A tryst with destiny (Tales of a Gutsy Ninja - 2)

Chapter 20 : Pain

Aira P.O.V

It had officially been two days since I 'joined' Madara.

This hiatus was taking a toll on my patience. How did Nobunaga's battle with Gaara and Naruto go? What happened to Saaya after I sent her back to the hideout?

The answer to these questions would be easy to obtain if I could contact Isobu. But...since the time I got knocked out by Obito, I hadn't heard from him and... Used as I was to listening to his voice, I felt surprisingly lonely.

I'd gotten used to Isobu chattering around in my head. It was like having an imaginary little brother by your side.

Just what was I doing here...Life in the Akatsuki hideout was less thrilling than I expected. Pain, Konan, Obito, Madara and Zetsu were the only ones here and...None of them were social by any stretch of imagination.

No. Not even Konan. Konan saw nothing except Nagato, Nagato and...Nagato!

Ever heard of the expression deafening silence? That is what it was like. Inside the cave, not even the sound of wind could be heard. It was so silent that I couldn't help but wonder if I was deaf.

"Stop doing that. You are being noisy."

Aira:Well it's not my fault! Do you intend to bore me to death?

Pain-sama looked supremely pissed off. Subconsciously I'd been tapping my fingers. Taking his anger into consideration, I stopped tapping my fingers.

Pain: The Akatsuki does not exist to entertain you.

Aira: It doesn't exist to kill me with boredom either.

Nagato didn't reply but went back to...simply sitting on the chair and doing nothing.

And I hated being ignored the most.

Aira: Nee, Pain-kun, was it really the right decision to join Madara?

Pain: Are you trying to create a rift inside the Akatsuki.

Aira: Obviously not. If it were so easy to change your mind then...the Akatsuki would never have been a formidable opponent. I just...wanted to know what your true feelings were.

In case if you hadn't guessed by now, I was being 'monitored' by Pain while Obito was busy to not be able to look after me. if I knew I'd be stuck in a cave, I'd have preferred to go on missions with him.

Pain: I see. Then answer my question. Do you know why the Akatsuki was formed?

Aira: Originally to bring peace but now, for you to spread hatred and for Madara to rule the world.

Pain: I see. No wonder Madara-sama showed interest in you. So you researched us from the very beginning?

Aira: I did. To the point that I know that Yahiko's death isn't only Hanzo's fault.

Now under normal circumstances, it would be natural to at least K.O the person who speaks so casually of the death of someone really close to you.

But Nagato simply froze in place. His self control was admirable. he didn't even flinch upon hearing Yahiko's name. I was certainly glad that Konan wasn't around. She was nowhere near the kind,sweet woman most Akatsuki fanfictions portrayed her as. She would have flipped hearing me speak so casually of Yahiko's death.

Pain P.O.V

'To the point that I know that Yahiko's death isn't only Hanzo's fault'

I listened quietly to Ryuugamine Aira's words. If not for the fact that she was introduced by Madara-sama, I would have killed her for her transgression. But it didn't seem like she was being insensitive. She was trying to open up conversation. Since the only topic that caught my interest was about Yahiko.

If she knew who Yahiko was, does she know who I am?

Or...perhaps she thinks that I was none other than Yahiko himself. That would explain why she doesn't expect me to react to Yahiko's death.

Pain: And why was it not 'only' Hanzo's fault?

Aira: The Akatsuki...fell victim to politics. It is not that Hanzo didn't trust you guys. In fact, he was quite fond of your guys...but when a certain someone riled him up, he decided to sacrifice you guys for the sake of his own personal safety.

Pain: And how are you so sure?

Aira: Hanzo was a person who began to get too cautious of his surroundings. As he grew older, he began to get more and more insecure about his own life. Simply put, he was afraid of death just like any other human so when a 'certain someone' stated that the Akatsuki's rise to power might be a threat to him, he did what most people in his situation would do - eliminate the future threat.

Aira was speaking in a nonchalant fashion...as if all this was trivial information. As if all this was commonsense. Listening to her speak so casually about a person's life and death, I couldn't help but wonder why she was being allowed to live. She was a jinchuriki, a being Akatsuki would sacrifice in the future. She also had dangerous information to the point that it seemed like people were simply pawns in her hand.

But despite all this, perhaps the reason Madara-sama still allowed her into the Akatsuki was because she resembled him...she resembled Madara-sama quite a bit...or rather, her personality was worse. While Madara-sama knew the value of life over the years, Aira almost seemed too casual about a person's life.

Pain: What are you trying to get at?

Aira: Just that...you could have chosen a different route in life...after all, you tried to become the protagonist of Toad sage Jiraiya's 'Tales of a gutsy ninja' right? why...AAAAARGH!

Without any warning she sank to the ground, clutching frantically at her chest. The front of her kimono was drenched in her blood and her screams echoed through the cave. I quickly called for Konan who, despite her utter bewilderment at the situation, tended to her wounds and carried her to one of the spare beds.

Soon, Aira was in a dreamless slumber but her words deprived me of any chance of falling asleep that night.

'...after all, you tried to become the protagonist of Toad sage Jiraiya's 'Tales of a gutsy ninja' right? Why...'

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Why does she know about it? What happened to her during our conversation? Why does she think there was another option for me?

Before I knew what was happening, I had walked over to the room in which Aira was sleeping. She didn't' seem to have noticed my presence. I quietly ran my fingers across her neck. Such a small, fragile girl...it wouldn't even take much of an effort to end her life...to make her know Pain.

Just when I was about to crush her windpipe, I felt an incredible amount of killing intent. Out of reflex I stepped away from her. Standing at the entrance to the room was Madara-sama and...his usual expressionless look was replaced by a scowl.

Madara: I told you to take care of her. Not finish her off. It's not often that I see you lose your composure.

Before I could reply at all, I felt Madara-sama's genjutsu take its effect. I didn't resist but let the flood of memories wash over me. Madara-sama must have found out exactly what had happened.

Madara: A different route in life, eh? Sounds interesting. I'll have to have a talk with her about it. Aira never ceases to amuse me.

Madara-sama was...amused?

That was truly shocking but...for a moment I thought that he was seeing someone else in her.

That he was 'interested' in her because she resembled someone he knew.

The question was...who.