Kakashi's motion finally stilled; he had worn himself out, despite knowing all his efforts were futile. Blood ran down his face from where he had created lacerations and abrasions, and bruises covered his body.
"Finally given up?"
Kakashi started at Itachi's voice and tried to back away, failing in the weakness of his own body. Itachi crouched down in front of him, hand flashing out and snatching Kakashi's.
"Quiet. I'm not in the mood to fight with you."
Kakashi yanked back, but to no avail. Itachi's tight grip only became tighter, and Kakashi whimpered at the loss of circulation in his hand.
"See? I'll break it."
Kakashi bit his lip, fighting a cry of pain as Itachi twisted his wrist harshly to the side. He could feel blood trickling down his face, and Itachi released his hand.
"I told you."
"But it's not actually broken," Kakashi whispered. Itachi laughed and straightened. "You're absolutely pathetic." And he delivered a hard kick to Kakashi's bleeding side. The jounin yelped in surprise and pain, skidding back as far as Itachi's kick had forced him.
"What was that for? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"Don't be naïve. Cute as you are, I hate stupid people."
Kakashi lowered his head. In truth, he hadn't done anything, and he and Itachi both knew it. The problem was, Itachi was just a sadist and truly enjoyed seeing him so miserable.
"I really should have tied you down," he murmured, tracking back to Kakashi. By now, Kakashi's survival instincts were starting to kick in, and he slipped back, trying to evade Itachi.
"That would have been so beautiful…"
"Leave him alone."
Itachi whipped around. Hidan was standing there, and now he walked over to Kakashi and gently picked him up. "He's having a rough time, he doesn't need you to make it worse."
Kakashi settled against Hidan's chest, hearing the missing-nin's heart beating softly in his chest. Hidan's strong arms wrapped around Kakashi's trembling form, and he held him close as he carried him out of the room.
"He's mine now."
OOOOOOOOO
Tsunade was pacing. Only four more days until the Akatsuki sent Kakashi to his end…she had yet to go to Kurenai and Asuma, but she had been planning on going today…
"Tsunade-sama!"
Kurenai slammed the door open and stood panting for a moment before she gasped, "I came as soon as I heard. Asuma's-"
"Right here."
Asuma stepped around Kurenai and said, "We'll go. It'll be a trap. We get all these ANBU hiding in the trees, we meet, we get Kakashi, we go, and then –Bam!- they're all dead."
"Well, I don't have anything better, and I doubt I can come up with anything in three days…" Tsunade said slowly. "Alright, we'll do it."
OOOOOOOOO
Hidan set Kakashi down in the bathroom and reached underneath the sink for some bandages. He emerged triumphant and began carefully cleaning out Kakashi's wounds.
"You okay?"
Kakashi shook his head, not bothering to speak. He flinched as Hidan neared his bruised, sprained wrist, and yelped in pain as he touched it. Hidan released him quickly, and Kakashi pulled his hand back into his stomach.
"What? Is it broken?"
Kakashi shook his head again and hesitantly extended the wrist again.
"Come on, you can talk, I won't hurt you."
Kakashi simply withdrew again.
Hidan sighed. "I don't want to hurt you, and you know it."
He slowly reached out, trying not to startle Kakashi. The jounin didn't move, so Hidan slowly picked up the horrendously bruised wrist and began gently turning it. "Tell me if I'm hurting you, okay?" Hidan knew Kakashi probably wouldn't, but it was worth a try.
"Stop!"
Hidan immediately let go, seeing Kakashi's face twist with pain. "Ready?"
Kakashi nodded, and Hidan started again on his wrist, sighing. "I don't know what Itachi was thinking," he muttered, wrapping bandages around to protect the wrist. "Abusing you like that."
"Stop trying to make me feel better."
Kakashi sounded so crushed Hidan wanted to hold him forever and comfort him. But he knew Kakashi didn't even want to be touched right now, so he simply extended his arm, offering an embrace and letting Kakashi take it at his own pace. Kakashi only looked confused for a moment, then he realized what Hidan was offering. He slipped into Hidan's arms again, letting Hidan hold him.
"I know your organization is going to kill me in four days."
"Only if Kurenai and Asuma do not come, or Deidara and Kakuza are not returned," Hidan said quickly. "And if they're not, I won't let them hurt you."
"Don't lie to me."
Hidan sighed. "I'm not lying. Relax, I only want to get you out of here as soon as possible."
Kakashi 's exhale was quiet, and Hidan barely felt it against his bare chest. "Fine."
OOOOOOOOOO
"Good news!"
Hidan eased Kakashi off his chest, moving the sleeping jounin to the side and covering him with the blankets. "What?" Hidan grunted, stepping off the side of the bed. Kakashi awoke just then, slipped out of the bed, and walked just behind Hidan to the door, shadowing him all the way.
Sasori stood in the doorway.
"Tsunade has a response. She is sending her own ninja to us."
Hidan gave a curt nod. "When do we cut this one loose?" he asked, motioning to Kakashi. "He's scared shitless and he's totally useless."
Sasori replied, "Whenever Tsunade's ninja get here. She's giving us a location for a tradeoff."
Hidan nodded. "Thanks."
"Well, since you're in charge of him…"
Hidan closed the door as Sasori walked away, and he gently took Kakashi's shoulders to guide him to the bedroom again. "Get some sleep."
Kakashi nodded and lay down quietly; by now he had been with Hidan for three days, and apparently it was enough time for the jounin to grow to trust him. Hidan settled next to him and promptly went back to sleep, Kakashi curled up against his stomach.
OOOOOOOOO
Tsunade exhaled heavily as she watched her ANBU sink into trees, hide behind rocks, melt into different shapes, transform, or otherwise obscure themselves from sight. Tsunade then walked forward and waited for the Akatsuki to appear.
She knew she would be waiting a while.
OOOOOOOOO
Kakashi awoke to Hidan shaking him.
"Come on, wake up…I know you're awake, now get up!"
Kakashi slowly sat up, looking around. Hidan was the only one in the room, and he was standing over him now, trying to wake him up.
"Okay, I'm up," Kakashi said, letting Hidan pull him into his arms.
"Okay, then. Clean yourself up; and do it quickly. Tsunade is waiting for us, and we have to bring you along otherwise the deal's off."
Kakashi nodded, and Hidan handed him his clothes.
"Bathroom's on the right."
OOOOOOOOO
The rustling of leaves brought Tsunade out of her daydream and back to the present world. Sasori stood in front of her, Hidan behind him, and the rest of the Akatsuki behind him.
"The two we requested?"
Asuma and Kurenai stepped forward, in front of Tsunade, and glared at the Akatsuki.
"Kakashi?"
Hidan pushed Kakashi forward, and he fell at Tsunade's feet. The Hokage wordlessly picked him up, and Kurenai glanced up.
"Peanut butter."
Tsunade's trap had been sprung, and Sasori was regretting letting go of Kakashi so soon now. ANBU were everywhere, and Sasori had not seen that coming. But he should have…
Now, there wasn't much he could do. He simply had to fight and pray he could make it. Or he could run like a cowardly dog…but he would survive, even if his dignity didn't…
Sasori pulled out a summoning scroll, swept blood across it, and called up his puppets. In the background, he could catch glimpses of Hidan and Kisame reaching for their swords, Zetsu forming a jutsu, and Itachi's Sharingan swirling into existence. Sighing, Sasori pulled out another scroll and summoned those puppets as well, as a certain Copy Ninja had just blown half of his originals to pieces with some weird water jutsu…
There was no way they could survive this. No way in hell. But they had to try, otherwise they couldn't get the jinchuuriki they needed for-
Oh, what the fuck, just run.
OOOOOOOOO
Tsunade saw the Akatsuki trying to retreat, and was stuck with another killer decision-pursue, or let them retreat?
"Go after them!" she called. "Asuma and Kurenai stay here! Kurenai, take Kakashi and go! Asuma, go with her!"
Kurenai nodded, swept Kakashi into her arms, and took off. Asuma shadowed her, pulling his chakra blades out. Wind chakra blazed along the edges, and Asuma charged in front of Kurenai, chopping down branches and vines that were in her way. Tsunade watched them go, and then followed her ANBU after the Akatsuki.
The Akatsuki were very good at fleeing, Tsunade concluded. They were fast, and they hid themselves well. Tsunade herself was having trouble spotting them.
"There! Up ahead!"
A flash of red drew Tsunade's attention, and she dove after it, knowing she may not get another opportunity like this. The ANBU split, trying to get around the Akatsuki and cut them off. Tsunade raised her thumb, bit it, and began forming hand signs.
"Come on out, sluggy…"
OOOOOOOOO
Kurenai panted as she pulled Kakashi after her; she was running too fast with too much weight.
"Asuma, can you take him for me, please?" she called.
Asuma nodded briefly and stopped just ahead of her. Kurenai pulled up behind him and handed Kakashi to Asuma.
"You okay?"
Kurenai nodded. "Don't worry about me, worry about Kakashi. He looks horrible."
"Thanks," Kakashi muttered. "It probably looks worse than it feels."
"I dunno, that looks pretty harsh," Kurenai said. "And that wrist…"
Kakashi shrugged. "It's okay…I guess…"
"Come on, we need to get him to the hospital."
Asuma picked up Kakashi and ran, Kurenai running in front of him to clear the way.
A/N: That was the worst chapter ever. I'm sorry, everyone! TT