See, I told you I was working on the next chapter! And summer is nearly here. And guess what! Today's my Birfdayyy, I'm officially old enough to get tattoos and extra piercings...not that I'd really want any of that :P I'm happy the way I am.

This Chapter was a bit difficult to write. Mostly because the time line was giving me issues. The part where Hidan is forced to eat Sakura's cooking should be somewhere in this chapter, but I just wanted to put it in, anyway. Because I'm stupid, duh.

There's a bit on the end if you'll stick around for it, please:D also, check out my deviantart cuz theres a bit of hidasaku stuff from the oekaki board that i put up even though its not related to this fic

Morbid Curiosity Chapter 17

Count the sheep and go to sleep...unless they're zombie sheep, of course.

FLASHBACK!

The night that Hidan was brought to Sakura’s house from the hospital was a weird one, to say the least. When the medics that carried him in (since he was still asleep and couldn’t very well carry his own weight yet) asked her where to put him, Sakura immediately told them her room, with an image of the tiny shoebox with it’s cushion in her head. So when the medics came down and told her that he’d been tucked in and was still asleep, she told them ‘Ok, that’s fine. I’ll check up on him soon.’ and continued brewing her tea. About five minutes later, when she arrived at her bedroom door, stepped in, and flicked on the lights, she heard a masculine groan and spilt her tea all over herself because the image of seeing a half-naked man lying in her bed was... quite shocking.

She had to backtrack and remember that Hidan had just gotten his body back … and that’s when she felt the burning wetness all over her shirt front from the scalding tea she had unknowingly bathed in. Cursing under her breath, she held the soaked fabric away from her skin and made her way to her dresser to pull a clean shirt out. With Sakura’s hubbub, Hidan stirred awake and cracked open one eye and saw to his despair that her shirt lay in a soggy pile on the floor next to her dresser as she struggled to pull on a clean one. Mentally groaning, Hidan shut his eye and brought a hand up to cover his face. The small noise from the movement cause Sakura to pause.

…Oh crap!

You forgot he was there, didn’t you?

…again…

Then with the speed and agility of a tempered shinobi, she turned around in a split second and managed to pull her shirt on all the way at the same time. What she saw when she turned around forced her to get a warm, fuzzy feeling in her stomach because what Hidan was doing was so chivalrous, so genuine, and so uncommon- any girl would have melted. He was covering his eyes with his hand to keep from looking at her.

I guess chivalry was still around when he was growing up, huh?

Or maybe he’s just peeking at you between his fingers.

But of course, Sakura didn’t listen to the more logical side of her brain, she was too lost in the sweetness of the act. After a moment, she finally got over it and brusquely asked him if he was awake.

“Yeah, I’m just so freakin’ sore every way I turn….are you done?”

“Done with what?” Sakura didn’t want to bring it up, so she played dumb.

“Changing.”

Sakura nearly choked before she stuttered out a lame, “y-yeah, I’m done.”

Sighing, Hidan brought his hand down from his face and tilted his head forward to look at her,

“Seriously, you have stop doing that. Warn me next time, why don’t you?”

This statement from him brought on an entire series of thoughts from her, confirming some of her suspicions and negating others:

If he was looking, he wouldn’t have needed to ask.

What if he’s just playing you? He could be a great actor.

Aww, he’s asking me to warn him?

…Wait…he’s asking me to warn him? He didn’t enjoy the view?

But of course, her next exclamation was one that had Hidan sweating straight away, and it wasn’t because of his sore muscles.

“This has happened before?” It didn’t even sound like a question, the way she worded it. It was more of a statement that was daring him to prove it wrong with the little question mark tacked on at the end. This time, it was Hidan’s turn to choke a little before all the blood in his body began rushing to his face, as if that would turn him invisible.

And that’s when it dawned on her. Her mouth hung open just a little. Seeing Hidan turn pink for the first time, she realized that every other time she’d seen him blush, there had always been an awkward conversation coming from him afterwards.

Oh God…He didn’t…I mean…

Yes. Yes he did.

Every time I…he …Oh... God…I can’t believe it…

How could you be so naïve?

I-I…it just…Ohhh…

“I spilled some tea on myself, it was hot…” Sakura said lamely as her skin began it’s journey to match Hidan’s own.

“Oh.” Hidan sat up and the covers slid down to his waist. He ran his hand through his hair then stared at his hands in his lap. His shirt was unbuttoned most of the way and hung loose on his frame. She could clearly see his chest. And it clearly signified that he was in fact, a shinobi. “It feels good to be back. Seriously, really good. I can finally get to that itch on the back of my neck.”

Sakura had to force herself not to gape at the fine male specimen in her bed. In her bed. Oh…that’s right.

Nooo! Don’t do it!

I have to! It’s not right!

We can make it right!

No!

“Umm…Hidan?” Sakura hid her hands behind her back because she was starting to do that thing with her fingers that Hinata always did around Naruto.

“What?” He looked up at her.

“You can’t sleep in my room anymore…you see…there’s only one bed and you… don’t….fit in the shoebox ….”

He definitely does not fit in that shoebox anymore.

Quiet!

“Oh”

“Yeah….there’s a spare bed in the room over, you can sleep there.”

Hidan didn’t have any qualms about it, especially considering that when he realized what Sakura was talking about, he got a bit more pink in the face. Although, a small part of him was wondering what would have happened if he didn’t agree, there was a bigger part of him that just wanted to rest without want to deal with any problems that would keep him from it, i.e. Arguing with Sakura.

Eventually, Sakura had helped Hidan get up and go to the next room and finally go to sleep. When she got back to her own, she shut the door and leaned against it, breathing somewhat heavier due to something other then physical effort of having Hidan lean against her as she helped him get into bed. Really, how could she not have noticed how really-really-ridiculously-good-looking Hidan was, until now? Well, ok. It was pretty obvious to her that he was hot just by looking at his head. She had found that out on that first night, so long ago. But seriously? Even during the re-attachment operation, she hadn’t noticed. How was it possible not to? Easy. Sakura had simply been monitoring his condition, not actually observing the rest of his body. If she had, well, then she would have felt this uncomfortable even before the medics brought a reassembled Hidan into her home. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a bad feeling of discomfort…it was the type she got whenever she had been around Sasuke in her genin years.

Sighing, she slid down against the door and raked her fingers through her hair. It had been a really rough day for her and Hidan both. It was better to just go to sleep.

--

The following day, Hidan basically slept unless he had to eat or drink. It was a few hours after his first meal that he realized he had to go to the bathroom, and that he would have to start going regularly. At first, Hidan tried to hold it and hid his discomfort well, but eventually Sakura noticed and prodded him with awkward questions until he finally told her what was wrong. When she offered to help, he shouted at the indecency of the idea and forced himself out of sheer stubbornness and willpower to get out of bed and creep towards the bathroom all on his own. He was offended that she even suggested it, and embarrassed that she had had to, but amazingly, he proved to her that he was a lot stronger when he needed to be.

END OF FLASHBACK!

That’s when she realized that perhaps idly resting his body would not help him recover as fast as real training and proper diet would. Hidan of course, grumbled at the idea, but he really had no choice but to give in and do as the medic told him.

And that was how he found himself a week later, in a field, running away from Naruto’s attacks. Since Sakura said that she wouldn’t heal him if he got hurt during training because his body was his responsibility and not hers, he was forced to protect his body and avoid getting run through with kunai. He didn’t need any extra holes in his body. They just got annoying and made it hard to sleep with all the bleeding and festering. Besides, he didn’t want to ruin Sakura’s bed sheets.

Hidan wasn’t allowed to fight with weapons yet. All he had was a wooden staff that he wasn’t wielding very well. And then Naruto started chasing him with a glowing, blue ball of spinning chakra.

“Ahhh! Jashin help me!” Hidan yelled as he ran away like a pansy from Naruto and his Rasengan. He used his staff to catapult around, but that was all he could do. He hated running away like a pansy. It was a very unmanly and undignified thing to do.

“Make it bigger, Naruto! He’s too slow!” Sakura pumped her fist in the air from the sidelines as she watched their training progress. Hidan spared a second to send an incredulous look her way.

“Do you WANT him to freakin’ kill me?!”

“Don’t worry Naruto! You won’t hurt him too bad! He’ll survive!”

“Raaaseng-“

“SAKURAA!!”

There was a loud crack similar to thunder except, rather then coming from above, it came from where Sakura had last seen Hidan and Naruto. Suddenly the trees in that area violently shook and the biggest of them came crashing down in a pile of splintered wood and leaves. Naruto jumped out of the fray but she couldn’t see Hidan. Sakura gasped as she shot towards the mess.

“Naruto! Did you hit him? Where is he?!” her voice carried thick tones of worry this time rather then the cheering optimism from before. Before Naruto could tell her anything, she started lifting the bigger pieces of the tree and tossing them every which way as she searched for Hidan.

“Hidan?! Can you hear me? Are you okay? Hidan!”

“What?” His nonchalant voice came from behind her. She spun around and lo and behold, there he was, panting mildly. A few scratches on his face and a long gash along his forearm, but thankfully, in one piece. And then, when he saw her panicked face he took a step forward with a smug smile playing on his lips, “Aw were you worried about me? Seriously, Jashin-sama takes care of me pretty well when I need it.”

Immediately, Sakura’s expression changed as she stalked towards him and gave him a good knock on the head, “No! I just don’t want to see your guts spilling everywhere and have to sew you back up!”

“Ow! What was that for?!” Hidan rubbed his head where a large bump was beginning to form.

“I though Jashin-sama takes care of you?”

“That was uncalled for!”

“You should have been faster!” and with that, Sakura ‘hmphed’ and walked away.

“But Sakura-chan , he’s getting better.” Naruto pointed out after having a good laugh at Hidan’s expense. Unfortunately, that earned him a knock on the head as well.

“Unless you two can avoid that the next time it happens, neither of you are improving. I’m going home.” Sakura said over her shoulder as she headed out of the training field.

“But Sakura-chan why would we avoid you?”

“I can think of a few good reasons.” Hidan smirked, wiping blood from his arm onto his shirt as he stood next to Naruto and watched Sakura retreat. Naruto gave him a wary look before bounding off,

“Well, I’m starving, I’m going to Ichiraku’s. Best ramen ever! See you later.”

“Wait…what?!” Hidan looked around aghast as he was left alone in the middle of a semi-destroyed training field.

“Jashin! Everyone just up and left me here! The Kyuubi brat didn’t even invite me to go eat. Dammit! Just because I wasn’t chasing him with giant balls of chakra doesn’t mean I’m not tired and hungry! It takes more energy to run away from those things then it does making them!” And so, Hidan complained and whined all to his lonesome self as he picked himself up, bracing against his staff, and made his way into town. Although it may have looked like he was oblivious to everything but himself as he stalked into town, he knew that the entire way, ANBU had been watching him from the shadows of surrounding trees; testing him to see if he would run away from Konoha if left alone and unguarded.

As soon as he stepped onto the main street, Shikamaru appeared from around the corner and casually strolled next to him.

“What are you doing here?” Hidan asked, turning a sour expression to the dark haired shinobi.

“Nothing. Just walking. You?”

“I just came back from training. Seriously, shouldn’t you know that already? What with you guys keeping tabs on me and all.”

Shikamaru simply shrugged. Hidan used his staff as a walking stick. Shikamaru eyed it.

“You don’t really need that anymore, do you? Your health is improving pretty fast.”

“It brings back memories.” Hidan didn’t look at him as they turned a corner to the next street.

“Fond ones, I’m sure.” Shikamaru stated dryly. Hidan grimaced.

“Not really. All you freakin’ heathens think the same. That I actually enjoy hurting people. That I enjoy pain.” Hidan shook his head as he looked Shikamaru. “Can’t you at least try to understand what my faith is about?”

“Not if it requires killing people.”

Hidan sighed and continued looking ahead, his voice changed tenor to something softer but more magnetic to the ears,

“My faith is my way of living. Religion is a way of life. I live trying to follow all of its rules and principles. For you, for everybody here, being a shinobi is a way of life, right? Aren’t you required to kill people, too?”

“It’s always for the better. The people we kill are trying to hurt the innocent.”

“That’s what I do.” At this, Shikamaru stiffened as memories of Asuma and his death came flooding back.

“You killed my sensei when he tried to kill you. How do you justify that? Are you saying that you were ‘innocent’?” The last word dripped like poison from Shikamaru’s mouth.

“I kill those that bring others unjustified pain.” Hidan stopped walking and leaned his forehead against his staff, letting the wooden grain massage into his skin as he closed his eyes. “And no, I’m not saying I’m innocent. I’m a shinobi. Shinobi are never innocent. We’re the dirtiest as people can get.”

Shikamaru’s anger appeared a little sated after this.

“So why don’t you just kill yourself?”

Hidan continued walking once more and after a moment, he simply said,

“I couldn’t even if I tried. And believe me, I’ve tried.” Shikamaru paused and stared after Hidan. His back was covered by a long cloak that flowed behind him as he walked, that is until a little boy ran out from between the nearby fruit stands and began tugging on it.

“Hey mister! Hey mister! Do you have any sheep?” Hidan paused and cocked an eyebrow at the child as he bent down to examine him.

“Eh?...Sheep? Why would I have sheep?” The boy pointed a finger at his staff,

“Well, you’re a shepherd, aren’t you? All shepherds have sheep!”

Hidan looked at his staff and his brow twitched, “I’m not some freakin’ shepherd kid, I’m a shinobi. Now beat it.” The child seemed to be contemplating what he said, so Hidan stood back up and began walking away before he felt another pull on his cloak.

“Then do you have any nin-sheep?”

“Argh!”

--

Later, in the Hokage’s office.

“So what do you have for me today? I heard Hidan did something to a civilian child, why haven’t you brought him in?” It seemed that Tsunade was just hunting for a reason not to trust Hidan. The quicker the decision on what to do with the ex-Akatsuki was made, the sooner she could get done worrying about him and Sakura.

Shikamaru stepped out of the shadows with a neutral face,

“…well…actually, I just wanted to let you that he hasn’t done anything. On the contrary, he stayed fairly calm. He didn’t try escaping when he was deliberately left alone in the training fields.”

“Did he do anything to the civilian?”

“…nothing I wouldn’t have done myself…”

“What did he do?” Tsunade demanded.

“He put the child on the roof of a building and told him to count sheep in the clouds.” Tsunade ‘hmphed’ at this,

“I’m sure you’ll approve of anything that has to do with your favorite past time.”

“Actually, I did join the kid on the roof for a few minutes before bringing him back down to his parents.”

“Typical.”

“What do you expect? It’s getting boring keeping an eye on him all the time.” Shikamaru shrugged.

“So are you suggesting we lessen the security on him?” Tsunade asked over steepled hands.

“I’m saying that he hasn’t shown any signs of trying to escape from Konoha. He doesn’t even seem to be thinking about breaking our deal.”

“hmmm….he’s only stayed within Konoha so far, we haven’t let him out yet, have we? And Sakura’s said that he’s fully healed and competent as a shinobi.” Tsunade tapped her rouged lip with a finger.

“A bigger test this time?” Shikamaru didn’t like the idea of doing anything more then watching from the shadows. He was just plain bored and tired. Hidan wasn’t doing anything.

“No. We don’t have time for tests anymore. I’ve heard that the Akatsuki are beginning to move again. SHIZUNE!”

--

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Hidan, get the door!” Sakura yelled from her study, her face half hidden behind a medical text which Hidan hadn’t joined in reading, saying something about how he didn’t need to know about his body since he could take anything out an examine it himself. Groaning, Hidan pulled his hands out of the sink of dirty dishes and rinsed them of the soap, since Sakura had put him on dish duty for no apparent reason other then to annoy him. As he made his way to the door, he grumbled about how he was a servant of Jashin and should not have to do such measly tasks as washing dishes. Upon opening the door, he found Shikamaru standing there, holding out a scroll.

“What’s this?” Hidan took the scroll from him.

“It’s a scroll, idiot. Just read it and find out.” Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Hidan scowled.

“I know that! Dammit, I’m asking what this is about! We haven’t gotten any scrolls before.”

“The Hokage is expecting you two later.” And with that, Shikamaru poofed away. Hidan looked at the scroll he was left with and made his way to Sakura in her study.

“Hey, Sakura….that one guy that hates me, Shika-something, gave me this just now.” Hidan held up the scroll for her to see. Without looking up, she sighed,

“His name is Shikamaru-“ Upon looking up and seeing the scroll’s specifically colored markings, she immediately put her medical texts down. “Hidan…”

“What?”

“That’s a mission scroll.”

Sooooo? How was it? And yes, if you haven't noticed, this is the last chapter for Morbid Curiosity. Stick around for the maybe-sequel that will possibly begin in late may. I'm pretty sure that's when I'll begin seeing Hidan in the anime. Oh, the inspiration.

I know there wasn't as much romance in this one, but it's hinting at it. Setting up the stage for the next story. Dawn of the Dead...yeah, yeah, stole the name of a craptastic movie, but there's symbolism within the title -wink wink-And I mean A LOT of symbolism.

Gimme Gimme 1 mo' tiem a really awesome, super fantastic review plz. TRY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING!! (i'm not yelling, simply excited)

QUESTIONQUESTION QUESTIONS! PREGUNTAS! POR FAVOR!

1-What was your favorite part in the entire story? (parts?) Anything you didn't like?

2- What do you want to see more of in the maybe-sequel? It will be in the Romance/Adventure genre, so not so much fluff :(

3- Any good jokes you can crack about Hidan's zombie body?

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW PLZ PLZPLZPLZPLZ

LOVE YOU ALL LOTS, Thanks so much for reading the entirety of my very first fanfic!

Maahiyum. Peace Out.