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Chapter 25: Unlikely Alliance

Song of the Chapter:
All Around Me – Flyleaf
Reason: Hidan and Emiko's relationship

Emiko was sulking around the liar and was not, for once, sitting next to Hidan. The now shirted Hidan looked at the kunoichi in confusion. Deidara raised a blond eyebrow and looked at the Jashinist. "What the hell did you do, un?"

Emiko glared at the two of them before sitting at a chair next to a window. Looking out, she had a rather impressive view of a garden that Zetsu planted. "I have no fucking clue," Hidan whispered. "If you find out, please tell me… I really am not sure what the hell happened and seeing Emiko-chan like this scares me."

Deidara exchanged an apprehensive glance with Sasori. The puppet rolled his eyes. "I'll see what I can do, but you both will owe me big." Hidan nodded and Deidara nudged the redhead. Walking over to Emiko, Sasori sat down next to her. She gave a small smile at the puppeteer but still looked curiously at him. "Emiko-san, what is the matter? I thought after the mission, you would be happy to see everyone; especially Hidan."

Emiko looked at Sasori before she stole a quick glance at Hidan. When the Jashinist sensed her gaze, he tried to meet her eyes, but she relocated her glance to the garden. "Well… my body feels weird right now." Sasori raised his eyebrows as he was taking a sip of some tea. "I talked to Konan about why I felt weird and she explained that this is the first time that this personality or rather side of me has had to deal with what she called a 'period'. Kimiko has been rather quiet about this subject…" Sasori choked on his tea and slipped from his chair. Eyes widening, Emiko looked quickly to Hidan and Deidara who rushed quickly to the puppet master. "Deidara-kun, Hidan-kun, how exactly can Sasori-san, a puppet, choke?"

It was at this time that they were glad that Kisame and Itachi were off gathering more information on the Nine Tailed Fox, that Konan and Pain were off inspecting their other bases, and that Zetsu had taken Tobi to as he had delicately called it, 'draining his hyperactivity'. Kakuzu was still at the base, but was much distracted with counting precious money.

Sasuke looked bored listening to Kabuto and Atsushi's plan. Rolling his eyes, he looked out the window into the courtyard where he had the prior day, collapsed in the pain due to his curse seal being removed. The other two in the room were busy discussing Orochimaru's demise. Honestly, how difficult is it to accept that Orochimaru died? A better question is how a young girl that has gaps in her memory was able to defeat a Sannin?

Sasuke was jarred out of his thoughts when Kabuto's voice drifted over to him. "So Sasuke-kun, you have been rather quiet. Are you in on our plans?"

Sasuke looked between the silver haired medical ninja and the now withered old man that Atsushi had reverted to. "Why the hell would I care? If Orochimaru was so weak to be taken down by an amnesiac, he isn't a fit teacher for me and there are no feelings of vengeance in that regard."

Atsushi looked at the Uchiha with amusement. "What if I told you that this woman is in the same organization as your older brother Itachi?" Sasuke's eyes snapped to the old man immediately. "She is an Akatsuki member and a powerful one at that." Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he considered his options.

Kabuto could tell that the young Uchiha was at the point where the agreement could go either way so he had to tip the scale. "I believe one of your other aspirations was to revive your clan. Emiko is a very powerful and skilled kunoichi that has a powerful kekkei genkai on top of it. She would be ideal do you not think?" Sasuke looked thoughtful at this, but his mind froze when an enraged look crossed Atsushi's face. The Uchiha dismissed this as the expression vanished as soon as it appeared.

"Fine… whatever." Atsushi snarled on the inside at the prospect of more competition but knew that this arrangement would only be temporary. After all, this kid could not possibly dream of the power and sheer chaos that Kimiko could unleash. Now Sasuke was 'fully' engaged in the information sharing session regarding the Akatsuki, Emiko/Kimiko, and Itachi Uchiha.

When Emiko left to make some tea for Sasori, the puppet master sat calmly in front of Deidara and Hidan. "Well… the problem has in a way, become all of our problems."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" Hidan demanded. Sasori rolled his eyes.

"She is going through her monthly cycles," the puppeteer intoned in a deadpan manner. Deidara had a look of pure horror while Hidan looked like he appreciated the inability to die.

"Well, un… we will have to make sure she doesn't get mad at any of us…" Deidara sighed and looked towards Hidan. "And don't piss her off. It's bad enough when Konan-san gets angry at us during this time and I'd rather not have Emiko-chan pissed off, un…" Hidan nods just as Emiko returns with some tea. Sasori thanks her and the kunoichi looks at the silver haired Jashinist.

"Hidan-kun, may I speak with you for a moment?" He nodded and as they left, the two artists looked at each other.

"Sasori-danna, you faked the suffocation? I didn't think you were such a good actor, un." Sasori gave a small smirk.

"Theater is in a way eternal art. Besides, that assessed the fact she still cares about us. Her emotions will just be harder to control and the slightest thing could set her off…" Deidara nodded before a confused look crossed his eyes. Sasori noticed this immediately. "What is wrong brat?"

"Sasori-danna… how much of your behavior is actual acting and how much is your actual personality?" Sasori felt winded at the question but knew that Deidara would not leave him alone without an answer.

"Enough acting to protect those around me." Grabbing his tea, Sasori departed for his room, muttering about modifying a puppet. Deidara's ice blue eye watched his partner leave, trying to figure out the meaning of the redhead's words.

Hidan followed after Emiko silently. They walked outside towards the apple tree where Hidan had sat in, waiting for her to come back. She leaned against him and looked him in the eyes. "Sorry about all of this… I am unused to feeling irritated with no logical cause."

Hidan could not help but chuckle. "Don't worry about it. If it calms you down, you can fight me. It's not like you will kill me or anything. Think of it as stress relief." Emiko's eyes softened as the brown hue in her eyes became evident.

"Are you sure Hidan-kun? I do not like hurting you out of everyone else…" Hidan smirked at her. Emiko felt an unusual need to wipe that smirk off of his face.

"Think of it as a mutual training session: I suck at defense and you need more practice in general." Emiko nodded as a scroll fell out of her sleeve into her hand. Quickly unrolling it, Emiko's scythe was unveiled. Hidan also grabbed his three bladed scythe. "I will only defend against your attacks."

Nodding, the kunoichi charged at the Jashinist, scythe in her hands twirling rapidly. Hidan blocked effortlessly but could not help but be blown away by the chakra that her strike had infused into it. Her eyes slide into a crimson hue and Hidan smiled. "Hidan-kun… I do not want to kill you and you not being able to die helps…"

"Well, being admittedly a masochist, the pain really isn't that bad once you get used to it…" She slashed his chest and she gasped when she realized what she did. Running to him, she basically pinned him to the ground and examined his wounds. Hidan raised a silvery eyebrow, but said nothing. She ripped his shirt to more closely examine his wounds. "I told you I am immortal and therefore I won't die…" Rolling her eyes, she pulled some bandages and began wrapping the scratch. Hidan was about to open his mouth again and upon seeing this, she wrapped a bandage around his head to cover his mouth.

"Sorry, but it is hard to concentrate on wrapping bandages when you are talking too much." Hidan sighed behind the bandage and just let Emiko continue working.

Ten minutes later, Kakuzu walked outside to see where his partner was so that they could go bounty hunting. He felt a smirk develop seeing Hidan wearing what he could only call a bandage shirt. Hidan glared at Kakuzu and tried to shoo him away but the treasurer smirked. "We three have a trip to make; bounty hunting time." Emiko nodded and stood up.

"I will get some supplies and prepare. How much time do we have Kakuzu-san?" Hidan was surprised as Emiko stepped away from him and was about to go back inside.

"One hour. Please hurry." Emiko nodded and stalked off inside. Kakuzu went to Hidan and laughed as he ripped off the bandage covering the religious man's mouth. "What the hell happened between you two?" Hidan lowered his eyes in a mixture of confusion and hurt.

"None of your fucking business." Hidan stormed off towards his room to at least gather some supplies. When he dashed to his room and slammed the door, he did not expect a redheaded kunoichi to be waiting for him. She glomped him quickly and he turned to her in confusion. "The fuck?"

"Mood swings suck ass seriously…" Hidan laughed as he lowered his face to kiss her forehead. She smirked as she tightened the hug. Letting go after a moment, she looked at him with sadness. "We need to hurry before Kakuzu-san suspects anything." Hidan sighed and held Emiko's hand as they walked back outside together.