Hi hi, I'm updating for once. :D But before I start, a brief (or not so brief, I try to keep these short, but I like to ramble) author's note: Eirtakon 08 was brilliant! I doubt anyone who went is reading this, if anyone did, cool. :D I cosplayed as Deidara! Woo for crossdressing! -_-; A Sasori and I chased a Gaara around the gardens outside…I think he was ok afterwards…
My friend Sarah went as Lee, and she has officially persuaded me to go as Hidan next year. O///_///o (I was too scared to this year -_-;) She's going as Tobi, lol! XD
Happy Christmas, see you in the new year!
Ok, all done, go read. ;D
Ch. 12
Orochimaru chuckled, a deep sound that made Hidan wonder briefly whether he'd been right to trust the little money-man in his head.
"You made the right choice Hidan-kun."
Hidan twitched involuntarily. Orochimaru didn't seem to notice. He glanced over his shoulder at the silhouettes lining the corridor. He flashed Hidan a mysterious smile, and let his arm drop. The path to the door was now clear. But Hidan didn't move.
"So…" he began casually, acutely aware of Orochimaru watching him through half-lidded eyes.
"Where the hell'd you put my weapons?"
Orochimaru laughed again. The hairs on the back of Hidan's neck stood on end. Fucker! It was reasonable damn question! I feel naked here! Hidan wanted to yell out, but the mini Kakuzu still had a firm hold on the controls. Be patient – it nagged, play along for now.
I don't wanna fucking play along! I hate stealth missions, seriously! However, he knew arguing with his new conscience wasn't going to help, and he promptly shut up.
Some of his internal battle must have shown on his face; Orochimaru was staring at him with mild concern.
"I'm afraid you'll have to do without them for the moment. Surely you can survive for a couple of hours…?"
Orochimaru's eyes locked onto Hidan's amethyst ones once more, twinkling with dark humour. Fucking hilarious.
"…There's something we need to take care of first."`
Hidan's eyebrows shifted, and he sighed in exasperation.
"What else do I have to do? Seriously this better have a point or else I'm out of here."
Hidan could have sworn he'd heard Orochimaru give another low chuckle.
"Of course."
Orochimaru inclined his head a little, so that his gaze lay on Hidan's exposed shoulder.
"It concerns the curse mark."
Hidan unconsciously leaned a little ways from Orochimaru, expression guarded.
"What do you mean? I'm going to have to go through more of this shit?"
Orochimaru smirked ruefully.
"I know it can be …unpleasant-"
Hidan wanted to punch him badly.
"-but it's a small price for the power it bestows on its host. When it activates…you've felt it, haven't you?"
Orochimaru's vertical slits were still fixed on Hidan, pinning him down. The immortal avoided his gaze, staring out to the dark corridor.
"-That delicious power."
Though he was trying his best to disregard everything Orochimaru said, Hidan couldn't help but secretly agree. He thought back to the time he first (unwittingly) evoked the curse mark. The euphoria, the boundless energy, the bloodlust – he'd felt as if he could do anything, take on anyone in that moment… before the curse mark was partly sealed by Kakuzu's Fuuja Houen.
"I didn't ask for you to butt in, asshole. I was handling it fine by myself."
Kakuzu snorted.
"Going to massacre a village and give the game away to any bingo book holders in the area, not to mention letting that curse take you over is handling it really well."
With a small jolt, Hidan realised that Orochimaru was looking for a response. You can shove your curse mark up your hole, snake turd.
"What's that got to do with whatever you want?"
Orochimaru smiled, finally lifting his gaze, releasing Hidan.
"Let's just say it'll speed up the process."
Orochimaru's slits flicked from the corridor back to Hidan.
"That is, if you still want to die."
"If you can pull it off," retorted Hidan.
Another damn smirk.
"I welcome the challenge. Now-"
He snapped his fingers, and the five came out of the shadows.
"Let's bring you to stage two, shall we?"
Hidan looked unimpressed.
"What the hell is stage two?"
"The fully awakened form of the curse mark."
Orochimaru leaned in further, his voice low.
"This will give you 10 times the power of the first stage. So please co-operate with my subordinates."
Orochimaru backed out, leaving the Sound Five to do their job. Catching the suspicious look on Hidan's face, he smiled broadly.
"Don't worry, Hidan-kun. It'll be over soon."
Hidan took his eyes off the nearest shinobi, a girl, dressed in the same style as her companions, with the addition of a hat to tame her bushy pink hair. He threw Orochimaru a death glare.
"Drop the fucking '-kun' already."
The sannin waved his remark off as the door shut behind him.
…
As he silently closed Hidan's door behind him, Orochimaru let out the cackle of triumph he had been holding in. Leaning against the large wooden door, he listened gleefully to the sounds within. He had Hidan exactly where he wanted him; his new body was almost guaranteed.
He was practically quivering with anticipation. Once stage two had kicked in, Hidan would be under his control…
Orochimaru frowned. That was how it should go, but that seal could present a problem. Although he knew it relied on the strength of the person's will to actively fight off the curse, he wasn't as certain as he would like to be about that either. Hidan had come, Kabuto had successfully drawn him to the lair, and he was almost ready for the soul transfer, but something didn't sit right.
As he stood up and treaded softly down the corridor, he reconsidered his plans. He had wanted to train Hidan in his own jutsu a little first, test his loyalty under safe conditions. But with the seal, and Hidan's own guarded behaviour, he might have to forgo that. Although he almost regretted not having the immortal around for longer, he decided the soul transfer must be done before Hidan could change his mind.
He turned away, no longer desiring to retire to his own quarters. He had to act quickly.
…
The entrance to the lair was silent after the rubble settled. Sasori gaped deep inside Hiruko.
"Kakuzu-"
Kakuzu had never been this quick to act when they had been partners – briefly, when Akatsuki was founded. The Suna missing-nin had expected the older member to leave the infiltration to him and his hundreds of expendable puppets, instead of charging in himself. Kakuzu didn't wait for Sasori to finish.
"Hurry up. Before any enemies block us off."
Kakuzu darted in, a hard look in his eyes, while Sasori followed, still slightly perplexed.
The inside of the lair was dimly lit by the torches that lined the patterned walls. They flickered wildly as the wind and the black clad shinobi passed. Kakuzu cursed under his breath as he caught sight of shadows flitting across the corridor.
"Here they come-"
Kakuzu's outstretched hands rocketed down the corridor and slammed into the two enemy shinobi. Two quick jerks and they crashed into the walls, accompanied by sickening cracks. His pace didn't slacken as he hurtled past the bodies.
Behind him, the clattering and creaking of wooden joints told him Sasori had unleashed his army. His blind spot was covered, but he couldn't help noticing Sasori's fighting style was quieter than what he was used to. No tiresome speeches, no dilly-dallying of any sort, just cold, unemotional slaughter. And, he realised with a start, Sasori was practically finished. On his end, purple clad bodies were haphazardly strewn about. Kakuzu faced his way again; there were more overly loyal subordinates running straight into his waiting arms.
Taking out two at a time wasn't quick enough – he could imagine Sasori's eyes on him, waiting with growing impatience for him to finish. Kakuzu infamous rage began its quick ascent, and he shrugged his cloak off his shoulders. Two tangled masses of black thread burst from his exposed back and dived at the nearest batch of the sannin's recruits. Fire and wind combined to make deadly combinations, and the corridor was soon filled with the clamour of elemental jutsu. Kakuzu's tension eased. Both Akatsuki were now finished. All that was missing was the maniacal laughter.
The Akatsuki continued their journey through the lair – but they were soon stopped again. This time however, it was not due to enemy interception. Both Kakuzu and Sasori had continued to advance down the nearest path, but had gone separate ways. Kakuzu glanced back, feeling slightly annoyed.
"Sasori, most of them came through here, we should try this way."
Sasori didn't turn.
"Kakuzu. I know these underground tunnels better than you do. My way."
The puppet master resumed movement, clearly indicating for Kakuzu to follow. Kakuzu wrinkled his nose in indignation. He had never intended to be the junior of the pair for even a second of the mission. But he retraced his steps, giving the humped figure a characteristic glare, and followed, resigned.
…
The little black pill went down relatively easy, and Hidan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed about the process that bastard had seemed so excited about. The Sound Five surrounded him, looking expectant. Hidan arched an eyebrow.
"Oi, are you waiting for me to sprout wings or something?"
None of them replied, but he caught a trace of impatience flit across their faces.
"Jeez, I'd hate to see the size of the sticks shoved up your-"
Hidan's voice dissolved as his insides pulsed sickeningly. He doubled over feeling nauseous. The mark burned, it scorched his shoulder, skin and bone. His eyes were squeezed shut, and his blood raced through his veins. He could feel his body battling the effects of the curse desperately, and it leeched his strength. His knees hit the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the shinobi crouch down, making handsigns furiously.
"Finally."
The voice came from somewhere around him; the others must still be there too.
"Fuckers-" he managed to spit out.
What the hell is going on? He tried to shout, but try as he did. The words couldn't seem to make it past his throat, which felt like it was being crushed.
Suddenly, he was cut off from the light. Forcing his eyes open again, he discerned a wall of tightly bound wood that stood inches from his face. Biting on his lip, he took his mind off the painful tingling that covered his skin to look around. The wall continued endless around him. He was in a wooden cylinder. He couldn't remember being put in.
Dimly, he heard the sounds of paper slapping down on the lid, and felt a sudden tightness in the air. They sealed it – I'm stuck in here!
Angrily, he threw a hand up to the lid and started to push – but another strange wave of pain knocked him back again.
He tensed, fighting back against the curse as it wove itself over his skin, under his skin, into his blood. He was losing. The deeper the marks burned themselves in, the harder he fought. They were slowing, but he couldn't stop it. Hidan was reaching his limit. He felt like he'd been battling the curse for hours, but time didn't seem to pass in the container.
Suddenly, his strength disappeared. His eyes widened as his muscles went limp. He fell against the side of barrel, and tried in vain to move. The curse had immobilised him. Shit couldn't handle me fighting back, he thought, giving a small smirk. The pain was waning; it was now just a throbbing ache, and he could think straight again. He blinked the sweat out of his eyes. The container wasn't as black as he thought, more of grey than pitch; though he couldn't see where the light was coming from.
A ripping noise startled him and he threw his eyes upwards. The lid burst off, and the once elusive light spilled in.
.. .. ..
I'm hoping to get this done over the xmas break, otherwise you'll have to wait until midterm. O-o
And to anyone who follows the anime…TT-TT I think I became clinically depressed for about 20 minutes after Hidan and Kakuzu got their arses kicked.
'Til next time! C: