"It's just a study group?" Hinata asked in confusion.
"Kinda. In middle school, we were all jolted together as trouble-making rich brats and low-class scholarship kids that needed to be put somewhere to keep out of trouble. So they jammed us all in a room one summer and told the scholarship kids they would get looser reins if they figure something out and bring the others' grades up that wasn't cheating." Kisame explained.
"I volunteered. We all worked to complete the make-up exams, and between that and general socializing, we spent so much time in there that we would realize it was dawn when we were done." Itachi added.
"Oh, I get it, Akatsuki, as in daybreak." Hinata nodded.
Kisame shrugged. "We're thought of as a gang, but really we're all just mutually-annoyed-with-each-other friends. We paired off for projects and kept up with it through the years."
"Sasori and Deidara, Hidan, and Kakuzu, and so on." Itachi listed. "Pein and Konan keep tabs on us to ensure we don't miss assignments."
"Though this year, with Itachi and me separated, it looks like I am stuck with you," Kisame added with a toothy grin.
It became a routine between the three. They would either go to school clubs or right home. On the days Kisame didn't have to go right to work, they would walk her home slowly, or Kisame kneeled in front of her, and Itachi took her umbrella. Hinata thought it was sweet, though intensely embarrassing. They were trying to accommodate her, and she didn't mind. It was better than a suggested wagon. Kisame never once asked what it was that caused her stilted walking.
At first, they got stares, but it wasn't really that much more than they usually got with Kisame, so she didn't mind. Hinata could regularly be seen with the two, or an excitable Deidara and an annoyed Sasori.
Neji repeated concerns about her company, but she liked her small group of friends, and they accepted her. She was beginning to think he was more upset that they were all boys. And Deidara messily hitting on her didn't help.
Hinata was pulled out of her thoughts at the martial art practice they were once again watching when the blond she now knew as Naruto bounded up to her, startling her.
"Hey, Hinata, are you free this weekend?" Naruto asked, sitting promptly on the bleacher backward.
"Uhm, I'm not sure." Hinata shrank. "Why?"
"Well, Sasuke's parents are having a small party, no alcohol or anything, lots of food, and you could meet the rest of the class your age," Naruto explained chipperly.
"Oh!" Hinata realized. "I was invited, but I can't go,"
"Oh." Naruto's face dropped. Why was that? "Well, have a good weekend!" He bounded back down the bleachers to an irritated Sasuke, who promptly punched him in the shoulder.
"I think you just turned down a date, mouse." Kisame laughed.
"What?" Hinata squeaked, covering her mouth. He couldn't mean that, really?
"I do believe that was the intention," Itachi added.
"I think he was just being nice," Hinata mumbled. The two teased her about her first interaction with Naruto and his complete lack of personal space, making her blush.
"You aren't coming through?" Itachi wondered.
"Uncle disapproved. Hyuga and Uchiha have an old rivalry." Hinata explained.
"I'll sneak you out." Kisame offered. "It's the most harmless party, held by Itachi's parents. I'll have you home early, too. I have to work."
Hinata frowned at the idea of him trying to sneak her out, but didn't comment, hoping it was a joke. "Where are you working?" Hinata finally asked. She had never asked. She had always just accepted he worked.
"A crappy little bar by my apartment," Kisame told her.
"A bar?" Hinata asked, confused.
"I don't work at the bar. I do a lot of inventory lifting during the week and bouncing on the weekends." That explained so much, the bruises and fights and sometimes the odd smell of smoke that he had on his jacket, yet she had been sure he didn't smoke.
"You don't mind the smoke?" Hinata asked.
"I used to smoke, so no, not terribly, though I tend to stay away from the bar itself, not a fan of the smell of the drunks," Kisame explained.
"You used to smoke?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah, but it's expensive, and I can take out frustration in other ways," Kisame mumbled.
"Like using his job to get into fights," Itachi added.
"Hey," Kisame growled.
Hinata frowned. "Did it bother your gills?"
Kisame wondered how she so easily asked him about his body like it was normal. It was an incredible boost in his confidence when she so easily asked questions she thought wouldn't offend him. Hinata had started asking questions when she noticed he had a missing tooth, and it was replaced in just a few days. She felt like she was rude to ask, but he told her to ask away.
Kisame told her about the gills on his shoulders a few weeks back when she wondered about the tattoos on his face, but he hadn't shown her yet. He was waiting for the day she got creeped out by his body.
"No, they are relatively useless out of water," Kisame explained. "Like you don't really breath through your nose as much when your mouth is open."
"Are they bothered by your clothes?" Hinata asked with a tilt of her head.
"Nah," Kisame answered honestly.
"And yet he's afraid of milk and bread." Itachi mused.
"He can't help his allergies." Hinata scolded, though he had thought it was funny. It was ironic, after all.
"You're too nice, mouse."
'Coming up, you ready?' Hinata stared at her phone. No! Kisame was not serious! He was not really trying to sneak her out. With no reply from her, another message popped up from him. 'I'd throw pebbles at your window, but I'm not sure, I could reach the 12th floor.'
No!
Kisame really couldn't be serious, could he? Another text came through. 'Don't make me knock.' Hinata squeaked, going to the door and opening it. "Kisame-san!"
"You coming?" Kisame asked with a grin.
"No! I told you I couldn't." Hinata frowned.
"That's why I'm here to bust you out, mouse." Kisame leaned down over her. "It's not a frat party. It's a rich prick celebration."
"But it's the Uchiha's," Hinata explained.
"Meaning, she shouldn't be associating with them." A voice came from behind her. Hinata shrank, looking back at her cousin as he rounded the corner.
"Wouldn't this be a sign of goodwill?" Kisame defined.
"If Uncle hadn't said no, but since he did, it could get back to him that I was there. I really can't." Hinata frowned at him.
Kisame's face strained, losing its rebellious smirk. "Well, then I'll take you somewhere else. I said I was sneaking you out."
"It's not really sneaking when you come to the front door." Neji berated.
"You going to snitch on her for grabbing a burger on a Saturday?" Kisame bared his teeth.
Hinata shifted her eyes between the two. "Uncle only said I couldn't go to the party." She reminded him.
Neji's jaw set. He took a deep breath and turned his head away. "Be back no later than 10, or this never happens again."
Kisame watched her face lit up in a way he had never seen before. Hinata headed toward what he imagined would be her room, or did rich people have a whole different room for getting dressed?
He turned his attention to his junky phone. He was going to have to disappoint Itachi.
'Make sure she gets home on time.' Was what he got back, really, was everyone her parent now?
Hinata came back dressed differently than he had ever seen her, though he had never seen her out of her uniform or, well, the house clothes she was just wearing. As usual, she was an adorable little thing. Ankle-length skirt, sweater on top of that, and the damn umbrella.
"I don't think it's going to rain." Kisame mentioned looking at it.
"It's never bad to be prepared," Neji answered quickly.
