I'm baaack again. :D
Ch. 8
It had been two months. Two fucking months since Hidan had seen the sky behind those damn rocks that made up the cavernous base. Needless to say, he spent most of abundant free time wandering around, retracing his steps countlessly through all the underground rooms. He rarely saw Kakuzu anymore, maybe once or twice a week at best.
During the first week of Hidan's quarantine, true to form, he had tried every conceivable way to escape. His attempts were duly stopped by Kakuzu, who watched him like a hawk for the first fortnight.
Eventually, like an animal growing accustomed to his cage, his attempted breakouts grew sporadic and gradually dwindled as the time went by. He was not a patient man by nature, but over the course of his life it had been beaten into him to a certain degree. So, he rode it out by going about his habitual walks, occasionally trying to get away just to annoy his partner, ignoring the fact that he was stuck here too.
He kept his sanity intact with thoughts of escape when Kakuzu's guard was finally down. Maybe if he stayed quiet for another month, their communication would dry up completely and he'd be able to pummel his way out before Kakuzu came running. He wasn't sure where he would go when he got out – it wasn't like he had a home to return to – but he loathed being cooped up in one place.
Occasionally, other members would show up, returning to the hideout for a few nights of recuperation after a successful mission, or to give Hidan and Kakuzu news about Orochimaru. These reports normally came from Zetsu, though once or twice, Sasori and Deidara came themselves to echo Sasori's Sound spies on the Sannin's movements, as they did today.
Orochimaru grew increasingly docile; Otogakure had frown relatively quiet, and the snake nin's ambitious plans were seemingly put on hold.
"Great, so the fucker's not doing anything, everything's back to fucking normal, can we leave yet?"
Akatsuki's artists looked at each other. Hidan and Kakuzu sat on the rocks opposite, looking irritable. Deidara shrugged apologetically.
"Sorry Hidan. Leader hasn't given the all clear yet, un."
Sasori continued.
"His movements may have stopped, but that could only mean his current body is wearing out. And although he has stopped moving around, his network of spies hasn't. If you set foot outside now, you'd be in even more danger than before."
Hidan leaned back, his expression nonchalant.
"Sounds fun. What if his spies 'happen' to run into difficulties and don't make it back?"
Deep inside Hiruko's shell, Sasori 'tched'. A shadow of anger crossed Hidan's features. He fingered his rosary.
"Don't give me that! I haven't offered Jashin-sama a sacrifice in two fucking months! That's the height of blasphemy, seriously. Not that you heathens care, but I've a standard to keep up."
Sasori and Deidara bore this with a kind of resignation. Kakuzu, sick of the mere sight of his troublesome partner, let alone the sound of his whining, raised a hand to silence him.
"Hidan, stop complaining. This is not going to help your situation. Leader has his own self-centric dogma; do you really think he would let you go just to carry out yours? We have to stay put."
"Kill as many people as you want once we kill Orochimaru, un!" interjected Deidara.
Sasori huffed.
"He won't be that easy to destroy, brat."
Deidara gave a small smirk, and stood up.
"Come on Danna, we're running late. Let's leave the troglodytes to their cavernous haven."
Sasori grunted in agreement, and shuffled away with his partner. Hidan stood up abruptly, breathing hard. He didn't know what a troglodyte was, but he took it as an insult. He stalked off, muttering darkly. Kakuzu watched him go, eyes conveying utter disdain for the immortal. He could be such a drama queen sometimes.
A small explosion made some stalactites shudder. Looking back over his shoulder, Hidan caught a brief glimpse of a large clay owl soaring out the gargantuan entrance, before an equally large boulder shut out the glaring sunlight again. The only light that reached the cave was through the gaps in the rocks high above.
He ground his teeth, and broke into a sprint. Seconds later, he slowed, and slammed his hands against the cold, immovable granite at the very back of the cavern. He was getting out. Today.
After voicing his main concern to the others, it had dawned on him that he had never gone this long without offering his god a life. He hadn't abandoned his religion while he was imprisoned here; he'd never do that. Everyday, he performed a ritual on himself, praying fervently to Jashin, promising a real offering soon, asking for guidance, and assuring him of his unaltered loyalty.
But he knew it wasn't enough. Jashin craved carnage, and Hidan wasn't delivering. If this lapse went on for much longer, he would never be forgiven.
He knew exactly where he would go now. He'd go after the one who caused him to be locked up like this. It was all that bastard Orochimaru's fault.
Hidan looked up, breaking his train of thought. His knuckles were red, and blood was forming a small puddle by his feet. It also dotted the wall with dark flecks. He had been punching the rock in his frustration. He deftly wiped the blood off his and onto his clothes.
A small trickle of light played around his feet, spotlighting the crimson puddle. Hidan glanced down at it before turning his gaze upward to sweep the rocky wall and focus on the source of the light sliver. High, high above, a gap had formed from where an earthquake had dislodged some of the gravel between the slabs. He stared at it. It had the words 'escape hole' written all over it.
"But how the hell do I get up there?"
The light made him squint, and he returned his gaze to the floor. Smaller drops of blood surrounded the puddle, decorating the otherwise sandy floor. Hidan was hit by a sudden feeling of déjà vu. They looked like the marks of his curse. He recalled Orochimaru's parting words.
'If you ever want to speed up that taijutsu of yours, use my little present.'
Hidan was pretty certain taijutsu wouldn't help here, but he'd need a chakra boost to climb all the way to the ceiling.
In a way, since he was escaping mainly to deliver vengeance on the snake-nin and his cronies, it wouldn't hurt to use their 'gift' against them. He flashed a grin at the dancing spot of light and released the curse.
The grin faded as the marks spread, replaced by a look of concentration as he focused on controlling it.
…
Sasori's guess at the reason for Orochimaru's lack of movement was much closer than Hidan's offhand presumption. Orochimaru's current body was beginning its descent into death. He was easily exhausted and had to increasingly rely on Kabuto and his other favourites to take on the village's affairs. He had expected the body to last longer, at least until Akatsuki were located again. However, there was still no sign of them. Hidan could not be found, and Kimimaro was not ready.
As Orochimaru stared at the latest concoction of chemicals Kabuto had placed at his bedside table, he felt panic jostle for attention among his pessimistic thoughts. He was even more determined to secure Hidan's body at this point in time. He loathed this period of his soul transfer, the pain, the waiting, the gradual growth of disability until the day of death. When he had Hidan's body, all that would end, and he could finally spend eternity studying jutsu.
"Orochimaru-sama, please take the medicine. If you die before we find him, all of our efforts will have been wasted."
Orochimaru tore his eyes away from the vermilion liquid in the glass to his subordinate's face.
"Hmm. Your newest cocktail of drugs isn't going to transport me to him, is it?"
Kabuto looked slightly offended. There was a long pause, before his face became passive again and he bent down to the bedridden Sannin's eye level.
"Orochimaru-sama, are you sure you can handle Hidan in your weakened state? From that injury you came back with after biting him, he seems formidable."
Orochimaru smirked.
"That was Kakuzu, Hidan didn't get near me, the fool. And I have your medicine, after all. Time to test it, I think."
Kabuto looked unconvinced.
"Orochimaru-sama, let me go search for your vessel. I will return in three days, and if I haven't found him, I'll prepare a selection of your loyal subordinates for transferring. If that's not satisfactory, I offer you myself. But if we don't have him within the week you must transfer!"
"Kabuto-"
Kabuto fell silent under Orochimaru's piercing gaze.
"-I truly am fortunate to have such a loyal companion as you serving me. Go, and bring back Hidan."
Kabuto nodded, and stood up.
"I'll leave immediately, Orochimaru-sama. But please-"
The corners of his mouth twitched as he turned away.
"-Remember to take your medicine."
Orochimaru gave a humourless laugh.
"I'll take it, on the condition that you keep your failed missions numbered zero."
A courteous nod, and Kabuto was gone.
.. .. ..
Yay there's a fun chapter next. Well, it was fun writing it… o.o;;; Invisible ham for all reviewers! :D and thank you so much to everyone who has!