“Alright, everybody out!” Pein shouted as we dismount the van, everyone laughing, trying their best to stifle down their excitement…. Well, most of them, at least. “After this, we’re going back to the hotel, K?”

The other members shouted back a positive reply. You were the last one to get out of the van, only to have Hidan close the van door before you got out. You cursed at him that he almost crushed your foot by just a few inches. You could see him smile outside and went to the back to get the bags and goodies.

He is such an asshole, especially to you. It never occurred to you that you did anything bad to him from the start. Or was it that he just liked to piss people off at a first encounter until they get used to him. You open the door for you yet again and you finally got the feel of a little sunlight.

“Hey, you comin’?” Konan asked as she got her towel from the passenger seat and was going to the ladies room.

“Uh, yeah… just a bit…” you got your bathing suit and flip flops and followed her into the changing room. “Hey, Konan?”

“Hm?”

“Why does Hidan hate me?”

“….. Well, you know him. He hates everyone.”

“Yeah, but still… he’s always picking on me the most and that’s not fair.” You were on the verge of closing your door stall when you noticed that the lock is broken and you have to change outside of the stall now.

“Oh, if you put it that way, then how the hell should I know?” You could hear Konan’s bathing suit strap echoing through the room as she lets it smack her skin. You, for one, are just getting started to put on your one-piece as you laid down your clothes on an isolated area.

Soon, Konan was out and you were looking at the mirror while you tried your best to tie the ribbon behind your back to support your suit from falling down. Konan helped you, for you were still figuring out why you are the source of Hidan’s entertainment.

You both got out of the restroom, the guys just changed outside, the very beach. They just took off their shirts and they’re ready to go. Not fair. Some guys—particularly Deidara and Kisame—whistled at you, but you didn’t care. You both placed your stuff and towel on one of the vacant beach benches under an occasional umbrella. You started to relax and probably just sit this whole beach thing out, until Tobi brought out a Volleyball.

“Everybody must play!!” Tobi shouted as he tosses the ball in his hand, urging the members to join.

Like you said, you’ll sit this one out. Before you know it, you were being forced out of your seat by Sasori, manipulating you to join. It wasn’t in his demeanor to do this but he had a crowd of members behind him, snickering and then you realized he had nothing to do with it. You had a thought of the members having a side of perversity since volleyball requires great effort and… stuff. Its just… Really bad… a very bad idea. But not much can be done about it since you were already on one side of the net.

“Finally! I can pummel you down now… WITH reason!” Hidan laughed.

“Just wait, you, bastard…” you raised your fist halfway through the air, threatening him.

“Wait, wait, wait… We’re 11.. One of us has to sit out…” Pein added. You had hope. You immediately raised your hand to volunteer to sit out. Pein looked at you, alright. But that look was COMPLETELY different than a decisive look. It was more of a ‘calculating’ look. Yeah, a look from head to toe, whether or not your attire is ‘suited’ for this high-intensity game.

“Hmm… Don’t you want to get back at Hidan?” Pein made an excuse. You thought about it for a second, then sighed. He probably just wants to keep the two girls playing the game, if you know what I mean.

“If no one want to sit out then—“ Tobi broke the silence.

“Tobi will sit out…. AND SCORE.” Pein finished. Tobi gasped and tried to beg but Pein silenced him with his hand and Tobi dragged his feet under the umbrella and crossed his arms, probably looking at us with rage-- you can’t tell, for he is still wearing his mask.

And that was it. Konan, Itachi, Pein, Zetsu are on your team. While Hidan had Sasori, Deidara, Kisame and Kakuzu. You and Konan exchanged looks for a second, then nodded. It wasn’t long before Tobi sighed and shouted one, annoyed, yet loud ‘Start-o!’.

Kisame was on the serving point. The ball flew over the net, with Zetsu ricocheting it back but it wasn’t enough. You braced yourself and hit it to make it pass over the net, giving it straight to Hidan who is on the center, same as you. You didn’t realize that that was a bad move. When you look up at him, he was already jumping for a spike. Time happened so fast that he didn’t hesitate to change coordinates and the ball struck your chest with tremendous force, you felt like it pushed the air out of you. You stumbled back on the sand, with the ball rolling over to Konan who’s running over to your aid.

You hear some laughing and high-fives from Hidan’s team and that’s when you knew they were dead serious. You stood up on your own, ignoring Konan’s questions of assurance.

“Give them the ball….” You said, your nostrils flaring from rage.

“Are you sure you’re –“

“Just give it to them now!”

There were ‘Ooh’s’ from the opposing team.

“Awww, did we make the wittle weader angwy?” Hidan teased while he made a silly, good-for-nothing face, oh wait… That was his normal face. “Haha, this time, I’ll serve.”

Scores? 19; 17. Guess what, you’re the losing team, unfortunately. You saw this coming. You were too strained of what the members might see under your beachware that you didn’t let your volleyball spirit go free that much.

You’ve got to hand it to him. Hidan has the form. The moves, even. His sweat from the game just makes him sparkle under the sun. Almost like…. Like… Like Edward Cullen! Yeah, sure, why not.

“I can’t take it anymore….” You heard Konan say as she panted.

“Come on, dude! Just a little more… You’ll never know, maybe we’ll win after all!” you laughed nervously as you said that, a little self-support didn’t hurt…. Unless you were really proved wrong.

“Heads up!!” Deidara said as he served the ball, giving it to Itachi at the back but you thought that it wouldn’t reach and the nearest person to save that was Konan herself.

“Konan, go!” you shouted.

She was too fazed and tired that she reacted a bit late to the ball and let it fall right beside her, giving the 20 point mark for Hidan’s team. Victory was theirs… Who cares? Its just a game, right?

“WHOOOOO!!! WE WON!! WE WON, LOSERS!!” Hidan said as he rubbed his team’s victory on your faces.

“Come on, guys…” you gestured for your team to get out of the sand-drawn court and back into the shade to get some rest.

“Yey!! Now Tobi can play!” Tobi said as he sat up, knowing that there’s a huge empty space at the other end of the court.

“Yeah, play with yourself, Spiralface.” Hidan said as he gave the ball to Tobi, also leaving the court. You feel bad for Tobi. He just wants to play, even though he’s the guy who brought up the game in the first place.

You were sitting on the bench right beside the beverages where Hidan was standing, chugging down half a bottle of water. You couldn’t resist looking as trails of mineral water trickled from his lips, to his jawline and to his neck, where it blended with his sweat. After he was done having his fill, he smiles as he feels eyes on him, you immediately look away, pretending to fan yourself instead

“Like what you see?” he started.

“.. Hmph… I can beat you at Volleyball anytime if it weren’t for this confounded suit….” You decided to change the subject.

“In fact, I like you better this way… You’re more quiet in this clothing…” you realized his voice was softer and louder at the same time. His face was inching closer to you, looking at you calmly.

Like, what the fudge? He wasn’t the guy you cursed at for closing the door on you just a while ago. He wasn’t the guy who rubbed his fame on you just moments ago. And he certainly wasn’t the one who keeps on tormenting you back at the hideout.

He began to close his eyes as both your lips glided softly on each other. Then he finally pressed a little bit harder, just enough for you to lean back a bit. Six seconds passed and you two broke away, panting for air.

“Well, I guess you aren’t so lame after all…” he smirked.

“And I guess you’re not such a dick…. So far.” You replied, looking away, yet smiling.

“Well, I’m glad you two finally made up… And I won't have to make Sasori control the both of you, now…” Konan said as she leaned on the umbrella’s post covering us.