Sometimes Hitori imagined she had a normal family. The kind that she used to see while travelling with her father, Kakuzu. The children, her age, always seemed so connected to their parents, unlike she was to her own. It wasn't as if she hated her parents. Oh no, no that. She only ever thought about how disconnected she felt from them. She loved them, but did not feel as if she could ever reach out to them for help or care.
Now Hitori is fourteen, soon to be fifteen, and she finally figured it out. Standing in the dusty afternoon room that was the basement was when the revelation hit her. She closed her eyes lightly as yells sounded from upstairs.
"They are crazy. That has to be it." Hitori muttered, opening her eyes once again to see Itachi sitting on the bottom step of the basement stairs. As much as he was made out to be a psychopath, Hitori had quickly bonded with the older man.
"I'll have to agree on that." Itachi mused and looked up, hearing a crash, followed by Konan screaming in anger.
"For Jashin's sake… Do you think I'll end up like that, Itachi?" she asked, walking over to the Uchiha and sitting next to him swiftly, her waist height dark brown hair trailing after. Itachi looked straight ahead, not being able to see her in any case. Five years back, Itachi had finally lost his eye sight. The medications he had been upgraded to had banned the further use of his eyes. Taking life over sight, Itachi could now see nothing but blurred shapes.
"Well, if I hadn't known you now, I'd think it to be so. However, you've seemed to pass every expectation all of us put on you when you were born. You're kind, gentle, thoughtful, and quite. While Hidan and Kakuzu are the complete opposite. Frankly I have no idea how you got it." Itachi shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Hitori smiled and leaned over, hugging the older Akatsuki tight to her. Said man in question chuckled and hugged the brunette back.
"Thank you, Itachi. I appreciate that." Hitori commented as volume increased above their heads. "I should go see what's happening… I'll be back later. Bye Itachi." she smiled slightly while standing up. She stretched her body out, then made her way up the basement steps, the cool air hitting her skin from the prior stuffy temperature in the basement that lingered below her now. 'Honestly… You'd think I was the parent, unlike dad and daddy.' the girl rolled her eyes drastically as she walked into the bright living room, her ears filling with equally as bright language. "Hey guys! Break it up!" she yelled, her voice joining in with the only other woman in Akatsuki.
"C'mon guys! If Madara sees this, we're screwed!" Konan yelled as well, her voice sounding hoarse to Hitori's ears. If Hidan and Kakuzu were normal men, the fight would have stopped. However, this was not the case, so the two immortals fought on as the two women yelled at them. Konan coughed and looked at the only other female in Akatsuki and frowned.
"This isn't working, Hitori!" she expressed, her voice rough from screaming at the girl's fathers. Hitori nodded and ran both of her pale hands through her dark brown hair, tugging the knots out at the end.
"I hear ya." she pouted, her lower lip sticking out. Konan placed her hands on her hips, thinking of what to do to end this brawl between the two Akatsuki members before them. "Oh, I have an idea." Hitori snapped and smiled suddenly. The blue haired woman looked towards the young Akatsuki and blinked in confusion.
"Let's hear it, hon. I'll do anything." Konan frowned. Hitori nodded and crossed her arms across her developing breasts.
"Alright. Dad! Daddy! You think I could have birth control?" she asked, her voice raised just above the pitch of the older men's voices. At that, silence fell upon the four members of Akatsuki. Hidan and Kakuzu both put down the objects that would have served as weapons and looked at their child.
"Excuse me?" Kakuzu asked, his eyes narrowing in confusion and rage. Hidan, usually being the one who gave Hitori everything she ever wanted, for being his some what of a miracle child, could only give the same look at his husband.
"Yeah! What the fuck did you just say?" he questioned as well. Hitori smiled slightly and moved her hands to her hips.
"I'm asking for birth control." she spoke up, making sure both of her parents would hear. Kakuzu and Hidan, while being as night and day as they were, managed to wear the same shocked expression.
"… Why?" Kakuzu questioned, finally able to talk. Hitori smiled awkwardly while thinking of what to say. However, she would not need to. When she opened her mouth, her own voice did not come out, but one of a male.
"Hey guys, sup?" the voice asked. The four Akatsuki members turned to the voice and saw Konan and Yahiko's child, Aito, standing in the doorway to the living room. Hidan and Kakuzu, again in sync, both narrowed their eyes at the teenage boy.
"… It better not be him." Hidan hissed.
"Better not." Kakuzu added for emphasise. Hitori blushed slightly and looked away.
"No! It's not him! Jashin, you two." she muttered, placing her hands on her hips. Konan slapped a hand over her mouth and smiled at the thought of it.
'Those two would be so damn cute together…' Konan thought, the smile widening. Aito watched the four and raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? Did I miss something?" he asked, looking towards his mother. Konan wiped the smile off of her face, then removed her hand away from her mouth.
"Nothing, dear. Ignore those three. They are having a bit of a disagreement is all." the blue haired woman of Akatsuki smiled nervously. "You need something?" she asked sweetly. Aito's eyebrow stayed raised as he watched the family behind his mother glare at each other.
"Er.. Dad wants Kakuzu and Hidan for a mission." he explained. "And he wants to talk to you about something, mom." the blue haired boy announced, playing with the labret piercing absent-mindedly. Konan nodded and turned around towards Kakuzu and Hidan.
"Hey you two with the faces, let's go. Yahiko wants us." she said, her tone serious. Kakuzu looked at Konan and sighed, nodding all the same. Hidan, however, gave his daughter one more warning glare.
"We'll talk later, Hitori." the albino muttered and followed after the two adults who had left the living room not moments ago. Hitori gulped and sighed, nodding even after her father had left. As silence fell upon the room, Aito sighed and walked over to his childhood friend and current love interest.
"What was that all about?" he asked, his blue eyes locking with Hitori's pink ones. The brunette sighed slightly and blew away a part of her bangs. She watched as Aito opened his arms, circling them around her tightly. Hitori coughed lightly and hugged her childhood friend back.
"My parents can never stop fighting, not even for a minute." she muttered. "Not even for my own damn birthday." to this, Aito winced. He had never seen his parents fight, but he had seen plenty of it by being Hitori's only friend for the longest time of her life. He had been her shoulder to cry on many times. So much so that Kisame and the others often asked him if he was gay. Since it seemed the majority of the Akatsuki were.
"Man, I'm sorry that's happening, Hitori." he whispered to her, rubbing the small of her back. "So sorry." Hitori, to this, laughed lightly.
"No worries. Stop being a pussy. Jashin, sometimes I swear you are gay." she mocked as Aito let go of her.
"Hey, take that back!" the blue haired boy laughed. Hitori giggled and shook her head wildly, her hair flying from side to side. "Ha ha! Make me, Aito!" she grinned and ran out of the living room.
Aito stood in the dead silence of the living room, before smiling more. "Bring it." he grinned then, running after Hitori.
"You sure you want this mission?" Yahiko asked, later on that day. He watched the daughter of Hidan and Kakuzu and sighed deeply when she had all but nodded to the question. "… You might be putting yourself in danger. You remember what happened last time…" he said softly. Hitori frowned and touched the 'x' scar on her right eye, which was usually covered by her bangs. A useful trick she learned from Deidara.
"That was when I was five. I was with my dad then." she retorted, determined to finally go on her own mission. Yahiko sighed and stood up, walking around his desk and coming face to face with the now fifteen year-old girl.
"Yes, and he lost a heart protecting you from that black op." he reminded her, pointing towards the scar across her eye. "You're lucky you didn't lose the sight in it. Miracle if you ask me." Yahiko explained, crossing his arms over his chest. Hitori stuck out her tongue and looked away from the leader of Akatsuki, as if there was something more interesting in said side of the room. Which was practically impossible by how plain the office was.
"You know as well as I do that I can handle this." she objected, her voice raising ever so slightly. "You let Aito go all the time! Come on! Actually, if all of the Akatsuki are pairs, then why aren't Aito and I being put together!" she questioned. Yahiko sighed and rubbed his temples in distress.
"Listen. There is a reason for it." the red headed man explained and rested one hand on her shoulder, his eyes showing true sympathy. Hitori frowned and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? What could it possibly be?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. Yahiko bit his bottom lip and rested the other hand on the girl's other shoulder.
"… You promise not to say anything? If you can keep it hush, then I'll let you go on your first mission. Maybe later, if I can, I'll make you my son's partner." he vowed, whispering back. Hitori tried to keep the smile off her face and nodded seriously.
"Of course, I promise." Hitori nodded, her bangs falling into her face. Yahiko leaned close and looked over her face, before locking eyes with her.
"Your dad."
"What?"
"… Your dad. Hidan… He practically cut my throat when I posed the idea of you two being partners." the leader of Akatsuki explained. Hitori, while she would have loved to say anything, could not find the words for once.
"… W-what? W-why?" she asked, her voice hoarse when she finally did find it. Yahiko shrugged his shoulders and frowned.
"I have no idea, Hitori. I would love to see you two work together, but Hidan loathes the idea. Personally, I think something is up."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because I know Hidan, er, your dad. He's like that. Always has been since he was pregnant with you. He doesn't tell people things when they ask about your future or anything. Not even Kakuzu… Er…"
"My father."
"Right on. However, if I were you, I wouldn't let shit keep me from being partners with Konan." he smiled slightly. Hitori blushed and coughed slightly.
"Are you implying that I like your son, Yahiko?" she asked, smiling nervously. Yahiko shrugged and drew his hands away, walking back around to his desk.
"Maybe so. Now, what mission would you like?" he grinned, sitting back down. Hitori smiled, still nervous.
"Hmmm… Hot Springs. Anything around there." she smiled. 'Take that dad. I'm going to find out some shit and you can't stop me.' Hitori thought, the smile growing into a grin.
"Where are you going on a mission?" Hidan asked, frowning towards his daughter who was almost his height. Looking down in disappointment was now a thing of the past. Hitori finished packing her backpack and shrugged.
"Can't say, dad." she said softly. Hidan growled and looked at Yahiko, who could only smile slightly in return.
"Can't say? Can't fucking say!" the albino yelled, his voice ringing in Hitori's ears. "I'm your dad!"
"It's a trial mission, Hidan." Yahiko said sternly, using his leader voice. Hidan's eyes shifted to the taller man and narrowed in contempt.
"To where?"
"You cannot know. Both you and Kakuzu will try to help her out. You are not allowed to help her this time. She's not little anymore." the red head muttered quietly. Hitori looked down at her father's pale hands, which clenched towards what Yahiko had said.
"How dare you fucking tell me that! You didn't fucking do that for me!" Hidan protested, a piece of silver hair falling onto his forehead. Hitori watched the piece as Yahiko sighed deeply.
"Because you came here already having experience. Hitori has none, so she has to have a trial mission. It won't be hard. She has been taught right by her own two fathers." he smiled slightly. The anger in the Jashinist's eyes settled as he stood up straight, his hand pulling the loose piece of hair back into place.
"… I guess you're right." the smaller of the two males said shortly. "Just get going before your father comes back and finds out you're going on a mission. You'll never get to go if he knows." he rolled his magenta eyes and walked out. Hitori nodded and sighed.
"Not even a hug?" she muttered and looked at Yahiko. The red headed man sighed and smiled slightly, holding his arms open.
"Come here, princess." he laughed and hugged the younger girl to him. The brunette grinned and hugged her leader back. "Good luck."
"Thanks Yahiko!" she sighed contently. 'Wish dad would treat me like this.' the girl thought, her eyebrows furrowing.
Hitori looked around the small village and blinked in confusion. "This is where dad grew up? I didn't expect such a peaceful place." the brunette muttered to herself. As she made her way through the village, people stopped and stared. Feeling uneasy, Hitori quickened her pace a notch. 'Why are people staring at me? I don't even have an Akatsuki cloak… Could it be because I look like dad? There is no way people would remember him… Gah, I'm confused.' the teenaged girl thought. "In any case, I'm done the mission… All I have to do now is find dad's family." she muttered, making her way down the street to the end of the village.
When she reached it, Hitori was almost positive she found the place she was looking for. At the very end of the village, a barn red house stood tall against the late afternoon sun. "Just feels right." she muttered, opening the front gate and began her walk towards the porch. Looking around, she smiled easily at the many plants that had grown in the garden all around her, ending at the stone pathway. "I hope I'm right." she sighed. "Guessing it everything."
"Certainly is." a voice sounded out sweetly. Hitori jumped and looked up at the porch to see a shadow making its way to the steps. "So, who are you?" the female voice inquired. The brunette stuttered and played with the long sleeves of her shirt.
"Uh… Um… My name is Hitori." she said softly, her eyes widening as the sun revealed the figure. Standing at the bottom of the steps, was a woman of about fifty, her hair as white as her own fathers. Everything about the woman, Hitori noticed, resembled her dad in a way. "I think you may know my dad." the girl inquired. To this, the woman's eyes lit up.
"Hitori… A nice name. Very pretty. As for your dad… I don't believe I know anyone who's child was named Hitori…" she said thoughtfully, her waist length hair floating to the left from the cool breeze of October. "What is his name?"
"Hidan." Hitori replied, then gasped as the woman in front of her screamed.
"What did you just say! Hidan!" the older woman asked frantically, grabbing hold of Hitori and shaking her. The teenaged girl watched the world shake back and forth and took a deep breath.
"Yes! Yes! That's the name! Please stop shaking me, uhhh…" she whined. The woman blinked wildly and stopped.
"Oh… Uh, sorry." she said nervously and let go of the girl's arms. "My name is Hakai… If this is the Hidan I am thinking of, he is my son. Who I thought was dead… Is he albino?" at this, Hitori's heart beat sped up.
"Very."
"Is he ill tempered?"
"… Uh, yes." Hitori nodded, answering another question. Hakai smiled brightly at this and hugged the girl to her. "Oh! I cannot believe this! You are like a calling from heaven!" the white haired woman chirped. Hitori smiled brightly at this.
"I am? Well thanks, I guess." she laughed. Hakai nodded, her smile yet to disappear.
"So, what brought you here?"
"I wanted to know some things. Because dad is keeping stuff from me. From everyone." Hitori explained. Hakai blinked and rubbed the back of her head.
"Maybe you should come in."
"Sounds good to me." Hitori replied.
"So you live with the Akatsuki? Huh…" Hakai said softly, taking a sip of her tea. Hitori stared at the too hot tea and smiled slightly.
"Yes, that's right. We are in pairs… Except, he told the leader I could not be paired with a boy named Aito, who happens to be the guy's son. So now, I'm stuck by myself. Do you know any idea why he's being so cold towards the idea?" she asked, looking at the many picture frames around the house. "And what's with all the picture frames."
"I cannot answer your first question exactly, but maybe it has something to do with his silly religion. He is only ever serious about Jashinism. Everything else he is willy nilly about." Hakai explained, put her tea cup back on the saucer. "As for the picture frames, your dad has nine other siblings. Big family." she smiled nervously. "Now, why does this upset you, child?"
To this, Hitori was silent. Did she have any reason to question her father's choices? He did give birth to her, which was impossible on its own. He had given her religion, support, skills. Just about everything a developing kunochi could want. Yet, there was something missing. That something was what drove her to finally find her voice. "I want to know what he is planning. Is there anything in tradition for this family? Planned marriage?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the couch. Hakai shook her head, then stopped as her eyes widened. The clock in the room struck five o'clock. It sounded as if it was telling Hitori everything was wrong, wrong, wrong. Odd enough, she did not doubt it either.
"… There is one thing. His religion. He always said being Jashin's purest silver. If something is silver and pure, would you not be a prize of sorts for someone? Or even a possession. Hidan always did talk about himself like he was owned by him. At that moment, everything seemed to click in the Jashinist girl's mind.
"I- I have to go!" Hitori said quickly, flashing a small smile. Hakai frowned and stood up after the brunette.
"Wait, you don't have to!"
"I must get home, or my dads will have a fit!" she retorted. "Thanks for everything!" Hitori said quickly and ran to the door. Hakai scurried after and grabbed her granddaughter's shoulders, whirling her around.
"Did I fucking say you could leave yet!" she hissed, the all too familiar anger seeping into her pale features. "Dads? Explain this! No, better! You tell your dad, my son, to get his sorry fucking ass here TOMORROW! You do that! You hear me, Hitori?" she asked, growling. To this, Hitori could only gulp and nod.
"… O-okay. I will." she nodded slightly. Hakai nodded firmly and let go of her son's only daughter.
"Good. Now get home, you." she said sternly and closed the door after her. Hitori, while glad to have her gone, as the face of anger was all too similar to that of her father's, could not move her feet from where she was standing.
"… What is going on around here?" she muttered, finally finding use in her legs. She stuffed her hands in her pockets as she made her way out of the yard and onto the darkening streets of a cool November night. "Whatever it is, I don't like it." she said, furrowing her eyebrows as she ran into someone larger than herself. She stumbled back and looked up to see a blond, middle aged man.
"Hey sweet thing. What's up?" he asked, his speech slurred from the effects of alcohol. Hitori frowned and wrinkled her nose.
"Back the fuck up, man." she hissed, her eyes flashing. The man laughed loudly and put an arm around her shoulders.
"Listen, chick. I gotta knife. If you don't walk and talk with me, shit will hit the fan, alright?" he asked, his tone no longer playful. Hitori hissed and felt the pressure of the man's hold on her.
"Whatever." she spat and walked with him as he lead her towards an alley. "Oh no, no, no." she shook her head then, beginning to struggle. The man smirked and grabbed her by both arms.
"Oh shut it." he growled and smirked widely. Hitori gulped and felt her mind whirl quickly, thinking of how to get out of the situation.
'I'm fucked. Oh man. Next thing ya know, I'll be found in a gutter… Dead.' she thought, looking towards the alley.
"Hey you." a velvet like voice sounded behind them. The man turned, causing Hitori to turn involuntarily as well.
"What do you fucking want? Show yourself." the blond man growled out. Hitori strained her eyes to see into the darkness as the figure move closer. If it could get any colder to Hitori, it just had. Her heart stopped as the figure showed himself. Red eyes glittered in the moonlight, making gooseflesh eat its way onto Hitori's pale skin. She gulped and felt fear course through her veins for the first time in a long time. The man stepped fully into view to reveal a boy about her age. Hitori struggled to see more features, but frown when she could see nothing from the obstruction of the black hood shadowing his face. The older man tightened his grip and shook his head.
"You're fucked if you think I'm giving this chick up." he growled. The teenaged boy tilted his head to the side and chuckled lowly.
"Oh? Well…" he trailed off, teeth glittering in the light of the rising moon. "That's… Unfortunate. Really." he finished, bringing dexterous hands to the rim of his hood. The figure pulled the hood back, revealing a handsome young face with a long scar running down the right side of his face, ending at his cheek bone. Hitori's eyes widened as the boy's long white hair flowed over his shoulders.
'Whoa.' she thought. The teen smirked, as if he had read her mind. The blond middle aged man did not seem to understand, but growled anyway, as he felt threatened.
"Unfortunate for you. I saw her first." the man frowned. The teen frowned and sighed.
"I'll give you one more warning. If you refuse, things will get personal." he shrugged slightly. Hitori, at first glance, saw the boy was completely calm. However, when she looked closer, she could see his eyes practically whirling with madness.
'Kinda like dad.' she thought, wincing as the man squeezed tighter.
"No way."
"… Fine." he sighed and preformed a simple hand sign. Hitori closed her eyes shut, then felt as if she was falling. With a loud thud, she landed on her attacker's stomach. When she heard no words from said man, she opened her eyes slowly to see the man's face completely blown off.
"Oh… My… What did you just do!" she screamed. The teen winced and ran over, picking her up easily.
"Don't worry about it. I warned him." he shrugged and put her down. He waved a pale finger at the body and smiled as it began to melt away. Hitori stared in shock as any evidence disappeared.
"How did you?"
"Ninja."
"… Fine. Fair enough." she nodded carefully, still scared shitless with what had happened. "You won't do that to me… Right?" the brunette asked, looking back at the boy.
"No, I won't. I saved you after all…" he trailed off, rubbing the back of his head. Hitori nodded and smiled slightly.
"So… Uhh… What's your name? Mine is Hitori." she said, bowing slightly. The white haired boy smirked more and bowed back.
"My name is Jinya. I've heard you are a Jashinist. I am one myself." he smiled more, watching her carefully. 'And so it begins.'
So yeah! Another chapter down! One or two to go! Awee yeah! :D So, R&R, because it really makes my day! Thanks for everything, ya guys!