inseperable from the monster [ Rena ]

[Akanuma Satoshi]

Rain was a common sight to the dreary village of Amegakure and it was a living part of it, almost. It coated the streets and the buildings like it did every day and many walked through the rain like it was nothing but a natural happening. However, some did not stay in it for long or at all. One such case was a man who hid himself to the dimly let rooms of a tower within Amegakure. This man's blood red eyes stared out at the streets as his cloaked body sat in the window sill.

White hair touched his forehead and covered his ears, but this did not hide the tired look to his eyes. Insomnia played its predatorial state once more with this man. From head to toe, his body was wrapped in a cloak of some sort, which he used as a blanket. A sigh was elicited from the man's lips as he slid into the building and adjusted the cloak to be around him as he moved through the inner halls. In time, he came to a darkened bedroom where someone slept. This someone was Tsukiyama Rena, and she meant the world to this man. Her sleeping form was wrapped in a mess of blankets and so he decided to slip the cloak off him and slide into the bed. His right arm came to wrap around her body as he slid under the blankets. Despite the fact it was morning, he closed his eyes to rest.

Yet, his insomnia was wild this day and would not let him sleep. He awoke moments later, only to stare at Rena's sleeping form with a smile filled with love. The white-haired man muttered something as he pressed his lips to her forehead and stayed where he was. His mind wandered to who he was, thoughts about Rena, and the goals of the organization he headed -- You see, this white-haired man was none other then Akanuma Satoshi, a missing nin from Kirigakure who was the shadowy leader of Akatsuki. He was also the lover of the white-haired beauty that slept in the bed.

His mind came to one big topic, and that was the topic of his cruelty. When he was not alone with Rena and off doing evil things, his cruelty knew no bounds and sometimes it made him feel disgusted. But he did what he had to, to protect his lover and the future he wanted for them. He came off as a cold-hearted murderer who wanted to see the world burn, but in reality? He was just a man who hated what the world had become and wanted to see a difference made of it. If it meant he was a criminal, he did not care and would do what he must to change the world for the better. He knew this pitted him against Kurai and Hozuki both, but he would fight who he had to.

However, his thoughts were disturbed as he came through with a powerful urge and rolled right out of bed and to the connecting bathroom. Bending over the sink, he began to cough and blood splattered into the sink. With sudden weakness, Satoshi collapsed in the bathroom, hitting the floor with a loud thud. His breathing sped up and his eyes drooped as blackness overtook his sight.

[Tsukiyami Rena]

It was sunny.

Rena was standing on the outskirts of Ame. The clouds had parted to shower her in warm sunlight. It was mid-morning--beautiful, quiet, with a light breeze caressing her pale skin. There were numerous buildings in the backdrop of this scene, and an expanse of land stretching out before her to meet trees on the horizon. It was almost perfect.

"Almost" because it was missing one thing: music. She retrieved her flute from within her pouch and began to play a peaceful song. It was slow and soft, a tune reflecting the inner peace she felt from such a glorious morning. The start of an absolutely wonderful day, she thought, adding more notes.

She played for a while, and everything was seemingly normal. But then Rena felt a presence--something oddly familiar and yet also foreign. She halted her playing and looked around--on the horizon she spotted several people heading toward her at rapid speed. They were sprinting full force. Their aura...was menacing, to say the least.

As they got closer Rena realized that they weren't just in front of her--they were closing in from all sides. It was evident they were after her, though she couldn't fathom why. She wasn't a well known member of her organization, and there was also the fact she was situated right on the edge of Ame--Akatsuki territory. These guys were idiots to approach her here. And yet they were.

Rena counted 30 men. She waited until they got within a few yards and brought her flute to her mouth. She hadn't wanted to fight anyone this morning, but the angry looks of her visitors said she didn't have a choice. She played the beginning notes to a song that would blast back her attackers with a great shock wave. But to her horror no sound was produced.

Her flute was silent. Rena rapidly tried playing more notes--she even tried a different song. But there was nothing. She ground her teeth and went to play one last time before she would attempt escaping their initial blows. Before her lips touched the metal, though, a great pain wracked her body. It felt as though someone had turned her own infrasonic waves against her. Rena cried out in pain and fell to one knee, trying to determine the cause of the injury.

She looked up in time to see that her enemies had reached her. They charged in full-force, eyes dark and smiles wolf-like. She was simultaneously punctured by about a dozen kunai, spears, needles, swords, and sickles. Her body exploded in a searing fire of agony. She screamed.

And jolted up to a sitting position in bed. Her red eyes were greeted with dim light. She was breathing heavily from her dream, heart pumping. She took in a very deep breath and turned, sensing a presence. She immediately spotted Satoshi on the floor of the adjacent bathroom, slumped over on the floor.

Rena leaped out of bed and crossed the room in a few quick strides. The skin not covered by her pale pink chemise was given goosebumps by the suddenly chilly air, but this did not matter. What mattered was that her love was in pain.

She knelt beside the man and supported his back with her right arm while her left hand cradled his cheek, turning him to face her. He looked completely out of it, like he was on the verge of being entirely unconscious. Rena had noticed peripherally the blood in the sink. She knew the man had been sick for a long time, and it didn't take a genius to know he was suffering from that illness now.

"Satoshi, can you hear me?" she asked, her voice gentle and laced with concern. She hesitated, then quickly stood and grabbed a washcloth from the counter before running cold water on it. She then returned to the man's side a moment later and placed it to his forehead and then his cheek. Moving the cold water to his neck, she ran her other hand up and down his back, trying to soothe him as the chilled water would hopefully bring him to his senses.

"Please answer. Tell me how I can help," she said worriedly.

[Akanuma Satoshi]

As Rena tended to Satoshi's sickened form, his eyes closed as his breathing became a little erratic for a short time before it settled. His eyes stayed closed as it rested from the sickness. As the cold water swiped away the sweat that had glistened on his pale skin, his eyes came to their open state. His blood red eyes stared at the ceiling as he regained his mind's placement. A light groan elicited from his lips as he laid there with the support of his lover and the woman who meant everything to him.

As some time passed, the stubborn side of Satoshi pulled there as he sat up and adjusted so his back was against the wooden section of the sink. His eyes settled on the white-haired lover of his. His gaze softened and showed some form of an apologetic emotion. He, at times, saw himself as a burden to Rena. It was his sickness that made him an odd choice for leading a powerful organization. But he did not simply give himself enough credit when he doubted himself and some would gander that his mind was not all put together and this allowed such doubt.

"I am sorry, my love.."

As he apologized, he pushed himself up and sauntered over to the bed, sitting on it as he undid the jounin vest he was wearing. As he removed it, the extent of the battles he had been in before and after meeting Rena were shown. Scars and various still healing wounds coated his muscled torso, illuminated in the dim light. From within the vest, he pulled out some medical wrapping and wrapped it around some of his wounds that had re-opened because of his blood coughing that had done more damage then it was noted at first. He even pulled out a small jar of medical pills that he had gotten from his uncle, suprisingly. As he popped two pills in his mouth, he closed his eyes.

His time resting sent his mind to the accursed state he was in. He was ill, battle-scarred, and somewhat insane in some part of his mind. Yet, he still found himself strong-willed and having the drive of a man who would not die until his goals are seen through to the end. It was one of the reasons why he was feared when one spoke of his name. He was known for his strong will and determination and being almost unstoppable in fights when you got him riled. As the rest came to a close, he realized that perhaps, it was time to change his ways of doing things.

As he opened his eyes, he settled his gaze to Rena and his thoughts changed to her. She was his world, and he wasn't about to lose her now because of some self-destructive methods to his fighting. The sickness was getting worse but yet, he stayed strong for her. He knew that if she lost him now, things would only get worse. Not only that, but he saw many bad things coming if he gave in to the sickness. His mind worked in silence as he stayed silent for the moment.

"Rena-chan...I think its time I go visit my family. My mother...my uncle...they might have answers to this illness."

There was one problem with what he said, however. Kirigakure did not take kind to missing-nin, especially Akatsuki. Getting to see Satoshi's mother and uncle was easier said then done. Though he was powerful, Satoshi's sickness would give him trouble if the Mizukage got involved in problems surrounding the visit that could help them combat the illness. There was also the possibility of Kurai finding Satoshi in Kirigakure and capturing him or killing him.

"We...might have to take the entire group...in-case."

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[Tsukiyami Rena]

Rena watched the man recover a bit and showed him a small smile of encouragement, waiting for his reply in patient silence. She tried not to rush him. Beyond him being her love and her partner, he was also the leader of the Akatsuki. So despite them being lovers he was, in her mind, still technically above her in rank. It was downright rude to expect him to strain an answer when he wasn't yet ready to reply.

"I am sorry, my love.."

Rena only bowed her head once and watched as the man got up and went to the bed. She gazed across the room at him, analyzing his movements, before she then stood, as well--rising from the floor with a slow grace that in some subtle way emphasized her feminine physique. After setting the cloth on the counter she went to him as he finished swallowing the pills. Her hands went to his side, adjusting the bandages he had wrapped around his wounds.

Rena knew that, at times, the man considered himself somewhat of a bother to her. It was evident by the apologetic glances he occasionally gave her, the way he spoke. In truth he wasn't really weighing her down at all. She was with him because she wanted to be. If she had truly felt bothered by his illness she might have left. She wasn't one to keep weak suitors in tow. But the man was strong, reliable, and full of love for her. No man that cared for her as much as Satoshi expressed would ever be worth disregarding on the basis of effort.

"Rena-chan...I think its time I go visit my family. My mother...my uncle...they might have answers to this illness."

She frowned but let the man continue. It was clear to that maybe he just wasn't thinking straight, or maybe the illness was causing him to be illogical.

"We...might have to take the entire group...in-case."

The woman spoke up then, a concerned yet calm look on her face. "I won't allow it, Satoshi. Something like that...it isn't wise to carry out, especially not now, not with the state you're in. It is...in your best interest to stay out of sight of the Kurai for now."

She finished adjusting the bandages and returned her hands to her lap. For a few moments she didn't say anything. Rena hoped that her disagreeing with him did not come across as rude--she was merely concerned. Wandering out to another village in such a state with just the two of them...it was akin to suicide. She knew Satoshi wasn't entirely stable at times, but Rena also knew that he trusted her judgment when it mattered. She hoped he would listen and understand.

"I know your illness is a burden. But don't be in such a rush to risk your life. There will come a time when a visit to your family will be more convenient, but for now I advise you to abandon the idea." She said this with a very even, soothing tone, trying to not provoke him. Then she smiled gently and placed her hand over his.

"Now then...is there anything I can get for you?"

[Akanuma Satoshi]

Satoshi watched and felt her own adjustments to his wrappings. He listened to her words and looked to her eyes for the duration of her words. He shook his head as he thought about her words. She was right and he was thinking only for the illness and not for the greater good of himself and Rena. His mind had been heavily afflicted by the thought of the sickness and even not fully pieced together in all honesty. Ever since he had murdered his father, he had lost some of his sanity.

As she placed her hand over his, he smiled at her and nodded as his first sign of response. He didn't want to do anything too big at the moment, but obviously went into quiet thought shortly after the smiling nod towards her. During the silent thought, he reached forward and pulled Rena closer to him. Breaking from thought for the moment, he brought her close enough and placed his lips onto hers in a soft, loving kiss. Though it didn't last entirely too long, it was the emotion behind it that which made it a good kiss from Satoshi. His love for Rena was strong, almost as strong as his own will, and this always came through.

Yet, so did his ability to listen and learn.

"You are right. I was thinking out of haste and not out of care."

He pulled away slightly and moved his own arms, finding what he had laid out on the bed during his insomnia's rampage. It was a black shirt which covered his body with enough space to show his muscular arms. Over that he adjusted his grey Kirigakure jounin vest -- something he kept for the good memories -- and finished by applying his custom tailored Akatsuki cloak. He came closer to Rena as he finished putting on the new-ish clothing. He smiled softly at her, which was still affected by the insomnia's effects on his own aging face -- he was ten years older then her.

"Perhaps I also need good rest. Once I am settled, would you play that song? I would hate to have my insomnia affect me during any fight I may encounter."

He obviously didn't sound thrilled about getting into a battle today and would rather rest. However, by the gander that he was fully dressed, one could guess that he wanted to do something before gaining the shut eye he needed. That is, unless Rena convinced him otherwise. Which was, more or less, easy to do in their privacy.

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[Tsukiyami Rena]

Rena smiled gently after their kiss, watching with a patient gaze as the man then got dressed in his usual business attire. She herself toted around a standard cloak in her scroll, nothing special or custom like Satoshi did. And sitting as she was in little more than her chemise, it made her feel a bit under-dressed as the man finalized his outfit.

"I will gladly play any song for you, my love," Rena replied sweetly. "But if you have something you must attend to first, that is fine."

She offered a smile and rose from the bed. With silent steps Rena made her way over the dresser a few feet from the bed. All of the drawers were empty with the exception of the top one. She traveled light, carrying only what she needed in case it was required that she and Satoshi change locations quickly. She opened it and pulled out a white dress, one that would reach her knees. She then grabbed her usual red cloak and a pair of white shinobi shoes.

She dropped the shoes to the floor and then lifted the chemise up and over her head, deliberately taking her time. From the dresser drawer she grabbed her undergarments and slipped them on before taking the folded dress and putting it on. The white material was akin to silk, sliding over her curves and making for a slow, eye-pleasing show for the man behind her.

Keeping her back to him she then put on her cloak and shoes, leaning forward against the dresser to steady herself with the latter. Usually she dressed more quickly, but seeing that her love hadn't gotten much sleep (as usual) it seemed proper to give his tired eyes something to gaze at. He was, after all, not doing much else.

Finally the woman turned back around and propped herself against the dresser with her elbows against the top of it. She crossed one leg over the other as she stood, watching her love with her bright red eyes. Then a small smile graced her young face and she winked.

"I do feel the need to ask: what is it you plan on doing? One does not dress to sleep. Wherever you plan to go, I'll be accompanying you." She winked and added, "Since we're partners, and all."

Rena eased forward away from the dresser and then went over to the nightstand and opened the top drawer. From it she produced her usual tool pouches and her tanto holster. Once these things were in place she grabbed her flute from the right pouch and held it in her hand for a moment, enjoying the feel of cool metal against her palm. She placed the instrument to her lips and played a basic scale of notes before returning it to her pouch. After the dream she'd had, she wanted to make sure that her flute still worked.

"On an unrelated note, I would very much enjoy getting some practice in, soon. Perhaps a spar. ...But not with you, my love. I'd have no way of repairing the damage I'd do." Rena smiled awkwardly and then sighed, gazing at him thoughtfully.

[Akanuma Satoshi]

Satoshi chuckled as he stood. She was right in every way, about damaging him. She had her own unique style to fighting and while he was strong, Rena would be able to do unrepairable damage to him with one of her songs. Yet, she had songs that aided Satoshi and this was one of the reasons why they were partners in Akatsuki. Without her, he might not of survived some of his fights he has had in the past few years. It is why he owes so much to her and one of the reasons he is so protective of her.

"Just going to go on a quick scouting. Nothing too...well, engaging. I've been getting suspicious about things here as of late."

He nodded as he walked from the bedroom to the only entrance and exit that was sufficiently safe for them from their hideout. He stared out at the rain as he retreated his arms back into the bulk of his jacket. He just stood there, watching the rain. His blood red eyes then scanned the city as he started to leave the hideout. Rain pattered against his cloak and he took a look around the area. His blood red eyes kept on the look out for anything. But the village was quiet, as usual. The rain was never ending and there was little to do in this dreary village.

As he stood there with cautious glances, he began to think back on what got him here in the first place. He was a somewhat happy boy in Kirigakure all those years ago. He had a caring mother and a helpful uncle, both who raised him to be a great man and a powerful shinobi. Yet, here he was now, a missing-nin and leader of a fearsome criminal organization. Satoshi reached up to adjusts his hood as he set his gaze forward. His mind continued to think back to his times in Kirigakure. He had a good life there, and then it just got thrown away because of his anger and hatred towards one man who he killed.

His own father.

The father of Satoshi was a wild drunk and had tried to kill him and his mother many times. But one too many times ended the life of the father. This has caused Satoshi to self-exile and perhaps was the catalyst for some insanity. Satoshi sitll despised his father despite him being dead. He always wondered why he couldn't have had a better dad, but those times were quickly leaving him. He was thirty-four years old and he had other things to do. Bigger plans for the shinobi nations and what have you.

He glanced behind him, waiting ever paitently for Rena.

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[Tsukiyami Rena]

"Scouting?" she affirmed, moving to follow him. Rena was quick to ease over to his left side, walking with him as he left and then took his place outside to look out over the village. Falling in step with him had become such a natural, comfortable behavior over time that she rarely had to consciously decide to do it before she actually took those steps. In fact when they weren't together she often felt very out of place. They were a pair, a combat duo of lethal skill, two peas in a pod--all that happy jazz. Rena's gaze settled on Satoshi as they stood side by side. He appeared to be in thought, and for a few moments the woman was silent, wanting to let the man think.

There were numerous things he most likely thinking about. One did not become a leader on a whim, and one certainly didn't keep the title unless one was worthy to have it. The flutist understood Satoshi to be somewhat of a complicated man at times. This wasn't entirely due to his mental instability, however. Like most people in positions of power he had many things to plan, many strategies to think up, many problems to solve, many people to either meet or steer clear of. During the moments he seemed consumed by internal reflection Rena remained silent, being watchful but respectful.

When he glanced at her she smiled gently, her eyes conveying a look of peace to the man. Finally she spoke again. "What exactly will we be doing to alleviate or confirm your suspicions?"