The sun was setting, it's sacrifice for the night spilled across the sky like the blood beneath my feet. I caught myself staring at Hidan, he looked almost peaceful as his face brewed with thoughts beneath. It was a strange sight, but since I had come to the Akatsuki, all I had seen were strange sights.

My heels clicked against the stones hauntingly as we exited the grounds through the woods behind the house. I was relieved when we finally hit grass so that the annoying clomping of my shoes would cease. I knew I didn't technically kill Gorzo, but he would have died anyway had Hidan not finished him off. I never took someone's life before, even if they didn't deserve to be alive in the first place. It left a wretched pit in my stomach, festering with sour unease. I grunted under my breath at my heels sinking into the soft grass with every step.

"What are you doing now?" Kakuzu asked with irritation as I plopped onto the ground.

"I'm taking these stupid heels off and changing into my normal clothes," I said through gritted teeth as I struggled to pull the deathtrap shoes off. Although I had to admit, they probably saved my life that day. I hissed as my hands slipped and pushed the glass shards embedded in my bloody palms even deeper.

Kakuzu approached and bent down. He swatted away my hands as he took the shoe into his, pulling it off with ease, then doing the same for its twin.

"Go change behind that bush," Kakuzu said as he gestured towards a large junction of ferns that reached upwards of six feet. He grabbed me from under my arm and pulled me up to stand. My feet thanked him.

"We'll be waiting over there," he said with his back turned to me as he walked towards a towering oak.

I nodded to myself and tip-toed behind the bush, trying not to get the entirety of my feet dirty before putting my shoes on. Not that it mattered, my right foot was already covered with dried blood that flaked off like pieces of Gorzo's ghost sent to follow me. I quickly realized that I needed help with the corset, despite Gorzo already starting the process of undoing it. With some hesitance and a weak voice, I called out for Hidan.

He came in a rush, so quickly in fact that it startled me backwards. "What's wrong?" he asked, grabbing me by the arm to steady me.

"I... erhm… The corset," I replied weakly.

"Fuck, is that all? You had me thinking one of those assholes followed us or something."

"Sorry, I can try to get it myself," I said as I began to awkwardly finagle my arms behind me in an odd angle, bloodied hands blindly grabbing at the ties.

"Don't be stupid. Turn around," he commanded. With a few deft pulls of the corset ties, it loosened. That was something I thought would give me some relief but for a moment I felt like I was back in Gorzo's. I could smell his cigar again. The feeling of terror the first time that corset loosened. I was transported back that very second and I completely lost myself all over again. The tears welled up and my hands took to shaking. I tried my best to keep my erratic breaths quiet at least.

"T-thank you," I choked out. Not daring to say anything more. In just the two words I could tell I sounded off.

"Erhm, sure... Hey, you alright?" Hidan asked.

I nodded vigorously, my back still turned, praying he would just leave so I could gather myself. "Fine," I affirmed in a voice far too cheery to be real.

"Alright well, we'll be over there." He didn't sound like he believed me but I also knew him as someone who wouldn't care so I didn't foresee it being an issue.

When I was finished putting on my clothes and shoes with no heels, I took one last look at the blue dress in my hands before throwing it behind the bushes and burying it in my mind. I wiped my eyes with the backs of my hands and breathed in deeply several times before leaving the privacy of the foliage.

Everyone seemed a little quieter that evening, like our spirits sank with the sun. I kept pace behind Hidan and Kakuzu tiredly, the night was strangely silent in those woods, only the sound of our feet pressing into the earth. Everything seemed to be hidden under the night's cloak, like burial shrouds that were eerily fitting for my mood.

My mind kept sinking back to that moment in the mansion. Gorzo's filthy hands beneath my skirt and the petrifying fear I felt, wanting so badly to be saved. I had been alone most of my life, but at that moment, I needed someone more than I ever had before. Konan was right, I really was weak.

"Ugh…" Breath flew from my lips harshly as I tripped over a snaking root and fell roughly with my palms out in front of me.

"I'm fine, Kakuzu," I mumbled when I felt a hand grasp beneath my arm as I struggled to return to my feet, but when I looked up, I was met with the reflection of the moon shining brightly from silvered hair. Hidan smirked at me.

"You got a thing for Kakuzu or something?" He questioned teasingly as he released his grip on me.

"No, I just didn't expect you…" I trailed off and shook my head to uncloud my thoughts. "Thanks," I amended quietly.

I took my arm back and brushed myself off. I looked ahead to see a light at the end of the tunnel. No, I wasn't dying. Lights from a town sparkled dimly in the distance through cracks between trees. I sighed in relief at the sight.

"Are we staying there?" I asked with hopeful expectancy. I needed the answer to be 'yes'.

Kakuzu lifted his chin and stared through the treetops as if needing the light of the stars to think about it.

"Yes," Hidan said decisively. Kakuzu shot him a warning look, his green eyes glowing even more cat-like in the luminescence of the moon.

"I'm fucking tired, everyone is," Hidan groaned in response to Kakuzu's dangerous glance.

Kakuzu looked back at the giant body bag and sighed. I could see the thoughts on his face—disappointed he couldn't turn in Gorzo for the money right away, but willing to concede in order to avoid an argument with Hidan.

"Fine," Kakuzu said as we stepped out of the woods and into town.

"These bathhouses all look the same," I noted as I stepped into the room. I meandered to the back wall and let myself slide against it until my butt hit the ground. Staring at my palms which rested on my knees, I sighed, not looking forward to removing all the glass that still burned inside them.

"Hidan," Kakuzu addressed him as he dumped the giant body bag in the corner and began rummaging through his knapsack.

"Whaat?" Hidan whined as he threw his head back and rubbed his temples.

"Help Izumi while I prepare the ointments," he ordered. Hidan looked at me in annoyance as I stared down at my bloodied palms. It seemed like I was forever the burden. He sighed and came over, plopping down cross-legged across from me.

"Some of these are really deep," he said, slightly stunned by the severity. I winced as he took my hand into his in order to pluck the glass out.

"Ow," I cringed and tore my hand back.

"I haven't even touched it yet!" Hidan yelled as he stared at me with annoyed disbelief.

"Oh, sorry," I laughed apologetically as he grabbed my hand again, tighter this time so I couldn't pull away.

"Let's try this again," Hidan said in irritation. I sucked the air in quickly through clenched teeth and bit my eyes shut.

"Izumi, I haven't fucking touched you yet!"

I laughed a little, "I know, I know. Okay, go."

He shook his head and cursed under his breath before grabbing a shard and pulling it from my flesh. It stung, but not as bad as I expected. It was worse going in than coming out at least. The shards ticked against the ground as they hit it.

Hidan was gentler than I anticipated—his fingers nimble and precise when removing the glass with ease. I guessed he was used to stuff like that, him being an immortal masochist and all. It took me a few seconds to realize that he had stopped, my hand still resting in his much larger one, and his other poised to remove a large shard. I looked up to his face to see he was staring at my neck with a strange look on his face.

"What happened in there?" Hidan asked slowly, obviously referring to the time I spent in the mansion.

"Why, what's wrong with my neck?" I asked worriedly as I brought my free hand to it, rubbing my throat with my finger tips. Even without a mirror I could tell it was bruised by the sore sensation that arose from my prodding.

"Oh…" I said in understanding. He continued staring at me intently, waiting for me to answer his question. I thought hard for a moment—my eyes concentrating on the red crystal splinters that sprawled across the wooden floor.

"Well I went in and some guy took me to a room with two other girls," I began quietly, "Gorzo looked at all of us… the other girls, they were really pretty. I couldn't believe he chose me," I paused as Hidan pulled an exceptionally large bit of glass from my hand. "When we got into his room, I looked out the window to see if you and Kakuzu were outside, but he pulled me away and closed the curtains. I-I tried getting him to take me outside... but he pushed me on the erm… on the bed…" I trailed off and glared at my hand.

"I...I don't think I want to talk about it actually," I said quietly after a moment of silence.

"The fuck do you mean you don't wanna talk about it?" Hidan said angrily as he grabbed my other hand and plucked out a shard harshly.

I couldn't seem to find the words at that moment. It was like I wanted to talk about it just to get it all out but the thought of saying what actually happened... to actually verbalize, out loud, the way Gorzo's body felt against me, how easily my undergarments ripped when he tore at them… The words just wouldn't come out.

"I just want to take my mind off it, Hidan," I said, exhausted and pleading. "Can I go out to the hot spring?"

"You're staying in here, Izumi," Kakuzu said severely, his eyes seeming extra red outside his iris, "We can't let you out of our sight."

"I can't even take a bath?!" I cried out as I looked at him in horror and gestured to myself, a prime candidate for bathing.

"You'll just have to wait until we get back." He said flatly.

I felt the tears welling in the depths of my eyes, slowly working their way up along with the lump in my throat. I wanted to wash so desperately. I needed to get his blood off of me and forget everything that happened—but how could I when he still stained me? I irrationally feared that if I let his blood soak into my skin too long, he would taint my soul, getting revenge even after his death.

"Can't one of you take me… you can just look the other way maybe?" I asked hesitantly while standing up. I suddenly tripped backwards as something came up from beneath me.

"Sorry, Izumi," Zetsu said quietly as the trap rose and opened to reveal his night and day face. I sighed with relief to see someone that might be able to get me out of there.

"Zetsu!" I yelled as I threw my arms around him uncharacteristically. He tensed before allowing his arms to fall awkwardly around me. I pulled back after a moment and looked at him with pleading eyes before whispering, "Zetsu, please take me back with you, I don't care if I get sick."

He looked at me with unease, I could see his eyes flickering over my face and travelling downwards as he examined my condition.

"What happened to you? Who do I need to eat?" he asked..

"Izumi," Kakuzu's stern tone sounded from behind as his arm pulled me away from Zetsu. I stumbled backwards from the sudden force and turned to look at him, bewildered.

"You're coming home with us. I still need to treat your wounds here. And Zetsu, the mission was completed successfully. We'll be turning in his body for the reward tomorrow and returning to base after that. That is all you need to report to Pain and nothing else."

"All righty," Zetsu said roughly before asking in a softer tone, "But what about Izumi?"

"She's fine, leave her out of the report," Kakuzu instructed before Zetsu nodded warily and receded once again into the floorboards.

My spirits sank with his body, disappearing as he did. I didn't even try to hide my scowl as I sat against the wall and attempted plucking the remaining glass from my left hand. I thought that because my fingers were so much smaller, it would be easier for me than Hidan. I thought wrong.

I hissed quietly through my teeth as I dug my fingers into an open wound, desperately trying to take hold of the small shard that buried itself even further. I could feel Hidan's eyes on me, surely a smirk lined across his face at my miserable attempt to do as he did. I didn't let myself look up though, I just kept digging stubbornly into my flesh, only making it worse. I turned my hand to the side so the blood that pooled in the center of my palm could drain onto the floor.

"You know… if you would just fucking ask, I might help you," Hidan said amusedly while sitting casually on one of the sleeping mats.

"Okay, will you help me down to the hot springs?" I pressed, knowing that's not what he meant.

"They're split by gender, aren't you the goody-fucking-two-shoes-rule-following type?" He retorted.

"Hidan," Kakuzu sighed. "just bring her down if it'll shut her up. It's so late that I doubt anyone is down there anyway."

"Why don't you do it then," Hidan whined with a pointed glare in his partner's direction.

"I'm preparing the medicine. I thought you'd be used to a job like this, shouldn't it remind you of home, Hidan?" There was nothing inherently mean about what Kakuzu said but the tone of it made me think it was some sort of jab.

"Fuck you, Kakuzu. Come on Izumi, get your shit and hurry up," Hidan growled, heading out the door. I both hurried up and grabbed my shit with haste, skipping to catch up despite the sore state of my entire body.

The night air was warm, but a cool breeze floated throughout. The moon was out in full force, heaving clouds out of its way as it loomed immensely in the sky. We stepped out into the night, the gently simmering pool before us letting off a thick layer of steam. Crickets chirped loudly just beyond the tall wooden fence.

"What did he mean you'd be used to a job like this?" I asked as we made our way to the water's edge. Kakuzu was right, it was empty.

"Tch," Hidan scoffed, "it has to do with the village I'm from. It's a stupid story."

"I like stupid stories," I assured, dipping my toe in the water and looking at Hidan expectantly, waiting for him to turn around so I could get in.

"What are you staring at, it's creepy," he said with a scowl.

"Do you plan on watching me get in? You're one to talk about creepy…"

He grinned. "Well I was told I'm not supposed to take my eyes off you…"

Izumi has a bad record with bathhouses, I wonder if this time will go better… Welp, thanks for reading!