A/N: Wow . . . chapter 35 . . . (picks jaw up off of floor) Well, here we go.

UNSPOKEN

As Izuname gazed at Kisame, her demonic rage slowly faded, her eyes going wide as she stared at him. She took another step forward, suddenly seeming unsteady on her feet. Her aquamarine eyes looked Kisame up and down, recognizing him despite the long Akatsuki cloak he wore. Her heart began to pound, and her breath came faster. Feelings and emotions overwhelmed her, and she fell to her knees, all traces of her demon blood vanishing.

"Kisame," she murmured, "you—you're alive . . ."

Still cradling Tsume close, Kisame stared in disbelief. He had not seen Izuname in so long, and to see her in such a state after so many years robbed him of words. He found himself unable to react. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly, his voice having abandoned him. And what could he say? After everything had gone wrong and they had been forced apart, what could Kisame say to the woman he had once loved? Then Kisame's eyes dropped to Tsume, who was just beginning to reawaken. There was no doubt in his mind or heart that he loved Tsume now, just as he had loved Izuname then. Tsume knew of how he had once felt for Izuname, but Izuname didn't have the slightest idea who Tsume even was. It was true, many years had passed, but in Izuname's eyes, Kisame would still have broken the promise that he made to her.

Tsume's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing they saw was Izuname, staring at Kisame with shock, confusion, and longing. Somehow, without a word of explanation, Tsume knew who the distraught woman was. Her heart welled with emotions; surprise, fear, pity, and resentment. But upon seeing the tears that shown from Izuname's eyes, all anger in Tsume's mind and heart vanished. She struggled from Kisame's arms, wincing at the fresh pain in her chest. She ignored Tobi's protests, her eyes fixed on Izuname. Struggling to her feet, Tsume stood tall and proud at her full height. She watched Izuname with amber eyes that shown with kindness and a soft, warm smile.

"Kaiite-san?" she murmured, taking a step towards Izuname. "You are Kaiite Izuname-san?"

Izuname blinked, and then looked at Tsume as if she were seeing her for the first time. She was a small, compact young woman who couldn't have been any older than seventeen. Her body was battered and bruised, and blood stained her shirt, though there was no wound to be seen. Izuname almost flinched at the kindness in Tsume's eyes, having seen nothing of the sort in many years. But still, Izuname nodded softly. "Yes . . . yes, my name is Izuname," she murmured. "Who are you?"

Tsume stood before before Izuname, still with that soft smile on her face. "My name is Tsume, Kaiite-san." She held out her hand to Izuname. "Kisame told me about you. He said that you were a skilled swordmaster. It is an honor to meet you."

Izuname stared at Tsume's hand, her brows furrowing in momentary confusion. She looked back up to Tsume's face. "You know . . . Kisame?" she asked.

"Yes, I do," Tsume said, smile faltering. She bit her lip. "I . . . he . . ." She shook her head, and

knelt down and took Izuname's hands in hers, rising back up and pulling Izuname with her. She put a kind hand lightly on Izuname's shoulder. "I know him very well. I owe Kisame my life, for he gave me a new one."

As Izuname looked into Tsume's honest, beautiful golden eyes, she began to understand, and the haze of confusion lifted. She looked back to Kisame, searching his familiar, shark-like eyes. She saw the way he looked at Tsume, and had seen how tenderly he had held her. She made a soft sound as realization hit her. She looked back to Tsume, a sad smile on her own face. "Ah. I see," she said quietly. "You love him, and he loves you." Tsume bit her lip, lowering her eyes, and Kisame looked away, his expression pained and conflicted. Izuname looked back to Kisame, more tears in her eyes. "I can't say I'm surprised. It has—it's been a very long time. I shouldn't have expected for you to still love me, Kisame. And Zabuza . . . he's dead, isn't he?" Kisame bit his lip, then nodded.

"Not entirely!" Tsume said abruptly, lifting her eyes. She wanted to do something for this woman. She wanted to offer some kind of comfort. "In a way, Zabuza-san is still here!" Without explanation, Tsume turned and darted off into the shadows. She cast about for several moments before finding what she was looking for. Once it had been retrieved, Tsume hurried back to Izuname, touching Kisame briefly as she passed. Fresh tears welled in Izuname's eyes as she saw what Tsume was carrying in her hands. "He's been watching over me, and protecting me. Because of his strong spirit and will, I can wield his sword. Zabuza-san isn't really gone, Kaiite-san."

"Zabuza!" Izuname cried weakly. Tsume held out the sword to her, and Izuname took it reverently. The moment she did, Tsume murmured a quiet word, and Izuname felt Zabuza's spirit surround her. When she closed her eyes, she could feel Zabuza's presence all around her. She could smell him, hear him, almost feel him. A sob quaked her body as she thought she felt his strong, lean arms wrap around her from behind, and his warm breath against her neck. Again and again Izuname cried out Zabuza's name, all the while cradling his sword in her arms. She could almost hear his voice, murmuring in her ear, "don't cry, Izu. It's alright. I'm still here, don't worry. Don't cry."

Tsume's face tightened in regret. In trying to ease Isuname's pain, she'd only ended up adding to it. Tsume turned and looked at Kisame. "Please, Kisame," she said softly. "She needs you." Once again, Kisame was struck by Tsume's kindness. He smiled softly, and rose to his feet. He touched Tsume tenderly as he passed her, then moved across to Izuname. With only slight hesitation, he wrapped his arms gently around Izuname, Zabuza's sword between them. Tsume felt a slight sting and tightening in her chest.

But she trusted Kisame, and also knew that Izuname need the comfort that only Kisame could give. One of Izuname's hands fisted in Kisame's cloak, her tears flowing hard and fast. She let Zabuza's sword fall, and it clattered at her feet. The tenderness with which Kisame held her was not that of a lover, but that of a friend, a comrade. Even in her pain, Izuname knew that Kisame loved Tsume with every fiber of his being, and that there was nothing that she could do to change that. And there was nothing that she would do to change it. She knew what it was like to lose the one you loved, and she would never wish it on anyone.

Suddenly, Tsume darted forward, snatching up her sword and leaping up into the air, towards the gaping hole in the cliff. She met Hoji's o-katana and metal whip with all the force that she could muster, both of them falling back to the ground. Hoji blinked at the small young woman he was facing, shocked at the strength with which she wielded such a massive blade. Her amber eyes were fierce and strong, though her body was battered. He glanced beyond Tsume, to see Izuname in the arms of a man he knew to be Hoshigaki Kisame. They were both looking at him, Kisame's eyes narrowed in anger. Hoji remembered meeting Kisame once; the meeting had nearly killed him.

"What are you doing here?" Kisame growled, his sword suddenly in his hand. Kisame could sense Hoji's massive chakra, and he knew that Tsume wouldn't last long against him with the state that she was in. "Get out. You have no business here, Hoji."

Tsume watched Hoji warily across her blade. "Are you the one who hurt Kaiite-san?" she said warily.

Hoji's eyes flashed in anger, and he pushed against Tsume's sword. "You would protect this demon bitch?" he snarled. "Out of my way, child! You don't know your place!"

"Oh, yes I do," Tsume said, voice hard and determined. "It's right here, between you, Kisame, and Kaiite-san." (A/N: Yes, I kinda stole that line from Pirates of the Caribbean.)

UNSPOKEN

Deidara was about to leap down to aid Tsume, when a soft female voice spoke in his ear. "Your orders are not to interfere," said Konan, the leader's partner. "Leader-sama wishes to watch."

Deidara whirled, unable to contain himself. "But Tsume-chan needs help, un! You can almost see that guy's chakra, un! After that beating Tsume-chan took from Hidan, how do you expect her to fight, un?!"

"They are Leader-sama's wishes," Konan said quietly, voice emotionless, "not mine. Be careful of your words, Deidara-san."

"But, Tsume-chan is—!" Deidara cut himself off, biting his lip hard. With a muttered curse of frustration, he whirled back around, his hands itching for the exploding clay that was at his sides. As the new arrival glared at Tsume and became more angry, his chakra gathered and became more powerful. Deidara was sure of one thing, he couldn't just stand up here and watch. He looked over his shoulder at Konan. "Sorry, Konan-san, un," he said quietly. And then he had leaped off the ledge, leaping down quickly to speed towards where Kisame stood beside Izuname, his hand tight on the handle of Samehada. "Kisame, what the hell is going on, un?!" Deidara asked, voice raised. "We have to do some—!"

"No," Izuname said softly, eyes hard as they watched Hoji. "This is my fight . . . it's my fault that Hoji has endangered Tsume-san." She lifted her eyes to Kisame, only to jerk her head back around as Hoji was suddenly thrown hard to the side, his right arm cut clean off. Holding his o-katana tightly in his left hand, Hoji cursed loudly, glaring back at Tsume, who stood calmly in a tall, elegant stance, her sword stained with blood. Izuname looked up at Kisame in astonishment. "How?!"

Kisame looked at Tsume, a satisfied smirk curving his lips and baring his sharp teeth. "It's dangerous to underestimate Tsume," he said. "What she said was true. Zabuza's spirit is still here, and it lives in that sword, protecting Tsume. And the spirit of Haku, a boy who Zabuza trained, is in that brown sash. He's also protecting her. It's Tsume's connection to spirits that gives her Zabuza's strength and skill, and Haku's speed. She's come close to death many times, but her will to live is far too strong."

Izuname couldn't help but smile slightly. "I'm surprised that she isn't a Konoha-nin," she murmured. "She has the look of one. It's in her eyes; that look of stubborn determination. But you can tell that she also has the strength to back it up." Then she turned her eyes to Deidara, looking him up and down. "You wouldn't happen to be Deidara, that kid from Iwagakure, would you?" Wary, Deidara nodded. Izuname chuckled. "I remember you. If you're part of the Akatsuki, then you turned out pretty well." She then turned away and took a few steps forward, her back to Kisame and Deidara. "I suggest you stand back. I'll kill anyone who gets too close. Whether I want to or not." Then she raised her voice. "Tsume-san! You need to get out of the way! Now!"

Tsume looked over, and nodded. Sparing only one last glance at Hoji, she ran back over to stand beside Kisame. "Kaiite-san?" she murmured.

Slowly, Izuname turned, a sad smile on her face and tears shining in her bright blue eyes. She gazed at Kisame and Tsume with a deep longing on her face. "You two are so lucky," she said. "So lucky to have each other."

Kisame looked away in discomfort, but Tsume continued to look at the tall, battered woman, her own amber eyes filled with sadness and compassion. "I want to help you, Kaiite-san," Tsume said. "I want to help you."

Izuname chuckled and shook her head. "What I want is impossible for you to give," she said softly.

"May I—may I know what it is all the same?" Tsume asked shyly.

A longing smile curved Izuname's split lips. "I would ask for Yoji back," she said distantly, a few tears managing to escape her eyes. "And if not that, I would ask for Kisame's heart. But he has given it to you, Tsume-san, and I would never try to take it from you."

Tsume then walked forward, a soft smile on her face. She paused a moment before Izuname, tears of empathy in her eyes. Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Izuname, catching the woman in a tight hug. Izuname stiffened at the contact, eyes widening. Tsume spoke softly. "Thank you, Kaiite-san," she murmured. "And I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?" Izuname asked, still tense in Tsume's hold.

"I'm sorry for taking away the man you loved," Tsume explained. "I stole Kisame's heart. I'm sorry."

Izuname let out a deep breath. Her lifted her arms and returned Tsume's hug, embracing the younger woman and resting her chin on the top of Tsume's head. "No," she murmured. "No, don't be sorry for falling in love. Don't be sorry for loving someone. Ever." Izuname drew back, holding Tsume by the shoulders and looking into her eyes. "You must promise me, Tsume-san. Promise me that for as long as you love Kisame, you will protect him with everything that you are. Promise me that you will never hurt him. Can you promise me that, Tsume-san?"

Tsume smiled and nodded. "Yes," she said. "I can promise you all of that."

Nodding briskly, Izuname released Tsume, and backed away. Her swords appeared in her hands, and she turned towards Hoji. "Kisame, get everyone out of here," she said softly. "You're gonna lose a lot more of that cliff wall."

Kisame's eyes widened, but he did not argue. He returned his sword to his back, and took Tsume's as well. He turned to Deidara. "Make a bird; something that can fly. We need to pick up Tobi and Hidan, much as I hate the guy. But we have to move now."

Everything happened in a rush. Tsume found herself on the back of one of Deidara's flying clay birds, Kisame and Tobi beside her, and Deidara crouched in the creature's head. They dipped for a moment, and the bird caught up Hidan, his arm and his weapons before rising up into the air. Tsume thought she glimpsed other figures moving quickly in the shadows as Deidara flew his bird quickly into what seemed to be a deep and extensive network of tunnels. Tsume's eyelids became heavy, even as she tried to catch a glimpse of Izuname. Tsume heard rumbling, but couldn't help herself as she slumped back against Kisame's chest. One of his arms came around her as he stared off in the same direction. Tsume could sense his worry and his tension, mirroring her own feelings as she thought of Izuname.

"I admire her," Tsume murmured, eyelids drooping. "Kaiite-san is so strong. I hope that I can be as strong as her someday." Tsume let her eyes close and her body relax, and her exhaustion overtook her.

As Tsume slipped into slumber, Kisame dipped his head and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "You already are, Tsume. You did well," he whispered. "You deserve to be part of the Akatsuki. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'll break anyone who does." Kisame looked up, whispering in the same moment that the sound of shattering stone filled the air, "and I'll always remember you, Izuname. I can keep that promise. I'll never forget you, ever."

UNSPOKEN

Kisame leaned over the sleeping Tsume, lifting a hand to brush a stray wisp of hair from her face. Her breath was deep and regular, her chest rising and falling with ease. She had been bandaged in some places, but the worst of her wounds had been tended to. Kisame fingered something in his hand, rolling it between his fingers and over his palm, half distracted by his own thoughts and the myriad of recent events. So much had happened in so little time, but now Kisame had time to reflect and make decisions. He knew that he had at least one to make. Kisame opened his hand and looked down at the object in his palm. It shown, catching the light. A half smile tugged at the corner of Kisame's lips. This particular decision would be an easy one. There wasn't a hint of doubt in his mind as Kisame closed his hand around the object.

"Tsume?" Kisame said gently, reaching out and gently touching her shoulder. "Tsume, wake up. It's me, Kisame."

Tsume's eyelids fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened. She blinked sleepily at Kisame for a moment before siting up and yawning. She smiled, turning to face Kisame fulling. "Good morn—or is it afternoon?" Tsume murmured, making Kisame chuckle. He moved up to sit on the edge of the bed, drawing Tsume close for a slow, deep kiss. Tsume sighed happily as she responded. As the kiss continued, Tsume felt Kisame take hold of her left hand and slide something onto her ring finger. Tsume broke the kiss, her gaze shifting to her hand. What she saw made her eyes go wide and her breath catch in her throat.

A bright, white-silver band circled her finger, adorned with a jade stone. The stone's color was a deep ultramarine, cut in a perfect oval and fixed by a bezel of sturdy prongs. And, cut into the stone with unimaginable skill, was the character for 'eternity'. Tsume lifted her hand, the band and stone catching the light. Kisame smiled as he saw Tsume's eyes shining. "That's a special kind of metal. It's as strong as steel, but will never rust or tarnish," he explained. "That character, it represents your memory, and the love I have for you . . ." Kisame trailed off, clearing his throat in discomfort; speeches like this were not his forte. Instead he leaned in and kissed Tsume again, holding her flush against his chest. He almost thought he could feel the beat of his own heart align with Tsume's. In that moment, neither he nor Tsume had to pretend; everything was perfect and alright. In that moment, there was no fighting, there was no hatred and blood. It was simply a moment of bliss.

Tsume drew away, resting her brow against Kisame's forehead protector. Her eyes were lowered, looking at the ring. "Me?" she murmured. "You really want me?"

Kisame lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "No other will do," he said softly, smiling a smile that only two people had ever seen beauty in. "Tsume, will be my wife?"

UNSPOKEN

A/N: (SQUEEEEEEE!!) I am so proud of myself! (does a little fangirl dance while squealing) I had a damn hard time designing the ring. It had to be durable, seeing as Tsume's a shinobi with a big-ass sword. I chose jade fro the stone, because it's so tough (if you hit it, it won't break) and comes in so many different colors. I made up the metal, but Kisame's awesome so he can use any metal he wants, whether it exists or not. (sweatdrop) Heh heh . . . anyway. This story is not done. I repeat; NOT. DONE. There will probably be one last chapter, and then an epilogue. And, because I couldn't write it in chapter 28, I suppose that chapter 36 will have a lemon in it . . . . . (blush) Anyway, what did you think of Izu-san? I'd really like some feedback. Riley-san, you give great reviews, and I'd love to know what you think about her character. I'll get to reading Taboo soon, I promise!