Kakuzu sighed as he set his keys down on the table of his small apartment, shutting the door softly behind him. Through the thin walls, he could hear his neighbors arguing as always, oblivious the audience that could hear their every word.
He walked into his living room/ kitchen, opening the small fridge and taking out leftovers to heat up in the microwave. Pressing the buttons, he sat down in his lone chair, eyes staring vacantly.
It had been twenty years. Twenty years since he had 'died', and the Akatsuki had been disbanded. Pein was dead, Nagato was dead, Sasori was dead, Deidara and Itachi had been killed by Itachi's younger brother, Zetsu's white half had been destroyed, Kisame had vanished, and Tobi had turned out to be really Madara. No one knew where he was now.
He and Hidan had been kept in reserve, for use if needed. They hadn't been needed. After five years of waiting, they had drifted apart. Who knew where Hidan was now. He himself had resorted to being a banker, of all things, to afford his small apartment.
He sighed and rubbed his temples, looking around at the only pictures he had in the entire apartment. She looked out at him every where, grinning, snarling, and one picture, which always held his attention longer than any other, showed happiness.
His expression softened as he looked at the image of her sitting on his bed, giggling happily, hood covering sliding down over her eyes. He himself was looking up at her with an expression kindred to awe, eyes wide and hair messy from sleep. Hidan had taken the picture, twenty-two years ago. Two years after that, he and Hidan had been killed.
She had saved them. Somehow, she had delivered a still-beating heart to his body, allowing him to live. She had unburied Hidan, and reassembled him again. And while his body physically had not changed since then, he could feel the age in his mind. She had left after that, and neither of them had seen her since. He felt ancient.
The microwave beeped, bringing him out of his reverie. He blinked, startled, then groaned and rose, walking over. He had been doing this more and more lately, sinking into his memories. Hidan would have called him and old geiser.
He pulled the leftover ramen out of the microwave, breaking apart a pair of chopsticks and digging in.
The noodles hardly left him filled, but he didn't really have much to eat. All the wealth he had accumulated by killing bounties had burned down along with base. All he had was what he could earn. And he was keeping a low profile, so he couldn't really begin hunting again.
Making sure all the lights were off, he ventured into his bedroom to do some paperwork, sitting down in the creaky chair next to his small desk. He sighed again and pulled out a pen, starting to write in figures, hearing the neighbors arguing again.
He jumped when he felt the buzzing in his mind. That was the meeting signal the Akatsuki used to use. Who the hell knew it?!
Within seconds of his initial panic, he calmed again, remembering Hidan. It had been years, but they still both knew the signal. But why was he using it now?
Growling, he rose and walked to the door, locking it. He shuttered the windows, enclosing the room in darkness. Using a sudden flare of chakra to make sure there were no ninja around, he sat on the floor, crossing his legs. With one last sigh, he responded, feeling the world around him vanish as his mind was teleported to Hidan's location, his appearance that of a hologram.
When he opened his eyes again, Hidan stood before him. He hadn't changed much, either. Age hadn't affected the immortal's body, but his hair was a little shorter than he remembered it.
They were in a forest clearing, and Kakuzu could hear a stream bubbling somewhere. Birds chirped, and a rabbit ran into cover.
"Where are you?"
"Kakuzu, I didn't call you to talk about locations."
"Hidan, I want to know why the hell you're in a forest. What, are bounty hunters after you, and you need a place to stay?" Kakuzu asked sourly.
Hidan flushed angrily, but he managed to keep calm, something he must have learned after leaving.
"Dumbass, if I had wanted to just argue with you, I would have found you. I have something important to tell you."
"Hidan, whatever it is, I don't care. I'm done with the ninja lifestyle, and I'm not-"
"Jashin damn it, will you shut the fuck up so I can tell you already?!"
Kakuzu blinked in surprise, hearing all sounds around them cease.
"……What is it?"
"About fucking finally….", Hidan muttered, looking angry.
"Will you hurry it-"
"I found her."
With those three little words, Kakuzu's blood ran cold. It wasn't possible, was it?
"Who?" he managed to choke out.
"Who do you think?"
Kakuzu was silent with shock.
"It's not possible."
"Turn around."
Kakuzu had to force himself to turn, in case it was just a cruel joke being played by Hidan. She had left twenty years ago, and they were no where near the place…..
He slowly turned, his red and green eyes meeting her gray ones. She stood on all fours, looking at him with an unreadable expression. Five scars ran parallel across her back, and brown hair framed her face as she watched him just as he watched her.
He was aware of Hidan's voice behind him, but he couldn't make out the words in his shock. He struggled to make a sound, to even breathe. But he couldn't. Her eyes held his soul still, and he couldn't move until she allowed him.
She blinked, slowly, and he gained control over his body again. His lips stumbled over words, trying to choose the right one as she slowly approached him. Finally, he managed to choke out the two tiny syllables that meant the world to him.
"Reni."
