Howl of Konoha Book II

Revenge Isn't As Sweet As It Should Be

I awoke back in my room at Akatsuki's Hideout. My body aching and instantly rejecting any movement I tried to make. Gritting my teeth I managed to haul my ass up into a sitting position. My sheets sat crumbled at my waist allowing a full view of the bandages secured around my midsection. My arm was cradled in a sling and bandaged tightly around the wrist - I guess I damaged it somehow in the fight. My body was scattered with horrible looking bruises glowing a deep shade of blue. It was a little difficult to breathe and a headache nested behind my right eye.

A moment later I heard a knock at my door. I could barely get a single sillable out because the door had already opened and Tobi had walked in. He was wearing a fitted black shirt and loose pants - his Akatsuki cloak gone and probably laying in a heap on his bed.

"Oh, Natsuki, you're awake." He said. "That's good to see."

I picked up on the change in the masked man's tone, for once, he sounded his age. My eyes narrowed as he moved around my bed, the mattress dipping when he took a seat next to my thigh.

"Did you bring me back, Tobi?" I queried. Tobi - I noticed - had been acting strange in the last couple days. His attitude and persona in general rubbed me the wrong way - the hairs on my arms couldn't help but stand on end when his voice appeared so smooth.

"Of course. You're valuable, Natsuki." My ears twitched at the smirk I could hear in his voice. "We still have use for you and I can't have you dying on me, can I?"

"Did you give the same speech to Sasori and the others?" I said sarcastically.

Tobi chuckled, "Unfortunately no. You hold much more worth than they did. Think of their deaths as collateral damage."

I ground my teeth at his comment and shot him a hard glare. "You know you're really beginning to piss me off, Tobi."

Tobi reached a hand out and gently patted my head, careful not to injure me further by being too rough.

"If you have the energy to sass me then you must be back at one hundred percent." I didn't miss his mocking tone as he removed his hand from my head.

I watched as Tobi stood up and made his way to my door. He paused just before the threshold.

"Deidara's dead." He stated simply.

My heart sunk to my stomach bringing with it the taste of bile. My golden eyes were wide with disbelief as I tried to process what I had just been told. He was dead? Deidara was dead, along with the others? My ear twitched from a tickling sensation as my mind became lost in thought. I didn't even notice Tobi slipping out of the room and closing the wooden door behind him.

I sat in silence as time passed not once leaving my bed. All I could do was stare into space until I accepted the loss of him. The marks prevented me from overdosing on my emotions but no matter how strong the seal was it could not stop the uncomfortable clenching of my heart in my chest.

It was hours later when I heard my door open again. As if I was being controlled by puppet strings I found my eyes meeting Kisame's sympathetic gaze. The shark-man made his way over to my bed side and knelt right in front of me. I felt him place a large hand over my own. His eyes were searching mine, trying to find proof I was still alive inside my mind and body.

"Hey kid, how are you holding up?" His raspy voice was soothing as he spoke.

I slowly shook my head back and forth, afraid that if I spoke my voice would crack bringing with it my feelings that lay wound up tightly inside me. I was scared I would crumble.