Stage Eighteen: Inconsistencies.

You would have thought that by now I would learn that some of my impulses are bad ideas. However, to anyone who knows what it's like to attempt to break a bad habit, you know that it's nigh impossible to control these things.

Orochimaru was staring at me, holding my hair with a tear welling grip. Anger and disgust were etched into every snarl induced crease on his face. Never have I attacked him outright before. "My Lord," I muttered, "I couldn't help it." For the first time in my life I felt remorse. I felt the urge to utter two simple words of weakness. "I'm sorry."

I watched the anger in his face turn into shock. Rule number three: Never apologize. That was instilled by Itachi, and was something I had been punished for over and over with Orochimaru until he came to accept my views that it showed weakness. Sure, he took credit for it eventually. I now knew it wasn't his idea.

"Child," he whispered. "What has happened to you?" His grip on my hair lessened as he resumed stroking it. His other arm snaked around my waist, pulling me into his embrace. "What has he done to you?"

Damn these infernal drugs, I thought. I wasn't myself, Orochimaru wasn't acting normal, and nothing was making any sense. Why was he still touching me? What was I thinking? Why the hell did I just say I was sorry?

"Orochimaru, I am not myself. It has been a week since I last had your venom. It's affecting me as though I was just starting again, although my body has craved it. My mind isn't adapted to it anymore."

He looked down at me with an arched eyebrow.

"You can release me." My tone was flat, unemotional.

He did more than just let go of me; he pushed me away. "Explain your actions, Child. If this was not caused by the young Kazekage, then what has come over you?"

"I was startled by your touching me. I didn't know what to make of it, and in my drug induced haze, I over reacted. I tried to get away from you, forgetting that we were bound together." I straightened my night robe and stood a little taller, looking him in the eye.

What furious eyes they were.

If I hadn't figured out that he was using Gaara's unknowingly true assumption to test me, I would have wondered why he was angry. However, I do know. I know that he's waiting for me to slip up and relax around him, to become comfortable with the idea of him being more than just my kage and my sensei. He's waiting for me to do this so he can finally say he has means to control me.

"Child, you are acting very strange."

"Perhaps we are perceiving different scenarios, then. To me, Sensei, you are acting strange." I had expected this to ignite his obvious anger. It didn't.

"I understand, Tsuki. I can't help but wonder whether or not the Sand Jinchuriki's assumptions had a sliver of truth to them. I too had noticed strange things while you were injected with my venom."

Shit, I thought. He was telling the truth about my sleep talking, wasn't he? "I don't know what you mean, Sensei. Please, enlighten me. Surely there is an explanation for all of this." Because of my thoughts and anger toward Gaara, there was venom in my voice.

It was matched by the venom in Orochimaru's fist. He struck my sternum with such force I thought I was going to die. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. I couldn't even hear his cold threats of what he would do next if I continued my disrespect. They were all the same, anyway.

"Tsuki, are you even listening to me?" he growled when I regained composure.

"Yes; if I don't stop this insubordination you'll be sure to bind me to the ground with swords through my wrists and ankles and allow your snakes to feast on my flesh."

"Although your memorization of my words is commendable, that is not what I said," he muttered quite flatly.

"Excuse me if it was your idea to punch me so hard that I couldn't really focus on anything else."

This time I blocked his hit. I held his wrist and spun inward, trapping his arm behind his back. "I also don't enjoy being hit all the time, despite your beliefs otherwise."

"You are playing with fire, Child," he growled.

"No, Orochimaru, I don't think I am. I think you don't know what you're up against. I've never wanted to fight back before. I've had enough of your constant abuse."

He used his other hand to pinch off the pressure point in my neck, forcing me to let go of him. He turned on me with a look of pure amusement. "You don't have enough hatred to fight me, Child." His voice was deceivingly soft. "You have been acting strange, Child. You've gotten distant, withdrawn in your thoughts to the point of distraction. Your tongue has slipped more times than I should have allowed."

By now I had noticed that he was backing me into the opposite wall with his hands on my shoulders.

"I am disappointed, Tsuki. I have always expected more from you, because you have shown you were capable of more than the others. I have grown fond of you, as a sensei should to his students. You excelled quickly for your age. You are the only one who has been capable of remaining on loyalty to me alone. Now, I have found your loyalty is faltering, to the point of betrayal. Have I not provided everything you need? Answer me, Child."

"I owe you everything, Lord Orochimaru. I would not be who I am without your guidance. You speak of betrayal, yet it is I who is being betrayed. You don't trust me anymore. You're doubting me, based on the words of a kid who wants revenge on you for killing his Kage and his father. You're testing me with these subtle actions, kind words, and gestures that I would fall for, assuming his words were true. If I sought to betray you, why would I come back at all? Why would I want to be here? I could find my own way, if it weren't for my loyalty. If I wasn't loyal, why would I come back to this?"

"Why are you so loyal?" he asked with accusation in his voice.

"Listen to yourself, Sensei." I lightly pushed his hands off my shoulders with one motion of my left arm. "Perhaps it is best for both of us if I did go."

I watched his hope to control me shatter within his eyes, to be replaced by anger. To soothe his fire before it ignited, I added,

"This bond between is no longer mutual, Orochimaru-sama. I look to you as my Sensei and my Kage; you look to me for love." It was a bold accusation, but one I had to stage if he was going to let me walk away. I couldn't stay here with him, not like this. My own control was fleeting from me.

He looked so broken at those words; I wanted to wrap my arms around him and assure him that it would be all right. I wasn't going to, but he looked like he was going to cry, kill someone, blow something up, torture the masses, have a mental breakdown, and hug me all at the same time.

His only response was, "I forbid you to go. You are not permitted to leave this village." He turned away from me and left the room. His tone made it clear to me; if I left, it would be an act of betrayal.

Meanwhile, Somewhere in the Land of Rivers

Kisame

I watched as the Akatsuki was silent. Evening was upon us. Sasori was working on another puppet, this one had been splintered to pieces. He's been working on it for some time now. He was muttering under his breath, though I hadn't heard a word of it. I had no idea that it took so long to repair a fucking doll.

Itachi was gone. No one knew where, just that he was no longer stationary. Didn't bother me, though something was definitely bothering him. He went after that girl, I'd bet money on it.

Hidan was down right obnoxious. Mind you, he's normally an arrogant ass hole, but this last month or so, it's gotten worse. His rantings go on and on; Jashin this, fuck that. I wish that fucker would just die already, damn it.

To top things off, Leader is being as mysterious as ever. He called off our search for Jinchuriki just so he can track down this girl. He's sulky, and threatens to kill everyone who comes across him in one of his "moods". It got to the point where no one wanted to cross his path. The only one who was brave, or stupid enough to do it was Konan, though I seriously think she's only doing this out of sympathy. Everyone else is just as likely to end up hurt, or hurting him.

Konan; she's glad Tsuki is gone. Don't know why; they never came across each other. Itachi kept her pretty well held up in his bedroom. Everyone thought they were banging around in there. Nah, I knew better. But Konan, she's got it in for that girl. Perhaps Tsuki did something to personally offend her. Who knows, I've heard things about her; maybe she made a pass at Leader.

Deidara thinks that Tsuki was a threat to Konan, as Leader had a lot of interest in this girl, and invested eight years into finding her. Then again, Deidra doesn't know shit about what's going on. He doesn't even care about Sasori being all banged up some time ago. He said that Sasori deserved it for being so damn arrogant.

Kakuzu don't care one way or another. Don't see why he would. She was never involved in his workings, and he was never involved with hers. He did what he was told, and nothing more. He kept her alive, after Hidan was finished. Hidan still swears he didn't touch her. Not that any of us have reason to believe him.

Nerves are frayed. No one knows what is going to happen next. We know she belongs to Orochimaru. We also know that the Kazekage jinchuriki that we extracted Shukaku from is involved with her. I don't think she knows that he's changed. If you ask me, that relationship is entirely one way; poor kid.

"Kisame, my man, have you seen Itachi lately?"

"Deidara, you know that I don't keep tabs on him."

"Don't you find it kind of weird that he just takes off, hm? Don't get me wrong, we all like to fly solo once and a while, but at least tell someone where you're goin'."

I grunted. Deidara has one character flaw in my book that overrides the rest: he needs to know everything.

"So, Kisame, got anything to talk about?" he asked.

I didn't answer.

Eventually he added, "hm?" to it.

"You're seriously fucked up in the head," I growled, then walked away. I turned into the living space, where Sasori still sat on the floor with puppet stuff all sprawled out, still rough and rugged in places that he can't sand out until he fixes some other puppet. "Is there some reason you can't do this in your own space? Why must you make a fucking mess everywhere you go?"

Sasori didn't even look over at my general direction when he answered. "I do it just to piss you off, Kisame." Damn it, he sounds cold as ice, and it pisses me off.

I can't tell if he's serious or not. Damn emotionless doll.

"It isn't our fault you got your ass kicked by a teenage girl," I muttered. "We shouldn't have to see your shame all over our common quarters."

"Lighten up, my man," Deidara interjected. "He's just working. What's your problem, hm? Can't you just leave him to his work? He isn't hurting you."

"Didn't I tell you to fuck off?" I asked as I turned around to scream in his face.

His eyebrow furrowed, then arched as though he was saying, 'Really, what the fuck?' He sighed. "Kisame, you're not yourself. What's going on? It wouldn't have anything to do with Itachi leaving, or that girl being here, hm?"

"The hell? You make it sound like I'm gay. Fuck off. I just don't want to talk."

"Sounds like you want to fight, fish face."

I turned around to address the ass hole who was talking. Great, Hidan walked into the room.

"What, am I wrong? You're starting shit with everyone. You've got some anger issues."

"You're one to talk," I responded.

Deidara was getting antsy, I could tell. Sasori still hadn't moved from his work spot.

"Will you two shut up?" the wooden thing hissed. "You're really disturbing."

"Well, I'm sorry to disturb your sulk fest, there," Hidan sneered. "Next time, we'll keep it down so you can keep what little pride you have."

It amused me to see a wooden finger be flung across the room and lodge itself into Hidan's forehead. Sure, he wouldn't suffer much damage, but those splinters are hard to get out.

Deidara sighed. "Is this really necessary?"

Hidan plucked the appendage from his scalp and flicked it in Deidara's general direction. "Are you fuckin' necessary?"

The finger hit home and left a trail of blood down Deidara's cheek. He shuddered before wiping it off with his overly long sleeve.

"Why are you always such a bastard? Did your mother forget to hug you, hm?"

Hidan's eyebrow twitched. All hell was about to break loose on Deidara, and everyone else present. How could I tell? Sasori had gotten up with his stupid toy parts. Bad things happen when dolls move.

"As much as I would love to watch this cat fight, I have shit to do." I left the two to their devices. I was hungry, and I was sure there was something in the kitchen worth eating. Mind you, I have been wrong before.

Deidara: Well, that could have gone a lot better. Hidan definitely is having a bitch fit. I blame that girl. Sure, I've never even seen her, but I know that they weren't acting this way before she came here. Can one person really do this much damage to a group of guys? Un, only if they're sex deprived.

Yeah, I've heard about her. Something different from each member comes up every time I ask. Kisame doesn't like to talk about her. I think she came between him and Itachi. Don't get me wrong, my man isn't gay. I just think she jeopardized their mutual respect, or something. Itachi has been known to kill for less; get him goin' over a girl, and my man doesn't stand a chance.

Itachi doesn't acknowledge her (though I was told that she was his girl while she was here), which I find odd. Yeah, he's a silent person, but from what I heard, he was animate about her staying with him. For a guy who doesn't talk to anyone, that's just plain weird.

My man Sasori supposedly got beaten by her up in the mountainous border between us and Suna, though that would take a lot of power. He doesn't really talk much about her, either. Kisame said that she got a kiss out of him, which has to be bull shit. What happened to Sasori not showing emotion, hm? That's just not like him. Besides, who would want to kiss a frickin' doll, hm?

Kakuzu doesn't care. He said she was pretty banged up when she got here, and that Hidan had been the one to retrieve her from Suna. Had bruising to her face, which isn't like Hidan at all. He normally leaves anything above the chest alone, un. I don't think Kakuzu believes Hidan, though he said that the bruises were too healed for Hidan to have caused them.

Being in the Akatsuki has been interesting, but the most interesting thing to happen in what feels like forever had to happen while I was on a mission. Why can't shit like this happen when I'm here, hm? Next time, I don't care what mission I'm on, un. She's in for some explaining, and I don't care how pissed Leader-sama is going to get when I abandon everything to meet her face to face.

Sasori

This screw goes here, that peg goes there, and a little glue here. Tsuki; the only one person that can manage to anger me more than Deidara. He's in a frenzy over her. He's searching for answers from everyone. More like searching for a piece of ass. He's going to deal with Itachi when ever he returns. Kisame doesn't say much about where he went. I know he knows where Uchiha went. I also know he's going to give me hell for what I did to her. As if I care? Doubtable, at the least. She's just another vixen. One more reason to have disposed of my human body: I'm not caught up in the stir of overactive yet long dormant testosterone.

No, what infuriates me is that she destroyed parts of my body that I can't fix within. No, she has to press me to reconstruct on of the ten thousand, just so I can sand out this one spot on my shoulder that keeps snagging on my cloak. Imagine having a splinter that you can't feel, can't see, but keeps snagging on everything, in a spot you can't reach because no matter how hard you try, if your hinges won't allow, you can't improve your flexibility to get at it. Imagine building a whole new body to deal with one sliver caused by one whore. You'd understand where I'm coming from.

I can still hear Hidan shouting in the next room. I can't even hear Deidara. He probably stalked off, the way he does. He always has to run from everything.

Hidan

"You douche waffle fuck wadded idiot! I'm not done with you! Get your blond ass back here, you worthless bag of filth! Stop walking away from me, bastard!"

Pein:

"Fetch me Kisame, Konan. I have one simple assignment for him."