Itachi looked into her calm eyes and smiled slightly. "Say it again." She frowned and stated, "I don't want to be alone anymore... Even if it means I die... I want to be happy... and ... I am..."
His eyes closed in sheer unbelieving amazement.
He stated, "You don't mean that, Kioko." She moved and rested a hand on his shoulder.
She smiled and Itachi's Genjutsu melted away.

She stood facing Itachi in his grip. Itachi caught her as she tilted backwards. Kisame demands, "What happened?"
Itachi frowned and picked up her unconscious body. "She... spoke..."
Kisame asked, "What?" Itachi shrugged, "I showed her everything, and then she said that she'd rather die with us than be alone again."
Kisame eyed the girl as she lay in Itachi's arms, exhausted from the mental stress Mongekyou puts on people.
He muttered, "No mother and a father like the one she had..."
Itachi frowned. "Even I grew up with parents." Kisame chuckled. "Well than she and I are on the same page."
Itachi frowned and handed Kioko to Kisame. "We can stay here... Or we can find somewhere more sheltered."
Kisame nodded and replied, "Sheltered. It is going to rain tonight."
Itachi nodded and the duo began to walk on.
Kioko curled up into Kisame's chest happily. Smiling. Kisame frowned and looked down at her.
Itachi noted this and asked, "What?"
He replied, "She always seems to be in my mind… I can't get her out of my head…" Itachi nodded. "It is the same with me."
Kisame sighed and asks, "Does she really think she will die?"
Itachi smirked, "I didn't check. I was slightly preoccupied."
Kisame smiled. "You didn't even check what she thought of you?"
Itachi smirked. "I'd rather find out for myself."

Kisame looks from her face to the sky and asks, "What was her voice like?" Itachi answers in return, "I can't describe it."
Kisame frowned and nodded.
Now a small village came into view. Kisame sighed and lifted Kioko where her head was on his shoulder again.
Her arms encircled his neck and she snuggled into him. He sighed and placed his hat over his face as did Itachi.
Itachi asked, "Two rooms?" He was referring to having himself and Kisame a room and leaves her in another room. Kisame sighed, "You going to take her in your room or am I taking her in mine?" Itachi seemed to think this over a moment.
Itachi frowned. "Well, let's see how things fold out."
The two walked in the hotel and the woman their raised her sleepy eyes to them. She smiled slightly and asked, "A room for the happy couple?"
Itachi looked to Kisame and saw the woman eye them happily.
Itachi sighed in aggravation and nodded, "A room for them and a room for I..." The woman nodded as they paid for it.
Kisame walked back to the rooms that were side by side.
Kisame sighed and asked his partner, "What do you think?"
Itachi frowned and walked to the first door, opened it, and stood in the doorway.
He stated, "I think you had better not even lay a finger on her tonight." Kisame nodded and Itachi slammed the door in his face.
Kisame walked to the next room and opened it. It was clean and cozy. Clearly a room made for a couple. He sighed and nodded.
He placed the girl down on the bed and walked into the bathroom and took a shower.
As he left Kioko shifted and awoke. She rubbed her eyes and then gently moved her fingers to her temples in pain.
She heard the shower going and sighed. Kioko sat up and looked around the room.
She remembered talking to Itachi and then, nothing.
She frowned as the water in the other room cut off and Kisame walked out dressed in his day cloths. Or rather, he wore a fresh set.
He noted that Kioko was awake and nodded to her. "I took a cold shower... There should be plenty of warm water for you."
She nodded and bounded in the room. She closed the door with a click and undressed to shower. The warm water felt absolutely wonderful on her skin. She loved the feeling and the idea of being clean again.
She finished and walked out to find an outfit ready for her. She dried herself and changed into the pajamas and brushed her teeth with the provided toothbrush and paste. She brushed her long tangles out and dried her hair with a towel.
She finished with all of her things and smiled to herself as she stepped out.
Kisame was reading a book in a chair on the opposite side of the room. He looked up as she walked in and waved slightly.
She sighed and walked over to him and smiled. "Where is Itachi-san?" Kisame pointed to the wall and said, "The lady up front assumed me and you a couple because I was carrying you; so, we had to get only two rooms and, seeing as he wanted his own room, we are together."
Kioko nodded and looked at the lone bed and replied, "You sleep first then." He shot her a 'no way' look and frowned.
She sighed and took his hand. He stood as she pulled at him. She sat down on the bed and stated, "You have your side and I have mine."
Kisame frowned and shook his head no. "It would not be proper..." Kioko frowned and rolled her eyes before laying on the extreme edge of the bed and turning the main light off so she could sleep.
Kisame watched as she drifted off and sighed. At least the bed was large.
He laid on the opposite extreme edge and drifted asleep.
-Itachi-
Itachi sighed as he opened his eyes wide in the dim morning. He groaned at his popping back and took a shower to calm his muscles.
He brushed his teeth and did every person's normal boring ritual before packing all of his things up and into a pocket in his cloak. Itachi wrapped it around his shoulders.
He stepped out and unlocked Kisame and Kioko's door and stepped into to wake them.
Instead his body shook with anger. He looked down at them and cringed.
Kioko was curled into Kisame's chest with both hands planted in is chest. Kisame had an arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer and another draped over her form.
He growled. "KISAME!!!"