Warning: I told you all the rating would go up. :) Okay, there are only a few OCs in here that will only serve as minor side characters or less – and I own them. :) That's all I own in here, and my crazy imagination that is suddenly going wild. xD


7. Extraction Distraction

The storeowner stared with a made up decision at the little boy in front of him. It was obvious that he wanted to save his older sister; and what type of priest's son would he be if he denied him his request? The people of Oni no Kuni were taught to treat people with hospitality - no unnecessary questions asked. So of course, he'll tell him where to find Konoha, even though he didn't tell him how she was kidnapped or who even took her. That was none of his business. The kid is already on the job.

"So, can you point me in the direction?" the boy, Souta; he had learned a little earlier after introducing himself, finally questioned after a long moment of uncomfortable silence on his part.

"I don't think it'd do you a lot of good to just point you in the direction, son," he frowned deeply in answer. "But, I do know my daughter will kindly escort you there. She runs to the village every now and then to bless the high clans; its about time she runs back anyways."

Souta gained a look of hope on his face as he waited in expectation for him to explain a little more.

"She's a little bit older than you... and I'm sure she'll protect you with her life," the storeowner saw the look in Souta's eyes as he gained curiosity with no doubt about is daughter's occupation. He wouldn't be surprised if he thought that their family was one of the higher ones of the village, but alas it's not.

"Is your daughter a ninja?" Souta decided to ask what was on his mind as he carefully eyed Tadao, though amusingly, the storeowner almost doubled over in laughter as fought back his hearty chuckles.

"Are you kidding?" he laughed out, patting Souta on the head. "This isn't a hidden village. She takes care of the family shrine; but she has plenty experience in fighting off demons... though none of us could fight off a human she has her sense of wit and clever-mindedness."

...

The store owner had led Souta to his home where there was practically nothing but trees surrounding the home in a wide field of grass, and a deep valley which looked more like crater. His house was small and made of dark wood, and just like most of the houses in the village, the house had a shrine a few yards behind the home. Souta stared in awe at the small peaceful looking home as he was escorted in.

"Akemi!" Tadao shouted closing the door behind them. "I have a job for you!"

There was a shuffling noise from a few rooms down the quaint wooden hallway, and then there was a door shut as footsteps started to pace the closed off room slowly. "No."

"What did I say?" Tadao frowned, heading off down the hall to his daughter's room before suddenly halting a few feet away. "There is a little boy out here that needs our help! His sister was kidnapped!"

There was a sigh. Then there was more shuffling before the door opened and revealed a girl in her late teens; probably a few years younger than his sister, that was around his height. Her eyes were a light gray color much like her father's even though his were darker, and also like her father she had spiky shoulder-length black hair which reminded him of the Yondaime Hokage's - though the bottom half seemed to be a red color much to Souta's astonishment.

And as his gaze made it to submit her face to memory, there was a mighty frown on her face as he continued to profile her, hastily moving his traveling eyes elsewhere - black hakamas and white haori with purple ribbons much like his sister's own though in a different color; and the usual tan maintenance sandals.

"Souta this is my daughter Akemi; Akemi, this is Souta Higurashi - a new houshi resident in town."

Souta nodded respectfully at the storeowner's daughter, mind set on getting to the Hokage, be that Tsunade or the old man - he doesn't really know nor care. He just really needs to get to them to ask for help - There's no way they'll keep Kagome alive for long, he thought feeling his panic dousing his hope in the fresh essence of disastrous fear.

"What is it that I have to do?" Akemi questioned feeling the anxiety that Souta was putting off as she gave him a once over as well.


Pein knew. At first when Hidan brought her in, he wasn't completely sure. But now he knew.

He knew that the priestess that was taken against her will couldn't have been a true jinchuuriki - or anything related, especially with the way that Hidan informed him that she had no training with whatsoever as far as he could tell. Even jinchuuriki knew how to defend his or herself from a simple threat, and what did she do? – held her arms out in front of her to manage to protect herself from any fatal beatings, and not fight back. He also knew that there were only nine bijuu which were the chakra spirits extracted from the ultimate - the Juubi.

Also, there was the face that she didn't fit into any of the profiles of the jinchuuriki that he had made out for hunting purposes. But, he didn't completely know. He was still curious as to what would happen when they performed the extraction technique. Hence why they took the chance to perform it now... of course, he didn't like to waste their chakra on something that might not work, but he put up as much of a fight that he could before Zetsu had reassured him.

He just wanted to know, what human could possibly burn away the flesh of a youkai? And there's no harm in gaining information, is there? Of course, he doesn't have a proper use for the girl as of yet, nor does the directing leader of the Akatsuki. But, for now it's safe to just say that he is curious, and he didn't really want to let this go.

What is it that this girl is capable of?, he thought, his purple shining orbs looking toward the holographic - to everyone but Hidan and Kakuzu- lady.

"The jutsu isn't working 'faster'," Pein glanced Tobi's way before moving his gaze to an anxious Hidan. "Keep going, though. We're not stopping until we have answers."

The Akatsuki members under his rule nodded and began adding more chakra to the statue, though Hidan a little more reluctantly than the others. What was going to happen to the argumentative lady? He needs her unscathed and unharmed for him to actually enjoy his ritual...

...

Kagome could feel it. The pain in her side only got worse as she tried to curl herself further into the engulfing darkness and away from the uncomfortable feeling that was seemingly coming at her from all directions. Another scream almost came from her mouth as she felt her throbbing hip tear - it felt like she was being ripped apart from her insides, and she wasn't sure if it was physical or not; she couldn't see to confirm her suspicions either. All she could do is –

"Ahhh!" – scream. After she was done pouring her lung's supply of air out of her mouth she gave a harsh gasp as she started to huddle further back.

"Don't stop yet," she heard a deep voice call out, and she wondered, 'Where the hell am I?'

"Kami-sama..." she muttered to herself as her eyes started to adjust well enough to see arm-length very thick canines hanging on either side of her. It made her mind wander to places she really wished it wouldn't. "What have I gotten myself into?" Where's Souta? He didn't leave me, did he?

...

The holographic Akatsuki, and the two members present in the base watched in astonishment as the jutsu finally began. They all saw a few flashes of light blue before the first dragon made its appearance; grasping the stunned silent lady in a tight grasp and hoisting her high in the air.

Hidan could hear the 'Tobi-freak's high peeled fascinated giggles as he continually added chakra along with the rest of the Akatsuki. Hidan made his gaze towards Kakuzu only to see him eyeing the girl in contempt but otherwise he was emotionless. Knowing that bastard, he's probably wishing that she'd hurry and die already…

Soon enough there were four dragon heads, high and demanding as they waved high above them. But, with his barely formidable eyesight he could have sworn he saw that same damned purple light shining from the girl; but it wasn't nearly as noticeable as before so, for now, he kept quiet.

Kagome stayed conscious throughout the time that she was pulled away from her temporary safe haven. The moment she saw six sky blue tentacles in the shape of – dragons – coming from the tiny black hole she was placed in her eyes grew wide in terror. What is going on? , she fought to keep back another scream as she came into contact of what was holding her captive before she was rudely interrupted. How did I even get here?

But… soon she saw it… That's what it was. She couldn't describe it. It looked like a statue… but it had hands. There were five indistinctive figures on each hand. Five on the left; standing on the tips of the fingers, and five on the right in the exact same pose – concentrating. Concentrating? Concentrating on what?, she thought. Forget it. What is that thing?

It… was a statue – maybe.

It looked like some sort of being from what she could make out while being waved in midair. But, from the looks of it, it had nine eyes that was glowing the same blue color as the tentacles that were holding her up. The head – she realized had a mouth… a massive one. One that she was being held in for hope it will keep her safe from the negative feeling that she was getting from around her. She was in a mouth… It didn't eat me, though, she thought. Definitely a statue; but what the hell was going on?

"Look how quick it's working, Zetsu-san!" called a nearly delighted man's voice from below where Kagome stood – err, floated.

Great… these people are eager to kill me… or sacrifice me, or whatever, she thought frowning before she mentally sighed. There's no talking my way out of this one… What did Souta say that creep's name was – Hidan? Souta told me about the Akatsuki… But why did he have to say I was a jinchuuriki of all things!

"Tobi," Black Zetsu warned from his place near the masked man.

"I'm sorry, Zetsu-san…" Tobi averted his gaze from Zetsu, moving to glance curiously at the religious Akatsuki member with something close to malice floating behind his dark gray orbs. "But… whether she dies from this extraction or not… We're still going to be rid of her, ne?"

Tobi watched in satisfaction as Hidan grit his teeth, seemingly putting more chakra into the jutsu as was the rest, even though they stared confusedly between the two of them. Let them think or observe as they will, Tobi's thoughts spoken to him, a dark shading in his mind as he stared at the girl. She won't get very far… Despite her not even being a jinchuuriki.


They walked side by side through the third forest that they've come across with nearly two feet's distance in between them, for trusting purposes, and for battling purposes. Even though neither of the two was good in battle, Akemi had promised that she would protect Souta; so she would be able to do so even if the moves were only defensive while they were so short, yet wide a distance apart.

"So, Akemi-san," Souta began thoughtfully. "Why do you go to Konoha so often?"

Akemi eyed him from the corner of her eyes as she kept walking ahead of them. She thought over what she could tell him without telling him too much. She also thought of the real reason why she kept agreeing to work for Konoha before she gave him her final answer. "I like to drop by for visits."

After that they didn't talk much. Souta kept frowning at the ground as he thought over what to tell Konoha, and Akemi kept looking at him in consideration and curiosity. This boy is pretty smart for his age, she thought, eyeing Souta's arms which were being covered by how he hid them; each arm in its opposite's sleeve – like a typical monk. He must have joined the house where he came from much sooner than all the others back in Oni no Kuni… Or is he just a prodigal houshi?

His hair kept blowing in his face, covering his bright blue eyes from Akemi's view as they walked, but she's pretty sure that earlier she saw the common sadness and understanding in his eyes – much like the elder priests and priestesses she saw in her country. She was curious about it, but she thought that maybe it had something to do with him losing his sister to the number one group of S-classed ninja just earlier this morning.

It would explain his early sophistication,she smiled a small smile before it faded.

"Do you know what you're going to give as an explanation to the Hokage?" she asked eventually.

"Only what I think should be said," Souta replied, smiling up at the older girl. "The story is that she's a jinchuuriki that's been kidnapped with a strong defiance and resistance to any extraction, and they should probably get there quick to save her."

Akemi blinked. "Souta! That would be lying! You told us that she isn't a jinchuuriki…" she trailed off whenever Souta shot her a meaningfully pointed glance as she felt the need to shut up.

"I'm not sure if you've noticed. But, it's my fault that she was kidnapped; and I'm going to do everything in my power to save her." he told her with pleading eyes that were searching out her own skeptical ones. "…The only reason why I got her into this mess in the first place was to delay Hidan's crazy ritual of killing her on the spot. So, please… Let me do this."

Akemi sighed, but said nothing as she nodded, reaching for his hand and closing the space between them. The truth is, she feels sorry for the kid, in more ways than one.


The purple light continued to get brighter as it clashed with the dragons' light. Hidan stared even as the girl didn't even notice the change in lighting. What the fuck? It's like she isn't even fucking aware of doing it.

His heart started beating a little faster as he tore his gaze away from the girl yet again, instead focusing on the amount of chakra he was putting into their progress; but that light was too damned bright to ignore, and his newfound – damn him to admit it – attraction – to the girl made him itch to stop the jutsu so that he could get his ritual over with. Well, after Pein tested her, or whatever.

The light gained… it was brighter, yes. But, the most fucked up thing that could ever happen in Hidan's eyes had happened before the entire Akatsuki, stunning everyone into stopping their jutsu before they could even finish, and it wasn't even the second day yet.

The bright purple light burned away the nine sky blue dragons that had been summoned by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Though, surprisingly only the ninth dragon was able to escape back into the mouth of the statue before it was completely obliterated and left to nothingness around them.

He felt the incriminating glare of one of the members of the Akatsuki, and immediately began to rethink his estimation of power in the man whose face was covered with the swirling orange mask… Fucking creep

His darkened purple gaze stayed on Kagome, though, even though he was being glared at. He wasn't sure why Jashin had demanded he pay attention to the girl… But, he was never one to disobey an order. Right now, Kagome… the girl – she began her journey to plummet to the ground in astonishing speed as she screamed something that sounded like a banshee's grating voice. He couldn't be sure of what she was saying, though, because it was hard to make out anything besides the curses in the bloody murder scream.

Hidan had enough of the high pitched yelling, though, and he launched himself after her catching her around the waist as they both landed a few feet away from the statue and the rest of the Akatsuki members whom were all staring quietly at the two.

"Huh…" Tobi's voice reached Hidan's ears. "Looks like Miko-sama is not a jinchuuriki after all… She's just special."

"Hidan, Kakuzu," Pein's voice called out after them in an empty voice. "Bring her to the main base. Immediately."

"What?" Kagome questioned quietly gripping Hidan's shoulders in a tight grasp as her mind reeled from her falling session.

Hidan didn't answer. His blood ran cold as he gripped the 'priestess' tighter and pulled the both of them upright. What has he gotten them into? I should have just fucking sacrificed her when I was told to. "Of course, we'll get her to you right away, Leader-sama."


Authoress Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, sorry I stopped with a semi-cliffy. :D