As it so happens, I was just making chocolate chip cookies as I was typing this. So, I would like to hand out to all those who reviewed, alerted, or favorited my story!

Reviewers:littlesnowfarie2005, Sparky-kun, blueberry, and dragonfire04

Alerts:littlesnowfarie2005, Rajani Devi Lakshmi, Sparky-kun,dragonfire04,dragaman, beta657, Angel-Mogamishi, and Day of mourning

Fave's:iamalex117

Thank you!!! Oh, and a plushy littlesnowfarie2005 for being my first reviewer!!

I've kind of noticed a small trend in the chapters so far, let's see who'll spot it.

Little Note:I did alter the summary slightly because of the character count. Just 'on the retrieve Tsunade mission' was basically taken out.

Chapter 2: Mercy Games, Thank the God's, fool.

(pppppppppppaaaaaaageeeebrrrrrrrrrrrrreaaaaaaaaaaaaaak)

Of course, it was all to good to be true. He of all people should have known that: people lied all the time. For the sake of convenience, petty laziness, or just to be spiteful. This crossed a line of mean into cruel. Why should he be so surprised?..It wasn't like he had ever cared anyway.

Also what was never understood was the hot salty trails running down his face, and hitting the ground.

He never liked life anyway.

(whysosad?whysosad?whysosad?)

A bird trilled. Not the normal kind though. It was rough and low, like his sword, Samehade, scraping against the bark of one of these trees. Only this particular kind mimicked the effect of the eerie song. No other wood could produce that noise, pitch, or tone.

His favorite sound in the world.

Even more than blood spilling, a red river of death pouring from someones chest, the frantic pumps of the heart making it only worse..Or flesh being shaved off by the scales of his blade..Screams..

Okay, screams just didn't do it for him. Kisame didn't get why Kakuzu was so into it. It just ruined the whole harmonious moment. It interrupted the music. If he was Itachi trying to explain it in his weird 'I don't speak in anything but monosyllables unless I'm trying to fuck up my favorite little brother's psyche', the former swordsman probably would have said something weird like "You fractured the glass that separates the murderous melody from a simple peasant".

Actually, that made it worse. Kisame grinned at his partner's strangeness; but for all his peculiarity's he thankfully enjoyed the silence during a heinous act as much as he did. Itachi was quiet about everything he did.

Hearing a faint 'eep', he glanced to his left; Itachi was on that side as always, but it was the nezumi between them that had let out the noise. Kisame made a face of amusement at their prisoner, probably freaking him out worse. Doesn't like shark teeth I guess. He smiled wider. "Got something to say?"

The unconventional arrangement was laid out by Itachi. He for some unfathomable reason had suggested it. Although the ex-mist nin didn't always understand everything his partner did, Kisame knew the logic behind his actions better than most.

Responsible for over twenty deaths, all of them family members, Itachi was bathed in the dark; he was as people dare whispered "as sick as they come" and enjoyed mind games. Kisame was no fool. Itachi was a maverick and also a paradox. Like a cat, he toyed with his prey, once committed, enjoying the game, or perhaps playing to stave off boredom. But he disliked fighting unless necessary and avoided confrontation and inflicting pain if possible.

The boy was being sent off the a long drawn out death that would be heavy with pain. Like a hot summer day it would seem to never end, the heat sapping away your energy. Will disappearing with the wind. Better to let him enjoy his days as much as possible.

He knew what they were bestowing upon the urchin.

Innocent men, women, and children had begged for it. Elderly prayed to an unseen god. Wanting something they could not give. Or perhaps they had forgotten. But Kisame knew. Why no one ever got it.

Because they never learned.

The kid had to be special. That must be the reason. Or maybe they were slipping? Had he been cracking under the stress. Nezumi better know what he was receiving was priceless.

Mercy.

Not being able to control himself, he chuckled. Then seeing the look on the kid's face (a sour fish eater)the damn broke. Hoshigaki Kisame laughed with derisive mirth. Could the irony ever end?!

Itachi gave him a sideways look. "Hush." Before he could even say why the answer presented itself. Itachi didn't waste words and rarely did he stoop out from inside his oceanic world for something as lowly as slight irritation. The presence he felt coming closer indicated as reason to shut up too.

Instantly things changed. Kisame was fully serious, any sign of earlier amusement gone. Everyone was on full alert. He could sense without looking that even the little rat had wised up and gave no protest in light of the situation as he was now on Itachi's back. The brat was unable to run anyway, bound to the Uchiha's wrist. All Itachi needed was his eyes. He wouldn't be hindered by one preoccupied hand.

Kisame read Itachi's lips and saw the "Get down." He hissed into the blond's ear. Complying he tightened his grip, locking himself around the raven's neck, and hunched down, but he didn't look particularly pleased.

Odd Itachi decided not to flee. But Kisame didn't argue. Who was to look the gift horse in the mouth. They had the Jinchuuriki in tow, the most powerful one at that, no one had fatal injuries, and they were a couple of days from the base. Now they would be free to go after his assigned beast, the Yonbi, now that the Kyuubi had been taken care of. A little action was more than welcome. He wasn't overestimating the pursuer, but Kisame wasn't an S-ranked criminal for nothing. None but the most behemoth of chakra pools could rival his, and Itachi had become an Anbu captain at age 13.

They were fresh. At half power they could take a team of Jounin on, and more than likely get away. Like this?

Whoever they were was more than likely toast. Even a daunting sannin couldn't beat them. He knew they were scattered, and individually, weaker. Jiraiya was alone, but searching for Tsunade; her fear of blood would keep her from battle. Orochimaru dare not show his face here.

It was a single person. Kisame bet even a kage would have trouble. Outnumbered, and probably tired from pursuit.

So when a dragon came out he was floored. "Pretty surprised" quiet cover it. Neither did "exceed's expectations." A legendary creature. To see one and come out alive..unusually rare at best.

The snake-like body stretched out seventeen feet from snout to tail tip. The body itself was covered with scales the color of whitish smoke, and about eight feet. It's tail swung slowly, six feet, with a nasty barb at the end. Intelligent silver eyes stared him down.

He didn't dare breath.

Wings that could spread to what he guessed was a span of twenty feet remained half-folded on it's back. The claws..no they were similar to talons, but still as dangerous as claws, while not stained, still could soon be. For now, they were dark grey. Two horns grew back from in between but slightly above the eyes. Those were black, and straight, no curve.

Those eyes held him.

The dragon was only five feet away (seven from Itachi, who was further back). It didn't move, only stared. All four limbs were on the ground. The dragon's face was level with his.

Silence around him in the plain.

Complete silence.

No roosh of the grass as the wind blew, scurrying of small creatures. A lack of birds overhead. They had left the trees several hours ago, into an openness that made the idea of cramped villages silly. All of that was gone. His heart beat seemed too loud.

Minutes passed. He wasn't aware of it. Perhaps hours had gone by, and he wouldn't have noticed. Kisame, for once in his life knew, he was in the presence of something truly great. Even his thoughts seemed to stop. The shark man was in such awe, he was in a stupor. A demon could ravage him, the world could end and he wouldn't notice; it didn't matter.

Finally, the dragon seemed to sense something. Or perhaps the time for such games was at an end. It seemed to melt away, dissolving into the wind. Had it turned invisible, using magic? Moments later it reappeared as a shrinking black speck in the grey sky.

(wowthatcameoutofnowhere!butithoughtitwasprettydamncool)

From there, the trio had travelled at a jog. No longer a leisurely walking pace. Fear wasn't what inspired them, but something none of them could identify did. For a while, though none would admit it, they were shaken from the encounter and all but fled. It was like pass the hot potato while playing Chinese freeze tag. But you did not want to be it.

Naruto was exchanged between the two of them at random intervals. No stopping for a late lunch. Several hours passed this way. Ever since Itachi's warning it had been all business, no more laughs or jokes. The atmosphere was admittedly dampened, and rather tense.

The small creatures that lived in the plains started to appear once more gradually. It seemed word had spread that it was now safe as it ever was to come out. Rats and field mice scurried in and out of borrows and nibbled on grass and seed. Snakes slithered across the grassy sea in pursuit of prey and hawks and falcons patrolled the sky in the same effort.

The sun never emerged, but the wind did pick up, masking some of the animals sounds. An annoying whistling began to sound in everyone's ear. High pitched and unavoidable. Kisame privately wanted to find the cause of it and dispose of the source. Images of what his imaginary enemy would look like as his newest victim kept him busy for an hour or so.

The whistle was keening and an unwelcome constant. All day as they travelled it would fade then crescendo. Waxing and waning with no real purpose. And no pattern. It thwarted all attempts to attach logic to it. But never was it a whine. Unlike a mosquito in your ear this was like striking glass with metal or a bird. Just maddening.

Eventually, an half hour after sunset, drenching them immediately into darkness, they stopped. Once again the stars and everything in the sky wasn't visible. Last night had been clear but the skulking trees overhead had blocked any sign of the moon out. Now the clouds which had been present all day thickened and a fog descended upon them.

Pulling a branch from his cloak (Kisame had no clue where) Itachi wordlessly started the fire. Words weren't necessary when you were familiar enough with a jutsu. More merry than the night before, but anything but happily, it burned. The fire did it's designed purpose wonderfully, provided light with which to see and gave off warmth. But the poor thing couldn't provide ease for the mind nor comfort.

A piece of wood snapped in the blaze.

Sensing no mood for chatter, Kisame pulled out a trout from his cloak (why people thought he didn't like fish he just didn't understand) from..well that's a secret. No member gave away exactly how they stashed things and then retrieved them. He tossed it onto a flat plate-like pan that had been set atop the fire.

It hissed then sizzled steadily. Oil that Itachi poured on the fish bubbled in miniature puddles. One popped and spat out a nasty gas. He hated the smell of the cooking oil. Stuff like that shouldn't be burned. It was like chocolate, it should smell good vaporized, but was terrible. They didn't know how the blond took his fish and neither bothered to ask, passing him the crunchy blackened trout.

Jaw set, it was accepted.

Kisame put out another then passed it to Itachi, medium rare. He ate his golden brown. Barely cooked.

Itachi would be taking first watch, he second. No questions or conferring to one another. The two of them knew each other well by now.

He watched the smoke as it came off in wisps and swirls making pictures and scenes out of nothing. An elk charging the sky..wolf swimming through the moon..a hawk diving into the sun..Kisame chuckled. The Uchiha-kid was rubbing off on him. Staring broodingly off into space, acting like I know the world's secrets.

Word Count:2,220

Hehe..needless to say, Naruto's fish was well done. I bet you didn't see Kisame's point of view. Probably thinking Itachi or Naruto again, right? I really enjoyed that, it kind of made him my favorite character to write so far. Naruto isn't to far behind though. Yeah, the dragon totally wasn't planned it just kind of happened. But I thought it was pretty cool!

Ha. And when I was younger I had images of me being some badass author that posted twelve page chapters! I think I could do it, but that would take more time, and I like how I'm going now. And you probably like it too. -glances around nervously for Saph- It was a pretty fast update I would say!

I do have some badass songs on my I-pod though according to my friends!

-and no, you have to guess for yourself whose pov that was at the beginning. It may be a flashback, current time, or future glimpse.