Hey guys! SO sorry for the long gap between updates. Life has been completely hectic-been working a lot and it sucks all my inspiration away, haha. Now, this chapter just covers their introduction to Mr Elder, who seems to know a thing or two about the village's latest arrivals... hmmm...

Anyway, enjoy guys! Mild Mia X Hidan this chapter this time... ;) Enjoy and review.

Chapter 11- Knowing too much

Mia swallowed nervously. They were stood outside the elders' house, waiting for Keigo to give them the go-ahead to enter. He was taking an annoyingly long time. Out gathering firewood, my ass, Mia thought. However, she found it impossible to be truly angry with her hand wrapped securely in Hidan's.

Since the previous night- which still made her squirm each time he asked her about it- she felt a hundred times more attached to him. It seemed fine by Hidan, who enjoyed the contact. A very tactile person, he always held her hand.

"What if they're horrible people?" Mia asked, trying to sound casual.

"So what? If you want to live here, then you want to live here. Seriously, if you speak for us, they'll want us to stay here."

"Because I'm more tactful?" She smirked.

"Yeah." He scratched his head, and yawned. "I still don't get why you want us to live in such a boring place."

He would never accept that she wanted him to live a normal life, if she told him. Hidan probably hated being pitied, and he definitely didn't like being helped. She eyed the almost healed stiches all over his body and nodded in affirmation.

"It's a secret," Mia grinned.

He sighed and leaned towards her face, taking it in his free hand. "I don't like secrets," he said in a low voice.

"I won't tell…"

"Bad idea…"

Hidan pressed his lips to hers, and he snaked his hands around her waist, pulling her against his body. When their lips moved, Mia giggled internally- now she knew how to manipulate him.
His lips once again found their way to her neck, and then to the top of her breasts, dashing and leaving her scorching skin behind. She ran a finger through his hair and paused before tugging.

He rose up, weakened, and ran a hand through her own locks. He drew back, holding her face. "Later, Mia," he said.

"You started it!"

"No, it was you, only you can do that to me with a word or two."

She laughed proudly, and held his waist. He put an arm around her shoulders. She glanced to the left, and saw Keigo hurrying towards them, clutching a large pile of wood.

"Sorry!" he said breathlessly. "It took longer than expected. Shall we go in?"

The house was small, and smelled strongly of scent sticks, lavender and different herbs mixed together in a powerful aroma. Dingy but not oppressive, there was a homely feel that had Mia feeling both lonely and optimistic.

"Mia? You're drifting off," Keigo said lightly. He went to nudge her, but Hidan shot him a possessive glare and she edged closer. Keigo shrugged and called out, "Mr Hayashikan, the new people are here."

Hayashikan?

The man who emerged from the back room into the front area was quite old, but not old enough to look like an elder. Nevertheless, it was him, and he smiled through a couple of wrinkles at Mia and Hidan, who stared dubiously.

"Welcome to the village, Hidan and Mia," the man said. "I am Yuumaru Hayashikan, the elder."

Mia interrupted, "How? I thought all the Hayashikans were buried in the ground except me!" She slammed a hand to her mouth. "Woops. Sorry. Forget I said anything."

"It's alright, child, I know your heritage. I can tell. We'll get to mine another time. And you," he said, looking at a scowling Hidan. "You've had our chakra assimilated into your system. If I am guessing correctly, you are a Jashinist, yes?"

Hidan shrugged. "You could say that."

"I do hope you won't kill any of my villagers for this ritual of yours."

"He won't," Mia assured him. "I will make sure of it." She grinned wickedly.

"You seem like you have quite a history in your lives, you two. You've been hurt greatly, and many times, you've hurt each other, you have hurt others, and you most certainly are not saints…" The two of them stared. Hidan almost snorted. "But I see no harm in allowing you to stay. However, you must not kill any more, and you must not disturb the lives of the villagers in any way. I'm giving you a chance here, and you won't get a better one."

"Okay, me and Hidan won't do anything rash, trust me."

"Awesome! Let's go away, then," Keigo finally spoke. He began to usher the two out of the house, with Mia flailing about, trying to get a word in edgeways amongst Hidan's protests and Keigo's words.

"Let me talk to you, Mr Hayashikan!" she cried. "I want to know more about us!"

But he did not listen. He merely stalked into the back of his house again, leaving them to exit reluctantly with an eager Keigo.

It was too simple a conversation. That was what she thought, anyway. No normal elder (hell, he wasn't even a properly old elder) would have inklings that strong about two strangers, and then allow those two murderers to set up residence in his own village. He was either barking mad, or scheming something. Mia knew in her heart that it was the latter, but dearly hoped that it was with good intentions, not sinister ones. Mr Hayashikan had to be from the same place she was from- wherever that was- and he had to know about what happened the day it was sacked and the chakra stolen… and given to Hidan. He must have been there.

Later on, when the sun was setting, Hidan and Mia were sat behind their house, leaning against a tree like so many of their days before. Outside was better; Mia felt much more at home under a tree than in a house. It was something about feeling free.

"Hey, Mia," Hidan said loudly. "You keep drifting off into space. Want to tell me what's bothering you?"

"Nnn…"

"Ah, come on."

She smiled and laughed. "It's nothing! Honestly, Hidan. I can't keep my thoughts to myself for a while?"

He slithered an arm around her waist, forcing her to lean against him from the side, resting her head on his shoulder.

"It was the meeting with Mr Hayashikan, wasn't it? It's pretty obvious from the look on your face."

"You know, you're getting more and more caring!" she said, changing the subject.

He snorted. "I am? That's surprising."

"Maybe to you…"

"Who knows? Maybe this is what I acted like… before the shinobi system fucked my head up."

"What exactly happened in your home village? What's the real story behind why you left?"

He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. No more was said, because then she realised that he was frowning. She'd touched a nerve again, by accident. Feeling guilty, she planted a comforting kiss on his rough cheek. He sighed and closed his eyes, and suddenly they were lying down, him on top of her, kissing her lips.

"Stop trying to distract me…" she gasped in between kisses.

"Nope."