A/N: I read a book on life colors. They're colors at the center of your aura that determine what basic sort of person you are, your approach to life, your typical ways of feeling about things, etc. I didn't think much of this concept before reading about it, but afterward I was surprised at how many things it explained.

Most people have 2 life colors. I identified at least 3, maybe 4, which is no surprise given the walk-in situation that I explained last chapter. From taking the self-test, it appears that my original spirit is Yellow and possibly also Red, and the walk-in angel spirit is Indigo/Crystal. These colors are at opposite sides of the color spectrum. They could not be more different. But that might be exactly why they are together - between Red and Crystal, the whole spectrum is spanned. Here are some short descriptions of these 4 colors:

Red is the color of power. Red personalities are strong providers and guardians, physically domineering, and extremely willful. On good days, they're your rock; on bad days, they can become incredibly closed-minded, hostile, untrusting, and aggressive, even abusive.

Yellow is the color of playfulness and joy. Yellow personalities are childlike and charming, and all they want to do is enjoy life. On good days, their company is invigorating; on bad days, they make you feel like you have an extra child that you never asked for.

Indigo is the color of a spirit that remembers that it is a spirit. They act ever so slightly more than human, stay aware of possibilities that most people close their minds to, and obey strict moral principles that are not influenced by their current circumstances. On good days, they make excellent guides; on bad days, they descend into relentless self-obsessed neuroticism that they absolutely will not emerge from until they themselves decide to.

Crystal is no color at all, a sort of empty space. Crystal personalities can take on the colors of their environment and of the people they meet, giving them enormous flexibility. However, they must occasionally discharge other colors to remember who they are, and during those times they become extremely vulnerable. It's easier to crush an empty water bottle than a full one; for this reason, Crystal personalities are fragile. On good days, they are flexible and accomodating, adaptive and understanding of all different kinds of people. On bad days, they can become terrified of the outside world and refuse to leave the safety of the familiar.

These descriptions are not familiar. Not at all. I have NEVER seen these personalities before.

So, who are we looking at this chapter?

.

Obito

Dinner that night was a group affair, held in the sunroom. Obito served himself in the kitchen and ate in a separate room before joining in. The room was very quiet. Obito and Zetsu did not know why. Deidara sat nearby, so White Zetsu asked him. "Konan wants to adopt a dog, hm," Deidara replied. "In fact, she already told Nagato's boss that she would and filled out papers and everything."

"Don't you people have enough pets?" Black Zetsu asked, indicating the dolls that Konan was patting.

Deidara shrugged. "I dunno why she did it."

A minute or two later, Kakuzu cleared his throat loudly and looked around. "Is there anyone here who has not heard about the decision to adopt a dog?" White Zetsu and Obito raised their hands. Sasori also did, and Itachi. Kakuzu turned to Konan. "Explain it again."

"I have decided to adopt a dog from the animal shelter that Clone Nagato works at," Konan announced.

"What sort of dog, yeah?" Deidara asked.

"His name is Whisper. He is a quiet, shy, sensitive dog."

"That's gonna go over well," Kisame muttered sarcastically.

"I get good feelings whenever she thinks about him, though," Clone Hidan pointed out.

"We have enough companions. We're fine. It's the dog I'm concerned for," Kakuzu said. "I think it was a selfish decision, motivated solely by Nagato's boss' threat that she wouldn't let you visit the dog if you didn't adopt him. You just wanted to keep seeing this dog, and for that reason, you've invited him into a life of agony."

Madara would probably say something very similar. Obito looked around with the Sharingan on. Kakuzu had a lot of support, and Konan almost none. But she wasn't surprised by that. Why did she do something that she knew would be so unpopular?

"I think I would like to hear Nagato's take," Sasori said. "Where is he? And his original, and our Yahiko?"

"Talking in the backyard," Original Yahiko said. "It was a personal clone-to-clone discussion. We shouldn't intrude."

Sasori narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Tell us more about this dog, then."

Konan looked up at the ceiling as she thought. "He is wiry and thin, a tracking breed, I believe. He has a favorite toy that he chews on all the time, seemingly for comfort. He does not bark, does not jump, and rarely licks. When he is in the yard with other dogs, he sits on the porch and watches from afar."

"Sounds like Zetsu would be ideal to look after him, then."

"What? Us? A pet animal?" White Zetsu said. "No way! We can get along with humans because we're part human, but animals are just too different."

"It might not be such a disaster as you fear," Itachi said to Kakuzu. "We have places that are suitable for quiet types to spend time in."

By way of response, Kakuzu pointed down at the floor. Everybody glanced downward. "That is true," Sasori murmured. "Surface-level activity might be quiet, but the deeper vibe of this place is always restless. It would get to him."

Samehada whined and wriggled back and forth. Kisame sighed. "You can try to make friends with him, but don't be too surprised if it doesn't work out, okay?" Samehada made optimistic sounds. Kisame averted his eyes.

"Why did you decide to adopt him?" Itachi asked Konan. He had his Sharingan on.

"Kakuzu is right. My motives were primarily selfish," Konan answered. "At first, I thought it absolutely could not be done, for all of the reasons that others have stated. After sitting with him, I changed my mind. I did not want to be permanently parted."

"Well, it sounds like it's done, yeah," Deidara said. "We're getting a dog. What do we do now? We've gotta get a bed, dog food, things like that, right? When's he going to get here?"

"Wednesday," Konan said. "Marsha knows from my visits who I am and feels no need to check my background, but even so, there are regulatory bodies that must be satisfied before Whisper can leave the shelter."

"What, precisely, does Marsha know?" Itachi cut in. He still had the Sharingan on. "What is the nature of your bond with this dog?"

Everyone looked at Konan. She tilted her head. "I appreciate his quietness. Sitting at his side is very soothing."

"Can I take a look?" Clone Hidan asked. Konan nodded. He held her hand and closed his eyes. She likewise closed her eyes, probably focusing all of her thoughts on Whisper. After about ten seconds, Clone Hidan said, "Like she said. I get a sense like…healing. Similar to what Sunshine does, but not exactly the same." He concentrated harder. "I can't tell what the difference is though. Fuck."

"Could be useful," Sasori said. "And, like Dei said, what's done is done. Let's strategize about how we're going to make the most of it."

Those members of that group that were opposed to adopting a dog reluctantly went along with this. As they discussed dog beds and wet versus dry food, Obito wrapped his arms his around his knees and looked down. "You okay, Obi?" White Zetsu whispered.

Obito shrugged. "I don't really think anything one way or another. I'm busy."

"With what? If you don't mind us asking."

"I'm trying to get to know myself better. The other parts of me, I mean."

"Tobi and Madara?"

"When Original Hidan got banished, he looked afraid, like me. Then he got angry and closed off, like Madara. And it made me think that… That I need them. That maybe I can't live without them."

White Zetsu nudged him. "Is that why you look so spacey now? You're trying to make contact?"

"Do I look spacey?"

"Yeah."

Obito shrugged again. "Yeah. I suppose I would."

"You still seem down. Are you…worried that it's not going to work out?"

"I don't know.I guess I'm a little nervous, but I don't know if it's really how I feel or if it's just fear that other people will have a problem."

"We don't have a problem," White Zetsu said, putting an arm over his shoulders. "It's your system. Do whatever you want."

"Thank you." But I don't know what that is.

A knock on the door made everyone go quiet. Clone Yahiko poked his head inside. "Hey, we're back. I hope we didn't miss much."

"We were just discussing the practical supplies that will be needed for Whisper. Dog beds, food, and the like," Konan said while waving him inside.

Yahiko and both versions of Nagato joined the group. "Is everything alright?" Original Yahiko asked hopefully.

"Likely so," Original Nagato replied.

Clone Yahiko laughed. "I think it went well! We had a nice talk about how to let other people help you make decisions, how to make decisions for yourself, and that sorta thing."

Obito raised his head. That was a far more interesting topic than dog beds. "What… What did you conclude? If it's not too private?"

Clone Nagato and Clone Yahiko shared a look. "Well, um, plunging yourself into total separation as a way of forcing yourself to make decisions is probably not a good idea," Clone Yahiko said. "It's better to go slowly."

"Even when there are important matters at stake," Clone Nagato added.

Obito slumped. That wasn't quite what he needed to hear. "It's very interesting."

Itachi asked Clone Nagato to provide him with more information about Whisper. As the discussion returned to dogs, Obito thought about other things. I guess it's a little reassuring that even people who don't have multiple personalities think total separation isn't a good idea. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. Why shouldn't I know more about Tobi's hobbies? It seems rude not to even ask. But also, I want to be strong. I don't want to be so weak and needy. What's the solution?

"Hey," Clone Yahiko greeted as he switched places with Deidara. "How are you doing? What did you really think of what I said? You said it was interesting, but you looked…"

Obito shrugged. "I don't know. I've been thinking about myself and the others. Advice that works for separate people probably doesn't work as well for me and them."

Yahiko frowned. "Yeah. Maybe not. That advice was meant for me and Nagato."

"Because you're the shining star who always knows what's right and he wants to get out from under your shadow?" Black Zetsu guessed.

"How'd you know?"

"Oh, please. You walk around connected to a god all day. It's easy to see why anyone would be uncomfortable contradicting your decisions."

"Are you saying that I'm domineering?" Yahiko sounded hurt. He looked to Obito. "Am I? Do - do you ever feel like you can't say anything that disagrees with me?"

Obito hugged his knees tighter. "I'm really not the best person to ask."

"Oh. I'm sorry." Yahiko blushed bright red from shame.

"No, not because… Not because I'm weak…" Obito's face grew hot. He hadn't meant to say that out loud. It just slipped out. "In-instead, it's because… Because I…" I have something to say. I know I do. But I can't find the words for it!

"It's okay. You don't have to explain," Yahiko said. "Unless you want to, in which case, keep trying?"

Obito didn't know which he wanted. He was ready to slink away in shame. But then, an idea occurred to him. It was a strange idea that didn't feel like his own, but he didn't have any ideas of his own, so he took it. "Um, Yahiko, do you like dogs or cats better?"

"Huh?" Yahiko blinked. "Uh… Dogs, I guess."

"I want to keep trying to explain."

Yahiko blinked again. "I don't get it. What just happened?"

Magic voice. Obito didn't know where this concept of a magic voice was coming from. But amazingly, it seemed to be accurate. "The more I hear you talk, the more I have opinions. I don't know if you're giving me those opinions or what, but whatever it is, I'm not like other people who had opinions before they talked to you."

Yahiko blinked extra hard. Out of the corner of his eye, Obito could just see White Zetsu shooting him a strange look. He was glad that the mask hid his blush. When I say it out loud, it sounds like I'm a weak and pathetic person. But it doesn't feel like that - it feels good. Is it really a good thing, or am I just broken?

"I don't want to trample any opinions you have," Yahiko whispered.

"I don't have any."

Yahiko swallowed. "If you ever do, please tell me?"

"I want to get more in touch with the others."

Yahiko relaxed. "That's a start!"

Obito nodded. "Ever since you showed me what it was like -"

Yahiko's smile vanished. Obito felt like facepalming. Idiot! Why did I say that?! Watching Yahiko look all fearful again made the dinner he had just eaten feel like a bag of stones. I've worked so hard to make people see me as strong, to try to be strong, to become someone who can decide things and do things. Why am I sounding so weak now?

"If there's one thing I've learned from Nagato, it's that I can't tell anyone else how to live their life," Yahiko said.

He sounded so very serious. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Obito asked, "Not even with your magic voice?"

Yahiko looked up. "My what?" he asked in a strange tone.

Obito hesitated, then shrugged. "A weird idea I got in my head all of a sudden. That your voice is like magic because listening to it makes me feel good. I know it sounds silly…"

"It sounds silly because it's one of Tobi's ideas," Yahiko blurted. "Tobi thinks of everything that's pretty as being magic."

Now Obito was the one blinking in shock. "I thought of one of Tobi's ideas?"

Yahiko looked at him in a new way. "If talking to me makes Tobi's ideas start coming into your head, then maybe I'm not being domineering. Maybe I'm not telling you what to think." He smiled at Obito. "I'll talk to you as much as you want."

A fear that Obito didn't know he felt lifted from his shoulders. Yahiko was not going to leave him, not going to strand him in this in-between place, not anymore weak but not yet strong. They would keep moving. "I'd like that."

Zetsu

As they retired for the night, Zetsu closed their flytrap leaves over their head. They felt powerfully tired, like an undertow was sucking them out to sea. They didn't resist. But in the last moments before they were engulfed, White Zetsu thought to Black Zetsu, Ani?

What?

Obi's gonna be okay.

Black Zetsu agreed. Then they went to sleep.

.

A/N: According to basic common sense, Crystal personalities are absolutely the last personalities that should be out in public. They rightfully should be tucked away while a more powerful and active personality faces the outside world. But I got in a lot of trouble as a kid for having a temper, so the exact opposite happened.

Crystal personalities tend to fear that they won't be able to get the recharging time that they desperately need because everything will fall apart. It only makes sense, then, to try to develop more trust in the rest of me. If I can trust that my Red aspect can handle social interactions without ruining all of my friendships and burning all of my bridges, if I can trust my Yellow aspect to successfully earn a living and handle responsibilities, then perhaps I will finally be able to relax and let go of outside judgments and expectations for the first time in a decade. Perhaps I will finally be able to empty out and experience inner peace. Oh, that sounds so wonderful. But there's no way in heck I will do any such thing without guardians that I can absolutely trust to keep me from getting squished.

I really hope Zetsu's right...