[AN: the main reason I've been updating so frequently of late has been because I've had an unusual amount of free time. Thus, I must offer a small apology because the updates will be returning to their usual pace. Still, as a token of my appreciation, I offer you a present day snippet from Hidan's mind space.]
HIDAN
It wasn't often that he found himself dwelling on the past, but perhaps it was the fact that Pein seemed finally ready to push for pursuing their true purpose after a certain red eyed Kunoichi had left them compromised, that had him sentimental. It had been a few years now but she'd certainly done quite a number on them. Her departure had finally mellowed out the Uchiha from angsty to brooding and Deidera had started to genuinely live up to his reputation as a crazed bomber. Kakuzu, though he thought nobody knew, would occasionally flick through bingo books searching for a familiar face. Kisame would occasionally glance outside on a particularly rainy day, then fall silent for hours deep in thought. Sasori cut himself of from his already minimal social interactions, even with Deidera.
As for himself, he was a red-blooded male and once in a while flashbacks of steamy nights with his little brunette vixen had him lustfully imagining tracking her down and dragging her back to his bed but more often than not, he pretended she'd never existed. How could he not when the logical alternative was to hunt down the woman he loved and rip her apart in vengeance? Healthy coping mechanisms were not in the Akatsuki's expertise and Pein had really struggled to get them to move past this hurdle. Orochimaru's past betrayal had left them shaken but unsurprised, however Ayaka was a different case. Those that hadn't truly known her ranged from uncaring to baffled and none of them had dared to seek explanations from the other perspective.
They'd been on top the food chain. S class missing ninja that answered to none. Yet, she a mere chuunin, had waltzed into their lives and knocked them from their pedestals with an act so flawless even Itachi had bought it in time. She'd reminded them with smiles and blood and sweat and lust and fucking friendship, that the cycle of predator and prey couldn't be ignored nor was it to be underestimated. She wasn't just a mere monster, she'd been something of a more sadistic nature. She was a ravenous beast that dragged out the best of them before she dared to indulge in such a feast. Like obedient fools, they'd failed to realise that the most dangerous thing to a shinobi's way life was a beautiful woman. How could the universe allow for such a lethal carnivore to adopt such an innocent facade?
It just so happened that said woman had been his personal seductress in more ways than one. Oh, he craved her flesh beneath him but her also craved the taste of her blood. Would it too be a sweet poison upon his soul? Jashin had grown silent since her departure from his life and his bed. The reason was clear enough he supposed.
Ayaka had promised Jashin his head for immortality and his kami had indulged her promise. Unfortunately, his apprentice had abandoned her pursuit and his benevolent kami who'd been promised a death of an immortal, was now demanding blood in with dangerous silence. Hidan hadn't shied away from offering up Jashin blood but his kami had yet to be satisfied.
Intuitively, he knew exactly who's blood Jashin lusted for. The question was, what was he willing to do about it?