Just A Taste

Chapter 6

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for being gone for so long and for how short this chapter is. I'm going to post more often now that I'm done with high school. The picture is of Pein for all my Pein fans out there!

Enjoy~

xXMadamAngelXx

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Ringing, that's all he could hear. Pein couldn't even hear his own groans of pain as he sat up from the cold ground. His head felt like it was going to explode if he moved faster than a snail's pace, his heartbeat pulsing hard and adding to his suffering. He saw some of the others waking up through his blurry vision and used the wall to help him stand on shaky legs.

He carefully touched his ears as the ringing began to dim and frowned at the sight of his own blood. The seal should have protected them, it should have stopped the blow. How could she have broken it? Years of stability and one powerful attack shatters it like glass. What kind of attack was that? It didn't seem like a jutsu or trick others have used in the past.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Kakuzu standing up. "Kakuzu," he flinched as his own voice hurt his ears, "go check on Hidan. Fix him up if you have to."

The masked man merely nodded and slowly made his way down to the arena floor. The albino was still unconscious and bleeding slowly from his ears and nose, but signs of healing were there. Kakuzu grabbed his arm and unceremoniously dragged him into the main part of the base.

Pein turned back to the others and pulled Konan, the one who put up the seals, off to the side. She winced from the sudden movement and tried to pull out of his harsh grip. He wanted to yell and scream at her, but had to settle for a hissed whisper. "You told me those seals would never break! That nothing could get passed them!"

"Nothing is supposed to!" She hissed back and covered one of her ears in attempt to ease the pain. "That wasn't a normal attack. The seals are meant to withstand all of us hitting it at once, but not that. Even the sound-nin don't have attacks like that!"

"I know," he sighed and wiped the blood from his neck. "You make sure the others are alright. I'll go find out what the hell is going on."

Konan nodded and went back to the others, helping them off the ground. Pein walked into the base and attempted to search for the spike of power he felt earlier, but it was gone. Just like before, Lillith was below the radar. At this point he started to question why he'd made her stay. At first it seemed like a good idea. Her skills would have made their goal much easier to achieve. Though now, after seeing her use such power, he wonders if she'll help them or turn on them once she gets what she wanted.

If he was going to find her quickly, he needed to rule out the possibilities. The arena was a no, along with the kitchen. He doubted she'd leave the base since the door is hidden and even they have trouble finding it sometimes. That leaves only one place. He walked down the hallway containing their rooms and stopped in front of hers. The door was cracked slightly, light spilling out into the hallway. Her shadow passed back and forth proving his suspicion. He was about to open the door when her voice stopped him.

"I suggest you leave me be. Until I calm down keep everyone away. I will come to your office when I'm ready." Her voice held an edge to it, daring him to ignore her words.

"I, um," he cleared his throat, "I'll give you twenty minutes. Not a moment longer." He turned and tried to keep his steps even as to not reveal his nervousness.

She waited until his footsteps faded away before letting herself relax. Lillith made sure her door was closed, and locked, before turning back to what she was doing. Her mask lay on the table next to tattered scrolls and parchment holding the seal of her lost clan. Symbols carved into the table began to glow as she knelt before it. She cut her palm with a small blade and drew a similar one on the cheeks of her mask, reciting a prayer.

"I call upon the lost elders and their ancient power to assist me on this day. I, Lillith, the last warrior of our people request your help. Assist me in the ritual of sealing for this world is not ready for the power we hold or our ways." The mask began to glow before her and the wind picked up around the room. "Allow this world five more years of peace and have this mask grant it to them. Seal my strength away and hold this seal in place so only I have the power to remove it." She closed her eyes as the wind swirled around her room, whipping her hair in every direction. The mask floated into place and the symbol faded, sealing her abilities once again.

Her shoulders dropped as the large weight on them returned, her legs feeling as if they were made of metal. She opened her eyes and put the scrolls away after the wind died down and left the confines of her room. The entire process had taken her about fifteen minutes so she took her sweet time walking to Pein's office to enjoy her last five minutes before time was up and he came looking for her. She really didn't want to have this conversation, but he wasn't going to leave her alone until they did.

She was tempted to just put him in a trance, maybe beat him up a little to get him to drop this, but she wanted to stay on semi-good terms with him so he would relinquish her gold later on. That man better be happy he had a type of leverage over her at the moment. Lillith silently cursed her kind's weakness and greed for gold and very rare gems, without it she wouldn't be here.

She reached his office door and knocked just as her time was seconds away from running out. She waited for his fain 'come in' before going inside and closing the door behind her. Her eye quickly adjusted to the darkness of the room and she almost laughed. This was almost like déjà vu from their previous encounter in the dungeon downstairs only now she wasn't restrained. "You really love the dark. You need a better form of intimidation, it's not working." She teased as she sat in the chair in front of his desk. The narrowing of his eyes didn't faze her at all.

"I'm not in the mood for your games right now, Lillith. You will explain to me right now what happened back at the arena!" He yelled at her, but regretted it soon after when his ears still protested. He glanced down at the file on his desk then back at her. "I know who you are now. Assassin, thief, mercenary, spy, is there anything you don't do?" He purposefully took a stab at her.

"I don't fuck men for information if that's what you're implying." She hissed. "Yes, I have taken many jobs over the years, killed many people, but that is not the whole story and you know it. Personally, I would have killed you long ago if you didn't have something I want back. I suggest you tread carefully, Nagato." Lillith watched him tense. "Yes, I know your name. Don't bother asking how for I will never tell you. I'm not some mindless pawn for you to use in whatever game you're playing. I will never call you leader, though I will stay until you give me my gold back. I don't know what you're doing here and I don't fucking care.

"For the sake of keeping you off my back, I'll give you a hint. There is a cave hidden a few miles from the Hidden Leaf village. If you can find it, you may find clues on my identity, although I cannot guarantee it is still there, but it's a start. Don't bother me about this ever again or I'll tell the others of your little secret. I know you're not the true leader of this fucked up place." She gave him one last glare before standing and leaving the room.

Once back in the hallway, she ran into a man with long blond hair that covered one eye. "Watch it-Oh, h-hey." The man quickly caught himself when he realized just who had run into him.

"Can you lead me to the door out of this place? I need some fresh air."

"Uh, yeah, sure. It's this way."