Bring on the chill rain,

And we'll go back in time.

Everything's the same,

and falling into place.

Why does this keep happening?

Crashing down with the lightning…

Smash my heart into pieces and sing…

"I can help you."

Kakuzu stared at the tall woman. She had piercing russet eyes, a freckled covered face, and black wavy hair that was tied up into a ponytail. She had a resemblance to someone he knew before. Specifically, Naho. He brushed it off as a simple coincidence, despite them having the same exact facial features.

"Tch, no you can't."

"You just need to get away from Takigakure, right? I saw you running from there, and you're really injured. What did you do?" She gave a questioning look.

"...I'm not obligated to tell you that."

"You murdered someone, didn't you!"

Well, a few people.

"No. I'm leaving." the man got up, ignoring any pain he had, but she yanked him back downward. He groaned.

"At least let me heal you! I'm a pretty snazzy healer." she grinned like an idiot.

Snazzy?

"I don't need your help." he turned away.

"You obviously do. So, just lay down. I'll even do it for free!"

Well, if it's for free…

"Fine. Hurry up."

"You can't just expect me to do it in five minutes. You have to rest for a few days, at least." she pouted at his attitude.

"...Why are you helping me." Kakuzu said it more as a statement than a question.

"I have to help everyone in need, it's my duty! So, sit still." she pushed him down onto the ground.

She's strong…

The black-haired woman had her hands above his worst injuries, and a light green chakra began enveloping her hands. Her chakra felt pleasant to him. Euphoric. She had a focused gaze, losing her previous cheerful demeanor.

Why did it feel so familiar?

"What's your name."

"Huh? It's a secret, for now. Now please shut up."

She's bipolar.

He laid completely still, allowing the strange woman to heal his injuries. He was thinking of killing her after, just in case it was a trap. Part of him didn't want to do that, though.

"Okay, now you just need to rest!"

"That was...quick." he pointed out.

"Oh, I suppose I should reveal the secret. My name is Ryomi!" she smiled.

"Ryomi...of Yugakure," he said slowly. She nodded. "You've gotten yourself quite a high bounty on your head," Kakuzu said simply. He wasn't a bounty hunter at this point, so he didn't care.

"Ah...yeah. I was actually running from some bounty hunters earlier." her gaze moved towards the exit. "But, I am an expert escapist! Ahah!" she grinned again. Kakuzu looked at her like she was an idiot.

"If they capture you, I'm not helping." he scowled at her.

"I wasn't thinking that, but good to know you were thinking about me!" she smiled. Kakuzu's eye twitched. She was annoying.

"Shut up." he sighed.

"Ass - hole," she said slowly, pointing at him. "That's your name. Don't bother telling me your real one." Kakuzu sighed.

"I wasn't planning on doing so."


After a turn of events, they began traveling together. Ironically, she was about to be captured and killed by bounty hunters, but he somehow ended up saving her, despite him saying he wasn't going to. As a result of that, she feels indebted to him. She also decided to accompany him for awhile. He protested against it, but something in him told him to just accept it. And, he actually listened. She acted as his healer when he needed it, and he offered her protection from the bounty hunters. She only had a high bounty on her head because of her exceptional healing abilities. Other than that, she was basically useless.

"I have a question."

"Yeah? What is it?" Ryomi said while walking beside her friend. Well, in her eyes, they were friends.

"Are you related in any way to...a Naho?" he asked.

"Naho...Naho...Well, I mean, the name sounds kinda familiar."

"I would hope so. She was a strong ninja."

"Why do you ask?"

"...You look a lot like her."

"Was she hot?!"

"Shut up." Kakuzu already regrets asking. "You two have very similar facial features. That's it."

"Oh ho ho! Was she your girlfriend?" Kakuzu flinched.

"We were married." Ryomi made an 'o' with her mouth, gasping.

"You don't seem like the type to get married! Pff.." Ryomi laughed.

"Well, I'm not anymore. She died on a mission with me." she halted her laughter abruptly, and began sweating nervously.

"O-oh. Er...sorry. I'm sure she was pretty snazzy."

She sure likes the word snazzy.

"So, tell me about that mission. You've mentioned it before," she asked.

Kakuzu surprisingly ended up telling her all about the mission to assassinate the first Hokage. He had failed, and Naho ended up being horribly injured by several leaf nin. He managed to get her before she died, though. She died in his arms. He even told her about how he was imprisoned by his own village for failing the mission, and he managed to escape and kill the village elders. He also stole the village's forbidden jutsu, Earth Grudge Fear.

"Wow. I'd totally kill them too."

"Ryomi, you can't even fight." he pointed out.

"I can! I can…" she punched him in the shoulder, knocking him over.

"I didn't need a demonstration," he muttered, getting up. She smirked with triumph.

"Expect the unexpected!" She walked ahead of him. His gaze bore into her back. She was interesting, he'll give her that. He's known her for several months at this point, yet he couldn't predict the wild spirit.


"Kakuzu, who's this guy?"

"Ryomi, be quiet for one moment, will you?"

"Hmph. Fine."

"I am Pain. You are Kakuzu of Takigakure and Ryomi of Yugakure. Who would have known that two powerful ninjas like you would be working together."

"I wouldn't say working together. It's temporary." Kakuzu said.

"What do you want?" Ryomi asked.

"I want for you both to join the Akatsuki. You would be very good assets."

"Unless it's profitable, I'm not joining your organization."

"I have a proposition. Fight me, both of you. If I win, you must join. If you win, you are free to choose whatever you like."

"We'll do it!"

"Ryomi!"

"What? C'mon, let's just get some practice in!"

"You idiot…"

"It's two versus one! There's no way we can lose!"


You lost. Now, come with me."

"This is your fault Ryomi."

"You could probably make money off of this, so stop complaining. That's my job." Ryomi said while crossing her arms. She winked at him and smiled.

"...Right."


Ryomi and Kakuzu joined the Akatsuki together, being the first few to join. At this point, everything began spiraling downward for both of them. Kakuzu's temper got worse and worse, and he took it out on her, in more ways than just one. She began detesting him for it. It stopped, though, for awhile. They couldn't tolerate being around each other anymore, much like Hidan and Kakuzu.

As more and more members joined the Akatsuki, Kakuzu became even more of a recluse. Ryomi eventually switched partners for a while, leaving Kakuzu with other members. He ended up killing them, of course. Ryomi and Kakuzu began slowly patching up their relationship, even though it was mostly Ryomi's doing. Kakuzu couldn't stand being around the reincarnate.

They became official partners again, and Hidan soon joined the picture. Ryomi and he bickered a lot, much to Kakuzu's annoyance.

"Why are you taller than me? What the fuck?" Hidan stared at the freckled woman.

"I guess my parents loved me more."Ryomi said immaturely, despite her being a grown adult.


"No! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Shut the hell up!"

A scream of pain echoed in the cave. The black haired woman was kicked violently against a tree. She was quivering with pain and fear. Her eyes shot open and stared at the man who injured her. Only she could put up with that for years on end.

Ryomi forced herself up and ran away before he could hurt her anymore. She was lucky to have even survived that blow. She could hardly run, but she forced herself to. Why was he like this? One minute, he'd be kind to her, the next, he's using her as a way to blow off steam. She hated it.

"Ryomi Akagane…" a voice said. She weakly turned, and a rope was placed violently around her neck. They carried her body, and tied the rope to a thick branch, and hung her there. She struggled for air, and she made a sad attempt to escape. They threw several swords at her, piercing vital areas. The swords stayed in the tree behind her, keeping her up like a pin.

"What the fuck man? She's hardly going to be recognizable. How are we going to get the payment?"

"Her sweet face is still showing." laughter.

Ryomi stopped struggling. Her breaths slowed, and she went completely limp. Her body was covered in her own blood, and her neck was broken.

"Ryomi is dead." Pain said to Kakuzu and Hidan.

Kakuzu just stared at his boss, showing no emotion.

"What was the cause?"

"Two bounty hunters got her. They hung her and then stabbed her to death. She was turned into a collection office." Pain moved his gaze elsewhere. "I'm sorry," he said sympathetically, which seemed uncharacteristic for him. He must have known about Kakuzu's supposed love for her.

"I'm going out," Kakuzu said darkly, and then left the hideout. Hidan stared at him as he left.

"Man…"

From that day, Kakuzu blamed Hidan for his constant beating of Ryomi. He blamed Hidan because he annoyed the miser constantly, which resulted in him taking out his anger on his friend. The person he cared for, a lot.

He deeply regrets it. He hated himself for it. But, there was something he could look forward to. Her next reincarnation.


These moments fall apart

We've walked this path before

You've said your lines, now it's

time to play my role once more

And we'll restart

The cycle again

And we'll restart, breaking each other again…

(Heyo homeslices! Listen to the song Deja Vu by VocaCircus ;D kthxbye)