You're Strange in your Beautiful Way


Step, step, step…

The steady movements almost rock me to sleep since we’ve been at this for almost three hours.

“So why is he carrying me again…?” I asked with heavy eyes. My question of ‘why?’ directed to towards Kakuzu since it was his idea that Hidan carry me.

“Because strangulation doesn’t affect him.” He glared. I guess the questions were beginning to annoy him.

I sighed quietly into Hidan’s ear. He growled. I’d promised him I’d stop. “Sorry Hidan… I’m just really tired.” The grip my arms had on his neck tightened, but not enough to choke him. I heard him sigh as well as he tightened his grip on my legs. “Mmm…” Groaning softly I nuzzled my face into his back for warmth.

“Kakuzu. Are we almost to the next town?”

“Yes.”

“Good… We should stop there so she can sleep on a decent bed.”

”Mmm…”

”Come on! Why so depressed?”

“I’m not…!”

“Okay, whatever.”

--

“Ka… kuzu…! Kakuzu!” I sat up drenched in a cold sweat. I couldn’t stand it! These nightmares were tearing me apart! Almost literally. I’d sometimes wake up and discover fresh cuts on my arms or my hands wrapped around my throat. It scares me! Ever since he re-entered my life Kakuzu has been the center of my dreams… And most of them haven’t even been the most innocent of dreams.

I see a flash of the oh-so familiar black cloak out of the corner of my eye. “Kakuzu…!?” To my disappointment, it was only Hidan… He must have fallen asleep in the chair during his shift. I should be grateful to him though; he’s taken such good care of me the past twenty-four hours. Picking myself up and wrapping the soft top blanket around my body, I walked over to Hidan’s sleeping form and kissed his cheek. I don’t know… I must have imagined it, but as I walked out of the room, I looked back and could have sworn I saw a half smile replace his usual scowl.

Kakuzu was on the balcony outside the room. He was wearing his cloak but his mask and headband had disappeared… Wait!

I walked over and grabbed his shoulder with my free hand to turn him around. “Kakuzu…!” His hand came fast and before I knew it he had slapped me, hard.

I fell clutching the side of my face, the hot pain caused a few stray tears to fall from my eyes. “I-I’m sorry.” Apologies came and he kneeled in front of me when I looked up I saw that his hand was pinching the top of his mask as if he had just pulled it up (which he did).

His long, dark hair swished in front of his face. My mouth went dry, my eyes wide and I could feel an evil blush creep across my face. “I…” He was watching me… watching me with those beautiful eyes of his. It made me very uncomfortable. I heard him breathe steadily as he patiently waited for me to continue. His eyes stared at me with such kindness. Why did he seem so different?

“Are you okay?” He whispered gently as he cupped my pain ridden cheek in his hand.

His touch was so soft… Why was me messing with me like this?  I quickly nodded and turned my body towards the door. I wanted to get away before…
He turned me back around. “I know you’re not okay, please tell me.”

”No! Can’t you see what you’re doing to me? I just want you to leave me alone before I do something I know I’m going to regret…” This time I just avert my eyes. I couldn’t stand to look at him anymore. Hopefully he didn’t take that the wrong way…

I saw his eyes darting, trying to figure me out. Then he bent closer and kissed my hurting cheek. “I’m sorry.” Was all he said before walking back into the room.

Touching my cheek I felt them begin to burn, but this time not in pain. Though a wonderful feeling of excitement coursed through my body my mouth said otherwise. “I hate him… I hate him…!” My voice was shaky; I could hardly believe it was me that was speaking. And the pure hatred that I heard was… so real.

Thwack!

The move came swift and silent. I had been so distracted by my emotions that I wasn’t able to sense the attacker coming. The strong pain I felt in my gut almost made me throw-up. I… I couldn’t really think straight. My mind was going all fuzzy, as if I was being drugged. I coughed; I tasted the blood as it dribbled over the edge of my lips. It tickled when it began to pour down my neck. The feeling scared me, the idea that I could no longer protect myself. I was a bounty hunter for the love Jashin! I was supposed to be better then this!

My body was shutting down and before passing out I only heard the faint sound of two voices in the background, “Sayu!” Kakuzu… “How dare you touch her, you heathen?!” Hidan… I smiled. They’ll save me. I told myself. Yes. Yes they will!

--

I woke up, my head throbbing. What a wake up call. Ow! Blood still trickled from my mouth and my stomach felt like goop. It might just be me, being my paranoid old self, but this seemed to be happening to me a lot as of recent. Am I really that sexy? –Mental slap! - Sayu this is not time to be making jokes! …See, like I said at the beginning of this story; I talk to myself.

Okay… now getting back to the situation at hand… My hands were bound above me, darkness surrounded me, and I tried my best to hold back tears. “Kakuzu and Hidan will come get me… They will, they will.” I choked on my tears. This was the first time I was afraid I couldn’t help myself… I felt so weak. What had all my training been for?

“Heh heh… so you’re awake, eh?” I heard a man snicker; the sound was unpleasant, it sent a nerve racking chill up my spine. My eyes adjusted wicked fast and I was able to make out his slender form. His headband read ‘Grass’ and his hair was pulled back in a high pony tail. He was surprisingly attractive for a kidnapper. I tried not to look scared; I was usually good at controlling my emotions…

I put on my usually emotionless face. “I’m not afraid of lowly ninja like you.”

The man chuckled. “Ninja? I’m not just any ninja my beautiful Sayu… Please forgive me… you must not remember me.” The man kneeled in front of me and cupped my chin in his hand. “Akumakun Kazoku. We met when you were hardly a year old and then again when you just turned nine… before your family was murdered and you ran away. We were arranged to be married, but were denied it by that Kakuzu fellow you were traveling with. How could you be so friendly to someone you denied us the right to be together?” Akumakun moved in to kiss me, but I turned my head.

“Akumakun… The princess part of my life is over now. Even if the old Sayu loved you, I do not. I am no longer your little hime. Besides, how can I fall in love with someone I don’t even remember? I’m sorry, my prince.” I apologized and closed my eyes.

Akumakun lowered his head so I could no longer see his eyes behind his dark hair. “And to think… I had this foolish fantasy that I was like a knight in shining armor, going off to rescue a fare princess. I’d save her from the bad guys and we’d fall in love… just like in the story books…. Tell me,” He began raising his eyes, they were full of hurt, but he put on a mask of happiness with a forced smile. “Which one did you fall for…? The zealot or the one with the mask?”

I couldn’t help but think of him… “They are both so kind, though I know their true intentions. Hidan knows what he wants and he goes for it despite what others say. I like that, but… The feelings I have for Kakuzu are merely a childish delusion – pure infatuation. I’m only attracted by the mysterious aura that surrounds him…” I lied.

”That’s it!?” I saw the good leave Akumakun’s eyes and be replaced by a murderous glint. His eyes became slit and more animal like. He quickly doubled over in pain, clutching his chest. “The demon… it’s… AH!” Akumakun screamed into the open darkness. I watched his body shake uncontrollably until it crawled over and straddled my body. “You seemed to have upset my host… He really loved you, and you destroyed him.” His voice was different… more hostile. “And for that I’ll destroy you!”

He clutched hold of my hips and began to unbutton my shorts. “What are you doing!?” I screamed, struggling against his grip.

“Heh, heh…” The creature laughed darkly. “Destroying you… By stealing your innocence I will be taking the only thing left that is wholesome and good. It will forever scare you emotionally and physically. And best of all, it’s something that once it’s taken it’s impossible to get back.” By the time it had finished its little speech it was already working on getting my shirt off. The act, though, was impossible to accomplish because of the chains. I sighed with relief. “What are you happy about? This problem can be solved with a simple tug.” It said and ripped my shirt.

My eyes were wide with fear, tears filled their rims. I was going to be raped… I was going to be raped and then I would have to live the rest of my life with the notion that I was unable to defend myself. “Hidan!” I shouted out as the unmanly beast licked my neck. Its tongue felt sickly against my skin. “I’m so sorry for all the extra praying I forced upon you! You were right, I am a bitch! And Kakuzu…! I’m sorry that I never-”

“Yeah, yeah. Quit your crying! We’re right here.” I recognized that voice…! I looked over Akumakun’s shoulder and saw Hidan! And right next him was Kakuzu… “We were just waiting for you to ask to be saved… you bitch!” He said with a sweet smile.

“Heh heh… Even if they are here to save you now, do you really want to go back?” My attention was now back on Akumakun. He had pulled down my shorts just enough to see the tattoo on my lower abdomen. He back to whisper in my ear, “This is a seal… They’re Akatsuki. They’ll definitely want you of they ever find out about this…” I felt him smirk into my skin. His fingernails had been sharpened into perfect points… sharp enough to cut through flesh like a butter knife.

“How DARE you touch her!” I heard Hidan shout. He charged at Akumakun, or what was left of him, at full speed. I hope he’d be okay…

While Hidan was fighting Akumakun, it was Kakuzu who came over and tore the chains out of the wall, freeing me. “Sayu, are you alright?” He asked holding me close.

I didn’t answer. Instead all the built up anger… all the rage. I remembered my mother telling me that the mark on me was special, but it was a lie. I was a tool! A monster was put inside of me for them to control it! I couldn’t take the betrayal! “AH!!” I screamed as I felt violent pain serge through out my body, all of it leading back to my tattoo. I clutched my head as I heard voices echoing.

“Sayu! Sayu!” Kakuzu shook me. His voice was desperate.

Nevertheless, I didn’t listen. Every fiber of my being was being filled with a strange power – it almost seemed to burn under my skin. It was weird… I could almost feel my eyes change colors. Red. A deep, murderous, blood red. “Kill.” The voice told me. “If you don’t kill him now he’ll eventually find out and kill you.” I grasped my head. “No! I won’t kill Kakuzu-kun!” The voice laughed in amusement. “Then kill the boy. He was planning to tell him you secret… our secret… He doesn’t deserve to live.” My eyes opened slowly. “You’re right… He doesn’t.” I stood up and held up my hand. “Die!” I directed towards Akumakun. My hand began to glow, then a beam of light shot from my hand. It pierced Akumakun – it pierced him through the heart. I saw the light leave his eyes. My heart sank. This is the first death I’ve ever felt guilty about. “Akuma… kun…” I gave a small cry before fainting.

“Sayu-chan! Wake up!” Kakuzu caught me in his arms. I felt it. I opened my eyes opened slightly. I saw Hidan standing over me and Kakuzu’s worried face looking down on me, his dark hair gracing his broad shoulders. I groaned. My limbs felt heavy, I could not move them. “Are you okay?” He asked me softly.

“Yeah, are you okay?” Hidan spoke, his voice as humorous as ever. Worry didn’t show in his voice, but it did in his eyes. “Kakuzu here was worried sick about you.” He pointed using his thumb.

Kakuzu’s eyes closed and his brows furrowed in annoyance. “Hidan you were just as worried… ‘She’ll be okay right Kakuzu-chan?’ and ‘I’ll tear that bastard limb from limb if he defiled her in any way, shape, or form!’” Kakuzu shook his head. “He was a mess.” He whispered.

I giggled. “Hida-san, Kakuzu-kun… thank you.” I smiled weakly. I cringed when I felt the seal on my lower stomach burn. The demon was trying to get out, but I was able to suppress it. I grasped onto Kakuzu’s cloak. I saw him tail his eyes down my body looking for might be causing me pain… or was he just being perverted since my shorts were undone? Don’t worry people I’m wearing underwear… I don’t go commando.

I saw his eyes go wide as they reached the seal that rested just above my panty line. “So this is where the strange chakra came from…” He muttered quietly. Kakuzu quickly glanced at Hidan and then back down at me as he re-buttoned my shorts. “Hidan, give me your shirt.”

“Fuck why?”

“Because you never even wear it and if you haven’t noticed Sayu’s shirt is kind of gone!” He yelled at his idiotic partner. Hidan sighed and flung his shirt over.

--

Kakuzu’s point of view

Sure I couldn’t say that I didn’t find it arousing that Sayu was laying half naked in my arms, but it wasn’t really the place for my feelings to get the best of me. Along with that, the demon really weakened her. I couldn’t let Hidan find out about it, but of course what would he do? He had the puppy love syndrome just as bad as I did – there was no way he’d turn her over. He’d more likely sacrifice her to his heathen god then let the Akatsuki get a hold of her.

I couldn’t help but brush her gorgeous black locks out her face, her beautiful face. The only thing these ten years apart have changed is her attitude. She was still breathtakingly beautiful, of course more so then when she was nine… All this makes me sound like a pedophile, I realize. But anyway, that’s not the point! Sayu was in a sever condition. I didn’t really know what would happen to her if we don’t get her some medical attention.

I don’t even know why I care! Before I met her I would only care about myself… but that never really brought me happiness. I spent many sleepless nights wondering why I couldn’t kill her, why I had hesitated. I couldn’t truly love her. Love was for the young, people who could actually make something of their future with their loved one. Besides… she would never love me back. She’d more likely choose Hidan over me. He seemed more her type and, well… more around her age group. And how she seemed to find some sort of calming amusement out of torturing him, but then again… she did always blush around me… Before she was captured she was mumbling about how she didn’t want to do anything she’d regret. Regret… that’s the key word. She DIDN’T want to.

I want her to confirm it! To hurt me so bad that I will never want to feel these emotions again... Then everything can go back to the way it was…

--

Sayu

I felt the soft fabric of Hidan’s shirt touch my skin… it felt so nice, so warm. The two of them were total assholes – on good days too – but I guess to get this kind of treatment they must have come to think of me as something. I hope only a friend because anything else would be kind of weird. Especially coming from Hidan the masochist. But from Kakuzu… maybe I wouldn’t mind so much. “Thank you Hidan-san… and Kakuzu-kun.” I smiled warmly up at him. My hands felt up the side of his face to the top of his mask. “I wish I could go home…” I said quietly before passing out.