No Room for Another Heart (Kakuzu fanfiction)

The Search Begins

Ikari's p.o.v.

I followed Kakuzu back to the hideout silently. I couldn't get him out of my mind, how broken he sounded. I wanted to take the pain from him. As soon as we returned to the hideout, Kakuzu went directly for his room and shut the door. No slam, no grumbling, just a silent retreat. I never would have imagined I could see Kakuzu so hurt. All of these years he's been keeping that bottled in. It felt amazing that he told all of it to me but...I hated that I couldn't do anything. I returned to my room with a sigh as Fukushu spoke in my head. "You know, hearing his story makes me think of ours...do you think we should start trying to figure things out?" I pondered for a minute, looking at the blank walls which surrounded me. I wanted to know, I wanted to know who killed my parents and why. He was right, we've been through a lot just like Kakuzu...maybe thats why I felt so bad for him.

I could picture Kakuzu's eyes. They were so much softer and sad. It made my heart sink just thinking about them. I sighed and nodded to myself. "Yeah...let's figure this out. So, you keep making remarks that indicate you knew my Dad, explain," Fukushu took a minute to recollect before I felt his presence attempt to wash over me. "Let's talk face to face," I nodded and closed my eyes allowing the flames to overtake me. The next sight I saw was the darkness of my mind once again. This time, no view of the outside. I looked around before I saw him, the monstrous form of Fukushu.

Adorned in regal blue flames that flickered in the darkness, Fukushu neared me revealing his massive form. At least fifteen feet high and twenty feet long, Fukushu was a monster if there ever was one. His eyes glew like beautiful blue furnaces with pure white pupils within. Fukushu began to shrink in size as he drew near until he was the size of a regular wolf. I could feel the heat radiating off of his hide being only a few feet away. "Oh...so thats what you look like," Fukushu chuckled, nodding his head as he turned his head up to me. "Yes, this is me. Its nice to see you for the first time like this," I reached my hand out timidly, wanting to try and touch his snout. Fukushu must have understood my curiosity and nuzzled his head into my palm. His fur was warm and soft, the flames merely licked over my hand. I smiled and pet his head for a moment causing his tail to wag. Funny, such a ferocious looking beast and yet he has the same weakness as any other dog.

Fukushu pulled away before sitting down looking to the spot in front of him which I promptly filled with a plop. "So, I suppose you'd like me to start from the beginning," I nodded my head as Fukushu closed his burning eyes before opening them again. "I was summoned only a year before you were born. I am a hell hound," My eyes widened with amazement as Fukushu shook his head. "I'm afraid its not as interesting as it sounds. I am merely a guard dog of the afterlife. My kin and I are simy tasked with safeguarding the souls which reside there. We are powerful, but nothing like Tailed Beast." Fukushu's voice rang through the empty area as I listened intently. "As I said I am a hell hound. One way or another, your father and others summoned me. The jutsu they used is unknown to me and I sadly know nothing more than what the others looked like. As you may guess I was angered by their meddling and was going to drag them to the afterlife with me as I returned. However, before I could, they realized my strength and unwillingness to comply. They sealed me within your father, Yoki."

The mention of Dad's name instantly brought back the few memories I had of him. I looked down to my hands trying to hold in the tears. Fukushu paused a moment, giving me a chance to collect myself, before continuing. "I asked what they wanted with me to which your father revealed they planned to use me to exact revenge on the Hidden Leaf after the Third Ninja War. I asked who they were to which he told me the Hidden Sand and its allies. Now sadly I know nothing of the villages so I'm not sure who the allies in question are. What I do know is your father lost most of his family to the Hidden Leaf during the war and it turned his heart to revenge. I did all I could to break free of the seal that imprisoned me but to no avail. Your father was a powerful shinobi, plenty strong enough to contain me. So I had to wait until they would use me. Months passed of them planning. The allies he met with never wore headbands, my assumption to make sure they were not discovered. Until one day, a miracle happened. Your mother Saryu revealed she was pregnant with you."