Within the past hour, the torrent of water outside had increased so much in intensity that an aggravated sigh escaped my lips when I pushed the various reports and inventories off my empty bed. If it could have stayed at a comfortable drumming then sleeping through the storm might have been an option, but angry growling of not-so-far-away thunder threatened my very sanity. I never did have a stomach for thunderstorms, especially when I was alone.

At least, I thought I was alone.

Maybe the gods had some mercy on me and allowed one of the other members to return early so that I may have company in my distress. With this thought in mind, I left the sanctuary of my bedroom to seek out my answer. Stepping outside the doorway and into the hall, I was greeted with a string of curses directed towards the static ridden television. It seems that our lovely resident immortal was here.

So much for company, I might as well go and talk to one of Sasori's puppets.

"Jashin damned satellite signal!" he spat out as he threw the remote to the floor. A flash of lightning startled me enough so that I took hurried steps over to where he was scowling.

"I don't think.." I started, drawing up beside him on the couch and attempting to calm my nerves "That yelling at it is going to help anything.."

Pale violet eyes met white as he looked over to study me for a moment. I figured he was going to say some smart remark, but surprisingly he didn't. Hidan actually appeared to be contemplating something important; that, or he was going over the best way to royally piss me off. After a few minutes the ensuing silence was interrupted by a particularly loud burst of thunder that rumbled throughout the base with vengeance. I cringed, forgetting all about who was beside me, and grabbed the armrest with enough force to turn my knuckles white. Once it became quiet again, I glanced over to a pair of raised eyebrows. Hints of amusement were written all over those contoured features, causing me further embarrassment.

Still..fucking..petrified of thunderstorms. The Akatsuki never should have taken you in.

His piercing stare continued, prompting an uncomfortable squirm. "What?" I asked finally "Something wrong?"

He turned and shook his head, mumbling something about 'that Uchiha Bastard'

Intense anger replaced fear and I gritted my teeth in frustration. I know Hidan hated Itachi with a Jashin-damned passion, but that "Uchiha Bastard" happened to be on a mission in Konohagakure and he couldn't be here to comfort me during this hellish downpour. The least the damn zealot could do was show some sympathy. I shoved him roughly on the shoulder.

"Don't fucking talk about Itachi like that, you evil bastard."

Obviously this was an extremely bad idea because he had seized my wrist in a split second and whipped his head around with a death glare. "I wouldn't fucking try that if I were you, Katani. Your precious little murderer isn't here to protect you this time."

The next wave of emotion that my face twisted into was not from his comment, but from the flash of lightning that tripped the power. Darkness blanketed the room and squeezed its ugly hands around my throat.

"H-Hidan..?"

His hand was no longer around my wrist, and I no longer felt his weight on his side on the couch. It was unnerving as hell. I called out again, though more quietly causing my voice to be lost in the noise outside. It also betrayed the fear that was steadily prickling up the back of my neck.

I wanted so badly to be lost in the long ebony locks of my lover. I wanted so badly to leave the life of a 16 year old girl that lived in this obscure hideout alongside criminals. I didn't want the blood that forever stained my hands.. blood that contained innocence I was never really granted. A single fearful tear rolled down my cheek. This was the precise reason I hated storms. They brought back memories.

"Damnit."

Hidans rough voice finally answered back. Hands reached out and pulled me against a warm chest that carried me away from the pitch black room and into another. The booming chaos outside was muffled when a door was kicked shut. The comfort that radiated off of him was strange but welcome. I have never had much physical contact with Hidan, and when I did it was usually violent and brief. I liked him okay but it irritated me to no end when he spoke ill of Itachi-kun.

I was carefully laid down on a tousled bed and when his warm hands left me I pouted into the onyx surroundings. The bright flashes of rage outside were not visible since there was a lack of windows in their small room. I could dimly see the outline of another bed that lay in front of me. Somewhere to the side a drawer squeaked open and a few grumbles left those smooth lips. A match blazed and the room was enveloped in a soft glow that showed me he was in the bathroom. He left the half used round candle on the counter, for which I was extremely thankful. I did not want to be in a pitch black room by myself with the Jashinist, even if he was being unusually nice for once.

He padded in softly and sat a little ways to the side of me on the bed. His chest was bare, like always, and the candle light cast lovely shadows across the muscles that lurked there. My mind sinfully wondered if he was warm there as well, or if it matched the coldness he gave the rest of the housemates.

"You're sleeping here tonight," he stated bluntly, his pendant glittering as when he moved. For a moment, excitement fluttered in my stomach. I wouldn't have to sleep alone tonight, and being so close to the scythe wielder would surely be interesting. The more sensible part of my brain reminded me that I had two lovers who would be coming home sometime in the next 8 hours. I opened my mouth to protest but was silenced by a pale finger.

"Don't. Your fucking.. Boyfriend.. Boyfriends.. Those two reminded us how you reacted to storms. It was ordered that whoever came home first had to be fucking committed to to taking care of you. Kakuzu isn't expected home for another few hours, so its you, me, and the fucking rain outside."

The last part was said with a large and very suggestive grin. It seems that the old Hidan was back.

The protective gesture from my lovers was heartwarming, if not funny. They are always looking out for me and it gets pretty annoying after a while but this was an exception. My face heated when he gave me a wink.

"Fine, but I get Kakuzu's bed. I'm not taking any chances."

Silver hair bounced slightly as he nodded, and he waited for me to get off the bed before rolling under the dark blankets and closing his eyes.

In all the five months I have been in the Akatsuki, never did I realize that heavenly man scent that radiated from that blankets I moved was Kakuzu's. It was chestnut...chestnut mixed with crystal clear waterfalls. Pure and sensual all at the same time, the fragrance curled up my nose and heated my lower regions. There was the faint hint of sex that lingered on the soft comforter that helped with that. Inhaling the medic nins intoxicating musk deeply, I pulled the warmth over my head and let it drown out the tyrant storm. During a quit moment in my drowsiness, I could hear Hidans soft snoring just a few feet away from me. I was asleep in about 20 minutes, and relaxed enough for dreams to consume me.

Dreams. Powerful testimonies of our innermost fears, desires, and questions. The most vivid ones are often reflections of our subconscious: things we may want or know but don't allow it to the foremost thought of our mind. Apparently, deep with said thoughts of mine lurked the deep silky voice of...

"Kakuzu?"

"Katani..." he whispered close to my ear. The moan that left my lips was something to the effect of "Damn you and that sexy voice"

I had rolled over with a sigh before my shoulder was shaken gently with a deeply chuckling body the culprit. "Katani! I never knew you had wet dreams about me."

The intense dream I was having suddenly became a little more real after I sat up. My hand went to my eyes and rubbed them, still asleep respectively. When they came more in focus, the dark outlines of two bodies startled me.

"Hidan, I didn't expect you to leave me such a delicious present." were the words that escaped Kakuzus sexy threaded mouth. "Are you awake or do you plan on staying in my bed all night?"

"Am I?" I countered, still in disbelief that this was actually happening. I struggled to put them into focus more, and when I did the image before me was breathtaking.

"Like what you see?"