Wandering Heathens

Bounties Cashed

Kakuza walked solemnly, holding her briefcase close to her. It contained the mission's funds but most importantly, it contained the scroll that held the bounties. She wanted to get them to the nearest Bounty Office as quickly as she could because any deterioration of the body would lead to a lesser payment.

"Are you sure the bodies don't decompose while in the scroll?" She asked Ryuu for the umpteenth time. "YES! I'm sure the bodies don't decompose! How do I know? Experience and Shinjo" he said. "What would Shinjo need carrier scrolls for bodies for?" She enquired. "Oh, bit of this, bit of that" Ryuu said dismissively. Kakuza frowned but dropped the subject.

"Can we take a damned break?!" Hida asked while sitting on a rock. "No. We're not far. You can rest when we get there" Kakuza responded, continuing to walk. "C'mon, I'll keep ya company" Ryuu offered Hida and she reluctantly got up, complaining about Kakuza's abuses. "You're awfully quiet," Ryuu whispered to Shinjo who nodded at his presence. "Just thinking" he said. Ryuu rolled his eyes, "Kami give me strength... it was one kiss. One. And now you've gone all monotonous on me" he complained. "It's monogamous, not monotonous" Shinjo corrected. "Same shit" Ryuu complained, throwing his hands in the air. Shinjo looked at Hida, "I never said I was monogamous. I just enjoyed the kiss." Ryuu's eyes brightened, "you're still free, eh? I've been thinking about Hida..." Both men tilted their heads together and began whispering amongst themselves.

"The fuck are you two talking about?" "Nothing" "Don't you fucking ignore me! I WILL NOT BE IGNORED! I AM JASHIN'S CHOSEN ONE!" Hida yelled as everyone continued walking and talking. She pouted but followed. When Shinjo reached out to squeeze her shoulder, she smiled.

They reached the Bounty Office as the sun began setting. It was a ramshackle wooden structure that had seen better days and was filled with raucous laughter and cups being slammed on the beaten wooden tables. When the four walked in the office went deadly silent.  Kakuza confidently strode to the main desk where a one eyed, scarred shinobi sat chewing on the end of an unlit cigar. He flashed his yellowed teeth and Kakuza suppressed a shudder.

She placed her briefcase on the counter, unlocked it and removed the scroll. She unrolled the scroll and Shinjo pulled the bodies out of it. "Hmmmm curious," the Bounty Officer said, "a smart way to carry a body..." He pulled the latest edition of the Bingo Book towards him and compared the faces. "Congratulations, you've killed two of them. Total bounty: 500 million ryo" he said as he stacked cash in front of Kakuza who placed them in her briefcase. "Pleasure doing business with you" he leered at Kakuza. She turned away, wordlessly, while Shinjo rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his robes.

They left the Office and stood outside for a minute. "What the fuck do we do now?" Hida complained. "I have to investigate someone close to here so you stay with them. I'll meet you back in Ame" Kakuza said. "What?! But I always fucking go with you! Don't leave me here with shit-for-brains and Shinjo!" "OI, "shit-for-brains'? That's not very nice!" "Silence! You will stay with them while I take care of my task. Here is some money. Rent a bed and a meal. Be back in Ame in a few days."  With those final words and after tossing a stack of money to Shinjo, Kakuza leaped into the trees and disappeared.

Hida stood looking into the trees, hoping to see her partner but she was gone. She slumped over her scythe in disappointment and sighed bitterly. "Always getting left behind..." she muttered. "Hey" Shinjo said softly, "let's go." Hida got to her feet and began following them, dragging her scythe with one blade creating a furrow in the ground as they walked.

They reached a small inn as the rain began falling harder on them. Bursting through the doors, they ended up in a pile on the floor. After much cursing, pushing and hitting, they managed to untangle themselves. Hida approached the counter. "I need two rooms and a hot fucking bath. None of that fancy female shit either!" The landlady nodded and passed two keys across the counter. Grabbing one, Hida sauntered to her room, closing the door loudly.

Taking the last key, Shinjo and Ryuu went to their room. They quietly stripped off their wet clothes, throwing them into a basket and placing it out in the hall for the workers to clean and fix. After they had taken scalding hot showers to clean themselves and warm up, they lounged on their beds, inspecting and fixing weapons, reading and making small talk.

A knock at their door caused them to pause in their tasks. The door slowly opened and Hida came in, carrying a laden tray in her arms, followed by the landlady. "Dinner is served, bitches!" She said as she placed the tray on the small table in the room. She took the other tray from the landlady and with mild cursing, pushed her out of the room. Hida then took a spot at the table, broke apart her chopsticks and began eating. "You gonna eat?" She asked them with a mouthful of food.

Shinjo and Ryuu shrugged and joined Hida. They passed a pleasant evening together with Hida enjoying the attentions of both men. When the meal was complete and the trays taken outside, Hida remained sitting in their room. "You should go and get some sleep" Ryuu said to her, softly. She shook her head, "I'm not tired. Besides, that room sucks! It's cold and drafty and empty and Kakuza isn't in it!" Shinjo and Ryuu passed a look between them, "there's only two beds here so...you gotta go somewhere" Shinjo said. "I want to stay with you" she said, looking down at the floor.

"Well...we could, uh, push the beds together?" Ryuu asked Shinjo. "Yeah, that might work?" He asked in return. "Yes!" Hida cheered and watched them combine the beds. Once done, she jumped in and snuggled into the middle, drawing the covers up to her chin as she buried herself in comfort. Shinjo and Ryuu got in on either side of her and blew out the lanterns, casting the room into darkness. The moon was full so there were silver rays lighting the room.

Shinjo lay on his back looking at the ceiling. Soon they would be back in Ame and he could rendezvous with Sasori on how the seal research was coming. Ryuu lay on one side, softly stroking Hida's bare shoulder, wondering what awaited him back in Ame. Perhaps Tobi would stop by and return his book. He smiled and kissed Hida's shoulder before laying his head on his pillow and closing his eyes.

Hida felt the kiss on her skin. She smiled in her sleep and nuzzled into Shinjo a little more, dreaming of love and happiness.