But when you told me the whole story I felt like throwing up

10

Valentina's POV

I could not resist temptation and glanced the masked man's way. If I looked away really fast, he wouldn't notice me looking at him, right?
Wrong.

As soon as I turned to looked at him, there was direct eye contact with his sharingan. The eye contact felt longer than what it actually lasted, and it was broken by him.

I sank uncomfortably on the couch, my eyes now glued to the tv screen feeling completely embarrassed. He knew I was trying too hard to avoid him, and that was not what I wanted him to believe. I wanted to be indifferent , not avoidant.

"Valentina-chan! Are you mad at Tobi??" His childish, fake-persona voice gave me goosebumps.

"What? No!" I forced a smile. "I could never." But I was. I was mad at him for choosing to die to be with Rin. I was angry that Obito sent Sasori on a mission without me, and as irrational and spontaneous as it may have appeared, I actually desired to accompany Sasori on a mission. The puppeteer was my only opportunity to be happy and feel loved.

"But Valentina-Chan!! You won't even turn to look at Tobi!!!" He waved his hands in front of my face. "Is it because Tobi told Sasori that you were busy??"

My eyes widened at his statement, yet I refused to look at him. If I did, I was sure that he would see my emotions through my eyes.

Obito smirked under his mask, as he noticed how tensed I was. However, his smirk faded as I abruptly got on my feet and began to walk away.

"Valentina-Chan wait!!!" He didn't drop the act as he got in front of me to prevent me from leaving. "Please don't be mad at Tobi! Tobi was afraid that Sasori would have turned you into a puppet!"

I took a step from the masked man as his hands reached to touch my arms. Traveling back in time and being in the presence of someone I loved and knowing that he didn't love me back was hell. He didn't even want me, I was sure of that, yet he went out of his way to ruin my chance of being alone with the doll maker.

I only wanted to assist Lilian and Itachi escape the Akatsuki so they could have a family, and then I could marry Sasori.

Despite noticing me putting distance between us and avoiding his stare, he grabbed my arms and felt me melt. "Valentina-Chan please play with Tobi! Tobi is so bored!!!!!"

I remained silence at his statement. I had made plans to help Itachi and Lilian escape and start a life with Sasori myself, yet as soon as Obito put his hands on me, all the feelings of love for him returned. I wished I didn't know of his identity. I wished I didn't love him. But I did, so I let him guide me to his bedroom.

A part of me had hoped that once in the privacy of his bedroom, he would reveal himself to me. That we would talk about the incidence of the night we kissed. That he would believe me regarding that I time travelled.
But he didn't. I sat on his bed as he was giving me his back while looking for some board games.

My hand reached under his pillow and felt a headband. I examined it, making sure he hadn't noticed I was looking through his stuff, and came to the conclusion that the headband had belonged to Rin. There was no denying the Konoha symbol and the cursive R carved on it.

And throughout snakes and ladders I couldn't concentrate. "Wow you really suck at this game!" He chirped like a bird, but my eyes were glued on the board game in front of me. I was afraid that if we made eye contact again, he would notice how in love and resentful I was with him.

"Valentina-Chan, whats wrong!!" His voice was louder now. Borderline threatening.

"Nothing." It was my turn to roll the dice. "I'm fine. Just concentrating on this game." My eyes continued to avoid his.

"Tobi is just very worried for Valentina-Chan! Tobi loves Valentina-Chan very much!!"

I dropped the dice feeling shock. "You.. You shouldn't say that!" My voice was cracking and I desperately avoided eye contact. How dare he claim he loved me, if he still kept Rin's headband under his pillow?

Obito reached for my hand, confused at my broken voice, but I quickly got up by instinct. Wanting to avoid him. Wanting to end the conversation before I fell for his emotional manipulation again.

"But Tobi does love Valentina-Chan!!" He assured me, and a part of him truly did.

"I know you don't love me," I snapped at him as I threw his pillow across the room. I was enraged at the thought of him playing with my feelings.

Obito was startled by my abrupt outburst and looked down at the pillow on the floor. I took advantage of his distraction to hide Rin's headband and flee his room.

When I heard footsteps behind me, adrenaline overtook me and I ran to my room. I locked my bedroom door and hid in my bathroom.

The door to my bedroom was forced open, and I held my breath and began looking for places to hide the headband.

Obito forcefully opened the door to my bathroom and I quickly hid the headband behind my back. As I made eye contact with his sharingan, I was unable to move. I felt betrayed as I realized I was under his genjutsu.
Guess that was the treatment thieves received.

"Valentina-Chan guess what???? Itachi-San's 19th birthday is in a couple of months!!" Lilian stormed inside my bedroom dragging Itachi along by his arm.

Both Lilian and Itachi stopped in their tracks once they saw Tobi really close to me.

As I felt myself able to move again, I ran towards Lilian and Itachi and exited my bedroom.
Lilian chase after me taking mental note of the masked man's recent unusual behavior.