Author's note: I started this story in September of 2014 and revisited it in October 2014. It has been rewritten 1 1/2 times (and yes, that is possible) and changed one other time, but not entirely re-written. Long story short, it may be subject to change in the near future. We'll see. (That, and I don't know how this story is gonna end yet...heh heh... *sheepish head scratch*)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in the Naruto universe. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto, the rightful creator.
"Hey," Kisame greeted Miru when she walked in, "how was work?"
"It was fine." She replied. Her voice had her usual pitch, but carried a sad undertone to it.
Kisame watched her walk past the living room where he was watching TV. Her face held a small smile, but her eyes were downcast as though she were thinking about something.
"Bad day?" Kisame asked when she sat next to him on the couch, still clad in her work attire.
Miru smiled and pushed a long lock of hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. "No." She said, shaking her head. "It was fine, Kisame, really."
Really, it was fine.
Turning to face her, Kisame thought about further prodding her about her day at work, but decided against it and turned to face the TV again. "What about your plans? How did they go?"
Miru told him that she would be late coming home after work as she had plans of some sort. She didn't explain what those plans were and Kisame didn't ask because it was none of his business what she did after work. She graciously allowed Kisame to share her apartment with her and in turn, he tried to keep his head out of her business as much as possible.
From beside him, she sighed and turned to face him this time. "Kisame, can I talk to you about something?"
Immediately he turned the TV off and turned to face her. Although he tried not to butt into her personal life, the tables were turned when she brought it up herself. "Of course!" He said.
Miru's entire expression was sad now; even the slight smile she held when she walked in was gone now. She lowered her head, her hair falling from her shoulders and enveloping her grim expression as she traced circles into the couch with her finger. "So…" She started.
"Hm-hm," Kisame hummed, leaning closer to hear her properly.
"So you know that my boyfriend and I have been dating for a few months now, right?"
"Yeah…?" Kisame was at a loss. He wasn't sure where she was going with this, but it didn't sound good.
Miru bit her lip and looked at the blank television screen. "Well…"
Kisame took her hand in his and offered her a warm smile. "It's okay. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Did he dump you? If he did, I can give him a piece of my mind if you want—"
"He wants to move in." She said, stopping him mid-sentence.
The room was silent for a moment. "Okay." Kisame said. "I'm fine with it; I don't know why you were so worried about telling me." Miru was looking at him now, but her expression hadn't changed. "Are you in love with someone else and don't want to tell him? Is that it?"
"No, not at all," she interjected and cast her gaze towards the floor. "Kisame, you're such a sweet guy, and I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I'm not sure how to say this."
"Just say it. Don't mind me. I'm a big boy, I can handle it." He said, putting up a brave front on the outside, when in reality, he had no idea where she was going with this, and was scared to know what would leave her mouth next.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure." He said.
Miru sighed. "I'm asking you to move back in with Fuguki, above the auto-shop."
Fuguki Suikazan, the owner of Suikazan Auto-Repair Shop, was Kisame's boss, the person who had given Kisame a place to live above his auto-shop and a job which would pay his rent while there. Although Suikazan (Miru was the only person Kisame knew who preferred to call him by his first name) assured him that he could live there for as long as he paid rent, Kisame had only planned for it to be a temporary residence until he found some place else so as not to burden Suikazan. Over time, however, Kisame grew accustomed to living above the auto-shop, which saved him the money of commuting to work back and forth until he met Miru, a childhood friend of his from when they were still in school.
"It's nothing against you, Kisame," Miru explained, pulling him out of his thoughts, "it's just that, it would be awkward, living with my boyfriend and another man, you know?"
Kisame quickly nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I get it." He said. Now it was his turn to look at the floor to avoid Miru's pleading eyes. "I guess I'll call Suikazan then." He said, pulling himself to stand.
"Wait, Kisame," She said, and took hold of his forearm before he could walk away, "you don't have to leave tonight. Or tomorrow. Just...just ask Suikazan about it tomorrow, okay? I don't want you living on the streets again."
Kisame cracked a smile and tugged his arm free of Miru's loose hold. "Alright," he said. "I'll wait until tomorrow." And took a seat on the couch again to resume watching TV. "Wanna watch something with me?" He asked Miru, who still seemed to be hanging on her own words.
"Well, I need to grade some papers, but I suppose I can do that while watching TV with you." She said, and stood up to leave. Before she exited the room, she looked over her shoulder and asked, "Are you sure it's okay, Kisame?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's fine. I'll ask Suikazan if I can move in with him again tomorrow morning. No big deal." He said.
"Okay," She said, and offered him a small smile. "Thanks for understanding, Kisame."
"Any time." He answered back.
I hope you all enjoyed it. This is probably the longest story I have as of yet (and yes, there is more to come that's already been written, but as I already stated (I think) it's not finished; I do not yet know how this thing will end)
The characters with names are all canon - *possible spoiler alert* Miru was one of the members of the intelligence team Kisame was guarding when they were attacked by Ibiki's squad, and Fuguki Suikazan was the previous owner of Samehada.
Until we meet again (which, I believe, will be fairly soon)