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Chapter 2: Negotiations

Kiyoko sighed at her predicament. "That is none of your business. What is it exactly you want?"

Kakuzu smiled. "Simple. This idea about taking you to the various bounty hunters around is actually a good idea. The Akatsuki treasury has been depleted as of late and it is in my interest to refill it."

Kiyoko glanced quickly back at her own village. "I suppose I have no choice but to make a deal with you two."

Hidan raised his eyebrow. "I thought we made it specific. You are coming with us."

Kiyoko was exasperated with the Jashinist. "Look dumbass, I have a reputation of accomplishing every one of my missions quickly. Besides, news travels fast and Hokage-sama will know that I accomplished my mission and will be suspicious of no mission report and no ninja."

Hidan's eyebrow twitched at the insult, but Kakuzu merely ignored him and nodded. "Good point. What do you suggest then?"

Kiyoko looked thoughtful, but her annoyance was almost tangible. "We stay the night at my place, I give the mission report to Hokage-sama at noon, and at midnight we leave."

Hidan groaned. "Two S-Rank missing nin waltzing straight into the Leaf Village? Surely you have a better fucking plan than that!"

Kiyoko's eyebrow now twitched. "I am an S-Rank assassin. Trust me; I know a thing or two when it comes to sneaking into villages. Follow my lead."

Kiyoko walked quietly to the Leaf ninja guards at the gate. She chatted animatedly and put her hand on their vest. One chakra surge later and one ninja was down and soon the other followed. Kakuzu and Hidan gazed at her. She raised an eyebrow. "What? If I pump actual chakra, I can use the Death Touch to pierce through barriers or clothing. Stop staring and let us go."

Kiyoko sprinted into the night carefully shadowed. After a couple of minutes, they came to a massive house and Hidan could not keep his mouth shut.

"Damn! That is one big ass house!"

Kakuzu's tentacles already began wrapping around his mouth and Hidan cursed. Kiyoko glanced annoyed at the pair. "Come on already."

She walked to the gate and performed a hand sign. The gates then opened for her and the three of them walked inside. Kakuzu and Hidan stared at the landscaping. There was a waterfall, a fish pond, and several gardens.

Kiyoko cleared her throat. The men turned their attention to her. "We can tour the house and lands later. It is the time for sleep."

They all agreed and followed her inside her house. They gasped at the size of just the living room and when they saw the guest rooms, Kakuzu nearly fainted at the opulence. Kiyoko noticed the treasurer looking around. "You are not allowed to steal anything or the deal is off."

Kakuzu grumbled until Hidan pointed out that Kiyoko would most likely bring in more income than the various items around her house would. Kiyoko snorted and closed the door to head to her room.

Hidan liked the current room and could not believe it when Kiyoko said he and Kakuzu would get separate rooms. However, there were more important matters than sleeping arrangements. "Kakuzu, how do you think she got so loaded? This house just reeks of wealth."

Kakuzu nodded and glanced around the room. "These trinkets that she has would fetch extremely high prices and she has several weapons it appears. We will have to interrogate her about her status, but we still need to tread carefully around her. Chances are still high that she might betray us to the Hokage or some other Leaf Shinobi."

"Can't we just kill her if she tries to pull some shit?"

Kakuzu shook his head. "There are multiple reasons why she has such a high bounty. First, her ability to kill whoever she happens to touch, no matter if she wished to kill them or not. Secondly, she is unable to die. If someone tries to kill her, she simply regenerates. As of such, she is an S-ranked ninja. That is why her bounty is so high."

Hidan gazed at Kakuzu. "So she is an immortal just like us?"

Kakuzu nodded. "Yes, but out of the two of us, she is scared of you the most Hidan. You are apparently the first that her touch hasn't killed and she is obviously unfamiliar with the thought that someone wasn't vulnerable to her powers."

Hidan had an odd look in his face. "Scared of me? She doesn't act different."

Kakuzu rolled his eyes. "Just think for a moment Hidan… If you are capable of it." Kakuzu pauses as Hidan tries to slash him with his scythe. "Stop that, she won't be happy. Anyways, how would you feel if everyone was vulnerable to your touch then all of a suddenly, someone is immune and is no longer affected. They are officially the only threat to you."

Hidan nodded. "That would feel bad. Can we go to fucking sleep already?"

Kakuzu sighed in resignation. "Yeah. I have a feeling that we will definitely need our sleep."

The next morning…

Kiyoko rose early as did Kakuzu. Kiyoko rose because of the two guests she had plus the preparations she knew would have to be made otherwise, she was a night person. Kakuzu rose because by nature, he was a morning person. Hidan slept contentedly as he was a night person. Kakuzu glanced at Kiyoko who was cooking eggs and bacon for breakfast.

"Good morning Kiyoko-san." Kakuzu gauged Kiyoko for her response and to his surprise, she was receptive.

"Good morning Kakuzu-san. Would you like some eggs and bacon today? I also have some coffee if you wish for that instead."

Kakuzu nodded. "That sounds quite good, thank you very much."

Kiyoko scooped some eggs and bacon onto his plate and fetched some coffee. "Is Hidan-san coming down also? I could keep his food warm if he is a late sleeper."

Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. "He is a very late sleeper and he would appreciate food being kept warm for him. After he wakes though, he is going to want to do his bloody ritual. Is there a safe place for him to do a ritual where the blood will be easy to clean?"

Kiyoko stiffened at the mention of the blood ritual. "Why would he have to do a ritual where he will bleed in my house…?"

"His stupid ritual is for his god and religion, Jashin. He stabs himself multiple times and then that causes him to bleed. The amount of blood would be enough to kill a mortal person."

Kiyoko rolled her eyes in contempt. "I have a meditation room that he can use as long as he cleans it. If he causes damage to the room, he is paying for it."

Kakuzu silently thanked Kiyoko and began to enjoy his eggs. Ten minutes later to everyone's surprise, Hidan came down. "Damn! Something smells really fucking good."

Kiyoko pointed at the breakfast. "Eggs and bacon if you would like some."

"That sounds good." Hidan pulled up a chair and began to devour the food in front of him. Suddenly, a knock on the door was heard and Kiyoko fell into full panic mode.

"Get back to your rooms quickly. I have no idea who would visit me at 8:00 A.M." Hidan and Kakuzu took their breakfast and ran up. Kiyoko went to the door and opened it.

"Kakashi-kun, what are you doing here so early?" Hidan and Kakuzu noticed a certain tone in Kiyoko's voice: fear.

"Well, the road of life decided to bring me to your house to see your radiant face. Have you already filed your mission report?"

Hidan turned to Kakuzu and whispered, "Did he just hit on her?"

Kakuzu shushed him and motioned him to listen. "Well Kakashi-kun, I have not yet, but I was planning to do so once I finish with breakfast and get everything organized."

"Ah, I see. Can I come in Yoko-chan?"

Kakuzu noticed Hidan's eyes narrowing. "What the fuck? 'Yoko-chan'?!"

"Be quiet your idiot. That is the Copy Ninja down there." Kakuzu wrapped his tentacles around Hidan in an attempt to silence him.

"Umm, this really is not a good time Kakashi-kun. I do not feel good after my mission and just need some quiet time to myself."

"Ah, I see. Take care of yourself Yoko-chan."

"I will. You know, you should stop reading that smut that you carry around."

"Icha Icha books are not smut. Besides, maybe if you went out on a date with me I would stop."

Kakuzu did not know whose reaction to fear more: Hidan going for his scythe or Kiyoko's rapidly reddening face and quivering tone. "Kakashi… If you wish to live another day…"

Laughter could be heard. "Later Yoko-chan."

The door slammed and Kiyoko went upstairs to see an apprehensive Kakuzu and an agitated Hidan. "Why the fuck does he call you 'Yoko-chan'? And he hit on you!"

Kiyoko raised her eyebrow. "I have been trying to get him to stop calling me that. And he has been hitting on me since we kissed."

Kakuzu was confused. "How can you kiss if your touch kills?"

"A kiss through the mask," intoned Kiyoko. She did not look happy. "Kakashi is nice, but… He should not want a relationship with someone like me. My powers could kill him on accident and to make things worse, I cannot make myself die so that I do not have to deal with the guilt of killing innocents. I am an abomination born to cause death and therefore cannot die. What the am I supposed to do with myself for the rest of eternity? I cannot die and even if I do not mean to, my powers will accidentally kill someone."

"Kiyoko-san… I know what immortality feels like and I am not even that old. We are bound to this plain of existence, so make the best of it." Hidan replied. Kiyoko looked towards him with an odd look. She strode towards him and gently placed her right hand on his cheek.

"I need to deliver the mission report. I was going to wait, but we need to get out of here as soon as possible. Kakashi might suspect something and I really do not want to be against the Leaf Village."

Kiyoko went off to her room. Hidan placed a hand on his cheek where Kiyoko touched. Kakuzu sniggered. "You are a mystery to her you know. She is unable to kill you as you are the only one truly unaffected by her powers. You may be the one thing she grows to cherish. That also explains all the stuff here: things that can go unchanged by time like her. If the two immortals decided to fall in love…"

Hidan glared at Kakuzu. "There is no fucking way in hell that would ever happen." You do confuse me though Kiyoko. Sometimes it feels like you hate me, but that touch… It wasn't a spiteful touch…