Recurring Nightmares
"You wake up!" Shikamaru shouted suddenly. "Have you lost your fucking mind Neji? Trying to take on Hidan? Going against me? Against Jashin!?" His teeth were bared as he shouted, Hidan had gone blessedly silent, but he could still feel that grin boring into him. "Do you have ANY idea how outmatched you are here? I can barely handle it, you don't stand a snowballs chance in hell!"
"Shikamaru.. I have no choice.." Neji said, timid but still with determination.
"YOU ALWAYS HAD A CHOICE! I FUCKING MADE SURE YOU DID!" Shikamaru screamed, unable to contain his fury any longer. He charged, dark chakra lighting up his hands. Neji evaded his first three swings, thankfully the Hyuga was as nimble as ever. And his anger was making Shikamaru less focused. He didn't care about anything, he couldn't see anything but red. He couldn't fight Jashin's pull on him, his not-so-discreet nudges. It wasn't his fault, he was always fighting, always. He never seemed to get a break. His mind was running out of fuel to resist, and Neji just kept re-appearing, fucking everything up that he was struggling so hard for.
He had protected the brunette for so long, he had done everything he could, every burden that he could take off Neji's shoulders, he'd done so without complaint. He had bound Hidan to him, bound himself to Jashin all for the sake of protecting this fucking annoying /bug/ that refused to buzz off. The dumbass just kept running right back into danger every time Shikamaru managed to tuck him safely away in a dark corner.
Well, fine. If he wanted to be a thrill-seeker, let him. If he wanted to find out about the evil Shikamaru had been sheilding him from, he'd show Neji personally.
He lunged again, swinging his leg around in a kick and following it with a series of jabs that were too fast to see. Neji dodged and blocked all of them, impressing Shikamaru for only a second. Neji's agility and ability to block any physical attack was pretty much the foundation as well as the length of his abilities. As long as Shikamaru kept him from cutting off his chakra flow eventually he would foul up, and with Shikamaru's seizure-causing attacks, one hit was all it would take.
"YEEAH! Fuck him up Pineapple head!" Hidan howled, still struggling to break free.
"Shikamaru! Please!" Neji panted, byakugan activated eyes letting his desperation to stop this fight show clearly. "I have to figure out how to kill him! If I don't get rid of his immortality then I'll just keep getting attacked for the rest of my life!"
These words broke through the Nara's blind fury and he paused for only a second, before delivering a powerful blow that sent Neji skidding in reverse until his back 'thumped' against the disgusting cement wall.
He lowered his arms and stared at Shikamaru, pleading him just to listen without saying words.
"Why?" The unbound Jashinist growled, forcing his body not to continue the attack.
"Because, it's a debt that's due to be settled." Neji panted, clutching as his shoulder. "I did some research after our talk. I found some information online that convinced me to give my family a visit. I spoke with one of the oldest living members of my clan, and he told me of a tall tale that had been passed down in the form of a story meant to scare kids into behaving." The Hyuga explained quickly, voice shaking.
Shikamaru continued listening, his interest overcoming the anger.
"GODDAMIT PINEAPPLE HEAD JUST KILL HIM ALREADY AND GET ME THE FUCK DOWN!"
"SHUT UP!" He shouted back to his fellow desciple. This kind of information was what he wanted all along. It could explain so many things, Hidan's previous life and everything that's happened since, for one. And also why the hell the psycho had been introduced into their lives in the first place.
"Immortality is a gift that your dumb God granted to one of my anscestors a looong time ago." Neji continued slowly, his eyes shifting back and forth between the two cult members, his stance still defensive. "In exchange for eternal life, he not only had to sacrifice the souls of random strangers, but of the firstborn son of every generation of our clan from that point on. Killing someone he loved was the ultimate offering..."
Shikamaru continued staring, still trying to hold on to his smouldering anger should he need the extra boost. Though now that he was thinking clearly, his desire to injure Neji was shrinking with every passing second. Kill him? How could he ever want to do such a thing. Yes, the brunette kept appearing at the worst time, he kept thrusting himself back into danger. But he could never end his life... At least not without Jashin cutting off his sanity.
"It's me, Shikamaru.. I really don't know where he fits into the situation, but regardless of who accepts the gift, the price must be paid. I don't know why it still targets our clan, because I looked up our records. The immortal of my family was finally killed, and yet the first male born of every new generation for two hundred years has ended up dieing in some way." Neji paused to catch his breath, tears rimming his eyelids. His voice was starting to crack from the strain of explaining. "My family hides it, it's like some dirty little secret. You have no idea what I had to go through to get them to show me. But that's the facts Shikamaru... If he doesn't die, then I have too."
There it was, the ultimatum that Shika had been fearing. He really did have to choose. Save Hidan or save Neji.
Dammit.. Why couldn't he have known this information two years ago when it wouldn't have even been difficult to decide.
Hidan was basically just a soul possesing a body. Without Jashin's immortality he would cease to exist. There was no way to keep them both alive. But.. the way Neji was explaining it, even if Hidan did die, then someone else would just inherit Hidan's ability, and the process would start all over again.
But.. He'd stopped Hidan so far. Why couldn't things just stay the way they were? He could keep being Hidan's guardian, keeping him alive but restrained.
"Hidan is under my control. I have prevented him from killing you before and I can keep doing it as long as neccesary." He said firmly, glaring at his ex. "I have things under control, if you would stop meddling, it would be a lot easier for you to stay alive."
The look of betrayal on Neji's face was bitter-sweet. "Shikamaru, I don't want to have to worry about my life every second of the day. I want to live like a normal person! How am I supposed to stop being crazy like this if I have to constantly keep an eye out for people trying to kill me? How will I know if every stranger that meets my eyes isn't out to get me? He had me turned against myself, He's even got you trying to kill me now!"
...The Nara remained silent, trying to urge his brain to work faster. There had to be a solution... There had to be.
It was true, he couldn't expect Neji to be able to enjoy the life he was spared knowing that any moment he could die. That was probably the exact reason the Hyuga elders had decided to keep it a secret, they probably covered up every single murder, making it look like a different cause of death every time to keep suspicion down. So that the victims could at least enjoy the time they had...
But.. he couldn't lose Hidan. He couldn't take it. He'd rather die than suffer through that lonlieness and pain again. He would accept Jashin if he had to, abandon his plan to escape the demon god's influence, as long as he could find some kind of stalemate.
"You said he had to kill someone he loved?" He finally forced out, and received a cautious nod from Neji, who was studying him with suspicious eyes.
He could use that, couldn't he? Maybe he could make a bargain, he could take the curse onto himself, free the Hyuga's of it. He could hold his own against Hidan, keep him alive by fighting him off every day. It would work, as long as Jashin would accept..
And as long as he could be sure about how the zealot felt about him..
It was the key component, it seemed. Which was rediculous to him, but made sense at the same time. Why was everything always centered around love? God it was just an emotion! But apparently such a strong one that it literally was a delicacy to Jashin.
Or perhaps it was the heartbreak caused from the betrayal that he fed on.
Shikamaru turned to eye Hidan, who stared back with an unreadable expression. Damn, before he could solve this he would have to go to a really uncomfortable level with the Jashinist. And with Neji here there was even less chance of it working, the zealot would cling to his dignity until he died. Even if Hidan did feel that way about him, it would never be admitted out loud. He hadn't even said it about Kakuzu, and it was obvious that the older man had been his entire world outside of Jashin.
And honestly, he didn't want to ask. Because he didn't want to have to admit his own feelings either. He still wasn't sure of them yet. Enough time hadn't passed for him to be able to make a logical decision not based purely of fleeting emotions and chemical reactions.
"Shikamaru.. I have to. I'm not even asking you to do it. I respect you and the disgusting way you seem to feel about him. I hate the situation, but I can't hate you... But.. you have to let me. You and I both know I can't beat you.."
"No shit!" Hidan suddenly piped up. "That's what I've been fucking telling you since day one! Your soul already belongs to Jashin, it's just the fucking matter of plucking it out of your useless body! And it's starting to become a really fucking annoying goddamn hassle!"
Shikamaru blinked slowly and took a deep breath. "Asking me to let you kill him..." He said, trailing off and letting his eyes reopen. Damn, his erethral anger was gone, all that was left was the hopeless frustration he was all-too-familiar with. Dammit, why did he always have to think about things? He almost wished he would just hurry up and lose his mind. Hidan really had been smarter than him, since the very beginning. Not careing, keeping your standards low, keeping yourself detached, it was the easiest way. Learning to enjoy the pain, inner and outer alike, learning to turn your sadness into evil glee was the only way to spare yourself the heartbreak.
"...Is no different than me letting him kill you." He finally concluded.
Neji flinched at this. "How can you say that? You love me! Or at least you used to! We dedicated nearly 6 years of our lives to each other, we've been through so much. He's the one who ruined it! Even now he's still destroying everything, even the tiny bit that we still have left." Neji stepped forward, his hand flexing. Shikamaru saw it, but did not take any action. Neji was getting brave, apparently, he was moving toward his little weapon stash, trying to keep his ex focused on him with his little speech.
"You said yourself that it's only been a few weeks. Shikamaru, I know you're not dumb enough to let your emotions make you impulsive. Use that beautiful brain of yours, it's all a setup from his stupid God!" He said, jerking his head toward the restrained albino. " It's an illusion! You're playing right into his trap! Once I'm dead he's going to drop you."
Shikamaru flinched as he heard someone scream, only realizing it was himself when his hands yanked at his head and he realized he was doubled over. "SHUT UP!" his voice screamed without his permission. This.. this wasn't a Jashin attack. This was different..
This really was a mental breakdown, he could almost feel his last thread of sanity snapping.
"EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU!" He wailed, almost unable to keep himself standing. "I'm so SICK of being in the middle of this stupid tug of war! DAMMIT NEJI! You ended things, you ended them twice! MAKE UP YOUR MIND! Maybe Hidan is a psycho but at least he isn't playing these fucking mind games with me!"
The Hyuga was paralyzed in shock and terror.
"Every fucking day it's back and forth, back and forth. I don't even know who I am anymore! Do you two even realize what you're doing to me? YOU'RE the ones forcing me into this trap!" He was breathing heavily, and Neji shifted, Shikamaru could almost sense his intentions. He was going to make a go for it, as soon as Shikamaru was confused again.
"But I'm not going to let you do it to me anymore. You want to try to kill him, you're going to have to go through me." He growled, and Neji spared one more lasting gaze before he darted forward.
In a split second he was racing across the unrolled cloth, snatching up some kind of sword-like weapon without losing momentum. In that same second Shikamaru was after him, using his precious, receedingly small amount of chakra to push him faster. Just a hair faster than Neji, that was all he needed to be and he could stop him.
Jashin's power flooded back into him in such a dizzying wave that it almost physically hurt. And he heard himself snarling like some animal as he pushed forward in slow motion. In less than a second Neji would reach Hidan, he had no idea what he planned to do, probably cut off his head and make a run for it. And he didn't know if he could still catch him after that, Neji had always been just that miniscule little bit faster than him, even with his own chakra boosting him, even with Jashin's help, he always managed to stay just out of his reach.
He was right there, the brunette's hand extended out toward an equally animalistic Hidan, those wicked fang-like teeth bared and lashing out like a dog backed into a corner, fighting for his life until the very end.
With one last burst he lunged.
He could do it right now, he could just let Jashin take over, he could catch Neji and snap his neck and have the problem taken care of. He had no choice left, not with the options he'd been given. He was too far gone to side with Neji now, Jashin and Hidan alike both had left such deep impressions on his heart and soul, overshadowing the bruises that Neji had left.
He.. he had to. He had to kill him...
Dammit.. he couldn't do it himself... he couldn't live with it. He had to let go, he had to give the demon god the reigns and turn away. Close his eyes and plug his ears and turn a blind eye to the things the omnipitent being would surely make him do. Hidan did it, and so could he.
As least, he could have.
Before something was suddenly shoved through his flesh. Before a terrible all consuming pain engulfed him.
He heard himself grunt as his body collapsed to the ground, he heard Neji shreik something that sounded like his name. He heard Hidan roar in even more fury than he'd had before.
He looked down as his chest before collapsing to his knees.
Awe.. shit..
The weapon Neji had been holding was sticking out of him, only the handle visible. It had gone clean through him... He knew without looking that the bloody blade was sticking out the other side.
He tried to speak, but a warm liquid was spurting from his mouth, running down his chin and dripping down onto his shirt every time he tried. Blood, is what it was.. He was vomiting his own blood.. The sword had pierced his lung, if not his heart.
"Shh... SHIKAMARU!" Neji shreiked again, falling down beside him but not touching him, afraid to. "I.. no! NO! I'm so sorry! You.. you jumped in front of me! I couldn't stop! NOO!"
As he struggled to breathe, to get a clean breath in and not choke on the blood rushing his body, He looked up at Neji, tears pouring out of him now. "Get... out..." He gurgled, clutching at his wound. Ohh Fuuuck that hurt so bad.
Neji looked at him in horror, and then looked up at Hidan. Before he could even think about it his hand shot out and grabbed Neji by the collar of his shirt, pulling him so close that their noses almost touched. With every ounce of hatred he could pull from himself, he glared. "Or I swear to Jashin..." More blood spurted from his mouth as he talk, spattering onto Neji's face. The brunette was petrified, unable to even react.
"I will pull this sword out right now and end your fucking life."
"But.. you'll die.." The byakugan user whispered, so quiet that Shikamaru had to be the only one hear heard, and only just barely. More tears gushed out and he started taking short, quick breathes, his entire body shaking violently as the realization sank into him. The realization that he might have killed Shikamaru.
Growling from the fresh stab of pain from every single movement, from the unbelievable amount of agony caused from just trying to keep his uninjured lung inflated, he shoved Neji weakly backward. Unable to fight back, the Hyuga fell to his ass, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Finally, after an eternity-long stareing match, he sobbed and scrambled to his feet. His hair swirled around behind him as he dashed from the room, and Shikamaru stayed still until he no longer heard the soft tapping of his feet going up the stairwell.
"Shikamaru.. I can't get out. You have to cut a few of these fucking ropes!" Hidan said, his voice quaking in a way the Nara had never heard before. This topped with Hidan using his actual name helped him force himself up, screaming bloody murder as he did.
"Just get my hand free and I can do it!" the fellow desciple shouted, the strain of mild panic in his voice all but overwhelming for the Nara. If Hidan was freaking out, then shit had officially just got serious.
Nearly choking on the blood forcing its way up his trachea and out his mouth with every single agonizing breath he took, He forced his hand onto the hilt of the sword-like weapon.
This was going to hurt like a bitch.
Again his scream nearly deafened him as he forced all the chakra he could spare into his arm and yanked the weapon out. The noise didn't stop as he used the momentum from it to bring the object over his head, ignoring the warmth spreading far too quickly from the wound down his stomache.
Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.
He couldn't let the thought of his death into his mind. Or he wouldn't even have the chance to get Hidan free, thus creating an oppurtunity for the zealot to save his life.
He slashed downward, and the blade easily sliced through the ropes. In a heartbeat he heard the thunk of Hidan's feet hitting the floor, he heard the man run over to where he assumed the collection of torture devices was. He heard the snapping of metal as the albino cut the zip-strips from himself, and then the whole word spun and his stomache heaved as he was scooped up into a pair of strong arms.
"Hang on Pineapple head. I got this." Hidan's distant voice muttered to him.
Awe shit.. He couldn't see... He knew his eyes were open but he could only see darkness. He was going to die.. Neji killed him. And not even on purpose.
Ohhhh, the irony...
"Tug me... to the fawging hodspidal..." He breathed out, gargling even more blood. It felt like an earthquake was going on around him, he was being jousled around so much from Hidan sprinting up the stairs. It was insane, this situation. How the hell had it come to this? He finally get's his first serious injury after gaining his super healing powers and of course it just has to be a fatal one.
Damn, dieing really should be more scarey than this. Why wasn't he freaking out? Had he got it all out of his system earlier?
He didn't even feel bad for threatening Neji's life... repeatedly. After all, he'd just shoved a fucking sword through his chest.. He let out a small gurgle of a laugh. Shikamaru could call it even...
He groaned when light suddenly blinded him and with a huge effort managed to roll his head over, letting it rest against Hidan's chest. Huh.. That was weird, he didn't remember Hidan having a black shirt.. In fact he was pretty sure he hadn't been wearing a shirt at all...
Oohh.. he inwardly laughed, unable to muster the strength to actually do it. Hidan was in ritual mode.. That was his skin.. That made sense.. It must be why he was so calm right now, why he was still concious even though the pain from all this movement should probably caused him to pass out by now. He was feeling what the zealot was, which didn't make sense in a way... Because he wasn't angry at all. He wasn't worried for his own well-being. All he knew is he wished everything would stop twisting and bouncing and jerking around. He couldn't get his eyes to focus.. in fact it felt like they might be closed...
He tried to sigh, but he couldn't take in anything more than a small amount of air into his battered body, so he just smiled.
Everything was okay.. Hidan would take care of him, just like he had before when he'd gotten an infection. Jashin would help him out too, he was a good little follower.. he deserved as much. There was no way the slaughter God wanted him to die, he was too useful. Especially after this.
This was good, everything was good. Dying wasn't so bad...
-o-
A whoosh of air escaped blue lips. Black doe-like eyes scanned the area boredly as he walked calmly along, ignoring the varied reactions of passers-by purely out of habit. The tall muscular man had grown used to it, being stared at like some freak. He'd learned long ago to tune out the whispered without even having to think about it. They weren't even worth the effort.
Shark-like teeth peeked out of his mouth as he sneered at his surroundings.
Damn it all, Itachi had to be here somewhere. He'd tracked him to this city now, after ending up in the wrong place on three seperate occasions. So he wasn't the best tracker... Oh well. He knew without a doubt that he'd gotten it right this time. He could smell Uchiha all over this neighborhood.
He froze in his tracks as a familiar chakra pattern tickled at his awareness. It wasn't Itachi, he knew that much right away, but it was someone from the Akatsuki. Someone he'd been around enough for his subconcious to recognize even before he did.
Looking up purely out of coincidence, he spotted them. A black blur shooting like a rocket across the street, running along the rooftops. Without even considering it, he pushed off to follow them, ignoring the startled gasps and screams as his large form shoved his way through bodies until he came to a wall. In three easy leaps he was on top of the single-story building and in pursuit of the person that he knew but couldn't quite think the name of.
It wasn't Itachi, this much he knew. But he knew that this person was an Akatsuki member, or a former one at least, even though technically once you were in, you were in for life. And if this person had been in their little club, then it was likely that they knew where the Uchiha was lurking. It had to be more than coincidence that they were in the same town.
OH WAIT! He knew who it was, he realized as he ever so slowly began catching up with the blurr of a person. It was that shit-for-brains immortal that itachi was always babysitting! Hidan! Right!
Why the hell was he all black like that?
Hmm... oh yeah, he had some weird jutsu or something that turned him different colors. He used it to kill people... That was what had caused that whole fiasco in that little town so long ago. Damn that place had been a shithole, he much preferred the city. They should definitely start up some kind of Akatsuki branch here.
The ritualistic Hidan suddenly swerved to the right and he adjusted his course samely. It also brought his thoughts back on topic.
So Hidan was here, and in a giant hurry, and had his weird jutsu activated that he only used to kill people... So.. was he chasing someone? Or trying to escape a crime scene?
Again a sneer stretched across his face, gleaming, vicious-looking teeth peeking through his pale blue lips.
Ahh, Hidan was killing agian. And he had practically caught him in the act.
Ohoho, this was perfect. This would be his last strike, if he recalled correctly, before Leader was going to destroy him. That meant that Itachi could stop running off after him. Honestly he was getting tired of coming home to notes.
Kisa- Sent after Hidan again, taking Sasuke. Don't know how long I'll be gone. I'll call you.
Yeah.. right. He'd sat by that stupid phone for 3 days straight and not gotten anything. A week later he hadn't even received a voicemail. And now after three more had passed he was pretty well done waiting. Akatsuki was important, Itachi's little brother could also be considered important, he supposed... But dammit so was he!
Ah shit.. his mind was wondering again...
SEE WHAT YOU DO TO ME YOU GODDAMN UCHIHA!?
It was then that Hidan leaped up, jumping from the three story building they were on all the way over the street and landing on the ten story, sprinting vertically with crimson charkra flames enveloping his feet. He skidded to a stop as the ebony albino gracefully stopped at the 8th floor and swung himself into an open window with the ledge broken off. Since when did Hidan have red chakra? And since when could he do useful things with it?
Black eyes scanned the area, navy-colored eyebrows raising. What the fuck? It looked like a freaking war zone around here! Giant craters in the streets, caution tape and roadblocks all around.. He smiled even more.
Oh, Nagato was going to be PISSED!
Chuckling darkly to himself he stepped casually off the building and with graceful chakra pulsations landed, unhurt, on the sidewalk below. He put his hands in his pocket and made his way across the street, whistling to himself. He didn't need to go jumping through windows, he was pretty sure Hidan hadn't noticed that someone was tailing him, the moron. You'd think someone trying to escape a crime scene would be a little more aware, but.. he was an idiot. Why the hell Itachi put up with him was faaar beyond his own comprehension.
xx
Alright, 8th floor. The window Hidan had jumped in was on the east side, so this had to be it. Apartment 420. He paused long enough to put an ear to the door. Hmm, no sound. No crashing or shattering or shouting swear-words. How very un-Hidan-like.
Oh well, he'd be pissed enough when he found out he'd been caught.
A blue fist lifted to knock against the door rather roughly, and he laughed inwardly when Hidan's voice exploded from behind the closed door.
"NO ONE'S FUCKING HOME! GO AWAY!"
Nice, very convincing. Yeah he would totally just turn and walk away, cause there was obviously no one home.
"Open up!" He barked, slamming his fist onto the door repeatedly. "This is the police! We have a warrant!"
"FUCK OFF!"
He looked at the three numbers on the door in confusion now. That was weird. Hidan wasn't freaking out... Once more he knocked, then took a step back, ready to kick the door down when suddenly he heard a lot of thrunking and crashing and long strings of swearing that grew louder and louder, accompanied by heavy footsteps.
Grinning once more he coiled his body, listening to Hidan's threats to 'sacrifice the everloving piss out of whoever had enough fucking nuts to bug him right now'. And when the door was thrown open he pounced, laughing out loud at the expression on the once-again-albino's face.
They crashed to the floor and he was knee'd in the gut with much more strength than he ever remembered this guy having, and he flipped back to his feet after it sent him rolling across the bloody floor. Oh gross, why the hell was there blood all over the floor!? Oh GROSS! Hidan was covered in blood too! Awee dammit it was all over him now too!
"Are you fucking KIDDING ME! Get the hell out of here Shark-dick I'm fucking busy!" Hidan shouted, not even taking a defensive stance as Kisame crouched to pounce again.
"Oh I know you are. I saw you running off with your wierd fucking ritual all activated. I'm here to bring you in." He pulled the shortsword from the hidden hilt on his back and swung.
Hidan only sidestepped, his face nearly turning red. "You dumb fucker I'm not kidding, just fuck off for a few minutes! I don't have time for this right now!"
He was just about to stop playing games and restrain Hidan when he heard cough that had most certianly not come from the man in front of him. His dark eyes met violet, and his weapon lowered. It wasn't just a cough, it was a wet, nasty cough that sounded like whoever made it was probably dieing.
No wayyy, he actually brought the person he was sacrificing back to his house! Oohh, Hidan.. He really had no brains at all.
"HEY WAIT STAY THE FUCK OUTTA THERE!" Hidan shouted just as Kisame whirled and darted down the hall. He was grabbed by the shoulder and yanked backward, but a quick elbow to Hidan's face knocked him loose and the shark-like man was off again, bursting through the door and coming to an abrupt halt.
He stared at the strange sight, before turning back to give Hidan a quizzical look. The albino was collecting himself from the floor and repositioning his nose. In a moment he was up and shoving Kisame to the side so he could get into the room as well.
The blue man was officially fucking confused now. Like... really.
"Well... don't just fucking stand here help me out! Can you fix a lung? I think his lung is fucked but I don't know what to do..."
"Hob-zi-duull.." The spikey haired, profusely bleeding man on the bed gurgled.
"Uhhh..." Kisame said dumbly. He knew that kid.. That was the guy that got his house all fucked up by Sasuke, the one Hidan and Kakuzu used to live next to. Oh shit.. wait a second here... That was the kid that buried him two years ago with Itachi's help.
What the fuck was he doing here? And why the fuck was Hidan trying to help him?
"GODDAMMIT!" Hidan said, suddenly spinning on his heel and shoving his fist through the wall. He yanked it out and without missing a beat stalked up to Kisame, looking the taller man in the eyes with a glare so fiery that Kisame might have shrank back a little despite being almost six inches taller. "What the fuck are you doing here!? Where the fuck is red-eyes? Go fucking get him, he'd be more useful than your big stupid blue ass!"
"What the hell is going on here?" He finally forced out.
"WHAT'S IF FUCKING LOOK LIKE? JASHIN CHRIST AND PEOPLE SAY I'M DUMB!"
"I don't know what the hell this looks like! Why is he here? I thought you hated him!"
"Shut up! GAH! FUCK! I can't do this shit right now Shark-dick, seriously!"
Sighing in irritation, Kisame made his way around the side of the bed and leaned over. The kid.. Whatever his name was, looked pretty far gone. His wound was really, really bad. His lung had to be collapsed, without a doubt. And he'd lost so much blood that his skin was nearly the color of paper. He was fighting for air, his eyes were unfocused and dialated all to hell, and Kisame leaned back up, rubbing his chin in thought.
When he finally looked up to Hidan, who was staring at him in desperation smothered by anger, he blinked slowly and took a breath. "There's nothing you can do about something like this. It's a miracle that he's still alive. What the hell happened?"
"That's none of your business." Hidan stated slowly, his gaze set on the dying person wheezing on the bed. Kisame was unsure what to make of the psycho right now, he seemed very unlike himself. It only added further confusion to the matter. He'd only ever seen Hidan show concern for someone when Kakuzu was hurt, and it was only a fraction of what this was. Finally violet eyes turned to focus on him.
"Why the hell are you even here?"
Shifting in the uncomfortable atmosphere, Kisame reached up to scratch behind his neck. "Well I was looking for Itachi, I had something important to tell him.." He paused for a minute, tapping an index finger against his chin. "What was that... hmmm."
Hidan rolled his eyes. "I thought he was the one following me. If I knew if was your stupid ass I would've tried harder to lose you. I was hopeing he could help.."
"Aah, so you did know I was there! And here I was thinking I could ambush you and drag you back to Leader so he could rip you to peices." He ignored the grimace Hidan made and continued on before the vulgar mouth could spit any more stupidity at him. "Anyway, I figured you'd know where Itachi was, seeing as he's supposed to be babysitting you again. So where is he?"
"HE'S NOT MY FUCKING BABYSITTER AND I DON'T FUCKING KNOW!"
"Hey now, " Kisame laughed, putting his arms up in mock surrender. "Don't be such a grouch!"
"Of course I'm gonna be fucking grouchy when you come banging on the fucking door pretending to be the police like a fucking moron with I'm in the fucking middle of trying to save Pineapple head's life! How the hell do people consider you more mature than me!? Get the hell out you retarded shark-son-of-a-bitch!"
"Yeahh.. He's as good as dead. Don't get so worked up." Suddenly the blue man reeled backward, his back smashing against the wall and stars twinkling around his vision. He looked up, holding a hand over his jaw, more surprised than angry.
"What part of 'This is fucking serious' don't you understand?" Hidan growled, standing over him and popping his knuckles.
"Damn! Okay, chill out. Why is this kid so important?" Hoshigaki said, straightening up. That really caught him off guard... and really hurt. Damn. He seriously didn't remember little Hidan packing that much of a punch.
"It's a long fucking story. One that you have no business knowing. I'm not fucking doing anything wrong so get the hell out."
"The.. rigg."
Both men froze in place and snapped their heads over to the man on the bed. His voice was considerabley less ragged, even though he still seemed to be having trouble speaking. And to both of their amazement it almost seemed as if the bleeding had stopped.
Kisame felt his eyes narrow. "..The what?"
"Itagee... gach... me a rigg. S'awn the tahble... by the dorr."
Hidan's face suddenly brightened up and he whirled around. "Oh yeah! I forgot about that fucking thing!"
"Forgot about what?" Kisame asked again, what the hell? He could fucking understand what the kid was saying.. But His questions were answered in another heartbeat as Hidan walked back through the door and tossed a small, shiney object at him. He caught it strickly from reflex, then opening his palm and staring down at it.
It was just a little silver ring..
OOHH! A ring! That's what he said!
He looked back up to find Hidan leaning over the bedridden person whose name he still couldn't remember, inspecting his wound cautiously. Interested, he mimiced the action, clicking his tongue.
That was seriously some crazy shit right there. That kid shouldn't be alive right now with an injury like that, let alone paying attention to their conversation and responding. The gaping hole seemed to have indeed stopped bleeding, without even being wrapped or tended to in the slightest. The only person he'd ever seen heal from lethal injuries like that was the only person he'd ever met that could have his head cut off and still carry on an arguement as if nothing had happened.
Is that why Hidan was so interested in this guy? He was obviously not human, Not that the shark-like man had any room to talk... but still, even he couldn't be able to recover from that. Even Kakuzu himself only had one set of lungs...
Hmm.. speaking of Kakuzu..
"OH!" He suddenly piped up, making Hidan jump and the kid with the ponytail twitch. "I remember what it was! You might be interested to know this too." He said, smiling. Then his smile dissapeared as Hidan eyed him, waiting for him to tell him the news. "I think I'll wait until Itachi gets here though, or you might do something stupid."
"Dammit fish-breath Just fucking tell me." The Jashinist said, almost sounding tired instead of annoyed.
He didn't like this, Hidan was acting wayy too weird and he wasn't going to tell him such important news without the only person who could kind-of-sort-of control him around. There was no way of knowing how the unpredictable man would react.
A series of coughs saved him the trouble, distracting the zealot back to focusing on his first task. He studied to dark haired man in the bed with an unreadable expression until he finished coughing and sucked in a terribley wheezey breath. "Channel chakra into it..." Another few wet, disgusting coughs disrupted his sentence. "And just use it like a micrphone...And don't yell."
Kisame squinted down at him, the pathetic, bloody mess of a man who really shouldn't be alive and chatting right now. He was literally getting better by the second, and it was creepy as hell. Great, now there was another zombie running around, as if two weren't enough. And it was also really, really bugging him that he couldn't think of his name. Hidan had called him Pineapple head.. which didn't ring any bells. But then again the idiot never really called anyone by their name.. He had nicknames for everyone, and not usually very nice ones either.
"Godammit! Give me that, I'll fucking do it." Hidan snapped, ripping the small piece of jewelry from Kisame's hand and slipping it over his pinky, seeing as that was the only finger it would fit on.
"Hey! Red-eyes, your fucking puppy followed you here. Come fucking get him before I take him to the pound."
"Hey now!" Kisame said, but Hidan only held up a palm, his eyes unfocused as if having a daydream.
"I don't fucking know. He says he has something important to fucking tell you and he won't leave. He's really pissing me off though so you need to hurry up." Hidan barked out to no one in particular. "Yeah, Pineapple head's apartment... Oh hey bring some like... medical shit too." He paused again, and then let out a loud irritated sigh. "Just fucking do it! Fuck why does everyone always have to question me all the fucking time!?"
Feeling awkward again, Kisame rocked on his toes, letting his vision wonder around the room. There was no way this was Hidan's place. It was way too nice, that psycho always destroyed every dwelling he ever stayed in. Though the blood all over the front room seemed to imply that he had been staying here.
His gaze drifted to the person on the bed again, and he made a face as he tried to remember his name. C'mon... he knew this.. It couldn't be that hard. Itachi had helped him beat the shit out of Hidan after he pulled that idiotic stunt with Sasuke. He'd been there at the 'funeral' next to that bearded guy that Kakuzu killed and the really girly-looking Hyuga kid.. He only remember his name because he had the byakugan.
He'd gone into their secret warehouse, Deidara hated his guts, Zetsu really wanted to eat him... Hell he'd even tried to get into the Akatsuki, and came very close to succeeding.. He really should be able to remember.
"There." Hidan said, breaking the blue man from his thoughts as he extended the ring. "He's on his way so go fucking wait in the living room for him or something."
Kisame wrinkled his nose. "Ick! I'm not gonna go in there! It looks like you had a blood orgy!" Really, has Hidan seen that couch? Fucking nasty.
"Then go sit on the goddamn roof or find a pond to swim around in! I don't fucking care just get the hell out!" Hidan yelled, pointing toward the door.
"Whatever.." The shark-man finally surrendered, sauntering out the door that was slammed shut immediatly behind him. He chuckled to himself as he moved slowly down the hall, listening to Hidan's rantings and trying to ignore the dry blood caked onto everything. He'd noticed a recliner in the corner of the room by the window that had looked clean, but once he found it again it seemed some relitively fresh blood had spattered on it. Once he went to the window and looked out, he assumed it was probably the one Hidan had hopped through, seeing as it had the broken ledge just below the sill.
Bah.. it wasn't as if he'd never gotten a little blood on him before, he just hoped it was the immortal maniac's, God knows what would happen if that shit touched him. He really didn't need to mutate anymore, he'd pretty well succeeded in making himself terrifying enough.
He plopped down into the chair and studied the ring for a second, before slipping it onto his pinkie, or trying.. it only fit over the first knuckle.
Damn Itachi had slender fingers.. He missed them.
"Kisame?" Itachi's voice invaded his mind. And the blue man's eyes widened before he looked around in confusion.
"Why are you at Shikamaru's apartment?" Came the voice again, and Kisame leaned forward.
"Ahh Thaaat's what it was! Damn, I was way off.." He laughed.
"...what?"
"Oh uh.. Sorry Angel.. I don't really know how this thing works.. I just talk out loud huh?"
A sigh in his head, one that made his lips curl up at the corners. It really was good to hear his voice. "Yes. And please tell me Hidan didn't hear you call me that."
"Nah, he's all worked up over that Shika-whatsit kid. He's back in the bedroom with him."
"What happened to Shikamaru?"
"No idea. He wouldn't tell me."
"Is that why he asked me to bring medical supplies?"
"Yeah, looks like his lung got punctured, someone pierced him clear through."
Silence for a moment on the other end, and Kisame adjusted the ring to make sure he hadn't broken connection.
"Hn. Well I'll be there momentarily. What was it you needed to tell me?"
"Hmm.. You know it slipped my mind again.." He said grinning, this ring-chat thing was pretty cool, actually. Why the hell didn't Itachi make one of these for him? Then he wouldn't have to wander all over the fucking continent after not hearing a damn word from him for over a month.
"...Kisa..."
"It's right on the tip of my tongue.. I can't seem to recall..."
Another bodiless sigh, followed by a heartbeat of silence. "Babe...tell me." Itachi's voice said seductively, and Kisame almost burst into laughter. Holy shit it felt like phone sex foreplay!
"Okay, yeahh, I remember now. Uh, Kakuzu isn't dead."
"...What?"
"Yeah, I saw him. He came back, and he was mad." He paused, shuddering. "Really, really mad. He wanted to know where Hidan was and Leader almost had to get rough with him just to get him to leave before he destroyed something."
"...Kisame. How long ago was this?"
"Uh.. A few days. Took me forever to track you to this city, why didn't you call me?"
"I'll be there soon, Help Hidan with Shikamaru. He should be healing pretty fast but he needs to be able to walk on his own at the very least."
"You don't think he's coming after him do you?"
"Honey, please. Go help them."
That sentence ended with such finality that it was almost as if he'd heard the receiver click off in his head. He blinked back to reality, and ran a hand through his hair. Oh damn.. He didn't want to get involved in any of the weird shit that went on between the two zombies. He'd just wanted to see Itachi...
Maaaybe he should tell Hidan.. But then again, Itachi hadn't said anything about it. So maybe it would be a bad idea..
Hmm, he'd just go along with it, seeing as he literally had no fucking idea what the hell was going on. This little vacation was beginning to get really...
...really troublesome...
-o-
A/N-
:D
Three cheers for Kisame! Lol, since he's like.. my fourth fav Akatsuki and he literally only had like 5 minutes of screentime in the prequel, I figured he deserved his own little time in the spotlight.
And the random fluffyness between them was of course for my wonderful bestie, Fluffy. I'm sure you all know who she is by now. xD
SO! Yeah, did I blow your minds? Do you hate me?
Cuz I kinda hate me, but I couldn't resist. Like literally... it had to happen for the plot to work out. So.. put down your pitchforks and blow out your torches. Because obviously, Shikamaru isn't dead. He's got the great and almighty Jashin on his side, bitches!
Also, random note; The theme song for this whole story has been decided. It's called 'Born to die' By Lana del Ray. Listen to a lyrics version, if you can. Cause it is just so...soo perfect for Shikamaru and Hidan's mindset.
So, once again I'm so fucking tired that my brain will hardley function. This chapter was sooooo difficult because of that, and I sincerely hope that everything makes sense and that I portrayed everything (and everyone) clearly. I'm sure there's a whole army of typos, so forgive them, please, please, please.
Oh, and also, Freshmade soul cookies go out to Shewolfbyakugan, Gelberblitz, and Fluffyisemo for reviewing last chapter. Eat them, save them, put a dress and tiara on them and have a tea party, I don't care, they're yours now.
PEOPLE! I know that those three are not the only ones reading this, Last chapter alone has been viewed by 35 different logged-in accounts, so don't think I don't know that you all are reading and not reviewing. Seriously, I'm gonna get pissed.
Review. I need it.
NEED!