"Listen close, follow my instructions. There is no time for introductions. He is the one that made us, you'll be the one to save us. His voice means to deceive you, my voice just wants to lead you."

Kakuzu opened his eyes, in the warm comfort of his own home. He sighed as he seen light shine through his window. As he sat up, he let out a yawn and stretched before getting up. He slowly walked into the kitchen, starting his daily routine, starting with green tea. It was refreshing as he sipped slowly on the steamy liquid, pondering what his day off would entail. Mina had been away for quite some time. She didn't usually have long missions like this and he had to wonder what she could have possibly been doing this whole time. She had started telling him less and less of things she was involved in. He let out a deep sigh, almost filled with regret. He was starting to get used to the nagging feeling of depression that covered him like a blanket. It was no one's fault but his own. His greed seemed to put a growing rift between himself and his lone friend, Minahira. She just didn't hold the same thoughts as he did, and he had to wonder if he was the one that was wrong. hat else could this life hold for him? He couldn't seem to answer his own questions, to his dismay. The way he seen it though, he was the one that was right. Mina hadn't quite done any wrong to him by no means, but their heated arguments as of late made him keep his distance from her. Why couldn't she just listen to him? Why couldn't they just reconcile like they used to among a disagreement? They were both too stubborn to admit either of them could be wrong, though, and he knew this fact deep down. She had stopped coming to try to reconcile with him for a while now, and in fact she had seemed to begin to leave him behind by his lonesome more often than not. She had branched out and had other friends other than him now. He hated it. Absolutely abhorred the idea of her being with others. No, he did not own her in any way-that was not what he wanted- but instead she seemed to push him away every chance she got to now, and that is what he hated. He hated seeing her live her life just as normal with him stuck on the sidelines of her world. That thought caused him to suddenly feel ill. The feelings he was trying to navigate through now seemed to only get more complex and nauseating the more he thought of it. He didn't want to admit it to her, but he knew their odd relationship between one another was more important to him than any amount of money he could be offered. No, he would die before he would admit to anything he deemed as a weakness to himself. He left the kitchen area to walk towards to window on the other side of the living area. He slowly sipped his warm tea, seemingly getting over the sickness he felt just moments earlier. He ran a hand through his hair, deciding to let go of those sickening thoughts as they served him no purpose. He set the tea cup in the sink as he headed to the bathroom for a quick shower that hopefully would finish washing these negative things away. As he entered, he took a glance at himself in the mirror, wondering when he ever decided that Mina should be his and only his. A look of disgust covered his face and in that moment his emotions faltered, rage bubbling into his chest again at the thoughts, and without a second thought he smashed the mirror in front of him, cutting his fist in the process. The sound of broken glass landing on the tiles filled the cramped space. Blood dripping from his fresh wounds seemed to only anger him even more. It was as if he were afraid to feel anything except rage anymore. He had told himself that emotions were a sign of weakness, and that was something he would never be-weak.

He put that aside to pick up the broken glass, only to toss it in the small garbage bin. He turned on the water and began to undress. Stepping into the shower, he felt more relaxed at the feeling of warm water against his bare skin. He stood still, letting the water roll off his body, taking in any relaxation he could find. He spent most of his time in fits of anger or sadness now. He had no friends, that was another sign of weakness to him. Although that thought made him stop and consider his childhood friend. He sighed at the thought of her once more. She seemed to bring him to anger quick now. She was stubborn as a mule, and didn't blindly follow him any more. Instead she had joined part of their recon team, seeing as how she was very good at stealth missions. Maybe he was angry with her because of their last spat. Kakuzu just knew that her words cut him deep, like a knife wound. Why was some simple girl able to make him feel so worthless when they fought. Even in his anger, he felt like everything she said to him was so personal that he honestly didn't know if he could keep taking it.

Lost in his own thoughts, his warm water had cooled down, sending a slight shiver down his spine. He got out and dried off, wrapping his towel around his waist. He sighed, opening the door only to be met with a pair of amber eyes. His cheeks flushed at the sight of her standing right outside the door to his room, only a few feet down the hall from his eyes locked for just a moment before she quickly looked down to the floor.

"I-I was just coming to check on you..I'll just-" Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her into him in a tight embrace. He couldn't help himself, it was like the moment he seen her, all of his resolve melted away.

"It's okay." That was all that he managed to say in his stupor.

She didn't say anything else in that particular moment, she just let him hold her until he was okay. She knew when she locked eyes with him that he had been in a mess in his own head, and it was most likely her doing. She didn't know why he was so stubborn and set in his ways, but se knew he softened at the sight of her. His harsh words were possibly meant to protect her in the only way he knew how, and that sentiment made her heart strings tug just a bit for him.

They had been locked in an embrace for a few moments before he finally released her from his grasp, his hands lightly tracing down her arms as he let her go, sending her head into a whirlwind of questions. Why was he so hot and cold towards her? Why couldn't he just say whatever was on his mind? The thought of him hiding something from her frustrated her to a point, because why was he unable to talk to her about it? He should have known by now that she was reliable, that she wouldn't betray him.

"Uhm...give me a minute, please." He walked into his room, shutting the door leaving her awe struck. Had he really said 'please' to her? He never used sugared words. She had only been gone for two weeks this time. She sat down on the dingy couch in the living room, patiently waiting to see what had him so soft right now.

The door creaked open as Kakuzu stepped out. When their eyes met, she quickly looked back down. A small heat rising to her face, thinking of seeing him almost completely nude. His eyes never left her, though. He had no idea what came over him, but he just couldn't let his sights off of her. When he closed the gap, he sat across from her in a small arm chair.

"Mina, listen.." He waited until she looked up once more at him, "I apologize if I've made you uncomfortable." Of course he would throw something vague at her without any real meaning to it.

"Uncomfortable? No, no I'm not uncomfortable. In fact," She began digging around in her pocket until she found the small, palm sized box, "I picked this up for you. I hope you like it. You're so hard to shop for." She smiled at him, holding the box in her hands out toward him.

A gift? Was she crazy? Without a word, he eyed the small box, a wave of curiosity washed over him. He carefully opened it to see a small, silver necklace with what appeared to be a hinge on the small circular locket. When he opened it, it held a picture of them when Mina had finally reached Johnin rank. His arm was thrown over her shoulders, both of them smiling happily. He instantly felt hot at the sentiment. It was a very thoughtful gift, in his eyes.

"I hope you like it." She smiled warmly at him, and he couldn't help but smile back.

"I love it."

Kakuzu had been rubbing the silver locket subconsciously while lost in a distant memory. Of course he would never part with it, he would be crazy to. The deep sentimental value it held for him was incomparable to anything else he owned. No amount of money would ever replace that picture for him. A time in his long life where he was truly happy, and so was she. Even back then, she was the light in his life. No matter how nasty his temper got, she seemed to always forgive him. Why? She surely could have done better. His hand tightened around the locket mindlessly. He had seen how other men in the village tried to come onto her, but she never seemed interested. She surely could have had a good life with someone else, a life where she wasn't brutally sacrificed. A life happy without him. Bile built up in his stomach from that thought. She should have lived on. If he hadn't have pushed her too far...No, he couldn't think like that. The past was just that, the past. No matter what he wanted, what was done was done. He walked down the street, not looking once at any shop or food stand. The cool breeze sent a slight shiver through his body. A small dirt road came into view. He was close, he knew it. There should be an informant somewhere down this little rinky dink dirt path. He just kept walking, snow falling all around him. A small frozen lake came into view, a small hut set just by the shore. This had to be the place. As he approached, he seen a cloaked figure that seemed to be ice fishing. Kakuzu had to wonder if this contact even knew he wasn't alone. They seemed unbothered by his approach. Did this person really have any valuable information? He had his doubts.

Without turning to face him, the figure spoke in a gruff sounding voice, "The one shrouded in darkness is blinded by the light, yes?"

Kakuzu paused, wondering what the cryptic speech truly meant.

"You have many questions, many of which are blanketed in the darkness evading the truth of light."

Feeling impatient and holding no time for riddles, Kakuzu grabbed the mans shoulder, only for the shroud to fall, leaving Kakuzu confused as to where this mystery contact fled to. There was no chakra to trace in the air. What sort of black magic was this person delved into, he had to wonder. There seemed no logical way this man was an average villager.

A laugh echoed the surrounding area, almost guttural sounding. "You wish to find the light of truth while succumbed to the darkness inside yourself, do you? You will forever be lost, my acquaintance. Do not fret, answers will find you."

The more this man of riddles seemed to talk, the more anger Kakuzu could feel build up inside himself. This was a mission he felt tired of already. He knew this person supposedly held answers, but how to get a direct answer, he was lost on. Perhaps if he played this mans games, he could get the information he was seeking. Every passing second just added to his already soured mood.

"What information could you possibly have, being so far away?"

"Ah yes, I am quite a distance from the poor spirit lost in time. I know her, though, possibly better than you think." The man finally revealed himself, the echo of his voice seemingly lost to the endless snow and ice. "Your dear friend, she has damned herself to endless walk this path, although she will never be alone. You've met him once before, haven't you?"

Him? Kakuzu had to pause, thinking of what he could have meant. "Do you mean to say the spirit she is with?" Possibly that could lead to more questions than answers.

The strange man let out a laugh as he closed the distance between the two. The closer he got, the more clearly Kakuzu could see him. His disheveled looking silver hair seemed to only get messier in the breeze that seemed to constantly flow through the area. His eyes were a deep brown. He stood fairly tall from what Kakuzu could tell. Only a few inches shorter than himself. Although he didn't see this man as a threat, he didn't let his guard down in the slightest bit.

"Rei, that is his name. A very ghastly spirit indeed. For years, he has fed on souls of the damned, the damned he has killed. They will forever be in his hands. If you're not careful, you will be the next victim."

"What is his purpose?" Kakuzu had to look over the man once more. He appeared to be an old man, but one that was in considerably good shape.

"The more that is here, the less you will see. He has no fear of it and in fact utilizes it to send others into an unwarranted frenzy. He is quite tricky, hmm? Whatever you do you must remember one thing; If given one, you'll have many or none at all. It is up to you."

Kakuzu felt anger once more. He had no time for such riddles. Then the answers seemed to show themselves. "Darkness? That would make sense.." She did seem to blend in with the darkness when she wanted. Was this the spirits doing, then? "I do not have any choices in this situation. I can not kill her."

The man laughed again, he seemed amused at Kakuzu's distaste for riddles. "What breathes, consumes, and grows but never was or will never be alive? This is what will help keep him at bay."

Kakuzu stopped for a moment, thinking. Why did it seem everyone that knew anything of Mina had to be proficient at riddles. This was something he truly hated. "Fire. He is weak to fire?"

"Yes yes, my friend. He will wither in your hands. His dark purpose is death. You surely must know this? Have you any idea of what a Bone Devil is? That is what you will be facing. He is a very fierce enemy."

"A Bone Devil? I have no time for such tales." Kakuzu's impatience with the man only seemed to make him more giddy.

"The Bone Devil is no children's tale. For he is the true master of deception and death. He is a very fierce entity that will rip the flesh clean off your bones, if given the chance. Bone Devils were the taskmasters and interrogators of the Baatezu Devils, acting as law-enforcement throughout the Nine Hells. The very presence of the skeletal sleuths inspired dread due to their love of inflicting physical and mental suffering, on both mortals and devils alike. Do not take this foe lightly, for he will consume all that is you."

Dread filled the air at his words. Could this monster truly be so terrible? Would he truly try convincing Mina that he was the enemy? He had no idea how much power this demonic entity had over her, but he knew it had to be broken. How, though, he was hoping they could uncover. "How do you get rid of this...'Bone Devil' for good?"

"That is a good question, friend. A question I do not hold the answers to. If you can draw him out of her body, surely then he will be defeated. Although how to draw him out, I do not have that answer."

Kakuzu was left with many questions that he didn't have answers for. Each stone he seemed to turn only brought up even more questions without answers. This made him feel the looming dread that had been hanging off of him like an unseen sickness. Although this was a sickness of the heart and mind. If it came down to it, could he really kill Mina? He had his own doubts about himself. Hopefully Hidan would have answers to the questions he currently had.

A/N:These past two chapters have been slightly shorter, although they do hold quite a bit of information in them. I promise the next few chapters will be longer! How do you think it will go once they reunite again? I hope you've all enjoyed it so far! Of course I had to make her more than some normal 'demonic woman'. As always R&R :)

As always, I own none of the characters of Naruto or it's world. I only own my own OC and the figment of my own story telling.