Shizako wasn't happy about it, but she helped Ritsuko destroy the evidence by cutting up and throwing the clothes away. "I still don't think this is a good idea," she confessed.

"You heard him on the phone," Ritsuko reminded her. "Now does that sound like a guy who makes a habit out of raping girls?"

"Well…no," she confessed. "He did seem pretty sincere."

"There you go then," Ritsuko said as she slammed the lid on the trashcan. "Let's just forget about it."

Shizako looked sad and Ritsuko pulled her into a tight hug. "You're my best friend, I can't lose you Shiza," she whispered. "Not to a one-night-stand mistake."

Shizako knew that she was right. Niigata had no affection for Ritsuko and this would be the perfect excuse to throw her back into the foster care system. She hugged her back. "You'll never lose me. I'm always here."

"I know," Ritsuko's voice cracked with emotion. "And you don't know just how much that means to me."

Shizako smiled. It wasn't often that Ritsuko was that open and honest. "It'll be ok, you'll see," Ritsuko smiled as she pulled away. "Well I'd be heading home before Niigata suspects anything. See you at school tomorrow." She started to run away.

"Don't be late either!" She called after her. "We have that test we have in World History remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll study for it on the bus as usual," Ritsuko grinned deviously as she waved. She loved to run; feel the wind on her face as if she was escaping the things that held her back. She ran down the dark street, arms pumping, heart racing, and an ear to ear grin. Then she slowed down as she saw a familiar sight on the other side of the road, heading towards the police station. She stopped and squinted. Kisame? She panicked as she watched him walk up the stairs to the entrance, hand on the handle.

"Kisame!" She called out. He stopped and turned in her direction. She quickly crossed the road. "Please tell me you're not doing what I think you're doing."

He frowned down at her. "It has to be done."

"No it doesn't!" She snapped. "You don't understand!"

"No, I don't," he agreed. "Tell me why I shouldn't and perhaps I'll change my mind."

Her mouth open and closed uselessly as she found herself caught. She didn't want to tell him, but she couldn't have him blab either. "Fine, come with me," she growled as she grabbed hold of his shirt, pulled him down the stairs and into a nearby alley. "If we tell the police they'll have to tell my foster mother. She'll blow a gasket and ship me back for relocation. I don't want to move away! I don't want to have to start over!" She said in a voice that border-lined on the hysterical.

His expression softened sympathetically. "But you deserve justice."

To his surprise her expression darkened. "What do you think this is? A fairy tale? Do you think that good always triumphs and evil is vanquished? That's not how the real world works!" She hissed as she grabbed hold of his collar. Her temper made her beauty shine and he found himself mesmerized by it. "If it did then I'd still be living with my parents! I won't be kicked around from house to house! Life sucks sometimes, that's all there is to it!"

"But I-" He protested.

"Don't you understand?" She pleaded desperately. "I don't want to be sent away again. I've got a good thing going for me here. Please…can't we just keep it a secret?"

She looked so sad, so vulnerable that he absent-mindedly stroked her cheek. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Then don't tell anyone," she said. "I'm begging you."

He smirked gently. "You beg for no one."

She looked exasperated. "I did say that huh?" She sighed. "This is different though. I have…more to lose this time." Kisame wasn't sure what she meant by that. Her hands uncurled and rested gently against his chest while his hand gently drifted down the length of her neck to rest on her shoulder. Neither one seemed to notice the closeness as they stared deep into each others eyes. He could see how desperately she wanted him to change his mind. And in his eyes she saw how kind and gentle he really was. "Please," she whispered as she leaned in.

"Very well, I'll keep it a secret," He sighed in defeat. "If that's…really what you want." Her face brightened up but he still felt a pang of regret. "But are you sure that it's a good idea?" He asked warily. "After all I…" he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. He sighed and looked down. Then he stiffened as he realized just how close they were. She too noticed and pulled away with a blush.

She didn't say anything for a while. "About last night…" she started warily.

"Yes?" He asked nervously.

"Do you…remember what I asked you?"

He blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"

She pressed a hand against her head. "I asked you something right before I kissed you. What was it?"

He reddened slightly. "You asked if you can really tell from one kiss."

She blinked innocently. "Tell what?"

"Tell…who your true love is," he said shyly.

She looked surprised and then burst out laughing. "Wow…I must have been really out of it!" For some reason he was a little disappointed by her reaction. "As if you could really tell something like that from just one kiss," she rolled her eyes.

"Exactly," he said but the words felt flat and forced. What did he really expect though?

Just then her phone went off in her pocket. She grimaced as she recognized the name on the caller ID. "Yes Niigata, what do you want?" She flinched as her foster mother screamed at her through the phone. Kisame stared in disbelief. "Just chill, I was on my way home anyway, geez!" She huffed as she hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" He asked in surprise.

"Mommy dearest," she snorted sarcastically. "I better go. See ya later."

"See ya," he echoed as he watched her leave. He watched after her with a frown. What kind of home life does she have?

Ritsuko's heart sank as she walked home and she started fidgeting with the scarf she'd borrowed from Shizako along with the rest of her clothes. Kisame had left several bruises along her neck…and low on her collar bone. It was pretty embarrassing. She thought about her interaction with him. This morning she'd screamed at him; angry, hurt, and humiliated. And yet he was willing to turn himself in to the extent that he was prepared to go against her wishes to do so. Again she remembered the gentleness in his eyes. It stood out from his tough exterior. And yet the night that they'd made love; while he was aggressive, his passion had run soul deep, soothing her broken heart. How…was that possible? It just…didn't make any sense at all. I'm definitely over-thinking this, she thought firmly. A great romance doesn't start with an accidental one-night-stand. I've seen too many of those lame chick flicks with Shizako. In those anything can happen. That's just not how the real world works. Not everyone gets a happily ever after.

And proof of that was the reaction she got when she arrived at the house. Niigata flipped out; nagging her about being late, scolding her for not doing her weekend chores, and went on and on about other crap but Ritsuko was good at tuning her out. After all, she had bigger concerns to deal with.

Niigata talked until she was red in the face, frustrated that she wasn't getting through to the stubborn girl. "You just don't get it do you?" She snapped. "I've had enough of you! After graduation you're out of this house and out of my hair!"

At that Ritsuko whipped around in amazement. "After graduation?" She asked in horror. "But that's…only two months away!"

Niigata grinned. "Ah so NOW you're listening! And yes after that I'm no longer responsible for you."

Ritsuko watched as she stormed away, feeling a sense of dread and unease. In many ways she should have seen this coming. Foster kids leave the system after they graduate from high school and with that meant no further payments to finance her stay. Why didn't she realize it before? She groaned as she continued up the stairs and went into her room. She sat down on her bed and stared off into the distance. She was going to have to leave? Move out? At first the idea terrified her…now it made her smile. Finally! Freedom! A chance to be her own boss for a change! And to do whatever she wanted! How liberating! She threw herself back onto the bed laughing. "Finally! Things are beginning to look up!"

Kisame meanwhile was in a less jovial mood as he drove home. It didn't make any sense why Ritsuko didn't seek revenge. This morning she was furious, ready to kill him. Why the sudden change of mind? He growled softly as memories of last night floated through his mine: the gentle, soft curves of her body, the feel of her skin, the taste of her lips...He sighed as he shook his head to clear it. Maybe Itachi was right, maybe it has been too long since he dated. He just couldn't bring himself to after Kaneko; whether it was to preserve her memory or fear of rejection again, he didn't know for sure. Still the memory of Ritsuko haunted him. Not because of the act itself, but the fact that part of him longed for her…that connection. He had felt it again when she had asked him to keep it a secret. Why? It was really starting to bug him.

He drove home to his little apartment. His calico cat Chie purred loudly and mewed happily. He cracked a side smile as he leaned down to pat her. She licked his hand affectionately. "Now don't try to butter me up; I know what you're really after," he chuckled. He turned to drape his coat over the back of a chair. "Wait just a minute; I'll get you some food." Chie weaved around his legs as he worked the can opener. "Patience girl," he gently chided as he scooped the food into her dish. "It's coming, it's coming…" He set it down on the floor and changed the water in her bowl as she hungrily ate. Thus occupied, he left her to her meal.

He collapsed onto the bed and idly ran through his cell phone inbox. He had missed a call from Itachi but he wasn't interested in calling him back now. It had been a really long day. All he wanted was to sleep, to escape from reality for a few measly hours. So he kicked off his sneakers and rolled onto his side, hugging his pillow close. Chie then came in and curled up beside him, purring alongside him. He absent-mindedly stroked her soft fur. How am I going to live with a secret like this? He wondered miserably with a sigh, but the heartache was short-lived as he soon he drifted off to sleep.