[NarutoFic] Transient - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Dance

Kakuzu came out of the bathroom, the dark patchworked skin on his upper body in full view. His piercing eyes scanned the room slowly as he wiped off the remaining droplets of water from his hair. He fixed his stare at the figure sitting contemplatively by the window.

Stripped to the waist and wearing nothing but a towel around his lean body, the silver-haired man sat on the window sill, his head turned in deep thought towards the reddening evening sky. His left leg was placed on the window sill, threatening to expose whatever the towel around him was supposed to conceal.

At this, Kakuzu laughed inwardly, his smile pulling at the stitches at the sides of his mouth. Hidan couldn’t care less for clothing. His rituals left his Akatsuki uniforms covered in holes and matted with blood. A good fraction of the organization’s money went to replacing uniforms, and Hidan was mostly responsible for this unnecessary monetary loss, Kakuzu noted with a slight hint of annoyance.

Hidan had been waiting for his turn to take a shower. Kakuzu picked up his clothes, which were lying on his bed. There were two beds in the room. He usually picked the bed on the right, because for some reason he found it easier to get out of it from the left side. It was his understanding that the stitches on his back would itch all night long if he didn’t sleep on the right bed.

The younger man still sat staring out of the window. By now Kakuzu had finished getting dressed and every last drop had been dried off his raven hair.

It’s taken me a while to completely dry out my hair and he still hasn’t spoken one word.

This was general cause for concern. Kakuzu narrowed his eyes and wondered if his partner was alright. He even began to suspect if the figure in front of him was his partner at all. What if this was somebody else using a transformation justsu? A spy? Kakuzu’s fist began to harden. Hidan usually talked until the cows came home. This couldn’t be Hidan, could it? I mean, could one man go through such a huge change in such a short time? Kakuzu couldn’t recall ever doing something so good to deserve such a thing.

Kakuzu was a little reassured when he felt Hidan’s chakra. Yet a ‘shitty bastard’ or a ‘fuck you Kakuzu’ would have made him feel much easier. Be careful what you wish for, Kakuzu, he reminded himself.

As much as he didn’t believe in any god, Kakuzu accepted this as a miracle. Yet he wondered why there wasn’t an earthquake accompanying this phenomenal change.

“What?”

Kakuzu blinked. The Jashinist was staring right back at him, violet eyes fixed on his unmasked face. Hidan looked down and adjusted his towel. He then shot an accusing glare at Kakuzu.

“What?!”

He was standing now. Kakuzu blinked again.

“What the fuck were you staring at?”

Kakuzu let out a sigh of relief. He was glad to have his partner back. A small smile spread over his face, the stitches on his skin tightening.

Hidan pulled off his towel. The smile on Kakuzu’s face froze.

“Well whatever the fuck it was that you were trying to look at, have a good look at it now.” … saying which the Jashinist flung his towel over his shoulder and strode off in the direction of the bathroom right past Kakuzu, who stood rooted to his spot trying to comprehend the meaning of that gesture.

A few feet away the angry footsteps stopped.

“Hey Kakuzu.”

Silence.

“Are you afraid of dying?”

Kakuzu turned around slowly. The younger ninja stood at the door to the bathroom, his back facing him. The orange light of the setting sun danced on his pale skin. He was still naked.

“Well if you’re asking me if I’d rather live or die,” - Kakuzu sat down at the foot of his bed – “I’d choose the former.”   

“Why?” Hidan looked over his shoulder at his partner.

“Why do you think I created this jutsu?” Kakuzu traced his finger lightly over some of the stitches on his forearm.

“I thought it was because you wanted to become the strongest ninja?”

“Well, that too. It’s true that I’d gain many advantages and powers from those whom I incorporate into my own body, but ultimately, it was just to assure my own survival.”

“Would you have died for something you believed in?”

“I’d consider that a stupid move.”

Hidan turned to face his partner, who quickly averted his eyes. Kakuzu didn’t want to stare. And he didn’t want Hidan to know that it made him uncomfortable to see him that way. Hidan was the kind of person who’d piss you off by doing exactly what you didn’t want him to.

“Stupid? Even if it was for your religion?”

“Especially if it were for my religion.”

Hidan grinned. “What kind of screwed up logic is that?”

“If I died for something I believed in that would leave the world with one less believer.”

“Isn’t it what they call martyrdom? And won’t that compel others to follow in your example?”

“Then I’d be responsible for ridding my faith of other believers.”

“Tch! Martyrdom is the ultimate sacrifice! It is the selfless act of sacrificing everything for what you believe in, and what gives you the right to just go and say shit about something as sacred and glorious as that!”

“It’s just another way to go…”

“Know what, if it weren’t for my plans I’d have already sacrificed you. Then what would you say huh?” Hidan smirked. “Y’know ‘Kuzu I’d love to see you scared shitless and begging to take back your words and stuff, but then it’d be too late! And ‘know what I’d do to ya? I’d have -- ” At this point Kakuzu interrupted him.

“Listen, the goal is to endure and pass on the message in its purest form. Nobody wants death as their goal. Religion is about making life better for people. It’s about giving meaning to life, not for taking it away.”

“Oi oi oi! Are you criticizing my religion?”

“Well…”

“How the fuck would you know anything about religion when you don’t even have one?”

“I…”

“Know what? This whole world is fucked up. I mean can you even count how many heretical beliefs are out there today? I mean look at most of the bloodiest wars in history. Wasn’t all that stupid crap for the sake of some heathen god or the other?”

“That’s exactly why I don’t have a religion.”

“And they all claim theirs is the right one, so they kill everyone else...”

“Religion never really saved anyone from death.”   

“And that’s exactly why any other religion other than Jashin Sama’s is fucked up.”

“But all you ever do is destroy. What’re you going to do once you’ve killed every other human being on the planet huh? What comes next?”

“Jashin Sama has plans for me.”

“Wouldn’t you just get tired of living?”

Hidan’s breath caught in him midway. “… I don’t know.”

“Looks like you already are.”

Hidan looked at Kakuzu. He had put his mask back on but his eyes were still searching. He knew the older man had started to suspect something was up. Hidan quickly shrugged the other man’s stare off. “What?”

Kakuzu clasped his hands and rested his chin on them. “Tired of living.”

Hidan averted his eyes over Kakuzu’s shoulder to the window. Darkness had already fallen.

“Well, fuck this conversation. I’m taking a shower.” Flinging his towel back over his shoulder, he turned and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Stepping into the shower, he leant against the cold tiled wall.

It’s been two days already…

The water thundered around his ears.

Perhaps tonight…

Water whirled around his feet before it passed into the drain. Memories of the rain flooded back to him. He grinned.

Tonight then.

He turned on the hot water.

Wait for me…

x.X.x.X.x

The two had been walking for a while.

Suna’s streets were lit up and the dust made blurry halos around the lamp lights. Colorful banners swayed in the lazy evening breeze. The streets were full of people during festival week: families stopped at the games stalls and the theater, old men went drinking, and lovers walked hand in hand.

Shikamaru let his fingers lightly brush the back of her hand.

Temari looked up at him and smiled. The blurry halos reflected in her teal eyes. She didn’t look like the scary woman she became when facing an opponent. Shikamaru wondered if this was the gentleness his father talked about. She took his hand in hers.

“Any news about Sasuke?”

“Well, it’s not like he writes us you know,” Shikamaru yawned. He was staying over at Suna for a week on ‘official’ business. Tsunade had sent him to represent Konoha at a conference held at Sunakagure, and Temari had invited him to spend his free time with her at the autumn festival that night.

“What I meant -- ”

“No.” Shikamaru chewed on his toothpick. “Naruto doesn’t really have any plans of giving up though.”

“Naruto is something else.”

She remembered how Naruto had saved her brother twice. He had saved Gaara from himself, and then from death… It was because of Naruto that she gained a brother. “You have the power to change people” was what she had said the day she thought she had lost Gaara forever. And to this day she still had faith in him; she knew that he would eventually save Sasuke as well.

“Yeah.” Shikamaru looked up at the sky. There were no clouds this time, but there were stars. He smiled. “Naruto once told me about team seven’s introductory meeting with Kakashi. They had to state their name, hobby, likes and dislikes, and dreams or goals. Kakashi made sure he only disclosed his name, and left everything else extremely vague. Sakura’s answer to everything other than her name was ‘Sasuke’--”

Temari gasped. “You mean she actually stated the fact out loud?!”

The chuunin laughed. “Stated it? Not in so many words. Sorry to disappoint you. It was just a giggle and a series of creepy fangirl looks.”

Temari laughed. She remembered how obsessed Sakura used to be about Sasuke. The girl had grown a lot since the Uchiha had deserted Konoha. The last time she saw her – which was three days ago – she noticed how she was now not just physically strong, but emotionally as well. Temari smiled.

Shikamaru continued: “Naruto’s answer was basically ‘Uzumaki Naruto, ramen, ramen, ramen,’ and--” At this point Temari joined him:

“To become hokage, that is my dream!” they said in unison. And then they pretended to adjust an imaginary forehead protector before shouting “Dattebayo!”

The pair burst out laughing. Naruto’s ‘I’m going to become hokage’ line was so well rehearsed by the shinobi of Konohakagure and Sunakagure already. It was the easiest to guess in a game of sherades. Gai’s nice-guy-pose and Neji’s curry-of-life face took second and third place respectively.

Even after Naruto’s three-year absence during his training with the old pervy sage Jiraiya that line hadn’t changed. Perhaps his “I’ll never give up” had an added “Sasuke” now that his primary goal was to rescue his friend from the darkness, but hokage would always be his dream. And judging by his current progress, Shikamaru was certain he’d achieve it.

Passers-by on the street turned to look at them.

“Sasuke’s answer was typically Uchiha,” Shikamaru continued once he had recovered from the laughter.

“You mean, he didn’t say anything?” Temari grinned.

“Ah well,” Shikamaru grinned back, “other than ‘Uchiha Sasuke’, it was ‘nothing, nothing, everything’, and then ‘revenge’ and ‘revive my clan’.”

“Tell me,” Temari grabbed Shikamaru’s elbow, trying to hold in resurging waves of laughter. “What do you think he’ll do once he gets his revenge? Would he have any reason to live anymore? And who would he pick to revive his clan?” Temari’s eyes twinkled as she pronounced the word ‘revive’.

“Heh. Well, I don’t think I’m in any position to give you a satisfactory report on who the Uchiha has his heart set on… but, about the first question… Naruto did mention something about Sasuke telling his brother that the only reason he’d survived was to exact revenge for what he’d done to their clan.”

“So he’s nurturing hatred for his brother so that he can finish him off in the end? Itachi must be very strong.” Temari looked thoughtfully at the starry sky as she spoke. Sasuke’s story reminded her of herself… and him.

“He should be strong, if he killed off the rest of the Uchiha clan. They were the strongest clan in Konoha, remember?”

“Perhaps he is…”

“But I doubt that’s the only reason.”

Temari looked up at him. Shikamaru was leaning forward, the hint of a smirk showing on his face. Their noses almost touched. “Not the only reason?” she whispered.

Shikamaru smiled as he took the toothpick out of his mouth. “Nope.”

“What then? What else can it be?”

“Love.”

Her eyes widened, questioning, searching.

“Love?”

“If he hates him enough he won’t regret killing him.”

Temari stared in disbelief. Love, she thought. Here was a new perspective. How could you want to hate someone because you loved them? The memories came flooding back like a black-and-white movie playing in front of her eyes. Was it possible that she too…?

Temari flinched.

It’s not love.

Music started to play from a corner of the street.

I have no reason…

Shikamaru drew back and straightened his shoulders.

No reason at all…

He had heard the music playing in the distance. Presently he held out his hand to her.

She took his hand and nodded.

No reason to love him.

They walked hand-in-hand toward the crowd that had gathered around the musicians. A lively tune was playing from that corner of the street.

The lamp lights flickered and tiny gusts of cold wind lifted the dust.

A few people had begun to dance. Temari dragged a reluctant Shikamaru into the circle.

A pair of violet eyes watched them from the shadows.

x.X.x.X.x
 

“You dance terrible.”

She grabbed his elbow just in time to stop him from spinning around in the wrong direction and tumbling over.

“You shouldn’t really be judging my dancing skills right now.”

He looked over her shoulder, embarrassed.

“Do you even know how to?”

“No.”

She chuckled. He didn’t usually try to do something he didn’t want to. The effort would have been ‘too troublesome’.

“Then why?”

“Because you asked me to.”

They twirled around once more, this time without bumping into each other.

“Because I asked you to?”

“More like made me do it.”

“Oh? Since when did you start taking orders from a girl?” She grinned.

He was trapped. He knew that the chances of saying that word - which was taboo around Temari - were high in this situation (the word being ‘manly’) and he really didn’t want their conversation to lead into a battle of the sexes.
Shikamaru looked hopelessly up at the sky. It was a clear night and somehow he felt as though even the stars were laughing at him.

“You should be looking at me, genius,” Temari said, softly lowering his chin with her thumb. “There are no clouds up there to keep you company, so I have you all to myself.”

He looked down at her face and caught a glimpse of his own reflection in her eyes.

Just then, the beat changed, and he caught his leg in hers as he jolted forward, embracing her as he tried to secure his footing.

“How troublesome…” he mumbled.

Temari laughed. The music played louder and faster.
 

x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
 

Chapter 1 ♥ Chapter 2 ♥ Chapter 3 ♥ Chapter 4 ♥ Chapter 5