not let me accept Zetsu's words.

"Zetsu, can you please do me a favour?" I asked quietly. Zetsu nodded.

"Can you please find Itachi and ask him to meet me in the training room?" I bit my lip as I felt my chest pounding harder as the seconds ticked by.

"Of course," Zetsu said softly before melting away back into the floor. I noticed a small ripple on the surface of my ramen soup, I slowly raised my fingers and touched my cheeks. They were wet.

I wiped the tears away and drank what was left of my soup, I slowly washed my bowl and put it away. I stood in the kitchen for a moment as I looked down to the floor. For some reason, I didn't know what to think or feel.

It was as if I was numb.

I pinched my forearm to test my theory and I was right.

I couldn't feel the pain.

_______________________

I stood in the middle of the training room alone, staring at the floor blankly - wondering why I could not think or feel.

"Tila, you wanted to see me?" A cold deep voice asked and I slowly looked up to see Itachi walking up and stopping now standing closely in front of me.

"Can we please... Go for a walk?" I asked hesitantly for the truth was I didn't know what I wanted to do right now. All I knew was that I needed to compose myself somehow...

"Sure" Itachi faintly smiled and grabbed a hold of my hand softly then lead me towards the boulder. As the boulder rises the deep orange of sundown reflected across the skies, we walked out into the green lush forest silently.

Itachi's hand still holds onto mine gently as we enter a small clearing within the depths of the forest. I stop and look around at the circular green grass and small flower patch that is sitting in the middle of the clearing.

"Can we stay here for a while?" I asked, he gives a small nod and let go of my hand again. I slowly walk up to the flowers and look down at them, the colours seem to be a pastel because of the light reflecting from the sunset.

I feel Itachi stand closely beside me, I can feel his eyes watching me.. Wondering what I am doing. The truth was that I didn't know the answer to that either, I never have.

I slowly lean down and start to pick an assortment of each coloured flower;

Red for Sasori, his energy brought peace to my mind and always looked after me.

Blue for Deidara, the calmness of his eyes that never strayed from my own.

Purple for Hidan, the deep crazy passion he held so dear to his heart... Watching over me kindly as I fumbled through life without a clue.

Dark emerald green for Kakuzu, the closest thing I had to a family... He may never have admitted it but I knew that he cared.

I held the flowers in my shaky hands as I stood back up and walked over to a small huddle of rocks that sat on the outskirts of the clearing, I fumble to lay the coloured flowers before four rocks...

In a way, represents each comrade. Each love I had lost.

I used my lightning to carve each person name upon their rock then sat down silently and looked from one to the next.

"Tila" I shivered at Itachi's soft voice as I felt him sit behind me and wrap his arms around my waist from behind. I had forgotten he was even there. Would he be with me much longer?

"Itachi, are you going to leave me too?" I asked quietly.

I felt him collect my long blonde hair and push it over my shoulder then a warm tingling beside my ear.

"When the time comes... Yes," he whispered into my ear, for some reason his words had only intensified my numbness.

"Well then, we should make the best of what time we have left."

I felt Itachi's grip around my waist tighten ever so slightly.

"I know you will be alright Tila"

________

Itachi and I silently stayed cuddled up for a while as the sun completely set and the nighttime shrouded us in darkness. His body heat radiated through my skin and kept me warm, his hands were gently caressing my own until I caught a glimpse of something from the corner of my eye...

"Zetsu," I said as I watched him phase out from inside a tree, Itachi let go of me and stood up then helped me to my feet too.

"Leader-Sama wants us all to meet in the training room" Zetsu's white side informed us politely.

"We'll head back now then," I told him, he nodded and then he phased back into the tree he had come from.

"Wonder what it is this time?" I asked Itachi who just sighed.

"He probably wants to assign us missions," Itachi said coldly, I started to get the feeling that he wasn't too fond of Leader-Sama.

"Let's just head back then" I suggested, we both made our way back into the dark forest towards the hideout. As soon as Itachi released the boulder I saw Kisame, Konan, Zetsu, Leader, Tobi and Madara all standing around chatting seriously.

As we approached, Madara, Leader and Tobi continued to talk amongst themselves. Kisame gave a sly smile in Itachi and my direction.

"So that's where you two were?"

"We were just talking a walk" Itachi explained and Kisame nudged him in the side but he just gave him a blank look. Konan greeted me with a small smile which I returned, Zetsu silently looked around towards Tobi, Madara and Leader who had now stopped talking and were looking over in our direction.

My attention averted to Madara who had now taken a step forward as though about to address everyone in the room. Everything went silent as his deep alluring voice spoke.

"From now on, I will be taking the lead of the Akatsuki's actions" Madara announced. I looked around the room and saw that no one had any objections so far so Madara took it upon himself to explain further.

"For those who don't know who I am, my name is Madara Uchiha. The plan to seal the tailed beasts was mine. Pain has been working for me up until the time that I was able to be revived" he explained now sounding bored.

His eyes flickered in my direction for a moment and I noticed that they were even colder than Sasuke or Itachi's put together.

"On another note, Tobi here is also an accomplice of mine. He goes by the name of Obito" he said now shooting a cold look in Tobi's direction. Tobi stepped forward and something I was not expecting happened...

"I apologise for having to lie to everyone about my identity, unfortunately, it had been necessary up until now," he said in a deep voice that I'd never heard before.

"Tobi" I gasped in utter surprise.

Madara looked over to me and rolled his eyes in annoyance as though I was a little girl who didn't know any better.

"Yes Tila, I am Obito," he said as he scratched the back of his head as though feeling a little awkward about the whole ordeal. Madara sighed loudly on purpose to break Obito and my side conversation then as soon as we both looked back at him he started talking again.

"Thus far you have all done well although we still need to obtain the four, five, eight and nine tails" Madara's voice spoke with an unwavering authority and I couldn't help but start to feel small under his cold words.

"There is much work still ahead so I am sending Itachi and Kisame to retrieve the four and five tails tomorrow morning," he said demandingly.

I listened closely as Madara spoke and a strange intuitive nerve hit as he finished speaking.

"I want to go to" I interjected. Madera's stern face focused in my direction and his eyes lingered on me for a small moment before he answered.

"No" he said coldly.

"Why can't I go too?" I demanded, now getting irritated by his hard and selfish demeanour.

"Because I said so, are you questioning my authority?" Madara asked dangerously. I felt myself shrink slightly beneath his dominance and decided it was best to hold my tongue. I shook my head slowly to say no.

"Good, you really are a bothersome woman" he cooed coldly. His words resided deep down into my stomach and I tried my hardest to just ignore it.

"That's it for now, you can all go," Madara said with a bored sigh and turned back to leader and Obito.

"You two come with me, we have matters to discuss" I overheard Madara say to Pain and Obito. I watched as the three of them briskly walked away down a corridor.

"Tila, I must say, you really have some balls" Kisame joked and I felt him pat me on the back sternly. I let out a small chuckle and gave him a cheeky grin.

"Someone needs to stand up to that Grinch" I grinned. Itachi gave a faint smile and then I heard Zetsu sigh.

"What is it Zetsu?" Konan then asked as she joined our small circle of conversation.

"Oh it's nothing," Zetsu said.

"Zetsu can you help me with something?" Konan asked, Zetsu nodded and followed her out of the training room down a hallway. Kisame, Itachi and I were left standing around looking a little lost.

"So, anyone keen for a movie?" Kisame then asked breaking the awkward silence.

"Yeah, why not," I said and Itachi just nodded. We headed down to the lounge room and I laid down on the couch, Itachi lifted my head then sat down so I rested my head onto his lap now facing the wide tv screen.

"Jaws?" Kisame asked as he pulled out the movie from the rack and held it up for us to see. I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of his choice

"Yeah, good idea Kisame," I said jokingly.

He put the movie into the player and then pushed the other couch beside the one Itachi and I was sitting on so it was as if we were all huddled together on a couch bed.

"You never cease to amaze me," Itachi said to Kisame who was now patting his cushion and leaned back getting comfortable.

"I could say the same about you Itachi" he replied playfully as he gave a suggestive look in my direction.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, giving Kisame a curious stare.

"Don't worry about it kid, just watch the movie" he said dismissing Itachi's and his inside joke.

Hm. I sighed in defeat and turned my attention back to the tv screen, I felt Itachi place a hand onto the side of my upper arm and another wrap itself around under my breast. I basked in the comfort I was feeling for a moment, as though all my troubles were being silenced.

It didn't last for long though, as the movie played it was as if it were white noise in the background of my distracting thoughts along with Kisame giving the occasional laugh when someone in the movie died but before I knew it the movie had ended.

Kisame yawned as he got up to switch off the TV, he and I still lay in our comfy position as I snuggled into Itachi's lap and closed my eyes.

"I'm off to bed, don't get to bed too late Itachi. We have a mission in the morning" Kisame joked before leaving us alone as he went off to bed.

"He's right, we should get some sleep," He said, his voice now regaining its warmth.

"Hmm" I smiled agreeably then climbed out of Itachi's lap. He stood up too and we headed down to my room. I quickly grabbed some clothes and a towel then headed back to Itachi's room with him.

I didn't want to be alone and I think Itachi knew that so there was no questioning the idea that I could stay with him another night before he left for his mission tomorrow. As we got back into his room I ducked into the bathroom and had a nice long shower, I needed it after having such a stressful day and the feeling of refreshment as I got out proved the point.

"Your turn," I said as I opened the bathroom door back up and walked back into his room in a pair of shorts and a singlet. He got up off his bed and closed the bathroom door behind him with a click so I got into bed and snuggled up into his smooth black pillows.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep before he had even finished his shower but was roused again when I felt him slide into bed beside me.

"Itachi," I asked sleepily as I cracked open an eye and turned to cuddle him.

"Hm?" I felt his arms wrap around me and pull me closer to his body, his chest against my skin. I kept my weary eyes shut and placed my arm across his stomach in an embrace. A peaceful silence filled the room.

"Do you really think I'll be okay?" I asked Itachi in a whisper.

"I do" he gently whispered back. I took a deep breath letting his faith in me relax my troubled mind and I gave into my weariness.