So sorry that I haven't updated! I've been sick with an awful fevor, and I couldn't even stand up without wanting to puke. I'll try to update on Thusday, but then you'll have to hold off for a week; I'm going to Missouri for X-mas... :-P

Well, I got an overall vote of 'no' on SakuraXKisame. I was planning a bit of it, but I cut most of it out. Anyway, thanks for your oppinions!

Read on!

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3 pm, Akatsuki Hideout

"Well, it was nice visiting… un," Deidara sneered. Kisame rolled his eyes. Tobi and Deidara were finally leaving. Leader had another assignment for them. Whatever the reason, they were almost gone.

"Bye Itachi-sama! Bye Kisame-sama! Bye Sakura-san!" Tobi called, as he opened the door.

"Bye." Deidara wasn't nearly as enthusiastic. Itachi waved.

"Goodbye."

Kisame grinned. "See ya later, suckers!"

Sakura, who didn't really like either of them, just smiled politely. "Travel safely!" she called. All four Akatsuki members looked at her. Sakura shrugged.

Then, she realized that these criminal types didn't need to travel safely… Because they were the people that you warned your friends about when they traveled.

"Uh… sorry," Sakura said blushing. Kisame chuckled.

"Sometimes I forget you're not one of us," he said, grinning.

"Whatever… un. Let's just go, Tobi… un." Deidara hefted his small pack, and left. Tobi was close on his heels.

Once they were out of sight, Kisame closed the door.

"So… want a tour?" he asked Sakura. She smiled.

"Sure."

1 hour later, Akatsuki Hideout

"And this is my room." Kisame opened a blue door on their right, and Sakura stepped in.

Kisame had been showing Sakura around their Hideout. So far he had shown her every room, including a very impressive library, all except Itachi's, who now locked his door, and Kisame's own.

As soon as Sakura walked into Kisame's room, she gasped.

The walls were painted a dark green-blue, and there was a nightstand, a desk, and a long bed. There was a laptop computer on the desk, and several shelves with knick-knacks on them lined two of the walls.

However, none of these things caused Sakura to gasp. The source of Sakura's awe was a beautiful mural on the opposite wall. It was an underwater scene, and it looked so real to Sakura, that she thought she might step into it.

Kisame flashed his many-toothed grin at her.

"You like it?" he asked her.

Sakura turned her large eyes on the blue man.

"It's amazing! Who made that?" she asked, astounded.

Kisame sighed. "Sasori did."

"Oh." Sakura looked at her feet. It was bad enough that one of Kisame's friends was dead, but to add to it, she had killed that friend.

"I'm sorry…," she whispered.

"No." Kisame looked sternly at her. "Don't be. You're from Konoha. That's what you were taught. You didn't know better." He crossed the room to his bed and took his Akatsuki cloak off. It billowed to the floor, and Kisame flopped down on the bed.

Sakura, suddenly embarrassed, turned to one of the shelves on the walls.

On one was a box. The konoichi stepped on her tiptoes and peered into it.

"Eww!" cried Sakura. "Whose teeth are those?"

Kisame scratched his head, turning a slight purple. "Eheh… Those are mine."

Sakura's eyes bugged. "But… There are almost 40 teeth in there!"

"Whenever I lose a tooth, a new one grows back in." Kisame explained simply. Sakura grinned.

"You must be rich off the Tooth Fairy!"

Kisame laughed. "No… Itachi doesn't give me any money for my teeth…"

Sakura snickered. "What a rip-off!" She smiled, and looked at another shelf.

On this one was a dusty picture frame. Sakura picked it up and blew on it gently. The picture showed a young woman, maybe in her late twenties, with brown hair and a warm smile. Sakura looked up at Kisame questioningly.

"That's my mother. She was killed by rouges," Kisame said evenly. Sakura's eyes saddened. She placed the picture back with care.

"She's beautiful."

"She was." Kisame's gaze looked troubled for moment, but then his normal casualness returned.

Sakura shivered suddenly, realizing that it was very cold in here. She sat down next to Kisame, who had noticed her quivering, and bent to pick up his cloak.

"Here." Kisame draped the cloak around the pink-haired konoichi's shoulders.

"You looked cold." He answered her unspoken question. Sakura wrapped herself in the cloak, smelling a slight briny smell on it, as if it had been used as a towel at the beach. It reminded her of the ocean, and she breathed in deep.

"Thank you, Kisame." Sakura looked up at Kisame's face and was startled to see a kind of unbridled tenderness in his eyes. Sakura thought about her stay among the Akatsuki. She hadn't thought she would make friends amid these s-class criminals, but had, nonetheless bonded with Kisame.

Sakura smiled at him, and leaned her head against Kisame's muscled chest. She felt him tense up, but then, Kisame relaxed.

Slowly, the blue man lowered his arm around her.

"I know that you must be very miserable here, but I've really enjoyed getting to know you, Sakura, and the time I've had with you," Kisame whispered, stroking her pink hair.

Sakura smiled distantly and sighed. She felt inexplicitly safe within Kisame's arms, although prior knowledge told her that he was a killer.

Same time, Konoha Hospital

"Come on, Shizune-san!" Naruto whined. Shizune smiled at the blonde jonin. She was so glad that he had woken up; it was a miracle, that she just couldn't stay mad at Naruto's antics. Nevertheless, she would not let him out of the hospital for at least another day, and Naruto kept begging Shizune to let him go.

"But I'm fine!" Naruto cried, and created four shadow clones. All five of them started doing one-fingered push-ups.

"See?" the Naruto's said in unison.

"No, Nar-" Shizune was cut off by a shy knock at the door. Naruto's clones disappeared in puffs of smoke and he stood up.

"Come in!"

Naruto's latest batch of visitors was made up of Lee, Hinata, Neji, and Ten Ten.

"N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata squealed. Naruto smiled when he saw her.

"Hinata! Lee! Neji! Ten Ten!" He acknowledged them each, hugging them, too.

"How are you, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked bashfully.

"Never better!" chirped Naruto. Neji's brow creased.

"You are aware-" he started, but Naruto grinned.

"Of course, Neji! And that is why I'm vowing-" He made the 'good guy' pose, sticking his thumb in the air and looking up heroically. "-to find Sakura, at all costs!"

Lee grinned. "I like your youthful attitude!"

"We're glad that you're okay, Naruto," Ten Ten said, patting his arm. Shizune grinned. Everyone was.

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I hope that didn't seem too SakuraXKisame. Remember, I was originally going to have more, but after a big 'ewww' from most of you, I cut it out.

Also, the stuff about Kisame's mom were made up by me; I have no idea who Kisame's real mother is. And did you like the joke about Itachi being the Tooth Fairy? Lol.

So keep reading and review!