19. Unexpected End To A Long Day

My thirty minute break must have been over because I started to hear heavy footsteps approaching. I opened my eyes and peered over my shoulder. Sure enough, it was Kakuzu. "Times up. You ready to learn the final technique?"

I stood up and nodded. Brushing the dirt off myself. Kakuzu took his position across from me. "This Ninjutsu is a secret technique. You're lucky I'm passing it down to you."

I breath out slowly, gaze steadily holding his. "It's called Storm Release Secret Technique: Demon Dragon Storm."

I narrow my eyes, jaw clenching. This sounded heavy duty. I don't know if I'm cut out for this level of Jutsu. Instead of second guessing myself I shake my head and let that thought go. Kakuzu wouldn't waste his time if he didn't think I could do it. His rough voice brings my attention back to him.

"You will need to form another thunder cloud but this time focus you Chakra above you. You'll need to compact this Chakra tightly because this cloud will need to absorb other Chakra around it through your lightning bolts."

Confusion takes over, rooting my feet on the spot. "How am I supposed to do that? That sounds impossible Kakuzu." I scratch my head, probably coming off as ditzy.

"Compact you Chakra into the cloud and instead of directing the flow down through the bolts of lighting use them to channel Chakra upwards into the cloud," He begins to weave a long hand sign.

Tsk. Without further question I begin to form the cloud above me. It starts out small. Kind of pathetic if I'm honest. I just couldn't understand how I was going to get the flow backwards. It was impossible, No? That, or, it would take a lot of practise and precision in controlling the Chakra. Thinking about it brought back inklings of doubt.

I kept going, the cloud started to get bigger and bigger. The compaction wasn't as tight as I felt it should be, but, I continued to build it regardless. I focused on Kakuzu, noticing that he had disrobed. Four masks were protruding from his chest. One of the masks' started to emerge and a massive black creature was now standing beside him.

This guy is full of surprises... Fuck.

"I want you to absorb my attack with a bolt of lighting." He yells over the rumble of my thunder. I nod. He motions for his masked buddy to attack.

"Fire Style: Searing Migraine" His voice booms. A massive, I mean Godzilla kind of massive, flamethrower shoots out of the masked creatures face. It's coming right at me. I focus all my concentration on the devastating attack headed towards me, channelling my Chakra thunderbolt to strike down and meet it. They clash. I try hard to force his attack to somehow redirect itself up my lightning bolt. It was like a game of intense tug of war.

I watched as the flamethrower started to slowly be sucked away, but, before I could completely channel it all the way up to the cloud, the lightning bolt retracted in the blink of an eye and the remaining flames dispersed.

I let the massive rumble of clouds fade away and the room became silent again. I looked at Kakuzu. His gaze averted behind me. I spun around quickly, nearly loosing my balance, only to realise a small crowd had gathered.

Leader, Deidara and Konan all stood there watching. Leader approached, faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm glad your practicing, the match will be tomorrow at midday." He said, demeanour cold as usual. I stayed silent, watching as he left. Disappearing down a hallway.

Konan and Deidara came up next. Konan was smiling. "Your abilities sure are interesting Tila, I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

Deidara throws his fist in the air. "Interesting? More like awesome! I know you said you thought my Jutsu was amazing but Tila, your Jutsu truly is a work of art, Hm." His enthusiasm is admirable. The excitement in his face made me smile.

"Thanks I suppose," I chuckle. Konan smiled again faintly then walked off. Deidara and I just sort of stood there for a second, looking at each other. Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Kakuzu." I turned to look at him.

"Good work today, all you need to do now is practice." He shakes me by my shoulder a little. I bit my lip, Leaders words returning to mind. "My match is tomorrow. I hope it isn't against you."

"Look," He says gruffly "Just get some rest and forget about it for now." He lowers his hand, gives me one last look and then walks off.

I watch as he disappears down a hallway. Dei shoots me a puzzled look. "Kakuzu creeps me out sometimes, un." I nod slowly. "Yeah, can see why some might think he's strange."

Deidara slings an arm around my shoulder. "C'mon lets get out of here yeah?"

I smile. "Yeah, come check out my room?" He nods, I point down the hallway in which my room was and we head off. His arm stays around my shoulder as we laughed and talked about random stuff along the way. When we get to the front of my door I open it up. Deidara let's go of me and walks into my room, looking around.

"This isn't bad, Hm." He sits down on my bed.

I close the door. "Yeah it's cosier than I had imagined." I reply, picking up the last few clothes I'd left on my bed and hung them away.

As I picked up a nice lace black dress Deidara looks at it, raising a brow. "Isn't that a little revealing? Although, you would look gorgeous in it, un."

I hang it up then glance over my shoulder at him. "What?" I'm surprised by his comment.

He gives me a cheeky look. "I'm just saying, un. C'mon it's true!" My cheeks start heat. I chuckle, trying to laugh off my awkwardness. A thought then comes to my mind.

"Well, should we put it to the test then?" A grin creeps across my face.

"Really?" He asks playfully.

I laugh. "Yeah! Why not?" I exclaim.

"It'll be fun." I grab the dress and run into the bathroom and lock the door excitedly. It was like playing dress ups with best friends, No?

I quickly pull the dress on before swinging the door open. A little more dramatically than I'd initially intended. "Tada!" He blushes, a big smirk spreads across his face.

"Yeah, I was right, Hm." He stands, gaze grazing me cheekily before grabbing my hand. He starts to twirl me around lightly on the spot. I giggled, feeling myself spinning elegantly around and around. Deidara stopped and took a step back, we both stood there for a second, still smiling lightly. We looked at each other for a moment and I started to feel myself blush for some strange reason.

Our attention was pulled to the door as it suddenly swung open and Hidan's voice bellowed. "What the fuck is going on in here!"

We both abruptly look at him. Well, this is awkward. I don't think I've ever seen anyone, especially Hidan, look so confused in his life. Deidara suddenly got angry. "What the hell Hidan! You can't just barge into girls rooms unannounced!" Hidan scoffs.

"I don't even want to fucking know. Forget it." He throws his hands up in the air and slams the door behind him. There was a small moment of silence before I can't hold back my laughter. Deidara stands there with his arms crossed. Eventually, he calmed down. I went and got changed into my pyjamas. Deidara said goodnight and gave me a hug before leaving.

I sat down on my bed with a sigh, today had been long. I should get some rest for tomorrow because chances were it was going to be even more draining that today was. I got under my covers and turned off my light. I laid there deep in thought for a while until I heard a faint knock on my door. I turned my light on, but, only dimly. When I got up and opened my door I saw it was Sasori.

I rubbed my eyes. Almost in disbelief. "Your back?" I asked wearily.

He nods. "I got your note." he replies calmly. I open my door to let him in. He sits down on my bed with me, looking around for a moment. "Not bad." I blink a few times as I try to adjust my eyes to the dim lighting from my bedside lamp. The whole room was lit in a sensual aura.

Sasori's attention rests on me. "What did you do today?" He asks quietly.

"Kakuzu showed me some new Storm Release techniques." My voice matching the softness of his own. "I see, so then are you ready for tomorrow?" He asks, the calmness in his tone having a lulling affect on me. I glance off to the side, thinking of how to answer his question. "As ready as I'll ever be." Are my choice of words.

We both sit there in silence for a moment. Sasori watches me as I fidget with my palms. "What's on your mind?" He asks curiously. I look back up, meeting his gorgeous beige eyes. "I want to know a few things, I just don't know if it's my place to ask." I finally admit. His head tilts to the side curiously. "Ask," he says plainly.

I take a short breath, here goes nothing. "I want to know where you go when your not here... I want to know why you don't eat and I want to know why you've cared about me and looked after me like you have since I've been here..." A small wave of nervousness washes over me as my words leave my lips.

His eyes begin to search mine. As tough reading me carefully, discreetly... This must be his 'Choose your words wisely' face, perhaps.

His lips finally part as he answers. "If you want to know that badly I'll tell you... When I'm not here I'm out researching and looking for new puppets to add to my collection. I don't eat because I don't need too. And you may think I care but I assure you that it isn't anything that you should be overthinking." His gaze hold mine intensely. I feel my breath hitch.

I break away from the beige pools engulfing me. Instead, looking down at my palms. "Alright." Suddenly, I feel Sasori's touch reach the underneath of my chin. I'm forced to look up. All of his attention is on me. The breath I'd been holding escapes me. Astonishment overtaking but, then...

He kisses me. Our lips press together softly, his lips lightly caressing mine. My mind clouds over, he deepens the kiss. Before I can come to terms with what is happening our lips slowly broke away. His eyes hold warmth as he looks at me. "Get some rest, I'll be here to watch your match tomorrow." He stands slowly. I sat there, speechless, only able to manage a nod. Sasori makes his way to the door, throwing back a playful glance. "Just pray it isn't me your fighting." A small smirk lingered. I broke into a tiny smile. He shuts the door behind him.

I'm left sitting on my bed, still in shock., The reflection of the shadows made by the dim light flickered on the walls across from me. I don't know if what just happened was cute or confusing.

I lay down on my pillow and stare at the roof. Mind blanking over.

All of the questions I asked him... What I really wanted to ask was what his feeling towards me were. I didn't want to ask if he liked me so straightforwardly. The answer scared me. But, I suppose a kiss is an answer I can cherish. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a light slumber.