He carried one with him everywhere. Even multiples of them, if they were small enough. They were different colors and scents and you could color coordinate them with the clip that lets you hang one from your bag but I digress.

Hidan's hand skimmed down the strap of his bag until his fingers lightly stroked the hanging bottle of aromatic alcohol. He let his fingers linger on it, caressing it's shape while his thumb slid underneath the cap tab. It felt almost sensual, to reach down and touch the item that was helping him survive a plague. Jashin knew he abhorred wearing a mask but he was simply too beautiful to die. The world would be a worse off place than when he was alive and it was because of his Jashin gifted presence.

While tapping his foot to subconsciously hurry the traffic light, he squirted some sanitizer onto his hands. A few steps back he had inadvertently bumped into someone and his hand had touched their jacket. It took every fiber of his being to not shudder at the touch.

Touching was foreign now. Forbidden. People were encouraged to wave or bump elbows rather than what everyone had been used to. Not that he had minded at first because people are gross to begin with.

But as the months dragged on he began to miss physical contact. He would accept a punch to the face from Kakuzu at this moment just to feel some kind of touch from those he missed.

The light finally turned red and the walking man shone, beckoning all of them to safety. Hidan closed the sanitizer bottle and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He leaned forward slightly and squared his shoulders. He pushed through the oncoming pedestrian traffic, careful to stay in the crosswalk lines.

He would never tell this to anyone but he had an irrational fear of one day being hit by a car and the driver being acquitted because Hidan had been hit while outside the crosswalk lines.

He stepped onto the sidewalk and continue walking, relaxing his shoulders but still maintaining his presence. Increased foot traffic meant more competition for sidewalk space. Pedestrians have started walking aggressively and there have even been reports of pedestrian rage; incidents where pedestrians have fought over prime sidewalk space or who had the right of way on a shared walking and biking path. There have been no fatalities so far but law enforcement was actively reminding people to "walk safely" and to "share the space".

After the initial honeymoon of uniting together to make it through the pandemic, apathy and selfishness has taken hold. Social distancing wasn't being practiced as much, anti mask protests were taking place, increased crime and increased narcotic use. Which were having a trickle down effect of increasing plague cases and a nihilistic population. It could always be worse though. He didn't know how it could be worse but it always could be.

"Hello!" A tired and caffeine happy receptionist said to him as he stepped into the small clinic. "How can I help you?" She asked, preparing a clipboard for Hidan.

"Hidan. Here to see Dr. Sasori," he grunted out, hating this social interaction.

"Hmmm Hidan, Hidan, Hi- Oh! Found you right here!" She gave a fake laugh and handed him the clipboard. On it was a brief questionnaire asking if he had the plague, left his Nation recently (I fucking wish I did! Can't wait to get out of this shithole... I hear Yusa is nice this time of year...), and if he had been in contact with a plague carrier. Jashin I fucking hope not!

Quickly sanitizing his hands, he took the clipboard and filled in his answers in record time since he had read the sheet while sanitizing. He handed the clipboard back to the receptionist and found a seat. Sanitizing his hands again, he took in the office.

Sasori had opened the clinic last year. It was a simple office with neutral coloured walls, basic and comfortable chairs and that weird yellowish white glow from the lights. Large canvases of Suna's majestic landscape hung on the walls, clearly a photographic love story for his native Nation.

"Hidan. Follow me please," the receptionist called to him and he quickly rose to his feet. He followed after the small woman, staring hungrily at her ass. His face mask hid the leer he wore and the lip biting. Fucking plague! Haven't been laid in forfuckingever! These virtual dates with Ju aren't cutting it.

He took the seat that she indicated to and watched as the door closed, a small gap being left open so she could easily peek in on him while doing her rounds.

Hidan stretched his legs out and crossed his arms across his chest. Should've brought my pods... stupid fucking Diedara! Always losing my shit! This is the last time I lend him a Kamidamn thing! He pouted and felt down for his trusty bottle of sanitizer. He squirted some into his hand and began to reflexively spread it over his hands, careful to sanitize his wrists as well.

After a few minutes of staring at the same four white walls, Dr. Sasori entered the room. Even though Hidan had been coming to see him for years, Sasori's height still shocked him. The physical man did not match up to his reputation!

"Ah, Hidan. How nice to see you," Sasori said, sitting down on a wheelie stool. "What can I help you with?" Sasori's large brown eyes stared into Hidan's magenta ones. That freaky fecking stare!

Turning his head to the side and rubbing the back of his neck, Hidan broke the stare and began talking.

"See Doc... it's like this... for a few weeks I've been waking up feeling weird. Like... my heart is racing, I'm drenched in sweat, I can't catch my breath... it feels like I'm suffocating but I can still breathe. Ya know? Nah, never mind. It sounds so fucking dumb..."

Hidan went to stand but Sasori's hand on his wrist stopped him. "Hidan," he said slowly, his intense gaze never leaving Hidan's face, "have you been vaccinated?"

"Wha? Yeah! Yeah I have! Fucking first dose, baby!"

Letting go of Hidan's wrist, Sasori stroked his chin. "Uchiha Pharma or Senju Synergy?"

Hidan furrowed his brows, trying to remember which one he had been given. Think! Come on! Fucking THINK! Yes!

"It was a white and red vial!" He said, happy that he had remembered.

Sasori smiled at Hidan's glee. "Uchiha Pharma. I see. It has a 98% effectiveness which is the same as Senju Synergy's. And your symptoms are not consistent with the plague. Hmmmmm, no. Something else is going on."

"Well it ain't the seasonal shit. Feels completely different so fucking hurry up! Tell me what's wrong with me!" The last sentence came out sounding like a soft growl. Hidan's frustration was evident.

"I see," Sasori said briskly before standing up. He turned to a cabinet above his computer. Opening it, he pulled out a clipboard, another questionnaire and a pen. He slid the paper underneath the clip and slid his pen through the top gap in the clip and handed it to Hidan.

A quick squirt to sanitize his hands and Hidan took the clipboard. "The fuck is this?!" He asked incredulously. Sasori sat back down on his stool and played with a pen in his pocket.

"It is a mental health questionnaire. I want you to fill it out so I can judge you...'re mental well-being."

"I'm not friggen crazy, Doc! I don't need a one way ticket to the asylum! This is so fucking stupid..." Hidan pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers and sighed. Looking back down at the questionnaire, he filled it out being careful to include as much colourful language as he could. He passed the clipboard back to Sasori and cleaned his hands again. Sasori raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Catching Sasori's look, Hidan gripped his sanitizer bottle a little too defensively. "What was that look for?!" He demanded.

Sasori leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs and tented his fingers. "How often do you sanitize a day?" "How often do I- the fuck kind of question is that?!"

He sat up straight and stretched out his arms before replying. "Hidan. I suspect you have an addiction."

Too speechless for words, Hidan gaped at the doctor. Sasori crossed one leg over the other and raised his hand, letting his wrist bent it upwards to one side.

"You have an established diagnosis of Borderline Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, as well as an addictive personality. You enjoy stimulants and narcotics and depressives. I've lost count of how many rehab applications I've had to fill out and submit on your behalf.

"Hand sanitizer, especially the one you're so fond of using, that brand, is loaded with alcohol. 90% alcohol in fact. Alcoholics are developing a preference for these hand sanitizers because they're cheap and easily accessible. And no one questions you when you buy quantities of it. Try doing that with alcohol and someone might call the cops on you."

Hidan looked down at his hand where his fingers were wrapped around his sanitizer. After so long together it just felt right. He wasn't addicted! He had to use it! Public health order! Once the plague is over he'll give it up and go back to not even acknowledging it's existence. He'll purge all bottles from his house. He'll even throw out the antibacterial wipes!

"Here is where I'm planning to send you," Sasori's voice came back into hearing range. "Huh?" Hidan asked confusedly, having zoned out during Sasori's speech. He took the pamphlet and opened it. He frowned.

"Uh? Doc? This place looks pretty expensive. You do realize that I'm broke, right? Im on the fucking dole, for Kami's sake!"

"I'm aware. But you have fantastic insurance. I will bill them for this, claiming that this tier of rehabilitation is the only acceptable level of service for you due to you having relapsed out of the others."

Hidan flipped through the pamphlet and then returned to its cover. "The Tsunade Institute? Never heard of it."

Readjusting his tie, "it's only been opened for a few years. They're top of the line. Celebrities go there. Celebrities like you," he sharply tugged on his tie. "There!" He said while looking down and making slight adjustments.

"So... when will I go?"

"Hm? Oh! It has a wait list of several years. Just keep doing what you need to do to get by. Who knows, maybe you'll make this fashionable and everyone will develop an addiction to medical grade booze. It would give me more hours to bill the government."

Giving Sasori an angry and confused look, Hidan turned to the room's door. "You're fucking weird, you know that?"

"I do. You tell me every time you see me."

He gave Sasori I glance over his shoulder. "It was nice seeing you Doc. Stay safe." His voice was cut off by the closing of the door. "You too," Sasori replied, mostly to himself.