Author's Note: Good evening/morning! I have brought you a late gift!

The sound of the front door woke Sora from his sleep. His mother was finally home. He glanced at the clock and saw it was five 'o' one in the morning. The blinking red seemed to be the only thing he could see until the hall light turned on, brightening the dark apartment. Sora sat up as Koi passed by his room. Her feet padded down to the bathroom. She looked tired and dirty. He called to her, "Is everything okay?"

Koi's blue hair was the only thing Sora saw as she went in the bathroom that was ajar to his room. She stopped and turned to face her son. He looked nervous as she gave him a tired smile. She offered only two words before closing the door.

"Naruto-kun passed."

Sora was in shock. He passed? How did he pass? Sora had so many questions running through his mind. He remembered that Iruka-sensei failed him and forced Sora to pass. If Naruto didn't pass, why should Sora leave his friend behind? But he passed now. How?

The shower started, leaving Sora to his questions. He laid back down, however thankful he didn't have to have his picture taken for the information file at least. He had done that a while ago for his information files. Due to the consideration of being in somewhat of a clan. Sora's face is plastered in the Uta clan book that is housed in the Hokage's office. Due to the circumstances, Sora is one of a kind. In a clan, but not.

Sora turned over and saw a scroll on his night stand. It had come earlier today by a summons, Kawausa-sama to be correct. He thought only the Uta Clan had the contract for the Otter summons especially the Lord of the Otters himself. However, Sora knew the tale of the Uta Massacre. He knew there were none left except Obaa-chan and his mother. Yet it made him question the idea maybe some had survived. Perhaps his mother had sent the summons? Sora hasn't learned Kuchiyose no Jutsu yet. At least he was supposed to later on according to his mother. Maybe even Imouto-chan learned as a last resort? His mother nor Koto would seal the scroll with chakra like it was.

The water turned off and the door opened. Clad in a nightgown Koi walked past Sora's door once more toward the kitchen. Sora sat up and grabbed the scroll. Following his mother, he should at least let her know this had come for her.

"Okaa-san." He held out the scroll to her as she turned. She took it in her hand and a sad smile graced her face. A burst of chakra from her palm and the scroll was unsealed. Koi handed it back to Sora. He looked at her curiously as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"It's for you." Sora opened the scroll hesitantly. For him? From who? Before he even got a chance to open it all the way, it turned to smoke and the scroll was replaced by a katana in his hands. Sora looked incredulously at it. Koi crossed her arms and just smiled. Sora examined the sword, unsheathed it, and found a note tied gently to the blade. He was speechless.

Who could have gotten him this? It was a beautifully crafted katana. It appeared old, yet well-taken care off. Koi had carefully taken the note off to read it before her son. She knew full well who the gift was from and it created joy and heartache all the same. She passed the note to Sora was he sheathed his katana. As he read the note, Sora's body shook.

"What does it say?" Koi asked knowing full well what it said.

"It… Um…" Sora stumbled over his words as he was filled to the brim with emotion. The boy never met his father. Yet here in this note, this letter, his father professed his pride for the boy. "It says, 'Sora. This is the katana that earned me my Jonin status. Use it well. With love, Tou-sama. I am so proud of you."

Sora looked up to his mother. Could this really have been from his father? How did it go untraced by the security at the gate? Koi grabbed Sora's shoulder and pulled him close embracing him tightly. He started to sob into her chest as she spoke softly, "Tou-san broke his word. A few months after Koto-chan was born, I saw him one last time. He told me that we were not able to be together and more. Then the letter came. It was perilous for us to even be known for our relationship. Yet here is proof. You and Koto-chan are his pride, Sora-kun. He must of been at the inn with Obaa-sama and Koto-chan."

Sora did not embrace his mother even as he sobbed. Koi pulled away from her son. She watched as Sora's red eyes swirled with emotion. Anger lasted longer in his eyes as even more tears began to spill. Hot angry tears.

"Then why can I not see him!" Sora yelled, "Why have I never met him? You tell us he loves us and how he wishes he was here but he never will be!"

Koi was not taken back at his words. The situation was difficult, to begin with. She knew that Sora may have some anger towards her and Kisame. This life was not fair to him, but that is what life had dealt for them. This boy and his father were two worlds apart and they would never be closer it would seem. Koi knew that Kisame loved his children with all his heart and wanted nothing more than to be with his family. But for the sake of his family, this is where it had to be. Konohagakure provided what Kisame could not. He knew that. Koi knew that. Perhaps some practice with the katana would help.

Koi placed her hands on Sora's shoulders once more. Sora had looked down, avoiding his mother's gaze, angry and ashamed. He had never raised his voice to his mother before. He knew little of her past and knew less of his father's. He knew he had no right to yell at her, but he was wrong. Koi believed that he had every right to yell, scream, cry. Emotions are okay at home, just not on the field. He is a shinobi now, but at home, in her home, Sora was still her child, her baby boy. Softly, she grabbed his chin and made he look up at her, "Sora-kun…"

This is he wrapped his arms around her and sobbed once more.

"Doesn't he love us?" Sora's question caught Koi off guard. How was a boy at twelve years old to know that his father loves him? Koi tried to show both her love and Kisame's but she knew it wasn't the same. Even Kakashi tried and knew. Koi's heart was breaking in a million pieces. She herself was stuck in an emotional limbo. She knew that Kisame does love her and their fry and would never let them be hurt even in it killed him. He was a loyal man.

She pushed Sora away to look at him. His blue hair was matted from sleeping. His honey eyes red from not only sleep but his crying. Her son was the carbon copy of Hoshigaki Kisame. Perhaps with more emotions. She smiled at her thought and began.

"Uta no Sora, now you listen to me. Tou-san, loves us more than anything in the world. Don't you ever doubt that again. He sent you his most prized possession. That is a great honor."

"Then why?" he sniffled, "Why are you and Jiji-san holding hands?"

At this moment, Koi knew Sora needed to hear the truth. Kakashi was an amazing friend, yet that was all that he was. A friend. With benefits when it came around, but that is about it. She expressed to Kakashi the first time they had done the deed that this is something that can happen but with no strings attached. Kakashi agreed. They both led very stressful lives. Yet, Koi adored Kakashi, but her feelings for Kisame never changed. She still loved him.

"Remember how the Ningyo and the Kaijuu no Bijuu were ill-fated? They could never be together and that they were alway so far apart. That is what is happening to Tou-san and I. However, we made an agreement that this is how it would be and we should move on from one another. But that is something you should not have to worry about. Besides, Kakashi-san is my friend and he comforts me by holding my hand." The explanation was simple. Sora once more looked down in guilt. He mother always has a plan and an explanation for everything. The more he thought back to it, the more he realized that his mother and the Ningyo were about the same. However the Ningyo was a goddess in human form with exceptional powers who fell in love with a demon damning her in the eyes of the villagers.

"Now, Sora, get ready to train." He looked at her confused. Koi placed her hands on her hips and gave him one last weary smile, "It's easy to channel emotions through training and you barely passed on your sword skills. So I suggest you start training with that here on out. I want some improvement. Emotions are okay at home, but not on the field. The enemy will see right through you. Now go."

Sora only nodded and hurriedly got dressed. With in ten minutes, he was out the door and Koi was in bed. Her thoughts lingered on Kisame. Perhaps life would have been different if she wasn't the Ningyo. But at this point, she wouldn't have it any other way. A crinkle of paper reminded her that it was in her pocket as she turned over to get comfortable. Koi retrieved it and just stared at the note. It was from Kisame. Hidden in the scroll. After years of no communication and only wishing to see him, feel him one more time, he sends this. She was scared. What could he possible say to her?

Moments of silence passed as she finally opened that folded paper. A small smile formed on her lips and she read the letter out aloud to her self,

"Koi-chan. I broke my promise. I am a loyal man and I keep to my word. Yet here I am breaking it. I needed to express my pride to our fry. Koto is grown too big and is beautiful beyond words. Sora is too grown up. And here I am, an S-rank criminal pouring my weakness on a page of paper. I give my love to all of you. Perhaps we'll see each other again. Perhaps in battle. Koi-chan, remember, before the dawn comes the night. I will be there keeping hope."

In the night, he is with her. Yes, Koi remembers that very well. She slips the note back in her pocket. She had to report this to the Hokage. After a nap though. His words echoed in her head. The memory of their escape was too fresh in her mind to let her sleep. Koi raised her and up to see the small scar that ran across her palm. Many don't even notice it, yet there is was. The mark Zabuza left on her.


Roars of flames and the screaming of the Uta clan are what filled Koi's ears as she faced the Kiri shinobi who invaded. She was breathing heavy as she already taken out dozens and these two fools were left. She was running out of chakra. She turned to look at her brother. He too was defending himself with Kisame.

"Kisame-kun," Sora grunted as he sliced one shinobi across the chest with his katana. "Get Koi-hime out of here. They are here for her. Get her to Kohonagakure. We have a contact who will get her in." Kisame only grunted to affirm that he heard Sora as he took on three more ninjas.

Stabbing the last of her enemies, Koi ran over to Kisame and Sora who only finished themselves. Sota only looked at Koi then to Kisame, placing a hand on his shoulder. They both nodded, silently agreeing to protect Koi.

"Onii-san?" Koi questioned him. He smiled, pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead.

"You have grown up so much, Koi-hime. Now you must live." He let go and pushed her into Kisame who only picked her up. "Now, run!"

With that Kisame took off running as Koi screamed for her brother. Kisame pressed her into his chest as they hopped through trees and fire, keeping her safe. Koi's kimono would have made this very difficult. She was slightly grateful of this, but more questions ran in her head like a hamster on its wheel. Why was this happening? Koi didn't understand why Kiri of all people would have an issue the with Uta clan. Of all days to attack too. It was her wedding day. Could it be because she was the Ningyo? Or perhaps they thought the clan was a threat? She didn't know.

Koi clutched Kisame's top as the scenery blurred beside them. They were closer to the fire country now. A summons was sent to the contact explaining what happened, but Kisame felt something was off. Something in his gut made him uneasy. Koi gripped his yukata as the trees changed color. Greens, yellows, reds. It was Fall, Koi's favorite season. A thought bubbled in his mind about Mission Yellow. A top-secret mission that was giving to two of the Seven Swordsmen and multiple other jonin. Now he knew what it was. It was to destroy the Uta clan. Yet, there were no threat to Kiri. No they helped the trade and helped the injured shinobi that came through. They trained many in the art of healing. Kisame knew this. Its how he met Koi, fell in love with her. Yet, here he was. Running away from Kirigakure and into enemy territory.

The sun began to set as Kisame stopped at a cave. He set Koi down gently, before making sure it was safe. Koi seemed to just stand there, not fully absorbing what had happened. Kisame took her hand and led her to inside the cave, sitting down in the darkness. It had been an exhausting day, yet Kisame wouldn't sleep. No, he let Koi climb into his lap and rest, the least he can do is meditate.

Koi woke feeling warm. She curled herself into Kisame's chest while she slept. His warmth comforted her, yet the blood on her kimono reminded her of what had happen. She needed to out of this blood soaked clothing. To get away from the reminder of a sword being plunged in to her father's neck. Or being carried off by her fiance out of the fire. Her fiance. Kisame. She looked up to him. His eyes were closed and his chakra pulsing. Koi smiled and started getting up. She always kept an extra stroll tucked away for extreme occasions. Occasions just like this. As she pulled out and unraveled the scroll, Kisame opened an eye to see Koi change. A small blush crept upon his cheeks.

"Its nothing you haven't seen before," Koi called out. The purple hue covered his entire face. "It's difficult to run in a kimono. Epsecially one soaked in blood."

"Koi-chan-" Kisame began.

"They are dead." She interruppted. "Mizukage ordered them, my family, to be killed and I just was taken away."

"I don't know why this has happened."

"Kisame-kun, I know you didn't do this. But…"

"I saw him."

"I know. Sota did too. Its why he told us to run."

"I know."

"Tou-san saved your life."

"It was not in vain. And I will be here beside you." Kisame stood and approached her. Grasping her hands in his. He looked down at her and could see the emotions in her eyes. Tears swelled up threatening to fall. This was not what they wanted. No. They both knew that once Koi was safe that Kisame would have to return to Kirigakure. Something they did not.

"We have to go." Koi sniffled. Kisame pulled her close and embraced her tightly.

"Before the dawn comes the night, I will be here keeping hope." He whispered. A smile graced her lips. She knew what he meant and her heart swarmed.

"What a touching moment." A voice called out. The couple turned to the entry of the cave. Zabuza only smirked at them.
"Koi-chan, once you have a chance, go." Kisame warned. He charged at Zabuza letting Koi run past them.