Chapter 13

The heat of the burning flames surrounds her. She had hit the ground hard but he had softened the blow. A sharp pain stabs her left shoulder as she shields his body from the raging inferno. Eyes closed, she feels him squirm underneath her but refuses to release her grip. Voices cried out from somewhere far away. The ringing in her ear kept her from deciphering their meanings.

Finally the heat dies down and she risks opening her eyes. Black smoke swirls around her and she blinks as it slowly dissipates. The ringing has stopped and the voices finally reach her. They were yelling her name. Then an angry grunt catches her attention. She stares down at the face of the man she just saved.

"Hidan…"She whispers.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!"

The Akatsuki member, over his initial shock, regains his strength and shoves her away from him. She rolls off of Hidan and lands on her ass, scrambling backwards out of his reach. The burn on her shoulder screams in protest. She stares up at him as he stands, the irritation clear on his face. She glares him, her hands are clenched at her side, fingernails digging into the dirt. She knew they were probably bleeding but the pain kept her from trembling in fear.

"Crazy bitch…all you did was grant him a few extra minutes of life. His death, along with yours is inevitable."

He took a step towards her.

Suddenly she felt arms underneath her and was whisked away from his grasp. Asuma keeps a firm grip on her as he glowers at Hidan. Shikamaru, Kotetsu, and Izumo stand defensively around them. Kakuzu strolled over to his partner as if he didn't have a single care in the world. The two Akatsuki stare at them but don't make a move. The diagram was intact, it stood ominously between the opposing forces.

She releases her hold on Asuma's neck and he glances at her in understanding. He loosens his grip on her and sets her down on her feet. Akari takes a step towards Shikamaru, who has his back to her. She gets as close as possible without touching him. Her eyes level with his shoulder blades. Certain that the rest of their companions can hear her as well, she whispers.

"Shikamaru. You can't let him step into that circle again. As soon as he does…Asuma is in danger."

"Explain." He doesn't turn. His eyes trained intensely on their opponents.

"He has a ritual. It allows him to link his body with his opponents. He's like a living voodoo doll. All he needs is a drop of your blood, and any damage done to him is also inflicted on you. As long as he is standing inside the symbol."

"That's why you shoved him out of the way as soon as you saw him take Asuma's blood." Izumo muttered.

She nodded.

"Well that's a relief. For a second I thought you had switched sides on us." Kotetsu whispered.

Akari frowned. His words had stung. She thought they trusted her better than that. Then he winked at her, letting her know that he was merely teasing. The thought had never crossed his mind. She gave him a small smile.

"Alright. So we make sure his feet never touch that symbol." Asuma states.

"She knows your technique. Looks like completing your ceremony will be more difficult than you first assumed." Kakuzu muttered.

The five of them glare at the men before them.

"No matter what she does, she won't be able to save them or herself. Just like she couldn't save her sister."

Akari's body grew tense. Hidan's eyes bored into hers. He grinned wickedly at her, and she stifled a gasp. The recognition was clear on his face. She tasted blood as she bit her lip a little too hard.

"Akari…" Shikamaru whispered.

"That's right! I remember now! When was it…hmmm….maybe… two or three years ago?"

Hidan glanced at the sky and tapped his finger to his lips as if he was deep in thought. She could tell he was playing with her. Her body trembled, but not from fear. It was pure rage.

"Yes! There was this Leaf brat. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Remember her Kakuzu? She was sticking her nose in our business. Kept her tied up for a while. Remember?"

He turned to his partner and nudged him. Eyebrow raised.

"Vaguely." Kakuzu rolled his eyes.

"Come on! The memory is so clear now! I remember telling you how badly I wanted to use her for my ritual! She was so feisty and had such a pretty young face."

Hidan sighed at the memory. As if he was thinking of it fondly. Akari took a step away from shikamaru. His hand reached out and grabbed her arm tightly. She let out a growl, but he didn't let go.

"Anyways, before we could deal with her, these other two Leaf brats burst in and whisked her away! Imagine our surprise!" He laughed.

"Hidan. Get to the point. I'm growing restless." Kakuzu sighed.

"Okay! Okay! So what do we do? We go after them of course! Those poor kiddies didn't get far. The boy was bleeding at your feet in seconds! The other one, was a girl I believe. She was wearing an A.N.B.U mask…a cheetah to be precise…"

He stared pointedly at Akari and smirked.

"She thought she had me. Didn't realize I had already taken her sisters blood. She stabbed me right in the chest with her little sword all cute like. The look on her face was priceless. Little brat thought she had actually killed me. Too bad she had killed her sister instead."

"BASTARD!"

Akari lunged but Shikamura's firm grip didn't let her get far. He pulled her back and handed her off to Kotetsu who wrapped his arms around her as she struggled to break free. He kept whispering for her to calm down. To keep her head.

"Hahaha! This is great! Who knew we'd run into that same girl again! It's almost like Jashin wants me to be the one to kill you!" Hidan cackled.

He stared at her with a deranged look in his eyes.

"Hidan. That's twice we left this girl for dead and yet she's still alive." Kakuzu muttered.

"What? What do you mean?" Hidan looked annoyed.

"You forgot the rest of that story. We had left her to be killed alongside the boy by quite a few of our lackeys."

"Yeah? So what's your point?"

"Those lackeys were slaughtered." Kakuzu states.

"You think she did that? This little girl?" Hidan laughs.

"Look at the facts. Those men are dead. And she isn't. Unless her brother was able to deal with them even though I left him bleeding at my feet like you said."

"They could've been rescued…"

"Doubt it. It happened in the Land of Water if remember correctly. No Jonin would've reached them on time."

Kakuzu was watching her with a strange look. Like she was now worthy of his attention. Hidan was frowning. The others around her seemed to shift until she was hidden from view. She could tell that they were now worried for her life. It was clear that these two men had become very interested in her.

"So you think she killed all those men and managed to get herself and the boy home? Hmmm…I guess it is possible. But who cares? She might have escaped death twice now but that doesn't mean she'll avoid it this time. This is the third time she's run into us, and it will be her last. I won't leave until she's dead at my feet. Got it Kakuzu?"

"Fine. But don't underestimate her. Don't underestimate any of them." Kakuzu advised.

"Yeah, yeah whatever. I think you're giving them too much credit."

Hidan charged, scythe raised and a psychotic grin on his face. Izumo and Shikamaru met him half way and blocked his approach.

"Don't let them near Akari. Understood?" Asuma whispered.

Kotetsu nodded. He let her go and blocked her from the fight.

"I can…" She was cut off.

"You will stay back! That is an order. I don't care how many times you tell me that you're okay. This has become too personal for you!" Asuma ordered.

"Personal? Yeah they killed my sister but they also killed Chiriku! Wouldn't that make things personal for you as well? Yes, I'm furious for what they did to Mizuko but…" She glowered at him.

"And that fury that you have towards them could get you killed! I won't allow that! I'm leading this assignment so you will keep your mouth shut and do as I say!" He cut her off again.

Akari wanted to fight him on this. But she knew that she couldn't change his mind. So she nodded curtly and took a step back. Asuma gave her one last look before jumping in. Kotetsu held his Kunai firmly in front of him, his body acting as her shield.

As soon as Asuma got close, Kakuzu moved. He was no longer willing to stand back and let Hidan handle things. Asuma seemed surprised but took the Akatsuki head on.

Akari bit her lip and watched from a distance. Shikamaru was again attempting to capture Hidan in his shadow technique. Izumo was keeping the man at bay. It was clear that Hidan was aiming to come after her. They wouldn't let him.

Asuma was doing well in blocking Kakuzu's attacks. Kakuzu's ability to harden his body was giving him the advantage though. With every blow, Asuma began to falter. In the middle of all this, the diagram was still drawn perfectly on the ground. She noticed that at any moment, Hidan could break away from his fight and step into it.

"Kotetsu, the diagram. We need to erase it." She whispered.

"If I move, I'll leave you open for an attack." He muttered.

"You guys have forgotten that I'm not a helpless little girl. I graduated from the academy same as Shikamaru. A year before him to be exact. I have gone on plenty of missions since then. More than he has. Quite a few of them by myself. Yet you allow him to be out there while I'm stuck doing nothing to help. I can do something. Let me do something! I'm a skilled A.N.B.U and I don't need you guys treating me like anything less."

"Akari…"

"I'm not stupid. I understand that my past with them could cloud my judgment. Which is why I haven't tried to break away from you and fight Hidan. Which I could easily do might I add."

He scoffed at this, but she could tell that believed her.

"That doesn't mean that I should just stand her hiding behind you. I don't hide. I am not helpless. I am a ninja same as you and I don't like feeling useless Kotetsu. Let me deal with the diagram while you help Asuma. He can't hold Kakuzu back on his own for much longer."

Kotetsu glanced warily at Asuma. She was right. He could tell by how sluggish Asuma's moves were becoming. Kakuzu was wearing him down. So, unable to find a flaw to her plan he nodded in agreement. He grabbed her by the shoulders and made her look him in the eyes.

"You have to promise me. Promise me that after you deal with the symbol you will stay back and let us handle the rest."

"I promise." She muttered.

He held her for a moment longer before rushing to help Asuma. Akari took a deep breath and ran to the symbol. She noticed Hidan's fighting becoming more frenzied as he saw her unprotected. Shikamaru and Izumo glanced in her direction and their eyes widened. Seeing her at risk, they increased their efforts and refused to let Hidan get past them.

Kotetsu had reached Asuma. He stopped Kakuzu's fist from hitting its mark. The Akatsuki member took a step back in annoyance.

"Kotetsu! What are you doing! I ordered you to stay with her!" Asuma said angrily.

"You needed help! And she is very persuasive!" Kotetsu argued.

"If she gets hurt it's on you!"

"I'm willing to bet that she'll make it out of this alright. She's a skilled A.N.B.U may I remind you."

Kotetsu glanced at her with a small smile on his lips. She nodded as she reached the symbol. Scuffing the ground with her feet, she wiped away the symbol. She smiled until she turned back to the fight. Hidan had broken away and was rushing towards her. Izumo lay on the ground clearly knocked out. Shikamaru was pushing himself off the ground.

Akari unsheathed her Katana and held it defensively in front of her. Asuma and Kotetsu were too busy with Kakuzu to get to her. Hidan reached her and swung wildly. She blocked his weapon with her own but her body trembled from the impact. She nearly dropped her katana.

He pulled back and swung again. And again. And again. Her arm was growing weak with every blow. He kept pushing her back. Then she was pressed up against the wall of the building. She took a deep breath and waited. Then as the scythe was inches from her head…

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Akari was now a few feet away behind Hidan. He turned to her, his eyes feral and wild. He cackled and charged her again. She meant to leap out of the way but she felt something wrap around her left ankle and pull her back down. As she hit the ground her, all her weight fell on her leg. She heard a crack and a sharp pain coursed through leg. She stifled a cry as she saw Hidan's scythe raised high above her. It was falling towards her. She closed her eyes waiting for death…but nothing.

Slowly…she opened her eyes and blinked in surprise. Shikamaru stood in front of her. One of the blades on Hidan's scythe was embedded in his right arm. He cried out as the man pulled it out roughly. Hidan glared at the boy for getting in his way. Shikamaru cradled his arm, but didn't move from her side. Then Izumo punched Hidan in the jaw. He kept the Akatsuki member busy.

Akari tried to stand but pain surged through her left leg. She groaned at the sight. It was bent at a weird angle, clearly broken. Then she gasped as she saw a hand wrapped firmly around its ankle. It was attached to…grey tendrils. She followed the strands to its owner.

Kakuzu was still fighting Asuma and Kotetsu. Except he was only using one hand. The other was gripping her ankle tightly. Her companions seemed to have noticed but weren't able to get close enough to stop him. Quickly she swung her katana and severed the grey strands. The hand released its grip no longer attached to anything. Kakuzu didn't even flinch. In fact he only seemed annoyed as his threads reeled back into his severed wrist. She made to move.

"Don't stand. It will only make the break worse." Shikamaru whispered.

She nodded.

"We…we need to get out of here. We can't beat them like this. We need to regroup." She muttered.

His eyes were flitting back and forth between the two fights. Then he glanced down at his arm. Then at her leg.

"Your right. But I don't see any escape route for us." He shook his head.

"NO!"

Startled, they turned to whoever had just yelled. It was Kotetsu. Kakuzu's body was exploding with tendrils. Many of them piercing out of Asuma's torso. Blood was dripping from the corners of his mouth. Kotetsu swung his kunai at the grey threads. He managed to sever them, and Kakuzu stepped back.

Her eyes widened. Shikamaru left her side and ran towards his sensei. He caught him as he fell and Kotetsu placed himself firmly between the Akatsuki member and their fallen friend. Izumo, distracted by the situation, cried out in pain. Hidan had left him a large gash on his chest.

Akari watched as everything fell apart. Hidan and Kakuzu were slowly approaching her friends. They weren't going to survive this. They needed to get away. She bit her thumb, drawing blood.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Smoke appeared. When it cleared, Shun stood among them. Hidan and Kakuzu leapt out of the way. The others stared up at him in shock. Shun didn't hesitate to assess the situation. He swiped at the two Akatsuki members and sent them flying.

"GET US OUT OF HERE!" She yelled at him.

Shikamaru grabbed Asuma around the waist and leapt on Shun's back. Kotetsu half dragged Izumo on towards the large cheetah. Then, Kotetsu appeared at her side and lifted her into his arms. He carried her to Shun and gently placed her next to Shikamaru. Once they were all safely on board, her giant friend sprinted towards home. Akari looked back and just managed to catch a glimpse of Hidan watching them disappear, unable to follow.