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Shades of Crimson	By : Onileo Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 2074 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto; that honor belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. My fanfiction is for entertainment only and is not intended for financial gain.

Chapter List
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Chapter 12
          Hidan licked the blood from his lips as it trailed from his injured nose an instant before another punch sent him flying backwards into the mud. Picking himself up, the five year old pulled a clump of mud from his short, spiky silver hair before looking at his opponent and glaring. "That didn't hurt, Matsu, you jerk!" he yelled before charging forward and tackling the other boy, sending them both crashing to the ground.
          They rolled in a tangle of flying arms and legs until Hidan managed to pin Matsu down, and began pummeling him in the face. He didn't let up until the other boy ceased to fight back. When he finally dropped his fist, Matsu was just staring up at him, on the verge of losing consciousness. He was covered in mud, and the blood coming from his nose was beginning to merge with his dark brown hair. Standing up, Hidan crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out. "My dad is too the best shinobi in the village, so there!" he taunted before turning around and stalking off towards the village.
          Matsu picked himself up off the ground. Wiping the dirt and blood off his face, he glared through his swelling eyes at the other boy's back. "I'll get you for that, Hidan! Just wait!" he yelled.
          Hidan ignored him and kept walking. After a moment, he heard the other boy's rapid footsteps as he ran in the opposite direction, towards the mountain ravine. Looking up at the cloudy sky, Hidan guessed it was around lunchtime. He'd better get home and changed soon, or his dad would find out he was in another fight and yell at him. And if he wasn't at the table by the time the meal was served, his mother would make him wait until dinner before he could eat again. Picking up his pace, he started running down the main street of the small village. The cool mountain air soothed his swelling face, and as he passed one of the many springs scattered through the town, he stopped to wash the blood off his face in the warm water before continuing on. He was nearly to his house when a commotion at the head elder's house caught his attention and he stopped. Several people were talking in raised voices, and his curiosity overcame his growling stomach. So, wet and muddy, he walked over to see what was going on.
          When he reached the edge of the elder's garden, he was surprised to see his father and Matsu's dad standing there. A couple of other shinobi he didn't recognize were there as well. Their backs were to him, so Hidan slunk closer. Between them was a girl around his age. She was thin and pale, and her long white hair hung to her waist. The shinobi had her by the arms, but instead of staring at the ground, she was looking straight ahead. She was wearing a kimono that looked like it had been nice once, but now it was torn and dirty, with several mended places. Her feet were bare, and her exposed legs had several large scratches on them that looked like they came from running through brush. The elder had bent down and was looking at her, and Hidan saw the hint of fear on the old man's face.
          "Tell me child, where are you from?" he asked her. She just stared straight at him and did not answer.
          "Can you not speak?" Still no reply.
          "I still say she's a demon in disguise, elder. I've never seen any child that could run so fast." Hidan's father was saying.
          "You probably scared her." the elder replied.
          "And what about her eyes?" Matsu's father asked. "You can tell just by looking at her that there's something wrong."
          Straightening back up, the elder shook his head. "It's possible that she possesses a bloodline limit, although I've never heard of a clan with looks like hers."
          "What do you want us to do with her?" Hidan's father asked.
          Hidan never heard the elder's reply. He was curious about what the girl's eyes looked like. It had to be something amazing to scare grown shinobi like that. Especially his father, who was afraid of nothing. Edging closer, he tried to look at her face. The movement caught the girl's attention, and she turned her head to look at him. His ice blue eyes widened as their gazes locked. Her eyes were jet black, with no pupils. Flat with almost no expression, they really did make her look like a demon had possessed her. As he stared at her, he felt himself getting sucked into their soulless depths, and his vision began to blur. Shaking his head to clear it, he suddenly found that he was surrounded by darkness, completely alone. The girl was gone, along with his father, the other shinobi and the elder. It was suddenly very cold. A snowflake drifted in front of his vision. It was snowing? That wasn't possible, it was already late spring. Looking up at the sky, he watched as flake after flake drifted down from a black sky. He followed their path, but instead of landing on the ground, they continued to fall through the blackness far below him.
          Fear washed over him as his eyes darted around for any signs of life. He tried walking forward, but found he was rooted to the spot, unable to move. His uneasiness turned to panic and he frantically called out. "Hello! Is anyone here?"
          There was silence for a long moment before a light wind picked up and began blowing. It swirled the snow around him, but as it gained in strength, he realized it wasn't a breeze at all, but a whispering voice. He had to listen hard, but he finally was able to make out what was being said. "Hello." the whispers greeted. "Who are you?"
          He looked around to find the source of the whispering, but all he could see was the darkness and the snow. This place was strange and confusing, and he had no idea how to get back to the village.
          Maybe whoever was out there could help him. Taking a deep breath, he answered. "Hidan. Who are you?"
          "Yume."
          "Where am I at, Yume?" he demanded.
          "With me."
          "That doesn't tell me anything! Where's my father?" he asked forcefully.
          The breeze blew harder, and Hidan could have sworn he heard laughter. Then it settled down again and the whispering was back. "I like you. You aren't afraid of me. Will you be my friend?"
          "Your friend? I don't even know where you are. Or where I am. Do you know how to get back to the village?"
          Before she had time to answer, Hidan felt his vision begin to blur again and suddenly someone was shaking his shoulder hard. Blinking his eyes, he looked around to find that he was back in the elder's garden. Everyone was still there, and everyone except the girl was looking at him. His father was now beside him, his hand on his shoulder. Looking up at him, Hidan grinned with relief. "Father!"
          His father looked down at him sternly. "Hidan, what are you doing here? You should be at home having lunch with your mother."
          Hidan gazed around. He evidently hadn't gone anywhere, so what happened to him? That voice had come from somewhere, but where? Maybe if he tried to talk to it again, it would answer. "Yume?" Hidan called out. The girl turned as he said the name, her head bobbing in a slight nod. Hidan was shocked. She was the one that had been talking to him?
          "I guess you were dreaming. You haven't moved in almost five minutes. Now go on home and tell your mother I'll be there shortly." his father commanded.
         Giving his father a rebellious look, Hidan started to step back into the street. As he did, he looked back over his shoulder. The girl was still staring at him. Grinning at her, he nodded back. The corners of her lips tugged upward for just an instant before she turned back around to stare blankly ahead again. Hurrying home, he washed up and changed. His mother was already setting the table when he entered the dining room. As he slid into his seat, he didn't bother with trying to hide his red and swollen nose. She wouldn't notice it anyway. She was too busy making sure that the house and herself were absolutely perfect. He could come in riding a goat, and unless it decided to eat her tatami mats, she wouldn't pay him any attention. His father came in a few minutes later, and after giving thanks, began to eat.
          "That elder, is a fool, seriously." his father said between bites. "There's something wrong with that girl, and he's going to take her under his wing like mute orphans just appear in hidden villages every day. She's probably a spy." Hidan's attention perked up. Maybe he would learn some more about that strange girl with the black eyes.
          "What are you talking about, husband?" Hidan's mother asked.
          After describing the girl and how he and the other shinobi found her trying to steal food from the meager village market, Hidan's father told them that the elder had decided to let the girl stay with him until someone showed up to claim her, or she left on her own. Hidan's mother shook her head. "Poor thing. And the elder's probably right. Her eyes are most likely colored that way because of a bloodline limit. And if that's the case, she could be a real asset to the village."
          "If that's the case," His father started, irritation in his voice, "It's probably for a dojutsu. Mark my words, she'll have us all caught in a genjutsu and slitting each other's throats before we know what hit us."
          Hidan's blue eyes widened. Genjutsu. Is that what happened to him in the garden? It must have been, because he was looking straight into Yume's eyes before everything went weird. But his father had to be wrong about her being bad. He didn't feel any hostility coming from her at all. Since she hadn't spoken to anyone, maybe that was the only way she could talk. And apparently, the only one she had talked to was him. Feeling proud that she had chosen him to be her friend, he finished his lunch with a secretive smile on his face. Maybe tomorrow he would go find her again and see if she would talk to him some more. He was just about to rise from the table when the sound of running outside caught his attention. Moments later, loud pounding sounded on the front door. His mother went to answer it, and soon escorted Matsu's father in. He was breathing heavily, and he had a worried look on his face.
          "Come quickly." he said. "Matsu fell into the ravine and he's hurt badly. I think his legs are broken."
          Raising an eyebrow, Hidan's father turned and looked at him. For the first time he noticed the condition of his face and his red knuckles. "Hidan, you were playing with Matsu this morning. What happened? Did you two get into a fight?"
          Hidan swallowed hard and dropped his gaze. He had the feeling he was about to be in a lot of trouble.

          Dawn was just breaking over the mountain when ten year old Hidan jumped out of bed. Rushing over to his closet, he pulled on his favorite long sleeved shirt and pants. Slipping his sandals on, he pulled his shoulder length hair into a low ponytail before running out of his room and into the kitchen. Grabbing a rice ball for breakfast, he headed out the door and down the street. If he didn't hurry, he was going to be late. He had nearly passed the elder's house when he caught sight of Yume, sitting in the garden, staring straight ahead. It was freezing out, but never once in the five years he had known her, had Hidan seen her bothered by the cold. The fact that she was sitting there wasn't unusual in itself; but it was the first day of ninja academy, and the last thing he had heard, she was supposed to start with his class.
          Coming to a halt, he stared at her until he caught her attention. He didn't bother calling aloud to her. She still hadn't spoken a word to anyone, himself included. And unless she was doing one of the household chores for the elder, she sat in the garden, in the same spot, staring ahead into nothing. To the rest of the village, she was a living statue. But nearly every day, whenever he saw her, she would pull him into her genjutsu, where it was always dark and snowy, and talk to him with those odd whispers. It had only taken a day for him to lose his fear of the place, and the more they talked, the more he enjoyed being there. And before he knew it, they were close friends. Near polar opposite in personality, she was always quiet and reserved where he was boisterous and opinionated.
          Yume slowly turned her head and looked at him. His vision blurred and he felt the now familiar blackness settle around him. The snow started coming down, but instead of drifting like it usually did, it was pouring down furiously. It settled on his head and shoulders, and soon he had a thin white layer everywhere it landed. Looking into the dark, Hidan frowned.
          "Yume, what's wrong? Why aren't you at the academy by now?"
          She didn't answer him for what seemed like forever, but finally, the breeze picked up, and he could make out her whispered voice. "I can't go."
          "Why not?" he yelled in shock.
          "The counsel said that because I wouldn't speak, I couldn't communicate with a team and teaching me anything would be pointless. But I knew they were lying. They are afraid of me."
          "That's so damn stupid!" he protested. "And they call themselves shinobi." No wonder she was upset. She had been really excited when the elder told her she would be going to the Academy. They had talked about nothing else for a month. Suddenly, he had an idea and he grinned. "Well, screw everyone else; you're still going to be the best damn kunoichi in Hot Water. Meet me at the spring outside the village every day after school is over. You know, the one no one ever goes to. I'll tell my father I'm out training, and I'll teach you everything I learn."
          The snow suddenly shifted, letting up until it was lazily drifting again. He took this as a good sign, and he waited until he heard the whispering that was the only sign of her consciousness. "Alright."
          Hidan felt his vision begin to blur as she released him from the genjutsu. When he came to, she was still sitting there, staring into nothing. He watched her for a minute, before he remembered he would be late, then turned and was going to start running towards the academy, but instead came face to face with Matsu. The spiky headed brunette smirked at him, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't know why you're always staring at her, Hidan. It's not like you'll ever get the Demon Princess to talk."
          Hidan glared at him, his clear blue eyes oozing malice. He never told anyone about sharing Yume's genjutsu; she didn't want the villagers to judge him for befriending her. But that didn't mean he couldn't defend her. "She's not a demon! You take that back!" he yelled.
          Matsu's smirk deepened. "Or maybe you think she's your girlfriend. I always knew the best you could do was a lifeless doll."
          Hidan went to grab him and punch him in the nose. But Matsu ducked and took off down the street, towards the academy. Giving chase, Hidan ran after him. They had just reached the front door when Hidan tackled him to the ground. Matsu rolled under him and raised his arms to block the punch he knew was coming. Hidan raised his fist, and was ready to swing down when his arm was grabbed from behind. Looking up, he found the teacher of the academy standing over him, a frown on his face. "Hidan, Matsu, knock it off."
          As soon as Hidan's arm was released, both boys scrambled to their feet, bowing before the teacher. "Gomen." they apologized in unison before glaring at each other.
          "Shinobi must not let their temper get the better of them. You would both be wise to learn this lesson. Now get inside, Hidan. The first class is about to start." he instructed.
          "Hai, sensei." Hidan replied sulkily before turning and heading up the steps to the front door.
          "What about me?" Matsu asked.
          "I'm afraid that with your weak legs, you won't be able to complete shinobi training. I'm sorry, Matsu, but the counsel didn't accept your application for the academy."
          "But... why? My whole family is shinobi; it's been our way of life since the founding of the village! How can I not be a shinobi?" he yelled in hurt anger.
          Hidan waited to see if Matsu would get into trouble for such blatant disrespect. The teacher just shook his head sadly. "I think it's best that you go home now, Matsu."
          Hidan was still standing at the top of the steps when Matsu looked up at him, fury on his face. "This is all your fault, Hidan! If you hadn't swelled my eyes shut, I never would have fallen and gotten hurt. You're going to pay for this shame on my family!" he yelled before turning and stalking down the street towards his house. Hidan just shrugged and walked inside. It wasn't his fault Matsu wasn't watching where he was going.
          That afternoon, Hidan headed outside the village. As he approached the hot spring, he started looking around for Yume. He didn't see her anywhere at first, but as the steam let up, he spotted her sitting on the edge, staring into the water. Walking over to her, he tapped her on the shoulder. She looked up at him, her black eyes focusing on his chin. "Are you ready?" he asked.
          Nodding, she rose, her waist length white hair floating around her as she stood. Pulling two kunai out of his new weapons pouch, Hidan handed her one. "Okay, the first thing we did was target practice." he said, completely unaware of the pair of angry brown eyes watching them from behind a nearby tree.

          Hidan twirled his sword in his hand as he walked. He admired the way the blade glinted in the light as it moved, and the soft rushing sound it made as it sliced through the wind. He was a mile away from the village now, on his way back from his first mission as a jounin. His father would be proud. Only seventeen years old, and already he had distinguished himself by graduating at the top of his class and maintaining a perfect record of completed missions. The elders occasionally reprimanded him for excessive violence on missions, but he always got the job done, so they didn't complain too much. Hidan sighed loudly. If only the old man hadn't gotten sick, he would be around to share in his son's accomplishments. He was the best ninja in the village, just like his father had been, and he didn't even live long enough to see it happen. A slight whisper of sound caught his attention, and he sheathed his katana. Well, there was actually one ninja who was better than he was. Yume. They still trained together in secret almost every day, and she was better at everything than him. Everything except dodging. If she weren't faster, she would never land a blow when they sparred.
          Waiting until his teammates passed him, he came to a halt. The kunoichi of the trio, Matsu's sister, turned and gave him an inviting look. "Aren't you coming, Hidan-kun? We're almost home." she said silkily. It was no secret that she liked him, and she tried all the time to lure him to her side. He had to admit, he enjoyed the attention that she and the other young women of the village showered on him because of his good looks. But he was no fool. She was as sneaky as her brother, and would turn on him the second he wasn't convenient.
          "You guys go on ahead and give the elders our report. I'll be there in a few minutes." he replied.
          Pouting, she turned back around and kept walking with their other teammate. Hidan watched as they made it to a bend in the road and disappeared out of sight. It was only when their chakra signatures had faded as well that he heard the slight whoosh as Yume dropped out of the tree he was standing under to land directly behind him. If he weren't so used to her near silence, he would have missed her completely. Even Matsu had gone from calling her the Demon Princess to the Demon Ghost. Turning and facing her, Hidan looked her over. He had only been gone a week, but it still seemed as if she had changed. Her hair was still the same waist length white cascade she always wore, and her eyes were still the same flat black with a blank expression. Even her skin was as pale as ever. But she wasn't as thin as he remembered. She had a woman's body now. Her soft curves flowed over her well-toned muscles in a way that sent his thoughts to places that he should never be going with his best friend.
          Lifting his eyes to her face, he locked gazes with her and waited for her to begin her genjutsu. She stared at him for several moments before he felt his vision blur as he was pulled into the darkness. The snow began, large flakes that marched down into the blackness. He was finally learning to read her moods by the snow, and this time, he had the impression that she was sad about something. The snowflakes closest to him swirled around his body, as if she were trying to touch him in her disembodied form. He had finally gained some mobility in this state, so he sat down, holding out his hand to let the falling snow settle in his palm. Yume still hadn't spoken yet, so he blew the snow from his palm and spoke.
          "Yume, what's wrong?"
          "The village is going to war." the whispers echoed around him.
          "With who?" he asked in a surprised voice.
          "Everyone. The elders had a meeting with the ambassador from Kumogakure. The five great villages are practically at each other's throats. They are hiring all the available ninja from their allied villages. Yours was the last team to come back. You have to leave for Kumo tomorrow."
          Hidan was silent. He didn't want to tell her that he was excited by the news, because he knew that she didn't want him to go. She would be left here alone, with no one to talk to, surrounded by people that feared her. He could tell her to come with him, but as soon as she was discovered missing, the head elder would search for her until she was returned safely. He was the only one other than Hidan who cared what happened to her. He had become like her father, even though neither one of them would claim the relationship. Standing back up, he forced a smile. "Well then, I'm counting on you to protect the village until I return. Kami knows, that retard Matsu would have the place overrun by bandits in a month."
          She didn't answer him, and instead, released him from the genjutsu. By the time he came to, she was already gone. With a frown, he walked the rest of the way back to the village. His mission debriefing was short, and soon he was instructed to go home and pack. The chosen shinobi would be leaving at first light for Kumogakure. As he walked towards his house, he kept an eye out for Yume, but she was nowhere in sight. Opening the front door, he waited to see if his mother would come out and greet him. He didn't know why he bothered; she barely even acknowledged his presence anymore. Since his father had died, she slowly started losing her mind. Now the only things she did were obsessively rearranging the house and chattering on to people who weren't there. She must be in her room at the moment, because the only noises he could hear were her soft shuffling coming from that direction.
          The silence in the room with him was suddenly oppressive, and Hidan slammed the door shut as hard as he could. He ran a hand through his shoulder length silver hair. "Fuck!" he yelled in frustration.
          His mother poked her head out of her bedroom door. "Don't shout, Hidan. You'll wake your father." she chided. Ignoring her, Hidan stomped to his room and slammed the door.
          The next morning, Hidan shouldered his heavy pack and headed down the street. He had barely slept at all last night, and the intense morning light made his eyes swell and water. He started past the elder's house, when a hint of movement caught his attention. There was Yume, sitting in the garden, the way she always did. He stopped and waited for her to look at him. She just stared straight ahead, her eyes never wavering. He waited a few minutes more and still she didn't move. When it was evident that she wasn't going to talk to him, he stalked over to her. As soon as he stopped in front of her, twin tears fell from her black eyes, tracking their way down her pale cheeks. She was crying? She never cried. And from the way she acted yesterday, he had a feeling it had to do with him leaving today. Feeling awkward and unsure, he leaned forward and brushed them away with his thumb. He then dropped a chaste kiss on the top of her head and turned to walk away. When he reached the street, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder at her.
          "I'll be back. Seriously, there's no need to cry, Yume." he said with a grin. Turning back around, he continued down the street, a frown on his face. Watching his best friend cry bothered him even more than he was willing to admit. He was barely out of sight when a woman's pained scream shattered the stillness of the morning. He instinctively knew it was her, and his heart turned over. But he couldn't turn around. If he did, he would never be able to leave again. So he forced himself to keep walking, and one last time her voice rent the air before going silent.
          "HIDAN!"
          Icy blue eyes hardened. Damn them for this. If only they had let her go to the academy, she would be leaving with him, instead of ripping his heart out and staying behind.
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Shades of Crimson