Itachi was yet again the first to awaken from his sleep. He managed to wash in the hot springs near them and change in privacy. He pulled a brush through his hair and tied it into a pony tail at the base of his neck. He retied the headband to his forehead and straightened it. His hands grasped the cloak in his fist and he returned to the campsite to wake the others.
Kisame awoke at his approach and Itachi gave him ten minutes to get ready before he awoke Kioko. He sat down on a log and smoothed the material of the cloak in his hands. His unemotional frown shown through his hair.
Kisame returned and both turned to look into the sleeping girl beside them. Itachi sighed and motioned for Kisame to help him.
The two together lifted the girl onto Itachi's back in a piggy back ride position. Itachi gripped her legs with his arms to keep her from falling and shifted his weight so as not to wake her.
He nodded to his partner who tucked Itachi's cloak around Kioko's shoulders and began to walk in silence.
The landscape here was now changing from rocky to grassy and, little by little, there were better roads to traverse on. Kisame seemed in a more sheepish mood as they walked and for once never even tried to start a conversation. Itachi found this relaxing and made no move to interrupt his thoughts.
Itachi soon began feel strangely tired and ground his teeth together in frustration. His disease was catching up with him in a hurry. His eyes glowed bright red with the Sharingan. He tripped slightly under Kioko's weight and went to topple forward when out of nowhere Kioko's chakra surged back through him. His own chakra was replenished and his disease held back at away.
His eyebrows shot up and he caught himself easily now. Kisame seemed to a bit reluctant to continue on this way. "Maybe I should carry her for a while..."
Itachi replied, "No. I'm fine now. Her chakra is quite the refresher..." Kisame only sighed and nodded.
Kioko moved slightly on Itachi's back. It was only in sleep though and her face buried into his hair. Her arms curled around his neck in the restful sleep she claimed. Itachi watched her out of the side of his eye. He smirked slightly and Kisame grunted.
Itachi smiled ever so slightly at the feeling of her breath on his neck. Kisame noted this, though the emotion immediately faded from Itachi's face. His eyes still lit ablaze.
Kisame noted, "Getting cozy?" Itachi smirked and replied, "She seems to be." Kisame ground his teeth together now. Itachi frowned and walked on.
Now they were coming to a city where the sun was only slightly rising. Kisame nodded and disappeared from sight to "find" some food in the village.
Itachi sighed and continued to walk as Kioko would slow him down enough for Kisame to catch up easily. He did indeed only a few moments later.
Kisame handed him a Dango. Itachi frowned and stated, "Maybe after she wakes up, I will eat mine. I might drop her." Kisame nodded and placed both Itachi's and Kioko's Dango inside a pocket within his cloak.
Itachi was emotionless as Kioko's eyes opened slightly and she groaned. Her hands clutched around Itachi's shirt and she managed to blink several times. Her mind seemed to catch up with her and she awoke fully.
She retracted her arms and looked around her. She seemed content and moved for Itachi to let her down. He 'Hn..." ed and set her down.
She bounded over and hugged Kisame slightly before bouncing back over to Itachi and hugging him as well.
Her face was then red and she settled to walking behind them. Kisame tossed her the food. Itachi managed to scarf his own down in record time.
Kioko seemed bored then as they continued to walk in silence. She sighed and walked up to stand between the two. She moved her fingers to her mouth and looked at them questionably.
Itachi sighed and replied, "Just move your lips. We can read them fine..."
Kioko blushed and mouthed, "Why are you both so quiet?" Kisame sighed and replied, "We aren't the kind to talk that often." She frowned and asked, "Then why do you travel together?" Itachi responded this time, "We were assigned to." She smirked and said, "You are talking now."
Kisame smiled slightly and Itachi frowned. She only sighed again and turned to walk.
To both Itachi and Kisame's surprise a beautiful hum filled the air.
The tone floated from Kioko like magic. Like liquid gold. Like velvet to the senses.
Kisame smiled in content and closed his eyes to focus on it. Itachi, instead, watched the back of her head intently. She turned and looked directly to him. Her hands were tucked behind her back. Her eyes were shining. Kioko's lips were closed and yet the sound echoed through the two men.
She smiled happily and the tune changed to a happy sound. Kisame chuckled slightly and asked, "What song is that?" She frowned and hummed on without looking at him.
Itachi frowned as the song changed to a gloomy one.
He frowned and asked, "If you can hum and sigh how is it that you can not speak?" She frowned and mouthed, "I don't know, Itachi-san..." Itachi frowned and asked, "Have you always been mute?"
She frowned again and replied, "No."
Kisame asked, "When did you loose your voice?" She held up a few fingers. Itachi sighed. "That long, eh?" She only frowned and turned to keep from walking backwards.
Kisame muttered where only Itachi could hear him, "I wonder what her voice sounds like..."
Itachi nodded.
And then Itachi's eyes snapped into focus and he spun around with a kunai drawn. Kisame had likewise spotted the ninja following them and had Samehada drawn.
Kioko turned to them with confused eyes and Itachi yanked her up between the two. Kisame pulled Itachi's cloak from Kioko and Itachi strung it on. Kisame pulled his hat from his cloak's depths as did Itachi and there once more stood the two Akatsuki. Well the Akatsuki and Kioko that was…
The trees rustled and five ninja stepped out. All were male.
Kioko watched in confusion as they all pulled kunai out to face the men with Kioko. She shot a desperate look to Itachi and then to Kisame who both just nodded.
The first man smirked and asked, "So you were here all along?" Itachi only frowned. The second male stated, "They are not alone." The first man looked to Kioko and smirked, "A little pretty one isn't she!?" Kisame stepped in front of her protectively. Itachi did the same on her other side.
A third man asked, "What will we do with her after we finish of the men?" The first ninja, clearly the leader, replied with ease, "See just how well she's broken in of course!"
Itachi and Kisame both stiffened and moved into ready positions.
The fourth male stated, "We killed the last one though didn't we..."
The first laughed cruelly and replied again, "She will be much fun tonight..."
Kioko glared at them and reached out and touched the shark man's shoulder. She frowned and in her anger took the sword from Kisame's hands. Itachi and Kisame both gasped and she swung the huge thing at the men. She seemed far past angry at them and one EPICALLY PHAILED to move fast enough and his blood hit the ground with a pang.
Kisame leapt forward and stole the sword back. It didn't seem to have cared that Kioko had used it. Kisame was shocked.
Kisame gaped at it and then to her and from there to Itachi whose eyes were wide in confusion.
The first male had escaped and shouted, "THE BITCH!" It had been the second male who had been caught.
Itachi settled in front of Kioko and stated, "Stay back." She nodded and Itachi and his partner leapt forward to the attack.

Kioko stood there in shock. The battle was over. Itachi and Kisame had won of course. But she had not been expecting anything like what she had seen. Her eyes were wide in fright.
Itachi and Kisame both turned and smiled at one another before knocking knuckles.
And then they saw her expression. Both of their smiles faded. Both sets of eyes shot to their corners to stare at their partner.
Kisame moved a step toward her. She didn't move. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream. Kisame took another step and watched as her face seemed etched and frozen in fear like it was.
Itachi watched as Kisame moved to directly in front of her.
He raised a hand and moved it ever so carefully toward her face.
He touched her face.
She only watched him with wide eyes. He caressed her face and muttered soothingly, "We won't hurt you, Kioko. Never. No one will ever hurt you again." Kioko watched him in silence. Itachi took a step forward but her eyes were trained on Kisame.
She seemed to breathe at last and mouthed, "Kisame..." Kisame nodded as her eyes seemed to shimmer and a few tear collected in her eyes. She mouthed again, "Kisame! Itachi!"
Both watched her as Itachi took the last few steps up to her. Now both were side by side as Kisame whipped a seldom tear from her cheek.
She screamed in her muted voice, "THANK GOD!" and tackled them both to the ground. Itachi was in shock. One of her arms wrapped around his neck. Her other tightened around Kisame's.
Her head landed just between both of theirs as she buried her face in each of their shoulders. She sobbed and each placed a hand on her to reassure her.
They both knew their partner could not see them. Kisame let his face turn full smile and he closed his eyes to surround himself in the fact that Kioko was so happy to see him safe.
Itachi was shocked still before letting a small smile cross his lips. His eyes blinked before shutting down from the Sharingan and closing in content.
And then Kioko pulled away slightly and both of their faces returned to the before state.
Kioko stood as she wiped her eyes and smiled. Her lips moved, "Don't you EVER do that to me again!"
Kisame asked, "What, Kioko?" She looked relieved and replied, "Don't you ever risk your lives like that and leave me here to watch."
Itachi was there first and had her wrapped in a loose hug. It shocked himself quite a lot at the fact. Kisame even seemed completely surprised by the act.
She in returned squeezed him tightly and buried her face in his shoulder. He pulled away and began to walk again. She seemed slightly stunned but quickly enough turned to Kisame. He smiled slightly and shrugged. She smiled back and held back more tears before beginning to hum again.
It was shaky at first. But soon it had grown to a full blown song. Her throat hummed out the liquid gold in a bright flavor.
The song was unfamiliar but the melody caught both of their attentions. Its smooth melody reminded them both of the wind. Both could almost make the lyrics in their minds. But neither could really guess what her voice would sound like when she sang them.