Hidan didn't know how much more of this he could take. He felt like he was wasting the entire season just searching for this stupid shrine. He had stopped to meditate quite a few times, but with the eagerness to be where he was supposed to be, he couldn't focus enough to even hope to. Thankfully he had in fact come across a running steam, so at least his water issue was now solved. He couldn't even care how frozen his hands felt, even as he dipped them into the stream to cup handfuls of icy cold water, nor how his throat burned from being so dry as he swallowed. It just felt so good to finally have his mouth wet, and his thirst quenched.
He had unconsciously decided to follow the stream for the next two to three days, mostly just because he didn't want to move away from where he knew there was water. However, hearing it far before he saw it, he had discovered where the tiny stream ran into meeting the river. The water was swift and loud as it rushed to leap over the side of the cliff, down towards a small pool leading to another part of the mountains. Hidan stood over one of the edges carefully in order to look over and see the small streams, but soon found himself turning away to face his new problem. How the hell was he supposed to get across? There was no bridge, but there had to be a way.
He let his eyes lift to the canopy, thankful to see that there were enough thick branches to more than likely get him across if he was careful. Careful...not exactly Hidan's middle name. Moving over towards one of the larger trees, he placed his foot on the trunk, and used his chakra in order to bind him to the bark, moving up the side of the tree without much effort. One of the many perks to being a shinobi. Sure perhaps he could have used it in order to jump across a raging river, but that was a long way down, and he wasn't exactly a master of chakra control, so he couldn't promise himself that he would be able to shift the appropriate amount each and every time enough to make it. So this was really his best bet.
Now standing upon one of the branches, he marked each step with his eyes, of course taking in for account the ice that was in fact covering most of the branches, he took a large leap from where he was, to the branch across, almost placing him over the center of the river. Now he was really starting to hate winter. The wind whipping through the air was blowing his hair all around his face, and stinging his eyes, making his task only more risky. Brushing the silver locks behind his ears with his fingers, he squinted through the wind, and took another leap, landing about as gracefully as he could manage to the next branch, soon repeating the process until he had finally cleared the entire river. He had to say, he was quite proud of himself. He was quite the acrobat, but unfortunately not always the most graceful on his feet, so this was a tiny accomplishment for him. He hadn't slipped, fallen, gotten wet, and soon killed. Nope, nature not today!
Allowing a tiny grin to cross his face, he finally made his way back down, and back into the forest. He knew he was on the path, just given how the snow was finally starting to lay, but where was this stupid shrine!? This was so irritating? How did they expect him to find a needle in a haystack? Was it a large shrine? Easy to find, like a temple? Was it just a rock engraved somewhere? What did it even look like? He shook his head, unable to really even help the annoyance that was building up inside of him.
"Goddamnit where are you!?" he finally called to no one in particular. He listened as his voice echoed for what was probably miles across the valleys. The shout did little to sooth his anger, but at least he could let off some steam that way. Sometimes, yelling did a body good. However as he stepped forward, his eyes having not been looking directly ahead of where he was going, the snow suddenly began cave beneath his feet. He gasped in surprise and reached out to grab a hold of something, but only grabbed a fistful of snow, his now closed knuckles scrapping against the side of the rocks which he soon found himself facing and falling from. He had walked right off the side of a fucking cliff! How could he have not seen it!? He glanced down quickly, but his fall was abruptly stopped by something large and solid hitting his back and shoulders. He grunted heavily, but soon felt himself sliding again. Yelling out as his body was now once again air born, he landed once more on his stomach, this time on a large, flat piece of stone. He bite his teeth together as his head spun, pain shaking his entire body, which thankfully was clearing away. He stretched his limbs out, but it seemed as though he had been lucky and not broken anything.
Pushing himself up onto his feet carefully, he glanced upward and noticed that he had fallen quite a good distance, but only perhaps thirty feet. There was a large stone, curved pillar over his head, and he guessed it was that arch that had stopped his fall before he had landed on this structure. Looking down, over the edge of where he stood, his breath was stolen. This was it...it had to be. He couldn't see any signs right away, but below, there was the snow covered path, leading to stone stairways, and soon, built into the rocks of the cliff side, what he assumed was the shrine.
Newly found excitement fueled him now. He had done it! Accidentally of course, but nobody expect for him had to know right? Here it was. He leapt off of the edge of the structure, soon landing in front of the stairs below. Turning his body to look upon the doorways, his mind left no room for doubts. Engraved into each door, was in fact the symbol of Jashin. At least it was somewhere inside. His hands felt frozen, and his face was sore from the cold, not to mention his clothing by now was getting soaked.
Rushing to the doors, he pushed them open and stepped inside, closing the doors behind him and basking in the not so freezing temperatures. It was indeed dark inside, but there were lit torches along one side of the walls, revealing more stairs for him to descend. The fact that the torches had been lit sent off red flags in his mind at once. Someone else was there. Junpei hadn't warned him of that. Frowning slightly, he pulled out his retractable staff from his pouch, and tightened his grip on the bag across his back, carefully moving down the stairs.
They stretched on for far too long, but finally he came across a straight and narrow path ahead, another light flickering in his line of sight ahead. Narrowing his eyes, he moved carefully through the hallways. He could hear nothing but the soft crackle of the flames, and all he could see was stone all around him. However he finally reached the end of the hallway, which was now stretching out before him into one large room. The center of the room, had a set of three stairs, and torches set on either side of an alter of Jashin. This one seemed to be made out of what to Hidan looked like solid ebony. Golden bowls that were halfway full of some clear unknown liquid, with the petals of dead flowers, and what appeared to be precious gems were set all in front of the symbol. Offerings no doubt. Around the rest of the room, there were perhaps four different doors, and one hallways that passed behind the symbol.
Hidan blinked and moved to go around the alter, but something moving in the corner of his eyes stopped him. He hissed and aimed the staff towards the offender, but somehow discovered his eyes had missed this man completely. Standing from where he had been sitting in front of the alter, the man stared menacingly at Hidan. He was quite old, his eyes revealed he was blind, his fingernails were long and thick, slightly curved at the tips. He wore long, solid black robes, his face had numerous symbols; from what Hidan knew of all ancient lettering of the language of demons, carved in his skin, and his hands were horribly burned. In his hand was a large wooden staff with a rounded head, and long pointed thorns wrapped around the top and sides of the staff head.
Hidan didn't speak, really just not quite knowing what to say. Was this man also a priest of Jashin? Why hadn't anybody warned him that he would be here? Then again, Hidan hadn't been warned of really anything. He waited for a moment, but the man made no sounds, or movements. Narrowing his eyes, Hidan lowered the staff, but held it firmly in his grip. "You're a follower aren't you?"
The man's head turned slightly to the side, as if he hadn't heard Hidan, but just as Hidan went to repeat himself, the man's head bobbed slowly to affirm the question. Hidan watched him for another moment, wondering just why he didn't simply say yes or no, but somehow he felt like it would be rude to ask. "So am I...I'm here for my seasonal walk? Junpei sent me?" Had they warned this man Hidan would simply be barging into this sacred temple?
The man seemed to respond better to the statements. With his free hand, he curled his long bony fingers towards the hallway behind the alter, still remaining wordless. The point didn't last long however, for soon the man silently sat down in front of the alter once more, his eyes remaining fixed on the symbol, unblinking. It was slightly unnerving.
Sighing to himself, seeing that the man was more than likely going to be as busy as if Hidan weren't even there, he decided to go down the hallway before beginning anything else. Out before him was a set of three, long, wooden tables with large candles set on the centers. They were full of silver laced, crystal goblets, and silver platters full of food. Feeling his stomach start to twist, he would have called out a loud thank you to the man had he not been so busy with his meditations. Dropping his bags onto the ground, he rushed forward to one of the tables, helping himself to portion after portion of grilled salmon, bits of what tasted like bear roast, rice, and muscles with noodles. Of course, who could resist but to top it all off with the wine that was just sitting there for the taking? Pouring a less stingy amount for himself, he indulged himself in the taste before he finally found himself with an empty cup.
He sat back slightly, sighing out in relief. He hadn't even realized he had been so hungry. Smothering what would have been a loud belch in his sleeve, he stood up from the table before moving to grab his bag. He'd have to find a room if he was going to be staying here for the rest of the season, before he would have to go out, and rejoin the old man's company.
Thankfully finding the room proved to be much easier than finding the damned shrine itself. He had put everything way, and gotten himself washed up, before he moved out to where the alter was. He noted strangely, that the old man was missing, but Hidan guessed maybe he went to take a nap? Old men liked to nap, wasn't that right?
Moving up the stairs, he glanced into the offering bowels, but realized, he had nothing to give. He thought for a moment, wanting to give anything he possibly could, but nothing he had on him, was even worth trying. He sighed sadly, wishing that there was at least a mine he knew of where he could just dig up something pretty and give it up, but alas, there wasn't one in his knowledge.
He couldn't help the tiny, pitiful laugh that passed through his lips. He lowered his head in embarrassment, and shook it apologetically. "I feel so unprepared for this. How can Junpei-nii ever think that I was ready? Forgive me Jashin-sama. You must think the worst of me by now. Look at me." He pulled the rosary up,and off of his neck in order to grip tightly in his hands, the out loud prayer continuing. "What have I ever been? My entire village has all but crippled me when it comes to being a shinobi. I'm not strong, my skills are limited, I wasn't born of the faith, I could barely find my way to you." He paused for a moment, before smirking once more. "But I guess in the end...I'm here now. That's all that I suppose should matter. I'm doing my best for you, and...I do want to be closer to you. I want you to own everything there is to own of me. I want you to be proud of me. I'll even do better. Each day, I'll work to do better." The more he said, the more true it began to feel to him. Here he felt as though he could admit everything. He knew most of it didn't matter to his God of course. After all, everyone could admit to their faults, but the only ones who's words truly mattered, where the ones that followed up by their actions. That's just what Hidan intended to do. However this little one on one session, just made him feel closer to his God. That even though he undoubtedly couldn't care less how Hidan felt, his prayers would still be heard, and be listened to, and that was more than enough for Hidan. Junpei would more than likely bust him for wasting Jashin-sama's time with such petty prayers, but Hidan sought to communicate none the less for the sake of communication. He felt no shame with it. Junpei wasn't here, this was Hidan's time to spend with Jashin-sama in whatever way he wished. At least, that was what he had been told.
Soon, he found himself chatting away about as easily as if Jashin-sama were standing there in front of him, flesh and bone. Everything was a topic, his dreams to become one of the closest followers, and to become a better shinobi from his faith, but above all, his dreams to spread the word of his God...with the gift of eternal life. "I don't know how to do it. I know what I want. I want eternal life...so that I can forever spread the knowledge of your word to everybody. Whether they want to hear it or not." He knew how thick people could be, how stubborn they could be when they thought they didn't want something. Jashin-sama made Hidan happy. Gave him a purpose. Why shouldn't everyone else get the chance? Those that denied him, could die. It was blissfully simply.
He sighed slightly before his mouth finally seemed to stop on it's own, though his brain was working furiously on ways to gain eternal life. He knew he couldn't simply ask around This was his goal and he didn't want everybody else meddling in his affairs. No, he would be the one to please Jashin-sama this way. Of course, Taromaru would be in for a pleasant surprise. He would walk forever by Taromaru's side, the son of Jashin-sama, and together they could cleanse the world of sinners, and rescue the lost. They had forever to fight. So it wouldn't be as if their dreams die with their bodies. No, now they had a way around that.
Now the question of how remained. The only books that Taromaru had that could possibly hold answers, were locked away out of reach. He could always simply break into the archives and sneak a few peaks couldn't he? It was for the sake of learning. So why would it be bad? It couldn't be. Especially if he was just careful and didn't get caught.
The weeks passed by slowly. The entire time Hidan had been there, the old man seemed to disappear and reappear out of thin air, there was always food, and Hidan spent most of his time by the alter, sometimes with the old man, as they both worked silently to reach some conclusion with Jashin-sama. Hidan only hoped that his God would be pleased with his efforts. Gaining his approval meant the world to him right now, but he knew it would be easy. Jashin-sama was choosey, vengeful, and half of the time indifferent. However to Hidan, it only meant any praise, would be worth savoring. Any tiny amount you could manage to squeeze out of him.
His quest however was abruptly ended when he felt a hard, yet, brittle hand slap down upon his head, sliding down to grip his shoulder. Hidan yelped out from the hit and tilted his head up and backwards to glare at the old man, who was staring directly ahead. It seemed he had been trying to reach Hidan's shoulder all along, but missed his mark by a bit, cracking him on the top of the head. "Hey! What gives!?" Out of the entire time Hidan had been there, the old man hadn't uttered a single word, or noise. It drove Hidan nuts, and he began to wonder if perhaps the old codger was a mute on top of being blind. He felt the fingers curl around Hidan's robes, as he weakly tugged on them, obviously wanting Hidan to follow.
Frowning, but deciding to do so, Hidan stood up, and walked with the old man before he stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Releasing the hold on Hidan's robes, he pointed up the flight and simply stood there. Hidan of course by now was confused. Looking up at the stairs he climbed to the top to where the doors were. He squinted however at just how bright it was outside. He hadn't stepped outside the entire time he had arrived, which speaking of, just how long had he been there? Or was that the point the old man was trying to make? He pushed the doors open slowly, revealing the outside world. The trees were starting to bud in some areas, and the entire ground was covered in melting snow, but the sky was clear. Heh, so it looked like his time was up. As sad as it was, Hidan didn't feel ready to go home yet. He had been enjoying his time away. Turning to look back at the old man, Hidan went to call out but paused, he was gone again. Damnit, for an old guy, he could really hustle when he wanted. Sighing heavily, Hidan made his way to the bottom of the stairs again to collect his stuff. He did take a few moments to look around to bid the old man farewell, but to his amazement, there was just no sign of him.
"Fucking spooky..." It may have been uncalled for given the old man's appearance, but it was what it was. The man was almost phantom like, and had been the entire time Hidan had stayed there. Shaking his head he decided on second thoughts, being around his normal crowd of people would be a welcome.
It took quite a few days of traveling, but eventually Hidan found himself in the familiar setting of sandy nowhere, the seemingly unimportant chunk of rocks sitting around the surface, signaling his was home. He smiled to himself and began jogging to enter the cave, now excited to show he had returned home. He moved through the dark, rocky tunnels before finally making it to the black pool clearing, where a few of the members were standing among each other, Shou being one of them. At that, Hidan lifted his head arrogantly and smirked, holding his arms out in a dramatic greeting. "Oi bitches! Mah bitches! Ha, ha! Guess's who's back!?"
The small crowd turned their heads, but he received quite a few smiles. Shou stood up and laughed loudly, before jumping across the pool of water to greet his long gone friend, two or three of the members ran through the tunnels, obviously going to spread the word of his return as the rest approached. Shou jumped at Hidan's chest, throwing his arms around him in a tight hug, and moving to lift him up off of his feet before returning him to solid ground. "Hey welcome back! We thought maybe you'd be an icicle by now."
Hidan laughed light heartedly at the greeting as the rest of the members began to induce the game twenty questions his way. He answered each as best he could, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden bomb of noises after being in almost complete silence for so long. However to his rescue soon came Junpei and Taromaru, both looking more than pleased, Yoko, and Gonzo of course moving behind them, each waving their greetings to Hidan. Glancing at the other tunnels, the rest of the members became piling in. Apparently Hidan must have missed just what a big deal these walks were. All of the Jashinists were crowding around in the main room, just to see that he was there? He watched as the path parted for Taromaru, the chatter instantly dying down as his hand lifted. "Welcome back my brother. You have returned from your journey, and from where I stand, I dare say perhaps you have grown a little along the way. You no longer look like the whelp Junpei-san had dragged along behind him. Your eyes say that you have in fact been blessed with a deeper understanding. Of course, just how deep I cannot say, perhaps the...welcoming comity has thrown you off guard?" Hidan smiled lightly as the crowd chuckled quietly. Smirking from underneath the ever present deer skull, Taromaru continued.
"Well, come along to the great hall. We will feast, and celebrate in your honor. You have achieved large step in your faith my brother. And, as my right as High Priest, I here by strip you of your title as monk, and I hereby grant to you, the title of apostle. Congratulations." The pale hands spread out to gesture towards Hidan, who stood almost speechless, as whistles and applause began to roar from the crowd.
He hadn't really even felt himself moving from the sheer shock of it all before Yoko, and Gonzo's voices broke him from his trance. He shook his head and glanced around as soon the great hall was now full of each member, food and wine being passed all down the long rows of occupied talbes, and of course chatter blaring dully in the air. Shou soon poked Hidan's shoulder, smirking curiously. "So, Hidan-nii, what's got you so quiet? Normally it's all we can do to shut you up." Hidan smirked slightly, tossing an apple towards Shou's head, which of course was dodged. Hidan-nii...that just sounded so strange to him. He'd have to get used to that one.
Remembering the comment, but not really, he shrugged lightly, and starting into one of the plates of ribs, dully noting that Kenji's ribs somehow always tasted better. Kenji...it had been years now since Hidan had even really thought of, or been reminded of the bitter old man. He missed him terribly, and wondered just how he was doing. He knew he could never see him again, one because the old pig farmer would probably pull him apart limb from limb and feed him to the hogs, two, he wouldn't be able to stand having Kenji turn him away no matter how much he deserved it. Which he did deserve it, and he knew it. He came into Kenji's life, ignored his protests of becoming a shinobi, and more than likely ruined Kenji's entire life...what little life he had left. Everyone that used to buy and trade with him was dead. All he had was his lively hood now and the only choice he was left with was to wait until the village no doubtingly repopulated again. Why on earth would Kenji ever want to see Hidan again? He probably didn't even miss him. Might even be happy he was gone.
The it occurred to him seemingly out of the blue. Hidan had really looked up to Kenji as a father figure in his life...it was old news that Hidan had never known his parents, hell, nobody in Yugakure even knew where Hidan had come from. He seemed to have just appeared one day. Now, here he was looking at Junpei the same way. However this time, the feeling seemed to be mutual. Junpei had told Hidan before he left, Hidan had become like a son to him. Boy...it seemed that he was just blessed with all kinds of daddy complexes. He was pulled from his thoughts however when Shou waved his hand in front of the silver haired boys face in an attempt to win back his attention.
"Helloo? Earth to Hidan-nii? Anybody home? Hey man, I know you've been on this long, spiritual journey and all, but don't forget about us down here would ya? Hey! Are you even listening?"
Hidan did in fact snap back to reality before swatting Shou's hand away. "Oi! Shut up would you? I heard you damnit...what was the question?" Beside of him Yoko began to laugh, as Gonzo snorted and rolled his eyes deeply. "I think we lost him folks."
Hidan smiled before feigning offense, laughter soon bubbling up in his chest, mostly out of just being glad to be home and surrounded by people that he actually liked. Friends...yea, yea, you could call them that by now. "Hey, hey fuck you all! C'mon seriously, what was the fucking question, I forgot!"
Shou waved his hand dismissively, still unable to stop his laughter. "Don't...don't worry about it."
Ah yes, yes, welcome home Hidan ^-^ Reveal in your joy because shit's gonna go sour here very, very soon _ Tune in next time for another chapter! Thank you all for reading! *cough, cough, review, cough* C'mon gaiiiis, nothing makes me wanna write more than a review every now and again 3~~~~ I'm not above crying for them...I'll do it...I'll fookin' do it!