A/N: This is mah new story lolol~ This is what I get for listening to This Is What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison for too long (Five seconds.)… HEHE~!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters~~~
--
"Set the gun down and put your hands in the air! This is your last warning!"
A sneer passed over Hidan's lips, making the woman underneath him whimper again. The fire was beginning to cause uproar to the crackling trees behind it. Only a few trees were on fire along with the building. Hidan stood up and smiled, chuckling with his eyes closed – head low.
"I guess you caught me, Officer."
"What did he say?" The policeman asked another, gun still pointed up to Hidan, or in his general direction.
"That was French! Does anyone here know French?" One turned around and called.
"French? No, Italian, you stupid boys," Hidan turned around and said, dropping the gun – landing on the concrete with a loud clatter – and putting his hands in his pockets; "You know absolutely nothing. There's a huge gap between French and Itali–"
"Put your hands up in the air!" the one with the gun – Officer Nara – shouted. "Follow orders!"
Hidan pulled his hands out of his pockets, his lighter and a cigarette in between his fingers. He put the cigarette in his lips and lighted it, the small light in the crackling and bright luminosity of the flames made everything seem…
Alright.
He took a long drag, and then let it out slowly. Still standing over the woman, trapped by heavy looking steaks driven through her hands, messily at that, he sighed.
"… See you in Hell, fuckers."
It was almost as if he disappeared inside the flames; he had dropped his cigarette on the woman, who no one had noticed that she had been doused in gasoline. The on-fire body lit another sting of gasoline, which made its way over to a very structured formation – with man on it.
A cross lit on fire, with a man's dead body hanging from it, his entrails hanging out.
--
A picture of the crime scene was almost excruciatingly hard to take. The smell of dead bodies and gunpowder was so sickeningly strong that everyone was forced to wear masks.
Of course, the only one who didn't need to be the one with a gas mask on at all times, anyway.
"He's sick, Sir," Nara said, looking at the taller man, "He did this all on his own in under 20 minutes when he started attacking the building." They were standing next to the crucified man on the burnt cross. It was 2 AM in the morning.
An electronic-sounding sigh made Shikamaru jump a little; "I could be sick – use your terms more carefully." The Chief glared.
"Sorry, Sir…" Nara mumbled.
Hoku glared back at the body. "He faked it. He started much, much earlier. He just shot a gun a few times while she was on the 911 call and the gig was done. He had already done the damage; all he had to do was set up the finale."
"… H-how do you… know that, Sir?" Nara asked, curious how Hoku had figured something like that; "Who knows what he could have done in that amount of time! He could have left already – why would he want us here when he left?"
"The thrill." They made their way away from the body, "He wanted to see if we would really catch him this time. Whatever you do next time –" Kakuzu Hoku looked to the younger, naïve officer with his piercing green eyes, tired from all these 2 AM runs out to the middle of nowhere "— catch him."
Without another word, he left the crime scene, going to his sleek black car and getting in the driver's seat.
It was way too late to do this – why was he Chief of police anyway? Hasn't had a vacation in two years, he didn't have a girlfriend at the moment and he was in his early 40's; 43 and a half to be exact – and he had a 15 year old girl at home, still probably a little angst-y from his scolding at her for being home at midnight.
He had a nice pay check, that was for sure; and his wouldn't his wallet be fat if he caught this Italian murder-star, seen in the paper over 30 times, murdered just as many people…
His cell phone rang, making him jump a little. He was zoning out, on automatic. He fished the small razor phone out of his jacket pocket and flipped it open.
"'Lo?" he murmured. He didn't like to talk on the phone because he sounded very sketchy – whoever dared to call him knew what the Hell he was saying.
"Dad!" Kakuzu flinched a little at how loud his daughter was over the phone; "D-Dad, oh my God, Dad!"
"What, what, what already?!"
"Are you alright? I got up because I wanted to crawl into bed with y-you and you weren't there! I thought you were kidnapped or something!"
"Yes, I'm fine! I'm fine…" Kakuzu relaxed in his seat; "Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah… I had a bad dream, but that's it."
"Okay," Kakuzu gave a relieved sigh, "I'll be home in ten."
"Sooner? 'Cause I heard something outside and it sounded like… something." For a 15 year old, she was very clingy. She only hung out with her mother once in a while on holidays and sometimes when Kakuzu was on a trip with the force.
"Think nothing of it – I'll be home soon, Hira."
"… Alright, see you."
--
Climbing into bed about a half an hour later, Hira and Kakuzu talked about everything and anything; about the case, because neither of them really minded the disgusting sights and images that were stuck in their head when they went to bed; or about how school had been going for Hira. Kakuzu's voice was soft, but the gas mask seemed to amplify it.
"You still have that jackass boyfriend of yours?" Kakuzu asked. They were sprawled out on the queen sized bed together, staring at the ceiling.
"He's not a jackass, and yes, I do."
"Well don't, he's a jackass." Kakuzu rolled over on his side, away from his daughter.
"You gave me the 'I like jackasses' trait. Look at Mom!"
"Well your boyfriend is more of a jackass, so don't like him."
"… Are you trying to piss me off so you can you have the bed to yourself?" Hira sat up and glared at her old man, making him roll over and stare at her.
"Why do you think that, Hira?" he asked a few moments later.
"'Cause you're being a total jackass, that's why I think that."
Kakuzu sighed his electronic-sounding sigh; "No, I don't think I'm trying to kick you out of the bed. Nor am I being a jackass," he held his arm out across the pillows, inviting her close.
"You're shirtless, I'm not coming anywhere near you, you old –" before she could protest anymore, Kakuzu grabbed her white-bleached, short and cropped hair and pulled her close, hugging her.
"Too bad," he mumbled, "You never give your old man hugs anymore. I miss them, you know…"
"… Dad?" Hira wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes.
"Yes, Hira?"
"… We should hang out tomorrow."
--
"Dad! Hey, look!" Hira grabbed a hold of Kakuzu's hand, pointing towards a car crash on the highway. Drawn to the weird things, they were, but that wasn't exactly a bad thing.
Kakuzu's cell rang again, but he opened it and closed it when he saw that it was the other officers calling. He didn't want anything to do with them today, he had Hira.
"Want to go see it?" he asked, starting to pull her out to the road where they could at least get 20 feet from it. The car had flipped and made a horrible accident where the person was being dragged out at that moment, making a big deal about the whole Hybrid thing. She did look really shaken.
"Nah – let's get your ears pierced!" Hira pulled him along down to a tattoo and piercing parlor, where they stood in front of it for about five minutes staring.
Kakuzu was crazy, but Kakuzu wasn't that crazy.
"C'mon dad, only one! It doesn't hurt and you'll be really popular with the girls!"
"To have a forty year old boyfriend with a piercing." Kakuzu glared down at her.
"YES! Exactly! Please, Dad, please!" she whined, pulling him inside. Kakuzu was hesitant (for an eternity), but he agreed.
For whatever power in Hell that compelled him to do it, he did it.
"You have to get a piercing, too, though," he said, a little uncertain when he saw some of the piercings.
"Can it be my belly button?!" she asked cheerily; Kakuzu had known she wanted to get her navel pierced for a while.
"Why not?"
Hira cheered; she already had the exact piercing picked out for it and everything; something red to go with all her other piercings, rings, nail polish and favorite belly shirt. She sat down in the chair and told the girl where to put it.
This is when Kakuzu turned around to look at some piercings. He was not very comfortable with needles, especially since he knew what it felt like to have a bullet ripping through flesh, bone, muscle…
"Dad!" Hira said, five minutes later; "Look, Dad! Isn't that sweet looking?!" She held up her shirt for him to see the red, blotchy skin, but the red jewel did look good on her. He nodded, and asked her to help him find an earring that she would like.
"… THESE ONES!" she cried a few minutes later; "They're perfect for you, Dad!" She held up the earrings for him to see.
Three silver outlines of stars on one and the other one was half of one with a beautiful jewel – Opal, if he was correct on his stones – in it.
"I thought you said only one, Hira," Kakuzu stood straight again, looking quite confused, not sure if they would look too good on him.
"Oh, c'mon, it's not like you really care, right? This one can go on your right ear and this one on your left!" she held up the Opal one on his right and the tri-star on his left.
"Hira, I do care –"
"Dad! Sit down, you'll be just fine!" he was ushered into the chair, which he took his seat.
The piercing lady came up to him; "Hard core rocker?" she tapped the gas mask.
"Illness," Kakuzu answered.
She nodded, "S'okay, either way," she pulled out a pen; "So were d'you want your piercing, Sir?"
"Wherever looks good!" Hira cheered, "On the lobe, though."
"Mm," the piercer dotted two places on his earlobes with the pen, and then stepped back; "D'you think that's even, Hira?"
"I could never judge your work, Jody," Hira said, looking apologetic.
"Even it is," Jody took her place on a stool next to him; "Tri on the left, Opal on the right, right?" Kakuzu nodded. She loaded the gun with the tri-earring with a soft click and pressed it against his ear. "On the count of three I'm going to shoot, alright?... 1… 2—" she pulled the trigger then, letting Kakuzu close his eyes at the slight pressure on the left side of his head.
Kakuzu let out a small groan; "You said… 'count of three'," he growled at her.
She put stool on his other side – right side – and put the gun against his ear, loaded with the Opal-stoned, half star earring.
"Well, I lied. It's easier when the person's distracted so they don't pay attention to the—" another pull of the trigger and this time Kakuzu fidgeted, gripping the armrests on the chair "—gun. See? All done."
This Jody girl was sure good at distracting people. She held up a mirror, letting Kakuzu take a look at his new piercings. They really didn't look so bad. The tri-star was vertical to the line of his face and the silver looked amazing on his tanned skin. The Opal stood out completely, and it was an awesome sight as well. He reached up and messed with the Opal one a little, twisting it to the position that he liked,
"Oh! Daddy, you look awesome!" Hira said, coming up to him and kissing his forehead.
"… Thanks, Hira," Kakuzu reached up and ruffled Hira's hair, which was the most public affection that he could give her without her freaking out.
--
After they paid (only 40 bucks!), they hooked up with Hira's boyfriend and some of her friends. Of course, though, he was the odd one out, being 40 and all. There was this one guy, though, who had silver hair, beautiful purple eyes and he hung out with the kids "all the time", as they put it.
He didn't look like a sexual offender, so Kakuzu just brushed him off as some normal guy that hung out with the kids on his spare time.
"Hey," the silver-haired man said, holding his hand out to Kakuzu; "Nice to meet you, I'm Hidan."
Kakuzu blinked, then shook Hidan's hand; "Kakuzu. Nice to meet you, too," he said, nodding once.
"… Did you just get your ears pierced today? They look fresh," Hidan smiled a brilliant smile that looked as if an angel had given it to him.
Kakuzu nodded, reaching up absentmindedly and messing with the Opal earring; "Hira persuaded me into getting them."
Hidan chuckled, his Amethyst eyes gleaming with joy and humor, "They look really nice."
"Dad!" Hira called, "Stop flirting! C'mon, we're going to the Karaoke bar downtown! Hidan, you can come, too! I heard that they're playing Avril tonight!" She was hand in hand with her boyfriend (who was as emo as emo could get), but she looked very happy.
Kakuzu gave a sigh; he wasn't the one who was flirting. He turned to Hidan; "… May I join you in our little walk?" he asked, sounding really corny (an electric-corny), but it was an embarrassed sounding tone he was using.
Hidan hummed for a minute, then leaned up and whispered into the Chief's ear; "Only if I can join you on dinner on Friday night."
"Hidan!" Hira howled.
"Coming!" Hidan called back, looking at her from the view under the crook of Kakuzu's neck that he was snuggling close to, looking frustrated, almost pouty.
"No, not that! Stop hitting on my dad, you idiot!" Hira giggled.
"C'mon, one date!" Hidan smiled back at her, tilting his head into Kakuzu's neck cutely, while Kakuzu was left to his thoughts. He finally caught up, and he looked down at the silver-haired man.
"Actually… I agree," Kakuzu muttered, smirking under his gas mask. He hadn't been asked out for, what, at least three years?
"… Seriously?" Hidan looked up, wide-eyed, "Dinner on Friday night?" he beamed.
"Sure," he replied.
"… A-awesome!" Hidan grinned, chuckling, "How about the Karaoke bar? They serve great food…"
"I'll make sure I have nothing going on." Hidan raised his hand and removed the mask – without Kakuzu's permission – and kissed him sweetly on the lips.
Over in the group of kids, Hira stared in awe that her father had gotten a new partner – which was her good friend and a good guy friend at that – and he removed his mask in public to kiss him.
One of her other good friends, Johnny (Nicknamed "B-Goode") laughed; "Well, there, let's get going, already!"
--
The whole group of theirs took up two booths, which B-Goode and Hidan took turns sitting next to Kakuzu when they switched out to go up and sing a good song – it was Hidan's turn at the moment, and Kakuzu was nursing on a Coke, watching him.
"I, feel so alive,
I can't help myself, don't you realize?
I just wan'na scream and lose control; throw my hands up and let it go!
Forget about everything and runaway! Yeah!
I just wan'na fall and lose myself, life is so hard, it hurts like Hell!
Forget about everything and runaway! Yeah!"
Kakuzu sank in his seat a little; he didn't know how cute a boy could be. Hidan resembled a lot like his ex-wife, but Hidan was a lot prettier and knew how to take care of himself. His voice was really rich, too, which just made things a little more… better for the price.
B-Goode was now up as Hidan came off the little stage; Kakuzu was sure that Hidan just came her e for the attention on stage. You did get applause whenever you sang.
Hidan scooted close to the older man and leaned on him; now that they were dating, that was normal, Kakuzu suspected. He wrapped his arms around Kakuzu's torso as Kakuzu put his arm around his shoulders, still nervously sipping at his Coke now and then.
Hira had been smiling at him the whole time, which he sneered back playfully. There was nothing wrong with having Hidan as a boyfriend – it's not like they were going to get married or something, though that would be cute, seeing such a pretty man in a pretty dress.
Kakuzu chuckled a little, which made Hidan look up at him. "What?"
"Nothing," he purred, pulling him a little closer.
--
Thursday nights were always Hidan's favorite nights to kill; he didn't know exactly why, but just because it was that almost-end-of-the-week feel and it got him going.
He got to a hotel at about a quarter to midnight, and walked in; the hotel was small, only about two stories, but it was very nice. There had to be at least 40 people on the bottom floor alone.
He walked up to the front desk and leaned on it. His purple eyes darted around the whole lobby, where only a few people were. Looking back at the front desk, someone had finally made their way up. It was late and they were probably begging to go home and sleep.
This just happened to be their fucking unlucky night.
"May I help you, Mister?" she asked, her blue eyes seeming dull and her blonde-ish – obviously dyed – hair getting in the way of her face.
"Mm… Could I use your phone?"
"Of course," she picked up the wireless phone and held it out to him.
"Oh, heh, no, you're the one who'll want to hold it. You know, just in case."
--
"Why the hell weren't you picking up your cell phone?!" Officer Nara snapped; "We left about 5 voicemails and the rest of the time you just hung up on us!"
Kakuzu rolled his eyes; "I was spending the day with my daughter, again." He looked at Shikamaru momentarily before he went into the building and looked at the damage, "I said catch him, not let him go on a killing spree, damnit, Nara."
This time it was a very nice hotel that the murderer had found and disemboweled most of them. In the lobby, anyway. Again, Kakuzu made his way to the burnt corpse; "Does he have a fetish for dead, burnt bodies or something?" he asked himself, taking a closer look at the –
"… Sir? Did you get your ears pierced?" Nara asked, stepping a little too close for Kakuzu's comfort and taking a look at Kakuzu's half Opal star earring.
Kakuzu stepped away with a scowl; "Yeah, why?"
Shikamaru blinked, confused; "Well… They look very pretty on you, Sir."
Kakuzu was silent for an instant, staring at Shikamaru like he was a threat; he turned back to the body and started to look over it again. "Get Kakashi in here to examine the remains. I want an autopsy and identification."
Nara started off after a curt "Yes, Sir!", heading toward the doors.
Kakuzu looked around a little more at the other dead bodies – and that's when he heard a small crunch that made him lift his foot immediately.
A little piece of paper that had some sort of address scribbled down. He bent over and picked it up, being careful not to soil any part of it. He folded it up and called one of his younger officers over – Ino Yamanaka, who was part of Kakashi's team in detective work – and put the paper in one of their evidence bags.
How relieved he would be to go to dinner that night with Hidan and just relax at the Karaoke bar and watch Hidan sing when he wanted to, eat, drink a little, have some fun.
He idly reached up and messed with his Opal, holding his elbow and waiting for his mind to clear of all the thoughts of Hidan and for him to focus on the murders.
"Chief! Chief!" someone called from the hallway; "There's a little girl in here that's a survivor!"
That work clicked in his mind and he went running. He made his way to the crowd of two or three other officers and made his way inside the room. There was a little girl in there, looking at the officers and him fearfully. He turned around to look at the others; "Why the Hell didn't you come in and get her?" he asked.
"She scratches," one answered, showing his scratch marks along his cheek; "It startled me a little."
Kakuzu rolled his eyes and made his way to the little girl; he stopped a few feet away and bent down, holding out his finger to her. "C'mon… I won't hurt you, little girl, I promise."
The girl backed up a little, but slowly reached out her hand, shaking and covered in dirt, soot and probably a little blood. She looked about, maybe and probably roughly, six, and had cute little puppy pajamas on that were singed in places.
Kakuzu reached out a little farther; patience with children is what he learned, but he didn't have much of that to spare.
The little girl gave a small cry as her big brown eyes swelled up with tears, reaching out a little beyond how her arms stretched. Kakuzu made his way over a little more, and then cupped her hand gently in his own. "I won't hurt you," he murmured.
The Opal drew her attention for a moment, shimmering delicately in the partial sunlight coming through the clouded window, and she pushed off the wall with a startled yelp, at him where she clung to his neck, sobbing. Hoku scooped her up and rubbed the length of her back comfortingly, standing up and hushing her.
He made his way out without another word, passing by the other bureaucrats and making their way out of the building. Some of the other deputies crowded around him, but he made his way to his car and opened the passenger seat door, setting her in the seat. He closed the door after buckling her up and then walked around the car to get in the driver's seat.
Before he knew it, the little girl was in his lap, still crying, as he was driving to the police station.
--
A/N: Okaaay… It's really early in the morning and I should be heading to bed. I have Boogie Man up right now, so I'll finish that – sorry if it's a short-ish chapter, but I squeezed your lemon in there – and post it along with this one.
Sorry for so many stories lately, you should see how many I USUALLY write. T^T (By the way, thanks for putting up with me.)