Welcoming Insanity -private-

As the umbrella hovered over the ground her unhooked the woman binds from it and sent her falling a good five feet into a large puddle getting her already wetter than she already was from the constant rain fall. The Joker himself than hopped down and retracted the umbrella into its cane form and picked the woman up from the water before she could drown. He moved toward the house he had rented out himself and opened the door and kicked it closed behind them. Making his way across the dark house he placed the woman in a chair and tied her to the chair as well and added chakra to the wire to make sure she didn’t try and escaping jutsu. He then ran into the kitchen and grabbed a little bit of smelling salts and gently ran them under her nose to wake her up from her unconsciousness.

He sat in a chair directly across from her but in the time she had blacked out he had changed. He was sitting in a red luxurious chair and was wearing a red satin robe and pants and had a smoking pipe in his mouth that blew out bubbles instead of smoke. “Wakey wakey naptimes over my precious little warrior.” He said with a smile as he watched her and opened a small book and began to read it as he awaited her to come too completely. He had noticed a few things on the way there, the first being she was a Nara just like his leader and her blade obviously meant she was skilled with it. Last but not least was her cloak in the wind country. One would assume it was stupid to wear a cloak in the desert, which would mean she was hiding her appearance, which meant she also did something she wasn’t too proud of.

The woman sat leaning slightly forward in her chair, her soaked black hair clinging to her to hide the strange expression on her face from the man sitting in front of her. Her body was shaking slightly from the transition of the hot desert to being soaking wet and cold, though she seemed to be completely oblivious. Stuck in a dream she would have found a nightmare before then, though something was off now. The woman laughed slightly, then her face contorted in something like anger. Even unconscious, she still knew it was wrong to laugh at what she was seeing. Then, the smelling salts got to her.

Slowly, she opened her dark gold eyes to stare drowsily at the floor before growling at the pain in her head. She didn't know this place, nor like it. When the man spoke, her eyes snapped open fully, her head jerking up to glare at him as she remembered what had happened now. Instantly, she regretted it. The cut on her head where it had made contact with the tree began to bleed again; it also didn't help her horrible headache. At his words, she spit on the ground near his feet and growled at him.

"Tch. Go to hell."

As the blood from the cut mixed with the water, it ran down the side of her face and onto her also severely soaked cloak. Moving her arm experimentally, she realized it was no use to struggle, and just glared at him. There was this urge in the back of her mind to laugh at her situation. Tied up in a room, cold and soaked to the bone, and glaring at her kidnapper; who seemed to not be bothered by killing genin, and rather laughed at it. What was up with that? She looked away from the man and closed her eyes as her head leaned down slightly to cover her eyes. Was this what she deserved for what she'd done? Although she thought it was inevitable he would kill her sooner or later, she kept the defeat from her voice and held her cold tone.

"What do you want from me?"

“Questions; questions you ask me while you are being so rude to your host now that’s just bad manners. You see Tsuki, that is your name right? Well a shorthand version but none the less its close enough. You talk in your sleep a little you know.” He said as he closed the book in front of him and stood up and walked to the book case to his left and placed it on the shelf as more bubbles blue out of his pipe. He then walked back to his chair and sat down and leaned forward toward her so he was closer to her. He took his pipe out and placed it on the counter next to him as he noticed how wet she was. He reached behind him and grabbed a rather thick towel and wrapped it around her body to try and make her warmer all while drying ever so slightly. He made his way back into the kitchen and came out with some warm tea and placed in next to her on the counter.

“I would offer to give you some tea and gladly bring it to your lips to drink but you’re smart enough to assume it’s poisoned with something just like how I ‘want’ to let you out of that wire but know you’ll try and kill me. It’s not poisoned but better to be safe than sorry. Now! Where were we? Oh yeah, I personally see a lot of potential in you. You’re a killer yourself as all shinobi are but you’ve also killed some of the best, like me. After I found out you killed the Kazekage, I thought that was real impressive.” He said smiling as he looked at her and sat back down in his chair and leaned back.

“There are some things out there that are really….splendid! Candy, games, toys, presents, high explosives, all of which when you enjoy it severely give you a sort of….high. For me all these things and killing are truly my high…except for candy. I don’t want to kill you because…I can see you become higher than a kite along side of me. You’ve already felt its effects laughing and thinking things are funny when they shouldn’t be? Right? Once you realize that everything you once thought was horrible, dreadful, wrong, or distasteful can be funny and ‘splendid’, you start to realize your true power and the fact that you now have NO limits at all. That genin you saw earlier, one was killed by me, the one you attempted to save, the other was killed by the other genin simply for being depressed. If that doesn’t show how much this word is a dog eat dog world than I don’t know what is. Why I want you is simple, once you have been blessed by insanity and learn to embrace it there’s no stopping it. Why? Because you don’t want it to stop. So, now it’s my turn. Why did you kill the Kazekage?” He asked as he waited in anticipation and leaned back forward.

Tsuki opened her shadowed eyes as he began to talk, growing ever more aggravated just by the sound of his voice. She didn't even have to see his face. Looking up at him as he came closer, she tilted the chair back slightly. She found that if she maintained her balance on the back legs of it, she wouldn't tip or fall over. This gave her something of an idea. It didn't matter if he was nice enough to put a towel around her to help dry her off; she was still utterly pissed he slammed her head into a tree. As she opened her mouth to snap at him, he began to speak of the Kazekage. Tsu shut her mouth and looked down to the floor once again.

Who the hell did this guy think he was? How did he know she killed him? Why did he bother to tell her these things when he said himself she would try to kill him if he unbound her? As she wondered these things, he went on even further. Her agitation began to grow. Grinding her teeth together, she peered up at him, waiting for her chance as spoke. He had no business asking her anything. He had no business dragging her to this place, or tieing her up. He sure as hell had no business smashing her head into that tree, or using that gas on her. Maybe it was time she returned part of the favor.

When he stopped talking, and leaned forward, she rocked herself forward as hard as she could. Ignoring the pain as the chakra enhanced wire cut into her skin, she lowered her head to slam into his as her body was thrown forward in the off balance. Gravity made the impact that much worse. As she was doing this, she yelled at him.

"You talk to damn much!"

Inevitably, both chairs would end up falling over. And she would end up hitting the floor on her side, making the wood of the chair crack slightly from the force. When the shock of the impact went away, taking the stars from her eyes with it, she started yelling at him again. Regardless of the small cuts now on her arms and chest, and the cut on her head which had started bleeding more profusely.

"Now you know what it feels like! Being my 'host' it's only fair you give your name, and you obviously know all about me already. Talking about me having bad manners; how is smashing someone's head in a tree, kidnapping her from her home country, and tieing her up good manners?! I say I've got pretty damn good manners compared to you!"

The Joker tried leaning back as she came forward but his timing was off as her head crashed into this nose and his head jarred back into his seat. He brought his hand up to his nose and swore as his nose broke. He didn’t waste any time as he placed his hands on his face and forced the nose back into place and blew out the blood from his nose into a nearby handkerchief. “Better manners maybe but the fact remains you probably would have killed me if I hadn’t induced you with the laughing gas? Right? Being a part of the Akatsuki comes with two thing, fear in all the countries and being hunted in all the countries. As for my name it is Karite Inakamono or as the Bingo Books refers, Joker. Now my next question, why the HELL WOULD YOU HEADBUTT?! Nobody wins with a head butt you both get hurt!” He said as he stood up and walked over to where she had fallen over and he a lifted her back up so the chair was upright but this time a little further away.

He left into the kitchen again and came back with a small little medical kit as he stopped in front of her and used a wet cloth to wipe the blood from her face. He then took his needle and thread and carefully but quickly sewed her cut on her head back to normal and did it amazingly well within a matter of seconds. He then walked back into the kitchen and disposed of the bloody rag and walked back out and appeared from the kitchen area in plain view from her. “All kidding aside…we the Akatsuki want to recruit you and in doing so you will have a team of killers, like us, to help you settle old disputes and get revenge on whoever you want. Above all we give you the ‘power’ to do so. There is a reason why we are feared and we want you to help us resemble that fear.” Karite said as he walked behind her and untied the wire that held her in place.

“I had never planned on killing you and I still won’t unless you attack me because this house is loaded with explosives you can’t see. However, take in mind that I found out you killed the Kazekage, do you really think someone in Suna won’t know? We offer you a place to stay and live and all we have to do is what we do best and what some of us even have come to enjoy.” He stated as he grabbed the tea again and brought it to her as well as the towel that had fallen on the ground.

She allowed he self a smile at seeing the bloody rag; at least he wasn't going to walk away from her unharmed. Watching him defiantly from the floor, Tsu felt that urge to laugh at his pain. Though this time, she understood why exactly. He deserved it. Sneering slightly as he picked the chair up from the floor, she resisted the urge to bite his hand as he stitched the cut on her head. When he was done and had walked back to the kitchen, she closed her eyes and sighed lightly. The first sentence was said as if to herself, growled low, but then her next words were almost dismissive. Though there was something colder about the way she spoke now.

"It was still worth it. And i know well of the Akatsuki's ways; they've been a popular research topic for me for some time now."

When he walked behind her, and untied the wire, she considered attacking him. Though she was curious about Akatsuki. Maybe, she thought as she stood up, she could find some clue as to what had really happened then. Peeling the still damp cloak from her skin, she layed it across the back of the chair and stretched, arms reaching upwards before she ran her fingers through her black hair. Face twisting in the stiffness of her back. As she was thinking, he had come back towards her with the towel from earlier and the cup of tea. Tsuki watched him, her dark eyes slightly narrowed as she wondered if those small clues that maybe Akatsuki hadn't been involved that day had some legitimacy. That it was a setup.

Sighing, she accepted them both with slight hesitation. Setting the cup on the counter near her, she readjusted her grip on the towel as if to swing it over her shoulders. It actually looked like she had calmed down. But he was about to find out different. Her fist was coming towards his face so fast, at such close range, that he'd wouldn't be able to dodge it. Her fist was aimed towards giving him a black eye, or maybe break his nose again. Either would do just fine. As she turned away with her same calm expression, she pulled the towel over her shoulders and grabbed the tea from the counter. Then, as she sat down in the chair, she took a sip of the tea with her eyes closed, then opened then to look up at him. Her voice almost mocking, but level none the less.

"Now i win. And as for what your saying about the Kazekage; your right. Someone is bound to know by now. Though i thought it was a rather discreet kill. No one should have found out so fast."

Setting the cup back down on the counter behind her, she crossed her arms and her legs and stared up at him with her cold dark gold eyes.

"If alot of the people in Akatsuki are like you, then i know i wont enjoy it. As well; you make it sound like living close to a group of cold blooded killers is enjoyable. I think that the personalities would clash, and they'd inevitably end up killing each other. Though that's just my opinion. How do i know your not lieing to me?"

Having otherwise sensed the presense of not only another individual of considerable chakra but also one of special affinity, Vice had generated and relinquished a 'Real Shadow Clone' crafted from shadows, in order to investigate. One of which was the Joker, which he refered to often as the Jester, but the other was the one that tweeked his curiosity. He could vertually sense anything within' the area of shadows, and because Amegakure was in the shadow of the clouds at pretty much all times, it wasn't too hard for him to locate the two individuals and dispatch a clone. After all, if the Jester was in some sort of trouble, perhaps confronting the individual, he would have to bring it to a swift end, after all, he didn't intend to lose a single member of arsenal; or at least so soon.

Where the clone materialized was described as a 'Dark' house, giving the clone access via the shadows quite easily, and when he had appeared in the room, it was an otherwise silent and unknown entry. It was just in time to watch an individual... a female... sock the Jester in the face with a hook before tauntingly sipping at some tea that the Jester himself had no doubtably provided for them. How Immature... he thought. If his six sense was correct, he more likely brought her here, and more then likely not on friendly terms, unless these were buddies or something...

Either way, it was an individual he wasn't formiliar with, so instead of jumping in and questioning her, he cast the otherwise simple 'shadow imitation' technique from where he stood, extending his shadow outward along the existing dusk of the darken room, and capturing in the technique where she sat. Unless she could somehow sense it coming, there was no way that she would be expecting it; especially while gloating her 'victory'. By the time she had finished talking, she would find herself unable to move, and Vice's Clone step forward into view of both of them.

He didn't take too much time to observe her, nor the situation, he did however see the bloodied rag, though curious exactly whose blood it belong to. He also found himself twirked about the room itself. It seems that the Joker had wasted no time making himself 'at home' in Amegakure. He did after all tell him to get comfortable... so he couldn't exactly be suprised at the Joker's accomidations. But before he got too sidetracked with legistics, he decided to take in the situation from a third person basis.

"Hmm... what is the meaning of all this?" He said, his eyes shifting from the female to the Joker.

The Joker had been caught off guard by the punch and was hit hard enough in the nose to note only break it again but send him tripping over his chair and landing face first on the ground. The Joker looked up with a grin a she felt a nearby presence and stood up popping his nose back in place…again. He stood up and turned to face her “WHY THE NOSE? WHY ALWAYS WITH THE NOSE?” he said grabbing the already bloodied cloth and wiping his nose with the rag and removing the blood again. He sighed as he stood up. “Well I suppose there would be no reason for you to believe me and besides neither of us have tried to kill each other yet, so that nullifies your personality clashing statement thus far.” He said as he reached down and grabbed his hat and put it back on his head.

“You know what’s funny doll? I never actually ‘knew’ you killed the Kazekage till just now when you told me. I had only an assumption based on clever analysis.” He stated as he turned toward his boss that had just randomly appeared in his house. “It’s good to knock you know, what if me and this lovely Nara female were about to have sex? Granted from what you saw extremely rough and female dominated sex, but none the less you wouldnt want to see me naked would you?” Joker said laughing a bit as he looked at his boss.

“Boss that’s no way to treat the latest addition to the Akatsuki. Bad, down boy!” He said after noticing the woman’s muscles lock up and flipping on a light switch for no apparent reason. Perhaps he just wanted her to see who was actually in the room because he was sitting back in the shadows clearly out of view till the above lights kicked on.

Tsuki had been trying to ignore the presence of the other man, not wanting to deal with more than one at a time. Though as she looked over at him, something caught her eye. The shadow that moved across the floor and connected to hers made her smirk a little, turning her head to face the new man. Instead of trying to dodge it, she forced her body to untense and looked back at Karite. Her golden eyes staring intensely at him as she spoke in a tone that was cold and level, but could have been taken to have a deadly feeling to it. That joke was a little to far overstepping her comfort level. Or, more like, tolerance level.

"Not even in that messed up head of yours. I'm getting severely tired of your jokes."

As the lights flicked on, she switched her intense gaze on the other Nara with something close to curiosity. Karite had called him 'Boss'. So, he was the Akatsuki leader? At least he was interesting to look at, and didn't seem to be as much of an idiot as Karite came off as. She decided she didn't want to punch this one to; he didn't seem to know what the other had done. It was quiet for a moment as she studied him. Then, she sighed boredly and looked to the ceiling before closing her eyes. In some other part of her mind, she realized there were still a few cuts bleeding; a small one on her arm, and one on her chest. Tsuki really needed to wash her clothes soon so the blood didn't stain.

"Actually, i was just about to hit him again. I don't really enjoy being kidnapped. Though i guess you don't care, right?"

He more or less completely disreguarded the female for the time being. After all, what importance was she to him? He had no idea to her ability, nor her presense, all he knew is that he sensed her, and she had punched the jester in the face. Instead, he spoke to him, addressing what he had said. "Ha, I'm not quite sure you could seduce anything more then a monkey looking the way you do. I'd say the odds were in my favor that you weren't... In any case, you say this little tart is the newest 'member'? I'm curious under what orders you were working under to do such thing as recruit someone without my inquiry."

It really didn't matter to Vice. He was more or less just keeping the jester on his toes of things. At least he was a hard worker of sorts; nothing being official and him already attempting to bring others in. As much as he didn't really care he considered making some sort of example of him. Any other leader would be upset that his men took actions without order, but this wasn't a situation in which actions where detrimental, and at least he would have shown enough skill to capture someone that had apparently, if he had heard her right, killed the Kazekage.

So instead of making a fuss about it, he questioned a few of the details instead. If she has worth running out and getting then she must be something of note, especially if she was an agent of either light or darkness just as he was. He didn't need to knock after all; especially if he could be anywhere in the city at just about any time. And for as long as he kept this girl restrained she would be only a single fleeting decision away from death at the hands of the shadows; the shadow imitation technique being the precerser to alot of his other more deadly attacks.

He shook his head lightly with something of a smile as he shrugged it of. "In any case, what makes her so specific that you have judged her worth of such a position in a fraternity of such praise? You say she killed the Kazekage or something to that effect?"

“You both underestimate my charming personality. I put the fun in funeral.” He said feeling proud of himself and smiling as he walked around to where the leader was standing and moved behind him before moving back in front of him and jumping onto his couch that was across from the woman now. He had an apple in his hand and he bit into it heartily making sure to swallow before he spoke “Indeed boss. This woman killed him, I can see it in her eyes and she told me she had. I only survived because she tried grabbing my shirt to stab me through the throat. She is indeed and asset and I believe me and her would make ‘excellent’ partners some day. As we both know I have a tendency to want to kill things too quickly and enjoy it. Tsuki on the other hand is a Nara that will soon become like me and enjoy all kinds of killing now that she has been exposed to my laughing gas.” He said and took another bite from his apple and kicked his feet up on his arm rest.

“Not to mention she is a Nara and as such would make a great distraction to someone with my explosive capabilities, although sadly enough I don’t think she has seen them yet.” He said pointing at a Joker card on a nearby table and having it levitate till it rested in front of her forehead. “I’ve spent a long time turning this house into one with tons of explosives everywhere even if you can’t see them, you can even pass right through them or they are ordinary objects, like this card, each with enough explosive capability to cover at least two hundred feet in every direction, but, such things don’t matter unless there’s an actual threat in the house.” He said and let the Joker card fall into her lap.

Now, she not only wanted to hit the one man again, she wanted to hit both of them. Although she chuckled lightly at the man's comment, she quickly grew to see him as stuck up in a way. And thinking he was better then everyone. So much better, in fact, that he didn't think he needed manners either. Tsuki was sitting right here; but this man thought he would talk like she wasn't even there. As the words 'this little tart' left his lips, she was pulling hard against the shadow technique. Hands shaking as she fought against it and curled them into fists. She was about to growl at the man when Karite began speaking, just making her even more angry.

As he was talking, she began uncrossing her arms. The progress was slow because of her having to fight the technique as she did it, though her hands were already close together. Tsu was amazed at how hard it was to resist him. Though she knew it had been foolish to underestimate someone who she believed to be the Akatsuki Leader. By the time Karite had finished talking, her hands were now close enough to do hand signs. And she needed only one to do what she was planning.

Because she was under a shadow technique already, his shadow was already connected to hers. This meant there would be no way to dodge unless he retracted his shadow at the last minute. Otherwise, she'd have used the same shadow technique on him. Then they'd both be stuck staring at each other until one released the other. Regardless if it took or not, she spoke coldly, though her voice seemed more even then before as her dark eyes stared the other Nara down. It didn't even seem like she cared about the card in her lap.

"Whether your the Akatsuki Leader or not; you should have at least some manners. If you want respect, you should show respect to others. Instead of talking over me like im not even here, why not ask me about myself instead of asking him? I know you don't know me, but if i wanted to attack you i would have done it the moment i felt your presence. Unprovoked and without a valid reason, i wouldn't attack. It was unnecessary wasting chakra to restrain me."

The female had struggle her way into the shadow imitation technique herself. She was infact a Nara as the Jester had said. But though they were seemingly at a stalemate of ability, he looked to her for the first time, blinking lightly. Usually he wasn't one to lash out at another, but sometimes it was good to put people in perspective; to put them in their proper place.

"Hehe... Girl, do you really want to play Shadow with me? Your ability is a speck compared to my own."

He then, without handsigns or movement, cast a genjutsu upon her via the shadow that connected them. This was known as the 'Shadow Theivery' Technique and stripped the opponent of the KKG abilities with a mind block that more or less laspes the mind of the ability to use the KKG. Because of this, her control over her half of the shadow imitation would be broken, and himself allowed to do as he pleased.

But before she had a chance to continue her little temper tantrum or ranting of some sort, he simply said "Now then... sleep." Using an 'S' ranked technique known as the 'Dark Void' he cast upon her a genjutsu that would drag her into sleep. Without anyway to counter genjutsu of such intensity, and without a way to stop the connection of the shadow imitation, she would simply drift into an unconcious sleep where she sat.

He sigh lightly as he looked back to the Jester. "Now then..." He said gathering himself as his shadow shifted away form her. "I can't see how such a immature child would have the throught to kill the Kazekage... though I was never too impressed with him in the first place. By bringing her here you have put her in a great sum of danger, because if she doesn't join the Akatsuki then she will have to be killed, and you can never control people like her, that snap and rant without a sort of leash."

He looked back to her. "She won't be happy when she wakes up... but seeing as though I did barge in on what was obviously such a lovely negotiation," he said with sarcasm, " I'll let you handle it. Be sure to report back to me later so that we can discuss other issues as well. While I don't mind recruiting, i'd much rather it be on my terms..." He finished, nodding lightly then turning as he strolled into the darkness of the room where the clone simply dispell itself into the darkness, relaying all of the information to the original Vice.

“That guy can be really rude.” He said to himself as he walked over to where the woman laid on the ground. He looked at her and thought for a moment as he picked her up carefully and between his arms and walked into his bedroom and laid her lightly on the bed making sure she would at least be comfortable. Noticing there was no longer any room on the bed he moved in front of the bed and laid on the floor and took his jacket and used it as a pillow. The couch outside was far too small and uncomfortable for him and preferred the floor over his couch all the time. He was exhausted after having been racing back and forth from between suna and rain. His laid with his head on his jacket and looking straight up toward the ceiling his muscular body now being seen for the first time in a long time. His chest had about 6 small scars and gashes across it in places where kunai’s had come too close. He didn’t know how long the genjutsu would last but he still closed his eyes and dosed off.

-Several hours later-

The woman laying on the bed hadn't moved at all, her body so still except for the gentle rise and fall of her chest to show she was still alive. Otherwise, the pale color of her face would have made anyone think differently. Her dreams held her worst fears, the things she had been haunted by for years. A nightmare. Though, it seemed so perfectly real. Before, when she had this same dream, she would cry out. Scream. Maybe even hurt herself in trying to wake up from it. Though now, all she did was stand there watching in her mind's eye. The events unfolding before her had so little meaning to her now. Rather, instead of cry out, she wanted to laugh. What a tragedy it was. This little joke made from god's hands, for his sole amusement.

A line of sweat ran down the sleeping woman's face into the fabric of the sheets.

She knew this feeling was wrong; never had she thought such things. Her fist clenched tightly; that and the slight quickening of her breath the only movements that suggested to her having just woken up. Immediately, she wondered why she didn't feel the normal sensation of the sunlight on her face like when she usually awoke. Then the previous day's events closed in on her. Almost mechanically, she leaned up from the bed and placed her hands against the sheets to support her as she tilted forward. Peering just over the edge, her golden eyes made out the shape of the man who had brought her here. Who had started all this. Who caused her confusion. That strange gas he had sprayed in her face had something to do with it; he had said so himself. Her gaze narrowed, fingers curling the sheets into her fists.

Silently, she slipped out of bed and walked to the door. As her fingers pulled the door open, her eyes looked back at the man sleeping on the floor by the end of the bed. Then she looked away and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her with a barely audible click. For a moment, she considered how easy it would have been to kill him there. Maybe it would have cleared her confusion, at least a little. Though something told her it wouldn't solve a thing. Stopping, she ran her gaze over the room as she looked for the door.

The other man had obviously left after placing her in the genjutsu. Really, she hadn't been herself yesterday at all. He had a reason for disrespecting her; she had disrespected him as well. And had lost her cool and been impulsive. It could have cost her the only thing she had left. Her life. Maybe if she hadn't been so quick to throw punches she wouldn't have gotten off on such a wrong foot with the one she believed was the Akatsuki leader. Although, this wasn't entirely her fault either.

Stepping out of the front door and onto the small porch, she looked up at the sky. Just to see the first drop of rain before the sky opened up into a torrent of water. Sighing, she leaned her shoulder on a large post she guessed held up the lower half of the roof of the porch. This place was so different. So cold. Though it didn't seem to bother her as she stared to the rain-soaked ground. Her black hair glittering with rain that had ventured under the shelter with the wind. Tsuki's face was a mixture of something distant and a hard expression, hinting towards the old ache that was once again ravaging her mind. She crossed her arms and almost seemed to be hugging herself, as if the cold was finally getting to her.

To Karite there was no such thing as a nice dream or a nightmare. Everything to him was as plain as could be. So what if he could see all his past murders and smile at them with appreciation? The real thrill was doing it over and over again and still doing it. He had ended up in an awkward position with his feet propped up up against the end of the bed and him laying down face first on the ground. He snored away happily that he had finally gotten comfortable in his sleep until his nose began to twitch.

Karite had woken only to one of his favorite sounds…the frying of bacon. Joker sprang up without his shirt on and ran to the kitchen where the contraption he had rigged to a timer began to prepare breakfast. It wasn’t within a minute of Tsuki walking onto his porch that he had a strip of bacon in his mouth and was kicking his fridge door shut with the back of his foot as he grabbed flying toast in mid air and flipped eggs in a frying pan making sure he had extra as he quickly set a table for him and Tsuki along with fresh fruit. He knew it wasn’t much but he walked anyways to the porch and walked out and stood next to her, still shirtless and a medium sized tattoo on the back of his right shoulder of a Joker card and on the left side a large scar that seemed almost green in nature. It was true his body wasn’t much to look at as he put on a black t-shirt that seemed a little bigger than his size but also incredibly comfortable.

“I really need to fix that leaking problem.” He said with a soft tone as he got a bit of water on his face. “You would expect houses to be built water proof if it’s in the ‘Rain Country’.” He teased as he looked at her. “I suppose you didn’t sleep well, the first night after that gas is always the most troubling. I know, I wasn’t always immune to it like I am now, and soon, you will be too, because I wanted you alive.” He said trying to be down to earth and not act all goofy with her. He grinned as he wiped the water from his hair leaving his hair looking falsely jelled as he leaned over the railing and looked down the large cliff into what seemed to be a large river below.

“Tsuki, it may be hard to accept, but by now you may already have noticed that things are going to be different for you. Not just socially but also mentally and emotionally. You’re going to feel large outbursts of happiness for no apparent reasons at things you would normally find morally wrong. My advice is to see them as not morally wrong, and then you will be able to hold onto your sanity even if it’s only to the minutest degree. I only act insane most of the time to throw my opponents off and it generally works but it only works because I can still think. When you’re ready I’ve prepared breakfast.” Karite said with a smile and stepped back inside his house and made his way toward the kitchen.

Tsuki was slightly off put to find him suddenly leaning on the railing next to her; she'd been to distant she hadn't heard nor seen him coming up behind her. Though she didn't allow him to see the look on her face, or the slight sneer that was creeping across her lips. Turning away from him, she relaxed her tense shoulders and leaned on the side. Doing her best to try and ignore her anger from yesterday as he spoke casually to her. After finding it hard to ignore her anger, she was about to completely shut him out, when he mentioned the Rain country. It should have been a little obvious. She hated this place.

The rain started lightening up ever slowly as she closed her dark eyes and sighed heavily. This was only making her more confused. Building on the list of questions that kept running over and over in her head. Though some stood out more than others. Now, she turned to look at him, mixed emotions in her eyes as she growled at him. Fists clenched tightly at her sides after her arms had uncrossed.

"Why me? What gives you the right to make this choice for me, to bring me to this place and talk like I've already agreed to play along? I'm well aware of how Akatsuki handles things; if i run or fight back, your all gonna come and kill me, right? Maybe I'd rather die then have to live with the knowledge that all i can do know is laugh at their deaths."

Gritting her teeth, she growled to herself and walked to the opposite side of the porch, her back to him as she fought back her anger that was bubbling to the surface and consuming her. Tsu leaned over the railing and peered at the ground below intently, now facing the onslaught of rain directly as it began to grow heavy once more. But she didn't seem to notice as she changed the subject once more.

"I hate this land. I always avoided missions having to do with it. It's like it's always crying. And I'm not hungry."

“I didn’t necessarily choose you. You chose me by coming to find out what had made an explosion. The truth is, I didn’t kill anyone. Not either one of those Genin. You attacked me and I defended myself like anyone in their right mind would. My mission was to recruit someone from Suna. In fact the only person from Suna I have killed was Haeichi Kisai the infamous medic.” He stated as he sat down on the edge of the railing and grabbed his umbrella to keep himself from getting too wet.

“I don’t like it here either. That’s why I’m moving once we set up a new base. Nobody here knows how to have fun and enjoy the simple things in life. Back to the previous subject. Asking why I chose you is a similar question as to why did you kill the kazekage. We the Akatsuki and other Bingo book players notice these things. If it wasn’t me who found you, you would more than likely be dead and you ‘know’ that. Whether it was hunter ninjas from Suna or other S ranked bounty hunters, you would have died. I am not making you stay either; you can leave whenever you want and we won’t hunt you down and kill you. I know already that you would just come back to us eventually. I’m not saying that to be arrogant either, you would come back because you have no place left to go, and you are starting to like me bit.” He said with a smile as he patted her lightly on the shoulder and walked inside. He sat down at the table where he had made his food and began to eat.

Her cold stare narrowed as he mentioned Haechi. He'd been a good medic, and person over all, for the village to have. Really, he'd been the only one she had worried of finding what she had done long before she was able to run. Although she had never actually met the man, he seemed like another great loss. Just like the Kazekage. She heard him shift and sit on the railing as he continued on. She couldn't shake the feeling he had killed more then just Haechi back there.

As if he knew what she had been thinking about, he brought the Kazekage up yet again. Tsuki grew slightly tenser and her fingers twitched where they hung over the side. Even so, he was right. No matter what, Akatsuki was her strongest lead on finding who killed her team mates. And her parents. Maybe there was evidence of a mission through Suna hidden in the files somewhere. It would give her solid evidence to erase all other possibilities. She only had one life to work with; she couldn't waste it trying to chase every single possibility. It hadn't even crossed her mind to bother doubting what he said about them hunting her done being a lie. She knew what would happen. If he didn't hunt her down, that other man looked like he'd have no problem with it.

Trying not to hit him yet again, she leaned away from his hand when it came towards her shoulder. Her lips curling ever so slightly. She wasn't starting to like him, that was a fact. Just getting used to his idiotic ways faster then she thought she would. Turning her head slightly, Tsu watched him through her slightly soaked black hair. Once he was gone, the tenseness left her shoulders. Her head turned back and dropped forward as she closed her eyes. It may have been an hour until she had gone back in, or maybe just a few minutes. The rain keeping a steady pace so she couldn't see any sign of the sun.

Walking back in, she closed the door lightly behind her and walked over to the chair opposite him without even looking up. She didn't feel like talking, but as she finally did look up at him, there was something strange in her expression. Tsuki couldn't help but want to ask. Basically, by coming back inside, it was a sign. A sign that she would stay.

"Yesterday, you told me i talk in my sleep. What did i say?"

“You didn’t so much talk as you did mumble things I happened to pick up on. You kept mentioning something about someone dear to you dying and wanting revenge, something about your team. That’s a huge reason as to why I didn’t just kill you. You have the want and desire to revenge your fallen allies. That means you have hatred inside of you waiting to come out and I am looking forward to seeing it when it does. As a matter of fact I’m willing to help you with your revenge if you would like me too.” Karite said with a grin as he finished his food and leaned back in the chair and looked up at her with one of his legs on top of the other.

“I was going to wait till you found out on your own, but I mind as well tell you now so you can get used to it. You’re going to be my partner. By becoming Akatsuki you become a part of a two person team that acts accordingly to the Boss’s commands. Besides I think in the long run we will be good for each other.” He said with a smile as he stood up and grabbed his plate and put it in his dish washer.

“For now you should eat some fruit. The acids within the fruit help the brain a little bit when you’ve been under the influence of the laughing gas. It will only prolong the inevitable but it depends on how fast you want to sink into insanity.” Karite said with a yawn.

Tsuki's gaze hardened ever so slightly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. Finally, she looked away and rested her head against her hand as she sighed, looking away from him. It seemed a little to detailed to be something she would say while asleep. She even laughed a little bit when he said he would help her with her revenge, but avoided commenting on it.

When he started to speak again, she watched him from the corner of her eye. She already figured out the two person teaming system, though she only half guessed she would end up his partner. It should have been a bit more obvious. Huffing at his comment that followed those words, she closed her eyes. That seemed even more of a joke then his sanity.

The sound of him getting up made her drop her hand and follow him with her gaze. Then she eyed the fruit on the table. Sneering slightly, she stood and picked an apple from the group. Twisting it over in her fingers she walked halfway to the front door before she stopped. As she spoke, she didn't turn to face him. Her voice void of all emotion. The moment he gave her his answer she would go back out on the porch.

"I have one thing left to ask you now. Did i mention any specific names?"

Karite grinned as he made his way into his bedroom and began to change not really caring the door was only half closed as he stripped and changed back into his usual leather outfit. He placed his aht onto his head and grabbed his umbrella from against the wall. He walked around the house slowly tapping the floor with the end of his umbrella till an obvious hollow thud came from the center of the room. He reached down slowly to the ground and pressed a specific plank in the wood and it popped up uncharacteristically. He then pressed it down again and the wooden floor slid away leading to a large stairway into an obviously hidden basement. The basement was a bad name as it was actually an entire underground warehouse with all of his various gadgets, testing grounds for them, and weapons that were already still in construction.

“No you did not. I must grab a few things before we head out, you’re welcome down here if you wish.” He stated and proceeded down the stairs that lead to a large door with an abnormal amount of light shining through the cracks of the doors. He moved to the door and placed his hand on it and the door opened after recognizing his unique chakra. He walked into the large underground ware house that was lit so thoroughly and well that shadows were not anywhere in the warehouse. Even the floors themselves were a thick glass that had lights under them and shined upwards. Karite continued walking across the ware house slowly his walking easily being heard as an echo all around them. He stopped at a particular hallway that had a steel door in place. He removed a key from his hat and entered it into the keyhole and unlocked the door before opening it. The room itself was filled with ready to go weapons he had prepared in the past. He restocked in everything he had used in the past couple fights and walked out and locked the door again.

“I bet you weren’t expecting a large underground basement big enough to commit mass murder in.” he said with a smile as he headed toward something he was currently working on and glanced at it for a moment. He looked back up at her. “Alright time to go then. We have a meeting to attend to in ten minutes.” He stated and headed back for the stairs.

Stopping at the front door, she stopped and looked over her shoulder at him as he opened the floor. Curious at to what someone like him would put in such a room, she set the apple down on the corner of the table and followed him down. Her footsteps slow as she dissented the stairs part way, not liking the thought of a confined space all that well.

She stood just a little behind him as he opened the door, blinking against the intensity of the lights. Then she notice something. There wasn't a single shadow that she could distinguish here. Was that on purpose? Against the will of her mind, her body pushed forward following him. Wanting to know exactly what he kept in the room, she walked until she was just inside the entrance. When he spoke she almost sighed in relief, though kept her face passive. At least he didn't seem to know everything.

As she watched him go through the things she leaned against the door frame boredly. Watching him idly and only moving to brush black hair from her golden eyes.

"No, i wasn't entirely expecting it. Though, then again, i wouldn't expect the very least from someone like you."

When he looked up at her, she shifted and pushed off the frame. Waiting for him to pass through the doorway first before she followed him out. A meeting so soon? So, she was going to see the faces of the infamous Akatsuki. Maybe this would get a little interesting.

“Right, well it’s time to go now the meeting will be starting at any minute.” Karite said as he walked into the doorway and waited till she was clear before he closed the door again and sealed it. He moved to the main floor of the house again and locked the secret floor below him. He pushed the plank in like he had done before and it locked again. He stood up slowly and grabbed his umbrella again and headed for the door. He wasn’t too sure if it was the best idea to have shown her his warehouse but in the end if she was going to be his partner it was probably best not to keep anything from one another.

“So…you ready?” he asked. “You can walk under my umbrella if you want to keep dry.” He suggested as he held the door open for her where it was now pouring again outside like before. He opened his umbrella and hung it out the door as to protect them from the downpour that was going on.

Tsuki stepped out of the way and watched him shut the door, sealing it back again. She would be sure not to forget the sequence he used to open and close it, in case it would be of further use to her in the future. When he was done sealing it completely back up, her eyes scanned the room for the cloak she had worn here. It was still on the back of the chair she had left it on. Walking over and retrieving it, she shook it out and walked towards the door where Karite stood with his umbrella.

"That won't be necessary. I should get used to the rain so as to not let it effect me in the future. Lets go."

She said, shrugging the cloak over her shoulders with a rustle of fabric. Slipping the hood up over her dark hair. It might not be the best protection, but as long as the rain didn't get underneath it she'd be dry enough for now. Though she didn't know how long it would hold up. Slipping out past his umbrella onto the porch, she waited for him to take the lead to the meeting.