A/N: Meep! Ok, I admit it, I have a teensy weensy itty bitty little crush on Temari. But oh well, enjoy my short chapter!
The next weekend saw them at the spa. The week had been exciting, mainly because Deidara found out how to explode things on the roof without actually exploding the roof, and whenever you thought the day was finally settling down, you'd hear a random 'bang!' from the roof. Hidan found himself dozing one early morning, and was unceremoniously awoken by an explosion. Needless to say, after Konan giving him an earful about sleeping on the job, Deidara found his life at risk.
But all that had happened didn't matter now, as it was being soaked out in the soothing waters of the spa. Hidan sighed, finally being able to relax. He'd been mulling over this new revelation his lover had revealed just last weekend. Ok, so there was time, and the future wasn't really something Hidan thought about. Hell, nobody slept with Deidara and thought about the morning. But there was something different about Kakuzu. Everything was different about Kakuzu. Not different in a bad way, no, he rather liked every new quirk revealed, except the last one. But the thing was, he had just automatically assumed 'future'. His brain had simply supplied that Kakuzu was going to be a constant in his life until they both rotted away. It wasn't even conscious. And now… it just wasn't right. It was like he didn't know one of the pieces of the puzzle, so the whole thing was completely batty. 'He could be lying…' Hidan sighed. The only reason Kakuzu would lie would be to get under his skin, and he already knew how to do that and did so on a regular basis.
So Hidan had no choice but to believe Kakuzu. He didn't deal well with stress or pressure, or maturity for that matter. His solution was usually to get angry and beat the shit out of a pillow or innocent bystander. And now, what could he really do? He'd learned Deidara used to pick fights on the streets when he lived in New York, so he couldn't fight him. And then Kisame and Tobi were both too tall to secure a win. He could always fight with Konan, but she was a woman, and women in this part of town either learned defensive techniques and carried pepper spray, or were prostitutes. Picking a fight with Konan was not a bright, or even moderately OK idea. At all. So that left…
Hidan shook his head, jerking back to reality. Was it a sin to think about beating up coworkers? Well he wouldn't think about it if they could defend themselves. He looked up and realized Kakuzu was looking at him strangely. "Do I want to ask what that maniacal, sadistic grin was all about?" he asked slowly. Hidan shrugged.
"Depends on if you're squeamish or not," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. Kakuzu rolled his eyes and shook his head, also smiling. But then Hidan coughed, and Kakuzu knew the conversation he had dreaded was going to happen. Hidan had behaved himself during the week, mainly because that's what work required, and had even been so polite as to wait until they were alone before going into this subject, but here it was, and it was begging to be addressed. "So, I've like, been doing a little research." If that wasn't enough to shock Kakuzu out of his skin, Hidan looked like he was going to be civil. "And, like, it's kinda nasty, a few bits and shit. Like, think about it, when you get that surgery, some doctor will be holding your heart." Hidan gave a shaky smile. He bit his lip, Kakuzu's gaze boring into him. He cleared his throat.
"But, I'd just sort of like a bit of… clarity." Hidan looked like he was holding himself together with thread. And all for Kakuzu. "Just… give me a rundown of what's going on, all right? I don't want to pry, but dude, I need to know." Kakuzu sighed. He owed it to Hidan. He owed him a complete explanation. So, clearing his throat, he began his tale.
"It's a heart condition known as cardiomyopathy. It's a heart muscle disease. For me, apparently it's genetic… and they would know more if I had any living relatives. But I don't, so… it's sort of been guess work. They've been able to- to keep me alive so far, but a heart transplant is the only way."
"And you're at risk for sudden cardiac death. Yeah, I know. I looked it up. And don't worry, I already know all the stupid little details about symptoms of a heart attack, so no worries there." Hidan had floated over to Kakuzu, looking up at him with desperate eyes. "But you're going to live, right? And you'll get the stupid little transplant, and live happily ever after, right?" Kakuzu almost told him the truth. But they both knew the truth. Hidan knew this was serious and complicated, not some little fairytale. But he needed to hear a glimmer of hope. He needed a reason to be able to sleep at night. With the brutal force of a scared child, Hidan had gripped Kakuzu's hand.
"Of course," Kakuzu sighed. Hidan's forehead was pressed gently to his shoulder.
"Please…" he whispered, almost inaudibly. "I need you." Kakuzu's answer surprised even him.
"I know." It was weird to say, but the words just rolled off his tongue like water. Usually he was pretty critical of soul mates and the like, but how was he to describe this? Did he know how Hidan felt because he knew Hidan so well, or… did he know because he felt the same way? Trying to think of a Hidan-less life gave him shivers, and made him wrap his arms around his lover. And losing Hidan was far more unlikely than Hidan loosing him. It was all Hidan could do not to just go bat shit crazy. It was hard. Life was hard. Why were things always complicated and difficult? Could nothing stay simple?
That night they made love. It was beautiful, perfect, and simple. One body against the other, two mouths, endless cries of pleasure, one soul, intimately joined through the act of love. There were simple, easy things left in life yet.
A tense silence hung over the office. Everyone was waiting. Suddenly, Deidara, Kisame, Sasori, and Zetsu all stood up and shouted a unified 'YES!' Itachi celebrated the victory in his own way, being more of an introvert. Kakuzu and Hidan exchanged a questioning glance. The door to Konan's office burst open and she stood, grinning ear to ear. "Meeting!" she announced. All the workers gathered around her, a skip in their steps and all smiling. All except for Hidan and Kakuzu, still left in the dark about what all the fuss was over. Konan cleared her throat. "I find I have business to attend to, urgently at home. And because of the legislative victory, anyone who's gay gets the rest of the day off." She smiled one last time at them all and left back into her office to grab her bag.
"Does anyone want to tell us what the fuck is going on?" Hidan demanded. Deidara grinned, grabbing Hidan's hand and dragging him into his cubicle.
"Take a look at that, un!" he cried happily, pointing at the screen. Hidan bent over, staring at the article. Kakuzu read over his shoulder. Slowly, a smile spread over their faces. Kakuzu straightened.
"Well, I do believe Konan gave us the rest of the day off. Come on, Hidan, let's go." Kakuzu turned and left the cubicle. Hidan was staring at Deidara.
"But I'm not gay," he said jokingly. Deidara rolled his eyes, still grinning.
"Sasori promised to buy me alcohol tonight in celebration, un. Among other things, of course, yeah. I'm going to get going, un." Deidara grabbed his bag and shut down his computer, leaving with his read-headed lover. Hidan likewise met up with his own, smirking slightly.
"Deidara gets alcohol, Kuzu-kun! What do I get?" Kakuzu rolled his eyes.
"I'll buy you dinner, as long as you behave yourself," he replied. Hidan's eyes widened.
"Really?" he asked.
"Just nowhere fancy, all right?"
"You'll seriously buy me dinner?"
"But nowhere fancy, all right?" Hidan leapt on Kakuzu, wrapping his arms around his neck.
Konan opened the door to her apartment. "I'm home!" she called. Temari emerged from the recesses of their apartment, rubbing her eyes.
"Mmm, glad to see you're home," she said, yawning and stretching. Konan handed her a bouquet of flowers and kissed her on the cheek. Temari smiled and sniffed the flowers deeply. "What's all this about?" she asked.
"Have you been on the internet recently?"
"Nope, I was napping. What's up?"
"Come on, I'll show you." They kept a desktop computer constantly on in the spare bedroom, which they had converted into an office. Konan led Temari into here, wiggling the mouse to activate the screen. She soon had the article up on the screen. Temari leaned down to peer at it. Suddenly, she squealed, throwing her arms around Konan's neck. Konan placed her own hands on Temari's waist, holding her close. They stayed like that a moment, enraptured in each other's embrace. Finally, Konan pressed her lips close to Temari's ear. "So how about it?" she asked. "You ready to tie the knot?" Temari looked up into Konan's blue eyes.
"Oh you know it, hon," she said, kissing her fiancé full on the lips.
"I need to make a phone call," Zetsu said once he and Tobi got home.
"Ok!" Tobi said. He knew Zetsu was going to call him. Living with Zetsu, he had to at least know there was a him, but nothing more.
Once Tobi was safely out of the room, Zetsu picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. He held the phone to his ear and waited for the other end to be answered.
"Hello?" Whenever he heard that deep voice answer, he never knew what to say. Just knowing they were connected, be it over a telephone line, was enough to complete his heart. On the other end of the line, he chuckled. "I know it's you, Zetsu. You're the only person who calls just to hear me talk."
"I never said that," Zetsu said defensively. The man on the other end chuckled.
"My point exactly. But I don't mind, it's enough to know I'm being heard."
"Oh shut it," Zetsu snapped.
"So what did you call for?" the man asked.
"…."
"Zetsu…"
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"Work, mostly. Why?"
"… You wouldn't like to do something?"
"Zetsu, you know our rules." Zetsu sighed.
"Yes, I know. But… we don't have to go out in public."
"All right. Saturday, 7:00 my place, and don't expect to walk for a week."
"…"
"What do you expect when you beg?"
"A swift kick to the ribs."
"From me, ZetZet," the man cooed.
"Whatever you give me," Zetsu replied.
"I can't stay on much longer, I sense someone coming to make my life hell. So Saturday?"
"Yes."
"Good. See you then." And the line went dead.
"How the hell are you going to get a priest into a bar?" Kisame asked. Konan pursed her lips.
"We're not. He's going to stand outside a church and shout across a field."
"Figures," Kisame muttered.
"He's better than the first one who threw holy water at us and tried to convert us."
"Do you need a priest?" Itachi asked.
"It makes it more official. And there's going to be alcohol, so it should be fine."
"Well, if no one else is going to say it, congratulations, un!" Deidara gave Konan a hug, smiling.
"Why thank you," Konan said pointedly.
"Hey, we're just watching out for you. Will we get to see you in a skirt?" Kisame asked. Konan smirked.
"You wish," she replied. "I don't think I even own a skirt. But this isn't going to be an overly religious affair."
"Couldn't expect it to be," Sasori said.
"Hey, you know what this reminds me of?" Hidan said. "Back in the Civil Rights Movement when those people rode on those buses to test the new law."
"Freedom Riders?" Konan suggested.
"Yeah, those guys!"
"Hmm," Konan hummed thoughtfully.
"What are we expected to wear, un?" Deidara asked. Konan shrugged.
"What, you expect something fancy? Wear whatever you like, jeans are fine."
"This isn't a conventional wedding, is it?" Kisame pointed out. Konan shrugged.
"What would you expect?" she asked. Kisame grinned.
"Nothing less."
Sasori looked down at Deidara's sleeping face. In sleep, he looked almost angelic, and quite young. It was times like these, without Deidara smirking and allaying his fears, that Sasori slipped into doubt. Was what he doing all right? This was almost pedophilia, no matter how old Deidara acted. There was a sixteen year age difference. Deidara should be in college, while he should be married, even have kids. But they weren't. They were here. Deidara mumbled something in his sleep and shifted, a frown creasing his forehead. Sasori bent and kissed his cheek. It didn't matter, he told himself. Things were all right. But still, he should be married…