Once dinner was over he protectively put an arm around her, leading her back to his chambers hastily…confusing her to no end from that look on her face.

He growled under his breath once in the room, collapsing on the bed face down muttering, "The damn bastard!"

His temper was boiling over from that snake and reminded him of many things he wanted to forget…he felt movement on the bed scooting closer to him. "What's wrong Kisame?"

He peeked at his slave, taking in the worried look she gave him and sighed, "Orochimaru that's what." Without thinking he pulled her against his chest and held her there.

*I tensed when he held me but it wasn't uncomfortable…..it was rather nice. He doesn't seem like a bad man; maybe I will be happy here after all. But too soon to think that just yet, it's only my first day.

I couldn't help but feel bad for him; something must have happened at dinner and made him upset. He looked like he was hurting too….but why?

"Um…Kis..Kisame?" He seemed to be relaxed now and spoke softly, "Yes?" "Do you…want to talk about it?"

He glanced down at me with a solemn look and didn't answer for several minutes. He just kept holding me and tenderly rubbed my back.

"He's such a damn nuisance! If he wasn't so damn smart and useful in the business we would've already thrown his ass out."

I clutched his shirt from the sudden furious spat but then nodded. "I don't like him either." He looked down at me and asked, "Why not?" "He seems….off I guess. There's just something about him I don't like, same goes with Kabuto."

"I'm glad you listen to your instincts. What did he do to you?" "N..Nothing. He just looks like he's plotting something bad and…I didn't like the way either one was staring at me."

Kisame nodded in agreement, "I mentioned that to him myself but as usual the snake has something up his sleeve. I don't mean to vent but it just bothers me, mostly because of what he did to Zetsu."

I looked up and whispered, "Zetsu's the nice guy with green hair right?" "Yes, he is very kind and a dear friend to me." "What he say?"

Kisame gripped me tighter, probably unintentionally, and muttered, "He stated it's been a while since we've had a female slave around and directed it solely at Zetsu. Him and I were pissed about it."

"I don't understand." "A while back Zetsu did have a woman for a slave but….it ended horribly and devastated him. He cared for her and I know he did but something else was troubling him too."

I frowned, "What happened to her?" "That's just it, none of us knows except Zetsu and he won't speak a word of it. Like me, he sulked around depressed all the time from the loss of his slave until he found a new one. That subject is very taboo but that damn snake brings it up just to torture him!"

"That's so sad but what happened to your slave?" I believe I just treaded on the taboo by accident. He glared down at me viciously and then flipped me onto my back, hovering over me snarling.

"What did you just ask me?" "I…I just…you implied that you lost your slave too….so…." He leaned closer, "That's none of your business and do not ever bring that up to me again!" I trembled in fear and whimpered, "I'm sorry."

He raised his hand and I cringed, "P..Please don't hurt me!"

*He instantly snapped out of his state when he saw her crying and trembling beneath him. Damn it. I didn't mean to lose control of my emotions.

He put his hand down and gently caressed her cheek, whispering softly, "Forgive me it's just…that memory brings out the worst in me I'm afraid. I still haven't gotten over what happened."

Natsumi peeked at him, trying to calm down but he could tell she was still terrified that he was going to inflict pain on her or…something worse.

He slowly got up, wiped her face with a warm washcloth from the bathroom and spoke softly, "Stop crying." She finally stopped somewhat and he left to turn the lights off.

Crawling under the covers with her clinging to his chest he tried to calm her down, "Let's get some sleep alright?" She nodded against his chest and oddly enough she never pushed away from him. He groaned softly before falling asleep.

Looks like we're off to a bad start already.

*I was woken up by someone shaking me almost violently. "WHAT!?" I didn't even care who it was but whoever it was didn't have to shake the hell out of me to wake up.

"I can tell you're not a morning person." My breathing hitched as my master hovered over me. "I'm sorry!" He just grinned and ruffled my hair, "Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you but get up and let's go."

I sat there dumbfounded with a scowl. What the heck was he talking about and what's with the cheerful mood? He chuckled, "The clothes designer will be here any minute, now get up!"

He lifted me out like I was a doll and carried me to the bathroom, fishing out the comb to brush my hair. "Ow!" I took it from him and did it myself. He rolled his eyes, "Sorry for trying to help."

"You were just pulling too hard." He cocked a brow, "True but what's with that face?" I hesitated, "You…uh…were very mad at me last night and…." I just couldn't finish that sentence and was still pretty shaken up about the whole thing.

He was absolutely terrifying and I thought he was going to beat me like that guard did. Kisame frowned and played with the ends of my hair, "Try not to hold that against me." That's all he said about it and left.

I just couldn't understand him…or myself for that matter. For some reason I want him to tell me what happened to his last slave, if anything he'd stop having mood swings.

"Well, where is she Mr. Kisame?" "Right here." He waved me to come back in and I did. The designer took one look at me and snorted, "Really? This is what I have to work with?"

I stared at the floor dismally. I know I'm not the prettiest girl in the world but did he have to say that?

* Kisame saw that comment upset her but it did for him as well and he snapped, "I don't appreciate mockery of my slave and just so we have an understanding, you mess with what's mine, you mess with me."

The man shook like a leaf and whimpered, "I..I..I didn't mean anything by it sir, honest." "Shut up and get to work before I lose my temper." "Y..Yes sir!"

Kisame inwardly grinned in triumph and glanced at his slave. He was beyond a doubt surprised, she was actually giving him a soft smile in gratitude. He couldn't help but smirk back and feel like he accomplished something.

Maybe we can get along after all.

*To say the least I was very grateful for what Kisame did on my behalf. No one ever stood up for me before and it made me feel…..wanted.

Though I was aggravated for the hour of torture with the tailor, with all the measurements, comparing colors to my skin to see what would suit me best, and the constant nagging about my being too skinny.

Not that I could help that part. I was underfed and Kisame did tell him that.

Whatever, I was just glad when it was all over and took a drastic notion once the man left to get me new clothes.

*Kisame was relieved that drama was over but almost forgot how to breathe when he saw her coming quickly at him.

Natsumi actually hugged him, and of her own free will no less. She murmured, "Thank you." Once he got over his initial shock he held her closer, "I'm not such a bad guy am I?"

He meant it as a small tease but she rolled her eyes, "Too early to tell."

*Time skip ~ Two months went by in a flash

Kisame couldn't get over how the time flew by. It seemed like only yesterday he just brought her here.

Well, at least he was happy….it had been far too long since he felt this way.

Natsumi had made friends with all the slaves….except Kabuto who she tried to avoid at all possible.

His friends/co-workers didn't have a problem with her that he could tell, other than Orochimaru still ogling her in an odd way to which he didn't like.

She was well behaved and got free domain like the other slaves but hung around Hidan too much in his eyes.

Hidan was a magnet for trouble and every time he had a prank to pull she ended up being there at the wrong time, so he had to discipline her like he's suppose to.

Of course, that was fairly easy for him to do. All he had to do was bend her over his knee like a child and spank her. Natsumi hated spankings but he found it cute.

The best thing about these two months was that they both opened up to each other. She finally told him about her past and how she came to be at the slave house and he told her about his past except….his slave.

He still couldn't talk about that and didn't intend to. The memories were just too painful to recollect.

He stretched out on his couch, smirking about what's to happen later on.

The slaves get to have as much wine as they want tonight for it's a special occasion….oh boy is Kakuzu going to have a handful with Hidan.

To be continued: