• Mitsuko and Hidan followed Kakuzu into an alley far off from where the battle had been. There were two camels already loaded for the trip.

    "You ******** idiot attracted attention. Now we'll have to hurry and get out of here," Kakuzu scolded him as he pulled some clothes out of a bag on one of the camels, "Here, put these on."

    He tossed clothes at both of them and put some on. He completely wrapped himself in the white cloth, save for his face. Mitsuko and Hidan did the same and boarded a camel together.

    Kakuzu hopped on his and whipped at the reins. The camels swayed back and forth as they walked, making Mitsuko sick. She laid her head on Hidan's back and watched the desert sand pass by.

    Hidan thought Mitsuko was asleep as she laid on him heavily. He wanted to talk to his former partner again. "Isn't she cute, Kakuzu?" he asked him suddenly, "I can't believe she's Shikamaru's daughter."

    "I can't believe you haven't killed her yet," Kakuzu retorted.

    "What!? Why should I kill her? She saved me and revived you!"

    "I didn't ask to be revived! But you have changed because of her, Hidan. What is it about her that enchants you so much? No girl should do that to you of all people."

    "s**t, Kakuzu. I haven't changed. It's just a cover for her." Hidan ignored what Kakuzu had said but he wondered about it himself.

    "You don't curse as much either. Even when she's not really present."

    "Shut your hole," Hidan huffed.

    "You said it yourself, "she's cute". Is there something I don't know about?"

    "So what!? A lot of little girls are cute!"

    "So you like little girls?" Kakuzu stifled a snicker.

    "No!" Hidan shouted like a child.

    "Come on, Hidan. You can tell me," Kakuzu said, being nice for once. He really wanted to know why Hidan was so defensive.

    Hidan looked at his former partner crossly and turned his head back to see Mitsuko sleeping. "Well, if you really want to know... I do kind of like her," he stopped for a minute and gazed at the camel's coarse rust colored hair, "She has a huge crush on me and she told me about it but I told her I liked her as a friend, and she deserved better than me, her father's immortal enemy."

    Kakuzu starting laughing maniacally and Hidan tried to calm him down.

    "So what if I like her?" Hidan frowned, he couldn't believe he blurted that out to Kakuzu. "I hope it doesn't change anything between you and me."

    "You ******** idiot, I was only your partner in crime because I was assigned so. There is nothing between you and me," Kakuzu gazed at his partner.

    Hidan was hurt but he hid his face behind his veil. Once upon a time, he did have feelings for Kakuzu but now he had Mitsuko to love and care for, if she still accepted him.