Stage Thirty: Havoc

Keep in mind that it took us a day and a half to get to Sunagakure. We were tired, and looking forward to relaxing before needed to head out. Yahara got the trainer she wanted, and Kankuro got the assignment to take her out and visit with some official somewhere, but wasn't expected to leave for another few days.

I was just visiting here. I spent my time wandering through the village market streets, or at the oasis with a book or my drawings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Lunch was uneventful; Yahara joined me while Kankuro was doing paperwork for Gaara.

It was when I was sitting on the roof that night that things turned sour. I was looking up at the moon when I noticed an odd shaped shadow cross it. I admit that my heart skipped a beat when I realized that it was a clay sculpture. For a moment, I thought his mission was finished and he had come for the ring, which I had touched that moment. When he passed over me without hesitation, I knew something was amiss.

Nothing could make me look away. It was a mess, that entire night. I knew Gaara was his assigned Jinchuriki. I knew this was inevitable. I just didn't want to be there when it happened. The night lit up as the fireworks blared. Sand domed the city for an hour or two, and then shifted, and I knew the worst had happened. Running and shouting surrounded me, and Yahara kept screaming. I couldn't move. I couldn't think.

I watched the bird fly away, and heard Kankuro screaming and running after it. I wanted to join him. I wanted to be next to Gaara. I knew he had to die in order for Shukaku to be extracted, but I never stopped feeling that I could have kept that from happening.

A tear slipped from my eye. After everything I said yesterday about him dying. I jinxed him. All he did was love me without really wanting to. I didn't want him to die, not now.

His mission wasn't over. It had just begun.

I was there when Kankuro was dragged back into the village, a shell of life that was receding quickly. I was there when Temari and her group was shipped out to the far border. The elders were in a flurry. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't. Not until this was over. I had to show my support somehow, even if it was just being here.

I did little things, such as patrols, watch shifts, paperwork, healing, supervising, and other random things that I don't remember anymore. Why should I?

It was a long three days. When I watched Gaara walk through the village gates, that's when I felt myself really breathe again. I waited for him in his living room, bypassing the parade and crowds, not to mention the noise.

"You're alive," I stated.

"You're still here," he repeated. "I'm surprised, and happy."

I smiled at him. "I couldn't leave the village in its time of need. Every person counts, right?"

"It means a lot to me." I found his arms around me once again for the first time in what felt like years. I loosely held him back, but didn't draw him closer than I should.

"Once again, I owe more to Naruto than I can say," he whispered. He released me. "I guess you'll be leaving, now that I've returned."

"I don't want to be the reason they come back," I answered. "It's for the safety of the village, Gaara. Yahara and Kankuro are planning to leave as soon as you say they can."

"I understand. I wouldn't be surprised if some of our neighbours used our weakness to their advantage. Another attack by the Akatsuki would seal our fate for sure."

"So you understand why I have to leave you."

"I'm alive to endure another length of time without your company, and I'll live to see you again."

I touched the ring under my glove, and he noticed.

"What's there?" he asked, taking my hand in his.

"An heirloom," I answered quickly. "It was given to me for safekeeping."

He let my hand go and smiled. "It couldn't have a more secure place in the world."

"Thank you, Gaara." I touched his cheek softly.

Otogakure~*~

I found myself thrown against a wall with a solid, pale hand at my throat. "What took you so long," Orochimaru demanded in a hiss. "You have kept me waiting. Our cover was nearly blown."

I was genuinely surprised that he wasn't pissed that I had left; just that I had taken far too long to return to him. "I needed to wait for the opportune moment, Sensei," I managed to inform him as he crushed the air out of my trachea.

He dropped me onto the floor, where I struggled for my next breath. "You disappoint me, Child. I have come to expect more from you."

"I will do better, Sensei."

He glared at me. "You'd better not have the chance to fulfil that promise, Child. My patience is short with you."

I bowed my head, "Yes, Orochimaru-sensei."

"Explain a few photos for me, Child." His tone had calmed down from a deep, throaty growl to a gentle purr. I knew I was in real trouble, now. The storm hadn't even begun. "At my desk, if you please."

I walked the length of the room and sat down in my chair. He laid the photos out in a single row, four photos in all. The first one was of Kakuzu with my back pack of things. The second was of Deidara, staring straight at the camera. He had a bemused smirk on his face, as though he knew something we did not. The third was Hidan, flipping off whoever was watching the footage (which was probably Kabuto or Sasuke). The last one was of me talking to Hidan in my study. I had no idea he installed a camera there. From the angle this was at, it was in my book shelf; or rather, it was. If he was showing me this photo, he had moved the camera.

"Who are these men," he demanded firmly. His temper was starting to show through.

"They're Akatsuki members," I answered, rather softly.

He slid Deidara's picture forward. "And this man; who is he?"

"I didn't know him when he was here. His name is Deidara."

"If you didn't know him, what was he doing in your wing; more specifically, you're bedroom?"

"That's a good question, my Lord. I have no idea what he was doing there."

He rubbed his forehead, exasperated. "It was his hair I found, wasn't it?"

"All the tests I performed were conclusive of that statement."

He glared at me. "There's something you're not telling me, Child, and it's irritating me."

Normally, something sarcastic and spiteful would wander out of my mouth, but his temper put my life in danger. I kept my silence, not knowing what he wanted me to say. It was for the best.

He got out of his chair and dragged me out of mine by my wrist. Sharp pain cascaded up my arm. He flung me back into the stone wall, leaving cracks around my body's indentation. "Your silence condemns you, child. Who is this man?"

"A terrorist bomber for hire," I answered.

He punched the wall beside my left ear, causing the stucco to crumble under the impact. "Try again," he growled. "Who is he to you, Child?" There was raw loathing in his voice, something I was not accustomed to.

He swung another punch at me, which I blocked out of reflex. He looked stunned for a moment, and then his anger increased tenfold. He swung a roundhouse toward my temple, which I displaced. His foot contacted the wall, which crumbled further. "How dare you," he spat.

He attempted another two kits and a kick to the stomach, which were all sequentially blocked. He picked up speed with his attacks, and I had to block a tad faster. When he stopped, I managed to land a punch to his chest. This just continued to piss him off, pushing him over the edge when he found it hard to breathe.

He gripped my throat again. I figured I was already in the hole with him, so I punched him in the jaw. I heard the crunch of bone under my knuckles. He jabbed at my shoulder, popping it from its socket. A wall of pain crashed over me, as my left hand was now useless.

He swung at me, right, left, and centre. With only half the ability to block, I took some heavy damage. Eventually I just kicked him in the stomach, sending him backwards. "Are you done?" I asked. "This isn't exactly my fault, you know. Just because some arrogant bastard shows up in my bedroom following two of his comrades, doesn't mean I had anything to do with it!" I kicked his breastbone in. "You can stop abusing me now," I growled.

He threw another hit at me. I grabbed his wrist and swung him into the wall, where my own body created an indent. "You have no idea just how far loyalty goes." I pounded on his shoulder. "I'll let you hit me when I deserve it. I'll let you chastise me when I've fucked up. I'll reap what has been sown, but this isn't my fault." I snarled at him, channelling all my frustration and fury into one feral glare. A low growl emanated through my body, vibrating my core. "Remember that, Orochimaru. You don't hold me here. I'm here because I'm loyal to you."

"Your loyalty has faltered, Child," he spat.

"Just as your guidance has; you're my Kage. You're supposed to keep this from happening. You've stopped deserving it." I released his wrist and walked away from him. Shocked showed on his face and it pained me.

I wound up in my bedroom and collapsed on the bed. My body was sore, my pride was wounded, and my defiance had peaked. This was not the end of it. He let me have my way. He wanted to see how far I would go. There was no way he would be so easy to hurt.

I had a dislocated shoulder, some cracked ribs, a fractured wrist, and more bruises than not. Pain was my friend that night. I didn't have the energy to heal it all, either. What had to be done, had to be done, though.

I shoved off the bed and walked to the wall. Setting my arm back where it should be, I fell on the wall with all my weight. I cried as I heard the pop as my shoulder painfully went back into its socket. I clutched my shoulder tenderly. That was another bruise to add to the list.

"You look like hell, Tsuki."

I looked up to see Sasuke standing in the doorway. "I don't have the time for this, kid. Nor do I have the patience."

He held his hands up in compliance. "I'm here to help you, okay?"

"Why should I believe you?" I asked. I propped myself up on my right arm.

He walked over to the bed. "It took a lot of strength to stand up to Orochimaru. Tomorrow is only going to be worse. You'll need all your strength if you're going to survive."

"I don't think that'll be necessary," I told him.

"You're not staying," he stated. He put a hand over my wounded shoulder.

I winced. "Would you?"

"I have no choice. If I had your freedom, then no, I would not." He sighed. "Who was that blond guy in the photo?" he asked. "I know that's who Orochimaru was upset about."

"His name is Deidara. I didn't know him then."

"That doesn't mean you don't know him now," he wisely stated. "You were gone for a while."

"Why do you suddenly care?" I asked. "What the hell, Sasuke; you've been acting weird, lately."

He got defensive at that. "What, can't someone give a damn once in a while?" he asked. "Is that a crime now?

"Yes," I hissed, "it is. And you know what? I don't give a fuck."

"God your language sucks. Every time you get back from the Akatsuki, the swearing always increases." He leaned back on the bed's plush exterior.

"How the hell did you get in here?" I asked, now realizing he should have been dead.

"Orochimaru disabled your traps. He was superiorly pissed that you were trafficking men in and out, so he gave Kabuto and me permission to come and go as we please," he smirked. "As long as you're here, Kabuto won't bother you, but if he had to pee, well… I'd clean your bathroom first."

I royally screamed like a banshee. Sasuke flinched and covered his ears. "That man is going to die," I growled. If I kept that up, my voice was going to get hoarse.

"Tsuki, calm down; you're shaking." He put his hands on my shoulders, and I winced in pain. He immediately let go of me. "Will you just let me heal you?" He pulled a jar out of a pocket hidden on his person. "This will speed your cell turn over. I can't do chakura work; I'm not trained to, but I can put this where you need it."

"Fine, but if you press too hard, I'm going to fucking punch you. This hurts," I snidely hissed.

"Yes, I know. I've received a fair share of his blows, but never this bad. He really does go easy on you when you're compliant, doesn't he?"

"Yeah," I answered, "he does. Don't fight back, and he'll reward you for it, I guess. Curbing his punches doesn't count as much of a reward, but it's something."

"Hn, I need both your shirts off," he commanded. "I need your bare skin. Don't look at me like that. It wasn't my idea to hit you where you were covered."

I complied with his demand after turning my back on him. Sasuke liberally applied the cream to all of my now surfacing bruises, the swelling in my back where my ribs were cracked, my wrist, and below my breast bone.

When he finished, he stated, "You should probably sleep. I know it doesn't end well for you, with things being destroyed and everything, but it would help your healing. Besides, those men cleared everything out that was important to you. You have nothing to lose." He screwed the lid back on the little jar. "How do you feel?"

"Sore," I answered. "Sleep sounds good, honestly."

"I bet it's been a while," he speculated.

"Two days," I answered. "That's not long at all; compared to the years I've gone before."

"You can sleep while you're in the hands of the Akatsuki?" he gawked. "Why?"

"Well, there are two parts to that, Sasuke, and one of them you're not going to like." The truth would set him off severely.

"I don't like you being in the Akatsuki to begin with. I can live with what ever you're going to say."

"I never said I was going to tell you."

He smiled at me. "Come on, Tsuki. We don't keep secrets from each other."

I shook my head. "Yes we do."

"Name one," he prompted.

"Gaara, for instance," I answered, "You having once loved me, for another."

He shook his head at that. "Nah, it was something we should have seen coming. Tell me anyway," he demanded.

"Sasuke, you're such a masochist. I hope you know that."

"It can't be that bad," he mussed.

"Horrible," I stated, "Absolutely terrible, in comparison to everything that I've done thus far."

His eyes widened. "Did you have sex with my brother?" he growled.

I laughed at him. "Hell no, Sasuke! That's just wrong, and gross; disturbing, really."

"Then it can't be the worst. You've done things that are on the same level," he informed me.

"Before I tell you, can I ask you a question?"

"Promise me you'll tell?"

"Yes, jack ass, I promise."

"Fine, then," he crossed his arms.

"How often did someone who wasn't an Uchiha wander onto the compound?" I went straight to the source: the one memory I had.

"Not very often, they didn't, unless they had reason to. It was pretty rare; mostly they were sneered at for being lost, or harassed for invading our space. Why do you ask?"

"Fugaku, he asked Itachi to look after someone once, didn't he?"

"I won't even ask how you knew my father's name. I never told you. No, I want to know how you knew that. Itachi never talked about her to us, let alone to you."

I sighed. "Well, Sasuke, how else would I know about it? He told me, and that's that." I folded my legs on the bed, trying to get comfortable.

"Why the hell would he tell you something that personal?" Sasuke asked, curious instead of angry.

"He didn't do it to inform me," I stated. "He did it to remind me."

Sasuke looked at me. And for the first time, I think he actually saw me. "You were that girl. You were there, ten years ago."

"Yeah, I was."

And then the yelling started. "And you never told me? It just didn't seem important to let me know that we had a shared connection, not once did you have the chance to inform me that you were there?"

"Sasuke, I didn't know. I'd forgotten nearly everything that happened between my parents' deaths and meeting Orochimaru. It was so bad that I didn't think there was time between the two events."

He just blinked at me. "You have serious problems with your brain."

"You didn't remember me either, asshole," I reminded him. "You were there, too."

"Hey, that was a traumatic event; I try to not think of my childhood much."

I raised my eyebrows, him having just proven my point.

"Fine, I get it. It was a bad time for both of us. What does that have to do with you sleeping when you're with the Akatsuki?"

"You really are dense, Sasuke. I can sleep because, on some subconscious level, I trust Itachi."

"So, when you're with someone you trust, you can sleep? Why can't you sleep here, then? Don't you trust Orochimaru?"

I looked at my shoulder, and then looked back at Sasuke. "I have to trust the person with my life, to protect me from anyone who would want me dead. Orochimaru is among the people I'm pretty sure will eventually kill me when he has the chance. I don't exactly trust him enough."

He shook his head again. "I think I'm starting to understand this. You not sleeping has nothing to do with what you are, right?"

"Right; the only variable that my origin plays with is how long I can go without going completely crazy.

"And this stems with your parents' attacks?"

"I think so, yes. There isn't anything else that I remember that would contribute to my complete distress with sleeping. My chakura just panics, and explodes."

"Hmm," Sasuke hummed. He fell back against my bed. "That sucks."

I kicked him in the chest. "You're a douche," I stated.

"What did I do?" he protested.

"You're laying on my bed," I stated, rather bored like.

He sat up. "Better?" he asked.

"Not at all; you're still acting funny."

"Gnah, fuck this." He got up and stormed out of the bedroom, throwing the jar at my head. "Apply this every five hours," he instructed, then turned and walked away.

I was left feeling just down right confused.