A/N: Last chapter's question: why did I stop writing smoothly, easily?

Possible answer: I stopped consuming food from a wide variety of sources and started consuming a lot of food that my mother made. Food reportedly contains the energy of everyone who ever interacted with it, but especially whoever served it to you. A crucial step in my quest to become independent, then, is to grow, harvest and cook my own food. Consume my own energy. Only then will I be able to understand what my own energy even is.

That may be relevant to this story, because this chapter was also written much more easily than usual. Coincidentally, I started getting into cooking about a month ago. I've been eating food with a much greater amount of my own energy in it. If I'm right about this...

Eeeeeeee! Excitement!

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Sasori

I used to be scared of this.

Three demons stared at Sasori with unblinking eyes. One of them was visibly suspicious, watching and waiting in the hopes that he would say or do something damning. Another was anxious. There was a high chance of someone leaving this location with grievous spiritual or physical wounds - or worse, not leaving at all. It was not clear who he was concerned for. The third demon was Teknos.

Having eyes on me… Being seen, possibly judged… That used to give me the shivers. Well, it still does, a little. But only a slight tingle. Nothing like what I used to feel. I won't react to it the way I used to react.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Sasori said to them. "I apologize for the abruptness, but your help is sorely needed."

Teknos raised his eyes. The base, which stood on the other side of the parking lot behind Sasori, surely felt even more ominous to them than it did to humans. Teknos lowered his eyes, returning his gaze to Sasori's face. Both movements were calm, controlled: the sort of calm and control that made Kakuzu sweat and everyone else fear for their lives. "What sort of…help…do you need? And what sort of help do you expect us to provide?"

"I need you to pull my soul out of my body."

Teknos blinked. The other two gawked. Good. I wanted to shock them. Having accomplished that goal, Sasori explained, "Not entirely. Only partially. Enough for my soul to get a good look at my surroundings."

Teknos tightened his jaw. "Why do you want that?"

"Because when my soul got pulled partially out of my body the last time, I was able to look at the various divine energies and instantly understand what they were. Right now, there's a certain divine energy I'm interested in. I know what color it is, but I don't know what it does, and I'm not willing to wait to be told."

Whatever the demons had expected, this wasn't it. The suspicious demon looked grumpy. The anxious one looked…relieved? He must be on our side. Teknos returned to looking bored. "Isn't it careless to jump directly to the most risky option?"

Sasori laughed. "The most risky option would be to wait until that other prophet returns and get him to activate again in the hopes that he'll explain what force he is a prophet for. No way in hell am I doing that."

As he had expected, none of the demons looked surprised. Teknos raised an eyebrow. "Activate again?"

Sasori nodded. "He got into a staring contest with Hidan. Their eye colors went funny. That's how I know what color to look for." He put his hands in the pockets of his pants. "So, will you help or not?"

Teknos did not respond immediately. He took his time thinking. He looked at the base, at the parking lot, glanced up the road toward the section that the snake boy had turned into a small forest, scratched his chin. Eventually, he said, "Before any promises can be made, there is something I need to understand. Jule suffered the fate she did because she was too certain. There is risk in certainty. Even so, I think it is time to seek out some."

Sasori nodded. "I think I have some idea of what you mean."

"Oh, do you?"

"Much of our group is rather wishy-washy. But there are some things we reliably do, and one of those things is obey our leaders. I happen to be one of said leaders, and the others are likely to agree with me. So although no formal proclamation has been made, I believe that what I say now is and will be true." Sasori raised his chin. "We are not pawns. We are not hapless tools to be used by any power that can seize us. We are god-makers, summoners. We play an active role in everything that goes on that involves us."

A glint came into Teknos' eyes. "Everything that has happened, then - all actively chosen?" The suspicious demon began to look hungry, and the anxious demon more anxious.

Careful and steady, or fuck it? Heh. I know which one Hidan and Konan would choose. "Yes," Sasori replied. "I declare on behalf of my group that we accept responsibility for all of the things that have previously happened."

The anxious demon turned white. The suspicious one shifted. Teknos flicked his hand, holding her back. "Very heavy words. But the rest of your people have not agreed to them - you only assume that they will."

"You didn't think you were going to walk away from here after only fifteen minutes, did you? You'll see for yourself."

"Before or after…helping?"

"Probably before. The ideal time to do this would be after the second prophet shows up. That way, I can be entirely sure I'm looking at the right deity."

"What makes you so sure I'll agree to this arrangement?"

"If you don't…" Sasori paused to contemplate his options. "Well, I'm sure I'll find some other way to gather the information I need."

The three demons stared at him. This time, Sasori did not even feel a tingle. The balance of power had shifted. Huh. This time, I actually am as blase as I sound. I truly, genuinely, DON'T need their help. They really ARE free to walk away, if that's what they choose. I don't think they would have been if this conversation had happened a month ago.

"We shall go, then," Teknos said, as if reading his mind. "It would be crazy to walk into a prophet's own den when there are two of them in residence."

Sasori frowned. "What, exactly, is so unpleasant about being around him?"

"You don't know?" asked the suspicious demon with a scowl.

"I have no idea how you demons perceive divine powers. We sense them through our minds, so Jashin sama's power is unpleasant because it make us feel anxious and have difficulty concentrating. Samehada senses them on her tongue as flavors, so Jashin sama's power is unpleasant to her because it tastes very hot and spicy. Zetsu felt it on their leaves as heat. How do you perceive it? A feeling, a mental effect, visual, auditory, something else?"

Teknos raised both eyebrows. "A word for it does not exist in this language. It is not a sensation; more like an awareness. A sense of how the world is. Balanced or imbalanced, and in which ways. This knowledge hovers at the edge of our minds constantly, affecting us even if we ignore it. You could say that we sense divine energy a lot like you sense hunger or thirst."

"How does it feel to be around a prophet?"

"Like standing on the edge of a black hole. The fabric of reality doesn't feel secure."

His phrasing reminded Sasori of something else. "Huh. Yesterday, during the staring contest… Hidan activated first, and his power scared everyone shitless. It makes you feel like anything can and will happen, like you're at ground zero of the birth of a hurricane. But then, the other guy activated in response. His power completely changed the mood. Everything became unreal. Or rather, reality itself became separate. It was like I could reach out and touch the threads that make up its fabric." Sasori squinted, trying to remember the experience more clearly. "It felt good to me, but then, I am an engineer. It probably disturbed and frightened other people. We didn't talk about it. We should."

Teknos pressed his lips together. "So it's true." He turned and looked at his two companions, both of whom had completely changed their attitudes. The suspicious one no longer looked suspicious, and the anxious one no longer looked anxious. Now they both looked very grave. Teknos turned back and told Sasori, "Never mind. I think we will stick around to learn more about this second prophet, after all."

"Okay." If I need to know what super secret demonic knowledge he just referenced, he'll tell me. Probably. One way or another. No need to rush things just because I'm curious. "He was told to portal into our lobby, so you'd have to come inside."

The demons looked at the building as if it were a literal dragon's lair, complete with scattered bones, dented pieces of armor and an ominous chill wind. "Alright," Teknos said in a voice barely above a whisper. "Mirra." The formerly suspicious demon took out a cellphone and texted somebody. When that was done, they all shot Sasori looks that suggested that Sasori would find himself impaled in places he would rather not be impaled in should anything negative happen. Then they summoned up their courage and walked past. Sasori gulped. I DID say I was taking responsibility.

They entered the lobby. A paper butterfly kept watch; aside from that, nobody was there. The butterfly waved its wings in acknowledgment. "That's something Konan uses to keep watch when she's expecting people to visit," Sasori said. He kept his voice as low and smooth as possible. "How does it feel? The symbol, I mean."

"Like a hole."

Sasori's mouth ran dry. "A…hole…in the fabric of reality?"

Teknos frowned. "Like I said earlier. A black hole."

Just a gravity well, then? Not something with torn edges that could unravel? What the hell am I doing? Something like that is too important to make assumptions about. Sasori repeated his questions out loud.

Teknos shook his head slowly. He wasn't going to answer. He looked very distracted; he kept glancing all around the lobby, as if expecting some manner of monster to appear out of thin air. Sasori realized that was exactly the case. "Erm, we could wait in the kitchen. We'd be able to hear the commotion that will surely occur when those two guys show up."

"Two guys?" the formerly suspicious demon asked.

Sasori realized that they had no way of knowing about the second man. "Yes, the prophet and his husband. His husband is an expert in powerful beings that shape worlds. They're both interested in our situation."

"It would be a good idea to wait elsewhere," Teknos murmured. "Somewhere we can gather ourselves."

"Let me go check the sick bay. It may be more suitable for that purpose than the kitchen." Sasori darted down the hallway to his left and opened the door to the sickbay. He found Itachi, Clone Nagato and Clone Yahiko lying on the floor. Yahiko looked like he needed to, while the others were just resting. The dolls were playing on the video game station. They looked up and immediately abandoned the game, running over to Sasori and lining up in front of him like little soldiers. Sasori gave them a flat look and said, "Never mind. I was wrong. This is a terrible place for nervous demons to hang out."

"Demons?" Clone Nagato sat up. "The cubi?"

Sasori nodded. "They want to see the man from the other world. The prophet. But they are very nervous about it, so they need to wait somewhere quiet to gather their courage."

"I recommend avoiding the sunroom, as the dog might arrive at any moment," Itachi said.

"The kitchen, then. Thank you. Enjoy lying down. Dolls, stay in this room." Sasori squeezed himself out the door, not giving the dolls any opportunity to follow him. He returned to the demons and informed them that the sickbay was occupied. The kitchen was the only room available.

The kitchen turned out to also be occupied. Samehada lay on the floor snoring beside three empty jelly jars. The masked man sat on the floor, watching over her. They looked up. The demons looked back. Teknos got a worried look on his face. He knelt down on Samehada's other side and spoke to the masked man. He asked, "Are you well?"

"Depends on why you ask," the masked man replied in Madara's voice.

"Is anything going on that is not usual for your system?" Sasori asked.

"No."

"Sounds like all is well, then," Sasori said, shooting a glance at Teknos. To Madara, he said, "This is Teknos and two companions. They are here to find out more about the second prophet. We'll be waiting in the kitchen until we hear commotion."

Madara made no attempt to move. Samehada warbled in her sleep. The formerly suspicious demon asked, "Does this fish have to sleep directly in the middle of the floor?" In response, Madara opened a cabinet, reached inside and pulled out another jar. This one was filled with water. He opened the lid and waved it in front of Samehada's snout like smelling salts. The shark shivered, then woke. She lifted her head and looked around with a whine. Madara replaced the lid and put the jar back. Samehada noticed the demons and moved out of the way, aligning herself with the cabinets on the opposite side.

"What is in that water?" Sasori asked.

"Power," Teknos and Madara replied simultaneously. They looked at each other. Madara continued. "In the jar i just used, power of the sort Hidan generates. In the now-empty jars, power of the sort that Yahiko generates."

"He doesn't generate - he only channels," Sasori said before any of the demons could freak out. "How does it taste, Same?" Samehada made a long, slow licking motion like someone enjoying an ice cream cone. "Sweet?" She nodded. "Ah, I see. The energy generated by the two prophets last night tasted sour and spicy, so you fed her sweet energy to help her recover. Spicy energy woke her right up. That makes sense."

Teknos stood up. He turned to Sasori, leaned against a countertop and asked, "Why are your people keeping jars of powered water on hand?"

Sasori felt himself blush. I look like either a liar or a fool. Ugh. This is why I usually stay out of public view. He said nothing, only gave Madara his most imperious stare.

For once, Madara behaved in the most helpful way possible. He put up no resistance to the implied order. He said, "It was gathered yesterday in the hopes that its power might enhance Yahiko's healing abilities, if his regular healing abilities should one day prove insufficient."

"Jashin sama's water?" Sasori asked.

"May also be needed. Just in case."

Sasori frowned. "'Just in case'? What 'just in case' scenario could make us wish we had divine power sources in our kitchen?"

Madara tilted his head curiously, as if the question made no sense to him. "'More power' is a solution to any problem."

"Including problems caused specifically by having too much power?"

"Is that not the solution we are actively pursuing at this very moment?"

Sasori sighed. To Teknos, he said, "I will tell our consultants that we have these jars of water. If they advise us to get rid of it, I will do so immediately. I do not think that accumulating power sources 'just in case' is a good strategy any more, assuming it ever was one, which I do not. That sort of thinking is how we ended up with the symbol in our basement, and look where that's gotten us."

Madara said, "A dominant position in the regional hierarchy."

"You are not helping."

"Who are you who are so wise in the ways of dominance and hierarchies?" Teknos asked Madara.

Madara's glare could be felt through the mask. "I despise flattery."

"He is not in any kind of leadership position," Sasori said.

Madara chuckled. "Have you been telling them that the members of this group obey their leaders? Some do, but not all. Are not you yourself on the list of people who are allowed to disobey the so-called 'house rules'?"

"There is a list of people who are allowed to break rules?" asked the formerly suspicious demon.

If Madara wasn't on that list, I would smack him. But since he is… He's only doing his job, keeping me honest by pointing out flaws in my reasoning. I cannot fault him for doing good work. "Those people are good at keeping the rest of us honest by pointing out flaws in our procedures. They are allowed to harm other members of this same group if that's what is required. Nobody is allowed to harm members of other groups, nor make decisions that are completely and utterly contradictory to established goals. Madara, you are a fact-checker and a whistleblower. Nothing more. I recognize your attempt to be helpful. But if it would be better to toss this water back into the pools it came from, that is what will be done."

Madara did not counterargue. He folded his arms across his knees, taking up a watchful posture. Teknos had a shrewd look on his face. He, too, said nothing. The formerly anxious demon cleared his throat. "Ahem. What should we expect from the prophet and his husband?"

Right. The entire purpose of their visit. We are too good at getting sidetracked. Sasori turned to that demon and replied, "They're a lot more cautious than we are, for starters. They aren't marinated in Jashinist energy and they're less susceptible to its influence. They have a daughter who they are not willing to orphan. They agreed to free the wolf soul from the laptop, but everything else is still up in the air. They can back out at any time."

"How often does the prophet use his powers?" Teknos asked.

"Portal-making and other fairly normal powers? Unclear. His husband's reaction to a full activation implied that that was rare, although it has happened enough times for him to know what's normal." Sasori raised a hand. "Before I forget to mention it, they use a different vocabulary than we do. Instead of gods or deities, they call beings like Jashin sama and Amita sama 'manaweavers.' We've been talking about the specialized nature of divine powers in terms of 'themes' and 'specialties.' So, for example, the being that we call Jashin sama is a manaweaver with a theme of movement: crazy, chaotic movement and change. The being that we call Amita sama is a second manaweaver specializing in mass, growth and weight. And so on."

"Mass, growth and weight? Not healing?" Madara asked.

Sasori was suddenly very glad he hadn't yelled at Madara earlier. He doesn't know! Tobi was in control during the meeting, so Madara has no idea what was said. "Correct. We perceive it as healing because the power of growth added to an injury results in healing the injury, and we are injured people. But if Amita sama's power were added to a perfectly healthy person, that person might develop cancerous overgrowths."

"Hmm… An important distinction." Madara sounded thoughtful. Sasori could guess what he was thinking. Their system - is it one person broken into parts, or more than one soul's worth of material jammed into a single body? Amita sama's power would have completely different effects depending on which is true. Hopefully he takes that as a reason to be more cautious before stockpiling sources of divine power in the future.

"Ahem." All eyes returned to Teknos, who said, "I recognize this description. We've been keeping track of that energy. It has no obvious effects, nor any prophets. How did you learn of it, and how do you know what it does?"

"We found its water source, and Hidan helpfully told us what it does," Sasori replied.

"Your prophet told you?"

"Yes. The gods know each other. Tap into the mind of one god, you automatically have knowledge of all of them."

"You misunderstand. Why would your prophet tell you that?"

"Because we were trying to tell those two guys what Amita sama is like, and we were botching it."

"He wanted the arc - the other prophet to have an accurate understanding? But wouldn't any prophet have the same understanding?"

Sasori blinked. "Were you just about to say, 'the architect'?" Teknos did not respond. The demon took deeper breaths, attempting to recover his composure before he made any more slip-ups. That was alright; Sasori didn't need him to respond. The room faded from awareness as memories from the night before returned. He didn't have to strain to remember them; they were perfectly clear, as real as if they were happening again. Skin all over his body tingled in pleasant ways that had nothing to do with the demons' auras. The architect… A man with the power to portal from anywhere to anywhere, even across worlds. A prophet whose activation made me keenly aware of the fabric of reality. An energy that felt so good, so natural, so compatible with my own…

"What is this?" Madara asked. Samehada whined and made a gagging sound. Madara got to his feet. "The shark reports a sour taste, similar to that which your second prophet reportedly generated last night."

The formerly anxious demon shifted. "Sasori?"

Sasori closed his eyes. He heard his name being called, but wasn't sure he wanted to respond. He wasn't sure he wanted to return. The thoughts flowing through his mind felt so very exciting, more than any ordinary mundane thought could ever be. He felt himself on the verge of a great and incredible breakthrough, a new understanding beyond anything he had ever understood before. The fabric of reality… The architect…

Then his eyes flew open. "They're here."

A while was spent in silence with everyone staring at him. This time, Sasori felt exactly as uncomfortable as he had felt after Jule's attack. Oh gods, I remember now. This is what I couldn't stand. This feeling of being revealed, pulled out of hiding, looked at, known. I've gotten better at tolerating it, but I'm still not all the way there, it seems. Why are they looking at me like I'm evil? I haven't done anything!

Kisame nearly passed the kitchen in his haste. At the last moment, he caught the doorway with his hand and literally swung himself around. "Hey, everyone. Those two guys we've been waiting for: they're here." And he disappeared, on his way to the lobby. The demons looked at the doorway. Then they returned to looking at Sasori. This time, he understood why. Did I just do what Yahiko does? Channel a god's power?

There was no time to question it. Teknos pushed himself off the counter and headed for the doorway. It was time to meet the architect.

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A/N: Woo! This, I had in mind ever since the chapter with the staring contest. It was part of the information I learned during my journaling session: [Name], golden yellow, architect of reality. I did not make a connection with Sasori until writing this part less than an hour ago, though. Huh.

3500 words or so of this chapter were written in a single day, today, in an amount of time that is much shorter than usual because I spent a great big long period in the middle of the day celebrating Easter by having a picnic. In other words, the fact that I was able to finish this chapter at all is even MORE remarkable than it might have sounded at first. Amazing! I definitely shall continue this "cooking for myself" experiment.

After getting some sleep. It's late. Hoppy Easter everyone.