After refusing them, Yongye paid them no more attention and walked toward the other end of the corridor, his footsteps fading into the distance. Mechuan Riko followed half a step behind him. The Iron door closed behind them, its bolt sliding into place with a dull click.
The cell fell silent again.
Only Hidan kept writhing and making muffled noises, like a worm on a hot pan.
Sasori's Hiruko rose half an inch from its kneeling position. Its mechanical legs shifted lightly across the stone floor, turning the puppet toward Kakuzu. The dim lights in its eyeholes brightened briefly, then faded. A dry, low voice came from inside its shell.
"Kakuzu, if you get the chance, put me out of my misery. I refuse to become some kind of immortal toilet!"
At that, Hidan thrashed even harder!
Sasori, you bastard! Where's your loyalty? Trying to escape through death instead of suffering alongside me!
As Hidan struggled desperately, he cast Kakuzu a tender, pleading look.
He swore he had never been so gentle or eager to please anyone in his life. The future was too terrifying. He desperately needed Kakuzu to share the burden with him.
Kakuzu said nothing.
He turned his head and signaled to Sasori with his eyes. His gaze rested on Sasori's face for an instant, then quickly moved away. There was no reassurance or answer in that look, only a warning not to ask questions yet.
Sasori was baffled. The lights in his eyeholes flickered, but he asked no more. He lowered his head again, drew his mechanical legs in against his body, and retreated into the corner.
Hidan refused to give up. He kept making muffled noises and trying to catch Kakuzu's eye, but Kakuzu pretended not to notice him.
After a while, the Iron door