Reflection of God (Pein Story)

Chapter 5.

Being used to waking up early, Kyo was awake as the sun’s rays spread over her chest and face. She had slept on and off, not exactly nervous at her situation but still naturally reacting to the idea of being in an unfamiliar place and the uncertainty this new day was bringing. After waiting for a few minutes, she had soon simply given up, getting up to re-make the bed and enter the bathroom, splashing her face with water to jolt herself out of her zombie-like trance, before readying herself for the day. She could at least attempt to be prepared for whatever Pein would be throwing at her, and meditated a little to keep herself calm. A part of her was strangely angry at Pein for keeping her in the dark like this, but she wasn’t stupid enough to think that anger would get her anywhere. The only way to deal with it all was to keep a clear head, and she sank further into a meditative state in order to do so.

A couple of hours later and Kyo felt her stomach grumble once more, causing her to open her eyes and place a hand on her stomach, glancing to the door. She hadn’t each much yesterday to begin with, and now, having not had breakfast; her hunger was starting to get to her. But there were several things to take into consideration before she could even think of leaving her room, and all of them pointed to her staying where she was. First off, the main order she had been given was to do as she was told and pretty much follow the rules. Konan had suggested Kyo might be able to mix with the rest of the Akatsuki, but she couldn’t know for sure. For all she knew food would be coming to her; or someone would at least arrive and tell her what to do. The question as to whether Kyo was allowed out of her room or not wasn’t one that she wanted to answer through trial and experiment.

She wouldn’t even know where the kitchen was to try and sneak in there in the first place.

As such she tried to dismiss it for the moment, closing her eyes once more and returning to meditation, gritting her teeth as she felt her stomach rumble again. No matter how many hunger pangs ran through her body, she couldn’t give in and just wander around. That had been out of bounds in her old work place, let along doing it here with all that had happened! Kyo would just have to force herself to stay where she was; and tried once more to return into meditation.

Another half an hour passed in this way, and it was only then that things started to change. Everyone else in the Akatsuki had gotten up as normal, and after their usual morning routines had gone to the kitchen to grab something to eat—the only difference being they couldn’t help but keep an eye out for Kyo. Now Pein had told them there was somebody else joining their little group, it was natural for them to become curious about her, and ultimately meant they were slower in what they were doing, waiting for the moment when she would arrive. Only as they sat there…no one ever turned up. At first the idea that Pein had taken her off somewhere to talk to her seemed possible, but then time continued ticking by, and there was no way he could have been talking to her that long. All in all, things were getting to be suspicious, confusion evident in everyone as they tried to figure out where exactly Kyo was—Itachi included.

Having finished his breakfast quite a while ago, he eventually got up and left the room without a word, walking down the corridor to the room where he knew Kyo had slept. Although he didn’t know anything about what her purpose was in the Akatsuki, he felt that somebody had to make the first contact, and as such knocked softly on the door, entering a moment afterwards. Kyo was sitting on the bed, in the same position she had been in all morning, as Itachi came in, quickly standing and bowing as he greeted her. Though she didn’t know who the Akatsuki where when it came down to looks, it was obvious who Itachi was; the Sharingan kinda gave it away—in the same way Itachi understood a lot more as he stared back into the Rinnegan. But as such, Kyo merely remained silent, unsure as to why he was here, as Itachi began simply,

“I was wondering if you wanted something to eat; you haven’t come out of your room this morning.”

But even he was taken back as Kyo glanced up into his eyes with a slight look of surprise and confusion to respond bluntly,

“I didn’t know I could.”

Immediately he felt a slight wave of empathy pass through him. He could tell Kyo was powerful from where he was standing now; the way she looked at him, the way she held herself…and yet she seemed to follow everyone’s orders. But shaking it off, he pointed out she could, in fact, leave her room, and offered to show her the way, introducing himself in the mean time. When Kyo bowed once more at his name, he quickly halted her, stating there was no need to, and merely led her towards the door and out into the corridor, stating a few things as they walked. Kyo had heard of Itachi from the many rumours surrounding him, but was strangely surprised by what she saw now. What surprised her the most, however, was the freedom she was being given here, even with what Pein had said to her the night before. Where this was all leading to, she couldn’t tell, simply following on after Itachi and making sure to memorise the way while she did. Then, when Itachi turned and began to head into another room, Kyo braced herself, gathering the rest of the Akatsuki would be waiting when she went in.

A theory that was proved right when she went through the door, all eyes swiveling to face her as she appeared, immediately gathering why Pein had been so adamant that she stay when they saw her eyes. She allowed them to analyse her, making their first impressions, and swiftly flicked her gaze over them in turn, doing the same. At first she said nothing, not shy under all this attention but from uncertainty at whether there were any rules she was supposed to abide. But when no one said a word, simply watching her expectantly, she glanced over to Itachi, seeing him nod once in encouragement, and gathered what she was supposed to do, turning back to the group to state clearly into the silence,

“My name is Kyosei Yuryoku, though most people call me Kyo. It’s good to finally meet you all.”

Sensing now that she wasn’t frightened in the slightest, merely stoic in her ways, the others instantly began to step forward, introducing themselves and giving Kyo a chance to get to know them as Itachi showed her where all the food was. She spoke to them all a bit as she sat down and finally ate, discovering more about their personalities from what Konan had told her when she’d showed her to her room. But in turn, the Akatsuki tried to learn more about Kyo. After all, she had turned up as if from nowhere, Pein simply walking in, telling them that she would be staying with them, before walking back out and saying nothing more. Right away there had been intrigue, and some still remained, even while they were talking.

It was clear why Pein had an interest in Kyo, however. Having the Rinnegan in itself was unusual, and no doubt Pein wanted to know why—not to mention not wanting to lose that kind of power. But there was still something different about her; a power that wasn’t just to do with the Rinnegan but something so much more. She carried that same manner to her as Pein did; mysterious, aloof and authoritative, though at the same time acting submissive, a combination which bewildered the majority of the Akatsuki. As they spoke, they saw Kyo could analyse things really easily—even the likes of somebody’s personality—something which was proven as, when Hidan and Kakuzu began to get aggressive, she turned and spoke quietly to them both, only for the anger to have dissipated a second later. She was an interesting addition to the Akatsuki, they’d give her that; and the impression she’d left on Pein was admirable, too. But Kyo gave the impression that although they could spend all their time getting closer to her and finding out more about her, just like Pein…they would never truly know.

Though that didn’t mean to say Pein wasn’t about to try…