Chapter 2: The Beginning

"You really want to know?"

"Yes, I am curious."

"Then sit down, it's a long story." Kakuzu sat on the edge of his bed, getting comfortable. Hidan could tell long stories, if he was interested enough.

"You see, it all began when my family moved to the Waterfall Village…."

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"Mom, seriously, why do we have to move out in the middle of nowhere?"

"Hidan, it's not the middle of nowhere, it's the Hidden Steam Village, and you're lucky we got a space to move here. It's a nice place to live."

"It's boring! Seriously, do you see a mall anywhere?"

"Hidan, you're only 13. You don't need a mall."

"What am I supposed to do for fun?"

"Go play outside with friends. This is a new beginning, maybe you can make friends here."

"Mom, I'm a freak. No one's going to want to make friends with an albino."

"Hidan, you're not a freak, you're different. You will make friends here."

"Whatever."

The hired bodyguards politely ignored their conversation, while horses carried their belongings. They had a long while to walk. It was no wonder people didn't move too often. However, their guides/bodyguards assured them that they should arrive by nightfall, after three days of traveling. Finally, the village came within sight.

"Finally!" Hidan ran forward, eager to sleep in an actual bed tonight.

"Hidan! Stay back here!"

Just then, a group of rogue ninja attacked him. Hidan screamed and tried running back to the guards, but more rogues cut them off. However, the guards took out the bandits quickly. Hidan watched them, and he decided right then he wanted to be a ninja more than anything else in the world. Maybe, just maybe, no one would laugh at him then.

His mother rushed forward, screaming, "Hidan! Are you allright?" He pushed her away, saying, "I'm fine, Mom." He watched the ninja, impressed. Maybe he could become better than even them.

The head ninja came over, putting his hand on Hidan's shoulder. "You know son, you shouldn't run ahead like that."

"How do you become a ninja?" The leader blinked.

"Huh?"

"I want to be a ninja." The leader grinned.

"Just sign up at the ninja academy. We're always looking for new students."

Hidan got a purposeful look on his face, and they all walked to the village together.

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"Wait, it was then you decided you wanted to be a ninja?"

"Yeah. It took almost being killed to knock into my head what I was made for. Of course, I didn't know then that I was immortal."

Hidan was silent for a bit.

"So, when does that girl come into the story?", Kakuzu prodded.

"I met her my first day at school…."

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Hidan sighed. He lost count of how many stares and whispers he had gotten today. And still, he couldn't find his locker. He read the numbers on the green doors, counting down to 11. Let's see, 13, 12,…. 11! There it was!

A girl had her locker open, locker number 10. She had her locker neatly organized, able to get her books in and out of there fast. Hidan stared at his schedule, trying to figure out where the fuck he was.

"Do you need help?" Hidan looked up, meeting the girl's gaze.

"You're new here, aren't you? I haven't seen you around before."

"Yeah, I'm new. Is it that obvious?"

"Kind of is. You're holding a piece of paper and looking at door numbers. You might as well scream it down the hallway."

"Well, can you tell me where History is?"

She peered at his schedule.

"I think I can help you around. You're in the same year as me. We share a lot of classes. Come, it's this way. By the way, what was your name?"

"I'm Hidan."

"Here's history. There's a free seat over there. I sit here. I'll catch you after class." She sat down, leaving Hidan to fend for himself. As he sat down, he realized she hadn't told him her name.

After two hours of the most boring class ever, the bell finally rang. As promised, the strange girl waited for him at the doorway. He saw her grin, and worried that maybe she was just like the others, only wanting to meet the freak.

However, she just asked, "So, how was History?"

"Boring. As . Fucking. Hell." She cracked into laughter.

"Thought so. That's just a class we have to put up with this year. We don't have to take it next year."

"Thank Jashin." She blinked.

"Who's Jashin?"

"Jashin is the almighty god that rules over all! He will kill all non-believing heathens and burn their cities to the ground! He is the lord of-!"

She clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Keep it quiet, will ya'! People are staring! I'm sorry I insulted your god, but you don't need to spaz on me."

He blinked.

"Sorry." She removed her hand.

"It's all right, just warn me next time. Come on, we have Gym."

"Hey, you never told me your name", Hidan said as he rushed after her.

She turned back to meet his gaze.

"My name's Umi. Pleased to meet you."

They walked to gym, pushing aside younger students in the hallways and avoiding older ones that would do the same to them. They warning bell rang, and Umi started walking faster. The end bell rang, and they just made it into the courtyard before it finished. The gym teacher walked up to Hidan.

"Are you new here?"

"Yes."

"Well then, welcome to Gym. Start running."

"Huh?"

"Start running laps, you brat!"

Hidan gulped and shrunk closer to Umi, who was glaring at the teacher. The teacher looked at her gaze, and seemed to wilt.

"Go hang out with the freak then. She can't protect you forever." He walked away. Hidan turned to Umi.

"What was that about?"

"He hates new students, especially ones that aren't….. normal. I've been on his shit –list since I started here."

"Why does he hate you?"

She looked away. In a quiet voice, she said, "I'm not like you."

She then turned and walked away, beginning her laps. Hidan stared after her for a bit, then began running, too.

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"Did you know what she was talking about then?", Kakuzu questioned.

"No, not then. I found out later, but I had no idea then. I suppose if she had told me then, I wouldn't have believed her."

"Why, what is she?"

"You need to learn more about her before you can even begin to understand…."

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After two hours of gym, Hidan was ready to collapse. This class was impossible! He panted over to the water fountain, then began gulping down water. A line formed behind him, though none were panting as much as he was. He stepped down, and Umi stood near him.

"Aren't you going to drink anything?"

"I'm not thirsty." He looked at her. She didn't even seem out of breath.

"How do you it?"

"I guess I'm more in shape than you." She didn't seem to be telling him everything, but he didn't push it. He didn't want to lose his first real friend in his life. He followed her to the next class, wondering why she wouldn't talk to him. She continued on, withdrawn into herself.

To Hidan's surprise, she led him to the cafeteria.

"Is it lunch time already?"

"Unless you don't want to eat?" she looked at him, some of her quizzical personality coming back.

"No way! I'm starving!" She grinned.

"Then let's get in line."

They found their way to the back of the line, short because of the late hour. Only a few kids had lunch this late. They grabbed trays of the mystery food, then sat down at a small table. Hidan poked the lump of food on his tray, not quite sure what it was.

"It's chicken. Eat it before I do." He looked at her.

'You can have it. I don't think it's safe."

Umi snatched it from his tray, already tearing strips off with her teeth. Hidan watched her warily.

"What are you, part dog?" Her expression grew guarded.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Just look at you eat. It's like you've never seen food before." She relaxed.

"I have a high metabolism. I need to eat a lot."

"Ah."

Hidan ate the edible parts of his lunch, while Umi snatched what he left on his tray.

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"How is that part important?" Kakuzu asked, caught up in the story.

"That was where she truly started being herself around me. She started trusting me more, almost enough to tell me her secret. However, she couldn't yet. She didn't start trusting me until we had known each other for a few months…."

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"Hey fairy!"

Hidan sighed.

"Why do you insist on calling me that?"

"It's the nickname I gave you. Get used to it." Hidan rolled his eyes and grinned. They had that argument every morning when they greeted each other. Also part of the tradition was where Hidan ran through a list of names he could give her. He still hadn't found one yet.

"So, how about 'Wacko'?"

"No."

"Crazy?"

"No."

"Psycho?" She looked at him.

"Just how am I psycho?"

"Have you seen yourself eat?"

She ignored him and continued walking to History. Hidan continued.

"Crazy cat lady?"

"I hate cats."

"Dog person?"

"No."

"Mutt?"

"No."

"Um, how about Unicorn?"

"I don't even want to know how you came up with that. No."

"Bitch?"

She froze. "Hell no!"

Hidan grinned.

"All right then, bitch it is."

"I said no!"

"Too bad!"

"Argh!"

They sat down at their desks, ready to begin the most boring class ever. They zoned through the notes, along with the rest of the students, then bolted out of the class as soon as the bell rang.

"Thank Jashin that's over!"

Umi no longer contradicted him on this, having learned last time when Hidan spazzed.

"So, to Gym?"

"I guess. Hey, didn't the teacher say we were sparring today?"

"Yeah, he did. It was supposed to be after he demonstrated weapon use."

"Didn't he show you already?"

"You still haven't seen it. Today, we're supposed to pick the weapon we want to specialize in."

"Have you decided yet?"

"Not yet."

They arrived at the gym, then sat down with the rest of the students, waiting for the teacher to arrive. He finally walked in, laden with weapons. He set them down on a table, then turned to the students.

"Allright students, you know what today is. While I give the weapons demonstration, try to decide what weapon you want to use."

The teacher picked up a katana, then began. The demonstration took about half the class. He finally put the last weapon down, then turned to the students.

"Allright, I'm going to call you down. Choose a weapon, then sit back down." He paused. "Without stabbing yourselves, please", he tacked on as an afterthought.

He called down the students one by one, until Hidan and Umi were left. He just waved at them, and they both rose and looked at what was left. Umi thoughtfully picked up a sickle set, one on a chain and two that were made for hand to hand combat. She twirled the pair in her hands, then clipped them to her legs in a way to have easy access if needed. She twirled the chained sickle slightly, then nodded happily and sat down.

Hidan stared at the weapons before him. His hands reached automatically towards a scythe, having minds of their own. It was a dull black, with two blades. He ran his fingers along the edges of the blades, hissing slightly when he cut his fingers. He drew his hands back, then picked it up firmly. This was his weapon. This was what he was meant to use.

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Kakuzu stared at him.

"So, that was where you learned to handle a scythe?"

"Yes."

Kakuzu glanced into the corner, where Hidan's scythe lay.

"The one from your story doesn't look anything like yours."

"My original scythe broke soon after I got it. I had it replaced."

"I see. So, you were about to spar?"

"Yes. Umi was happy with her choice of weapon. I was paired up against a geek, while she had been paired against one of the best…"

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"Allright, begin!"

Umi bent her legs, twirling the chain next to her. Her eyes read her opponent's intentional move, and she launched the sickle towards him. The attack would have removed his legs if the teacher hadn't preformed a non-injury jutsu on the weapons. As it was, it knocked his legs out from under him. He landed neatly on his hands, then flipped himself back up.

Hidan watched his friend fight, wondering how good she was. She flipped the sickle back towards her opponent, catching his ankle as he tried to leap away. He grabbed the chain from her and yanked it out her hands. She dropped it, and unclipped her hand-scythes. She twirled them once, then waited.

Her opponent leaped at her, and she parried his naginata with her scythes. She flicked the blades toward each other, and the blade fell off her opponent's weapon. Continuing the move, she flicked the weapons up, putting her arms around his neck in a swift movement. He froze. The scythes encircled his neck in such a way, if she twitched his head would roll.

"Umi is the victor."

She grinned and dropped her blades from the teen's neck, dancing away. She picked up her chain and turned to Hidan, eyes bright.

"Did you see that?"

"Good job!" The teacher called out, telling Hidan it was his turn to fight.

He gripped his scythe and walked toward his opponent, ready to begin. He grinned as he thought of how easily Umi had won, sure he could top her.