Rayne Says: First of all I would like to apologize for the long wait, gomenesai. Bows To make it up, I have finally finished this chapter- yay! I will try to update as quickly as possible but I'm not sure how quickly- once a month at the slowest.

Special thanks and metaphoric cookies for the reviewers! ShikaKibaShinoGal , Violets Dreamer , katarauchiha653719 , Ichisuki the ninja , sweetxxtemptation , Larn555 , Lybe , Kisame Hoshigaki the Scourg... , Hidan'sGirl247 , Gaaragirl312 , Tally Mai-chan , kpizkool ,and Ace Frost .

I would love to thank all my reviewers, even if all you said was to update, because that's what made me update!

Answers to the questions:

Tally Mai-chan : You didn't ask a question, but I loved your comment! I'm glad I made you laugh (even if you were drinking Pepsi!) Your comment made my day!

Gaaragirl312 : I'm happy that you commented on almost every chapter! I'm also happy that you like Mizuka!

Hidan'sGirl247 : Maybe she is pregnant- but than again, maybe she's not! You'll see ; )

To My Faithful Reviewers Who Commented on Almost Every Chapter!: ShikaKibaShinoGal , katarauchiha653719 , Ichisuki the ninja , sweetxxtemptation , Larn555 , Lybe , and Gaaragirl312 !! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Arigato!!

Normal Again?

I stretch my arm and grin in happiness when I realize that I'm back at the Akatsuki. Yes! No one seems to know that I'm here. I sigh, but keep smiling anyway. I notice that I'm still wearing the kimono I was wearing a week ago. It's black with red slashes, suitable for my current environment.

I exit my room, not caring how I look, and walk down the hall. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone; even Itachi and Zetsu. I walk into the kitchen silently. Hidan is sitting at the table staring angrily at his cereal (what did the cereal ever do to him?); Kakuzu's fingering his money (or is it caressing?), and Deidara and Sasori are staring absentmindedly at the TV (home shopping network?). Kisame, Zetsu, Tobi, and Itachi aren't in the room. WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GONE!! Has the entire Akatsuki gone emo? It doesn't matter; I silently sneak up on Deidara and hug him from behind.

"Tobi, go away," he says.

"But I'm not Tobi."

He turns around and stares at me with very shocked eyes, "Sasori, I'm dreaming again, yeah." (Rayne: Aw, how sweet, he dreamed of Mizu)

"Then we're having the same dream," Sasori says.

"You're not dreaming Deidara," I laugh.

"Am I dead?"

"No, silly, of course you're not dead."

"Itachi, stop the genjutsu."

"How long is it going to take you to realize it is me?"

"It's really you?"

"Duh. Itachi could never pull off a genjutsu this beautiful."

"H-how are you alive? Itachi told us you were dead."

"Well, Itachi's a big fat stupid weasel. You can never trust them."

"Actually I said she was probably dead if Orochimaru had her," Itachi says, stepping into the room.

"That bastard had her?" Hidan asks.

"Why yes that damn bitch had me," I say.

"Don't think about it, yeah. You're back that's all that matters," Deidara says.

He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my forehead. I flinch. Biting my lip, I slip myself out of his arms and hold myself together.

"What happened to you?" Deidara asks, his voice rising in anger. "What did that bastard do to you, yeah?"

"Nothing, Deidei," I say, fake-smiling.

"You don't look like nothing happened," Itachi says dryly.

I guess he's right. Bruises and cuts cover almost every inch of my skin and I know my eyes are filled with fear.

"Just bad memories that's all. He was my mother's killer and he was the person who created my kekkai genkai."

"He was, yeah?" Deidara questions.

"Yeah, but who cares? I'm hungry," I say.

I make myself some burned bacon (burned to perfection) and eggs. Eating like a beast, I shovel in the food.

"Didn't he feed you?" Kakuzu asks.

"I ate like royalty, but there was the poison-"

"Poison?" Deidara squeaks.

"Um… it made it so I couldn't use chakra," I half lie.

Through all my fake-smiles and lies I feel as though someone's watching me. I look around the room and catch Itachi glaring at me. I've been back about ten minutes and he already hates me again. Great.

After I'm done with breakfast, I walk to Rei's office. I knock three times on the door before I'm admitted inside.

"So the rumors are true," he says.

"I'm back and ready for punishment."

"For what?"

"Didn't you think I ran away?"

"You came back."

"Yeah I did- wait a minute. You mean I could have escaped and you guys wouldn't have known it because you would have assumed I was either dead or still with Orochimaru?"

"Yes."

"Damn."

"You may return to work now. You are dismissed."

I start to walk toward the door.

"And Mizuka?"

"Yes?"

"Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"No."

He nods his head and I walk into the hallway. Once I'm outside, I give a sigh of relief. For some reason being with Rei is so draining. I walk back to my room for a well-deserved shower.

Climbing in and letting the hot water wash away all of my worries, I feel as though I'm in heaven. I slightly wince when the water hits some of my more serious wounds. Giant finger shaper bruises cover my arms and legs. Cuts bleed anew as I stretch my skin. But the shower does what it's supposed to do and I feel reborn when I come out.

I put on my only un-Orochimaru outfit, wincing as it passes over bruises and cuts. I don't like how much skin it shows. You can clearly see the bruises on my sides and everywhere else. I pull my cloak off and hope that no one orders me to remove it.

I walk out of the bathroom, towel-drying my hair on the way. I smile when I notice Deidara sitting on the bed.

"Hey, Deidei."

"It seems like you're only a dream, yeah," he whispers.

"You know I'm not."

"You don't know what it was like thinking you were dead!" he says suddenly. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

With an unknown force he pushes me into the wall and kisses me fiercly. But my mind protests and my memories scream. As soon as he stops, I collapse on the ground and start sobbing.

"Mizuka, what's wrong?" he shouts.

"N-Nothing," I sob.

"How can nothing be wrong if you're crying, un?"

"I'm so happy," I lie.

How can I lie so easily? Has he really changed me so much? Why can't I tell Deidara what happened?

"You had me worried there, yeah," he sighs.

I wipe my eyes and pull the cloak tighter around me. What would Deidara think if he knew both Hidan and Orochimaru kissed me?

We walk into the living room where I get super-glomped by Tobi. Zetsu stands in the corner arguing with himself on whether or not to eat me. I sit with Deidara as we watch some pointless sitcom, but my mind is far away. I'm concentrating on keeping my cloak tightly around me.

"Deidara, I'll be back. I'm going to get us snacks. You want some popcorn?" I ask.

"Yeah, un," he replies.

I walk into the kitchen and slam my head into the oven.

"Trying to commit suicide, bitch?" Hidan asks.

I pull my head out of the oven and glare at him.

"No, just looking for your brains," I retort.

"Hmm, why are you wearing that cloak? It's not cold in here."

"Says the half-naked moron."

"Take the cloak off."

"No," I say.

"Yes, bitch," he commands.

"No, asshole."

He suddenly appears in front of me and tears the cloak away from my body. I try to use my hands to cover all of the skin showing, but I only have two.

"What the fuck did that bastard do to you?!" he yells.

He roughly grabs me by the wrist and drags me into living room. He holds me up by the arms for the entire Akatsuki to see.

"See what the bastard did to our servant?!"

Everyone's eyes gaze at all of the marks. My face is a mixture of rage and sorrow. I don't know whether to scream or cry. And what hurts me the most is Deidara's face.

He's in pain… and I'm causing it.

"You said nothing happened, yeah," he whispers quietly.

"Nothing did happen," I reply.

"You call that nothing?!" he screams, "Look at you! You're covered with his fingers!"

"Nothing happened, Deidara. Nothing."

He moves up to me and look me deep in the eyes. I can clearly see the hurt and anger… at me.

"You said you'd never lie to me."

"I didn't lie! Nothing happened!" I scream.

And then he slaps me hard across the face. My face contorts into sorrow. Deidara… hates… me. Hidan releases me from his iron grip and I crumple to the floor, breaking into tears. Huge sobs rack my body as the world ends.

"Deidara, you said- you said you loved me!"

"But apparently you don't love me, you whore."

I'm silenced by Deidara's cruel words. I came back to Hell for him. For him! I could have left but I stayed for him! Stayed to rot in Hell for him!

"I'll see if she's lying," Itachi says.

No… not him. Anyone but him. He grabs me by the neck and slams me into the wall.

"Mangekyo Sharingan."

Once again I return to the black and white Hell. My body feels numb; weak. Like the poison- shit! Itachi's going to see what happened! I wince in pain as I'm forced to relive every moment of my torture. I know Itachi's not going to go easy on me this time.

When it's over I'm panting and sobbing heavily. My body hurts all over and my mind screams for the sweet release of sleep.

"She's not lying," Itachi says.

W-What? Itachi's lying? For me?

"Then what happened, yeah?!" Deidara shouts.

"She refused to tell Orochimaru where our hideout was so he tortured her."

They all seem to believe Itachi's lie. Am I off that easily? Deidara moves toward me and I flinch. How could Deidara turn on me so suddenly? How dare he expect me to forgive him?

"Sorry, Mizuka," he mutters. "It was easier to believe that you didn't love me than to believe what might have happened, yeah."

"I can't believe you would think that I'd do that. Deidara, I love you and nothing is going to change that fact," I say.

We kiss each other, hesitantly, but I can feel the pure emotion that comes with the kiss. He loves me. And I love him.

…Something stirs in the darkness.