Beta: No ...

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot bunnies, Kazumi and the other OC's in this story.

Warning: Uh, Hidan? Spelling mistakes, bad grammar, poorly written scenes, this story has it all.


\(•_•)/


I had never been much of a believer in anything but pure facts and what science could prove. Sure, I would love to think that there was something more to this world than what meets the eye, but when you grow up the way I had, you stop thinking about anything magical, because magic won't save your ass when you get beaten nor will it suddenly poof food into existence.

So when I one day died, I had expected to stay dead and not open my eyes and find myself in an infants body and, might I add, I had defiantly not expected to get reborn into a world I knew only from books and TV. That's why I had decided not to think too much about any of this, except from saving some people that I found too cool to die.

Although lately, I found it difficult just to think a couple of days forward, partly because of the nightmare about my brother, and all my focus was on the 'what if's'-questions.

I had been with Kakuzu and Hidan for a little more than a month now. Practicing walking and running had been going very good and I could walk a little longer for each day that passed. I knew that in order to save any of those people I so badly wanted to save, I had to be a shinobi but the thought of all the possible near death-experiences that without doubt, would happen sooner or later, I found it hard to focus on anything but my own survival, because no matter how strong those two were, I was never completely safe.


\(•_•)/


I could hear Hidan cackle like a maniac somewhere behind me. He had gotten some of the poor man's blood and was more than likely enjoying himself. Kakuzu on the other hand, looked like one that was so close to die out of boredom, I found it kind of difficult to keep a straight face. He stood in front of me, protecting me with his own body while also fighting off anyone who dared attack him. Those tentacles was kind of cool …

I'm not so easily scared, or so I liked to think, but when another man got killed by the hands of my father and the screams of Hidan's victim, I found myself scared shitless. It had been completely peaceful up until now, and even though I had seen both of them fight on TV, it wasn't anywhere near as funny or cool when it actually happened in reality.

I could die in this world. Yeah, I could die in the other world too, but given the completely different careers in the two worlds, I found the chances of dying higher here than there. I mean, even the young ones, the genin, had to live their life without knowing what was around the next corner.

How could anyone live like that? I found it extremely hard to think about my own survival, so how in the name of all that's holy, was I supposed to think of all the good things, all the cool people I could one day meet?

When Kakuzu suddenly lifted me up, I was brought back into the world of the livings. I was confused for at short moment, until I noticed the kunai embedded in the dirt where I had just been. So they were actually targeting me now? That was early and I haven't even done anything to any of them.

"Hidan." Kakuzu snarled and I heard Hidan shout something, but the shining weapon kept attracting my eyes and my brain.

I was being targeted now, because of … Because of what? Because of my obvious relation to one of their enemies? Or because I was the weakest one and therefore, logically, the easiest target?

The fact that these shinobi, no older than fifteen or seventeen, was ready to kill an infant to get to their target, was disturbing. It was practically children killing children.

Kakuzu jerked his body back when one of the enemy nin attacked him from his right, the side he was holding me, while he had been fighting another one in front of him. He was limited with his hand signs because of me sitting on his arm so all he could do was dodge and kick.

Suddenly Hidan attacked the one trying to hit me. I couldn't help but look at him like he was an angel sent from above when he with ease parted the boy's head from his body with his scythe. A crazy, psychotic, bloody angel, yes, but an angel nonetheless.

"Want me to take her?" he asked and Kakuzu nodded, his tentacles lifting me up and towards Hidan.

I was taken, but not by Hidan and the person holding me was a complete stranger. I quickly looked around and counted the present enemy nin including the three dead ones. There had been five that had engaged in combat with Kakuzu and Hidan, but suddenly a sixth shinobi had taken me. So he had been hiding and waiting for the right moment to catch me. I glared up at him but he ignored me and instead held his amber colored gaze on my two Akatsuki-members, whom returned his gaze fiercely and, especially Kakuzu, murderously.

"Drop your weapons or the kid dies." The nin holding me commanded, his voice calm and collected without giving a clue about his thoughts or feelings.

"You motherfucking asshole." Hidan cursed out loud but reluctantly he dropped his scythe.

Kakuzu followed Hidan's example but the weapons he dropped was few. I knew he had more hidden on his person, but as long as I didn't die and they didn't die.

"Don't worry, as long as you cooperate with us, I won't find it necessary to kill her." The nin said and placed me on his arm. "But of course I won't let you have her back right away." He added and smiled a cold and calculating smile.

"Give her back or Jashin-sama will damn you all." Hidan shouted but made no move to attack or otherwise movements.

"Ma, you think we're stupid?" the nin chuckled. "The minute we give the kid back, you will not hesitate to kill us and I have no plans of dying today."

I glared up at the man and wished that I had been bigger and stronger, able to fend for myself and not having Kakuzu and Hidan protecting me.

I was weak, dammit.

"If you listen to what I say, then I will drop the kid of in the next town we pass on our way back to our village, but if you don't …" he let the threat hang in the air and it required no genius to figure out what he meant.

And what do I do to fend for myself? I place my head on his shoulder, feigning tiredness and unawareness and take a deep breath. The scream that I release right into his ear, makes him shout and curse, moving his attention away from Kakuzu and Hidan and thereby giving them the distraction they need. And they took the chance.

Kakuzu was in front of the nin faster than my eye could possible see and with a swift motion, he sliced the throat of my capturer while Hidan engaged the two remaining ones with a high pitched scream. They were no match for him and soon they too were dead.

Hidan kept laughing after they were all finished, and constantly told Kakuzu about the look of utter shock on the face of the nin that had hold me but Kakuzu didn't take part in his joy. He was as silent as the grave and he would occasionally glance down at me with questions and awareness in his eyes. Maybe Hidan didn't find it weird, but Kakuzu found the fact that an infant was so aware of her surroundings, she could plan a distraction. He knew that I was smarter than I looked.

I just hoped that it wouldn't be enough to kill me.


\(•_•)/


I just wrote two, informative, long A/N and both time my laptop decided to be a dick and delete them ... I feel like my laptop is hating me ...

I love you all to pieces, thank your for your continuing support and the reviews even though I suck at replying to all of them ...

I still read them all with a big smile on my face and I appreciate every single one of them and they help keeping this story alive.

Reviews, lovelies, they keep the story going ...