Akatsuki 5

Kazuna had a clock but she never set the alarm. She never needed to. Hira acted as an alarm. At the same time every morning, the girl rolled off her bunk in a sleepy daze. Some mornings she just woke up early and jumped off. This morning Hira rolled and landed with a loud thud. It startled Kakuzu awake and Kazuna slowly sat up and began to get out of bed. A second thump startled her to being fully awake. She looked across the room to see Hidan on the floor. She shook her head. The two were too alike for her tastes. KAzuna stood and nudged her room mate while messing with her hair.

"Get up, Hira. Put some pants on." Kazuna said. Hira yawned and sat up, her silver hair in worse shape than Kazuna's.

"Nah."She said as she stood and followed Kazuna to the bathroom. The two grabbed toothbrushes and tooth paste. Hira took hers back into the room, brush sticking out of her mouth, as she headed over to her closet. She pulled out a long tee shirt and pulled it over her tank top. It was long enough to keep her covered but still pantless. She didn't mind, but heaven knows others would bitch at her.

Kazuna exited and Hira went to spit out her tooth paste.

"We're going to go get breakfast. You can join or stay." Kazuna said left. Hira followed after, slightly dazed from sleep and yawning.

"You're gonna wanna be fucking quick. Food fucking dispears here." She said as she shut the door. Kakuzu stood and followed the two. Hidan shortly joined.

They followed the women into the huge kitchen. It had an island with a large stove top on it. Kazuna flipped on the coffee machine that rested next to the stove. Hira began grabbing things from the cabinets and drawers. She pulled out a large skillet, egs, milk, fruit, chocolate chips, a spatula and a few other things. She stomped and frowned when she opened the cabinet and what she needed was on the top shelf. IT was then Hidan realized how short she was. If they stood shoulder to shoulder, her head would barely reach his shoulder. Hira was shorter than Sasori. He almost laughed at the realization. Even though their "twins" seemed to be physically similar to them, Hira was short.

"Hey bitch, grab the mix for me." Hira shouted across the kitchen. Kazuna and Hidan had taken a seat on the barstools at the island next to the stove.

"No." KAzuna replied as she poured coffee and placed two mugs in front of the men.

"The fuck did you say?" Hira challeneged.

"Do I need to check your ears? I said no." Kazuna said as she sipped her coffee.

"Fuck you then! Make your own damn food you lazy fuck!" Hira yelled and began to climb on the counter. Kazuna wipped around.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" She scolded. Hira stood and looked overher shoulder with a smug look.

"The fuck do you think I'm doing? If you hadn't been a cunt and grabbed it I wouldn't be up here you ass." Hira stated.

"Do not climb on the goddamn counter." Kazuna warned. "Get down or I'll make you get down myself."

"Fuck you, bitch!" Hira said triumphantly and reached to grab the box of mix. Kazuna flicked her wrist and a strand of blood flung and wrapped around Hira's ankle. She grabbed the box quickly and Kazuna yanked on the make shift rope, bringing Hira to the floor in a loud crash and thud.

"You fucking bitch!" She screeched on her way down. She brought the pan on the counter and a few items in the cabinet down too. Hidan bellowed out a laugh.

"Fuck you!" Hira yelled as she stood. "Look at this fucking mess!"

"If any food is wasted, you pay for it." Kazuna said simply. Kakuzu poured himself some coffee.

"Fuck that! You fucking pulled me off he goddamn counter!" Hira yelled.

"Hira, stop yelling, yeah. You're gonna wake everyone up, hm." Danyir said from the kitchen doorway, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her hand covered in her grey sweater.

"Fucking good. You useless asses could fucking help once in a goddamn while." Hira yelled. Then she noticed something off. "The fuck happened to you?" She asked. Danyir frowned and moved out of the way for Deidara, who was sporting a similar look.

"This one set off one of the dyers, yeah." She said defeatedly. She wasn't mad, nothing got messed up and she had done it several time herself. Hidan nearly fell off his chair laughing and Kazuna and Kakuzu almost laughed but settled fo snorts and smirks of amusement.

"Purple's a good look for you two." Kazuna said. Danyir and Deidara glared at her while Kazuna smirked and sipped her coffee. Danyir sat on a stool next to Hidan.

"You still got stuff to remove the dye, hm?" DAnyir asked hopefully, eyeing her friend across the counter from her. Kazuna stared back and thought, trying to remember. She nodded.

"I should. I can get you two back to a normal skin tone after breakfast." Kazuna stated and sipped her coffee. Danyir rested her head on the counter.

"Thank you, yeah!" She exclaimed. DAnyir lifted her head up and jumped off the stool. "Hear that Deidara? No more purple, hm." She cheered. The two bombers celebrated and Deidara apologized again.

"Ha! Fucking idiots! You'll fucking blow youselves up if you're not fucking carefull! Dumbasses!" Hidan roared. Hira swung her pan and knocked him off his seat. "The fuck was that for, bitch?" Hidan yelled from the floor. Hira came around to his side.

"Don't fucking be a dick!" She yelled and made to swing again. Kazuna grabbed the skillet, stopping it. "The fuck is your problem you cranky bitch?"

"That is for food. This is the kitchen. Don't dent it and don't get blood anywhere." Kazuna said. Kazuna was still calm and composed. This was the most relaxed the men had seen her.

"What are you making anyway, hm?" Danyir asked as she hopped into Hidan's seat. He almost flipped but settled on picking her up and dropping her. She landed on her feet but was still displeased. "Rude, yeah." Deidara had taken the other stool so she hopped onto the counter. Kazuna glared and Danyir stuck her tounge out.

"I'm fucking making the best goddamn pancakes you'll ever fucking taste." Hira said over her shoulder as she began to mix the food together.

"Don't say it too loud, Hira, you'll wake Tai up." Kazuna warned. Hira smirked but Kazuna didn't see it. While looking over her shoulder, Hira locked eyes with Hidan and he caught her mischievous look. He settled himself in for whatever this bitch would come up with. She turned around and they could hear her take in a deep breath. Kazuna spun around, slight panic in her eyes.

"Hira, don't-"

"PANCAKES MOTHER FUCKERS!" Hira bellowed. There was a thump above them and Hira whistled as she flipped the first pancakes and sipped her coffee. They heard screeching above them.

"Pancakes! Pancakes! Hira's making pancakes! Up, Tobi, Up!" Tai yelled above them. Soon Tobi's voice joined hers. Kazuna sighed as the ceiling shook.

"I'm leaving. Have fun with the little demon." She said as she walked away and into the living room. Moments later Tobi ran in with Tai on her back, knocking into everything trying to get the small girl off his back.

"Pancakes! Pancakes! Where?!" She all but screamed while pulling on Tobi's hair. Hira smiled and grabbed a plate. She loaded Tai's plate with pancakes and slid it across the counter. Tai let out a dangerous, maniacal laugh, jumped off Tobi, grabbed the plate and bolted into the living room, seating herself at the table. Danyir giggled. Poor Tobi was left confused in the kitchen.

"Tobi wants pancakes!" He whined.

"Go ask Tai to share. She'll be more than happy to." Hira suggested. Tobi bounced out of the room.

"Hira, why would you do that to him! Poor guy's gonna get killed." DAnyir said from the counter.

"She's just a fucking kid. The fuck can he do to Tobi?" Hidan exclaimed. Hira and Danyir looked at him with matching expressions. It was an "are you serious?" Look as if he should know what she can do. Hidan looked back, offended.

"Morning." A quiet voice said from the door, followed by a yawn. Kida walked into the kitchen followed by her two male room mates.

"Hey Kida. Where's Icaria?" Danyir asked from the counter.

"I'm letting her get some more sleep." Kida said as she went for the coffee machine. She went about making more coffee. Danyir felt the two men staring at her. She looked and Kisame looked like he was going to laugh.

"What?" She snapped.

"You're purple." Kisame said. Deidara turned and looked at his friend and Kisame laughed. "Itatchi, look!" Itatchi's eyebrow raised up and he just stared at the young blonde male. Said male looked like his head was going to explode. Danyir glared at Kisame. Kida tried not to laugh and kept to herself. She ended up yawning.

"God, I'm tired." She said quietly. "How do you guys get up so early?" She asked Hira.

"She falls off the bed." Kakuzu answered.

"Scares the shit outta ya." Hidan said. "Shouldn't you fucking know that?" He asked accusingly.

"Just because you fall off the bed doesn't mean you wake up." Danyir explained. "Hell, I've fallen off before and kept sleeping. Ask anyone. Hira's the only one who actually wakes up." Hira spun and tossed a large stack of pancakes onto the island in front of Hidan and Kakuzu while leveling her spatula threateningly at Danyir.

"You're fucking lucky, too!" She hollered, startling Danyir. She startled Kida too who was leaning against the counter. She snapped her eyes open a bit more, hardly awake. "Who the fuck else is gonna make you fuckers your damn breakfast. You bitches can't even function right 'till damn near noon!" She yelled. Dantir stuck her tongue out at hira who popped her on the head with the spatula. "You gonna fucking help or what?" She asked Danyir. Danyir moved to the large fridge and started pulling out food. Bacon, eggs, sausage, cheese and a few other things. Before long the two were cooking more food for breakfast. A few more people filed in, grabbed some coffee and went out to sit at the table. Pavi didn't even make it to the kitchen. She could be found half asleep at the table looking through a pile of papers. Kahl had to get some coffee for her to drink.

"Hey, Hira. Where's the coffee?" He asked, slipping into the busy kitchen were people were standing and walking around. Hira turned and pointed to the pot that had been moved to a different side of the kitchen. He nodded and went to grab some.

"She still asleep? Or is she trying to fucking work at the table again?" She asked. Kahl just laughed and walked out to set the coffee in front of Pavi. To her left, Pein sat leaning against the back of the chair, eyes drooping so slightly you could barely tell. Pavi nodded at Kahl who sat to her right after kissing her cheek. The display of affection was surprising to many of the men in the room. Their surprise lessened when Pavi lazily pushed his face away.

Slowly, more members from both teams filled the dining room and kitchen. Some people sat on the couches and some sat at the large table. Some looked half dead while others were wide awake and ready to start the day. Pavi was one of the few who looked half dead. She sifted through the papers, marking some and signing others. Every so often she sighed through her nose. Pein admitted to himself that he did not miss having to do work so early in the morning. It was nice to let his brain wake up slowly. Pavi tried to call Kazuna over to help with some financial paper work but Kazuna refused to work so early. Pavi sighed and set it aside for later. Sasori and Saachi were some of the last to arrive. Saachi looked half ready to kill someone and Sasori just looked tired. Being human again meant he could sleep. He was never a morning person, even as a child. Saachi sat on a couch while Sasori sat at the table. People filed in and grabbed food before returning to their seats. Danyir brought Saachi something so she didn't have to use the crutches and sat next to her partner.

Kida sat next to Kisame and Itatchi while the three ate at the table. Konan was sitting next to Pein and watching the members of Akatsuki interact with the women who took them in. most got along well enough to speak. Others were indifferent. Hira and Hidan could be heard yelling in the kitchen. It annoyed Kakuzu enough to get him off the couch to go shut them up. When he returned Konan saw Kazuna turn to him and thank him.

Tai was sitting on a knocked out Tobi. She was using him as a cushion at the coffee table. She was working away at a pile of pancakes. Zenzi sat on an actual cushion next to her at the coffee table. Zetsu was sitting behind her on the couch, staring at the green haired girl. Konan saw the opportunity there. Before she did any match making, she would have to speak with Pein. What were their plans for getting home?

"Kida." Pavi's quiet and firm voice called to the girl. "Where's Icaria?" She asked.

"She's still sleeping, do you want me to go get her?" Kida asked. Pavi nodded and Kida stood and left the room swiftly. Kisame watched her leave. She moved smoothly like water. She walked with a light bounce and moved with grace. It was interesting to see.

"Are you sure we should send her out? I don't think she's gotten enough rest from last time." Kahl asked Pavi. Itatchi looked over to Pavi and Kahl. It looked like they were discussing a mission.

"I'm going to ask her if she's up for it. She won't be alone, Kida will be going as well. These two are best suited for the task." Pavi explained. Kahl frowned slightly. Pavi noted it. "If she does not feel she can handle it, I will send someone else. I trust her judgment." Pavi stated firmly.

"She pushes herself too much." Kahl stated. "I don't know about you, but i personally don't want another break from her." Pavi shot a glare at the blue ahired man.

"I can send two of my own with them." Pein suggested. The idea startled PAvi and Konan and both women stared at him, waiting for an explanation. "We are unfamiliar with this world. I can send two of my men as back up and to begin to get a lay of the land." Pavi thought on this. She didn't want to be responsible for them if something went south. SHE didn't want to put that on her girls.

"I would feel more comfortable if I could evaluate their skills myself before we send them out." Pavi explained. Pein nodded.

"I can assure you, they are capable of handling themselves." Pein assured. Pavi sat and thought before turning back to the file without a word, still thinking about it. People around them grabbed food and ate and spoke. Konan took a minute to evaluate the relationships between the women. So far, she could tell Saachi and Danyir were very close. Dantir also seemed to have a strong connection with Hira. Hira and Kazuna seemed to relfect Kakuzu and Hidan: Able to work together but always bitching at the other. Zenzi seemed to look after Tai like a younger sister.

Pavi and Kahl seemed to be very close, but Pavi kept a distance from everyone, it seemed. She was firm, calm and professional. But Konan noticed the extremely slight twitch towards a smile when Kahl kissed her cheek. Konan watched as a frown formed on the woman's face when Kida returned without Icaria. Confusion was etched into the blue woman's face as she looked around the room.

"Is Icaria not here?" SHe asked and Pavi shook her head.

"I take it she isn't in her room." Pavi stated and Kida nodded. "Any idea where she could be?" Kida shook her head and walked over to Danyir and Saachi. Konan could hear the blue woman ask Danyir for help to look for their teammate.

"I'll go help look for her." Kahl stated as he stood. Pavi nodded and looked back at the paperwork in front of her. She touched his arm as he stood but aid nothing. The three left the room and began to search for Icaria.

"Is this a usual occurance?" Itatchi asked.

"No." Pavi answered simply. "I am considering your offer, Pein. WHo did you have in mind?" SHe asked, not looking up from her paper.

"My two men Itatchi and Kisame." He asnwered. The two men listened in.

"And you are sure they are able to handle themselves?" Pavi asked as she sipped her coffee. Pein confirmed.

"Perhaps it is a good idea to send them. Icaria and Kida will explain the task." PAvi said and kept working. Pein nodded and drank his own coffee before looking at the two men he was going to send. They nodded in understanding. "Other than the two you are sending, I want the rest of your men broken up and seperated into groups with my girls. They will help show them around and answer questions." Pavi sated and leaned back in her seat, looking over to the sitting area. She raised her voice slightly to make sure the rest heard. "Ladies, did you hear me?" The women turned and looked at her nodding. Some grimaced others didn't look so bothered.

There was fire. There was so much fire. She could feel her skin searing but couldn't move as she floated through the void. The flames danced around her as the smoke swirled and transformed into skeletal hands. She could hear the wings flapping, flying around her but she could not see them or the creature they belonged to. She watched as the ashes and embers drifting upwards turned to black feather.

A strong breeze brushed over her and hit the flames, urging them to burn hotter. She could hear her name in the wind.

Icaria. Icaria. they whispered to her. She shut her eyes and exhaled, feeling the air rush out of her lungs as the voices grew louder. SHe opened her eyes to see large dark wings slowly flapping, as dark feathers fell from them like rain. She blinked as the feathers began to block her vision, trying to see past them.

Icaria. Icaria. THe voices kept calling out to her as she blinked. They sounded more and more familiar as they grew closer, louder. Icaria.

"Icaria. Hey, wake up." Icaria heard one voice speaking as the wings and feathers left her vision. She could see the sky. It was big a blue with a few white clouds. "Hey, you with us?" Came Kida's voice and Icaria's red eyes snapped to her friend's. Kida had a soft smile on her face even though concern flooded her teal eyes. Icaria sat up and looked around. She saw Kahl and Danyir was just behind Kida. Why were they outside.

"WHy am I outside?" She asked, looking back at her friend. Kida shrugged and offered a hand to Icaria and helped her friend up.

"Probably sleep walking." Kida suggested as Icaria yawned and rubbed a hand through her black hair.

"Pavi wants to know if you're up for a mission." Kahl stated, looking at Icaria with a stern look. Icaria knew he didn't want her going, but she didn't care about what he wanted. SHe had a job to do. She yawned again and nodded.

"Yeah I can go." SHe answered and they all began to walk back to the base. Icaria had been found in the field surrounding the base. She had grasses and leaves in her hair and mud on her shirt. Danyir began to pick them out of her hair. Icaria let her.

Danyir loudly announced they had returned and found Icaria and returned to her seat, still having food on her plate. Icaria and Kida sat at the table as Kahl took his dishes into the kitchen.

"Where were you?" Pavi asked absentmindedly as she kept writting something.

"Outside. THink I was sleepwalking." Icaria answered and yawned again. Pavi finished what she was writting and looked at Icaria and Kida.

"I have a task and you two are the best fit for it. I need to know if the two of you are up for it." Pavi stated seriously, looking at the two women. Icaria and Kida both nodded at their boss. "Are you sure?" THey nodded again and Pavi sighed slightly before closing a folder and handing it to Icaria. "Here is the task. I am also sending Itatchi and Kisame with the two of you. It it not up for debate." Pavi stated firmly, pinning down Icaria with a look when she saw the woman about to argue. "You can leave when you are ready." She ended and looked back down at her papers. A few seconds passed and Icaria stood and stalked out of the room. Kida coudl tell she was unhappy with the two men tagging along and so could everyone else.

The four had been walking for about an hour in almost complete silence. Every now and then Kida or Kisame would as each other a question. THey had been sent to assassinate the leader of a group that threatened to attack one of the major cities in a neighboring country. Kida had shown the two a map of the country and where they were heading.

At one point Icaria transformed into a large crow, startling the two men. As a crow, she was the size of a dog and heer wings were strong sending small gusts of wind towards the three humans as she took to the skies.

"How can she do that?" Kisame asked.

"It's bacuse of where she is from." Kida answered. "She comes from a nomadic tribe. Each person aligns with an animal. Some can change into it while others can't."

"Why can only a few change?" Itatchi asked, eyes still trained on the large crow above them.

"Her bloodline." Kida stated. "Icaria is a royal in their tribe. THe more royal your blood, the more likely you are to shift into an animal." Kida explained.

"So is she a princess or something?" Kisame asked and Kida laughed loudly.

"Yeah, Icaria a princess." Kida laughed. "No, no. She's just seen as a head of the tribe. Her and her family at least. Maybe one day you all can come visit with us. Every now and then we visit and bring supplies. It's a really neat experience." Kida suggested, still walking.

"WHy are you so welcoming?" Itatchi asked. THe women had been open, accepting, realaxed around the men, letting them stay in their rooms. Kida shrugged.

"Why shouldn't we be?" She countered.

"We are strangers." Itatchi stated.

"So is everyone before you get to know them." Kida said with a smile. "Besdies, you haven't given us a reason not to trust you. You guys are in a completely different world. I don't think you guys are stupid enough to try anything."

"So what do you guys do?" Kisame asked. "Why is there a group of you working together?"

"That's hard to explain. We kinda of keep the peace between all the nations." sHe said. "THat's pretty much it. What did you guys do?" She asked. Kisame and Itatchi were silent.

"We were rouge ninja. Each of us left our country and became fugitives." Itatchi said. Kida didn't even blink.

"So you guys were criminals." She said. Kisame nodded. Kida shrugged and smiled.

"I'm sure you all had your reasons." She said and smiled at the two men. They both stared at her, completely taken off gaurd at her lack of judgement. "A lot of us have pretty similar pasts. You know, murdering, stealing, abandoning your country. but we turned our loves around to do some good in the world." Then the two men understood. These women could be just as dangerous, just as blood thirsty as them.