A/N Okay, I give everyone fair warning. This chapter sucks. I know I kept you all waiting for longer than usual only to reward with a mediocre chapter. Its like OOC, filled with cliches, ridiculous mushy gushy fluff, and its choppy. So, I bed your forgiveness. (By the way, that anecdote was to warn you, not tell you not to read it, because you know since you're already here you might as well.) Now, here goes.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own naruto or its charactors all I own in this crappy computer that keeps shutting down in the middle of my typing which is why its conventons are so bad and why I couldn't proof read it as well as I usually do.


I couldn't have been asleep for very long when I woke up from my light sleep. It had been brief and very insubstantial. It was one of those times when I would doze off and not even realize it until I woke up. I hadn't even really realized that I was asleep. At first I wasn't sure what had woken me up. For all I knew it could have been the creak of the trees blowing in the soft breeze, but my gut told me something else.

My gut was confirmed when I heard heavy, but quite foot steps behind the door. The where heading away from me. I narrowed my eyes. I was sure that it was Kisame out there. He should not be out and about. I told him that; apparently he was not taking me seriously.

With the sole purpose of scolding an S-ranked criminal for disobeying me, I slipped off of the couch. I was almost completely clueless as to where the door leaving the room was. I groaned as I calculated all the stubbed the toes this was going to lead to. None the less, Kisame really should not being straining his bandages like that. So I used the only hint I had. I walked towards the place where I had heard the foot steps.

It was unnerving walking and having nothing to guide me. It felt like I was out in the middle of no where, when in reality I knew that I was only feet away from whatever furniture Kisame chose to adorn his room with. Apparently, discarded clothes were his decorations of choice.

I yelped as I fell flat on my face, after getting my feet tangled up in a large cloth. I assumed it was his Akatsuki cloak, because it was huge. I wrinkled my nose as I kicked it angrily away from me. Blindness was so frustrating. With a small and indignant growl, I pulled myself back up to my feet and made my dragging way to the door. Or at least I hoped it was the door.

How troublesome, said Shikamaru's voice in my head. I giggled as I thought of the lazy jounin. He was jounin now, amazingly. There was rumor that he had actually made it to ANBU, and was a strategist there. When asked about it, though, he would neither confirm or deny any of it. Shikamaru had moved out of his family's house as soon as he was old enough. He had had no intention of staying there with his troublesome mother. Not that I saw the difference of his housemate now. He had married Temari, who was as Shikamaru put it: "The most troublesome woman in existence." If you asked me, I would say that Shikamaru liked troublesome woman. Temari really did scare me though. I shuddered a little at the thought of her.

I gasped as my forehead made contact with the wall, effectively snapping me out of daydream. I whimpered a little as I rubbed the sore spot on my head. I was sure that it was going to bruise. No good deed goes unpunished. I sighed, as I walked down the wall, dragging my fingers lightly across so that I could identify the door.

It was with an upsurge of pleasure that I felt my middle finger collide gently with the door knob. With a very uncharacteristic smirk, I opened the door silently. I slipped out and headed down the hallway. I replayed Kisame's direction to the kitchen studiously in my head, I had not idea if he was really going to the kitchen, but it was as good a place as ever to start. Perhaps Deidara would be there to take me to him as well.

As I neared the kitchen, I heard voices. The first one I noticed instantly as Kisame's deep even one. I huffed, feeling my concerned anger rise up in me, and made my way towards the door. I was sure that I had told him to simply stay in bed. I had, hadn't I? I quickly stopped myself right there; it would do no good to second guess my self now.

The second voice, though, promptly froze me in place. It was the satiny smooth, yet icy cold voice of Uchiha Itachi. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the knowledge of Itachi's presence. That had stopped in my steps. I wasn't going in there, not yet. I pressed my back against the wall, as I listened to their serious conversation.

I had never eavesdropped before. It had always gone against my morals, and even as I did it now, it felt dirty. I consoled myself though by telling myself that it was for the good of Konoha. Surely they needed as much information as they could get on this elusive organization. Not to mention the fact that I wouldn't have been able to move if I had wanted to. More importantly though, in my eyes, was the fact that it might concern me. I was right.

"According to Deidara, you've been a bit…close to that Hyuuga girl," Itachi's voice felt like silk against my ears. But it was ominous, I knew it was dangerous; and worse, it was about me. I had the feeling that I had only just entered their conversation, because there was silence from Kisame; as though he were caught off guard.

"What is that supposed to mean," Kisame finally demanded gruffly. I bit my lip as I listened hard to try and catch Itachi's reply. I had to strain to hear it because Itachi spoke so softly. It was most certainly not the shy soft voice I used, though; it was superior and patronizing.

"Well, there is quite a list for less than a couple of days," Itachi responded nonchalantly. "You decided to save her from my…attentions-"

"That was because-"

"Yes, Kisame, I know you had a perfectly good reason for it when asked," Itachi cut him off smoothly. "But I know you very well, you're like an open book to me. I know that that was not what you were thinking when you wrenched her away from me."

"Is that the end of your oh so long list then," Kisame sneered rudely. Kisame was usually very polite, especially with Itachi. He must be very irritated if he was sinking to such levels. Deidara was the one that I had associated with this kind of behavior.

"That was hardly a list, Kisame," Itachi drawled. I felt an unbidden scowl come to my face at Itachi's I-couldn't-care-less tone of voice. I was sure that he was purposely goading Kisame on. I had actually heard Neji-nii-san do the same thing many times. Neji and Itachi could be eerily similar in there ways some times.

"Then please do continue, Itachi-san."

"Gladly," Itachi continued, ignoring the mocking sound of Kisame's voice. "You bathed her, clothed her, fed her, and made sure that she was protected when we were attacked. Just a bit suspicious perhaps." I didn't like this conversation. I did not like it at all. Judging from the low, animalistic growl rumbling from the kitchen, and presumably Kisame, he didn't find it particularly pleasing. "And then, when you were hurt, she saw fit to save your life. Ridiculous of her to save her enemy, unless of course she felt something more for you?" Itachi hinted. I ground my teeth.

"I happen to think that it the other way around though," Itachi mocked. The mocking edge was hidden deeply under layers of his smooth voice, but definitely there. Another feral growl met my ears. I couldn't blame Kisame, if I wasn't so set of being quiet at the moment, I probably would have done the same thing. "According to Deidara, you chose to keep your…appearance away from her. Why is that Kisame? Oh and, don't bother lying."

"Itachi," Kisame replied in a beaten voice, after a long and tense silence. I felt my chest twist at the raw emotion n his voice. It was defeat and sadness. But there was the teeniest bit of hope as well. As though he was getting a second chance at something that he had given up on long ago, and this time he might actually win. "Why would I want a girl to run away from me?"

"Is that what this is about," Itachi asked as if in sudden understanding. His voice was cruel. It was if he were talking to someone inferior to him. He was sneering, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. "You want a girl, do you? I would have gladly given you some of the blinding poison, if you had asked you know."

"Itachi you know that I would never sink that low," Kisame snapped. This conversation was getting very discomforting. But I really wanted to understand what Kisame was thinking and going through, and for some reason, it was like he was suddenly baring his soul. Maybe it was because Itachi knew him too well anyway, so there was nothing to hide. Maybe he also just needed to talk about it, even though Itachi wasn't the right person. I cut off my thoughts right there. I was humanizing Akatsuki members too much.

"Well, I personally think that you picked just the right girl," Itachi replied smoothly. He ignored the hidden insult about sinking so low. I was sure though that all if his compliments were false. I was very sure that Kisame knew it too. I focused in again, as Itachi continued. He was describing me, and I shuddered. "Even though she was mine. She is perfect though. Weak minded, domestic, easily over powered. And of course I had to take off that horrible jacket, she's got one of the most curvaceous bodies."

"Stop talking about her like she's a piece of meat," Kisame rose his voice to a near yell as he snarled at Itachi. I gasped as I heard a chair getting shoved back and a great crash. I winced as I pictured Kisame standing suddenly up in his chair and knocking the table down by accident. Funny how I pictured Kisame in my mind, but it was like he was faceless or something in my mind's eyes. "She is a woman."

"Actually Kisame, she is a girl, and if my calculations are correct, she is seventeen years your junior, and she is also engaged," Itachi pointed out, most likely with the intention of ripping down Kisame. I winced at the age comparison, though I wasn't quite sure why it bothered me. Worst of all was the reference to my engagement. I did not like that all, and I knew why that bothered me. "But I didn't simply bring this up to make things difficult. Its just that we don't wish to lose a member."

"What do you mean," Kisame asked suspiciously, but in confusion. His emotions mirrored mine. I had no idea what Itachi was talking about. I heard an exasperated sigh, probably from Itachi. It was as though he thought Kisame stupid for not understanding.

"Your attractions for her pose a bit of a problem," Itachi explained in artificial patience. "You see, you will start getting attached to her, I'm sure you realize that the poison will wear off, and once she finally sees you…she'll be terrified, and you'll be heart broken." The way Itachi warned Kisame about getting his heart broken was malicious, as though that were what he wanted to happen.

"You think I don't know that Itachi-san," Kisame growled emotionally. "But…it's just not something I can help. But I can't bear the thought of her knowing what I look like, I can't bear the thought of her horror. She can't know."

"A dangerous wish, Kisame."

That was the last thing I heard, because even as he said it, I had turned and ran. That whole conversation had been emotionally taxing, and very, very confusing. It had just been too much to digest, so I had left. I didn't understand at all. It was like there was a wall in my mind that prevented the solution from getting to me. It was like two plus two equals wall.

My original plans of making Kisame come back to bed and relax had abruptly vanished. All I wanted now was to go to sleep myself. I padded quickly down the hallway, and amazingly, made it too Kisame's room without incident. I opened the door swiftly and closed it silently.

I loped quickly forward and collapsed on the bed. I didn't bother messing around and trying to get to the couch. All I wanted was to curl up on this nice squishy comforter and wrap myself in the thick, soft quilt. I hoped that Kisame would not be mad at me for falling asleep on his bed, but that thought didn't last too long. After all, according to Itachi, Kisame most certainly did not hate me.

So it was with a yawn hat I burrowed into the bed and buried my face into the pillow. What a roller coaster ride this 'mission' had turned out to be; no, what a roller coaster ride my life had turned out to be. First, I was hopelessly in love with Naruto, even though he barely even knew that I existed. Then, when he finally is beginning to show sign of maybe being interested, I am forced to marry my cousin; consequently, most of my friends leave me. And now I'm held hostage in an Akatsuki lair, blind, and with another man. A man that was highly intriguing, a man that was always on my mind.

It wasn't long before, with the help of my emotional fatigue, that I fell into another fitful and light sleep.


I knew it was a nightmare. Even as I ran from the fate that was pursuing me, I knew it was a nightmare. But the horrible thing about this nightmare, was that it wasn't altogether fake. It rang with the truth of my life.

I was in a dark hallway. In the beginning I had just been walking down it in melancholy. I had even had time to reflect on the over used clichés of dark hallways in dreams. At first it had slightly annoyed me that my dreams should be so normal. Those trivial thoughts though were soon dispelled as the urgency began to mount.

Soon I was running. A panic and a pain was growing inside of my chest, but I didn't know what it was. The irrational fear was beginning to choke me as I ran, from what, I didn't know.

Suddenly, Naruto was in front of me. He could only have been three feet away. I ran forward to embrace him, because just the sight of him began to set my mind at ease. But he was just out of my reach. I didn't understand, how could he be so close, yet so far. I ran faster and faster, trying desperately to catch him. But the faster I went the faster he did to. I felt like a donkey chasing a carrot dangling from a stick attached to my back. It was horrible. I felt tears start to spill over as the frustration mounted. He was grinning at me like he always did, and he was calling me. Calling my name. I pushed myself harder.

"Naruto-kun, wait for me! Please stop!" My cries sounded weak and pathetic even to my own ears. "Naruto-kun!"

There were times when I was sure my fingertips had brushed his jacket, but every time he was just too far. He was steadily getting farther and farther. I couldn't push my legs to move fast enough to catch up. The terror was growing my chest again. It was rising in my throat. Naruto was almost gone, but if I could just get a little farther.

Abruptly, I was stopped. My breathe left my lungs as it continued forward while I stood still. Strong and hard arms were wrapped around my middle, preventing me from reaching Naruto and my peace. I struggled against the unknown male that held me so tightly.

I gasped as I felt something tightening painfully around my ring finger. I cried out as the engagement band cut into my skin. I clawed at it to come off, but my nails simply glanced off of it. I pulled and tugged, but I had to stop as I feared that my finger would come off with it.

The arms too tightened around my middle, and I glanced up sharply to see Neji-nii-san staring stoically after the disappearing Naruto. He then looked down at me and I cringed away. His eyes held nothing of the usual softness or gentleness that he usually regarded me with. The held almost hate. "Neji," I gasped out breathlessly.

But before I could ask him why he was so mad, Neji's pearly Hyuuga eyes melted away into blood red with pin wheeling black commas. I screamed as Neji's hard features morphed into Itachi's angelic and deadly beautiful ones.

Itachi's arms around me tightened to a death grip and he sneered down at me. I yelled and kicked and screamed. I clawed at him arms raking my nails across the skin, but I left no marks and to Uchiha prodigy didn't even notice.

"Itachi, please let go of me! Please don't do this to me!" I begged shamelessly.

I felt a horrible yet familiar shiver run up my spine as one of Itachi's hands slipped into my shirt and the other one caressed my thigh. I struggled with more ferocity than I ever had before. I clawed and bit, but it was as if Itachi was not even real, because nothing I did even swayed him.

"KISAME!" The name ripped from my throat ragged and desperate. It was deafening even to me. I didn't know why Kisame was the one I needed to save me, but who else was there to turn to. Kisame had saved me before, I needed him again. But no one came, not immediately at least. Itachi's cruel hands forced a pained cry out of my lips. "Kisame! I need you!"

All of a sudden, my world went black. Not only my sight, but every other sense as well. I could no longer feel Itachi's hands; I could no longer hear his ragged and husky breathes. Another pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me towards a man's chest. I wasn't afraid this time.

This time I was comforted. The large man held me gently, and my breathing slowed. I took in a deep breath through my nose and I immediately identified the male as Kisame. He had the some scent, wonderful and masculine.

I knew I was still in my dream. I knew that I was still not awake. For in the real world, an S-classed criminal would not come to save me from my self as my dream Kisame had. So I knew that I was still dreaming. But if all bad dreams ended like this, then I would be glad to have them every night. I closed me eyes, without even reflecting on my last treacherous thought.


I woke up gradually, slowly. My dream was still fresh in my mind, but I took solace in the fact that it was only a dream. But even if it was only a dream, the thought of Kisame's dream arms made me blush and hide my face in the pillow.

None the less though, I still felt as if I could feel them around me. What a very life like dream, I mused. I tried to twist into a more comfortable position , but froze. Very, very life like…. So life like…. That it was real.

I sensed the huge form of Kisame beside me, his strong arms loosely encircling my waist. His breathing was deep and level, and the soft puffs of air blew across my cheek, rising yet another blush. It was obvious he was asleep.

For that, I was thankful. Perhaps I could disentangle myself before he came too. I wiggled ever so slightly, hoping to break his hold, but still have him stay asleep. Even as I thought about it though, I realized what a stupid idea it had been. He was an s-ranked ninja, a feather would wake him up. I was right.

The second I had wiggled with the intent of getting away, his arms instinctively tightened ever so slightly around me, and his breathing paused. Then continued more raggedly, signifying his wakefulness. In a last ditch effort, I closed my eyes and went limp. Maybe I could fake sleep and he would let go, leaving me with my dignity. Once again, a stupid idea.

"You are a very bad actor," Kisame stated simply. His voice was so nonchalant, even while it was only inches away. I could feel the air caressing my face, and I lowered my lashes instinctively. I didn't like to think about how red I probably was.

It did irk me a bit to see that my fake sleeping had not thrown him off for an instant. Sure he was a great shinobi and all, but I was a ninja too. I should be able to fool someone for at least a few seconds. And he had no idea about what he was talking about saying that I was a bad actor. He had no idea how many times I had to fake strength of cheeriness in the company of my friends or family. He simply had no idea, who was he to judge?

"I didn't mean any offense, Hinata," Kisame amended quickly, apparently my indignation and distress had shown on my face. In the back of my mind I was aware the intimate position that Kisame had not released me from yet, but it was only in the back of my mind. I was currently still in the act of falling back in a depression. Depressions were notoriously hard to climb back out of. Kisame continued as he teased lightly. "The only reason I knew was because your face was so red. No way you would be blushing that hard in your sleep."

With his last comments said, he disentangled himself from me and drew back. I felt strangely and unpleasantly cooler after his warmth had left, but I beat that down. I forced myself to let out a sigh of relief not that the awkwardness had passed. I was far from right. The awkwardness was just beginning.

"You may not blush that hard, but you screamed louder than I have ever heard someone do in their nightmare," Kisame murmured after the silence. I froze in slight panic. He had heard me. I really had screamed in my sleep.

"W-what d-did I s-say," I inquired uncertainly. Did I want to know the answer? There was a pause and I was sure that Kisame was contemplating his answer. I began to fidget uncomfortable, I was nervous and self conscious. I heard Kisame sit up and allowed myself to briefly enjoy the sounds of his movement. Of course, I too sat up and face him expectantly and anxiously.

"First," Kisame began slowly. "You called for the Kyuubi." I had a moment of confusion as he mentioned the Kyuubi, but then I remembered how the Akatsuki was after Naruto for the Fox Demon, that was probably just how they referred to him. "He was leaving you behind…."

"Yes," I whispered with out thinking. I saw my dream Naruto disappearing clearly in my mind. But it also spoke volumes for my real life. Naruto was just getting farther and farther out of my reach, until I was sure that he was completely gone from me.

"You briefly mentioned a man named Neji. You said it in such…confusion," Kisame mused. I had a feeling he was looking off distantly, remembering. Somehow it touched me, to see that he cared so much to analyze my nightmares. Everyone I had ever known had simply comforted me and told me it was just a dream. Kisame was doing more than that. I was pulled out of my gratitude by his next question. "Who is he? Neji?"

"Neji…" I breathed wistfully. What was Neji now. He was a trusted cousin, confidant, and protector. But he was also my arranged fiancé. So, how did I answer that question. "I don't know what Neji is…" In a small corner of my mind I was musing happily over the loss of my stuttering. I wasn't sure why it was absent, but I didn't think it was permanent. I think part of it was how at ease I could be around Kisame, the words came out easily.

"What is he to you?"

"To me," I repeated meditatively. I opened my mouth and my tightly guarded feeling seeped out. "He was my pillar. He kept my strong, and made me strong, and helped me. He was always there, he always listened, and not once did he tell me that I was foolish or to grow up. He protected me, from everything."

"You're speaking in past tense."

"He was my cousin," I whispered huskily through the rapidly enlarging lump in my throat. "But now he is going to be my husband, and now he is a cold stranger." I swallowed vainly and gripped the sheets tightly in my small, trembling fists.

"Would it be better if he were a complete stranger," Kisame inquired. The question caught me off guard but made perfect sense to me. "Instead of your Neji?"

"Yes, it would be," I agreed forlornly. "I don't want to lose Neji. But then, I don't want to marry either." This whole conversation was horribly depressing, but at the same time relieving. It felt like a weight was lifting as I spoke. It made everything easier and less confusing to bear with Kisame examining everything with me.

"How old are you Hinata," Kisame asked suddenly as he grabbed my hand. I was surprised to feel his large hand grasp mine but I didn't pull back. He lay my small hand in his palm and twisted my engagement ring around my finger. He continued to fiddle with it as he spoke.

"Seventeen," I replied unsurely. I wasn't sure why he had asked that question. Besides the fact that I didn't understand what that had to do with anything, I had thought that he already knew. Itachi had made reference to my age before.

"Much too young," Kisame murmured vehemently. I gasped a little 'oh' and looked up at him in surprise. He sounded so disgusted and maybe a bit protective. But I could easily be imagining that. I suddenly felt the ring slide off of my finger as he pulled it off. "Much too young to be chained by something like marriage."

He let go of my hand and I took it back. I rubbed the spot on my finger where the ring had been. I moved my fingers across each other, and felt an overwhelming surge of elation at not feeling the ring. It bubbled up inside of me and I sighed at the intense feeling of relief that followed. I remembered the ring tightening painfully around my finger, and how it had been impossible to take it off. Kisame had just freed me.

"Thank you, Kisame." I really wasn't quite sure why I thanked him, but I did feel thankful for something. I think Kisame understood, because he didn't press the matter.

"There were other names you know," Kisame spoke up suddenly. I cocked my head at him in confusion. I had completely forgotten what we were talking about before we had strayed to Neji. "In your screaming."

"Oh," I gasped in sudden understanding. "Yes, I'm sure there were."

"Itachi's," he said simply. I shuddered as the memories from the real world and the memories from my dream mixed together to create horrible images and sensations. "He's not going to do that again…ever," Kisame assured me. I smiled just a little at him. The question of why he was so kind flitted through my mind, but I didn't want to be prejudice. Why couldn't an Akatsuki have a heart? 'Good' shinobi killed just as many people.

"There was one more name," Kisame said. His voice sounded indifferent. But I wasn't sure if it was real, or forced. I knew who the last name was. It had been his, and it had been the loudest by far. I gulped as I waited for him to continue. "You were screaming for me."

"I-I n-needed you t-to s-save m-me from I-Itachi," I stammered out. My stuttering had come back as my discomfort mounted. "I'm s-sorry. I s-shouldn't…" I did know how to word what it was exactly that I shouldn't do. I shouldn't think of him as my savior. I shouldn't think that he was going to save me. He had no obligation to. It was assuming all too much of him. I had barely met him. And besides, he was evil.

"I came," he told me abruptly. Again, my brow furrowed in confusion. Sometimes he spoke in such a choppy manner that I couldn't follow him. "When you cried out for me, I came."

It hit me. It hadn't been a dream at all. Kisame really had been there. He really had come to save me and rid me of my nightmares. I owed Kisame more he knew. I sighed and looked down, allowing myself to slide into a sort of euphoric silence, interrupting it only to utter a simple and heartfelt, "Aregato."

"Now, about these eyes of yours," Kisame broke the silence in an upbeat voice, apparently putting the bit of gloom behind him. He brushed two fingers down my forehead and over my eyes, which I instinctively closed. "I think I know how you can get over your temporary handicap."


A/N okay, so there was my shorter and crappier than usual chapter. I seriously need to move it along. Anyway, please please please review. I like when people have questions and comments, but I also like constructive critisizm. If there's something you don't like, instead of just stopping reading the fic tell me about it and I'll see if I can make adjustments. Anyway, see y'all later. bye bye