There. I told you it would be up tonight *goes off to write Finally*. This is probably the chapter right before the rising action starts. This story should be over in about 8 or less chapters.

Songs: "Apologize" One Republic ft. Timbaland, "Already Over" by Red, "My Obsession" by Skillet, "What hurts the most" by Rascal Flatts, "The City is at War" by Cobra Starship, "Here without you" by Three Doors Down, "Sadness and Sorrow" Naruto OST, "How to save a life" by The Fray and "Carry me down" by Demon Hunter.

Chapter 10: Race you to the finish.

She couldn't let it happen. If he was gone... if he died...

She looked around her; they would have nothing left. Her eyes landed on the albino. He would have nothing left.

She broke away from Kakuzu's hold and ran forward fearlessly. Kakuzu called after her and Madara screeched like it was his life. She watched a flicker of light in front of her; Tobi. Tobi was trying to protect her. Konan screamed and she listened as the shot rang out.

Pink hair flying as she turned sharply and nearly collapsed on Kisame. The bullet sang through her but lodged itself inside her heart.

Sakura knew it. She stared down at Kisame, smiling, as if nothing had happened, "Kisame."

His blue eyes were frantic, "Sakura? Sakura?"

He sounded so lost. She nodded and touched her hand to his cheek, "yes I'm here. Sh, it's okay. It's okay."

But tears filled up in her eyes anyway and blood dribbled out of her mouth, even as she soothed him. He was over her then and she was lying across his lap, still muttering, "it's okay, it's okay."

Her vision went blurry. Her Prince Charming remained by her side, staring down at her. His eyes held a mixture of disbelief and anger and confusion. Of course he wanted to know why she'd done that. She answered him, "they need you. Without you wuh-what do they hah-have?"

"Sakura? S... Sakura...?" she could see his fangs starting to show, his eyes growing smaller and smaller as his rage grew. Her eyes struggled to find Fugaku and she saw him, staring at the gun in his hands.

'Yes, that's right,' she sneered inwardly, 'be afraid. Be very afraid. You killed an innocent girl; your punishment is death.'

She reached up with a hand as Kisame lay her gently on the ground, "Kisa-Kisame. Mine," he let her wrap a dainty hand around one of his long fangs. She broke it off and held it against her chest, stroking his face one last time. Speaking, "it's okay."

His eyes turned pitch black.

--

They all ran forward, even though they could see Kisame was losing it. He released a low growl that bordered on being a roar and turned those frightening black eyes toward the Slayers. Hidan's face paled.

So much for Sakura's Prince Charming.

He exploded from his spot next to Sakura and Hidan replaced him. He might be able to save her. Kakuzu was trying to pull him away, or help, or both. Hidan snapped at him anyway, "back off! I might be able to save her!"

He put his hands on her slowly dying body, scanning her. His brows furrowed and he felt like crying.

'I can still... try. I can try. Please... please...' he pulsed his power through her. Tobi was already sobbing loudly, Sasori trying to comfort him but nearly losing it himself. Deidara was causing mini explosions and finally fell into a bout of insanity. Konan jumped and clung to Hidan, pressing her tear-stained face to Hidan's side.

'Deidara shut up.. Itachi make him shut up...' Hidan begged inwardly, unable to find his voice. Deidara continued to cry his heart out to the sky, demanding why while Itachi and Kakuzu both worked to calm him down. Zetsu was torn between comforting Sasori and Tobi or helping the other two.

He chose to comfort the crying younger Vampires.

Hidan pulled his hands away from Sakura and clenched them in his lap. Kisame's feet appeared, covered with blood and Hidan looked up at him, tears finally running down his cheeks.

"I can't – I can't do anything for her. I'm sorry."

Kisame shut his eyes tight and collapsed to his knees, hands coming up as if to yank his hair out of his skull. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

He pulled Sakura up into his arms and muttered, "Deidara, quiet."

The blonde shut up and fell sobbing into Itachi's arms. Tobi had shuffled over, hugging himself; Sasori was clinging to Zetsu.

"Ki-Ki-Kisame Tobi's sorry. T-Tobi failed to p-p-protect her. Tobi failed when you p-put so much t-t-trust in Tobi."

"No you didn't. You didn't fail. You did your best."

Tobi hacked out a sob and fled into Kakuzu's chest. The older Vampired just closed his eyes and rested a hand on Tobi's head.

Sakura was talking to Kisame, saying something along the lines of "my Prince Charming". Kisame lowered his head more and suddenly jerked it back up. Sakura was stroking his face again.

"Promise me..." she whispered, "promise me. You remember, what we talked about? You remember?" he nodded and she continued, "promise me. Kurenai... promise me..." her eyes began to slowly close, "I love you..."

Her words flew away on the wind.

--

"Just listen to that thunder, will you dear?" Mrs. Haruno called up the stairs. Mr. Haruno laughed, "yes, I hear it. Very loud."

There was a knock at the door and Mrs. Haruno abandoned her dish washing and dried her hands. She flung her apron to the table while calling, "coming!"

She opened the door and came upon Kisame. She smiled, "Kisame! It's good to – see... you... what -?"

His face was distraught, grim and he looked close to tears. His blue eyes glanced down at his arms and she looked down. Sound hummed in her ears and her breaths came out labored and quick.

"Sa-kura? Sakura? SAKURA?!" she screamed and screamed and screamed. She threw her arms around Kisame and her dead daughter, crying against his chest. She felt him rest his head against hers and a wet spot began to grow on her head. It wasn't rain.

"Honey whats – oh my gawd! Kisame?! Sakura?! NO! NO!" he rushed forward too, wrapping one arm around Kisame's head and the other around his wife, Sakura between them. Konan tucked herself away under Hidan's arm.

--

"Anko said she and Konan will be there. Half her school will be there too. Uh... I'll shut up now, seriously."

Kisame just nodded his head, staring blankly out the windshield. They had already dropped off Konan and were now heading to Hidan's home. Hidan wondered how Kurenai was going to react when they told her.

However, when he entered the house, Kisame dragging in after him, Kurenai came bounding out of the kitchen to throw her arms around Kisame.

'She already knows...' Hidan realized, somewhat sadly. Kisame's arms twitched as his sides, Sakura's last words going through his mind no doubt. Kurenai pulled away before he could react, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry, Kisame."

He just nodded, staring out the window. The funeral was the next day.

Kurenai hugged Hidan tightly and he hugged her back while whispering, "he needs time. Just give him time, seriously."

"I know. I know he needs time. You don't need to tell me that."

Hidan nodded, "I'm going to my room. Kisame... you can stay with us if you want."

Again, he simply nodded and, frustrated now, Hidan walked up the stairs and into his room.

--

The casket was lowered slowly into the ground, Kisame standing closest to the grave. Hidan held an umbrella over his and Konan's heads, looking around him at all the people. Sasuke, Itachi's little brother and Naruto, Sasuke's best friend, were especially distraught. Deidara stood out in the rain, mouth twisted into a wide frown. Itachi held both Naruto and Sasuke to his body, trying to comfort them; their mother held a large umbrella over their heads.

'Sakura was loved by a lot of people. I swear the entire damn community is here...' his thoughts trailed off and his gaze returned to Kisame. He was staring up at the sky, his hair matted to his face and preventing any view of his facial features.

By the time the funeral ended the clouds were starting to clear. Hidan got tired of holding up the umbrella and he closed it. Konan didn't mind at all and she spoke, "is he gonna' be okay?"

Hidan blinked slowly, "I – I don't know, Konan, to be honest. I hope – I hope he will be..."

She turned and wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her back.

--

Kisame knew he was coming before he even got there. Of course Shikaku would show up, even though he had explicitly been asked not to come. He came anyway – thankfully after the funeral was done. Kisame started walking toward where he knew the car would be stopping. He chanced a glance at Mikoto and saw her glaring at the cruiser that pulled up. Shikaku stepped out but didn't move any closer.

Kisame stopped, "not coming any closer?"

"I'm not wanted here. So I wouldn't dare approach. I didn't send them, Kisame."

"I know you didn't."

"I'm terribly sorry. I don't – I don't know what to do..."

Kisame appeared in front of him, eyes hard, "you don't have a choice now. You have to find a way to banish the Vampires. You have to send us away before a civil war breaks out – among the Slayers."

Shikaku blinked at him, "what?"

Kisame waved Tyler over. The boy came quickly and tapped Shikaku on the arms. Once he had the man's attention he bared his fangs and then quickly retreated.

"Listen to me, Shikaku. You have to send us away. That's the only way you can win Fugaku's men over and you know it."

Shikaku looked pained, "Kisame, I couldn't do that. Things just got better between me and Hidan, and you and the others. This is obviously something only you and I will know about -"

"- obviously."

"- but I can't betray that kind of -"

"- and if the Prince decides that this is how it works?"

Shikaku was silent then said, "only if the Prince confirms that. To me. In person. I don't want to send you guys away, Kisame. The people will hate me."

"Them hating you is a lot better than the freaking Slayers turning on each other. You have at least eight half-breeds in your ranks. At least eight. They're there for a reason. Their cover can't be blown, and shed blood will do it the quickest."

Shikaku tensed and then slowly nodded, "this is a race against time, isn't it, Kisame?"

Kisame closed his eyes, listening to the angry voices of the Slayers all around him, "yes, Shikaku. It's a race against time. You have exactly two months to get us out of here. Two months, or all hell breaks loose."

Yes. Kisame and Shikaku are plotting something. OH SNAP!