Arashi slinked by, invisible. Her acute weasel senses picked up key points of the conversation. She wrote them down in her mind's scroll and moved on to the next room.

They had been at it for hours. And actually, it was kinda fun. Arashi even got to steal some food and eat it. The best part was she could pick up any conversation. Serious ones, stupid ones… perverted ones.

Arashi clung to the ceiling and made her way to the hallway. A door was open just a crack. A crack large enough for her weasel form to squeeze through. She squirmed through the door…

… And entered the ladies' bathroom. Worse, someone was in there. Naked. Stifling a squeak, she exited the room and made her way to the next one. Wait a minute… She could have sworn she saw something else on the wall back there… Oh god. Zetsu.

No, no. Erase disturbing images from your mind, Arashi. Focus on the mission. Her ears perked up as another conversation was taken place in another room. And this one definitely had something to do with the Akatsuki.

"Are you sure they'll be able to do it?"

"Positive. These two have never failed any mission."

They? Who's they? Arashi thought to herself. Her question was quickly answered.

"I want Tenshinhige and Sagegami here as soon as possible."

THUD

The two men who were having the conversation jumped to their feet.

"What was that?" one asked.

Arashi remained still. Dammit, why did she have to fall to the floor?

"Probably a rat."

Second time she was mistaken for a rat in a weasel form. Don't these people watch Animal Planet? Arashi decided that it was a good time to leave before she messed up again.

Great. Tenshinhige and Sagegami are after her and the Akatsuki. How much better could this get?

-----

Their mission had been completed; Zetsu and Arashi were leaving the castle grounds, Arashi in her normal form.

"Get anything good?" Zetsu asked. She nodded. I think I'll keep this to myself. I better tell Iji. "Can you wait here a sec? I gotta do something real quick." Arashi trudged through the snow until she was a good distance from Zetsu.

She put her fingers in her mouth and whistles. The sound echoed through the barren landscape. Arashi whipped out a scroll and wrote: Trouble. Tenshinhige and Sagegami are after the Akatsuki. She signed her name just as she saw something approaching.

A snowy owl landed in front of her, 'You called?' Arashi nodded, rolled the scroll up, and handed it to the owl, "To Iji please." She gave him a quick description of him, and the bird was off.

The kunoichi made her way back to Zetsu. No surprise, he was arguing. … Over who gathered the most information. Weren't they the same person? Arashi grumbled to herself as she changed back to her phoenix form.

When they got back, she'll avoid Zetsu for as long as possible.

-----

Finally, they arrived at the base. Surprisingly, it was quiet. Arashi dropped Zetsu (she still didn't want that… thing on her back) and transformed back to her human form. Without a word, the cannibal entered the base. Hopefully to do the report, she was too lazy for that thing.

A squirrel scurried towards her and pulled on her pant leg. Arashi knelt down and pet its head. As she pulled out some food, more animals began to gather.

Arashi smiled to herself as they gobbled down the food she had made. It was almost like she wasn't in front of a base of evil S-ranked criminals who wanted to rule the world by gathering demons with multiple tails.

She eyed the squirrel. Wonder if there was like… a seven tailed squirrel or something. She pictured a giant squirrel foaming at the mouth.

Konan burst through the doors, interrupting Arashi's fantasy. The animals fled at the sudden noise. Arashi turned to greet her female friend with a toothy grin.

Her grin disappeared at the sight of Konan's face. "Ah, shit. What did I miss?" she asked. Konan grabbed her arm and pulled the medic to her feet. "Something's wrong with Hidan."

She narrowed her eyes and followed the origami artist into the base. "What's wrong with him?" she asked. "Something. He's in the infirmary." Arashi groaned, "Konan. What is wrong with Hidan?"

Konan stopped, causing Arashi to nearly run into her. "We don't know. He's just… You'll see." She opened the door.

The entire Akatsuki organization was crowded in the infirmary. "I brought Arashi," announced Konan. "Uh… Yeah. Could you all… Leave?" The Akatsuki immediately filed out of the room, Konan included. Deidara embraced Arashi in a quick hug before leaving and shutting the door behind him.

Arashi sighed. Hidan was immortal, and enjoyed pain. How bad could this possible b- "Oh my god," she whispered out loud.

Hidan was lying on his back on one of the infirmary beds. He was unconscious, and blood flowed steadily from the corners of his mouth. Arashi immediately rushed to his side. She placed her hand on his forehead. Arashi's eyes widened and pulled her hand back.

He was already warm when she left, but now he was hot. … In more ways then one. No, no! There was no time for that. Arashi pulled- or rather ripped- open the cabinet and grabbed her medical tools. (She was advised not to take them with her on her latest mission. Zetsu's anatomy was… Undefined.)

She took out the thermometer and stuck it in Hidan's mouth. She removed a cloth from her medical kit and ran it over cool water in the sink. Arashi mopped Hidan's brow with it and removed the thermometer.

"Shit," the medic hissed. Okay, just a really, really bad fever. Nothing I can't handle. It was reassuring that Hidan was immortal at least. Nothing bad could happen to him, right? Hidan coughed up more blood. Arashi glanced in his direction. Arashi knelt down and pressed her ear against Hidan's chest.

His heart was beating rapidly. Arashi lifted her head and stroked Hidan's cheek. The more time she spent with him, the less she truly believed that he would survive.

-----

(Hidan's mind)

"I bet you wish that you had listened to me now, Hidan."

Hidan groaned. He doubled over, breathing heavily. He was kneeling down in the middle of a silver Jashin symbol that floated in endless space. Blood poured from his mouth. A single cloaked figure stood a few feet away from him.

"Hidan, I am rather disappointed in you," the figure said.

"You've already said that..." Hidan managed to say. Pain shot through his body. Hidan wrapped his arms around his stomach and coughed up more blood.

"You will not talk back to me," the cloaked man said. Hidan stayed silent. Then again, it wasn't like he could say anything. "Now the. Hidan. I'll ask you this again, and you will answer."

He drew a long silver sword from his sleeve. One pale hand pulled the hood off of his head. Blood red hair flowed to the ground. "Why haven't you used the Fenikkusu?"

Hidan remained silent. The figure took a step forward. "Answer me." Hidan stared at the Jashin symbol. Louder now, "Answer me, Hidan." He took another step forward. A sharp pain embraced his side. He flinched. "ANSWER ME!" The man roared and lifted the sword above his head. "NOBODY DEFIES LORD JASHIN." The sword slashed downwards, aiming for Hidan's side…

(Not in Hidan's mind)

Hidan lurched upwards and coughed. Arashi immediately snapped awake. It was dark out; she must have dozed off while watching Hidan. Hidan was sitting in an upwards position. Arashi immediately sat on the bed next to him. She placed her hands on his shoulders. The cloth the kunoichi had placed on his forehead had fallen off, and was on his lap.

Hidan gasped for air and rested his head on Arashi's shoulder. His heart was thundering in his chest, and his ribs ached. "Hidan," Arashi whispered. Hidan hacked up more blood and groaned.

Arashi wrapped her arms around Hidan's ribs and buried her face in his neck. The masochist flinched. Arashi immediately released her grip to find her hands bloody. The medical ninja frowned and moved to the other side of the bed. There she inspected the wound. Arashi placed her hands over the wound and pumped her chakra.

How the hell did he get a wound from… a weapon? She thought to herself. She had already checked him for wounds before, and not a single puncture in sight. When the wound had closed up, Arashi began to wrap bandages around Hidan's torso.

She pushed the Jashinist so that he was lying in the bed again. Arashi ran the cloth in cool water once more and place it on Hidan's brow. "Hidan, can you tell me what's wrong?" Arashi asked quietly.

Hidan barely heard his question. His eyelids were beginning to droop. "… Heh. Wish …I knew." He mumbled. Arashi frowned, "What? Hidan I can't help you if…" Hidan had fallen asleep. … Again.

Arashi sighed and held her face in her hands. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. There was a knock on her door. Arashi stifled a yawn and went to answer it. Deidara entered the infirmary, "I brought you dinner, hmm." He handed her a plate full of food. "Not hungry," she murmured and sat back in her chair.

Deidara set the plate down. "How is he, hmm?" He asked, stealing a glance at Hidan. Arashi groaned, "I don't know. He woke up not too long ago, and he was all coughing up blood. And bleeding from the wound on his side. But I have no idea where the hell it came from."

Deidara pulled Arashi off of the chair and onto the bed next to Hidan. He embraced her in a hug. Arashi sighed and rested her head in the crook of Deidara's neck. There was a moment of silent. Arashi could hear Hidan's ragged breathing. She gripped Deidara tighter, "Tell me something."

The sculptor blinked, "I… made a sculpture, hmm?" Arashi leaned forward to look him in the eyes, "Really?" Deidara blushed slightly, "Uh… yeah, hmm." Arashi smiled, "What's it of?" Deidara's face grew redder and he looked away, "Uh… A phoenix… hmm."

Arashi hugged Deidara even tighter until she was choking him, "Aw, that's so sweet!" Deidara gasped for air, "…Yeah…hmm…" Arashi released him, "You can go now." Deidara rubbed the back of his head, "You sure, hmm? I can stay if you need anything." Arashi kissed his cheek, "No, you have better things to do. Go." With that, she pushed him out the doorway.

Truthfully, Deidara had forgotten about the whole sculpture thing. And now he told Arashi he made one. Curse her cute looks. Deidara wandered to his room to start working on his sculpture.

Arashi returned to her seat. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the bed. The kunoichi stared at Hidan, watching his chest rise and fall. Hidan grunted and hacked up more blood. Arashi held her head in her hands, listening to Hidan's coughs.

(And we now return to the emoness of Hidan's mind)

Jashin stared as Hidan lay on the ground, panting. "Hopefully you will be quiet long enough to listen to me." He began to pace back and forth. "You understand the power that the Fenikkusu hold, correct?" Hidan turned his head so that he was facing his god.

"Well, the Fenikkusu are idiots. They refuse to use their power. So, Hidan. You have charmed one, haven't you?" Hidan remained silent, his shaky breaths echoed in the blank space. "Indeed you have. So why is it, Hidan…" He stopped to face his follower. "That you haven't used her to slaughter your enemies?" The silver haired man glared at Jashin, "You wouldn't underst-"

(Now we return to the emoness of the outside world)

This time, Arashi was wide awake as soon as Hidan's eyes snapped open. He coughed up blood, more and more of it began to pour out of his mouth. Arashi was at his side in an instant. She held him close as he gasped for air. The wound on his side ripped open. Blood flowed at a steady rate, soaking the bandages crimson. Hidan winced and laid still, the pain so intense that he didn't want to move.

Arashi stroked Hidan's hair, desperately trying to get him to calm down. And then she noticed the flesh on Hidan's chest began to slowly peel open. That cursed red liquid began to gush until a full wound was on Hidan's chest. Hidan gasped and jerked out of Arashi's grip. He held a hand his bleeding chest and gritted his teeth together.

Arashi placed her hand on top of Hidan's, "Hidan, move. I can heal this." The masochist's lips parted and let out a feeble cry. Arashi cringed at the sound and gentle pushed Hidan's hand out of the way. She covered the wound with her own hand, preparing to heal it with her chakra. The medic paused. Beneath her blood soaked fingertips, Arashi felt a pulse. Something had struck Hidan straight in the heart. Hidan managed a weak grin before falling limp again.

Arashi laid him down on the bed and began to patch the wound.

(Back to Hidan's mind for more emo action!)

Hidan stared back at Jashin with equal intensity. There was a sword through Hidan's chest. Jashin yanked the sword out without prying his eyes off of the Akatsuki member. Hidan didn't even flinch.

"So, Hidan, why is it that I wouldn't understand?" Hidan chuckled, "You're not human. I don't believe you have any f-cking emotions, seriously." Jashin raised his sword, but paused before bringing it down. "The Fenikkusu's healing you again."

Hidan growled slightly, "Her name's Arashi." Jashin narrowed his eyes and stomped a foot onto Hidan's torso. There was a sickening snap that echoed through the barren space.

"Well, I can't let the Fenikkusu be tiring herself out to save you. I think I'll deal with her later." Hidan's eyes widened at his lord's comment, "Don't you f-cking touch her, bastard, or I'll-" Jashin's piercing gaze silenced him.

Yeah, he was immortal. Nothing could kill him. But then again, he was facing the guy her gave him his immortality in the first place.

(Now to the outside world! Boy, this chapter is real emo.)

Arashi blinked and forced her chakra out at a higher intensity. The wound through Hidan's heart remained closed. Frustrated now, Arashi's tattoo glowed silver and hot on her shoulder. Her arms sparkled silver for just a second as Arashi gave her chakra and extra push.

Then a black energy pushed back. It engulfed Arashi and electrocuted her just for a second, but long enough so that her healing chakra faded. The black energy grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared.

Arashi panted, sweat beaded on her forehead. "Ugh, how much more messed up can my life get?" She stole a glance at the clock. Ew… 2 in the morning… Arashi wrapped bandages around Hidan's chest wound. It would probably be best not to try to close the wound with her chakra. Maybe the energy would backfire and hurt Hidan instead.

Arashi curled up in the bed next to Hidan, waiting for sleep to overcome her. And of course, it remained out of her reach. Too many thoughts buzzed around in her head. What was that energy? And how were weapons injuring Hidan? For a split second, she thought about a ghost. The idea was wiped for her mind instantly. What a stupid thought, but then again, this whole crisis was stupid itself. A single question screamed in her ear the loudest. What was wrong with Hidan?

Over and over again, the question raced around in her mind. She groaned, trying to shove it back along with all the other unwanted thoughts. But it always managed to push through, teasing her. Until she found the answer.

Something was tearing up Hidan from the inside out. Poison, probably, and a strong one. She shouldn't risk her snake form, too dangerous. Luckily, she could easily perform a technique that could heal Hidan very easily.

All she needed was Kawauso. Heh, simple. He was snoring in the other room. Arashi began to get out of bed when she realized it.

Kawauso wasn't coming back for a long time. And looking at Hidan, she guessed she didn't have a long time to wait.

----

Emo chapter is emo. Yeah, that's why I had the crack thing earlier. Don't be sad, it is chapter 13, after all. Unlucky chapter, oooh.

To make you all feel better, here is a picture of Sasuke in a fluffy pink bunny outfit picking daisies.