#♣️–to heaven we'll never reach

[akatsukirites]

tl;dr: AU KisaKonan angst/slow-burn Summary: Three years after the fall of Akatsuki, Konan is left to run Ame Holdings, a small conglomerate in Rain Country. Nagato’s will and trust leaves her a special boon, protection for life. Kisame takes the job.

Supernatural Modern AU || Bodyguard AU || AU where Kisame never joined Akatsuki

“I’m sorry, sir, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave your weapon at the door.”

Kisame is either getting better at concealing his sanguine chakra or the brat is a complete idiot. A sadistic grin spreads across his face. He likes killing idiots and the kid looks fresh.

“He’s a Kirian shinobi.” She says so matter-of-factly. Must’ve read more than just the first page of his file. “Taking his blade would be a grave insult.” Konan puts an emphasis on ‘grave’. Indeed.

“O-oh I see, General Ame. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Konan walks through the quiet restaurant with respect normally given to mob bosses. He’s already done a sweep (she didn’t begrudge him, but he could tell she thought it was unnecessary). A quick chakra reading tells him there are no contractors or shinobi for the next two kilometers. Well, all except his boss. But her chakra system looks… wrong.

She meets members of parliament in a private room while he stands guard. They talk about investments, reparations, and foreign relations. He tunes out most of the conversation. There’s nothing Kisame hates more than politics. Then something catches his attention.

“I’m afraid I don’t have the disposition Guevara had.”

Read more on Ao3

[akatsukirites]

THWNR Outtakes: I'm Kisame for Halloween

Well this was a little bit of fun I had this morning and no beta-reader lol. Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night.

AU | KisaKona | G | 500-ish wrds

“Oh wow JEEZ MISTER! Your costume is so cool! What are you supposed to be?”

Konan stifles a laugh while Kisame, towering above this 10-year-old brat, peers below to catch a glint of awe in his newfound fan.

“How about a game?” He smirks. “If you can correctly guess what I’m ‘supposed to be’, my companion will give you a treat.”

Their eyes light up behind a cheap superhero mask. “OKAY!”

Konan readies the bag of Halloween candy. The kids have been getting it mostly right this year. Some of the younger ones just say ‘blue’.

“Hmmm….” A thoughtful finger taps their chin while they tap a foot. Truly cartoonish. Then they perk with a pointed finger in the air. “I know! A BARRACUDA!”

Kisame is stunned into silence.

“I learned about them in school! They’re long and have big pointy teeth and they’re really BIG! Like you!”

Kisame looks slightly offended. If Konan wasn’t such a lady, she’d be rolling on the floor by now. Instead she puts a light, reminding hand on his arm. The kid beams the brightest smile in five miles at Kisame. How can he stay mad at that face? Then again, Konan has always been more partial to children than him. Kisame catches her eyes, then crouches down to his costumed fan; he’s still taller than them even this low. The brat takes a few steps back. Seeing Kisame’s face closer only emboldens their wonderment. He thinks carefully about his next steps. Konan keeps her hand on his shoulders, nails digging in.

He puts on his trademark sadistic grin— all teeth. “Did they teach you about sharks?”

“Oh YEAH! We learned about great whites and hammerheads and whale sharks too! I really like whale sharks— they’re my favorite.”

That seems to be the straw that breaks the final tension as Kisame’s shoulders begin to relax. Perhaps he’s not so anti-children after all.

“Whale sharks are three times bigger than barracudas. And they can eat a whole barracuda in one bite, easy.”

Cue stars in the kid’s eyes.

“Wooooow, mister, you know A LOT about sharks! Can you come to my school?!” After their question, they pause, “Wait— are you a whale shark then??”

A whale shark is probably more demeaning to Kisame than the barracuda.

Still, Kisame is gracious enough to let that soft chuckle rumble through him. “Close enough.” And tilts his head up to Konan. “Boss, what do you think?”

She rolls her eyes at him, chiding. Then kneels down to the kid’s level. She pulls out a fist full of saltwater taffy and plops it in their pumpkin bucket.

“You’re exactly right.” The kid screams in delight and takes off immediately, yelling back their gratitude. “Close enough.”

[akatsukirites]

Excerpt from Chapter 27: 13.6

Kisame’s report is nothing short of thorough. Names, addresses, dates of birth, previous occupation, associations. She goes through the expense report, looking at locations. All in Stone Country. Considering their strong xenophobia, it’s amazing they let him in their borders. Perhaps the world has changed since the last trade war. Konan tries not to hold onto the past like it’s still the present. That’s been her worst mistake.

(She recalls hazy memories of late nights with the Deva Path of Pein; her savior, her commander, her lover, her best friend, her comrade. Pein was everything and he was nothing. A twisted version of Yahiko; the sun torn out of him and replaced with Nagato’s rage. Oh, how they grieved him. Pretending he was still there, whispering old words in his ear, feeling every chakra plug on his body with her own. The three of them melting into a fantasy of a past they can’t return to.)

She unfolds a worn map. Target locations, each with an ‘X’ through them. 'His enemies.' How could a man like that have any enemies left alive? (The same could be said for her.)

How many enemies did she make as an Akatsuki General? How many have been killed? How many have been sworn upon for revenge? Would she ever atone? Could she ever survive the hate she wrought? Bitterly, she remembers that these weren’t always her enemies. Hanzo was Yahiko’s enemy, not hers. Suna was Pein’s enemy, not hers. The council was Nagato’s enemies, not hers. And yet, here she is to take all their punishment. They left her. They left her.

She can’t take Kisame will not be another one leaving her.

(Read the full batch update on Ao3)

[akatsukirites]

Chapter 33: 18

Konan preps the forceps.

“Hold still.”

She doesn’t expect him to wince. In fact, she’s sure that if Kisame were shot in any other place, he would’ve taken care of it himself. The bullet makes a dull sound as she plops it into the aluminum pan. Kisame lets out a quiet, relieved sigh.

“Hand me the disinfectant.”

Blots some on a cotton ball and wipes away most of the blood. Red. Of course, why wouldn’t it be.

“Needle and thread.”

Trades him. In Konan’s practiced hand, the stitch is quick and clean. She ties it off and slides his shirt back down, noticing the sound of scratching as it falls.

“All good.” Pats him on the shoulder. “Get that looked at when we get back.”

(Read the full batch update on Ao3)

[akatsukirites]

THWNR Outtakes: Double-Check

Double Drabble

This prompt comes from drabble_zone Challenge #371 - Tell the Truth. Crossposted on Dreamwidth.

“What do you think? Too much?” Konan turns sideways, posing. The open back of her dress stops just above her sacrum. It’s a halter neck; sleeveless; and endlessly black. Kisame’s eyes dart between not-Konan’s-ass and Sun-Hee, who makes a discerning face at the dress. “I don’t think it’s too much, ma’am.” Konan flicks her eyes; dark eyeshadow highlighting their amber color. “Kisame?” He stammers, “I-I think it looks great.” Konan clicks her tongue, irritated, “Not it’s look— can you tell I’m armed?” He’s forced to analyze the dress, scanning her waist. The length of the slit comes up to her thigh. It’s tight and holds every curve of her form just perfectly. He clears his throat. “N-No, boss. Can’t tell.” Konan shifts again, facing the slit to him. She takes a step forward, widening the gap. “How about now?” The slit climbs higher, causing her kunai-holster to peak out. Something in his face tips her off. Konan huffs and moves it to her other leg. “Now?” She takes a few experimental steps as Kisame looks deeper, watching for a metal glint between her thighs. Then, he nods. “Can’t tell now, boss.” She smirks, satisfied. “Good. Let’s get this over with.”

[akatsukirites]

To Heaven, We'll Never Reach FST Vol. 1

a fanmix for KisaKonan vibes {Spotify is actually terrible at giving artists money so all the links below have been sourced from the artists' preferred outlets} 1. "Quartz" by French 79 2. "Lost" by Boy Harsher 3. "SEGA SUNSET" by Lorn 4. "Клетка" by Molchat Doma 5. "Face the Fire" by Boy Harsher 6. "Волны" by Molchat Doma 7. "Red Lights" by Maximum Love 8. "Into Dust" by Forhill & Youth 83 (feat. Tima) 9. "Poison Tree" by Grouper (Vinyl/CD out-of-print, Discogs link) 10. "rises the moon" by Liana Flores

YouTube Playlist

[akatsukirites]

THWNR Outtakes: Turn It Up

Drabble written for drabble_zone's Prompt #379 - Turn It Up

There are nights Konan can't bury her carnal desires in paperwork. It plagues her during the day. She clenches her thighs and tries to will it away. It doesn't go. Especially when Kisame comes to take her home. If he notices anything, he doesn't say. She wishes he would. So she imagines he does. Fantasizing with her eyes tightly closed. Slicking silicone toys with lube even though she's already so wet. Because, surely, he is bigger than this one. She buys another; longer, thicker. It takes all night to stretch herself enough for the newest addition. It's still not enough.

[akatsukirites]

Excerpt from Chapter 17: 11.1

[two months later]

“You wanted to see me, boss?”

Konan scribbles on a report, pen tearing through the pages.

She lifts her head. “Have you taken a day off yet?”

He scoffs at the idea, “Day off from what?” He ambles in, causally toying with some office bauble she hasn’t gotten rid of yet. “This is hardly work.” She returns to her spreadsheet. “Just because you’re not in the field doesn’t mean you’re not working.” Picks up a highlighter and draws a big circle. “Sun-Hee!”

Her assistant rushes to the door. “Yes ma’am.”

“Get Mr. Hoshigaki a brochure.”

Before long, a glossy trifold pops between Kisame’s hands. Konan looks back up and says in a flat tone,

“Take a day off.”

He starts to scowl.

“That’s an order.”

(Read the full batch update on Ao3)

[akatsukirites]

Excerpt from Chapter 14: 8 - Surprises

She tells him ‘Rain Country doesn’t usually have landslides.’ as he drives them to a village in the foothills Masang Kang. The official reason they’re going is to confirm damages done to an Ame-owned hydropower plant. They tell her ‘All staff have been accounted for, Lady Konan.’ and she talks to her assistant on the phone. He expects that she’ll want to go back to the office, but she directs him otherwise.

Instead, they come to a triage tent outside the village. She busies herself, assisting medical personnel and talking to members of the rescue team. Konan introduces him as her ‘associate’, which only mildly tames their deeply suspicious look of him into tolerance. Kisame is used to tolerance. It’s just about the best-case scenario.

“The Prime Minister is here,” he reports.

She continues arranging boxes of nitrile gloves, crouching on the floor. “Is he requesting my presence?”

“No. I just thought you should know.”

She stands up and tucks a strand of lavender hair behind her ear. “Thank you. It’s good to know he’s supporting the effort. Should we address him?”

It’s the first time she asks for his advice. He tries and fails to hide his surprise.

(Read the full batch update on Ao3)

[akatsukirites]

Excerpt from Chapter 40: Twenty-Three

“You gonna make me take another day off?”

Her lips upturn in a smile. A real smile. One that finally reaches her eyes. She walks in front of her desk.

“No, it’s nothing like that.” Her face turns mischievous. “Although you should take a day off.”

Kisame rolls his eyes. Konan points to the couch where there’s a long wooden crate; the top popped open and protective packaging strewn across the floor. It strikes him as something the military would issue.

“I want to give you something.”

Kisame pushes the lid the rest of the way off. What lies inside makes him speechless. He blinks and looks to Konan for answers.

“It may still need adjustments, but I think you’re going to enjoy this.” She tilts her head and smiles again.

(Read the full batch update on Ao3) Rating has increased from Mature -> Explicit

[akatsukirites]

THWNR Outtakes: Inspire

Double drabble written for Drabble_Zone's Prompt #374: Inspire

Rain Country doesn’t produce crystal vases. They hardly make glass. Konan is told there’s not enough silica, or not the right kind at least. Indirectly, she winds up collecting crystal vases; filling them with flowers and scattering them around her suite. For whatever reason, she never brings one to her office. So it’s a surprise when she flicks on the lights to find not only a rough bouquet of roses; but that it’s also set in a fine crystal vase. She taps it with a letter opener and it hums. It’s a simple, ordinary shape; but true crystal. The roses have all been picked at full bloom, arranged in a kind of sloppy manner. There’s entirely too much water in the vase and the stems are cut straight across rather than at an angle. Still, the cut itself is exquisite and clean. It’s clearly not a florist purchase.  “Sun-Hee?” Konan asks her assistant if she knows who left this for her. But the woman just shakes her head, “No, ma’am. No one’s been in your office this morning.” Konan notices a handwritten note on the table and turns it over. ‘Thought you could use it.’ She can’t help but smile.

[akatsukirites]

made this in october and im NOT EVEN PAST FUNNY FEELINGS T______T ; also a bazillion scenes have been written since i made this so it is not a spoiler lol

[akatsukirites]

THWNR World Map

no im not kidding 😂