A/N okay, so this chapter is just kinda blah. There'sjust something wrong with it. But I'll admit that I'm much to lazy to go through and try and figure out what the heck that it. So I'm putting it on in its blah form. Okay, so here it is. I haven't got much to say here cause my mom is NAGGING me. I don't know what it is, she's just been nagging me all day.
"NO!"
The scream tore from my throat before I could even comprehend it. It was the only thought in my head. Sasuke couldn't tell me what Kisame looked like. He just couldn't. It was Kisame's secret to tell me when he chose. It wasn't Sasuke's right to tell me, and I wouldn't find out like this. Kisame didn't want me to know, not yet. I wanted to know. I really did, but I wanted Kisame to be the one to tell me. He had to be the one that chose to reveal it to me. I wanted to learn on his time. It was his choice.
Though I was usually burning with curiosity, I wasn't right now. I just felt cold. A horrible freezing pit in my stomach had formed at the thought of learning like this. No matter how bad I wanted to know, even though I knew nothing about the man that had been my first kiss. I didn't know anything about his face. I knew all the contours of his chest, and his neck. I knew every muscle. But he would not let me near his face. But it wasn't supposed to be this way.
"No," I yelled again, and I swung around. I was a ninja, through and through, and even though I was blind, and my style relied heavily on sight, I wasn't defenseless. I curled my fingers into a fist and swung my arm around in a deadly arc heading to the Uchiha survivor. And it wasn't in vain.
"Fuck," exclaimed the enraged and startled yell. I smirked with triumph as I felt my hand collide with his jaw and felt him withdraw. I swung my body around and pulled myself to my feet. I fell into a defensive stance as I blindly eyed the place where I could still hear growled and muttered curses. I knew my eyes were fiery and enraged.
"K-Kisame does n-not want me t-to know," I said, much more quietly. Yes, I stuttered, it was in my nature. Sasuke had always made me stutter and even in my cold fury I was still afraid, even though my anger was overpowering that. "You c-can't tell m-me."
"In denial, hmm," Sasuke sneered, his voice calm again. But Sasuke was not as good at hiding his emotions as Itachi was. Anyone could hear the rage and hatred dripping through his deep voice. I could sense the bloodlust, and had to force myself not to step back. To step back would have been to show my weakness, and if I were to show him that than he would know that he had me easy. But I did not step back, and I did not shudder. I hadn't spent a month with Akatsuki and gotten weaker and more pathetic.
"W-what do you w-want," I asked him, in my attempt at forcefulness. My voice shook, so I do not think that it worked, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that Sasuke did not spill Kisame's secrets. Moving the topic away from that seemed the smart thing to do.
"It's not what I want that you should concern yourself with. Be more scared or what I am going to do anyway," he hissed. I felt familiar hands clamp down on my wrists from behind and I yelped and twisted. When he had spoken I was sure that he had been in front of me. But he was behind me now. I thrashed violently but his grip was hard and he was pressing my back against his chest. "I'm going to kill you, just like I should have before, but first I am going to tell you just what the man that you kissed looks like."
"No, you're not," I growled. I leaned my head down and buried my teeth in his hand. There was another yell of pain and surprise, and I took that time to bring my foot up and catch Sasuke in the gut slamming him against the wardrobe, judging from the rattling. I went in for another punch in quick succession, but Sasuke hit my hand away, and I used to momentum to spin away from him. I had a mental map of Kisame's room in my head, and I was trying hard to stay in the open areas.
"Fine, guess you'll never know," Sasuke snapped and I heard the air whistle as he lunged at me. I gasped and threw myself to the left, where I was sure there was a wall I could brace myself against. There was an almost animalistic growl and I yelped as I felt him catch my hair as he lunged. My fingertips brushed the wall as Sasuke yanked me back.
Then suddenly he shoved me back up against the wall so that my right cheek was pressed against the wood. My hair fell around me, brushing my neck as it had come out of its elastic band. I kicked back out and caught his shin painfully, but he was ready for it, and didn't move. He just pressed me harder against the wall until it was difficult to breath.
"Sasuke," I gasped as he crushed my lungs and chest. I squirmed and yelped as the pain intensified. My mouth gaped, but no sound came as the slowly building pain took over and I ran out of breath. I writhed weakly, but I was never any match for the Uchiha. Finally my senses began to dull. Until I felt the wall shake, and heard a door slam. I opened to mouth to gasp, but found it impossible.
"Sasuke-kun," Itachi's voice rang out loud and demanding, but cool as always. I felt myself slide down the wall as I was suddenly released. I whimpered as I lay on the floor. My ribs were throbbing, I had been sure that Sasuke was going to snap them. I made no move to get up or crawl away. Itachi was here now, I would be fine, and the pain was still there, still oppressive. So I just lay curled on the floor, letting air flood my lungs, and enjoying the sensation of my chest being able to go up and down of its own accord again.
"Itachi," Sasuke spat with more loathing than even Deidara could muster. But only half of me was aware of what was happening. That part was growing steadily but I was less concerned with them at the very moment. "We've got a lot of catching up to do," he sneered spitefully.
"Indeed," Itachi replied calmly, and quietly. "Kisame, she is in here," he called. Judging by the muffled sound of his voice he had called over his shoulder. I let out a sigh of relief. Kisame was coming, and I was still unaware of his appearance. Some how, knowing without his permission would have made me feel guilty. But I was still blithely unaware. Suddenly I heard the door slam again and felt the walls shake.
"Don't you dare bring anyone else in here, Itachi," Sasuke screamed suddenly. I jolted in surprise. It seemed like Sasuke had been making such an effort to stay calm. But he had lost it. "This is between you and me!"
There was a pause. I could hear Sasuke breathing heavily and I bit my bottom lip. He wasn't letting Kisame in. I wanted Kisame, I wanted him to wrap me in his arms and take me away. I wanted him to protect me. I didn't want to be caught up in this family feud. I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Do you think you're ready," Itachi finally said in a low voice. I bit my lip as I turned my head from one Uchiha to the other. I really wanted to be able to get out to Kisame, but I didn't think that that was going to be an option at the moment.
"I'll kill you Itachi," Sasuke snarled. I knew this was Sasuke's goal. He called himself an avenger. It was what he had based his life around. It was why he had left our village, why he had done everything. It had all come down to this. But he could not win. Sasuke could not beat Itachi. Itachi had more control, Sasuke would let his anger and his emotions get the better of him, and Itachi would take him out easily. It was only a matter of time, and both I and Itachi knew that.
"That's what you've been saying, Sasuke-kun," Itachi said patiently. I noted that he still called him Sasuke-kun. So I wondered if perhaps, Itachi still cared deeply for his brother, even as he stood in front of him with the full intent to kill. Could Itachi build that much hate for his younger brother? Could Itachi kill his little sibling? I didn't know, but I knew that he would not be killed. "But do you think that you are any better than me?"
I knew that question had caught Sasuke off guard. It caught me off guard. Itachi had killed his entire clan and then joined the worst criminal organization in the world, that I knew of at least. Sasuke was a criminal and an S classed criminal. But what had he done that was as bad as Itachi, or worse? Sasuke was silent. He had had a snarled and vicious reply to everything, but he hesitated at this one, from confusion.
"Don't compare us, Itachi," Sasuke screamed. I gasped and covered my ears. He was so loud. "You killed Okaa-san and Otou-san. How could you do that? You killed everyone! You ruined my life, Nii-san!!" My breathing was ragged as I took in the heightened emotions and the anguish. Itachi was quiet, but I knew that it was not from confusion. No, Itachi was disappointed.
"You ruined your own life, Sasuke-kun," he replied almost softly. My brows furrowed in confusion. I shook my head violently. I felt like Itachi was messing with my head as well as Sasuke's. He was running it around in circle and I was getting dizzy. It was so confusing. He was playing mind games.
"Chidori!" I gasped as Sasuke's yell reverberated through the walls. He must have gotten tired of idle chit chat. There was the deafening squeaking and screeching of a thousand birds and I covered my ears. I gritted my teeth against the pain in my eardrums and head.
"Not wasting any time are you, Sasuke-kun," Itachi growled. I squeezed my eyes shut, even though I could not see anyway. Sasuke let out an enraged yell and I heard lightening fast footsteps as he charged at his older brother. Suddenly, there was a crash. I curled up into a tighter ball as I felt shattered pieces of wood and splinters rain down on me.
I yelped as I felt strong arms sweep me off the ground and carry me away. Suddenly we were charging away. I knew we were moving fast because I felt my hair whip past my face. It was exhilarating, but more terrifying. I clutched the arms of the man that held me as I felt like we were soaring through the air. I didn't know who it was, but it was better to hold on then crash into the ground.
We skidded to a halt without warning and I tightened my grip on the man as I felt like I was going to jolt out of his arms. As soon as I fully realized that we had come to a stop I instantly loosened my grip and squirmed to be let free. It wasn't that I distrusted the man; it was just that I didn't trust him. A confusing thought, but it made sense in my head.
"It's just me, Hinata," I froze in my struggling as I recognized the rough voice of Kisame. I let out a relived sigh and relaxed back into his arms. I leaned my head back against his shoulder wearily. "That's right, you're okay now," he said soothingly.
"How did you get me," I asked in confusion. I remember Sasuke had slammed the door, saying that it was just between him and Itachi, and then he had attacked Itachi. Next thing I knew, Kisame had swept my up and away.
"Sasuke was so crazed, that he missed Itachi and smashed through the door," Kisame explained. As he sat down, probably on the ground against a tree, and pulled me to sit between his legs and lean back against his chest. "That was all the time I needed."
"Where are they now," I inquired worriedly. I knew that Sasuke would not give up on his brother. And while I was sure that Itachi would win, I did not know how strong Sasuke had gotten, and how far he would go. I curled my fingers into Kisame shirt, as I burrowed into his cloak. I was tired and drained, and very, very worried.
"They are back at the lair, probably tearing it apart," Kisame growled bitterly. He didn't seem to think much of their family problems. He tightened his grip comfortingly around me and I closed my eyes almost contently.
"Shouldn't you be helping Itachi," I persisted. I didn't think that Deidara would make any effort to help his enemy. And I was sure that Itachi would not emerge from the battle unscathed, even if he was victorious. I did not under estimate Sasuke. He had a strong hatred, and that would drive him.
"No," Kisame told me patiently. "Don't worry about him, Hinata. He is strong and can handle himself, you know that. Besides, this between two brothers; it is not my place to interfere." I nodded. I knew he was right.
We lapsed into a comfortable silence. I cuddled up next to him, enjoying his warmth and comfort, as well as the calmness and the peacefulness that he radiated at times like this. He could flip so quickly and easily, I had to enjoy the nice times while I had them. Kisame had his arms wrapped securely around me and his hands rubbed my arms and sides gently. I sighed and closed my eyes, with a small smile.
"I haven't gotten to train you yet," Kisame said suddenly, breaking the silence. I furrowed my eye brows as I contemplated that. It was true, I had been trained by both Deidara and Itachi, but I had never gotten to train and practice with Kisame. I suddenly felt rather deprived. "May we train now?"
I nodded my head vigorously. I had a feeling that he was just trying to get my mind off of the two Uchiha brothers, and I was glad to get my mind off of them. Kisame unwrapped his arms from around me and I stood up, brushing myself off a bit. I turned towards him expectantly.
But I was standing there for longer than I thought I would. I listened for any signal of Kisame rising to his feet. When I heard none, I waited patiently for some sort of sign that Kisame was even there, but there was none. I frowned in confusion. It was completely silent.
"Kisame…?" I stepped forward and reached my hand out tentatively to see if he was there. My hand batted at air. I pushed forward just a little bit more. As soon as my fingertips brushed the bark of the tree, I knew I had made a mistake.
I gasped as I was suddenly pushed forward against the tree. It wasn't harsh or painful, but it was firm. I felt Kisame's chest meet my back as he held me against the tree. His warm and deep breaths swept over my ear and down my jaw line. It gave me completely foreign shivers down my spine. I gulped as I tried to keep my breath from hitching.
At the same time, I felt an intense embarrassment. I had let my guard down, and Kisame had exploited that. I should have been in a defensive position. Even though Kisame could easily over power me, I shouldn't have been so weak and pathetic. I set my jaw and squeezed my eyes shut.
"You let your guard down," Kisame whispered unnecessarily into my ear. I gritted my teeth against the strong urges that were building in my stomach as his closeness. His chest was warm and firm and his breath danced across my neck. I let out a very small and low frustrated growl.
I had not used any of my chakra in a long time. I knew I had gotten lax with that. And I was ashamed of that. I also did not have my byakugan, which all of my fighting styles depended upon. But I felt an overwhelming desire to prove myself to Kisame. I wanted to prove to him at least, if no one else, that I was not a hopeless and lost cause. I gritted my teeth, and subtly drew chakra into my finger tips.
I swung my arm around, and I felt my chakra laden hand make contact with Kisame's arm. He grunted in pain, and I felt his grip loosen. That was all I needed to swing out of his arms and settle back solidly onto the ground, at the same time, fluidly falling into a defensive position. I knew I had not sealed any tenketsu, I couldn't see them after all, but the chakra in my hand would have made it hurt more than if it had been one without.
I kept my sightless eyes trained on the spot where Kisame had been just a moment ago, and where he probably still was. But I kept my senses, especially my hearing, alert. I had not been expecting this sort of training, but I was glad it was. He trained me much like Neji did. It was a tough love sort of thing. Almost everyone that trained me, even Deidara and Itachi, took it relatively easy on me. They did not push me.
But Kisame and Neji took me steps and bounds further. It was rough and hard, but it was what would really give me what I needed. It was what would really help and push me. I was so grateful for the people like them. The people that truly cared enough to put me through this to make me better. They took no easier on me then they would take it on themselves.
"Good," Kisame noted almost satisfactorily, but it was not from in front of me. It was to my left. I pivoted on my left foot and lashed out with my right. My strike missed and I quickly added a dodge. I gulped as I felt the wind from a strike ruffle my hair as it missed just barely. I struck out with a chakra laden hand, and just barely managed to nick his robe sleeve.
We went on for hours, just sparring. I knew Kisame was much faster and stronger than what he was letting on. But he most certainly wasn't taking it easier. He kept the fight at a level just past from where I was. I couldn't keep up, but I tried hard. Sometimes, I would land a lucky strike, or I would miss by millimeters.
His hits where just light taps, but each one reminded me that if he was to hit my full force that I would be done for. Each hit showed me places where my guard had been dropped. But he had never gotten a chance to grab me. He had tried many times, but I always managed to twirl or squirm away before he could tighten his hold.
My breathing was coming fast and heavy, and every muscle in my body ached horribly. But I was too prideful to ask for a rest, Hyuuga pride. We did not talk during this time. I treated him like an enemy. There was certainly no idle chit chat; there weren't even any pointers. It was like he was making me train myself, and was only using himself as a tool for that.
It was hard, trying to fight an unseen enemy. I had to rely on his moves to tell me what he was doing. I could never make the first action. I had to wait for him to hit at me, and then had to work off of that. I had to be versatile and that was very trying. And not only that, but I could not see the terrain that I was working on. I kept tripping and stumbling on unseen rocks or holes.
It was a strong kick with my right foot that finally was my undoing. I felt his large hand wrap around my ankle. My eyes widened as I realized what a vulnerable position that I had just been put into. I made a last ditch and risky move to try and get out of it. I launched myself into the air with my free foot and kicked it towards him. I hoped to hit him and free my other foot. It was when I was parallel to the ground that Kisame made his move.
He could have easily just slammed me into the ground. Fortunately for me though, he was kinder than that. Instead, he tackled me. He wrapped his arms around me as we fell, and let his back take the brunt of the force. He used our momentum to roll us though. We ended with me on my back on the ground. He had pinned my hands on either side, and was hovering over me, straddling my hips. I couldn't see him, but he was close enough for me to know exactly what he was doing. I could not however, see the smirk that I heard in his voice.
"That was a brash move, Hinata," he warned me. I could only nod shamefacedly. I was exhausted and was breathing hard. Only a small part of me felt bad about being pinned. Most of me was just happy that it was over and I could take a small break. "Do you know how to get out of this?"
I shook my head. He had me restrained perfectly. There was no way to get out of this one. If you allowed yourself to be caught in this position, you allowed yourself to be at the mercy of your captor. I was at Kisame's mercy…
I suddenly blushed deeply. Perhaps I should not have sparred with Kisame. I had never been in such awkward positions with a man, and I most certainly had never felt myself react to them like this. I gulped as I turned my head away from him. I was slightly disappointed in myself as well.
Kisame was trying to train me. I should be trying to learn. I shouldn't be being overcome by feminine impulses and feelings. They were completely inappropriate, and not only in general. A seventeen year old girl should not be feelings these desires for a thirty four year old man.
"Hinata…" Kisame's voice sounded uncertain, but other than that it sounded emotionless. But it was like he was pondering on what to say when he went on. I nibbled at my bottom lip as I waited for him to continue. I didn't feel uncomfortable around Kisame. No, I wouldn't say that. I just felt different, and so alive, but very different, and it was making my blood rush. "Is something wrong?"
I shook my head vigorously. I didn't want Kisame to think that I was mad at him. Because I wasn't angry at him, not at all. But he was so close, how did he expect me to act. I was lying beneath him and he had me gently pinned. I wasn't used to this, not at all! Did he not realize the effect he apparently was having on me.
Suddenly, Kisame had lifted himself up off of me. I sat up slightly as I looked up at him in confusion. What was with the sudden change? I stood up warily, and brushed myself off daintily. "Kisame," I asked unsurely as I cocked my head to the side slightly.
"They're done," he told me seriously. I knew instantly who he was talking about. Sasuke and Itachi. Suddenly, all of my jittery and girlish feelings were cast aside into the ditch beside the street. A black pit filled up my stomach as I stepped forward and clutched Kisame's arm. I gulped down the lump in my throat.
"We have to go," I whispered desperately. My sightless eyes were wide as all the possible scenarios flitted past them, each one worse than the last. And the questions that I needed answered were digging into me. Had they fought to the death? Had Itachi killed his brother? Or had he in fact not won as I had been so sure he would? Had Itachi died?
"Yes," Kisame agreed. Before I could protest he had swept me right back up into his arms and took off. Last time, it had seemed like we were going ridiculously fast, too fast. But now, it was like the wind on my face could not hurry up. It was like we weren't going fast enough. I knew in my head though, that we were probably going just as fast, but it just seemed to be taking too long. I bit my lip hard as I retained my patience.
Suddenly, Kisame skid to a stop and froze. I was unsure of how to respond. Kisame was rigid. He did not put me down and I wished fervently that I could see what he was seeing. I chewed on my lower lip as I squirmed slightly. Slowly, Kisame put me down. I opened my mouth to ask what was happening, but then thought better of it and closed it again. It would come to me in time.
"Itachi," Kisame said in a low voice. Now I understood. I heard the slightest crunch of gravel and it fell into place perfectly. I looked up towards the advancing Uchiha. I stepped forward, but Kisame effectively stopped me by wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back. He pushed me behind him gently and I bit my lip uncertainly. There were all those questions I wanted answered.
"I'm not going to hurt her, Kisame," said Itachi's silky voice, it was just as cool and calm as always. I tried to step out from behind Kisame, but I wasn't sure if I succeeded, because no matter what, I couldn't see beyond him.
"Where is Sasuke," I asked desperately. I wasn't worried about Sasuke per se. I just needed to know what had happened. I was sure that Itachi was fine now. Maybe not perfect and probably not as good as he had been before the fight, but I was sure that he would live, but my need to know was so strong that I didn't think about being rude.
There was a long silence afterward. I held my breath as finally, Itachi replied.
"Dead."
A/N okay, still being nagged. So yeah, there was the chapter, it wasn't that great. But I put it on anyway. Please don't flame me too bad. But please please please review. Okay, until next time.. bye bye.
Oh wait!! I was wondering if I threw in some DeiHina, how would people react? I'm not telling you the circumstances that it would be in, but if it just were in, how would it go ove? okay, bye bye