A/N: This is a fic based on a series of ten prompts over at the 10_what_ifs community on livejournal. The theme set I'm using is Spaceship. So, if you've figured it out, this is going to be an AU fic. The particular prompt for this chapter is 8. Light Speed. And, again, because of length, this chapter has been split into two.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Need to Talk

Ino had hoped that she would have gotten enough time to collect herself. Just cry her heart out and get it over done and over with in some moderate privacy. Then she could leave the medical lab with her pride stitched hastily back together; she could then escape to her room and cry some more. Maybe have a shower and cry again. This hurt so much more then when Sasuke had dumped her (but, could you dump someone that you weren't dating for real, but just as a ruse?). It felt like someone had their hand in her chest. And they weren't tearing her heart out, just squeezing it and twisting it, so much so that she half expected to feel a pop as her aorta came free from her heart. But it didn't happen. Just the suffocating squeezing in her chest as ever present as before.

And of course she couldn't suffer through the pain in solace. No, that would be too fucking convenient.

"Ino?" Haku's voice wafted in, quickly followed by the brunette herself, "I just passed Kisame in the mess hall. Is everything alri- oh, sweetie!"

Haku found Ino huddled on the small alcove couch in the medical lab. The same one that Ino had napped on when Sasuke had come in riddled with Incinerary rounds.

"Oh, honey," Haku edged closer, her voice soft, "What happened?"

Ino imagined she looked something awful. She could feel how puffy and swollen her eyes were from the crying. Her face must have been a mess, with her eye makeup smudged to shit and a nice mix of tears and snot coating the rest of her face. She bet she looked pale and drawn, again, from the crying. There was also a certain pathetic air, what with her hugging her knees so tightly her knuckles were turning white. Ino thought she must have looked a pretty sad sight. And that was thinking in a positive light.

"Ino, tell me what happened," Haku soothed, petting the blonde's dishevelled hair.

Ino tried, but it just came out as a choking sob.

"I saw Kisame on my way in; does this have anything to do with this?" Haku asked, eyeing the bruises that were forming on Ino's arms and neck.

Ino couldn't help but nod mutely, hopelessly stifling another sob.

Haku's normally gentle brown eyes turned steely. "Don't worry, we're going to get this settled. I'm going to talk to Itachi and –"

"Wha-?" Ino interrupted, suddenly panicked, "N-no, I don't want... I don't... can we just forget it, p-please?"

Haku settled next to Ino, and spoke in soft tones. "Ino, sweetie, we have to. I don't care who the fuck he think he is, but he hurt you. Now, where I come from, there are penalties for that."

Ino's eyes grew wide in horror, "What are you...? It's not like that!"

Haku brushed the bruises on Ino's neck lightly, "And then these are...?"

The blonde jerked out of Haku's grasp, blushing. "Consensual," Ino mumbled.

Haku tried to hide her surprise at that admission. "And the one on your arms?" she asked, trying to recover.

The medic shook her head wildly, "No, I don't know, he just got so... so..." Ino's chest was heaving with fresh sobs, and Haku did her best to calm the medic down.

"Okay, okay, let's figure this out. Can you explain what happened to me, slowly?"

When Ino felt like she had enough air in her lungs, she tried her best to explain. "Kisame came in with a shoulder wound, and I started to stitch him up. Things between has been out of sorts between us for a little while, so it was nice. It was like old times."

Ino sniffled, finally feeling like she was getting a rein on her emotions, but she still took a deep breath to settle herself.

"And, I don't know... one minute we're talking and then we're..."

"Then you were what?" Haku prompted gently.

Ino looked sheepish and her answer came out barely as a squeak, "Kissing."

Haku wore a sympathetic look, "Can I ask who initiated it?"

"I did," Ino replied shame colouring her voice.

"Oh, Ino."

The blonde winced. "I know. I know it was stupid. I don't even fully understand why I did it, it just felt right, you know? And it was nice, no, it was better than. It was wonderful, fucking wonderful. And we're kissing and it's great and then... then... he just snaps. He was so mad, like I've never seen. It was terrifying. Is it me, Haku? Did I do something wrong? Stepped over some cultural boundary?"

Haku hugged the blonde, not bearing to look at the painful desperation in her eyes. "Oh, sweetie, it's not you."

"Then what? If it's not me, then...?" Ino hiccupped into Haku's shoulder.

"Honey, I'm going to let you in on a secret. Men are stupid. Doesn't how much money they have, how old, how educated, even what their species is. They are stupid, especially when it comes to women."

A wet laugh escaped from Ino, "Thanks, Haku."

"My pleasure, sweetie. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Ino shook her head. "No, I'm just going to go to bed," she sighed.

Haku gave her a calculated look. "I can talk to the big blue jack ass for you, if you want?"

Ino shook her head more fervently, "No, no way. I don't want anything to do with him. I'm done with him and his temperamental moods. I've had it."

"It's a small ship, hon. You're going to run into him sooner or later."

Ino shrugged. "It's only for a couple more months. I think I can manage it."

Haku sighed. "If you say so. Just do me a favour, okay? Take a few sick days off, will you? You deserve them."

"What about Itachi? And the passengers?" Ino argued.

"Pfft, don't worry about the passengers. I'm sure they can survive without you babysitting them. And I'll tell Itachi something good, don't you worry. Take those days off, alright?"

"Alright."

MWMWMWMWMW

The next day Ino tried to think of the last time she had a day off and couldn't really remember; it had been so long. Classes had taken up most of her time, then co-op placements when school was done for summer. Her life had always been compartmentalized and organized.

She just wished that she was in a better mood to enjoy it. Instead, her chest felt tight and her heart felt cold. It was a miserable feeling, and she hated it. She knew it would eventually pass, with enough time. It would also help a lot when she finally got off the damn ship.

Ino towelled her hair roughly, her thoughts in turmoil. She had taken a shower to try and get her mind off of things. She felt cleaner on the outside, but it didn't really make her feel that much better. Just more warm and damp.

She growled in frustration before letting the towel drop on the floor. She raked her fingers through her damp hair before collapsing on her bed with a heavy sigh. She was going to be glad when she finally finished her placement on the Courtesan. Karma owed her big for all the shit she had been through. When she had imagined her placement this was nothing like she thought it was going to be.

God, that feels so long ago.

Ino felt so world weary world when she remembered the fresh faced medical student that had graced the halls of the ship so many months before. She had been so naive. She had been so caught up with the rules and regulations of the Coalition Academy; it was safe. Nothing bad happened to you if you played inside the little box the Coalition set out for you. Ino knew that if the Courtesan was a 'proper' Coalition merchant vessel then she would have never had to stitch up Sasuke from illegal rounds. She would have never had been kidnapped and almost trapped on a hostile planet. She wouldn't have killed a man. She wouldn't have dreamed of getting involved with an alien.

Really, what had she gained from this? Her black and white morals had blurred into grey and she had gotten a broken heart. Not worth it. She wondered what one of her many adventures would shock and upset her old Academy buddies the most. Her helping out illegal pirates or making out with the one unhuman member of those same pirates? Ino couldn't help but wince, imagining the reaction to that. Coalition regulation wasn't exactly kind to those who weren't human. Oh, they put their words into nice and political-correct phrases, but it wasn't all that fair when you looked at without all the pretty paint. There were also words to describe those who were into 'exotics' as those types of people called aliens. None of those words were very nice or for use in polite conversation. But, then, those kinds of people weren't talked about at all in polite conversation.

It never bothered Ino much, but then she had never been out into the universe. She had stepped outside the Coalition box and the world wasn't as rosy as it once was.

God, this is depressing. One little heart break, and you fall apart. Honestly, Ino Yamanaka, grow up before you drown in all that misery.

It was too early in the evening cycle to go to bed, but then Ino didn't really care. It was her day off, and she wanted to sleep for most of it. She was already in pajamas shorts and a sleeping camisole, so it was just a matter of slipping under the covers.

A knock on the door interrupted her.

I swear it's impossible to get a moment's peace.

"Who is it?" Ino called out, not overly impressed. She also felt her voice crack from abuse. She had spent a lot of time crying and her throat had become a casualty of the emotional distress.

"It's Kisame, look when need to talk."

Ino felt her heart stop before beating twice as fast.

She was across the room in a flash, punching the lock code into her door. The automatic air locks thudded home, giving a resounding non-verbal NO to Kisame's answer.

She could hear him mumble something darkly through the door and then his heavy footfalls walking away. Ino relaxed against the door, releasing a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

That only lasted a heartbeat before familiar footsteps stomped back and there was a beeping sound as her locking code was overridden.

Fucker; of course he has the master fucking codes. He's the goddamn first officer.

Ino skittered back, her breath caught in chest. She didn't want an encounter. She just wanted to forget the whole thing had happened. The airlocks popped open and Kisame sauntered in. His presence seemed to fill the small space to suffocating levels. Ino did not want to be there. Now she was trapped in a place she thought was safe.

Silence, sticky like humidity, hung between them and it was nauseating. Ino found that she couldn't stand to meet the first officer's eyes. She settled for keeping her chin up but her eyes downcast. She half expected Kisame to say something; to yell, to accuse, berate or maybe even apologize. But it was just the stifling silence.

"What do you want?" Ino asked, folding her arms protectively across her chest. The words sounded so awkward and broken in the heavy silence.

"We need to talk," Kisame answered roughly, his words also coming out awkward and stilted. His earlier swagger had disappeared, and he looked as awkward as she felt.

Ino's blue eyes flickered to Kisame's face, angry heat pooling in them. "I think you said more than enough last night, thank you."

She noticed that he flinched. Good, was the sharp thought.

Kisame glanced over her nervously. "You know what? Maybe this was a bad idea, just forget it," Kisame grumbled in frustrated tones.

"Hmph, wouldn't be the first time. You seem to be having a lot of bad ideas lately," Ino hissed bitterly as Kisame made to leave.

That sent Kisame spinning around to confront her. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Ino shrugged. "I think you know exactly what I mean."

Kisame stepped closer, glaring down at her. His yellow eyes were narrowed into slits. "How about you spell it out for me?"

"Last night, dumb ass," Ino noticed the first officer's eyes narrower even further, "When you were kissing me. And then completely freaked out. What, did you suddenly remember that you're a criminal and I'm a Coalition officer? Am I not your type or something? Or did you suddenly get too good for me?" Ino felt herself shaking from the built up rage.

Kisame's eyes racked over her in a calculating way. "Trust me, you're my type. And it wasn't those other things either." The aloof way he spoke to her rankled Ino's nerves.

"Then what?" Ino practically screamed, frustrated and desperate for an answer. "I don't know how it works on your home world, but from my experience what you did was a not a good reaction!"

Kisame sighed, leaning away. A distant look settled in his eyes. "It's... complicated."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Forgive me for not understanding that this is the best way to uncomplicate things between us," Ino mocked, gesturing wildly.

Kisame brushed her aside, moving to sit on the bed, her bed. Like her personal space wasn't being breached enough as it was. The first officer heaved another heavy sigh, raking his fingers through his hair. "Why do you have to make this so damn difficult, woman?" Kisame grumbled, weariness in his voice.

Ino huffed in response, "I don't make it difficult, you do that all on your own."

"How exactly?" Kisame asked, that weary tone still in his voice.

"You're always making lewd comments, you're rude, inconsiderate. It's like it's your personal mission to make my life a living hell. You also abandoned me to a psychopath, and haven't been talking to me for weeks for some stupid reason that I can't fathom! Are you trying to scare me off? Like, hell, do you even care! Or was I just convenient? Getting a little lonely on this rust bucket of a ship are we?" Ino couldn't stop the tirade. It was like a flood. A hateful, mean flood.

"I'm not that shallow," Kisame growled, "unlike some people I could name."

"Oh, and are you implying that I am?" Ino growled right back.

Kisame just shrugged.

Ino's eyebrows knitted together to form a scowl. "I'm really glad we're having this talk now. Why don't you tell what else you think about me, hmm? Let's get this all out into the air, while we have this wonderful opportunity, shall we? Hell, I'll start, you're a pompous, arrogant son of a goddamn fish who isn't happy unless he's bitching and snapping at someone! You're turn."

Kisame's eyes seemed to darken in a malicious way in response to her challenge. "Do you really wanna know? Fine, then. You're a pain in my ass. You have been the minute you walked onto this ship. Pretty little blonde like you and Coalition? You're the type of girl I love to hate, because you're type make it so damn easy for guys like me. You're the kind of girl to treat a guy like me like dirt, because you think I'm beneath you."

"My type?" Ino asked incredulous.

"Yes, you're type," Kisame sneered, rising up from his seated position on the bed all six feet of him looming over her, "You know what the worst part was,though? You were different, 'cause even though you couldn't stand me you still treated me like a person and not a thing. Didn't matter if you were acting or meant it, you had me believing that we were equals. So when Zabuza filed that complaint about you, trying to shuffle you off the ship, guess who's bending backwards to make sure your ass is still here? Me. And you know what happened when Diedara was holding you hostage? I went and said screw protocol and tried to blow up the smug bastard's front door. With like actual explosives and everything. Nearly killed myself, and I still didn't get in that damn tavern. And I had to deal with Itachi afterwards too. Lemme tell you, he was not pleased."

Ino remembered the crowd, back on the day that was marked as 'worst day ever.' That would explain the smoke. She also realized, that without Kisame's unintentional help, the guard at her door wouldn't have been called away. She might not have been able to escape.

"And for what?" Kisame continued with his rant, "To have you not talk to me! Even after I apologized for not getting us both killed! And then I had to keep my mouth shut while that little duck-haired brat of an Uchiha gets treated like a goddamn prince when he's not done one damn thing for you! He just has to show up, and you'd go and chase after him. But of course, a girl like you would have to fall for his type. It didn't matter that he treated you like shit and pretty much ignored you, you're jumping to into his lap first chance you get. Natural order of goddamn things. Hell, story of my goddamn life. And you know what? I was the one that always made sure you could have you damn morning coffee. Seriously, after I've done is a thanks a little too much to ask?"

The blonde medic felt more than overwhelmed. A lot of information had just gotten thrown her way, and she didn't know how to react to any of it, which just compounded her earlier and still existing frustration.

"How do you expect gratitude when you don't tell me that you've done anything worthy of gratitude? I'm not psychic!" Ino snarled.

"Because maybe I didn't want you to know! Did you think of that?" Kisame shot back, just as equally frustrated.

"Okay, wait, what?" Ino closed her eyes to try and center herself. This conversation was so ass-backwards. "I thought you just said you wanted thanks, and now you're saying you don't want it? What the hell, Kisame!"

Kisame growled lowly before snapping, "Don't be naive. How do you think you would have reacted if we had this conversation a week ago? Three weeks ago? Either I would have gotten the nice, polite 'oh... thanks' and then things would have been awkward 'til you left this ship. Or, you would have clued into why I might have done those things, tell me I don't have a chance in hell, and things would have been more awkward. Wasn't a fan of either option."

"That's not fair!" Ino retorted, "Don't blame me that you didn't have the balls to try! I mean, come on. What were you gonna do, just flirt with me until I left and leave it at that?"

The way Kisame shrugged and his gaze shifted away from hers was more than telling. "Are you serious?" Ino yelled, "You wouldn't have even tried, or mentioned it? Of all the cowardly, stupid-"

"Ino," Kisame tried to interrupt, but the medic kept going.

"-inconsiderate, dumbass things you could do! Like seriously? What are you insane, or you just some idiot-"

"-Ino," Kisame tried again, losing patience.

" -I don't believe of all the stupid jack ass things you've done, this is the epitome of your stupidity. Why do I even bother-"

Ino suddenly was pulled into Kisame's embrace, with one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, his other hand tangled tightly in her hair. His mouth was moving against hers unforgivingly, and his sharp teeth were nipping at her bottom lip in a voracious manner. It felt like she couldn't breathe, but if it was from the intense passion that Kisame was kissing her, or the fact that her arms were pinned between her chest and Kisame's and her elbow was digging into her diaphragm.

But as quickly as the kiss had started it was over, and Ino almost tripped over herself when Kisame stopped supporting her and moved away. She almost wanted to scream at Kisame's sudden constant switches to hot and cold.

She really almost did, but she one look at Kisame and the conflicted expression on his face, and how breathless he was from the kiss, and she felt all her anger just wicked away. "That's cheating," Ino mumbled, straightening her hair in a mindless way.

Kisame ignored her, picking up the thread of their previous conversation. "Do you know how long I've been wanting to do that? And trust me, I've wanted to. Especially when you were mad. "

"Especially?" Ino asked, more than confused.

"Why do you think I like pissing you off so much? You're damn cute when you're in a rage."

Ino held her face in the palm of her hand, a smile tugging on her face despite the emotional exhaustion. "You're weird, you know that? I swear you have to be the only man I know that likes me when I'm mad," Ino mumbled into her palm.

"It's an acquired taste," Kisame teased.

Ino couldn't help a light laugh, more a releasing of tension than Kisame's comment being actually funny.

"Okay," Ino said, being serious, but trying to not to be, "so you let me get this straight. You like me?"

Kisame nodded stiffly. "Yeah."

"And you like kissing me?" Ino asked meekly.

"Uh, yeah?"

"So," Ino huffed, not wanting to say what she had to next, "why did you freak out then?"

That seemed to get Kisame all keyed up again. "Like I said before, it's complicated."

Ino just sighed. She had expected that response. She shuffled to her bed and collapsed onto it on her back, exhausted, and not wanting another round of yelling. "Of course it is," she sulked.

Kisame huffed, before settling down on the bed as well. He rested his elbows on his knees, so Ino could only really see his back from her sprawled position.

The first officer gave a world weary sigh before he spoke. "Do you honestly know the last time I was with a woman? One that I didn't have to pay for that is?"

To say Ino was a little surprised was an understatement. "Is that a rhetorical question or am I supposed to actually guess?" Ino hedged.

Kisame gave another sigh, a little more frustrated. "Do you know how much a person's organs are on the black market? Especially if they're not human? Whole damn illegal industry based on the trafficking on the parts of aliens. Very lucrative, from what I understand."

"I don't get how this relates," Ino admitted, thoroughly mystified.

Kisme let out his breath in a long sigh. "About two years ago, I'm in some shitty little bar. Ricky's or something. Only planned to get a few drinks and unwind before getting back to the ship. But then I saw her; this smokin' hot little redhead. Christine her name was. And she talked to me, and was getting right friendly, letting me buy her drinks and all that. And she seemed normal enough. She wasn't a hooker, 'cause I can spot those and she looked too clean. And she was didn't seem weird, like most exotic fuckers, or whatever the hell they call themselves. And she was really into me, laughing at my jokes and brushing my arm and being all damn girly. Next thing I know I'm piss drunk, letting Christine lead me upstairs."

Ino blushed a little, and shifted her weight. She stared at the ceiling in a fixed way, and ground out, "I really don't need to know the details, Kisame."

"Oh but you do," Kisame answered, wriggling the back of his shirt up to reveal his back, "Because you know what happened? I drink something she gives me, and I black out and then I wake up to her carving this in my side."

Kisame's fingers trailed over a two inch long scar. For whatever morbid reason, Ino sat up and let her fingers follow the path that Kisame's fingers had trailed moments before. Ino got a sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach, but her fingers still danced over the ridged skin, eliciting a small shiver from Kisame that she felt more than saw. If it was because of her touch or the memory of that scar, she didn't know.

"Turned out Christine was an organ harvester. Bitch was gonna sell me for parts. Only reason I'm not dead is because Itachi and Zabuza came after me when I didn't show up at port. Also, bitch didn't have any damn clue where the fuck the 'good' organs were. 'Parently my biology is a tad different than a human one. So she wasted her time digging around."

"I'm sorry," Ino said, her honesty coming straight from the bottom of her heart.

"Not as sorry as I am, trust me," Kisame huffed, straightening his shirt.

"As awful and traumatic as that must have been, why does that relate to the other night?" Ino asked softly.

Kisame gave her a hard look that read 'do I have seriously have to spell this out for you?' "Two years later I've got another hot woman suddenly interested me when I was sure she hated my guts? If it's too damn to be true, then it damn well is. And then you started messing something behind you and I hear metal clanking and well... damn it all, you spooked me, okay? I thought it was round two of a being carved up like a turkey dinner."

"Kisame, you honestly thought I would hurt you? Or that I even could?" Ino asked trying to meet Kisame's eyes that had become downcast and sullen at the first officer's admission.

"Looks are deceiving, sweet thing," he muttered, "'Sides, doesn't matter a person's size if they stab you with a scalpel at that sort of range."

"Pfft," Ino huffed derisively, "I think we've established that, if it's a physical confrontation between me and you, I'm losing. The bruises on my arms are evidence of that."

Kisame flinched at the reminder, "I'm sorry. I had no right to do that, doesn't matter how angry I was. I don't blame you if you hate me for it."

Ino sighed, leaning her head against Kisame's shoulder. "I don't hate you. I'm not even mad. But I'm not okay with it either. I know, how that sounds, but it's the truth. Even if it's worlds of messed up."

"You can give me some bruises for payback, if you want?" Kisame offered, in a way that was offhanded but still serious at the same time.

"Kisame, I think we're technically even on that count," Ino retorted, brushing her fingertips on the fading bruise on Kisame's cheek. "I'm sorry about this too. And every other awful thing I said or did that day. I was kinda of being a bit of a bitch. I was sort of having a bad day that day."

Kisame nuzzled her affectionately, "I think I can forgive you, I'm sure you can make it worth my while."

Ino gave the first officer a playful punch to the ribs. "Pig," she muttered.

Kisame tickled her lightly, before pulling her closer. They sat that way for a while, Ino nestled under Kisame's arm, with her arms wrapped around his waist. He was playing with the tips of her hair, and the combination of his warmth and distinct smell surrounding her she could feel herself drifting off.

"So," Ino mumbled drowsily, "You tried to blow up Deidara's place, huh? Where the hell did you get the explosives?"

Kisame chuckled, "It's a long story."

"We've got time."

A/N: I had a real hard time writing this chapter; I'm worried that it's a little over dramatic, and probably a little OOC. Then again, what Kisame went through is recent and traumatic. When I read some parts I can't help but like it. I guess I'm pretty happy with it, but I'll let you guys be your own judge. Also, I haven't time to respond to your wonderful reviews because I'm currently without a reliable internet. I've read them though. And head's up, we're getting close to the end! There's going to be a total of 13-14 chapters. I don't know what I'm going to do without writing some KisaIno crack.