A/N: Just the epilogue here! My school got the day off for a staff development day, so I decided to update. And end this freaking story! Enjoy! (WARNING: IS TERRIBLY CHEESY!)

The sunlight spilled through the window, falling across the table with its two lovers. "Are we going to your mom's place for Christmas again?" Kakuzu asked. Hidan shrugged.

"I don't know. The kids like you." Kakuzu chuckled.

"Can't imagine why." There was a silence.

"You know, Tenten is really growing up. What, she's starting school next year, right?"

"I suppose. Has it really been that long?"

"Yeah. Time flies." Silence again, companionable, though. "You're finally off the medication. God, I thought it would never end." Kakuzu said nothing. He had always never really reacted correctly to the word "God" since his surgery. Hidan dismissed it as a newfound spirituality Kakuzu would never admit to.

"So did I." A long, comfortable silence.

"Kisame finally grew some balls."

"Oh yeah?"

"He proposed to Itachi." Kakuzu raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"I got an e-mail from Deidara this morning."

"I see. Good for them. I assume Itachi accepted…?"

"Oh yes. Thrilled. They're planning the whole thing, slowly of course, but they're getting there."

"Does he have an inscribed ring?" Hidan laughed.

"I don't think anything can beat Zetsu's ring." Kakuzu sighed.

"Well, damn. I suppose I couldn't help but try, though?"

"Kakuzu, what-" Kakuzu stood and walked over to Hidan, getting down on one knee and taking out a ring box, opening it for Hidan to see.

"Hidan, there is no other person in this world I would rather have by my side forever than you. When I lay dying in the hospital, there was no one else I would have be there for my last moments. And… when I do meet my end, I want you to be there. I want to be with you, Hidan. Forever." Hidan opened his mouth, closed it, blinked rapidly, and opened his mouth again.

"Fuck…" he whispered, looking down at the box. "Dumbass… you had to ask?"

"Formally, yes," Kakuzu replied, standing taking Hidan's hand. "I just need one word, and our world can be complete." Hidan grinned.

"You're such a sap," he said. "Closet romantic?" Kakuzu rolled his eyes.

"I guess it's a no, then?"

"Fuck, Kakuzu! It's a yes, and the best damn yes you're going to get!" Hidan lurched to his feet and clasped their lips tightly. When they parted, they were smirking at each other. "Kakuzu, I'm really going to live with you for the rest of my life, die by your side, and be buried next to you. That's enough to make me the happiest man I could possibly ever be." Kakuzu just smiled at his love.

"I know." And they both knew. They had both known, since first laying eyes on each other.

True to Jashin's word, when they did wind up dying, it was within hours of each other. But Hidan went first. Just by a bit.

Kakuzu found himself back in his prime and standing on a street of shops and restaurants. But only one was in focus, while all the others, even the street, were blurred and unimportant. It was a ramen shop. Kakuzu, with all assurance of a man who's done this many times, walked across the street and into the shop. There was a grill and counter with eleven stools pulled up to it, with a jar on one end. There were already two people seated there. One had a shock of red hair, and the other slicked back silver locks. And they both turned to grin in greeting at Kakuzu as he came in. He took his seat next to Hidan, and saw the cook. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and had brown hair and a sour look. But they nodded at each other in recognition.

Kakuzu reached across Hidan to the jar, popping the lid open and taking out a candy piece. He unwrapped it and put it in his mouth, smiling at the nostalgic taste. On the jar, in orange writing, were the words "Cherry Lollipops". And Kakuzu had found his.