I do not own Naruto but I DO own the all the OCs
A/N: Just in case any of you reader were wondering how it could be inconspicuous in the first place I thought I'd take the time to say here. Hmm, how do I put this...It's soughta like an oblivion, I guess you could say, that it's growing in...(I did it that way for specific reasons in the fanfic, too many to list, really.) Mahokos have an abundance of magical abilities, depending on the mahoko, so that can be done, but, of course, I won't spoil any other powers for you. ;P
Chapter 20: A Neutral Friendship
The next morning Katamaru took Hidan home.
When they walked in the door Erena was there in an instant, first giving Hidan a hug and then offering to take Katamaru's coat and shoes.
"Oh!" Kakuzu said, coming into the foyer. "You're back."
Hidan blushed.
"What?" Kakuzu asked.
"Well…," Hidan started.
"What?"
"We have a slight problem…"
"A problem?"
Hidan nodded tentatively.
"Well, Katamaru saw some things…and now he wants to know about me…s-so that's up to you to explain," Hidan stuttered, quietly.
Kakuzu slapped himself in the face.
"Hidan," he groaned.
"It was the cloaked lady!" Hidan protested.
"Stop repeating yourself," Kakuzu ordered.
He walked over to Katamaru, who was standing by the door obliviously expecting an explanation, grabbed his arm and led him into his bedroom.
Sasori came out his room just in time to hear the door slam.
He winced.
"What's the story on this one?" he asked.
He looked over at Hidan who was now on the sofa, staring into oblivion, blushing, and Erena who had begun sweeping with a worried facial expression.
"Somebody knows?" Sasori asked.
Erena looked up and nodded.
"I figured from Hidan's facial expression," Sasori said. "Are you worried, Erena?"
"Not as much about the situation as what Kakuzu will do to Hidan and his new friend," Erena answered.
Sasori laughed.
About 30 minutes later Kakuzu and Katamaru came out the room.
"Erena," Kakuzu called.
As always Erena was in front of her caller in seconds.
"Yes," she answered. "What do you need Kakuzu-sama?"
"Would you mind cooking something for us?"
"Oh! No! I'll get right to it…is Katamaru-san staying?"
Kakuzu nodded.
"Dinner for five, then," she said.
Then Erena bowed and hurried off to obey.
Katamaru turned to Hidan who was looking on, obviously wanting him to leave.
Katamaru felt obliged to pick on him.
"Y'know, Hidan," he said.
"What?" Hidan asked, almost seeming to jump.
"You are a very interesting…is it male or female?"
Hidan blushed, almost falling off the sofa.
Katamaru was being blunt, as always.
"So who's child is it anyways?" he asked.
Hidan threw a pillow at him and then looked around for something harder.
Katamaru laughed.
"I was kidding," Katamaru said. "Kakuzu-san already explained everything."
Hidan gave him a quizzical look.
"Speaking of explaining," he said, turning to Kakuzu. "How do you even know he's telling the truth if it's not visible?"
Kakuzu chuckled.
"Ask Hidan," he grinned.
Katamaru looked at Hidan questioningly.
Hidan hurried and grabbed on to Kakuzu remembering what Izuno had done to him a little while back.
Kakuzu laughed at Hidan's completely unpredictable action and smiled at Katamaru from under his mask.
"I guess he's not interested in showing you," he said, patting Hidan's head gently.
Katamaru shrugged.
After that they ate dinner.
Erena had prepared some seasoned sliced burdock root, udon soup, sushi and a little fish.
"I'm surprised Erena-san can prepare such a good meal without culinary training," Katamaru mused.
Erena glared malevolently at him.
"Well," she said, offended. "Excuse me, you little [censored]."
Katamaru stared, surprised she, a maid, would actually insult him.
Hidan crumbled to laughs.
Katamaru glared at Hidan.
"Hmph!" he huffed. "Laugh while you can."
For a while Katamaru would come over frequently to annoy or tease Hidan and just have fun. He sometimes made Hidan uncomfortable but the two of them were good friends in general and he knew how to make him laugh so Hidan half-enjoyed having Katamaru around. None of them had any idea what Katamaru had in store for them.
As always, thanks for reading. :) And, no, Erena is not one of those sweet little maids. She's only that way towards her "family." :)
~Katsuki Shizenno