sorry about the wait, here's something I hope will make up for it: cut and paste link. (cause I'm lazy like that) -cp
hyuuga-slut (dot) deviantart (dot) com
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"I'm sorry" he stuttered as he pulled away, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. It's just..." She stopped him with a hand over his mouth. "Shut up." She took her hand down slowly, a shy blush on her cheeks, "Kisame..." she looked down, and his heart fell. It was just like it always was. The only one who had ever seen past his skin was Itachi, and Itachi was the one who'd end him now that he'd left. That's how it was always done. "I'ts ok, Hinata." He whispered as he started to stand "I understand." But then he couldn't stand quite upright, something was holding him down.
His eyes wided as her arms tightened around his shoulders. "Stop being an idiot, Kisame." She grumbled, "I care for you, I thought you would know that by now." He let his arms close around her in return, "Hinata." here was something Itachi could never have given him, could never have given anyone but his little brother. Sympothy, caring, love. He loved her. He tightened his embrace, pulled her to him like he had never really felt her before, like he'd never get the chance to again. "Hinata." He loved her. It was new for him, frightening. In all his years of stealth and assassination, nothing terrified him as much as the idea of loving her, and nothing was ever more appealing.
"I might kill you someday," he whispered softly into her hair as he slowly sat back down on the floor in front of the chair where he had been treating her. He could feel her smile against his jaw. "I know." He smiled saddly and pulled out of the embrace, smoothing her hair with both hands. Her sivery eyes flicked back and forth between his. "Where do we go from here?" she whispered. He thought for a long moment, the bed? the alter? the grave? No. None of those places. None of those places and all of them.
"We keep looking for him, for your friend. Nothing has changed between us, Hinata. You are free to go where you want, do what you choose." He took a breath and savored the sight of her, hanging on his every word, he brushed the side of her face with his fingertips. "And I will be there to watch your back. As long as I can hold a sword, as long as I can stand, I'll protect you." He kissed her again softly, "Forever, or until you find someone better."
He stood up, pulling her with him and led her to the bed. "You had to work a lot harder than me tonight," he laughed as her eyes wided, "Training, love, training. You must be tired." She blushed and nodded. He smiled. "I've set up a perimiter around this room. You'll be safe to sleep." his eyes darted to the window, "I'll hit the local bars, see if anyone's looking for workers. Get some sleep, ok?" She nodded and stiffled a yawn. "I'll be back before you know it."
The door clicked closed behind him, and Hinata sighed. She was so shy, too shy. She'd liked him forever it seemed, but was too scared to say anything, and too wracked with guilt over Naruto. Naruto...could he still be alive? The chances seemed less and less the longer they searched. Even the boy she had known, as durable as he was...well, she had seen the crater. It didn't bode well. But Kisame, he was alive, tangible, breathing, and more than able to hold his own in battle. Kisame was a certainty, Naruto, though he had been her friend, was never more than a chance in the dark. She had never known if he had even liked her back, but her partner did. Was she betraying Naruto's memory by giving him up for lost? She didn't know any more. She just didn't know.
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"How long have you been here?" He had smelled him hours ago, miles away, on the way back to the rented room with Hinata. The dark haired man canted ebony eyes at Kisame, "Long enough." Kisame scoffed softly under his breath, though he knew the small sound would not be missed. "You've replaced me." Itachi flicked at imaginairy dust on his flawlessly polished nails, his eyes flased red as he gazed at his former partner again "She's pretty." Kissame pulled himself to his full hight and narrowed his eyes at Itachi "She's a Hyuuga" The stoic Uchiha faltered almost impercepibly, but years of contact had taught Kissame the signs. He knew the kunai in his side was a mercy. Itachi cared for him, in as much as Itachi could care for anything, but as the man he had once dared to call friend dissipated into the night again, all Kisame could feel for him was pity. And as he sunk to his knees, crimson pooling beneath him in steady waves, he didn't think of all the nights he had spent in Itachi's impassioned embrace, but of all the time he would miss with Hinata. "I'm sorry." he whispered to softly as he leaned heavily against the wall beside him, "I'm sorry."
