"Nell?" Neborah asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. I jerked away, head lowered as my whole body shook in anger. I threw the letter on the ground and ran out, ignoring Neb's shouts of protest. I sprinted down the corridors, wiping unwanted tears from my eyes. I looked up just in time to skid to a halt before running head-long into Hidan. He still had to steady me by my shoulders, though, looking at me worriedly.
"Hey, what's wrong? What's going on?" He asked, noting the tears that still fell from my eyes. I wiped angrily at them, wishing they'd just disappear already. But I couldn't help it. I cried when I was angry, and even more when I was angry and sad.
"Nothing. I'm leaving." I said with a hoarse voice as I strode past him, seeing my room just down the tunnel. He followed.
"Okay, even I'm not dumb enough to believe that. What happened?" He persisted. I balled my fists.
"My family." I growled, shocking him and making him stop for a second. But I marched on, so he caught back up, but waited at the door of my room when I reached it. I pulled a duffel bag out from under my bed and started flustering around for things to pack.
"That bad?" He asked; I nodded.
"Apparently, I was under house arrest before I even knew what it meant." I said, throwing clothes into the bag. "My mom and dad wrote Neborah a note before we were forced to leave that I was never to be let out into the real world. Which is anything beyond this goddessforsaken city and these stinky tunnels." I slowed down when I opened the top drawer of my own dresser, gazing softly down at the one thing I was allowed to keep from my past.
I gently picked up the small, plush, pokeball-shaped pillow. It opened to reveal a sewed-in message from Mom and Dad. "We Love You, From Now Until Forever. You're Our Little Savior," it read, with a little pink heart under the words. I gripped it tightly. What was that even supposed to mean? How was I a savior? I used to think it was just a cute little thing from my early childhood, but now I realized something. It didn't make any fucking sense whatsoever.
I tossed the pillow onto the dirty floor, forcing my mind to forget about it as I returned to the bag and zipped it up. I hadn't noticed Hidan approaching, and suddenly he was in front of me, deep concern in his eyes as he blocked my path from my room.
"I can see how that would upset you, but try to think clearly. Is leaving really an answer to this?" He asked quietly. I looked to the side, biting my lip. I didn't want to have this conversation right now.
"Yes." I said before stepping around him. I was surprised and a little hurt that Neborah hadn't already come down to find me. Maybe she didn't think I would just take off like this. Oh, how naive she was.
"So that's it? You're just going to leave?" Hidan asked, still following me as I made my way back to the kitchen. My pokemon should still be there, probably sleeping.
"Yup." I said simply. A small pause ensued.
"Well, then I guess I have no choice." He said finally, walking up beside me without looking at me. I glanced at him in confusion.
"What?" I asked; he smirked.
"I'm going with you." He said, and I froze in my tracks. He stopped to look at me seriously. "Well, to be completely correct, both me and Kakuzu are going with you." He said. I narrowed my eyes.
"Why? So you can save my ass next time I get in a little scrape like before?" I asked harshly. He just rolled his eyes.
"Well, if things get that bad, sure. But that's not why I want to accompany you on your journey." He said, walking on. Ignoring the fact that he now took the lead, I followed him.
"Then why?" I asked, really wanting to know now. What other reason was there than to protect me?
"Well, for one, even though I've been traveling with Kakuzu for a long time, he still gets on my nerves." He said. "Having someone else around will keep him in check. He's always so polite around other people, but with me, it's all a bunch of wise-cracks and bite-me-on-the-ass. And, for another...well. I like you." He stated, causing my head to turn to look at him in shock. He chuckled. "As a friend, don't get your panties in a twist." He elaborated. I nodded in what I hoped looked like relief. But, really, I was kind of disappointed. "Anyway, you have a sense of humor, you're already on Kakuzu's good side - which is difficult to get on, mind you - and you have a strong personality. Those are all a bunch of really good qualities, but that doesn't mean the list ends there." He said. I thought about that for a moment.