DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Naruto'. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I also do not own the song 'Clear Hearts Grey Flowers'. All rights belong to Jack Off Jill. I only own my OCs, and this fanfiction. Thank you.

NOTE: More violence in this Chapter, a.k.a death.

It was larger than the other rooms, and not because it was shared by two people. All the rooms in this place housed two people. No, this was a purposeful tactic-he was lording it over the other members. They had all been there from the beginning, but Pein was making it clear-he was, and always would be, the alpha dog. The first in command. Leader-sama. He would never let anyone take that title from him. They'd die trying, in a pathetic fool's quest.

The walls were a shade of heavy violet, while the floor itself was a light grey. A double bed was against the right wall, with silky black and red sheets, along with matching pillowcases and curtains that could be drawn around fully. There was one nightstand, with one light, on his side of the bed. Her side was always to remain dark. She'd bought a table, once. It had been swiftly destroyed by the man once she'd placed it in the room. She was only allowed to have as much as he deemed fit. No more, no less.

In front, against the left wall, was a decent sized dresser and vanity table-though Konan barely used it. Two of the few personal things he'd given her for use, and it wasn't even something she cared for. What need did she have for vanity? The only eyes that would ever see her face in this line of work were the eyes of the dead.

There was also the walk-in closet which, again, she didn't focus much on. She simply grabbed what she needed and got out. As long as it fit and was suitable for the day's events, she'd wear it. Mainly, it was slacks and tidy tops for her. Where all those extra clothes had come from, she couldn't be sure. Shopping wasn't her area of expertise.

Finally, the wall facing the doorway-another door, this one simple and white. It led to their bathroom. A sink, a toilet, and a tub plus shower head. That was all it contained. It was roomy as well, but other than that, normal.

By this point, Konan had already grabbed her nightclothes and proceeded into said bathroom, and was now starting to undress. A familiar scent greeted her nose-the scent of blood, and death. Looks like she hadn't gotten away from the scene as scot-free as she thought. She couldn't see the stains, but she knew they had to be there. Those two lackeys of hers had been even closer to the body than she; she could only begin to imagine what they must've smelt like now. Oh, well.

She unhooked the gun holster around her thigh, carefully placing it on the hamper top and making sure that the safety was in place. There was no need for accidents. After that went the gloves. Throwing the rest of the garments to the floor, she peeled off her underwear, undid her hair and removed her flower. Stepping into the tub, she started turning the knobs. Almost immediately, hot water began rushing out. She sighed, and settled herself down.

That was another thing that ill-gotten gains could buy: impeccable plumbing. They never had to wait for the water to warm-or at least, she and Pein didn't. The other members did occasionally get into shower disputes. As the tap continued to run, she leaned back against the tile wall, and closed her eyes. This was one of the few times where she was actually alone…and she didn't mind. She was free to think as she wished.

The tub was almost filled to the top. Nice and quick. Konan turned the knobs to cut the supply, and relaxed once more. As much as was possible for her in a place like this, anyway. The steam clouds began to shift and spread, as the fog settled upon the single mirror over the sink.

"Ah-" As she sat there soaking, a sudden stinging began in her left arm. Just like usual. She was familiar with this feeling, but that didn't make the pain any less intense, or bothersome. Tentatively, she lifted it from the water, and twisted it slightly.

A long, thick scar wound its way around the limb, off colored and jagged. It started from her shoulder blade, and climbed over, past her collarbone, and along her forearm. It ended on the underside, a few inches away-roughly four and a half-from her elbow.

Her hazel eyes clouded over. She could still remember…that day in December…so many years ago…the snowfall, and the footprints that followed...the smell of the rotting trash, and the sound of heavy breathing and demented chuckling. Even surrounded by the warm water, Konan began to shiver. The red that followed...all that red, so much red...multiple streams of red. Like bathing in a bloody winter wonderland-

Apparently, she'd been lost in thought for quite some time. When she realized this, she shot up, and promptly began to prepare the soap to wash. Who knew how much longer she had left in here. This was a personal time, yes-but it wasn't infinite. Even that too, was regulated and dictated. The last thing she needed was for him to come in to remind her of this fact, as he had done before on a couple occasions. And not gently, either.

She would be seeing him again soon enough anyway, whether she wanted to or not. Though she could never admit it. No-she wasn't allowed to. The single omission she was bound to, conditioned to believe. And as long as this was her life, she would oblige and follow it fully. There was nothing else for her to accept.

Konan had made that resolution a long time ago. Far back on that day, in the reddening snow.

…...

And meanwhile, as one figure was fighting to be clean, if only in a temporary physical sense, two others were making their way down the stained pathway that led into Hell. It waited with arms wide open, beckoning to them and their tragedies as they walked straight through, without any further hesitation.

The hallways were still winding and disconcerting, as Shuichi and his partner, revealed to be named Ricky, were heading down through another set of pathways and doors. They didn't simply go back the way they came, and it had made both men wonder momentarily to themselves; where were they going this time? Once more, the twinge of nerves began to settle in their stomachs.

But they couldn't turn back now. They'd signed over their souls, in exchange for a taste of immortality; a chance to be untouchable, unreachable by the constraints and limitations of the sunlit world. No longer would they have to worry about paying their way daily, or scrambling for cover ever again. If the rumors were true, then one job could easily set you up comfortably.

Of course, these were just the rumors circled among the general underworld. There was no real validity to any of these claims, since anyone who could have vouched for it weren't talking now. Hard to when you're six feet under with a mouth stuffed full of dirt. Perhaps one unlucky body had managed to squeak out a few words before they'd dropped the axe on him.

Even without the official confirmation, it was all they'd had left to go on. The two men had honestly felt like they'd had nowhere else to go. Shuichi had lost his job, and shortly after while looking for new work, had wound up getting very sick. He'd wound up in the hospital for it, and the bills weren't cheap. His insurance would only cover so much; the rest, he'd had to pay out of pocket. And he hadn't been rich before. The bills had sucked the majority of his finances dry, and he still hadn't been able to pay off the fees completely.

Recently, they'd started hounding him with an increase of collection bills through the mail. And on two separate occasions, he'd had to hide outside his apartment, waiting for a pair of unsavory looking characters waiting outside his door. The collection agents weren't very friendly seeming, though if he'd had to compare them with the people he'd met tonight, he might've been ready to handle them this time around.

The Akatsuki wasn't a game, wasn't a shoddy, half-assed operation like the small-time hustlers on the streets of Konoha. They had an ultimate goal, a vendetta to carry out against the world, and no force on Earth could stop them. The law officers of the city were completely at a loss as to dealing with them-the more task forces they sent out, the more bodies they wound up with, having to break the news to another dozen families afterwards.

This organization offered more than just financial security; it offered a way of life that most would have considered impossible. Unreachable. But there it was, lying on a silver platter on a pedestal. All they'd had to do was stretch out a trembling hand, so hungry and willing. They'd been let in, given a chance to prove themselves. And all they had to do was give up their humanity. A small price, considering how the world had already given up on them.

Ricky's situation wasn't exactly the same, but it was slightly similar. He too had lost his job, but instead of winding up sick with heavy bills, he'd lost his wife and child when he couldn't find another line of work. The decent into alcoholic abandon hadn't really helped matters on that hand, either. He hadn't meant to get so angry, so volatile. Time and time again, he'd apologized. And at first, his wife had believed him. She had stayed. Her son wanted to believe in his Father. So he'd stayed.

But the days had gone by, with no changes on the job front, and the bills getting trickier to manage. Living only on his wife's salary wasn't enough for the three of them, and as more time passed Ricky found himself becoming further disillusioned with the world. Turned down, application by application, he'd eventually given up on filling them out. That's when his attention had gone to the bottom of a bottle, and the rage had come out.

That was when his wife and son had given up on him.

No longer. No longer was he going to be some sickly drunkard, chugging warm beer in front of a crappy TV in his underwear. No, from now on, he would be living the good life. He could give himself something better than anything he had before, a new start to his life. No matter if the people who'd reviewed his paperwork hadn't thought anything of him. He'd just proved himself to an audience that were not shy about showing their displeasure. He'd gone through the most important interview of his life-and lived. Who cared what those petty business managers thought of him? Fuck them, they were of no importance now.

And his wife, too. His kid. It had already been a couple of years since they'd left, and he wasn't going to wallow in misery any longer. Who cared if they had cut him out completely, if his wife had remarried, if his son had a new Father. It didn't matter now. Soon enough, he'd be living the high life, and if they could see him now, they'd simply watch in pained envy, at everything they'd thrown away. They'd be sorry they ever turned their backs on him. Maybe he'd even get a new wife, and have another kid. Find someone, make someone who wouldn't put such unrealistic expectations on him.

All he'd had to do was turn back to the underbelly, the side of the city he'd sworn to disassociate himself with how long ago. Back when he'd first married his wife, most likely. This time, there would be no jail sentences. He was officially working under one of the most notorious criminal organizations out there. He wasn't just a petty crook, he was somebody. He was one of them. And it felt good.

As they continued on down yet another dark hallway, the two males leading them along-one in front, one behind, both towering and muscular with dark suits and indistinguishable features-halted suddenly. Again, it was another instance of trying not to crash, as Ricky and Shuichi looked between the pair. Both men had their hand up to an ear; were they trying to hear something? Did they have communicators up there?

After a few more seconds of silence, both men responded, one after the other. "Yes, sir." There was nothing to their tones to arouse suspicion; they were calm and even, as though discussing the weather. Who knew what the speaker on the other end had told them. As soon as the answers had been relayed, the suited males resumed their trek down, forcing the two males between to keep up, lest they be trampled over. There were no delays in the Akatsuki.

With what felt like another eternity of walking, something finally began to come up in the line of vision, straight ahead. A speck of centered light, that gradually grew larger the closer they drew. They noted soon enough that it was coming from a single fluorescent light, a thick strip running across that lone spot of ceiling. The glow cast illumination on the end of that path, before it turned sharply to the right.

But they weren't going any further than this. Directly under the light, embedded deeply in the wall in a shade that didn't help identify it unless close up in the light, was a door. A regular old door, with a simple round doorknob. The pair glanced at each other, wondering where this could possibly lead. More hallways? They hadn't taken an elevator back up yet, so obviously they were still underground.

Shuichi gave Ricky a quizzical stare, but the latter could only respond with a shrug. From the way things had looked up in the main area, before they'd reached Leader's office, it was apparent that somebody-or a few somebodies, were living there. Maybe this was the case of all who were employed under the Akatsuki's law, to live on the premises? If Ricky had known that, maybe he would've packed a bag. Unless they gave you everything straight away, that was...

With a soft click of lock and a squeak of hinges, the doorway slowly swung open. This time, instead of heading through and leading the way, the male in front stepped to the side, effectively blocking access to the rest of the hall to the right. The one behind was shutting off the end they'd just come from. Another shared look between the pair of rookies.

The room before them was pitch dark, like usual, but they didn't have any other options. Physical stats though they may've had, they weren't about to try and start anything in the headquarters of the goddamn Akatsuki. These guys didn't seem like they were ones for playing around. So, hoping for the best, the duo walked inside. About three steps in, they stopped.

"Whoo..." With the faint light filtering in from behind, Ricky could make out a white hollow tile wall up ahead in the distance. This room was wide. But that wasn't what had caused him to halt in his tracks. Beside him, Shuichi was waving a hand in front of his own nose.

"This place stinks!" The comment was hushed, so only he could catch it. But Ricky understood it perfectly; the room smelled to high heaven. And it wasn't the stench of garbage, either. It was like...like something had rotted away in these cold confines. His stomach was already beginning to churn.

"Keep moving." A sudden push to their backs-when had those two gotten up so close behind them? They hadn't heard a thing! The shoves were sharp, and unless they wanted a repeat performance it was time for them to get moving. The Akatsuki were not known for being patient or coddling. They'd seen it first-hand tonight.

A few more steps forward, then a few more. And a few more. The further inside they went, the thicker the darkness became. They could barely see any of the light from the doorway. And the smell did not dissipate, either; if anything, it only grew worse. Ricky actively had a hand over his nose and mouth, while Shuichi was breathing into the crook of his arm, holding back gags. Where the hell had these guys taken them, anyway?!

Then, a splash. Directly at his feet. Ricky had felt it, some sort of liquid squirting up against his shoes. Water? Were there leaky pipes or something in here? Was that smell related to mold? By this point, he was willing to accept anything, just to drive away the nausea and gnawing fear that was bubbling over in his abdomen, along with the stomach acids.

At that exact moment, the door slammed shut, and a blinding glare filled the room. It hurt their eyes, it was so bright! This place had electricity, apparently. After a few seconds, the males slowly began to open their eyes...

...and immediately wished they hadn't. The sight was almost too grisly to bear.

Blood, splattered and sprayed all along the white walls. Well, they weren't so white anymore. They may've been, at one point, but time and a constant exposure to bodily fluids had stained them to an off-white shade, reminiscent of spoiled cream. And every so often, the hollow tile and paint job, the bloody mess, was broken by a series of slashes, or a slight cracking, like someone had tried to find a way out-or a means to an end.

That wasn't the end of things here though, oh no. This was just the start.

Bodies. There were at least five bodies present in all corners of the room, in various states of death and decomposition. There may've been a sixth as well at some point, judging by the body parts scattered about the room. The five solid figures appeared to be mostly in one piece. But that didn't change the fact that they were all dead.

"Fucking-!" At long last, Shuichi couldn't take it any more. Heaving and retching, a chunky, putrid orange shaded pile of stomach unmentionables splattered at his feet on the dingy stone floor. Even Ricky was having trouble keeping it together; he had broken into violent shivers, and could feel his eyes beginning to water. That smell-! Looking down quickly at his feet, he was horrified to note that what had landed on his shoes earlier wasn't water.

It was more blood.

The gathered bodies almost seemed to call out to the two men, a screaming but eternally muffled, unanimous cry of warning; to run away and never return. They were all perfectly demented examples of its brutality. One body was carved wide open, from his throat to his groin. Ribs were easily visible, as were his intestines. A couple of pieces had fallen out of the gaping cavity, resting at his side with no further use.

A second was missing its lower jaw completely; its head was merely the top half of a skull, stopping at the nose. Beyond that was a unrecognizable mish-mash of red, and a few remaining teeth. The lower half of his face was determined to be hanging above his head in the wall, from a wire tied to a silver spike that had somehow been jammed through.

Two more bodies were in the far center of the room, hanging suspended by their wrists. Handcuffs were attached to a long, thick pipe that ran across, from one end of the room to the other.

Well, they would've both been hanging, if one of them wasn't already on the floor in a messy pile. Their hands were still in the handcuffs though, high above the fallen carcass and obviously detached. Somebody had gone through the trouble of stringing them up, only to cut them down via unconventional means. It appeared as through this body had been left to suffer a slow death, after it had been thoroughly beaten to a pulp. Was it all by human hands, or had weapons been involved? They must've been-one side of his skull was completely caved in!

As for the one still suspended above, they had been carved up precisely with perfect splits in skin, left to bleed out above ground. This was all too evident by the large puddle of blood that had pooled beneath them...and then spread out across the room. It was the smallest puddle that Ricky had stepped in, not yet dry. This body was still somewhat fresh.

The last figure was in the corner, face a grotesque mask. Somebody had gone through the trouble of carving out his eyes, to replace them with wide glass ones. They were painfully unnatural, and added to the ragged, oversized smile etched into his face and pieces of wood nailed to his body, it was an unnerving sight indeed. No horror movie or haunted house could've compared to the amount of terror and pure revulsion the pair of rookies were feeling now, as they tried to understand the situation they were now in.

Why had they been brought here? Was this a part of their training, too? Last a night among this morbid display-learn to live among the dead? Was this how the Akatsuki truly broke in new recruits? Who the hell would keep such things, all accumulated in one place to rot and fester?! Maybe they were expected to clean this up, instead?

However, the sounds of dual clicking behind them only served to drop an icy cube through both of their veins. It was an unforgettable sound-the same sound they'd heard earlier that night, in fact. Something that they hadn't planned on hearing this way, not aimed at them.

Both of the guards had pulled out large black pistols, and had them trained on the duo. The color had drained completely from Shuichi's features, as a string of vomit and dribble hung from the corner of his mouth. Ricky could feel his heart hammering in his chest, so scared and vulnerable. It was even worse than when he'd been on the mission and in front of Leader. There was no mistaking that look on the two pistol-wielders faces:

They weren't meant to get out of here alive.

"What...what the hell is this, huh?" Shuichi was the first to speak, wiping the sweat from his brow and spitting at the ground. His breathing was labored, as a few locks of red hair fell into his eyes. They were scrutinizing both of the figures before them, searching and loathing all at once. Ricky knew they were thinking the same thing: this wasn't a part of the deal. And they didn't want to die. No matter what they'd gotten into here, they weren't meant to die. They weren't supposed to! This wasn't a part of their plans at all!

In response to his partner's question, the man facing him raised his gun up a little higher. "You know what this is. Don't play dumb." His tone was cold and harsh as he delivered his words-there was no room for remorse here. It hadn't even crossed his thoughts, unlike the two recruits before him who'd been debating whether or not to kill their prior target. A stark difference that explained all too well why things had turned out the way they had. Though this may not have been entirely clear to all parties involved here.

A crack of the neck, then a bold question. "Why?" Since it was obvious what the two intended to do with them, Ricky decided to cut the crap and get straight to the point. They were to be killed, and he wanted answers. At least it would give them a bit of time as they figured out how to escape the noose. This time, it was the other suited male, the one pointing at him, who replied.

"Boss' orders. You're not needed anymore." At hearing this, Shuichi let out a screech of rage. "Bullshit! We went through the mission, we did what we were supposed to! And we got passed! We got the okay!" Gritting his teeth, he pointed an accusing finger towards the pair. "'Boss' orders'-ha! No way would we-"

The bang that rang out was more than enough to silence the ranting male, but it was the bullet that actually brought him down. With a splutter, Shuichi's legs gave way, as a thick red spot began to form on the front of his shirt near the collar. With horrified eyes following the drop of his partner's body, Ricky knew he had to move, and fast. He was no pro fighter, but maybe-! Maybe-! Maybe he could disarm them, grab Shuichi, and then...then...

He had no idea where to go from there. But better to try something than surrender everything he'd fought for, to die alone in this grisly mausoleum! He'd already been cheated once-he wouldn't allow it to happen a second time! With his knife handle gripped tightly in his pocket, Ricky flew into action.

"Raah!" Somehow, he managed to avoid the first shot fired his way. Somehow. Running on pure adrenaline, he'd tackled the gunman closest to him, pulling out his knife and jamming the blade as deep as he could in the male's side. As he grunted in pain and tried to grab his gun, Ricky let loose with a strike to the jaw, managing to stun the male enough so he could snatch up the gun instead.

Staggering to his feet with pistol in hand, he regarded the standing man before him with a new hatred. The gun was already lifted and aimed, as steadily as he could, at the target before him. The other figure said nothing, simply watching his actions with a cool gaze. As the man on the ground let out a groan, attempting to roll over and pull out the knife wedged by his ribs, Ricky responded with a swift kick to the head. The male let out another grunt, before falling silent. The blow had knocked him out cold.

Ricky's eyes had never left his opponent's face. "A-Alright..." His voice was raspy and hoarse, but still understandable. "You just stay there..." He was now backing away and around, back towards where Shuichi lay. He could still see that faint rise and fall of his chest; the male was still alive. And now that he'd taken down one guard, it was only a matter of nailing the other one.

Then...well, they wouldn't be home free, but at least they'd be away from this madhouse. They could decipher the crazy hallways on their own time-when their lives weren't at immediate risk. Once these two were dispatched, they'd have a better chance of accomplishing that. Shuichi's prone form was at his feet in another few slow steps, as Ricky leaned down briefly, to check his pulse. His eyes refused to leave the guard, not for a second. As he did this, his friend responded with a weak gurgle. "R-Ricky...you..."

"Don't talk, man. Save your strength. We're getting outta here." Now he was standing up straight again, boring into his opponent with all the rage he could muster. Just like the 'good ol' days'. One sharp intake of breath. He had this guy at his mercy-sure, he had a gun, but he did now, too. And just like he'd shown earlier with the knife, he wasn't afraid to use it.

"You...you're gonna tell us how-how to get outta here. And then, you die." The man did not flinch at his words. "And if-if you don't help us...well, you'll still die." Nudging the air slightly in the direction of his target, Ricky allowed some of his own irritation to bubble to the surface. "Well? Tell me, you bastard!"

At this, the man before him began to chuckle, actively lowering his gun. Ricky stared in bewilderment-was this guy daft? At any moment now, he could shoot him right through the head without any hesitation! If he was afraid, he was certainly doing a good job of hiding it.

"This is why." His words effectively caught Ricky off-guard, though his grip on the gun did not loosen. "Why? Why what?" He was just daring the man to go on, which he did gladly. "This is why you weren't accepted. This is why you wound up here." His dark eyes seemed to flash as he now regarded the male with a new aura of superiority. "The Akatsuki doesn't need sloppy, loose cannons. They need order and precision, only the finest cuts of meat. You're not even worthy enough to be fed to the dogs."

At this, Ricky felt a vein in his head snap. This guy...! He wouldn't get away with saying these things, no siree. Who cared if he gave him the info or not now? He was going to have a whole lot of fun wiping that smirk off his face with a bullet to the head. But first...it was time to give him a piece of his mind.

"I'm no good...? I'm no good? We're no good?" A shot went off then, just barely grazing the side of the guard's head. Ricky was breathing hard, a maniacal light dancing in his eyes as he regarded his target with a new intensity.

"No...no, you misunderstand, you attack dog fuck! You're no good!" That mania spread to the rest of his face now, as he swung the gun back into its place aiming directly on the guard's head. "We're getting outta here! You hear me?! We're getting out, and there ain't a fucking thing you can do to stop us!"

The gun was starting to shake in his grasp. Everything was overwhelming Ricky all at once-all his memories of before, and the promises of tomorrow that had turned up empty. In the end, you couldn't rely on anyone but yourself. This was the lesson he'd learned tonight. So fuck it, he'd just go into business for himself! Better to be a small-fry and make something than nothing at all!

Now, his vision was starting to blur with unexpected tears. It was time to finish this. Aiming the trembling gun, Ricky prepared to send off his target with some last parting words. "Fuck you! You ain't shit, you ain't got shit on me! Kiss my ass when you get to Hell-"

Bang.

The shot was quick and clean, effortless. As Ricky had barreled on into his little rant, the guard had, without hesitation, swung his gun back up in one fluid motion, pulling the trigger. The bullet landed squarely in the center of Ricky's chest; this time, he hadn't been able to dodge a thing.

A second of complete silence and no movement, before he slowly fell backwards into the dirty tile. The pistol clattered from his grasp, as the pain began to spread out from the wound...just like his blood. As he struggled not to focus on the sensations, on how his body was screaming to the heavens for all it was worth, on how strained his breathing had now become, the sound of quick but heavy footsteps reached his ears. He could just barely feel the vibrations in the floor. As the figure drew closer, his vision began to darken.

But Ricky could still make out that smug face, and the loaded barrel, still pointed straight at him. It was getting so much harder to see, harder to breathe. The pain...it was unbearable. This was what it was like to be shot? This is what he and Shuichi were meant to be doing for the rest of their lives? To other people, day after day?

That's right...Shuichi... He couldn't even begin to think of running and escaping now. And still, he had to know. He just had to. Using the last of his strength, Ricky turned his head as best he could, to regard his companion beside him. Another nail in the coffin then.

His partner was dead; had been dead for who knew how long now. The blood was fresh, but it had stopped flowing. His eyes were half-closed, giving him an eerie appearance of one partially trapped in a dream. The dream of death, most likely. His chest was no longer moving; not a single puff of air left his slightly parted pale lips. He was cold, just as cold as the pistol trained upon him.

They had failed. After everything they'd been through, all that they had staked themselves on in desperation...it had all fallen away, into nothing. There was nothing for them here, had never been anything for them. The Akatsuki didn't need people like them; they were cheap, ignorant labor. Easy to use and abuse, as well as replace. That ideal of living high above everyone else was nothing more than a lucid dream, kept alive by greed and grudges.

As Ricky stared, one last time at his murderer, before his vision gave out completely with one more round...the man offered him a last parting shot. Something he'd been so eager to do himself just minutes before. Ironic much?

"Like I said before, the Akatsuki don't need people like you. They need good meat, and you...were a cut below the rest." A chuckle that he couldn't reply to, even if he'd wanted to. Everything was shutting down, and Ricky was too far gone by the point to even register or care. His senses were too screwed to commit to memory those last words, as the trigger was pulled once more.

Bang.

As he proceeded to turn away, and tend to his companion, the guard did his best not to shiver involuntarily. He'd done his mission without a hitch here tonight, salvaging a potentially precarious situation. Aside from his partner's wounds, they were no worse for the wear.

But who knew if one day, their heads wouldn't be on the chopping block as well? You could never trust anything here at this place, and those who were bound to it were all too aware of this fact. There was no 'being fired' or 'pink slips' here. If you bore no more use, you were disposed of. Simple as that. These two thugs had not been considered useful, by Leader's standards. So, they'd been taken out.

This was the law of the land here: kill or be killed. Every man for himself. If his partner tonight was cited for his mistakes in sustaining injury, he had no choice but to abandon him. Not unless he wanted to be the one at the end of another barrel...or worse, depending on who wound up in charge of the slaughter.

He sighed then, beginning the task of rousing his companion, ignoring his prior thoughts or the knife still sticking out of the man's side. Looks like there'd be a few more corpses to clean up here later. But that was fine. Some of the other members did like to have a little fun with the nameless victims, after all. Only they could find enjoyment in bodies before and after death, and in multiple ways too. A truly disquieting image indeed.

In short, it was just another night at the Akatsuki compound.

A/N: ...and there you have the newly refurbished Chapter Two. Well. This story has certainly gotten darker since its previous incarnation. That entire sequence there w/Ricky and Shuichi? Didn't exist before. That was all new, written especially for the Revamp. IDK, just...I felt like I didn't do a good enough job of explaining the Akatsuki's true brutality; it's not just the fact that they're killers, but that they'll kill anyone, even their own. Everyone's life is on the line, working in a place like this. If you get cut... 'makes motion across throat' ...then you get CUT.

I also thought it'd be more interesting, to actually get more into the heads of those side-faces involved here; another way to set the tone that this isn't a happy universe, and that sometimes, life just doesn't work out the way we want it to. Ricky and Shuichi learned that the HARD way. And they weren't always bad guys, either; they made the choice to turn, but they had motivation from their regular lives to do so. When you're that disillusioned, people will turn to all sorts of things, just to make a profit and pay the bills. :(

Flashing back a little before the bloodshed, however, we have Konan. Sitting in the tub, thinking to herself after the events of a long day. It's apparent that, although she may be under Pein's service and order, that she...has an unusual relationship w/her state of affairs here among the Akatsuki. Perhaps it's her past that brings so many more of the demons to life, coloring her everyday perception w/its stains. Or maybe, something wicked does lurk beneath the shadows of her 'charmed' life here, as a professional killer...

As always, feedback is welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated. Every little bit helps, no matter how it comes in. I love it all. :3 Next time: a new story, through fresh eyes. Still, they have been jaded, even in youth...but love can help with that, no matter the circumstances. Will it stay this way, though?

Take care, everyone.