Hidan dropped to the ground, his scythe ready to attack. Kakuzu dropped down and scanned the battlefield. "What the fuck happened here?!" Hidan asked as he took in the burned and singed forest, the large cavern in the cliffside that small rocks still tumbled off of and the two bodies laying on the ground. Kakuzu made a tortured sound in his throat as he caught sight of familiar purple hair. He rushed to her side and knelt down next to her.

His large hands cradled her face. "Shinju" he said softly. His fingers moved her hair from her face and traced the large bruise forming on her jaw. He quickly checked her for wounds but found none. He let out a sigh of relief that he wasn't aware he was holding. "She's ok" he said as he watched her breathing.

"Can't say the same about this one" Hidan said, nudging Kay's limp body with his foot. He squatted down and moved her hair out of her face, seeing the gaping wound to her neck. "Shame. She was cute. If she was a Jashinist it wouldn't be an issue".

A quiet groan came from Shinju as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked into Kakuzu's concerned red and green eyes. "You're awake" he said. She ignored him and crawled over to Kay's body.

Hidan moved out of her way and she took his place. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she stroked the clan mark under Kay's left eye. "You weren't supposed to leave me" she choked out. Shinju half expected a smile to come to Kay's face and some witty retort to be said from her mouth. Nothing happened. Kay's face was frozen in a death mask.

Kakuzu walked over and pulled Shinju to her feet. "Leave me the fuck alone!" She growled and punched his chest. He ignored her punches and brought her close in a tight embrace. "Go ahead" he said softly and as if on cue the tears that she tried so hard to keep back flooded out. She buried her face in his chest as her fists clenched tighter, her nails puncturing her palms and she felt the blood running down her fingers.

Her body shook with her violent sobs. First she fell in love with Kakuzu and in lust with Hidan, they then tried to kill her, she was rescued and healed, gained a sensei that she didn't know she wanted and needed, now her sensei was dead and she was wrapped in the arms of her enemy. How much more could she take?!

Hidan sighed as he moved the fallen rocks from the cavern. "We can put her here" he said. Shinju was about to speak when Kakuzu cut her off, "She needs to be buried. Unless you want her scattered to the elements. Or we cash her body in for her bounty and death fee". She shook her head and watched as Kakuzu wrapped the body in his tendrils and carried it to Hidan. They placed her in the cavern and covered her in a makeshift cairn. Kakuzu glared as he watched all the money he could have made be buried under the rocks with her.

Kakuzu threw the bags at Hidan and picked up Shinju to carry her bridal style. Hidan looked about to start ranting but one look from Kakuzu shut him up. Shinju settled into Kakuzu's arms and gave herself over to the numb feeling that was overtaking her body and mind.

After days of walking the small party came upon two men camped out in a dilapidated home. The home was barely standing on its stilts but its aged and cracked walls and what was left of its roof gave some protection from the lashing rain.

The travellers entered the home and Hidan sighed with relief while throwing the bags and his scythe to the floor. "Fucking finally! We found some goddamn shelter" he said. Kakuzu set Shinju down in front of the fire and dug out some food for her from one of the bags.

"Well?" A deep monotonous voice asked. "The chakra signature was gone by the time we got there" Kakuzu sighed. "That's your old age catching up to you" said another, teasingly. "Who is she?" "Don't worry about her. What are the orders?" Kakuzu sighed as he rubbed his temples. "Regroup at the base" the tall raven haired man said. "FUUUUUUUCK! That's like days and days of walking!" Hidan whined. "Those are the orders" Itachi said.

Shinju picked at the food, not having an appetite. She knew she should eat to regain her strength but she felt so hollow. Hearing the men's voices she turned in their direction. They were seated off to the side and seemed to be engaged in a serious discussion but she couldn't make out the words.

Her brown eyes looked over the two men with Hidan and Kakuzu. One was tall and lean with long black hair tied loosely in a low ponytail. He quickly flashed his Sharingan at Hidan to make the man comply and she thought, in Kay's voice, "goddamn Uchihas". The memory brought a faint smile to her lips.

She turned her gaze to the other man, Kay's last conquest. He was taller than the Uchiha and had blue coloured skin, gill markings under his eyes and his sharp teeth caught the flickering firelight. Kisame. She needed to fulfill Kay's last request.

The meeting broke up and Kisame sat by the fire as Itachi went outside to send a message via his crows. "You gonna eat that?" He asked pointing to her forgotten food. She shook her head and passed it to him. "Kisame" she said softly. "Hmm?" He asked as he watched her. She leaned over and placed one of her hands on his cheek and kissed him. His eyes widened in shock and Kakuzu readied his tendrils. She pulled away and smiled sadly while she stroked his cheek with her thumb. "That's from Kay. Her last request was to kiss you".

He looked at her, dumbfounded. "What do you mean 'her last request'?" He asked with a hint of worry in his voice. She lowered her eyes and he could see the tears fall from her lashes. "She's dead" Shinju said softly.

Kisame looked at the fire and watched it flicker and flare as the wind from the rainstorm fed it oxygen. Fire, her chakra nature, was so much like her as it was lively and dangerous but beautiful when brought under control. He had hoped to see her again but his missions kept him away from her but he still had his memories. They were all he had left.

Kakuzu knelt next to Shinju and gathered her in his arms. He brought her to his bedroll and laid her against him, his arms wrapped protectively around her. "Sleep" he commanded and she fell into a dreamless slumber.