The walk home seemed shorter. Maybe it was because I was agitated at Deidara's actions as I found my way back to the house without any problem. Deidara didn't try to say anything as I ignored going into the kitchen and stomped around the side of the house. Why was I so angry about him kissing my cheek? It wasn't like he had meant anything by it. Besides, human contact was a good thing, something that I needed. I growled at that little voice. I hated her maybe she should just go die.

I heard the sounds of fighting coming from the far side of the house as I wandered closer. Whoever it was they sounded strained like they had been at it for hours as I heard a loud sucking noise.

That was never a good thing. I turned to my right to see a massive wall of water rise above the wall of the house.

Definitely not good.

I grabbed one of the bamboo shoots and held on as the water pressure slammed over me. Dammit whoever used this jutsu was getting my boot up their ass personally as it subsided enough so that I now had my own little swimming pool in the area. Great. I treaded water before actually swimming over to where I heard the sound of battle again. I pulled myself out and stood on the water balancing my chakra as I took agitated steps toward the noise.

Honestly I was glad that Deidara had taken my things, saved them from getting soaked as I rounded the corner just in time to receive a face full of water clone.

'what the?!' I heard Kisame's shout as I toppled backward. I caught myself and pushed off the water's surface as the clone disintegrated and another version of Kisame was standing in front of me as I probably looked completely pathetic soaked to the bone standing on the water.

'hey hold up Kakuzu' Kisame waved to the other man as Kakuzu shrugged and turned picking up his things before leaving. I guess Kakuzu wasn't a very patient man as Kisame slung his mammoth of a sword over his one shoulder. 'good dodge' he commented as I nodded. Boy this was getting awkward fast.

'so you arranged a trip into town for me and Deidara?' I asked as Kisame nodded and gave a polite smile.

'yea, I was getting rather tired of you stealing my underwear' he said as I grinned. Maybe Kisame and I could be friends after all as I noticed the strange pull coming from his sword. So that was the chakra drainer I had felt from before when we had first battled.

'so your sword drains chakra?' I asked as Kisame glanced at the bandaged item which distinctly rustled beneath the bandages.

'uh yea, I don't really notice when it does it.' he said as I immediately felt the pull stop and the bandages settled once again. I wondered what on earth was underneath all of those bandages as I glanced up to his forever guarded golden eyes.

'Hidan said we had a mission' I said as Kisame looked confused before agitated as he stared at a fixed spot over my head his hands tightening on the grip of Samehada. I involuntarily took a step back from Kisame as that same violent aura seemed to leech out of him before it vanished again as he drew in a deep breath.

'Well I better go see what that is about. I suggest you go pack. We'll be gone for a few days most likely' Kisame said as he turned and vanished into the house. I stood there staring at the rapidly fading ripples his footsteps had made across the flooded area. I doubt I would ever understand the inner workings of the Akatsuki. But I was content knowing that I was accepted here. My anger had dissipated since coming outside and speaking with Kisame. How odd, that strange blue man had the oddest effect on me even while intimidating the shit out of me. I put my hands in my pockets and strolled the way Kisame had gone. I guess I would go pack. I wondered where and how many days we would be gone for.

Would I survive?

There was an odd thought. I hadn't given much thought to my life, I had always known someday I would die. Probably sooner than I would've liked too either by someone else or myself as depressing as that was. I found Kisame's room easily. I knew where all of the rooms were now, they had become ingrained in my mind where their location was as I opened the door.

Deidara had left my bags on the bed as I crossed the room and started to unpack them. I'd have to thank him later. Dammit, why was I being so NICE?! I glared at the packaging as I noticed something black sticking out of the side as I pulled it out. The fabric was soft as it unfolded into an Akatsuki robe my size. I smiled, so this had been the reason Kisame had sent Deidara and I into town. I also noticed a small black backpack had been set beside the parcels as I unzipped it and took a peak. Inside was an extensive first aid kit as I sorted through the various bandages, antiseptics, stitches, needles and anesthetics that were all strategically packed in non-breakable bottles. I slid on the robe and zipped it up before packing away the few articles of clothing I had to my name and some basic toiletries as I heard familiar heavy footsteps coming down the hall.

'Hey Kisame' I said as the door slid open.

'Uh hey. We better get going' he said as I nodded and slung my pack over my shoulder turning to face him. He held out a familiar bamboo hat as I took it from him and he eyed my as if sizing me up. 'do you have any weapons on you?' he asked as I blinked. Weapons? I had whatever was left in my kunai pouch and hip pouch.

'Not many' I said honestly as he nodded and opened the top drawer of his dresser. Within five minutes I was at least five pounds heavier from all of the metal he had told me to hide in various places as I slipped a small dagger between my cleavage. It was odd that I was being so heavily armed as I raised an eyebrow at him. His eyes were still guarded as he caught my glance.

'we'll be heading into an area where… Akatsuki aren't very welcome to say the least' he said as I nodded. As if we were liked anywhere, I was now a part of a band of evil ninja who were hated and feared across the five great shinobi nations.

'right. Well, doesn't matter. No ones ever been happy to see me' I said cheerily as Kisame fixed me with a strange stare. I couldn't decipher the look but it seemed almost like he knew what I meant before his features were once again schooled flawlessly. He didn't say anything as he put the hat on and left the room. I followed behind much like a puppy or a small child as we left the house through a door way I had never been through.

The silence stretched as I decided to walk beside him not behind him like someone inferior as I looked at him. The hat really limited your vision but covered my face almost completely as the little bell on the front dingled with every step.

'so where are we going?' I asked as Kisame gave me a glance before looking forward again. We had made it to a long road that was obviously highly traveled by people judging by the large wheel ruts as I stepped cautiously as to not roll my ankle like a genin.

'fire country' he said as I nodded.

'Konoha?' I asked as he looked at me, his golden eyes staring at mine as if trying to judge my reaction.

'yes, we're looking for someone specific or information on the person' Kisame said as I nodded.

'And who would that be?' I asked as Kisame didn't bother to look as me as he seemed to settle into a more comfortable stride which was equal to two of mine easily.

'The nine tailed fox sealed in a boy called Naruto Uzumaki' Kisame said as I froze in my step. Naruto. Sensei's little boy. Kisame stopped a few paces ahead and looked back at me. My mind was racing. Naruto. We were after Naruto. I looked up to Kisame as he was watching me as if I had just told him that oranges were in fact purple.

'Naruto Uzumaki?' I asked my throat suddenly dry as he nodded watching me with suspicious eyes.

'Is there a problem kasumi?' he asked as I shook my head. That strange aura was coming from him again. Naruto. Of course it had to be Naruto, the one person other than Kakashi that I could never hurt for his meaning to me. I prayed to whatever deity would listen that we would fail this mission just for the sake of Naruto.

'No nothing. The name shocked me as all.' I said as I caught up to him. I kept my eyes forward as I could feel Kisame staring at me, almost staring right through me. It was freaky really before his stare turned away from me.

'I want you to stay out of any battles we get into. You definitely won't be able to defend yourself very well' he said gruffly as I glared at him. I could defend myself just fine thank you very much! I had been for the last 26 years of my life. I didn't say anything as I gave Kisame a glare. He matched it as this continued for a few minutes before I looked away. Dammit! He was too intimidating especially with those golden eyes.

I watched the people we passed on the road as they stared at us in mild fascination. Obviously cloaks like our stood out as we walked as when we passed towns urchins would run over and beg for money as Kisame's gaze would send them scurrying back to the village limits.

I had never traveled before. Everything was a new experience really. Seeing people pass me on the road carrying carts laden with goods or runners as they did laps between villages. A little stone house caught my attention as I stopped to look at it. It had fruit and incense burning as the characters read a prayer to one of the ancient polytheistic gods. I stood and stared at it as I noticed Kisame had stopped to wait for me a little way up the road.

'What is this?' I asked pointing to the little stone house as Kisame tipped up his hat up to stare at me in astonishment.

'That's a shrine. Some towns erect them for travelers to pray at or if an accident happened near the area' Kisame explained as I nodded. It was a nice idea, rather useless in my opinion, but I guessed it brought comfort to a great many people. I turned and caught up to Kisame as he was staring at me with an odd expression.

'What?!' I asked as he shook his head.

'You really have been sheltered haven't you?' he asked as I glared at the lip of his hat. He didn't even seem to notice the scathing look as he glanced back to look at me. I met his gaze as he smirked and shifted Samehada on his back. I immediately felt extremely depressed. I had lived a very sheltered life from the world. I knew the horrors of war, the brutality of people, I knew the military and camps, codes, and reconnaissance. But little things like shopping, chores, roadside shrines, little things that were common for everyday people were foreign to me. I had lived in a world that while brutal and barbaric had sheltered me from living a life with the simple knowledge of what things were in the outside world.

We walked on in silence as a few people passed us. I recognized them as off duty soldiers from fire country as they gave us dark looks and hissed to one another. I pulled my hat low and quickened my pace as Kisame matched my strides easily catching my glance as he looked over at the group of four men who were talking in hushed tones.

'Hey, if you have something to say I suggest you spill it before I spill your guts' Kisame barked as the four men straightened and glared in our direction.

'I bet you would you murderer!' one snapped as I glanced at Kisame. That rage seemed to have flooded forward as I took a step closer to his side. Honestly, I was terrified of Kisame but I realized that he was standing up for me.

Kisame grinned as the two men in the back looked utterly terrified of Kisame. I just waited as the spitfire glared at Kisame.

'You want to see a murder?' Kisame asked his tone dangerously low as I heard Samehada clicking restlessly in its bandages. I stood firm beside Kisame as the guy beside him glared at Kisame as well.

'As if you could do anything! You're traveling with a woman, how pathetic is that?' he yelled as I glared at them. Ignorant assholes. I cracked my knuckles as Kisame glanced at me.

'hurt them.' I said as Kisame grinned. I watched as Kisame moved so quickly that he had broken the one man's neck and torn his head clean from his shoulders and tossed the other clear across the road into a tree where he was skewered on a broken branch before any of them could react and reach for their weapons. The other two ran off as Kisame growled and made to chase after them as I jumped to his side. 'Let them run' I said touching his forearm gently as he looked back at me bloodlust in his eyes. I watched as it slowly receded and familiar respectful golden eyes returned. He gave a nod as I let my arm fall and turned to continue on.

The incident was soon forgotten but the melancholy seemed to cling to me as we kept walking. Kisame didn't say anything as the sun began to set. I was so sore as I struggled to keep up to Kisame. Damn, I hated being so weak. I might have great reserves of chakra and a good brain but with no training or physical endurance I was weaker than a kitten. I sighed as dark finally fell on the road and we were immersed in inky darkness.

'We'll stop here for the night' Kisame announced as he gently grasped my arm and lead me off of the road and through the trees. I brushed branches out of my face as we came to a small clearing. It wasn't much but there were a few leaves on the ground that would be soft enough to sleep on as Kisame went about uncovering a small fire pit and some wood hidden in the crotch of a tree as in no time we had a small fire going.

Kisame flopped down against the trunk of a tree as I stayed standing where I was. I didn't know why but the closer we came to Konoha the heavier I felt. It was almost like I was heading to my own death sentence it felt like.

'Are you going to sit down or stand there like a tree?' Kisame's gruff voice brought me back to the now as I sat down across the fire from him on a log and removed my backpack and rolled my shoulders. An impressive amount of pops and clicks came from them as I sighed and put my hands on my knees. I watched him carefully unwrap Samehada as I saw layers of what looked like pointed fish scales made of silver. Each one of the scales seemed to move as if they were breathing as I watched Kisame pull out a small cloth and some type of salve and began rubbing it into the scales and underneath each of the scales.

'what kind of scale is that?' I asked as the words were out of my mouth before I thought about them. Damn brain being slow. I cursed myself as Kisame looked up to see me watching him. He smirked and went back to gently and thoroughly rubbing the polish into the scales.

'Shark scales' he said simply as I thought about a shark. Sharks don't have scales.

'But sharks don't have scales…' I muttered as he grinned at me.

'You're the first to catch onto that. Its actually layers of hardened shark skin fashioned into scales with chakra' he explained as I nodded. Odd way to make a sword if there ever was one but then again I was sitting across from a 6 foot 9, 280 pound shark man. It fit him oddly enough as I sighed and noticed I really had to pee.

'I'll be right back' I announced and wandered into the trees. After my little break I headed to where I heard a little stream bubbling away as I washed my hands and face trying to get off all of the dirt from the dusty road. I heard a twig break as I looked up to see a very effeminate boy looking at me. He gave a slight incline of his head as I noticed his forehead protector announced he was from mist. Long way from home this boy was but I had no business with him. I gave a nod back as he came closer and washed his hands and face as well. He couldn't be older than twelve as I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. Immediately I was on my guard as I jumped back and pulled out a kunai to see a tall lean man with a massive cleaver slung across his back. His face was obscured with bandages as he watched me cautiously.

The boy was watching me curiously as well as I slowly lowered the kunai and put it back in my cloak.

'I didn't know women were in the Akatsuki' the man's voice reminded me of a rough landslide as I stood up straight.

'There are' I said simply as the large man shrugged. He looked at the boy as he looked back at me with large warm brown eyes.

'Are you a medic? Previously with Konoha?' he asked as I blinked. How did this kid know this? I nodded as he smiled brightly as something registered in the back of my mind at the sight of that smile.

'Do you know this kunoichi Haku?' the larger man took on a defensive stance as I readied for an attack at a moments notice. Where was that massive shark man when you needed him?

'Stand down Zabuza she's a medic not a fighter.' Haku's voice was like ice as the larger man stood down and stood back up to his full height. Haku turned to me and fixed large chocolate eyes on me. 'you probably wont remember me but you gave me an apple and fixed my right arm when it was broken about four years ago' he said as the memory popped up. I had been heading back to Konoha and had stopped into a village on the way to pick up some food and had found the urchin cradling his left arm that was bent at an awkward angle. I had felt bad because it had been a spiral fracture probably from someone throwing the boy as I gave him an apple and fixed it for him.

I never thought I'd be seeing that urchin again let alone now almost a young man and so well dressed and obviously cared for.

I felt the flare of chakra as suddenly a strong arm was around me as I was pulled against a chest and a black robe clad arm had a sword pointed straight out at Haku and Zabuza.

'Well, well, Kisame. I didn't know you were here.' Zabuza drawled as I felt Kisame stiffen.

'Zabuza. How's mist?' Kisame's voice was gruff as he set Samehada back onto his back as I looked at Haku who seemed amused but still polite while Zabuza watched us warily.

'Wouldn't know. We were run out' He growled as Haku shot his partner a calming look, Zabuza shifted his weight watching me like a predator. Kisame didn't say anything keeping his look fierce as I glanced up at him. I was really sore and my legs were getting wobbly as Zabuza shrugged.

'I suggest you leave' Kisame said icily as the duo took the hint.

'Nice seeing you again Kisame' Zabuza said with a nod as Kisame returned the gesture. Polite hostility. Now I knew why Kisame was such a polite person it obviously had to do with the people he had to deal with. The duo disappeared into the foliage without as sound as I felt two chakra flares before they winked out of existence completely.

'Are you alright?' the tone in Kisame's voice caught me off guard as I looked up sharply to look into slightly concerned golden eyes.

'I'm fine.' I said as he nodded and let me go reaching down to pick up my abandoned hat before handing it to me.

'How one woman can attract such trouble is beyond me' he muttered wandering off in the direction of camp. I waited before following behind him quietly. I really did have a knack for attracting unwanted attention lately it seemed.

The campsite seemed untouched as I resumed my spot on the log and Kisame against the log.

'We're going to do some training' he said simply as I looked up from the dirt under my sandals. I raised an eyebrow as a question as I grinned.

'Okay but on a condition' I said as Kisame glanced at me his expression asking me what I meant. 'we play questions. Every time I get something right I can ask you a question.' I said as Kisame seemed amused.

'what if you get something wrong?' he asked raising an eyebrow as I shrugged.

'then you can ask me a question' I said as he sighed and motioned for me to stand up. I did as told as he pointed into the shrubs.

'try to sneak up on me' he said as I stared at him. He wanted me to sneak up on him. Did he think I was a prodigy or something? He would seem me coming from a mile away! I stomped into the bushes and hid my chakra as I saw Kisame grin to himself. Slowly I moved as soundlessly as I could around the clearing hidden in the shrubs.

'You're going to have to do better than that' Kisame's voice was quiet as his eyes fixed exactly on my hiding place. Darn, I lost already. 'So Kasumi, do you have family in Konoha?' he asked rooting around in his cloak for something as I jumped into the trees.

'No I don't. I don't have any family' I said using my speed jutsu to clear the clearing in one jump. Kisame was still focusing on where I had been as I snuck around behind another shrub as I silently tossed a kunai as it pegged the tree beside his head. Immediately he turned golden eyes on me.

'Good, you're learning quickly.' He said as I nodded and moved.

'So Kisame have you ever had a significant other?' I asked as I moved as quickly and silently as I could. I didn't look at Kisame as I heard the sharp steel in his voice.

'You don't need to know that' he said as I glanced at him. He looked furious as I gulped.

'forget I asked then' I said quickly hiding as best I could as he focused on my hiding spot. I cursed again. Dammit, Kisame was too friggin' skilled as a ninja.

'What about yourself?'

'A significant other?'

Silence as I moved as quietly as I could. Obviously it was that question.

'No, I've lived in the military since I was a child'

'You've never had another person?'

'nope'

'really? I find that hard to believe'

'it's true' I hid myself on another branch as he fixed golden eyes on me again. Damn he was good!

'What is your favorite weapon?' Kisame of course would ask about weaponry. Men, one track minds honestly.

'I always thought Katanas were cool. Daggers are more practical for me though.' I said as Kisame nodded and I dropped out of the tree to land on his shoulders as he gave a grunt of irritation. Finally I won!

'Now, is your skin naturally blue?' I asked leaning over to look into Kisame's eyes as he looked up to meet mine. Harassing Kisame, I think I had found a new hobby as he gave me an annoyed look.

'It's part of my blood line limit of course it's natural.' He sounded extremely irritated as I grinned. That cleared up a few things. So it was genetic so if he ever had kids he'd have mini blue sharks running around.

Wow I must've been overtired to think of Mini Kisame's running around. I rested my arm on his head and stared at the fire as I could feel Kisame still trying to stare at me through his blue fringe.

'Are you going to get down anytime soon?' he asked as I shrugged and started to feel the effects of traveling and training this evening as I tried to fight how my eyelids wanted to close. He gave a chuckle as I felt him grab my forearms. I blinked as I was suddenly flipped forward into Kisame's lap. 'better' he grumbled as I felt heavy arms rest across my thighs with his hands in his lap. I blinked again. Random as it was I felt how warm he was and immediately my body relaxed. Damn traitorous body, I fought to stay awake as I watched the fire as my eyes slid closed.