• He walked through the sandy streets with Mitsuko looking around lazily in his arms. She didn't seem aware of anything at all.

    "You didn't have to say such things in front of so many people; it drew too much attention," Hidan told her.

    "Wouldn't it be better to come out of the closet in front of a lot of people so they can witness your love for another?" Mitsuko gave a slight smile.

    "But that's what you don't get, I don't love Kakuzu. I hate his guts!"

    "Oh, whatever," Mitsuko grinned, "I saw your face back there, you do have feelings for him."

    Mitsuko figured that the more she convinced herself that Hidan was homosexual, the less she would like him but it wasn't working. She was still in love with him. What was it that made her like him?

    "What do you know? You've never been around Kakuzu and me long enough to know anything!"

    "You can put me down now, I'm wide awake thanks to your mouth," Mitsuko tried to switch the conversation, she wasn't going to get anywhere on that topic.

    Hidan let her down and they walked side by side through the little town.

    "So, what are we going to do without Kakuzu? How are we going to survive?" Mitsuko asked Hidan.

    "I don't know. I guess we'll figure out something," Hidan looked around aimlessly.

    "What did my dad put in the pack?" Mitsuko stopped and pointed at the black pack that Hidan was still carrying on his shoulder.

    Hidan stopped and slung it off his shoulder, putting it on the ground and digging through it.

    "Uh, a first aid kit, lots of food, some money... Kakuzu was right, you guys are poor. This was probably all that your dad had." Hidan counted the money inside the pack so no one would see. "Looks like there's some spare clothes."

    "Good, that should get us somewhere. We'll have to use the stuff sparingly," Mitsuko said as she bent over him, gazing into the pack.

    "This means we have to gets jobs and find someplace to crash," Hidan zipped up the pack and slung it over his shoulder as he complained, "It's going to be horrible without Kakuzu."

    "Just because you have to work for money? Oh, please!" Mitsuko followed him down the street, "I did chores all day as my father and brother sat around the house."

    "Cause you're a woman! Women are supposed to do the work," Hidan turned into a shop.

    "Oh, is that how it is!?" Mitsuko shushed when they entered the building and were confronted with people. No point in acting out in public.

    Hidan walked up to the clerk and asked if they needed any help while Mitsuko stood around by the door, trying as much as she could not to stare at him. She was still trying to figure out what was so attractive about him, yet she feared him.

    "He says that the bakery is looking for some extra help and it is right across the street," Hidan said pointing out the window when he came up to her.

    She followed him across the street and into the bakery while watching his every move, admiring his every feature. What did she see in Hidan that wasn't in Ken?

    "Hey, are you looking to hire some help?" Hidan asked the clerk at the bakery.

    Hidan was handsome, Mitsuko could give him that. She had never seen someone with silver hair and violet eyes.

    "When can we get started?" He asked.

    His bad boy attitude was similar to Ken's.

    "Here, Mitsuko," Hidan said, handing her a uniform, "You get to help work at the cash register while I'm the delivery boy," he sighed as he looked at the scarf and goggles.

    Mitsuko put on the apron and took her hair up into a ponytail with the scrunchie she found in the pocket.

    "Here's the keys to the moped that's around back!" their boss yelled, tossing a pair of jingly keys at Hidan.

    Hidan held them up and observed the golden key with an eight ball key ring. "How kinky," he said outloud, and Mitsuko giggled, "Alright, Mitsuko, earn us some money," he smiled at her.

    Mitsuko summed it all up that day as she worked at the counter. Hidan was handsome, he was bad a** and her father didn't approve of him. At any minute, Hidan could kill her yet he cared for her and had some sort of feelings for her. She liked the danger of him, Ken would never kill her but Hidan could. That's what it was.