'Where are we going to go?' Hidan asked as soon as they were back on the road.
'There's a hot spring not far from here,' Kakuzu replied. 'I thought we'd go there.'
'Wow.' Hidan stared - this was an unusual development when travelling with Kakuzu. 'Nice!'
'We could both use it,' was Kakuzu's laconic reply. To be honest, he could still smell morgue on himself, and Hidan was covered in a thin layer of earth and blood under the cloak. Kakuzu wanted somewhere where they could relax and think for a little while, somewhere, moreover, where they wouldn't be expected to go. And also because for reasons he wasn't quite ready to define to himself, he wanted to do something - well, yes - nice.
Hidan's step became a little bouncier, and he caught up with Kakuzu to walk beside him. He couldn't think of anything to say though, for once, so they walked along in silence. It wasn't a tense silence, but neither was it exactly comfortable. It was charged, somehow. Kakuzu smiled under his mask. He'd always disliked it when Hidan trailed behind.
It wasn't far. Although the spring was so near to Konoha it was slightly off the beaten track, off a road that eventually led to some smaller settlements. It was the tail end of the busy season, and Kakuzu was prepared to take the risk. It was very unlikely, anyway, given the state Konoha had been in when they left, that any Konoha shinobi would be there. And when they got there, the sun just beginning to break through the early morning mist, they were in fact the only visitors at the small onsen that Kakuzu chose.
Kakuzu took a room for two and ordered breakfast. The proprietor wanted news from Konoha, but Kakuzu told him they'd come from the other direction, and something in his tone quickly quenched the man's urge to gossip. While he was ordering and negotiating prices Hidan wandered into the room they'd accepted and flung himself down on one of the futons. It was a nice room, high ceilinged and airy, shoji screen doors at either end letting in a lot of soft golden light. He'd left the door to the hall open a crack for Kakuzu and now he reached out from the futon and slid the outer door open a little too, letting in a beam of whiter light. The door led straight out onto a verandah that looked over the bathing area. Kakuzu had taken probably the best room in the house.
Hidan rolled onto his back and watched dust motes dancing in the ray of sunlight. He breathed deeply as warm, slightly steamy and scented air wafted into the room. He stretched his arms out wide and felt peaceful in a way that he normally associated with having a pike stuck through his heart. Just now, he didn't seem to need it. Still, he took the Jashin symbol from his pocket and held it loosely at his mouth, murmuring a rambling and slightly incoherent prayer, letting his eyes drift closed.
When he opened them Kakuzu was by his side, watching him, actually sitting on the side of his futon, one hand resting on his knee, the other by Hidan's head. He was still wearing his mask, but he'd dispelled the illusion that changed the colour of his eyes. Hidan wondered if he smiled as those green eyes met his own and felt a little electric jolt in his stomach at how close they were.
'Were you sleeping?' Kakuzu asked, his voice soft and low, and Hidan shook his head, showing Kakuzu the symbol in his hand.
'You found it for me,' he said. 'I found it in your pocket.'
'I thought you'd want it,' Kakuzu replied, his gaze drifting away to focus out of the door. He didn't tell Hidan that he hadn't in fact forgotten about it when he'd given him back his forehead protector. It was so much a part of Hidan, he'd wanted to hold onto it for a little while longer. It was one of very few indulgences he'd permitted himself, but he'd liked feeling it's cold rounded edge in his pocket as he walked. He looked back at Hidan and indicated the low table at the other end of the room. 'I brought breakfast.'
Hidan sat up and, accepting the hand that Kakuzu extended to pull him to his feet, immediately stopped feeling peaceful. He got a mini rush of adrenaline and forgot to let go, holding on several seconds longer after Kakuzu had released his grip. He was sure he felt himself flush and his palms and the soles of his feet tingled weirdly as if he was sliding down a cliff face.
He wanted to relieve the tension by making some loud and obnoxious remark, but as he crossed the room the smell of food reminded him that it had been literally weeks since he'd eaten anything with real substance. It made him dizzy for a moment. He knelt down and gripped the edge of the table, little black flecks swimming in front of his eyes, and took a moment to compose himself. Stealing a look at Kakuzu between slow calming breaths he was interested to see that he also seemed a little on edge. He caught Hidan's eye and removed his mask at last. He smiled in a way that was probably meant to be reassuring.
"You'll feel better once you manage to start,' he said. Hidan took another deep breath and got a grip on himself. He took a mouthful of rice and then began to eat ravenously. Still, he could only finish half the bowl. Maybe his stomach had shrunk, he thought. He did feel better, but he felt weirdly nervy too. He kept getting adrenaline spikes. He drank some tea, and half a minute later dived out into the corridor in a desperate search for the toilet.
'Fucking soldier pills!' Kakuzu heard Hidan's plaintive yell echoing down the corridor, and smiled wryly, feeling a twinge of guilt. Going back to solid food after surviving for a long time only on soldier pills could have a very disturbing effect on the stomach. He probably shouldn't have let him eat so fast. He wondered if he should go and see how he was doing. He couldn't hear any retching though, and looking into Hidan's bowl, it seemed he hadn't eaten all that much - it would probably be better if he managed to keep it down.
Don't throw up, don't fucking throw up! Hidan thought, clinging pathetically to the sink as he leant over it, swallowing desperately. It wasn't just the food though, he was sure. Some other force was acting on him, making him into a pansy-ass wuss, in his opinion. Get a fucking grip, he told himself. Calm the fuck down. Being away from the smell of food was helping. But so was not getting butterflies every time he looked up because a certain pair of green eyes was coolly regarding him. Shit! Even just thinking about it gave him butterflies. His stomach churned ominously once more and then began to settle. Hidan breathed a cautious sigh of relief and looked up to stare at himself in the mirror. 'Yeah, fuck you too, cocksucker, stop fucking giving me gip, fucktard,' he snarled at his reflection. He went out into the cool dim corridor and squatted against the wall there for a moment, head in hands, swearing half-heartedly under his breath, letting the last twinges die away before sidling sheepishly back to the room. Kakuzu was probably going to laugh at him now, as well!
Kakuzu looked at Hidan standing the doorway, noting that he was slightly flushed now instead of that white around the mouth look he'd had before. 'Alright now?' he asked, and he did smirk slightly.
'False alarm, dude,' said Hidan languidly, half closing his eyes, hoping he looked cool and collected. 'It was touch and go there, though, I seriously thought I was going to puke my fucking guts out.' He met Kakuzu's impassive gaze and raised one eyebrow slightly. 'And why weren't you there, rubbing my back and holding my hair out of my face, I'd like to know?'
Kakuzu coughed, hiding his smile. Damn, Hidan looked hot like that. He pictured himself supporting him from behind as he retched sexily over the toilet and knew what he'd rather be doing in that position. Then he hastily cursed his imagination and dismissed the ridiculous image - who ever looked sexy throwing up anyway? It was pure fantasy. Hidan, seemingly unconscious or uncaring of the effect he was having and with the rapid recovery and swaggering insouciance of youth, finished his tea and went to the door. He shed his cloak, throwing it back onto the futon, and went out to the spring. Kakuzu finished his breakfast and soon followed, pausing to pick up the cloak and fold it on his way.
Hidan was already neck deep in the water by the time Kakuzu came out. His eyes were closed and an expression of blissful surrender was on his face. He hadn't bothered to renew the illusion on himself, but perhaps it wouldn't really matter. There was no-one else about and it seemed unlikely that the proprietor would come out. Still, Kakuzu was keeping his stitches hidden, just in case. Hidan opened a lazy violet eye as he sat down.
'Mm-hmm, smooth Kakuzu!' He murmured, 'I kind of miss the stitches, though. You don't look quite like you without them...'
Kakuzu stared at him - you don't look quite like you - the tantalising words replayed themselves in his head. If he feels anything like the way I'm feeling now, he asked himself, then why are we both just sitting here, pretending? What are we waiting for? Even so, he did nothing. He tried to make himself relax in the warm water, and it was certainly pleasant, feeling the lingering smell of death and the chilliness he'd felt since waking that morning drifting away from him, but he was still tense, he felt like a coiled spring. He splashed water over his face and through his hair, failing to unwind in the slightest. Hidan had now disappeared entirely under the water, and resurfaced a moment later, eyes screwed closed, shaking the water off him, slicking his hair back with his fingers and trying to get out the last traces of blood and earth. There were still slightly matted bits. He leant back again, trying to soak them out, tugging his fingers through the tangles inexpertly.
'Fuck, this shit is stubborn!' he complained. 'I'm never going to get it out!' It sounded almost like an invitation, a loaded plea for assistance, and Kakuzu briefly imagined himself moving over to him and running his own fingers through the silver hair, easing out the stubborn snarls with a combination of sensitive fingertips and fine thread-work, stroking stray tendrils away from his face, then dispelled this image as well with an impatient shake of his head. He couldn't have moved over to him anyway, even if he'd thought it was a good idea. He felt like he was rooted to the spot.
Hidan glanced at Kakuzu slightly desperately. He'd really have liked him to respond to that pathetic little bait he'd thrown out. He didn't want to make the move. He wanted Kakuzu to take the initiative, and therefore the responsibility for the outcome. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he made a move on Kakuzu and Kakuzu rejected him. He suspected he might go bat-shit insane and start killing shit. Alternatively, he might just fucking break down and cry.
He sneaked another look at Kakuzu, and he could've sworn those green eyes had just looked away from him. Hang on though, he thought suddenly, has he let his illusion slip? He checked again, and yes, there sat Kakuzu in all his stitched glory. Well! He must be distracted, then. Or did he do it on purpose because Hidan had said he liked them? Hidan bit his lip, his heart thumping. Just fucking take me, he silently implored, just sent out those crazy fucking tentacles and take me! How could Kakuzu look so impassive? He wasn't. Hidan just knew he wasn't. He looked over at him again, and this time didn't let himself look away, but waited for Kakuzu to meet his eyes.
It seemed to take forever. Kakuzu seemed to be brooding on something, his chin resting on his interlaced fingers. Hidan kept staring at him, and slowly, slowly, Kakuzu seemed to sense it. Dropping his hands and leaning back slightly, he looked up and their eyes locked. Hidan fought down the urge to break that connection, bit back the flippant words that rose to get him out of the situation, to break the tension. Neither of them said anything, but as if moved by the same impulse they rose with one accord, threw on the white towels that Kakuzu had thought to bring out, and beat a hasty retreat back to their room.
Even as he closed the door behind him, Kakuzu pulled Hidan roughly against him, hands sliding over his slippery wet body and fumbling with the towel at his waist, growling his name against his parted lips. He felt almost dizzy, and realised he was trembling - hell, they were both trembling, with lust, desire, relief - he wasn't sure. They both fleetingly wondered why on Earth they'd waited so long.
It was over quickly - urgent, intense and brief. Both of them were so pent up and desperate for each other that they didn't try to make it last. Half a minute after coming through the door they were down on the futon, their bodies sliding against each other, mouths locked together in fierce and hungry kisses. Their hands were all over each other, Hidan, back arching with pleasure at the feel of Kakuzu on top of him, urging him downwards. And as Kakuzu summarily flipped him over and entered him lubricated with only spit and sweat they were already both only inches away from climaxing just from finally getting their hands on each other. It wasn't an easy entrance, but for Hidan it was pain of the sweetest kind and he relaxed into it, letting Kakuzu ease deeply into him. It only took a few deep thrusts before he couldn't hold back any longer and came hard into Kakuzu's hand. Then Kakuzu felt his own release becoming quickly inevitable, and using Hidan's come as extra lubrication he was tipped finally over the edge. Even at this point Hidan was still gasping out words - incitements, inarticulate moans, profanities - both 'Jashin' and 'Kakuzu' featured several times. He'd been very vocal all along.
They kept moving against each other, slowly now, languid, slippery and comfortable, Kakuzu still gently stroking Hidan, Hidan thrusting minimally into his hand. They sprawled, Kakuzu still half on top of Hidan, neither having any inclination to move away. It was warm in the room, with the sun coming through the screen doors, and Hidan soon drifted into a drowsy half sleep. Kakuzu didn't sleep, but just lay there, one hand tracing lazy patterns on Hidan's thigh. He propped himself up on one elbow, the better to observe the sleeping Hidan. He felt he hadn't been quite right in his earlier analysis. Hidan wasn't really so different from his waking self. He wasn't even that quiet - he seemed to be muttering something, Kakuzu couldn't make out the words - and there was that certain smug self satisfaction about his mouth (now slightly swollen from many bites and kisses) that was absolutely in character.
Kakuzu stroked a line down Hidan's spine, and leant in to gently nip the back of his neck. Hidan stirred and moaned. Kakuzu breathed in deeply, smelling clean damp hair and Hidan's own particular scent. He flicked his tongue over the warm smooth skin, and tasted salt. 'Hidan,' he murmured softly, experimentally, testing the name on his tongue and imbuing it with a new tenderness. He ran his thumb down one of Hidan's shoulder blades, then stroked up again, massaging the muscles lightly with the heel of his hand.
Hidan rolled over, his eyes still glazed with drowsiness and put his arms round Kakuzu, pushing closer to him and rubbing against him. Kakuzu could feel that he was already hard again. 'Nng, Kakuzu...' he said, voice slurred with lust, 'Let's do that again...'
'Now?' said Kakuzu, starting to get hard again himself and smiling, in spite of an inner voice telling him he was kissing good-bye to peace and quiet forever. It was obvious that Hidan was going to be demanding.