A/N: I'm in hiding. This chapter should make up for all my horrible evilness. I fell bad. I'm sorry.
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Tsume's eyes blazed up at Kabuto despite the pain that filled her body. If ever there was a time that Tsume wanted to scream, it was now. Anger, rage, and pain burned within her, whirling in a chaotic mix of emotion that surged in Tsume's veins without direction. Kabuto's eyes held the same smirk that curved his lips. Tsume's mouth opened in a silent scream as what felt like liquid fire grew out from her skin. Kabuto saw it as well, and he chuckled. He drew back, stepping away as Tsume's back arched. She was immobilized with pain as what looked like shining trails of water crawled out from her neck. A mark now burned there, bright with blue light. Three tear-drop-like shapes set in a circular pattern in the very center of her neck. The curse mark of Orochimaru.
Tears filled Tsume's eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She called out to the spirits of Zabuza and Haku for strength, but their voices could not reach her. Tsume wanted to call out. To call out the name of someone who would come to her aid. She wanted to call for Kisame. Again and again her lips formed his name, but only gasps came from her muted throat. She cried even harder knowing that he couldn't possibly hear her. He had left her and gone along his way. She was alone again. Everything that had happened and been given to her had been pulled away and shredded into nothing.
"Get the hell away from Tsume, bastard!" The sentence was not yelled, but roared, the words seeming to echo in Tsume's mind, for she knew all to well who had roared them.
Kisame landed between Tsume and Kabuto with a crash, Samehada already torn from its bandages and wriggling as it thirsted for Kabuto's blood. Kisame's face was still hidden by his hat and collar, but there was no mistaking his voice. Tsume's tears of anguish turned to tears of joy, and the burning began to fade. Kisame lifted a hand and tossed away his hat, his pupils dilated in rage as he glared at the silver-haired sound-nin that stood before him, black eyes wide behind his glasses.
"Never. Touch. Tsume. Again," Kisame growled. He lifted Samehada to point it directly at Kabuto. "You'd better start running, and tell your master that his life span just got a hell of a lot shorter." Kabuto wasn't stupid. He knew all too well that he wasn't strong enough to fight the Scourge of Kirigakure. He didn't have a change against Kisame when the shark-nin was in such a state. Without another word, Kabuto was gone. Kisame was instantly at Tsume's side, Samehada cast aside on the ground. His eyes remained angry as they saw the receding signs of the curse mark, his sharp teeth clenched as tightly as if they were around Orochimaru's neck. Kisame had never cared for the strange, pale-face shinobi. But now . . . now that Orochimaru had hurt Tsume, Kisame hated Orochimaru with every fiber of his being.
Tsume let out a shuddering breath as the burning pain finally began to fade, and her body relaxed back onto the ground. Her tearful amber eyes looked up at Kisame with plainly showing gratitude and happiness. She had never dared to hope that Kisame would come back for her. Tsume lifted her hands to spell out her thoughts. "I thought that I'd have to come and hit you over the head for leaving, Kisame-sama," she signed.
Kisame responded by pulling Tsume up into his arms and hugging her against his chest. "What the hell were you thinking?" he scolded her. "What are you doing, getting yourself involved with Orochimaru? You could have died!"
"But I didn't," Tsume thought, returning Kisame's embrace and nuzzling into his chest, happy tears running down her smiling face. "I'm alive and I'm with you. That's all that matters, Kisame-same. As long as I can be with you."
UNSPOKEN
"They are closer than I thought," Pein remarked, elbows resting on his desk. "It seems that Kisame has feelings for this so-called 'waif.'" Pein eyed his partner with a raised eyebrow.
Konan gave a curt nod. "Yes, it seems that she was one of those that Orochimaru-san marked with his curse," she observed. "Had it fully activated, her chakra would have been quite powerful. Though . . ." Konan trailed off, brows furrowing. "I find it strange that it showed itself only now."
"This girl is stronger than we thought," Pein said. "She could be beneficial to use."
Konan nodded in agreement. "Yes, perhaps she could."
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Having sealed away Tsume's sword, Kisame now carried her against his chest, one arm beneath her knees, the other at her back. Tsume leaned her head against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of Kisame's body as he moved through the treebranches. It was a familiar feeling, and one that filled her heart with happiness. She was with Kisame again. He was holding her again. The pain in her neck was all but gone, and darkness had begun to pull at the corners of her vision. She tried to stay awake until she heard Kisame's voice from above her.
"Don't strain yourself," he said. "Just rest. I don't want you dying on me." He didn't have to say another word; Tsume was asleep before he had even finished his sentence. Kisame chuckled as he looked down at Tsume, fast asleep in his arms. A rare, kind smile curved his lips as he looked at her. He liked the feeling of holding her against him, the feel of her smaller body in his strong arms. It just felt right to him, and Kisame found himself wondering if Tsume felt the same way. Kisame's thoughts then turned unwillingly to the last moment before their parting. His eyes grew serious, and his face darkened. Why had he done that? It must have caused Tsume such pain, and the last thing that Kisame wanted was to hurt the young woman. But he had still kissed her. He had acted on impulse and done what his heart told him. "Could I love you?" Kisame whispered to the sleeping Tsume. "Could you have broken down the walls and stolen my heart?" Kisame smiled. "You're too adorable for you own good, Tsume."
It was not long after before Kisame once more came upon his companions. They were leaping among the trees, and Kisame caught up to them with an extra burtst of chakra. It was quiet as the four shinobi leaped together, heading the the direction of the Mizukage's mansion, their mission drawing near. Kisame had retrived his had, but only now put it back on, holding Tsume only with one arm until his face was once more shrouded.
Itachi, Deidara, and Tobi had all known that Kisame had gone back for Tsume. None of them had said a word when he suddenly turned and made back in the opposite direction. They had all seen how much it had hurt him to leave the young woman behind, even if no emotion had shown on his face or in his eyes. They had felt it, and none of them were surprised. Itachi might had disaproved slightly at such an attachment, but Tsume was a valuable individual. And he could not deny the small effect that she had had on him. It was nearly impossible for anyone to goad the Uchiha Itachi into showing any kind of emotion, and it had been impossible in the past years. That is, until Tsume came along. It was strange, the way a innocent, kind person could effect even the most coldhearted of people.
"What happened to Tsu-chan?" Tobi asked, braking the silence. "She looks really tired."
Kisame's voice was hard and angry as he answered. "Orochimaru had the gual to put his curse mark on her," he growled. "I don't know why, but it only showed itself when she was fighting Orochimaru's underling, Kabuto. I don't quite understand it, but I know that I'm pissed as hell at that snake freak."
"What?!" Deidara exclaimed. "Orochimaru?! That weirdo with the white skin, un?!"
"The very one," Kisame growled. He looked down at Tsume. The curse mark was visable, though it no longer glowed. It was dark against her pale skin, and it made Kisame even more angry. What the hell would Orochimaru want with Tsume? He only chose those who had great power or a powerful Kekkei Genkai. He had gone after Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke, in hopes of making the boy his next body. Kisame's teeth clenched at the thought of Orochimaru even touching Tsume. There was no way, in heaven or hell, that Kisame would ever let Orochimaru come near Tsume again.
UNSPOKEN
A/N: Yay! I hope you will like this!