A/N okay, I'm sorry i didnt get this out earlier like I said I would, but i did make it longer, so i hope that makes up for it. AlsoI would like to say to every one. Merry Christmas!!! (Yes, I know I'm a few days early.) Or if you don't celebrate Christmas Happy Holidays!!! Or if you don't happen to celebrate any holidays this time of year Have a good day: D. Anyway, so here is the 8th chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its charactors. Even i don't have enough creativity for that.

It took me longer than it should have for me to process the words that he was saying. It was like I was lost in a short dream world for a second. All I noticed were his feather light touches and deep voice. They were superficial things that mattered a lot more to me than was normal. Just knowing for absolutely certain that someone was there, even though I couldn't catch a glimpse of them. Or maybe it wasn't just the fact that someone was there, so much as the fact that Kisame was there….

There was pause as his words finally made it through the filters in my brain. My eyes snapped open as they registered. Help me get over my blindness? So I could move around like a normal person? I wouldn't be weak and insignificant. The thought excited me and I looked up at Kisame eagerly.

"Don't get your hopes up too high," Kisame warned, and I immediately schooled my features into a more serious and less eager façade. But I was still brimming with hopeful curiosity. After all, it didn't matter what it was, it just had to be something. I would be blind for eight months; I couldn't go on as I had been.

"How do you get around now," Kisame began. It was obvious that he was beating around the bush, and I was getting just a tinge impatient. I fiddled with the sheet between my fingers, but decided to humor him; he must have a reason anyway.

"I…" I chewed on my lip as I tried to remember how I did it. Remember, that was how I did it. I usually crashed into things and they were then imprinted in my memory. I would remember where they were because I didn't want to crash into it again. But I didn't exactly want to crash into everything in the room just so I would remember where they were. "I remember where they are."

"And what about when your trying to identify something," Kisame pressed. This was turning into a bit of interrogation, and I had to dig through my memories. Most of the time it was just something that I did in my effort to move efficiently; I didn't heed so much exactly how I did it. But I realized that once again Kisame was just going over things with me, to make them less confusing and more orderly. It really did help.

"I…feel it," I replied with a bit of a shrug. "I just hold it in my hands and touch it, and then I guess, I can kind of….visualize it in my head."

"That's what I thought," Kisame said knowingly. My foot started tapping of its own accord as Kisame paused. "This is going to sound really hard, but it is doable. And it's going to take a long time, but not forever."

"Kisame," I said, with a bit of a whine. I tried to stifle it, I tried to keep the whine out of my voice, I tried not to complain, but it was really grating on my nerves. I didn't care how hard it was, how long it would take, I wanted to do it. Kisame was keeping me away from my freedom; my freedom from my own weakness.

"Alright," Kisame said raggedly. I ducked my head and wrinkled my nose as the laugh threatened to rip out of Kisame's throat. It was the same deep and comforting sound that I loved. But he was laughing at me. I blushed self consciously. I had just acted like a child. I supposed I deserved the ridicule. Either way though, I waited expectantly for him to continue.

"You're just going to have to remember where everything is in the lair." Kisame said it like it was the easiest, simplest plan every day. It sounded to me like the worst easier said than done plan in history. Kisame continued quickly. "Look, we'll keep the furniture where it is and never move it, that way it will always be constant. And when you have something small you'll just do what you usually do."

"J-just r-remember e-everything­," I gaped at him in disbelief and doubt, my stutter even came back. The sarcasm was laced into my words at his most certainly impossible statement. I didn't usually use sarcasm, but this particular incident seemed to call for it. "E-everything in t-this e-entire p-place?"

"Well, no not exactly," he told me in a placating voice. "You'll really only have to remember our room, the living room, and the kitchen. Maybe a few other rooms, but you shouldn't have to go in Deidara's, Tobi's, or Itachi-san's room."

I breathed more easily then. I fiddled with the sheet I was sitting on as I mulled it all over. When he put it like that, it really did seem more doable. It was only a few rooms, and I had eight months…unless I was rescued.

How long had it been? My mission was only supposed to last for two weeks, how long had it been? The days had simply blended together for me. It was like there was no day or night; I just slept when I was tired. I was going to estimate about five days, perhaps. But would it get to Konoha if I didn't arrive in lightening country? These thoughts swirled around and around in my head, but another cut through them all like a knife.

I wasn't eager to go back. I startled myself with it. It was just popped out of no where, but it was most certainly there. It sounded like a traitor's thought. But what was there for me when and if I went back? I would go back and marry Neji, that's all there was. The worst thing about going back was that there was no one there to analyze things with me. Every one simply told me it would be alright, but I could never understand. I wouldn't have Kisame there to make everything make sense to me. I didn't really want that. But those very thoughts scared me, they sounded so bad and traitorous. I trembled a little and gulped at the confusion in my throat.

And then again, there was most certainly nothing here in Akatsuki for me. They weren't exactly going to just take me in. They weren't going to adopt me like they were a kind loving family and I was dog they found on the street. They were made up of S- classed criminals. There was the crazy mass murderer of his own clan and would be rapist of me. And then who knew about the rest of them. But there was Kisame, and at the moment, it seemed as though that were enough.

"Hinata, it really isn't going to be that bad," Kisame assured me. I felt him lean closer and felt his fingers brush mine. He seemed a bit concerned. It took me awhile to understand what he was talking back, but then I remembered what we had been discussing before my thoughts trailed down a different path. He must have thought the worried and contemplative thought on my face had been over his plan.

"I know, Kisame," I smiled a little at him for his sake. It was a forced smile and I think he knew that, because he brushed my hand comfortingly again. "I was thinking about something else… But I know that I can do it. I have a good memory." That was true. It was one thing that I truly was proud of about myself. I had a very good long term memory. Short term was a bit weaker, as I tended to get side tracked and forget what I was doing before that. But I could remember far back pretty accurately.

"That's good." I think he was going to say something else, but a rumbling cut him off; it was his stomach. I felt the giggle bubble up in my throat before I could start it. I quickly ducked my head and covered my face, but my shoulders were still trembling a bit. I couldn't help it, it was just so comical. It seemed like one of those things that were only told in stories but never actually happened.

"G-gomen N-nasai," I quickly apologized when my giggles subsided. I looked away and bit my lip. Most of the men I had met didn't like when I laughed at them: Neji, Hiashi, Shino, even Kiba could get indignant. "I d-didn't m-mean to l-laugh at y-you."

"Eh," Kisame grunted in confusion. I bit my lip as I cocked my head at him. I was just as confused at him. He continued lightly and his easy attitude set me back at ease. "For laughing at me? It's fine. But can we please go get breakfast?"

I opened my mouth to say of course, I was his hostage not the other way around, but quickly changed my mind. I should check his bandages before I let him go and strain them again. I was pretending not to know about his night escapade when I had over heard him and Itachi, but that didn't mean that I wasn't going to treat it. "May I check your bandages first please, Kisame."

"I guess," Kisame agreed a bit grudgingly. He reminded me of a boy that didn't like having to stay in bed when he was sick. I heard the rustle of fabric as he removed his shirt, and felt the bed dip slightly as he lay down on his back. "I heal fast you know…it shouldn't take very long."

"Like Naruto," I said without thinking. For some reason, I didn't think that bringing up Naruto was a good idea around here. I didn't know why, but I didn't think that Kisame thought very fondly of him. Sure enough, as soon as I said it I felt Kisame stiffen beside me.

"Sort of," I heard him mumble under his breath. I bit my lip unhappily. How typical of me. I had to say something that would completely ruin the good mood. I opened my mouth to apologize but there wasn't any solid cold evidence of something to apologize for, so I shut it again. I didn't want to look like an idiot. I simply sighed sorrowfully, but other wise did nothing.

I moved towards him and began to carefully undo to bandages around his powerful chest. I didn't need eyes to feel the muscles that rippled under his smooth skin. My eyes widened ever so slightly as I felt a tingle run up my spine as my fingers brushed his skin. I felt a light blush tinge my cheeks, and I fought it valiantly until it subsided. I bit my lip and banished the feelings that had just erupted inside of me. Whatever had just happened had been very unprofessional, and I was determined not to let it happen again; whatever it was.

I continued to run my fingers along his healing injury with cold detachment. My brow furrowed though as all my fingers encountered were the remnants of the wound. The skin was rough and very uneven, and it would break if strained, but it was there. He was much farther along than he should be. Something like that should still be oozing and scabbing, but this was over half way healed.

"I told you," Kisame said, with a shrug in his voice. There was an edge of playful impatience that made me pout in indignation. There was no need to make fun of me; I was just doing my job. Then again, healing Akatsuki members that had kidnapped me wasn't in my medic job description. "I heal fast."

"You certainly do," I muttered in confusion. Perhaps in had something to do with all that chakra hidden inside of him. Whatever it was, it was certainly helpful. But you could never be too careful, so I took the time to warn him. "You still shouldn't fight or run or something. The skin could still break."

I didn't entirely trust Kisame to heed my word though. Something told me he was one of those men that was going to sneak away to swing around a sword when I wasn't paying attention. So I cleaned the healing gash, and took another roll of bandages. I rolled it around his torso, feigning ignorance of his resentful huff. Obviously Kisame wasn't a bandage kind of guy.

"Don't take them off. Keep them on just in case," I felt the need to add. As I thought about it, I realized how ridiculous of me to tell him that. If he wanted to take it off, he would take it off and I wouldn't be able to do anything. I had no control over him. I wasn't his true nurse or anything. But for some reason, I was rather confident that he wouldn't blatantly disobey me when I asked for something like that. Besides I was only doing it because I was concerned. Being concerned for your captor was a bit weird, but I let that slide.

"May we get breakfast now," Kisame pressed anxiously. I barely managed to stifle the giggle that simmered up inside of me as his voice rose into a whine at the very end. He was obviously very hungry if he was resorting to that. But at the same time I thought his glimpses of childish behavior were adorable.

"Yes, let's," I gave in easily. He wasn't the only one that was hungry. I twisted around in the sheets until my feet found the edge of the bed. I carefully slipped off, hoping to look natural. It always made me feel good when I did something that was completely normal so gracefully even while blind. Of course, I barely got my way.

There was something that was already occupying the space I was trying to get into, and unfortunately, that thing was bigger and heavier than I was. It was also precariously balanced. Needless to say, I crashed into it.

I yelped as I hit the thing with my whole front: my hips, my stomach, my chest, and my nose all protested angrily as they were assaulted. The thing fell first and I fell on top of it painfully. I whimpered as I slowly rolled off of it. I groaned and carefully massaged my nose and chest. I hoped they didn't bruise. Why the heck was that there anyway, I could have sworn it hadn't been there last night.

"Shit," Kisame swore loudly as I heard his heavy footsteps hit the ground and rush over to me. I looked up towards him with a miserable pout. I was sore, and this was not how I had wanted to start me day. This was turning out to be just peachy. "Are you alright, Hinata?"

"Hai," I assured him grudgingly. It wasn't like the thing had killed me, I was okay. I was just frustrated. I turned a glare onto the thing. I hissed in a voice with more loathing than was probably necessary, "What it that thing?"

"Gomen Nasai," Kisame said quickly, but with feeling. I heard his foot steps leave my side and walked over to the thing. There was a scraping sound as he picked it up and walked away with it. I heard a thud as I thought he put it in a different corner far from where I could hurt myself. "That was Samehada. I usually put there, I wasn't really thinking this time."

"Samehada," I repeated, my interest piqued. My negative emotions had drained, leaving just their memories behind. I cocked my head towards him as I carefully stood up and brushed myself off. The name sounded familiar, bit I only remembered bits and pieces of the conversation between Kisame and Itachi. "You were talking about that a few days ago. Itachi was saying something about keeping his hands."

"Ah, yes," Kisame laughed. "None of them are very fond of Samehada. Samehada is my sword," he clarified; he himself was obviously very fond of it. It struck me as sort of similar to the way that Tenten would talk about all of her beloved weapons. "If any one other than me grabs it, spikes protrude from the handle. That's why no one else will touch it."

Without thinking, I yelped and sprang away from the large sword. The last thing I wanted was to get stabbed with a bunch of spikes too. Of course, my reaction evoked another rumbling laugh. I blushed self consciously. "I said if you grabbed it, but you didn't grab it, you'll be fine. It won't hurt you."

"I know," I retorted indignantly. I heard Kisame make a doubtful noise and quickly changed the subject. "I'm hungry, Kisame."

"Mmmm," Kisame moaned painfully. "So am I, come on." Kisame grabbed my hand firmly, yet gently, and began to lead me. I didn't say a word; I was too busy blushing feverously. I couldn't help but note the perfect way that my small hand fit inside of his large one, and how warm it was. It felt right.

I let out a small gasp as my common sense caught up with my blithe thoughts. I should not be thinking like that. I was marrying Neji, and I was in love with Naruto, there was no way that Kisame could possible fit anywhere. He…he was just my captor that happened to take pity on me. Who also smelled good, and held my hand just right, and had a smooth muscular chest. I shook my head and squashed those thoughts. I supposed I was hungrier than I thought.

There was no more time to let my thoughts wander because we had made it to the kitchen, and much to my elation, I had no stubbed toes. Kisame lead me into the kitchen and sat me down on a bench, in front of a table. I assumed that the Akatsuki members sat on benches instead of chairs around the table.

"Bringing hostages to the table now, Kisame," Itachi's cruel voice asked calmly. He was patronizing Kisame again. He seemed to do that a lot, and it made my blood boil. What right did he have to think that he was better than everyone else? Because he had murdered his entire family? He was just a powerful bully. As much as I wanted to voice those thoughts, I wisely kept my mouth shut. I simply moved a little farther away from the dreaded voice. And bumped into someone.

"Oi, Hinata, careful, yeah," Deidara warned me good naturedly. I quickly recoiled from the contact and bowed my head in embarrassment. "I don't particularly want to fall off the bench today, yeah."

"G-gomen N-Nasai, D-Deidara-san," I stuttered. Yes, I stuttered again. I knew why though. The old Hinata façade was back. For some reason, when I was around Kisame, I was just Hinata. But when I was around everyone else it was like I had to be so much better than the Hinata I was. But I got so stressed over it, that I only ended up looking more pathetic.

I knew why I felt so much better around Kisame too. I knew why I he was so easy to be me around. It was because I knew there was something 'wrong' with him, too. There was something about him that did not please the people around him; something that made them all looked down at him. But he was still so strong, he didn't let people's opinions bring him down. But of course, they had an effect, I knew that there were times when his self assured front would slip, and it always made my heart wrench when it did. Of course, he was also so kind and gentle to me, how could I not feel comfortable around him.

But I wasn't with just Kisame any more. Now I was with Deidara and Itachi, and I felt the overwhelming pressure fall on my shoulders again. The pressure to be perfect, to not let them see the flaws that scrawled all over me, but when I tried so hard, it just got worse. I needed to calm down, but that was so much easier said than done.

"Eh, don't add the -san, it makes me feel old," Deidara jokingly told me. I giggled a bit. I nodded my affirmative that there would be no more -san. "Kisame, how much longer," Deidara whined turning away from me. I heard an irritated sound emit from the place where I heard the sounds of someone cooking food. I assumed it was Kisame.

"Deidara, if you were that hungry, you would have made it yourself," Kisame growled. I heard the crack of eggs as their insides poured into a bowl, and heard the sizzling of bacon. And if the sound wasn't enough to make my mouth water, the delicious aromas certainly were. I licked my lips eagerly.

"It was your turn to cook, yeah," Deidara retorted lowly, he was obviously sick of this argument, but couldn't let Kisame have the last word. "And besides, yeah, I went out and got the food."

"Wow, good job, bird boy," Kisame cheered, his voice positively saturated in sarcasm. "I'm sure it was so difficult for you to fly over there, point a kunai at an old woman and fly off."

"Just hurry up, I'm hungry," Deidara groaned in frustration. Suddenly, my stomach rumbled loudly, interrupting their bickering. I blushed and turned quickly away. "And I'm obviously not the only one, yeah." I blushed and trained my sightless eyes away from everyone.

"Actually," Itachi's icy voice cut in smoothly, making me shiver. The room went silent as everyone turned to Itachi to hear what he had to say. "Before we eat, there it something that you both need to be informed of." There was a dramatic pause and everyone waited to here what this thing was that they both needed to be informed of. "Someone has been in the lair recently and more than once."

"Do you know who it is, yeah," Deidara finally asked in a stunned voice after the shocked silence. It seemed absurd. Someone had gotten into an Akatsuki lair, and back out completely unharmed, and for the most part, undetected. And more than that, they had done it multiple times. I shook me head in awe.

There was the tiniest hint of fear as well. Whoever it was was obviously skilled, and there was no saying whether he was on our side, or the 'dark' side. But if the past few months of my life had taught me anything it was that there was no white and black. There were multiple shades of gray. As I saw it, Itachi was black, and Naruto was white. But the Hyuugas were gray, just as Kisame was…

"What did they do," Kisame asked warily. I was suddenly snapped out of my meditative thoughts and tuned back into the conversation. All playful banter that had been going on before had abruptly dissipated. I turned towards Itachi as I awaited his reply. I hoped so greatly that it was someone from Konoha; that they were going to save me.

"Nothing," Itachi growled. The sound shocked me. It was so different from his former cool and collected mannerisms. He sounded frustrated. "Their motive is enigmatic. They simply come and go as they please. The only plausible conclusion is that they've been spying-"

"And they've been succeeding, yeah," Deidara cried out. I gasped and flinched away from the sudden out burst. Judging by the way they were reacting, this was not something that had ever happened. I listened keenly for Itachi's reply.

"They probably know everything that's going on in this place," Itachi murmured in his silky voice. He said it so softly it was a whisper. Of course, Itachi's voice would be heard and acknowledged no matter how softly he spoke. "Kisame, I want you to do the honors."

"With pleasure," Kisame sneered dangerously. My eyes widened and I shuddered as Kisame's sadistic side made its appearance. It was this side of him that confirmed the fact that he was an Akatsuki. I gulped as I felt his deadly aura.

It shouldn't have that sort of effect on me. Whenever I was reminded of his criminal status it…hurt. I hated it. I hated thinking of him as an evil enemy. Of someone that killed people left and right and found pleasure in it. I didn't like to think of the Kisame that had pulled the ring off my finger, as a horrible Akatsuki member.

"If this person knows so much," Deidara began uneasily, forcing me once again out of my reflections. I turned my head towards him now. I felt a slight tinge of pride at being able to spot the locations of their voices. "Then aren't we kinda screwed, yeah. Leader-sama's going to kill us…."

"We'll see," Itachi said cryptically. I faced him now. "However, Zetsu is coming to….discuss our apparent incompetence at staying hidden. We all know how Zetsu can be." I flinched. I, of course, had no idea, but the statement sounded ominous to me just the same.

That must have been the end of the conversation, because no one said anything more. However, the silence was almost tangible. I shifted uncomfortably. Every one seemed lost in their thoughts, and I felt completely cut off. Finally, Itachi broke the silence.

"I trust that you have already sent out the ransom demand for our dear Hinata," he inquired. I gulped at the sound of my own name rolling from his tongue. I knew Itachi was only feet away from my side, the one opposite of Deidara. Much to my utter relief and gratitude, Kisame suddenly placed himself between the two of us. I suddenly breathed much easier.

"Of course I have," Kisame retorted indignantly. "Speaking of Hinata, we're going to help her with her blindness." This rather bold statement was met with silence from the other two Akatsuki. I wasn't sure if it was shocked or contemplative. I didn't want them to think that I was demanding that they help me. I was their hostage, that would seem so foolish.

"I'm sorry, Kisame, but there will be no we," Itachi drawled. I felt Kisame tense beside me. He was obviously not happy with Itachi's reply.

"You, did this to her, you are-"

"I will be participating," Itachi interrupted Kisame in his infuriating and belittling voice. My eyes narrowed in suspicious confusion. I could never interpret Itachi's cryptic meanings. "You, however, will have your hands full trying to catch this spy."

"I'll help, yeah," Deidara suddenly piped up. I turned and cocked my head at Deidara; I hadn't been expecting such generosity. "It'll be fun, yeah."

"I don't mind you, Deidara," Kisame growled protectively. Yes, I had definitely heard it this time. There was that protectiveness in his voice, I had heard it in Neji's too. But there was something else in there. Almost a…possessiveness. I was not imagining it this time. "But I am not leaving her along with this bastard." Obviously he meant Itachi.

"I won't try anything, Kisame," Itachi drawled, the amusement evident in his voice. I fidgeted. I most certainly did not like the idea of spending alone time with Itachi either. "You can relax your guard."

I gulped. This breakfast was just as bad as the breakfasts I had had with my family. It was tense, and arguemntary. Of course, with the Hyuugas ever word was controlled, while here, they all just went at it. The general negative charge in the air though, was the same.

"Fine," was Kisame's stiff and reluctant reply. I bit my lip with displeasure, but held my tongue. It most certainly was not my place to argue with any of them. So I merely sat there with my head down. Surely Itachi wouldn't really do anything to me. Maybe he would finally just leave me alone. After all, there were other girls out there. But maybe he would want me just because he had been denied it.

My memory flashed back on the night before. Itachi had said something about me having the mot curvaceous figure he had ever seen. I winced. I didn't like how he described in such derogatory and graphic terms. As Kisame said: he talked about me as though I were a piece of meat.

Then another, more pressing matter entered my head: my stomach was sore.

I hoped that all of these arguments and conflicts had not deterred the reason we were here. I was starving and I was eager to eat. It would be a pain to just eat politely. Suddenly, a disturbing thought entered my head. What if they didn't feed me? They didn't particularly have a reason to. After all, they could just feed themselves and give me the scraps or nothing at all. But wouldn't Kisame feed me…I really should not have worried.

"About time, yeah," Deidara cheered suddenly in a somewhat whiny voice. I felt Kisame leave my side and walk over to a section of what I assumed was the kitchen. There was a general scraping and clinking as everyone was finally served and settled. It was with a feeling of elation that I identified the slight clunk of a plate being set down in front of me.

I felt Kisame's hand snag my own, and place a spoon in it. He put my other hand on the rim of the bowl. I felt a pit in my stomach as I raised the spoon precariously. I knew where the spoon was, where the bowl was, and where my mouth was. But it was connecting the dots that seemed difficult. I narrowed my eyes. "Its just cream of wheat, Hinata. It shouldn't be that hard," Kisame assured me softly, so that the others didn't hear. I nodded me head, more to myself than to him, and careful entered the spoon into the bowl.

I was proud of myself. It was hard, and it was very messy. But I had succeeded. I had gotten more of the delicious food into my mouth than onto the table. And that in itself was an awesome feat. The greatest reward though, was the sated hunger. My stomach was pleasantly content.

Once again there was the general scuffle as the three Akatsuki cleaned up. I nearly giggled to myself at the thought. They were all killing machines and they were all sadistic, but yet they all ate breakfast. They all had their meals and they all lived together in this seemingly large lair. They really were human.

"Kisame," Itachi said pointedly. I heard a grunt of consent and felt Kisame sit down briefly beside me. I looked up at him expectantly, awaiting his explanation.

"I got to go see to a little mole," Kisame sneered. I winced a bit, but tried hard not to show my discomfort. He was obviously referring to the spy that Itachi had asked him to take care of. "I'll be seeing you later, you're going to go do your training with Deidara or Itachi, whichever comes first. Okay?"

"Yes, good luck," I whispered back. My stutter was gone when I knew it was just Kisame that I was speaking to. Kisame made another grunt of acknowledgment before ruffling my hair with his large hand and getting up. I felt his weight leave the bench, and heard his heavy foot steps disappear around the corner.

"Alright than, Hinata, lets go, yeah." Deidara grabbed my elbow and tugged me to my feet. I scrambled up obediently. I did not trust Deidara near as much as Kisame, but I did trust him a great deal more than I trusted Itachi.

Deidara kept a firm hold on my elbow as he lead me down the hallway, and I continued to keep up. We were going a different way than I had ever been or remembered, so I was never ready for the sharp turns that Deidara executed. Finally I spoke up.

"W-where are we g-going, D-Deidara," I asked softly, but loud enough to be heard. I didn't know if Deidara was one of those people that got mad at the simplest things. I didn't think that he was, because he had been pleasant enough around me when the mist ninja had attacked, but I could never be too careful.

"To the training grounds of course, yeah," Deidara told me as though it were obvious. I frowned. I was pretty sure that wasn't the kind of training that Kisame had meant.

"D-Deidara, I c-can't-"

"Hinata are you a kunoichi," Deidara asked suddenly. I was taken aback. What did that have to do with anything? Never the less, I warily nodded my head. "Then do you still want to be a strong kunoichi, even while you're blind yeah? Or do you want to be a weak little damsel in distress?"

I pulled away in sudden burst of anger and pulled my arm violently away. The sudden harshness in his voice and how close he had been to the mark riled me. I was suddenly disgusted with myself. I was waiting for someone to come and rescue me. Hoping that every noise was my band of saviors. That was no way for a kunoichi to think. I would save myself. And how dare he? He knew nothing about me. I glared daggers at him, and my small fists clenched. I began to walk purposely forward.

"Take me to the training grounds. I am no 'damsel in distress,'" I ordered. I walked past him with my sightless eyes trained in front of me. I heard and felt Deidara regain his place in front of me.

"Now that's the right attitude, yeah," Deidara cheered. He set of at a brisk walk and followed him. I focused on his foot steps and duplicating them. It really actually worked rather well.

It wasn't long until I heard Deidara stop. I too froze in my place. There was the click of the lock and scraping of a door. The soft caress of a breeze blew by my face and my mood lightened immediately. It had been so long since I had breathed fresh air and felt sunlight on my face. I eagerly stepped outside. How good it felt to be outside again. It did wonders for me. It was like a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. It was rejuvenating and I felt a wonderful burst of strength from it.

I tipped my face up to the sky, relishing the feel of the sun and the cool fresh air flooding my lungs. I could even detect the delectable aroma of various flowers. I spread my arms a little and twirled in a circle. I smiled as I hummed a quick little tune. I had completely forgotten about Deidara.

"We didn't come here to frolic, yeah," Deidara teased lightly. I gasped as I remembered his presence. A deep blush spread across my cheeks, and looked down. Deidara laughed. Then he stepped forward and took my hand.

Deidara didn't hold it the same way that Kisame did. Deidara held it in a friendly, but detached sort of way. Kisame's hand wrapped around my own, and he held it so gently. The way he did it felt deeper than the way that Deidara did.

I blinked as I felt the bite of cool metal, as it was placed in my hand. I curled my fingers firmly around the handle of the kunai, and looked at Deidara for further instructions. I suddenly felt light touches on my thighs and swept the kunai downward and sprang back. I was breathing hard and my skin crawled from the unwanted contact.

I faced the spot where Deidara was with wide eyes. I hadn't thought that Deidara would do that kind of thing to me. I thought that Itachi was the only one that posed that sort of threat. I held my kunai in front of my protectively. I felt just the slightest bit better at having a weapon with me. But not a lot.

"Whoa, whoa, relax, yeah," Deidara cried out as I heard him too leap back. There was silence as I was sure he was noting my defensive stance and my wide eyes. "First of all, your stance is faulty, but we'll fix that later, yeah. Secondly, I'm not going to do what you think I am, yeah. I was just putting on your kunai holster, yeah."

"Oh," I sighed in realization. I blushed deeply again. I had over reacted. "G-gomen N-nasai," I apologized sheepishly. But nothing could deter me from the elation of having a holster full of kunai strapped to my thigh. It would feel so good to have some kind of weapon with me, even if it was for just some time.

"Nah, its okay, yeah," Deidara brushed it off, with a shrug no doubt. "I should have told you what I was doing. Now come here, yeah." I obediently stepped forward to him again. The feel of his fingers brushing my inner thighs still rose goose bumps on my skin, but I held still. Finally I felt him withdraw and the comforting weight of the weapons on my leg.

"Okay, now, let's begin, yeah," Deidara suggested eagerly. I nodded eager as well. It felt good to be doing something. I hadn't trained in so long. I twirled a kunai expertly around my finger and then clenched it tightly, ready to begin. "You can hear me, yeah?"

"Of c-course," I nodded, a bit frustrated. I was beginning to dislike the way all of these Akatsuki beat around the bush when they were going to tell me something. I absentmindedly tapped my foot and swayed side to side as I waited for him to continue.

"Impatient aren't we, yeah," Deidara laughed at me. I pouted a bit, but stilled. "Alright then, alright. Now, I'm going to walk move around you in a circle and I want to you try and keep your kunai pointed at me the whole time, yeah; just so that I know that you know where I am, yeah."

"H-hai," I nodded my head and raised the kunai to point at where Deidara's voice was. I heard him step to the left and I moved my kunai accordingly. He took a step back the way he had come and once again I moved the kunai. He continued to stagger step around me and every time I kept the kunai pointed unwavering at him.

"You have above average hearing, yeah," Deidara said approvingly. I tried hard not to beam at the praise. Of course, it wasn't as if he had stopped just to compliment me. "Of course I was walking like a civilian, yeah. So now let me show you how it would go if I were to walk like, say…a genin, yeah."

My kunai was pointing straight to where I had heard Deidara's voice. I wrinkled my nose as the kunai continued to point in that direction. I strained my ears, but was met with only silence. I squeezed my eyes shut hard in frustration as I continued to concentrate.

Why could I not detect him? It had been easy before, and while he had admitted that that was only how a civilian would walk it still shouldn't be this hard if it was just a genin. Sure it would be harder, but this just seemed plain impossible.

"Tsk tsk, Hinata, you need work, yeah," whispered Deidara's voice in my ear. I gasped as his warm breath caressed my ear. And quickly drew back, slashing the kunai as I went. I wasn't trying to hurt Deidara; I didn't think that was possible anyway. But none the less, I was frustrated and I saw no problem with blindly trying to decapitate him.

"Y-you w-weren't making a-any noise a-at all," I protested futilely. It was a bit of a blow to my Hyuuga pride. I had him easily before, but when he went up just a notch, he was suddenly invisible.

"I personally thought that I sounded like a herd of elephants crashing through the forest, yeah," Deidara retorted. I bit my lip in indignation; the effect of the joke was completely lost on me. I just had to work harder. I was a kunoichi and I could do this. "Control your breathing, its getting in the way, yeah. All you hear is yourself."

"H-hai," I nodded and spread my feet into a solid position. I heard Deidara's 'tsk' at my 'faulty stance', but ignored him. It made me feel strong. I took my breaths slowly, and not too deep. At first it felt like I wasn't getting enough oxygen, but I stuck with it. Suddenly, I could hear everything much sharper, the rustling of the leaves and chirping of random birds.

I pointed my kunai determinedly toward him, signaling him to start. At first, I felt my heart sink as I continued to be met with silence. Suddenly I heard the soft pat of dirt and I swung my kunai around to my left to point at it. My kunai pointed that way for awhile longer, before I thought I heard the ruffle of an Akatsuki cloak to my right. Once again I whirled my kunai around to point strongly at the source. I could hear him. He instances were few and far between, but I could hear him.

This went on for quite while. I would hear something, point at it, point at it some more, and then suddenly hear something else. This went on for so long that my arms began to get sore from holding the kunai straight out, and my fingers were beginning to cramp up. But I didn't show the fatigue at all.

"That's enough for today, yeah," Deidara finally said as he plucked to kunai from my hand. I let out a small squeak of indignation as the weapon was taken from me. I resisted the urge to try and swipe it back. That would do me absolutely no good. So I simply stood fidgeting with my hands on my hips.

"W-what w-was the h-holster for," I asked suddenly. I felt Deidara's hair brush my hand, as he swept down and started to undo the holster. I hadn't done anything at all with it. All it had done was a cause a rather awkward situation for me and Deidara.

"Well, I had planning on you throwing kunai and shuriken at me, yeah," Deidara told me in an infuriatingly patronizing tone of voice. "But you hadn't advanced as fast as I had thought and hoped you would." I bit my lip and looked away. I was used to not doing as well as people expected of me. But it hurt every time, especially when someone said it so bluntly. "But, hey, you did make progress, yeah." The only worse thing was when people sugar coated it.

I felt the holster being taken off, and gave the place that had currently held it a quick massage to make it feel a little better. Then I felt Deidara's hand on my elbow as he tugged my back inside. I felt my heart sink as we entered the building. I silently said good bye to the sun and fresh air.

I wondered how long it would be until I felt the kind of freedom I had felt when I was out there. Hopefully it would be soon, after all, Deidara was going to continue to rain me wasn't he. Unless he was got tired of it. I sincerely hoped that he would not.

"W-where are w-we g-going n-now Deidara," I asked as he lead me down the hallways. If I had thought my heart had sunk before. It was nothing to the abyss it fell into at Deidara's reply.

"It's Itachi's turn with you, yeah."

A/N alrighty then, well that was a bit of an abrupt ending, but I had to end it somewhere. By the way I am soooooooooo sorry that there wasn't the kissing scene in this chapter. I had so been planning on it, but I could fit it in. So I swear to all of you that there will be the kissing scene in he next chapter! I knwo I keep pushing it back and back and it just keeps not happening but this time i swear! By the way, the spy that Kisame is trying to catch is going to play a part in the story.

Now...I hear reviews make good christmas/ holiday/ good day presents. Hint hint. : P Anyway, see you all later. bye bye