45. Quite The Predicament

My vividly sickening dreams last night were of something I wished I'd never had to endure. Something so shameful that I wished I'd never have to be reminded of. Someone so vile that I hadn't felt an ounce of remorse for killing. I laid in bed and tried my hardest to avert my thoughts towards the looming mission. The nine tails Jinchuriki.

"Tila are you awake?" Konan's voice called from behind my bedroom door.

"Yeah! I'm awake, come in," I yelled back as I threw off my blanket and sat up, I felt glad that Konan had come. Anything to distract me from my stressful thoughts. The door opened and she stepped in giving me a smile.

"Let have breakfast" she grinned widely. It truly was astounding how even the smallest smile could lift my sullen mood. I grinned back and quickly got up.

"Someone's excited" she giggled.

"Yeah I just can't wait to get out of here," I confessed. I quickly grabbed clothes, had a shower and got dressed in the bathroom as Konan waited for me in my room. I came back out feeling a lot more refreshed and we both made our way to the kitchen for breakfast. I cooked up a storm as Konan sat at the bench and chatted with me cheerily about all sorts of random things.

"Konan.. Can I ask you something?" I giggled.

"Yeah, what is it?" She replied.

"So is there anything going on between you and Pain?" I sent her a cheeky smile over my shoulder as I flipped some eggs.

"Maybe~" She burst out laughing.

I chucked too and then started to plate up our feast of a breakfast. We continued to chat and eat together and when we had finished we decided to go and get ready to leave for the mission. I went back to my room and started to pack everything that I might need - by the sounds of it, this mission would probably take at least a week to complete seeing as we had to veer off into the rain village first. I wondered about what Pain had said about his real body being in the rain village.

What does he look like then?

Guess I'll find out when I get there.. I strapped on my leg pouch and left my room. I made my way down to the entrance where I was supposed to meet up with Pain and Konan, as I entered I saw them both chatting quietly by the boulder so I quickened my pace and approached them.

"Let's go" I said as I came close enough for them to hear me. They both looked over towards me, Pain nodded and then released the seal. We set off into the sunlit day - the three of us walking side by side as we headed in the direction of this unknown village hidden In the rain. We decided it would be best if we quicken our pace so that we would be able to keep our schedule as tight as possible.

Pain didn't like to be out in the open for long period of time, especially out in the middle of the day. There were a lot of Shinobi that were after the Akatsuki now that we'd started to make our movements more known. The great nations really were short-sighted. Not being able to see that this is all for a greater cause.

The forest continued to blur as we quickly shot through the forest in a three man formation. None of us spoke for what seemed like hours, the sun slowly started to set - now being not far from meeting the line of the horizon.

"We're being summoned." Pain's deep voice came from ahead. We slowed down until we all came to a halt, now standing together in a small clearing as we faced each other.

"Here should he fine." Konan reassured us as she looked around the surrounding forest attentively. Pain nodded and sat down on the grass, we followed his lead and crossed our legs, sitting in a three way circles, eyes closed.

Did Sasuke really capture the eight tails already?

___________________________

I reopened my eyes as I stood upon my designated finger on the Gedo statue. Everyone else was present too, I looked down and saw that a massive octopus lay on the floor before me. So the eight tails was an octopus huh? There's something ironic about that..

"Sasuke" Madara's familiar voice echoed through the cavern. I looked back up in his direction which was the centre of the statue. Madara looked over to Sasuke - neither of them were holograms.

Sasuke made a harsh "Hn" sound in response.

"Are you truly that daft? This isn't the eight-tails." Madara sounded particularly annoyed and I watched as he poked the ginormous octopus and it poofed into a small tentacle.

So Sasuke screwed up ..

Stupid Uchiha's.. Sometimes I seriously think they're even stupider than me. I sighed internally.

"Whatever, I don't even care" Sasuke retorted, his cold eyes lingering on the tentacle he had probably believed to be the target he was supposed to acquire.

"If you want something done do it yourself" Madara then recited coldly as he dead panned. I watched in amusement, there was some pleasure to be had at Madara's misfortune and I chuckled out loud under my breath.

"Is something funny?" Madara dangerously shot in my direction.

"No, not funny. Just unfortunate." I replied, now trying to hide the blatant amusement in my voice.

"Tsk" Madara sighed, "You're all dismissed then, what a waste of time." he said coldly and there was a silence. Pain and Konan disappeared and Kisame and Madara walked back out of the training room leaving Sasuke and I still on top of our designated fingers.

"Tila" Sasuke call out to me from where Itachi used to be positioned.

"What is it?" I asked hesitantly. I watched as Sasuke jumped down and walked over towards me, I hopped down off my finger too and slowly took a few steps towards him until we were both facing each other.

"I've been thinking about things" Sasuke started to say slowly. I watched his cold expression carefully for any hints as to what he may have been thinking about.. But I didn't have to wait long to find out.

"Do you remember what I said to you the other night .. About Itachi?" He asked.

"I remember Sasuke, I felt really stupid about all the things I said" I admitted shyly. He gave me a small smirk which put me at ease.. He'd always had a knack for making me feel better at the worst of times.

"When you get back, I want to talk about.. us."

"Sasuke" I stuttered slightly. What in the world had he been thinking about?! He slowly lent in and kissed my cheek softly. I stared at him. At his dark onyx eyes, the same eyes that had been there from the very beginning.

"Just come and see me when you get back" Sasuke cut me from my thoughts. I pursed my lips tightly and nodded slowly. He turned around and walked away- leaving me standing there alone in the training room.. Awestruck.

I closed my eyes and released my summons.

Why was life being so complicated right now?

If Madara was to find out.. I don't think he would be too pleased.

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"Tila, C'mon. We have to get going," Konan gently nudged my shoulder. I reopened my eyes and blinked a few times then looked up to see her and Pain both standing over me.

"Is everything alright?" He questioned.

"Yeah" I reassured him as I quickly stood up.

"Let's go then, the village isn't too far from here."

We travelled further on into the night and I felt shivers run through me as I contemplated the messy predicament that was starting to form. Madara's sudden possessiveness over me was truly frightening.

He was the kind of person that you wouldn't know what to expect him to do next. It was always unpredictable and usually very rash. There wasn't any limits that would stop him. I wouldn't pass by the thought of him even going so far as I kill me without hesitating. He had no emotions. Even though he had shared what had happened to his little brother when he was younger..

I doubt that would stop him from hurting me. Then there was Sasuke who, for the life of me, I just can't understand why he acting so.. caring towards me? He always has.. I suppose. I remember back to the time we were in the hot springs. When he had made it clear that his feelings for me were merely nothing. He kissed me that night though.. But still. This was all ridiculous.

Tila.

You're not in a position to be delving into feeling of love. Right now what's important is your mission. And that's all you should focus on right now.

"We're reaching the boarded" Pain's deep voice called from ahead. I slowed my pace ever so slightly until we all had come to a complete stop. The dark of the cloudy night loomed over the village hidden in the rain which stood solidly before us. The towers and buildings stood tall and proud in a sense. I felt a small wet drop of something hit my cheek. I looked up as the small water drops became more frequent and lightly pelted down onto my cold face.

The village hidden in the rain. We've arrived.