They were back at base, they had been for around a week now. Nobody knew of the pair's separation and that fateful night upon the hilltop. No one was likely to ever find out, well maybe Zetsu...he was always popping up in unexpected places. Hidan rolled over in bed and sighed when he saw the time – it was 10am and Kakuzu would surely be long gone by now. Somewhere in the base there was a commotion,

"Tobi you gay!"

"Oy Tobi-kun, where's my cloak?"

"Tobi didn't- OW"

"Sasori, that was uncalled for un"

Hidan sighed again and tried to sleep, his dreams were muddled and he hadn't had much sleep since...He spread his arms wide and glared at the ceiling- remembering what he and Kakuzu had shared. His hand brushed against something and he glanced to his side.

"Hidan? You up already?" a husky voice coming from the other side of his bed murmured, accompanied by the clinking of coins.

"Agh! You're in my bed?" said Hidan, dumbfounded as he gathered the sheets about him.

"Sure" replied his partner, "you didn't seem to be sleeping great...thought you could use some company...or something..."

He was surprised Kakuzu had stuck around – he always had a bounty or two to be chasing. But then again, Hidan knew what that 'something' was. It was on his mind too. Every waking hour and every disturbed wink of sleep. Kakuzu was taking up his every thought and trying to deny what he felt for him was taking up all his energy. Yet if he gave in, what would that make him? Would that make him...gay? He murmured quiet thanks and sat up letting the covers fall uselessly to his lap. The cold air made him shiver and goose bumps erupted over his bare arms. From the lack of light he guessed it was sometime before dawn, the only light was a faint glimmer on the horizon.

The only love he'd ever known was a faint glimmer in Kakuzu's eyes.

He'd guessed the stitch – man was only using him, but he'd fall for it anytime. Being used by him was fine, as long as it happened again and again. He would always be there, always willing, each time he would always be a bit more demanding.

He looked over at his friend, and his face was suddenly inches from his own. He knew no matter how long they spent together he could never get enough, never enough of those eyes, those strong hands, those intricate lines. The hands were on his hips, pulling, pulling him closer. The eyes were burning into his own with mounting lust.

"Kuzu..." Hidan let the word rush out of his lips in a low whisper. The sheets crumpled in his clenched fist and he moved just a little closer to the body next to him. Kakuzu was more than a head taller than him, and was still wearing his cloak – even in bed. He sat up taller, trying to reach that mask and rip it off with his teeth. He was aching for a kiss from him, and let out a frustrated groan. His cheeks turned faintly pink from effort and slight embarrassment. Was it wrong to lust after a man in this way? He laid back panting and trying to calm the urges that rippled through him.

Kakuzu turned to face him casually looking down on the pink faced ninja lying beside him, trying to convince himself he wasn't gay.

"It's alright, Hidan" he said quietly, and gently knelt over him. Hidan knew what was coming and he gracefully arched his back, pressing into Kakuzu's strong chest and turning him on almost instantly. Kakuzu braced his arms against the bed and his 5 hearts beat out a fast rhythm, he dipped his head planting a light kiss on the priest's forehead. Hidan wrapped his arm around the stitched one at the side of his head and a grimace crossed his face as his pants were roughly undone. Cold fingers traced his hip bones, his abdomen before finding their way down...

Hidan gasped as his testicles were suddenly gripped with force. One coarse hand began to massage his pulsing member, and his breathing quickened. He tried to throw his head back but the bedclothes were in the way. Kakuzu was gripping so hard it hurt and his eyes never left Hidan's. His arms were almost pinned above his head and he could do nothing to defend himself which made the situation all the more intense.

A slight uncertainty glimmered in his violet eyes however when the hand moved away from his groin and towards...

"Kuzu? What are you doing?"

"Hmm...just a little something I learned off Sasori..."

"Hey..what! NO allright! That's not...ahhh" his protests subsided when a single finger found his entrance. He clung desperately to the back of his lovers cloak as the finger was thrust painfully in and out. He let out another low groan and wrapped his bare legs around the body above him. His eyes rolled back into his head then he bared his teeth.

"It gets easier..." Kakuzu muttered but he knew that Hidan didn't care. Pain turned him on – this was just what he wanted. He decided to skip the rest and pulled the single digit out. It was time to move right to third base,

"Ready?" he asked

"Hit me you pussy!" screamed the blatant whore thrashing about on the filthy sheets, and Kakuzu thrust in for the first time. Hidan screamed again, whether in pleasure or pain he wasn't sure. The feeling was paramount, and Hidan (the virgin) was blown away by the profound struggle between pleasure and agony.

It didn't last long, however, and Kakuzu pulled jerkily out to stand silently at the bottom of the bed. Hidan lay on his back panting. The missing waterfall nin stood in the shadows, his chest was rising and falling quickly and the sheen of sweat highlighted his dark stitches. Two violet eyes sprang open and squinted into the darkness, the pupils roved around – taking in every last detail of the other man. His thick black hair had fallen around his shoulders and his eyes shone with a fierce glow, Hidan felt himself growing hard once more as he traced those stitches with his beady eyes, imagining pulling every one loose.

"What are you thinking?" a low voice growled. The silver haired nin's eyes darted to the door and back again. A whole new idea sprang to mind and he wondered if his lover had thought of it yet.

Kakuzu twitched visibly and Hidan's heart raced. He HAD realized. Admitting defeat to those sirens eyes he obliged by opening the door, it stuck and he tugged harder, his stitches straining and exiting the priest further. Hidan had many weird fetishes.

As soon as the heavy oak door creaked open he was out of the room and pounding down the corridor. In his haste he forgot any clothing except his akatsuki robe. His bare feet slapped on the cold stone stairs as he headed further down into the rocky depths of the hideout.

Suddenly a figure was in front of him blocking the way. He screeched to a stop, panting from his sprint from the bedroom. The figure didn't budge.

"Pants?" it said.

"No!" sang Hidan, standing proudly with his cloak wide open.

"We think you and Kakuzu have a ...thing" it continued

"No, we don't care about that. We want to know why you're going down...there."

Hidan paled as he realized he'd run into Zetsu, alone, while it was still dark. He took on a shy pose and crept closer to Zetsu, trying to dodge around his branches. The plant man sidestepped and blocked him again.

"Get the FUCK out of my way house plant!" he wailed, "you have no idea how urgent this is!"

Zetsu looked down, grimaced at Hidan's blatant nakedness and allowed him to pass.

"Don't leave a mess..." his pale side commented and the darker side sniggered. Hidan was already running again, desperate to get there before his lover who had almost certainly taken a different route through the other tunnels. He practically threw himself down the last flight of slimy green stairs and onto the slippery corrugated metal flooring of the very lowest room in the lair. He braced himself against the curving low walls and ceiling and ran his hands over the thick barred door that faced him.

"Please, please be open!" he prayed but his hands turned the handle and a firm click resounded through the gloom. It was locked. He sighed heavily and slumped to the ground.

"Who would have thought I'd find you here?" a deep voice came from behind and a few thin tendrils wrapped themselves around his waist, lightly squeezing the breath from him.

"Kuzu...the lock...I..."

"No problem" replied the stitch man inserting a tiny thread inside the lock and springing the heavy door wide open. Cold air rushed out, carrying the scent of mould and damp. A haunting dripping noise came from within but apart from that all was silent. The two immortals turned to peer into the formidable room. Hidan had been dying to get in here ever since they'd moved base.

"The torture room." Kakuzu breathed, "you sick fuck..."

"You hope" muttered the priest, struggling to get free. He was trying to break out of the bonds that held him tightly, and managed to get to his knees before his lover caught him.

"Not so fast!" Kakuzu warned and lifted him gracefully to his feet. No sooner had his toes touched the ground he leaned forcefully into the other man, slamming their mouths together. Kakuzu took the upper hand and pushed Hidan backwards into the evil clutches of the interrogation hall slamming the door behind him.

Both were too busy focussing on each other, they never noticed where they were walking. Their bodies were so close, so entwined, they moved as one. Kakuzu's booted feet tripped once over a broken tile, and Hidan's bare ankles scraped the edge of the pool as they fell, together, into the water.

The platinum haired nin gave a slight moan as his head was forced underwater. Kakuzu, on the other hand, totally freaked out when he looked around him. They were standing in the dunking pool – used for cruel interrogation. Above them hung a chair adorned with chains where victims would be strapped in, screaming and helpless – rigid with terror. They would be plunged over and over again into the freezing waters until they gave up whatever information Akatsuki needed. After that they would be killed...always.

A chill passed over his scarred skin, it seemed as if the water surrounding him was swimming with the souls of the damned.

"Hidan you bastard! Why did you bring us here?" his voice rang out and echoed off the unmentionable implements hanging just out of sight. The one he was yelling at burst up out of the water, spluttering and blinking. He sensed Kakuzu's fear and returned his glare.

"You wouldn't want to be anywhere else...I know you, Kuzu"

In his heart - correction - hearts, he knew Hidan was right. He would enjoy testing this shit out. Swiftly he moved through the water, approaching his partner and slipping out of his sodden cloak. The fabric floated for a second before sinking to the depths, just like the many lives that had passed through this pool. He spread his hands over Hidan's shoulders and as usual the priest swept them around to his warm throat. Kakuzu groaned when he felt the rapid pulse and warm blood rushing through veins just beneath his grip. His eyelids grew heavy and his half lidded eyes became clouded with lust. Hidan's painted fingernails dug into his hips and tugged impatiently at his stitches. His mouth opened slightly allowing his tongue to protrude just enough to lick Kakuzu's lips and drive him into a frenzy.

He began to grip, weakly at first then with increasing violence. Hidan's hands balled into fists and he screwed his face up. An exited shiver ran through him and he bucked his hips unknowingly into his partners. Kakuzu felt the hardening lump in the other mans pants and leaned in for another deep and sensual kiss. He couldn't hold back any longer and his sharp teeth found Hidan's soft lips, biting vengefully he drew blood, but not enough to satisfy either of them.

His ache for pain was insatiable,

Within minutes Hidan's ankles were shackled and he was being pulled from the icy pool by his hair. Kakuzu dragged him, dripping and yelping, across the broken floor. His ruined robe was ripped into tatters, leaving him bedraggled and pitiful. The stitch man threw him down in a heap and stood over him.

"Which?" he asked, Hidan looked confused for a split second before he realized what his lover was asking... which device would you like to use first? A wide grin split his face and he scanned the hall.

Everything caught his eye, an old fashioned block with wheels at both ends. He could imagine being stretched out on that thing, on his left was a bed of nails, with more spikes glinting evilly above, a black metal chain hung ominously from the roof and a whole wall was devoted to shackles and chains. To Kakuzu's right was a collection of the most brutal weapons he'd ever seen in his life. Spines, spikes and knives shone with a light of their own, or maybe it was just that look in his eye.

"You're choice..." he left the options open and closed his eyes in anticipation as he was hoisted up. His arms were stretched up uncomfortably to either side and his feet were left almost dangling. His back was against a wall of daggers which pressed enticingly into his faintly muscled back.

Kakuzu drew level with him, whispering sweet nothings into his open mouth as he locked his hands into rusty handcuffs, which in turn were bound to the wall. Hidan's breath came in short sharp gasps, interspersed with moans of frustration. His torn cloak was getting in the way and he wished it would just happen already!

Kakuzu backed off and flourished a weapon. It had lots of sharp edges. In an instant he was close, his left hand caressing Hidan's hair for a second then his right hand wielding the blade. He gripped it tightly and pushed it in through one side and out through the other.

Hidan screamed loud enough to wake the dead and his blood splattered to the damp floor. Kakuzu gripped his lover's shoulders and forced his back against the rows of nails, forcing them deep into Hidan's skin. The malevolent needles pushed further into his muscles, he convusled and twitched as they tore at the red tissue. The fallen priest pulled uselesly at the shackles that held him to the wall and red marks formed along his sore wrists. Kakuzu stood back and admired his work. His lover was half hanging from the metal rungs in the dirty bricks, his bare feet were smeared with his blood and he was shaking visibly.

Slowly he raised his head, a pained expression on his face. His amethyst eyes seemed brighter than ever, or maybe it was the contrast between them and his bloodless body. He gave a shudder and a sweet groan that sent waves of pleasure through Kakuzu. That was the point at which a normal man would have died. Hidan pouted and wrenched at the chains that bound him.

"Ssss" he hissed through his bared teeth, and glared into the darkness

"I'll stop anytime you want..." growled his lover, "you only have to say"

He took a step and placed one stitched hand on the jagged weapon protruding from Hidan's side. A trembling breath, a fluttering of 5 hearts and he gripped it tightly.

The Jashinist tilted his head back and sighed deeply, kakuzu's cold hand clamped his shoulder...bracing.

"anytime..." he whispered into his ear, and gently nibbled on the soft earlobe. When no reply but a lengthy hiss came he glanced down, and pulled.

A gruesome howl burst forth from Hidan's parted lips, his eyes were wide and staring. Within them obvious bliss pulsed garishly. Blood trickled down from the corners of his mouth and he choked up more. Kakuzu took advantage of his handicap and pressed his mouth seamlessly against the others. Tongues flicked in a complicated dance. Blood transfered from one to the other and the severe torture weapon was dropped to the floor. Hidan pulled harder at the cuffs that held him, he was desperate to lay his hands on Kakuzu...all over him...inside him. He whined again and bucked his hips.

The other responded by moving his iron grip lower, beyond Hidan's exposed neck, over his strong shoulders, down his perfectly formed abs and into the wound. Hidan's hands balled into fists with the pain

"Kuzu..I - fuck you! ah-"

"I'll take it you like it" Kakuzu breathed and his painted nails would their way further into the warm, bloody hole, tearing slightly as he twirled them in the thick crimson pulsing past his hands.The cold chains rattled ominously as a shudder passed through Hidan's bloody frame. He hung almost limp from the wall, sweat and tears decorating his handsome face. His eyes appeared dull now that his rampant lust had been satisfied. Well, nearly..

"Ku...zu? M-more!" he stuttered. His teeth were chattering with chills and exitement. His eyes were low, on the floor and he was rubbing his back up and down...on nails. Kakuzu sucked in a deep breath to try and calm the throbbing desire threatening to take over, silver hair and pink eyes was all he could see.

Hidan yelped with the searing hurt eminating from his back. His fingernails were digging into his palms so hard that blood was dripping from them too. Kakuzu whipped his hand out and shook it free, then began undoing the shackles.

"Lets change the beat..." he mused and Hidan fell into his waiting arms, exhausted but still not satisfied. His body was alive, as humming and feverish with pain as Kakuzu was overwhelmed with bloodlust. For a long minute the two stood in silence, one supporting the other as he fought for breath and conciousness. Hidan's chest heaved and his breath hitched when kakuzu pulled him closer. His blood seeped into his own ruined robe which was ripped unceremoniously from his shoulders and thrown to the floor behind them. Hidan follwed it with his eyes and something glinting on the floor caught his interest.

"K - kuzu look" he swung a limp arm and nodded towards the far end of the chamber. Could it be, maybe...?

Kakuzu followed the outstretched hand and squinted across the reddening tiles. A dormant flame flared in the pit of his stomach the second he caught sight of it. Hidan certainly had style...

(to be continued...)