Fighting With One's Self

Chapter 7 - Yoku's Story

A/N: The chapter starts right after Yoku had flinched away from Deidara's and Yume-chan's touches, for those who get confused easily. 

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Yoku's POV.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, pulling away before either Yume-chan or Deidara could touch me.

I ran from the sitting room, trying to run from my tears themselves, having absolutely no idea where I was going.

How could Yume-chan say something like that? No matter how hard I tried, this time I could find no reason behind her rudeness. Was she deliberately trying to sabotage my first actual relationship just because she wasn't with Itachi? What she jealous of me? If so, I never thought her to be this kind of person. She was always the strong one, defending others and keeping her cool, no matter how difficult things got.

And how could Deidara-kun threaten to blow her up? He must have known it would upset me. I came to a stop when my crying got so bad I began fearing what might happen if someone was asleep and I woke them, surprised when I found myself in a completely unfamiliar corridor.

It was empty except for the windows, and a window-seat long enough for me to lay on stood in front of the window directly in front of me. After looking this way and that and listening intently, trying to see if there was anyone nearby, I sat down on the cushiony seat, pulling my legs up and hugging them, resting my chin on my knees as tears streamed mercilessly down my face.

I felt so weak and helpless. I wasn't even able to talk properly to someone I knew I loved. Yume-chan was such a bitch in saying that I didn't want to - that wasn't the case. I've tried numerous times to try and make conversation with Deidara-kun, but my voice failed me. She knew it wasn't my fault. She had heard the whole story, and she was the only one to have had the privilage, so why would she throw a trust like that in my face?

"Why?!" I cried to myself, digging my nails into the flesh of my shins to stop myself from punching the glass of the window to pieces.

"Yoku-chan?"

I looked around to see the orange-masked boy standing a few feet from me, and I felt the lump in my throat return. I hurriedly wiped tears from my cheeks.

"Why are you crying, Yoku-chan?" Tobi asked sadly, taking a few steps forward. I looked away, not even trying to get past the lump in my throat. "Did Deidara-senpai hurt you?" I whipped my head back to face him, shaking my head vigorously. Why would he think Deidara-kun would hurt me? He seemed to understand my confusion and said, "He looks really angry, Yoku-chan. I didn't want to bother him, so I came looking for you instead. Should I lead him away from here?" I shook my head. "Should I tell him where you are?" he asked. I thought for a moment and slowly nodded.

I watched as the boy turned and walked away. He was such a good guy. I wondered what he was doing with an organization like Akatsuki ...

Barely ten minutes passed when Tobi arrived again, "I can't find Deidara-senpai, Yoku-chan," he said, out of breath, "I looked everywhere."

Anger flared inside me and I felt my ears and tail appear. Ingoring the lump in my throat, I angrily punched the window beside me, watching it shatter. When I pulled my arm back, I left half the flesh of my hand behind, as well. Yelling in anger and pain, I began running again.

Before I knew it, I felt the cool breeze of the outside air. Pein could kill me if he wanted; I didn't care. I wasn't going to stay prisoner in that hell-hole any longer.

Tears streaming down my face, I ran without direction, nearly falling every time I regained my balance. Before I knew it I broke free of the forest and fell down at the edge of the lake against the bark of a willow tree.