Author's note: I have finally been able to sit down and write. I love you all who have rated and commented. Thank you!

"There's something in the air," Yuki's voice startled the young man as he tried to rest. Kisame opened one eye and peered at the old woman beside him. She was in a conversation with a wounded shinobi.

"Young love in amid chaos is inspiring," the shinobi said.

"It's been quite a while, but she finally admitted to it." Sota's voice entered the conversation. He sounded smug. Kisame knew he had every right to be. He called it from the first day they met. Kisame loved Koi even though he didn't understand what it was until recently. Even during the war, her voice echoed in his head daily. Come back to me injured, I'll kill you myself. If you die, I'll bring you back and kill you again. Kisame could only laugh at the sapphire headed girl. Her threats weren't empty. He knew that. She would manage a way to raise him from the dead and kill him, maybe. It was the embrace she gave him before he went off to join his squad that made sure that he would at least try. Uta no Koi was a brash and hot-headed girl. She also was the most understanding and loving as well. She knew there was a chance Kisame would end up dead or worse, MIA. But that didn't stop her from hugging her best friend. This was a thought Kisame kept close to him. Even now, as he was supposed to rest, he thought of her.

"Let's move away from him and let the boy rest." Yuki hushed the other, "He needs not to worry about her right now. The war will be over soon." Murmurs of an agreement reached his ears. The war was just another faction that drove the couple together. Uta no Misa was right all along. Koi and Kisame had fallen in love. Two very different people were able too. Kisame deemed bloodthirsty and loved a fight, all while Koi was graceful and collective at times. She always kept herself clean of blood with minimal effort. Yet, the two found themselves counted as lovers, a couple. Accepting each other's vice and virtues. Everything was okay, for now.

As the boy slept, dusk turned to dawn. The sun rose and burned warmly on his skin. Kisame woke to joyous noises of laughter and cheers. Overnight, treaties had been signed as well as a ceasefire. The war was over and everyone could go home. Kisame sat up slowly, taking in the people who could dance around. They held no interest in him for he looked for just one person. When he couldn't spot the familiar sapphire hair, he looked for Misa or Yuki. They too were nowhere to be found among the celebrations. Rising slowly, Kisame winced with each sharp pain in his chest. His wounds may have healed, but they still were extremely tender.

Where was Koi? Kisame began to grow fearful that she over exhaustion killed her. He stood slowly and began walking toward the main house. Could she have died? No, not Uta no Koi. There were too many people rejoicing for the death of a princess. Kisame's thoughts were soon to be interrupted by the ground meeting his face. He rolled over to weigh his stomach, someone's fists trying to punch him. The joyous crowd silenced as Kisame grabbed the fists and pulled them close in an embrace.

"You stupid fuck," Koi yelled into his chest trying to mask her relief and tears. She kept trying to hit him anywhere at this point. "You promised me. You, asshole. You promised me you wouldn't get hurt." Kisame chuckled as he held her tighter. He knew the fear she felt and the relief. Koi was just more vocal about it. She was okay, that was all that mattered to him. Kisame laughed as he sat up holding her close.

"Hime," He chuckled, "I'm sorry I scared you." Koi landed a soft punch on his face.

"I hate you," She glared at him, "I hate you so much." Kisame grabbed her fist and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead as Koi looked up.

"I love you too, Guppy." Her cheeks flushed red as he laughed once more. They both were oblivious to the crowd surrounding them. Everyone seemed to just watch the pair.

"So, you do?" Her question made his heart beat faster in his chest. Her honeyed eyes watched him nervously. Kami, he loved this girl. Kisame always hated the way other men looked at her, but Koi always seemed to know what to say to reassure him. Her temper was the worst, but Koi would calm down enough not to go into a rage. She made sure that his lunches had crab cakes. Kisame appreciated her flaws. It was what Koi, Koi. He never thought that he would be loved by someone, to be honest. Kisame loved her and she loved him just as much.

He looked down only to catch her lips with his. The crowd around cheered and clapped at the couple. They broke apart to see the commotion around them. It was truly a happy occasion.

"Wait!" Koto stopped her father, "I thought the Ningyo's mother was killed?"

"What do you mean?" asked the blue man.

"Kaa-chan told us that Ningyo's mother died when she was thirteen? They didn't…"

"It was a secret mission. They had to hide her away." Yuki's voice cut in making Kisame flinch. "She came back during the war to help her family. The Ningyo was very happy that she came back. However, she was the one who found her the day of the massacre."

It was a memory Kisame could never forget. He was the one who hid Misa. He protected her till that day. He didn't want Koi to be pained. Yuki's voice encouraged the young Uta to go sweep the inn's main room and to let her father rest. With a warm hug from his daughter, Kisame watched her runoff. It was rare for such a smile to brighten Kisame's face. Yuki just watched the pair before interrupting them. The story was one that Koto would hold dear. It would keep Koi and Kisame's love alive.

"You mean the world to that child," Yuki sat down in front of the blue man. Kisame just stared at her for a moment only to look back to the doorway Koto went through. Yuki's words both hurt and warmed him at the same time. All he managed to get out was an acknowledgment of the fact.

"I know,"

"Sora-kun and Koi-hime, as well."

"I don't want to do this anymore than I have to,"

"I understand that," Yuki nodded, " Koi-hime still holds on to the hope that you two will be officially married and together as a family."

"It's a dream." Kisame scoffed, "A wish if you may. Besides, Koi-chan has probably moved on with this Kakashi." A scowl crossed his face. Kisame was not a jealous man, but Koi was his guppy.

"Don't be so sure about that," Yuki handed Kisame a scroll. He was hesitant, dare say a little bit nervous, but also curious. Yuki was the type of elderly woman whose tricks were just up to her sleeve if she wanted to try a patron. This was not the time. Kisame opened the scroll slowly. He was met with a familiar script. It was Koi's response to an original scroll. He smirked as her words lifted his spirits. Her words spoke of how she missed him and wished that things could be different. She expresses her love for both the old woman and her shark man. She didn't move on.

"She never did," Yuki reassured him, placing a hand on his arm. "You are the Motanai Biju. Koi is the Ningyo. You two were destined to be together. All of this started with the Ningyo." That legend has been instilled into Kisame since the day he awoke in Koi's house. No wonder why she was upset. She is the reincarnation of the river spirit. Sighing, Kisame stood up and gave Yuki a bow. He went to his room, thinking about the lore. Perhaps it is true.

Sora and Naruto shared a look as Koi announced that she would not be able to join the team as they report for their first mission. She had an errand to run just outside of the village. Sora knew that she was going to go to the inn. It was around that time to check on Koto and Obaa-sama. Sora always grew bitter when his mother left. Why couldn't she take him? He understood now as a genin he has a responsibility to Konoha, but still. He missed his baby sister.

Koi and Kakashi began to laugh at the mixed reactions of anger and terror on the team's faces. This caught Sora's attention. He knew that when they both laughed together like this it wasn't good. Naruto questioned them only to have Kakashi try to deter him from the answer.
"You're not going to like it." he chuckled

"Why not?" Koi looked at the blonde boy before her. Her face grew dark and a darker smile danced upon it.

"Out of the twenty-seven students who graduated only nine will make it to genin." She answered, "Well ten in this case."

"Those who don't make it get sent back to the academy. The failure rate is over sixty-six percent." Kakashi shrugged as if this was no big deal. The graduates felt fear. They did not want to go back to the academy just to start all over. Sasuke glared at the jonin and Naruto and Sora shared a look. Koi's dark demeanor changed once more to her normal cheery smile.

"We told you, you wouldn't like it."

"No way!" Naruto jumped up in anger, his voice carrying, "We worked so hard! What was the point of graduating?"

"Preselection," Sora guessed. This time Kakashi stood and stretched. Sora knew he was about to take his leave, the lazy bastard. He gave one more announcement. No breakfast. Sora could do without, but the others? Naruto would complain, as would Sakura. She would feign a diet. Sasuke? Perhaps he will be okay. Sora already understood that this was supposed to get them to vomit. Perhaps the training was that intense. He knew that training with his mother was. But then again, she always made sure to keep it light enough where both boys would get their nutrients.

Naruto questioned them once more by asking why. They both chimed together. Sora was right, they would vomit. He hated it when they spoke together. It made them more creepy and weird than Guy-sensei. Koi passed a slip of paper to Sora. He looked at it and passed the others down the line. Training ground nine at seven o clock, it read.

"Give Kakashi-sensei your best," Koi encouraged, "And don't be late."

Kakashi had already left. It was now the team's turn to leave. Sakura and Sasuke were the first to leave, however, Koi wanted to speak to both boys before they left.

"Sora-kun," Koi called out.

"Hai?" He answered. Koi grabbed him and hugged him tightly. Sora struggled in her embrace embarrassed at the display of affection. Naruto laughed heartily as Sora tried to escape.

"I am so proud of you boys," She laughed, letting go of the shark boy. "You do know that? I am." Naruto and Sora shared a grin. This meant ramen and crab cakes for dinner tonight. Even though Koi would be away, the boys knew how to cook enough not to burn the apartment down.

"Sora-kun, you can make the crab cakes if I can make the ramen!" Naruto bounced.

"Alright!" Sora high fived Naruto. But before they could turn, Koi moved to grab both boys by the shoulder. She placed herself between them and gave them once the last embrace before her face gave way to the dark, evil smile that scared small children.

"I want you two to stay within the village walls, understand me?" Her sapphire hair moved like tendrils. A warning both boys knew too well. Both shook their heads, they agreed to the woman's terms. "Good." She gave them both kisses on the cheeks and sent them off.

At the K.I.A stone, Kakashi waited for Koi. He saw the look in her eyes as she mentioned the inn. He knew enough that he would be taking the training on by himself, but he could handle it. Koi was needed elsewhere. She appeared next to him and grasped his hand. She was unusually quiet today and in a good mood. She looked at Kakashi and watched his question form in his eye.

"Do you think-" He began.

"I can only hope," She smiled at him.

"Koi-"

"Trust me," She squeezed his hand, "I'll be fine. Besides, if he is, I can't get pregnant this time." A joke. Koi joked about this. Kakashi only rolled his eyes, but her words still held his attention.

"You still love him."

"I never stopped." Koi turned to look at Kakashi. He started at the names on the stone. She never knew his teammates, but she knew that they meant a lot to him. They were his family after his father passed. Koi leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"Koi-chan," Kakashi sighed, "You are one of my best friends. I wouldn't change it for the world." Koi knew that Kakashi loved him more than she could ever love him. To her, it was platonic. She did lust after him now and again, but she remained faithful to her shark man. Nothing could change that

"I love you too," Koi smiled at him, "You are my best friend other than Kisa- I mean…"

"Hoshigaki, Kisame. I found him." Kakashi spoke the very name that made her heart stop. She gave him a sad smile. He now knew the truth.

"He is in the bingo book. I know." Koi took both of Kakashi's hands in hers and turned him to face her. Koi then smiled sadly as tears formed in her eyes. "He truly is the sweetest man I have ever met. He is loyal to a fault, Kakashi-kun. He used to bring me sunflowers when he went on missions. He didn't have to go out of his way, but he did. They are hard to come by in Kiri."

She was right. Kakashi knew that sunflowers didn't grow well in Kiri. The man must have gone far and paid quite a sum to get them just for her. Even Kakashi knew the woman was worth it. Uta no Koi was worth more than anyone could imagine. Both to Kisame and Kakashi. He would never let her feel unsafe around him. Kakashi let go of one hand and turned them to walk away from the stone. Hand in hand, Koi felt safe. Safe enough to ask her final thought.

"Nee, Kakashi-kun?"

"Hm?"

"If you ever get to meet him, don't kill him."

"But-"

"I called dibs on it." Koi laughed as they walked to Koi's apartment building. With their goodbyes, Koi entered and smiled. It had been a good day. The apartment was empty. Sora and Naruto were up to their usual hijinks. Hopefully training, Koi prayed. She removed her shizori and padded herself to her room. Her bed was a welcomed sight as she fell face-first into it. Leaving for the inn tomorrow was a mission. A personal one albeit. She was excited about it. However, a thought danced on her brain. Would Kisame be there? Her honeyed eyes held the shimmer of hope as she could only imagine him standing in the doorway with welcoming arms.

"Kisame-kun," She giggled, feeling sixteen again, "I wonder if you miss me. Sora wants to meet you. Perhaps next time?"

Next time. Koi wanted Sora to meet his father, but she was hesitant. She was more afraid that Sora would reject Kisame. Their attitudes were eerily similar. Both were gruff and ready for a fight. Both Kisame and Sora were loyal and willing to protect the family and loved ones to death. Koi held their personalities as both flaw and virtue. Should anything happen, she knew that her family would be safe.

A reminder of the blue man reassured Koi that she was a woman. A woman with needs. She thought about the last time she was intimate. She was an adult after all. An adult woman and as an adult woman would know, sometimes your hand isn't enough. She felt the familiar knot in her stomach as she fantasized about Kisame in her bed once more. The thought of how his lips always seemed to find the sensitive areas on her neck down her chest. His hands always found their place on her-

The front door opened and two voices called out, letting Koi know that her boys were home. Koi jumped out of bed and found the two boys coming down the hall. Her face glowed crimson as the boys faced her. Sora was the first to react as that deadpanned look gave away to Naruto's comment.

"Kaa-chan," he questioned, "What were you doing?

"Nothing!" Koi denied a little too quickly, "Just, uh, packing! Yeah, packing,"

"Uh-huh packing," Sora knew his mother well enough that she wasn't just packing for a mission. "Kaa-chan, you're a pervert"

Koi fell backward as the acquisition. Her darling boy, her son called her a pervert/ Tears of embarrassment and disbelief fell from her face. Sora and Naruto just shook their heads and made their way to Sora's room.

"A pervert," Koi cried, "He thinks I'm a pervert.