Kisame set down a crate and washed his hands before wiping his hands on his apron. One of the many Hinata had made him, each with different little food on it. Maybe she was hoping something cute was going to make him look less intimidating, but what was more terrifying than a man twice your size in a cute cake apron?

"Kisame-san!" Hinata called from the front.

"Coming, mouse," Kisame called back.

The shop had been doing well. They sold sides for people who didn't have time to make them and bentos for students. It took them a little while to get set up, but that was less of a struggle than Hinata trying to teach him to cook. Kisame knew what he was good at, mixing huge amounts for her and doing endless tasks like washing dishes, but it didn't stop Hinata from trying to get him better at chopping and following her recipes.

Kisame ducked his head out of the back to see Hinata be in engulfed by a blonde mop. She turned with a smile, and Deidara's head popped up. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"We're here for the birthday girl." Deidara stuck his tongue out. "Certainly not for you, yeah."

"My birthday was a few weeks ago." Hinata giggled.

"Well, someone had surgery, so we had to wait." Sasori nodded toward the door as Itachi tapped through with his own cane, and Sasuke came shortly behind.

"We match." Itachi came to a stop to put his weight on his cane.

Hinata smiled brightly and closed the distance to hug him. "You should have told us you were coming."

"Defeats the purpose of a surprise," Sasuke commented.

"Hush." Itachi turned on him. "I am still mad at you."

Hinata blinked at Sasuke as he rolled his eyes. "I should have kept pretending."

"You're all early," Kisame grumbled.

"You knew about this." Hinata swatted at him.

"Don't act like you're not happy to see us." Hidan opened his arms for his hug.

Hinata gladly shifted to a new set of arms.


Everyone hung around until the shop closed. If Hinata knew they were coming, she would have prepared so that they could have just taken the day off, but they served perishables.

Everyone seemed happy to wait and take when she could make them eat. She was almost completely sure there were more surprises to come because everyone was teasing Kisame and whispering. Was this all his plan?

They closed the shop, and the group got a little too quiet in the other room while she put away the last of the dishes and washed her hands. Hinata giggled to herself as the front lights went out. She came out and beamed as a cake was presented weeks late with a single candle on top.

"Make a wish, uh," Deidara told her.

Hinata leaned forward and blew out the candle, and the lights came on, but everyone wasn't looking at her or the cake. They were looking behind her. She turned to find Kisame down on his knee, holding out a ring that looked tiny in his fingers. "I know it's not a super nice ring."

"That's not what you're supposed to say, hmpfh… !" Deidara's mouth was forced shut by someone, probably Sasori covering it.

"I wanted to wait, obviously." Kisame continued. "Until you were eighteen, and I had permission."

"Permission?" Hinata echoed. Kisame nodded to the side where Neji had snuck in to hide against the wall. Hinata covered her mouth.

"Marry me?" Kisame asked.

Hinata nodded and waited for him to struggle to put the ring on her hand, only long enough for it to be on enough for her to launch herself at him.

Kisame stood up, pulling her up with him.

There was a cheer in the room, and a few cracks of streamers that she was sure were Deidara's idea. As soon as Kisame put her on her feet, she reached for Neji next. She hadn't seen him since they left. She didn't know Kisame got a hold of him. They were avoiding her family in case her father found them.

"I am glad you are here," Hinata told him.

Neji laid his face down on her shoulder. "I was ready to hunt you down myself."

Hinata laughed, returning to wipe the tears off her face and returning to Kisame's side as she looked at her ring properly. It was small and didn't have a stone. She was sure that was because she complained about elaborate rings getting stuck in food.

Deidara excitedly pulled Sasori to him to kiss his cheek. Sasori made a face and pushed Deidara away, smearing away the mark off his cheek. Hidan gave them both a look. Itachi chuckled at them.

Hinata squeaked and covered her face. She was just too happy to see them all again.

Kisame rubbed her arm. "Don't cry, mouse."

Hinata tipped her head up to him. "I'm happy."

Kisame whipped her face. "I know."


Hinata coughed and made a face at her first shot. "That's awful."

"Why did you give her that." Kisame reached past her to push Deidara, who laughed as Hinata stuck out her tongue and made a noise of disgust.

"She needs to try it. You didn't take her out for her birthday, yeah." Deidara countered.

"I think I am good." Hinata pushed the shot glass away.

"Good idea." Neji took it with a heavy glare.

Hidan made a face. "I can't even drink anymore. I am going home." The monastery had a curfew he was breaking anyway.

"Thank you for coming!" Hinata called after him as he gathered his jacket and waved.

"That guy is so weird," Neji commented, receiving a light kick from Hinata.

"How's uncle?" Hinata wondered.

Neji straightened as he became more serious. "He's been talking to the council." Hinata pressed her lips together, waiting for bad news. "It's possible… that I will be placed as heir."

"Really?" Hinata gapped.

"Is that a good thing?" Kisame asked.

"It is if it becomes official. You two won't have to hide anymore." Neji explained. "I don't know if my uncle will keep trying to cause trouble, but he won't have a reason to justify his actions to the council anymore, so he could be punished."

Kisame's arm tightened around her side, and Hinata leaned her head on him. "Maybe that means we don't have to hide our wedding."

"Can I make your dress please, uh!" Deidara whimpered.

"If you make my dress, you won't have time to make Kisame's suit." Hinata shifted his focus. Sasori rolled his eyes, but she knew that he wanted to make her dress, too.

Deidara's eyes lit up.

"Hey, I did not agree to this," Kisame grumbled.


Hinata flopped back on their bed in one of Kisame's hoodies. They were comfy as pajamas. She laid still until Samehada stepped on her stomach and curled up. She pulled her sleeve up to pet his head. He still wouldn't let her approach him, but she was allowed to pet him if he came to her.

Kisame sat down with a sigh and rubbed the back of his head. He was a little drunk. Deidara talked him into helping him finish the sake bottles they brought. Neji was surprisingly the drunkest. Apparently, he was a lighter weight than she was because she had one more glass of wine than he did, and she made Sasori make sure he would get home safe because she worried about him.

"Look at him." Hinata gushed, petting Samehada's little puffball.

"He's in my spot," Kisame grumbled.

"Give him a minute. He won't stay long." Hinata giggled.

"Little monster." Kisame laid down and slid his arm behind her head and her good leg and slid closer.

Hinata put her hands down on Samehada to hope the movement didn't disturb him. Kisame ducked his head into her shoulder and placed his arm that he would usually have over her stomach across her shoulders. "Did they wear you out?"

"Do you know how hard it is to keep a secret when no one will shut up about it?" Kisame grumbled. "I was afraid you would overhear them all day because they wouldn't shut up."

Hinata laid her cheek on his forehead. "I like the ring."

"You said you didn't want a stone," Kisame mumbled. "Your cousin thought I was being cheap."

"Neji helped you pick out the ring?" Hinata wondered.

"He knew your ring size." Kisame hummed groggily. "Shit head wanted you to have something big stupid that you would have to take off to make dumplings." Kisame was a cute drunk. He answered questions without thinking and said his opinion without embracement or caution of what she might think.

Hinata giggled at him, thumbing over Samehada's ear. "Go to sleep."

"Love you," Kisame mumbled.

"I love you, too." Hinata closed her eyes.

** Lavender Long Stories **

Hey, with how many issues has been having I would like everyone to know I cross post to AO3 under Lavender_Long_Stories and I have an active tumblr lavender-long-stories

Also want more KisaHina? I am writing another Guarding Affections.