The girl growled, glaring at the mist around her. The white wall swirled slowly, a thick, impenetrable force.
Yawning, she began her walk, feeling the light chill sink through her skin and settle into her bones. She shook herself slightly, then continued her pacing. She could smell nothing, and her ears could only hear her own heartbeats and breathing. The nothingness disturbed her slightly, and she increased her pace, looking for anything.
Laughter sounded to her right, and she looked briefly that way, seeing the boy child as a wolf running at her side. His long, silvery legs stretched easily, and she grinned at her running partner.
He suddenly barked a warning, and she looked forward in time to see the cliff, unable to stop.
She fell forward, yelping, limbs churning to find something to grab onto. She found nothing, and fell into a liquid with a splash, swallowing her head. She gasped and thrashed for the surface, trying to hold onto her breath and not swallow any of the…..was that blood?!
Her eyes opened fully as she realized what the liquid she was swimming in was, and she opened her mouth in shock, releasing her air. Realizing her mistake too late, her lungs tried to inhale the heavy liquid, causing her to cough. All air escaped, and she gave a last, unheard cry as the sea of blood swallowed her, dragging her down to its depths.
All of a sudden, she was watching herself drown, vision strangely colored, greens strengthened while the reds were subdued. It took her a moment to realize she was watching from the wolf's body, and she tried making him run forward, to save herself.
The body stayed where it was, and she could feel the wolf's annoyance at her attempt to take over. She was forced to watch as her body died, leaving her spirit to share with the wolf.
The wolf started running, leaving her body behind, and it was all the girl could do to watch.
Kakuzu jumped awake as Reni started choking, rolling to his hands and knees. The small room they were in contained no liquid, so Kakuzu assumed someone had come in and was trying to choke her.
However, he instead saw her huddled in the corner, rubbing at her neck as if she had something tight around it. She looked toward him, and ran over when she saw him watching her.
He stroked her hair, pausing when he felt it was wet. He frowned, and pulled his hand away, examining it. What he saw shocked him.
It was blood. Her hair was soaked in blood.
He turned the light on, picking through her hair, looking for any wound. However, no matter how hard he looked, he could see nothing, only the blood that had seemingly come from nowhere. Reni didn't seem worried herself, only concerned in clearing her throat of some unknown substance.
Sighing, Kakuzu gave up, picking her up as he stood. He walked outside, puzzling over the strange substance, then set her down next to the small pond near the abandoned shack they were staying the night in.
Reni waded into the water, hands wringing the blood out of her hair, using the pond water to help rinse it out. Kakuzu waded in and helped her, sniffing it a couple times to guarantee it was blood. He still didn't know how it had arrived there, but it greatly disturbed him. What had happened?
Sighing and knowing that the mystery would perhaps never be solved, Kakuzu walked back into the abandoned shed, Reni following.
Hidan yawned and rose the way he always did. First, he stretched until either someone complained or some joints popped. Then, he slowly blinked open his eyes, hissing when the sun hit them. Finally, he yawned one last time before leaping to his feet, eyes looking around.
This time, however, instead of seeing nothing like he normally did, he saw a dark doorway, into the other room of the leaky shack. He shook his head as he remembered that they weren't on the run anymore, and walked into the room, arms folded behind his neck. In the room, he saw Reni and Kakuzu curled against each other, the miser's arms around the small girl. Hidan felt a small twinge, and left the room before he woke them up.
Out in the sunnier room, he could see birds flying outside, chirping merrily as they foraged for food. Speaking of food…..
As soon as he thought about it, his stomach rumbled, and he grinned to himself. However, instead of heading to the supplies, he walked out the door, planning on hunting. Reni would like some fresh meat, and it would leave more of the supplies in case they needed them. Maybe he would look for a rabbit.
Kakuzu rose when Hidan left the house, the steps outside alerting him. When he realized it was only the immortal, he grumbled and tried going back to sleep, stroking Reni's hair as he closed his eyes.
Her hair was still damp, and Kakuzu opened his eyes again in memory. Frowning slightly, he pulled his fingers back, examining them. There was still a slight pink tinge, but most of the blood had been washed out. He sniffed her hair, and he could smell a faint trace of the pungent liquid.
He wrinkled his nose. She would need to bathe again today. That would be fun.
He felt her stretch against his side, putting her arms out as she pushed against his chest. A few joints popped, and she sagged for a few moments before opening her eyes, the gray tint observing the room around her. Sensing nothing wrong, she rose, stretching again in a cat-like manner.
Kakuzu chuckled as he watched her, feeling a sense of the old times. Here was the old Reni, the one who had no fears, who had never been broken as she had. She was fine, perfect with all her scars and messiness.
His eyes landed on her crooked arm, and he stiffened, growling unconsciously. Reni looked at him worriedly, but when she saw he wasn't looking at her, she edged out of the room, giving him an odd glance as she walked out.
He sighed and looked away, calming himself. There was nothing he could do to take away her history, he could only be forced to watch as she dealt with the repercussions. He was only an audience as she struggled to heal herself. And it drove him nuts.
A squeal from Reni sent him scurrying to his feet, and he rushed out the door, kunai in hand. In the sunlight, he saw Reni eating a rabbit on the ground, Hidan looking down at her, startled.
Within a few moments, Kakuzu understood what had happened, and he started laughing. Reni had forcefully taken the rabbit from Hidan's hands, squealing with happiness. How typical of her.
"Well, that made her happier than a fucking kid on Christmas."
"You think?"
"Well, since I doubt she's going to share, want to eat some of the dried food?"
"No, we'll save that for later. I'll go out and get more. Make sure she doesn't get into trouble."
"Just get out of here, I'm fucking hungry."
Kakuzu grumbled and left, heading into the brush. He hadn't needed to hunt in well over twenty years, so his hunting skills were a little rusty. He would definitely need more time to catch something.
Despite his lack of practice, however, he managed to catch a pheasant within half an hour, dispelling belief that he wouldn't be able to catch anything. Pleased with himself, he headed back, holding onto the bird by its legs.
Back at the temporary camp, Hidan had already started a fire, and Reni was curled up beside it, dozing. She lifted her head when he entered the clearing, chittering pleasantly. He smiled in return, then handed the bird to Hidan, who took it and spitted it quickly.
"Where'd you learn to do that? Last time I saw you, you could barely build a shelter."
"I didn't like going hungry when I was on the run. I learned quickly. You?"
"What?"
"How come you aren't wearing your mask anymore?"
"The bingo books all had me with my mask on. No one was left alive who could recognize my face, so I just walked right in. I kept my headband hidden, and passed off as a simple banker. It's not hard to forge records."
"Really? You as a banker? Somehow, I don't find that hard to believe."
"Shut up."
"Make me-"
"Hidan, I hear something, shut your mouth."
Hidan snapped his jaws shut, watching him. Reni was looking into the brush and growling, and Kakuzu could hear faint voices in the distance. They seemed quiet, telling them they weren't just kids looking for fun.
Kakuzu quickly dampened the fire, and Hidan grabbed the pheasant on the spit and jumped away, taking it with him. Reni scattered the ashes of the fire quickly, hissing as she tossed the wood into the brush, the smoldering pieces burning her hand. When nothing would tell they were there, they both hid, Kakuzu diving into the brush, Reni leaping up a tree with a few practiced leaps, looking almost like a squirrel in the process. She hid among the branches, stilling her breath and vanishing.
Four people walked into the clearing, one older and three younger. From the headbands, Kakuzu could see they were Waterfall nin, possibly a group of genin with their sensei. The leader looked around, seeming dissatisfied with how innocent the clearing looked, but could find nothing wrong, so just kept his guard up. The kids relaxed and joked around, though quietly. One actually took the time to check her surroundings, but she wasn't as experienced as her teacher, so she didn't feel as uneasy as he did.
Things seemed to be going perfectly until one of the kids pushed the other into the brush, laughing. Then-
"Sensei, there's some burning wood here!"
All four of them took out kunai, joking mood gone as they peered into the brush. They could sense nothing, but Kakuzu knew it wouldn't take long to find Reni. Hidden only by branches as she was, she was an easy find. All one had to do was get underneath her and look up, and they would see her.
Kakuzu searched until he could see the glint of Hidan's eyes, and they looked at each other, wordlessly forming a plan. One of the kids began heading slowly to Reni's tree, and they both tensed, ready to move.
Reni beat them to it, though. When the kid got within ten feet, she leaped from the branches, landing on the other side of the clearing and snarling at them, crouching fearfully.
All four jumped when she seemingly leaped out of nowhere, and looked at her, prepared to attack her. However, when they realized she wasn't attacking them, they relaxed, putting their weapons down, though still at the ready.
"Izou-sensei, do you think she's one of those hermits?"
"I doubt it. Hermits just live by themselves, they don't act like animals. More likely she's a rogue gone nuts. There've been more of them since the Akatsuki fell. They used to keep the population down, since so many would try to join them. The Akatsuki would kill them before they even managed to reach the door. Only the elite were able to join them."
"Then how did they fall? If they were the best, how were they defeated?"
"Some leaf-nin managed to outsmart the group, and they took them down, one by one. The first to go was that puppet one, remember? He had given them information before he died, and that was how that one bridge was destroyed when they faced Orochimaru."
"Why would he give them information?"
"That was their fault. They didn't owe each other allegiance, they were just rogues joined together for necessity. They didn't care what happened to each other."
You're wrong, Kakuzu seethed. We cared very much what happened to each other. When you assholes killed Sasori, Deidara cried for weeks. Even I missed him, you bastards. Pein had been prepared to give me a funeral before I showed up at the doorstep, thanks to Reni. When that Sasuke brat killed Deidara, Hidan wouldn't talk to anyone. We carried very much about each other, bastard.
"That was how they were defeated. They were just careless."
Students and sensei looked back at Reni, who was still softly growling at them. One of the kids smiled.
"She seems harmless, just scared. We probably spooked her and made her ruin her fire."
"I would guess that as well, Chou. How about we make it up to her? Let's leave her some food, since we're so close to the village anyways."
"I'm up for it. How much?"
"Oh, let's leave a couple days. We probably scared off half the prey with all our noise around here."
They fished packs of food out, and set them on the ground in front of Reni, who edged away when they moved. They only smiled and waved, running again, heading back for the village. When Kakuzu was certain they were gone, he left his cover, seeing Hidan emerge as well, eyes looking watery.
"We cared."
"I know."
"Those bastards had no right."
"I know, Hidan."
They were silent, looking at the food the others had so kindly left. Reni approached them, seeking approval for what she had done. Kakuzu patted her shoulder, and she chittered quietly in happiness, before leaping back into the brush Hidan had left and grabbing the pheasant.
Hidan rolled his eyes and took it from her, re-assembling the spit while Kakuzu rebuilt the fire. When it was crackling once more, Hidan set up the bird while Kakuzu packed up the extra food, putting it on top since it would spoil quicker.
They waited for the bird to cook, lost in memories. It had been a long time since Akatsuki had been ruined, yet each day was fresh in their minds. Reni, sensing their melancholy mood, chittered softly before curling up between the two, back against Kakuzu's thigh, knees against Hidan's back. They both sighed simultaneously and patted her, and she snuggled deeper against them.
They chuckled and rolled their eyes, Kakuzu extending a thread to rotate the bird. Those days were gone, and there was no sense in dwelling in the past.
Reni quickly fell asleep, managing to astound the two. Really, they were boring, but boring enough to put her to sleep?!
They pulled the bird off when it was cooked, outside charred slightly, insides nice and pale. Kakuzu brought out a sheet of plastic to hold the food, and they both tore off bits and ate, staring vacantly into the distance. The past crept up on them, and they both felt old, Hidan in his immortality and Kakuzu in his unnatural lifespan.
"Oi, old man, give me the other leg."
"Old man? Look who's talking. You're what, forty-something now?"
"At least I'm not fucking over a hundred years old. What was the last count for you, one hundred seventeen?"
"One hundred eighteen. And at least for me, wisdom comes with age. What did life give you?"
"Astounding good looks and eternal youth. I'd take that over wisdom any day."
"Because you're not smart enough to choose wisdom."
"Have you fucking looked at yourself? Geez, you look like something the cat dragged in, ate, puked, ate again, and then shit out. When was the last time you even washed the fucking rat's nest you call hair?"
"Last month", Kakuzu replied grumpily, Hidan starting to get on his nerves.
"Last month? We could cook eggs with all the grease in your hair! Seriously, just buy some fucking shampoo or something!"
"If you don't shut up, I will rip your head off."
"Yeah, like you could! You're out of practice, old man!" Hidan sneered, emphasizing the 'old'.
"That's it, you fucking brat-"
"Kakuzu! Hidan!"
They both froze at their names, then looked at Reni, confused. She was growling irritably, glaring at them as she worked her fingers in and out of the ground.
They kept eye contact with her for a brief moment, then snapped their mouths shut, picking at the food. She growled in approval, setting her head back down to go back to her nap.
The two looked at each other, then burst into laughter, holding their sides as they began to hurt. Reni's head snapped up, but she didn't understand them, and her confused look caused them to laugh harder, tears streaming down their faces.
Head tilted to the side, she gave up, rolling her gray eyes and setting her head back down, blaming it on them being them.
When the two men had started arguing, the girl had tried to ignore it for a while, intending to sleep. However, as the stench of aggression began to fill the air, she decided to step in, before they attacked each other.
She had called their names, startling both. They had looked at her, then went back to picking at the food, subdued. She growled in approval, setting her head back down.
The two looked at each other, then started laughing at he same time, startling the girl. She snapped her head up, looking at them oddly. They glanced at her and laughed harder, making her even more confused. However, she gave up, chalking it up to the oddities of the Others. How odd they could be at times.
When the two finally finished laughing and eating, they packed up what they could, slinging the packs on their backs. Reni barked to the giant, and when he turned to look at her, she held out her burned hands, chittering pleadingly.
He sighed and took them in his, fingers dwarfing hers easily. His hands glowed briefly green, and the burning sensation was gone, replaced with a cool feeling. The girl yipped happily, pulling her hands from his when they were healed completely.
The giant only chuckled and stood again, starting to walk. Reni followed him, wincing as her steps caused little lightning bolts to run up her injured arm. However, she quickly adjusted, and ignored the pain as she loped, the crooked bone wobbling as she ran.
At peace again, Hidan and Kakuzu ran on, Reni following close behind. They were a few weeks from their destination, and that was under good traveling conditions. While the weather seemed to be holding up, it could change easily, a familiar phenomena around there. The skies could be clear one moment, rain pouring down the next.
When night fell, no shelter was in sight, so Reni began building one, ripping branches off one and assembling them against one of the great tropical trees. While she didn't seem to recognize them, having lived in a northern climate her entire life, it didn't take her long to figure out what trees would be best for supports, what would be best to water proof the shelter.
The finished product was small, but it would fit them if they squeezed. Any larger and the structure would have been compromised.
Reni yawned immediately and laid down, snoring quickly in the corner. They both rolled their eyes and set up a perimeter, laying traps around. She still wasn't back in her original condition yet, so any activity would tire her, even something as simple as running. Still, she was making a quick comeback, able to keep up with them after being chained for over nine years.
When they were certain they would be secure and at no risk if an explosion went off, they headed back to the shelter.
The moonlight shone through the doorway, landing on Reni's brown hair, causing it to shimmer like copper. Her skin glowed, and her scars shone like silver as the light reflected off the damaged skin.
They both felt familiar pangs, but hid them well from each other. Kakuzu got in first, dragging her into his arms, and Hidan felt a flash of jealousy as he lay against Kakuzu's back, robbing heat. Cicadas chirped their unusual songs, and an occasional bird cried out a warning in the dark.
Before they knew it, sleep overcame them.
The girl again found herself surrounded by mist, and she hunched her shoulders, remembering the last time she was here. A hand lightly touched her shoulder, and she snarled and whirled around, leaping away.
The healing one stood before her, and she apologized for her behavior by lowering her head and covering her teeth, keeping her eyes averted. The healing one only walked closer to her, crouching down and putting his hand on her shoulder, red eyes looking into hers sadly. His black wolf-fur cloak rippled in an unfelt breeze, and his scent carried only misery.
He apologized in her way, and she chittered uncomfortably, looking to the side rather than look at him. Someone higher ranked never apologized to you, and she had already accepted him as above her.
He forced her gaze onto him, and she mewled in sadness. He only sighed, and released her as he stood, signaling for her to follow.
She trotted up to his side, keeping slightly behind him and directly to his left as they walked, on and on. Finally, they seemed to reach something in the mist the healing one could tell, because they stopped and he swung an arm into the mist, clearing it.
The girl looked in, and yelped in surprise. In the cleared area of mist, the ones she had known from the house stood, pacing and silent. All their eyes turned to hers, and she bristled at the lack of a soul in them, edging behind the healing one.
They all smiled in greeting, and looked toward the healing one questioningly, as if unable to speak. Now that she thought about it, the only thing that made noise here was her. She couldn't hear anything else, and she found it very uncomfortable.
The healing one whispered a few sounds she didn't recognize, then let the mist form in front of them again, blocking the soulless ones from view.
The girl sagged in relief, knowing who they were but unable to call them the ones she knew. The lack of souls bothered her.
The healing one knelt again, red eyes blazing into hers. She kept eye contact, and he touched her forehead, causing it to burn slightly before pulling away.
Her hand came up to feel the skin, but her fingers could find nothing unusual, so she left it be, looking up at him curiously.
He stepped away, and she fell through the mist, landing into the familiarity of her old dreams, the ones she was used to.