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This chapter is dedicated to you!

Strength

The other members arrived, waiting at the edge of the trees for the battle to begin. Eikyuumi moved from her position on top of the training post, to stand across from Itachi. She sunk into a fighting position, waiting for the call to begin.

"Begin!" Pein's voice boomed. Itachi did not hesitate. He sprung forward with lightning speed and attempted to kick Eikyuumi, who dodged. His Sharringan was deactivated for now...

Eikyuumi continued to dodge his attacks, gracefully. Her taijutsu style was almost like dancing. She performed intricate spins and long beautiful leaps to avoid and attack.

"What style is that, hmm?" Deidara asked to no one in particular.

"Odori no Tsuki" Pein answered. "It is and ancient taijutsu known only to the Tsukino."

"Oh, hmm..."

It was starting to get tiring just using Taijutsu. Itachi and Eikyuumi had the same general idea running through their minds. At the same time, they activated their doujutsus.

"Sharingan!" "Tsukigan!"

They kept up the taijustu assault for quite awhile after activating their doujustus, Eikyuumi now using the Gentle Fist style that was incorporated into her dance like taijustsu. Miraculously, Itachi avoided her hitting him at a chakra point. He jumped back from a kick aimed at his stomach, and began a series of hand-signs. Eikyuumi immediately saw the fire technique hand signs, and began furious hand-signs, making it just in time to counter the large fire ball spewing from his mouth. The torpedo of water coming from her mouth, clashed with the fire ball, creating steam. She used the thin cover to sneak quietly behind Itachi. She threw a kunai, which he dodged, ensuing another taijustu battle.

"I'm tired of this!" Eikyuumi screamed in her mind. She looked into Itachi's eyes for a brief second, and cast her Tsukoyomi. "That was enough. You lose."

Inside the Tsukigan Tsukoyomi...

The world Itachi appeared in seemed familiar yet different. The sky was violet, the ground he stood upon, ebony.

"Where am I?" Itachi questioned himself. "Am I in the Tsukuyomi...? No. This is different... I am not in control. The sky is purple... What's going on?"

Eikyuumi appeared before him.

"You are within my control, Itachi." She said. "This is the Tsukuyomi of the Tsukigan. It's a little different from it's descendant, the Sharringan's, Tsukuyomi." Then, Eikyuumi disappeared, leaving Itachi alone in the strange purple and black world.

Itachi tried to break free to no avail. Buildings appeared around him, familiar people walking by. He looked at them, his heart nearly stopping at the sight of it. The Uchiha symbol, proudly sewn onto the backs of every ones' shirts and jackets, spaced out evenly on every wall. Itachi looked down at his feet and took a step. Then, he heard it...

"Nii-san!"

Sasuke. Itachi stopped dead in his tracks, nearly breaking down right there, though you couldn't see his reaction, as his face was expressionless. The light, quick steps of his brother's run grew slowly louder. A seven year old Sasuke stepped in the line of Itachi's vision. A silent streak of water escaped Itachi's tear-duct and slid slowly down his cheek. At that moment, Eikyuumi could no longer hold the jutsu. Itachi came back to the real world to find a kunai pressed to his neck, the holder of the weapon behind him, on his back. "You lose" she whispered in his ear, her breath coming in short gasps, her guard down. Itachi unexpectedly grabbed the wrist holding the kunai and flipped her over his shoulder, causing her to hit the ground with a loud slam on her back. All the air left her lungs and her breathing became shallow as she tried to restore it.

"You lose." Itachi said with a small smirk that only lasted a second.

She had NEVER fought so hard, and now she was exhausted. Carefully she climbed to her feet and took a shaky step, only to collapse again. Kisame and Deidara hurried to her, Deidara flipping her over to check her pulse. A relieved sigh escaped his mouth, signaling Kisame that Eikyuumi was still alive. He lifted the thirteen year old into his arms and carried her to her bedroom, where he laid her down on her bed. Kakuzu then came in to inspect her for injuries.

After a quick examination to find no serious injuries, Kakuzu left, passing a, "she's fine, only needs rest" to Kisame, Zetsu, Tobi, and Deidara, who waited outside her door. His voice just loud enough for the secretly concerned man around the corner to hear, said man sighing quietly in relief and slipping into his room, thinking to himself, "Why do I even care?"

AN: Try to guess who this mysterious man is! You'll find out by the end of the chapter, I promise. ;)

Eikyuumi's eyes slowly fluttered open, allowing her to see she was in her own bedroom, upon her bed. Slowly, she moved to get up her muscles protesting with every movement. Ignoring the ache, she climbed to her feet and took measured steps to the door. Her hand reached out for the door knob, but stopped when it turned and the door opened a crack. Peering through the barely open door was one black beady eye that could only belong to the blue skined, shark man known as Kisame. Eikyuumi backed away from the door so as not to be hit as Kisame opened it.

"Hey kid, feeling better?" He said as he stepped through the thresh hold.

"A little... My muscles are sore..."

"Well you fought pretty hard." Kisame replied with a grin. "You were close to beating Itachi-san."

This made Eikyuumi smile, then her stomach growled, causing her to flush with embarrassment.

"You hungry, kid?"

"Yeah..." Kisame then scooped her up, throwing her over his shoulder, making her yelp in surprise.

"W-what are you doing!" She squeaked.

"Taking you to the kitchen."

"I c-can walk there..."

"But it's easier if I carry you."

"But..." She stopped there. He had a point, it was better than walking on her stiff legs. "Okay."

By that time they had made it to the kitchen, where Kisame set her on a chair.

"Now what do you want to eat?" He asked, heading for the fridge.

"Kisame, I can make it..."

"It's fine I'll..."

"Kisame... You can't cook..." She interrupted, an amused smirk lighting her face when he stopped and turned around.

"You have a point." He said, defeat showing on his face.

"What would you like to eat, Kisame?"

"Eggs would be great." He said with a grin.

"What time is it?"

"5 AM." he said nonchalantly. Eikyuumi had slept for thirteen hours.

"Wow... thirteen hours. I normally sleep for five..." She muttered, getting up from her seat, ignoring the protest from her muscles. She took out a pan, and began greasing it, almost forgetting the ache that came with every movement.

Soon others arrived, sitting at the table or getting coffee. After everyone arrived, Eikyuumi laid out a large breakfast of Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast, Hash-browns, Biscuits, Jelly and Jam, Bacon, and Sausage on platters in the center of the table and gave out plates, each with two eggs to each member except Sasori who just sat there and Pein who didn't even come out of his office. Everyone looked at her for awhile in astonishment that she could cook and that she cooked that whole big breakfast.

"My mother taught me how to cook..." She said shyly, looking down.

Sasori glanced up at her, a questioning look in his eye. When did her mother die? How did her mother die? What was her mother like? These questions ran through Sasori's mind, along with the question that had been bugging him since Eikyuumi lost the battle with Itachi...

Why did he care...?

Did you guess right?

Wow! I finished! Now... I AM SOOOOOOOO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT! OH MY JASHIN I COULD SHOOT MYSELF! But I wont because then the story would be discontinued which would make the reason for my suicide pointless. I'm also sorry that the chapter is so short... I hope you liked the brotherly/sisterly attitude between Kisame and Eikyuumi... or at least that's what I hope it gave off... Sasori's emotions are developing... ever so slightly.

Now, if you'd kindly press the review button and give me your thoughts on this chapter, even if they are negative. Your feedback encourages me to write the next chapter. :) Again I'm sorry.

Odori no Tsuki- Dance of the Moon.