A mask. Kakuzu wore a mask. With the way his face looked it was a favor to the world. He pulled the worn black cloth up over his mouth and frowned, buttoning his collar as the finishing touch and leaving.
"Don't we have a target?" He asked his partner absentmindedly. Hidan rolled his eyes. He was relaxing in the shade of an Oak tree, which was a pleasant reprieve from the constant heat of summer.
"Shouldn't you know, dumbass?" Hidan said without opening his eyes, one eyebrow giving a subtle twitch in irritation. "You heard from our client last." Kakuzu shook his head, suddenly annoyed with himself, and with Hidan.
"Right." he said shortly.
Cicadas were strumming in the tree's babbling to themselves and each other. The leaves on the tree smiled to the sky, the warmth of the midday sun embracing all plant-life beneath it. The humans on the other side were having a much harder time. The sun was merciless on their heads and shoulders, those without enough foresight to seek darkness every once in a while found their skin bright red and sunburned. At this time, the air was still sweet with the smell of ripening vegetables and blooming flowers, right before the scent of apples decorated the breeze and the decay of leaves mixed with fading summer.
Hidan and Kakuzu had an objective in the village nearby. He was something of a tycoon in his local industry, and he was wanted dead, an easy mission for the pair.
Hidan was grateful for the gusts that blew through his cloak, bringing feeling back into his skin. He smiled as the next one blustered in and opened his arms wide as if he were going to hug the wind.
"Kakuzu…" he said with a smirk. "You've no idea what you're missing out on, bundled up like a retard in there." Kakuzu pulled his mask up a centimeter tighter.
"I'm fine dressing 'like a retard' thank you." he said dryly. "Will you please focus on the task ahead?" Hidan snorted.
"It's not anything that really requires concentration." he said with a shrug.
"Hey." Kakuzu said sharply. "Don't be so reckless. It may sound terribly easy, but we don't know what we're up against." Hidan hit him hard in the shoulder and laughed from deep in his chest.
"Relax." he said as more of a command then a suggestion. "I can handle it."
"We." Kakuzu corrected him.
"Whatever."