The group got to the beach, Temari and Ino immediately running for the waves crashing on the shore. Hinata and Konan shook their heads as they got all of their things out of the trunk. The van door opened, and Sakura burst out, gasping for air. She whipped around and pointed at Kiba.
"I'm. Driving. Home. The windows stay down. Not. Again." And with that she stomped away, her hips swaying harshly. Hinata looked at Konan, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow, and shook her head. Pein walked up with Kisame, who had their arms full of other things as well.
"Hey, did Dei get ahold of you?" Kisame asked. Hinata pulled her phone out of her short pockets and looked at the screen.
'Hey, sorry. We might not even be there. Car broke down.' Hinata sighed, a smile on her face, and put her phone back in her pocket.
"The car broke down, so they're not going to be here." Kisame nodded as the boys piled out of the van and ran to the water, Shikamaru and Sasuke grabbing the things out of the back. With all of the things out of the back, and everyone settling on the beach, small group made their way to the beach to set up. After all the towels were laid out, the sheets stable*, umbrellas set up, and the volley ball net set up, they could all finally have some fun.
Kisame stripped his shirt and Hinata took off her shorts and cover revealing her simple black bikini. She kicked off her flip flops and was scooped into the strong arms of her boyfriend. She smiled and hit his chest lightly as he ran with her into the water. When he got waist deep he threw the girl, screaming, into the cool water. She emerged, hair covering her face and glared at him. He stuck out his tongue and she ran, as well as anyone can in water, at him and latched onto his neck, attempting to pull him in to no avail. Finally she pouted and Kisame sighed, allowing the small girl to pull him into the lake.
And that's how the first hour went, everyone doing their own thing. Ino, Temari, Hinata, Kisame, Hidan, Neji, Ten-Ten, and Itachi played chicken and splashed in the water, Pein, Konan, Shikamaru, Choji, and Sasuke sat under the umbrellas, Kiba and Naruto were racing in the water, Tobi cheering them on, and Sakura was laying in the sun by herself. Soon everyone was eyeing the volleyball net, and the battle was on.
Hinata, Temari, Ten-Ten, Ino, Konan, and Sakura were one team while Kisame, Itachi, Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba, and Neji made the other team. Shikamaru and Pein were the referees, and with their signal the game was on. Kisame started, trying to spike the ball, but Temari dove, landing on her knees to save the ball, and Ten-Ten ran and jumped off her back and hit the ball onto the other side of the net. Naruto went after the ball and volleyed it to Sasuke who popped it to Neji who sent it to the girls. Temari growled and popped it into the air and Ino spiked it into the sand. She turned with a victorious smile and received high fives from everyone. They rotated, and Hinata served the ball, sending it over the net to the other side. Itachi hit it back, and Konan retaliated. Kiba dove as the ball was about to hit the ground, and sent it to Naruto, who sent the ball soring straight to the ground. Hinata walked to the net and so did Kisame.
"This is far from over I hope you know." Hinata practically growled at him.
"Competitive I see. Well, we gotta talk later, okay?" The tone of his voice made Hinata worry a little but when he leaned in and kissed her through the net the thought faded from her mind and they continued to play.
"And that's it folks. Girls win. Again. But you won two. So that's two to four." Shikamaru said as he stood up from his spot on the ground. The sun was starting to set, and everyone was sore and ready to leave. As everyone else started to pack up Kisame pulled Hinata out over a small sand dune to watch the sun set behind the lake. Hinata smiled and leaned into Kisame's chest from their spot on the ground when she remembered what he'd said earlier.
"What do we have to talk about Kisa?" Kisame bit his lip and sat up, turning to look Hinata in the eyes.
"So, I got a call from my dad on our way here."
"And, was it good news?"
"Well, yeah. He's opening another branch in the business, and thinks that I'd be a great boss there."
"That's awesome Kisa!"
"Yeah… not really."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I have to move by the end of next week."
"Oh, well it can't be too far. He knows you've got people here, a life, right?" Hinata asked hopeful, and when Kisame lowered his head Hinata's heart sank. "Kisame," Hinata whispered, "where is the job?"
"A- Australia." Kisame's voice cracked and Hinata saw a tear roll down his cheek. Hinata recoiled, as if struck. "I know. I tried to talk to him, but he gave me no choice. He expects me to go into the family business, and he just- wouldn't listen." His breathing became labored and Kisame took a ragged sigh, his lumbering body shaking. Hinata crawled to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Kisame, this is a great opportunity."
"I know. But I didn't want to leave. I love you Hinata, and I don't know if I'd be able to come back, when we could see each other again. I can't be in love with you if I can't hold you in my arms. I'd go insane." Hinata's heart sank to her stomach, and her stomach sank to her feet.
"Wha- what are you trying to say Kisa?"
"I," he took a deep breath, "I don't know if we can be together anymore Hina." Now it was Hinata's turn to feel the tears run down her cheeks. She shook her head.
"But I can go see you. We have the internet. We can talk online. We-"
"It's not the same! It'd be a tease, a treat held right in front of me that I'd never be able to have. Hinata, I don't want to put you through this. I can't. I'll… I'll see you around princess."
Kisame stood and started to walk off.
"Kisame! KISAME! KISAME YOU CAN'T JUST WALK AWAY FROM ME!" Hinata saw him wipe his eyes before he took off in a run, and she knew she couldn't catch up to him. Hinata sat, dejected, tears rolling down her cheeks, body shaking, sobbing. Alone. She heard footsteps approach but gave it no mind. Only when a cool hand touched her shoulder did she look up and saw the onyx eyes staring into her lavender ones.
"Hey, are you alright?" Sasuke asked. Hinata wiped her eyes, and nodded. The two stood up and walked to the cars in silence. Kisame had already left.
"Hinata! There you are!"
"Damn it Sasuke, get in the van!" Hinata sniffed and looked to Sasuke.
"Do- do you think you could ride with us?" Hinata asked, noticing the empty seat where Konan was missing. He nodded his head and they climbed in the car. The doors closed and they rolled the roof up. The ride home was full of Temari and Ino chatting, and Ten-Ten adding in bits, but Hinata and Sasuke stayed silent. Hinata leaned against Sasuke a friendship forming in silence.
It'd been a month since Kisame left, without a goodbye, and Hinata had barely left her room. She'd sit on the ledge by her window and watch the world go by, but would never leave her room, and frankly, Sasuke had had enough of it.
"What are you doing here Sasuke?"
"I'm tired of you being in your room." He said as he sat on her bed, and looked at her, her lavender shirt rumpled, obviously worn for more than just that day, and she wore white exercise shorts. Sasuke donned a red razorback tank top and grey shorts.
"Well, I like it in here."
"You know, you missed Ino's birthday right?"
"No I didn't! It's-"
"July 15th. Three days ago." Hinata looked at her hands.
"Did you come in here just to scold me, like Neji?" Hinata asked, pulling her knees to her chest.
"No. I came here to help my friend get over the guy who left her." Hinata laughed a cynical laugh and shook her head.
"I am over him."
"Bullshit." Sasuke said as he moved to his knees. "Hinata, I know you're in love with him still. I know you're not over him. So just tell me."
"I'm over him Sasuke!" Hinata tried to pull away, feeling the tears stinging her eyes.
"Noyou're not!" He put his hands on her shoulders, trying to get her to look at him. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you're over him!" And that's when she lost it.
"FINE! I'm not over him! I hate him! I hate how he left me, I hate how he didn't even say goodbye! I hate how I still love him! Most of all I hate myself for loving him!" Hinata bit her lip and curled into herself. Sasuke pulled her into his chest, wrapping his fingers in her hair.
"Don't hate yourself."
"I do, I do though. I have a thousand memories, and I didn't cherish them because I thought I'd get a thousand more. And those memories are driving me insane. Everywhere I go, something reminds me of him. His hoodie is still in my closet, I still sleep with it. It still smells like him. I wear it at night, close my eyes and pretend he's still there." Hinata hit Sasuke's chest. "I hate how… small… I feel. I feel like he's still here, and I know I can't get rid of him. I know I sound selfish, but I'd rather be here by myself than feel everyone's pity."
"No one pity's you Hinata. They just want to help you get over this. I just want to help you get over this." He wiped the tears from Hinata's eyes and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Hinata sniffed, shifting her weight a little.
"I'm getting rid of the memories." Sasuke said, pulling the sweater out of the closet.
"What?"
"Where are all the pictures you guys took?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Hinata." Sasuke looked at her, one brow raised. She wiped her eyes and pointed to a drawer on her vanity. Sasuke took the pile of pictures he knew she'd gone through a million times, tear stains were on the corners of almost every one.
"What are you going to do with them?"
"We're sending them to him."
"What?" Hinata stood up and looked at him.
"We're sending them to him. Itachi has his work address and that's where we're sending them. To him." Hinata shook her head, but still got a box when he asked. She watched from the corner of the bed as Sasuke sprayed the hoodie with her perfume and folded it and placed it in the box. He put the pictures in there, and looked at her. He nodded and grabbed a notebook and a pen from the nightstand and held it out to her.
"What?"
"Write him a note."
"Why?"
"Just, tell him how you feel. It will help." Hinata sighed and took the pen and paper and began scribbling the note. Five minutes later Hinata gave Sasuke the note and he folded it up. He sealed the box with tape and tucked it under his arm.
"Come on," Sasuke reached out a hand to Hinata, "let's go get Ino a birthday present." Hinata shook her head and looked around the room.
"Can I change first? I've been wearing this outfit for like, three days now." Sasuke shook his head.
"So that's what that smell is." He was awarded with a pillow being chucked at his face.
The box arrived to a large tower overlooking the ocean. The 'click-clack' of high heels on tile echoed through the hallway and bounced back off of the large doors at the end. The small woman opened the doors.
"Mr. Hoshigaki? You've got a package from an Itachi?" At the name Kisame looked up and nodded.
"Bring it here, thank you Karen." She nodded and turned, swaying her hips and looked back at the man through her half rimmed glasses, but he was busy opening the box.
The second he opened the box, he regretted it. Seriously regretted it. It smelled like her. It was her, he found out when he saw the pictures of them together. He looked carefully at the distorted features on some, where the tears had bled the ink on the images. He lightly brushed a finger across the edge of her face slowly and felt the tears drip down his chin. He pulled out his sweater, pulled it to his face, and breathed. That's what smelled like her. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and opened them, a note, folded up, lay on the desk in front of him. He unfolded it and sucked in a deep breath. It was from her.
'Kisame,
I don't know why you left without giving me a chance to say goodbye. It's like you wanted me to sit here in my room all summer and think of you, avoid anything that reminded me of you. I wish I could say that I didn't, that I went out and lived my life. But here I am, sitting in my room on my bed where we'd sleep some nights writing this "Dear John" like letter to you. I want to cry. All the time. Not get out of bed, sleep all my life away. Not go back to school next year, let my life end with your absence. But I refuse to do that. So I'm going to end this note with a helpful tip to you.
Do not fall in love with a person like you. They'll take you to museums, parks, and kiss you in every beautiful place, so you can never go back to them without tasting them like blood in your mouth. They will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible. And when they leave, you will finally understand, why storms are named after people.
Here's my goodbye Kisame.
I won't see you around.
~Princess'
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So, I really hope you liked this chapter! Sorry for a longer wait, but now I'm offically a High School Graduate! Woo! Alright, so read, review, tell your friends! Thank you all for the support, and thank you to the last Guest commenter, it means a lot to know that you love this story!