A/N: Kakuzu is hot… so soooo hot… "He just makes me melt like a Popsicle in the middle of July" Can't remember where I heard that… but oh well! HES GOT MONEY! How much? I am not sure yet. Me and Milyssa are working behind the scenes to do a math problem that will help us figure out exactly how much American dollars he can hold in that glorious brief case. *Does a little dance* I think the number will be revealed in this chapter, and if not this one, then the next.
Disclaimer: I own everything but Kakuzu in this story *Cries* (Well maybe not my friends. They actually help me with their own character in the story, so they should get some credit.) *Claps* If I did so happen to own Naruto and the associated characters, I am sure there would be some people that I would like to beat some sense into. And others that I would give more screen time and avoid their deaths. I understand why Masashi Kishimoto did it, I just kind of wish he hadn't. (Mumbling about writers who kill off the good characters way too quickly)
"Jenny Lynn. Before we go into the house, you need to touch up on your makeup."
Great. I probably look related to a raccoon.
I quickly bring a hand to my face in attempt to smudge away the bit of mascara I was guessing were there. I was about to pull down the mirror but Kakuzu stopped me and pointed at my wrists.
Oh. Thaaat makeup.
Sure enough. The makeup was smudging in tiny areas making me look like I had Dalmatian spots on my wrists. I groan and grab my makeup bag from the middle console and get to work on setting the concealer and powder to blend away the marks.
"Ya know you could say sorry for this."
"Ya gonna say sorry for biting me?"
"Uhhh. I didn't..? I can't remember. I'm sorry for sinking my teeth into your flesh when you snuck up behind me." I joke.
"And I'm sorry I held you down after trying to beat me with a stick." He mocks back.
"Did I ever even get you with that stick?" I say curiously.
"Barely." He grumbled.
"I really need to look up how to get rid of bruises. This damn thing is way too noticeable and all the makeup is bothering me. I CAN'T FEEL A BREEZE ON MY WRISTS!" I shouted as I throw the makeup bag back in my purse and fling open the door. I snatched bags of clothes out of the backseat and didn't stop till I was upstairs in Milyssa room.
I started looking through the bags as Milyssa and Kakuzu walked in. Kakuzu rushes over to me and snatches the bag out of my hands. Looking madder than a hornet.
"Don't. Touch my stuff." He growled.
"Well excuse me! I didn't know it was against the law! I saw you try on half the stuff and I just wanted to see what else you got!" I yelled.
Kakuzu just scrunched the bag up in his hands and stomped downstairs.
"I don't see what his problem is. What, is he scared I'll see his underwear or something? There's not much else that could fit in that damn bag. Whatever. He can just be angry." I say as I pull out my phone and google how to get rid of bruises.
Milyssa just shrugs. I scroll down the page, the section about hot and cold compresses and elevation don't interest me. This looks promising. Home remedies…
"Hey sissy. Does mom have some vitamin C pills? This says I could crush up a pill and mix it with water to turn it into a paste. Then apply that directly to the bruise. I guess the vitamins help heal the bruise faster."
"Let me go check!" she says quickly. As she gets up and hurries out the door. I don't blame her. Ever since Kakuzu came back in with the money and the last of the bags the air in here seemed denser.
I looked over at Kakuzu who was putting the combination into the briefcase.
"So what was it? Boxers or briefs?" I jeer.
"What?"
"The thing you were hiding in the little bag. I'm asking if it was a pair of underwear or something."
"No. It isn't." He growls menacingly.
"We'll you don't have to get so touchy on the subject, Kuzu." I snort as I look back at my phone for more ideas to get rid of bruises.
Next thing I know a bag sails into the air and hits me in the side of the face before I could even react. "Gahh! Kakuzu!" I yell.
He doesn't look at me but his glare gets strong as he glances at his new currency.
I snatch the bag from my lap, where it fell, and reach inside and pull out the contents. Something was wrapped up neatly in tissue paper, the kind you'd expect to see in birthday bags. I glance at Kakuzu quizzically and he just crosses my arms as he watches me. I narrow my eyes at him as I start to unwrap the bundle.
My breath catches. Laying beautifully on the paper was a gorgeous piece of jewelry. I picked it up and the silver chain dangled from my fingers. The pendant was a deep red garnet carved in the shape of the heart. Intricate silver designs wove around the heart giving it a somewhat caged look.
"It's for all that you've done and said you're going to do. I don't like being in debt, so there you go." His voice thundered sending more chills up my spine.
"It's beautiful. Thank you." I scoot closer to him and wrap my arms around his neck, careful to avoid the area where I bit him. "Put it on me?" I whisper as I let go of him and turn around. Come on! Please tell me you saw that blush on his face! My consciousness yelled at me. Oh hush. I inwardly roll my eyes at the darker side of my thoughts as I pull my long blonde hair in front of me.
Kakuzu slides the necklace in front of me, his fingers brushing my sensitive neck. I pray he doesn't see the shivers as his skin touches mine, electrically. OH MY GOD! Come ON Jennifer! The hottest man in this world is inches away from you, with his fingers brushing against your neck. You'd better make a move or so help me.
The door swings open and Milyssa steps inside. Just then Kakuzu gets the clasp and we scoot away from each other quickly, like kids caught doing something wrong. See there?! Ya missed your chance. Baka.
Saved by Milyssa. Speaking of, her eyes widened a bit as she caught us close together. Definitely looks suspicious.
She just smiles and hands me two hard, orange pills, a glass of water and a little bowl. I take the pills from her, crush them up and carefully add enough water to turn it into paste.
"Lock the door so I can rub off the makeup and we can start counting that." I point to the briefcase as Kakuzu turns it around to display and picks up a wad of hundreds with a rubber band around them.
Milyssa doesn't move, just stands there wide eyed. "Is... that actual m-millions..?" Kakuzu gets up and flips the lock. I grab some tissues, rub off the makeup and apply the paste.
"Yeah. It is. But we don't know how much. We need to count it." I hand her two bundles of hundreds. "You'll help won't you?"
She smiles, nods and sits down next to me as she takes the money into her hands. Kakuzu just glances at us over the bills he was counting and just smiles.
"Eight million two hundred eight thousand three hundred sixty four and seventy three cents." Kakuzu tallied up from what the three of us counted.
"I think my fingers are numb." I complained.
"My head hurts." Milyssa joined.
Kakuzu just grunted and leaned back against the bed.
Stacks of hundreds lay unsystematic around the floor with a pile of rubber bands in the middle of it all.
"So do we throw this into bundles of hundred thousand?" I ask.
Kakuzu nods and we get to work. Right as we put into place the last of the bundles Mrs. Hilko knocks on the door. "Hey, Milyssa are you in there?" The door knob wiggles.
"Just a minute!" Milyssa calls back, I yank a jacket over my head and pull it down just as she opens the door. "What's up?" Milyssa asks her mom.
"I was just wondering if y'all would like to go to the drive in tonight. Ian is looking up movies right now. How does that sound?" She asks as she walks over and sits on the bed.
"I think that sounds fun!" I say adrenalized. "You know what a movie is right?" I look to the man on my left.
"Yes."
"Yeah well a drive in is…. Ahh….Achoo!" I sneeze. "Ughhh." I groan as I get up to go get a tissue.
Milyssa jumps in to explain. "It's just like a movie, but they show it outside on a projector that we park in front of. We bring lots of blankets and pillows and lay them out in the bed of the truck."
"We bring food and candy." Mrs. Hilko chimes in. "So, you three are going with me to pick out what we want to take with us for dinner and what kind of candy to bring. Mike suggested to bring the grill."
"Awesome! A cook out at the drive in!" I shout excitedly and begin to cough.
"It sounds like you need more Kangen water and some medicine." Mrs. Hilko advised.
I groaned and flopped down on the bed in the space between her and Kakuzu. "It all sounded good until you brought up medicine…" My voice muffled in the soft comforter on the bed. Mrs. Hilko just laughs and pats my back.
"So when will ya'll be ready?"
"Ten minutes?" I roll my head over to look at her.
"Sounds good." She gets up and walks out the door. Then yells to Ian and her husband to start getting the stuff in bags by the front door all ready for when we need to leave.
"So let's put the brief case far under the bed." I keep my voice down just in case anyone else was in earshot. "And put stuff in front of it so there's no way anyone will know it's there but us."
I leave Milyssa and Kakuzu to hiding the money while I go to the bathroom to take off the dried paste. Wow. I think the bruises are actually a few shades lighter! Woohoo! I carefully re-conceal the bruises and check myself in the mirror. My fingers brushed against the necklace. It's so beautiful. I smile at my reflection then take my hair out of the bun. My naturally light blonde hair falling in soft waves. I slick on some light pink lip stain and walk out the door.
When I get back to the room Kakuzu was in there alone, lying on the bed with his arms behind his head. I sit down next to him. "So how is learning all this new stuff?"
"Definitely something I never expected I'd be doing." His deep voice got deeper. He sat up and grasped my necklace in his hands. "Why do you care for me?"
I put my hand over his and held it there. Wanting him to feel my heart pounding in my chest. "Because… You know what it's like to be betrayed by every single person you love and know. You know what it feels like to suffer in the darkness. You know what it's like to grow attached to something, thinking it will never fail you. You deal with your loneliness and emptiness and use that something to fill that gaping hole. You didn't let the people that hurt you get away with what they did. You got justice for yourself…." My voice wavered, tears fled down my jaw and dripped onto his hand. "I envy you and respect you for getting your justice because I-"
I blinked and before I could open my eyes his lips were against mine. Warm and still. Then I felt a spark and my lips started tingling. My heart skipped beats. Is this real?! My eyes flew open and I gasped. He leaned away from me and pursed his lips, a light blush spreading across his handsome face.
My tongue instinctively ran across my lips. The taste enticing and exotic. Blood roared in my ears. All I could think of and all I wanted were for his lips to be against mine once more. Vexation slowly crept across his face as he looked at me. He abruptly stands up and walks out the door.
What the hell just happened?