He's fucking had it.
He's had it with the bullshit.
Hidan was at his wit's end. His meeting with the Yakuza was soon—and all he had was a man who wouldn't crack. A man who gazed at him defiantly, a man who was a thorn in his fucking side. No matter the beating he took, the fucker never let up.
He wanted to kill the fuck.
But he couldn't.
Not right now, anyways.
Not when he had so much riding on the rich fuck.
Not when his empire relied on that rich fuck.
It was that rich fuck that was going to get Hidan out of the fucking hole. And he was going to speed things up. Sasori is missing—that fuck nor anyone else knows where the fuck he's at. The fucking agent is missing. Hidan was sure of foul play—he fucking new he should have never trusted that red-headed fuck. Something was up, time was against him. The odds were stacked against him...
He was sure of it.
Hidan glanced over at the bleeding man to his left, grinning cruelly, "How 'bout a road trip, mhh?"
The night before...
Shika gazed at the email, jaw ticking; thin brows pulled in tight. It had been several days now since he's received a word from the Agent...
What could possibly be going on?
Temari stated that maybe the case had been dropped, Seiichi had been caught by his superiors—or something. Shikamaru wasn't so sure. The lazy genius had a knack for seeing through the bullshit—and on something so important, even if he had got caught; wouldn't he have told Shika his information was apprehended? Wouldn't he have told Shika the case had been dropped?
Surely, Seiichi would have said something.
"I think it's more," Shikamaru mused darkly to Temari. "He was on his way to capture an Akatsuki—and now I don't hear a word from him? Something happened, Tem—I'm telling you."
"Then do something about it," Temari advised with a plucked shoulder. "Can't you contact the Agency and let them know Seiichi could be missing?"
Shikamaru scoffed, "And tell them what, exactly? That I've been snooping around where I shouldn't and emailing an Agent whose been doing all of this behind the Agency's back? That'll cost him his job—if he isn't already dead. Besides, I'm positive the Akatsuki have a man on the inside. Should I call and do that, that'll lead to more issues—for all of us. I'll likely get jail time for treason, some shit."
Temari shook her head and crossed her arms, "Then what can you do, Shik?"
Shika's jaw ticked, a frustrated huff of hair escaping him, "Nothing, Tem. There's nothing I can do that won't jeopardize Seiichi or myself. All I can fuckin' do is wait."
Temari moved in, planting a soft kiss on Shika's temple, "Then wait. Trust that this Agent has everything covered."
"What if he doesn't? What if I singlehandedly lead him to his death?"
"Don't blame yourself for lending a helping hand," Temari scowled. "Don't turn this on yourself. You did everything you could within the brackets of what you could control. What happens or doesn't happen is on the Agent, Shika. He's a trained professional-"
"Yeah- and he's going up against the fucking Akatsuki. He's one man."
"Sometimes, Shik, all it takes is one man to start a movement. Look at you—you're one man. Had you not reached out to this agent to help stop those fucks—who knows what trouble they could be getting into. Instead, we've got a seemingly capable man lead in the right direction thanks to your help. This agent knows that someone's on the inside, thanks to you. This agent knew who to find and where, thanks to you. You did everything right. Stop blaming yourself—and be patient. I'm sure you'll hear back from him in no time."
Shikamaru let out a low sigh, shaking his head and rolling his chair back from the computer. Regardless of Temari's attempt at comforting him, Shika couldn't shake the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Something was wrong.
Something happened.
He was sure of it.
"It looks like they're going to discharge Mebuki—but now they're wanting to keep Sakura to monitor her and make sure she's okay, since..." Kakashi trailed off, running a hand through his messy shock of silver hair for the hundredth time.
"Sakura can only be kept if she wants to be kept," Naruto remarked solemnly. "Knowing her, she's going to want to go home."
"Is that a good idea?" Kakashi pressed in concern.
Naruto shrugged, "She didn't hurt herself this time. There's nothing to really monitor."
"Plus, staying here would only stress her out," Kakashi added, Naruto nodding in agreement. "What about Mebuki? Surely she doesn't want to go home by herself after the attack?"
"Mebuki is going to go stay with Mashimo and his wife," Naruto answered. "They're long-time family friends, like family they're so close. Mebuki wants Sakura to come along, but if we're being honest, I don't think Sakura will be able to handle Mashimo's million questions at the moment."
Kakashi gave his own agreeable nod, "Yeah, I've met the man. His intentions are good, but Sakura..."
Naruto sighed, gazing at the floor, "Yeah...Kakashi, look—I'm sorry for earlier today."
"I thought we got past that," Kakashi remarked with an arched brow.
Naruto raised his hand, "Just, listen—I'm sorry. I'm sorry for assuming you'd be this terrible monster to Sakura. What you did back there, how you talked her down—I...Thank you. I saw right in that moment how much you...love...her."
"I care about her very much, Naruto—so much that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get Kizashi back. No matter the cost, I-"
"About that," Naruto cut, glancing around before leaning in, "there's someone we need to have a discussion with."
Silver brows ticked down, "Who?"
Naruto glanced around again, his voice a low hum, "Agent Seiichi. That was the man that initially saved Sakura—he was the one on her case when she was kidnapped. He's here."
Kakashi pointed at the floor, "Here? As in, you contacted him?"
Naruto shook his head, "No, like—he's here as a patient. He's all fucked up, but he said he needs to speak with us about Sakura and Kizashi. He says it's important."
"Do we have time to speak with him right now?"
Naruto shrugged, "Sakura is in the waiting room with Mebuki—they're both waiting for the dischargr for Mebuki to go through. Once the paperwork is done, they'll want to leave."
"Let's go talk, then," Kakashi jerked his chin. "What room is he in?"
Naruto quirked a brow, "Believe it or not, he was in our room. Middle bed, hidden all around by those curtains."
"You're joking," Kakashi admonished.
"Wish I was."
"So, he heard everything...?"
"Yeah," Naruto sighed. "Everything."
The two men walked out of the waiting room back to the patient room, Naruto calling out as they moved in, "Seiichi- it's Naruto. I've brought Kakashi with me."
"Ah- come in."
Naruto and Kakashi moved the curtain, revealing a man who, aside from the horrible beating he appeared to take, looked as though he were relatively handsome and well- rounded. He was covered in bandages, an IV hooked up to his arm of both blood and water. Prominent brows were crumpled over a steely earnest gaze. Kakashi got one look at the man and knew he meant business.
Seiichi gave Kakashi a nod, "Kakashi- my name is Agent Seiichi. I was on Sakura's kidnapping case."
"So I've heard," Kakashi replied with a nod. "Thank you for saving Sakura."
Seiichi frowned, "Don't thank me. It took me a month to find her. A month. I was lucky I found her alive, Kakashi. As for Kizashi—we don't have time. They could kill him at a moment's notice."
"Why is this even happening," Naruto growled. "Are they trying to get back at Sakura?"
Seiichi shook his head, "No- they're in it for the money. As you both know, Kizashi is a man more than well off. I cannot give you two all the details, but understand they're after his cash. Once they milk him for all he's got, he's as good as dead. We've only got a couple days, maybe."
"Okay, so what do you want us to do?" Naruto pressed with a scowl.
Seiichi glanced between Naruto and Kakashi, "I want you to keep Sakura as safe as possible. The leader of this organization is a loose canon—we don't really know what he's going to do. You have to keep her safe—until I say so. Keep her in your sights, stay somewhere where she hasn't been before."
"She can stay at my house," Kakashi offered easily. "She hasn't been there yet, it's smack dab in the city with lights everywhere."
Seiichi gave a curt nod, "Good."
"What are you going to do?" Naruto pressed again, taking a step forward. "How are you going to get Kizashi back in this condition?"
Seiichi scowled, "Don't worry about me. I've got men and intel. Worry about Sakura. Worry about Mebuki. Keep them safe until I tell you it's safe."
"As long as those men are out there, she'll never be safe, Agent," Kakashi reminded sternly.
Seiichi raised a hand, "I know. That's why I'm going to end this—for good."
Sasori hung out at the back of the hospital, taking a long drag of a cigarette and gazing into the distance. People marched to and fro along the sidewalk; some glanced his way, some paid him no mind. The sky was bright and sunny, a subtle chill to the air; birds chirped among trees.
It was a cruel joke.
Those screams...Her cries. The same piercing shouts that sent ice down his veins. The same blood-curdling sobs mingled with the collection of bemoaning ghosts haunting him night after night.
It was what he deserved. He deserved to be haunted. He deserved the chill in his body; the loneliness echoing along his dark spaces, mocking him. Reminding him. Taunting him. Demons chasing him, claws sharp and dripping blood with the promise of pain.
He deserved it.
He deserved to be ripped limb from limb.
Breaking his thoughts, Sasori pulled out his phone as it rung; seeing Deidara's name on the screen. With another drag, he answered it.
"Yes?"
"Where the fuck are you?" Deidara spat venomously. "Huh? Where the fuck are you—you traitor asshole. What did you do with that fucking agent?"
A drag, "I took out the trash."
There was a pause.
"Bullshit, he was still breathing when I left," Deidara countered.
"And he stopped breathing while you were away," Sasori argued back easily. "I wasn't going to let his rotting body stink up the place."
"Then why did the fucking rich asshole say you took him to the restroom?"
"Because that's what I told him."
"Why didn't you call Hidan?"
Sasori sighed, "He's busy. This isn't the first time I've gotten rid of a dead body, Deidara—it won't be the last."
"I don't fucking believe you."
"Believe it," Sasori remarked. "I can show you where I hid the body, if you'd like."
"You're fucking lying."
"Try me," Sasori bluffed.
Another pause.
Deidara snorted, "Well, get ready to have your ass handed to you for going over Hidan's head."
"Since when have you cared about Hidan and the rules?" Deidara questioned. "Is Hidan finally scaring you?"
"I'm on fucking edge, okay?!" Deidara cut sharply. "The fucking Yakuza are going to kill us if Hidan fucks this up."
"Well, we've got a couple days, don't we? That'll give Hidan time to-"
"No," Deidara decapitated harshly. "Fuck no. Hidan isn't waiting—he's about to take that rich fuck to the Yakuza right now."
Sasori blinked, "What?"
Deidara huffed, "Yeah, unannounced. What a fucking idiot. A fucking idiot. A fucking idiot. He's going to walk through those doors and get gunned down, I know it. Then they're going to gun us down—and you're not going to fucking catch me around here. I'm fucking out of here."
"You're leaving?"
"You bet your ass I'm leaving. How many fucking times do I have to tell you that I'm not going to stick around while the Yakuza hunts us down? That fucking deal isn't going to go through. Hidan has lost his shit, Sasori. Lost it. I'm not going to fucking die because that stupid fuck has a death wish."
Sasori stood straight, "You're telling me Hidan is on his way right the fuck now to do the hand off?"
"He just called me asking for fucking back up. He's asking me to rally all of us—but I'm not fucking doing that. I'm saving my own goddamned ass—and you should do the fucking same."
Sasori shook his head, "What about the rich guy?"
"As good as dead. As good as fucking dead. And you will be, too—unless you get the fuck out of here," Deidara remarked angrily; desperately.
"Got it, Deidara."
"Yeah, I'm doing you a fucking favor, Sasori."
"You called me a traitor."
"What the fuck ever—do whatever the fuck you want."
The line ended.
Sasori pocketed his phone quickly, rubbing out his cigarette and making his way quick back into the hospital. He watched every door he went through, every hall he walked down for her; the last thing he wanted was for her to scream and he lose his cover.
The last thing she wanted was for her to see him.
Sasori made his way quick to Seiichi's bed, pulling back the curtain to reveal two other men standing there; gazing at him uneasily.
Sasori paused, taking a step back, "I need to talk with the agent."
"Who's this?" The blonde-haired man asked, scowling slightly. "Another agent? Are you here to help us?"
Seiichi cleared his throat, "I'll get a hold of you two to check in on her. I've got your numbers. In the meantime, could you please give me and my associate privacy?"
The silver-haired man nodded, "Of course. Contact me if you need anything—absolutely anything at all."
Seiichi gave a nod as the men filed out; out of the room and down the hall, muttering to each other under their breath. Sasori took the moment to gaze around the empty room before fixing Seiichi with a hard gaze, remarking, "I've got bad news, Agent."