Chapter 7-Bloody Encounter

The time has come, to finally get rid of Takashima and make my life at ease again, I went down to the lobby and the crowd started to form in the ballroom, I saw Takashima stand by the door so I got into character and walked to him, Pein stayed out of sight but monitored the scene.

"Ah, you must be Takashima," I said with a fake smile.

"Yes, that is me," he said, "Um, but may I know who you are?"

"Oh my, where are my manners?" I giggled with a phony flirtation, "I'm Shizuko, and I hear you're with the ANBU correct?"

He nodded, "yes, I just finished a very important meeting with my associates, now we're just going to have a small celebration all is welcome,"

"Really? I'd love to go but…I don't have a date and it's pretty awkward to be at a party alone,"

He grew quiet for a minute, "um, well if you don't mind, I'll accompany you, a beautiful woman should never be alone at an event like this,"

I accepted his offer, he took my hand and walked me into the ballroom, and the room was very grand and elegant, kind of like in those fancy movies.

So far so good, I thought to myself, now I just to get him alone…

When a slow song came Takashima offered a dance, I accepted, we waltz around the room with the others this was my chance to talk more serious with him.

"So, Takashima, didn't the ANBU say they wanted to gain more information on that Akira girl?"

"Yes, we want all people to tell us as much info as possible so we can find her; you must have some information huh?"

I grinned, "I think I know something you may like, but we need to be somewhere more…private,"

He stopped dancing, "after this, meet me at my room, floor 7 room 709,"

"Sure will, I'll be going now, but I'll defiantly meet you at your room," I walked out the room to tell Pein the news.

"Are you ok with going there by yourself?" he asked. Typical Pein, always nervous about my safety, it is almost adorable if you ask me.

"Yes, but if anything does happen you can just stay outside the room, just in case,"

When the party was near its end, I went to the seventh floor to room 709. I knocked, I heard someone say come in, and so I walked in, the room was slightly dimmed, but I could not really see anyone. I tried to scent out any possible trap or set up but I could not get anything. When I went into the room a little further, the door suddenly slammed shut, I quickly turned around and there was Takashima.

"Glad you can make it…Akira!" he said in a dark tone.

I gasped, "B-but I couldn't scent out any set up! H-how?"

"I wasn't born yesterday, I filled this whole place with a special aroma that blocked your special smelling ability," and evil grin came across his face, "seems like the hunter became the hunted,"

I could not believe I fell for it! I knew it was too good to be true. But I was a fighter and I wasn't going to let a mistake take me down, I got my dragon claws out and charged towards him, before I could land a hit he caught my hand and twisted it, causing me to scream an intense pain.

I am not good at action scenes as you may see, I try to avoid them actually but I want this story to be decent at least, so I tried. Moreover, yeah it is not the best, but it does not mean I will not practice.

Pein's POV

The instant I heard Akira's scream I instantly went for the door, but it was locked shut.

"DAMN IT!" I yelled, I took out a kunai and made a hole into the door, when I finally managed to get in Takashima had Akira in a chokehold with a blade to her neck. "Akira!"

"Heh, this belongs to you?" Takashima grinned, "You need to instruct your pet to fix up on her acting skills if she ever wants to deceive someone,"

My anger grew more, "you bastard, let her go. NOW!"

He smirked, "I'm sorry but your authority means nothing here,"

"P-Pein," Akira tried to move but Takashima only placed the blade closer to her neck causing her to slightly bleed.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" I shouted.

"Tch, ok fine, I won't hurt her if you tell me where the Akatsuki base is!" he challenged.

"No! Don't do it Pein!" Akira cried.

"Why won't you shut up?" Takashima shouted as he punched Akira into the bed.

That was it, I charged at him grabbing the nearest weapon I could, but he was very swift, before I knew it, he had me handcuffed to a dresser.

"Two strong missing nins, one from the village of darkness, and one from the Rain village, looks like I hit the jackpot!"

"You'll pay for this!" I growled as I tried to get free from the cuffs.

"Tell me where the Akatsuki is!"

I looked down in defeat, "I…I can't…" I was beginning to feel real worthless now.

"Not the answer I wanted…" with that, he pierced the blade into Akira's leg.

She yelled in immense pain, hearing her scream made me more upset than before, I tried to break the cuffs but there was no luck.

"Don't hurt her!"

"I-I'm fine Pein…r-really," I could tell Akira did not want me to worry, but I knew I could not let him get away with hurting her.

"When I count to three you better tell me where the base is! Moreover, if you do not… Akira is good as dead!" Takashima warned.

I couldn't.

"One…"

Akira wouldn't want me to, but I hate seeing her get hurt!

"Two…."

I simply cannot have let the enemy win this battle!

Before he said three a dagger went straight through him, making him fall to the floor, Akira managed to use the rest of her energy to stab him, right after he fell, she fell as well out of exhaustion.

When I got the cuff off I ran to Akira's side, "please tell me your ok!"

"I told you….we was….going to…end up together no matter…what…" she said softly while giving a weak smile.

I hugged her, "I'm taking you to the hospital as soon as possible!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Its as if I've been asleep for years, I found myself waking up to a white hospital room, Pein was next to my bed with his head buried in his hands and Deidara and Tobi were sitting in the chairs, it looked like they had spent the night there.

"I think Akira-Chan woke up!" Tobi cheered.

Pein quickly looked up, "Akira, are you ok?"

"Where am I?" my vision was slightly blurred and my words slurred a little, "Is…this…heaven?"

"Heh, no, you're at the hospital, do you remember what happened last night?"

"Barley, is….is…Takashima…dead?"

"Yeah, thanks to you Akira…" he softly kissed my forehead, "we did it,"

"We thought you died!" Tobi cried out.

"Yeah, we were worried," Deidara, added.

"Aww, sorry for the worry-"

"No. don't be," Pein said, "we did the mission and we succeeded.

"Heh, Pein didn't leave that spot ever since you got here," Deidara said, "talk about clingy!"

Pein gave Deidara a look that made him shut up.

I gave a small laugh, "I love you guys,"

"When are we leaving…this place is scaring me! All the blood and sick people are giving me the creeps!" Tobi asked.

"Soon," Pein told him.

When the nurse came and said I was able to leave I got my cloths that Deidara and Tobi had brought for me and we walked back to base, well, Pein carried me, he wanted to save my energy. I must say Pein has always been there for me and was always concerned with my safety and health. I could get use to this…

I have been on bed rest for about a week since I got to the base, pretty much I was forced on bed rest. Pein monitored my every move, it was like prison almost.

"Pein can I go out, just for fresh air?" I ask one day.

"No…"

"Why? I'm perfectly fine now, my wounds are healed and I'm more alert than ever,"

"No," he said firmly.

I was getting a little displeased here, "Pein, I know you're worried, but…I'm not a child anymore,"

"I know, but…I can't bear to see you get hurt anymore!"

"So you're just going to lock me in your room and have no freedom?" I said, "Because I'm starting to feel like a prisoner here, and you KNOW how I feel about being kept captive…"

Pein sighed with annoyance and stress, "F-fine! Just go, go do whatever you want!"

The tone of his voice made me feel a little guilty on the inside, "I-I'm sorry Pein-"

"Just go,"

I slowly walked out the room and went out for a while, to clear my mind, so Pein can clear his mind as well.