Well guys here's chapter three of Kakuzu's story. We get to see how our characters have developed over the course of two years and you can ask any questions you like. The song for this chapter is "So Alone" by Anna Blue. Enjoy.

Chapter 3: Good News

Graduation came and went, the outcome something everyone was eager to see. In the end, the halls of the academy were painted red with the blood of aspiring children who had wanted only to become great shinobi. Parents mourned their deaths and others were simply glad that their own kids had been strong enough to survive. Well, seven were. Out of the graduating nine were also Kakuzu and Nikita, both of whom held enough happiness for the other to make up for the lack thereof for their parents. Kakuzu had come out at the top of the class, Nikita third just behind the very boy she had been seated behind on her first day at the academy. His name was Yuki and although he was shy, he was an exceptional shinobi in training. He was still terrified of Kakuzu however, even after learning that he would be on his genin squad along with the vampire girl. He might've been well protected, but he also saw it as a good way to piss off the best of the best. Rumors had been spread about the two young friends, rumors of collaboration in the final exam so that they would each be guaranteed to survive. Of course their instructor, who had predicted which of students would graduate before he even began their first lesson, assured them all that the fight was fair and that they were deserving of their victories. The two that he had had to escort to class that day had continued to be mischievous and naturally he overlooked it due to their identities, but he was not ashamed because Nikita was a good kid at heart and Kakuzu had proven to enjoy taking orders from superior figures, including him.

The three misfit children trained together for nearly a year after graduation, working hard to improve their faults. Yuki attempted to overcome his fear of Kakuzu and put out more in combat while making himself more outgoing. Kakuzu harnessed his anger much better and was working towards improving his taijutsu. Nikita was depriving herself of blood for days at a time in order to lessen her reliance on it and build stamina. She was even attempting to create her own jutsu, experimenting with fire and earth. When the chuunin exams came around it was unfortunate that Yuki had been defeated in the preliminaries, leaving Kakuzu and Nikita to go on to the final round on their own. Both held their own, Kakuzu more so. He had proved to be the top pic for the exams up until the final round when he was pegged against the young Kurosaki. Nikita knew she couldn't compete with Kakuzu and had given him a small, "good luck" smile that really meant she knew she would lose. Just before the proctor began the match however, Kakuzu's tan arm raised. He had forfeited, leaving Nikita to be the official winner of the exams. Bidders, weren't to happy about the results, nor did they pretend they were. The Waterfall elders however, took notice of the two's loyalty towards one another and were impressed that young shinobi from their own village could be so dedicated. It could, work to their advantage they thought.

Two weeks had passed since the exams and Kakuzu was leaned back in his little cot in the utility room he called his, little window cracked slightly to let in some of the late night breeze. It was exactly midnight when he heard a light tap on the glass. His spirits immediately lifted when he saw two bright sapphire eyes gleaming in the moonlight at him. He gestured her in and the white haired Kurosaki slipped in without a sound, hands behind her back with a mischievous smile plastered on her vibrant face. "What took you so long?" the brunette questions as she takes a seat at the foot of the cot, turning on his side to be level with her.

"They were up early, half an hour before the sun rose! Can you believe them wasting precious sleep time?"

"Yeah, it's diabolical," he says chuckling. "Don't you pretty much do the same thing? You're up all day and then at night you're here to keep me up." She rolls her eyes.

"I can always take your birthday present back-"

"You got me something?" She flicks his nose playfully, careful not to let his gift be seen.

"Of course I did Gigantor, you're the big 1-3 after all as of two minutes ago." A smile graces his tan lips and he sits up , long brown hair falling to just below his shoulders. "Bleh, you need a shower Kuzu!" the fledgling says with a scrunch of her sensitive nose. He gives her an annoyed look in response.

"I'm not trying to impress anyone, but...I guess I could get one in before training tomorrow. And don't call me that damned name!"

"Touchy aren't we? I think a drumroll is in order for this particular present!" With a laugh the brunette obliges, hammering his knees. "Close your eyes!" He does. With an eager grin she takes his hands in hers, and places in them her gift. "Aaaaannnnnd, OPEN!"

Kakuzu opened his eyes smiling, eager to see what he'd received. Upon seeing it however, he found his eyes widening and his smile dissipating. In his palm was a platinum case, a wallet he saw, that was flawless in every respect, from the intricate design on the edges to the smooth surface itself. The moonlight glistened from it almost magically and he found himself opening it slowly. The inside was solid gold, just as smooth and carefully cut as the shimmering shell, soft velvet, black in color, lined it and formed precise pockets and slots. He had never seen any object so beautiful, so delicate. It surely was worth more than even the place he called home, only an angel would truly be worthy of such a thing. Gazing down at it, Kakuzu actually felt his eyes becoming moist, the overwhelming feeling of receiving something so grand for the first time in his life getting to him. Nikita misunderstood it though.

"You hate it don't you? I didn't get something you like, I knew I should've gone with something else," she begins. He sniffles and wipes at his eyes, smiling sincerely to reassure her.

"It's absolutely perfect. You know me better than I do," he says, looking up at her with glistening eyes. Now sure that he loved it, Nikita scoots over to him and curls into him in a comforting hug which he gratefully returns. "Thank you, but I couldn't possibly-"

"OH NO! You are not returning that! No givsies backsies! You're stuck with it, besides, nobody will ever notice the missing money. Too much of it to go around." Kakuzu wouldn't know anything about that, he grew up struggling to survive while his father rotted away in the next room. Nikita was beaten everyday of her life, but she had been raised to treat it like a daily routine of the more fortunate. Two different lives and yet they were somehow the perfect of companions. "Happy birthday Kuzu."

"I hate that name," he says with another annoyed look, his eyes still slightly wet but his personality returned.

"Oh, and Yuki wanted me to tell you happy birthday too."

"Still scared shitless of me?"

"Heh, you do scare people ya know. Of course I don't really see it. You must not be trying enough," she teases. Kakuzu always knew that his teammate was terrified of him but he had noticed he had come to be able to stand at his side without incident. He even found himself enjoying the boy's company sometimes. Nikita had said she thought they would be best friends before they knew it and she hadn't been wrong yet...

"You should probably get home huh, get some rest before tomorrow? I could walk you home if you want-"

"Actually," she starts, "Um, would it be okay if...you know?" He looks at her for a moment confused, but soon gets the picture.

"You wanna stay the night here?" She nods.

"I don't really want to go back." He understood. Putting his new gift carefully on his small nightstand, he starts fixing a spot for his friend in the cot beside him, cleaning up as best he could. She didn't mind though, she considered his run down rut of a house more like home than her own estate. She curled into his side once more, now both laying down and slowly drifting into sleep..

Kakuzu rubbed his sore head, clutching his birthday gift close to his chest as he kept one steady eye on the brute before him. He had brought the blood all right with the massive smack he'd given the younger kid. He was a large man in size but not in muscle yet Kakuzu was powerless against someone of his strength at his young age and height of five feet and eleven inches. The man had stopped him and Nikita in the training field upon seeing Kakuzu's impressive wallet, he had refused to give it up and it had gotten him a smack that sent him flying.

"Just cough it up kid and this can be over in an instant." Nikita rushes to her friend's side, hovering over him protectively, hood up and sleeves rolled down over her gloved hands.

"Beat it fatass! Before you get it served to you on a platter!" Kakuzu attempted to hush his friend, pulling her to his side as he stood.

"Hush Kita!" he whispers.

"Listen here little missy! You might ought to keep your mouth shut and do as I say!" He takes a step forward, his eyes trained on the small Kurosaki that was nearly half a foot shorter than her comrade. His hand suddenly shot out at Kakuzu, his beefy hand closing around his tattered mesh tank and jerking him up.

"Kakuzu!" Without thinking, without contemplating the consequences, Nikita got an urge, an urge she had never before had. Her gaze on the large man became narrowed and her muscles tensed. Training fangs sharpened she took a readying step and gripped his arm with a vice hold, causing him to drop Kakuzu in shock and let the boy fall with a thud. Before he could attempt to pry the girl from his arm she did something he didn't expect, her tiny little pearlescent fangs clamped down on his wrist. He bellowed out in pain, clawing at his arm to try and force her off as she ripped through his skin and lapped at the gushing blood. Kakuzu stared in a stupor as his friend drained him until he was deathly pale. Just as he began to stumble back though, Nikita herself cried out in pain and released her hold on the man, letting him free and sending him in a stumble for his life.

"Damn...little...vampire...chick!" he sputtered. In the panic as Nikita fell, her hood dropped from her head, making Kakuzu scurry up and rush to her.

"Kita!" She would burn, the sun was too intense that day. He had to cover her, she was already panting in pain. He got to her, crouching over her before noticing something...that she had not been singed, her skin was still perfectly smooth and white. "Kita, are you okay?" He could see the beads of sweat on her face, her eyes wrenched shut. She clutched at his arm to the point that it hurt, he could feel an instant bruise forming beneath her hand with this seemingly newfound strength of hers. It took several minutes before she stopped shaking and her breathing became normal, she released him and she sat up. Kakuzu held her cheek, forcing her to look at him. "Kita, open your eyes, look at me." She did, and he was taken aback by the sudden sight of two glowing crimson orbs directed right at his soul. "Nikita...?" She truly resembled an albino now, one that seemed rather spent of energy and yet her face seemed to hold a whole new energy of it's own.

"I, I needed to bite him and...it must've triggered my primary metamorphosis," she attempts.

"Nikita, your hood." She lifts a hand to her face, finding that her hood was indeed down and her skin exposed.

"I...I'm not burning..." She was... "I'm a daywalker. I'm a daywalker!" she exclaims, throwing herself into her friend, crying tears of joy. "I have the potential to become a Sage!" Kakuzu was happy for her, truly. He clutched her to him, glad to share such a moment with the person that mattered most to him in the world. He watched her as she took off her gloves and let the rays of sun warm her icy skin, he watched her smile brighter than she ever had. After some minutes though her skin became pink and she had to cover herself once more. As long as she stayed fed on fresh blood, she could freely walk in the sunlight. Eager to test her new abilities, she challenged Kakuzu to a spar in which she let him have a head start. He charged her and she was out of his sight before he could get to her. He tried to attack but her movements were too fast, when he did land a hit she treated it like a brush, and when she struck him it sent his bones reverberating throughout his body. He was truly amazed at her new skill.

Kakuzu however wasn't the only one. The elders had been keeping an eye on the two since the chuunin exams and had just witnessed the little incident with the traveler. They could report to the Kurosaki's...or, they could keep it a secret and use the young girl's transformation to their advantage. Watching the two spar they decided that both young genin were exceptionally skilled and well above the level they were at. They were especially obedient, they weren't held down by ties to clans or organizations, but to themselves only. Two ninja of their caliber at such young ages could be molded into any fashion they wished. They would take any mission together and were invincible when paired. Their personal vendetta against one Hashirama Senju could bloom as they allowed it to, for they had found the perfect candidates to execute the Hokage.

The four men emerged from the brush they had observed from just as the two young shinobi collapsed onto the grass in exhaustion from their training session that had ended up lasting most of the day. Now near sunset, they approached the two and gave them kind smiles. Kakuzu was the first to notice and bolted up in respect, nudging Nikita as he did so. She attempted to sit up but found herself shaking uncontrollably. Her friend immediately grabbed her and held her steady as the older men addressed them. "Kakuzu, Nikita. That was quite the little sparring session there. You're both truly gifted for your age," the tallest and most powerful of the elders states.

"Indeed, they are the embodiment of Waterfall pride," the second states. "Which is exactly why we would like to give you this exceptional good news."

"Good news sir?" Kakuzu inquires.

"Indeed." He nods accordingly before gesturing to the other elders. "We along with the other villages have decided unanimously that you two personify exactly what it means to be a shinobi. You strategize, train much harder than others, strive to develop your own skills beyond their ability, and you take into consideration the lives of your comrades. that being said we would like to congratulate you. It is our honor to officially appoint you as chuunin." Kakuzu's eyes go bright and a prideful smile crosses his lips. Nikita lets out a small gasp of disbelief, but the announcement wasn't over yet as another of the elders speaks. "Now that you are chuunin we can also do this: Seeing your potential we would like to personally nominate you for the rank of jonin."

"J-jonin sirs? Are you sure?" Nikita questions incredulously. "I mean we worked hard for the chuunin exams but to become jonin so soon?"

"Do you feel you don't deserve to be ranked as so?"

"N-no sir it's not that it's just-" Kakuzu stops her by placing a calm hand on her shoulder, giving her a pleading look. Unable to crush his dreams, Nikita found herself forgetting her own argument. "Nothing. Thank you so much for this opportunity." This pleases the elders as they each take turns giving them nods of approval.

"Excellent. We expect great things from you. Your first official assignments will be in the mission registry tomorrow morning. Due to your age we will not require you to take on students of your own. However, since we are short on manpower you may have to assist the chuunins in some minor duties around the village as well as instruct at the academy on specific days."

"Yes sir," they say simultaneously.

"We'll not keep you any longer. Go home and get some rest, you have big days ahead of you tomorrow." They turn to leave as if that's the end of it and the children look to each other in excitement. It lasts but a moment when they stop for some final words. "Kakuzu?"

"Yes sir?"

"Happy birthday."

Nikita arrived home nearly an hour later after the sun had set, getting there just as the first of her clan were rousing. She removed her hood at the foot of the stairs along with her shoes that she carried up with her. She was careful to be quiet, to not disturb anyone she might pass. She only dreamed of the day when she was truly a Sage and could leave this infernal estate. Dream...?

"Nikita." She looks up as she arrives at her own door, the deeper voice of a young vampire grabbing her attention. She gazed upon her brother who was clad in only his red boxers from just probably just waking up some minutes earlier. His taller form of almost six foot three inches was an intimidation that had her wary. He was sixteen now and he had cut his hair so that it was nearly shaved on the right side and was longer and spiked to the side on his left. She didn't think the look would work but naturally Kimoto pulled it off without a problem. His diamond stud earrings gave a faint glint as he turned in the hall light. His lean form had bulked a tad, adding to his already athletic appearance. Not only that but he was perfect in every aspect. Over the course of Nikita's training Kimoto had undergone all of his metamorphoses, putting him a rank of a full fledged vampire, and also showing just what a class-A vampire was. Physically beautiful so as to attract prey, an image of an angel, an angel with the gaze of fresh blood. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, an attractive touch that accentuated his brilliant irades. His fangs protruded over his lips much more so than that of Nikita's training fangs she had rid herself of just that day, much thicker and sharper than young needle teeth of fledglings.

She greeted him accordingly. "Kimoto, brother. I trust you slept well?" He gives a curt nod, his face more emotionless than usual, though she expected he was still just groggy from awakening. She was so excited to finally be catching up to him that she wanted to just sing to him what had happened. She felt herself smiling brighter, but it was not returned for some reason. Kimoto's expression remained indifferent and she felt herself becoming less enthusiastic. "So I-"

"You reek."

"Huh?" The comment caught her off guard.

"I said you reek. That human's scent is all over you."

She found herself sniffing at her clothes. "Kakuzu?" She was confused, Kakuzu was her partner, of course his scent would be on her.

"It's disgusting, get rid of it as soon as possible," he states in monotone before taking his first steps down the hall in the opposite direction.

"B-brother!" He stops, not turning.

"What?"

"I uh..." Did she really want to tell him? "I was promoted today. Jonin." It was faint but Kimoto tensed.

"Whatever." And he was gone. He hadn't even congratulated her, or asked for the details as he used to. She felt like she was losing more now that she had gained, her brother was the only family she had ever felt safe with, had ever cared about, and now she was losing him too. The power, was it really worth it?

I sincerely hope you liked this addition, all questions and comments are welcome so please REVIEW. Would anyone possibly like to comment on Kimoto and his behavior with Nikita? Or perhaps Kakuzu and Nikita themselves?