A/N: Someone liked it. Therefore, I shall, no, MUST continue. I'm having fun with this and I think what I have lined up down the line is going to be pretty good. Anyway, chapter 2 of Absent Serpent (I got the title from a random title generator).

"So how exactly are we going to get down there and get whatever you want?" Denji bit his lip as Arine kept scolding him. He had not thought that far through.

"I'll find a way, don't worry. If we have to steal I'll go in. I mean, I'm pretty good at that, no?" Arine scoffed.

"Stealing water isn't as big as stealing clothes and supplies from public, calm, and crowded retailers. I'd have a better chance."

"Says the girl who, if she tried, would look like a clumsy farm animal doing it." Arine tried to lunge at him, but Yukio managed to keep her in place, sitting against a tree.

"Perhaps we get things over the course of a couple days rather than all at once. It'll minimize risk." Yukio was still holding Arine down as a light went off in Denji's head.

"Exactly!" He turned and addressed his comrades. "I'll go get some food and clothes tonight, and then some extra stuff tomorrow." Arine sat against the tree again, a scowl on her face. Yukio nodded in agreement with Denji.

"If you want, you can go down now. I can keep Arine company." Denji gave his friend a look he wasn't able to see. However, he gave his thanks and followed a path downwards. As he left, Arine turned to Yukio.

"He seriously pisses me off sometimes." Yukio chuckled.

"It's been like that since we met him. And he's still with us, isn't he?" Arine sighed in agreement. Denji was useful, she admitted that. And he wasn't a bad person, he just got on her nerves a bit. Yukio continued. "And hey, he's got that vibration sensing ability of sorts. Plus his humour-"

"Alright, I get it." Arine relented and stopped talking for a minute. But then something dawned on her. "Wait a minute, if he's getting clothes, how will he know what sizes to get?" She looked at Yukio, who probably would've blinked if he could have.

"I guess he'll just get clothes that are larger sizes for convenience. It makes the most sense." Arine had another realization.

"Wait. What exactly will he steal?" Yukio tilted his head up as he thought a moment. The moment seemed to take forever before he answered.

"I guess some shirts, some pants, maybe a jacket or two, some undergarments. But that's just a guess." Arine felt her face go red.

"Oh kami, I hope he doesn't get underwear for me. That's the last thing I need." Yukio sat for a minute before it hit him.

"Oh, you're embarrassed that he might steal underwear for you. Why?" Arine turned and stared at her blind friend.

"Why? It's embarrassing! Would you want someone getting you possibly lucrative things to wear? How could you not assume it would be embarrassing?" Yukio refrained from pointing out that they just escaped from a prison where nudity was common, though mostly involuntary. And since both of them spent a nice chunk of their lives in said prison, they should be immune to things such as this by now. However, he sat back and let Arine fret. It'd give her something to do. Yukio simply pondered, mostly where to go from here. It was a tough subject.

Denji slowly made his way around a building, making sure no one saw him. A man and woman laughing in a drunken manner passed him by. When the coast was clear, he made his way across a lot to another building. He poked his head out and eyed the clothing store just across the street. He mentally smacked himself for not picking that side first. However, he made his choice. And besides, a little challenge never hurt anyone, eh?

"It'll be easy pickings." He reassured himself. Many clothing stores kept used, old, or unwanted clothes in back storage rooms and kept under minimal to no security. Licking his lips, Denji had a memory of his time back home. It was similar to this one, stealing things from vendors and such. He had no parents he could remember so he made a living on the street. Denji blinked and the coast was clear for a moment. Scolding himself for almost missing it, he bolted behind the business adjacent to the clothing outlet.

Denji stalked forward, until he heard a door open at the clothing store. He ducked behind a small alcove in the neighboring building as he heard the rumblings of an old man.

"People never appreciate my work, too spoiled, a failed generation." He kept rambling as he threw several clothes into a box out back. He stood and stared before turning back and reentering his establishment. Denji poked his head out and then made his way to the large box. Sifting through it, he found quite the treasure trove!

"Oh my, oh my, this is excellent." A grin on his face, he started picking things out. He remembered he didn't ask for sizes, but none of them knew their own sizes so it was irrelevant. He pulled out some large short sleeved shirts for him, Yukio, and Arine. He managed to find decent trousers for the group as well. Then came the undergarments. Denji bit his lip for a moment, actually putting thought into his next actions. It wasn't Yukio or himself, but Arine.

If I merely grab some, then there's the chance that I won't be killed. However, if I try to guesstimate, then there's a higher chance she'll take offence and kill me. At least grabbing willy-nilly will give me the excuse that I was strapped for time. Choices, choices….

Denji, however, was strapped for time since he wasn't sure if the old man would be out anytime soon or not for another drop off. With a sigh, he grabbed several types he could find and gathered the whole pile together. Not overly large, about two types of each article per person, he gathered them into a neat little pile and started running. Hiding behind a building, bolting across the street, and then making his way out of the town through a hole in the ground under the wall were trivial, but still carried risk as clothes could drop and he would either have to risk the chance to grab them, or bolt and someone would be uneven. Regardless, he made it out in one piece with everything he came for.

"Just calm down Arine, he'll get what we need." Denji heard Yukio's voice calming Arine, who must've been worried for some reason. As he reached the pair, he saw Yukio sitting next to Arine trying to comfort her for whatever reason. Arine was sitting against the tree with her face red when she looked up. She stood, but she stood too fast and stumbled when Yukio managed to catch her. She looked at Denji and growled

"What did you steal?" Denji stared for a moment before she repeated the question in a more threatening manner. "What. Did. You. Steal. Denji." Denji felt his heart pick up at his possible eminent death, so he set the clothes down.

"Just take your pick guys. I got about two of everything for each of us." Arine tore into the clothes, grabbing what shirts and pants intrigued her. Then she stopped, and picked up a small article of clothing. It was thin, one many women wouldn't be caught wearing unless degradation was their profession. She turned to Denji who gave sheepish chuckle.

"Um, you see. I was strapped for time so I just grabbed-" Arine crushed the article in her hand with anger. "Okay, you're mad. And I get that. But I really, was strapped for time so I had to-"

"I will murder you Denji!" She tried lunging, but tripped on the clothes pile. Yukio heard and actually let out a slight snort of laughter. Then she turned on him. "Oh, you think that's funny, eh?" Yukio shook his head.

"I have no idea what's happened, but I guess Denji got something that you didn't want." He snickered. "But hey, there might be something else in there worth wearing." Arine focused on Denji again, who backed up a step.

"Hey, either wear one of the pairs or none, I don't care." She pointed menacingly at Denji before searching again and coming up with a more respectable pair of undergarments. She grabbed a set of clothes and walked behind a tree to change from her rags. Denji looked at Yukio, who still had a snicker in his face. Denji picked a shirt, some boxers, and some pants for him and handed them to Yukio. Denji turned as Yukio changed, and decided to change himself. After a few minutes, the group assembled in their new attire.

Yukio was wearing a large black t-shirt that still fit him semi-decently, and a pair of brown pants. Denji had outfitted himself with a loose red shirt and brown pants. Arine had managed to find a decently cut blue shirt with black shorts. Assessing their outfits, the group nodded, but for Yukio, who was told what the others were wearing.

"Well, it's good enough." Arine seemed somewhat unsatisfied. Denji got a bit annoyed at that.

"Well, you know, I was on a bit of a time limit." Arine glared at him. Denji backed off, knowing he wouldn't be able to win this. And Arine seemed to be able to support herself so she offered to take the lead in their line once more.

"We need to find a shelter. If we're lucky, we can find a cave of sorts. Or some kind of alcove." Yukio reasoned. Both of his companions agreed. Arine kept an eye out while Denji tried to focus on ground vibrations, but was too tired to. Thieving took a lot out of him when he was out of practice. Plus, running from Orochimaru's goons was tiring. Especially when-

"Now what do we have here?" They stopped. In front of them were two Sound village nin. Denji recognized the voice as one of the ones who was searching for them. This must have been that pair. And they walked right in front of them. They had removed their masks to reveal their faces. The second one was smiling.

"I say we got a trio of escapees here." They tried backing up, but the first sound nin jumped and landed behind them, cutting the route off.

"I'd say you're right. We might just get some extra pay for this. Or even a better position. We just have to turn these brats in." Arine, Denji, and Yukio went back-to-back simply because it felt safer. However, the sound nin weren't looking to really attack at the moment. Denji saw something in their eyes, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The second sound nin spoke.

"That's right. All we'd have to do is turn the buggers in and be done with them. However, these guys have caused us a fair amount of trouble haven't they?" The two nin started closing in on the trio. That's when Denji saw what was in their eyes. Hunger. Hunger and revenge.

"You're right. Maybe, just maybe, we could get a little compensation for the trouble we've been caused. It's only fair right?" the first one sneered along with his partner as he grabbed Arine by her newly acquired shirt and forcefully pulled her away from her friends, while the second nin grabbed Denji and Yukio by their necks, holding them in headlocks. Arine started flailing around as much as she could, trying to do some damage to the man. However, it had no effect.

"She's quite the fighter, isn't she?" the one holding the boys asked. The one holding Arine smiled as she struggled and fought.

"That she is. It doesn't matter though. The fighting just makes the whole experience more memorable." He started groping Arine's body as she tried to fight. The nin managed to grasp both of her hands and keep them behind her back as he felt her up. Denji and Yukio tried to struggle their way out of the grip of the shinobi holding them to no avail. Denji could see what was going on, and that was bad enough. Yukio could only hear her anguished screams and imagine what was happening.

"You sick son of a bitch! She's not even thirteen!" Denji managed before getting forearm pressed into his throat. Both of the Sound nin laughed.

"Doesn't matter. She'll experience this whole thing anyway. So why not push the moment a bit earlier. Besides, she'll be more prepared for the world."

"No, you'll just be scarring her for life you egotistical cockbite!" Yukio managed the snarling retort as he, too, was silenced. Denji tried not to watch, but couldn't turn his head as Arine's clothes were torn off. She fought hard, but was erratic like a scared animal. He couldn't blame her. Enraged, he managed to elbow their captor in the groin as hard as he could. Apparently even Sound shinobi weren't immune to crotch shots. As the first Sound nin was about to dominate Arine's young form, Denji quickly grabbed a rock and threw it, hitting him square in the side of the head with surprising accuracy.

"Take that you pathetic pedophile!" He screamed. The Sound nin was standing as Yukio ran at him, guessing from Arine's screams. Throwing what little weight he had into a tackle, Yukio managed to hit the man and push him back a bit. However, the shinobi grabbed Yukio by his scrawny neck and lifted him in the air to strangle him some before throwing his body to the ground with a loud thud. Denji started to bolt, but was also caught by a rough hand.

"You little shits. This'll teach you to fight back." He got a tight hold on Denji and forced his eyes open as the first Sound nin walked over to Arine, a grin on his face. Arine was backing up, unable to stand due to shock. However, the shinobi caught her by the neck and lifted her. Arine managed to get a lucky scratch across the nin's face, causing him to drop her, though not for long. Denji flicked his gaze to Yukio, who was struggling to get up, before looking back at Arine.

"You stupid whore. I'll show you a rough time you'll never forget." He roughly threw her on her stomach and got on his knees, undoing his pants.

"Don't you do it! I swear-" Denji was cut off. Yukoi managed to sit up, but he was coughing and barely moving. The man on Arine was about to enter her. Denji tried to turn his head, but was unable.

This can't be happening. This just can't. how could they go from having a bit of fun to this? The man grabbed Arine's hair just as he was about to….

Schlick! He stopped at a black, shining object sprouted from his forehead. He let go of Arine's hair and fell over sideways. The one holding Denji loosened his grip enough for Denji to slip out and stumble away. He turned to see the sound nin turning around, panicked. Then he realized that his hostage was gone. He ran at Denji, anger in his eyes, but never reached him. One, two, three knives appeared in the nin's neck as he collapsed, blood pooling around him. Denji was still, unable to move as a rustling in the bushes assaulted their ears.

Denji turned to see a hooded person walk out. She walked over to the first sound nin and pulled the knife from his forehead before collecting the three from the neck of the other one. The person then turned to the group of three as they took off their hood, revealing long purple hair and fierce blue eyes of a woman.

"Are you kids alright?"

A/N: Well, there you guise go. The pace may be faster near the end and I apologize for it. I may fix it, I may not. I'm lazy. Anyway, I hope someone enjoyed this chapter. Apparently you know you're making a character right when someone wants to have sexual relations with them. Which is what a friend told me about a character I made (feel free to guess). Anyway, I'm off to hit up an episode of Adventure Time online. Byyyye.

Adventure Time. C'mon, grab your friends.