Hello, all! I'm back after long, long contemplation of continuing this story. I *still* haven't revised all of this story, and I feel like that should be my top priority, but... I guess there's no fighting it -.-
I've gotten so many sweet messages and complements on this story, I feel obliged to continue. Atop that, I've really missed sitting down and writing about Mina and the gang. So that's that! Try to enjoy this update and give feedback if you will. Thank you kindly, readers. I understand this story is pretty... shitty, for lack of better words. So it means alot that you guys overlook the shitiness to the genuine parts. xD
Two-seconds-after-updating-edit: I have to mention something... the reviews I've gotten for chapter twenty-four... are ABSOLUTELY HEART-WRENCHING. I love all of you readers SO, SO much. Oh my god. Like, I seriously can't stress that enough. Such sweet, heart-warming messages I've gotten. Thank you, readers, for everything.
Somewhere deep inside myself, I gathered the strength to force my eyes open. I found myself lying in a grassy field, limbs sprawled through the lush green grass. The sky seemed so close I could touch it: the bright stars were sprinkled across the ever-darkening sky. Though my body felt oddly heavy, I forced myself to stand up. There was a chilly breeze that accompanied a familiar sting starting mid-chest. There were trees bordering the field, behind them, a still nothingness lingering about. I couldn't make anything of this. I had no clue where I was. I brushed stray hair from my face and pushed onward toward the trees, and almost instantly, the beautiful vision of nature before had disappeared and I found myself in a dim hall. A stagnant stench of coppery-metal flooded the air, and my Jashinist pendant began to glow like it never had before, my chest burning because of it. I grasped the necklace and walked further through the blinding blackness. Soon enough, the room began to lighten up, revealing endless pearly white columns. Every other one column held a candle. The floor was tile, black and white. Many of them were broken or chipping apart. My footsteps invaded the settle silence, and they echoed subtly. The candlelight eventually held a dim purple glow. It grew more vivid with time, and once the light color had settled into a shade of byzantium, I caught sight of a throne before me.
Walls around it were made of differing lengths and widths of multiple bones; the theme was fitting for the figure sitting before me in its throne. There sat a man in dark robes accentuated with maroon and magenta bits of metal and decor. He held a sort of scepter or cane-like thing in his hand that had a brilliant silver shine to it. A large sheep skull masked said man's face- large horns curled to either side. His chiseled jaw could be seen from the sides, and in the eye sockets of the skull there were a subtle glowing orbs of color.
"Are you afraid?" The entity questioned- it came in a low rumble that reverberated throughout the building, shaking my very soul. I clenched my fists and looked straight back him.
"No. No, I'm not afraid," I replied, clenching my teeth.
"Why are you shaking then, mortal?" He prodded. Instead of a mocking tone, there was genuine curiosity. I chuckled aloud and smiled, "I'd say it's more excitement that anything, Jashin-sama." He returned the short laugh upon hearing my response.
"I think Hidan would be jealous," I added quietly, "Well, I suppose. It's hard to tell what's real and what's not anymore. I don't even know where I am."
"Your subconscious," he said in a simple demeanor.
"I'm not dead then," I mused quietly. I was in disbelief... Hidan killed me, did he not? I looked at my body and noticed the light glow my skin had to it. I took the rosary off and held it by the chain.
"No," he reiterated my thoughts plainly.
"Then... what happened to me?"
"The Demon Country is unlike the Leaf Village, Minami. They are very hostile people- unforgiving and merciless. They do not trust anyone," he continued, "They specialize in taijutsu and in genjutsu moreso than any other form of defenses. Only people that work well with genjutsu can find the true reality of the country in itself."
"So... the first step through the gates initiates a huge genjutsu then?" I asked. Holy shit, today had been full of SO MUCH mind fuck.
"Correct."
"So, I'm really still alive? I'm not dead? Hidan didn't hurt me?" My eyes began to sting lightly as I walked further toward Jashin, holding the necklace before me a bit.
"Look into yourself when you have doubt and you will find the truths you seek," he stated. I smiled happily and clasped my hands together with a new found joy about me.
"Do my work, Minami. Breathe deep and wake up." There was a long pause as I replaced the rosary around my neck, and the silence was nerve-wracking. Again, my vision began fading out into absolute darkness. Like a bell it came as he repeated himself: "Wake up." Immediately, color came rushing back into sight; it was bright. I blinked and winced trying to adjust to my surroundings. I rubbed my eyes and felt myself embraced in warmth. I gasped lightly and looked at the arms wrapped around me.
"Are you alright?" As he pulled away to look at me, Hidan appeared serious (for once), concerned. Those beautiful eyes peered into my own and I felt a sort of emotion boil inside me that I'd never imagined I could feel. I could've burst at that very moment. The emotion ra,n pumped crazily through my veins and I climbed on top of him shamelessly, hugging him and kissing him all over his face.
"H-Hey, Mina-chan..." Hidan started shyly. Silly man... he didn't mind embarrassing himself, but a little PDA got him all flustered. I just smiled and held him close, ignoring his bashful mumbles. I couldn't contain it. I held his cheeks in my hands and gave him a peck on the lips. I admired the look in his eyes and studied the structure of his face. This was the man that meant the most to me. In this moment, that was very evident. Nothing else really even mattered. Just him. It didn't even matter that I was straddling said boy in the middle of all of our subordinates. His face remained a deep crimson that deepened in color with each act of affection I made towards him, and I gave him a big, broad smile. A part of me never wanted this moment to end because I couldn't recall a moment that I was that damn happy.
"Ah, she's blatantly come to, ne?" Lady Rei's voice rang in my ears, she chuckled and I rolled my eyes at the laugh of hers that came after. I mimicked her light laughter as I rolled off of Hidan onto the ground by him. I could only admire the people around me. Himeko, Lady Rei, Deidara, and Sasori. I didn't linger long enough on each to infer what they were thinking- my mind was still racing. The happiness on my face never dissipated- no, not for a split second. Even in the dark cell we all were stuck in together- just like the cells in my makeshift dream- the colors seemed to swirl around me and become so vivid, it warmed my heart. The damp smell, the dripping that came from cracks in the ceilings, the stagnant taste of the air.
Himeko kneeled beside me and put a hand on my knee. "Are you alright, Mina-chan? What happened?" My eyes flickered between her eyes and mouth, my gaze then falling to the ground.
"It was genjutsu. Wasn't it?" It was more of a rhetorical question than anything. "I... I thought Hidan killed me. He strangled me. It felt so real, Himeko-chan..."
"Oh god, are you okay? You aren't really hurt, are you?" She asked quickly; it came out as borderline panic. I shook my head with a smile, "I'm totally fine. Please, don't worry." There was a silence that settled over us all, and I admired the cell we were stuck in. I stood and touched the bars gingerly.
"There's not a way out," Sasori stated blandly. "If you try anything to get out, the same pain will be inflicted upon yourself." The bumpy metal was cool against my skin.
"Surely they'll be coming for us soon, correct?" Lady Rei asked the short male. Sasori's dull eyes rested on her own and he tucked his hands in his sleeves, "If I had to take a guess, I would say so. Minami and Hidan are here, aren't they? It's my guess that these two are the ones they want."
"So we're in for a fight, are we, ne?" Lady Rei laughed again, but her slight joy was short-lived for a moment. Sasori's gaze cut through whatever sincerity she was attempting to show him.
"I don't know if I'd necessarily say that. I'm not fighting anyone anytime soon. For one, you lot have kept me waiting, and two, I'm not willing to help someone that's irresponsible enough to come directly to an enemy country unprepared and find themselves thrown in a cell, captured. It's pathetic-" he turned to look in my direction "-You can't justly call yourself a ninja, can you? Do you honestly think you're a serious S-ranked criminal just because you've killed your mother? That in itself is ridiculous. And of all people to kill, you killed the woman that gave you life. I'm ashamed to be in an organization with you."
"Hey, you cold ass bitch! You need to get the-"
"Hidan," I said, cutting him off. I shook my head quickly, then made eye contact with the puppet across the way. "Frankly, Sasori-danna, I know I'm not an S-ranked criminal. I never once called myself such. The only thing you and I have in common is that we are both rogue ninja. You learned to be strong through an academy and you had parents that fought for the Sand Village. I never attended an academy. My father was the only one that would willingly relay information to me, and the person that made me strong is the one that's now constantly drunk and ruined what childhood I had. You led a fairly admirable childhood, did you not?
"You didn't know your mother. I knew mine. I knew everything she was a part of. I knew what kind of woman she was. I listened to everything she said. I killed her because all she was capable of doing was hurting other people. Granted, I miss her at times for the mere fact she did raise me up to be who I am, but I don't think I'd change a thing if I were able to do so. So with all due respect, I have my reasons. On another note, how can you insult me for being captured and 'unprepared' while we're in the same situation?"
Sasori gave an unwavering glare but said nothing more. Deidara shot Sasori an uneasy glance, and I finally acknowledged him for the first time. He smiled lightly and threw a little wave my way. I hugged him and told him I was glad to know he was alright. There was an awkward air between us, and it became tense as Hidan watched so I chuckled and tended to the cell bars once again, looking about. "So what do we do when they come for us?" I asked quietly.
"It's hard to come up with a good strategy against such an unpredictable enemy," Himeko said, tapping her lip then crossing her arms, "But I mean, we'll figure something out, won't we? We always do!"
"Erm... yeah, I guess so," I chuckled and rubbed my neck. As if on queue, footsteps could be heard. The came distant first, growing closer with time. I walked to Hidan's side and grabbed his hand. We looked at each other feeling a little worried. I smiled anyways, declaring, "This should be a little fun, right?" He laughed a little and replied with a big, ole' "Hell yeah". A pair of guards tended to our cell door soon, guiding us through halls that, thankfully, didn't resemble the ones I saw in the genjutsu beforehand. Through a last door, we filed in a large room with bay windows. A desk was perched before them and in a fancy spinny chair, a hefty man twiddled him thumbs. He turned to us (reminding me of multiple spinny-chair scenes I'd previously seen in movies) and gave a faint smirk, "Ah, I've been waiting for you lot... Before any confrontation ensues, I'd like to make a proposition."
I looked to Lady Rei nervously and she smiled confidently which relieved me a little. He stood and held his arms out, "A truce." When I heard him offer a truce up, I think all the fighting spirit I had crumpled up into a little ball and shriveled away. I could just feel my subordinates deadpanning. I weakly held a finger up to him, "I-I'm sorry... what did you say? You'd like to declare war? Or slaughter each of us by decapitation?"
The large man chortled lowly and shook his head, "No, no, of course not. If you that then-"
"NO, um, no... That won't be necessary... I'm just a bit-"
"Fucking confused?!" Hidan finished for me in utter bewilderment.
"If I may, miss Minami," he motioned me toward him, and I hesitantly followed his hand. When I approached him, he smiled genuinely and leaned to my ear, telling me his proposition quietly. I swallowed hard and nodded. What else could I have done? By taking his offer, it'd be saving everyone's breath in the very least. After the negotiation, he had guards escort us to the outskirts of the village where we headed back for home.
AND SO EIGHT MONTHS LATER, I DECIDED TO UPDATE
LOL WHAT'S UP Y'ALL
/sulking
I'll update more often okay thx :c