A/N: Whoo! It's Friday! Update day! Yay! So this chapter is short... again. Another sort of filler before we get into the heavy stuff. Also this chapter marks the chapters that have been written forever but suspended in my iPod until it was their time. So until chapter 13, expect updates every single Friday! Oh... wait... Maybe not next Friday as we're camping. But I'll update on Tuesday to make up for it! If my beta finishes the next chapter in time!

Thanks to my Beta, Shispas! Without you, the grammar would absolutely suck!

Enjoy! Now I'm off to work. Fun...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Kakuzu gently stirred awake. Grumbling he opens his eyes to get a view of a still sleeping Hidan. Memories of the night before flooded into his mind as the corners of his stitched mouth pulled up in a full smile. He wrapped an arm around Hidan and pulled him closer, breathing in the scent of the other as he laid his head on Hidan's.

"Mmm Kuzu, ten more minutes." The albino mumbled as he turned and snuggled into Kakuzu's chest.

The stitched man laughed, "Who said anything about getting up, dumbass."

Hidan snorted. "Shut up asswipe."

They both laughed and Hidan sat up and stretched, letting the sheet slide down, revealing his chest, marred by many purple marks. The silver haired boy looked at them and laughed. "Way to go Kuzu. Now I can't take my shirt off in public."

Kakuzu smiled, "No you can, this just tells every one else that you're mine."

Hidan laughed as Kakuzu pulled him down into a deep kiss, only broken by Hidan's need for air. "Alright. I think it's about time to get out of bed, ne?"

Kakuzu groaned as the younger man rolled out of the bed, but quickly quieted to admire the sight it gave him. His eyes trailed down Hidan's naked form, admiring each aspect, and each of his marks, until his gaze reached his right hip. There, right on the protruding bone, was a small purple X, about the size of Kakuzu's thumb.

Hidan turned to catch Kakuzu staring. "What? Enjoying your handiwork?" he laughed.

Kakuzu debated on telling him about the X and decided the pale man would notice sooner or later. "Um... Hidan."

The younger man's face fell, interpreting the other's reluctant tone. He followed Kakuzu's gaze to his hip and spotted the mark. Without pausing he quickly gathered his clothes and ran to the bathroom, locking the door.

Kakuzu sighed, getting up from bed, and threw on his boxers after locating them. He walked over to the door and knocked. "Let me in Hidan."

He could hear a sniffle from inside as a very muffled 'no' was given. The stitched man sighed once more. "Hidan, you know I have ways of getting in without you unlocking the door."

There was some shuffling on the other side of the door as Hidan's voice got closer. "I really don't want to."

Kakuzu sat down on the floor, putting his back to it. "Fine, but we're still talking."

"Fine." Another sniffle was heard from behind the door.

"I know how you feel Hidan." Kakuzu started. "You're scared, worried, and angry. But most of all you just wanna know why. Why you? Why now?"

There was silence for a while before he heard, "Why give me this and tear it away." Hidan finally opened the door, causing Kakuzu to turn around. The whites of Hidan's eyes now nearly matched the magenta of his irises. "Why let me finally feel what it's like to love and be loved, and then rip it out from underneath my very feet." His voice seemed to grow angrier as he continued, eventually causing him to clench his teeth at the end. "I mean, I know you have yours but, somehow, this makes it more final."

The stitched man pulled the smaller man to him. "I know, Hidan. This curse is nearly suffocating enough without adding this to it. However, if it wasn't for this curse, we probably never would have happened." He pulled back and lifted Hidan's head with his hand. "This curse can also be a blessing." Kakuzu pulled Hidan into a slow, soft kiss.

Hidan sighed into the kiss and closed his eyes. "I guess you're right," He claimed after the older man pulled back.

"Of course I'm right. I'm never wrong after all." Kakuzu smiled and Hidan laughed.

"You wish." The Jashinist finally relaxed, laying his head on Kakuzu's scarred chest. "Thank you."

"No problem." Kakuzu smiled. "Now let's go get something to eat. Pein told all of us to meet up at the school by noon."

"What time is it now?" Hidan asked.

Glancing at the clock, Kakuzu's smile widened and he gave a small chuckle. "Twelve thirty-five."

Hidan laughed. "Shit! Let's get a move on then. Puppet boy must be ready to fuckin' explode!"

Kakuzu laughed and followed his lover to the kitchen, lightly smacking him upside the head. "Language," he reminded, earning a middle finger and a laugh.

~xXx~

Kisame stared at Itachi's sleeping form, not really taking in anything. The doctor had just told him that they had to put the Uchiha in a medical induced coma. His organs were failing and to prevent any magnitude of pain they had to keep him like that until they could replace the organs that were failing.

Months. That was the time frame he was given, but he knows they don't expect him to live that long. It seemed after the nurses noticed the X on his arm, they stopped trying as hard to get him back to full health. The first time he noticed this he nearly punched the doctor. He didn't believe it was right to give up on a patient after noticing they were touched by death. He argued with the staff for hours before finally giving up.

Now he only stared at the pale Uchiha, grasping to his hand like he was the only anchor Itachi had to this world. "I will not leave you, love," He whispered, bending down to kiss the other's pale forehead. "Not even in death."

~xXx~

"About damn time you two got here!" Sasori yelled across the parking lot as he spotted Kakuzu and Hidan getting out of Kakuzu's car. "You're two hours late!"

"Yeah, un!" Deidara added. "What the hell were you two doing?"

The pair looked at each other before Hidan shrugged, saying with a smile on his face, "Each other, duh."

Deidara stared at the two of them for a moment before crinkling his nose, "Okay. Gross, un."

Kakuzu laughed, "Anyway, what are we doing here?"

"Zetsu thought the place needed a bit more color to the outside so that it matches the inside." Pein stepped forward, "So, our weekend project is to create a fantastic garden for the school that everyone would love to spend their lunches in."

"Fuckin' sweet, but before we get started-" Hidan began but was quickly interrupted by Sasori's snort.

"You mean before you two begin. We've been at this for two hours."

"Yeah well what-the-fuck-ever, before me and Kuzu start then, I have an announcement."

Deidara groaned. "I swear I'll blow you both sky high if you are going to explain what you were doing last night."

"As much as I'd love to tell you all how good Kuzu here is in bed," Deidara groaned again as everyone else rolled their eyes. "That's not what I have to say."

"Then what the hell is it?" Sasori yelled, finally fed up with waiting. He'd arrived at five till noon and everyone else had arrived within the next six minutes, with Deidara being a minute late. They had to wait for ten minutes after that before starting without the missing pair. Needless to say, Sasori was less than tolerant with these two now.

"I have officially joined our little cursed family we got going on here!" Hidan smiled, ignoring the puppet master's frustration. "But it's cool cause I've got it figured out."

Sasori's anger seemed to dissipate as he and the rest of Akatsuki processed this. Each putting together the fact that another among them has found their mark of death.

"Wait... Hidan?" Konan spoke, voice hesitant. She knew the obvious but hoped her interpretation was wrong. "You mean..."

"Yep! I have an X too. I'd show you all but only Kuzu here is aloud to see me naked." He winked at Kakuzu who snorted and rolled his eyes at the spectacle the albino was putting on.

"Since when, un?" Deiara asked. He was too shocked to berate Hidan for another sexual reference.

"Well Kakuzu noticed it this morning- or afternoon I guess."

"Exactly what did you mean by saying you had it all figured out?" Pein asked, eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"Ah! Glad you asked!" Hidan smiled. "You all know how the school play this year is Romeo and Juliet right?" He waited for a few of them to nod before saying, "Well I'm going to turn it around and make it Bitchin' Romeo and Juliet!"

"And how exactly are you planning to do that?" Deidara's voice was skeptical at best.

"Well I pretty much already have the lead part of Romeo, so, after practice I'll gather the crew and we'll flip that shit!" Hidan's smile widened as he finished telling his plan. He got a mixture of laughs and skeptical looks from his group of friends.

"Well, I'm glad this hasn't changed you're attitude any." Konan smiled.

No one mentioned how it seemed they were slowly starting to be killed off, almost to the point that the ones without marks were starting to wonder if their lives were safe. Even if the mark hadn't shown yet, they felt that they were also bound to the fate of their friends. After all, if someone as healthy and immortal-like as Hidan could get the mark, they were sure to have one of their own soon. However, they did talk inimitably about how Zetsu's idea for the school was going to turn out great and Hidan was proudly stating his plans for the play.

This was how they spent the weekend, celebrating life and new love. They did spend moments worrying for their friends who were absent, though. Kisame seemed to get worse as Itachi's condition did. He, instead of being with his friends, laughing and having fun, spent the weekend in the cold, dreary hospital. He refused to leave and the nurses were forced to grant him permission to stay after many failed attempts at getting him to at least move to the waiting rooms.

Nevertheless, the garden turned out beautiful. It completely encompassed the school and branched off a little too each side of the building. Saplings were planted branching off both sides of the school in a semicircle, with benches near by. When they were grown, the trees would provide a nice shaded area to sit in. Flowers of all colors lined the four walls making up the school and little statues of animals were scattered decoratively around with some larger ones big enough to sit on mixed in. Sets of two benches were spaced evenly on either side of the main doors and more were added around each side as places to sit and chat.

Students and teachers both openly gawked at the scene upon first arriving. Many circled the school to take in all the new color. Some students even sat on the benches or amongst the new flowers, already loving the change. When Tsunade arrived, everyone turned to watch her expression and hoped it was a good one.

The blond woman took in the sight of her students laughing and smiling amongst the new rainbow of color. After a moment of just standing and looking from her car in the parking lot, she nonchalantly closed her door and walked into the school.

Through out the day students and teachers alike waited to hear something about the new splash of color as they did with the murals last week; however, no such announcement was made and everyone left school happy that the garden was staying.