Reflection of God (Pein Story)

Chapter 7.

When the knock sounded out from the door both Pein and Kyo snapped their gazes round to face it, having been so engrossed in conversation everything else had slipped away.

Realizing just how focused they had been on each other, Kyo glanced away as Pein shifted in his seat and tried to brush it off, calling out assent for their visitor to enter the room. Itachi appeared the second afterwards, entering silently and nodding in greeting at both Pein and Kyo, before revealing the reason that he had come to see Pein: Zetsu had left on his mission. Though it wasn’t exactly massive news, both Pein and Kyo couldn’t help but be slightly glad of it, knowing neither of them should have been like they were. Their situations just didn’t match, and they had forgotten themselves. Kyo didn’t know what Zetsu was doing, but with how everything was, she doubted she would be told, and for a moment there was silence as Pein took this knowledge in, eventually replying simply,

“Good; thank you, Itachi.”

But he knew that his conversation with Kyo would now be over. The purpose of it had been to help Pein figure out just what he would do with Kyo now she was staying in the hideout with the Akatsuki. It wasn’t about finding out about her as a person and discovering more about her personality—it couldn’t be. He knew he was curious; the parts of her life that didn’t add up were the parts Pein wanted to understand; but he couldn’t let himself get any closer. He would just have to try and dismiss the times when Kyo would do something that affected him; standing instantly every time he asked her to come to talk to him and forgetting about whatever she had been doing before. Though suddenly he remembered what had occurred this morning, and abruptly it wouldn’t leave his mind, prompting him to turn to Kyo and question automatically, softer than he had been before,

“Did you actually get anything to eat this morning?”

Blinking in surprise at his change in tone, much in the same way it had been when Kyo had spoken to him the first time, she glanced away and back again, never knowing what to do when he did this. She never experienced this kind of attitude towards her in the first place, whether when working or just in her free time, let alone with someone like Pein. But knowing he expected an answer, she faced him once more and replied dismissively, not wanting to lie but not exactly wanting to tell the truth either,

“I had some, sir, but…”

It was only with Kyo's reaction; the way she looked at him in confusion and glanced to Itachi for confirmation that Pein realised just what he’d been doing, and shaking it off he sat up straighter, responding bluntly,

“Then go and do so—you’re dismissed.”

That, however, Kyo had been expecting, and as such she bowed her head slightly in respect and stood up, heading for the door, Itachi already starting to head down the corridor, having noticed Pein's reaction himself as he stood there. He could see they got on, even if neither of them were willing to bridge that gap, and merely brushed it aside, smirking inwardly at how they were both acting even with the authoritative nature they shared. Pein didn’t take his eyes off of her as Kyo reached the doorway and stepped into the hallway, wondering whether he should call her back and try and explain himself or not—before he realised that he couldn’t properly call her; he didn’t even know her name, even after all this time. Standing swiftly, Pein took a step forward and called out a halt to her actions, causing Kyo to immediately stop and turn back round to question as to what it was he wanted, raising an eyebrow as he questioned quietly,

“Wait…I still don’t know…what’s your name?”

“Kyosei Yuryoku, sir—but most people just call me Kyo.”

Nodding slowly at this information, taking it in slowly and feeling that it fit her perfectly, Pein relaxed in his stance and replied a lot more casual than before,

“Get something to eat, Kyo. You’ll collapse otherwise.”

At that, Kyo couldn’t hold back the smirk that blossomed onto her face, and thanking him with a nod, she finally left the room, closing the door softly behind her and continuing down the hallway to finally finish her breakfast. Pein remained standing where he was for a moment as she did so, watching the space where Kyo had just stood and running over the conversation in his head before he eventually managed to get moving again.

But it was something he did repeatedly that day, unable to get their dialogue out of his mind. Both Pein and Kyo remained confused as they went about their day, not enjoying this uncertainty and confusion. Neither could understand why Pein's moods kept changing; one moment he would be perfectly fine and pretty nice to Kyo, when it came down to it, only to change to cold and aloof a second later. She didn’t know it was because of something she was doing or something else entirely—but Pein didn’t, either; he hadn’t a clue why he kept acting like it. But it made the whole atmosphere on edge; Kyo felt as if she was treading on eggshells. How would she know how things were going to go tomorrow? Would Pein allow her to start doing missions for the Akatsuki—he’d started asking her about the Rinnegan, after all—or now that he knew more about her, would he just go back to his original plan and kill her right off? Kyo was willing to adapt to this new life and new situation…

But how was she supposed to adapt to a consistently changing mood?

Instead she tried to turn to other things; and ultimately ended up with Itachi. He was amicable to her and willing to answer her questions and help out if she needed it, and as such she spent most of her day with him, talking and just generally getting to know each other better. In all of this uncertainty it was good to have at least one thing that was constant, and Itachi had a way of staying calm and stable throughout. He was easy to get along with, and polite and respectful in his ways, and sitting in the kitchen they simply talked, sometimes merely sitting in silence and enjoying each other’s company.

They were still with each other when Pein passed by a few hours later, glancing in to see them chatting casually. For a moment he couldn’t help but smirk at how Kyo was able to understand just about anyone and that she was comfortable staying in the hideout with the rest of the Akatsuki, when it slipped off as she abruptly smirked and glanced away at something Itachi had said. His emotions automatically changed and altered as he stood there, and nothing he could do would stop it. He had been the one to allow her to stay in the hideout—to invite her to his office and talk with her to understand her and her abilities better. Yet suddenly she spent a little time with Itachi and now they were sitting there giggling with each other? It wasn’t right. His eyes narrowed as he continued to stare, clenching and unclenching his fists as it all built up. A minute later and his thoughts finally occurred to him, allowing Pein to snap out of his stupor—and realizing just what he was doing standing there, he took a deep breath and let it out, turning on his heel and walking straight back to his room. He needed to be alone.

Kyo didn’t see him any more for the rest of the day, it passing in a very uneventful way until after grabbing something to eat for dinner, she retreated to her room to have some time alone to think. After all, regardless of how much time passed the problem would still be there. She didn’t do anything special; simply lying on her bed with her eyes closed and allowing her mind to drift—at least, that was until a knock came from the door, and sitting up, she called for them to come in, nodding as Konan opened the door and stepped inside. Questioning as to what it was she wanted, Konan informed her,

“Pein wants you to come to his office in the morning tomorrow at the same time. But he says to ‘make sure to eat something this time’?”

Immediately Kyo nodded in response, but an involuntary smirk spread across her face as she remembered all that had happened today, though she tried to smother it a moment later. Konan had noticed instantly, however, and gazing at Kyo in silence for a moment, she eventually replied thoughtfully,

“I don’t know what you’ve said to him, but you’ve really confused him—you know that, Kyo?”

“What? I didn’t mean to; should I say something?”

But Konan merely shook her head, turning and opening the door, saying over her shoulder as she left,

“No, Kyo; it’s fine. You don’t need to worry at all.”

Nodding in goodbye, she now closed the door, pausing for a second outside to whisper to herself with a smirk,

“No; not at all.”