Now What Have I Gotten Myself Into? ~Enter Konoha's number one knuckle head

56

                                                                      Chapter 56

Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into days. Days turned into a week. No one had seen the newest member roam the halls or join in for meals. Every day Itachi would rejoin her in her room and yet she had not moved a muscle. Itachi had begun wondering if he should rouse her from her meditation but he remembered the determination that layered her gaze right before she had begun. A week turned into two as two turned into three. Itachi continued to visit her to see if there was any change. her size hadn't even budged. No weight had been lost, no physical sign of dehydration. Nothing it was as if she had only just gone under a minute ago rather than how long she had actually been.

"No change?" The usually aloof leader of the Akatsuki stood in Kira's doorway looking past Itachi to the female on the bed. "None." Itachi answers him though he was confused as to the leader's interest in her. He was usually the one to remain in his room if only to be seen when Konan cooks. It was then the scorching heat suddenly vanishes drawing Itachi's gaze away from Pein only for his eyes to widen at what was beside him.

No longer the child they had been beginning to know there sat a girl near the same age as Itachi. Whose bikini top was now far too small for her size and the shorts were far too short. Her long black hair if down would fall well beyond her rear. She was beautiful. "Impossible, she was telling the truth." Pein mutters just under his breath. Itachi absentmindedly nods as he stares at the woman next to him. Neither of them could believe what they were seeing. As if their eyes were playing tricks on them.

Kira had made it into the room finally after countless trials and error. She had continued to fail so many times she even began to wonder if it were actually possible. However, the door opened after she had finally coated it with her own energy. Much like she does when she uses her shield. It was her last idea and she was tired. So very tired. She had no idea how long she had been within herself this time but the constant use of her energy attempting to open the door was wearing her down. When she tightened her energy around the door as tightly as she could everything had begun to hum and sound like electricity was statically charging the empty space around her.

It was only when she managed to tighten her energy so finely it threatened to give her a headache that the door seemed to suddenly unlock and slowly open again. She was so drained that after she stepped into the familiar room she had nearly collapsed to her knees. The once forest green wallpaper striped with a lighter green were shimmering as if they themselves were alive. The shaggy green carpet beneath her feet felt more like a pillow then actual carpet. The room itself was surreal showing that even though it had been locked away from her that as she was growing stronger the room itself was changing. The plagues lining the walls now had more images showing upon them compared to how many remained empty. Images of herself. As if etched from the different events that had occurred and helped her grow. One such plaque looked like an artist had chiseled a scene with large trees. A disheveled Orochimaru standing before an etching of her with Sasuke and Sakura kneeling on a tree behind her.

She looks away from the plaques and back towards the old book resting upon its pedestal. Curious as to if it had changed as well she moves forward to open it. To skim through the pages, she had already read many times before. Itachi continued to sit at the edge of her bed only now more facing her then he had been before. Practically matching her own look as he continues to try and figure the woman out. Why had she been there that night to help save his parents? Why has she watched over Sasuke since then? Why did she join the Akatsuki so easily? What does she know that he himself doesn't? What is she to his little brother?

Several days passed since she had broken her curse and she was still under. Itachi had begun to wonder again if he should attempt bringing her out of it since she had accomplished what she had wanted to do. Yet, there he sat, curiously watching her. As if there was something about her pulling him to stay by her side. Kisame had come and gone under the guise of informing him that they will be the ones to begin training her. He even half-heartedly complained about it as he usually would not knowing what they could teach her. Itachi could tell that his partner had actually entered her room to check on her himself but had not wished to openly show his own growing attachment for this woman.





*





Opening my eyes with a sigh my head was still reeling with the new information I had discovered. I found myself once again wondering if any of it was possible and curious as to if I had understood it correctly. My body was dead weight. I couldn't feel my extremities as I try to will myself to move. It was almost like when I had meditated in the Death Note world and had to have Light help me stand. Only it was much worse. I couldn't get my legs to move or even maneuver my body out of position. My door slowly opens drawing my gaze to it causing the man who had been entering to pause. His dark onyx eyes only momentarily showing his relief before he could mask his emotions again. "You're back." He utters as if I had gone somewhere though I could understand what he had really meant.