• Shikamaru wrapped a bandage around his son's torso by candlelight. Haru stared up, straight on into space.

    "It took me awhile before I finally defeated Hidan too, Haru. I will help you train and learn. I want him to suffer too for everything, for killing Asuma-sensei and all of the other innocent people he killed, for taking Mitsuko away from us," Shikamaru bowed his head and closed his eyes.

    "What would mom do if she was still alive?" Haru choked on his tears.

    Shikamaru raised his head up in surprise, "Knowing your mother, she probably would have raised Mitsuko to be more..." he couldn't find the word.

    "Yeah," Haru cut him off knowing his father was having trouble, "I know dad. None of this would have happened if mom was around," he began to sob.

    "No, don't cry, son. Don't waste energy on bawling like a baby when you could be working towards getting your sister back," Shikamaru stood up and turned from Haru, wiping his eye.

    Mitsuko rubbed the sand out of her eyes and looked around to find herself on a speeding train in a red leather seat beside Hidan. Kakuzu sat across from them with his arms crossed in front of his chest and his neon green eyes laying on her. She gazed up at Hidan and found that he was asleep with his arm tight around her. She shifted under the blanket that he probably provided her earlier and crawled out of it's twisting grasp.

    "Bathroom," Mitsuko muttered as she walked off and Kakuzu nodded behind her.

    Mitsuko asked a lady in uniform where the bathroom was and ended up being walked there like a child. She shut the door and sat in front of the toilet, wanting to vomit. The train's rumbling motion made her sicker than riding on a swaying camel or riding the lumpy back of a leaping old man in trees.

    When the cleansing of her body wouldn't come, she did her regular business and went back to her seat without being led by a waitress.

    "Did the waitress need to hold your hand while you crapped?" Kakuzu asked her jokingly.

    "No! I can't believe she took me to the bathroom like that. I'm sixteen," Mitsuko pouted.

    Kakuzu chuckled and leaned in closer towards Mitsuko to the point he was in her face and it scared her. "You remind me of my little sister back home. But unfortuneately, I killed her,"

    Mitsuko could sense the smile under the leather mask. The satisfied grin like he could taste her fear. She wanted to kick him in between the legs; the opportunity was open.

    He patted her head and disappeared into the next train car.

    Mitsuko frowned and crossed her arms in front of her chest angrily. She hated being treated like a child.

    Hidan stirred and reached for her for warmth. He pulled her closer and Mitsuko knew he was awake. No one can unconciously pull someone within arm's reach into their embrace. She smiled and buried her head in his bare chest. Maybe he was starting to realize it too?

    "Ugh! You guys make me sick!" Kakuzu teased as he slid back into his seat.

    Hidan immediately came too and stared angrily at the old man. "Oh yeah!? Well you're the disturbing one! With your green eyes and tentacles,"

    Mitsuko couldn't help but giggle. She was starting to get used to their meaningless fighting.

    "I hope you guys are hungry, I ordered some food," Kakuzu said, ignoring Hidan's insults.

    Mitsuko smiled gratefully. She didn't have anything to eat that morning since they were leaving so quick.

    "Wake me up when the food gets here," Hidan yawned and wrapped the blanket around both him and Mitsuko and wrapped his arms tighter around her, almost like he was trying to make a point to everyone on the train. "You're warm," Hidan whispered in Mitsuko's ear. She automatically covered her mouth with her sleeve in a reflex.

    "Get a room," Kakuzu muttered.

    "Shut it Kakuzu!" Hidan yelled and kicked his partner in the knee but it had no effect on the stone man.

    Hidan snuggled back next to Mitsuko under the fleece blanket. She felt so warm and not just because of the blanket. He was showing affection towards her and she began to wonder if he was serious this time and not just trying to mooch off of her. What did she have left to mooch? He had already taken her away from her home and family, convinced her to revive his old partner only to be just tossed like yesterday's toy by Kakuzu.

    'Poor Hidan. Poor, stupid Hidan,' Mitsuko thought to herself, 'But he's so handsome,' she smiled and closed her eyes. The train's rumbling made her both sick and sleepy and she was quickly lulled to sleep.