❝...from time to time you tug at the strings of curiosity within me...❞

Filled cupboards, clean towels hung from the hooks. Things slowly began to look like a home; or at least some of it. Working for the Akatsuki wasn't giving you the biggest pay-check, but you learned to live with it. Wrapping a towel around her still soaked, red hair, Kisha dressed herself in a comfortable loose jeans and a pull-over-shirt. The radio played some odd beat. People in Suna had a strange taste in music, she admitted to herself. Making her way through the living-room, she passed her house-mate. She doubted he even noticed her presence when she passed him.

"What's the smell?" the blunette who occupied the couch questioned.

"Euh… honey I guess, if you mean my body lotion?" Kisha questioned in return, quite surprised by his sudden interaction.

"If that is what you call it, then yes," his deep voice buzzed in the back of his throat. Pitch black eyes were all settled upon the red head for a few fleeting seconds before the cell-phone in his hands stole his attention once more.

"What are you doing?" the rednette bluntly asked. She knew he hated to be asked personal things, but he could impossibly be texting some chick already. Or could he? She couldn't actually be sure. Men like Kisame had their ways around.

"Why'd ya ask?" the tone he went by was anything but inviting. With a roll of her eyes, Kisha turned her attention to the fridge, opening it to get herself some of the grapes she bought hours earlier. Popping one into her mouth she leaned at the window shrill, watching the blunette. This wouldn't last very long. She knew it. She had such a horrible feeling they would have to be on the move soon again. Neither was familiar with Suna in any way, and obviously enough, Pein hadn't made the contact. She was right after all. The cops must've got him. A small bubbly feeling built in the pit of her stomach. Somewhere deep inside her she hoped it was true, while the other part of her hoped not. After all, the Akatsuki was her income source that she couldn't afford to lose; at least not right now. What did she have to lose that she hadn't already lost? Rumours spread like wild-fire in Iwa, and everyone knew she had joined forces with the mafia. There was no point in returning there.

Exhaling, she pulled the towel off of her head, allowing her dark red hair to slam against her back. Rubbing the white towel against the tips, she heard a snicker.

"What?" she quizzed, not bothered to spare the man a glance.

"None of your business," Kisame merely stated, pushing himself to his two feet and stretched his arms above his head. Dark eyes darted over the younger female's figure as she dried her hair. The pink colour of her bangs slowly fading. He thought the colour was real, but on the other hand, he never paid much attention to how she looked or dressed, so why would he now?

The cell-phone in his hand stole his attention again, before he slammed it shut in anger.

"Damn it!" he cursed and chucked the device on the table. A groan of annoyance and anger left him. Stretching herself a little, Kisha cautiously watched him. Although she had never seen him angry, she certainly did not doubt he had a short fuse and could be very dangerous to be around if he went berserk. Even with her old, experienced skills in self-defence would be enough to hold him. The urge to utter her thought about Pein was bitten back upon seeing the tall man's frustration.

At some point, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Even though she knew very little about him, all he had was the Akatsuki – so much she understood. It kind of was his family, and it had been spread to all winds.

"I'm sure things will be better," placing a reassuring hand on his board shoulder, she sent a small smile up at him. Kisha mentally scolded herself. She hated to act fake; she despised it. But she wasn't in the mood for a bigger fight with him right now - especially not if he was already in a bad mood. She didn't want to have anything more to do with the mafia.

"Take a shower, I'll make some dinner in the meantime," her tone was suggesting him to. She was telling him to. A shower could get almost everyone to calm down; maybe it worked for him, too.

"Don't tell me what to do lassie!" Kisame snapped, scowling down at the slender, young woman before him. Brown and black eyes locked for a minute. Both showing how determined they were to get it their way.

"Tch! Whatever," A victorious smirk spread on the young Akatsuki member's lips. Shifting her position a little she placed her hands on her hips. A hard nod of her head showed her satisfaction when he finally turned to leave for the bathroom. She didn't like when he acted like he was 'in charge of her'. Although the red-head was younger than him, it didn't give him the right to bully around with her. Maybe it wasn't his intentions, maybe it was just the way he was. She didn't give a rat's ass for whatever the reason was. He should just be happy that she let him stay with her. The apartment was after all hers.

❝...but I am afraid to get too close to you...❞