I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

Day Off

Ryuu set Fu on the bedroll inside of their tent, then lay beside her, sighing quietly, Fu rolling over to rest her head on his shoulder. They had stayed in the Hidden Sand just long enough for an initial report to be sent to Tsunade, and for Fu to change into a new set of clothes rather than her borrowed Akatsuki cloak, then had left with the others, traveling back to the Hidden Leaf on foot. It had taken some convincing, but finally, Guy had agreed to not turn it into a race and they had all stopped to rest about halfway between.

"Guy's going to be the death of me," Ryuu said. "I can barely stand right now."

"You hide it well, though," Fu smiled, one hand tracing designs on his abdomen, having pushed his shirt up out of the way to do it. "Can we take some time off when we get back?"

"Barring finding Mhao's hideout, yes, we can," Ryuu smiled. "Finally."

Fu smiled, reaching up and kissing him before setting her head back down and closing her eyes. "I can't wait to get home."

"Neither can I," Ryuu smiled. "I think I'm going to sleep for a few days."

"I hope you do," Fu smiled. "That would mean you didn't have any nightmares."

Ryuu smiled. "That's true." He closed his eyes, praying for forgiveness, once again, for killing Sasori, then opened them, looking down at Fu, who was watching him in silence. "What?"

"I love you," Fu smiled. "Don't ever leave me."

Ryuu smiled. "Never. I told you. You couldn't get rid of me if you begged me."

Fu smiled, kissing him again before setting her head down and allowing the steady beating of his heart to lull her to sleep. Ryuu sighed, closing his eyes and drifting off as well, fortunately not dreaming anything. The next day, they packed up camp and made the rest of the trip back to the Hidden Leaf Village. They reached the village as the sun was beginning to set and all reported to Tsunade's office. They gave her a brief description of what had happened, then Tsunade dismissed everyone but Ryuu and Fu.

"Now, tell me what happened," Tsunade said. "Everything."

Ryuu went first, describing them learning the Water Mosquito jutsu and using it to save Kankuro, then for their effort to turn out to be wasted as Sakura arrived just as they finished. Then he explained about their trip to the hideout, and about how he had saved Gaara from the sealing jutsu. Next, he described his fight with Sasori, then Zetsu. Once he was finished that, Fu described her fight with Deidara and about Gaara saving her, leaving out the fact that Deidara had almost raped her. Once she was done, Ryuu described how the battle had ended and then gave a brief description of their uneventful trip back to the Hidden Sand and the entirety of the Hidden Sand Village having been waiting to welcome Gaara back.

"Okay," Tsunade said. "So Deidara survived?"

"I'm almost sure of it," Ryuu said.

"Very well," Tsunade nodded. "How likely is it that Sasori is replaced soon?"

"Highly," Ryuu said. "I actually have a guess at who's going to do it."

"Who?" Tsunade asked.

"A guy with an orange spiraled mask that looks like Tobi's face, probably going by the name Tobi," Ryuu said.

"Who is he?" Tsunade asked.

"An Uchiha who had deserted the village prior to Itachi slaughtering the clan," Ryuu said. "I think he may also have helped Itachi kill everyone, but I'm not sure."

"How dangerous is he?" Tsunade asked.

"Extremely," Ryuu said. "Arguably the most dangerous out of the entire Akatsuki. Definitely top two, alongside the wielder of the Rinnegan."

Tsunade nodded. "Does Tobi know anything about the Akatsuki's next move?"

"No," Ryuu said. "So far they're just trying to track down the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts, probably starting with those who are easier to catch."

"I'll send word to the Hidden Cloud Village," Tsunade said. "They have two Jinchuriki. Aside from them, the Three-tails is missing, the Hidden Stone's Jinchuriki are both missing, and the Hidden Mist Village's Jinchuriki deserted his village."

Ryuu nodded. "If nothing else, they'll never get Fu or Naruto. And now that Gaara's aware that they're on the move and of how powerful they are, he won't be captured again either, barring the leader himself attacking."

Tsunade nodded. "Ryuu, you know that the leader will inevitably come to the Hidden Leaf after Naruto, right?"

"Yes," Ryuu said. "I'm well aware."

"Try to get everyone ready," Tsunade said. "You've fought five different members now. You're the best informed about what we'll be up against."

"I'll do my best," Ryuu said. "But I can't promise anything. Also, me and Fu are taking a few days off, unless Mhao is found."

Tsunade nodded and Ryuu turned, walking out of the office with Fu, both heading home, greeting Yugao as they entered, finding Yugao had just finished dinner for everyone, and Tayuya had already returned to the house and was helping her set the table. Ryuu and Fu washed up and sat at the table just as Yugao and Tayuya finished, also sitting down.

"Everyone dig in," Yugao smiled. "You've earned it."

Ryuu nodded, smiling, and they all began to eat, all giving brief descriptions of their parts in the mission as they ate, Yugao describing her mission to them as well. Finally, they all finished and Ryuu and Fu cleared the table and cleaned the dishes. Then, they went to bed, falling asleep quickly.

Ryuu sighed contentedly as he floated in the hot spring, Fu lying on his chest. One of her hands was in his, their fingers laced, and the other was lazily combing its fingers through his hair, his own free one stroking gently up and down her back. Ryuu had finally gotten his hair cut, leaving it short like his brother had always worn it again, and hd gone back to wearing his usual clothes and the harness his brother had given him, rather than the flak. At least, when he wasn't in the hot spring.

"Why can't we just be rich enough to retire and live like this?" Fu asked.

"Because even if we were rich enough there's no guarantee we'd be able to stand living like this," Ryuu said. "Not while our friends are out there risking their lives."

"I could," Fu said, looking up at him. "As long as you were there, I could live like this."

Ryuu smiled and kissed her before setting his head back, returning to relaxing and stroking her back. Fu's fingers continued to gently run through his hair and Ryuu sighed again. After a fe minutes, Fu shifted her hips slightly to get more comfortable. After a couple of seconds, she shifted them again. Then again. Ryuu's hand stopped and when Fu shifted her hips yet again, his hand pressed on her lower back, partially for more friction and partially to stop her moving.

"Fu," Ryuu said knowingly.

"What?" Fu asked. "She's not here."

"She will be soon," Ryuu said. "She only went to the store."

"Then we'll have to make it quick," Fu smiled, kissing him, pressing her hips down into his harder as she rolled them, only for Ryuu to drop his hips, sitting up and pulling back from the kiss.

"I'm serious Fu," Ryuu said. "I'm sorry, but no."

Fu sighed, nodding. "Sorry."

Ryuu sighed, kissing her for a moment before pulling back. "Don't be. You just make it really hard to control myself sometimes."

Fu smiled and nodded, giving him a quick kiss before Ryuu tipped backward, beginning to float with her again, Fu feeling exactly how hard he was struggling this time. After about another fifteen minutes, Yugao stepped into the hot spring and set her towel on the table off to the side. Ryuu cracked an eye open, glancing at her as she leaned back against the side of the hot spring and spread her arms out to the sides, sighing in comfort and watching them. Ryuu smirked, rolling his eyes behind his eyelids.

"How was your day?" Ryuu asked.

"Very nice, thank you," Yugao smiled. "What did you do all day?"

"You're looking at it," Ryuu snorted. "I'm on vacation. I'm spending it doing absolutely nothing."

Yugao smiled and nodded. "Good. you've more than earned a vacation."

Ryuu settled back in to float and after a few minutes, Fu drifted off to sleep. After a few more minutes, Ryuu realized he was also falling asleep when his eyes dipped under water. He stood, scooping up Fu and drying her with chakra before walking out of the pool.

"We're going to take a nap," Ryuu said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Yugao said.

Ryuu dried himself as he walked, heading to bed and slipping Fu under the covers before sliding in beside her. She almost instantly rolled over to face him as he was on his side, cuddling into his chest. He smiled, wrapping himself around her, kissing the top of her head. She cuddled a little closer to his warmth and he smiled, closing his eyes and drifting off.

Mhao laughed as Ryuu thrashed against the chains. He leaned against the wall of the cave and watched Ryuu in silence for several minutes before pushing off of it, walking over to Fu, lifting her head by her green hair, exposing the blackened eyes, shattered nose, split lip, and swollen cheeks.

"Another one you could have saved," Mhao smirked. "So many dead friends. Do you even have the capacity to feel loss anymore?"

Ryuu thrashed against his shackles, fighting to break through the chakra seals on them as well as carved into his torso.

"It really will be a shame to lose this one, though," Mhao said, his free hand reaching up to her upper arm, trailing up to her neck. "Such a pretty face, whenever it's not damaged."

He shoved his thumb into her eye, gouging it out as she screamed. Ryuu screamed, shoving against the chakra seals for all he was worth, failing to do anything but give himself a headache. Mhao laughed, hand trailing down to her marred and bloodied breasts, squeezing them harshly, fingers digging into the gashes the whip and knife had left, Fu again screaming. Then, Mhao's hand trailed downward, taking care to drag over every wound he could easily reach before reaching her core, where he had mercilessly whipped her for at least twenty minutes during the last torture session. He shoved two fingers into her, Fu screaming in agony and Ryuu yanked against his chains, sobbing now as he fought to break free. Mhao smirked, turning away from Ryuu and opening the front of his pants.

"You may want to look away for this part, Mhao said, lifting and turning Fu so that Ryuu was able to see as Mhao shoved himself into her, Fu screaming in agony yet again.

Ryuu screamed, shoving and pulling for all he was worth. However, nothing worked. He couldn't move.

"Oh, and Ryuu," Mhao smirked, turning toward him. "WAKE UP! ! !"

Ryuu's eyes flew open and he moved to leap out of bed, to kill the homunculus that he knew should be in front of him, however he still couldn't move. He fought to break free of the shackles, but then fell still as Fu filled his vision, completely unharmed, but eyes wide with terror and concern.

"Ryuu!" Fu shouted over his screaming, which he only just realized he was doing. "It's me! It's okay!"

Ryuu fell silent, panting and gasping, eyes wide and flicking around, taking in reality. He was in their room. He wasn't chained to a cave. lines of seal script were holding him to the bed posts. Suddenly the door flew open and he jerked, head snapping around to it, only to see Yugao and Tayuya, both of whom stared at them in confusion.

"W...what..." Ryuu looked back to Fu, slowly managing to calm himself.

"You were having a nightmare," Fu said, tears running down her face. "One second you were talking to yourself, then you bound your own hands and feet before beginning to thrash and scream."

"Are you okay?" Yugao asked.

Ryuu managed to nod and Yugao nodded as well, hesitating before leaving. After a moment, Tayuya followed, closing the door. Ryuu released his restraints, forcing his breathing and heart to slow, sitting up and hugging Fu, beginning to sob as she did the same. After a few minutes, Ryuu managed to calm himself most of the way, drying his face before gently running his hand over Fu's back, Fu starting to calm down.

"What happened?" Fu asked. "You've never done that before."

"I think...the seals were for your protection," Ryuu said. "I was dreaming that Mhao had captured us both, chained us to the wall of a cave, and he as forcing me to watch as he tortured and raped you."

Fu stared at him before pressing her forehead to his. "That will never happen. Mhao isn't that powerful. And even if he was, I know you would never let anyone do that to me."

Ryuu nodded, trying to finish calming himself. After a minute, Fu kissed him, Ryuu kissing her back instantly. After several seconds, however, she pulled back, smiling.

"Try to get some rest," Fu said. "I'll wake you up if you have another nightmare."

Ryuu nodded, laying back down, Fu laying with her head on his chest. Ryuu lay there in silence, waiting for sleep to find him for almost an hour before Fu reached up, combing her fingers through his hair and quickly relaxing him until he fell asleep again, more peacefully, this time.

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