Nightshift 35: Main Hallway, 2-West

[requiemforasoul.livejournal.com]

[from here]

There was no one in the hallway at all when the two reached the second floor. No sign at all of anyone, which struck him as strange since usually there were at least voices or light from other patients’ torches.

Siegfried did not want to linger in the hallway, not when it would put he and Xelloss at risk of being attacked.

“Stay close by,” he said, looking back over his shoulder at the dark-haired man.

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[youlackmascara.livejournal.com]

Itachi had just discovered a hallway on the left with his flashlight and decided to investigate (the experimentation rooms would likely not be off the main hallway) when Jiraiya mentioned the source of his personal interest in Pain.

Itachi blinked a little. He hadn't known much about the Leader's origins, but that. . . these connections were so circular. There must be some sort of reason why Jiraiya was here as well, and Itachi had to find out what else he knew. A careful, subtle approach would yield the most information.

"What else do you know about him?"

[toadally4boobs.livejournal.com]

Jiraiya swung his own flashlight to light up the hall that Itachi had just discovered, frowning a little in interest. It seemed like a decent of idea as any. He took a few steps in that direction before Itachi's question.

It was a good thing that his back was turned, because Jiraiya raised his eyebrow. So Itachi was trying to pump him for information without giving any in turn. He almost smiled, but stopped himself. Jiraiya decided to let Itachi get a few more answers before asking his own questions. The Uchiha needed to know he was sincere.

"I know about his eyes," Jiraiya continued, keeping his voice neutral--and the next moment, he let a hint of fondness slip in. "Konan turned into a real beauty, too...."

[youlackmascara.livejournal.com]

Jiraiya was trying to make it obvious that he wasn't bluffing, at least when it came to knowing something about Pain, if not being his former teacher. The fact that he knew about the Rinnegan was proof enough of that; Itachi didn't need the pointed comment about Konan. Especially since her beauty was not a characteristic of worth.

"That information is not difficult to find," Itachi said a little curtly. He wasn't quite clear on the later steps of pulling information out of Jiraiya. The older man wasn't someone he could intimidate, and the manipulation of conversation was not exactly Itachi's forte, mainly because the thought processes of other people remained incomprehensible to him. The best he could do was to try and goad Jiraiya into saying more than he meant to. Itachi knew that method would work with Naruto-kun, so why not his mentor?

As Itachi pondered the intricacies of human conversation, he turned into the new hall, looking ahead of him as carefully as he could.