A/N Okay, so here is chapter 12. I was originally planning to make you guys wait a week until I put this up. But I figured, hey, its super bowl Sunday, I suppose I can be nice. And I had this all written and typed up and everything. I realize that I guess its not as long as some of the other ones, but it was earilier, and if I didn't stop it where I did I had not idea where else I could. Though the ending still seemed a bit sudden. oh well. I don't know why I had such a ridiculously fun time writing this, it was kinda scary. But it beats school work. Anyway, so here it is!

I would seriously appreciate it if you reviewed my last chapter too if you haven't already, instead of just reviewing for this one. But no demands or nothing.

DISCLAIMER: have I been putting this up recently? I forget. Oh well, so I don't own anything in this fanfic. Bummer.

Hanabi and I had been so close in the beginning. So many people thought that she had always hated me, and that she had always looked down at me. They thought that I had always been the weak one, the one that needed rather than be needed. But that wasn't how it always was. Since our mother had died giving birth to Hanabi, I had had to serve as the mother figure in the early years of her life, even though I was barely older than she. We had been tight, each others best friend, but that time had been short lived.

Father had never loved me. I think that he had been counting on a male heir. By the time he had adjusted to the fact that he would have a female heir, he had already discovered that my weakness. And so Hanabi came next.

Hanabi claimed Father's love and affection in the first few seconds of her life, when she killed our mother. Father had not loved Mother, no far from it, he had hated her. He had been forced into an arranged marriage with her, and Hanabi had set him free. I reminded him so much of our mother, and he could not be free of me. And I think it was these reasons that made him hate me so much, and like Hanabi so much more. Hanabi was much like him.

To add to that, she was a little prodigy. Not as amazing as Neji, but a young prodigy just the same. But she was not the heir, I, the weak little Hinata was. And this made my father very angry, and only increased his dislike and disappointment in me. And he taught Hanabi to do the same.

So we grew apart. As Hanabi got older, she got more hostile towards me. Father was corrupting her, and pitting her against me as I saw it. So I was shunned and hated by my own family. Needless to say this caused me to be shy and reluctant to talk to anyone. But gradually, I got friends that carefully coaxed me out of my protective shell. I became stronger.

As Hanabi and I grew older still, we got close again. We were not as close as we had been when she was very young, but she did not shoot me looks of utter contempt and loathing anymore. I remembered once we had gone shopping together. It was just her and I. I had bought some of the raciest clothes I owned on that trip. Clothes I had never worn, and never planned on wearing. But it had been nice to spend time with just her and me. It had been an isolated event, true, but it had been an unspoken agreement that we no longer hated each other.

It was when I was to be married that we once again became best friends. We were not idealistic sisters, but we were tight again. She helped my get through my depression, and my melancholy. I loved my little sister. We may not be like a normal sister pair, but I loved her so much. I would fight for Hanabi…

"Dead."

Itachi's voice was rich with raw emotion. It was so odd to hear it. It wrenched and tore at my heart. On the surface, his voice was just as cool and calm as always, though it was lower. But I could hear the pain in his voice. I had been listening purely to the young man's voice for a month, and I could pick out the subtle differences in his voice to judge his emotions on. But I never heard him like this. And it was on my nature to try and understand, to understand and comfort, and to make everyone feel good.

But right now I was cold. It was like ice had gripped my insides and frozen them, and in the process had paralyzed me. It was such a cruel finality. I knew that I had not seen the fight, for Kisame and I had not bee present, but I did not doubt Itachi; for I knew that he had the capability. I had doubted only whether he would go through with it, but perhaps I granted him too much credit? Perhaps Itachi was in fact crueler as I had come to believe. Or perhaps his ability to compartmentalize his emotions was just that great. Whatever the reason, Itachi claimed that he had killed his beloved younger brother.

"Itachi," I finally managed to croak out. I was the first to speak after Itachi's small, one word confession. As far as I knew Kisame had not moved. I did not know his emotions. Was he in he same state of cruel shock as I was? Or did he think nothing of Itachi's battle and loss? Was he just glad that the spy was finally gone and defeated? However, none of that mattered at the moment. Itachi was my main concern.

I stepped forward shakily on the unfamiliar terrain. There was no reply from the Uchiha, but I could hear his breathing. It was slightly harder than usual. This confirmed my suspicion that the battle had been a rough one; rather than a slaughter.

I finally came level with Itachi. I reached out my hand slowly. I touched nothing. So I stepped forward tentatively and finally my fingers brushed his firm shoulder. I didn't know what possessed me to touch him. I supposed it just seemed like words along would not suffice to comfort him. Why did I feel the need to console the great Uchiha Itachi? Because he was human. We all were. Every shinobi, no matter their skill or cruelty, was human. We all had emotions, and loves. And I wasn't going to disregard the emotions and loves of another. It was not on my nature.

I gasped with shock though, as Itachi crumpled beneath my soft touch. "Itachi," I yelped as my eyes shot wide. I dropped to my knees and reached out. My fingers tangled into his surprisingly silky soft raven hair as my hand lay on his cold cheek. I bit my lip worriedly as I felt his skin.

"He's just unconscious, Hinata," Kisame assured me in his low voice. He was to my left, and I realized that he had caught his younger partner before he could hit the ground. I nodded. "But he's badly wounded; we have to get him to his room. You're a healer correct?" I nodded vigorously as I got to my feet. "Then come with me."

I heard the tell tale ruffles of fabric as Kisame stood up carrying the unconscious Uchiha. He set off at a quick pace and I ran to keep up. I tripped and stumbled on the uneven terrain. But I was determined, and so with lots of effort I managed to keep up with the harsh pace that Kisame set. I didn't mind though, I was terrified for Itachi.

Finally, we got back inside of the lair. Now I could run easily along the smooth and straight hallways as we hurried to Itachi's rooms. I had never been inside of his room, but I was not too worried about that at the moment. Suddenly, Kisame made a sharp turn and there was a crash as he slammed open the door. I leapt into the air at the sudden surprise, but then quickly dashed into the room to follow them.

There was just the slightest creaking and Kisame's hurried footfalls came to a halt as he lay Itachi down on his bed. I slowed and approached the bed where Itachi lay slowly and carefully. I crawled up and perched on the edge of the bed.

"Tell me what's wrong with him," I demanded as I slipped into medic mode. I was afraid to reach out and touch him again in case I only made the damage worse. I also needed to take off his shirt and cloak if the wound was on his chest, which I suspected. But again, I couldn't risk hurting him more.

"It looks like he was hit with Chidori," Kisame told me seriously. I gasped and my eyes widened as I faced up at him in questioning shock. "He was hit in the lower abdomen." There was a pause and I forced myself to stay clam. This sounded like a horribly serious wound. Itachi may not survive… Kisame continued, "I think that he may have hesitated in a killing blow."

"How would you know that," I asked with a wrinkled forehead. I didn't doubt Kisame really. It just seemed like it was a farfetched guess.

"Just judging by the way the hit it," Kisame explained. "It's straight in and slightly from below. It seems likely." I nodded my head in thoughtful agreement. I could picture the gruesome and heart wrenching scene perfectly in my mind's eye. It was a horrible thing to imagine. It made me want to scream, or cry; or quite easily both.

Itachi was charging down at Sasuke from above. He had his kunai firmly in his hand. His arm was lifted and was about to come slashing down at Sasuke's exposed throat. Suddenly, Itachi hesitated. Something flitted through his emotionless eyes, but it was gone in a flash. His hesitation lasted only a split second. Yet it was enough for the furious and hatred filled Sasuke to plunge his Chidori straight and deep into his elder brother's stomach.

There was a horrible choking noise as Itachi's red eyes went wide and the pupils shrunk. With a vicious snarl, Sasuke ripped his hand out of his brother's body. Then he drew his own kunai and carved a deadly arc through the air heading straight for Itachi's neck.

Suddenly though, there was a clash of metal on metal as Itachi's own kunai met his brother's. Itachi was back in his feet, with a fire in his eyes. Sharingan stared into Sharingan. It was horrible. Brothers weren't meant to fight. Neither were sisters. This just wasn't supposed to happen!

"Hinata, focus," Kisame demanded as he shook my shoulder gently but firmly. I shook my own head vigorously. I set my jaw and I reached out a steady hand. My fingers came in contact with Itachi's chin and I brushed my finger tips to his forehead. I held my hand to his cheek and forehead as I checked his temperature.

"He doesn't have a fever," I said, then corrected myself. "Not yet." It was likely that he may get an infection which could leave to a sickness and fever…if he survived. I moved my fingers down to the young man's neck and pursed my lips as my hand was blocked from going further by his Akatsuki cloak. "Can you take off his robe and shirt without irritating the wound?"

"Yes."

"Do it."

"Got it," Kisame replied obediently. I didn't have time to enjoy the sensation of having him obey me without question. That was again, not what was on my mind at the time. I simply moved out of Kisame's way so that he had easier access to Itachi.

It was one of those moments where I wished more fervently than usual that I was not blind. I wished that I could be the one to do all of this, including the taking off of Itachi's short and cloak. It wasn't that I distrusted Kisame, it wasn't that at all! And it wasn't that I thought Kisame was incapable, but Kisame was big and strong. This required delicacy.

I bit my lip then. I didn't have a choice in the matter. And besides, Kisame was a ninja, surely he could be precise. And I knew full well that he was and could be gentle. I should put more faith in him. I was just on edge because I was so worried about Itachi. So I kept quiet and let him work.

"Okay," Kisame said finally. I heard him back away and I went forward to tend to the Uchiha. I took a deep and calming breath, and placed my hands on the raven haired young man's collar bone. I traced them tentatively down his well developed chest until my finger tips brushed charred and exposed flesh.

I gasped and jerked my hands away from the mangled skin. I swallowed though, and placed my hands back onto him. I winced as I forced myself to probe gently through out the wound. It bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut. But the vision conjured up in my head of the great Uchiha Itachi laying unconscious and pale on his bed with a gaping wound in his stomach forced me to continue.

It was huge. It went from below his rib cage to his pant line, and spanned the width of his waist. It was horrible, terrible. It penetrated deep inside of him, twisting and burning his insides. The flesh and skin was all but completely destroyed. His body was devastated. And it was a wonder he was still alive, I hoped I could keep him like that.

But I would not let depressing thoughts get me down to the point where I could no longer work. I was a trained medic-nin, and I would not lose Itachi. It was with this mentality that I squeezed my eyes shut and placed my hands in the center of the injury. I used the same technique on Itachi as I had used with Kisame. I probed my chakra into him and when I had diagnosed the extensive damage, began to knit the entrails and the flesh back together.

It was long and painful work. The tips of my fingers were burned and charred from chakra over use. I was exhausted. No, I was beyond exhausted, I felt like my body was going to collapse and I was going to lose the strength to breath. I had to work quickly though, because I was terrified that I would lose Itachi, and I would let myself die before I let that happen.

So many times, I felt my strength leave me. I would tip and begin to feel myself go unconscious, but then Kisame would hold me gently upright in his soothing grip and I would be able to continue. It was so hard, but with my determination, and Kisame's strength, I managed to work and continue.

I worked so slowly. There was just so much damage. I didn't know if I could fix all of the vital organs and such that had been hurt or destroyed. Yet slowly, ever so slowly, I began to make progress. I heard Itachi's uneven breathes come easier. And I was able to sew all of the most important organs back together. That was the most difficult, but some of them had had half of themselves obliterated, and I had to force the cells to replicate to put them back together.

It was five hours later that my chakra was completely drained. Not a drop remained. I could barely move, but I had succeeded. Itachi would live, and not only that, but if he healed properly he would be left with only a scar. No lasting damage. He had almost none of them though on his almost flawless skin. I had done it.

I slumped with a sigh when I could do no more. I felt myself fall to the side to rest on the bed next to Itachi, but Kisame caught me gently. I expected him to sit me back up and urge me to continue. However, he seemed to realize that I had reached my limit. So instead or murmuring strength into my ear, he murmured soothing, and restful words. He wrapped me in his arms and rocked me back and forth.

"Good job, Hinata," he whispered gently and calmingly. "You did well." I closed my eyes with a content and relieved sigh. I was almost about to go to sleep, but I forced my dreary eyes open again with one more thought on my mind.

"Bandages."

"I'll do it," Kisame assured me. I nodded and let myself sag and relax into his arms. My whole body lost its strength and will to stay away. It just went slack. "Go to sleep, Hinata. There's a good girl." I gave just the tiniest of tiny yawns and began to slip towards unconsciousness. I felt Kisame pick me up in his arms and carry me bridal style, but I felt no more than that, because I was in a deep sleep in seconds.

Whenever I woke up, I cursed my blindness. It was horrible to wake up and not be able to give a rough estimate of the time. I did not know if it was light out, or if it was still night time. It was disconcerting. It was like everything was just all one big nighttime. There was no day time, and then if there was no day, how could there be night? Everything just melded together, I had to rely on what the Akatsuki would tell me to try and figure it out. The peak of this annoyance was always reached when I woke up.

But this time when I awoke, all that registered was that I was very comfortable, and very tired. I took another few seconds to past events to hit home. They hit hard, like a cold hammer to my heart. I let out a small gasp and a wince. Itachi said Sasuke was dead, Itachi was horribly wounded! I should go tend to him!

But I couldn't do it. I was too tired. I could not move my body. It felt like weights were attached to every inch of me. And the feel of Kisame's arms wrapped protectively around me as he slept gently beside me, was enough to hold me firmly in my place. I couldn't move, nor did I want to.

So I closed my eyes again and immediately fell back asleep.

The next time that I woke up, I was more aware. I was able to half heartedly curse my sight, or lack there of, and I was able to move my own body again. I yawned and stretched tiredly out length wise on the bed. I was met with no resistance, as apparently I had the whole bed to myself. At this, I frowned and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Kisame," I called in confusion. I wasn't used to waking up all alone. He was always sleeping next to me. As I thought about it, it sounded very odd to me. It wasn't like there was anything between us, but we still slept comfortably in the same bed; more often then not we slept cuddled together.

There wasn't anything between us….was there?

I groaned a bit and rubbed my head. That wasn't important. It didn't matter, not at the moment at least. With another yawn and a stretch, I slipped off of the bed and winced as my feet came in contact with the cool wooden floor.

I debated a bit about whether or not to change into some more decent clothing. Someone, probably Kisame, had changed me into my pajamas. It was the silky nightgown that Kisame had bought me. I hadn't looked in a mirror with it on for obvious reasons, but something told me that it was very pretty. I blushed though, at the thought of Kisame changing my clothing. I quickly forced it down though. I was sure that he had been very innocent and decent. He had just been being kind as always.

I finally decided to just head to the kitchen. I could only run into Kisame or Deidara anyway, I figured. Plus, I didn't feel like freshening up at the moment. So I padded softly to the door. I had easily memorized its position. I pulled the heavy, wood, and creaking door open a crack and slipped up. Then softly clicked it closed again. Then I turned to head down to the kitchen.

I could tell from the hallway that someone was in the kitchen. There was the sound of sizzling food; I was going to assume it was breakfast. The aroma's floating out through the doorway and down the hallway were extremely enticing and I felt my mouth begin to water.

I also found it all bit odd though, because even though we generally had nice meals here, this sounded so homey. It was like when I would get to stay over at Tenten's house for a night, and her mother would be cooking breakfast when we woke up. It sounded off, yes, but I couldn't help but feel at home and comforted by it.

I walked into the kitchen curiously.

"Hinata," Kisame exclaimed happily as I made my appearance. I grinned as I recognized the rough voice. I walked farther into the kitchen, but stopped at the doorway to pull up my mental map. Then I turned a bit to the right and moved to cautiously sit down on one of the benches at the table. "I'm glad to see you're finally up."

"What do you mean," I asked as I yawned again. I heard Kisame plunk a plate down in front of me and I smiled and nodded my thanks. He took my hand gently in his calloused one and placed a fork in it. I again nodded my thanks as I worked with my plate. After much examination I identified bacon and eggs. I liked my lips eagerly and immediately dug in.

"You've been asleep for two days now," Kisame told me. His tone was clearly amused with me. Normally I would have pouted at his laughing at me, but right now I was more just shocked that I had been asleep that long. I gaped up at Kisame. My fork was held loosely in my fingers, and my food was temporarily forgotten.

"I don't blame you, you were exhausted," Kisame continued with a chuckle as he sat down beside me with his own plate. I felt his calloused fingers under my chin as he closed my open mouth. I hurriedly snapped in shut with a blush. "You did well, Hinata."

His sudden, more serious tone caught me slightly off guard. He had said it so sincerely. I was overcome suddenly with elation. The feeling and knowledge that Kisame was proud of me was wonderful. I had done well, and he had acknowledged me. And he was serious, and grateful. My lips curved slowly upward as I gave him a small but heartfelt smile.

"Thank you," I replied emotionally. I scooted over close to him and wrapped my slender arms around his large and strong torso. I held him tightly. Not only was I proud that Kisame was happy with me, but I felt such relief that the spy was gone; even if it had been horrible for Itachi. Now the tension would ease. I would see more of Kisame now. And Itachi would be fine. Everything was working out so wonderfully and perfectly.

I felt Kisame stiffen as I embraced him, just like always. But he easily relaxed and wrapped his own arms around my waist. I rested my head on his shoulder contentedly. But something was different…

It wasn't different in a bad way, just different in itself. The way Kisame held me wasn't his normal grip. I began to feel that heat rise in my stomach, as I felt his warm breath play and caress along my neck. It was the same sort of feeling I had had when we were sparring and he had pinned me.

It was like these feelings and yearnings were trying to override my common sense. I was afraid of it, but it wasn't the sort of fear that I wanted to run away from. I wanted to test it. I wanted to see how far I could go. I wanted to know what it was I wanted. I wanted Kisame.

And it was as soon as all my thoughts lead me to that final conclusion that I pulled away. That was when my own haywire emotions and thoughts seemed to cross a line that passed into something I had not expected, and something I had no experience in. I didn't know if it scared me, or if it excited me. Perhaps it was just the surprise of such an unbidden prospect. Either way, it caused me to pull away suddenly from the embrace, but Kisame would have none of it.

I sensed him pursue me as I withdrew. I heard and felt his hands land solidly on the table on either side of me as he boxed me in against the table. He was close to me and he was coming closer. His breath danced over my lips teasingly. But none of those thoughts registered as I felt his lips claim mine suddenly.

I froze. Both my mind and my body were paralyzed. It was like so many thoughts were racing through my mind, but none of them were processing. My second kiss as well as the first was claimed by the man; the kisses that were supposed to be for Naruto. But needless to say, that did not bother me. In fact, it exhilarated me, and made me happy. I wanted Kisame to be my first kiss, I realized that now.

Yet this kiss was not quite like my first one; that one had been exceedingly, and almost unbelievable gentle and sweet. This one was of course gentle, but it was also slightly more firm. It held a possessive undertow. But just as before, none of those thoughts conveyed.

That's when my impulses finally overcame and took control of my mind and body. My body moved of its own accord to return to kiss. To move my lips against his in the same manner that he was moving his against mine. Kisame's hand slid behind my neck to tilt my head back gently as he came closer to me, his chest touching mine. His other arm snaked around my waist to hold me securely and gently against him.

I didn't know what I was doing, but I didn't care. That wasn't what mattered, that wasn't what I was thinking. I wasn't really thinking anything at the moment. My body just moved itself, and my crazy female hormones were controlling my thoughts. My hands moved up his chest, and clutched Kisame's strong and firm shoulders for security.

Finally, Kisame pulled his mouth off of mine. I gasped for breath when he released my lips. I was breathing hard with all the emotions running through my head and all the tingles running through out my body. I gasped again in surprise and euphoria as he landed sweet kisses onto my pliable lips. Once, twice, three times, and then he pulled away fully, his hand trailing around my waist as he unwrapped his arm from around it.

His kiss left me dizzy and lost. It was like I was in a senseless sea with only raging hormone induced tingles to feel. I was in shock as common sense finally managed to reassert itself, and I could comprehend the world around me. My breathing was deep and slightly irregular as the leftover emotions danced around my head, and the last bit of warmth left my stomach. The tingles carefully trickled away, and slowly my breathing went back to normal. But my face was still flushed.

We were silent then, and I went back to carefully eating my breakfast. It seemed like the only thing I could do. There were so many questions on the tip of my tongue, but yet, questions weren't the only things that ran through my mind. I had so many comments and so much gratitude.

Once again, I had been struck by Kisame's….gentlemanly like conduct. He never pushed me farther than I could go. He had only kissed me twice, but never once had he tried to get more from me than I could give. His kisses were almost innocent. That wasn't what one generally expected from a thirty four year old man, that was a murderer and S ranked criminal. But that wasn't what he was to me. He was just Kisame to me, strong, gentle and kind. That was who he was to me.

As for the questions, they were impossible to ask, because they were impossible to word. It was more just like a questioning feeling. Or half formed sentences that I could not fully put together and make coherent. But I needed to straighten out my feelings. I needed to. So I compiled my scattered feelings into articulate thoughts. Why did Kisame kiss me? Not that I was complaining really. What were his feelings for me? However, those questions paled in comparison to the most important one. What were my feelings for Kisame?

They were strong, I knew that. The more I thought about them, the more powerful I realized they were. When I thought about Kisame leaving, about never being with him again, or to never be able to see his face… it made me want to cry. And amazingly enough, I realized that they were strong than the ones I had for Naruto, stronger and different.

I had thought that I loved Naruto, yet when I looked back and analyzed my feelings, it seemed like that was more admiration than love. I admired him for his determination, and his ability to disregard it when people put him down. I had wanted to be like that. But if it was admiration that I felt for Naruto, then what did I feel for Kisame?

I bit my lip and growled quietly in my frustration. I did not love Kisame. But then what was it? I shook my head vigorously. I wasn't going to think about this. It was too complicated!

"I'm sorry," Kisame said after the long silence. I chewed on my lower lip and frowned. It was the same thing he had said last time. "I shouldn't have been so forward." Kisame sounded embarrassed, ashamed, shy, and apologetic. I couldn't quite define an exact one. So I decided it must be a combination of all of them. I sighed softly.

"Kisame," I replied gently. My cheeks were flaming red and I bowed my head to try and hide the embarrassed blush. "You don't have to say 'sorry' every time you kiss me…" I really did not like when he did that. It made it seem so awkward, or made it seem like something that shouldn't have happened. I didn't like that at all.

I said it as though, I expected more occurrences, though in truth, I did not know. I didn't know his feelings for me. I didn't know if he kissed me because it was me, or if they were just random acts of lust. I dearly hoped that it was the former, and I rather doubted that it was the latter. And then I did not know my own feelings. It was all rather complicated for me. A little frightening as well, but exciting and exhilarating at the same time. On some level I felt like I shouldn't think about it so much, because then it would lose its magic, almost. I didn't want that to happen.

"Mn," Kisame grunted in response after a pause. I couldn't help but giggle at Kisame's apparent lack of the capability to articulate. Then I went back to my breakfast with a lighter heart. I had nearly finished my plate, and I was still famished. I supposed that came from sleeping two days straight without eating.

Kisame seemed to notice my dilemma, because he chuckled and shoved his own plate over to me. Normally, I would have insisted that he eat his plate and everything on it. After all, it was his. Instead though, due to my strong hunger, I grinned and continued to devour Kisame's relatively larger portion with just as much gusto as the first plate. It wasn't until after I had swallowed the second plate that I remembered what I had forgotten to do.

"Aregato, Kisame," I said hurriedly with an embarrassed blush adorning my cheeks. Kisame only chuckled.

"Of course."

It didn't take long to finish the rest of Kisame's plate. When I was done though, my hunger was sated and I was feeling very content. I let out a lazy sigh and stretched some more, then I took the dishes and silverware to the sink. Before I could take two steps away though, Kisame caught my wrist and gently placed a forgotten knife in my palm. I smiled and nodded my thanks, then went to the sink the clean the dishes.

A silence ensued as I cleaned the dishes and Kisame sat at the table. It was a companionable silence, which neither of us felt the need to fill. But there was something bugging me. It was nagging me reminding me that I had to bring it up. It pained me to ruin this nice moment time. But I knew that it had to happen. So I opened my mouth.

"How is Itachi," I asked finally. It was a question I had been trying to put off asking for some time now. It would and did ruin the light atmosphere. It was important though. It had apparently been two days since I had tended to Itachi. He could have taken a turn for the worst. His condition had not after all been completely stable.

I chewed on my bottom lip in worry as unbidden scenarios flitted through my head. I may have missed a vital organ, and that had been the death of Itachi. Maybe I had not stitched him up well enough and he had bled out. Perhaps he had gotten a dire infection and I had not been awake to try and nurse him back to health and it had gotten to the point where I could not longer save him. Maybe he hadn't even woken up yet. He should have even if just blearily. If he had not, he may have gone into a coma. He had to have wakened up at least!

"Kisame," I pressed when he did not reply. His silence was not in the least reassuring. I finished the last of dishes and swung around to press my back against the counter. I faced him with wide and fearful eyes. "How is he? Has he woken up yet?"

"No."

A/N and there you have it folks. I figured I needed to throw that slightly more intense kissing scene. I mean, its been a month (or 11 chapters, whichever way you count your time) and all they've had is one measily little kiss. But anyway, there you have it. So please please please review!

RANT- okay, I'm sorry, but I have to just rant for a few lines, you can just skip over this. This is not directed towards anyone on its directed to the people that look down at me for writing on it. Why the heck does everyone have to be so darn judgemental about my hobbies!!! Yes, I live in Hawaii and don't perfer to go to the beach as much as some people, I'd rather sit with my computer, I'm sorry! Yes, I actually genuinely enjoy Naruto!! I don't care if you say its a stupid stupid stupid Japanese cartoon!! And don't call me a freakin pervert, I'm just a bit more mature than some of you and don't freak out when someone gets a little kiss. Please just let me write my story, how I want, in what fiction I want, with whatever guy in it, I want, and stop giving me a hard time.

okay, I'm sorry I wasted space on this chapter, like I said, ignore it. But I had to get it out. Anyway, see you all next time, please please pease review, and thanks to everyone who has read it, favorited it, alerted it, and/or reviewed it. Bu bye. :)