A/N alrighty now. Sorry this took longer than usual, but it is way loger than usual to make up for it. I also through in that kissing scene you guys wanted so much!!! PLease pay attention to the A/N at the end of this chapter, its kinda important.

Disclaimer- you know the deal.

I knew immediately when we had entered the vicinity of Itachi. It was like there was a chill in the air, as though all warmth had been suddenly sucked out. I didn't understand how that happened. Itachi was just a young man, why did he have such a horrible effect on me. Then again, Kisame was just a man, and whenever I was around him I felt…good.

I forced myself not to over react. I forced myself to stay calm. Perhaps Itachi really wouldn't do anything. Perhaps he really was just going to help me get around. It seemed like such a nice thing to do, to help me move around in my blindness. I would never have expected something of that from him. Especially since he was the one that caused it. So why was he helping?

I had heard stories of the way that Itachi and Sasuke had interacted when they were younger brothers. It had always made me…sad. I remembered what Sasuke had looked like when he was younger. He had been the most adorable kid; he had been nothing like he was now. He had always been smiling and happy, and eager to please people. I remember he had always aspired to measure up to his beloved Nii-san. He was so innocent, he loved his big brother so much, and admired him so much, even though Itachi had done nothing to earn his adoration.

I remembered clearly Itachi too. He had been just as cold and frightening then as he was now. He had climbed the ninja ranks faster than I thought was possible. People barely actually saw him, as he was always busy. The Hyuuga clan despised him. There had always been a tense rivalry between the Uchiha and Byakugan clans, and Itachi was a prodigy for Uchiha. So they disliked him greatly.

Sasuke had always searched to have a healthy relationship with his big brother that he so greatly admired. He had asked for help with his training, because he knew his big brother was the best. To him it had seemed like a good idea to bond with his brother and learn a lot. But he never got the chance.

Itachi had always brushed him off as though he were an annoying fly that he didn't have time with. Itachi would promise Sasuke that he would help, but Itachi would only shake his head and tell him that maybe he would another time. He would say it in his silky ice voice I imagined. Then he would poke him in the forhead and leave.

You could always tell when Itachi had broken his promise to Sasuke, because Sasuke would come to school with his head down, and he wouldn't smile as much that day. It always made me sad. I knew how much Sasuke looked up to Itachi, but Itachi was never there for him. I was a little jealous of Itachi, because he had the perfect little brother, but never cared for him. I wished so much that I could have a relationship with Hanabi like Itachi could have with Sasuke. But even back then Hanabi and I were not close.

So why was Itachi helping me. After he had denied his own brother all those times before. Was he doing it out of the kindness of his heart, or did he have another reason. Perhaps it was prejudice that made me believe the second opton. Or perhaps it was rational reasoning. Or maybe it was just plain futile to pick a side. After all, I would find out soon enough wouldn't I?

"Alright Itachi, your turn," Deidara said bitterly as he walked towards where I assumed Itachi was. The loathing in Deidara's voice made me cringe. It had been there at breakfast, but it had been low, almost hidden. But now it had come back with avengence. I wondered what made Deidara hate Itachi so much.

It made sense that not all of the Akatsuki members got along. Just like not all Konoha shinobi did. Kisame respected Itachi, but he obviously didn't particularly like him. They weren't one happy family, they were a criminal organization. But the relationship between Itachi and Deidara was down right hostile.

"Very well, leave Deidara," Itachi demanded in his denigrating way. Deidara gave me a little push to the small of back, and I stepped forward obidently. Deidara gave a rude and hatred filled grunt before turning on his heel and leaving. He slammed the door behind him, causing the walls to shudder. I gasped and flinched in surprise.

"We are in the kitchen," Itachi told me. That was one thing about Itachi that I liked. He wasn't beating around the bush like Kisame and Deidara had. He was getting straight to the point, and I liked that. I nodded my head to show my understanding and he continued. "Tell me what you know about the positioning of the furniture in this room."

I closed my eyes aand wrinkled my forhead as I tried to bring up the mental picture of the room in my head. When you were blind, you could more clearly see things in you mind, because the real world sighs weren't getting in the way. The photo in my head was one big black spot, though. There was a blurry line from the door to a bench, and that was it. It was odd, I gave colors to the visions in my head, even though I had no idea what color they all really were.

"The d-door is j-just b-behind m-me," I stammered out. I stuttered even more when I was talking to Itachi, especially when it was just him and me. There was no one else to dull the effect he had on me. He was just so frightening. Especially given the past experiences I had had with him. "Then a l-little t-to my r-right is the b-bench and the t-table."

"Is that all you know," Itachi asked with sincere patience. I nodded. "We're going to start with this room then. Your right that the table and bench are to your right, but you have to go a little forward first, so they are really a diagonal to your right. You are also correct in saying that the door is behind you. Here is the rest of the room: the table is up against the wall, and then there are too more benches at the heads of the table. You were referring to the one that ran along the length. Straight ahead of you are countertops and above them are cabinets. To the left of those is the refridgerator, and to the right of them is the oven. Next to the oven on it's left a sliding glass door that leads outside. Then on the wall opposite oif the left side of the oven is a door leading to the closet.

Have you got all that?"

No I most certainly did not. I struggled to place his descriptions of the room into my mental photograph. It wasn't working. He had gone way too fast, and there was no way that was all just going to stick in my head. So, fearing that he would get mad at me, I shook my head warily and wearily.

"I didn't expect you to," Itachi said nonchalantly. I would generally think that that tone of voice was accompanied by a shrug, but I did not think that Uchiha Itachi shrugged. I perked up a it at the fact that he didn't sound mad at me. As he had said, he hadn't expcted me to get it all just by telling me. I didn't know if that was because he thought it was nearly impossible like I did, or if he just didn't give me any credit. "That's why there's I a different way that I am going to get you to remember where everything is. Walk straight forward, quickly."

I cocked my head at him in wonderment at his sudden demand, but stepped forward tentatively. Itachi didn't say anything so I took a few more steps. Suddenly an irritated sigh came from Itachi. I winced, wondering what I had done wrong this time. I looked up at him questioningly, ready to be put down.

I did a good job of hiding my annoyance though. I hated having to be all jumpy and on edge around him. Why did he have to be like that? Why couldn't he be more open like a normal person? Surely he didn't have to make me uncomfortable around him all the time. And how come everything I did was apparently wrong according to him? Couldn't he be a bit more encouraging. I mentally scoffed at myself. This was Uchiha Itachi we were talking about. And besides, I needed to toughen up, I couldn't be babied all the time.

"I said quickly, Hinata," Itachi told me impatiently. But there was something different in his voice. It wasn't as smooth and silky as it usually was. It was rougher, but not in a bad way. It was how a normal young male would sound. Not like liquid ice, but simply a man with a smooth voice. Abnormally smooth yes, but better than usual.

And the way he had said my name had been different too. It hadn't been the erotic way he had a tendency of saying it. It had sounded how Deidara usually said it. Not exactly as a friend, but not like Itachi said it. And it wasn't like Kisame said it either. When Kisame said it, he said it almost…reverently. And always gently, he was always gentle to me.

But I had to focus on what I was being told to do.

I took a deep breath and walked forward more quickly. I had no idea what he was trying to do to me, but I obeyed with out question. I really didn't like moving around this fast, it was faster than I had ever walked while blind. True if I were able to see it would be simply a brisk walk. But when I couldn't see, it was like I ws just asking for trouble. I squeezed my eyes shut in anticipation.

Sure enough, before I had walked six paces the air burst from me as I hit something in my gut rather painfully. Simultaniously, my knee hit a hard surface and the crown of my head slammed into the corner of what no doubt was one of the cabinets. I yelped and crumbled to my knees with a whimper.

My stomach was throbbing, as was my knee. But I was seeing stars dance in front of my vision thanks to the run in with the cabinet. It was excruciatingly painful, and made it all the worse that I hadn't seen in coming; it had been a relatively surprising. I reached my hands up to finger the place on my forehead that had made contact with the unforgiving cabinet. As I expected, it burst into pain at the slightest touch. There was also blood, and when I pulled my hand back a drop of blood dripped down my finger.

The blood was dripping into my eyes at an alarming rate. They really made cabinet corners sharp now a days. As a medic though I knew that it was not too serious, but forehead gashes tended to bleed a lot. I carefully healed the gash, and swipped carefully at the blood. I tried not to hit the wound too many times, because it made it hurt a great deal. But for the most part, it couldn't be helped. I winced.

"W-why d-did you d-do that I-Itachi-san," I asked him finally. This time I didn't try to hide my negative emotions toward him. I didn't care if he got angry at me. There was annoyance, hurt, and anger. I greatly disliked Uchiha Itachi. I didn't hate him, not yet. I didn't hate easily. After al he had done to me though, he was perilously close to the edge.

"How many steps did you take from the door to the counter," Itachi asked patiently, and even in a satisfying tone of voice. I frowned, I didn't know what that had to do with anything. I narrowed my eyes as I calculated it up. I had no idea what this had to do with anything; the blow to my head was making me a bit dizzy, and I wasn't in much of state to be able to put two and two together. But I simply humoured him.

"T-total, six," I replied with a stubborn edge to my voice. The irritation was evident. Luckily, Itachi wasn't getting mad at me. That was good, because once I let him know how angry I was with him, I didn't feel like masking it again. I continued to glare in his general direction. I had no idea if my glares were very scary, I didn't think they were. But they conveyed emotions nicely.

"Now, are you ever going to walk over six paces straight in front of the door again," he patronized. I scowled and shook me head. Of course I wasn't going to do that again. I wasn't masochistic. I didn't like being in pain, and I most certainly didn't bring it upon myself on purpose.

"And are you going to remember that," Itachi asked. There was definitely amusement in his voice. He found this funny. This was most certainly not funny. Making me crash into cabinets and counters amused him? I had never felt so annoyed in my life. Sure people got on my nerves some times, but not very often, and this was escalating to a whole new level. So much that it was showing on my face. I was always so introverted, this was a big step for me.

"Of course," I snapped as I got to my feet and brushed myself off hautily. In a corner of my mind to parts of myself were silently bickering. One part of me was happy with myself for not stuttering and for not bowing down to Itachi. The other told me that I was being rash and that I should show more respect if I wanted to survive and/or stay in one piece. I found it, at the moment, to go with the first part.

"Well good," Itachi praised. I wasn't sure if the praise was towards me, or towards his excellent teaching methods. I had a hunch it was towards himself. He didn't seem the type to tell anyone else anything in the least bit encouraging. "That is the point."

Itachi's training session continued much the same way. He would make me crash into things and I would get hurt. On a few occasions, he would even tell me exactly where I was, and then he would push me into something. My annoyance with him mounted exponentially, but my stutter never came back.

In some odd, unexplainable way, I was comfortable with him. True, I was angry by his training methods. But his voice was almost….light and teasing. It was so different, yet not very different at all. The change though was such that I may not have noticed it if I hadn't spent a great deal listening to only peoples voices. The change was subtle, but to me it spoke volumes. I still disliked him, but now it just seemed like more of a love hate relationship, except that the emotions weren't quite that strong. So a like dislike perhaps?

Of course, he was still mean. And he obviously enjoyed my suffering, but he wasn't…sadistic per se. It was all very hard to describe, but it was a nice change. However, if I had to continue to get horrible bruises, bumps, and gashes to see it, I wasn't quite sure it was worth it. I was so sore, and Itachi had forbidden be from healing them anymore. He said it would make me tired, and also the lesson might not sink in enough if I could just heal myself instantly.

"I think it's time we stopped and ate," Itachi finally announced after I had crashed into the refrigerator for the third time. I was thankful, not only for the breif reprive, but also for the food. It had been a long time since breakfast, and I was starving. I couldn't see the sun or the clock, but my gut told me that it was a rather late lunch, possibly making up for dinner as well.

"Ack, Itachi," I yelped wit a bit of a whine as something relatively squishy and wrapped in saran wrap collided with my already tender nose. There was just a low chuckle in response. That was another thing I had noticed in my hours with him. He did laugh.

Sure it may not really be considered a laugh. It was more of the kind of laugh that Neji would have laughed back when he was twelve. He had been cruel and mean then. A lot like the Itachi of today actually. Plus Itachi didn't laugh at jokes, or laugh when you were supposed to laugh. He only laughed when I got hurt, or some other more unsympathetic time.

I turned my attention back to the thing in my hands. The saran wrap made it smooth, and so nearly impossible to guess the texture. It was pliable in my hands, and relatively squishy. I frowned as I kneaded it in my hands trying to figure out what it was before I opened it.

"Your squishing your sandwhich, Hinata," Itachi told me blandly. Realization dawned on me as I quickly stopped working my sandwhich in my hands. I blushed as I tried not to mutilate it any more that I already had. It took me awhile to find the place where I could start peeling away the saran wrap. And it took awhile to try and peel off, but it was doable.

I tentatively brought the sandwhich to my mouth and took a small bite. I had no idea what it was, so there was no way I was just going to dive right in. My eyes widened as I tasted the food in my mouth. It was good. I eagerly took another, bigger bite. I figured it was probably a turkey sandwhich, with good bread. There were a few other, unknown ingrediants, but that was the general gist.

I had squished and flattened it like no sandwhich should have to under go, but that didn't detract from the taste. I also found that sandwhiches were good to eat when you were blind, because they didn't fall apart or off your utensil. And you didn't have to scoop them out of bowls, or try to stab them on forks. And it helped that it was a wonderful sandwich. I wondered who had made it.

All too soon though, the sandwhich was gone. It had been filling, and I could no longer complain about hunger. But it had tasted so good. I found myself licking my fingers for any remanents of crumbs. There were only a few, but they sufficed. I bit my lip as I realized that there was another need that needed addressing.

"Erm…Itachi," I mumbled. I blushed profusely as I looked down. It was a subject that needed to be urgently dealt with, though it was a rather touchy one. "C-can you s-show m-me w-where the b-bathroom is?"

There was silence. I blushed harder and looked away. Honestly, there was no need to think I was strange or something. It wasn't funny. It was something that everybody did and needed. But it was something that was done, not spoken of. Especially with Itachi…. He as probably looking at me like I was an idiot, or an alien or something.

"Of course," Itachi finally said after the uncomfortable tension. His voice was thick with amusment, and I wrinkled my nose. Everybody was making fun of me here, there was absolutely no call for that. I felt his cold hand on my elbow, and I started.

I supposed I should be used to being pulled around everywhere by now. But whenever anyone touched me it always startled me. I hoped I would grow out of that. My heart would eventually die if it had to be put up with the those surprises all the time for 8 months.

How the heck had Itachi gotten a drug like this one anyway. I would have to ask Tsunade about it. A drug that lasted eight months, and had no other effect than to blind someone. That was indeed odd. I had never heard of anything very much like it before.

"Here," Itachi commanded, breaking me out of my thoughts. He pushed me a bit roughly forward, and I continued that way some what cautiously. I had had enough bruises for one day and I was sure that there would be more coming, so I wasn't going to push it.

It was difficult to find my way around it, as usual. But eventually I found the toilet, toilet paper, sink, and hand towel. I also easily found my way back to the door. Unfortunalty, my success did come with the price of small bruies, and stubbed toes. But I was getting immune to those. I wonder if the nerve endings in my toes were beginning to die.

As soon I came out the door, Itachi grabbed my elbow and lead me back to the kitchen. There we continued the training. It went along just about the same as before. But I found that I was getting mounting frustration. It had been there before, but it had been well below the surface. I felt nearly like bursting into tears every time that I hit something.

I had been fighting against that. Neji had always told me that frustration would only get in your way, It would cause mistakes and nothing good would come out of it. So I had forced it down. But it was rising bubbling just below the surface.

I had run into everything in the kitchen numerous times, so know Itachi was just telling me where to go. There was a spike of extreme agitation each time that I did not get it. I had never gotten it yet. It was impossible. It was when Itachi had told me to go from the door to the closet that I finally snapped.

I closed my eyes, and concentrated on my mental map. If I was correct, there was a diagonal from the door to the closet. Itachi had forbidden me from going a longer, but easier way. He said that it detracted from my effecency. So the diagonal was just to my left, and then if I went straight, I would get there.

Unfortunatly, the bench was in the way. I yelped as the bench hit my knees and I went crashing over it. I banged into the table with a sickening thud. I ended in a pitiful heap on the hard floor.

Suddenly, a small yell tore out of my throat, as tears welled up. I banged my fist on the ground. Why was it so hard for me? It wasn't the grounds fault, and it made my hand sore. But it did let out a bit of pent up emotion. After that, I reigned my emotions firmly back in. I knelt on the ground in shame. I couldn't believe that had just happened to me. How could I have been so foolish? I was disgusted with myself for even letting that happen. So I wiped away the tears and carefully stood up.

"Relax," Itachi told me. He said it almost consoling, and I found myself nodding, despite the part that was in shock due his sudden gentle emotion. I heard his cloak swish and his footsteps start towards me. "It's only the first day. You will get it, Sasuke-kun."

We both froze. His footsteps fell silent, and the air was felt thick. My eye brows shot up in surprise, and then furrowed as I looked up at Itachi in utter confusion. Why had he called me Sasuke-kun? Why was he thinking about his brother right now? I didn't understand at all. "I-Itachi-san…" I questioned warily, yet curiously.

The silence was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. It was tense, and there was only the creak of the building to fill the emptiness. I waited keenly for Itachi's reply. Yet if I didn't know better, I would have thought that he was not there. There was absolutely no noise coming from him. He was completely and utterly soundless.

"It is not as if there are things that I do not regret," Itachi finally replied in a low voice. That sent my mind reeling. What did he mean by that? "I went wrong with Sasuke…"

Finally, realization came rushing towards me. I remembered how Itachi had always promised to train Sasuke, but how he had always gone back on his promises. Was that why he was training me now? He was training me, in the way that he had never trained his brother.

That was why he had confused me with Sasuke, because in his mind, that was how he was treating this. He was trying to make up for what he had done wrong with his little brother all those years ago. But…did that mean that Itachi felt guilt? That maybe he wasn't the shameless, heartless, bastard that we all knew him as. Maybe he wasn't that completely.

"That's enough training for today," Itachi said abruptly. I heard him turn on his heel as he swept out the door. "I'm sure you can find your way back to Kisame's room from here." And then he was gone. I was left staring after him in confusion and wonderment.

I ran into the wall a lot on my way back to Kisame's room. My mind was still reeling with thoughts of Itachi, and what he had said. When I got to Kisame's room, my first thought was that he wasn't there. I didn't know why, but that made my heart sink. I had really wanted to see him, but I didn't know why.

My first course of action though was to take a shower. I made my slow and painful way to the bathroom, only to remember that I had forgotten another set of clothes. Much to my elation though, I found that Kisame had already set out an array of clothes on the toilet seat.

I stepped into the warm shower gratefully. True, I still did not have my desired lavender shampoo, but the shower was wonderful all the same. It felt so great to get all the grime and grossness washed off of my skin and hair. I hadn't had a shower in awhile I noted. Showers always had a way of calming me. It was like when I stepped out I had shed my stress and could face the world renewed.

I was very careful not to nearly kill myself with the toilet again, and I grabbed a towel successfully, even though it took longer than it would a normal person. I dried and slipped on the clothes Kisame had set out for me. It took awhile to put them on. I put the shirt on backwards at first, but other than that I had no problems.

When I came out I was hoping for Kisame to be there. I'll admit it to myself, I liked being around Kisame. Besides the tthat he was the nicest and gentlest Akatsuki here, he was one of the kindest men I had ever been around. At least to me he was. I knew that he most likely had his own store of malice, but to me he was wonderful. He made me feel good. Not just in general, but about myself, and what was happening to me.

But as I stepped out of the bathroom, there was no one. I sighed a bit wistfully, and crawled onto the bed. I nestled eagerly under the covers. All the training was exhausting, but I was sure that it was productive. But I really wanted Kisame to be there to talk to me about it….

Suddenly, a thought hit me. Perhaps I should not be in Kisame's bed. Maybe I should go sleep on the couch, after all this was Kisame's bed. I shouldn't steal his bed. And I was only the hostage. I had no right to sleep on it, it seemed very assuming of me. But the bed really was so comfortable, I really did not want to have to get up and go to sleep on the lumpy couch.

Finally, the bed made my mind up for me. It was so comfortable, and I was so tired that I eventually just decided to go sleep. If Kisame wanted his bed back, he could just wake me up and make me move. Or since I was sure that he was strong enough, he could pick me up and move me himself. Did the thought of being in Kisame's arms appeal to me? I asked myself suddenly.

I gasped and blushed at my own thought. No surely not, that had absolutely nothing to do with anything. I can't believe I had even thought that. Sure I had been thinking things like that about Kisame a lot lately, but it shouldn't be happening. I quickly moved to the what Kisame could do if he wanted his bed back list. I would not think things like that, it was foolish and completely unbefitting of the Hyuuga heiress. Unfortunately, that was no safer a topic, because the bed was most certainly big enough for the both of us.

I gasped again, and buried my face in the pillow as it heated up to an unhealthy temperature. What the heck was I thinking? Why were these thoughts running through my head unbidden? Why did the thought of being in Kisame's arms appeal to me? The urge was too strong to deny it now; it most certainly appealed to me. And when I had woken up in them this morning it had been wonderful. Luckily though, shame and commen sense had won out over my instinctual tendency.

Shame? Why did I feel so shameful about it anyway? Plenty of girls had already lost their virginity at a younger age than myself. But yet just having a man's arms around me made me blush. Maybe that was it. A man's arms. I had heard from Itachi that Kisame was seventeen years older than me. And with me being seventeen, that meant that Kisame was twice my age! Even without Itachi's proof, it was obvious that he was an older man. His voice was deep and mature. Not just the mature of a boy who's voice has changed, but the mature of a seasoned man that has experienced a lot. And if his voice wasn't enough, his chest could prove it to me. His muscles were obviously not those of a young man. They were hard and developed and….and this had to stop!

I shook my head violently as tried to clear my mind. This was so wrong and irrational of me. I was getting married, well I did no longer have the ring… But that didn't change anything. I was still getting married to my cousin. And besides that fact I was in love with Naruto. At least, that was what I told myself. I told myself that I was in love with Naruto, because that was how it had always been. Old habits dies hard…but I think that perhaps, I wasn't that strongly attached to Naruto…perhaps…I liked Kisame more…

I gritted my teeth. I could not continue this train of though, It was completely irrational. I was just a lost tireder that I thought I was. My mind was playing cruel and not very funny tricks on me. I squeezed my eyes shut and forced my mind blank. If I did think, I was sure that the object of my thoughts were very unrelated to Kisame.

Soon, my fatigue won out, and I drifted off into a restful slumber.

I didn't see much of Kisame for the next month or so. When I did, it was just briefly in the morning or evening. Apparently, he was trying to catch the spy. Whenever I was left alone and my mind wandered, he was on it. I worried sometimes that maybe he would get in a fight with the spy. And then he would lose. Those thoughts of course were preposterous, I told myself. I knew Kisame was strong, he could handle it.

When I wasn't worrying about him, I was having vicous debated with myself over him. They say absences makes the heart grow fonder, and oh how trued that was. They never, however say anything about how the mind feels though. My mind still wanted nothing of any…romantic sort to do with him. It found solace in the fact that no matter what I felt that didn't mean anything would ever come of it.

And besides, I was being blind, figuratively speaking. I was only seeing part of Kisame. I knew in my mind that this was not the only Kisame. I had once asked Itachi why Kisame had to be the one to deal with the spy, and Itachi had replied that it was because Kisame was the cruelest interrogator of them all. I had found that a bit hard to believe considering there was Itachi to beat.

But over the month, I realized that it could quite easily be true. Through out the month every once in awhile, Deidara or Itachi would come back to the lair dragging someone along with them. Deidara had said that they were informational sources. They gave them to Kisame to interrogate. The screams still haunted me, I could hear them in the middle of the night when I was trying to sleep. They were horrible.

And it wasn't just when he was interrogating people that he was cruel. I had had to heal Deidara a few times because Kisame had been to rough while they were sparring. And sometimes I would hear him talking to Itachi about a recent mission or what he would do to the spy when he was found. The things Kisame spoke if when he thought I was not near were terrifying. I actually found myself hiding from him! From Kisame! Because I would hear the other Kisame as I called it talking. And that wasn't a Kisame I ever wanted to have to meet.

But yet he had never showed to me that part of him. When he knew he was near me he was always the kind and gentle Kisame that I knew.

When it wasn't Kisame though that was running through my mind, it was Konoha. It had been a month. My mission was only supposed to last two weeks. I was two weeks overdo. I wondered how they were reacting. Had they sent anyone out after me? After all, they knew that the Akatsuki may be involved with this mission. Or had they simply decided that I was so weak that it made sense that I would take longer than was normal? The second option stung, so I desperately hoped it was the first one.

But yet, I was making progress here at the Akatsuki lair, I didn't want to leave quite yet, even if I found it hard to admit to myself. My training was going well. Deidara was moving around me at jounin level now, because I had completely mastered genin and chunin. He insisted that it had to be completely mastered before he would let me move up. I had to catch every stuter step, every leap, everything. But I had done it. Deidara didn't give me the kunai pouch again, though. He only gave me the one to point at him with. I was disappointed, because I liked having it there. It made me feel strong, but I didn't complain.

I was improving with Itachi as well. After the first time, we never mentioned Sasuke or his little slip up again. So it all went smoothly, Slowly I had begun to remember the kitchen. And not just the furniture, but also what was in the cabinets and where things were put in the fridge. Deidara complained a bit about having to keep everything organized, but it was done. When Itachi would tell me where to go now, I could manage it. Now I had triumphantly moved on to the living room.

I had my doubts about the living room though. After all, I had never been there in my life. It was like a black, empty abyss to me. Another thing I didn't understand was the point of my even learning about the living room. Since I had never been there before I had no reason to belive that I would never have to be. From what I had seen, the Akatsuki members didn't spend a lot of time in there either. But Itachi assured me that they spent a lot of time in there, and that I would too when my training was over.

That was another thing that had been established over the month: when my training was going to be complete. Deidara insisted that his training with me would never be complete. He said that he was training me as a kunoichi, and that a kunoichi's training wasn't done until the day she died. That put a damper on my mood for while.

Itachi, though, said that he would only be working with me until I had more or less memorized the places he had chosen for me. The places he had chosen were the kitchen, the living room, any other rooms he deemed necessary at the time, the general set up of the lair, and if he felt like it and had the time, the outside of the lair. Either Kisame would have to help me with his room, or I would have to do it myself. I thought there were a lot of ifs and buts in his plan, but who was I to complain. I should be honored that the great Uchiha Itachi would even help me at all.

I wandered sometimes about where I stood with the Akatsuki members I shared a house with. I didn't particularly feel like a hostage per se, because they treated me better than that. I found that even Akatsuki members are human. Just because they were not on the good side did not mean nessecarilary that they were horrible people. Because I began to gather in my mind, that there was no such thing as good and bad, light and dark. Everyone had everything in them.

But as for where I stood, I felt more like a guest. Not an honored guest, just a guest. Like a some sort of a friend staying over. I began to get rather comfortable here in the lair. Many times I felt more contented here than I ever had in my own home. I felt my depression shedding off of me like a lizard's skin. I found I could hum happy songs again. Of course I would never hum or sing them in their presence, I would never over come the embarrassment if I did.

The only time I really felt like a hostage was when a referrence to my ransom was mentioned. When I was reminded that I was source of money to them. And I couldn't stay here forever. Sometimes I wished time would just pause, and I could stay in this temporarily precariously balanced place. It brought down my spirits. That was really the only time I felt that degraded though. Itachi no longer tried anything with me. He never touched or talked of me that way. Many times I felt as though Itachi had taken me under his wing. Ever since the Sasuke-kun incident.

Deidara though was another story. While we built up an odd sort of friendship, there were things about him that set me on edge. The way that he would touch me sometimes or things he would say, would unnerve me. And especially his obvious loathing of Itachi was unsettling. I wondered what had happened between them, but I didn't dare to ask. But yet we still got along nicely. His laugh came easy, and sometimes I actually had fun with him.

But nothing could replace Kisame, whom I missed.

The intruder though was causing them all more and more stress. Kisame insisted though, that the spy was also getting reckless. He said that soon he was going to do something that would allow Kisame to either catch or identify them. I hoped that they were caught soon, because then the tension in the lair would ease, and I would have Kisame back.

Yes, the month had brought me very far with the Akatsuki.

--------

I yawned hugely as I stepped out of the bathroom. I had just had a nice warm shower, and was now decked out in the most comfortable pajamas I had had in over a month. They were from Kisame. He said he had been in a nearby village, and had simply stopped to buy them because he figured I would probably like something that was actually designed to fit a women, instead of Itachi's clothes.

I was bushed now though. It had been especially hot out while training with Deidara today, and Itachi's session had not only been harder and more strenuous today but had also gone on longer than usual. I had more injuries then I cared to count. But most of them had dulled to a low throbbing now though. So now all I wanted to do was go to bed.

"Well," sneered a voice as soon as I had walked into the bedroom. I froze. My heart was beating erratically at the shock, but my mind was numb. The voice was way worse than the voice Itachi had used before. It sent horrible shivers down my spine. "You're the last one I would have expected to see here, Hinata."

I didn't reply. What was there to say anyway? When I had walked out of that shower I had not expected a stranger. A horrible sounding stranger. But my mind had unfroze and my senses had heightened, and sent my whole body a buzz. I knew the person, no, the young man, in front of me was dangerous. I could hear it in his voice, but not in his foot steps. Because I couldn't hear his foot steps. Only his voice could be heard, other than that, he was completely silent.

Instinctively, I fell into a defensive pose. I didn't bother to ask how he knew my name, because he was the spy, I was sure. Itachi had said that it was likely that the spy knew everything that was going on in the lair. What I also didn't bother to think about was how stupid it was to use this position. I was blind, and even with my sight I would be no match against this man. He had infiltrated an Akatsuki lair, how was I supposed to pose any threat at all. It was hopeless, and we both knew it.

"Don't be ridiculous, Hinata," the man laughed cruelly. I winced at the malice in his voice, and gulped a nervously. I started suddenly, as I felt his breath on my cheek. I struck out vicously, but my hand only connected with his chest. He didn't budge. I felt him place his hands on either side of my head. My eyes widened, as I realized my back was pressed against the wall. I was cornered. "I highly doubt you would have been able to beat me before, and certainly not now."

I didn't like his constant referrences to have dealt with him in the past. It seemed to me as though he were saying that we had known each other some time ago. But that made absolutely no sense to me. I had no idea who this obviously evil man was.

"But tell me," he continued. "What are you doing here. Shouldn't you be gushing over Naruto." I gasped and cringed at the mention of Naruto. I knew that it was true. I had always been in love with Naruto. But I hated it when people would mention it to me. It was always in a cruel way, never innocently. It also disturbed me greatly about how he knew I had loved Naruto so much. How did he know so much about me?

"Not here, blind, in an Akatsuki lair," he continued. As if to enfore the 'blind' point, he trailed his finger along the corner of my eye. I gasped again and knocked his hand away. I heard a small noise of sadistic amusement, and narrowed my eyes. I hoped fervently that either Kisame, Itachi, or Deidara would walk in about now.

"H-how d-did you know a-about N-Naruto," I demanded. This horrible enigma was striking down to my very core. I did not like the way he knew so much about me, but yet I knew nothing about him. I heard another noise of amusement, and breathed in as I tried to quell my growing fury.

"Oh please, everybody knew about your little crush on him," the spy said impatiently. I hated the tone of voice he was using. It was much like the tone Itachi used with Kisame. Though with some thought, I found that it bugged me more when it was used on Kisame for some reason. He then added, his voice full of the intention to hurt, "I trust that his feelings were not returned. Pity, he did always have his eye on Sakura."

"Stop it," I finally snapped. I knew that every word he said was true, but to have it thrown in my face strickened me. Naruto had left a hole in my chest, and he was poking a stick painfully into that hole. And worse, he enjoyed doing it. And I was sure that this man knew me now. And I think that I knew him too, but for the life of me I could not place him. My sudden angry courage failed me as I continued in a whisper, "J-just t-tell me w-what you w-want."

That was definitely the wrong move. I gasped as strong hands wrapped around my throat and I was pushed upwards and backwards against the wall. I saw stars as the back of my head hit the wall behind me. I hung limp for a second as my head recovered.

"You've been here awhile, Hinata," the intruder sneered. His face was threatening close, I could sense it. I could feel his uncomfortably hot breath spreading across my face. My hands found his wrists and struggled to get them off. I clawed and struggled, but from what I could sense I had absolutely no effect. I was beginning to get short of breath, and was struggling to breath.

"L-let g-go," I yelled as loud as I could. Unfortunatly, my voice only came out as normal volume and strangled. I was glad though, that the stutter was not from embarrassment or weakness, but from the simple lack of air. My voice was horribly hoarse.

"Now, now, Hinata," the man hissed. His fingers tightened and I felt my air supply almost completely cut off. I squeezed my eyes shut, and struggled harder. It was no use trying to conserve oxygen, because he could just squeeze it out anyway. "Lets not make this difficult. Just tell me everything you know about the Akatsuki."

I managed to shake my head. I don't why I did it. I don't why I refused to tell the man everything he needed to know to exploit the most dangerous criminal organization in the world. It was true that I didn't know all that much anyway, but I could admit to myself, that even if I had known a lot, I wouldn't have ratted them out. Was I trying to protect the Akatsuki? Had I really sunk that far from my old morals in just a month? It didn't matter at the moment, all the mattered were the hands around my neck, preventing my breathing.

"Don't be like that," growled the man impatiently and whining. The whine would have made me want to wretch. It didn't matter though, because I was at the point, that I could only hear the blood pounding in my ears. There were colored lights dotting the black canvas of my vision. My lungs screamed for air and oxygen, and my head ached from the loss. Then there was the dull throb of the bruises forming on my neck. My head began to get fuzzy, and I felt myself beginning to go limp.

"Fine," the spy snarled furiously. He knew he wasn't going to get anything out of me now. His fingers tightened even more so, if that were possible. I thought he was going to crush my throat. I tried to let out a strangled cry of agony, but his grip caught it in my throat. "I guess I'll just let them all know I as here, then." I waited for myself to lose conciousness. I begged for it to hurry. It was obvious, that he was through trying to get information out of me, he was just going to try and kill me.

Suddenly, I dropped. The cruel hands disappeared and I fell in a shuddering heap on the floor. The cry that had been with held made its way through my throat as I whimpered in pain. But the relief of feeling air rushing back into my lungs was immense. I gasped and drank in the cool air as fast as I could.

"Hinata," yelled a shocked voice. Heavy foot steps ran towards me, skidding to halt as the person fell to their knees beside me. My head was still fuzzy, and I could barely make anything out. Suddenly though, I felt strong arms wrap around me.

I acted instinctively and swung out, but I didn't stop there. When the first hit made its mark, I followed it by numerous more. But they were all blocked. I felt tears streaming down my face as the fear and the closeness of death sunk in. Without warning, I felt one of my fists get caught, and felt myself pulled securely against a man's chest.

"Hinata, it's alright," someone said desperately. I felt my breathing begin to slow, and my head begin to clear. I took deep and even breaths, or tried to. They were punctured by sudden trembles, that eventually turned into sobs to go with the tears still streaming down my face. "It's just me. You're okay now."

I found myself nodding. It was Kisame. His voice was calming, and I turned my head to rest it against his shoulder. I curled up in the arms I had been craving all month. But those weren't the thoughts that crowded my mind at the time. I didn't find at all the pleasure that I would have at any other time. Instead, all I did was cry against his shoulder. All I did was seek and comfort, and Kisame gave it to me. He stroked my hair and murmured comforting things in my ear. And slowly, I regained composure.

Now all I felt was exhaustion. I had been tired before hand, now I was completely worn out. I yawned and felt my eyelids droop tiredly. I snuggled subconsciously into Kisame's warm bulk, away from the cold bite of the air. I felt him pick me up and carry me over to the bed. He gently lay me down, and I felt him begin to move away.

My breath caught in my throat as I felt his presence withdraw. "No," I whimpered suddenly. My hand swung out desperately, and managed to snag his fingers. I gulped down the lump in my throat and begged quietly. "Don't leave." I knew it was a childish request. It was like the kid begging her parent not to leave after she had had a horrible nightmare, because she couldn't fall asleep with out them.

But like that child, I needed Kisame. I didn't want to have to curl up here all by myself. I turned my face up towards him with imploring eyes. "Okay," he replied softly. I felt the bed shift dramatically as he lay down. I crawled over to him, and cuddled against him. I felt him wrap his arms around me, lightly, but protectively.

If any other part of me had been awake at the time, it would either have been yelling at me, or blushing itself into flames. But niether of those parts were awake. All that was left was the small child that needed Kisame there, to scare away the nightmare. And it was that child that clung to Kisame as it was wrapped in his arms. And it was that child that fell into a comfortable sleep there.

When I woke up in the morning, nothing fell into place immediately. First I turned my head every so slightly and winced at the sudden pang of pain that hit my neck. My hands flew up to finger it gently. It was bruised. And I suddenly remembered why. I carefully pumped healing chakra into my fingetips and easily brushed it away. I swallowed the rapidly forming lump in my throat at the frightening memory of staring into the barrel of death's gun. It was over, and there was no need to cry over it now.

Next was a much more pleasant surprise. I was waking up in the exact position that I had been debating over, with myself, a month ago. It was the same position I had woken up in the morning of my nightmare, except that this time I didn't fight it. I just closed my eyes again.

I was so comfortable, it was everything I had wanted it to be. The parts of me that yelled at me and blushed were awake, but for the time being I locked them away in a small corner of my mind. I didn't want them bothering me. I just let myself enjoy my moment of bliss. I knew I would sorely regret this sinful pleasure later, but for now, there wasn't a negative emotion in me.

Reluctantly though, I felt the need to stretch. So I carefully disentangled myself from him and sat up. I tucked my legs under my myself and stretched my arms out wide. I let out a contented sigh, as I blinked slowly. But as I let my arms drop down a bit, my fingers brushed skin. I froze and reached out a bit.

A little bit of blush seeped onto my cheeks out of the little corner in my mind when I realized that Kisame was shirtless. I hadn't realized it at all before. But I had matured and hardened over my month out of the sheltered little enviroment of the Hyuuga compound. So it did not bother me as much as it may have, but it still brought a blush to my cheeks.

Suddenly, a thought entered my mind. Itachi had taught me to touch things to see them, and over time I had gotten better at visualizing them. Perhaps this could be my chance to see him. He was asleep, if I could just touch his face, than maybe I could get an idea of what he looked like. For some reason, he didn't want me to see it, but I was determined. What could be so horrible anyway?

So against my better judgment, and my very nature I tentatively reached my hand out. My finger came in contact with his neck. The skin was perfectly smooth and soft. It was thick too, layered with muscle and tendon. I brushed my fingers up his neck to the chin. I trailed one finger along his hard and defined jaw line. I had my eyes closed as I put together bits and pieces of the vision of Kisame in my head. I carefully placed my hand on his cheek.

My eyes snapped suddenly open as I felt a large hand grab my wrist and pull my hand gently away from his face. I heard a dejected sigh from Kisame. My brow crinkled as I turned my face towards him. Kisame didn't say anything. He just held my hand gently, massaging and stroking it with his thumb, most likely absentmindedly.

"Kisame," I finally questioned. I felt a bit frustrated at not being allowed to see him. I wanted to so badly. It was impossible to see him for real, but now he couldn't even allow me to see him in my own way. I pouted bit as I waited for an answer.

"I really don't think you want to go there," he finally replied softly, he was talking about touching his face, I was sure. I had never heard him like this. He was soft spoken, and quiet, and even more gentle than before if possible. But it was a different sort of gentle. This time it was like he was afraid that if he touched me just a little too roughly I would break. But he seemed so pained. I desperately wanted to make him feel better. But I wasn't sure what hurt him so much.

"I do want to see you," I insisted in a reassuring tone. Why didn't he understand? I wanted to know him. Everything about him. I felt a bit dirty and weak for begging like this, but why was he so stubborn about this? I reached out my other hand to rest on the one holding my hand. My expresion was soft, and a little sad. "Please Kisame…."

"Not my face, please Hinata," Kisame pleaded. I felt my heart wrench painfully at the broken sound of his voice. It hurt to see the strong and sometimes cocky Kisame so wretched. So I nodded. If he didn't want me to see his face, then I wouldn't force myself on him. But that didn't mean that I wasn't going to see him at all, just not his face.

I gently pryed my hand away from him and let it drift back down to his throat. I trailed my hand gently down to his collarbone. Kisame was holding perfectly still. His muscles were tense beneath the skin, and I frowned. He barely breathed regularly. They were too shallow and level to be natural.

I gently traced his chest with my hand. I didn't look at it as touching a man's chest. I had locked up that portion of my mind and focused on 'seeing' him. Just as if he were some sculpture Itachi had given me to describe. He was just how I had always imagined him. He was very large, with his muscles bulging and rippling beneath his skin with each breath he took. Every one of his muscles was perfectly defined. His skin was so soft though.

One thing that utterly confused me, was that I didn't feel a single scar. There was the strip of rough tissure due to the wound I had been healing, but it was still healing at an abnormally fast rate. I was sure that it would not scar. Perhaps that was why he had no scars. The all healed so fast.

But it wasn't just the lack of scars that made his skin so different then what was expected. It was so soft, softer than I would have expected or a ninja. And it was perfectly smooth. Smoother even then mine perhaps, and there was no hair on his chest. That was perfectly believable though. Not all men had hair on their chests. Shino-kun didn't.

Lost in my reveries I hadn't realized that my fingers had traced down to his pant's waistline. I suddenly lost my detachted view of it all. Before I had been simply touching him to establish what he looked like. But as soon as I realized how low I had traced, that broke. My face flushed to an abnormal temperature and I snatched my hand back.

But I wasn't the only one who had been affected. I couldn't no longer hear Kisame's breath. I think he was holding it. His muscles were clenched as though he were resisting something. But a completely foreign sound met my ears as soon as my hands touched his pants. The moan was low in Kisame's throat. It was husky and deep. I gasped at the raw feeling in it. I was shocked. But it was nothing compared to the shock of only a milisecond after.

The bed shifted violently as he sat up and Kisame's hand slid behind my neck. As soon as he sat up he was once again towering over me. He angled my head to face him. I was frozen with shock as Kisame's lips pressed against mine. My eyes were opened wide in astonishment. Of course, I couldn't see anything. My skin tingled as Kisame's other arm slipped around my waist.

It didn't take long though for my eyes to instinctively close. Kisame's kiss was everything a first kiss was supposed to be. He lips moved against mine gently, but intensly at the same time. I felt electricity shoot down my spine, causing a pleasurable shiver. I tried to copy the way he moved his own mouth.

Kisame didn't do anything I would have expected a man to do. It was just a quick gentle caress of the lips, and then he pulled away softly. Slowly my eyes fluttered open leaving just a feeling of utter bliss in its wake. It had been perfect. My own imagination hadn't imagined my first kiss to be like that. And with Kisame, not Naruto, Kisame.

Suddenly I was assaulted with emotion. I doubled over the bed, clutching my chest. I gasped at the pain in my heart. The anguish was killing me.

I broke down into tears.

A/N okay, well I hope you guys liked the kissing scene. For those of you who don't like it Hinata is sad I'd like to say that her little break down will be very short, and that she is finally beginging to admit to herself that she is happier here with the Akatsuki. Also I'd like to say that Hinata was NOT falling in love with Kisame in this chapter. She was just begining to admit to herself tat she has a crush, but nothing near as major as LOVE that comes later. Also, I'm sorry if some of the charactors appear OOC. I'm just trying to give them more depth. I tried to show how even though Kisame is gentle and nice to Hinata he is still cruel and sadistic. (You will see more of that side of him later on.

Now, I seriously need your help with Zetsu-san. I have no idea about his charactor. So I need you guys to tell me abouth im, or get me a site that will tell me about him, because I don't want him to be all OOC.

Also, could someone please tell me what AU stands for, I mean, I know what it means, but I just don't get what the letters stand for.

CONTEST!!! Who can tell me who the spy is? I'll dedicate a chaper to you. (I know, not much, but I seriously want to see who you guys thnk he is.)

Alright, thats it. So please please please review, and I'll see you next time. bye bye.

Yuki