Chapter Fourteen: Run, little rabbit…

Ino couldn't breathe. Her body just pulsed with a dull ache now. Allira's grip kept her still and unable to move away from Hidan who was painting the crisp earth with blood, stroking his feet back in what could be considered a graceful dance if not for the dark intent that flashed in his eyes as he licked a thick, red tongue over his lips that were paled from the conditions of the night.

Was…was this it, seriously? It didn't even feel real any more, like she was watching from afar, like she wasn't connected with her own body.

God dammit, she was so set on feeling sorry for herself and just dealing with what shit the world threw at her that she forgot she used to be a fine soldier and still could be with effort.

Suddenly going into dead weight, Allira stumbled awkwardly and tried to grasp her again but the blonde stuck her leg out and with a quick, short spin. Kicked the brunette away. Hidan was too busy creating his ritual when Ino found a large rock, picking it up as the rough texture scraped at her fingertips, she thrust it on the side of his head. Blood trickled in thick masses down the back of his neck and hair, staining the clean white a dark crimson. The surprise and pain knocked him down and he swore loudly.

Ino took this advantage, wasting no time in turning on her heel and running into the undergrowth once again.

"Fuck, you can't run very far, stupid bitch!" the gritty tone of the Jashinist resounded and sent fear into her heart once more. Like a fresh, cold knife.

Blood and dirt grazed her flawless flesh as she managed to tangle herself in the reaching branches that clouded her vision with looming nails.

"No, No!" she screamed.

Hot hands wound round her waist and she shrieked, kicking and shivering as she was dragged from the thorns into a small opening.

"Calm down, woman!"

Ino's brain took a moment to process the words that were just muttered with haste into her ear.

Only one person called her woman with such vexation in his deep voice.

"Kakuzu…" she spun round and landed face first into the material of his chest as he held her close.

He didn't say anything. Ino took in a deep breath and returned the embrace with sore arms.

A calloused hand ran through her wet, grimy locks.

"What the hell is going on, Ino?" he asked.

"My dad, he was behind the whole thing, he just wanted money, he…he is trying to kill me" Ino finally claimed after a lot of stammering and tears.

Kakuzu went tense.

"That bastard…" he muttered, nearly inaudible to Ino but the next thing she knew, was Kakuzu had swept her up - bridal style – and was darting through the forest as though she weighed nothing.

"Where are we going?" Ino managed to get out.

But he didn't answer.

"You are telling me, she knocked you down and got away?"

There is a tone scarier than furious yelling, and that is when it is slow, dangerous, challenging and from Pein.

Deidara gulped.

"Look man, I didn't expect the crying brat to fight back, but what does it matter, if you were going to kill her anyway, why not let her run, get away from here, yeah?" the blonde explained with an anxious grin.

"What if she tells someone?"

"I doubt that, she hardly wants to think about the old bastard, let alone see him again in court, un"

"That is not for you to assume, you have failed this and there will be consequences" the pierced man turned to face Inoichi.

"Your daughter has ran away"

"What the hell are you talking about, I thought you put her under high surveillance!" the blonde man glanced at Deidara who shrugged.

"This is…this isn't how it was supposed to go, you should have gotten rid of her before, that's why I kept up with the tracking, making sure she used her phone and…oh god!"

Inoichi put his head in his hands and inhaled slowly.

"Fucks sake, you have to find her!"

"We did, but the squirming whore got away again, clever little bitch you got there" Hidan snarled.

All three turned to see Hidan and Allira crouching on the window, they took note of the dried blood on the man's neck.

"Are you seriously telling me, she got away from both of you?" Pein's voice cracked the slightest little bit and only the Akatsuki noticed.

"That's not all, that hard-core bastard-"

The lights went out with a splintering crack, Inoichi just stood and glanced around in wild panic but

The Akatuski immediately went into defence.

"Look, leader, the girl didn't know anything about that night, all she heard was a bit of swearing, she is harmless, yeah!"

"That is no longer the problem, Deidara. By threatening the girl, letting her out and then involving her in another capture attempt, Kakuzu has found her and is most probably rather furious at what has happened to her. He is our main priority; we can't have any vengeance going on"

Pein sighed then vanished.

"Great, so now we have to deal with a furious Kakuzu, un" Deidara growled in the darkness.

"Why is this Kakuzu such a danger?"

"There is a reason he makes such a good bodyguard" Allira piped up.

"Well deal with it! I am going to get my money"

"Look, not to be rude, but if you step out of these room, we can't guarantee you will even live" the young woman told him.

"You are too soft Allira, if the dick stays in here or not and Kakuzu makes an appearance, I haven't been asked to save his ass" Hidan sneered.

All the voices were dizzying in the dark.

"In fact, why are we even here anymore, come on blue eyes" Hidan turned to Allira and cocked his head to the side, gesturing to the outside.

Allira hesitated but nodded and fled out the window with the albino without another word.

"Hey, what about me, yeah?" Deidara raced to the edge were Hidan looked up with a smirk, the moonlight making his features striking. It also illuminated the shadowed edges of Allira's hand beneath her coat.

"I said blue 'eyes', you fucking moron"

With that the pair vanished.

"Stupid, white haired priest, un" Deidara scowled before turning back to the suddenly very alarmed expression of Inoichi.

"Sorry, yeah" Deidara shrugged and with a slight grin he jumped out the window too.

Inoichi just stood in the darkness.

"Fuck"

The older man was not going to deal with this kind of shit. Opening the door he ran across the landing and down the stairs to the phone.

Kakuzu has stopped briefly to check Ino for injuries.

"I am fine, but…seriously, is it even worth going after him?"

"Of course, no one kills you, not whilst I am here"

"I love you too" Ino chuckled weakly.

"But seriously" she added, taking his face into her hands, looking into his wrath ignited eyes that softened when they met her own.

"Let's just go, let's not make a crime scene" she smiled and leant forward, kissing him over his veil.

Kakuzu loosened and closed his eyes but took Ino by the shoulders and reluctantly pulled her back.

"Just going to give him a fright, I'm not going to kill him, Ino"

Inoichi had expected this, expected the unruly rage of this so called Kakuzu who had won his daughters affections so boldly, expected him standing before him with bloodlust in his eyes and strength in his fists; which is why he stood behind at least twenty soldiers, clad in thick armour, shields at the ready, nothing but cold obedience on their tight lips as they faced Kakuzu who stood in the doorway; Inoichi saw Ino standing behind him, blood and rain staining her.

Naturally the soldiers, no matter how many, were no match for Kakuzu; he broke bone like he ripped a sheet of paper. The muscles in his legs hardly strained as they lifted from the ground and beat against their bodies with inhuman power that linked to the intensity of his fists and arms that restrained and hit.

Ino was stunned and frightened by his anger, so stayed afar from the doorway as Kakuzu painted the crisp, white marble walls red.

Glancing over at her father with venom at her tongue, she nearly felt satisfied by the look of pure fear on his expression as he realised he wasn't getting away so easily.

But there was sadness, a part of her that wanted to believe he wasn't really doing this, that he wasn't selling her out and then ordering her death.

If only he had spoken with her, sure there would have been hurt as she realised he never really wanted her, but she could have left. Why did it have to be this way?

Closing her arms around her body protectively, she looked down.

Meanwhile Kakuzu was advancing towards Inoichi; it was as though the ebony clad soldiers didn't exist.

By the time the ex-akatsuki had reached the blonde hair man with his hollow blue eyes and his fear and his cowardice.

Kakuzu had relished in his overwhelming bloodlust and was now somewhat controlled, controlled enough to remember his promise to Ino that he would not kill the scum before him.

But he could sure as hell frighten him.

"Are you proud?" his voice was grated, like granite on steel.

A hand caught around the front of the man's suit and lifted him up; his toes struggled to maintain their balance on the ground.

Even if he had wanted to answer, the breath was drained from his lungs as his face turned an unattractive red, eyes watering slightly.

"Are you proud, that you are selling…killing your daughter for a handful of cash you don't really need?" Kakuzu was cold, stern, controlled and stone cold.

Like he was dragging every ounce of guilt from the blue eyed member, Ino at this point had entered the room and tried to prevent any more blood getting onto her clothes as she approached them.

Inoichi saw his daughter and glared.

Kakuzu tightened his grip and a noise akin to a wounded animal escaped the once proud man.

"No" he choked.

"No?"

"No I am not proud, god dammit!"

Ino took in a deep breath but didn't make any move to prevent her father's slow asphyxiation.

"Why don't you tell your daughter that?"

Kakuzu dropped the man who fell to the ground with a dull thud, holding the bruising round his neck and taking in slow intakes of oxygen.

He glanced up at Ino with bloodshot eyes.

"I am sorry, I am not proud of what I have done, I have done you wrong, so wrong Ino"

The young woman came up to Kakuzu and wound her arms around his waist.

"Let's go, let's grab some money and go" she whispered into his back.

But he heard her.

Following her as they walked past the man who remained within close proximity to the ground and into his office, Inoichi could do nothing as they walked out with a bag full of cash and towards the door.

"Ino…" he called weakly. The girl turned around to face him.

But no words escaped him, what could he possibly say?

He never did say anything, just watched Ino and her bodyguard leave and close the door.

Inoichi knew he would never see his daughter again.

In some weird way, he was glad; this was what he always wanted.

But at the same time, he had never felt so repulsive, with guilt that painted his soul black.

A/N: Sorry! I didn't make the Akatsuki their usual unstoppable selves but fighting isn't my thing and they aren't in the Ninja universe. Perhaps luck is on their side? (Kakuzu and Ino's side)

#LAW09

To VenezuelaHills: Hahaha, I'm glad you're getting into it! The last chapter is (finally) up and I hope you enjoy!

To Queen Espada: I'm so sorry for the delay! I'm so happy you are enjoying it, bless you darling! :D

To speedrunner: I KNOW. I'M A HORRIBLE HUMAN. I'm so glad you're not too angry and that you have given my work such nice praise! I love slow-build up's myself and the fact you are alright with this one despite your own preferences is great! Thank you so much! Ahh, my romantic crap, indeed. The story is indeed finished and I thank you for your review!

To WordFairy237: It has now been updated after all this time and I can only apologise for the delay, but thank you for the review and it's great you are so hooked!

To Girasol93: You are aware I have replied via PM, but I must thank you on here as well for such a lovely, long and detailed review! It was so motivating and I hope my improvement have made it better to read. Thank you for your fave and sub and all of my gratitude is within the PM message, thank you again for an amazing review!