A/N: Well, that last chapter was . . . well, you decided what it was. I loved it. Don't worry about the ending coming up, I still have a third arc. It's the getting back to the Akatsuki lair and Tsume proving herself to Pein, a.k.a, Leader-sama. Then there's the matter of the lemon I owe you people . . . and Stephen, if you review it, I'll not respond and send assassins after you! Anyway, I hope to continue writing things you enjoy. Oh, and how about a sequel? I already have a few ideas . . . (evil grin) MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

UNSPOKEN

Kisame awoke to the sensation of something cool against his brow. He felt peaceful, at ease. It was a strange feeling, unfamiliar to him. He felt as if he were floating, completely at ease with the world. Was he dead? He supposed so. After that beating he'd taken, and then that last blast of fire . . . how could he have survived? Kisame had never expected to live very long, not many did in his line of work. But he still felt regret. He'd left Tsume. He'd died and left her alone. Kisame's heart began to ache; after all that Tsume had been through, fate had taken away the man she loved, just as it had already taken so much from her. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair, dammit!

But then, Kisame realized something. He wasn't floating, he was lying in a bed, covered in a warm blanket and with a soft pillow beneath his head. His senses sharpened, and he realized that the coolness on his brow was actually a damp cloth. He could feel a small hand with slender fingers holding his own left hand, the skin warm and slightly calloused. He could hear a soft voice whispering to him, the voice filled with kindness. No, not kindness . . . love. A soft, loving voice was whispering to him, speaking comforting words.

"Just rest, Kisame," the voice said. "Just rest and get better. I'll take care of you. Don't worry about anything else, just rest, Kisame." Kisame felt breath on his face, and then a pair of soft lips touch his cheek. "I love you, Kisame."

Kisame knew that voice, he knew it as well as he knew his own. It was Tsume. Fear bubbled in Kisame's stomach; had Tsume died as well?! But . . . no. It was all too real, and Kisame was beginning to feel a dull ache all over his body. The dead didn't feel pain, did they? No, Kisame didn't think so.

That meant that he was alive.

Slowly, Kisame opened his eyes, and was met by Tsume's loving amber gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Kisame's eyes open, but then she smiled. Tears of joy filled her eyes and she smiled. She leaned down and hid her face in the curve of Kisame's neck, wrapping her arms gently around his shoulders. She shook with silent, happy sobs, her warm, salty tears dampening Kisame's skin. Slowly, easing against his sore muscles, Kisame lifted is arms. He wrapped them lightly around Tsume, holding her close and leaning his cheek against the side of her head.

"I love you, Tsume," he said softly, a smile curving his lips.

"Kisame!" Tsume sobbed, her shoulders shaking. "Kisame, you're alright! I was so scared! I was so scared that I was going to lose you! I was so scared . . ." She trailed off into a fresh bout of sobs, unable to control herself. She showered Kisame's throat with tender kisses, eventually moving up to his lips where she caught him a kiss that nearly made Kisame's heart skip a beat.

One of his hands slid to the back of her head as he returned the kiss, feeling Tsume's wet tears against his own cheeks. When he broke the kiss, he hid his face in her shoulder, breathing deeply of her scent, holding her as tightly as his body allowed. He simply held her, affirming the fact that he was indeed alive, and that Tsume was safe.

Eventually, Kisame let Tsume pull away and sit up. He kept hold of her hand, not yet willing to let her go completely. Tsume wiped at her eyes, still smiling down at Kisame. "I'm so glad that you're alright, Kisame," she said through her tears.

Kisame was about to respond, when he noticed something about Tsume. There was a heavy bruise on her jaw, and her face was marred with cuts. She wore only a white tank-top and loose black leggings, and Kisame could easily see the untended scrapes and cuts on her arms. Some of the more serious wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, but most of them still needed attention. "Tsume," Kisame said in worry as he looked back to Tsume's face. "Why haven't you—?"

"I've been too worried about you," Tsume interrupted. "Don't worry, I mended the fractures and internal injuries. Only scrapes and bruises left." She shrugged. "And anyway, I don't have the healing abilities anymore. I'll be alright."

Kisame's eyes narrowed and he forced himself up into a siting position. He shot a look at Tsume when he felt only the protesting of sore muscles. "You should have healed yourself first," he scolded.

"But then you might have died," Tsume said softly, lowering her gaze to where her hand was still woven with Kisame's own. "I spent most of my chakra healing you, and I'm not sorry. I don't care what Itachi said. You come first to me, Kisame. No matter what."

Kisame freed his hand, only to pull Tsume up onto the bed and into his arms. He held her close, once again inhaling her scent. He listened to her heartbeat; steady and strong. He held her gently, avoiding the worst of the bruises. After a moment, Tsume returned the embrace, nuzzling against Kisame and wrapping her arms around his back. Her heart was filled with happiness, and she felt that everything was perfect in that one moment. For just that instant, the only thing that existed for her was Kisame. Nothing else mattered. Not Orochimaru, not the Akatsuki, not fighting, not anything. In that moment, there was only Kisame and the strong beat of his heart. He was alive, so very much alive.

UNSPOKEN

Pein let out a heavy sigh. "I never expected something like this," he murmured. "That Agaru girl, she took out Kisame. She's only seventeen . . . how could she be so strong?"

"Her father nearly killed both Kisame and Itachi," Konan reminded her partner. "However, Itachi dealt with her. She's been hospitalized and is in a coma. She may not awake from it."

Leaning back in his chair, Pein shook his head. "No, she'll wake up," he murmured. "She's got a score to settle. She is a Dragon Summoner, Konan, and she will be the strongest in recorded history. The first of the Agaru clan nearly killed Uchiha Madara. Agaru Tomo may be the death of Itachi."

"Yes," Konan admitted. "Anyone with eyes like hers will be a force to be reckoned with."

Pein's eyes flicked to lock with Konan's own. "Uchiha Madara-sama is forming a plan for her," he murmured.

Konan blinked. "For the Agaru girl?"

"No." Pein shook his head. "No, for Tsume. Her blood mixed with Kisame's could yield . . . interesting results."

"Uchiha-sama wants their child?" Konan asked. "I doubt that he could get his hands on it. From what I have seen of this Tsume, she would protect her child with all her strength. And Kisame, he would betray us if Tsume came to harm."

Pein narrowed his eyes. "I have no doubt of that," he said darkly. "But by the time they realize what is done, there will be nothing that they can do about it."

Konan hid her face from her partner. "A mother protecting her child is a force to be reckoned with on even a normal scale. But a mother as strong as Tsume . . . I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the one who angered her. I think this is a mistake." Despite these thoughts, Konan would not question her partner, let alone Uchiha Madara. It would be the same as a guppy going up against a shark. In other words, suicide.

UNSPOKEN

As Kisame slept again, Tsume sat beside his bed, her amber eyes watching him. Her body ached and her eyelids were heavy. She wanted to sleep, but she could not while Kisame needed to be watched over. She reached out and caressed Kisame's cheek. He looked so peaceful when he slept, so different from his waking moments. But Tsume loved all of him. It didn't matter what he looked like. All that mattered was that he loved her and was kind to her. Tsume loved him for those reasons.

"You need to rest, Tsume-san," said Itachi's voice from the doorway.

Tsume rose slowly from the chair, rubbing her sore shoulder. "Yes, I probably should," she murmured.

Closing the door behind him, Itachi walked into the room. He stopped when he stood behind Tsume. "You put Kisame before the mission," he said softly.

Slowly Tsume turned, meeting Itachi's onyx gaze. "If I apologized, Itachi-san, it would be a lie, and I do not wish to lie to you," she said, voice firm. "When I am on a mission, I will do all that is in my power to accomplish it, but if anyone I care for is in danger . . ." She trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging in the air.

Itachi sighed, closing his eyes and lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck. "Yes. Yes, I understand," he said. "And I won't fault you. It's in your nature. But I will warn you. Having such feelings could easily be considered a weakness. Your feelings and emotions can be used against you in battle."

Tsume held her head high. "I understand that, Itachi-san. But I will never allow anyone to hurt those I care for. Not Kisame, and not you."

Itachi's eyes snapped open, and he looked at Tsume with what could only have been surprise. It took him several moments to find his voice. "You care about me?" he said, finding himself fighting to keep his voice cool and emotionless.

Tsume smiled. "Of course, Itachi-san," she said. "I care about you very much. Like Kisame, you helped me become a person that I'm proud to be. I doubt that I will ever be able to repay . . ." But Tsume trailed off, her eyes rolling back in her head and her body going limp. She slumped forward against Itachi, forcing the stoic shinobi to catch her.

Curling one arm around Tsume's waist, Itachi placed two fingers against her throat. Her pule was steady, and her regular breathing denoted a deep, unconscious sleep. It was easy for Itachi to understand what had happened. In using her Kekkei Genkai, Tsume had used up a massive amount of chakra. Her last healing of Kisame's wounds had taken a nearly fatal amount of Tsume's energy. She was far from begin fully trained, and Itachi knew that she would indeed have great difficulty in proving herself to the rest of the Akatsuki. Deidara, Tobi, Kisame, and himself were one matter, but Pein, Konan, Hidan, and Kakuzu were another matter entirely.

Itachi scooped Tsume up into his arms, and carried her over to the couch that was set against the wall across from the foot of the bed where Kisame lay. Tsume made no sound as Itachi settled her down on the cushions, and then pulled up one of the spare blankets. Itachi had to admit, that Tsume would soon be worthy of his respect and wariness. With the proper training, and had Tsume been brought up in a different place, she could have become an enemy to be watchful of. But not yet. At the moment, she was still simply a girl with powerful abilities yet to be honed to perfection.

The Uchiha then moved back to the chair that sat beside the bed, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. He let out a sigh, his thoughts drifting back to the loss at Konohagakure. That Agaru girl had beaten Kisame, but only just. She had been in a horrible state when she had appeared before Itachi again. Her body was covered in burns, and she was breathing hard. It had been easy to ensnare her in the Tsukuyomi and second time, and this time, she had been completely unable to resist. She was shown the death of her father again and again, tortured by blades for seventy-two hours. Itachi could have easily captured the Jinchūriki, if it had not been for the fact that both Jiraya and Tsunade, two of the Legendary Sannin, had appeared. Itachi was no fool.

--Flashback--

Jiraya crossed his arms as he and Tsunade landed between Itachi and Naruto. The Toad Sage's black eyes flickered to the crumpled Tomo and then back to Itachi. "You certainly enjoy torturing the helpless, don't you, Itachi?" he said darkly.

"She was in the way," Itachi said without emotion. He eyed the the shaking Naruto who stood behind the Sannin. "I don't suppose you plan on handing over the Jinchūriki?"

Naruto's eyes had gone red, and his now fanged teeth were bared in anger. "Like hell!" he snarled. "There's no way you'll get away after what you just did! I'll kill you!" He made to lunge at Itachi, but was stopped as Tsunade held out a hand.

"Stay put, Naruto," she said firmly. "As strong as you are, he's still stronger."

Itachi frowned. He wasn't a fool; he knew that he couldn't face two Sannin and live, let alone win.

UNSPOKEN

A/N: Well, that's it for chapter 31. The next one will be better, I promise!