Chapter Ten: It's not all fun and games

"Roast fillet of Salmon in a white wine and parsley sauce with fresh veg and crushed potato" Kakuzu replied to Ino's inquiry of what was actually being served.

It took a few moments for that to sink in, but when it did, she grinned.

Digging her fork into the amazing dish in front of her, the ex-akatsuki member found himself somewhat nervous of her reaction. It had been a long time since he had cooked anything for anyone else before.

The flush of stun and happiness that crossed her face told him everything was fine and his heart felt uncomfortably light at the aspect.

"This…is delicious, why were you not a chef!?" she cried through muffled mouthfuls.

He calmly started eating himself, mask down but he didn't mind because she didn't mind.

Such a sense of normality was calming and he took advantage of it.

He had shrugged on a black T-shirt before sitting down but across the table, Ino's eyebrows occasionally quirked when she noticed how form fitting it was.

This guy must have been top of the list in the bodyguard league.

And he was hers…strictly speaking.

She had, had bodyguards before now, but none like Kakuzu, the others had been without persona or interest in her. They only cared for the cold hard cash that dealt her out like food.

In attempts to rest her mind she focused on the real food that had now filled her stomach and she sighed like a content cat.

"I will assume you enjoyed it"

"You assume correct, sir" she giggled and leant back on her chair, there was a silence, but it was a comfortable absence of noise, a bit of fateful time to let the two members acknowledge all that had happened over the last few days.

"You…must be tired"

Kakuzu looked in surprise to the words escaping the young woman's mouth.

"How so?"

"Looking after me…thanks…for…doing so, I suppose" her eyes were soft, sad even as she looked at the ground.

"Hey…I get paid don't I?"

"But you don't make it obvious!" she yelled and he leant back, he had meant what he had said in a humorous manner.

"I didn't mean it Ino, its fine, the whole…protecting you thing, it's not been as bad as you make it out to be"

Ino felt like someone had pumped her with air and she smiled wide, face glowing with the beam and he was struck by the enlightening expression for a few moments. To think she let him brush calloused, dark hands down that porcelain flesh without a wince.

"Well you must be tired soon, go up to bed whenever, I am"

"Now?"

Kakuzu smiled a little at the ounce of disappointment in her tone but nodded and she shrugged.

"I'll go up now then as well, need my beauty sleep!"

"I reckon resting your feet is more important"

Wait, what?

Was that…a compliment regarding that her feet needed rest and not her beauty, in other words, she was already pretty?

"T-thanks" a rose blush dusted her cheeks and she walked past him out the kitchen.

"Oh! Do you want me to do the dishes?"

"I have a dishwasher; I'll load it in the morning"

"Are you sure you're unmarried?"

"Yes, Ino"

"You think you could just let her off?"

"It's not like she has acted upon her discoveries, I must admit Pein, I don't see why such fruitless struggle should continue against a most probably innocent young woman, it would cause stress amongst society which isn't what we want until we can handle it.

The man with the piercings that littered over his body turned to the blue haired woman whose expression of serenity and rationality softened his edges but this disobedience of his members had overcome any sense of loyalty and belief in his Konan.

For now.

"I understand that, but the point of her interference is not the main point here, the disobedience of my members is! And such crime will only be redeemed once the task is complete!"

No one spoke; they stood in their designated positions upon the great hands and stared up with a sense of terror and respect.

"Hidan, Allira and Zetsu will go to the destination that will follow after this gathering and you will finish the job, I don't care about publicity or how it is done, I just want this woman dealt with!"

Itachi and Kisame exchanged anxious and stoic glances. Stoic on Itachi's part.

"I really can't stay on dad! I'm sorry I am worrying you but I am fine! Kakuzu is sure I will be safe here so I will be home soon; got to go, love you, bye!"

Her father had rang up and she answered quickly, she had listened to him explain his anxiety and for the first time felt sympathetic towards him, felt like he just needed a hug, he really did seem to care about his daughter.

Setting her mobile on bedside table, she engulfed herself in the satin sheets and snuggled down deep, fluffy blonde hair encircling her head as she clicked the light off and all was quiet.

Kakuzu had noticed her screaming shortly after the storm started, what was it with women and thunderstorms?

The corridors were dark, momentarily illuminated with the brutish flash of electricity that tore over the dark sombre skies. Rain snared at the windows like knives but Kakuzu had never been one to fear violent weather. He was eventually before Ino's new room.

He thought it polite to knock first and was answered with an anxious yelp, entering he froze and his eyes narrowed as he saw Zetsu holding the girl around the neck, Hidan and a young woman he did not recognise personally but only as an akatsuki member standing nearer to him. The lightening flashed again and there was a painfully stale silence that marred the atmosphere.

"Hey Kakuzu, long time no see"

"What are you doing? Let her go"

"That doesn't sound like you!" the albino Jashinist purred and twirled his scythe round his hands as though it was light as a feather.

"Stop it Hidan, let's get it over and done with. Stop with your fucking flirting, as if we have time!" Zetsu claimed and Hidan pouted momentarily.

Kakuzu felt something gnarl heavily in his stomach as the arm around the slender neck of Ino elicited a shy whimper from her. He needed to distract them, even if only for a moment.

"Who is this then? A cheap substitute?" Kakuzu gestured to the brunette who stood holding an intricate knife in her hand, her blunt blue eyes blinked slowly; she was undeterred at the offence.

Kakuzu took seconds to scrutinise her, her build was hard to tell under the bulky shape of the akatsuki coat but she was tall and had a placid face if not for the professional seriousness it held at the current point, wild hair slightly falling in front of an unattractive set of scars marking her right eye, the iris was a much paler, sickeningly vacant colour in comparison to the other.

"Your substitute, jealous?" Hidan smirked devilishly and stood up straighter, he loosened his grip on the scythe for a second and Kakuzu lunged.

"The fuck! Allira, get him off" Kakuzu wound thick wires around the form of the cursing Jashinist.

A knife sliced the back of his knees and the ex-akatsuki snarled, but did not falter from standing, another set of unruly black wires shot out and engulfed the throat of the substitute who had foolishly fell into his line of sight after her little trick behind his form.

Her hand came to grab at the invasive lines, he immediately saw a mauled, long, sharp, scaly black hand that appeared diseased and alienated. The appearance threw him off and this clawed appendage snapped through his wires like muscle sinew. It was not a trick, twas her limb! Hidden before in the lengthy folds of her sleeves.

Hidan took Kakuzu's surprise to his advantage and pushed the older man into the Jashin circle on the ground, Allira stayed behind him, in case he thought of stepping out the bloody symbol.

"She might be new, but at least she knows what she is doing, you would have snapped at this point, wouldn't have you, angry little Kakuzu?"

"Bastard" the bodyguard growled and drew his attention to Ino who seemed unharmed as of yet aside from the fact Zetsu could break her neck at any given moment.

"Don't fucking ignore me, asshole!" Hidan suddenly yelled but Kakuzu had ignored him for just long enough, lunging back at Allira, he all but picked her up and threw her at Hidan, brutish tactics, but hey, he had been out of practise. And it proved effective.

Allira found herself impaled through the stomach on Hidan's weapon and gasped for air as she struggled off him. Healing any wound from her body impact onto him twice as fast as his own regeneration would have kicked in and he stood up effortlessly, charging after Kakuzu without thought, Allira healed her own wounds for a second before joining him.

But by then Kakuzu was too close for them to truly attack him, arm grabbing Zetsu he all but wrenched the man's head back and he let Ino loose, Hidan clasped her though as Zetsu retaliated with a kunai stab into Kakuzu's abdomen. Kakuzu choked and looked round to the blonde who was then thrown against the post of the bed with a sickening crack, she fell to the ground and as the crimson pool around her increased, her breathing stopped and she stopped moving.

A/N: WHATWILLHAPPEEENNNN?

Hopefully Allira isn't Mary-sue or something, her abilities, as stated before, lie in her weaponry, healing and a curse-diseased hand that she usually keeps hidden. She in general isn't a very pretty character, inside and only a little on the outside, she is a bit of a repair girl in the Akatsuki base itself and gets on well with Zetsu, Kisame and Konan mostly. The others don't have a problem with her too. She is Hidan's partner; good due to how level headed she is, doesn't head out into the field much. SHE WAS JUST TO YOU KNOW, FIT IN FOR A BIT.

It's rushed and apathetic and SHORT, I know, but I have a plan which will be ignited into the following chapters that will come all too soon so stay tuned, more coming up, after the break!

#LAW09

To TheAkatuskisFangirl: Aww! That is so kind of you! I appreciate all the reviews I gain and yours is lovely, thank you! I'm glad you think my kissing scenes are going well and goodness knows I don't know what to do with myself when my CP shuts down, oh my, what a shame! I hope you get it back soon!