Strange Love

Strange Love - Through Thick and Through Thin

…

…

…

Hidan flinched. He held his hand up to the aching pain that still throbbed painfully in his neck.

He let out a morose sigh, jotting down a brief mental note to not touch the wound until it healed. It brought back the unpleasant memory of its dislodgement each time he touched it.

That kunai had sunk in deep, sinking in halfway before striking bone, his spine, of all things, and stopping. The kunai was also a special model; the blade was ridged with tiny spirals so he was reluctant to take it out so soon. To top it off, Kakuzu, surprised, had tossed him backwards into the water, without even a thank you for potentially saving his life, leaving a floundering Hidan to drag himself to shore.

Five minutes later when he had made sure that whoever it was that had thrown that vicious projectile was gone, he walked back to the lake bank where a fuming Hidan sat.

Hidan had a point to be mad. It made a macabre sight; the sulking, naked shinobi sitting cross-legged on the sand with a kunai extending from his neck, his side stained red. He wanted to show Kakuzu what he had taken for him, but instead of a word of ‘oh thank you for preventing me from being nearly decapitated’, the man had leaned down, and with a tug tore it out.

Hidan saw white lights of pain for the next minute.

“There’s a note on this.” Kakuzu had noticed as he turned the kunai around in his hands, flicking a little piece of wax paper that was knotted around the pommel. He touched the tip of the kunai, flicking his thumb over its edge. “It’s sharp. A fine make.”

“Well,” Hidan replied, lacing his words with as much hate as he could muster, “It might make you happy to know that the kunai is very sharp. And before I begin to kick your ass, tell me what’s on the damn note.”

Kakuzu pulled out a tiny piece of parchment, unfolding it. The thin paper was dry, most likely the effect of a water repellent charm. Turning it around, he confirmed it when he saw a tiny blue printing of a water seal.

“Come to the ruins.” Kakuzu read.

Hidan stared blankly at him, disbelief across his face, before sputtering, “Oh. And what did whoever-the-fuck think I was here for?! To vacation near some lake and take a week-long bath?! I’m so tired of this cryptic shit!”

“It seems someone wanted to get the point across.”

“Oh.” Hidan dead-panned. “I got the point all right. Right in my neck.” He closed his eyes for a moment as he recounted the number of times he would have died if he were a mere human. It’s not like near immortality lessened the pain! “Once I find out who the hell is behind this, heads are going to roll. I swear by Jashin-sama.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I always keep my promises.”

“Hn. Whoever this person is, he is capable indeed.” Kakuzu said thoughtfully. “To catch me in a moment of weakness and without my notice…it’s been a few years since anyone has managed to completely surprise me like that. Impressive.”

“Moment of weakness?” Hidan bit back. “If I remember, it was you who were trying to rape me in that lake!”

Kakuzu raised one eyebrow. “It didn’t seem like you had any objections?”

Hidan’s eyebrows twitched. He had succumbed with very few arguments, he thoughts.

“Y-you’re just very good with your hands!”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

That fucking know-it-all! Hidan threw a rock at him, but missed. “Whatever. I’m drawing the line right here, right now. You’re not touching me anymore.”

Kakuzu paused for a second, his feet tapping against the sand. “…A pity.” He tossed some Hidan some clothes. “,finish dressing and we’ll make our way to the ruins. If someone is looking for us, it would be rude to let them wait.”

Hidan rolled his eyes and kicked up some more sand. “It’s obviously a trap.”

“You picked that up quickly. Congratulations on your sharp insight.” Kakuzu replied, drawing a scowl from the blond. “Even if it’s a trap, it won’t matter. All we need to do is to capture whoever and interrogate him.”

“That is, if you don’t act rashly and kill whoever is there.” He added.

“.” Hidan gave Kakuzu one last glare.

Kakuzu waited for another few minutes so Hidan could dress up. In the mean time, he placed his cloak and underclothes then made a quick inventory of the items in his pack. Once he was done, he turned around to see Hidan still hadn’t changed, and was sitting quite naked, pouting.

“What are you waiting for?” Kakuzu asked, more than a little disgruntled. The idiot needed to be taught a lesson. He didn’t like waiting for anyone. Time was money, and money was precious.

“My neck hurts.” Hidan whined, rubbing the raw wound. It still bled freely, staining more of his body a deep red. “It should have healed by now…the kunai must have done more damage than I thought. I need more time.”

“As an Akatsuki member, you should have a tolerance for pain. I don’t care if you have a wound or not. You are wasting my time.” Kakuzu stated calmly.

Hidan perched an eyebrow. “And what about my time? I did take this for you after all. You know, because who knows what would have happened in your ‘moment of weakness,’ which, by the way, is the most fucking sorry excuse I’ve heard for being stupid. And I noticed the kunai, so that makes me better, right?” He mumbled, drawing a glare from Kakuzu.

He caught Kakuzu’s stony gaze, and stared right back, defiant. What could zombie boy do to him, an immortal, after all? He reached down deep into himself and drew from his immense chakra pool, and pushed, exerting as much chakra as he could through his gaze. Where an average shinobi would have fallen to his knees, Kakuzu brushed off the genjutsu as if it were droplets of water spattering harmlessly against a boulder. He pushed back.

They locked eyes with each other, waiting for the other to give in to the pure pressure they were exerting by chakra and mental strength. A minute later Kakuzu sighed. His chakra level fell down to natural levels. They would never get anywhere like this! He had objectives to complete, missions to accomplish, money to make, people to kill, and he wouldn’t waste any more time on some childish staring contest.

He wouldn’t admit that a small part of him felt guilty too.

He approached Hidan and knelt over him, ignoring his flailing movements and holding his shoulders in the iron vice that was his hands.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Hidan protested, fighting back. It was useless. Deprived of his scythe and weapons, he was just barely out-muscled and pinned down to the floor. If only he knew more damn jutsus; like that useful replacement technique that he never bothered to study.

“Shut up.” Kakuzu ordered, and Hidan promptly head-butt him with as much force as his leverage could give from the awkward position he was in. Kakuzu cursed, and used his arm to force Hidan’s head down and his elbow to keep his arms from moving. “I’m helping you.” He said.

“By doing what? I said no touching me until this mission is over! Do your ears not fucking work!?” Hidan yelled as he tried to wriggle his way free. “Stop!”

“No. I won’t.” Kakuzu let his head fall down and rest in the low curve of Hidan’s collar-bone. Slowly, he reached up and peeled off his cloth mask, making sure that that blond ninja couldn’t see his face.

He licked the wound, leaving a now surprised and non-struggling Hidan. Kakuzu flicked his tongue up and around the area of entry. Blood and beads of salty sweat matted Hidan’s skin, tasting like the sun.

“My saliva has regenerative properties. Be still and I can help you.” Kakuzu repeated. His voice was much gentler this time as he began to suck gently on the stab wound.

“Wha-wha…the fuck…” Hidan moaned. This wasn’t what he was expecting. He felt his iron will, towering so imposingly a few moments ago, begin to crumble under Kakuzu’s gentle ministrations. He forgot his promise to not let Kakuzu touch him. He forgot everything.

It actually didn’t feel that bad. In fact, it felt quite, quite good.

Amazingly, mind-blowingly so.

Kakuzu trailed his tongue lazily across the wound like a cool press, taking small tiny nips that elicited gasps from Hidan, and lapped up the hot, delicious, coppery blood. It smelt faintly like Hidan and himself, and he found that he enjoyed the musky scent of the immortal.

The pain subsided a few moments later, but Hidan kept stock still. It felt good enough that he didn’t want this pleasure to end, and though he bit his lip to prevent his squeals of pleasure, he gave in and began to moan as Kakuzu bit at the rapidly mending skin. He could feel himself stir as swarms of pleasure cascaded down from his neck to the rest of his body. His mind became blurry, and at the edge of his senses he could feel something tickle his flesh, something like little strings that danced upon his nerves with tiny little strokes. And it came from inside Kakuzu’s mouth. He didn’t know what the hell it was, but Hidan could care less at the moment.

He wanted him to go lower, to savor more, to taste him and fuck him senseless beyond words or meaning. Even though he had just had sex in the lake, he didn’t care. He wanted Kakuzu’s cold body against his. He wanted to feel those strong muscles and rub his palms against those imposing contours.

He wanted to scream everything he wanted Kakuzu to do to him, to let him violate him anyway left or right he wanted, but he still had his pride, and he bottled it in as tightly as he could though he could feel the pressure boiling and boiling until it would burst.

Kakuzu loosened his arms, and taking advantage of that, Hidan reached up and hooked his arms around the other Akatsuki’s neck, tugging him closer to the crook oh his neck, not wanting to let him go.

“Ahh. Ah.” He began to moan in short staccato timing.

Without any warning, Kakuzu stopped. He rose up, wiping off the excess blood from his mouth with his sleeve.

“Wa-wait.” Hidan asked dizzily. The after waves of pleasure still washed through him, and his mind was still blanked. His eyes began to focus even as the wanton want raged so strongly in him.

“There was poison in the wound. That is why it was taking so long to heal. I removed the majority of it, and the slight traces shouldn’t bother someone like you. I also mended the wound for you.”

Hidan felt the area again. His fingers bumped against little string. The hell? When did he do this? And then he remembered the feelings of little strings dancing across his skin. Ah. So Kakuzu had those black tentacles coming from more places than his arms and back.

Hidan was left speechless. The act of kindness was more than his mind could fathom.

Kakuzu smirked when he saw the platinum-haired Akatsuki’s frazzled eyes. “If you’re worried about me, I’ve long been immune to poisons. Now let’s go. We waste time.” He turned, and began walking away towards the temple ruins, leaving Hidan behind.

Leaving Hidan behind who had a raging erection.

“Wa-Wait! You! You can’t just stop things like that!” Hidan called out, but the words were lost to Kakuzu. By now, the pleasure had subsided, and something akin to a rage was seething in him again.

His eyes twitched angrily. “Grrr!” That fucking tease! He would have his skin for this!

…

…

…

…

The Ancient Village, a remnant of a time long lost, of a time when shinobi ruled the world. It was, to say the least, unimpressive.

They had crossed into portion of the lake that had receded, where the ruins were found. Hidan had been expecting more. Not…this.

It shouldn’t even have been classified as a village, Hidan thought sullenly. He and Kakuzu stood at the center of the largest section that was still standing. The ruins consisted of crumbling stone houses in the square shape of blocks, scattered about in an uneven pattern. There wasn’t a single building that was over two stories. Instead, many single-story houses and single-story buildings, though larger, dotted the landscape. Old water weeds and moss trampled over the stones, and they were in every nook and cranny, long since having claimed this as their territory. Most of the ruins had been worn away by earthquakes and erosion by the water, and only a few buildings were still there. Not surprising, considering all the centuries that had passed by.

“This place is a dump.” It was the first thought that crossed Hidan’s mind. “The dump of dumps. I can’t believe that there can be anything found here.” He had traveled so far for this? He reached down and picked up a brick. With the slightest pressure, the gray relic came apart in his hands like fine dust. “Really. What can we find here? I really want to know howthis is not wasting your time.” He asked aloud.

Kakuzu on the other hand, was peering meaningfully at some ancient sigils that were carved into one of the brick houses doorways. “Clues. The decay is more advanced than I expected. I doubt there will be anything of value that can be recovered unless its buried deep in the ground or locked in a chest. If so, we still have to search for clues for what this civilization was.”

“Like what?”

“Signs, markings. Information is also a form of currency.”

“The note?”

“If we’re waiting for an ambush, there’s no point in idling. Are you scared you’re going to die?” Hidan said, turning to face Hidan.

“W-well, no…”

“Good. Then take the time to complete the mission.”

Hidan grunted, kicking more bricks into ash. “You do that. I’m going to sit here, and take a nice little nap until whoever sets his damn trap comes so I can kill him. Wake me up if he gets here”

“No, you won’t.” Kakuzu replied. He crooked his finger. “Come over here.”

“Why!?” Hidan said, suddenly angry. “Why do I have to do anything you say!”

Kakuzu paused, turning to see a livid Hidan, his fists balled at his side. Where had this come from? “Still mad? Stop acting like a little boy. You were the one who said not to touch you”

“You don’t tease a man like that then leave him alone! And it’s not about that!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Why are you always an asshole?”

“I don’t believe I am.”

“You are!” Hidan said, his words stating his absolute belief. “You’re bossy, you’re rude, you’re a arrogant, condescending heathen who touches me every moment he gets.”

“Are you sure you aren’t talking about yourself?”

“Shut the fuck up!”

“Are you a man or a boy?”

“A man!”

“Then act like one and stop your whining. Come over here.”

Hidan’s eyes popped open with fury, but he restrained himself. What an arrogant son of a bitch! Jashin-sama take his soul! For the mission, he thought. For the mission.

He closed his eyes. This was his first mission for Akatsuki, and he didn’t want to seem like the incompetent member. He needed Akatsuki for a reason. Those other Akatsuki assholes, especially that Deidara, would never let him off the hook if they thought he was acting like a little child and compromising the mission. Taking three deep breaths, he calmed himself as much as he could and wandered over to where Kakuzu.

“Okay. What is it?” Hidan asked, looking at what Kakuzu was inspecting, but at the same time not noticing anything. “Found something interesting? Like a crumbly rock or some shit like that?”

“No. That is something I would expect you to find. Come closer. Look at this.” Kakuzu said. “This must be the village symbol, though I haven’t seen anything like this before.”

Hidan leaned down over and when he saw what Kakuzu was looking at, a shiver ran down his spine that froze him on the spot.

He knew that symbol.

It was a round circle with four perfect triangles extending from its body. It was a symbol of a sun, and Hidan knew it very, very well.

“Do you recognize this?” Kakuzu asked, still looking quizzically at the sign. He turned to see Hidan voice locked in his throat, eyes darting to the side, “what’s going on?”

“I know who set up the ambush.” Hidan said. That caught Kakuzu’s attention, and suddenly the Akatsuki had straightened, giving Hidan an intense, piercing look, realizing that he had had a revelation. Which he did.

Kakuzu connected the dots. “Whoever has been tracking us is related to this village?”

“Yes.”

”Who is it?”

“It’s –“ Hidan began, before another voice cut him off.

It was a cold, cruel voice that echoed to him across the empty air. And in the undercurrent of the sound was an undeniable strength. “Well done Hidan! I was waiting for you to draw the connection. You’re impatient as always. I was wondering if I would have had to come out early…”

A man laughed and stepped out from behind a building. It seemed as if he detached himself from the shadows, appearing from nowhere. He approached, the sun blazing behind him and lending his appearance a glowing halo. “I’ve been waiting for you for so long. You haven’t changed much at all these years have you? I’ve missed you…will you not return with me?”

Hidan lips curled downwards in disdain and a host of memories came roaring back to him with hate and sorrow. He looked up at his partner and wasn’t surprised at the mild shock that had entered his eyes. He resembled him so much after all. The same delicate cheek bones as him. The same strong, straight nose that led to a flawless widow’s peak that framed an intense pair of silver eyes. That hair that was the color of bare bleached bones.

Not even an idiot could mistake the obvious connection between the two, and Kakuzu was not an idiot.

“Hidan. Is that your…?” Kakuzu began slowly, his eyes not leaving this new person who had again managed to surprised him.

“Yes.” He grit his teeth and the words came out like gravel. His hand gripped the length of his scythe, and he had never before so wanted to lash out at someone like he did now. This man that used to be his subordinate, his confidant, his lover…until he betrayed him and cast Hidan forever out of Jashin-sama grace.

“Hi, brother.”

…

…

…

…

“Hi, brother.” The words tumbled from Hidan’s mouth unwillingly. How many years, how many months, days, hours, minutes, seconds had it been, since he last said that word?

It was a word that he had cursed every moment ever since he was kicked out of the temple. Perhaps at some point he would have forgotten him, but now he was right here, right now in front of him, and his heart tightened.

It tightened with a hate greater than life.

A brief memory, pale and flittering.

…

…

…

Hidan approached the alter room, his feet dragging across the smooth marble floor.

An acolyte, one of many, came rushing forwards, his head bowed in reverence.

You cannot interrupt the coronation ceremony of the High Priest, he had said, Hidan-sama is not to be bothered.

Hidan blinked. Wait, what? He was the High-Priest. His eyes widened as he really what had occurred. He pushed the acolyte aside, and when he resisted, He lopped of his head, cleanly without pain, and pushed through the doors.

The doors swung open, and in the circle of power was him, or rather, his twin, a ray of chakra beaming forth, flooding the room until everything was bleached white in a haze of power…

…

…

…

…

The memory disappeared as quickly as it came. The tangy taste of copper flooded Hidan’s taste buds and he realized he had been biting his lip until it drew blood.

“It’s been a while.” He said, almost casually, composing himself. “Don’t you know that the High Priest can’t leave the temple? It’s against the rules.” To Hidan’s side, Kakuzu was keeping quiet, analyzing the situation.

“The High Priest of Jashin doesn’t obey the rules – he makes the rules. And besides, how can I not come down to look for you? I’ve been missing you. I think about you all the time. Night and day, dusk and dawn.”

“What a coincidence. Me too. Not the same thoughts as you though. I’ve been thinking about how much I wanted to sacrifice you to Jashin-sama.

Shinki smiled. It was disconcerting to see that same dimple appear on his cheek.

What are you really here for, Shinki?” Hidan asked. Shinki wouldn’t leave the temple for nothing…he knew better than that.

Shinki straightened, causing Hidan to tense and raise his guard. “You have something that’s mine, and I’m here to take it back whether or not you are willing. Of course, the easy way is for you to come back with me…”

Immortality.

“As the High Priest?” Hidan said at last.

“As a lover...perhaps – an indentured slave, to be more precise. I’ll have to wipe your memory clear, after all…you’re too ambitious to let roam free. Since you are the only successful experiment of Jashin, as high priest I cannot let you go.”

Hidan laughed to himself. Ha. Ha. How funny! “Do you think I’m going to go with you? You, Shinki, are still a fucking retard. Time doesn’t change anything, does it? You never did respect your elders.”

"Hardly the words I would expect to hear from a mass murderer."

Hidan grinned. “And you. Aren’t you a successful experiment of Jashin also? You’re nothing but Hidan-lite!”

“My genetic code is the same as yours, but the process for immortality oddly does not work on me as it did you. I plan on taking you back, cutting you open and seeing exactly what’s so different. I’ll take that as a no?” Shinki asked.

“You can take that as one big fuck off. I’ll give you to the count of ten to scoot your little ass out of here before you really start to piss me off. For old times sakes.”

Shinki’s smile widened and his eyebrow arched up. A bystander who didn’t know their little differences would think that we were identical twins. And they were.

Hidan gripped his fists. Oh Jashin-sama, how he hated that arrogant little smirk of his. Was that a hypocritical thought?

“Then I’ll have to take it by force.” Shinki switched his attention to Kakuzu, as if noticing him for the first time. “You there. I know you’re a member of Akatsuki. I’ve heard of your little organization before, and I don’t want to step on your toes. But this is personal. So don’t interfere – unless you want to die.”

Kakuzu snorted, and Hidan shook his head, smiling. This was one time when Kakuzu’s overwhelming arrogance came in handy. Wasn't he just confidence boy?

Hidan could feel Kakuzu lean into him, feeling his presence more than saw it. He didn’t radiate much warmth, but yet there was a calming quality about him, that quelled Hidan’s confusion. It felt…nice.

“Your brother?” Kakuzu asked. His cool words belied his stony gaze.

“Yes.” Hidan grit out. “Clone. I’m the original.”

“Immortal?”

“No.”

“Good. Lover?” He asked again. Hidan turned towards him. What the fuck kind of question was that?

“Ex-lovers. Ex. Emphasis on the ex. I don’t need to explain myself to you. Sex is forbidden in Jashin. So I figured it was like masturbation.” Ridiculous. He didn’t need to explain himself, so why did he feel obligated!

“…Hn.” He said finally, “What does he want?”

Hidan shrugged. “Me. I’m one hot beast after all.”

“Ah...” Kakuzu leaned back. “This isn’t my business then. As an Akatsuki member, you should have freed yourself from your past ties before joining…so you’ll have to deal with this yourself.”

His selfishness left Hidan in disbelief. He blurt out, “, then what about that those two hunter-nin from earlier!?”

“Oh, I suppose you have a point.” Kakuzu rubbed his chin. Hidan could see then numbers clicking in his head. Positives and negatives. He was lining them all up to see if it was worth it.

Shinki called out, “Are you done talking yet?”

And then Kakuzu had decided. His reply came as a stern warning. “Yes. This conversation is over. And so are you. For interfering for our mission…there is no punishment for you but death.” And then it came. From within Kakuzu, a pulse of chakra so great the ground began to shake, the dirt rustled, and the air hummed with a staccato beat. He was entering battle mode.

Kakuzu stepped forward, each step leaving a deep print in the ground. “You, whoever you are, are a fool. To come here alone, you must not have heard who I am. I don’t care who you are, what little pathetic cult you come from, nor do I care why you are here, but now you're caught up in force beyond you, and you’ll die.”

Shinki narrowed his eyes narrowly at the new development, but his stance was still confident, casual. “Then it’s come down to a battle between us? It doesn’t matter if your ally here helps you or not. Don’t you already know the outcome, Hidan?”

Hidan stepped forward, bringing his scythe to the front. The familiar weight was heavy in his hands. “Duh. You can’t beat me, you know that? Every duel we’ve had before you’ve lost, Shinki – Or did you forget that?”

Shinki smiled. “And we’d have more fun afterwards, right?”

Hidan frown. His words had brought back unpleasant memories.

The clone continued. "I'm different from before. I'm the High Priest now. I am he who is closest to Jashin, and I've gained powers you can’t even begin to imagine."

Hidan groan inwardly; Shinki always did have a thing for diatribes and long-winded speeches.

Sometimes, action was the most effective route.

"The position of High priest. It could have been yours but you were too lost in yourself too imagine that someone could turn on you, could you? You confidence was what caused you to be cast away - nothing but you."

"Shut up shut up SHUT UP!" Hidan gripped the scythe so hard the metal bent slightly under the force.

“Just die!”